bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic Calcaneoplasty in Haglund Disease: Surgical Technique, Clinical and Subjective Outcomes
Authors: Cardone Guillermo , Bilbao Facundo , Verbner Jonathan M. , Cafruni Virginia M. , Carrasco Marina N. 
Published: August 2024

Background: During the last decade, arthroscopic procedures have been replacing open techniques in Haglund disease treatment because of their considerable advantages. Endoscopic calcaneoplasty is a technique that allows resection of posterosuperior calcaneal exostosis and retrocalcaneal bursitis. The objective of this article was to describe this technique and report its clinical and subjective outcome. Methods: A retrospective study was performed of consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic Haglund resection surgery between July 2014 and March 2020 at a single academic institution. All patients were surveyed in person about the level of pain (visual analog scale), its location (central, lateral, medial or diffuse), its relation with rest, or physical activity. Clinical evaluation was assessed using the hindfoot scale designed by the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS). Results: In this study, 14 endoscopic calcaneoplasties were performed in 14 patients, with an average follow-up of 40 months. The visual analog scale score improved from a preoperative average value of 9.07 to 1.8 after surgery ( P > .0001). The AOFAS scale rose from 38.7 before surgery to 94.6 postoperative ( P > .0001). Good subjective results were observed in 12 patients (85.7%), and all of them would have surgery again. There were no wound complications or infections. No patient required reoperation. Conclusion: In this relatively small cohort, we found that endoscopic calcaneoplasty was associated with good clinical and subjective results with few complications.
Characteristics of myelinated retinal nerve fibres in associated straatsma syndrome
Authors: Choudhary Ayushi , Kathare Rupal , Gandhi Priyanka , Yadav Naresh Kumar , Prabhu Vishma , Bavaskar Snehal , Chhablani Jay , Venkatesh Ramesh 
Published: August 2024

Purpose To study cases diagnosed of myelinated retinal nerve fibres (MRNF) continuous with the optic disc and describe the plausible pathogenic mechanism for the ocular features in Straatsma syndrome Methods This retrospective observational study includes clinically diagnosed MRNF cases. MRNF, myopia, and amblyopia defined Straatsma syndrome. MRNF were classified into three types based on location: type 1 in the superior retina, type 2 in the superior and inferior retina, and type 3 in the inferior retina. MRNF size was measured on Optomap® (Optos, Daytona, UK) images and posterior staphyloma location was noted. Demographics and best-corrected refractive error in logMAR units was recorded. Descriptive statistics and Spearman's corelation test were used to analyse MRNF size's relationship to refractive error and logMAR visual acuity. Results The study included a total of 19 MRNF eyes from 18 patients. Seventeen (89%) eyes had Straatsma syndrome. Median age was 23.50 [range: 4–75] years. One (6%) patient exhibited bilateral presentation. The median logMAR visual acuity was 0.4 log units (interquartile range: 0.18–1.20) and mean refractive error was −7.21 ± 5.32. Type 2 MRNF ( n = 14,74%) was the commonest. Average MRNF size was 34.37 ± 40.73 sq.mm. Posterior staphyloma was noted in 17 eyes, all in close MRNF association. Significant positive corelation was noted between logMAR visual acuity and MRNF size ( r = 0.5, p = 0.028). Conclusion Large size MRNF corelated with poor visual acuity in the study. The paper explains the possible pathogenetic mechanisms for the ocular findings seen in MRNF.
A walking aid selection, training, and education program (ADSTEP) to prevent falls in multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Cameron Michelle H , Hildebrand Andrea , Hugos Cinda , Wooliscroft Lindsey 
Published: August 2024

Background: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) fall frequently. Poor walking aid selection, fit, and use contribute to falls in those who use walking aids. Objectives: To determine if the Assistive Device Selection, Training, and Education Program (ADSTEP), with six weekly one-on-one virtual sessions with a physical therapist prevents falls and improves other outcomes in people with MS who use walking aids but still fall. Methods: A total of 78 people were randomized to ADSTEP or control. Participants recorded falls daily through 6 months post-intervention. Other outcomes were assessed at baseline, intervention completion, and 6 months later. Outcomes were compared between groups. Results: The ADSTEP group’s mean fall rate (falls/person/month) decreased from baseline to intervention completion (ADSTEP = −0.75, control = +0.90, p < 0.001) and to 6 months later (ADSTEP = −1.02, control = +0.03, p = 0.017) compared to controls. At 6 months, the ADSTEP group had improved physical activity (days/week walking ⩾ 10 minutes at a time: ADSTEP = +0.69, control = −0.58, p = 0.007; minutes/day sitting: ADSTEP = −57, control = +56, p = 0.009) and walking aid fit (proportion with good fit: ADSTEP = +25%, control = −13%, p = 0.018) compared to controls. Conclusions: ADSTEP likely reduces falls, increases physical activity, and improves walking aid fit in people with MS who use walking aids and fell in the past year.
Neighborhood disadvantage, race, and clinical outcomes in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Authors: Abbatemarco JR , Aboseif A , Swetlik C , Widmar J , Harvey T , Kunchok A , O’Mahony J , Miller DM , Conway DS 
Published: August 2024

Background: Little is known about the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) outcomes. Objective: The objective is to determine the impact of neighborhood disadvantage on time from symptom onset to diagnosis and annualized relapse rate (ARR). Methods: Neighborhood disadvantage were captured with the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a validated measure of neighborhood-level disadvantage. Negative binomial regression models assessed the impact of ADI on diagnostic delay (⩾3 months between symptom onset and diagnosis) and ARR. Results: A total of 158 NMOSD patients were identified, a majority of whom were White (56.3%) and female (89.9%) with a mean age of 46 years at diagnosis. The ADI did not significantly affect odds of diagnostic delay (odds ratio (OR) = 0.99, p = 0.26). In univariable models, the ADI was not significantly associated with ARR (OR = 1.004, p = 0.29), but non-White race (OR = 1.541, p = 0.02) and time on immunosuppressive therapies (ISTs; OR = 0.994, p = 0.03) were. White patients used IST for an average of 81% of the follow-up period, compared to an average of 65% for non-White patients ( p < 0.01). Conclusion: No significant relationship between neighborhood-level disadvantage and diagnostic delay or ARR in NMOSD patients was observed. Non-White patients had a higher ARR, which may be related to less IST use.
Growing up bilingual through a pandemic: Children’s language exposure, proficiency, social identities, and competences pre- and post-lockdowns
Authors: Husain Layal , Lam Virginia , Pinder Martin 
Published: August 2024

Aims and objectives:There were already calls for more longitudinal research on younger bilinguals before the COVID-19 pandemic, which added another layer of complexity to their development. This study followed the language and social-developmental outcomes of primary-school pupils before and after the pandemic lockdowns, specifically examining changes in language exposure and proficiency and social identities and competences.Design and methodology:Eighty-eight mostly British-born English-dominant pupils (initial ages 4–9), including a subset ( N = 19) who attended heritage language (HL) complementary schools (CS), were assessed in 2019 (Time1), and reassessed in 2021 (Time2) after a 2020 time point was interrupted by school closures.Data and analysis:Individual interviews, at each time point, used measures for perceived language proficiency and exposure, ethnic/heritage and British/national identities, social competences and family affluence (FA), for exploring changes over the pandemic. At Time2, measures on pandemic-period learning engagement were included to explore their possible effects.Findings and conclusions:Controlling for age and FA, children reported lower social competences at Time2 compared with Time1. At both time points, CS-attendees reported higher HL proficiency than did non-attendees, who reported a larger Time1–Time2 decline in HL exposure. Pandemic-period HL learning hours were associated with change in cognitive competence. Hierarchical regression models showed that Time1–Time2 change in heritage identification was individually explained by change in HL proficiency, and change in British identification by change in English proficiency, which also contributed to changes across all social competences.Originality:There has been little systematic research on how the pandemic impacted HL, with most studies focusing on English skills or family language practice. This research indicates the longitudinal trajectories of bilingual children’s social development over a period of unprecedented education and homelife disruptions.Significance and implications:While the pandemic variables did not directly contribute to outcomes, findings implicate challenges in maintaining HL exposure, which supports proficiency and identity formation. Recommendations for school-based practice with educators and communities are discussed.
An investigation into the buckling behaviour of hybrid fibre reinforced polymer-timber thin-walled C-section columns
Authors: Wen Ye , Fernando Dilum , Gilbert Benoit P , Bailleres Henri , Hu Rongrong , Bisby Luke , Roy Dipa 
Published: August 2024

Hybrid fibre reinforced polymer (FRP)-timber (HFT) thin-walled structural members are a novel technology developed recently as a sustainable alternative to thin-walled steel and aluminium structures. HFT structures are made by forming thin timber veneers and FRP laminates into efficient cross-sectional geometries. While existing studies have demonstrated the potential of HFT thin-walled members to be used as structural elements, a systematic study to investigate the behaviour of HFT thin-walled structures is yet to be carried out. This paper presents a study aimed at investigating the behaviour of HFT C-section columns under concentric axial loading. In total five HFT C-section specimens each from 700 mm to 2000 mm lengths were fabricated and tested. It was found that shorter HFT C-section columns failed due to local buckling while increase in length changed the failure mode to global buckling. Effect of GF orientation and density on load carrying capacity of the HFT C-section columns was investigated numerically. It was found that it’s necessary to provide adequate GF volume in transverse to axis direction, but further increase in GF volume in transverse direction did not significantly increase the load carrying capacity. Increase in GF density in parallel to axis direction increased the load carrying capacity.
Patient Perspectives on the Use of Aging Metrics for Kidney Transplant Decision-Making
Authors: Nalatwad Akanksha , Quint Evelien E. , Fazal Maria , Thompson Valerie , Chen Xiaomeng , Shrestha Prakriti , Van Pilsum Rasmussen Sarah E. , Li Yiting , Segev Dorry L. , Humbyrd Casey Jo , McAdams-DeMarco Mara 
Published: August 2024

Introduction Frailty and cognitive function are often measured during kidney transplant evaluation. However, patient perspectives on the ethical considerations of this practice are unclear. Research Question What are patient perspectives on the use of aging metrics in kidney transplant decision-making? Design One hundred participants who were evaluated for kidney transplantation and were enrolled in an ongoing prospective cohort study (response rate = 61.3%) were surveyed. Participants were informed of the definitions of frailty and cognitive impairment and then asked survey questions regarding the use of these measures of aging to determine kidney transplant candidacy. Results Participants (75.6%) thought it was unfair to prevent older adults from receiving a kidney transplant based on age, but there was less agreement on whether it was fair to deny frail (46.5%) and cognitively impaired (45.9%) patients from accessing kidney transplantation. Compared to older participants, younger participants had 5.36-times (95%CI:1.94-14.81) the odds of choosing a hypothetical younger, frail patient to list for kidney transplantation than an older, non-frail patient; they also had 3.56-times (95%CI:1.33-9.56) the odds of choosing the hypothetical frail patient with social support rather than a non-frail patient without social support. Participants disagreed on the use of patient age as a listing criterion; 19.5% ranked it as the fairest and 28.7% as the least fair. Conclusion The patient views highlighted in this study are an important step toward developing ethical guidelines to ensure fair use of frailty, cognitive function, and chronological age for kidney transplant decision-making.
Effectiveness of a nurse-led mHealth approach in preventing obesity in adolescents: an intervention study
Authors: Manzano-Felipe María Ángeles , Cruz-Cobo Celia , Bernal-Jiménez María Ángeles , Santi-Cano María José 
Published: August 2024

Background:Obesity prevention in adolescents is a public health priority given its increasing prevalence and health impact of obesity.Aim:To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention in overweight and obesity using a mHealth app in improving nutritional and sports knowledge, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, physical activity and anthropometric measurements in adolescents.Methods:A randomised controlled trial with parallel groups that included 305 adolescents. The app includes the use of effective behavioural strategies to achieve habit change. Primary outcome variables were nutritional and sports knowledge score (GeSNK), adherence to a Mediterranean diet (KidMed) and level of physical activity (PAQ-A).Results:The study included 154 participants in the mHealth group and 151 in the control group. The level of nutritional and sports knowledge was significantly higher in the mHealth group, 47 points versus 42 points. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet improved in both groups, 9 points in the mHealth group versus 8 points in the control group. Physical activity was statistically higher in the intervention group, 160 minutes/week versus 120 minutes/week.Conclusions:The mHealth intervention showed a significant improvement in the level of nutritional and sports knowledge, adherence to the Mediterranean diet and time spent on physical activity.
Assessing the Incidence of Head Trauma in Australian Mixed Martial Arts: A Retrospective Analysis of Fight Outcomes
Authors: Brown Daniel A. , Gross Garret 
Published: August 2024

Background: Mixed martial arts (MMA) is experiencing a surge in popularity in Australia. Previous research has suggested knockout (KO) and technical knockout (TKO) are frequent outcomes during competition, raising concern about the brain health of athletes. This study aims to describe fight outcomes in Australian MMA and to explore differences in fight-ending outcomes between male and female athletes, amateur and professional competition, and different weight classes. Hypothesis: There is no difference in the incidence of KO/TKO between level of competition, sex, and weight class. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 143 Australian MMA events from 2020 to 2023 was conducted using video replay to assess fight outcomes between sex and level of competition. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine relationships between weight class and KO/TKO fight outcomes. Results: Male competition (34%) had a significantly greater number of KO/TKO secondary to head strikes fight outcomes compared with female competition (23%) ( P = 0.01). The KO/TKO rate secondary to head strikes for amateur and professional male competition was 16.6 and 18.7 per 100 athlete-exposures (AEs), respectively. The amateur and professional female rate was 12.6 and 7.4 per 100 AEs, respectively. Amateur male light heavyweight and heavyweight, and professional male heavyweight were at greater odds of a KO or TKO compared with other weight classes in their equivalent level of competition. Conclusion: There is a sex and professional level disparity in the incidence of fight-ending head trauma in Australian MMA. The study findings highlight the urgent need for targeted safety protocols and medical oversight, particularly for men in heavier weight classes. Clinical Relevance: This study highlights the need for enhanced safety protocols and medical oversight in Australian MMA, particularly for male athletes in heavier weight divisions.
Avoiding future surprises after acute shocks: long-term flood risk lessons catalysed by the 2021 summer flood in the Netherlands
Authors: Pot Wieke , de Ridder Yza , Dewulf Art 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIn summer 2021, the Dutch Province of Limburg faced an acute high-water event caused by two days of heavy rainfall, resulting in €383 million worth of damage. Afterwards, various policy actors organised a number of evaluations. This study analyses these evaluations and the long-term lessons drawn from this flood event. Dealing with climate change requires insights into how lessons from acute shocks such as floods can stimulate the anticipation of climate change and solutions that can cope with future extremes. This study therefore applies policy learning theory—single, double and triple loop learning—to different layers of flood safety to analyse the extent to which governments prepare for future events and how.The results show that pre-2021 water and flood risk management policies—our point of comparison to derive what lessons emerge after the 2021 flood—focused mostly on flood prevention (layer 1) and from 1996 onwards with the start of the Room for the River programme also on spatial planning (layer 2), without paying much attention to crisis management (layer 3). Based on the 2021 flood, the official evaluation committee recommends adding two more layers to the multilayer flood safety approach: increasing water awareness (layer 0 as a base layer for the other layers) and focusing on climate-robust recovery after floods (layer 4) to improve long-term robustness. Based on our research, triple-loop learning as the deepest type of learning appeared in the form of applying the Room for the River approach to the tributary brooks systems. To prepare for the future, policy evaluations recommend improving stress tests to better deal with climate change. Futures scenarios and visions for the future are also recommended. Creating future visions can help to steer changes in existing land use and re-think areas to build or to use for water retention, for example. Governments are advised to strengthen their anticipatory capacities as part of their crisis management response and recovery systems. Furthermore, governments will need to apply the different layers for multilayer safety in an integrated way to ensure that regions are able to prepare for future floods.
Distribution and functional perspective analysis of epiphytic and endophytic bacterial communities associated with marine seaweeds, Alexandria shores, Egypt
Authors: Abdelrazek Hanan M. , Shams El-Din Nihal G. , Ghozlan Hanan A. , Sabry Soraya A. , Abouelkheir Samia S. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThere is an enormous diversity of life forms present in the extremely intricate marine environment. The growth and development of seaweeds in this particular environment are controlled by the bacteria that settle on their surfaces and generate a diverse range of inorganic and organic chemicals. The purpose of this work was to identify epiphytic and endophytic bacterial populations associated with ten common marine macroalgae from various areas along the Mediterranean Sea coast in Alexandria. This was done to target their distribution and possible functional aspects. Examine the effects of the algal habitat on the counting and phenotypic characterization of bacteria, which involves grouping bacteria based on characteristics such as shape, colour, mucoid nature, type of Gram stain, and their ability to generate spores. Furthermore, studying the physiological traits of the isolates under exploration provides insight into the optimum environmental circumstances for bacteria associated with the formation of algae. The majority of the bacterial isolates exhibited a wide range of enzyme activities, with cellulase, alginase, and caseinase being the most prevalent, according to the data. Nevertheless, 26% of the isolates displayed amylolytic activity, while certain isolates from Miami, Eastern Harbor, and Montaza lacked catalase activity. Geographical variations with the addition of algal extract may impact on the enumeration of the bacterial population, and this might have a relationship with host phylogeny. The most significant observation was that endophytic bacteria associated with green algae increased in all sites, while those associated with red algae increased in Abu Qir and Miami sites and decreased in Eastern Harbor. At the species level, the addition of algal extract led to a ninefold increase in the estimated number of epiphytic bacteria for Cladophora pellucida in Montaza. Notably, after adding algal extract, the number of presented endophytic bacteria associated with Codium sp. increased in Abu Qir while decreasing with the same species in Montaza. In addition to having the most different varieties of algae, Abu Qir has the most different bacterial isolates.
Ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal nerve block: a randomized comparison between parasagittal and transverse approach
Authors: Shan Tao , Tan Qilian , Wu Dan , Bao Hongguang , Ge Degao , Han Liu , Su Chuan , Ju Yu 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
Different approach ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal nerve block was used to aid awake intubation, but little is known which approach was superior. We aimed to compare the parasagittal and transverse approaches for ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal nerve block in adult patients undergoing awake intubation.

Methods
Fifty patients with awake orotracheal intubation were randomized to receive either a parasagittal or transverse ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal nerve block. The primary outcome was patient’s quality of airway anesthesia grade during insertion of the tube into the trachea. The patients’ tube tolerance score after intubation, total procedure time, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, Ramsay sedation score at each time point, incidence of sore throat both 1 h and 24 h after extubation, and hoarseness before intubation, 1 h and 24 h after extubation were documented.

Results
Patients’ quality of airway anesthesia was significantly better in the parasagittal group than in the transverse group (median grade[IQR], 0 [0–1] vs. 1 [0–1], P = 0.036). Patients in the parasagittal approach group had better tube tolerance scores (median score [IQR],1[1–1] vs. 1 [1–1.5], P = 0.042) and shorter total procedure time (median time [IQR], 113 s [98.5–125.5] vs. 188 s [149.5–260], P < 0.001) than those in the transverse approach group. The incidence of sore throat 24 h after extubation was lower in the parasagittal group (8% vs. 36%, P = 0.041). Hoarseness occurred in more than half of the patients in parasagittal group before intubation (72% vs. 40%, P = 0.023).

Conclusions
Compared to the transverse approach, the ultrasound-guided parasagittal approach showed improved efficacy in terms of the quality of airway topical anesthesia and shorter total procedure time for superior laryngeal nerve block.

Trial registration
This prospective, randomized controlled trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of Nanjing First Hospital (KY20220425-014) and registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (19/6/2022, ChiCTR2200061287) prior to patient enrollment. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants in this trial.