bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘It's very hard to have a future when you can’t travel’: Meaning, mobility and mortality after a cancer diagnosis
Authors: Williams Veazey Leah , Kenny Katherine , Broom Alex
Published: May 2024

Being diagnosed with a life-limiting illness entails a fundamental reshaping of one's relationship with the future. From ‘bucket lists’ of destinations and experiences to ‘flights of hope’ for experimental or specialised medical care, diagnoses of serious illness are deeply entwined with travel in Australian cultural narratives. In this paper, we draw on a thematic analysis of interviews with cancer patients and their carers to ask what meanings are attached to narratives of travel – whether completed or constrained, imagined or interrupted – in the context of a cancer diagnosis. Focusing on narratives of travel draws attention to themes of disruption, resilience, autonomy and living a meaningful life within the precarious timescape of cancer. Through this analysis of time and travel, we examine how normative expectations of how to live with or beyond cancer can produce tensions, particularly in the uncertain but precariously hopeful landscape of precision cancer treatments.
Picturing a quality local news visual: Perspectives from non-specialist journalists
Authors: Thomson TJ
Published: May 2024

This study explores a key question around local visual news: what do non-specialist journalists regard as a quality news visual? This study focuses on still images as the most ubiquitous building block in the local visual news landscape, whether as thumbnails that are shared with links on social media platforms, as hero images accompanying articles, as photo galleries, or as still frames extracted from videos. Much of what we know about a quality news visual comes from the perspectives of visually literate specialists: photo editors, photojournalists, and related roles. Yet, despite the ubiquity of photographs within print and digital news, they are increasingly being made not by staff photojournalists but, rather, by freelancers, words-based reporters, or community members. As these dynamics have shifted over the past two decades, scholarship has struggled to keep up with how non-specialist journalists define the attributes and properties of a quality news visual. This study aims to address this gap within the context of local and regional news using an interview-based approach and finds that interviewees most commonly defined quality news photographs through the lens of news values, followed by technical considerations and narrative dimensions, aesthetics, the perceived effect the visual had on the audience, how the visual was made and presented, and who or what was photographed.
Dikopelo ritual and performance: The embodiment of place
Authors: Setlhabi Keletso Gaone
Published: May 2024

Batswana (People of Botswana) traditionally celebrate the end of seasons with dikopelo musical performances. This paper discusses Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela’s dikopelo festive celebrations, an annual return of choirs to their performance grounds through the duality of home and away. The author, a performer, interrogates through participant observation in four performances from December 2015 to January 2019, the seventeen-hour performance from midnight until the following day at sunset. Her experience is conceptually framed on Van Manen’s four lifeworld existentials of lived space (grounds), lived body (performs), lived time (seventeen hours) and lived human relations (performers, family, supporters). In conclusion, she takes a reflexive position of the subjectivity of her experience in relation to her fellow performers’; the blurred boundaries of her academic/performer roles and fieldwork/post-fieldwork spaces as her dikopelo lived experience is beyond this study’s timeframe. Her reality as an ethnographer at home, is the constant negotiation of her multiple unending identities.
Why you shouldn’t serve meat at your next catered event
Authors: Ferguson Zachary
Published: May 2024

Much has been written about the ethics of eating meat. Far less has been said about the ethics of serving meat. In this paper I argue that we often shouldn’t serve meat, even if it is morally permissible for individuals to purchase and eat meat. Historically, the ethical conversation surrounding meat has been limited to individual diets, meat producers, and government actors. I argue that if we stop the conversation there, then the urgent moral problems associated with industrial animal agriculture will go unsolved. Instead, we must also consider the important but overlooked role that midsized institutions play in addressing major collective problems. I focus mostly on the harms that industrial animal agriculture inflicts on humans, animals, and the environment, but the discussion bears on other global issues like climate change. Institutional choices are an underexplored avenue for driving social change—their power and influence outstrip individual actions, and they can shape behavior in modest ways that promote social goods. Here I highlight the paradigmatic case of catered events and suggest three ways that institutional actors can reduce meat consumption and shape cultural attitudes surrounding meat: large impact decisions, subtly shaping incentives, and consolidating burdens.
Sources and perceptions of hope: A qualitative study involving younger people with dementia
Authors: Pritchard Jane , Bartlett Ruth
Published: May 2024

Hope is an important but overlooked phenomenon in dementia studies. Few studies have examined how people with dementia experience or perceive hope, possibly because it is seen as a diagnosis without hope. In this article, we report on a doctoral study, the aim of which was to examine the phenomenon of hope from the perspective of younger people with dementia to generate new understanding and enable community-based healthcare professionals to support well-being. The study was conducted in the Midlands, England, and used a modified diary-interview method. Six participants were given a camera and asked to take pictures of whatever made them feel hopeful. During a post-diary semi-structured interview, a conversation about hope took place. Interviews were transcribed and interpreted using the ‘Voice-Centred Relational Method’. Findings show that hope is important to younger people with dementia. Sources of hope were the surrounding environment, keeping connected, taking action, and drawing on internal resources. An over-arching theme was ‘defying dementia’ and participants demonstrated resistance to negative stereotypes. Living with dementia did not curtail hope, although it could be weakened when participants felt ‘cast adrift’ by services. The In vivo codes generated were fear of dementia, threats to identity, disconnection from others, and frustrations and restrictions. It is concluded that hope should be a more central part of practice-based conversations with people with dementia.
PCI vs. CABG in left main with multi-vessel coronary artery disease and diabetes: Case report
Authors: Sabina Michael , Khanani Aqeel , Rigdon Amanda , Tsai Joshua , Massaro Joseph
Published: May 2024

This case challenges the conventional preference for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) over percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with diabetes, left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) and multivessel disease. Current guidelines generally recommend CABG, especially in the context of LMCAD. However, our case involves a male patient with diabetes with LMCAD and extensive multivessel disease who was successfully treated with PCI, demonstrating a favorable outcome. Despite the high-risk profile, including a SYNTAX score of 28, the PCI approach was selected. This decision was supported by evidence suggesting comparable outcomes between PCI and CABG in similar patients. Our case highlights the potential of PCI as not just a viable, but potentially superior alternative in specific high-risk patients with diabetes, contrary to the prevailing belief in favor of CABG for all patients with left main involvement.
Creativity in Health Communication to Promote Blood Lead Testing in Children
Authors: Love Brad , Lindstadt Calandra , Cone Joshua N. , Bazan Christian H. , Pounders Kathrynn , Khurshid Anjum
Published: May 2024

Low rates of blood lead level screening among young children persist as a public health issue in the United States, including in Texas where levels remain below the national average. This article describes a multiyear, multipartner initiative aimed at increasing screening rates through a creative, community-informed social media campaign. Interviews with parents, providers, and state health department staff revealed a common perception that lead poisoning was a relic of the past. Using these insights, the team developed humorous social media messaging comparing extinct animals to lead poisoning to capture attention and change attitudes about lead’s current relevance. The “#GetLeadCheckedTexas” campaign ran on state health department channels during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week in October 2020. Colorful graphics depicted extinct creatures like dinosaurs along with their babies, playing on childhood enthusiasm for such animals while evoking protective feelings in parents. Messaging highlighted lead’s dangers for young children and encouraged viewers to discuss testing with providers. Website analytics showed the campaign drove substantial increases in page views for lead screening resources, particularly among providers. While originally designed with a parent audience in mind, the campaign seemed to resonate more with providers, likely due to timing during an awareness week and use of official health department channels. The initiative demonstrates the value of creative communications approaches employed in traditional advertising to raise awareness and promote public health priorities. Audience research, thoughtful use of humor, and designing human-focused messaging helped cut through information clutter and drive engagement with an important childhood health issue.
Boxed In: Pandemic TV as Intersectional Renegotiation of Feminist Attitudes Toward the Home
Authors: Levy Yael
Published: May 2024

In pandemic TV, the horror of the home was not only part of the narrative in several shows that depicted pandemic-related plots, but also a result of the tension between the textual and the contextual. As people were feeling trapped indoors, even the most colorful televised living room stood as a symbol of the inability to leave the spatial confines of domesticity. In this paper, I show how pandemic television added an ominous layer to the representation of the home, either directly through narrative means or indirectly through text-versus-meaning dissonance. Intersectionalizing feminist analysis of the domestic space, I argue that texts that attempted to sidestep pandemic-related content often emphasized it even more so, through format and framing, therefore negating the escapism they were trying to achieve.
The Nursing Inter Shift Handover: A Moment of Care for Patients and Their Family Caregivers
Authors: Guevara-Lozano Maryory , Pérez-Giraldo Beatriz , Arroyo-Marlés Ligia Patricia , Nonsoque-Cholo Mónica Andrea , Sánchez-Herrera Beatriz
Published: May 2024

Precedents: The transfer between nursing shifts must guarantee the quality of care for patients and their families in the hospital. This study aimed to transform the handover between nursing shifts to strengthen the care capacity of patients and their family caregivers, and improve the care capacity of nursing staff, in a Latin American university hospital. Methods: This is a Nursing Methodology Research developed in the following phases: (a) identification of the best handover practices between nursing shifts to apply them within the institutional culture; (2) diagnosis of the transfer between shifts in the hospital; (3) design and validation of the transformation proposal; (4) measurement of transfer indicators; and (5) definition of a path to improve this transfer. Results: The proposal developed focuses on the patient and their family caregiver. The proposed protocol considered the perspective of the care recipients, the nursing staff, and the best available evidence. The overall transfer rating over 10 months went from 65% to 84%. Conclusions: The adjustment to the transfer process made it possible to strengthen the care capacity of patients and their family caregivers and improve the care capacity of the nursing staff.
Throwing Injuries and Prevention Strategies in Youth Baseball
Authors: Sgroi Terrance , Jones Debi , Andrews Robert , Giral Jorge
Published: May 2024

The prevalence and severity of baseball-related injuries in the youth athlete population continue to escalate, despite efforts by health care professionals and sports organizations to quell this trend. This article reviews current research that has investigated the risk factors and possible prevention strategies for the most common injuries in young baseball players, including strengthening programs, pitch count guidelines, and throwing analysis.
Pathways Leading to Arrest for Transgender Women
Authors: Hereth Jane E.
Published: May 2024

Transgender women experience high rates of police contact, arrest, and incarceration, yet little attention has been paid to the specific life experiences and circumstances leading up to arrest for transgender women. This study conducted in-depth interviews with 21 transgender women living in Chicago using a life timeline method to examine pathways that lead to or prevent transgender women from entering the criminal legal system. Findings indicate that transgender women’s pathways mirror those experienced by cisgender women but are distinctly contoured by anti-transgender discrimination and marginalization. Participants also identified forms of resilience and protective factors against police contact and arrest.
Early single-center experience with middle meningeal artery embolization using Zoom™ 45 Catheter
Authors: Morsi Rami Z , Thind Sonam , Baskaran Archit , Rana Rohini , Carrión-Penagos Julián , Desai Harsh , Kothari Sachin A , Chahine Ahmad , Zakaria Jehad , Polster Sean P , Siegler James E , Mendelson Scott J , Mansour Ali , Hurley Michael C , Prabhakaran Shyam , Kass-Hout Tareq
Published: May 2024

Background

Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization for subdural hematomas (SDH) and dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) has gained momentum in the neuroendovascular space. However, there is variability in the technique for safe and effective embolization. The aim of this report is to describe the technical feasibility and clinical performance of using Zoom™ 45 catheter for MMA access to facilitate embolization.

Methods

We analyzed all cases of MMA embolization in which the Zoom™ 45 catheter was used and performed in our institution from February 2021 to March 2023 for SDH and dAVFs.

Results

A total of 32 patients were included. Mean age was 64.0 ± 18.0 years, 75.0% (4/32) were male, and 56.7% (17/30), were black. The technical success was achieved in 93.8% (30/32) of cases, with selective embolization utilizing microcatheter directly into frontal and parietal branches for most patients (96.9%, 31/32). Identification of dangerous collaterals, such as lacrimal and petrous branches, prior to embolization, was achieved in most patients (96.9%, 31/32). Bilateral MMA embolization was done in 50.0% (16/32) of patients. The transradial approach and transfemoral approach were used in 53.1% (17/32) and 46.9% (15/32) of patients, respectively. The most common embolization material was n-butyl cyanoacrylate (84.4%, 27/32). There were no access site complications or complications related to the MMA embolization procedures and used devices.

Conclusions

The use of Zoom™ 45 Catheter seems to be technically feasible, safe, and effective for facilitating MMA access for embolization in the context of SDH and dAVFs.
‘Unforeseeable’ and ‘inevitable’: Constructions of prison suicide in Scotland’s Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiries
Authors: Huque Sarah I , Helman Rebecca , Anderson Joe , Chandler Amy
Published: May 2024

Rates of suicides are on the rise in Scottish prisons. Fatal Accident and Sudden Deaths Inquiries (FAIs) carried out by sheriffs following these deaths provide a valuable source of knowledge regarding how the criminal justice system understands and responds to incarcerated people’s suicides. Informed by literature in critical suicide studies and narrative criminology, we conducted an abductive, narrative qualitative analysis of 37 FAI reports of incarcerated people’s suicides published between 2016 and 2021, in Scotland. We argue that the FAIs explicitly individualise incarcerated people’s suicides, deploying explanatory narratives of (1) mental illness, (2) social history and (3) problematic substance use, while (4) simultaneously emphasising and undermining incarcerated people’s testimony and agency. By conceptualising suicide as paradoxically ‘unforeseeable’ and ‘inevitable’, these narratives shift blame onto the individual while absolving the prison system. Our analysis contributes towards understanding of how institutional procedures are implicated in social scripts and practices around suicide in Scottish prisons.
Ocular surface complications in children undergoing general anaesthesia: A prospective observational study
Authors: El Hadi Dalia , Hoyeck Stephanie , Rachid Elza , El Moussawi Zeinab , Torbey Julien , Aouad Marie , Al-Haddad Christiane
Published: May 2024

Objective:

Ophthalmic complications frequently occur after procedures requiring general anaesthesia, but their incidence is widely variable and not well reported in the paediatric population. The aim was to identify the incidence and possible risk factors of postoperative ocular surface complications in a tertiary care centre.

Methods and Analysis:

This is a prospective study for paediatric patients undergoing general anaesthesia. An ophthalmologist performed the ocular examination after surgery. Parameters assessed were tear breakup time, punctate epithelial erosions and corneal abrasions. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to assess risk factors.

Results:

A total of 108 paediatric patients were recruited, 36.1% showed abnormal corneal finding: 32 (29.6%) had decreased tear breakup time, three (2.7%) had punctate epithelial erosions, three (2.7%) had both punctate epithelial erosions and decreased tear breakup time and one (0.9%) was found to have a unilateral corneal abrasion postoperatively. A higher rate of corneal complications was noted with younger age, prolonged surgery and surgery in the head and neck region.

Conclusion:

The rate of postoperative corneal abnormalities in children undergoing general anaesthesia was 36.1%, associated with younger age, prolonged surgery and surgery in the head and neck region.
An ecosystem of accepting life with chronic pain: A meta-ethnography
Authors: Macgregor Cassandra , Blane David N , Tulle Emmanuelle , Campbell Claire L , Barber Ruth J , Hill O-Connor Clementine , Seenan Christopher
Published: May 2024

Background

Chronic pain is a highly prevalent long-term condition, experienced unequally, impacting both the individual living with pain, and wider society. ‘Acceptance’ of chronic pain is relevant to improved consultations in pain care, and navigating an approach towards evidence-based, long-term management and associated improvements in health. However, the concept proves difficult to measure, and primary qualitative studies of lived experiences show complexity related to our socio-cultural-political worlds, healthcare experiences, and difficulties with language and meaning. We framed acceptance of chronic pain as socially constructed and aimed to conceptualise the lived experiences of acceptance of chronic pain in adults.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search and screening process, followed by qualitative, interpretive, literature synthesis using Meta-ethnography. We included qualitative studies using chronic pain as the primary condition, where the study included an aim to research the acceptance concept. We conducted each stage of the synthesis with co-researchers of differing disciplinary backgrounds, and with lived experiences of chronic pain.

Findings

We included 10 qualitative studies from Canada, Sweden, The Netherlands, Ireland, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Our ‘lines of argument’ include a fluid and continuous journey with fluctuating states of acceptance; language and meaning of acceptance and chronic pain, a challenge to identity in a capitalist, ableist society and the limits to individualism; a caring, supportive and coherent system. The conceptual framework of the meta-ethnography is represented by a rosebush with interconnected branches, holding both roses and thorns, such is the nature of accepting life with chronic pain.

Conclusion

Our findings broaden conceptualisation of ‘acceptance of chronic pain’ beyond an individual factor, to a fluid and continuous journey, interconnected with our socio-cultural-political worlds; an ecosystem.
Can mothers avoid guilt about their smartphone usage behavior? Effects of the availability norm and goal conflict on guilt, recovery, and accomplishment experiences
Authors: Halfmann Annabell , Wolfers Lara N. , Meeus Anneleen
Published: May 2024

Balancing everyday tasks with the expectations of others regarding one's availability via smartphone is a challenge, especially for mothers. This research replicated and further developed studies by Halfmann and colleagues in 2021 and 2024 that yielded contradictory results regarding the conditions of feelings of guilt about (not) using the smartphone. More specifically, we investigated how smartphone-related goal conflict, the availability norm, and the parental phone use norm are related to mothers’ feelings of guilt when completing non-stressful everyday tasks. In addition, we researched how smartphone-related goal conflict and guilt are linked with experiences of recovery and task accomplishment. Results from a preregistered experience sampling study among 227 mothers of young children were largely in line with our hypotheses. They revealed, among others, that frequent smartphone use was more strongly linked with guilt when mothers perceived high goal conflict. If the availability norm was salient, little smartphone use was associated with more guilt. The results also indicated that the availability norm partly legitimized frequent smartphone use despite goal conflict. Nevertheless, overall, the findings suggest that mothers tend to experience low levels of guilt about their smartphone usage behavior and that these feelings do not impair the recovery from tasks.
Challenges and pitfalls in diagnosing superior mesenteric artery syndrome: A case report
Authors: Soqia Jameel , Janoud Omran , Soukia Ali , Saadoun Rakan , Mousa Khaled
Published: May 2024

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a rare condition that causes duodenal obstruction due to compression by the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta. It can be related to congenital or acquired factors that reduce the aortomesenteric angle and distance. The clinical presentation is nonspecific and often mimics other causes of upper gastrointestinal obstruction. The diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion and a correlation of clinical symptoms with radiographic findings. We report a case of a 17-year-old female patient who presented with chronic abdominal pain, vomiting, and weight loss. She was diagnosed with superior mesenteric artery syndrome based on an abdominal computed tomography scan that showed a reduced aortomesenteric angle of 30° and a reduced aortomesenteric distance of 7 mm. She was treated conservatively with anticoagulation therapy, dietary modification, and physical activity. She reported symptom improvement and weight gain after 2 weeks of treatment. This case illustrates the challenges and pitfalls in diagnosing superior mesenteric artery syndrome.
A rare case of bilateral en plaque meningioma presenting as a bilateral exophthalmos. A case report
Authors: Lahlou Chaimae , Naggar Amine , Hadj Hssain Ihssane , Touarsa Firdaous , Fikri Meryem , Jidane Mohamed
Published: May 2024

En plaque meningioma is a rare type of meningioma characterized by an infiltrative nature, sheet-like growth, and at times invading the bone. We report here a case of en plaque meningioma. The patient was a 66-year-old woman presenting with headache and painful bilateral proptosis. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging revealed a bilateral en plaque meningioma showed as a bilateral hyperostotic of greater wing sphenoid bone associated with bilateral thickening and enhancement of the dura in the anterior temporal area and the retroclival region invading bilaterally the cavernous sinus, the prechiasmatic portion of the optic nerve, and the lateral rectus muscle of the orbit through the superior orbital fissure causing bilateral exophthalmia. Due to invasion of the cavernous sinus and the orbital apex, a subtotal but extensive removal combined with bony decompression of the cranial nerves at the superior orbital fissure and optic canal followed by adjuvant radiotherapy frequently produces good functional and cosmetic results, and over a 3-year period, follow-up magnetic resonance imaging scans showed no obvious signs of recurrence.
Successful management of coronary complications during percutaneous intervention: A case report
Authors: Shaikh Ghulam Abbas , Babar Abdul Bari , Yaqoob Samina , Rohail Samia , Uddin Naseer , Khan Muhammad Khuzzaim , Sam Stafford Jude , Zafar Noor Ul Huda , Shah Hussain Haider , Lashari Muhammad Nawaz
Published: May 2024

This case report delineates the complex management of a 65-year-old female with established diabetes, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease, who presented with refractory angina despite comprehensive medical management. Coronary angiography identified significant pathology in the right coronary artery alongside a previously placed, functioning stent in the left anterior descending artery. The intervention was complicated by the occurrence of a type B coronary artery dissection and a type III coronary perforation during an attempt to extract a stent. Immediate remedial measures, including balloon inflation and the placement of drug-eluting stents, were undertaken. The patient underwent a transient episode of collapse, from which she was successfully resuscitated. The concluding angiographic assessment confirmed the effective dilation of the lesion with no remaining dissection or perforation. This case accentuates the infrequent yet critical complications that can arise during percutaneous coronary intervention.
How Bright Is the Restorative Rainbow? The Experiences of Sexual/Affectual Minority Youth Within a Restorative School District
Authors: Smith Lance C. , Simpfenderfer Amanda , Knox Peter N. , Kervick Colby T. , Garnett Bernice R.
Published: May 2024

The widespread adoption of restorative practices in U.S. schools to address educational inequities has been significant. However, the existing literature on restorative practices lacks research regarding the impact of this approach on sexual/affectual minority students. In our study, we explore the experiences of sexual/affectual minority students in Grades 3–12 compared to heterosexual students within a school district implementing restorative practices. Our findings indicate that sexual/affectual minority students face more discrimination and feeling left out, and less sense of belonging in school, feeling supported by adults, and feeling valued in comparison to their heterosexual peers. They are also less likely to feel heard or safe during talking circles. The article reports on these findings and concludes by discussing the implications and recommendations for school counseling practice and future research.
We’re in This Together: Visible Social Support Actions in Virtual Teams Using Enterprise Social Media
Authors: Henry Michael S. , Parry Douglas A. , Le Roux Daniel B.
Published: May 2024

Enterprise social networks (ESNs) are a communication standard within virtual teams. Among other affordances, ESNs enable colleagues to provide each other with social support. In this paper, we analyzed the message logs of virtual teams in a large open-source software project to determine how virtual teams use ESNs to provide particular forms of social support to each other and, secondly, to determine how the visibility of these interaction patterns influences team functioning. Our findings reveal distinct ESN use patterns in relation to four types of social support, each described using a metaphor: a dynamic notice board for information sharing, a community of practice for teaching and knowledge sharing, a team huddle for emotional support, and a job board for instrumental support. The findings provide structure to the diverse set of social support actions in this context and identify the higher-order functions that the visibility of social support produces.
Efficacy of Benson's Relaxation Technique on Stress and Pain Among Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Abu Maloh Haya Ibrahim Ali , Soh Kim Lam , Chong Seng Choi , Ismail Siti Irma Fadhilah , Soh Kim Geok , Abu Maloh Dima Ibrahim , AbuRuz Mohannad Eid
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Stress and pain are high among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Benson's Relaxation technique affected a wide range of physical and psychological signs and symptoms among patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of Benson's Relaxation Technique in reducing stress and pain among patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

Materials and Methods

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted. A systematic literature search was carried out from 2000 to 2023. Searched databases included EBSCO-Host “Academic Search, Cochrane, CINAHL, Health Business, MEDLINE, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, SPORTDiscus”, PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines were conducted. RCTs were critically appraised using the Cochrane's Risk of Bias Tool. Four RCTs met the inclusion criteria and included in this review since they were applicable to practice.

Results

Four randomized controlled trials were identified supporting the use of Benson's relaxation technique as a nursing treatment in managing stress and pain among patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, as it achieved a significant decrease in stress and pain scores. The overall quality of the randomized controlled trials was judged to be low to relatively moderate.

Conclusions

Most of the randomized controlled trials lacked details on intervention adherence. It is recommended to conduct additional longitudinal randomized controlled trials in different countries with bigger sample sizes, to provide more evidence for generalizing outcomes.
Epidemiology of transient ischemic attack in the Normandy Stroke population-based study
Authors: Schneckenburger Romain , Boulanger Marion , Nehme Ahmad , Watrin Marguerite , Le Du Gwendoline , Guettier Sophie , Guittet Lydia , Touzé Emmanuel
Published: May 2024

Introduction:

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a frequent neurological emergency which management and definition have changed radically over the last 15 years. However, recent epidemiological studies of TIA are scarce. We report here on the impact of the shift from a time-based to a tissue-based definition of TIA on its incidence and risk of recurrence in a new population-based cohort with a high rate of patients investigated by MRI.

Materials and methods:

We prospectively included all TIAs that occurred between May 2017 and May 2021 from the Normandy Stroke Study, a population-based registry using multiple overlapping sources for exhaustive case identification in Caen la Mer area. TIAs were classified as either time-based (symptoms <24 h) or tissue-based (<24 h and no lesion on brain imaging). Attack and incidence rates were calculated, as was the 90-day ischemic stroke rate.

Results:

Five hundred and sixty-seven TIAs (549 single patients) were included, with 80.6% having a brain MRI. Four hundred and ten (72.3%) met the definition of tissue-based TIA. The age standardized attack (to the 2013 European population) rate was 39.5 (95% CI 35.7–43.5) and the age-standardized incidence rate (first ever cerebrovascular event) was 29.7 (95% CI 27.3–34.2). The overall recurrent stroke rate at 90 days was 2.7%, with no difference between patients with or without ischemic lesions on MRI.

Conclusion:

We found that the use of the tissue-based definition of TIA resulted in a 27.5% reduction in incidence as compared to the time-based definition, but had no impact on the 90-day stroke rate. The burden of TIA remains high, and is likely to increase as the population ages.
Youth employment amid successive crises and the low-carbon transition: The case of Εurozone coal regions
Authors: Krommyda Vasiliki , Gourzis Kostas , Gialis Stelios
Published: May 2024

Over the last decade, the EU has entered a phase of transition to a low-carbon economy, which has led to a decline in the competitiveness of coal. Despite efforts to restructure their energy sectors, coal regions continue to struggle with the lingering effects of the 2008/09 Global Crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic, which affect their economies and decarbonisation trajectories. In this context, the paper examines the role of youth in the local labour regimes (LLRs) of Eurozone coal regions. Drawing on perspectives of Geographical Political Economy and Political Ecology, the transition from coal to renewable energy is conceptualised as a new socio-ecological fix, reflecting capitalist mechanisms seeking novel avenues for profiting while maintaining established power asymmetries and inequalities. The study employs a mixed methods approach to examine the exacerbated structural challenges faced by youth. Firstly, by analysing secondary macroeconomic, (youth) employment and demographic data, key differences between the LLRs of the coal regions of six Eurozone countries are highlighted. Secondly, a qualitative analysis of Western Macedonia in Greece, one of the most lagging coal regions, is carried out. The analysis is based on primary data collected in focus groups and interviews with key informants, energy workers and locals in the period 2021-2022. Findings suggest that uneven development, labour flexibilisation, and lack of economic diversification hinder the entry of young people into the labour market and contribute to their out-migration from coal regions, thus the latters' role in shaping the changing energy landscape remains marginal.
An Anglosphere comparison of paramedicine regulatory frameworks and the influence on curricula: A descriptive comparative review
Authors: Weber Anthony , Devenish Scott , Lam Louisa
Published: May 2024

Paramedicine is a constantly evolving field, with paramedic education programmes needing to be adaptable to keep up with changes in the scope of practice. Regulatory frameworks are crucial in guiding university programmes, providing students with the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes necessary to be safe and competent practitioners. This study aimed to identify variations in regulatory structures, the factors that influence those variations, and how they influence curricula. A descriptive-comparative approach was taken to examine paramedic accreditation processes, curricula, and syllabi across five countries using a modified Brady's model and extending the Comparative Education model. The findings suggest that paramedic services, regulatory authorities, and tertiary institutions must adopt a multilateral approach to recognise paramedicine's evolving scope of practice. All three stakeholders are responsible for aligning regulatory frameworks with industry needs and providing curricula guidance to tertiary institutions. This approach will enable paramedic education programmes to remain relevant and adaptable to changes in the field, ensuring that graduates are safe and competent practitioners. In conclusion, this study highlights the need for a collaborative effort between paramedic services, regulatory authorities, and tertiary institutions to recognise paramedicine's evolving scope of practice. The need for recognition of this evolution in both regulatory frameworks and curricula is a significant concern, and a multilateral approach is required to address this issue. This study provides valuable insights into the factors that influence variations in regulatory structures and their influence on curricula.
In Situ Monitoring of Allylamine and 1,1,3,3-Tetramethyldisiloxane Reaction to Form 2,2,7,7-Tetramethyl-1-oxa-3-aza-2,7-disilacycloheptane Using Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Chen Xiaoyun , Rekken Brian , Telgenhoff Michael
Published: May 2024

The cyclic siloxazane, i.e., 2,2,7,7-tetramethyl-1-oxa-3-aza-2,7-disilacycloheptane (1), is a useful industrial intermediate that is challenging to produce. One method to synthesize 1 is through concurrent dehydrocoupling and hydrosilylation reactions between 1 and allylamine. This chemistry is highly exothermic and also generates a significant amount of H2. Raman spectroscopy was demonstrated to be an effective analytical method to track both reactions. It enables a safe reaction scale-up by monitoring the consumption of allyl groups and the silicon hydride (SiH) groups. Both functional groups could be readily quantified by using a solvent as an internal standard. It is found that the observed SiH signal can be attributed to an intermediate species, which would undergo a relatively slower hydrosilylation reaction. Interesting kinetics behavior is observed that leads to a mechanistic understanding of the catalyst's role in catalyzing the two elementary steps. The ability to track these moieties is critical to the development of a safe process that avoids accumulation of SiH intermediates.
Neoantigen landscape supports feasibility of personalized cancer vaccine for follicular lymphoma
Authors: Ramirez Cody A. , Becker-Hapak Michelle , Singhal Kartik , Russler-Germain David A. , Frenkel Felix , Barnell Erica K. , McClain Ethan D. , Desai Sweta , Schappe Timothy , Onyeador Onyinyechi C. , Kudryashova Olga , Belousov Vladislav , Bagaev Alexander , Ocheredko Elena , Kiwala Susanna , Hundal Jasreet , Skidmore Zachary L. , Watkins Marcus P. , Mooney Thomas B. , Walker Jason R. , Krysiak Kilannin , Gomez Felicia , Fronick Catrina C. , Fulton Robert S. , Schreiber Robert D. , Mehta-Shah Neha , Cashen Amanda F. , Kahl Brad S. , Ataullakhanov Ravshan , Bartlett Nancy L. , Griffith Malachi , Griffith Obi L. , Fehniger Todd A.
Published: May 2024

Personalized cancer vaccines designed to target neoantigens represent a promising new treatment paradigm in oncology. In contrast to classical idiotype vaccines, we hypothesized that “polyvalent” vaccines could be engineered for the personalized treatment of follicular lymphoma (FL) using neoantigen discovery by combined whole-exome sequencing (WES) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Fifty-eight tumor samples from 57 patients with FL underwent WES and RNA-seq. Somatic and B-cell clonotype neoantigens were predicted and filtered to identify high-quality neoantigens. B-cell clonality was determined by the alignment of B-cell receptor (BCR) CDR3 regions from RNA-seq data, grouping at the protein level, and comparison with the BCR repertoire from healthy individuals using RNA-seq data. An average of 52 somatic mutations per patient (range, 2-172) were identified, and ≥2 (median, 15) high-quality neoantigens were predicted for 56 of 58 FL samples. The predicted neoantigen peptides were composed of missense mutations (77%), indels (9%), gene fusions (3%), and BCR sequences (11%). Building off of these preclinical analyses, we initiated a pilot clinical trial using personalized neoantigen vaccination combined with PD-1 blockade in patients with relapsed or refractory FL (#NCT03121677). Synthetic long peptide vaccines targeting predicted high-quality neoantigens were successfully synthesized for and administered to all 4 patients enrolled. Initial results demonstrate feasibility, safety, and potential immunologic and clinical responses. Our study suggests that a genomics-driven personalized cancer vaccine strategy is feasible for patients with FL, and this may overcome prior challenges in the field. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT03121677.
Direct mineral content prediction from drill core images via transfer learning
Authors: Boiger Romana , Churakov Sergey V. , Ballester Llagaria Ignacio , Kosakowski Georg , Wüst Raphael , Prasianakis Nikolaos I.
Published: May 2024

Deep subsurface exploration is important for mining, oil and gas industries, as well as in the assessment of geological units for the disposal of chemical or nuclear waste, or the viability of geothermal energy systems. Typically, detailed examinations of subsurface formations or units are performed on cuttings or core materials extracted during drilling campaigns, as well as on geophysical borehole data, which provide detailed information about the petrophysical properties of the rocks. Depending on the volume of rock samples and the analytical program, the laboratory analysis and diagnostics can be very time-consuming. This study investigates the potential of utilizing machine learning, specifically convolutional neural networks (CNN), to assess the lithology and mineral content solely from analysis of drill core images, aiming to support and expedite the subsurface geological exploration. The paper outlines a comprehensive methodology, encompassing data preprocessing, machine learning methods, and transfer learning techniques. The outcome reveals a remarkable 96.7% accuracy in the classification of drill core segments into distinct formation classes. Furthermore, a CNN model was trained for the evaluation of mineral content using a learning data set from multidimensional log analysis data (silicate, total clay, carbonate). When benchmarked against laboratory XRD measurements on samples from the cores, both the advanced multidimensional log analysis model and the neural network approach developed here provide equally good performance. This work demonstrates that deep learning and particularly transfer learning can support extracting petrophysical properties, including mineral content and formation classification, from drill core images, thus offering a road map for enhancing model performance and data set quality in image-based analysis of drill cores.
Characterization of sexual maturity-associated N6-methyladenosine in boar testes
Authors: Zhang Pengfei , Zhang Fei , Sui Heming , Yang Xingyu , Ji Yiming , Zheng Shenghao , Li Wei , Cheng Kun , Wang Chonglong , Jiao Jun , Zhang Xiaodong , Cao Zubing , Zhang Yunhai
Published: May 2024

Background

The health and size of the testes are crucial for boar fertility. Testicular development is tightly regulated by epigenetics. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is a prevalent internal modification on mRNA and plays an important role in development. The mRNA m6A methylation in boar testicular development still needs to be investigated.

Results

Using the MeRIP-seq technique, we identify and profile m6A modification in boar testes between piglets and adults. The results showed 7783 distinct m6A peaks in piglets and 6590 distinct m6A peaks in adults, with 2,471 peaks shared between the two groups. Enrichment of GO and KEGG analysis reveal dynamic m6A methylation in various biological processes and signalling pathways. Meanwhile, we conjointly analyzed differentially methylated and expressed genes in boar testes before and after sexual maturity, and reproductive related genes (TLE4, TSSK3, TSSK6, C11ORF94, PATZ1, PHLPP1 and PAQR7) were identified. Functional enrichment analysis showed that differential genes are associated with important biological functions, including regulation of growth and development, regulation of metabolic processes and protein catabolic processes.

Conclusion

The results demonstrate that m6A methylation, differential expression and the related signalling pathways are crucial for boar testicular development. These results suggest a role for m6A modification in boar testicular development and provided a resource for future studies on m6A function in boar testicular development.
Relationship between visit-to-visit blood pressure variability and depressive mood in Korean primary care patients
Authors: Lee Ga Hee , Lee Jung Ah , Sunwoo Sung , Kim Young Sik
Published: May 2024

Background

High blood pressure variability (BPV) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and may be better prognostic factor than blood pressure. Depressive mood is a common symptom among patients visiting primary care. This study aimed to investigate the association between depressive mood and high BPV among Korean primary care patients.

Methods

The Family Cohort Study in Primary Care (FACTS), conducted from April 2009 to November 2017, utilized a prospective cohort of Korean primary care patients, with a median follow-up period of 7.25 years. Depressive mood was assessed as a score of 21 points or more on the Korean-type Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. BP was measured at the initial visit and first and second follow-up visit. Visit-to visit SBP variability was analyzed using four metrics: intra-individual standard deviation, coefficient of variation, variation independent of mean, and average real variability. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association of high BPV with depressive mood and other variables.

Results

Among 371 participants, 43 (11.6%) had depressive mood based on depression scores. Older age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.07) were associated with high SBP variability regardless of taking antihypertensive medication. Among participants taking antihypertensive medication, those with depressive mood had twice the risk of high SBP variability compared with those who did not (OR: 2.95, 95% CI: 1.06–8.20).

Conclusions

Depressive mood was associated with high visit-to-visit SBP variability in primary care patients taking antihypertensive medication, potentially indicating increased cardiovascular risk. Primary care physicians should therefore closely monitor BPV in patients with depressive symptoms and provide appropriate interventions.
Risk factors and management of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with or without antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy: a multicenter real-world prospective study
Authors: Hao Wenlin , Liu Anlei , Zhu Huadong , Yu Xuezhong , Chen Gang , Xu Jun
Published: May 2024

Background

Antiplatelet and anticoagulation drugs complicate acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) patients. Limited data about the risk factors and patient management has been presented. This study explored the association between previous antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug usage and clinical outcomes in GIB patients to improve awareness further and optimize treatment.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter, non-interventional, real-world prospective study in 106 hospitals in 23 provinces in China. GIB patients confirmed in the emergency department were included and were grouped according to previous drug histories. Univariate analysis, multivariate logistic regression, and multivariate stratification models were performed separately to investigate the associations.

Results

A total of 2299 patients (57.23 ± 17.21 years old, 68.3% male) were included, of whom 20.1% and 2.9% received antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy, respectively. The all-cause 28-day mortality rates in patients without antiplatelet or anticoagulants, patients undergoing antiplatelet treatment, and patients with anticoagulation therapy were 2.8%, 4.6%, and 10.5%, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, both antiplatelet [odd ratio (OR), 2.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.48–5.76; p = 0.002] and anticoagulation therapy (OR, 8.87; 95% CI, 3.02–26.02; p < 0.001) were associated with higher 28-day mortality. In the subgroup analysis, blood transfusion, especially red blood cell transfusion, in patients undergoing antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy was associated with a decreased death risk.

Conclusion

We confirmed an association between concurrent antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy in GIB patients and elevated 28-day mortality. Blood transfusions could improve poor outcomes in such patients.