bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FOXN3: A Novel Tumor Suppressor Inhibits the Progression of Esophageal Cancer via Downregulating the SIRT1/PI3K/AKT Axis
Authors: Xue Liangjun , Wang Chuanxi , Feng Yan
Published: December 2023

In this study, we investigated the impact of FOXN3 on esophageal cancer progression and its underlying mechanism. Through online databases, we observed a significant decrease in FOXN3 levels in esophageal cancer tissues and EC9706 cells. Conversely, SIRT1 expression was elevated in
EC109 and EC9706 cells. FOXN3 was found to interact with SIRT1, AKT1, and PIK3CA. To explore FOXN3′s effects, we treated EC9706 cells with pcDNA-FOXN3, which led to increased FOXN3 levels. Consequently, SIRT1, p-AKT/AKT, p-PI3K/PI3K ratios, cell proliferation,migration, invasion, and
expression of Ki67, PCNA, MMP3, MMP9, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Bcl-2 were reduced. In contrast, cell apoptosis, E-cadherin, and Bax levels increased. Further analysis revealed that FOXN3 inhibited cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) while promoting apoptosis by
down-regulating the SIRT1/PI3K/AKT pathway. In conclusion, FOXN3 plays a crucial role in esophageal cancer progression by modulating the SIRT1/PI3K/AKT pathway, affecting cell proliferation, EMT, and apoptosis. This study highlights FOXN3 as a potential target for therapeutic interventions
in esophageal cancer.
Artificial Ageing and Disinfection of Caries Affected Dentin on the Bond Integrity and Failure Analysis of Ion-Releasing Restorative Material
Authors: Alshamrani A. S. , Almohareb T. , Al Ahdal K. , Maawadh A. M. , Al Deeb L. , Alrahlah A.
Published: December 2023

Aim: This study examines the SBS of resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) on caries-affected dentin after using several cavity disinfectants (ICG activated by PDT, Pr, and SDF). Method: 40 CAD based on ICDAS criteria 3 and 4 teeth were chosen. Teeth were randomly
divided into four groups (n = 10). Samples in Groups 1–4 were disinfected with chlorhexidine (CHX), indocyanine green (ICG), Propolis (Pr), and 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF), respectively. Disinfected samples were bound to RMGIC and aged. SBS was evaluated using the universal
testing machine. Stereomicroscope was used to assess bond failure. To compare many groups the Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test was used. ANOVA was used to compare groups using mean values and standard deviations. Results: CHX-disinfected and RMGIC-bonded CAD
had the highest bond values. Group 4 SDF-disinfected and RMGIC-bonded specimens had the lowest bond values. Group 1 samples disinfected with CHX and bonded with RMGIC had the highest bond integrity (p < 0.05) compared to other treatments. Conclusion: Chlorhexidine is the best
disinfectant for caries-affected dentin before bonding with resin-modified glass ionomer cement.
Examining Vicker Hardness and Wear Volume Minimization in Composite Resin with Different Filler Dimensions via Scanning Topography
Authors: Alkhudhairy Fahad H. , AlFawaz Yasser F. , Bin-Shuwaish Mohammed S.
Published: December 2023

Aim: To compare the surface hardness of the nanohybrid resin composite with the other filler-containing resin composites. Material and Method: Abrasive wear properties of four types of resin composites: Harmonize (HM), Tetric N-Ceram (TNC), Filtek Z250 (Z250), and Filtek
Z350 (Z350). Each composite had six 10 mm-diameter, 6 mm-thick cylindrical specimens for testing. The wear test involved subjecting the specimens to 800 cycles of abrasive wear under a 17 kg load. Surface hardness and weight loss were measured using a Vickers indenter micro-hardness tester
after polishing. Surface morphology investigation was carried out using SEM on three specimens from each composite after the wear test. To identify significant differences in the wear characteristics of the resin composites, statistical analysis was conducted using one-way analysis of variance
(ANOVA) and the Tukey HSD test (with α = 0.05). Results: The highest volumetric wear loss was observed in the Z350 XT nano-filled resin composite (71.19±2.49 mm3). The lowest was found in Z250 micro hybrid restorative material (36.33±1.57 mm3).
The highest Vickers hardness was found in the Z250 micro-hybrid restorative material (111.24±2.1). Moreover, the lowest microhardness was found in tetric N ceram (TNC) (58.41±1.22). Conclusion: The wear resistance of micro-hybrid resin composite Z250 was found to be superior
to that of other composite resins tested in the study.
John Fante's Ask the Dust: Between art and self-dramatisation
Authors: D’Agnillo Renzo
Published: December 2023

In John Fante's Ask the Dust, Arturo Bandini's ambition to become a great writer overrides his disadvantages as the son of Italian immigrants searching for his place in American society. With cocksure arrogance he cultivates the fantasy self-image of a confident womaniser to compensate for his lack of sexual experience. His inability to confront reality without distorting its features through his wild fantasies continually frustrates his attempts to write a novel as a follow-up to his short story The Little Dog Laughed. Criticism on the novel has traced his moral transformation from egotism to empathy without, however, taking into proper consideration Bandini's idea of himself as an author and the manner in which Fante constructs a series of narrative voices to create a self-dialogue within the text between the older Bandini as narrator and the younger Bandini as protagonist.
A comparison of damping-based methods to identify damage to carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers laminates subjected to low-velocity impact
Authors: Rouhi Moghanlou Mohammad , Mahmoudi Ali , Khonsari MM , Li G
Published: December 2023

A method for detecting low-velocity impact damage in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is presented. It involves the use of the Impulse Excitation Technique (IET) and hysteresis loops to calculate the damping parameter of T700/NCT304-1 carbon/epoxy samples subjected to various low-velocity impact energies. The value of the coefficient of restitution (COR) is determined for each impact, ranging between 0.62 for the lowest impact energy to 0.48 for the highest one. The results reveal that a three-step increase in the damping parameter exists in all cases as the impact energy on the specimen increases. An abrupt jump in the damping parameter value is observed for impact energies exceeding ∼0.9 of the material's maximum capacity. Overall, at the highest impact energy equal to 3.65 J, the damping parameter increased by 43.3% compared to the pristine specimen. Additionally, two cases of cyclic tension-tension loading were applied to the specimens, with maximum stresses set at 150 MPa and 200 MPa. The measured values of plastic and elastic strain energy were used to determine the damping ratios. For both cases, the damping of the specimen subjected to the highest impact energy was ∼1.2 times greater than that of an intact specimen, with an increase pattern similar to the findings of the IET method. Optical microscope images of the specimens are provided to illustrate various damage modes observed in the composite materials.
Public procurement and labour market inequality: Conceptualising a multi-faceted relationship
Authors: Sarter E.K.
Published: December 2023

Over the past few decades, policymakers have become increasingly intrigued by public procurement's potential to serve as a policy tool. In line with an increased prevalence of attempts to leverage public procurement for promoting employment-related goals, a growing body of research explores the linkages between public procurement and employment. Yet, while different aspects of the procurement process influence labour market outcomes and the linkages are multiple, current research focuses on individual aspects only. As a result, current understandings of the linkage between public procurement and its labour market effects remain fragmented. Considering choices between the initial identification of an object of purchase and the award and delivery of the contract, this article conceptualises the multi-faceted linkages between public procurement and labour market inequalities understood as issues of access to and (in)equality in employment. It argues that three key aspects (the design of the object, requirements set in the process of buying, and the type of provider) make distinct contributions to the overall impact that procurement processes have on labour market inequality and outlines a framework for analysing the implications of choices at these three core decision points.
The Attractiveness of Average Speech Rhythms: Revisiting the Average Effect From a Crosslinguistic Perspective
Authors: Kaland Constantijn , Swerts Marc
Published: December 2023

The current study investigates the average effect: the tendency for humans to appreciate an averaged (face, bird, wristwatch, car, and so on) over an individual instance. The effect holds across cultures, despite varying conceptualizations of attractiveness. While much research has been conducted on the average effect in visual perception, much less is known about the extent to which this effect applies to language and speech. This study investigates the attractiveness of average speech rhythms in Dutch and Mandarin Chinese, two typologically different languages. This was tested in a series of perception experiments in either language in which native listeners chose the most attractive one from a pair of acoustically manipulated rhythms. For each language, two experiments were carried out to control for the potential influence of the acoustic manipulation on the average effect. The results confirm the average effect in both languages, and they do not exclude individual variation in the listeners’ perception of attractiveness. The outcomes provide a new crosslinguistic perspective and give rise to alternative explanations to the average effect.
Activist Research as a Methodological Toolbox to Advance Public Sociology
Authors: Martínez Miguel A
Published: December 2023

Sociologists – and social scientists more broadly – have often resorted to ‘public sociology’ and ‘activist research’ (AvR) with the aim of producing useful knowledge for the common good and also supporting emancipatory social movements and progressive policies. I define AvR here as collective processes of cooperation between academic researchers and non-academics in order to benefit the latter. This approach bridges theory and practice in ways that enhance the consistency and legitimacy of sociology as an engaged science. Recent debates on public sociology, however, have overlooked the central role of AvR. To reverse this relative omission, I suggest a clear typology of AvR processes and practices that have been used and hold the potential to advance public sociology. I also contend that in contrast to views of AvR as a clearly demarcated method, it encompasses multiple research, collaborative and action techniques so that it may be better conceived of as a ‘methodological toolbox’.
Promoting Public Compliance through Information Disclosure: Effect of Disclosing Confirmed Cases’ Personal Information on Public Mobility during the COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Wei Jiuchang , Yang Song , Jiang Hemin
Published: December 2023

Governments often disclose pandemic-related information to reduce public mobility behavior during the initial outbreak stage of a pandemic like COVID-19. Previous studies have examined the effects of whether to disclose relevant information on public behavior but neglected the effects of information content. Based on the disclosed personal information of COVID-19 confirmed cases from 316 cities in China, we find that disclosing demographic information of confirmed cases does not affect public mobility, whereas disclosing their infection traceability information increases public mobility and trajectory range information decreases public mobility. We also find a U-shaped effect of information diversity on public mobility behavior.
“Where Are You From?” Language Attitudes and (Non)Accommodation During Native–Nonnative Speaker Interactions in Germany
Authors: Petrou Maria , Dragojevic Marko
Published: December 2023

Guided by the language attitudes literature and communication accommodation theory (CAT), we conducted semistructured interviews with nonnative-accented speakers in Germany to explore how they experience, interpret, and react to everyday communicative interactions with native German speakers. Irrespective of their demographics, nonnative speakers consistently expressed that native speakers construed them as foreigners and ascribed them negative stereotypic traits. Nonnative speakers reported experiencing both accommodation and nonaccommodation during their interactions with native speakers, but reports of the latter—especially underaccommodation—were more frequent. Although nonnative speakers associated their interactions with native speakers with positive affect overall, they also reported experiencing considerable emotional distress due to frequent communication difficulties and native speakers’ nonaccommodative moves, which they responded to in a variety of ways (e.g., self-blame and social withdrawal). Our findings offer several insights about native–nonnative speaker interactions from the latter's perspective and contribute to both the language attitudes and CAT literatures.
Designing and maintaining a rescue extracorporeal life support program: A holistic simulation approach
Authors: Spence Tanya , Nikitovic Dejana , Duncan Donovan , Menzies Steve , Zadunayski Anna , Brindle Mary , Blackwood Jaime
Published: December 2023

Rescue Extracorporeal Life Support Programs based at non-cardiac surgery centers have unique needs to be able to ensure successful outcomes despite low patient volumes. In this paper we describe the important role simulation had in each stage of development, implementation, and maintenance of our pediatric Rescue ECLS Program. Systems-focused simulations were used to develop robust workflows, processes, and bundles. Simulation-based education targeted the acquisition and maintenance of clinical skills for individual team members, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of local clinicians who do not routinely perform pediatric cannulation related tasks. Translational simulation ensured continued improvement by addressing adverse events or latent safety threats observed during system-focused or educational simulations. Realism of all simulations was our priority, and was achieved through in situ simulations, participation of multidisciplinary teams, use of real equipment and medical supplies, and use of a high-fidelity cannulation manikin. This holistic simulation approach allowed us to overcome the barriers to high quality care, and maintain outcomes comparable to high volume centers. A similar approach can help other centers design simulation for their own Rescue ECLS Program, and can be translated to other high-risk and high-acuity critical care programs.
Overestimation of Survival Rates of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Is Associated with Higher Preferences to Be Resuscitated: Evidence from a National Survey of Older Adults in Switzerland
Authors: Meier Clément , Vilpert Sarah , Wieczorek Maud , Borasio Gian Domenico , Jox Ralf J. , Maurer Jürgen
Published: December 2023

Background

Many widely used advance directives templates include direct questions on individuals’ preferences for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in case of decision-making incapacity during medical emergencies. However, as knowledge of the survival rates of CPR is often limited, individuals’ advance decisions on CPR may be poorly aligned with their preferences if false beliefs about the survival rates of CPR shape stated preferences for CPR.

Methods

We analyzed nationally representative data from 1,469 adults aged 58+ y who responded to wave 8 (2019/2020) of the Swiss version of the Survey on Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to assess the partial association between knowledge of CPR survival rates and stated preferences for CPR using multivariable probit regression models that adjust for social, health, and regional characteristics. Knowledge of CPR survival rates was assessed by asking how likely it is in general in Switzerland for a 70-y-old to survive until hospital discharge from a CPR performed outside of a hospital. Preferences for CPR were measured by asking respondents if they would wish to be resuscitated in case of cardiac arrest.

Results

Only 9.3% of respondents correctly assessed the chances for a 70-y-old to survive until hospital discharge from a CPR performed outside of a hospital, while 65.2% indicated a preference to be resuscitated in case of a cardiac arrest. Respondents who correctly assessed CPR survival were significantly more likely to wish not to be resuscitated (average marginal effect: 0.18, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Reducing misconceptions concerning the survival rates of CPR could change older adults’ preferences for CPR and make them more likely to forgo such treatments.

Highlights

Many older adults in Switzerland overestimate the survival rates of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The study reveals that individuals with accurate knowledge of CPR survival rates are more likely to refuse resuscitation in case of cardiac arrest. Overestimation of CPR survival rates may lead to a mismatch between individuals’ preferences for CPR and their actual end-of-life care decisions. Improving the general population’s knowledge of CPR survival rates is crucial to ensure informed decision making and effective advance care planning.
Bureaucracy's Disquieting News: Entangled in Uncertainty
Authors: Goodsell Charles T.
Published: December 2023

Government bureaucracy is widely ignored, condemned, ridiculed, and misunderstood. In this article, combined stories by reporters for The New York Times and The Washington Post reveal that federal agencies seldom reach planned goals unambiguously without complication from external forces. A total of 28 articles is summarized, classified under five ideals, and equally divided between failures and successes. A later companion piece is entitled “Bureaucracy's Welcome News: More Women at the Helm,” based on data in successive editions of the United States Government Manual.
Is endoscopic radiofrequency ablation plus stent placement superior to stent placement alone for the treatment of malignant biliary obstruction? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Chenming , Dong Jiaming , Liu Yuxing , Zhang Siyuan , Chen Ruanchang , Tang Haijun
Published: December 2023

Objective

Malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. Recent studies have shown that endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) may improve survival. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of ERFA in combination with biliary stent placement for the treatment of MBO.

Methods

The study was registered in INPLASY (number 202340096). The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched from inception to April 2023. We selected studies comparing the efficacy of ERFA plus stent placement with stent placement alone. The primary outcomes were pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival and stent patency; the secondary outcomes were the odds ratios (ORs) for adverse events.

Results

Eleven studies (four randomized controlled trials and seven observational studies) were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analysis showed a difference in survival time between the two groups (HR 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58–0.73, I2 = 40%). However, there were no differences in the duration of stent patency or the incidence of adverse events (HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.84–1.29, I2 = 46%; OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.02–1.96, I2 = 29%).

Conclusions

ERFA has a significant survival benefit for MBO, but does not increase the risk of adverse events.
Making libraries accessible: The vision of Access City Award winners
Authors: Hristov Radoslav S
Published: December 2023

For over 10 years, the Access City Award, presented by the European Commission in conjunction with the European Disability Forum, has raised awareness of and concern for the issues of people with disabilities, while continuing to promote accessibility for all European citizens. Looking at the whole palette of good practices in providing accessible environments implemented by the prizewinners, it is striking that library accessibility is not only part of them but is being established as a priority for many cities. This article presents the library accessibility activities of 20 cities that have won the Access City Award from its first iteration in 2011 to 2022 and have focused on this type of accessibility in their portfolio. It is concluded that far from being a luxury, library accessibility is now a necessary normality, and the achievements of Access City Award winners in this field are an inspiration for all cities that adopt accessibility as their mission.
Comparing Methods of Seizure Response Monitoring During Electroconvulsive Therapy: Comparer les méthodes de surveillance des interventions en cas de crise durant la thérapie par électrochocs
Authors: Hierlihy Timothy , Mugford Gerald , Bonnell Weldon , Mekawy Mohamed A.
Published: December 2023

Objective

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used to treat several mental illnesses. Seizure duration is used to determine if the administered stimulus was adequate. Duration is estimated by electroencephalogram (EEG) interpretation and/or observed motor response (OMR). Neither method is considered the gold standard. This study investigated the relationship between the 2 methods. The hypothesis was that both EEG and OMR would be significantly positively correlated. Previous researchers have suggested that the 2 methods resulted in different estimates.

Methods

A case series was conducted using recorded estimates obtained prospectively from 102 ECTs on adult psychiatric inpatients.

Results

A strong positive association was not observed in this study, correlation coefficient 0.510 ( p < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study suggests that the 2 methods differ, and further research is needed to determine the best indicator of adequate treatment.
Feeling Poor and Lonely: The Felt Experiences of Low-Income Working Lone Mothers in Finland
Authors: Säilävaara Jenny , Ikonen Hanna-Mari , Jakonen Mikko
Published: December 2023

This article analyzes the current feelings of Finnish low-income working lone mothers and their views on what it means to be poor in the welfare state of Finland. This is done by analyzing written accounts of lone mothers through a qualitative content analysis. The data was collected in 2015 and 2021. The analysis reveals that mothers’ feelings of poverty have similarities to those described in data collected in a different context over 20 years ago. The article is inspired by an article published in Affilia in the year 2003 by Lynn McIntyre, Suzanne Officer, and Lynne M. Robinson. In their paper, McIntyre et al. analyzed the feelings of poor Canadian lone mothers. While the welfare regime and services influence how life is organized, it is evident that self-sacrifice for the children caused by poverty is very much a part of the written accounts of Finnish mothers. We show that while there are a few cultural differences in the feelings that lone mothers undergo on account of their low-income status, feelings such as loneliness are persistent and often shared regardless of time or geographical location. Therefore, we suggest that low-income mothers should be given greater support by society and governments to be able to feel hopeful and empowered rather than poor and alone.
Bridging a Gap in the Workers' Compensation System: A Scale Development and Validation of an Employee Workers' Compensation Experience Scale
Authors: Haynes Steven
Published: December 2023

When accidents occur, employees rely on the workers' compensation system to provide continuing wages and medical benefits. This study addresses a fundamental workers’ compensation gap—the lack of an Employee Workers’ Compensation Experience (EWCE) scale. While current metrics monitor direct costs, they often overlook the psycho-social impacts on employees. The study introduces a structured EWCE scale that encompasses dimensions of claim communication, psychological and emotional impacts, and uncertainty regarding the claim outcome. The EWCE scales relevance is emphasized by its ability to predict turnover intentions, burnout, and obligations to come to work sick outcomes. Discriminate, convergent, and predictive validity tests corroborate the scales' effectiveness. These findings allow employers, policymakers, and researchers to create a safer, more inclusive work environment by measuring and monitoring workers' compensation claim outcomes. This scale bridges the critical knowledge gap and offers an analytical tool to enhance workers' compensation policies and outcomes.
Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Hypersexuality in Patients with Dementia: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Borges Saulo Queiroz , Camargos Einstein Francisco
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The psychological and behavioral symptoms of dementia are frequently observed in clinical practice, and those related to sexuality are particularly challenging. However, few studies have evaluated the prevalence or factors associated with hypersexuality in patients with dementia.

Objectives

This study aims to determine the prevalence of hypersexuality in patients with dementia, describe associated factors, and qualitatively report the most common presentations and treatments.

Methods

This retrospective cross-sectional study collected data from semi-structured charts of dementia patients who were followed up at a secondary care reference center between 2015 and 2019. Results: Of 552 total patients, 52 (9.3%) were hypersexual, which was associated with male sex ( P < .000; OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.73-5.01), frontotemporal dementia ( P < .007), alcohol use ( P < .015; OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.16-4.73) and tobacco use ( P < .000; OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.61-5.13).

Conclusions

Although our findings were similar to the literature, their significant variability reflects the limited and low quality of the available evidence and a lack of standardization regarding terminology, definitions, and diagnostic criteria for hypersexuality.
The synergies between human rights and the rights of nature: An ecological dimension from the Latin American climate litigation
Authors: Beckhauser Elisa Fiorini
Published: December 2023

Latin America is highly vulnerable to climate change. From a justice-centred approach, its communities have been using human and constitutional rights as a strategy to combat environmental degradation and protect ecosystems in climate litigation. Thus, the paper analyses the ecological dimension of human rights arising from the Latin American climate litigation by selecting disputes that link human rights and the protection of a specific ecosystem, which enables catching both the right to a healthy environment and the rights of nature. As for the results, the national courts interpret human rights from the notion of a socio-ecological system, emphasising a rights-duties approach based on social justice. The territory becomes a non-static space, there is a long-term temporal scale of rights, and the lawsuits elaborate on the interests of future generations. The rights of nature acknowledge a more-than-human world and argue that nature's legal titularity complements human rights, and both agendas meet at the intersection with the safe climate system. Although climate change appears as a secondary concern, applicants use the climate crisis as a crosscutting element aimed at ecosystems’ protection and its impact on human rights. In conclusion, these disputes are ecological legal experiences that extensively redefine human rights law from the meeting between the system of rights and the cultural context of groups historically excluded from the spaces of power. Human rights receive a new axiological content reoriented from the realities of peripheral territories and previously invisible ecological backgrounds through the dynamic interaction with plural subjects that become drivers of transformations.
Analysis of Irrigation Enhancement, Crop Diversification and Farm Profits: Evidence from Telangana State
Authors: Peddi Dayakar , Reddy B. Suresh
Published: December 2023

In this study, the impact of access to irrigation on crop diversification and farm-level profits in the state of Telangana was examined. This study comprised two primary aspects. First, the determinants of crop diversification in Telangana were investigated using the logit model. Second, various farm production models were developed to evaluate the impact of irrigation enhancement sources on the farm profit function. The findings of this study indicate that the agricultural implements index and market access variables play a role in determining crop diversification in the studied villages, whereas surface irrigation has a negative effect on crop diversification. The Cobb–Douglas production function with different specifications was used in this study, which showed that the logarithms of the fertiliser variable and access to new irrigation facilities that improve groundwater table significantly enhance farm profits in the villages studied. The inclusion of a dummy variable representing agro-climatic conditions also revealed a significant effect on farm profits, indicating that farmers in north-zone districts achieve higher profits than those in central-zone districts, likely due to differences in soil fertility and crop diversification. Understanding the factors influencing farm profits is crucial for policymakers and extension agents in the state for informed decision-making and policy formulation.
Virtual Patient Simulations in Nursing Education: A Descriptive Systematic Review
Authors: Sahin Karaduman Gul , Basak Tulay
Published: December 2023

Background

Virtual patients commonly train students in clinical competence in nursing education. This review aimed to evaluate the sample characteristics and sampling method, technological design of the virtual patients, duration of simulation methods, comparison methods used in control groups, outcomes of simulation interventions, and quality of the included randomized controlled studies.

Methods

Five databases were searched using English-language keywords between 1995 and 2019. The Turkish Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies was used to evaluate the quality of randomized controlled trials. Of the 4235 studies identified, 10 randomized controlled trials reporting virtual patients in nursing education were reviewed.

Results

The total number of participants in the review was 787. The virtual patient methods used in all studies differed. The duration was different in all the studies. Standardized patients, traditional education, facilitated mannequin-based simulation, written descriptions of the skills, low-, medium-, and high-fidelity simulation, and virtual simulation without training methods were used in the control groups for the comparison. Six studies indicated that virtual patients increased students’ knowledge, skills, self-efficacy, self-confidence, nursing competencies, and satisfaction levels in clinical practice, while four studies found no significant difference between the groups. The quality was poor in four of 10 studies, moderate in two of 10 studies, and strong in four of 10 studies.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the virtual patient methods used in studies varied in terms of technological design. The duration of simulation in the studies varied from less than 30 minutes to more than two months. The virtual patients could improve knowledge, skill acquisition, self-efficacy, self-confidence, and nursing competency compared with low-fidelity simulation, didactic education, no-intervention, or no-education studies. The quality results of the studies show that most of them had weak or strong research designs.
Academic Mobility as a Factor of Increasing the Competitiveness of University Graduates
Authors: Yessimova Sholpan A. , Khassenova Laura A. , Mombekova Gulmira R. , Shadiyeva Aigul A.
Published: December 2023

The relevance of the study is due to the need of researching the academic mobility of graduates of higher educational institutions as the main factor in increasing their competitiveness in the labor market. The purpose of the study is to determine the role of academic mobility in increasing the competitiveness of university graduates. To conduct the research, empirical, deductive, and inductive methods were used, which helped to identify measures that contribute to improving the competitiveness of university graduates in the labor market. It is determined that participation in the academic mobility program increases the competitiveness of university graduates in the labor market.
Using Artificial Intelligence as a Melanoma Screening Tool in Self-Referred Patients
Authors: Crawford Madeleine E. , Kamali Kiyana , Dorey Rachel A. , MacIntyre Olivia C. , Cleminson Kristyna , MacGillivary Michael L. , Green Peter J. , Langley Richard G. , Purdy Kerri S. , DeCoste Ryan C. , Gruchy Jennette R. , Pasternak Sylvia , Oakley Amanda , Hull Peter R.
Published: December 2023

Introduction:

Early detection of melanoma requires timely access to medical care. In this study, we examined the feasibility of using artificial intelligence (AI) to flag possible melanomas in self-referred patients concerned that a skin lesion might be cancerous.

Methods:

Patients were recruited for the study through advertisements in 2 hospitals in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Lesions of concern were initially examined by a trained medical student and if the study criteria were met, the lesions were then scanned using the FotoFinder System®. The images were analyzed using their proprietary computer software. Macroscopic and dermoscopic images were evaluated by 3 experienced dermatologists and a senior dermatology resident, all blinded to the AI results. Suspicious lesions identified by the AI or any of the 3 dermatologists were then excised.

Results:

Seventeen confirmed malignancies were found, including 10 melanomas. Six melanomas were not flagged by the AI. These lesions showed ambiguous atypical melanocytic proliferations, and all were diagnostically challenging to the dermatologists and to the dermatopathologists. Eight malignancies were seen in patients with a family history of melanoma. The AI’s ability to diagnose malignancy is not inferior to the dermatologists examining dermoscopic images.

Conclusion:

AI, used in this study, may serve as a practical skin cancer screening aid. While it does have technical and diagnostic limitations, its inclusion in a melanoma screening program, directed at those with a concern about a particular lesion would be valuable in providing timely access to the diagnosis of skin cancer.
Importing to feed international tourists: Growth implications for islands across the globe
Authors: Baidoo Francis , Pan Lei , Fiador Vera Ogeh Lassey , Agbloyor Elikplimi Komla
Published: December 2023

The expansion of inbound tourism among global islands, amidst relatively inadequate supporting tradable goods, potentially triggers high merchandise imports, resulting in an indeterminate impact on economic growth. Employing fixed and random effects estimation techniques on five-year-non-overlapping-averaged data, covering 1980 through 2019, this study, firstly, investigates the potential bi-causal relationship between inbound tourism and merchandise imports, in the case of 45 sovereign islands. The economic growth implication of a concurrent pursuit of tourism expansion and merchandise imports is also examined. The study further investigates how over-reliance on imported merchandise to feed international tourists, and over-specialisation in the tourism sector, affect the tourism-led-growth hypothesis in the case of these islands. Results from the study show that an increase in inbound tourism significantly leads to an increase in merchandise imports, and vice versa. Also, importing merchandises to sustain inbound tourism is significantly observed not to be detrimental to economic growth. However, results further reveal that over-reliance on imported merchandises to sustain inbound tourism, as well as over-specialisation in tourism with the help of imported merchandises, both exert significant detrimental net effects on economic growth. The findings hold policy guidelines for the pursuit of tourism-led and merchandise-import-led growth strategies among global islands.
Evaluating site selection at design in food systems interventions: A formative geospatial approach
Authors: Sidman Gabriel , Carugi Carlo
Published: December 2023

Within international development, formative evaluation is becoming increasingly important to make rapid assessments of project design and support adaptive learning in early implementation of ongoing interventions. Such evaluation is critical for institutions with short funding cycles, which need early evidence to assess the utility of new initiatives to inform donors’ decision-making for upcoming funding cycles. However, obtaining quantitative evidence is difficult in formative evaluation as results are not yet available or visible early in the project cycle. Geospatial multi-criteria suitability analysis provides one method for evaluating the relevance of program and project design through creating a quantitative spatial index, combining data on several spatial indicators to evaluate project site selection and help inform future priority geographies. This study demonstrates the use of such a geospatial analysis in the formative evaluation of the Global Environment Facility’s food systems integrated programs.
Literacy instruction and lexicon size determine bilingual reading development of Russian-German children
Authors: Czapka Sophia , Topaj Nathalie , Gagarina Natalia
Published: December 2023

Research question:

How does Russian and German reading comprehension develop during the first 3 years of primary school in Russian heritage speakers and which factors predict performance in each language?

Methodology:

40 Russian-German children were tested annually from first to third grade (age in grade 1 M = 7; 1 years). Reading was assessed with comparable Russian and German word and sentence reading comprehension tests. The Russian test was available in Cyrillic and Latin script (the latter for children who could not read Cyrillic letters). Potential predictors included lexicon size in Russian and German and rapid automatized naming (RAN) of numbers (both assessed in primary school). Other factors were assessed in kindergarten, that is, nonverbal reasoning and, derived from a parents’ questionnaire, their socioeconomic status and language input in the family.

Data and analysis:

Linear regressions were used to compare the development of Russian and German. Stepwise regression analyses identified predictors for reading comprehension in each language.

Findings:

German reading ability improved faster than that of Russian, likely due to the increasing amount of German input outside the family, literacy instruction in German at school, and the large variance in Russian literacy abilities. Children who could read Cyrillic script, who likely received some form of Russian literacy instruction, and who had a larger Russian lexicon size exhibited better reading performance. These results are discussed regarding the divergent attainment trajectories. Decisive factors for German were German lexicon size and RAN.

Originality:

This longitudinal study tracked Russian and German reading development over 3 years in primary school, assessed Russian reading in Cyrillic and Latin scripts, and identified predictors for bilingual reading development in both languages.

Implications:

To become proficient readers in their heritage language, children need to have a substantial lexicon size and receive literacy instruction.
Simplifying Sentiment Analysis on Social Media: A Step-by-Step Approach
Authors: Chau Xuan Truong Du , Nguyen Thanh Toan , Jo Jun , Quach Sara , Ngo Liem Viet , Pham Hien , Thaichon Park
Published: December 2023

This tutorial presents a systematic guide to performing sentiment analysis on social media data, designed to be accessible to researchers and marketers with varying levels of data science expertise. We prioritise open science by providing comprehensive resources, including self-collected data, source code and guidelines, facilitating result reproduction. For marketing and business researchers without programming experience, this tutorial offers a robust resource for conducting sentiment analysis. Experienced data scientists can use it as a reference for evaluating cutting-edge approaches and streamlining the sentiment analysis process. Our work stands out in its unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of sentiment analysis within the social media data domain. We delve into the potential of sentiment analysis for social media marketing, offering practical guidance and best practices for enhancing brand reputation and customer engagement. Notably, this tutorial advances beyond previous studies by comprehensively comparing a wide range of sentiment analysis methods, including state-of-the-art transfer learning approaches, filling a critical gap in the existing literature. Our commitment to transparency underscores our contribution, as we provide all necessary resources for result reproducibility. We make our resources available at the following address: https://tinyurl.com/SentimentTutorial .
Relocating Reproductive Justice in Donor Sperm and Egg Capitalism
Authors: Schwartz-DuPre Rae Lynn , Sowards Stacey K.
Published: December 2023

Privileged (in various forms, but especially class) people use egg or sperm donation and take other reproductive measures to achieve parenthood at all costs. Infertility issues for heterosexual partners and those who use donor eggs and sperm outside of heteronormative relationships has evolved into a type of entitled desperation and racial/ethnic/able-bodied form of eugenics, both further complicated by the cultural milieu of the post- Dobbs decision era. To illustrate how these rhetorics of infertility operate within broader neoliberal and racialized discourses, we critically consider three themes: first, we contend that fertility issues should become theorized through reproductive justice theory, particularly as class/race/nation divides donors from recipients, through forms of capitalistic endeavor as a rational enterprise; second, we review how “infertility” has become rhetorically important in the U.S. cultural milieu in critical communication and cultural studies; and finally, we argue that donor rhetorics represent a form of neoliberalism situated within racial/ethnic able-bodied eugenics and an inability to conceive, which results in emotional, physical, and financial cost to the self and society.
Mechanisms of Post-Stroke Fatigue: A Follow-Up From the Third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable
Authors: Kuppuswamy Annapoorna , Billinger Sandra , Coupland Kirsten G. , English Coralie , Kutlubaev Mansur A. , Moseley Lorimer , Pittman Quentin J. , Simpson Dawn B. , Sutherland Brad A. , Wong Connie , Corbett Dale
Published: December 2023

Background

Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a significant and highly prevalent symptom, whose mechanisms are poorly understood. The third Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable paper on PSF focussed primarily on defining and measuring PSF while mechanisms were briefly discussed. This companion paper to the main paper is aimed at elaborating possible mechanisms of PSF.

Methods

This paper reviews the available evidence that potentially explains the pathophysiology of PSF and draws parallels from fatigue literature in other conditions. We start by proposing a case for phenotyping PSF based on structural, functional, and behavioral characteristics of PSF. This is followed by discussion of a potentially significant role of early inflammation in the development of fatigue, specifically the impact of low-grade inflammation and its long-term systemic effects resulting in PSF. Of the many neurotransmitter systems in the brain, the dopaminergic systems have the most evidence for a role in PSF, along with a role in sensorimotor processing. Sensorimotor neural network dynamics are compromised as highlighted by evidence from both neurostimulation and neuromodulation studies. The double-edged sword effect of exercise on PSF provides further insight into how PSF might emerge and the importance of carefully titrating interventional paradigms.

Conclusion

The paper concludes by synthesizing the presented evidence into a unifying model of fatigue which distinguishes between factors that pre-dispose, precipitate, and perpetuate PSF. This framework will help guide new research into the biological mechanisms of PSF which is a necessary prerequisite for developing treatments to mitigate the debilitating effects of post-stroke fatigue.
ParkinSong Online: Feasibility of Telehealth Delivery and Remote Data Collection for a Therapeutic Group Singing Study in Parkinson’s
Authors: Tamplin Jeanette , Haines Simon J. , Baker Felicity A. , Sousa Tanara Vieira , Thompson Zara , Crouch Helen , Dunn Stephen , Tull Victoria , Vogel Adam P. , Morris Meg E.
Published: December 2023

Background

Parkinson’s disease can negatively affect vocal functioning and social wellbeing, particularly in the latter stages of disease progression. Face-to-face group singing interventions can improve communication and wellbeing outcomes, yet not all people can access in-person sessions. To help overcome barriers to participation, exploration of the feasibility and utility of online therapeutic singing programs is needed.

Objectives

To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week ParkinSong Online intervention on speech and wellbeing for people with Parkinson’s disease.

Methods

A total of 28 participants with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease were recruited to a single-arm feasibility study. Weekly 90-minute online sessions were co-facilitated by a music therapist and speech pathologist. Speech and wellbeing assessments were conducted pre and post intervention. Participant and facilitator surveys were administered after each session, with focus group interviews at the end of the program.

Results

The recruitment rate was high (90%) with no attrition, adverse events, or safety issues. There was good intervention fidelity, attendance (average 89%), and positive participant experience. Feasibility was good, with technology reported as the main challenge (connecting and navigating Zoom). No improvements were seen in voice measures or wellbeing outcomes in this small trial. The online format used in this study did not provide the same benefits as in-person ParkinSong sessions.

Conclusions

ParkinSong Online is feasible for recreational purposes and social engagement provided that people have adequate technological knowledge or support. The optimal online delivery format to achieve communication improvements in Parkinson’s awaits confirmation.