bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collaborative mind mapping in RICOSRE learning model to improve students’ information literacy
Authors: Badriah Liah , Mahanal Susriyati , Lukiati Betty , Sari Murni Sapta
Published: December 2023

This research aimed to determine how the reading, identifying problem, constructing solution, solving problem, reviewing and extending problem solution (RICOSRE) learning model integration with collaborative mind mapping affects students’ information literacy in higher education institutions. This quasi-experimental study used a pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group design. There were 40 multiple-choice questions selected to assess student information literacy. All instruments have been validated and are reliable. The data were collected from 100 participants who were college students enrolled in the environmental pollution course of the biology education degree program at Siliwangi University, Indonesia. To analyze the research data, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used at a 5% level of significance, followed by the least significance difference (LSD) test. The ANCOVA results showed that the RICOSRE-CMM learning model impacted students’ information literacy. LSD scores were significantly different in terms of students’ information literacy. It can be concluded that the RICOSRE-CMM model could enhance each component of information literacy as these components have been integrated into the learning model syntax, which involves a series of information discovery and analysis processes during group work to find a solution to a problem.
Professional and personal traits of the teacher and the relationship with didactic strategies
Authors: Chamorro-Atalaya Omar , Gonzáles-Pacheco Anthony , Quipuscoa-Silvestre Manuel , Durán-Herrera Víctor , Suarez-Bazalar Raul , Vargas-Díaz Ademar , Villanueva-Acosta Víctor , Moreno-Chinchay Lilly
Published: December 2023

During the context of virtual classes due to the pandemic, it was evidenced that many teachers had to face accelerated adaptation stages, which is why teachers presented difficulties in designing their teaching strategies and students showed certain difficulties in their learning. In this sense, this article aims to determine how the professional and personal traits of the teacher are related to their teaching strategies, in the context of COVID-19, from the perspective of the students. For which an investigation was developed with a quantitative approach, correlational level and non-experimental design. It was determined that there is a moderate direct relationship between the professional and personal traits of the teacher with his didactic strategies in the context of virtual teaching. Thus, it was also identified that teachers do not pour their professional experiences into the development of the subject, additionally it does not favor the solution of problems related to real life applications; this leads teacher to reflect on the importance of the construction of student knowledge, especially if it is about subjects that are taught in the last cycles, since the student is waiting for how and in which processes their knowledge will be applied theoretical knowledge.
O samba nas nuvens: um disco de Paulinho da Viola (1971)
Authors: Schneider Victor Zamberlan
Published: December 2023

Este ensaio analisa o primeiro álbum lançado por Paulinho da Viola em 1971. O começo dos anos 70 é o auge da repressão da ditadura militar e vive-se o milagre econômico. Paulinho da Viola (1942-) é um compositor da música popular brasileira que sempre fez questão de deixar clara a importância da tradição do Samba para a sua obra. Uma escuta atenta deste álbum sugere um comportamento filosófico do eu lírico: espanto e perplexidade (thaumázein) diante de problemas concretos seguidos pela busca racional por um conceito que possibilite a compreensão destes problemas. Para aprofundar a discussão sobre este álbum e entender quais seriam estes problemas, este ensaio tenta relacionar a tradição filosófica ocidental com o Samba, ritmo negro de resistência coletiva.
Neuroenhancement Patentability and the Boundaries Conundrum in Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Vecellio Segate Riccardo
Published: December 2023

Patent offices worldwide deny patentability to innovations which stand against the ordre public: does enhancement represent a value-laden societal threat? Patent offices also reject applications for therapeutical methods: when is enhancement also a therapeutical method? One specific class of enhancers, i.e. pharmaceutical neuroenhancers, is particularly complex in this respect: certain molecules can potentially function both as treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders and as recreational enhancers for non-patients’ brain. Hence, the present work advances the debate on enhancement patentability in two directions: ratione loci, by scrutinising China’s stances on enhancement’s safety and morality, compared to the most frequently explored Western jurisdictions, namely the EU and the US; and ratione materiae, by illuminating the porous bioethical boundaries between treatment and enhancement in the domain of neuropsychiatry. It challenges patent offices’ de facto regulatory role in defining and policing citizens’ access to neuroenhancing substances through misplaced or pseudo-scientific intellectual-property narratives of innovativeness and morale.
The crux of wildlife trafficking in Nepal
Authors: Gaire Asmita , Acharya Krishna Prasad
Published: December 2023

Nepal is a biodiversity-rich country harboring endangered wildlife species. Despite commendable achievements in conserving charismatic wildlife species like the Tiger and Rhinoceros, Nepal is still a pivotal point for the illicit wildlife trade. In this perspective, we explore the current situation of wildlife poaching and smuggling, factors conducive to such activities, and present some minimum practitioner steps for what should be tried to prevent such a situation in Nepal.
“At Sea, At Odds, Astray, Adrift”: Linguistic Destabilization in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Self-Translated Novel Whereabouts
Authors: Wanner Adrian
Published: December 2023

This article compares the Italian original of Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel Dove mi trovo (2018) with the English self-translation, which was published in 2021 under the title Whereabouts. Lahiri claims that her embrace of Italian was a means to escape the alienation caused by her bilingual upbringing in Bengali and English. Paradoxically, this quest for wholeness was coupled with insecurity in Italian, a language in which Lahiri only achieved fluency in middle age. Self-translation puts this linguistic ambiguity to a new stress test. In the confrontation between Lahiri’s Italian-language and Anglophone selves, her English becomes affected by Italian calques, creating a hybridized language mirroring the author’s own hybrid linguistic consciousness.
Interpreting Observed Interactions between Near-Inertial Waves and Mesoscale Eddies
Authors: Conn Scott , Fitzgerald Joseph , Callies Jörn
Published: December 2023

The evolution of wind-generated near-inertial waves (NIWs) is known to be influenced by the mesoscale eddy field, yet it remains a challenge to disentangle the effects of this interaction in observations. Here, the model of Young and Ben Jelloul (YBJ), which describes NIW evolution in the presence of slowly evolving mesoscale eddies, is compared to observations from a mooring array in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. The model captures the evolution of both the observed NIW amplitude and phase much more accurately than a slab mixed layer model. The YBJ model allows for the identification of specific physical processes that drive the observed evolution. It reveals that differences in the NIW amplitude across the mooring array are caused by the refractive concentration of NIWs into anticyclones. Advection and wave dispersion also make important contributions to the observed wave evolution. Stimulated generation, a process by which mesoscale kinetic energy acts as a source of NIW potential energy, is estimated to be 20 μW m−2 in the region of the mooring array, which is two orders of magnitude smaller than the global average input to mesoscale kinetic energy and likely not an important contribution to the mesoscale kinetic energy budget in this region. Overall, the results show that the YBJ model is a quantitatively useful tool to interpret observations of NIWs.
Flexicurity and self-perceived work–life balance in the EU27: A repeated cross-sectional multilevel analysis
Authors: Ferent-Pipas Marina , Lazar Dorina
Published: December 2023

This study examines the relationship between flexicurity policies and work–life balance, addressing the research question ‘How do higher flexicurity efforts in a country relate to employee perceptions of work–life balance?’ The European Commission adopted flexicurity in 2007 and proposed employment quality as an expected outcome. Work–life balance, a dimension monitored as part of employment quality, has so far been assumed as an implicit outcome of flexicurity, but no empirical research is dedicated to the topic per se. In this article the authors construct a composite indicator to proxy for national flexicurity efforts following the European Commission’s guidelines. For work–life balance and other individual characteristics, the authors employ data on about 74,000 EU27 employees from the three latest waves of the European Working Conditions Survey. First, findings show that the between-country differences in work–life balance were narrower in 2015 compared to 2005. Second, the multilevel analysis suggests that the higher a country scores as regards its flexicurity policies, the likelier its citizens are to report having a work–life balance.
Handling the organizing paradox: A multiple case study of German cooperatives
Authors: Hartz Ronald , Tümpel Markus , Hühn Melanie , Rybnikova Irma
Published: December 2023

Cooperatives are seen as the bedrock of democratic control and an alternative to capitalist enterprises but also as sites of ‘degeneration’ of democratic values and hopes. In this article, the authors conceptualize that cooperatives are a prime example of a paradoxical organization, which must deal with the organizing paradox of democracy and hierarchy. Based on a multiple case study of 14 cooperatives in Germany, the authors unfold four different ways of handling this organizing paradox, ranging from upholding a grassroots democracy to seemingly uncontested forms of autocracy. Their typology demonstrates that participatory practices are not determined by the size of the cooperative or the sector in which it operates. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of participation and democracy as sensemaking devices, which fosters reflections on the organizing paradox and its handling and subsequently on the promises and pitfalls of cooperatives as ‘imperfect democracy’.
From right to might, and back: Functional legitimacy as a realist value
Authors: Burelli Carlo , Destri Chiara
Published: December 2023

For political realists, legitimacy is a central requirement for the desirability of political institutions. Their detractors contend that it is either descriptive, and thus devoid of critical potential, or it relies on some moralist value that realists reject. We defend a functionalist reading of realist legitimacy: descriptive legitimacy, that is, the capacity of a political institution to generate beliefs in its right to rule as opposed to commanding through coercion alone, is desirable in virtue of its functional role. First, descriptive legitimacy plays an evaluative role: Institutions can fail to convince citizens that they have a right to rule and can be ranked by how well they do so. Second, descriptive legitimacy plays a normative role, because if an institution fails to convince subjects of its right to rule, this gives them a reason not to comply with its directives, even if it satisfies philosophers’ standards for possessing such right.
Situational analysis and urban theory
Authors: Davidson Mark
Published: December 2023

Urban geographers have been pursuing divergent theoretical projects. Some have pushed urban theory to become ageographical, the goal being to search out and explain of a globally omnipotent urbanization process. Others have moved in a different direction, seeking to detail how singular constellations of processes produce only particular urban places. This theoretical divergence has led some to question whether middle-range urban theories continue to have purchase today. This paper seeks to contribute to this attempt to rekindle an interest in middle-range urban theory by examining the relevance of Karl Popper’s situational analysis to how we understand contemporary urbanization.
Motivations Behind Dog Walking in Older Adults: Insights From Guided Walks and Interviews
Authors: Shealy E. Carlisle , Teaster Pamela B. , Pearce Annie , Buechner-Maxwell Virginia , Freeze Alexandra
Published: December 2023

For many older adults, physical activity declines with age, contributing to chronic disease and social isolation. Companionship from dogs can help mitigate isolation and promote physical activity. Outdoor environments aligned with the abilities of older adults can encourage walking habits and socialization. To understand how neighborhood features influence dog walking, we adapted a Photovoice approach and photographed 12 older adults walking their dog. Photographs were presented during in-person interviews to facilitate discussions about environmental features. Thematic coding revealed that interactions with nature were key. Participants valued choices in walking path type and conveniently placed dog waste stations. Opportunities to socialize with neighbors were also important. Safety from falling, other animals, and motorized traffic were concerns but were not enough to prevent walking. Our findings suggest that walking environments intended for older adults with dogs should include experiences with nature, diverse path designs, and dog-specific amenities.
Procedural Justice and Police Legitimacy: Untangling the Effects of Racial and Ethnic Combinations Between the Police and Civilians
Authors: Li Luye , Sun Ivan Y.
Published: December 2023

In the 21st century, law enforcement agencies have increasingly realized the importance of police–civilian contacts in shaping public evaluations of legal authorities. Although many studies have revealed the Black–White racial disparities in public perceptions of the police, the impact of the nexus of civilian and officer race and ethnicity has rarely been adequately examined. Drawing upon a nationwide dataset, this study examined the effects of racial and ethnic combinations between the police and civilians on attitudes toward procedural justice and police legitimacy reported by 5,201 civilians who had recent encounters with police officers during traffic or pedestrian stops. The results showed a perception disparity regarding procedural justice and legitimacy among racial/ethnic combinations involving White, Black, and Hispanic civilians and officers. The nexus of Black-civilians–White-officers yielded the most negative effect. Hispanic civilians displayed more positive attitudes toward the police than their White counterparts. Procedural justice mediated the racial/ethnic effect on the perception of police legitimacy. Findings and policy implications are discussed.
Indirect Lip Lift With Modified Suspension Technique to Pyriform Ligament
Authors: Fakih-Gomez Nabil , Muñoz-Gonzalez Cristina , Dominguez-Medina David , Fakih-Gomez Ibrahim
Published: December 2023

The lip lift procedure has witnessed a surge in popularity in recent years due to its remarkable ability to bring about a substantial transformation in facial appearance through a minor surgical intervention. The primary objective of the procedure is to diminish the height of the philtrum, consequently enhancing the visibility of the teeth while leaving behind a minimal visible scar along the upper lip vermilion border. In this article, a series of refined modifications to the conventional subnasal technique are introduced. The approach entails the removal of a skin strip while preserving a subcutaneous cuff. This method incorporates central and laterally vectored deep-plane sub-superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS) advancement flaps, complemented by suspensions to the pyriform ligament. Furthermore, a sliding closure technique is introduced through the cuffs, and an enhanced skin suturing method is implemented. These substantial enhancements to the procedure result in a lasting elevation of the lip and a reduction in the visibility of unfavorable scarring. These modifications have emerged through an evolutionary process, driven by the pursuit to improve scar outcomes. The surgical techniques applied in this method effectively address the primary limitations of previous approaches, consistently yielding aesthetically pleasing results over the long term.
Preparation of berberine hydrochloride-Ag nanoparticle composite antibacterial dressing based on 3D printing technology
Authors: Chen Chen , Xie Maomei , Yan Yueling , Li Yongyuan , Li Zhiyao , Zhang Tong , Gao Zanyan , Deng Liyi , Wang Haixia
Published: December 2023

In recent years, Ag nanoparticle (Ag NP)-loaded antibacterial dressings have attracted much attention in high-level medical dressings. However, the high cytotoxicity of Ag NP has always been a problem. In this paper, we examined the improvement of antibacterial activity of berberine hydrochloride (BBR) with Ag NP, the results showed that the combined use of BBR and Ag NP can effectively reduce the dosage of Ag NP while ensuring the inhibition of bacterial growth, thus an intermediate layer dressing containing combined drugs were prepared. At the same time, the top dressing of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solid film and the PVA bottom dressings with three kinds of leakage structures were prepared by 3D printing technology. Three kinds of PVA bottom dressings showed high quality consistency, and the greater the number of leak holes, the higher the porosity value of the dressing, while the swelling ratio value of the bottom layer dressing with three holes was the lowest. Finally, three types of BBR-Ag NP composite antibacterial dressings (3D-BBR-Ag NP) can be obtained by self-assembling of the top dressing, the intermediate layer dressing, and the bottom dressings with three kinds of leakage structures. The cumulative drug release results showed that dressing with more holes had a faster drug release rate compared to the other two ones with fewer leakage holes. Besides, five drug release kinetic models were used to investigate the cumulative BBR release profiles for three types of 3D-BBR-Ag NP. And the three types of composite dressings showed strong antibacterial activity after 6 h of cultivation with staphylococcus aureus. The study showed that the antibacterial activity of the self-assembled dressing prepared by combination of BBR with Ag NP can be improved, and the drug release rate of the hydrogel dressing can be flexibly controlled through 3D printing technology.
Dynamics of structures coupled to particle-chain impact dampers: A parametric numerical analysis
Authors: Boussollaa C , Debut V , Antunes J , Fakhfakh T , Haddar M
Published: December 2023

Particle impact dampers are dissipative devices that can easily be coupled to structures in order to reduce vibrations over a wide frequency range and in adverse environmental conditions. In this work, a multiple-sphere chain impact damper is coupled to a cantilever beam in order to attenuate its flexural motions. This simple configuration was chosen to better understand the energy dissipation phenomena by the device when the beam is subjected to random excitations. In addition, a parametric study of the coupled system is conducted in order to assert optimal working conditions of the damper. This study is mostly based on a numerical model of the vibro-impacting system, which was calibrated based on an experimental rig. Firstly, the computational modal basis of the bare beam was experimentally identified, and then theoretically modified taking into account the mass of the container. Secondly, calibration of the impact model was achieved by fitting the parameters of the contact formulation with respect to sphere-dropping experiments. Finally, extensive parametric computations are presented and discussed. The vibratory responses are computed using a frequency banded Gaussian random excitation, for several values of the excitation amplitude, for an increasing number of spheres and for several values of the damper clearance. The numerical results concern the r.m.s. motion of the spheres and the beam, the r.m.s. spheres/beam contact forces, the average mechanical and dissipated energies by the beam modes and the damper, as well as the effective beam modal parameters when fitted with the damper, which are essential results for understanding these damping devices. Finally, the numerical results are reduced into relevant dimensionless parameters, which prove reasonably effective in collapsing the dynamical data from such a highly nonlinear system. The present study thus highlights interesting essential features on the dynamics of structures coupled to multiple particle vibro-impact dampers under random excitation.
A meta-analysis of immunogenicity and safety of two versus single-doses of influenza A (H1N1) vaccine in person living with HIV
Authors: Zhang Teng , Geng Juan , Du Yazhe , Yang Haiyan , Jin Yuefei , Chen Shuaiyin , Duan Guangcai
Published: December 2023

Purpose: Influenza vaccination of person living with HIV (PLWH) is a powerful means to tackle severe clinical outcomes. Few data on two doses of influenza vaccine in PLWH are available.

Research Design: To evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of two doses of vaccine as compared with single dose in PLWH, we searched Pubmed, Embase, and web of science databases for relevant articles (January 2009 to April 2023). Pooled SMD or RR and 95% CI were calculated.

Results: A total of 2436 participants from 14 studies were included. Compared to single dose influenza vaccine regimen, the pooled RR of seroprotection and seroconversion for two doses of vaccines was 1.14 (95%CI: 1.08–1.21) and 1.25 (95%CI: 1.16–1.34), respectively; the SMD of GMT was 0.42 (95%CI: 0.35, 0.49). Regarding safety, the fever risk in PLWH receiving two doses of vaccine was 3.42 fold higher than that of single dose vaccine, and the risk of myalgia had a quarter reduction. No serious vaccine-related adverse events were reported.

Conclusions: Collectively, two doses of the vaccine are associated with a better immunogenicity and an acceptable safety in PLWH. Two doses of the adjuvant vaccination might be a superior vaccination regimen.nation regimen.
Systematic Framework for Esports Training: Informing eSports Training with the Learning Sciences
Authors: Chang Yoo Kyung , Chen Keying , Li Ziyue
Published: December 2023

Intro

With the rapid expansion of the esports industry, many esports training programs and academies have emerged. According to research, esports may lead to cognitive, metacognitive, academic and professional competencies if appropriately supported (Adachi & Willoughby, 2013). However, there is no systematic curriculum or guidance on how to identify and support these competencies through esports training.

Methods

This paper conducts a systematic review of literature from the learning sciences to provide a systematic rubric of competencies and instructional approaches to support them through esports training. The competencies that may be supported through esports are mapped along the game design principles as categorized along Mechanics, Dynamics, and Aesthetics (MDA) framework. Current training programs were analyzed to identify training approaches that can support these competencies across different contexts.

Results

There is a wide range of cognitive, self-regulation, social, academic, and career competencies that were found to be supported through video games. However, the development of such competencies depend on the availability of the learning opportunities and appropriate support provided to engage these opportunities, thus requiring a systematic framework for esports training. The training approaches that can be implemented to support diverse competencies from esports training, whether amateur or professional, are varied in modality, style, and structure.

Conclusion

The goal of this study is to inform the esports industry more largely, as well as the trainers, researchers, and designers with systematic and research-informed approaches to support future esports athletes, both professional and amateurs. Learning from the traditional field of athletic training, esports training should take more systematic approaches to design training curriculum and programs, as well as preparing the trainers.
Continuous Electrocardiographic Monitoring for 24 Hours Before Death in Patients with Terminal Cancer
Authors: Sato Ko , Baba Mika , Morita Tatsuya , Masukawa Kento , Shima Yasuo , Tsuneto Satoru , Kizawa Yoshiyuki , Miyashita Mitsunori
Published: December 2023

Background

Purposeless physiological monitoring at the end-of-life is not recommended. However, studies on how families feel regarding the death of patients with terminal cancer without continuous electrocardiographic monitoring (CEM) are lacking.

Objectives

To explore the impact on the quality of care and the feelings and psychological distress experienced by families when CEM is not used during the 24 hours preceding a patient’s death.

Methods

In this multicenter cross-sectional, self-report questionnaires were distributed to 1087 bereaved families at Japanese specialized palliative care units in 2018.

Results

Out of 671 responses, 394 valid responses were analyzed. Families of nonmonitored patients (NM-group) accounted for 79.2%, while those with bedside electrocardiogram monitoring (MB-group) and remote nurse station monitoring (MC-group) comprised 11.9% and 8.9%, respectively. In the NM-group, 85.5% expressed satisfaction without CEM, which was more than 10% lower than other groups. While 14% in the NM-group desired patient monitoring, families who received adequate explanations about CEM had lower proportions compared to the MB-group ( P = .021). Univariate analyses showed no significant differences in evaluations of the quality of care and families’ psychological distress (mean scores of Overall Care Satisfaction, Care Evaluation Scale, Good Death Inventory, Brief Grief Questionnaires) across all groups.

Conclusion

While the majority of NM-group were satisfied with their patient’s care without CEM, the proportion of dissatisfied families was higher than in other groups. Although not using CEM is not a major hindrance to end-of-life care for patients with terminal cancer, providing sufficient explanations may be important for satisfactory care.
Translating the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Principles into Specific Practices to Help Business Communication Students Innovate
Authors: Parcha Joshua M.
Published: December 2023

Business communication students should be taught how to innovate because the ability to do so is an important skill for business success. Despite knowing that business communication students need to learn how to innovate, instructors are not always equipped with the proper tools to teach students how to innovate based on sound principles. This article provides one such tool by translating the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) principles into specific practices designed to help students innovate. By understanding these practices, instructors will be well-equipped to foster student innovation in their own classrooms based on SoTL principles.
Establishing the Economic Sustainability Criteria for Assessing Tenders in the Procurement of Building Works
Authors: Amoako Sarpong Frederick , Kissi Ernest , Acheamfour Victor Karikari , Abu Ivy Maame , Eluerkeh Kenneth
Published: December 2023

As the global construction industry expands, it is imperative to prioritize economic sustainability due to the consequential effect on procurement practices. The procurement of building works, a pivotal phase in the realization of construction projects, requires a comprehensive framework to assess tenders that emphasise economic viability and align with sustainability principles. While traditional procurement processes primarily focus on cost considerations, the contemporary construction landscape necessitates a paradigm shift towards sustainable practices encompassing the economic dimension. Several studies have been conducted on public procurement and sustainability. Nevertheless, most of these studies focused on the environmental side of sustainability, leaving the social and economic dimensions unexplored. Hence, this study explores the sustainable economic criteria for assessing tenders in procuring building works. The study adopted the mixed research method; therefore, qualitative and quantitative data were employed in collecting the data for the study. The analysis deduced that the criteria for assessing the economic sustainability of tenders were categorized into management-related, technical, and commercial-related criteria, with the most significant variables being competitiveness, resource management skills, resource requirement assessment and profitability. The study’s findings can potentially influence the assessment tenders of construction firms for building works. Thus, it suggested that the management practices of the bidders must be thoroughly evaluated as it is a crucial factor in ensuring economic sustainability from the onset of the project processes. This study presents a novel to ascertain the criteria for assessing the sustainable economy of tenders in procuring building works in the Ghanaian Construction Industry. The results of this study can be a source of data to guide the evaluation of tenders in the construction industry in Ghana and other developing countries within the Sub-Saharan Region.
Evaluation of the effects of mono or combined use of topical antiglaucomatous drops on conjunctival flora and antibiotic susceptibility
Authors: Ekici Gok Zarife , Gunduz Ayten , Bozgül Penpe Gül
Published: December 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the effects of mono or combined use of topical antiglaucomatous drops (AGD) on conjunctival flora and antibiotic susceptibility.

Methods

The study group consisting of 84 glaucoma patients using AGDs and 32 healthy controls were evaluated. Groups were formed according to the use of 1, 2 and 3 AGDs. A swab was taken from the conjunctival sac from each patient and cultures were made. Patients with conjunctival hyperemia were classified according to their appearance.

Results

The mean age was 58.61 ± 14.55 years. Conjunctival culture positivity was 84.37%, 89.28% and 90.6% according to the use of 1, 2, and 3 AGDs, respectively, and it was 93.75% in the control group. Staphylococcus hominis (S. hominis) was statistically significantly higher in all glaucoma patients compared to healthy volunteers ( p = .030). S. hominis was significantly higher especially in those using 2 (42.85%) and 3 (50%) AGDs, compared to those who received mono treatment (31.25%). Candida spp. was also significantly higher in glaucoma patients ( p = .039). In patients with conjunctival hyperemia in glaucoma patients, the most common two bacteria were S. hominis (55.5%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) (33%), respectively. In the relationship between isolated bacterial species and conjunctival hyperemia grades, Bacillus spp. ( p = .013) was statistically significant. In glaucoma patients, norfloxacin and erythromycin resistance were found to be statistically significantly higher compared to the control group ( p = .01).

Conclusion

Considering the statistically significant increase in isolates in all glaucoma patients, we suggest that more care should be taken in terms of infection in surgical procedures planned for glaucoma patients
What is the most appropriate comparator group to use in assessing the performance of primary total hip prostheses within the community?
Authors: Ghadirinejad Khashayar , Graves Stephen , de Steiger Richard , Pratt Nicole , Solomon Lucian B , Taylor Mark , Hashemi Reza
Published: December 2023

Background:

There are variations in the performance of individual prostheses used in hip replacements. Some of which have unexpectedly higher revision rates – outliers. The Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR) has established a standardised multi-stage approach for identifying these devices. This is done by comparing the revision rates of individual prostheses to all other prostheses in class, with the exception of large head metal-on-metal (LHMoM) prostheses. However, improvements in device design and performance over time have required a need to reconsider the comparator group. This study aimed to identify a more specific comparator to better reflect contemporary surgical practice.

Methods:

The time to first revision was estimated on the data of 413,417 primary total conventional hip replacements undertaken for osteoarthritis (OA) from 01 January 2003 to 31 December 2019. Survivorship analyses with stepwise exclusions were undertaken. The first exclusion was LHMoM, followed by other non-modern bearing surfaces (defined as all the bearing couples except metal or ceramic heads on cross-linked polyethylene and mixed ceramic-on-ceramic), and then devices with modular neck-stem design or used for specific purposes (incl. constrained, dual-mobility, and head size <28 mm). Lastly, all remaining prostheses previously identified as having a higher than anticipated rate of revision (HTARR) were also excluded.

Results:

These exclusions progressively reduced the cumulative percent revision (CPR) rate. The final comparator, which only includes satisfactory-performed prostheses of contemporary design and use, has a 10-year CPR of 4.30% (95% CI, 4.2–4.41) which is lower than 4.93% (95% CI, 4.84–5.02) for the current comparator used by the AOANJRR (all prostheses excluding LHMOM). Over the study period, 13 additional components were identified utilising the modified comparator.

Conclusions:

The calculation of the comparator revision rate should be re-evaluated to include only modern prosthesis constructs to ensure that poorly performing prostheses are identified early.
Does it matter to have rapport and social interaction on a group tour?
Authors: Fatima Johra Kayeser
Published: December 2023

With rapport building growing in significance, this investigation of its role in attitude and behavioural intention in the group tour context used a multi-methods approach (a video experiment, a photo experiment and a survey). Group attentiveness was also examined as a moderator in the attitude–behavioural intention relationship. Three studies were conducted on the Australian tourism industry in which group tours are common. The first study (a video experiment) and the second study (a photo experiment) were conducted with participants living in Canberra, Australia, while the third survey-based study was conducted on domestic tourists visiting anywhere in Australia on a group tour for the purpose of generalisation. Results from the partial least squares method confirmed the crucial role of rapport in developing a positive attitude and behavioural intention, with the combined effect of rapport and social interaction higher than their individual impacts. Group attentiveness was also found to be a significant moderator.
Europe around the corner? How border proximity and quality of government explains European identity
Authors: Bauhr Monika , Charron Nicholas
Published: December 2023

Do citizens that live close to the border of another European country feel more European? We suggest that border proximity affects European identity formation, but that the positive effect of border proximity is confined largely to areas where citizens live close to regions with better quality of government and lower levels of corruption. Using our newly collected individual level and post-coded data from the most recent wave of the European Quality of Government survey, covering over 129,000 respondents in all 27 European Union member countries, we show that citizens that live close to the border of another country express a stronger European identity, all things being equal. Yet the effect is driven largely by citizens that live adjacent to regions with relatively higher/lower quality of government compared to their own region. Our study thereby contributes to a closer understanding of where and why citizens become attached to Europe, and if and how benchmarking institutional performance and quality of government affect citizens’ willingness to belong to, and identify with, Europe.
Strategies and factors to enhance active participation of family caregivers of people with dementia in psychoeducation: A scoping review
Authors: Chan Hoi Man , Ho Ken Hok Man , Pang Rebecca Cho Kwan , Chan Helen Yue Lai
Published: December 2023

Psychoeducation with an active participation component is effective in facilitating family caregivers of people living with dementia to learn about the disease and gain relevant caregiving skills. However, research into the best strategies to promote active participation has received little attention, and the factors hindering active participation are also unknown. Therefore, the nine-stage framework of the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews was adopted to map and identify information about the active participation of family caregivers of people living with dementia in psychoeducation. The search criteria focused on identifying primary research studies and grey literature relevant to psychoeducation with active participation that had the family caregivers of community dwelling people living with dementia as the target population. Two reviewers independently screened and selected items from the literature. Content analysis was conducted to thematically synthesise strategies mentioned in 29 articles published from 2011 and 2021. Content analysis revealed six strategies that promoted active participation: (1) the involvement of interventionist and qualifications; (2) the teaching and learning methods used to conduct psychoeducation with active participation; (3) tailoring the contents and formats to the experiences, preferences, and resources of the caregivers; (4) collaborating with caregivers; (5) facilitating sharing and support between peers; and (6) providing experiential learning opportunities. Two factors hindering active caregiver participation were negative caregiver emotions and cultural taboos. This review offers ideas for evidence-based practices that can be used by health and social care providers when planning psychoeducation with active participation for the family caregivers of people living with dementia.
Linguacultural and cognitive aspects of teaching the language of Kazakh legends
Authors: Zakirova Assel , Maigeldiyeva Sharban , Tuyakbayev Gabit
Published: December 2023

The relevance of the study lies in the fact that, in the information society, people are beginning to forget their roots, traditions, values and cultural origins, which have been formed throughout the history of the country's formation. Restoration of the lost through the study of folklore (tales, fairy tales, epics, proverbs, sayings, etc.) can revitalise the historical and cultural legacies of the past and advance global comprehension. In this regard, this article is aimed at defining the basic principles and approaches to teaching the language of Kazakh legends and other folklore works. The leading methods for studying this problem are the methods of analysis, classification, deduction, synthesis, generalization and comparison of results, which will help to study the issue of the linguistic, cultural and cognitive impact of the learning process of the language of Kazakh legends. Folklore genre studies’ features are outlined, and their salient features are emphasised; conducted a thorough literature analysis and elucidated the fundamental ideas of teaching legends; strategies, tactics, and ways to improve students’ reading comprehension in the context of teaching folklore were found.
The Effects of Marijuana Legalization on NCAA Men's Basketball Recruiting
Authors: Evans Brent A. , Clark Christopher , Pitts Joshua D.
Published: December 2023

Over the past two decades, attitudes toward marijuana usage have softened. This shift in sentiment coincided with reduced punishments, decriminalization, and in some states, legalization. We find evidence of unexpected consequences of marijuana legalization. Using difference-in-difference estimation, we show that legalization correlates with recruiting outcomes in NCAA D1 sports. Specifically, legalization appears to improve basketball recruiting outcomes for in-state colleges but hurts recruiting outcomes for football programs. Since collegiate athletics are directly correlated with revenues and may affect the number of general applications that a university receives, our results reveal a channel through which marijuana laws could impact post-secondary education.
The perceived influence of menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on training and performance: Comparison between football, handball, and orienteering
Authors: Ekenros Linda , von Rosen Philip , Solli Guro S , Sandbakk Øyvind , Holmberg Hans-Christer , Hirschberg Angelica L , Fridén Cecilia
Published: December 2023

Recently, we published self-reported data concerning the perceived effects of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on the training and performance of 1086 female athletes participating in 57 sports. However, studies comparing differences between sports with large sample sizes are lacking. The aim of this ancillary study was to compare the impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on training and performance between the three largest sports in the cohort, that is, football, handball, and orienteering, as well as the knowledge and support provided to the female athletes engaged in these sports. The results are from a web-based questionnaire completed by 312 football players, 243 handball players, and 93 orienteers. A total of 54% of the orienteers planned their training based on the menstrual cycle, which was a higher proportion compared to football (45%) and handball (29%) players ( p < 0.05). Fewer football players believed that the menstrual cycle had an impact on their performance during training and competition compared to the two other sports. A high proportion of the athletes used hormonal contraceptives in all three sports, but a lower proportion of the orienteers (40%) used hormonal contraceptives compared to football (76%) and handball players (66%) ( p < 0.05). Football and handball players received overall more support than orienteers, and the support was mostly provided by a physiotherapist and/or a strength and conditioner coach besides the main coach. These findings demonstrate that the perceived influence of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on training and performance differs between endurance athletes in orienteering compared to team-sport athletes in football and handball.
Validation, performance, and reliability of two automated tests for vitamin B12 and folate assay
Authors: Bianciardi Simone , Tesi Giulia , Cerutti Helena , Cartocci Alessandra , Guerranti Roberto , Silvestrini Caterina , Gori Sabrina , Bandini Tommaso , Brogi Alessandra , Leoncini Roberto
Published: December 2023

Background:

Deficiency of Vitamin B12 and folate may determine hematological, neurological, and metabolic alterations; therefore, an accurate quantification of their serum levels is required, especially in the presence of symptoms that might suggest a deficiency. CHORUS VIT B12 and CHORUS FOLATE are two automated immunoassays, developed to quantify vitamin B12 and folate, respectively, in human serum.

Design and methods:

This single-center, non-pharmacological, diagnostic study described the validation and characterization of CHORUS VIT B12 and CHORUS FOLATE, with a specific focus on performance, precision, and reliability. For each assay, 500 serum samples were analyzed. A comparison between CHORUS assays and commercially available kit was also performed.

Results:

For CHORUS VIT B12 the lower limit of quantification (LLoQ) was 165.0 pg/mL and the upper LoQ (ULoQ) was 1846.8 pg/mL. The assay was linear within the calibration range (150–2000 pg/mL) and the accuracy was described with the International Standard Vitamin B12, Serum Folate, HOLO TC (NIBSC code: 03/178), with a mean recovery on two lots of 111%. For CHORUS FOLATE (calibration range of 2.0–20.0 ng/mL), LLoQ was 2.0 ng/mL and ULoQ 19.6 ng/mL. The linearity was demonstrated from 2.4 to 20.0 ng/mL; the accuracy was described with the International Standard mentioned above, achieving a mean recovery on three lots of 92%. The lowest and highest values of both CHORUS and COBAS kits were similar and the median values did not significantly vary.

Conclusion:

CHORUS VIT B12 and CHORUS FOLATE performed well, accurately, and reliably in quantifying vitamin B12 and folate in human serum.
Comprehensive management of umbilical endometriosis using a unique laparoscopic entry portal (Darwish point) and postoperative dienogest
Authors: Darwish Atef , Darwish Dina AM , Fathi Mohamed , Elmahdi Hoda
Published: December 2023

Umbilical endometriosis, although relatively rare, has been described with plenty of case reports and case series available in the literature. Surgical excision has been the preferred mode of treatment, with or without excision of the umbilicus. Few cases described laparoscopically assisted excision but lacked descriptions of a safe alternative non-umbilical laparoscopy entry portal, management of possible concomitant intraperitoneal lesions, and aesthetic umbilicus repair. The aim of this work is to describe a modified technique of laparoscopically assisted excision of umbilical endometriosis and treat concomitant intraperitoneal lesions via a new laparoscopic entry portal with aesthetic preservation of the umbilicus. Successful complete excision of the mass with aesthetic preservation of the umbilicus followed by 3 months of Dienogest therapy resulted in complete resolution of the mass. It is concluded that utilizing “Darwish point” for abdominal access to excise umbilical endometriosis and treat concomitant intraabdominal lesions, offers smart abdominal access with aesthetic umbilicus repair. Moreover, postoperative hormonal treatment (Dienogest) is helpful to ensure a better cure.
Neonatal Jaundice Management: Improving Clinical Knowledge of Jaundice for Improved Attitudes and Practices to Enhance Neonatal Care
Authors: Dzantor Edem Kojo , Serwaa Dorcas , Abdul-Mumin Alhassan
Published: December 2023

Neonatal jaundice is a common medical condition that affects neonates in the early days of life. Nurses and midwives play important role in the identification and management of neonatal jaundice and the promotion of good neonatal health and education. Their clinical knowledge of neonatal jaundice may influence their attitude and practices toward the identification and management of neonatal jaundice. The study results showed that the level of good knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward neonatal jaundice management was 69.30% (140/202), 64.90% (131/202), and 62.90% (127/202), respectively. The inferential statistics showed a positive association between good knowledge and attitudes toward neonatal jaundice and good practices of neonatal jaundice management. Suggestively, nurses and midwives who have and demonstrate better clinical knowledge and exhibit positive attitudes are more likely to implement appropriate practices for the management of neonatal jaundice. Healthcare providers should therefore invest in life-long learning activities for staff, especially in the study setting.