bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Menstrual Hygiene Practices and its Predictors Among Young Women in India: Findings from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–2021)
Authors: Karjee Swagata , Biswas Prites Chandra
Published: April 2023

Introduction

India is moving towards menstrual hygienic practices. However, using unhygienic menstrual absorbents is still a reproductive health concern among women in India.

Objective

This study investigates the prevalence of menstrual hygiene practices by geographical location and socio-economic factors among women in India.

Materials and Methods

National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) (2019–2021) data were utilized to fulfill the study objectives. The study participant included 241,180 young women aged 15–24 years. A bivariate chi-square test was applied to present the percentage distribution of menstrual hygienic practices. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the predictors linked with hygienic practices related to menstruation.

Results

About 77% of the women used hygienic absorbents to protect menstrual bloodstains in India. The menstrual hygienic practices are significantly lower in the improvised states of central and eastern India. Multivariable analysis reveals that higher educated women (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 5.36; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.18–6.87) residing in the richest quintile households (AOR: 6.17; 95% CI: 4.61–8.26) have a higher probability of hygienic practices related to menstruation. Besides, higher autonomy and mass media exposure are positively associated with hygiene practices.

Conclusion

The study findings recommend opportunities for reproductive education among women, offering financial incentives, and improving women’s empowerment may increase menstrual hygienic practices. Additionally, interventions should focus on socioeconomically poor women to increase the use of sanitary napkin. Interventions should also focus on marginalized women to increase the use of sanitary napkin.
Squamosal Craniosynostosis Associated with Rickets
Authors: Swift Clarice A. , Weaver Kristin J. , Shiflett J. Mason , Humphries Laura S. , Hoppe Ian C.
Published: April 2023

Rickets results from defective bone mineralization, leading to skeletal deformities. Among those deformities, rickets has been associated with craniosynostosis, the premature closure of cranial sutures. Most of these patients have fusion of major sutures. Rarely, squamosal craniosynostosis in association with rickets has been described. Squamosal craniosynostosis is noted as lacking a definitive head abnormality and difficult visualization on standard imaging modalities, leading to poor recognition. Careful attention should be given to rickets patients to monitor for these unusual suture closures. Additionally, craniosynostosis could be a presenting feature of rickets, and further rickets evaluation of the patient is indicated.
BDNF: New Views of an Old Player in Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Giesler Lauren P. , Mychasiuk Richelle , Shultz Sandy R. , McDonald Stuart J.
Published: April 2023

Traumatic brain injury is a common health problem affecting millions of people each year. BDNF has been investigated in the context of traumatic brain injury due to its crucial role in maintaining brain homeostasis. Val66Met is a functional single-nucleotide polymorphism that results in a valine-to-methionine amino acid substitution at codon 66 in the BDNF prodomain, which ultimately reduces secretion of BDNF. Here, we review experimental animal models as well as clinical studies investigating the role of the Val66Met single-nucleotide polymorphism in traumatic brain injury outcomes, including cognitive function, motor function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and nociception. We also review studies investigating the role of BDNF on traumatic brain injury pathophysiology as well as circulating BDNF as a biomarker of traumatic brain injury.
Moral Identity and the Acquisition of Virtue: A Self-Regulation View
Authors: Krettenauer Tobias , Stichter Matt
Published: April 2023

The acquisition of virtue can be conceptualized as a self-regulatory process in which deliberate practice results in increasingly higher levels of skillfulness in leading a virtuous life. This conceptualization resonates with philosophical virtue theories as much as it converges with psychological models about skill development, expertise, goal motivation, and self-regulation. Yet, the conceptualization of virtue as skill acquisition poses the crucial question of motivation: What motivates individuals to self-improve over time so that they can learn from past experience, correct mistakes, and expand their ethical knowledge to new and unfamiliar circumstances? In this paper, it is argued that the motivation to increase one’s level of skillfulness in leading a virtuous life is supported by a specific identity goal, namely the goal to be a moral person. However, this moral identity goal needs to carry specific goal characteristics in order to effectively provide this motivation. It needs to be sufficiently abstract, internally motivated and promotion- rather than prevention-oriented. Research in developmental psychology suggests that the moral identity of children is rather concrete, externally motivated, and prevention-oriented. With development, higher levels of abstraction, internal motivation, and promotion-orientation gain importance providing an important motivational basis for a self-regulated process of virtue acquisition.
Macro-iterativity: A Qualitative Multi-arc Design for Studying Complex Issues and Big Questions
Authors: Hoon Christina , Baluch Alina M.
Published: April 2023

The impact and relevance of our discipline's research is determined by its ability to engage the big questions of the grand challenges we face today. Our central argument is that we need innovative methods that engage large-scope phenomena, not least because these phenomena benefit from going beyond individual study design. We introduce the concept of macro-iterativity which involves multiple iterations that move between, and link across, a set of research cycles. We offer a multi-arc research design that comprises the discovery arc and extension arc and three extension logics through which scholars can combine these arcs of inquiry in a coherent way. Based on this research design, we develop a roadmap that guides scholars through the four steps of how to engage in multi-arc research along with the main techniques and outputs. We argue that a multi-arc design supports the move toward more generative theorizing that is required for researching problems dealing with the complex issues and big questions of our time.
Young adults with depression: A registry-based longitudinal study of work-life marginalisation. The Norwegian GP-DEP study
Authors: Hetlevik Øystein , Smith-Sivertsen Tone , Haukenes Inger , Ruths Sabine , Baste Valborg
Published: April 2023

Aims:

To explore the association between a depression diagnosis in young adulthood and risk of marginalisation at age 29 years, among those who had completed upper secondary school and those who had not completed at age 21.

Methods:

In a longitudinal cohort study based on nationwide registers we followed 111,558 people from age 22–29 years. Outcomes were risk of marginalisation and educational achievement at age 29. Exposure was a diagnosed depression at ages 22–26 years. Comorbid mental and somatic health conditions, gender and country of origin were covariates. Relative risks were estimated with Poisson regression models, stratified by educational level at age 21.

Results:

For people who had not completed upper secondary school at age 21 years, a depression diagnosis at age 22–26 increased the risk of low income (relative risk = 1.33; 95% confidence interval = 1.25–1.40), prolonged unemployment benefit (1.46; 1.38–1.55) and social security benefit (1.56; 1.41–1.74) at age 29 compared with those with no depression. Among those who had completed upper secondary school at age 21 years, depression increased the risk of low income (1.71; 1.60–1.83), prolonged unemployment benefit (2.17; 2.03–2.31), social security benefit (3.62; 2.91–4.51) and disability pension (4.43; 3.26–6.01) compared with those with no depression. Mental comorbidity had a significant impact on risk of marginalisation in both groups.

Conclusions:

Depression in one’s mid-20s significantly increases the risk of marginalisation at age 29 years, and comorbid mental health conditions reinforce this association. Functional ability should be given priority in depression care in early adulthood to counteract marginalisation.
Programming techniques for improving rule readability for rule-based information extraction natural language processing pipelines of unstructured and semi-structured medical texts
Authors: Ladas Nektarios , Borchert Florian , Franz Stefan , Rehberg Alina , Strauch Natalia , Sommer Kim Katrin , Marschollek Michael , Gietzelt Matthias
Published: April 2023

Background

Extraction of medical terms and their corresponding values from semi-structured and unstructured texts of medical reports can be a time-consuming and error-prone process. Methods of natural language processing (NLP) can help define an extraction pipeline for accomplishing a structured format transformation strategy.

Objectives

In this paper, we build an NLP pipeline to extract values of the classification of malignant tumors (TNM) from unstructured and semi-structured pathology reports and import them further to a structured data source for a clinical study. Our research interest is not focused on standard performance metrics like precision, recall, and F-measure on the test and validation data. We discuss how with the help of software programming techniques the readability of rule-based (RB) information extraction (IE) pipelines can be improved, and therefore minimize the time to correct or update the rules, and efficiently import them to another programming language.

Methods

The extract rules were manually programmed with training data of TNM classification and tested in two separate pipelines based on design specifications from domain experts and data curators. Firstly we implemented each rule directly in one line for each extraction item. Secondly, we reprogrammed them in a readable fashion through decomposition and intention-revealing names for the variable declaration. To measure the impact of both methods we measure the time for the fine-tuning and programming of the extractions through test data of semi-structured and unstructured texts.

Results

We analyze the benefits of improving through readability of the writing of rules, through parallel programming with regular expressions (REGEX), and the Apache Uima Ruta language (AURL). The time for correcting the readable rules in AURL and REGEX was significantly reduced. Complicated rules in REGEX are decomposed and intention-revealing declarations were reprogrammed in AURL in 5 min.

Conclusion

We discuss the importance of factor readability and how can it be improved when programming RB text IE pipelines. Independent of the features of the programming language and the tools applied, a readable coding strategy can be proven beneficial for future maintenance and offer an interpretable solution for understanding the extraction and for transferring the rules to other domains and NLP pipelines.
Tracking the temporal flows of mobile communication in daily life
Authors: Ross Morgan Quinn , Bayer Joseph , Rhee Lisa , Potti Ivory , Chang Yung-Ju
Published: April 2023

Prior theoretical perspectives assert that mobile media and communication accelerate time perception. To test this hypothesis, we coupled mobile app logs and experience sampling to capture social app use and time perception in daily life. Participants ( N = 132) provided self-reports of time perception ( n = 9,081) and recordings of social app use ( n = 2,193,655). Although people perceived time as relatively fast on average, results did not support an overall link between social app use and accelerated time perception. Conversely, social media use—but not messaging use—was associated with decelerated time perception. In addition, observed relationships between social app use and time perception were consistent across individuals. We conclude by considering how future mobile communication research will be challenged to measure and model how temporal flows are interwoven with mobile connection in the background of daily life.
The gap between entrepreneurial behaviour and entrepreneurial identity: A case for ethnographic and autoethnographic methods
Authors: Ironside Joseph
Published: April 2023

I argue that increased use of ethnographic methods and autoethnographic methods can help bridge the gap between entrepreneurial identity (EI) and entrepreneurial behaviour (EB) in entrepreneurship research and give theoretical weight to the concepts. The disconnection between EI and EB is caused by the inability to answer questions about how EI impacts EB. Using ethnographic methods allows for a fuller depiction of the social context in which entrepreneurs operate, demonstrating the relationship between EI and EB. However, EB remains practically defined and theory about EI is borrowed from other various other literatures, such as sociology, importing the problems as well as the benefits. I argue that the use of autoethnographic methods, researching EI–EB from the entrepreneur's perspective, produces data that can be used to build theory that maintains the practical tilt of entrepreneurship research and addresses its theoretical shallowness.
‘Why is this hard, to have critical thinking?’ Exploring the factors affecting critical thinking with international higher education students
Authors: Aston Kathryn Jane
Published: April 2023

University students of all disciplines are expected to display critical thinking. Critical thinking may, however, be impeded by psychological and sociological factors such as: belief and confirmation biases, framing, social pressure to conform and poor assessment of probability and risk. These factors are rarely, if ever, thoroughly examined in isolation, outside the context of the students’ discipline. The aim of this study therefore was to ascertain whether students found that their critical thinking benefited from a better understanding of these factors. To this end, a series of workshops was designed along active learning principles which explored the human factors affecting critical thinking. These workshops were delivered to international students studying various disciplines at the University of Sheffield in the UK, and the participants were then interviewed. The resulting data was analysed using thematic analysis and code development. Participants reported as a result of these workshops an improved understanding of the critical thinking skills of questioning and analysing, using multiple perspectives and argument building; and new awareness of confirmation bias, the use of evidence and sources, framing, independent thinking and culture in relation to critical thinking. In particular, students from educational traditions that favour certainty and authority showed greater tolerance of ambiguity and willingness to judge for themselves. There was also evidence of development in critical dispositions relating to the self (such as self-awareness) and to other people (such as respect for others’ views) as well as criticality, that is, awareness of one’s role in society. This suggests that a better understanding of the factors that influence human thought processes develops students as critical thinkers and equips them to make a positive contribution to the world.
The future-oriented franchise: Instituting temporal electoral circles
Authors: Campos Andre Santos
Published: April 2023

In representative democracies, the absence of responsiveness by elected officials to the interests of the represented often generates problems of legitimacy, accountability and effectiveness. However, responsiveness also tends to narrow the time horizons of democratic decision-making and promote short-termism. This paper advances the notion that responsiveness to interests involving distant time horizons is possible by reconfiguring the franchise in a time-sensitive and future-oriented way. It is divided into two parts. The first pinpoints a few inconsistencies in the available proposals for making responsiveness and the long term compatible (e.g., promoting youth turnout, narrowing the franchise to robust epistemic fitness, establishing future-oriented institutions). The second advances the creation of temporal electoral circles operating alongside territorial electoral circles in order to prompt responsiveness to multitemporal interests. The conclusion asserts that this kind of franchise design is the best available option for introducing temporal aspects into the character of democratic representation.
Continuous monitoring of rolling element bearing health by nonlinear weighted squared envelope-based fuzzy entropy
Authors: Noman Khandaker , Li Yongbo , Wen Guangrui , Patwari Anayet U , Wang Shun
Published: April 2023

Fuzzy entropy (FE) can be regarded as an effective measure for nonlinear characterization of rolling element bearing (REB) health condition by quantifying the complexity of vibration signals. However, during continuous monitoring operation under heavy noise, transient impulses corresponding to a REB fault get submerged under unnecessary random noise components. As a consequence, FE algorithm not only fails to detect a REB fault at the earliest point of inception but also performs poorly in monitoring the development of the incepted fault in an efficient manner. Aiming at solving the aforementioned limitations of FE in continuous monitoring of REB health, background noise associated with collected vibration signals is eliminated by weighting the corresponding square envelope signal. Due to the utilization of weighted squared envelope signal, the proposed measure is termed as weighted square envelope-based FE (WSEFE). One simulated case and two different run-to-failure experimental cases are used for validation. The comparison results demonstrate that the proposed WSEFE not only overcomes the limitations of original FE but also performs better than conventional permutation entropy and advanced FE-based measure multiscale FE (MFE) in continuous monitoring of REB health.
Dissecting pseudoaneurysm in a spinal cord AVM treated by flow diversion: Technical note
Authors: Dahl Rasmus Holmboe , Kruse Anders , Rodesch Georges , Benndorf Goetz
Published: April 2023

We report the case of a 29-year-old woman presenting with severe back pain and S1-radiculopathy. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a spinal cord arteriovenous malformation complicated by acute feeder dissection and pseudoaneurysm (PA) formation causing mass effect. After conservative management with limited angiographic and clinical improvement, selective treatment of the PA by flow diversion (FD) led to occlusion and shrinkage with the resolution of clinical symptoms. FD may be a feasible treatment option for spinal artery aneurysms in selected patients with favorable anatomy. The need for antiplatelet therapy is a limitation of its use with currently available devices.
Case-study: Energy expenditure of a world class male wheelchair tennis player during training, Grand Slam and British Open tournaments measured by doubly labelled water
Authors: Ellis Daniel G , Speakman John , Hambly Catherine , Cockram Alex , Morton James P , Close Graeme L , Donovan Tim F
Published: April 2023

The assessment of total energy expenditure (TEE) is imperative to ensure appropriate fuelling during competition and training, although the current lack of TEE research in para sport make the prescription of nutritional strategies challenging. This study aimed to assess TEE of an elite wheelchair tennis (WT) player during training and competition of the highest level. One male WT player (age 23.6 years; career high World No. 1; body mass 65.7 kg; VO2max, 45.3 ml.kg−1.min−1) participated. Prior to the assessment, VO2max and maximum heart rate, resting metabolic rate, 10 m sprint speed and upper body skinfold measurements were made. Doubly labelled water assessed TEE during a 19-day period which included the Wimbledon Championships (5 days-3 matches), training (8 days) and the British Open (BO) (6 days-7 matches). Throughout data collection, the participant continued their usual training and preparation. During Wimbledon, TEE was 3118 kcal·d−1: 60.3 kcal·kg−1 FFM: PAL 2.0 and during BO was 3368 kcal·day−1: 65.1 kcal·kg−1 FFM: PAL 2.2. Mean daily activity was 124 mins and 132 mins, respectively. During training, TEE was 3177kcal·day-1: 61.4kcal·kg-1 FFM: PAL 2.0: mean daily activity was 138 mins. These findings show the TEE of an elite WT player captured during a period of training and high-level competition, alongside data outlining the physiological profile of a world-class para-athlete.
Understanding the biomechanics of the forearm during the dart thrower’s motion
Authors: Chen Zhiqing , Mat Jais Ita Suzana , Teng Shi Lei , McGrouther Duncan Angus
Published: April 2023

This study investigated the contribution of different forearm muscles, namely the flexor carpi ulnaris, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis, extensor carpi ulnaris and flexor carpi radialis, during the dart thrower’s motion. Thirteen healthy participants were recruited. The forearm muscle activation patterns during the dart thrower’s motion were measured using surface electromyography. The average root mean square for the extensor carpi ulnaris was found to be the highest during the dart thrower’s motion. Muscle activations during the dart thrower’s motion were heterogeneous among the participants. The results suggest the rehabilitation protocol for patients with wrist injuries should be reconsidered.
Can we change the natural course of inflammatory bowel disease?
Authors: Le Berre Catherine , Danese Silvio , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent
Published: April 2023

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are lifelong diseases characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract leading to its progressive and irreversible destruction. Whether early initiation of IBD-specific therapy impacts the long-term course of the disease remains unclear and has to be further explored in prospective disease-modification trials. Historically, surgery and hospitalization rates have been the surrogate markers to measure disease progression in IBD, providing an overview of the effectiveness of medical therapies. However, neither surgery nor hospitalization necessarily reflects a fail in therapeutic medical management, and many confounding factors make them biased outcomes. The Selecting Endpoints for Disease-Modification Trials consensus has defined the disease-modification endpoints required for these trials, including the impact of the disease on patient’s life (health-related quality of life, disability, and fecal incontinence), the mid-term disease complications (bowel damage in CD, IBD-related surgery and hospitalizations, disease extension in UC, extra-intestinal manifestations, permanent stoma, short bowel syndrome), and the development of dysplasia/cancer and mortality in the long term. Most available data in the literature regarding the impact of current therapies on disease progression focused on anti-tumor necrosis factor agents and are based on retrospective or post-hoc studies. Thus, prospective disease-modification trials are pressingly required to explore the effectiveness of early intensified treatment in patients with severe disease or at risk for disease progression.
Receiving an organ: The ambivalence of the debt and the question of giving back
Authors: Zouaghi Sondes
Published: April 2023

Taking the Maussian gift paradigm as its theoretical framework ( to give-to receive-to repay), this article adopts an original approach to analysis of the lived experiences of organ recipients on an individual and psychological level. Clinically oriented interviews with 9 transplant patients and semi-structured interviews with a further 13 patients reveal the existence of four forms of mental processing around organ donations and the existence of a debt in three of these forms. These debts are ambivalent and recipients experience them both positively and negatively. Organ donation seems to fit into the gift paradigm in an original way inasmuch as, instead of repaying it directly, recipients settle their debt by giving back to others and by other means, whether to real people or to their fantasy donor. In order to improve the well-being of transplant patients, recommendations are set out for the biomedical agencies: a humanised donor discourse should be developed alongside the traditional mechanistic discourse around the body and long-term, multifaceted psychological support should be made available for transplant patients and their families. The marketing implications of our research are also put forward with a view to turning transplant patients into promoters of organ donation. The results are also transferred to other social marketing contexts. Finally, the gift exchange paradigm is proposed as a means of enriching marketing fundamentals in a society in which consumers are increasingly searching for connections and meaning beyond the goods and services they consume.
The Textual History and Translation of Revelation 21.3b
Authors: Shepherd Thomas R.
Published: April 2023

Rev 21.3b is a conundrum for translation. The text-critical data point to the UBS5 reading as original but copyists and translators have struggled with the awkwardness of the text. This article reviews translations of Rev 21.3b and the text-critical data and suggests that the translation “and ‘God-with-them’ himself will be their God” resolves the problem and is consistent with the UBS5 reading. This translation finds corroboration in other characteristics of the Apocalypse.
Linguistic Strategies in the Translation/Transliteration of the Names of Biblical Books into Igbo and Yoruba
Authors: Ekezie Obiorah Kenneth
Published: April 2023

As discoveries are made, new words are needed to capture and describe the various new realities. These new words and ideas need to be either translated or transliterated into other languages for the benefit of the users of those languages. Consequently, strategies used successfully for previous translations and transliterations need to be studied, understood, and defined in order to maintain consistency in subsequent translations. It is from this perspective that this work seeks to unveil the translation and transliteration strategies employed in expressing the names of the sixty-six books of the Protestant Bible in Igbo and Yoruba. Drawing on the data sourced from Igbo and Yoruba Bibles, this study shows that literal translation, direct translations, and borrowing were used. The borrowed words were adapted into the two indigenous languages using sound substitution, sound insertion, or approximation of Igbo/Yoruba phonetic symbols to English orthography.
Exploring writing a bachelor's thesis as a tool for students’ learning in nursing: A qualitative interview study from an activity theoretical perspective
Authors: Henttonen Ani , Westerbotn Margareta , Scheja Max , Fossum Bjöörn , Teräs Marianne
Published: April 2023

Nursing education prepares students for both academia and practice; however, the contribution of writing a bachelor's thesis in learning nursing is overlooked. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of a bachelor thesis as a learning tool in nursing. A total of 15 nursing students were individually interviewed using semi-structured questions. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and the activity theoretical concept of a tool was subsequently applied. The results were reported in accordance with COREQ for qualitative research. The findings identified writing a bachelor's thesis as a ‘ Personal tool’ and a ‘ Systemic tool for learning nursing’. The personal tool was related to ‘ Preparation for patient encounters in working life’ and ‘ Discovering bodily mechanisms of disease or health’. The systemic tool was related to ‘ Enabling to impact on the organization of work and stakeholders’ and ‘ Facilitating knowledge of the links between patient groups and common diseases’. The study discusses and concludes that a bachelor's thesis represents both a personal and a systemic tool that embodies nursing knowledge, preparing students for their future work as registered nurses. An implication for contemporary nursing is that a bachelor's thesis may serve as a boundary-crossing tool that transcends the school, workplace, and even society.
Observer agreement of volar tilt of the wrist is influenced by forearm rotation
Authors: Jensen Emma Mathilde Kirkeby , Jensen Janni , Rasmussen Benjamin S , Tromborg Hans B , Graumann Ole
Published: April 2023

Background

Dorsal/volar tilt is an important radiographic measurement commonly included in the treatment decision of distal radius fractures (DRFs). However, studies have shown that forearm positioning relative to rotation (i.e., supination and pronation) can affect the measured tilt value but with substantial interobserver variance.

Purpose

To examine whether interobserver agreement on radiographic tilt measurement is influenced by forearm rotation.

Material and Methods

We radiographed 21 cadaveric forearms at 5° rotational intervals between 15° supination and 15° pronation on lateral radiographs. A radiologist and a hand surgeon measured tilt in a blinded and randomized fashion. Bland–Altman analyses with bias and limits of agreement (LoA) were used to estimate interobserver agreement for forearms in all degrees of rotation, non-rotated forearms, supinated forearms, and pronated forearms.

Results

Interobserver agreement varied with forearm rotation. Bias (95% confidence interval [CI]; LoA) was −1.54° (95% CI: −2.53, −0.55; LoA: −13.46, 10.38) when measuring tilt on radiographs with all degrees of forearm rotation, and −1.48° (95% CI: −4.13, 1.17; LoA: −12.88, 9.92) when measuring tilt on true lateral 0° radiographs. When measuring on supinated and pronated radiographs, bias was −0.03° (95% CI: −1.35, 1.29; LoA: −8.34, 8.28) and −3.23° (95% CI: −5.41, −1.06; LoA: −16.90, 10.44), respectively.

Conclusion

Interobserver agreement on tilt was similar when comparing measurements made on true lateral radiographs to those made on the group with all degrees of forearm rotation. However, interobserver agreement improved with supination and worsened with pronation.
Investigation of the Effects of Knowledge Management on Organizational Performance Through Human Resource Management as Mediator
Authors: Khalilzadeh Mohammad , Banihashemi Sayyid Ali , Bahari Arman
Published: April 2023

This research seeks to examine and distinguish the factors influencing empowerment and exertion of knowledge management along with the effect of knowledge management on organizational performance. In addition, this paper investigates human capital as mediator between the relationship of knowledge management and organizational performance. The conceptual model was extended based on the literature review. The primary data were gathered using a questionnaire comprising 48 questions distributed to the personnel of all branches of one of the largest private banks in Iran. Three hundred sixty-one questionnaires were randomly distributed among the personnel, and 334 questionnaires were answered. The gathered data were examined through SPSS and SMART PLS. The results demonstrated the positive impacts of variables including structure, organizational technology, strategy, culture, and trust on organizational knowledge management under study. Moreover, knowledge management directly affects the performance of the organization and through human resource management as mediator. This study motivates the managers and personnel to exploit the accessible organizational assets for enhancing knowledge management practices as well as human resources as the most exquisite organizational capitals.
Trends in Parents’ Time Investment at Children’s Schools During a Period of Economic Change
Authors: Kalil Ariel , Steimle Samantha , Ryan Rebecca M.
Published: April 2023

This paper examines changes from 1996–2019 in U.S. parents’ time investment at their children’s schools using data from the National Household Education Survey (N ≈ 116,000). The most common way parents spend time at their child’s school is by attending a general school meeting, which rose from 76% to 85% over this period. The proportion who volunteered at school rose slightly over time (36% to 38%), whereas the frequency of participating in school activities decreased slightly. Little change emerged in the proportion who attend a PTA/PTO meeting (~50%), whereas the proportion who spent time fundraising decreased (60% to 54%). Differences in time investment between high- versus low-income parents either narrowed significantly (attended school meetings, frequency of participation) or remained stable (attended PTO/PTA meeting, volunteered) over time, except for income-based differences in time spent fundraising for their child’s school, which grew significantly. We discuss factors possibly related to these narrowing and persistent gaps.
Children in coercive care as ‘Responsibilized Becomings’: On rights and responsibilization in the Swedish welfare state
Authors: Rennerskog Jonna
Published: April 2023

This study explores the often-ignored relationship between responsibilization and the welfare state, by investigating the translation of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Swedish legislation. Through an analysis of official political documents and interviews with Members of Parliament, this article identifies the driving forces behind the responsibilization of children in coercive care and seeks to explain how these forces are used to conceptualize and reconceptualize the rights of children in these settings. By proposing that the responsibilization of these children is closely connected to the internal logic of the welfare state, and that this logic is working in tandem with neoliberalization (rather than against it), this article provides an important contribution to the debate regarding the welfare state and responsibilization in Sweden, and by extension in the Nordic context.
Health Literacy in Parents of Children Newly Diagnosed With Cancer and Comprehension of Key Concepts Related to Their Child's Care
Authors: Keith K. Elizabeth , Wadhwa Aman , York Jocelyn , Fazeli Pariya L. , Bhatia Smita , Landier Wendy
Published: April 2023

Background: There is a paucity of literature regarding health literacy in pediatric oncology. We sought to understand the relationship between health literacy and comprehension of key new diagnosis education concepts in parents of children newly diagnosed with cancer. Methods: Using data from a study evaluating a structured new diagnosis discharge teaching intervention, we performed a secondary analysis to understand the relationship between parental health literacy (Brief Health Literacy Screener: BHLS) and comprehension of six key concepts (child's diagnosis, primary oncologist, and treatment plan; seeking emergent care; fever definition; re-dosing medication). We also evaluated the association between parents self-reported sociodemographic characteristics, preferred learning style (one-item ordinal assessment) and health literacy. We tested relationships using Fisher's exact tests, independent samples t-tests, and Pearson correlations. Results: Fifty parents participated (age 35.4 ± 8.2 years [ M ±  SD]; 86% female; 60% non-Hispanic white; 24% with ≤high school education); nine parents (18%) scored in the BHLS low literacy range; 80% correctly responded to all six items on the key concepts questionnaire (100% comprehension). Health literacy was not significantly related to 100% comprehension or to individual key concept responses, with the exception of “child's treatment plan” (correct responses: 55.6% in low vs. 100% in adequate literacy groups; p < .001). Parental sociodemographic characteristics and preferred learning styles were not significantly related to health literacy. Discussion:Despite variability in health literacy levels, 80% of the parents comprehended all key concepts, suggesting that the intervention was effective for most parents, regardless of health literacy level.
Periaqueductal gray matter echogenicity as a marker of migraine chronification: a case control study
Authors: Vilas Dolores , Rubio Sara , Gea Mireia , Rios Jose , Ispierto Lourdes , Hernández-Pérez María , Paré Martí , Millán Mònica , Dorado Laura
Published: April 2023

Background

Migraine is one of the most prevalent and disabling medical diseases in the world. The periaqueductal gray matter and the red nucleus play an important role in its pathogenesis. Our aim was to evaluate the echogenicity of the periaqueductal gray matter and the red nucleus in patients with migraine, by means of transcranial ultrasound.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, a group of patients with migraine (according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders) and a group of control subjects with comparable age-and-sex distribution were prospectively included. We evaluated the area and echogenicity of the periaqueductal gray matter and the red nucleus by means of transcranial ultrasound, both bedside and posteriorly analyzed with the medical image viewer Horos.

Results

We included 115 subjects: 65 patients with migraine (39 of them with chronic migraine and 26 with episodic migraine), and 50 controls. Median disease duration in patients with chronic migraine was 29 (IQR: 19; 40) years, with a median of 18 (IQR: 14; 27) days of migraine per month. The area of the periaqueductal gray matter was larger in patients with chronic migraine compared to episodic migraine and controls (0.15[95%CI 0.12;0.22]cm2; 0.11[95%CI 0.10;0.14]cm2 and 0.12[95%CI 0.09;0.15]cm2, respectively; p = 0.043). Chronic migraine patients showed an intensity of the periaqueductal gray matter echogenicity lower than controls (90.57[95%CI 70.87;117.26] vs 109.56[95%CI 83.30;122.64]; p = 0.035). The coefficient of variation of periaqueductal gray matter echogenicity was the highest in chronic migraine patients (p = 0.009). No differences were observed regarding the area or intensity of red nucleus echogenicity among groups.

Conclusion

Patients with chronic migraine showed a larger area of echogenicity of periaqueductal gray matter, a lower intensity of its echogenicity and a higher heterogenicity within this brainstem structure compared to patients with episodic migraine and controls. The echogenicity of the periaqueductal gray matter should be further investigated as a biomarker of migraine chronification.
Genealyzer: web application for the analysis and comparison of gene expression data
Authors: Lietz Kristina , Saremi Babak , Wiese Lena
Published: April 2023

Background

Gene expression profiling is a widely adopted method in areas like drug development or functional gene analysis. Microarray data of gene expression experiments is still commonly used and widely available for retrospective analyses. However, due to to changes of the underlying technologies data sets from different technologies are often difficult to compare and thus a multitude of already available data becomes difficult to use. We present a web application that abstracts away mathematical and programmatical details in order to enable a convenient and customizable analysis of microarray data for large-scale reproducibility studies. In addition, the web application provides a feature that allows easy access to large microarray repositories.

Results

Our web application consists of three basic steps which are necessary for a differential gene expression analysis as well as Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and the comparison of multiple analysis results. Genealyzer can handle Affymetrix data as well as one-channel and two-channel Agilent data. All steps are visualized with meaningful plots. The application offers flexible analysis while being intuitively operable.

Conclusions

Our web application provides a unified platform for analysing microarray data, while allowing users to compare the results of different technologies and organisms. Beyond reproducibility, this also offers many possibilities for gaining further insights from existing study data, especially since data from different technologies or organisms can also be compared. The web application can be accessed via this URL:https://genealyzer.item.fraunhofer.de/. Login credentials can be found at the end.
Postoperative inpatient exercise facilitates recovery after laparoscopic surgery in colorectal cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Min Jihee , An Ki-yong , Park Hyuna , Cho Wonhee , Jung Hye Jeong , Chu Sang Hui , Cho Minsoo , Yang Seung Yoon , Jeon Justin Y. , Kim Nam Kyu
Published: April 2023

Background

Early mobilization is an integral part of an enhanced recovery program after colorectal cancer surgery. The safety and efficacy of postoperative inpatient exercise are not well known. The primary objective was to determine the efficacy of a postoperative exercise program on postsurgical recovery of stage I–III colorectal cancer patients.

Methods

We randomly allocated participants to postoperative exercise or usual care (1:1 ratio). The postoperative exercise intervention consisted of 15 min of supervised exercise two times per day for the duration of their hospital stay. The primary outcome was the length of stay (LOS) at the tertiary care center. Secondary outcomes included patient-perceived readiness for hospital discharge, anthropometrics (e.g., muscle mass), and physical function (e.g., balance, strength).

Results

A total of 52 (83%) participants (mean [SD] age, 56.6 [8.9] years; 23 [44%] male) completed the trial. The median LOS was 6.0 days (interquartile range; IQR 5–7 days) in the exercise group and 6.5 days (IQR 6–7 days) in the usual-care group (P = 0.021). The exercise group met the targeted LOS 64% of the time, while 36% of the usual care group met the targeted LOS (colon cancer, 5 days; rectal cancer, 7 days). Participants in the exercise group felt greater readiness for discharge from the hospital than those in the usual care group (Adjusted group difference = 14.4; 95% CI, 6.2 to 22.6; P < 0.01). We observed a small but statistically significant increase in muscle mass in the exercise group compared to usual care (Adjusted group difference = 0.63 kg; 95% CI, 0.16 to 1.1; P = 0.03).

Conclusion

Postsurgical inpatient exercise may promote faster recovery and discharge after curative-intent colorectal cancer surgery.

Trial registration

The study was registered at WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP; URL http://apps.who.int/trialsearch); Trial number: KCT0003920.
The effect of intradialytic exercise on dialysis patient survival: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Tabibi Mohammad Ali , Cheema Bobby , Salimian Nasrin , Corrêa Hugo de Luca , Ahmadi Saghar
Published: April 2023

Background

Patients with kidney failure have a high mortality rate. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of intradialytic exercise on survival in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD).

Methods

In this randomized controlled trial conducted in a HD center in Iran, adult patients receiving chronic HD were randomized to intradialytic exercise (60 min) in the second hour of thrice weekly dialysis for 6 months (intervention) or no intradialytic exercise (control). The primary outcome was survival rate at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were serum albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, serum calcium, serum phosphorous, parathyroid hormone, physical function (6-min walk test) and nutritional status (Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index) during the first 6 months. The trial follow-up period was 12 months.

Results

The study included 74 participants (44 males) with an age average of 64 ± 12 years old and a dialysis history of 27 ± 12 months, randomized to intervention (n = 37) or control (n = 37). Compared with controls, 1-year survival was higher in the intervention group (94% vs 73%, P = 0.01). The hazard ratio in univariate analysis in intervention group was 0.17 (95% CI 0.04–0.8; P = 0.02) compared to that in control group. During the 6-month intervention period, significant between-group changes were observed in all secondary outcomes between the intervention and control groups.

Conclusion

Intradialytic exercise performed for at least 60 min during thrice weekly dialysis sessions improves survival in adult patients receiving HD.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04898608. Retrospectively registered on 24/05/2021. Registered trial name: The Effect of Intradialytic Exercise on Dialysis Patients Survival.
Efficacy of curcumin for amelioration of radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis: a preliminary randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Ramezani Vahid , Ghadirian Shiva , Shabani Masoud , Boroumand Mohammad Ali , Daneshvar Reza , Saghafi Fatemeh
Published: April 2023

Background

Oral mucositis (OM) is one of the main problems in almost all patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy (RT). Owning to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, the effect of both oral and topical formulations of curcumin was assessed on radiation-induced OM (ROM) in this study.

Methods

The safety and efficacy of curcumin mouthwash 0.1% (w/v) and curcumin-nanocapsule were evaluated in ameliorating severity and pain/burning associated with OM during RT. The current randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 37 patients with head and neck cancers. Patients with grades 1 to 3 of ROM were randomized to receive one of the three interventions: curcumin mouthwash (0.1% w/v); Sinacurcumin soft gel containing 40 mg curcuminoids as nano-micelles (SinaCurcumin®40); or placebo mouthwash with a similar transparent appearance to curcumin mouthwash for 1 min three times daily during RT. Study evaluations were conducted at baseline and weekly thereafter for up to 3 weeks using the Numeric rating scale (NRS) and world health organization (WHO) scale.

Results

Among the 45 patients randomized, 37 (mean (SD) age of 53.36 (15.99) years; 14 [37.8%] women) completed the treatment according to the protocol. Patients treated with either oral or topical curcumin showed a significantly reduced severity and burning related to OM during the first 3 weeks after administration (P-Value < 0.001) as compared with the placebo. At study termination, more than 33% of subjects utilizing curcumin mouthwash and 15% of patients utilizing curcumin-nanocapsule remained ulcer free while all of the placebo-receiving subjects had OM. The reduction of NRS and WHO scale between curcumin groups was comparable without significant differences.

Conclusion

Both curcumin mouthwash and nanocapsule were effective, safe, and well-tolerated in the treatment of radiation-induced OM. Higher doses of curcumin and larger sample sizes can be used for further investigation in future studies.

Trial registration:

https://irct.ir/ IRCT20190810044500N17 (13/08/2021).