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The present cross-sectional study aimed to identify sex-specific characteristics and other factors for firstborn children's emotions and behaviors during their mothers' second pregnancy after the implementation of the two-child policy in China. Firstborn children aged 1.5-5 years old and their pregnant mothers were enrolled from two hospitals from March to September 2019 in our city. Mothers completed a self-designed questionnaire and Child Behavior Checklist during their routine prenatal examinations. Linear regression was used to explore potential factors influencing firstborn children's behaviors and emotions towards their mother's second pregnancy. A total of 880 firstborn children were included. There was no significant difference in internalizing/externalizing problem scores and prevalence between male and female firstborn children during their mothers' second pregnancy. Children's easy temperament, good parental relationship, and father's authoritative and indulgent parenting styles were potential positive factors for both male and female firstborn children. Harmonious family environment, children's age, father's accompaniment, and being informed by parents of the arrival of a sibling were only related to firstborn girls experiencing fewer emotional and behavioral problems. Mother's education and seeking for firstborn children's opinion about the new sibling were only related to firstborn boys experiencing fewer emotional and behavioral problems. There was no sex differences in internalizing/externalizing problems in firstborn children during their mother's second pregnancy. Children's temperament, family environment and fathers' parenting styles were consistent influencing factors for both firstborn girls' and boys' emotions and behaviors., Author(s): Bo Yang [sup.1] , LuLu Sheng [sup.1] , Xin Huang [sup.2] , YueYue Li [sup.1] , Bo Fang [sup.1] , Yi Wen [sup.3] , Sarah Robbins [sup.4] , Qin [...]

From Transatlantic Anglophone Literatures, 1776-1920: An Anthology edited by Linda K. Hughes, Sarah Ruffing Robbins, and Andrew Taylor (with associate editors Heidi Hakimi-Hood and Adam Nemmers). © 2022 by Edinburgh University Press. Used by permission. Publisher website: https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-transatlantic-anglophone-literatures-1776-1920.html

Introduction: Caffeine, the most widely consumed psychoactive drug globally, has been associated with vascular changes in various organs, including the retina. Researchers have reported vascular constriction in the retina in response to caffeine, although data on its effects remain limited and somewhat contradictory. Further research is needed to clarify the specific impact of caffeine on retinal blood vessels and its potential implications for ocular health. Purpose: To investigate the effects of 200 mg of caffeine on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and retinal vessel density (VD) assessed by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods: Prospective randomized, double‐blind placebo‐controlled, IRB‐approved study in 59 healthy low caffeine users (< 136 mg of caffeine daily). Baseline 3 × 3 and 6 × 6 mm OCTA scans centered on the fovea as well as a 6 × 6 mm scans centered on the optic nerve head (ONH) were obtained. Participants were randomly assigned into caffeine group (CG, n = 42) receiving 200 mg caffeine pill or placebo group (PG, n = 17). OCTA scans were repeated at 60 and 120 min after intervention. VD was measured with Advanced Retina Imaging (ARI) network software (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) for superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP). SBP/DBP readings were recorded before each imaging session. Ordinary one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of each group was performed using GraphPad Prism Version 9.3.0. Results: Both groups had comparable demographics and OCTA parameters at baseline. Two hours after intervention, the CG had a significantly higher SBP (123 ± 7 mmHg) and DBP (81 ± 5 mmHg) compared to the control group (118 ± 7 mmHg, 77 ± 6 mmHg) (p value = 0.012, 0.023). Regarding the OCTA VD metrics, there were no significant differences in VD between the caffeine and placebo groups, regardless of whether the scans were centered on the macula or ONH. Additionally, the comparison across different OCTA scan modalities, specifically the 3 × 3 mm and 6 × 6 mm scans, showed no discernible differences among groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, 200 mg of caffeine elevated blood pressure after 2 h but did not impact the retinal VD. This underscores the intricate relationship between caffeine, blood pressure, and retinal vascular dynamics, prompting further exploration of their implications for ocular health, especially in subjects with vascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaborative biostatistics units within universities and academic medical centres operate under a wide range of different funding models; common to many of these models is the challenge of allocating time to activities that are not linked to a specific research project, such as professional development, mentorship and administrative tasks. The purpose of this paper is to describe a proposed model for 'flexible funding', that is, funding that is not linked to a specific research project, within a collaborative biostatistics unit and to detail the benefits and challenges associated with the proposed model. We present results from a qualitative study representing the perspectives of collaborative biostatisticians working under the proposed flexible funding model. In addition to providing examples of activities undertaken as part of time allocated to flexible funding, the qualitative results reveal several benefits of flexible funding both for a collaborative biostatistician (e.g., job satisfaction and professional development) and for the collaborative biostatistics unit as a whole (e.g., retention, process improvement, and leadership). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why should we want to know a stranger when it is easier to estrange another? --TONI MORRISON, THE ORIGIN OF OTHERS Our teaching field of English language arts (ELA) is [...]

Background: Veterinary hospital antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) guidelines might help combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Objective s : Determine the conditions and types of infection for which antimicrobial drugs (AMDs) deemed critically important (CIA) by the World Health Organization (WHO) were prescribed and assess the effect of hospital AMS guidelines on adherence to International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases published guidelines for the treatment of superficial bacterial folliculitis, respiratory tract disease and urinary tract infection in these cases. Animals: Dogs and cats managed at an academic veterinary hospital from 1/21 to 6/21 and 9/21 to 6/22. Methods: Prescriptions of cephalosporins (third or fourth generation), glycopeptides, macrolides/ketolides, polymyxins, and quinolones were identified. Data on culture and susceptibility (C/S) testing and previous AMD exposure were collected. Frequencies were compared between time periods using Fisher's exact test with Bonferroni corrections. Results: In animals prescribed ≥1 WHO‐CIA AMD, fluoroquinolones were the most frequently prescribed WHO‐CIA class in dogs (567/1724, 32.9%) and cats (192/450, 42.7%). No animals were prescribed carbapenems, dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors/sulfonamides, or polymyxins. No cats were prescribed aminoglycosides or amphenicols. Institutional guidelines were followed in 57.8% (324/561) cases. The most frequent causes of nonadherence were failure to perform C/S testing 46.0% (109/237) and unnecessary use of a higher‐tier AMD 43.0% (102/237). Bacterial C/S testing was more frequently performed after AMS guideline institution (59.7% vs. 46.8%, P = 0.0006). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Adherence to published guidelines remained poor despite an increase in C/S testing. There were no changes in the frequencies of confirmed infections, positive cultures or AMD resistance between time periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Telestroke (TS) service has been shown to improve stroke diagnosis timing and accuracy, facilitate treatment decisions, and decrease interfacility transfers. Expanding TS service to inpatient units at the community hospital provides an opportunity to follow up on stroke patients and optimize medical management. This study examines the outcome of expanding TS coverage from acute emergency room triage to incorporate inpatient consultation. Methods: We studied the effect of expanding TS to inpatient consultation service at 19 regional hospitals affiliated with Promedica Stroke Network. We analyzed data pre‐ and post‐TS expansion. We reviewed changes in TS utilization, admission rate, thrombolytic therapy, patient transfer rate, and diagnosis accuracy. Results: Between January 2018 and June 2022, a total of 9,756 patients were evaluated in our stroke network (4,705 in pre‐ and 5,051 in the post‐TS expansion). In the post‐TS expansion period, stroke patients' admission at the spoke hospital increased from 18/month to 40/month, and for TIA from 11/month to 16/month. TS cart use increased from 12% to 35.2%. Patient transfers to hub hospital decreased by 31%. TS service expansion did not affect intravenous thrombolytic therapy rate or door‐to‐needle time. There was no difference in length of stay or readmission rate, and the patients at the spoke hospitals had a higher rate of home discharge 57.38% compared with 52.58% at hub hospital. Interpretation: Telestroke service expansion to inpatient units helped decrease transfers and retain patients in their communities, increased stroke and TIA diagnosis accuracy, and did not compromise patients' hospitalization or outcome. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:576–582 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charles Eastman's "The North American Indian" address for the 1911 Universal Races Congress (URC) in London provides multiple pathways for teaching in a comparative context. One productive approach involves setting the lecture in dialogue with Elaine Goodale Eastman's Yellow Star , published in the same year. Another entails asking students to situate Charles Eastman's talk in the context of the URC as a vital milestone in global thought leaders' engagement with questions about race. This approach could include juxtaposing Eastman's lecture with one by W. E. B. Du Bois delivered at the same convention. Pedagogy for Eastman's speech can also locate this text in the context of his larger oeuvre, including more assertively anticolonial discourse in later writings for Indigenous readers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate whether baseline joint space narrowing (JSN) predicted disease remission, knee pain, and physical function changes in persons with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of a two‐armed randomized controlled trial. Participants were aged ≥50 years (n = 171) with a body mass index ≥28 kg/m2 and radiographic medial tibiofemoral OA. Participants in the intervention group received diet and exercise programs and special treatment (cognitive behavioral therapy, knee brace, and muscle strengthening exercises) according to the disease remission. Remission of pain and remission of patient global assessment of disease activity and/or functional impairment were used to define the disease remission. The control group were provided with an education pamphlet. The primary outcome was disease remission at 32 weeks, and the secondary outcomes were the changes in knee pain and physical function at 20 and 32 weeks. Baseline JSN was scored from 0 to 3, and the association between baseline JSN and outcomes was assessed using multiple regression. Results: There was no association of baseline JSN with disease remission at 32 weeks when the disease remission has been achieved. The baseline JSN grade 3 was associated with changes in knee pain at 20 weeks (p <.05). There was no association between baseline JSN and physical function. Conclusion: Baseline JSN severity predicted changes in knee pain but not the disease remission or changes in physical functions. Identification of baseline radiographic severity may be helpful in identifying differences in response to diet and exercise programs in knee OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]