bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elevated Middle Cerebral Artery Peak Systolic Velocity in Non-Anemic Fetuses: Providing a Better Understanding of Enigmatic Middle Cerebral Artery Peak Systolic Velocity
Authors: Anabusi Saja , Van Mieghem Tim , Ryan Greg , Shinar Shiri
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Our aim was to investigate the incidence, comorbidities, and outcomes of fetuses with an elevated middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV) >1.5 multiples of median (MoM), despite normal hemoglobin (Hgb) levels on fetal blood sampling (FBS). Methods: A single-center observational retrospective cohort study of all fetuses undergoing FBS and MCA-PSV >1.5 MoM. Only those fetuses with no or mild anemia were included. Indications for Doppler assessment, associated anomalies, and neonatal outcomes were collected. Results: Overall, 383 fetuses had an MCA-PSV >1.5 MoM and underwent FBS. Twenty-three (6%) fetuses met our inclusion criteria and had no or only mild anemia. Associations with elevated MCA-PSV were elucidated in 12 of the 23 cases (52.2%) and included mild anemia (n = 2), intracranial hemorrhage (n = 3), genetic disease (n = 1), idiopathic nonimmune hydrops (NIH, n = 1), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (n = 1), maternal and or fetal acidosis (n = 3), and fetal growth restriction (n = 1). Favorable perinatal outcomes were observed in truly unexplained 11 cases with no additional anomalies (47.8%). Conclusion: Elevated MCA-PSV >1.5 MoM with normal Hgb levels is seen in 6% of pregnancies undergoing FBS and is often associated with other significant maternal or fetal problems. Those with unexplained and isolated MCA-PSV elevation have normal outcomes.
Integrated On-Slide Positive Controls for Immunocytochemistry on Cytology Slides
Authors: Srebotnik Kirbiš Irena , Roque Ruben Rodrigues , Strojan Fležar Margareta
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Integrated on-slide positive controls are a standard quality assurance and quality control measure for immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections. They ensure identical analytical conditions for the control and patient samples. Our aim was to develop a procedure for preparing integrated on-slide positive controls for immunocytochemistry (ICC) on methanol-fixed cytospins. Methods: Leftover diagnostic cytology samples with sufficient cells and confirmed expression of Calretinin, MOC31, TTF1, and hormone receptors were used as control samples. Cells from the control samples were deposited on the peripheral part of objective slides using standard cytocentrifuge equipment. Cytospins were immediately fixed in methanol for at least 30 min and then covered with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Completely dry and solid PEG was removed from the central part of the objective slides and stored at room temperature. Patient samples were subsequently added to the central part of a PEG-protected slide, with an appropriate positive control placed on the peripheral part, and then fixed in methanol. ICC was performed on the Ventana/Roche automated platform ULTRA, using optimized and validated protocols for TTF1, hormone receptors, and double immunostaining for Calretinin/MOC31. The quality of ICC reactions for both deposits on the same slide and potential cell carryover was evaluated retrospectively. Results: In the period from October 2021 to December 2023, the majority of integrated positive controls (364/368, 99%) consistently exhibited unequivocally positive reactions for TTF-1 (n = 93), hormone receptors (n = 84), and double staining for Calretinin/MOC31 (n = 191), with easily interpretable ICC reactions on corresponding patient samples. No obvious carryover of cells from the control sample to the patient sample was observed during this period. Conclusion: A novel approach developed for preparing integrated on-slide positive controls for ICC on methanol-fixed cytospins using standard cytocentrifugation is low-cost and can be widely applied in diagnostic cytology laboratories. Simultaneous ICC procedures for the control and patient samples on the same slide ensure identical analytical conditions for both samples, providing the highest level of quality control while reducing costs. Interpreting both ICC reactions on the same slide is time-efficient and convenient.
Effect of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Blockers on Adverse Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Vinod Poornima , Krishnappa Vinod , Rathell Jr. William , Dogbey Godwin , Patel Hiten , Herzog William
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) serves as a functional receptor to gain entry into the cells for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 is a potential virulent factor in infectivity. Our study aimed to ascertain the association of RAAS inhibitors with adverse cardiovascular and other outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: This is a retrospective study of medical records of ≥18-year-old patients hospitalized for COVID-19 from March 2020 to October 2020. Primary outcomes were acute cardiovascular events (ST-elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction type 1, acute congestive heart failure, acute stroke) and mortality. Secondary outcomes were respiratory failure, need for and duration of mechanical ventilation, acute deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (DVT/PE), and readmission rate. Results: Among 376 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 149 were on RAAS inhibitors. No statistically significant differences were found between RAAS inhibitor and non-RAAS inhibitor groups with respect to acute cardiovascular events (6% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.94), acute DVT/PE (4.7% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.97), hypoxia (62.4% vs. 58.6%, p = 0.46), need for mechanical ventilation (18.1% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.72), mortality (19.5% vs. 22%, p = 0.56), and readmission rate (11.4% vs. 14.1%, p = 0.45). Some nuances discovered were a higher rate of hospitalizations among Native Americans receiving RAAS inhibitors (30.2% vs. 19.8%) and significantly lower levels of procalcitonin in patients on RAAS inhibitors. Conclusions: Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, those on RAAS inhibitors showed no significant differences in acute cardiovascular events, acute DVT/PE, hypoxia, need for mechanical ventilation, readmission, or mortality rate compared to those not on them. However, further large-scale studies are needed to validate these findings.
Experts and Evidence: Sweden’s Nuclear Decision-Making in the 1970s
Authors: Wulff Petter
Published: July 2024

The role of nuclear power was intensely debated in Sweden in the 1970s. Experts took an active part in the debate and many of them presented their views in books and booklets. The experts were divided in their view of Sweden’s nuclear future. This should be a good ground for getting a well-informed public and seeing the nuclear decision-making as both democratic and rational. However, the anti-nuclear side had a tendency to argue against nuclear power as part of a larger system of hard technology and big power dominance, standing against local initiatives and ecology. They were disinclined to take up a discussion that could have moderated the perceived threats and risks of nuclear power. This disinclination even led to a rather misleading argument about the relationship between nuclear power and nuclear weapons. Amazingly, it was spread by the most prestigious of all the experts involved.
Sustainable Luxury Stays: Investigating Eco-Friendly Practices in High-End Hotels
Authors: Srividya Iyengar Murali , Venkatesh Rajagopalan
Published: July 2024

The study investigates the connection between sustainable hotel practices and luxury. This is due to the rise in sustainable luxury lodging options as well as increased interest in eco-friendly travel among affluent travellers. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap by focusing on sustainable hotel operations, combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies in a mixed-methods approach. A representative sample of upscale hotels throughout the world was selected using stratified random selection.
XCP-D: A robust pipeline for the post-processing of fMRI data
Authors: Mehta Kahini , Salo Taylor , Madison Thomas J. , Adebimpe Azeez , Bassett Danielle S. , Bertolero Max , Cieslak Matthew , Covitz Sydney , Houghton Audrey , Keller Arielle S. , Lundquist Jacob T. , Luo Audrey , Miranda-Dominguez Oscar , Nelson Steve M. , Shafiei Golia , Shanmugan Sheila , Shinohara Russell T. , Smyser Christopher D. , Sydnor Valerie J. , Weldon Kimberly B. , Feczko Eric , Fair Damien A. , Satterthwaite Theodore D.
Published: July 2024

Functional neuroimaging is an essential tool for neuroscience research. Pre-processing pipelines produce standardized, minimally pre-processed data to support a range of potential analyses. However, post-processing is not similarly standardized. While several options for post-processing exist, they may not support output from different pre-processing pipelines, may have limited documentation, and may not follow generally accepted data organization standards (e.g., Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS)). In response, we present XCP-D: a collaborative effort between PennLINC at the University of Pennsylvania and the DCAN lab at the University of Minnesota. XCP-D uses an open development model on GitHub and incorporates continuous integration testing; it is distributed as a Docker container or Apptainer image. XCP-D generates denoised BOLD images and functional derivatives from resting-state data in either NIfTI or CIFTI files following pre-processing with fMRIPrep, HCP, or ABCD-BIDS pipelines. Even prior to its official release, XCP-D has been downloaded >5,000 times from DockerHub. Together, XCP-D facilitates robust, scalable, and reproducible post-processing of fMRI data.
A Program for Eliminating Syntactic Categories
Authors: Elbourne Paul
Published: July 2024

Future research could profitably explore the hypothesis that syntactic categories should be eliminated from linguistic theory and their work taken over largely by the independently motivated system of semantic types. This would be a notable gain in theoretical economy, provided that their elimination does not necessitate innovations of equivalent complexity elsewhere in the theory.
Connectivity of Fronto-Temporal Regions in Syntactic Structure Building During Speaking and Listening
Authors: Giglio Laura , Sharoh Daniel , Ostarek Markus , Hagoort Peter
Published: July 2024

The neural infrastructure for sentence production and comprehension has been found to be mostly shared. The same regions are engaged during speaking and listening, with some differences in how strongly they activate depending on modality. In this study, we investigated how modality affects the connectivity between regions previously found to be involved in syntactic processing across modalities. We determined how constituent size and modality affected the connectivity of the pars triangularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) and of the left posterior temporal lobe (LPTL) with the pars opercularis of the LIFG, the left anterior temporal lobe (LATL), and the rest of the brain. We found that constituent size reliably increased the connectivity across these frontal and temporal ROIs. Connectivity between the two LIFG regions and the LPTL was enhanced as a function of constituent size in both modalities, and it was upregulated in production possibly because of linearization and motor planning in the frontal cortex. The connectivity of both ROIs with the LATL was lower and only enhanced for larger constituent sizes, suggesting a contributing role of the LATL in sentence processing in both modalities. These results thus show that the connectivity among fronto-temporal regions is upregulated for syntactic structure building in both sentence production and comprehension, providing further evidence for accounts of shared neural resources for sentence-level processing across modalities.
Novelties in Pitcairnia (Bromeliaceae; Pitcairnioideae): three new species from Mexico
Authors: GONZÁLEZ-ROCHA EDITH , LÓPEZ-FERRARI ANA ROSA , ESPEJO-SERNA ADOLFO , CARRILLO-REYES PABLO
Published: July 2024

Three new species of Pitcairnia from Mexico are proposed: P. aleserratoae was found in Guerrero, Morelos, and Puebla; P. gracielae known from the Estado de Mexico and Morelos while P. pugana has been collected in Jalisco. Information on distribution, habitat and phenology is provided for each species. The new taxa are compared with P. jaliscana, P. karwinskyana, P. micheliana, P. palmeri, and P. pteropoda, species morphologically similar.
Clematis armandi var. kiangnanensis (Ranunculaceae) is not synonymous with C. armandi, but C. finetiana, a widely distributed species in China
Authors: HUANG QIAO-LAN , FEI WEN-QUN , YUAN QIONG , YANG QIN-ER
Published: July 2024

Clematis armandi var. kiangnanensis (Ranunculaceae) has been previously reduced to the synonymy of C. armandi. Based on literature consultation, specimen survey and observations of living plants in the wild, we demonstrate that C. armandi var. kiangnanensis actually belongs to C. finetiana, a species widely distributed in China. We therefore place C. armandi var. kiangnanensis in synonymy with C. finetiana herein. The geographical distribution of C. finetiana is also further clarified.
A new species of Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae) hiding in the shades in an urban Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil
Authors: MENDES JONE CLEBSON RIBEIRO , BRAGA JOÃO MARCELO ALVARENGA , FRAGA CLAUDIO NICOLETTI DE , TOMAZELLO-FILHO MARIO , ORLANDINI PRISCILA , ATHIÊ-SOUZA SARAH MARIA
Published: July 2024

A new and critically endangered species of Phyllanthus, endemic to the Parque Nacional da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, is described and illustrated here. Phyllanthus celatus is placed in Phyllanthus subgenus Phyllanthus section Phyllanthus subsection Phyllanthus. Morphologically it resembles P. augustinii, P. lobatus and P. niruri, but differs mainly by presenting reddish primary, secondary and intersecondary veins on the abaxial surface (vs absent in both species), and 5-lobed pistillate disc (vs entire only in P. augustinii and P. niruri). Of these, only P. lobatus has a lobed disc, but it differs in pistillate sepals light green (vs whitish or slightly pinkish), deeply 5-lobed pistillate glandular disc (vs 3–5-lobed), styles erect (vs curved), and geographic distribution restricted to the Southeast (vs South). The systematic position of this species and its morphological relationships with allies are discussed and field photographs, illustrations, a distribution map, preliminary conservation status, and taxonomic notes are provided.
Transnational Chinese Beautyscapes: Ghetto Glamour and Fake Beauty in Abidjan
Authors: Ndjio Basile
Published: July 2024

This article explores how beauty and fashion practices and imagination have evolved in Ivory Coast since the early 2000s, using secondary sources and ethnographic research conducted in Abidjan in 2017. In addition to identifying alternatives to prevalent Western norms of beauty and style, the article highlights the expansion of Chinese beautyscapes and the ongoing Sinonization of local fashion and aesthetic cultures. It also draws attention to the contradictory features of bobaraba, a term increasingly used to describe Chinese-made clothing and beauty accessories. Though bobaraba is praised as a ghetto glamour and an expression of the urban poor's participation in the global consumer culture, it is frequently viewed as “fake beauty” intended to create an illusion of beauty. This article demonstrates that Chinese consumer goods are increasingly influencing contemporary African fashion culture, beauty ideals, body stylisation, and even sexuality.
Telemedicine in Acute Trauma Care: A Review of Quantitative Evaluations on the Impact of Remote Consultation
Authors: Patel Prem , Aucar John
Published: July 2024

Background

There is extensive literature describing the application of telemedicine techniques to trauma care. However, there is a paucity of articles showing quantitative assessment of its safety and efficacy. This structured review examines articles with quantitative assessment of telemedicine’s impact in acute trauma care.

Methods

Medline and CINAHL databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles that quantitatively assess the impact of telemedicine on diagnostic accuracy, clinical decision-making, emergency department length of stay, transfer rates, and mortality in initial trauma management.

Results

Only 9 of the 408 screened articles met the criteria for quantitative assessment. Telemedicine appears to be preferentially used for more severely injured patients. Limited quality evidence supports procedural interventions at remote sites. Telemedicine may help abbreviate pre-transfer length of stay. However, its impact on diagnosis and mortality remains unclear.

Conclusions

Telemedicine’s potential to enhance the quality and efficiency of trauma care, especially for resource-scarce areas, warrants continued quantitative research.
Does Dyadic Practice Interfere with the Type of Motor Learning Promoted by Analogy Instructions?
Authors: Profeta Vitor L. S. , Beleza Flávia N. R. , Louredo Christian A. G.
Published: July 2024

We investigated whether allowing individuals to exchange verbal information during dyadic practice changed the effect of analogy instructions intended to strengthen explicit motor learning by an implicit means. Forty-three right-handed college students performed golf putting, aiming at a target three meters away. Participants were assigned to one of two groups: Dyadic Practice Analogy Instruction or Individual Practice Analogy Instruction. Participants in the Dyadic Practice group were allowed to communicate with one another about the task during their practice. Before practice, participants performed a working memory capacity test. Both groups performed 180 trials of golf distributed across three days. On each day, there were four blocks of 15 trials. On the third day, participants reported the explicit rules they used to learn the task and they completed the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory. On the fourth day, they took three learning tests: retention, dual-task transfer, and social pressure transfer tests. Results of the retention test indicated that both groups learned the task comparably. Similarly, there were no significant group differences between the participants’ number of explicit rules learned and their motivation levels on either of the transfer tests. Finally, only the participants in the Dyadic Practice Analogy Group showed a significant correlation between their performance on the dual-task transfer test and their working memory capacity. Overall, we found that dyadic practice did not interfere with the implicit type of motor learning promoted by analogy instruction (i.e., implicit learning).
Adorno’s negative dialectics and its debt to Nietzsche: Could Nietzsche be the originator of Adorno’s negative dialectics?
Authors: Kastrinakis Nektarios
Published: July 2024

The dominant view for the relation between Adorno and Nietzsche is that the latter’s influence on the former, in terms of style and content, is primarily to be found in Adorno’s book Minima Moralia. Contrary to the dominant view, this article takes seriously Adorno’s admission that ‘of all the so-called great philosophers I owe [Nietzsche] by far the greatest debt – more even than Hegel’ and investigates the extent of Nietzsche’s influence in the conception of negative dialectics. It is argued that there could be a significant as well as inconspicuous influence that runs through Adorno’s Negative Dialectics to the point where Nietzsche legitimately be proclaimed the originator of Adorno’s negative dialectics. For those who consider negative dialectics to be the paramount achievement of Adorno’s thought, this claim would be equivalent to the claim that Nietzsche’s most significant contribution in Adorno’s thought is to be found in Negative Dialectics rather than in Minima Moralia.
Love, (un)automated: Human matchmaking in the era of online dating
Authors: Sharabi Liesel L.
Published: July 2024

Human matchmaking has existed for millennia and continues to be an important means of relationship initiation. Yet little is known about the matchmaking process or the role of formal intermediaries in mate selection. To begin exploring this topic, a two-part study was conducted using proprietary data from a professional matchmaking company. Study 1 surveyed matchmakers about what makes their services unique and the criteria they use to select partners for their clients. Study 2 used data from couples to understand if matchmakers’ preferences align with the characteristics their clients seek in a long-term partner. The results showed that rather than matching according to others’ preferences, part of a matchmaker’s work is helping their clients discover, and in some cases reassess, what they desire in a mate. These findings provide novel insight into the commercial dating industry at a time when online dating is beginning to automate many of the tasks traditionally associated with human matchmakers.
EXCOR membrane motion analyzer (EMMA) to quantify and assess hemodynamic performance of the EXCOR pediatric heart assist device
Authors: Hillner Rachel , Perry Luke , Hill Natalie , Badheka Aditya V , Chivukula Venkat Keshav
Published: July 2024

Background

Pediatric heart failure is associated with high mortality rates and is a current clinical burden. There is only one FDA approved pediatric VAD, Berlin Heart EXCOR, for treatment. Thrombo-embolic complications are a significant clinical challenge, which can lead to devastating complications such as stroke and impair efficient EXCOR function. Currently, clinicians perform largely qualitative periodic assessment of EXCOR operation by observing the motion of a rapidly moving membrane, which can be prone to human error and can lead to missing out on crucial information.

Methods

In this study, we design and implement a quantitative early warning system for accurate and quantitative assessment of the EXCOR membrane, named EXCOR Membrane Motion Analyzer (EMMA). Using a combination of image analysis, computer vision and custom designed algorithm, we perform rigorous frame by frame analysis of EXCOR membrane video data. We developed specialized metrics to identify relative smoothness between successive peaks, time between peaks and overall smoothness indicators to quantify and compare between multiple cases.

Results

Our results demonstrate that EMMA can successfully identify the motion and wrinkles on each video frame and quantify the smoothness and identify the phases of each cardiac cycle. Moreover, EMMA can obtain the smoothness of each frame and the temporal evolution of membrane smoothness across all image frames for the video sequence.

Conclusions

EMMA allows for a fast, accurate, quantitative assessment to be completed and reduces user error. This enables EMMA to be used effectively as an early warning system to rapidly identify device abnormalities.
Ethnozoological Review on the Trade, Human Alimentation, and Cultural Use of Skinks (Reptilia, Scincidae)
Authors: Janssen Jordi , Ineich Ivan , Shacham Boaz , Vasconcelos Raquel , Kaiser Hinrich
Published: July 2024

Animals and their derivatives have been used for a wide range of purposes, including human consumption, clothing, tools, medicinal and magical-religious purposes, for most of human history, and as pets more recently. We reviewed the scientific literature and, using 134 references, provided an overview of how 400 species of skinks (23% of skink diversity) are used in the context of ethnozoology, especially as related to international and domestic trade and any cultural significance. Except for 10 species, all records of skinks involve domestic or international trade. Body weight, various activity pattern traits, and various microhabitats were found to be positive predictors of documented human use. In contrast, species found in less accessible microhabitats, such as semi-aquatic species, showed reduced odds of an ethnozoological role. A more comprehensive examination of trading patterns, cultural significance, or any other human use of skinks currently appears to be impossible, simply due to a lack of necessary information. In addition, data related to functional traits of skinks or a general understanding about the factors that influence skink usage or cultural significance are scarce or absent. We conclude that our understanding of factors that may influence human use of lizards in general and skinks in particular needs to be improved to create more effective species conservation and environmental education outcomes.
Co-Creating a Synchronous Tele-Education Program With Community-Dwelling Older Adults Using a Participatory Approach: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Zhang Yichi , Teo Wei-Peng , Theng Yin-Leng
Published: July 2024

There is a pressing need to include older individuals in health education and uncover their specific needs. Leveraging the advantages of digitized health education, this study employed a participatory approach to engage community-dwelling older adults in co-creating a synchronous tele-education program, with dementia as the focus due to its rising prevalence and associated stigma in Singapore. Our findings demonstrate the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of tele-education. Participants’ feedback and recommendations provided valuable insights and could guide the future development of a comprehensive tele-education program. Participants’ satisfaction with the co-design workshops also indicates the potential of involving older generations in the design process of user-centered digital health interventions in online environments. Moving forward, the study advocates collaboration among health institutes, government and social agencies, and community organizations, alongside systematic evaluation of the long-term impacts of tele-education, with the aim of improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities among the older population.
On the pathway to health equity: Creating a harm reduction strategy for a large academic acute care hospital
Authors: Lokko Heather , Avor Wisdom M. K.
Published: July 2024

An urban centre in southwestern Ontario continues to be faced with the extensive impacts of high rates of substance use. To more effectively meet the Quintuple Aim, in a way that authentically considers patients who use substances, the need for a cohesive, comprehensive organizational harm reduction strategy at the large academic acute care hospital providing community and regional healthcare services was clear. Community-based harm reduction expertise was leveraged to support the development work. Information gathered through literature review and interviews with patients, internal staff and leaders, partner healthcare agencies, and Canadian hospitals leading in harm reduction work provided key insights and supported the formulation of emerging recommendations that will be used to shape the acute care hospital’s formal organizational harm reduction strategy.
An evaluation of pathology laboratory workforce performance during mergers and acquisitions
Authors: Chiou Paul Z. , Herring R. Patti , Jia Yuane
Published: July 2024

The effects of laboratory mergers and acquisitions on the clinical performance of its workforce remain largely unknown. This study examined laboratory professionals’ work engagement and productivity, and investigated the role of social support as a moderator during mergers and acquisitions. A 51 question on-line survey was designed to cover demographics, work engagement, productivity, and levels of social support. A sample t test was used to measure work engagement levels between laboratory professionals with higher social support to others with lower support. The finding that laboratory professionals with higher levels of social support are more engaged and productive at the workplace has important policy implications for leaders managing laboratories in times of mergers and acquisitions.
Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Social Participation Questionnaire: A Methodological and Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhao Di , Li Guopeng , Qin Rui , Zhao Xiangyu , Qi Meiling , Ma Qinghua , Li Ping
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Social participation is vital for the health maintenance of general populations as well as the functional recovery and social ties of clinical patients. To develop a Social Participation Questionnaire (SPQ) to evaluate participation in social activities in an individual’s life and to test the reliability and validity of the SPQ.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Community and clinic in China.

Subjects

A total of 1419 healthy adults and 486 breast cancer patients.

Measures

The initial items were developed from a theoretical framework, a literature review, and Delphi expert consultation. Item analysis, exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), criterion validity, construct reliability, and internal consistency reliability were performed to examine the psychometric properties of the SPQ.

Results

The final SPQ was comprised of 11 different types of social activities, falling under the 3 dimensions of activities of daily life, sports and entertainment activities, and social service activities. EFA explained 50.674% of the total item variance contributing to the tool. CFA showed that the SPQ fit well. The total SPQ score was significantly associated with social network, quality of life, and cognitive function ( r = |.180∼.466|, P < .001). The internal consistency coefficient was acceptable (range of Cronbach’s alpha, .695 to .720).

Conclusions

The SPQ has robust properties, wide application, and provides a culturally relevant tool to evaluate the social participation of individuals, thus facilitating rigorous clinical and population-based research.
Understanding Factors that Influence Parents’ Provision of Beverages to Their Children: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis
Authors: Vallone Natalie , Drake Morgan , Dawer Adam , Brill Rachel , Sylvetsky Allison C.
Published: July 2024

Objective

Understand parental perceptions of beverages and factors influencing the beverage choices they make for their children.

Data Source

A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL.

Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Included studies contained qualitative data examining parents’ perceptions of beverages or factors that influence their child’s beverage consumption, were conducted in the United States between 2000 and 2022, written in English, and enrolled parents of children aged 18 years or younger.

Data Extraction

Authors, titles, study aims, methods, qualitative results, and representative quotations were extracted using Covidence.

Data Synthesis

Qualitative findings were independently coded by two coders. Codes were compared and discrepancies resolved through discussion with a third team member. Themes and sub-themes were identified, and representative quotations selected.

Results

13 studies met inclusion criteria. Five major themes emerged: 1) factors that influence parents’ provision of beverages to their children, 2) parents’ concerns about sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), 3) barriers to limiting children’s SSB consumption, 4) strategies to lower children’s SSB consumption, and 5) parents’ perceptions of beverage healthfulness.

Conclusion

Though most parents are aware of unfavorable health effects of frequent SSB intake, environmental and sociocultural factors pose barriers to limiting their child’s SSB consumption. Changes to policy and the food environment are needed to initiate and sustain reductions in SSB intake, along with continued nutrition education efforts.
Primary care team reorganisation after the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. Differences between Catalonia and Spain in the PRICOV study
Authors: Peris Grao Antoni , Freixenet Núria , Mora Toni , Roche David
Published: July 2024

Background

Spanish primary care services are managed differently by each region’s authorities. Catalonia started its services provision and design nearly two decades before other Spanish regions and developed nurses’ roles and task shifting in primary care.

Purpose

This work identifies differences in the Europe PRICOV-19 study answers between Catalonia and those submitted from the rest of Spain regarding how primary care teams (PCT) were organised during the SARS-CoV-2-2019 pandemic, how tasks and roles changed, and the pandemic’s impact on the care providers. Initially, we computed bivariate relationships and tested using contingency association and unpaired Wilcoxon.

Analysis

Still, we estimated multiple linear regressions controlling with a list of individual and GP practice characteristics and clustering standard errors at the kind of location.

Results

Main statistically significant differences were found in the adaptation to the new tasks, the ability to solve most health problems, and specific accessibilities to primary care. In Catalonia, satisfaction with the adaptation to the new tasks was higher (41.9% satisfied and 30.2% neutral) than in the rest of Spain (50.9% dissatisfaction). Also, GPs in Catalonia reported to a greater extent than the rest of Spain that chronic patients were listed for extensive follow-up. These differences may be related to Catalonia’s strategy for empowering primary care professionals other than family doctors.

Conclusions

Considering future pandemics, demographic ageing, and professional shortages, we point out the potential benefits of these changes in PCT organisations and the need to review the centres’s design.
Effect of unsupported sleepers on vertical levelling loss of heavy-haul railway track geometry under cyclic loadings
Authors: de Melo Andre Luis Oliveira , Kaewunruen Sakdirat , Papaelias Mayorkinos
Published: July 2024

With an emphasis on the combined degradation of railway track geometry and components, an improved numerical approach is proposed for predicting the track geometrical vertical levelling loss (VLL). In contrast to previous studies, this research unprecedentedly considers the influence of unsupported sleepers (US) configuration on VLL under cyclic loadings, elasto-plastic behaviour, and different operational dynamic conditions. The nonlinear numerical models are performed adopting an explicit finite element (FE) package, and their results are validated by field data. The outcomes are iteratively regressed by an analytical logarithmic function that cumulates permanent settlements, and by a power function factor, which innovatively extends the response of US on VLL over a long term. Results shows that at 3 million cycles (or 60 MGT) the worst configuration for 20-ton axle load is at 5 US with 5-mm gap (5,51%), whereas for 30 and 40-ton axle loads is at 5 US with 2-mm gap (1.23% and 0,89%, respectively). This indicates that the axle load affects considerably the VLL as expected, however, the US condition plays an important role to accelerate it. Based on this study, the acceptable configuration of US can be specified for a minimum effect on VLL (thresholds) and, therefore, supports the development of practical maintenance guidelines to prolong the railway track service life.
Equality DanceSport doing transgender inclusivity in the United Kingdom: Cultural cisgenderism and transgender experiences
Authors: Wong Yen Nee
Published: July 2024

In this article, cultural cisgenderism is adopted to investigate Equality DanceSport, a sporting context emerging out of an LGBT+ community. 1 The study questions the extent to which Equality DanceSport enforces regulations and practices which promote trans-inclusivity. Drawing on a constructivist grounded theory approach, I conducted autoethnography and 35 semi-structured interviews with LGBT+ dancers representing diverse genders and sexualities. I examined the discourses shaping the recent revision of Equality DanceSport competition rules in the United Kingdom and the experiences of transgender dancers in the competitive arena. Findings suggest that despite challenging some cis and heteronormative practices in mainstream DanceSport spaces, essentialist notions of sex and gender continue to feed into the shaping of Equality DanceSport's competition rules. These notions are hinged on debates around fairness and inclusivity and inform the constitution of a binary sex category in the competition rules. Transgender dancers face several challenges within the binary sex system, tending to cope through identity compromise. Such a strategy contributes to transgender erasure and invisibility. Overall, this paper provides a critical understanding of trans-inclusivity in an LGBT+ sporting space in the United Kingdom. It highlights the complexity of achieving inclusivity and calls for a critical interrogation which does not conflate LGB with the T when investigating the inclusivity of LGBT+ sporting contexts. The paper concludes with a proposal for radical regulatory and policy changes that question the epistemological understandings of sex and gender and celebrate other values in competitive sports which de-emphasise the focus on winning.
Coping within the interstices of the neoliberal sports market: Using de Certeau to analyse the migration of African mixed martial arts fighters in South Africa
Authors: Roșianu Kevin , Presset Bastien
Published: July 2024

This paper focuses on African migrant mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters enrolled in the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC), a leading MMA organization established in 2009 in South Africa. It highlights their precarious work and living conditions, which are counterbalanced by the promise of real but rare career possibilities. Drawing from Michel de Certeau’s conceptual framework – notably his concepts of strategies, tactics and lieu propre (proper place) – we analyse what it is to struggle, cope and sometimes thrive, as a migrant fighter in South Africa. We rely on 61 semi-structured interviews with 35 professional EFC fighters from four Sub-Saharan countries who migrated to South Africa. Our results highlight the various tactics – which rely on social networks, their bodily stature, fighting skills and EFC media presence – that fighters mobilize to cope with the hardships of migratory status and unstable work conditions. We thus reveal the dialectic power relations that tie fighters to promoters and contribute to understanding migrants’ work conditions in the neoliberal sports market. Our research highlights the need to move away from migrant athletes’ caricatured representations as silent and passive victims unaware of the mechanisms of oppression to a more dynamic understanding of power relations that takes coping mechanisms and career trajectories into account.
Behind the curtain of Australasian Psychiatry: The practice of a medical journal and a call for reviewers
Authors: Looi Jeffrey CL , Amos Andrew , Bastiampillai Tarun , Loi Samantha , Miller Edward , Reutens Sharon
Published: July 2024

The process of medical scientific journal publishing merits further explanation for authors and readers. Prospective authors need to understand the scope of the journal and the article types that are published. We give an overview of the editorial process, including selection of reviewers, peer review and decisions regarding revision, acceptance and rejection of papers for Australasian Psychiatry. We encourage authors and readers to submit papers, and volunteer as peer reviewers, working together with the journal editorial team.
Giant Cell Tumor of the Rib: A Report of Two Patients
Authors: Pena-Burgos Eva Manuela , Romio De las Heras Estefanía , Bernabéu Daniel , Iglesias-Urraca Carmen , Reguero Callejas María Eugenia , Pozo-Kreilinger Jose Juan
Published: July 2024

Giant cell tumor of the bone is a locally aggressive and rarely metastasizing tumor that typically affects the ends of long bones. Less than 1% of giant cell tumor of bone occur in the ribs. Our patients were a 32-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man and were detected following chest traumas. No bone alterations were detected in radiological studies performed immediately after local trauma. Six- and one- months, respectively, following chest trauma, both giant lytic heterogeneous masses arising on an anterior rib arc were radiologically observed. In the computerized tomography-guided needle biopsy, giant cell tumor of bone were diagnosed. Both tumors were completely removed by bloc resection including the adjacent ribs and posterior reconstruction were performed. One patient was preoperatively treated with denosumab. Neither local recurrences nor metastasis have been detected in follow-up. Despite its low frequency and its low degree of suspicion, giant cell tumor of bone should be included in the differential diagnosis of a rapid growing chest mass.
The Spectrum of Sarcina Colonization in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Pediatric and Adolescent Patients
Authors: Hadjiyannis Yannis , Ali Seemaab , Wang Qian , Crawford Erin C. , Scholz Stefan , Waltz Paul K. , Alissa Feras , Ayers Mary H. , Reyes-Múgica Miguel , Salgado Claudia M.
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Sarcina organisms are rare, gram-positive, sugar-fermenting cocci, identifiable in tissues only by histologic examination or molecular testing. Since its discovery, the pathogenicity and relevance of Sarcina in the human gastrointestinal tract has remained ill-defined. A recent literature review of 66 reported examples demonstrated the potential for severe complications such as emphysematous gastritis and gastric perforation. In pediatrics, colonization is associated with mucosal alterations and/or gastrointestinal dysmotility/obstruction with variable outcomes, including death secondary to gastric perforation. Yet, the features of Sarcina colonization within the gastrointestinal tract of adolescents are poorly understood and rarely reported. Methods: We present the gastrointestinal histopathological findings and the complete history of 4 pediatric patients with Sarcina colonization at our institution. Additionally a literature review with focus in the keywords “ Sarcina” and “gastrointestinal’ was performed, and the clinical and histopathological features of all previously reported examples of Sarcina in the gastrointestinal tract of pediatric patients were summarized. Results: All 4 patients had delayed gastric emptying, 3 of them due to neurologic disease, and one with pyloric obstruction due to duodenal ulceration with Helicobacter gastritis. In the 3 patients with available esophageal biopsies, it was associated to esophagitis with increased intraepithelial eosinophils. Conclusion: The potential pathogenicity of Sarcina colonization in the gastrointestinal tract of pediatric patients needs to be reevaluated. Due to potential serious complications, the identification of these organisms in the gastrointestinal tract sample should be reported and warrants further evaluation for possible gastrointestinal dysmotility or other mucosal alterations.
Myoepithelioma-Like Tumor of the Vulvar Region: A Clinicopathologic Study of Four Cases
Authors: Zheng Xiang , Liu Chuang-feng , Ge Rong
Published: July 2024

Myoepithelioma-like tumors of the vulvar region (MELTVR) are solid tumors found in the vulva of adult women. They have a similar histopathology to myoepithelioma but differ in immunohistochemical phenotype and genetic changes. In this study, we report four examples of MELTVR, occurred in the external genitalia and mons pubis of adult women aged 32 to 39 years. The tumors presented as subcutaneous masses without obvious tenderness. The tumors were composed of a mixture of myxoid and nonmyxoid components, and myxoid areas accounted for 5% to 80% of the tumor volume. The tumor cells were spindle-shaped or epithelioid, with abundant cytoplasm, vesicular nuclei, and small nucleoli. The nuclear atypia was mild to moderate, with 0 to 10 mitotic figures per 10 high-power fields. Immunohistochemically, all four tumors showed consistent positivity for EMA, calponin and ER; three tumors exhibited PR expression. All tumors were negative for S100 protein and SMA. AE1/AE3 expression was absent in all except one tumor, which showed rare positivity. SMARCB1/INI1 expression was deficient in all tumors. EWSR1 and FUS rearrangements were absent. All tumors were treated through surgery. All patients were alive without recurrence on most recent follow-up. Together, this overview of four additional tumors of MELTVR offers further insight into this rare and poorly understood disease.
Deviation analysis in transient response of fractional-order systems: An elementary function-based lower bound
Authors: Sepasian Nima , Tavazoei Mohammad Saleh
Published: July 2024

In this paper, transient response of commensurate fractional-order systems with non-zero initial conditions is investigated in the viewpoint of the existence of deviation from initial condition. In particular, firstly peak effect for a class of linear fractional order systems is inspected by presenting a lower bound for their responses. Such a lower bound is described by an elementary function, where the commensurate order of the system is considered as a rational number. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that under particular circumstances the derived lower bound can be extended to apply for deviation analysis in response of a class of fractional-order nonlinear systems. Moreover, included are various illustrative examples intended to assess the applicability of the obtained lower bound in prediction of the deviation value and the time instance at which the peak effect occurs.
Rural tourism perception factors: A case study in the Zhengzhou region
Authors: Li Gang , Orozonova Azyk
Published: July 2024

Rural tourism serves as a pivotal catalyst for rural revitalization, with its trajectory influenced by diverse factors within tourist destinations. This study aims to refine the analysis of tourists’ engagement in rural tourism dimensions by leveraging perceived value theory. Focusing on the rural tourism unit of Zhengzhou, this paper employs a four-dimensional approach encompassing service perception, ecological perception, product perception, and tourists’ participation. Utilizing a Likert five-level scale questionnaire distributed in June to July 2023 and employing structural equation modelling (SEM), the study examines the interplay between tourists’ perceptions and their contribution to rural tourism participation. Findings underscore the importance of integrating perceived value theory into rural tourism analysis, enhancing understanding of key influencing factors. Notably, tourists exhibit a heightened perception of environmental quality, with service perception significantly influencing participation. Conversely, while a positive correlation exists between product and ecological perceptions, its impact on participation is comparatively weaker. These insights carry practical implications for enhancing rural tourism services and fostering greater tourist participation, thus bolstering rural revitalization efforts. This study addresses a gap in prior research by developing and validating a comprehensive model that explores the perception-participation dynamics in rural tourism contexts.