bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship of Abdominal Oblique Strength on Biomechanics in Adolescent Baseball Pitchers
Authors: Eilen Henry T. , Kokott Wesley , Dziuk Cody , Cross Janelle A. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACT

Context
The pitching cycle is a highly dynamic task, and the trunk and abdominal obliques are key contributors in efficient kinetic transfer.

Objective
To determine the relationship between abdominal oblique strength and pitching biomechanics in adolescent baseball pitchers.

Design
Cross-sectional study.

Setting
Biomechanics laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants
Nineteen healthy right-handed high school male baseball pitchers (age = 17.1 ± 1.1 years, height = 183.7 ± 6.5 cm, mass = 83.1 ± 10.1 kg).

Main Outcome Measures
The main outcome was full body biomechanics captured at key points during the pitching cycle. The main variable of interest was abdominal oblique strength (glove arm and throwing arm). Kinematics and kinetics were calculated using Visual 3D motion capture software. Descriptive statistics including means and standard deviations were calculated. Shapiro-Wilk test confirmed the data were normally distributed. Scatterplots determined linear associations, so a 2-tailed Pearson correlation with Fisher option was used to examine associations between obliques strength measurements and biomechanical metrics.

Results
Three kinematic measures were identified with p &lt; 0.05 and r = 0.5 demonstrating strong correlations with abdominal oblique strength. Maximum pelvis rotation velocity was positively correlated with throwing arm oblique strength (r =0.52, p = 0.02). Glove arm oblique strength was positively correlated with both maximum pelvis rotation velocity and maximum torso rotation velocity (r = 0.69, p = 0.001, and r = 0.52, p = 0.02, respectively).

Conclusions
These data highlight the moderate to strong positive relationship abdominal oblique strength has on both maximal pelvic and torso rotational velocity. Training to improve the strength of the abdominal obliques may increase both maximal pelvic and trunk rotational velocity, while avoiding a significant increase upper extremity joint loading, which is important in optimizing performance and injury prevention.
Selection of a classroom observation tool for disability inclusion in Uganda
Authors: Kawesa Elizabeth S. , Nimusiima Claire , Seeley Janet , Mbazzi Femke B. 
Published: October 2024

Background: Obuntu Bulamu is a Ugandan intervention promoting inclusive education for children with disabilities. This culturally appropriate approach, based on the Ubuntu philosophy, utilises peer-to-peer support activities for children, parents and teachers.Objectives: To effectively measure the intervention’s impact on disability inclusion, the study aimed to select, adapt and test classroom observation instruments suitable for the Ugandan context.Method: Three structured classroom observation tools were selected and piloted in 10 primary schools in Wakiso District: The Classroom Observation Checklist (CoC), the Teacher-Pupil Observation Tool (T-POT) and the Interaction Engagement Scale (IES). These tools were adapted to ensure cultural relevance and applicability within Ugandan school settings.Results: Factors like class size, teaching methods, cultural relevance, language and ease of use influenced the suitability of the selected tool. The CoC emerged as a more effective tool with a strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.80) for capturing inclusiveness and peer-to-peer support in the classroom compared to the T-POT and IES.Conclusion: The study findings emphasise the significance of adapting and testing tools in specific cultural contexts and low-income country settings and considering culturally contextual factors like class size, teaching methods, language complexity and ease of use when measuring disability inclusion in primary schools.Contribution: The selection of a classroom observation tool for the Obuntu Bulamu randomised control trial contributed to African disability knowledge and practices designed on and for the continent.
Financial technology in a South African banking institution to achieve strategic sustainability
Authors: Panday Lomesh , Nyawo Jabulani C. , Vilakazi Mlondi B.F. 
Published: October 2024

Purpose: The aim of this article was to better understand the alignment of banking business models with disruptive technologies.Design/methodology/approach: An explorative study was used to uncover participants’ views of technology adoption in a particular banking institution in South Africa. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 12 participants. Employing a qualitative approach, interpretive techniques were used to decode, describe and translate themes and concepts of certain phenomena.Findings/results: Disruptive technologies offered by Fintechs are generally embraced, provided they are fit-for-purpose and deliver a value proposition to drive client-centric growth. Partnering with Fintechs plays a pivotal role in alignment between business and information technology, enabling banks to leverage technology to reach broader markets. This enables scalable growth, which is vital to sustainability.Practical implications: The study assists South African financial institutions in aligning business models to continuously evolve with disruptive shifts in technology, and leverage technologies offered by Fintechs to maintain market relevance and grow competitive advantage in a sustainable manner.Originality/value: It is especially pertinent to banks in South Africa and other developing nations, as it highlights important implications for partnering with Fintech companies. In addition to validating the Improved Technology Acceptance Model framework, it reveals more factors to consider when partnering with Fintechs. The results contribute to the literature on the adoption of disruptive technologies, as well as relations between banks and Fintechs, in order to improve partnerships between these entities.
Exploring small and medium enterprise performance through dynamic capability perspective
Authors: Wimpertiwi Dotty , Arief Muhtosim , Alamsjah Firdaus , Setiowati Rini 
Published: October 2024

Background: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are crucial to both global and national economies. They create jobs, boost competitiveness and drive economic growth. In the digital age, SMEs have increased opportunities to expand, enhance their capabilities and compete effectively.Aim: This research explores how environmentally conscious SMEs improve performance using dynamic capabilities (DCs) approach. It specifically examines how e-commerce and management capabilities contribute to SME performance in the Indonesian culinary sector and highlights the role of strategic orientation in this study.Setting: The study focusses on SMEs in the culinary sub-sector located in West Java, DKI Jakarta, and Banten provinces in Indonesia. These regions were selected because of their vibrant culinary industries and the significant role SMEs play in the local economy and gross domestic product (GDP).Methods: A quantitative analysis was conducted using online surveys via Google Forms, collecting 236 responses. The data were analysed with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using Smart PLS 3.0 software.Results: Four hypotheses about DCs and SME performance were tested, with three being accepted. The study found that DCs alone do not directly enhance SME performance.Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of strategic orientation in mediating DCs with SME performance. In the digital era, aligning goals with market needs helps SMEs use their DCs more effectively, adapt to changes, innovate and grow sustainably.Contribution: This research contributes to the literature on DCs and strategic management, offering insights into improving SME performance in Indonesia.
Adapting a Longitudinal Structured Program to Enhance Research Skills in Undergraduate Medical Students: A Key Advancement in Competency-Based Medical Education
Authors: Sidhu Tanvir Kaur , Mahajan Rajiv , Malhotra Varun Mohan , Mehra Shyam , Singh Gurkirat , Singh Harshpreet , Bhatia Jagriti , Singh Gurmeet , Sidhu Japneet 
Published: October 2024

Background:
Abundant literature signifies the imperative role of evidence-based research in the health sector which underpins the importance of training medical graduates in research skills early in their medical journey. Low awareness, less knowledge, and minimal practical involvement of undergraduates (UGs) in research have been identified all over India. The lack of structured delivery of research curriculum in the UG period has been the basis of uptaking this project with the aim of developing research competency in medical UGs.

Materials and Methods:
The study was conducted as a participatory action research with a mixed-method approach in the department of community medicine at a medical college. A structured validated module was developed by the core committee and then pilot tested. The 5 years’ journey through module development, pilot testing, longitudinal delivery, and then adapting it into a value-added course program at the university curriculum level was attempted.

Results:
“UG Medical Research” has been adopted as value-added course in the curriculum of MBBS in the university. The research program is being run in a longitudinal structured manner with all MBBS UGs being trained using the “Module for UG Medical Research” module followed by research mentoring by faculty and subsequently academic scholarships in Electives Research Block 1. Interdisciplinary voluntary faculty pool has been created for research mentoring of UG students. The research environment of the institute has improved in terms of the increase in the number of research projects being carried out by UG students, Short Term Studentship (STS) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) research scholarships, conducting annual UG research exhibition/conferences in the campus, awards for best research works, and providing intramural research grant for UGs.

Conclusions:
The longitudinal structured research program was successfully incorporated into the UG curriculum which enabled UG students to demonstrate acquisition of research competency.
Script Concordance Test in Physiology: Preparation, Scoring, and Student Perceptions – A Mixed Method Study
Authors: Nalini Y C , Manivasakan Shivasakthy , Pai Dinker R 
Published: October 2024

Background:
Although the curriculum has changed, assessment tools are not in alignment with the new types of teaching such as early clinical exposure (ECE) and self-directed learning. Both in summative and formative assessment most commonly used tools for assessment of cognitive domain are written formats including MCQ. However, these assessment tools such as MCQ and written essays cannot assess the higher order thinking skills and clinical reasoning skills.

Materials and Methods:
The present study was conducted in the department of physiology, in collaboration with medical simulation center, as a part of formative assessment for topics on pathophysiology of shock and obstructive and restrictive lung disorders taught during ECE using case scenarios. Two script concordance tests (SCTs) each on the topic of pathophysiological mechanism of different types of shock and obstructive and restrictive lung disorders each were prepared and administered to the students. Student perception to this assessment tools was obtained.

Results:
The Cronbach’s alpha of the 6-item SCT for respiratory and cardiovascular topic administered to the students (n = 107, 98) was 0.83 and 0.82, respectively. The inter-item correlation was respiratory and cardiovascular topic for 0.71, 0.69 suggesting that they are close and repetitive. Students were of the opinion that SCT are difficult to understand (75.8%), challenging to answer (47.2%), and it tested the clinical content better (71.4%).

Conclusions:
In our study, students felt though SCT tested the clinical content better when compared to conventionally used MCQ, they still find it challenging to understand and are not in favor of its use in summative and formative assessments.
Preoperative workup and optimization for the AUS patient
Authors: Lee Grace , Patel Hiren V. , Hampson Lindsay A. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACT
Patients with bothersome stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after prostate intervention can be managed with conservative therapy, male urethral sling placement, or artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) surgery. Although AUS placement is the gold standard treatment, up to 50% of patients require reoperation for complications in the long term. Preoperative workup and counseling provide an opportunity for clinical optimization that can potentially reduce the risk of complications and ensure that surgery is in line with patients’ goals and expectations. This review highlights contemporary data surrounding components of the preoperative workup, including the evaluation of SUI, the role of urodynamics, the assessment of bother and impact on quality of life, and the significance of frailty and comorbidities in patients undergoing AUS surgery.
Ureterocalicostomy utilizing upper pole of transplanted kidney: A case report
Authors: Freeman Samantha , Trussler James , Sorcini Andrea 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACT
Ureteral stenosis or obstruction following a kidney transplant is one of the most frequent complications in renal post-transplantation. We describe the case of a 66-year-old female with a complex ureteral stenosis post-transplantation, where the stenosis involved the entire ureter, necessitating a unique repair. The patient underwent living-related kidney transplant in 2001 for glomerulonephritis. Starting 15 years post-transplant, she experienced recurrent episodes of pyelonephritis. It was suspected that she had developed chronic rejection, and kidney inflammation was compressing the ureter. Pyelograms demonstrated a narrow caliber transplant ureter and a patent native ureter on the ipsilateral side. Intraoperatively, the medial aspect of the graft was extremely difficult due to dense adhesions. The lower pole was densely adherent to the iliac vessels and the bladder was displaced cephalad. We were unable to safely access the transplant ureter. We proceeded to mobilize the native right ureter cephalad to the dilated upper pole calyx. In this case report, we present a rare case of a panureteral obstruction caused by renal allograft extrinsic compression. An upper pole ureterocalicostomy using the ipsilateral native ureter was performed. This novel technique should be included in the armamentarium of transplant ureteral reconstructive options.
The fragile urethra: Considerations for high-risk patients undergoing artificial urinary sphincter placement
Authors: Ramez Mohamad , Howell Skyler Mario , Westney O. Lenaine , Smith Thomas Gillispie 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and post-prostate treatment incontinence significantly impacts a patient’s quality of life. The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is the gold standard for surgical management of moderate to severe urinary incontinence. Despite this, revision and replacement are common. A subset of patients has a high risk for revision and replacement based on certain historical factors. In this article, we review anatomic factors, etiology, and technique modifications through evaluation of relevant data on AUS placement in this patient population.

Materials and Methods:
A literature search was conducted to review recent English-language literature using the key search term “artificial urinary sphincter” along with other search terms including “urethral atrophy,” “urethral erosion,” “radiation,” “urethral stricture,” “urethral surgery,” “vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis,” “vesicourethral anastomotic stricture,” “bladder neck contracture,” and “posterior urethral stenosis.”

Key Findings:
The characteristics of patients with an at-risk or fragile urethra are well known and described in many studies. Primarily, these risks involve changes in urethral blood supply. Various surgical strategies are described for these patients, including transcorporal sphincter cuff placement, changes in cuff size, and potential utilization of tissue transfer or grafting techniques for urethral support.

Conclusion:
The patient group with a fragile urethra remains a management challenge in individuals experiencing post-prostate treatment incontinence. These patients have recognizable anatomic alterations and changes in urethral blood supply. Many strategies are described to help mitigate the increased risk of early device complications and erosion.
Standard Snodgrass tubularized incised-plate urethroplasty versus Mathieu technique combined with incision of the urethral plate in primary repair of distal and mid-penile hypospadias: A retrospective study
Authors: Verma Indernath , Sharma Ankita , Sharma Vikram 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACT

Introduction:
We compared the outcomes of Mathieu technique with incised-plate (Mathieu-IP) urethroplasty to the standard Snodgrass tubularized incised-plate (TIP) technique.

Purpose:
This study aimed to compare the outcomes of the standard Snodgrass TIP urethroplasty versus the Mathieu-IP urethroplasty for the management of distal and mid-penile hypospadias.

Materials and Methods:
In this multicentric retrospective study, data of 30 patients (aged 1–20 years) with primary distal and mid-penile hypospadias between April 2018 and August 2021 were grouped, studied, and compared to obtain results. Group 1 comprised 15 patients who underwent TIP repair, while Group 2 included 15 patients managed using the Mathieu-IP repair for primary management of distal and mid-penile hypospadias. Perioperative follow-up data, complications, and outcomes of both procedures were statistically analyzed and compared.

Results:
There was no statistically significant difference in the mean operative time between Groups 1 and 2, at 98 (7.6) and 100.2 (8.1) min, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in Qmax in Group 2 postoperatively (P = 0.045). The rate of postoperative fistula was significantly higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2, at 20% vs. 0% (P = 0.035). There was no postoperative meatal stenosis in Group 2, while it occurred in two patients (13.4%) in Group 1 (P = 0.076), although this difference was statistically insignificant.

Conclusion:
The Mathieu-IP technique appeared to be better than the standard TIP technique in context to postoperative urinary flow rate, fistula formation, and meatal stenosis, along with satisfactory cosmetic outcomes.
Perspectives of psychiatrists on Mental Health Care Act, 2017: An in-depth pilot survey
Authors: Astha  , Srivastava Shruti , Sharma Indira 
Published: October 2024

Background:
The Mental Health Care Act, 2017 (MHCA, 17) was passed through both houses of the parliament. The Indian Psychiatric Society through its Patient’s Rights Task Force committee has been deliberating various rounds of discussion at levels of stakeholders, mental health professionals, and patients’ perspective. However, a scarce budget for mental health services, lack of trained mental health professionals, and poor infrastructure and logistics pose a challenge for this new act as still there is a lack of awareness of different provisions of MHCA at the administrative, judiciary, and public levels.

Aim:
The present study was undertaken to address the perspectives of psychiatrists related to MHCA,2017 its provisions.

Materials and Methods:
A self-administered questionnaire was designed to gather information on awareness about MHCA, 2017. The responses were collected from the member psychiatrists of Indian Psychiatric Society in a google form including the suggestions regarding amendments in MHCA, 2017.

Results:
22.6% of participants were using MHCA in clinical practice completely, and 20.2% did not use it all. 52.4% stated that they are using it partly. Capacity assessment of the person suffering from mental illness was done by 52.4% of participants in day-to-day clinical practice. 35.7% denied assessing it. With respect to section 309 IPC, 31% were registering and managing suicide attempts as medico legal cases and 63.1% as non-MLC cases. 54.2% of the participants were not aware about medical insurance for mental health. The qualitative data suggest the act should be simplified including relaxation in provisions of minor, capacity assessment and ensure active functioning of various authorities.

Conclusions:
Amendments are required in MHCA, 2017 taking into cognizance the opinions from various practicing psychiatrists who are facing hurdles in routine clinical practice.
Wettability of Heat Cured Acrylic Resin Interlaciated With Recycled Poly Methyl Methacrylate: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Mohammed Nada Z. , Al-Jmmal Amrah Y. , Sadoon Mohammed M. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Aim:
This study was conducted to improve the wettability of heat cured acrylic resin by the incorporation of recycled poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) as well as the assessment of how different aging times affected it.

Materials and Methods:
A total of 40 heat cured resin specimens were prepared and randomly divided into: The study and the control groups. Recycled PMMA was added to the study group at 1%, 3%, and 5% concentrations by volume. The wettability of control and study group specimens was assessed after being aged for different aging times by the assessment of wetting angle utilizing a sessile drop method and Image J analysis software. The collected data were analyzed statistically using IBM® Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (Armonk, NY, USA) version 23. Shapiro–Wilk, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey’s post hoc tests were employed for the statistical analysis at P ≤ 0.05.

Results:
The addition of recycled PMMA significantly improves the wettability of acrylic resin (P ≤ 0.05). The aging process had a significant impact on the wettability of control and study groups. The wettability of control and study groups increased with aging and this increase was directly associated with the aging time till 1 year of aging, their wettability started to decline although it remained less than that after 1 month of aging.

Conclusion:
It has been concluded that the incorporation of recycled PMMA significantly improves the wettability heat cured acrylic resin. The wettability of the aged control and study group was significantly affected by aging times.