bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Critical Ignoring as a Core Competence for Digital Citizens
Authors: Kozyreva Anastasia , Wineburg Sam , Lewandowsky Stephan , Hertwig Ralph
Published: November 2022

Low-quality and misleading information online can hijack people’s attention, often by evoking curiosity, outrage, or anger. Resisting certain types of information and actors online requires people to adopt new mental habits that help them avoid being tempted by attention-grabbing and potentially harmful content. We argue that digital information literacy must include the competence of critical ignoring—choosing what to ignore and where to invest one’s limited attentional capacities. We review three types of cognitive strategies for implementing critical ignoring: self-nudging, in which one ignores temptations by removing them from one’s digital environments; lateral reading, in which one vets information by leaving the source and verifying its credibility elsewhere online; and the do-not-feed-the-trolls heuristic, which advises one to not reward malicious actors with attention. We argue that these strategies implementing critical ignoring should be part of school curricula on digital information literacy. Teaching the competence of critical ignoring requires a paradigm shift in educators’ thinking, from a sole focus on the power and promise of paying close attention to an additional emphasis on the power of ignoring. Encouraging students and other online users to embrace critical ignoring can empower them to shield themselves from the excesses, traps, and information disorders of today’s attention economy.
Broadening horizons: An interview with Geoff Hall
Authors: Sotirova Violeta
Published: November 2022

Geoff Hall took degrees separately in English literature and in applied linguistics at the universities of Sussex and Birmingham, respectively. A career in English teaching of all kinds has taken him around the world with posts notably in Singapore, Poland, Spain, UK and China. In every place he always made the effort to learn something of the local languages and literatures which has enriched his life immensely. His most widely cited publication is the book Literature in Language Education (2015a). He was Editor of Language and Literature from 2010-2016. Geoff is currently Visiting Professor of Stylistics, University of Nottingham Ningbo, China, and Professor II, English Language Education, Nord University, Norway. He is trying to retire but remains an incorrigible lifelong learner and travelled widely before Covid 19 hit us all. In this interview, he discusses the importance of pedagogy to the practice of stylistics and explains the important links to be made between pedagogical stylistics and second language acquisition. He argues for a greater level of integration between stylistics and non-linguistically oriented literary studies, aimed at ensuring that stylistic analyses are grounded in an informed appreciation of historical and textual context.
‘There was all this terminology proliferating and the students needed to know precise terms, not vague or impressionistic ones’: An interview with Katie Wales
Authors: McIntyre Dan
Published: November 2022

Katie Wales was Professor of English Language at Royal Holloway College, University of London, before moving to the University of Leeds to become Professor of Modern English Language. She later moved to the University of Sheffield and is currently Honorary Professor in the School of English at the University of Nottingham. She is a co-founder of the Poetics and Linguistics Association (PALA) and was instrumental in setting up the journal Language and Literature, serving as its second editor between 1996 and 2004. In this interview she explains how she found out about stylistics as an undergraduate student; how she established an academic career; and how she was able to integrate stylistics into her teaching in the face of resistance from the literary establishment. She discusses her long-standing interest in dialectology and the importance of incorporating a historical perspective into stylistic work. She also discusses the importance of PALA as a support network for stylisticians, particularly in the light of the current assault on the humanities in the UK and elsewhere.
Are you vaccinated? COVID-19 vaccination rates and the effect of a vaccination program in a metropolitan mental health inpatient population in Australia
Authors: Hooper Kaylin , Hooper Michael , Nguyen Jessica , Fukutomi Akira
Published: November 2022

Objective

To assess the COVID-19 vaccination rates of a severe mental illness (SMI) population in Western Australia (WA) in January to March 2022, and to evaluate an inpatient COVID-19 vaccination program available to this group.

Method

A retrospective audit of the COVID-19 vaccination status of inpatients at the Mental Health Unit (MHU) at a tertiary hospital in WA was conducted and compared with the state average. Additionally, the medical records were interrogated to determine whether eligible inpatients were offered and received COVID-19 vaccination via the inpatient vaccination program.

Results

Vaccination rates for the MHU population were substantially lower than those for the WA population, particularly earlier in 2022. During January, just 49.0% of admitted patients had received two doses of the vaccine, compared to 92.8% of WA. Over the three months, 67 (47.2%) of all admissions were eligible for vaccination during their admission and 19 of the eligible patients (28.4%) were successfully vaccinated.

Conclusion

This audit has demonstrated a slow uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations in the SMI population, despite the wide availability for 12 months prior to this period. This indicates a significant potential for targeted, assertive programs to improve vaccination rates in this population group.
¿Quién Importa? State Legislators and Their Responsiveness to Undocumented Immigrants
Authors: Garcia Matthew Mendez , Sadhwani Sara
Published: November 2022

Do undocumented immigrants matter as constituents for state legislators? In this study we examine legislator responsiveness to differing ethnicities and immigration statuses of immigrant constituents through a field experiment conducted in 2014 in 44 U.S. state legislatures. We advance a theory of citizen advantage, that citizens and particularly white citizens will reap greater representation from legislators, but that even undocumented immigrants can constitute a meaningful subconstituency that receives some, albeit less, responsiveness from legislators. Each legislator received a constituent request that was identical in content and varied the constituent’s race/ethnic identity by using a first name and surname cue (Latinx or Eastern European) and immigration status (undocumented/citizen/control). We found that legislators respond less to undocumented constituents regardless of their ethnicity and are more responsive to both the Latinx and Eastern European-origin citizen treatments, with Republicans being more biased in their responsiveness to undocumented residents. Nuances within the data reveal that despite limited electoral incentive, some legislators are responsive to undocumented immigrants regardless of race or ethnicity; however, when immigration status is not cued, white residents receive greater responsiveness than Latinx.
A Good Name: Pseudonyms in Research
Authors: Lahman Maria K. E. , Thomas Rowen , Teman Eric D.
Published: November 2022

People’s names and the places, animals, and items named by people are deeply personal and reflective of their culture and identity, yet in qualitative research, the standard is to use pseudonyms. This practice is thought to protect research participants, but when are “real” names most respectful and appropriate? How might researchers include research participants in these considerations? The purpose of this methodological article is to increase transparency and collaboration around the participant naming process, bringing much-needed attention to issues of power in the naming process in research. The authors review the literature and detail their reflexive engagement with pseudonyms; they advance issues for consideration and provide recommendations in the areas of power in participant naming, culturally responsive research, and pseudonym use with trans people and incarcerated people. Throughout the article, the authors interrupt the text with reflexive narrative interludes to share personal experiences with naming.
Transition to ePrescribing for systemic anti-cancer therapy – Perceptions of a multidisciplinary haematology/oncology team in a large teaching hospital
Authors: O’Connor Hannah , Melanophy Gail , Martin Carlos Medina , Flattery Martin , O’Dea Edel
Published: November 2022

Introduction

A National Cancer Information System is planned for phased implementation in Irish cancer centres to enable electronic prescribing (ePrescribing) of systemic anti-cancer therapy. This study aimed to capture the opinions of healthcare professionals in a hospital setting relating to the current paper-based workflow for systemic anti-cancer therapy prescribing and their attitudes and expectations of the new ePrescribing system to develop recommendations, which assist in the planning and implementation of future ePrescribing systems.

Methods

A mixed methods study of concurrent design was conducted. Interviews with healthcare professionals primarily aimed to evaluate processes and identify areas requiring improvement within the current paper-based workflow for systemic anti-cancer therapy prescribing. An online questionnaire adapted from the Information Systems Expectations and Experiences tool primarily aimed to capture expectations of the new ePrescribing system and attitudes towards the transition.

Results

Twelve healthcare professionals were interviewed, and 50 healthcare professionals responded to the online questionnaire (response rate: 33.3%). Eight major themes emerged from interview transcripts relating to opinions on the paper-based workflow. Questionnaire respondents reported positive attitudes towards ePrescribing implementation and had high expectations for workflow improvements and functionalities of the new system. Seven recommendations for ePrescribing implementation were developed: (1) prioritise specific processes; (2) plan for changes in communication; (3) repeat research in the post-implementation setting; (4) ensure good information technology infrastructure and system support; (5) ensure optimum training; (6) outline limitations of clinical decision support; (7) provide clear instructions on local configurability.

Conclusion

This study identifies potential challenges in transitioning to ePrescribing and provides recommendations, which assist stakeholders in ensuring safe and effective transitions, thus informing future ePrescribing systems’ implementation in haematology/oncology settings.
Digital arts and culture in Australia: Promissory discourses and uncertain realities in pandemic times
Authors: Holcombe-James Indigo , Flore Jacinthe , Hendry Natalie Ann
Published: November 2022

This article critically interrogates the promissory discourse underpinning the cultural sectors’ ‘digital pivot’ in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021; namely, that artistic and creative work could be done lucratively online, offer equal opportunities for all, and assure ongoing audience consumption. Drawing on empirical data from two research projects with arts and culture workers in Australia during COVID-19 restrictions, we investigate the intersection of this promissory discourse with individual and institutional practices of digital disengagement. We contend that, rather than a panacea to lost work and income and the assurance of continued cultural consumption, digital disengagement meant that the pivot prohibited, multiplied, and negated artistic and cultural labour. By considering disengagement that was imposed upon, resourcing contingent, and that actively pushed back, this article complicates our understanding of digitalised arts and cultural labour.
Tribological properties of dopamine-modified dimple textured surfaces filled with PTFE
Authors: Zhao Shuo , Yu Aibing , Zou Pian , Wang Guilin , Li Kefan , Wang Jiawei , Qi Shaochun , Ye Jiawang
Published: November 2022

PTFE-filled textured surfaces were impregnated with the dopamine dipping solution to improve their tribological performances. Ball-on-disc wear experiments were conducted to compare tribological properties of three surfaces: the textured surface, filled textured surface and modified filled textured surface. The worn surfaces, wear debris, and shedding areas of the PTFE were measured, and shear strength between the PTFE block and medium carbon steel after impregnation modification was analysed. Experimental results showed that compared with textured surfaces, filled textured surfaces and modified filled textured surfaces had lower friction coefficient values and cross-sectional areas of wear scars. Compared with the filled textured surface, the modified filled textured surface reduces filled gaps by 63.5% and the shedding ratio of the PTFE within dimples by 63.2%. The research results demonstrate that tribological performances of the filled textured surface can improve after impregnation modification. Polydopamine can react to covalent-noncovalent interaction with PTFE and medium carbon steel. Polydopamine acts as a binder to improve the bonding strength between the PTFE and the inner wall of dimples. Polydopamine can reduce the shedding ratio of the PTFE and maintain the antifriction function of the PTFE in dimples.
Costs to the Medicare Benefits Schedule for general practitioner consultations: A time-series analysis
Authors: De Guzman Keshia R , Snoswell Centaine L , Caffery Liam J , Wallis Katharine A , Smith Anthony C
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic was a catalyst for the introduction of additional telehealth funding (telehealth item numbers) for general practitioner (GP) consultations through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) in Australia. This study evaluated the impact of telehealth funding on costs to the MBS for GP consultations from January 2017 to December 2021. An interrupted time series analysis assessed MBS costs (initial and monthly growth) for GP consultations (in-person, videoconference, telephone) before and after additional telehealth item numbers were introduced. From January 2017 to February 2020, total MBS costs for GP consultations were, on average, $545 million per month compared to $592 million per month from March 2020 to December 2021. There was an initial cost increase of approximately $39 million in the first month after additional telehealth funding was introduced ( p = 0.0001). Afterwards, there was no significant change in monthly costs ( p = 0.539). The introduction of additional MBS telehealth funding increased overall MBS costs for GP consultations. This increased cost for GP telehealth services could save costs to society if it translates into improved continuity of care, decreased hospitalisations, reduced productivity losses and improved patient outcomes. Future policy reform should incorporate a cost–benefit analysis to determine if increased MBS costs for GP consultations are a good investment.
Autism-friendly public bus transport: A personal experience–based perspective
Authors: Dirix Hélène , Ross Veerle , Brijs Kris , Bertels Laura , Alhajyaseen Wael , Brijs Tom , Wets Geert , Spooren Annemie
Published: November 2022

Community participation and the formation of social networks are crucial for a qualitative life. To this end, transportation plays an essential role. Many autistic people rely on public transportation for their mobility needs. However, research shows that it is not always easy for them to use it. The issues they face when using public bus transport have not yet been thoroughly studied. The current case study in Flanders aimed to give autistic people the opportunity to express the issues they face while using public bus transportation. A qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was carried out. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 17 autistic individuals. The interviews were analyzed based on the interpretative phenomenological analysis method. Three main themes emerged: creating predictability, limiting stimuli, and open and accessible communication. In addition, various coping strategies were described, such as the use of noise-canceling headphones. The results of this study may lead to a more autism-friendly public transportation environment.

Lay Abstract

Transportation plays an essential role in daily life, allowing people to participate in the community and form social relationships. Many autistic people rely on public transportation to meet their mobility needs. However, research shows that it is not always easy for them to use it. The exact issues autistic individuals face when traveling with public transportation and how public transportation can be made more autism-friendly have yet to be researched. The current study allowed autistic individuals to express themselves regarding issues they face while traveling by public bus transportation, to raise awareness for making public transportation more autism-friendly. We interviewed 17 autistic individuals about their experiences riding the bus. Three main themes emerged from the results: creating predictability, limiting stimuli, and open and accessible communication. If transport companies take initiatives related to these themes, autistic people traveling by bus can have a more pleasant experience. Participants also described coping strategies for stressful or uncomfortable situations while using public bus transportation, such as using noise-cancelling headphones or digital applications for real-time route tracking, etc. These findings may lead to a more autism-friendly public transportation.
Teaching gender in and through uncertainty
Authors: Egan Frances
Published: November 2022

Where higher education classrooms can be sites of both cultural contestation and epistemic violence, this article examines the critical and ethical value of building uncertainty into our teaching of gender. The reflective piece draws on my own experience in a new subject at Monash University, and situates this one very small site of knowledge production within the wider processes that shape the (neoliberal) Australian university, and the discipline of sociology. I elaborate a theoretical framework for embracing epistemic uncertainty that is informed by feminist pedagogies and begins with a feminist provocation, and present my practical strategies for organizing knowledge within this framework, as well as the strategies of the students themselves. An analysis of the students’ project work (collaborative virtual exhibitions) reveals their capacity to navigate uncertainty through an interpersonal and contextualized approach to knowledge, and produce new learning spaces which unsettle harmful truths and make material new realities.
The effect of an integrated electronic medical record system on malaria out-patient case management in a Ugandan health facility
Authors: Kavuma Michael , Mars Maurice
Published: November 2022

Background

Malaria contributes 20% of outpatient cases in health facilities in Uganda. Data also show that there is a severe shortage of skilled health care personnel in sub-Saharan Africa. Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems have been shown to provide benefits to health care providers and patients alike, making them important for low resourced settings.

Methods

A comparative study was performed from March 2018 to March 2019 in which an integrated EMR system was implemented with treatment guidelines for malaria, and its effect was evaluated on malaria outpatient case management in one Ugandan health facility. Another health facility was used as a control site.

Results

Malaria outpatient visits were 1.3 h shorter in the EMR group ( p < .0001), and 80% more participants in the EMR group had age and weight information available to clinicians at the point of prescribing ( p < .0001). Fewer participants in the EMR group had recurring malaria with no statistical significance ( p = .097). Malaria surveillance reporting was significantly more accurate at the EMR intervention site ( p < .05).

Conclusion

The EMR system probably improved malaria outpatient case management by reducing outpatient visit durations, improving the availability of patient age and weight information to inform prescribing and improving the accuracy of malaria surveillance reporting.
Residual stress distribution and fatigue performance investigations of electromagnetic force-based dynamic cold expansion open-holed sheet
Authors: Zheng Guo , Cao Zengqiang , Zuo Yangjie , Zuo Duquan , Ou Peng , Chen Huan
Published: November 2022

In this study, residual stress distributions and fatigue performances of electromagnetic driving dynamic cold expansion (DCE) open-holed sheets were investigated. Fatigue behaviors were tested, and residual stress fields were obtained experimentally and numerically. Furthermore, a fatigue life prediction method based on three-dimensional stress distribution was proposed. Results showed that DCE method extended higher fatigue life and produced more uniform residual stress along hole axial direction than static cold expansion (SCE) method. The stress distribution differences led to different fatigue crack initiation and propagation modes of DCE and SCE specimens. Uniform stress distributions along axial direction in DCE specimens contributed to random initiations and horizontal propagations of fatigue cracks, while the fatigue cracks in SCE specimens usually initiated at the mandrel entrance layer and propagated to the mandrel exit layer. Moreover, the predicted fatigue life results agreed well with experimental data.
Microstructure and tensile-shear behavior of dissimilar resistance spot welds between 2304 duplex stainless steel and Inconel 718 superalloy
Authors: Badkoobeh Farzad , Mostaan Hossein , Rafiei Mahdi , Bagheri Mohamad Reza
Published: November 2022

Dissimilar joints between duplex stainless steels and nickel-based superalloys are of high significance in some industries. In this research, 2304 duplex stainless steel and Inconel 718 superalloy were welded by the resistance spot welding technique. The studies showed that the fusion zone microstructure was composed of a dendritic structure related to the grains of nickel-based solid solution ( γ-phase) and γ′ islands. The heat-affected zone microstructure of 2304 duplex stainless steel includes the austenite phase with a slight volume fraction and the ferrite phase with a high volume fraction. The austenite phase was formed with two morphologies of Widmanstätten and grain boundary allotriomorphs. The heat-affected zone microstructure of Inconel 718 superalloy also contained γ phase (nickel-based solid solution), annealing twins, and some precipitates. The results of the tensile-shear test revealed that tensile-shear strength (i.e. peak load) and fracture energy were increased by increasing the welding current from 1 to 2 kA and the welding time from 1 to 2 s. However, they were reduced by increasing the welding current from 2 to 4 kA and the welding time from 2 to 4 s. This was caused by the surface splash between the electrodes and the sheets. In the above-mentioned range, an increase in the welding current and time may also intensify the surface splash. It was also found that when the welding time was constant (i.e. 2 s), the spot weld obtained at the welding current of 1 kA failed by interfacial fracture mode. All spot welds obtained at the welding currents of 2, 3, and 4 kA failed by pull-out fracture mode. On the other hand, all spot welds associated with the welding times of 1, 2, 3, and 4 s failed by PF mode when the welding current was constant (i.e. 3 kA).
Expatriate effectiveness: from conceptualization to operationalization
Authors: Chen Xiaowen , Moon Nicholas A , Davy Alexander Kade , Hong Julia , Gabrenya William K
Published: November 2022

Expatriate effectiveness has been studied extensively in the expatriate literature. Despite its popularity, the construct has not been well-defined or properly operationalized. Adopting a performance perspective, we conceptualize expatriate effectiveness in terms of task, contextual, and adaptive performance. The relative importance of each type of performance may vary across expatriate jobs and over the course of the expatriate’s tenure. We propose six operational and implementation guidelines for expatriate effectiveness measurement in the contexts of the nature of the expatriate job, the prioritized performance at each stage of adjustment, rater sources and capabilities, rater culture, frequency of evaluation, and the fit between measurement methods and criteria. We contribute to cross-cultural management research by providing a thorough description of the criterion issues in this literature, offering a conceptual framework to differentiate and integrate a variety of constructs that reflect different aspects of cross-cultural effectiveness, and calling attention to the influential role of measurement operations and implementation for the validity of research studies.
Effect of the upper material of running shoes on muscle mechanical power transfer on lower limbs
Authors: Cordero-Sánchez Juan , Pérez-Soriano Pedro , Bazuelo-Ruiz Bruno
Published: November 2022

This study focuses on determining the effects of the upper material of running shoes on the mechanical power flows of the muscles of the lower limbs during the support phase of running. Two models of running shoes—differentiated only by the upper structure and material—have been used, being randomly assigned to 19 participants. Five measurements of each participant per shoe model were obtained at 3.3 m·s−1 to perform inverse dynamic analysis with the data obtained. Statistically significant differences have been found between the two models for the muscle power flow variables in the ankle, knee and hip joints, as well as at the ends of adjacent segments. The KNIT-upper model (model 2) presents higher generation (8.87 ± 7.63 W/kg; p < .001; d = -.13) and less absorption (−5.11 W/kg; p < .001; d = −6.7) of mechanical power in the ankle compared to the MESH-upper model (model 1). The mechanical power flows in the knee and hip indicate that with model 2, greater mechanical power is generated and absorbed by the flexor and extensor muscle groups of these joints compared to model 1 (-.38 ± 2.9 W/kg vs -.22 ± 2.54 W/kg for the knee and −1.75 ± 2.91 W/kg vs −1.15 ± 2.07 W/kg for the hip, respectively). Therefore, it can be concluded that the upper material has an influence on mechanical power flow patterns. However, more studies are needed in order to accurately and reliably establish the impact that the upper material of the shoes has on performance and on the prevention of sports injuries.
Using Photovoice as a Method for Capturing the Lived Experiences of Caregivers During COVID-19: A Methodological Insight
Authors: Boamah Sheila A. , Yous Marie-Lee , Weldrick Rachel , Havaei Farinaz , Ganann Rebecca
Published: November 2022

Although the extant literature identifies photovoice as one of the most innovative and creative research methods that encourage reflection and introspection, few studies have described the use of photovoice with family/informal caregivers. This paper discusses the implementation of photovoice as a novel approach in exploring the experiences of informal caregivers ( n = 10) of older adults in long-term care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article describes the four stages of the photovoice process undertaken: (1) preparation; (2) pre-focus group meeting; (3) taking photographs; and (4) reflection and implementation insights, to researchers. The different stages in the research process inspired several key learnings, including the use of co-learning tools, the valuable combination of photographic images and words to provide rich description of participants’ perspectives, and creative ways to engage and support caregivers in sharing their stories. This paper also addresses some practical challenges of using this methodology with informal caregivers and explore issues surrounding research ethics and photographs. Knowledge gained from this case example provides strong support for the use of photovoice as a creative approach to better illuminate and understand the experiences of caregivers and can inform the design of future virtual studies.
Social support, empathy, social capital and civic engagement: Intersecting theories for youth development
Authors: Dolan Pat
Published: November 2022

An emerging body of theory, research, and practice literature places empathy, social support and social capital as intersectional and the cornerstone of sustained citizenship and youth action in general, but particularly around issues of social justice. While there is now an acceptance of the importance of young people exercising their voice, participation, and agency as part of their positive and personal development, equally this also requires opportunities and avenues for them to do so. Also argued here is that the ongoing advancement of positive youth development theory to reflect voice and agency needs further elaboration and more in-depth research.
Long-term use of proton-pump inhibitor on Alzheimer’s disease: a real-world distributed network analysis of six observational Korean databases using a Common Data Model
Authors: Kim Yerim , Seo Seung In , Lee Kyung Joo , Kim Jinseob , Yoo Jong Jin , Seo Won-Woo , Lee Hyung Seok , Shin Woon Geon
Published: November 2022

Background:

Dementia has a crucial impact on the quality of life of elderly patients and their caregivers. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the most frequently prescribed treatment, but they have been shown to be associated with dementia. The data are inconsistent, however.

Objective:

To investigate the association between PPIs use and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or all-cause dementia in six observational Korean databases using a Common Data Model (CDM) and to perform a distributed network analysis.

Methods:

Subjects aged over 18 years between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2020. Among 7,293,565 subjects from 6 cohorts, 41,670 patients met the eligibility criteria. A total of 2206 patients who were included in both cohorts or with a history of dementia were excluded. After propensity matching, 5699 propensity-matched pairs between the PPIs and histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) users were included in this study. The primary outcome was the incidence of AD at least 365 days after drug exposure. The secondary outcome was the incidence of all-cause dementia at least 365 days after drug exposure.

Results:

In the 1:1 propensity score matching, the risk of AD or all-cause dementia was not significantly different between the PPIs and H2RA groups in all six databases. In the distributed network analysis, the long-term PPI users (⩾365 days) were unassociated with AD [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.68–1.23; I2 = 0%] and all-cause dementia (HR =1.04, 95% CI = 0.82–1.31; I2 = 0%) compared with H2RA users.

Conclusion:

In the distributed network analysis of six Korean hospital databases using Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP)-CDM data, the long-term use of PPI was not associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of AD or all-cause dementia. Therefore, we suggest that physicians should not avoid these medications because of concern about dementia risk.
Paraspinal muscle approach for neuromuscular scoliosis: A comparative study evaluating deformity correction and perioperative morbidity in 91 patients with minimum 2-year follow-up
Authors: Ansorge Alexandre , Galina Jesse , Hasan Sayyida , Tabard-Fougère Anne , Wendolowski Stephen , Amaral Terry , Sarwahi Vishal , Dayer Romain
Published: November 2022

Purpose:

We present the paraspinal approach use for neuromuscular scoliosis with focus on deformity correction, perioperative (≤30 days) morbidity and outcome at a minimal follow-up length of 2 years.

Methods:

We prospectively collected data of 61 neuromuscular scoliosis patients operated using a paraspinal (Wiltse) approach between 2013 and 2019. We additionally collected data of 104 control cases, operated using a midline approach between 2005 and 2016. Fifteen Wiltse, respectively 37 control patients were excluded due to a short follow-up (<2 years), and 22 controls were excluded secondary to lacking follow-up data. Hence, 46 Wiltse and 45 control patients were compared.

Results:

Wiltse and control patients had comparable follow-up lengths, demographics, deformity corrections, complication rates, number of levels fused, and intensive care unit and hospital lengths of stay. Wiltse cases had a lower estimated blood loss (535 vs 1187 mL; p-value < 0.001), allogenic transfusion rate (48% vs 96%; p-value < 0.001), and operating time (ORT) (337 vs 428 min; p-value < 0.001) than controls. This was also the case when selecting for patients without pelvic fixation (p-values < 0.001). When selecting the cases with pelvic fixation (20 among 91 cases), only the number of levels fused and the ORT differed significantly according to the approach (p-value <0.015 and <0.041).

Conclusion:

The paraspinal approach for neuromuscular scoliosis is safe, associated with significant deformity correction, reduced estimated blood loss, and allogenic transfusion rate. These potential benefits still need to be evaluated, especially for cases with pelvic fixation, with further follow-up of larger cohorts.

Level of evidence:

level III.
Outpatient surveillance programme for health workers with COVID 19 in Mexico: an observational study of ambulatory treatment and early hospitalization
Authors: Sienra Iracheta Estefania , Mendez Sotelo Braulio Josue , Aranda Audelo Mercedes , Hernández Jeronimo José Hiram , Villaseñor Martinez Rosa , Martinez Oliva David Humberto , Lopez Vejar Cesar , Ramirez Hinojosa Juan Pablo , Lopez Luis Bruno Ali , Martínez Garcia Javier , Cervantes Villar Luz Elena , Matsumoto Pilar Miyoko Martinez , Rodriguez Zulueta Ana Patricia
Published: November 2022

Introduction:

International guidelines recommend hospital care for patients with severe Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but fragile health care systems struggle to cope with high number of admissions, placing patients at risk of receiving substandard care. We describe an outpatient ambulatory surveillance and treatment strategy (OPAT) for health care workers (HCWs) with severe COVID-19 during low hospital bed availability periods in Mexico City.

Methods:

In this observational, descriptive, retrospective study, we included HCWs with severe disease for whom there were no hospital beds available at the time of evaluation. We provided daily assessments by infectious disease specialists, daily ambulatory steroid, oral thromboprophylaxis and domiciliary low-dose oxygen. We recorded the number of patients who recovered, were hospitalized or died on follow-up.

Results:

From 18 March 2020 to 16 July 2021, 1739 HCWs attended our service. A total of 540 were diagnosed with COVID-19. Seventy-four had severe COVID-19 and needed hospitalization. Immediate hospitalization was not possible in 56 patients who were sent to the OPAT and included in our study. Twenty-four patients subsequently required hospitalization and 32 recovered as outpatients.

Conclusions:

We describe a feasible and safe outpatient management strategy for HCWs with severe COVID-19 in a low-resource setting.
Prevalence of contraceptive implant discontinuation among women who used implant in Ethiopia: Systemic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kassie Gizachew Ambaw , Gebrekidan Amanuel Yosef , Asmare Adella Getachew , Azeze Gedion Asnake , Asegidom Yordanos Sisay
Published: November 2022

The likelihood of contraceptive implant discontinuation is very common and varies worldwide. This high prevalence of discontinuation may also indicate problems with implementation of family planning programmes. Consequently, a significant number of women are exposed to conception after discontinuation. Although studies have been conducted in Ethiopia, there are inconsistencies across studies. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of contraceptive implant discontinuation among women in Ethiopia.

Published articles from various electronic databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Science Direct, AJOL and Cochrane library were systematically searched. All cross-sectional studies conducted on prevalence of contraceptive implant discontinuation and published up to 30 January 2022 were included in this review. To estimate the pooled prevalence, random effect model was used and a subgroup analysis was performed to identify the possible source of heterogeneity. Begg’s and Egger’s tests were used to identify possible publication bias.

A total of 13 cross-sectional studies with 5012 participants were included. Significant heterogeneity was observed across studies (I2 = 98.2%). However, there was no evidence of publication bias (p = 0.066). The estimated pooled prevalence of contraceptive implant discontinuation in Ethiopia was found to be 36.95% (95% confidence interval = 27.6–46.3). A subgroup analysis by time of discontinuation indicated that 21.5%, 42.2% and 33.5% of contraceptive implant user discontinue within 12 months, 2.5 years and 3 years, respectively.

This meta-analysis indicated that the prevalence of discontinuation of contraceptive implant was found to be high in Ethiopia. Therefore, strengthening the appropriate counselling prior to insertion and proper follow-up, independent choice will improve the proportion of implants retention.
Dipstick urinalysis profile of an asymptomatic female group in south-east Nigeria
Authors: Mmoh Ijeoma Cornelia , Ogbuagu Chukwuanugo Nkemakonam , Modebe Ifeoma Ann , Ogbuagu Ekenechukwu Nkolika , Ogbuagu Chimdindu Michael , Emelumadu Obiageli Fidelia , Okereke Uzoma Chidi , Eleje George Uchenna , Ekwunife Obinna Ikechukwu
Published: November 2022

Objectives:

Routine dipstick urinalysis is a useful and inexpensive method for the early detection of asymptomatic diseases. Our study was carried out to detect the prevalence of urinary abnormalities among an apparently asymptomatic healthy female group and emphasize the value of routine dipstick urinalysis.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was carried out among second to sixth (final)-year female medical students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi campus between 8 and 30 September 2019. A total of 100 subjects were enrolled. First-morning midstream urine samples were collected and promptly tested with dipstick strips. Subjects with abnormal findings were informed and treated appropriately.

Results:

In all, 54 (54%) of the subjects had urine abnormalities. Trace proteinuria was the commonest abnormality seen with a prevalence of 33%, followed by abnormal urine appearance (17%), leucocytes (14%), nitrites (8%) and urobilinogen (2%). Urine abnormalities were commoner in students who resided in the school hostel. Abnormal urine appearance was significantly associated with nitrites (0.003) and leucocytes (0.001).

Conclusion:

Routine dipstick urinalysis should be performed among students and apparently healthy individuals for early detection and diagnosis of renal diseases to facilitate quick interventions and prevent further progression.
What goes on in digital behaviour change interventions for weight loss maintenance targeting physical activity: A scoping review
Authors: Encantado Jorge , Palmeira António L , Silva Carolina , Sniehotta Falko F , Stubbs R James , Gouveia Maria João , Teixeira Pedro J , Heitmann Berit L , Marques Marta M
Published: November 2022

Objective

To identify the core components of digital behaviour change interventions for weight loss maintenance targeting physical activity, in terms of: (i) behaviour change techniques, (ii) mechanisms of action, (iii) modes of delivery, (iv) dose and (v) tailoring/personalization. In addition, the links between these components were investigated.

Methods

A literature search was performed in five electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, CINHAL, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently screened the identified articles and extracted data related with the study characteristics and behaviour change techniques, mechanism of action, mode of delivery, dose, and tailoring, using standardized classifications whenever available (e.g. behaviour change techniques taxonomy).

Results

Seventeen articles reporting 11 original studies were selected. Two studies were protocols, 9 studies presented results for weight change and all but one showed no significant differences between the intervention and control groups. Eight studies (73%) provided adequate information on behaviour change techniques. Five studies (45%) provided partial information about how the behaviour change techniques were linked to mechanisms of action, and only one study (0.9%) described these links for all the techniques. Around half of the studies reported the modes through which behaviour change techniques were delivered. Descriptions of dose were present in most studies, but with minimal information. The use of tailoring or personalization approaches was mentioned in eight studies (73%), but descriptions of what was tailored and how were minimal.

Conclusions

The compilation of information regarding intervention components was difficult due to the lack of information and systematization in reporting across papers. This is particularly true for the reporting of the links between behaviour change techniques and the other core intervention components. This information is crucial to help us understand in the context of behaviour change interventions what works or does not work, how it works and why.
Causal inference on observational data: Opportunities and challenges in earthquake engineering
Authors: Burton Henry
Published: November 2022

Collecting and analyzing observational data are essential to learning and implementing lessons in earthquake engineering. Historically, the methods that have been used to analyze and draw conclusions from empirical data have been limited to traditional statistics. The models developed using these techniques are able to capture associative relationships between important variables. However, the intervention decisions geared toward seismic risk mitigation should ideally be informed by an understanding of the causal mechanisms that drive infrastructure performance and community response. This article advocates for a paradigm shift in earthquake engineering where the language, tools, and models that have been (and continue to be) developed to draw causal conclusions from observational data are adopted. Several categories of data-driven earthquake engineering problems that can benefit from causal insights are examined. Two widely adopted frameworks from the broader causal inference literature are presented and linked to hypothetical earthquake engineering problems. The critical role of semi-parametric models and sensitivity analysis in justifying causal claims is also discussed. The article concludes with a discussion of specific opportunities and challenges toward the widespread use of causal inference as a tool for knowledge discovery in earthquake engineering. The ability to leverage the underlying physics of a problem within a causal inference framework is identified as both an opportunity and challenge for earthquake engineering researchers.
Downregulated KLF2 in polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia induces prothrombotic gene expression
Authors: Song Jihyun , Kim Soo Jin , Gollamudi Jahnavi , Thiagarajan Perumal , Prchal Josef T.
Published: November 2022

Thromboses are major causes of morbidity and mortality in polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) diseases associated with JAK2V617F mutation. However, the molecular mechanism(s) of increased thrombosis in PV and ET remain unknown. Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is a transcription factor that regulates expression of genes associated with inflammation and thrombosis; the absence of KLF2 in neutrophils causes thrombosis by inducing tissue factor. We studied the role of KLF2 in regulating prothrombotic gene expression in PV and ET. Neutrophils and platelets KLF2 expression in PV and ET was lower than the controls. Furthermore, in patients with thromboses, KLF2 transcripts were lower in platelets than those without thromboses. JAK2V617F allelic burden was inversely correlated with KLF2 transcript levels, suggesting JAK-STAT pathway may downregulate KLF2 expression. Whole transcriptome analyses of neutrophils and platelets showed that a lower KLF2 expression was associated with an upregulation of KLF2-regulated thrombotic genes. In addition, low KLF2 expression in platelets positively correlated with thrombotic events. In patients with PV and ET, KLF2 expression was induced by pegylated interferon alfa (PegINF-α) but not by hydroxyurea treatments. These data suggest that KLF2 may be a regulator of PV and ET thrombosis and a novel therapeutic target to prevent thrombosis.
CMOS-Compatible Memristor for Optoelectronic Neuromorphic Computing
Authors: Wu Facai , Chou Chien-Hung , Tseng Tseung-Yuen
Published: November 2022

Optoelectronic memristor is a promising candidate for future light-controllable high-density storage and neuromorphic computing. In this work, light-tunable resistive switching (RS) characteristics are demonstrated in the CMOS process-compatible ITO/HfO2/TiO2/ITO optoelectronic memristor. The device shows an average of 79.24% transmittance under visible light. After electroforming, stable bipolar analog switching, data retention beyond 104 s, and endurance of 106 cycles are realized. An obvious current increase is observed under 405 nm wavelength light irradiation both in high and in low resistance states. The long-term potentiation of synaptic property can be achieved by both electrical and optical stimulation. Moreover, based on the optical potentiation and electrical depression of conductances, the simulated Hopfield neural network (HNN) is trained for learning the 10 × 10 pixels size image. The HNN can be successfully trained to recognize the input image with a training accuracy of 100% in 13 iterations. These results suggest that this optoelectronic memristor has a high potential for neuromorphic application.