bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post Plating Aseptic Non Union of Diaphyseal Fractures of Long Bones - A Treatment Protocol by Dual Plating
Authors: Mittal Krishna Kumar , Agarwal Apoorva , Nishant Raj
Published: May 2024

Purpose:

Non-union is an irreversible stage in cascade of fracture healing devoid of all potentials of regeneration. Etiology of nonunion is multifactorial, categorized into mechanical, biological and infective. Implant failure is a consequence, not cause of non-union. Failed post osteosynthesis non-unions following once/multiple surgical interventions is challenging due to previous fibrous and scar tissues, osteoporosis, compromised vascularity of bone and soft tissues, dormant infection and presence of failed implant. This study aims to propose a treatment protocol for refractory non-unions of diaphyseal fractures with co-morbidities optimization.

Method:

Fourteen patients having post plating non-union in humerus (n=8), femur (n=5), tibia (n=1), subjected to dual-plating, the first plate applied on tensile surface of bone which is larger than second orthogonal plate. Osteo-periosteal decortication and cancellous bone graft carried out in every patient with atrophic non-union. Reborne bone healing score for radiological union was used to assess results. ICC (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient) was calculated.

Result:

All patients followed till union. On average non-union of humerus took 4 months while femur, tibia took 6 months to heal. All patients regained functional stable limb with painless range of motion. The ICC increased to 0.94 (95% CI 0.90 to 0.96), showing almost perfect agreement.

Conclusion:

Favorable mechanical and biological environments in absence of infection provided by dual plating, decortication and bone grafting converts non-union into osseous union. Dual plating increases strength and stiffness of construct providing stability, decortication and cancellous bone-graft re-initiates cellular and bio-chemical responses for healing.
A Clinical Study of Surgical Management of Clavicle Fracture with Titanium Elastic Nail
Authors: Sodha Rajvir Sinh , Agarwal Varun Kumar , Thimmappa Somasekharappa
Published: May 2024

Background and Objectives:

Clavicle fractures account for 3-5% of all fractures, of them 70-80% are middle shaft fractures. Conservative management was treatment of choice in past but due to increased fracture rates and dissatisfaction of patients due to nonoperative treatment; management of these fractures has shifted to operative one. Early complications are neurovascular bundle injury, skin laceration, bleeding. Late complications include malunion leading to shoulder shortening. Newer method for clavicle fracture is intramedullary nailing using Titanium elastic nails. TEN is flexible and assume s shape of clavicle and holds the fragments in-situ by 3 points fixation principle. It also prevents the rotation, angulation and shortening of fragments.

Materials and Methods:

A study of 30 cases was conducted at Department of Orthopedics, Rohilkhand Medical College Bareilly from November 2018 to November 2019. These patients operated with titanium elastic nail (TEN) with follow up for 6 months included.

Results:

Majority of patients in our study 13 patients (43.3%) were in the age group of 25-35 years. The average age was 38.7±11.4 yrs (range from 25 to 60). 23 patients were successfully treated with closed reduction and nail insertion while 7 patients had to undergo mini-open (minimal incision) for fracture reduction. Mean operative time was 23.5 minutes (15-38.5 minutes). Out of 30 patients 26(86.67%) had excellent outcome, 2(6.67%) had fair outcome, 1(3.34%) had good outcome and 1(3.34%) had poor outcome.

Conclusion:

The study shows that fixation of clavicular fractures with Titanium Elastic Nailing System (TENS) is easy to do procedure which gives faster pain relief, speedy functional recovery. Moreover, the Cosmetic problems due to post- operative scar and other postoperative complications are lower.
Management of Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Dislocation by Modified Boytchev Procedure- Our Experience
Authors: Kumar Sanjay , Khan Nadeem Ashraf , Tandan Bhoopendra Singh
Published: May 2024

Background:

Recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation is not uncommon. Although the etiology for recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation is not very clear, there are 3 lesions usually responsible for its occurrence: Bankart lesion, Hill-Sachs lesion and laxity of subscapularis muscle. Several operations have been described for the treatment of recurrent anterior dislocation of shoulder but only a few of them have good result in terms of recurrence and loss of shoulder movement in follow-up period. Modified Boytchev procedure is an effective, technically simple procedure for the management of recurrent anterior dislocation of shoulder.

Methods:

Ten patients with recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder were treated from September 2017 to August 2019 by the modified Boytchev procedure. The age of the patients varied from 20 to 38 years (average 25.6 years). Outcome was evaluated using the Burkhead and Rockwood criteria, a score of 90 to 100 was considered excellent, 70 to 89 good, 40 to 69 fair and ?39 was considered poor.

Results:

The mean follow-up period was 15.4 (SD=3.2; range=6-29) months. Outcome was excellent in 7 patients, good in 2, and fair in 1. None had poor outcome. The shoulders were stable with increased ROM in all directions. Mean external rotation deficit at 0o and 90o of improved from 18o to 7o and 21o to 10o respectively (student's paired t-test).

Conclusions:

This is an effective, technically simple procedure with minimum restriction of movements around the shoulder joint and does not require expert skills.
An Anatomical Variation of Sciatic Nerve Encountered during Kocher - Langenbeck Approach to the Acetabulum
Authors: Kumar Keshav , Kumar Amit
Published: May 2024

We are describing a variation of sciatic nerve (SN) found during Kocher-Langenbeck (KL) approach in a case of acetabular fracture. The Sciatic nerve, in our case had two separate components before uniting. Common peroneal component (CPN) was passing right through the piriformis muscle (PM) before exiting whereas the tibial component (TN) was lying underneath (anterior to) the piriformis. (Type B as per Beaton and Anson classification). From literature review, we found that anatomical variations of SN have been described to be around 13% across both cadaveric studies and magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) based studies. Type B is the most common variant which has been found in 8% of cases. However, amongst cadaveric studies done in India, it has been found to an extent of just 2%. Knowledge of variations in anatomy of SN in relation to PM is important for acetabular surgeons to avoid iatrogenic injury to the sciatic nerve.
Chromatic fixed point theory and the Balmer spectrum for extraspecial 2-groups
Authors: Kuhn Nicholas J. , Lloyd Christopher J. R.
Published: May 2024

abstract: In the early 1940s, P. A. Smith showed that if a finite $p$-group $G$ acts on a finite dimensional complex $X$ that is mod $p$ acyclic, then its space of fixed points, $X^G$, will also be mod $p$ acyclic. In their recent study of the Balmer spectrum of equivariant stable homotopy theory, Balmer and Sanders were led to study a question that can be shown to be equivalent to the following: if a $G$-space $X$ is a equivariant homotopy retract of the $p$-localization of a based finite $G$-C.W. complex, given $H<G$ and $n$, what is the smallest $r$ such that if $X^H$ is acyclic in the $(n+r)$th Morava $K$-theory, then $X^G$ must be acyclic in the $n$th Morava $K$-theory? Barthel et.~al. then answered this when $G$ is abelian, by finding general lower and upper bounds for these ``blue shift'' numbers which agree in the abelian case. In our paper, we first prove that these potential chromatic versions of Smith's theorem are equivalent to chromatic versions of a 1952 theorem of E. E. Floyd, which replaces acyclicity by bounds on dimensions of mod $p$ homology, and thus applies to all finite dimensional $G$-spaces. This unlocks new techniques and applications in chromatic fixed point theory. Applied to the problem of understanding blue shift numbers, we are able to use classic constructions and representation theory to search for lower bounds. We give a simple new proof of the known lower bound theorem, and then get the first results about nonabelian 2-groups that do not follow from previously known results. In particular, we are able to determine all blue shift numbers for extraspecial 2-groups. Applied in ways analogous to Smith's original applications, we prove new fixed point theorems for $K(n)_*$-homology disks and spheres. Finally, our methods offer a new way of using equivariant results to show the collapsing of certain Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequences in certain cases. Our criterion appears to apply to the calculation of all 2-primary Morava $K$-theories of all real Grassmanians.
Howe correspondence of unipotent characters for a finite symplectic/even-orthogonal dual pair
Authors: Pan Shu-Yen
Published: May 2024

abstract: In this paper we give a complete and explicit description of the Howe correspondence of unipotent characters for a finite reductive dual pair of a symplectic group and an even orthogonal group in terms of the Lusztig parametrization. That is, the conjecture by Aubert-Michel-Rouquier is confirmed.
The Historical Tradition and Contemporary Legacy of Catholic Religious Education in China
Authors: Xiong Wei
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Religious education is crucial for the transmission and development of Catholicism. China does not have an organized and institutionalized system for religious education as do Western countries. However, a unique folk religious education system named shanghui (上会) emerged in the localization of Chinese Catholicism. This study explores the development of shanghui through a combination of archival research and fieldwork, using the example of a rural Catholic community in southwest Hubei. Shanghui is a strategic localization practice adopted by the Catholic Church in response to social development and cultural changes. The study contributes to the exploration of the religious education model of the grassroots Catholic Church in China.
Pursuing the Long Shadow over the "Domestic Church": Toward a Global History of Abuse in Catholic Settings
Authors: Faggioli Massimo , Harris Alana
Published: May 2024

Abstract: This article makes the case for a new phase of research on the abuse crisis and calls for a collaborative endeavor aiming at an interdisciplinary, historically contextualized account of the global history of abuse of children and vulnerable adults in the Catholic Church. This requires a redefinition of the scope of enquiry from the national to the global, and a refocusing of the analytical optic beyond a perpetrator-focused, pathologizing approach to clergy sexual abuse to situate sexual and spiritual abuse in the Catholic Church in its wider enabling ecosystem. We propose a scaled and spatial approach, focused on delineating understandings of the "domestic church" in a given context. This broader focus on interactions between the "three-legged stool" of the family-parish-school, particularly as contextualized in their ecclesial and socio-economic dynamics, extends the analysis beyond media-framed narratives and judicial approaches and allows for comparability across national settings. The article sets out the urgent need for a multi-disciplinary, mixed-method, and coordinated approach, given the many facets of the crisis (legal, political, cultural, financial, psychological, but also theological and spiritual), and the transnational dimensions of this epidemic within (and beyond) the Church that are yet to be fully discerned and historicized.
The Official Thai Reports on Thomas Merton's Death
Authors: Turley Hugh , Martin David
Published: May 2024

Abstract: The authors examined the official reports of Thomas Merton's death from the government of Thailand and the US Embassy in Bangkok. They obtained official letters and documents from the National Archives and the Thomas Merton Center. The official Thai records and US Embassy Report of Merton's death state that the death was by a natural cause, "sudden heart failure," and not "accidental electrocution," as popularly believed.
A Penny for His Thoughts? Socrates “the Sophist” and the Problem of Payment in the Clouds
Authors: Williams D. David
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT: In this paper, I argue against the prevailing view that Aristophanes in the Clouds characterizes Socrates as a “sophistic” teacher-for-pay. To do so, I reexamine the play’s five potential references to teaching payments—Strepsiades’ description of the Thinkery (98–99), his offer of a wage (245–249), the Clouds’ exhortation to Socrates (804–812), a joke about Hyperbolus (874–876), and the “honor” that Socrates receives from Strepsiades (1146–1147)—within the framework of Aristophanes’ comic technique. I demonstrate that Aristophanes, particularly in the sections of the play most significant for the characterization of Socrates (126–509 and 627–803), portrays Socrates not as a venal teacher looking to take advantage of his students but as an impractical intellectual who has no concern for money.
Farms, Feces, and Food Safety in Roman Italy
Authors: Andrews Smaranda , Hollander David , Meyers Rachel
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT: This article examines a crucial and underexplored topic at the intersection of Roman foodways, agriculture, and health by considering the situation on the Roman farm where the extensive use of manure as well as other practices posed serious dangers to food safety. Manure was central to Roman agriculture, and a growing body of evidence for widespread instances of foodborne illnesses can be linked to manuring. We bring together literary and archaeological evidence with contemporary food science and agricultural research to consider the ramifications for the health, food supply, and economy of the Roman people.
Statistical characterization of the effect of random core loss on the intercore crosstalk in long-haul uncoupled multicore fiber links
Authors: L. Rebola João , Cartaxo Adolfo V. T.
Published: May 2024

We characterize the statistical properties of direct average intercore crosstalk (ICXT) in long-haul uncoupled multicore fiber (MCF) links consisting of concatenated MCF segments, where core dependent loss (CDL) in each segment varies randomly. Numerical simulation results show that the direct average ICXT power at the output of long-haul MCF links with random CDL is well described by a Gaussian distribution. A statistical distribution, which accounts for only two values of core loss (the highest and lowest core loss) with equal probability, is proposed as the worst-case distribution of core loss resulting in the maximum excess of direct average ICXT power. With this distribution, practical values of random CDL, 20 MCF segments per span and 2000 km-long links, analytical and simulation results show the maximum excess of direct average ICXT power does not exceed 0.25 dB, being further lower for a higher number of segments. An analytical approximation for the maximum excess of direct average ICXT power in long-haul uncoupled MCF links with similar spans is presented. Demonstrating high accuracy (with less than 0.02 dB discrepancy relative to simulation results in all cases evaluated), this approximation provides a simple and efficient means for estimating the worst-case impact of random CDL on ICXT power in long-haul MCF links.
Trap-controllable near-ultraviolet elastico-mechanoluminescence of Ce3+ doped phyllosilicate with melilite-type structure
Authors: Wang Qiangke , Huang Xinru , Yang Hang , Ju Haonan , Wei Yi , Xu Xuhui , Liang Yujun , Tu Dong
Published: May 2024

Mechanoluminescence (ML) materials have attracted much attention because of their mechano-optical conversion characteristics, which have shown broad application prospects in stress sensing and anti-counterfeiting technology in the past few decades. However, elastico-ML has not been demonstrated at the near-ultraviolet (NUV) range. In this study, a novel NUV elastico-ML material (Ca, Sr)8Mg3Al2Si7O28:Ce3+ (CSMASOC) with a melilite-type structure is successfully developed. The ML properties of CSMASOC were optimized by adjusting the doping concentration of Ce3+ and cation substitution, and the ML mechanism was also explored by analyzing the ML test under different irradiation conditions and thermoluminescence spectra. The results confirmed that the ML in CSMASOC was derived from 5d-4f transition of Ce3+, and CSMASOC belongs to trap-controllable ML material. In addition, NUV ML material CSMASOC is combined with several commercial phosphors, and constructed multi-color ML in the visible light range. The developed NUV ML materials and the constructed multi-color ML system in this work are critical for expanding the types of ML materials and promoting the practical application of ML materials.
Enhancing secure transmission of ultra-high order QAM via delta-sigma modulation integrated with radial basis function neural network enhanced chaos
Authors: Zhao Jianye , Liu Bo , Ren Jianxin , Mao Yaya , Ma Yilan , Wu Xiangyu , Chen Shuaidong , Li Ying , Zhao Lilong , Song Xiuming , Liu Haojun
Published: May 2024

This paper proposes and experimentally demonstrates an ultra-high order signal security enhancement method based on delta-sigma modulation (DSM). We employ a radial basis function neural network (RBFnn) to enhance Henon chaos, effectively avoiding the degradation of chaotic dynamics, and increasing the key space from 1054 to 10385. In the experimental demonstration, we achieved high-security transmission of 16384QAM over 25 km in an intensity-modulated direct detection (IMDD) system based on DSM. The experimental results show that the ultra-high order transmission scheme based on RBFNN-chaos and DSM has superior security, with a key sensitivity of up to 10−16.
Tunable ENZ properties in organic material PEDOT:PSS treated with different solutions
Authors: Han Chengcan , Qiu Jiahuan , Liu Hongqi , Chen Kuanan , Liang Sen , Yuan Jiangfeng , Du Miao , Ye Hui
Published: May 2024

Epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials have drawn significant attention due to their novel properties near ENZ wavelengths. One such material, PEDOT:PSS, is a conducting polymer whose performances can be easily modified using convenient solution treatment methods. In this paper, pristine, ethylene glycol (EG) -treated, and concentrated sulfuric acid -treated PEDOT:PSS films were found to achieve ENZ wavelengths at 1657 nm, 1450 nm, and 1162 nm, respectively. Spectrum numerical fitting, Hall measurement, structural characterizations and differential analysis were performed to investigate the effects of the solution modification method on the ENZ performances of PEDOT:PSS films. Furthermore, the imaginary part of permittivity was decomposed through the Drude-Lorentz dispersion model to explain dynamics of polarons and bipolarons in PEDOT:PSS, the bipolarons in acid-treated film was found to play an important role on ENZ properties. The quality factors QSPP and QLSPR were used to evaluate the performance of different ENZ materials for device applications. Our findings pave the way for further research on ENZ photonics of organic materials.
Photophysical Characterization of Er3+ doped and Er3+/Nd3+ co-doped Gd(OH)3 Nanocrystals: the Impact of Hexamethylenetetramine utilization for Morphology Engineering
Authors: Gbor Sedoo , Swart Hendrik C , Reyes-Rojas Armando , Kroon Robin Edward , Motloung Selepe , Hile Donald , Ahemen Iorkyaa
Published: May 2024

This work is a study on the photophysical properties of Er3+ doped and Er3+/ Nd3+ co-doped Gd(OH)3 nanocrystals. It also demonstrated up-conversion luminescence quenching arising from utilization of hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) for the formation of rod-like morphologies. The synthesis was carried out via the precipitation technique. TG/DTA results show Gd(OH)3 phase is formed and stabilized in the temperature range of 30 to 106o C. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy results indicate the presence of OH functional group, a signature of core OH- of the Gd(OH)3 host as well as the HMTA. X-ray diffraction measurement show hexagonal structure. The average crystallite sizes range between 23 and 35 nm in an increasing trend with increasing Nd3+ concentrations. SEM micrographs showed nanorods only for samples treated with HMTA. The 800 nm transition line was enhanced in the diffuse reflectance measurements with increasing Nd content, suggesting that upconversion emission may be enhanced as well. As Nd3+ ion concentrations increased, the valence band and conduction band edges also showed lateral changes towards more negative values. The Gd(OH)3:Er0.02 nanocrystals (without HMTA) produced the strongest upconversion emission at 560, 660, 758 and 875 nm. The emission at 875 nm had a 10-fold enhancement over the other emission bands. The pair of emissions, 758 and 875 nm, are employed in luminescence thermometry. Thus, the results from this work demonstrated that the synthesized nanocrystals have the potential to be applied in photonic related applications such as photodynamic therapy and luminescence thermometry. No upconversion emission was recorded for Er3+, Nd3+ co-doped Gd(OH)3 nanorods due to prevalence of OH-group from the HMTA used.
Integrating phylogenies into single-cell RNA sequencing analysis allows comparisons across species, genes, and cells
Authors: Church Samuel H. , Mah Jasmine L. , Dunn Casey W.
Published: May 2024

Comparisons of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data across species can reveal links between cellular gene expression and the evolution of cell functions, features, and phenotypes. These comparisons evoke evolutionary histories, as depicted by phylogenetic trees, that define relationships between species, genes, and cells. This Essay considers each of these in turn, laying out challenges and solutions derived from a phylogenetic comparative approach and relating these solutions to previously proposed methods for the pairwise alignment of cellular dimensional maps. This Essay contends that species trees, gene trees, cell phylogenies, and cell lineages can all be reconciled as descriptions of the same concept—the tree of cellular life. By integrating phylogenetic approaches into scRNA-seq analyses, challenges for building informed comparisons across species can be overcome, and hypotheses about gene and cell evolution can be robustly tested.
The distribution of fitness effects during adaptive walks using a simple genetic network
Authors: O’Brien Nicholas L. V. , Holland Barbara , Engelstädter Jan , Ortiz-Barrientos Daniel
Published: May 2024

The tempo and mode of adaptation depends on the availability of beneficial alleles. Genetic interactions arising from gene networks can restrict this availability. However, the extent to which networks affect adaptation remains largely unknown. Current models of evolution consider additive genotype-phenotype relationships while often ignoring the contribution of gene interactions to phenotypic variance. In this study, we model a quantitative trait as the product of a simple gene regulatory network, the negative autoregulation motif. Using forward-time genetic simulations, we measure adaptive walks towards a phenotypic optimum in both additive and network models. A key expectation from adaptive walk theory is that the distribution of fitness effects of new beneficial mutations is exponential. We found that both models instead harbored distributions with fewer large-effect beneficial alleles than expected. The network model also had a complex and bimodal distribution of fitness effects among all mutations, with a considerable density at deleterious selection coefficients. This behavior is reminiscent of the cost of complexity, where correlations among traits constrain adaptation. Our results suggest that the interactions emerging from genetic networks can generate complex and multimodal distributions of fitness effects.
Simultaneous estimation of genotype error and uncalled deletion rates in whole genome sequence data
Authors: Masaki Nobuaki , Browning Sharon R. , Browning Brian L.
Published: May 2024

Genotype data include errors that may influence conclusions reached by downstream statistical analyses. Previous studies have estimated genotype error rates from discrepancies in human pedigree data, such as Mendelian inconsistent genotypes or apparent phase violations. However, uncalled deletions, which generally have not been accounted for in these studies, can lead to biased error rate estimates. In this study, we propose a genotype error model that considers both genotype errors and uncalled deletions when calculating the likelihood of the observed genotypes in parent-offspring trios. Using simulations, we show that when there are uncalled deletions, our model produces genotype error rate estimates that are less biased than estimates from a model that does not account for these deletions. We applied our model to SNVs in 77 sequenced White British parent-offspring trios in the UK Biobank. We use the Akaike information criterion to show that our model fits the data better than a model that does not account for uncalled deletions. We estimate the genotype error rate at SNVs with minor allele frequency > 0.001 in these data to be 3.2×10−4(90%CI:[2.8×10−4,6.2×10−4]). We estimate that 77% of the genotype errors at these markers are attributable to uncalled deletions (90%CI:[73%,88%]).
Proinsulin degradation and presentation of a proinsulin B-chain autoantigen involves ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD)-enzyme UBE2G2
Authors: Cremer Tom , Hoelen Hanneke , van de Weijer Michael L. , Janssen George M. , Costa Ana I. , van Veelen Peter A. , Lebbink Robert Jan , Wiertz Emmanuel J. H. J.
Published: May 2024

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is characterized by HLA class I-mediated presentation of autoantigens on the surface of pancreatic β-cells. Recognition of these autoantigens by CD8+T cells results in the destruction of pancreatic β-cells and, consequently, insulin deficiency. Most epitopes presented at the surface of β-cells derive from the insulin precursor molecule proinsulin. The intracellular processing pathway(s) involved in the generation of these peptides are poorly defined. In this study, we show that a proinsulin B-chain antigen (PPIB5-14) originates from proinsulin molecules that are processed by ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD) and thus originate from ER-resident proteins. Furthermore, screening genes encoding for E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzymes, we identified UBE2G2 to be involved in proinsulin degradation and subsequent presentation of the PPIB10-18autoantigen. These insights into the pathway involved in the generation of insulin-derived peptides emphasize the importance of proinsulin processing in the ER to T1D pathogenesis and identify novel targets for future T1D therapies.
Heteroscedasticity effects as component to future stock market predictions using RNN-based models
Authors: Sadon Aida Nabilah , Ismail Shuhaida , Khamis Azme , Tariq Muhammad Usman
Published: May 2024

Heteroscedasticity effects are useful for forecasting future stock return volatility. Stock volatility forecasting provides business insight into the stock market, making it valuable information for investors and traders. Predicting stock volatility is a crucial task and challenging. This study proposes a hybrid model that predicts future stock volatility values by considering the heteroscedasticity element of the stock price. The proposed model is a combination of Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) and a well-known Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) algorithm Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). This proposed model is referred to as GARCH-LSTM model. The proposed model is expected to improve prediction accuracy by considering heteroscedasticity elements. First, the GARCH model is employed to estimate the model parameters. After that, the ARCH effect test is used to test the residuals obtained from the model. Any untrained heteroscedasticity element must be found using this step. The hypothesis of the ARCH test yielded a p-value less than 0.05 indicating there is valuable information remaining in the residual, known as heteroscedasticity element. Next, the dataset with heteroscedasticity is then modelled using an LSTM-based RNN algorithm. Experimental results revealed that hybrid GARCH-LSTM had the lowest MAE (7.961), RMSE (10.466), MAPE (0.516) and HMAE (0.005) values compared with a single LSTM. The accuracy of forecasting was also significantly improved by 15% and 13% with hybrid GARCH-LSTM in comparison to single LSTMs. Furthermore, the results reveal that hybrid GARCH-LSTM fully exploits the heteroscedasticity element, which is not captured by the GARCH model estimation, outperforming GARCH models on their own. This finding from this study confirmed that hybrid GARCH-LSTM models are effective forecasting tools for predicting stock price movements. In addition, the proposed model can assist investors in making informed decisions regarding stock prices since it is capable of closely predicting and imitating the observed pattern and trend of KLSE stock prices.
Experiencing more meaningful coincidences is associated with more real-life creativity? Insights from three empirical studies
Authors: Rominger Christian , Fink Andreas , Perchtold-Stefan Corinna M.
Published: May 2024

Literature suggests a link between creativity and the perception of meaningful patterns in random arrangements, which is coined apophenia, patternicity, synchronicity, or the experience of meaningful coincidences. However, empirical research did not establish a clear link between real-life creativity and the experience of meaningful coincidences. In this three-study approach, we consistently found a connection between the experience of meaningful coincidences and creative activities as well as creative achievements. However, we did not obtain a consistent link with openness to experience or with peoples’ creative potential. By applying an internet daily diary approach, we found that the experience of meaningful coincidences fluctuates from day to day and that the number of perceived coincidences is associated with positive and negative affect. A third preregistered study showed that positive and negative affect might not serve as a strong mechanism that mediates the link between meaningful coincidences and real-life creative activities. We need further research to explore the reason for this robust link between meaningful coincidences and real-life creativity.
“We are pleading for the government to do more”: Road user perspectives on the magnitude, contributing factors, and potential solutions to road traffic injuries and deaths in Ghana
Authors: Mesic Aldina , Stewart Barclay , Opoku Irene , Wagenaar Bradley H. , Andoh Mohammed Bilal , Abdul Matinue Sulemana , Jmaileh Manal , Damsere-Derry James , Gyedu Adam , Mock Charles , Kitali Angela , Hardy Wuaku Daniel , Owusu Afram Martin , Feldacker Caryl
Published: May 2024

Road traffic collisions disproportionately impact Ghana and other low- and middle-income countries. This study explored road user perspectives regarding the magnitude, contributing factors, and potential solutions to road traffic collisions, injuries, and deaths. We designed a qualitative study of 24 in-depth interviews with 14 vulnerable road users (pedestrians, occupants of powered 2- and 3-wheelers, cyclists) and ten non-vulnerable road users in four high-risk areas in November 2022. We used a mixed deductive (direct content analysis) and inductive (interpretive phenomenological analysis) approach. In the direct content analysis, a priori categories based on Haddon’s Matrix covered human, vehicle, socioeconomic environment, and physical environment factors influencing road traffic collisions, along with corresponding solutions. We used inductive analysis to identify emerging themes. Participants described frequent and distressing experiences with collisions, and most often reported contributing factors, implementation gaps, and potential solutions within the human (road user) level domain of Haddon’s Matrix. Implementation challenges included sporadic enforcement, reliance on road users’ adherence to safety laws, and the low quality of the existing infrastructure. Participants expressed that they felt neglected and ignored by road safety decision-makers. This research emphasizes the need for community input for successful road safety policies in Ghana and other low- and middle-income countries, calling for greater governmental support an action to address this public health crisis. We recommend the government collaborates with communities to adapt existing interventions including speed calming, footbridges, and police enforcement, and introduces new measures that meet local needs.
Food and family care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study of women’s domestic workload during the first wave in Chile
Authors: Llanos Nathalie , Iglesias Lorena , Gálvez Espinoza Patricia , Cuevas Carla , Sanhueza Dérgica
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to explore women’s perceptions of domestic work related to food and family care during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile and its association with sociodemographic and health variables. We conducted a cross-sectional, analytical, non-probabilistic study. A sample of 2047 women answered an online self-report survey that included a Likert scale about the perception of domestic work associated with food. The survey also included an open comment section. The survey was available between May and June 2020, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and when most of the country had some degree of mobility restriction. 70.2% of participants perceived their domestic work as "regular"; being younger, having a higher educational level, caring for children or the elderly, and having worse self-perception of mental and general health status increased the chances of having a lower perception of the burden of these tasks. In comments, women declared how heavy the domestic work was, the challenges of being together with their families and of paid job requirements, and how family demands from them increased. Most women felt that their domestic work was heavier during this pandemic period: some groups of women could be at risk of being more affected by this extra workload at home. The importance of interventions and public policies with a gender perspective becomes relevant, considering the role of women in the home and the necessity to generate a social change regarding the domestic burden associated with gender.
Construction and application of economic resilience evaluation model for megacities
Authors: Kou Chenhuan , Meng Donghan , Yang Xiuli
Published: May 2024

Economic resilience provides a new perspective for megacities to achieve sustainable development when facing multiple shocks, and its accurate evaluation is an essential prerequisite for optimizing urban governance. There are currently no generally accepted methods for empirical evaluation or measuring economic resilience, and the present study aims to contribute to in both the research field and methodology. The present study sets dimensions and indicators based on economic resilience’s theoretical and empirical research and used Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Interactive Structural Modeling (ISM) methods to exclude the effect indicators and divide the indicator hierarchy, respectively. Subsequently, the present study conducts model validation using Chinese megacities as a case study. The game theory weighting method, which combines the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Entropy methods, is used to calculate indicator weights, and the VIKOR (VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija i KOmpromisno Resenje) method is used to evaluate and compare economic resilience of megacities. The research findings indicate that the evaluation model constructed in the present study included 15 indicators (after excluding three effect indicators) divided into four levels. After merging the levels, they correspond to three dimensions: resistance, recoverability, and adaptability. In addition, using Chinese megacities as a case study, the evaluation results found that Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen have high economic resilience, Tianjin and Guangzhou have moderate economic resilience, Chengdu has low economic resilience, and Chongqing has the lowest economic resilience. This result is consistent with previous studies and verifies the model’s effectiveness. The present study also found that megacities with lower levels of economic resilience exhibit a more significant upward trend, as well as the highest and higher proportion of economic resilience in Chinese megacities depending on time passes, indicating that megacities’ economic resilience is weakening. The evaluation result obtained in the present study is more specific, precise, and focused on depicting the distribution differences and development trends of economic resilience at the urban level.
The experiences of people living with obesity and chronic pain: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) protocol
Authors: Hinwood Natasha S. , Casey Maire-Brid , Doody Catherine , Blake Catherine , Fullen Brona M. , O’Donoghue Gráinne , Dunlevy Colin G. , Birney Susie , Fildes Fionnuala , Smart Keith M.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

There is a substantial and progressive association between chronic pain (CP) and living with overweight or obesity. The relationship between obesity and CP is intricate and complex, with obesity being associated with increased pain-related disability, pain intensity, reduction in physical functioning and poorer psychological well-being. A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) provides an opportunity to better understand and reveal key areas within the patient experience of these complex interactions to inform best practice and future intervention design.

Aims

The aim of this QES is to methodically and systematically review and synthesise the qualitative literature reporting on the personal experiences of people who are both living with obesity (PwO) and chronic pain.

Methods

The phenomenon of interest of this QES is the lived experiences of PwO and CP. The following research question was developed using a modified Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome and Study type (PICOS) framework: “What are the lived experiences of people living with obesity and chronic pain?”. One review author will conduct a systematic search based on keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms for finding relevant articles in five peer-review databases, from inception to the date of searching. Two review authors will independently apply inclusion and exclusion criteria and screen articles in a two-stage process. The methodological quality of included studies will be assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool and data will be extracted using a customised template. We will undertake a thematic synthesis of qualitative data from included studies and report our findings narratively. Confidence in the findings will be assessed based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (GRADE-CER-Qual) approach.

Findings and dissemination

This study will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA) and Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) guidelines. It is anticipated that the findings of the review will facilitate a deep and broad understanding of the complex interactions between CP and obesity and will help inform best practice and future intervention design. Findings will be disseminated through journals that undergo peer review, presentations at conferences, engagement with public and patient advocacy groups, and social media.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required to conduct this review.

Trail registration

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023361391.
Childhood abuse and perinatal outcomes for mother and child: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Brunton Robyn
Published: May 2024

Childhood abuse can have long-term adverse outcomes in adulthood. These outcomes may pose a particular threat to the health and well-being of perinatal women; however, to date, this body of knowledge has not been systematically collated and synthesized. This systematic review examined the child abuse literature and a broad range of perinatal outcomes using a comprehensive search strategy. The aim of this review was to provide a clearer understanding of the distinct effect of different abuse types and areas where there may be gaps in our knowledge. Following PRISMA guidelines, EBSCO, PsychInfo, Scopus, Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases and gray literature including preprints, dissertations and theses were searched for literature where childhood abuse was associated with any adverse perinatal outcome between 1969 and 2022. Exclusion criteria included adolescent samples, abuse examined as a composite variable, editorials, letters to the editor, qualitative studies, reviews, meta-analyses, or book chapters. Using an assessment tool, two reviewers extracted and assessed the methodological quality and risk of bias of each study. From an initial 12,384 articles, 95 studies were selected, and the outcomes were categorized as pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal for the mother, and perinatal for mother and child. The prevalence of childhood abuse ranged from 5–25% with wide variability (physical 2–78%, sexual 2–47%, and emotional/psychological 2–69%). Despite some consistent findings relating to psychological outcomes (i.e., depression and PTSD), most evidence was inconclusive, effect sizes were small, or the findings based on a limited number of studies. Inconsistencies in findings stem from small sample sizes and differing methodologies, and their diversity meant studies were not suitable for a meta-analysis. Research implication include the need for more rigorous methodology and research in countries where the prevalence of abuse may be high. Policy implications include the need for trauma-informed care with the Multi-level Determinants of Perinatal Wellbeing for Child Abuse Survivors model a useful framework. This review highlights the possible impacts of childhood abuse on perinatal women and their offspring and areas of further investigation. This review was registered with PROSPERO in 2021 and funded by an internal grant from Charles Sturt University.
Vitamin D supplementation for prevention of acute respiratory infections in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jia Hao , Sheng Feng , Yan Yulan , Liu Xiaozhi , Zeng Baoqi
Published: May 2024

Background

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) have a substantial impact on morbidity, healthcare utilization, and functional decline among older adults. Therefore, we systematically reviewed evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitamin D supplementation in preventing ARIs in older adults.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched until 1 February 2024. RCTs evaluating the use of vitamin D supplements to protect older adults from ARIs were included. Two reviewers independently screened papers, extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias. Data were summarised as relative risks (RRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Random effects meta-analyses were used to synthesise the results. GRADE was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. All the analysis were performed with Stata version 17.

Results

Twelve trials (41552 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. It showed that vitamin D supplementation probably does not reduce the incidence of ARIs (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.97–1.02, I2 = 0%; moderate certainty). No significant effect of vitamin D supplementation on the risk of ARI was observed for any of the subgroups defined by baseline 25(OH)D concentration, control treatments, dose frequency, study duration, and participants’ condition. However, there was a possibility, although not statistically significant, that vitamin D may reduce the risk of ARI in patients with a baseline 25(OH)D concentration <50 nmol/L (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.79–1.04, I2 = 14.7%). Additionally, vitamin D supplements might result in little to no difference in death due to any cause, any adverse event, hypercalcinemia, and kidney stones.

Conclusions

Vitamin D supplementation among older adults probably results in little to no difference in the incidence of ARIs. However, further evidence is needed, particularly for individuals with vitamin D deficiency and populations residing in low and middle income countries.

Trial registration

This study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023451265).
When species don’t move together: Non-concurrent range shifts in Eastern Pacific kelp forest communities
Authors: Cortese Mary R. , Freestone Amy L.
Published: May 2024

Species range shifts due to changing ocean conditions are occurring around the world. As species move, they build new interaction networks as they shift from or into new ecological communities. Typically, species ranges are modeled individually, but biotic interactions have been shown to be important to creating more realistic modeling outputs for species. To understand the importance of consumer interactions in Eastern Pacific kelp forest species distributions, we used a Maxent framework to model a key foundation species, giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), and a dominant herbivore, purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus). With neither species having previously been modeled in the Eastern Pacific, we found evidence forM.pyriferaexpansion in the northern section of its range, with no projected contraction at the southern range edge. Despite its known co-occurrence withM.pyrifera, models ofS.purpuratusshowed a non-concurrent southern range contraction and a co-occurring northern range expansion. While the co-occurring shifts may lead to increased spatial competition for suitable substrate, this non-concurrent contraction could result in community wide impacts such as herbivore release, tropicalization, or ecosystem restructuring.