bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical Versus Interventional Treatment of Major Access Site Complications During Transfemoral TAVI Procedures at a Large Volume Center
Authors: Meertens Max , Wegner Moritz , Fischnaler Carlos , Wienemann Hendrik , Macherey Sascha , Lee Samuel , Kuhn Elmar , Mauri Victor , Dorweiler Bernhard , Baldus Stephan , Adam Matti , Ahmad Wael
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

Access-related vascular complications in transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) can be treated endovascularly or surgically. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of endovascular treatment compared with surgical repair for access-related vascular complications.

Methods:

This retrospective study was performed from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020. All transfemorally treated TAVI patients in whom a surgical or endovascular treatment for an access site complication was needed were included. The primary outcome was the need for any related vascular re-operation.

Results:

In total, 1219 transfemoral TAVI procedures were conducted during the study period. 19 patients suffered an access complication requiring endovascular treatment, while 54 patients required surgical repair. No differences were seen with regard to re-operations (endovascular 15.8% vs surgical 14.8%; p=0.919), wound infections (endovascular 0% vs surgical. 11.1%; p=0.129), and wound healing disorders (endovascular 15.8% vs surgical 29.6%; p=0.237). Patients undergoing endovascular treatment were discharged earlier (endovascular 11.2 vs surgical 14.9 days; p=0.028). After surgical repair, patients received significantly more blood transfusions than endovascularly treated patients (endovascular 1.00 vs surgical 3.1 red blood cell concentrate bags; p<0.001). No differences were found regarding the new onset of walking pain, rest pain, and ischemic ulcers during follow-up.

Conclusion:

In this retrospective cohort, endovascular treatment of access-related vascular complications of transfemoral TAVI procedures was safe and feasible. During the hospital stay, endovascularly treated patients received fewer blood transfusions and were discharged faster than surgically treated patients. No differences regarding clinical outcomes and re-intervention rates were seen during the follow-up.

Clinical Impact

Given the in this retrospective study demonstrated safety and feasibility of endovascular treatment for major access-related vascular complications, along with the in-hospital benefits and absence of follow-up disadvantages compared to surgical treatment, endovascular treatment should be considered in cases of major access-related vascular complications in transfemoral TAVI patients.
Blind Trust, Blind Skepticism: Liberals’ & Conservatives’ Response to Academic Research
Authors: Santoro Lauren Ratliff , Sydnor Emily
Published: October 2023

Public perceptions of science and scientific institutions have become more negative in recent years, especially among individuals who identify as ideologically conservative in the United States. While there is much work investigating the origins and implications of this decline, we focus instead on understanding the ways in which symbols of scientific expertise, like the university, convey information in a politicized environment. Universities are seen as trusted scientific experts or biased propagandists, depending on individuals’ ideological identification. Are individuals more likely to believe research coming out of universities that they perceive to reflect their own ideological biases? This project looks at the effect of the academic source cue – the university label – on individual assessments of the research that these universities produce. Drawing on results from two survey experiments focused on climate change and racial wealth disparity research, we find that while liberals are more likely to believe research that confirms their previously held beliefs, they are also more likely to believe incongruent information when it comes from a university that they believe shares their bias. Conservatives, on the other hand, remain skeptical of academic research despite the message or its’ source. The findings point toward both “blind trust” and “blind skepticism” in academic institutions.
Engaging social media audiences with riots: TV and newspapers’ coverage of the 2019 protests in Colombia and Chile
Authors: García-Perdomo Víctor , Magaña María Isabel , Hernández-Rodríguez Juan Camilo , Ventín-Sánchez José Augusto
Published: October 2023

This research utilizes the theoretical framework of the protest paradigm to analyze how major TV channels and newspapers in Chile and Colombia covered—on their official X (Twitter) accounts—the massive 2019 protests. The paper collected data using the software Crimson Hexagon (CH), a social media analysis software that accesses all public messages posted on Twitter, and then conducted a manual content analysis to fully explore the adherence to the paradigm in digital environments, including audience interactions with media content. Results show that chosen media outlets take mainly the riot and confrontation frames to delegitimize protesters, partially influencing the reaction of audiences who engaged with those diminishing devices. A further analysis demonstrates how deeply intertwined the media are with the status quo and elites. In addition, legacy media, particularly TV, seem to fall into a systematic delegitimization of social protest. This research is valuable as it enhances the understanding of media portrayals of protests in Latin America given the new dynamics of news engagement on social media.
Teachers’ attitudes toward gifted children in pre-schools in Palestine
Authors: Jawabreh Reem , Salha Soheil , Danju İpek
Published: October 2023

Gifted pre-school children are often identified as those who read words, interpret signs, and demonstrate interests of children older than them, and are considered an exceptional group of children compared to other normal children. Therefore, early identification of gifted children helps to provide educational opportunities and a rich environment for the development of their talents. The main purpose of the current study is to examine the teachers’ attitudes in pre-school toward the education of gifted children in Palestine and identify the educational strategies and programs for teaching gifted children. The mixed-methods approach was adopted; it is an approach that mixes qualitative and quantitative methods to gain a deep understanding and confirm outcomes. In this study, the researchers adopted an explanatory sequential design, which is a sequential approach, and it began with quantitative data collection and analysis, followed by qualitative data collection and analysis. The quantitative data were collected by the “Scale for Attitudes towards Gifted Education.” The pre-school teachers in the sample were randomly selected, consisting of 330 female pre-school teachers from public schools. Additionally, the qualitative data were collected by semi-structured interview, which 15 female pre-school teachers from public schools took part in. The quantitative findings indicated that teachers had positive attitudes regarding the education of gifted children. This was consistent with the findings of qualitative data, which also demonstrated the variety of educational strategies and programs that were used to teach gifted children in Palestine.
Treatment of Articular Cartilage Defects: A Descriptive Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Global Trends Reported from 2001 to 2020
Authors: Ren Zhiyuan , Liu Yang , Ma Yongsheng , Huang Lingan , Wang Xueding , Lin Qitai , Xing Yugang , Yang Wenming , Duan Wangping , Wei Xiaochun
Published: October 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical characteristics and global trends in the surgical treatment of articular cartilage defects.

Methods

Studies in English published between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2020 were retrieved from MEDLINE, WOS, INSPEC, SCIELO, KJD, and RSCI on the “Web of Science.” Patient data were extracted, including age, sex, defect location and laterality, duration of follow-up and symptoms, and body mass index (BMI). Data were further stratified according to the surgical method, lesion location, procedural type and geographical area, and time period. A comparative analysis was performed.

Results

Overall, 443 studies involving 26,854 patients (mean age, 35.25 years; men, 60.5%) were included. The mean lesion size and patient BMI were 3.51 cm2 and 25.61 kg/m2, respectively. Cartilage defects at the knees, talus, and hips affected 20,850 (77.64%), 3,983 (14.83%), and 1,425 (5.31%) patients, respectively. The numbers of patients who underwent autologous chondrocyte implantation, arthroscopic debridement/chondroplasty, osteochondral allograft (OCA), osteochondral autologous transplantation, and microfracture were 7,114 (26.49%), 5,056 (18.83%), 3,942 (14.68%), 3,766 (14.02%), and 2,835 (10.56%), respectively. European patients were the most numerous and youngest. North American patients had the largest defects. The number of patients increased from 305 in 2001 to 3,017 in 2020. In the last 5 years, the frequency of OCAs showed a greatly increasing trend.

Conclusion

Clinical characteristics and global trends in the surgical treatment of articular cartilage defects were revealed. The choice of operation should be based on the patient characteristics and defect location, size, and shape, as well as the patient’s preference.
Creating theory that is generative for scholarship and practice
Authors: Bartunek Jean M. , Lei Chelsea Y.
Published: October 2023

Theorizing in management and organizational psychology that has a generative capacity challenges guiding assumptions, addresses fundamental questions, fosters reconsideration of existing knowledge, and stimulates new approaches to scholarship and/or practice (Gergen, 1994). Its generativity is shown in its use by others. Theorizing that has a generative capacity is crucial for true advances in understanding. While truly generative theorizing is very difficult to accomplish, it is a worthwhile aspiration. In this paper, we discuss foundational characteristics of generative theorizing and processes that interfere with and facilitate its development. Facilitating processes include cultivating both doubt and imagination, involvement in diverse communities, and working with multiple, perhaps contradictory, theoretical directions and assumptions. We provide examples of theorizing that has been generative for both scholarship and practice. Finally, we suggest implications for doctoral education.
“Japa”: An Exploratory Study of the Roles of Social Media in an Out-Migration Trend in Nigeria
Authors: Adegoke Damilola
Published: October 2023

This study seeks to understand the roles of social media in the new “Japa” migration trend in Nigeria. As part of this main objective, the study investigates the demographic characteristics of these new migrants—their age, gender, and socioeconomic status classifications. It also explores the challenges experienced by these new migrants before leaving and after arriving at their destination countries and asks if and how social media mitigates these challenges. The participants consist of Nigerians who lived in the United Kingdom ( N = 18; 48.6%), Canada ( N = 5; 13.5%), the United States ( N = 10; 27%), Sweden ( N = 1; 2.7%), and France ( N = 3; 8.1%). They were aged between 26 and 48 years, with an average age of 32.5. There were 22 (59.5%) men and 15 women (40.5%) in the study. The study finds little to no evidence to support the conclusion of a more direct influence of social media on the migration decision of this Japa migration trend among the cohort interviewed. More conservative social media platforms were preferred to other, more open social networking categories. Also crucially important is the role of trust engendered by offline social network ties (including family kinship and friendship) of online influencers. The display of affluence as a motivating factor could not be conclusively established; other factors like socioeconomic, insecurity, career prospects, and unemployment were mentioned as more important. Social media applications were recognized as information-gathering tools rather than inspirational or motivational sources for the Japa migration enterprise.
Unusual Aneurysm of a Cervical Aortic Arch: Surgical Repair Improves Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Anglese Serena , Varrica Alessandro , Saracino Antonio , Conti Michele , Frigiola Alessandro , Lo Rito Mauro
Published: October 2023

The cervical aortic arch is a rare congenital vascular abnormality related to the anomalous development of the aortic arch. We present the case of a 6-year-old patient with a large aneurysmal cervical aortic arch who underwent surgical correction and arch reconstruction. Surgical repair was indicated based on the risk of progressive dilation and rupture, aiming to restore correct geometry and hemodynamics. We evaluated preoperative and postoperative hemodynamics using computational fluid dynamics simulations, and we also identified, within the repaired region, an area that remains affected by greater turbulent flow, requiring follow-up surveillance.
Does Trust Have Value? A Discussion About the Importance of Trust to Human Factors and Engineering
Authors: Bolton Matthew L. , Hancock Peter A. , Lee John D. , Montague Enid , Yang X. Jessie
Published: October 2023

There is significant interest and research in engineering machines, algorithms, and systems that humans will trust. However, serious questions remain about trust: what it is, whether it can be measured and modeled, whether it provides useful information for engineering and design, and whether the engineering of trust will be deployed ethically. This proposed session will facilitate a discussion between leading proponents and skeptics of trust research to help provide insights into these very important questions.
Robotic Assisted Surgery: A Theoretical Approach to Perceived Workload and Non-verbal and Verbal Communication
Authors: Herrera Kayla , Quach Tiffany , Phillips Elizabeth
Published: October 2023

Traditional medical surgery has evolved in the past decade with advances toward robot assisted surgeries (RAS) taking over the healthcare industry. Regular hospital formalities experienced by surgeons and team members such as communication methods are now challenged to progress alongside RAS. Emerging trends such as diminishing hospital staffing and greater procedural outputs have required new demands. Current literature insufficiently addresses how team workload is distributed and communicated between a surgeon performing the surgical task with robotic aid while delegating work tasks to the assisting surgical team. This paper investigates how robotically assisted surgical team’s perception of workload is moderated by using more concise verbal and nonverbal communication methods employed by the operating surgeon and operating room team. As the development of robotic surgical systems become more widespread, it is essential to consider the interdependencies between human to robot to human medical interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and perceived workload.
Human Factors Issues and Trends in Offshore Operational Environments
Authors: Mallam Steven C. , França Josué E. Maia , Peres S. Camille , D’Souza Clive
Published: October 2023

What is the evolving role of Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) practitioners in the design of increasingly automated offshore and maritime work environments? This panel will highlight technological trends transforming operational paradigms in the maritime sector, specifically, offshore energy production and shipping, in relation to HF/E and work environment design. The panel will be a discussion hosted by the Environmental Design Technical Group in collaboration with the Safety Technical Group and the Society of Petroleum Engineers Human Factors Technical Section. Panelists include three experts from industry and academia. Discussion participants will include HFES attendees in the audience including industry practitioners, students, and members from academia and government agencies. The discussion will begin with brief presentations by each panelist on the state-of-the-science of HF/E practice in offshore operational environments and emerging trends related to automation, remote supervisory control and related HF/E challenges, and followed by a moderated question and answer forum.
Trading Degrees of Freedom: User Control in Pens, GPT, and Automated Vehicles
Authors: Renata Vianney , Lee John D. , Kamaraj Amudha V.
Published: October 2023

Technology development often has profound consequences for human agency. Considering the evolution of seemingly mundane tools, such as pens, can help us anticipate the consequences of emerging technology. We consider how the evolution of pens might guide automation and artificial intelligence (AI) design. Automation and AI change activities by trading degrees of freedom—expanding, eliminating, or resolving—to transform intent into action. The evolution of pens shows three approaches to trading degrees of freedom. A technology-based approach eliminates degrees of freedom to improve efficiency A human-centered approach trades degrees of freedom to enhance human agency. A system-centered approach trades degrees of freedom to address domain entropy and promote resilience. We link trading degrees of freedom to concrete design considerations with examples from pens, large language models, and vehicle automation. We hope that analyzing a technology far removed from AI and vehicle automation will provoke new discussions of humanautomation interaction.
Effects of Driver Risk Profiles on Pertceptions of Automated Vehicles
Authors: Svancara Austin M. , Kim Woon
Published: October 2023

Automated vehicle (AV) technologies are advancing and becoming increasingly accessible to the public domain. A growing literature is identifying individual characteristics that are associated with acceptance of AVs. The present study sought to identify driver risk profiles and explore the effects of these profiles on perceptions of AV technologies. Using a nationally representative survey, latent class analysis revealed five distinct risk profiles: 1) Safe Drivers, 2) Distracted Drivers, 3) Speeding Drivers, 4) Distracted and Speeding Drivers, and 5) Most Dangerous Drivers (these drivers largely endorsed all risky driving behaviors). Groups differed on their preferred level of AV based on their perceived comfort and safety with the technology. On average, the Safe Drivers tended to prefer L2 AVs and the Most Dangerous Drivers preferred L3 AVs. Findings build on our understanding of the factors that influence perceptions of AVs.
The Effects of Physiological and Mental Fatigue on Driving Performance and an Analysis of Countermeasures
Authors: Costedoat Gregory , Chao Alexander , Feria Cary S.
Published: October 2023

Driver fatigue is frequently associated with automobile accidents. Per electroencephalographic recordings, fatigue is associated with increases in the alpha and theta wave coefficients and a decrease in the beta wave coefficient. For assessing driving performance, one of the most common measures used in the literature is standard deviation of the vehicle’s lateral position between two lane lines. Additionally, subjective scales and questionnaires have been used to assess subjective feelings of fatigue (e.g., Karolinska Sleepiness Scale). Given the importance of fatigue as a risk factor for accidents on the road, it is worth examining the effectiveness of various countermeasures. Rumble strips, which are built into the road, have been found to increase alertness and decrease fatigue immediately upon hitting them, but the effects are short lived. Energy drink consumption and blue light exposure have also been found to decrease physiological fatigue and improve driving performance and are worth consideration.
Facial Expressions Increase Emotion Recognition Clarity and Improve Warmth and Attractiveness on a Humanoid Robot without Adding the Uncanny Valley
Authors: Dong Jiayuan , Santiago-Anaya Alex , Jeon Myounghoon
Published: October 2023

With the rising impact of social robots, research on understanding user perceptions and preferences of these robots gains further importance, especially for emotional expressions. However, research on facial expressions and their effects on human-robot interaction has had mixed results. To unpack this issue further, we investigated users’ emotion recognition accuracy and perceptions when interacting with a social robot that displayed emotional facial expressions or not in a storytelling setting. In our experiment, twenty-eight participants received verbal feedback either with or without facial expressions from the robot. Participants showed a significant recognition accuracy effect for emotions and significantly higher clarity for disgust, happiness, and surprise in the facial expression condition than in the no facial expression condition. In addition, participants rated Milo with facial expressions significantly higher than Milo without facial expressions in warmth and attractiveness. No significant differences were found among the rating scores of naturalness. The results from the present study indicated the importance of facial expressions when considering design choices in social robots.
Timeline Navigators: User Interface Design Patterns for Time
Authors: Rubio Eduardo , Gilbert Stephen B.
Published: October 2023

While a wide range of software applications allow users to manipulate time-based data, or time series, they all work with user interfaces designed with specific affordances related to time. This article investigates how interfaces help users capture, manipulate, and understand time series data. By exploring how user interface elements of time-based software applications address seven User Time Needs, the authors propose a set of nine different interface design patterns called timeline navigators that generalize across applications. While existing research evaluates specific time-based interface elements, the authors have not seen a framework for considering time-based interface elements and users’ corresponding underlying needs more generally across software domains. The analysis provided is intended to help designers become aware of the major practices and conventions found in timeline navigators as well as the user needs that they support.
Identifying Usability Challenges in Electronic Medication Administration Record Design Through Scenario-Based Evaluations: A Pilot Study
Authors: Pruitt Zoe M , Johnson Tenley , Kazi Sadaf
Published: October 2023

Hospitals have more incentives than ever to make nurse-facing technologies usable. However, the complexities of the nursing workflow are not supported by health information technology. This investigation aimed to identify usability challenges in a hospital system’s electronic medication administration record (eMAR). The research team developed scenarios that nurses completed using a simulated electronic health record. Data was qualitatively analyzed using the reflexive thematic analysis method. Three female medical-surgical nurses participated in the study. Qualitative analysis identified five themes in the data including: 1) essential information exists outside of the eMAR, 2) unable to view future medications, 3) information lost with unit transfer, 4) unable to document home medications, 5) certain medications delay sequential orders. Future usability evaluations of the eMAR should continue to look for poor usability, identify solutions, and consider the process for how individual hospitals can apply these usability evaluations to their own eMARs.
Case study: Compounded problems at a passive railroad grade crossing
Authors: Nemire Kenneth
Published: October 2023

Passive railroad grade crossings fail to provide critical information to motorists about the presence of an approaching train, and pose a greater risk to motorists than do active grade crossings that can include the addition of flashing signal lights and gates. This case study describes the conditions that resulted in a train colliding with a truck on the tracks. In addition to the typical hazards at passive crossings, the subject collision resulted from additional hazards at the site that most likely prevented the truck driver from noticing the sight and sound of the approaching train. These factors are discussed, along with some current efforts to improve safety at railroad crossings.
Comparison of soft vs. rigid back support exoskeletons through psychophysical and biomechanical approaches during load handling
Authors: Raghuraman Rahul Narasimhan , Barbieri Dechristian , Aviles Jessica , Srinivasan Divya
Published: October 2023

As occupational exoskeletons are approaching real world implementation, perceptions about use and their effectiveness may differ across diverse age/gender groups, and device design. A soft and rigid type back-support exoskeleton (EXO) were evaluated in terms of selfrated maximum acceptable load (MAL), usability/social perceptions, and biomechanical outcomes during simulated manual material handling tasks. Thirty-six female and male participants from two age groups (18- 30 and 45-60 years) completed repetitive lifting and lowering tasks. Overall, both EXOs significantly improved participants’ MAL by ~6-7%, reduced peak trunk angle by 3-5 degrees, and reduced peak trunk extensor muscle activity by 9 - 13% . Participants generally reported both the EXOs as being useful, easy to use, and safe. This first systematic consideration of diverse age groups using a psychophysics approach in the context of passive occupational EXO use in laboratory settings contributes to bridging the gap between lab and field studies in exoskeleton implementations.
Academic Options: Teaching-Intensive Institutions
Authors: Stone Nancy J. , Nees Michael A. , Hancock Gabriella M. , Kelling Nicholas , Rovira Ericka
Published: October 2023

The expectations and demands within undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral academic positions can vary greatly when considering teaching, research, and service. Human factors academics-in-training who enjoy teaching and are passionate about developing a pipeline of human factors practitioners or educators, might want to consider academic positions in a teaching-intensive college or university. The panelists will provide information on (1) the qualifications sought by teaching institutions during the hiring process; (2) the expectations of teaching, research, and service in teaching-intensive programs; (3) differences in the populations served, job incentives, and rewards; and (4) how some teachers maintain an active research program and/or consulting activities.
Do Drivers Understand Cyclists’ Communication Cues?
Authors: Petersen Christine M. , DeLucia Patricia R.
Published: October 2023

To navigate safely in the traffic environment, drivers must correctly predict cyclists’ intentions. When drivers are unable to correctly predict cyclists' intentions collisions may occur. The current study aimed to determine what combinations of cues would allow drivers to correctly predict a cyclist's intentions. In particular, the study examined how drivers used lane position, hand signals, and head movements (i.e., looking over a shoulder) to make judgments about a cyclist’s intentions. A second aim was to examine drivers’ understanding of arm signals that are recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Our results revealed that only straight arm turn signals were correctly understood by all the drivers. Combining cues increased the number of drivers who correctly predicted the cyclist's intentions. To improve cyclists’ safety, transportation laws could be rewritten to include instructions on using lane position and head turns to communicate intentions more effectively.
Employee Motivation and Its Relationship with Online Training
Authors: Kulkarni Praveen M. , Lakshminarayana K.  , Gokhale Prayag , Tigadi Basavaraj S. , Veshne Nupur , Kulkarni Ameet V.
Published: October 2023

In the past, the perspective of training programs has been used to understand employee motivation. However, there is a lack of normative and perceptive support that can guide the development of online training programs. Therefore, there is a need to understand employee motivation from the perspective of online training. This study aims to understand employee motivation and its relationship with online training in an organizational setting. The study adopted empirical research to investigate the relationship between training goals and trainee intentions to undergo online training, the role of self-efficacy in this relationship, and the expectancy of the learners from online training programs. The study tests the factors identified from the literature review for model validation. A total of 15 items were used in a survey of 812 randomly selected respondents from the organization in Belagavi, Karnataka, India. The structural equation modeling techniques were applied to explore and validate the model. The results show that factors such as learning goals, social interaction, time management and personalization have a great role to play in building training intention in the online environment, and the successful realization of the training goals.
Moebius Syndrome: An Updated Review of Literature
Authors: Monawwer Syed Abdullah , Ali Sajjad , Naeem Raahim , Ali Syed Hasan , Rabbani Azkah , Khan Maria , Qazi Saba Saleem , Shah Syed Muhammad Ismail , Farooqui Sabeeh Khawar
Published: October 2023

Moebius Syndrome, is a rare, non-progressive congenital neuropathological syndrome characterized primarily by the underdevelopment of the facial (CN VII) and abducens nerve (CN VI). Other features of Moebius Syndrome include facial nerve paresis, ophthalmoplegias, orthodontic deficiencies (including crowded dentition, swollen and hyperplastic gingiva, dental calculus, etc.), musculoskeletal abnormalities, and impaired mental function. Due to the rarity of the disorder, very few case studies have been reported in the literature. This article summarizes the significant features of the disease according to commonalities in reported cases, along with several newly recognized features cited in recent literature. We have explored the different diagnostic criteria and the newly recognized imaging modalities that may be used. Understandably, the condition detrimentally affects a patient’s quality of life; thus, treatment measures have also been outlined. This study aims to provide updated literature on Moebius Syndrome MBS and improve understanding of the condition.
Pedagogical strategies to inspire teachers to teach all: How to change teachers’ perceptions about students from being a problem to having a problem
Authors: Kim Hyun Uk , Ballin Amy
Published: October 2023

This study juxtaposes W. E. B. Du Bois’s question raised in 1903, “How does it feel to be a problem?” to students who are deemed as a “problem” in classrooms today, using a Disability Studies in Education (DSE) lens incorporating social justice and equity awareness into perspectives on disability in particular and on education in general. Two separate but mutually enhancing research projects (one project with pre-service teachers and the other with in-service teachers) share pedagogical approaches to assist the participants in learning to perceive their students not as being a problem but as (sometimes) having a problem. Project 1 applies a DSE approach to teacher candidate coursework in (special) education, and Project 2 engages practicing teachers in professional development activities designing classroom Calming Corners. Results indicate that teachers can be empowered to create inclusive and equitable classrooms by providing them with a DSE lens and with tools such as the Calming Corners.
Clinical remission in severe asthma with biologic therapy: an analysis from the UK Severe Asthma Registry
Authors: McDowell P. Jane , McDowell Ron , Busby John , Eastwood M. Chad , Patel Pujan H. , Jackson David J. , Mansur Adel , Patel Mitesh , Burhan Hassan , Doe Simon , Chaudhuri Rekha , Gore Robin , Dodd James W. , Subramanian Deepak , Brown Thomas , Heaney Liam G.
Published: October 2023

Background

Novel biologic therapies have revolutionised the management of severe asthma with more ambitious treatment aims. Here we analyse the definition of clinical remission as a suggested treatment goal and consider the characteristics associated with clinical remission in a large, real-world severe asthma cohort.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of severe asthma patients registered in the UK Severe Asthma Registry (UKSAR) who met strict national access criteria for biologics. Patients had a pre-biologics baseline assessment and annual review. The primary definition of clinical remission applied included Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ)-5 <1.5 and no oral corticosteroids for disease control and forced expiratory volume in 1 s above lower limit of normal or no more than 100 mL less than baseline.

Results

18.3% of patients achieved the primary definition of remission. The adjusted odds of remission on biologic therapy were 7.44 (95% CI 1.73–31.95)-fold higher in patients with type 2 (T2)-high biomarkers. The adjusted odds of remission were lower in patients who were female (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.45–0.93), obese (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.24–0.65) or had ACQ-5 ≥1.5 (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.12–0.31) pre-biologic therapy. The likelihood of remission reduced by 14% (95% CI 0.76–0.97) for every 10-year increase in disease duration. 12–21% of the cohort attained clinical remission depending on the definition applied; most of those who did not achieve remission failed to meet multiple criteria.

Conclusions

18.3% of patients achieved the primary definition of clinical remission. Remission was more likely in T2-high biomarker patients with shorter duration of disease and less comorbidity. Further research on the optimum time to commence biologics in severe asthma is required.
Interaction effect of chronic cough and ageing on increased risk of exacerbation in patients with asthma: a prospective cohort study in a real-world setting
Authors: Jin Fan Ding , Wang Ji , Deng Su Jun , Song Woo-Jung , Zhang Xin , Wang Chang Yong , Gao Si Yang , Chung Kian Fan , Yang Ye , Vertigan Anne E. , Luo Feng Ming , Birring Surinder S. , Li Wei Min , Liu Dan , Wang Gang
Published: October 2023

Background

Older adults with asthma have the greatest burden and worst outcomes, and there is increasing evidence that chronic cough (CC) is associated with asthma severity and poor prognosis. However, the clinical characteristics of older adult patients with both asthma and CC remain largely unknown.

Methods

Participants with stable asthma underwent two cough assessments within 3 months to define the presence of CC. Patients were divided into four groups based on CC and age (cut-off ≥60 years). Multidimensional assessment was performed at baseline, followed by a 12-month follow-up to investigate asthma exacerbations. Logistic regression models were used to explore the interaction effect of CC and age on asthma control and exacerbations.

Results

In total, 310 adult patients were prospectively recruited and divided into four groups: older CC group (n=46), older non-CC group (n=20), younger CC group (n=112) and younger non-CC group (n=132). Compared with the younger non-CC group, the older CC group had worse asthma control and quality of life and increased airflow obstruction. The older CC group showed an increase in moderate-to-severe exacerbations during the 12-month follow-up. There was a significant interaction effect of CC and ageing on the increased moderate-to-severe exacerbations (adjusted risk ratio 2.36, 95% CI 1.47–3.30).

Conclusion

Older asthma patients with CC have worse clinical outcomes, including worse asthma control and quality of life, increased airway obstruction and more frequent moderate-to-severe exacerbations, which can be partly explained by the interaction between CC and ageing.
Designs for the simultaneous inference of concentration–response curves
Authors: Schürmeyer Leonie , Schorning Kirsten , Rahnenführer Jörg
Published: October 2023

Background

An important problem in toxicology in the context of gene expression data is the simultaneous inference of a large number of concentration–response relationships. The quality of the inference substantially depends on the choice of design of the experiments, in particular, on the set of different concentrations, at which observations are taken for the different genes under consideration. As this set has to be the same for all genes, the efficient planning of such experiments is very challenging. We address this problem by determining efficient designs for the simultaneous inference of a large number of concentration–response models. For that purpose, we both construct aD-optimality criterion for simultaneous inference and aK-means procedure which clusters the support points of the locallyD-optimal designs of the individual models.

Results

We show that a planning of experiments that addresses the simultaneous inference of a large number of concentration–response relationships yields a substantially more accurate statistical analysis. In particular, we compare the performance of the constructed designs to the ones of other commonly used designs in terms ofD-efficiencies and in terms of the quality of the resulting model fits using a real data example dealing with valproic acid. For the quality comparison we perform an extensive simulation study.

Conclusions

The design maximizing theD-optimality criterion for simultaneous inference improves the inference of the different concentration–response relationships substantially. The design based on theK-means procedure also performs well, whereas a log-equidistant design, which was also included in the analysis, performs poorly in terms of the quality of the simultaneous inference. Based on our findings, theD-optimal design for simultaneous inference should be used for upcoming analyses dealing with high-dimensional gene expression data.
Isolation and molecular characterization of the Salmonella Typhimurium orphan phage Arash
Authors: Yousefi Mohammad Hashem , Wagemans Jeroen , Shekarforoush Seyed Shahram , Vallino Marta , Pozhydaieva Nadiia , Höfer Katharina , Lavigne Rob , Hosseinzadeh Saeid
Published: October 2023

The current threat of multidrug resistant strains necessitates development of alternatives to antibiotics such as bacteriophages. This study describes the isolation and characterization of a novel Salmonella Typhimurium phage ‘Arash’ from hospital wastewater in Leuven, Belgium. Arash has a myovirus morphology with a 95 nm capsid and a 140 nm tail. The host range of Arash is restricted to its isolation host. Approximately 86% of the phage particles are adsorbed to a host cell within 10 min. Arash has latent period of 65 min and burst size of 425 PFU/cell. Arash has a dsDNA genome of 180,819 bp with GC content of 53.02% with no similarities to any characterized phages, suggesting Arash as a novel species in the novel ‘Arashvirus’ genus. Arash carries no apparent lysogeny-, antibiotic resistance- nor virulence-related genes. Proteome analysis revealed 116 proteins as part of the mature phage particles of which 27 could be assigned a function. Therefore, the present findings shed light on the morphological, microbiological and genomic characteristics of Arash and suggest its potential application as therapeutic and/or biocontrol agent.
Implementing and evaluating care and support planning: a qualitative study of health professionals’ experiences in public polyclinics in Singapore
Authors: Entwistle Vikki A. , McCann Sharon , Loh Victor Weng Keong , Tai E Shyong , Tan Wee Hian , Yew Tong Wei
Published: October 2023

Background

Two polyclinics in Singapore modified systems and trained health professionals to provide person-centred Care and Support Planning (CSP) for people with diabetes within a clinical trial. We aimed to investigate health professionals’ perspectives on CSP to inform future developments.

Methods

Qualitative research including 23 semi-structured interviews with 13 health professionals and 3 co-ordinators. Interpretive analysis, including considerations of how different understandings, enactments, experiences and evaluative judgements of CSP clustered across health professionals, and potential causal links between them.

Results

Both polyclinic teams introduced CSP and sustained it through COVID-19 disruptions. The first examples health professionals gave of CSP ‘going well’ all involved patients who came prepared, motivated and able to modify behaviours to improve their biomedical markers, but health professionals also said that they only occasionally saw such patients in practice. Health professionals’ accounts of how they conducted CSP conversations varied: some interpretations and reported enactments were less clearly aligned with the developers’ person-centred aspirations than others. Health professionals brought different communication skill repertoires to their encounters and responded variably to challenges to CSP that arose from: the linguistic and educational diversity of patients in this polyclinic context; the cultural shift that CSP involved; workload pressures; organisational factors that limited relational and informational continuity of care; and policies promoting biomedical measures as key indicators of healthcare quality. While all participants saw potential in CSP, they differed in the extent to which they recognised relational and experiential benefits of CSP (beyond biomedical benefits), and their recommendations for continuing its use beyond the clinical trial were contingent on several considerations. Our analysis shows how narrower and broader interpretive emphases and initial skill repertoires can interact with situational challenges and respectively constrain or extend health professionals’ ability to refine their skills with experiential learning, reduce or enhance the potential benefits of CSP, and erode or strengthen motivation to use CSP.

Conclusion

Health professionals’ interpretations of CSP, along with their communication skills, interact in complex ways with other features of healthcare systems and diverse patient-circumstance scenarios. They warrant careful attention in efforts to implement and evaluate person-centred support for people with long-term conditions.
Health effects of long-term care insurance on spouses of disabled people: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Yi Yanling , Xin Jing , Liu Junxia , Wu Jing
Published: October 2023

Background

It is still uncertain whether and how formal long-term care (LTC) systems affect the health status of family members. This paper examines the health effects of long-term care insurance (LTCI) on spouses of disabled people in China.

Methods

The data is from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS), a longitudinal survey of a nationally representative sample of Chinese residents aged 45 or older and their spouses, and China City Statistical Yearbook. Exploiting the regional variation in the implementation of LTCI in the first round of pilot cities in China, a difference-in-difference (DID) strategy is applied to identify the causal effects of LTCI on the health status of spouses of disabled people. We carefully identify the causal effects by controlling for city-level covariates, testing common trends between the treatment and control groups, combining propensity score matching (PSM) with DID, selecting the second round of pilot cities as the control group, controlling for city fixed effects (FE) instead of individual FE, and evaluating selection bias from omitted observable and unobservable factors.

Results

The introduction of LTCI in China reduces the number of painful body parts and the self-reported health score significantly, indicating that spouses of disabled people get physical health benefits from LTCI coverage. However, the impact of LTCI on the depression index remains ambiguous and needs to be analyzed further. LTCI improves the physical health status of spouses of disabled individuals mainly through the time reallocation channel, while the impact of the consumption promotion channel has not been verified. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of LTCI on physical health are stronger for spouse caregivers and spouses with lower-level education and lower household income.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate that LTCI not only improves the health status of family caregivers by reducing their caregiving burden but also has beneficial health effects on non-caregiver family members. Policy designs of LTCI should emphasize the orientation of home and community-based care services (HCBS), which can not only satisfy the care preferences of disabled individuals, reduce the care burden on family caregivers, promote the health of all family members, but also prevent a large number of disabled individuals from choosing high-cost institutional care and reduce the financial burden of the LTCI Fund.
Genetic clues to COVID-19 severity: exploring the stromal cell-derived factor-1/CXCL12 rs2839693 polymorphism in adult Egyptians
Authors: Korayem Osama H. , Ahmed Amr E. , Meabed Mohamed H. , Magdy Doaa M. , Abdelghany Wafaa M.
Published: October 2023

Background

A novel corona virus called SARS-CoV-2 was identified at the end of December 2019, and the illness induced by it was designated as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Severity of the disease could vary significantly since most of the infected individuals experience mild to moderate respiratory symptoms and recover without specialized care. Genetic polymorphisms have implications in influencing the varying degrees of COVID-19 severity. This study aims to assess the potential association between the CXCL12 rs2839693 polymorphism and the severity of COVID-19 in Assiut University Quarantine Hospital during the period from May 2022 to August 2022.

Methods

The present study is a cross-sectional study and is applied to 300 COVID-19 patients confirmed by RT-PCR admitted to Assiut University Quarantine Hospital from May 2022 to August 2022. Based on the clinical symptoms, the recruited participants had been divided into two groups. Group I involved mild or moderate cases; Group II involved severe or critical conditions. The rs2839693 polymorphism was detected by real time PCR using TaqMan assay probe.

Results

The frequency of the T allele and the TT genotype was significantly higher in the severe or critical group compared with the mild or moderate group (p value < 0.001). C-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimers are significantly elevated in the combined variants (CT + TT) and the TT compared with the CC (P value 0.006 and 0.017 respectively) and the CC,CT genotypes (p value 0.019 and 0.002 respectively). The combined variants (CT + TT) of CXCL12 were found to be independent predictors to severe or critical COVID-19 risk with P value =  < 0.001, OR = 3.034& 95% CI = 1.805–5.098.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed that CXCL12 rs2839693 had a role in the development and seriousness of COVID-19. Patients with the TT genotype or the T allele at increased risk developed severe or critical rather than mild or moderate disease.