bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the dates of publication of four European species of Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 described by C. L. Koch (Myriapoda, Chilopoda)
Authors: DOMÉNECH CARLES , NAGEL PETER
Published: June 2022

Current studies on European Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 revealed inconsistencies in the use of the date of publications containing original descriptions by C. L. Koch. These dates are reviewed in the present paper. As a result, the following commonly attributed dates of description have to be amended: S. clavipes C. L. Koch, 1847, S. italica C. L. Koch, 1837, S. graeca C. L. Koch, 1847, and S. germanica C. L. Koch, 1837. The work containing the original description of all these taxa was published in 1836 by C. L. Koch as Heft 9 of the rare series “Deutschlands Crustaceen, Myriapoden und Arachniden”. Two of these taxa were introduced by a short, inconspicuous paragraph and without illustration. The remaining two were wrongly dated short time after their descriptions, which were never questioned and have still being used until today.
Geosesarma garutense n. sp., a new species of vampire crab (Crustacea, Brachyura, Sesarmidae) from Garut in western Java
Authors: NG PETER K. L. , WOWOR DAISY
Published: June 2022

A new species of vampire crab, Geosesarma garutense n. sp. is described from Garut in the eastern part of West Java, Indonesia. The species is unusual among congeners in Java in that the exopod of the third maxilliped does not possess a flagellum, the carapace is broadly rectangular in shape and the G1 relatively is short and stout, with the chitinous distal part spatuliform.
Characterization of cure residual strain development and associated structural distortion in carbon fiber polymer matrix composites
Authors: Mahto Brindaban , Kubher Sagar , Gururaja Suhasini
Published: June 2022

A comprehensive experimental methodology has been developed to measure the in situ cure residual strain (CRS) generation in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates using embedded fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. In order to delineate the effect of anisotropy, heterogeneity, laminate thickness and geometry, in situ CRS is measured in pristine epoxy, uni-directional (UD)-CFRPs, multi-directional (MD)-CFRPs and L-shaped MD-CFRP laminates. In this study, emphasis is laid on quantifying the variation in CRS magnitudes as a function of laminates lay-up sequence and thickness. Calibration of FBG sensors are carried out by following well established procedures. Structural distortion due to CRS is correlated using embedded FBG sensor and measured using the coordinate measurement machine (CMM). The presented results show a uniform CRS development across the thickness in MD-CFRP laminates as compared to L-shaped MD-CFRP laminates.
Increased Risk of Injury in Ménière's Disease and Effects of Treatment: Population‐Based Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Wu Po‐Ling , Lin Hung‐Che , Chien Wu‐Chien , Chung Chi‐Hsiang , Chen Jeng‐Wen
Published: June 2022

Objective

To investigate the risk of injury in patients with Ménière's disease (MD) and the effects of treatment.

Study Design

Population‐based retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Data were collected from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005, containing the information of 2 million randomly selected individuals in Taiwan.

Methods

We enrolled 90,481 patients with newly diagnosed MD between 2000 and 2017 and 361,924 matched individuals without MD. The study outcomes were diagnoses of all‐cause injuries. The Kaplan‐Meier method was used to determine the cumulative incidence rates of injury in the MD and non‐MD cohorts, and a log‐rank test was used to analyze the differences between the cohorts. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate the 18‐year hazard ratios of each cohort.

Results

A total of 80,151 patients were diagnosed with injuries during the follow‐up period: 24,031 and 56,120 from the MD and non‐MD cohorts, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) was 2.19 (95% CI, 2.16‐2.35) after adjusting for demographic characteristics and comorbidities. Subgroup analysis revealed that MD was associated with an increased incidence of unintentional and intentional injuries (aHR, 2.24 [95% CI, 2.21‐2.41] and 2.05 [95% CI, 2.01‐2.19], respectively). Treatment with diuretics, antivertigo medications, or surgery did not reduce the risk of injury (aHR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.59‐1.54], 0.94 [95% CI, 0.58‐1.50], and 0.99 [95% CI, 0.61‐1.54]).

Conclusion

MD is independently associated with an increased risk of injuries. Medical or surgical treatment for MD does not reduce the risk of injury in patients with MD. Physicians should counsel patients with MD regarding preventive measures for avoiding subsequent injuries.
The invention of the “weird” Southern child: Mapping coloniality in the political problematization of disadvantaged children’s lives in the global South
Authors: Araneda-Urrutia Carlos
Published: June 2022

In this article, the pervasiveness of coloniality in Southern childhoods’ policyscapes is mapped. By analyzing Chilean child nutrition policies, this article illustrates how coloniality fabricates children’s ontological “weirdness” to naturalize racial optimization through compulsory abledment. The “weird” Southern child is theorized as the preferred policy subject of an ableist assemblage that racializes disadvantaged children as biologically unfit for civilized life. Finally, this article argues that Childhood Studies must be decolonized by decentering models of childhood where coloniality remains deeply entrenched.
An elastic framework for ensemble-based large-scale data assimilation
Authors: Friedemann Sebastian , Raffin Bruno
Published: June 2022

Prediction of chaotic systems relies on a floating fusion of sensor data (observations) with a numerical model to decide on a good system trajectory and to compensate non-linear feedback effects. Ensemble-based data assimilation (DA) is a major method for this concern depending on propagating an ensemble of perturbed model realizations. In this paper, we develop an elastic, online, fault-tolerant and modular framework called Melissa-DA for large-scale ensemble-based DA. Melissa-DAallows elastic addition or removal of compute resources for state propagation at runtime. Dynamic load balancing based on list scheduling ensures efficient execution. Online processing of the data produced by ensemble members enables to avoid the I/O bottleneck of file-based approaches. Our implementation embeds the PDAF parallel DA engine, enabling the use of various DA methods. Melissa-DAcan support extra ensemble-based DA methods by implementing the transformation of member background states into analysis states. Experiments confirm the excellent scalability of Melissa-DA, propagating 16,384 members for a regional hydrological critical zone assimilation relying on the ParFlow model on a domain with about 4 M grid cells. The same use case was ported to the PDAF state-of-the-art DA framework relying on a MPI approach. A comparison with Melissa-DA at 2500 members on 20,000 cores shows our approach is about 50% faster per assimilation cycle.
The permanent or transitory nature of shocks to tourism expenditures and receipts: Evidence from new panel stationarity tests with breaks and factors
Authors: Payne James E , Nazlioglu Saban
Published: June 2022

Tourism expenditures and receipts are an important component of many countries’ balance of payments. Indeed, the determination of whether shocks to tourism expenditures and receipts are permanent or transitory in nature is relevant to understanding the appropriate policy response. This study introduces new panel stationarity tests that simultaneously model structural breaks and a common factor structure. The results from several panel stationarity tests including the new tests reject the null hypothesis of stationarity for the panel of 63 countries. Based on tests of stationarity with a common factor structure without structural breaks at the individual country level, the null hypothesis of stationarity is rejected in 24 and 26 countries with respect to per capita international tourism expenditures and tourism receipts, respectively. The inclusion of the Fourier approximation for smooth structural breaks alongside the common factor structure increases the number of rejections of the null hypothesis of stationarity to 48 and 54 countries for per capita international tourism expenditures and receipts, respectively. Hence, shocks to either tourism expenditures or receipts will likely be permanent in nature requiring a policy response in order to return tourism expenditures and receipts to their original trend path.

JEL Codes: Z32, C33.
Initial parameter guided variational mode extraction for damage detection of wind turbine bearing
Authors: Wang Xiaolong , Wang Haipeng , Tang Guiji , Ding Ao , Tian Yinchu , Hu Aijun , He Yuling
Published: June 2022

Rolling bearing is the necessary mechanical component of wind turbine, and damage detection of wind turbine bearing is of important significance to effectively prevent long downtime and catastrophic accident. Nevertheless, weak feature extraction of wind turbine bearing in the incipient damage stage is always a challenging task because of severe service environment. Accordingly, an initial parameter guided variational mode extraction (IPGVME) method is put forward to deal with this problem. First, the equivalent filter trait and the iterative convergence trait of VME are investigated, and the influence of center frequency parameter and balance factor parameter on mode extraction behavior is further analyzed. Moreover, a comprehensive evaluation indicator fluctuation spectrum guided center frequency selection scheme and a whale optimization algorithm guided balance factor selection scheme are creatively developed, then the IPGVME method is further put forward to detect bearing damage by fusing with these two specific schemes. The feasibility of this proposed method is approved by the experimental and the engineering signals, and the results indicate that this method is superior to other contrastive methods in damage detection of wind turbine bearing.
Extraction of eco-friendly essential oils and their utilization in finishing polyester fabrics for fragrant and medical textiles
Authors: El-Molla Mohamed M , El-Ghorab Ahmed H
Published: June 2022

Eco-friendly fragrances essential oils of Lavender, thyme, and clove were prepared and extracted from natural sources and utilized for finishing polyester fabrics, in order to give them good smell and antibacterial characteristics, that is, medical textile. We developed medical textiles using the essential oils (lavender, thyme, and clove) with β-cyclodextrin inclusion compounds. The fragrance inclusion compounds were fixed onto polyester by drying with a low temperature and then thermo fixed method. The essential oils were studied to prove their structure using various techniques such as IR spectra, GC-MS, . . .etc. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of treated polyester fabrics with, lavender, thyme, and clove essential oils against, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was evaluated. The results show that the finishing polyester fabrics with essential oils have antibacterial properties. The antibacterial activity of treated polyester fabrics with thyme was the highest. A strong odor was detected after 50 days, while a medium odor was detected after 60 days or five pieces of washing. The novelty of this work has arisen from its ability to fit the requirements of economic feasibility of medical textile, achieve the goal of fabrics has at smell good and has antibacterial.
Investigating the Influences of Healthcare Facility Features on Wayfinding Performance and Associated Stress Using Virtual Reality
Authors: Qi Fei , Lu Zhipeng , Chen Yi
Published: June 2022

Objective:

This study examined the influences of healthcare facility interior features on users’ wayfinding performance and the relationship between stress and wayfinding.

Background:

General hospitals in China always present significant wayfinding problems due to their sizes and complexity. Poor wayfinding often leads to a frustrating and stressful user experience. It has not been fully understood how hospital indoor features affect wayfinding and whether an individual’s stress levels are associated with wayfinding performance.

Method:

We conducted an experiment in which 117 college students, aged 18–33 ( M = 21.88, SD = 3.01), performed two tasks in virtual reality environments of outpatient clinics. Stress (skin conductance response) and wayfinding performance (distance ratio and time ratio) were measured. Participants’ sense of orientation, navigation ability, distance estimation, and spatial anxiety were captured by a survey.

Results:

Male participants reported a significantly better sense of orientation and less spatial anxiety than females. Participants’ stress levels were lower with outdoor window views compared to those without outdoor views. With more environmental features (landmarks and outdoor window views) added to the environments, participants showed significantly better wayfinding performance. No significant relationship was found between wayfinding performance and participants’ stress levels in this study.

Conclusion:

While individual environmental factors might not have a significant influence, combining multiple elements such as window views and landmarks could lead to better wayfinding performance. More research is needed to examine the relationship between stress and wayfinding.
Development and Validation of the School Counselor Classroom Management Inventory
Authors: Goodman-Scott Emily , Boulden Rawn
Published: June 2022

School counseling classroom lessons provide all K–12 students with Tier 1 preventive supports. Educators use classroom management strategies to best deliver classroom lesson content to K–12 students, although the existing literature for school counselors in particular is sparse (e.g., Goodman-Scott, 2019; Runyan et al., 2019). We describe the creation and validation of the first known assessment on school counseling classroom management: the School Counseling Classroom Management Inventory, resulting in a five-factor model. Our discussion includes strategies for school counselors at the preservice, practicing, district, and counselor education levels to best use this inventory to serve students in K–12 schools.
Energy Conservation or Emission Reduction? The Effects of Different Types of Environmental Regulations on Enterprises’ Green Innovation Preference
Authors: Li Zibiao , Wang Siwei , Sun Keyuan , Li Han , Lu Xue
Published: June 2022

Previous research on green innovation sought to comprehend the antecedents and outcomes of environmental regulations. However, how these antecedents translate into outcomes may vary depending on different types of environmental regulations, such as environmental subsidies and pollution charges. We propose and test the effects of different environmental regulations on enterprises’ green innovation preferences. Moreover, we analyze how ownership type moderates the observed effects. The fundamental results reveal that: (1) Environmental subsidies and pollution charges positively affect energy conservation innovation. (2) Environmental subsidies and pollution charges positively affect emission reduction innovation. (3) Pollution charges are not as effective as environmental subsidies in promoting energy conservation innovation. However, pollution charges have a greater implementation effect than environmental subsidies in encouraging emission reduction innovation. (4) The types of enterprise ownership only play a positive moderating role in the relationship between pollution charges and emission reduction innovation. Accordingly, this paper provides auxiliary decision-making for the government to motivate the energy conservation and emission reduction of enterprises.
Chronic Lymphogranuloma Venereum Proctocolitis Masquerading as Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Ghanta Sai Nikhila , Saccente Michael
Published: June 2022

Rectal infection with the L1, L2, and L3 serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis can cause lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) proctocolitis, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). Symptoms of this sexually transmitted infection include anal pain, rectal bleeding and discharge, tenesmus, constipation, and fever. Clinicians should consider LGV when there is a history of receptive anal intercourse and symptoms of proctocolitis. A positive nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) on a rectal sample is diagnostic. This report describes a man with HIV and chronic proctocolitis in whom the diagnosis of LGV was delayed because the clinical picture mimicked inflammatory bowel disease.
A Perfect Storm: Abdominal Pain and Ileus Explained by Acute Intermittent Porphyria Caused by Prehospitalization and Intrahospitalization Factors
Authors: Ortega Andrew J. , Cherukuri Sundar , Kalas M. Ammar , Lee Brian , Guzman Jesus , Robles Alejandro , Zuckerman Marc J. , Al-Bayati Ihsan
Published: June 2022

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a rare autosomal dominant inherited disease, predominantly seen in female patients, caused by mutations in the hydroxymethylbilane synthase gene. When impaired, elevated heme biosynthesis precursor levels accumulate in the liver, resulting in neurological symptoms, psychiatric disturbances, darkened urine color, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and ileus. We present a 22-year-old Hispanic female with diffuse abdominal pain and no bowel movements for 8 days. She reported recent antibiotic and oral contraceptive pill use. Computerized tomography of her abdomen revealed a dilated small bowel and marked colonic distension. A colonoscopy found mild nonspecific inflammation in the rectosigmoid and terminal ileum. Her abdominal pain persisted despite interventions and improvements in appetite, bowel movements, abdominal imaging, and treatment of an identified Clostridium difficile infection. A random urine porphobilinogen was then obtained and found to be elevated. Fractionation of plasma and urine porphyrins was suggestive of AIP. Her symptoms improved with 3 days of intravenous (IV) hematin and IV dextrose. This is a unique case of a rare disease due to her clinical presentation with ileus, unremarkable past medical history, family history, and the prehospitalization and intrahospitalization factors that likely exacerbated the patient AIP.
Impact of genomic preselection on subsequent genetic evaluations with ssGBLUP using real data from pigs
Authors: Jibrila Ibrahim , Vandenplas Jeremie , ten Napel Jan , Bergsma Rob , Veerkamp Roel F. , Calus Mario P. L.
Published: June 2022

Background

Empirically assessing the impact of preselection on genetic evaluation of preselected animals requires comparing scenarios that take different approaches into account, including scenarios without preselection. However, preselection is almost always performed in animal breeding programs, so it is difficult to have a dataset without preselection. Hence, most studies on preselection have used simulated datasets, and have concluded that genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) from subsequent single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) evaluations are unbiased. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of genomic preselection (GPS) on accuracy and bias in subsequent ssGBLUP evaluations, using data from a commercial pig breeding program.

Methods

We used data on average daily gain during performance testing, average daily gain throughout life, backfat thickness, and loin depth from one sire line and one dam line of pigs. As these traits have different weights in the breeding goals of the two lines, we analyzed the lines separately. For each line, we implemented a reference GPS scenario that kept all available data, against which the next two scenarios were compared. We then implemented two other scenarios with additional layers of GPS by removing all animals without progeny either (i) only in the validation generation, or (ii) in all generations. We conducted subsequent ssGBLUP evaluations for each GPS scenario, using all the data remaining after implementing the GPS scenario. Accuracy and bias were computed by comparing GEBV against progeny yield deviations of validation animals.

Results

Results for all traits and in both lines showed a marginal loss in accuracy due to the additional layers of GPS. Average accuracies across all GPS scenarios in the two lines were 0.39, 0.47, 0.56, and 0.60, for average daily gain during performance testing and throughout life, backfat thickness, and loin depth, respectively. Biases were largely absent, and when present, did not differ greatly between the GPS scenarios.

Conclusions

We conclude that the impact of preselection on accuracy and bias in subsequent ssGBLUP evaluations of selection candidates in pigs is generally minimal. We expect this conclusion to apply for other animal breeding programs as well, since preselection of any type or intensity generally has the same effect in animal breeding programs.
Along the Bos taurus genome, uncover candidate imprinting control regions
Authors: Wyss Phillip , Song Carol , Bina Minou
Published: June 2022

Background

In mammals, Imprinting Control Regions (ICRs) regulate a subset of genes in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. In both human and mouse, previous studies identified a set of CpG-rich motifs occurring as clusters in ICRs and germline Differentially Methylated Regions (gDMRs). These motifs consist of the ZFP57 binding site (ZFBS) overlapping a subset of MLL binding units known as MLL morphemes. MLL or MLL1 (Mixed Lineage Leukemia 1) is a relatively large multidomain protein that plays a central role in the regulation of transcription. The structures of both MLL1 and MLL2 include a domain (MT) that binds CpG-rich DNA and a conserved domain (SET) that methylates lysine 4 in histone H3 producing H3K4me3 marks in chromatin.

Results

Since genomic imprinting impacts many developmental and key physiological processes, we followed a previous bioinformatics strategy to pinpoint ICR positions in the Bos taurus genome. Initial genome-wide analyses involved finding the positions of ZFP57 binding sites, and the CpG-rich motifs (ZFBS-morph overlaps) along cattle chromosomal DNA. By creating plots displaying the density of ZFBS-morph overlaps, we removed background noise and thus improved signal detection. With the density-plots, we could view the positions of peaks locating known and candidate ICRs in cattle DNA. Our evaluations revealed the correspondence of peaks in plots to reported known and inferred ICRs/DMRs in cattle. Beside peaks pinpointing such ICRs, the density-plots also revealed additional peaks. Since evaluations validated the robustness of our approach, we inferred that the additional peaks may correspond to candidate ICRs for imprinted gene expression.

Conclusion

Our bioinformatics strategy offers the first genome-wide approach for systematically localizing candidate ICRs. Furthermore, we have tailored our datasets for upload onto the UCSC genome browser so that researchers could find known and candidate ICRs with respect to a wide variety of annotations at all scales: from the positions of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), to positions of genes, transcripts, and repeated DNA elements. Furthermore, the UCSC genome browser offers tools to produce enlarged views: to uncover the genes in the vicinity of candidate ICRs and thus discover potential imprinted genes for experimental validations.
Analysis of 4 cases of children with false-positive results of novel coronavirus-specific antibody
Authors: Dai Shuzhi , Li Jingjing , Li Jing , Li Long , Shi Lin , Cao Ling , Zhong Xuemei , Liu Weijie , Wang Ying , Ma Lijuan
Published: June 2022

Background

This study attempts to explore the influencing factors and solutions of the colloidal gold method for novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)-specific IgM/IgG antibody detection, summarize the clinical experience and perfect the examination process, improving the application value of antibody detection in COVID-19 diagnosis.

Methods

A total of 13,329 peripheral whole blood/plasma/serum samples were obtained for COVID-19 screening from children who visited the Children's Hospital of the Capital Institute of Pediatrics outpatient clinic from April 22, 2020, to November 30, 2020. The colloidal gold method was adopted for 2019-nCoV-specific IgM/IgG antibody detection. The virus nucleic acid test results, clinical records, and serum protein fingerprint results of antibody-positive patients were collected.

Results

All samples were examined using the colloidal gold method with two 2019-nCoV-specific IgM/IgG antibody detection kits. Four patients were tested single antibody-positive using both kits. The details were as follows: two cases of IgM ( +) and IgG (-) using plasma and serum separately, two cases of IgM (-) and IgG ( +) using serum and whole blood. The protein fingerprinting results and nucleic acid tests of 2019-nCoV antibodies were negative in the 4 cases. Considering the epidemiological history, clinical manifestations, and test results, these 4 children were ruled out for 2019-nCoV infection.

Conclusions

When the colloidal gold method was used to detect 2019-nCoV-specific IgM/IgG antibodies, it was important to ascertain the test results as precisely as possible. Specimen type and patient history may interfere with the diagnosis.
Breastfeeding initiation and duration and acute otitis media among children less than two years of age in Jordan: results from a case–control study
Authors: AL-Nawaiseh Furat K. , Al-Jaghbir Madi T. , AL-Assaf Mohammad S. , AL-Nawaiseh Hala K. , Alzoubi Majdi. M.
Published: June 2022

Background

Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common infectious diseases that affects children. Breastfeeding has been linked to a lower risk of AOM in the first three years of childhood. The aim of this study was to identify the association between exclusive breastfeeding and the development of acute otitis media (AOM) and investigate the influence of breastfeeding duration on the presence of AOM.

Methods

In a retrospective case–control study, a sample of 98 children (cases) who were diagnosed with AOM and 98 children (controls) who were not diagnosed with AOM and were younger than two years old were selected from the Jordan University Hospital. Medical records were used to identify children with AOM. For both the case and control groups, the children’s mothers completed a self-administered questionnaire about factors linked to the incidence of AOM.The type of feeding and the duration of breastfeeding were assessed using a validated questionnaire.

Results

The data indicated that among children who developed AOM, 23.5%were artificiallyfed, while 22.4% and 13.3% were exclusively breastfed for 3 months and 6 months, respectively. Approximately 70.7% of the children without AOM were exclusively breastfed for 6 months, compared with only 29.3% of the children without AOM who were exclusively breastfed for 3 months.Logistic regression revealed that nonexclusive breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for 3 months, and exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months were protective factors against AOM (OR = 0.23, 0.18, and 0.25, respectively; P < 0.05). A short duration of exclusive breastfeeding was considered a risk factor for the development of AOM (OR = 1.7, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The escalation of AOM is tightly connected to the early introduction of formula feeding in the first six months of life. Breastfeeding had a protective impact on the occurrence of AOM. Understanding factors that are associated with the occurrence of AOM in children may support the role of public health institutions and primary health care in the prevention and reduction of AOM episodes and the need for national health strategies to promote breastfeeding.
Rapid systematic review to identify key barriers to access, linkage, and use of local authority administrative data for population health research, practice, and policy in the United Kingdom
Authors: Moorthie Sowmiya , Hayat Shabina , Zhang Yi , Parkin Katherine , Philips Veronica , Bale Amber , Duschinsky Robbie , Ford Tamsin , Moore Anna
Published: June 2022

Background

Improving data access, sharing, and linkage across local authorities and other agencies can contribute to improvements in population health. Whilst progress is being made to achieve linkage and integration of health and social care data, issues still exist in creating such a system. As part of wider work to create the Cambridge Child Health Informatics and Linked Data (Cam-CHILD) database, we wanted to examine barriers to the access, linkage, and use of local authority data.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted of scientific databases and the grey literature. Any publications reporting original research related to barriers or enablers of data linkage of or with local authority data in the United Kingdom were included. Barriers relating to the following issues were extracted from each paper: funding, fragmentation, legal and ethical frameworks, cultural issues, geographical boundaries, technical capability, capacity, data quality, security, and patient and public trust.

Results

Twenty eight articles were identified for inclusion in this review. Issues relating to technical capacity and data quality were cited most often. This was followed by those relating to legal and ethical frameworks. Issue relating to public and patient trust were cited the least, however, there is considerable overlap between this topic and issues relating to legal and ethical frameworks.

Conclusions

This rapid review is the first step to an in-depth exploration of the barriers to data access, linkage and use; a better understanding of which can aid in creating and implementing effective solutions. These barriers are not novel although they pose specific challenges in the context of local authority data.
Providing an interactive undergraduate elective on safety culture online – concept and evaluation
Authors: Müller Angelina , Sawicki Olga A. , Pommee Marina , Blazejewski Tatjana , Schneider Kyra , Ullmann-Moskovits Judith , Petersen Juliana J. , Müller Beate S.
Published: June 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it more difficult to maintain high quality in medical education. As online formats are often considered unsuitable, interactive workshops and seminars have particularly often been postponed or cancelled. To meet the challenge, we converted an existing interactive undergraduate elective on safety culture into an online event. In this article, we describe the conceptualization and evaluation of the elective.

Methods

The learning objectives of the safety culture elective remained unchanged, but the teaching methods were thoroughly revised and adapted to suit an online setting. The online elective was offered as a synchronous two-day course in winter semester 2020/21 during the “second wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. At the end of each day, participating students evaluated the elective by completing an online survey. Items were rated on a six-point Likert scale. We used SPSS for data analysis.

Results

Twenty medical undergraduates completed the elective and rated it extremely positively (1.1 ± 0.2). Students regard safety culture as very important and felt the learning objectives had been achieved. Moreover, they were very satisfied with the design and content of the elective, and especially with interactive elements like role-play. Around 55% of participants would recommend continuing to offer the online elective after the pandemic.

Conclusions

It makes sense to offer undergraduate medical students online elective courses on safety culture, especially during a pandemic. The elective described here can serve as a best practice example of how to teach safety culture to undergraduates, especially when physical presence is unfeasible. Electives requiring a high degree of interaction can also function well online.
Exploring developmental assignments shaping experience-driven acquisition of leadership competencies in young clinicians
Authors: Sabqat Mashaal , Khan Rehan Ahmed , Yasmin Raheela , Mahboob Usman
Published: June 2022

Background

Experiential leadership development is well documented in the corporate sector, but those models cannot be applied as is, in the healthcare domain. The current study proposes a framework for the healthcare sector to enable experiential leadership development for young clinicians. The authors identify developmental assignments (DAs) and explore those characteristics [developmental assignment characteristics; DACs] therein that help develop leadership competencies in young clinicians.

Methods

As part of a qualitative exploratory study in Pakistan, the authors conducted 16 semi-structured interviews with senior clinicians in leadership positions with post-graduate residents under their supervision from different medical specialties. The participants were selected through purposive sampling, ensuring a maximum variation sample. Focusing on participants’ experiences and perspectives related to experience-driven leadership development, the authors used a multi-level theoretical framework for analysis.

Results

The thematic analysis resulted in 19 subthemes with four overarching themes for both objectives. The authors categorized the developmental assignments (DAs) into clinical, academic, and administrative assignments. These assignments can be utilized for leadership development by ensuring that they have the requisite characteristics built into their context and structure. These developmental assignment characteristics (DACs) can range from learner-driven to supervisor-driven. The learner-driven characteristics include autonomy, high levels of responsibilities, unfamiliar assignments, working across boundaries, managing diversity, making a commitment, and creating change. The supervisor-driven characteristics include briefing, debriefing, accountability, and learner-assignment matching. The authors also developed a learner-assignment matching (LAM) framework to guide supervisors in customizing and adjusting the level of each DAC in a DA.

Conclusion

A modern healthcare educational system can utilize studies like this to enable supervisors to develop required leadership skills in young clinicians along with clinical skills.
Adapting teaching and learning in times of COVID-19: a comparative assessment among higher education institutions in a global health network in 2020
Authors: Puradiredja Dewi Ismajani , Kintu-Sempa Linda , Eyber Carola , Weigel Ralf , Broucker Bruno , Lindkvist Marie , Casamitjana Nuria , Reynolds Rodney , Klinkel Hans-Friedemann , Matteelli Alberto , Froeschl Guenter
Published: June 2022

Background

This research examines the ways in which higher education institutions (HEIs) across the tropEd Network for Education in International Health (tropEd) began to adapt their teaching and learning approaches in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Already during this early phase of the pandemic HEIs’ responses demonstrate global health approaches emphasising cooperation and communication, rather than national health driven strategies that emphasise quarantine and control. Key lessons learnt for multiple dimensions of teaching and learning in global health are thus identified, and challenges and opportunities discussed.

Methods

Data collection includes a cross-sectional online survey among tropEd member institutions (n = 19) in mid-2020, and a complementary set of open-ended questions generating free-text responses (n = 9). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, textual data were analysed using a Framework Analysis approach.

Results

While early on in the pandemic the focus was on a quick emergency switch to online teaching formats to ensure short-term continuity, and developing the administrative and didactic competence and confidence in digital teaching, there is already recognition among HEIs of the necessity for more fundamental quality and longer-term reforms in higher education in global health. Alongside practical concerns about the limitations of digital teaching, and declines in student numbers, there is a growing awareness of opportunities in terms of inclusivity, the necessity of cross-border cooperation, and a global health approach. The extent to which the lack of physical mobility impacts HEI programmes in global health is debated.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about preventive measures that have had a considerable impact on various dimensions of academic teaching in global health. Going forward, international HEIs’ experiences and response strategies can help generate important lessons for academic institutions across different settings worldwide.
Factors related to help-seeking for cancer medical care among people living in rural areas: a scoping review
Authors: Oshiro Mariko , Kamizato Midori , Jahana Sayuri
Published: June 2022

Despite the importance of timely diagnosis and access to treatment, previous studies have not adequately explored help-seeking behavior in cancer treatment among rural and remote residents. The barriers preventing help-seeking behavior also remain unclear. To address this research gap, this study conducted a scoping review to suggest a framework for eliminating barriers and facilitating help-seeking for cancer treatment among rural and remote residents. To conduct the scoping review, three English medical databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL) were examined for the keywords “rural,” “remote,” “cancer,” and “help-seeking.” The research objectives and study designs, participants, and excerpts describing help-seeking of the selected papers were recorded in a data charting form. Descriptions of help-seeking behavior were organized and summarized according to their meaning and integrated into factors using thematic analysis. All extracted factors related to help-seeking were sorted into four main themes according to the Ecological Model of Health Behavior, the theoretical lens for this scoping review: (1) Intrapersonal; (2) Interpersonal; (3) Groups, culture, and organizations; and (4) Policy/environment. Factors were categorized as barriers and facilitators of help-seeking. A total of 13 papers were analyzed. Intrapersonal factors such as self-reliance, symptom appraisal, and fatalism, were identified as barriers to help-seeking, whereas presentation of abnormal and serious symptoms facilitated help-seeking. Interpersonal factors such as lack of understanding of family members, influence of surrounding people, role obligations, and lack of trust in experts hindered help-seeking, whereas understanding from surrounding people such as family and friends, promoted help-seeking. Groups, cultural, and organizational factors such as prejudice, social stigma, shame, lack of anonymity, and social norms acted as barriers to help-seeking. Policy-related barriers to help-seeking included lack of medical services and physical distance from medical institutions, leading to a time burden. The study discussed the identified factors from a rural context. Future studies should consider the identified barriers and facilitators according to the four main themes in rural areas when formulating interventions to promote help-seeking. Our findings can offer a theoretical foundation to develop actionable policies, preventive strategies, and relevant interventional tools that may facilitate oncological service utilization in rural areas.
Advances in biomarkers and techniques for pancreatic cancer diagnosis
Authors: Wu Haotian , Ou Suwen , Zhang Hongli , Huang Rui , Yu Shan , Zhao Ming , Tai Sheng
Published: June 2022

Pancreatic cancer is the most lethal type of malignancy and is characterized by high invasiveness without severe symptoms. It is difficult to detect PC at an early stage because of the low diagnostic accuracy of existing routine methods, such as abdominal ultrasound, CT, MRI, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). Therefore, it is of value to develop new diagnostic techniques for early detection with high accuracy. In this review, we aim to highlight research progress on novel biomarkers, artificial intelligence, and nanomaterial applications on the diagnostic accuracy of pancreatic cancer.
Prenatal diagnosis of anomalous left brachiocephalic vein courses using high-definition flow render mode and spatiotemporal image correlation
Authors: Li Tian-gang , Ma Bin , Qi Ping-an
Published: June 2022

Background

This study aimed to examine the clinical value of high-definition (HD) flow render mode and spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) to diagnose anomalous left brachiocephalic vein (LBCV) courses in fetuses.

Methods and results

Seventeen cases of anomalous LBCV courses were diagnosed using two-dimensional (2D), HD-flow, and HD-flow combined with STIC images and retrospectively analyzed to examine the significance of using HD-flow combined with STIC technology in the diagnosis of anomalous LBCV courses.

Conclusions

HD-flow combined with STIC technology can help in the diagnosis of anomalous fetal LBCV courses, and this technique has important clinical value.
Pancreatic islet organoids-on-a-chip: how far have we gone?
Authors: Yin Jiaxiang , Meng Hao , Lin Jingfang , Ji Wei , Xu Tao , Liu Huisheng
Published: June 2022

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease caused by dysfunction or disruption of pancreatic islets. The advent and development of microfluidic organoids-on-a-chip platforms have facilitated reproduce of complex and dynamic environment for tissue or organ development and complex disease processes. For the research and treatment of DM, the platforms have been widely used to investigate the physiology and pathophysiology of islets. In this review, we first highlight how pancreatic islet organoids-on-a-chip have improved the reproducibility of stem cell differentiation and organoid culture. We further discuss the efficiency of microfluidics in the functional evaluation of pancreatic islet organoids, such as single-islet-sensitivity detection, long-term real-time monitoring, and automatic glucose adjustment to provide relevant stimulation. Then, we present the applications of islet-on-a-chip technology in disease modeling, drug screening and cell replacement therapy. Finally, we summarize the development and challenges of islet-on-a-chip and discuss the prospects of future research.

Graphical Abstract
Endometrial thickness is an independent risk factor of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a retrospective study of 13,458 patients in frozen-thawed embryo transfers
Authors: Zhang Meng , Li Jing , Fu Xiao , Zhang Yiting , Zhang Tao , Wu Bingjie , Han Xinyue , Gao Shanshan
Published: June 2022

Background

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are an important cause of maternal and fetal mortality, and its potential risk factors are still being explored. Endometrial thickness (EMT), as one of the important monitoring indicators of endometrial receptivity, has been confirmed to be related to the incidence of HDP in fresh embryo transfer. Our study was designed to investigate whether endometrial thickness is associated with the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET).

Methods

This respective cohort study enrolled 13,458 women who received vitrified embryo transfer and had a singleton delivery in the Reproductive Hospital affiliated to Shandong University from January 2015 to December 2019. We set strict screening criteria and obtained the information from the hospital electronic medical system. Statistical methods including logistic regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve and restricted cubic spline were used to evaluate the relationship between endometrial thickness and the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Results

The incidences of HDP in a thin endometrial thickness group (< 0.8 cm) and a thick endometrial thickness group (> 1.2 cm) were significantly greater than in a reference group (0.8 cm–1.2 cm) (7.98 and 5.24% vs 4.59%, P <  0.001). A nonlinear relationship between endometrial thickness and risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was examined by restricted cubic spline (P <  0.001). The thin endometrial thickness and thick endometrial thickness groups were significantly associated with the risk of HDP after adjusting for confounding variables by stepwise logistic regression analysis. Subsequently, subgroup logistic regression analysis based on endometrial preparation regimens showed that thin endometria were still significantly associated with a higher morbidity rate in the artificial cycle group, while in the natural cycle group, thick endometria were closely associated with increased morbidity.

Conclusion

Our study manifested that both the thin and thick endometria were associated with an increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in frozen embryo transfer cycles. Reproductive clinicians should focus on adjusting endometrial thickness in different preparation regimens; and obstetricians should be mindful of the risk of hypertension during pregnancy, when women with thin (< 0.8 cm) or excessively thicker (> 1.2 cm) endometrial thickness achieve pregnancy through frozen-thawed embryo transfer.
Determinants of evidence use by frontline maternal, newborn and child health staff in selected health facilities in Ghana
Authors: Abekah-Nkrumah Gordon , Ottie-Boakye Doris , Ermel Johnson , Issiaka Sombié
Published: June 2022

Background

The current paper examines the level of use of evidence and factors affecting the use of evidence by frontline maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) and reproductive and child health (RCH) staff in practice decisions in selected health facilities in Ghana.

Methods

Data on use of evidence and its correlates was collected from 509 frontline healthcare staff drawn from 44 health facilities in three regions in Ghana. Means were used to examine the level of use of evidence, whiles cross-tabulations and Partial Least Squares-based regression were used to examine factors associated with the use of evidence in practice decisions by frontline MNCH/RCH staff.

Findings

The findings suggest a high level of use of evidence by frontline MNCH/RCH staff in practice decisions (score of 3.98 out of 5), albeit that evidence use is skewed towards the use of practice guidelines and policies. For the antecedents of evidence use, attitude had the highest score (3.99), followed by knowledge (3.8), access to evidence (3.77) and organizational structure (3.57), using a threshold of 5. The regression results indicate that attitudes and knowledge of frontline MNCH/RCH staff, organizational structure (strongest association), years of experience, being a male and working in a mission health facility are significantly positive correlated with evidence use, whiles working in a private health facility or in the post-natal clinic is negatively correlated with the use of evidence.

Conclusion

We argue that any effort to improve the use of evidence by frontline MNCH/RCH staff in practice decisions should focus on improving attitudes and knowledge of staff as well as challenges related to the structure of the organisation. Given however that the score for attitude was relatively high, emphases to improve evidence use should be on access to evidence and organizational structure in particular, which had the lowest score even though it has the strongest association with the use of evidence.