bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fibrocartilaginous embolism: a rare cause of cervical spine infarction
Authors: Abu Mayyala Widad , Abu Aqeel Nawras , Jobran Afnan W.M. , Shaheen Farah , Abdulrazzak Mohammed , Alhroub Yousef 
Published: April 2024

Introduction and importance:
One of the uncommon causes of ischaemic myelopathy is fibrocartilaginous embolisation, which results from the intersomatic disc nucleus pulposus becoming embolised into the spinal vasculature during Valsalva-like manoeuvres.

Case presentation:
A 29-year-old female patient presented to the authors’ emergency department with general weakness, dizziness, and an inability to move her right hand after a minor trauma. These symptoms deteriorated suddenly until the patient became quadriplegic. The clinical picture and MRI led to a diagnosis of fibrocartilaginous embolism.

Clinical discussion:
Fibrocartilaginous embolism is a rare cause of spine infarction. There is still little understanding of the underlying cause of FCE. Most cases occur sporadically in people without a family history of the disease, such as the authors’ case, and diagnosis is based on imaging of the spinal cord and ruling out other causes of a blockage in the vascular system within the spinal cord, infectious and inflammatory causes.

Conclusion:
When a practitioner suspects that a patient may have fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE), they should take the patient’s history and do a neurological examination. An MRI is required since it is thought to be the most accurate method of diagnosing FCE.
Successful surgical reconstruction of atypical variant mirror hand anomaly in a 2-year-old female child: a unique case report
Authors: Arab Hazem , Almousa Maher , Salemah Mahmoud , Alsaffaf Yousef , Alabdullah Abdulla 
Published: April 2024

Introduction:
Mirror hand is an extremely rare congenital abnormality characterized by polydactyly and duplication of the ulna, with the absence of the radius and thumb. Atypical presentations of mirror hand were described, including the presence of the radius in a few cases; here the authors report one of the atypical cases of mirror hand that underwent successful management.

Case presentation:
A 2-year-old and 7-month-old female child presented with 7 well-developed digits, with an absent thumb; the X-ray imaging of the forearm showed a well-formed ulna and radius with proximal fusion. The patient has good shoulder movement, minor limitations in supination and pronation, and elbow flexion restriction. The patient underwent multiple surgical interventions for pollicization. Follow-up revealed a significant improvement of hand function and appearance.

Clinical discussion:
In the literature review, mirror hand is a rare congenital malformation and has many varieties. The management of this deformity is a challenge and differs from case to case; here the authors described a novel variant of this deformity and its successful management.

Conclusion:
Mirror hand is a rare congenital abnormality and has a wide spectrum of variants. The management challenge, but with early pollicization with appropriate functional considerations, the outcome is promising.
The effect of emotional freedom techniques on test anxiety in Iranian Paramedical students: a randomized controlled trial study
Authors: Azzizadeh Forouzi Mansooreh , Taebi Mozhgan , Samarehfekri Atena , Rashidipour Niloofar 
Published: April 2024

Background:
Based on evidences, there has been no study conducted on the effects of emotional freedom techniques on Iranian medical students. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the impact of emotional freedom techniques on examination anxiety in Iranian nursing and allied students.

Methods:
This randomized controlled clinical trial study was conducted in 2021. The sample included students from the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the School of Paramedical Sciences enroled from the second to eighth semesters. Based on inclusion criteria, 30 students were assigned to each group. The test anxiety questionnaire was utilized to assess the test anxiety of students. The educational sessions in the intervention group were structured according to the Church’s educational package and were delivered in six non-face-to-face (online) sessions, each lasting 45 min, once a week. In the control group, no intervention was implemented. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software version 24 (IBM SPSS Statistics).

Results:
The mean age of students in the intervention and control groups were 25.22±1.85 and 22.80±1.80 years, respectively. After the intervention, the mean examination anxiety in the experimental group (50.88) significantly decreased to within the moderate range (25–75), compared to the mean examination anxiety in the control group (65.36) within the same range (P<0.001). Furthermore, the ANCOVA analysis indicated that the group and examination anxiety before the intervention were statistically significant.

Conclusion:
This positive impact on test anxiety is particularly promising for medical sciences students, who often endure heightened stress levels due to the rigorous nature of their studies and the demands of their profession.
Short-term cervical spinal cord stimulation for central post-stroke pain: a case report and literature review
Authors: Zhang Xu , Yan Xuebin , Huang Yuzhao , Zhou Haocheng 
Published: April 2024

Introduction:
Post-stroke central pain is disabling yet ineffectively treated with routine medical intervention. In this study, the authors presented an alternative neuromodulation therapy and conducted a brief narrative literature review to examine current evidence of spinal cord stimulation treatment for central post-stroke pain

Case presentation:
Here, the authors reported a case of severe post-stroke syndrome, who achieved satisfactory improvement of pain symptom, as well as muscle rigidity with a novel neuromodulation therapy of short-term implantation of cervical spinal cord stimulation.

Clinical discussion:
It remains a great challenge in the management of post-stroke pain, which in turn significantly reduces the quality of life and worsens the burden on the public health system. Spinal cord stimulation therapy is an emerging neuromodulation approach to restore pathological pain status and functional impairment to provide a prospective insight into neuromodulation and rehabilitation options in the management of post-stroke syndrome.

Conclusion:
A potential role of spinal cord stimulation in the treatment of post-stroke pain is proposed in combined with traditional medication or other neuromodulation strategies, to achieve better control of pain in the future.
Peribulbar Corticosteroids for Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
Authors: Lasry Rachel , Gotkine Marc , Kruger Joshua M. 
Published: April 2024

Background:
Ocular myasthenia gravis is treated predominantly by oral medications, with the potential for systemic adverse effects. Successful treatment has been achieved using peribulbar dexamethasone. We assessed the effect of peribulbar dexamethasone or triamcinolone (40-mg Triesence), a longer-acting corticosteroid, targeting the peribulbar area as opposed to directly injecting the affected extraocular muscle. This more convenient and secure approach holds the potential for straightforward integration within clinical environments.

Methods:
Retrospective chart review.

Results:
Five patients were identified that were treated with peribulbar corticosteroids. In 4 of the 5 cases, ophthalmoparesis was unilateral. One case had isolated ptosis, and 4 had both ptosis and ophthalmoparesis. Three of these 4 cases reported complete resolution of symptoms within weeks of a single injection. Improvement lasted between 5 to 6 months, and all patients responded to repeated injections.

Conclusions:
Peribulbar corticosteroids can be effective in ocular myasthenia gravis. We suggest that longer-acting agents such as triamcinolone are preferable, to reduce injection frequency.
A Case of Persistent Pasteurella Multocida Cellulitis Complicated with Large Endocarditis Vegetation
Authors: Davita Theresia Risa , Giunto Nathan , Husnain Muhammad , Wong Ken Koon 
Published: April 2024

Introduction: A distinct and infrequent player emerges in the realm of infective endocarditis, Pasteurella multocida, now warranting careful consideration in this unique case report. Disseminated P.multocida infection seeded into the heart valve has only been reported in about one case per year worldwide with only 42 cases were found in the literature and only 5 cases reported to have underlying liver cirrhosis as in our case. Case Presentation: A 73-year-old female with past medical history of liver cirrhosis secondary to primary biliary cholangitis with splenomegaly and pancytopenia presented to hospital with weakness, fever and leg rash. She had recent admission with lower extremity cellulitis and P.multocida bacteremia treated with 14 days high dose oral amoxicillin-clavulanate after negative blood culture prior to discharge. The repeat blood culture showed P.multocida. Echocardiogram showed a 1.9 cm x 1 cm mobile mass attached to the mitral valve. She was not a suitable candidate for valve surgery due to her comorbidities. She was ultimately discharged with a two-week course of ceftriaxone, continued with levofloxacin to complete six weeks of total treatment and followed by long-term penicillin. Conclusion: In this case report, we delve into a rare clinical presentation of Pasteurella multocida case. Our patient is the second reported case which showed complication of native mitral valve endocarditis even in the setting of bacteremia resolution. This report sheds light on the challenging diagnosis and management of this uncommon yet clinically significant condition, highlighting the importance of vigilant and prompt intervention in endocarditis cases with atypical agents.
Default Mode Network Detection using EEG in Real-time
Authors: Cooray Navin , Gohil Chetan , Harris Brendan , Frost Shaun , Higgins Cameron 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMental health disorders affect countless people worldwide and present a major challenge for mental health services, which are struggling with the demand on a global scale. Recent studies have indicated that activity of the brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN) could prove insightful in monitoring patient recovery from depression and has been used as a therapeutic target itself. An opportunity exists to replicate recent therapeutic protocols targeting DMN connectivity via functional magnetic resonance imaging using the more economically scalable modality of electroencephalogram (EEG). The aim of this work was to validate the accuracy of real-time DMN detection methods applied to EEG data, using a publicly available dataset. Using a Hidden Markov Model to identify a 12-state resting-state network, this work achieved an overall DMN detection accuracy of 95%. Furthermore, the model was able to achieve a correlation of 0.617 between the baseline and calculated DMN fractional occupancy. These results demonstrate the ability of real-time analysis to effectively identify the DMN through EEG data providing an avenue for further applications that monitor and treat mental health disorders.
A peptide targeting outer membrane protein A ofAcinetobacter baumanniiexhibits antibacterial activity by reducing bacterial pathogenicity
Authors: Zhao Hui , Hu Yue , Nie Dan , Chen Zhou , Li Na , Zhou Shan , Li Mingkai , Xue Xiaoyan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe World Health Organization has classified multidrug-resistant (MDR)Acinetobacter baumanniias a significant threat to human health, necessitating the urgent discovery of new antibacterial drugs to combat bacterial resistance. Outer membrane protein A ofA. baumannii(AbOmpA) is an outer membrane-anchored β-barrel-shaped pore protein that plays a critical role in bacterial adhesion, invasion, and biofilm formation. Therefore, AbOmpA is considered a key virulence factor ofA. baumannii. Herein, we screened three phage display peptide libraries targeting AbOmpA and identified several peptides. Among them, P92 (amino acid sequence: QMGFMTSPKHSV) exhibited the highest binding affinity with AbOmpA, with a KD value of 7.84 nM. In vitro studies demonstrated that while P92 did not directly inhibit bacterial growth, it significantly reduced the invasion and adhesion capabilities of multiple clinical isolates of MDRA. baumanniiand concentration-dependently inhibited biofilm formation by acting on OmpA. Furthermore, the polymerase chain reaction results confirmed a significant positive correlation between the antibacterial effect of P92 and OmpA expression levels. Encouragingly, P92 also displayed remarkable therapeutic efficacy againstA. baumanniiinfection in various models, including an in vitro cell infection model, a mouse skin infection model, and a mouse sepsis model. These results highlight P92 as a novel and highly effective antimicrobial molecule specifically targeting the virulence factor AbOmpA.IMPORTANCEDifferent from the action mechanism of traditional antibiotics, antibacterial strategies aimed at targeting bacterial virulence factors can effectively reduce bacterial pathogenicity without compromising bacterial growth and reproduction, making it a crucial research direction in combating bacterial drug resistance. Despite the influence of various factors on the expression of bacterial virulence factors, specific and consistently expressed virulence factors in certain bacteria can still serve as viable targets for drug development. In this study, we focused on outer membrane protein A, a key virulence factor ofA. baumannii, and successfully identified a highly specific antimicrobial peptide P92 through screening processes. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate its efficacy in various dynamic models for anti-infective therapy. These results validate that antibacterial agents targeting bacterial virulence factors possess relatively or absolutely narrow spectrum antimicrobial properties, enabling precise antibacterial action without inducing bacterial resistance.
Alternate conformational trajectories in protein synthesis
Authors: Alejo Jose L. , Girodat Dylan , Hammerling Michael J. , Willi Jessica A. , Jewett Michael C. , Engelhart Aaron E. , Adamala Katarzyna P. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractTranslocation in protein synthesis entails the efficient and accurate movement of the mRNA-[tRNA]2substrate through the ribosome after peptide bond formation. An essential conformational change during this process is the swiveling of the small subunit head domain about two rRNA ‘hinge’ elements. Using directed evolution and molecular dynamics simulations, we derive alternate hinge elements capable of translocationin vitroandin vivoand describe their effects on the conformational trajectory of the EF-G-bound, translocating ribosome. In these alternate conformational pathways, we observe a diversity of swivel kinetics, hinge motions, three-dimensional head domain trajectories and tRNA dynamics. By finding alternate conformational pathways of translocation, we identify motions and intermediates that are essential or malleable in this process. These findings highlight the plasticity of protein synthesis and provide a more thorough understanding of the available sequence and conformational landscape of a central biological process.Author SummaryTranslocation, the motion of the ribosome across its mRNA substrate, is an essential stage of protein synthesis. A key conformational change in this process is the rotation of the ribosome head domain about two rRNA hinges in the direction of translocation, repositioning the mRNA and tRNAs in their final states. Employing directed evolution, we obtain variant hinges capable of performing translocation in vitro and in vivo. Through molecular dynamics simulations, the different variant ribosome translocation conformational trajectories are described. This description reveals different possible conformational pathways to translocation, with varying dynamics, motions and intermediates. The understanding of this conformational malleability can increase our knowledge of protein synthesis function, disruption, evolution, and engineering.
What drives new luxury consumption? Application of schema congruity theory and heuristic systematic framework
Authors: Soni Nitin , Kumar Sushant 
Published: April 2024

PurposeLuxury consumption has evolved, and two important reasons behind the change include globalization and the COVID-19 crisis. These factors have led to the rise of new luxury consumption, which is different from traditional luxury consumption. This study examines how consumers’ identities shape their intentions to consume traditional luxury and new luxury brands.Design/methodology/approachThe theoretical underpinnings of the schema congruity theory and heuristic systematic framework were applied to understand the role of identities in determining consumers’ regulatory focus, price luxuriousness inference and preference for traditional and new luxury brands.FindingsFindings suggest that the global identity of consumers shapes their promotion focus and price luxuriousness inferences. However, their local identities induce a prevention goal. Consumers with such a goal are unlikely to make price luxuriousness inferences. Further, these inferences lead to the choice of traditional luxury over new luxury brands. The results also establish the moderating effects of consumer flexibility.Originality/valueThe extant literature is inconclusive on the role of globalization in luxury consumption and ignores new luxury brands. The current study shows the impact of identities and regulatory focus on traditional and new luxury consumption. The findings also indicate consumers’ regulatory focus and price luxuriousness inference as the reasons behind the influence. The paper also implies that consumers open to renting, sharing or buying second-hand goods will prefer new luxury over traditional luxury brands.
ICT acceptance, language use and information culture as tools for enhancing information literacy within smallholder maize farmers in Uganda
Authors: Lunkuse Florence , Munene John C. , Ntayi Joseph M. , Sserwanga Arthur , Kagaari James 
Published: April 2024

PurposeThis study aims to examine the relationship between tool adoption and information literacy within smallholder farmers (SHFs).Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire was used to gather data for this quantitative study from 225 SHFs. Structural equation modelling was done to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe findings established that tool adoption dimensions (Information and communication technologies (ICT) acceptance, language use and information culture) positively and significantly influenced information literacy. Information culture had the strongest impact.Research limitations/implicationsThe study enriches the situated learning theory (SLT) literature by introducing tool adoption as a predictor of information literacy in a new context of SHFs. Use of tools as independent variables is a positive deviation from previous studies that have used them as mediating variables. Despite the contributions, the cross-sectional design study undermines the ability to solicit more detailed perspectives from the lived in experience of the respondents.Practical implicationsManagers should promote usage of context-specific tools like local radio stations and mobile phones, but also use language tailored to farmer contexts when disseminating information. Policymakers should leverage on social and cultural settings when designing information interventions.Social implicationsThe study highlights critical factors that significantly promote information use for improved productivity for SHFs, cumulatively increasing the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Socially, findings may reduce on their poverty levels of farmers.Originality/valueThis study offers a novel perspective in information literacy domain by using the SLT to delineate contextual tools that are paramount in predicting of information literacy in an under research informal context of SHFs.
Gender of firm leadership and environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting: evidence from banks listed on Ghana Stock Exchange
Authors: Luh Peter Kodjo , Arthur Miriam , Fiador Vera , Kusi Baah Aye Aye 
Published: April 2024

PurposeThis study aims to examine how woman corporate leadership indicators and environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure in listed banks on Ghana Stock Exchange are related.Design/methodology/approachData was obtained from the audited annual reports of the banks for the period 2006–2020. Empirical result estimation was achieved using Panel Corrected Standard Errors.FindingsThe result revealed that female chief executive officer (CEO), female board chairperson and board gender diversity are associated with higher disclosure of ESG issues in listed banks in Ghana in overall terms. However, in terms of individual disclosures, female board chairperson positively impacts social disclosure, whereas both female CEO and female board chairperson affect governance disclosure positively.Research limitations/implicationsIn this era of business where there is much emphasis on green business and investment by various stakeholders for purposes of ensuring business legitimacy, the result implies that banks must consider females to occupy the positions of CEO and board chairperson since that can help to improve ESG performance of banks.Practical implicationsIn this era of business where there is much emphasis on green business, socially responsible investment and impact investment by various stakeholders, the result implies that banks must consider improving the representation of women in leadership since that can help to improve ESG performance of banks and hence ability to attract more investors.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to provide empirical evidence from a developing country perspective in Sub-Saharan Africa that gender of bank leadership has implications for ESG disclosure.
Linking organizational cynicism to prosocial voice and defensive silence through the mediating role of bullying at work
Authors: Sabino Ana , Gonçalves Sónia P. , Cesário Francisco 
Published: April 2024

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of organizational cynicism on prosocial voice and defensive silence and to verify the mediating role of workplace bullying in these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey design with a sample of 205 individuals was used in this study.

Findings
The hypotheses were confirmed as organizational cynicism plays a significant and negative influence on prosocial voice and a significant and positive influence on defensive silence. In addition, workplace bullying partially mediates both relationships.

Originality/value
This study contributes to a deeper understanding of organizational cynicism and workplace bullying influences on prosocial voice and defensive silence. It investigates a relationship that, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, has not been studied yet. It also contributes to the discussion regarding the close relationship between prosocial voice and defensive silence.