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Background: The beneficial effects of a plant-based diet on gut microbiota diversity are well documented, however, its impact on clinical bowel health and defecation patterns are less well understood. Vegetarian diets have been associated with a higher bowel movement (BM) frequency as well as softer stools in cross-sectional studies. The effects of the de-novo adoption of a vegan diet on bowel health, however, have never been investigated in a randomized-controlled trial. Materials and Methods: The present study examined bowel health and defecation patterns in relation to diet and nutrient intake in a young and healthy sample of n = 65 physically-active German university students who were randomly assigned to either a vegan or a meat-rich diet for eight weeks. Bowel health assessment included the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) and the Cleveland Clinic Fecal Incontinence Score (CC FIS). Nutrient intake was assessed using weighed food diaries. The study was prospectively registered at the German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS00031541). Results: Weekly BM frequency slightly increased in vegans, whereas it remained unaltered in participants assigned to a meat-rich diet. Fiber intake increased significantly in vegans (34.89 (18.46) g/d) whereas it decreased in those assigned to the meat-rich group (22.79 (12.5) g/d). No significant intergroup differences in BSFS and CC FIS patterns were observed. Adoption of a vegan diet neither resulted in a transient increase in abdominal discomfort nor in a decreased gastrointestinal quality of life, which was comparable across the diet groups. Conclusions: The short-term de-novo adoption of a vegan diet did not negatively affect markers of bowel health in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study explores college women's beliefs and experiences about exercise informed by different framing strategies, and how they may influence exercise engagement. Participants: Four focus groups were conducted with 19 undergraduate women at a large public Midwestern university. Methods: Four differently framed group exercise advertisements were used to prompt focus group discussions on beliefs and intentions to exercise. Transcribed data were analyzed with a thematic content approach. Results: Undergraduate female participants described more positive beliefs that influence intention with a well-being-framed advertisement. More negative beliefs were described when the advertisement focused on enhancing appearance. Participants of color believed that seeing more representation of diversity in advertisements would make engaging in exercise easier. Conclusion: Positive beliefs linked to a "well-being" frame and diverse imagery of women in exercise advertisements may improve intention to exercise, increasing physical activity among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interprofessional teamwork is important for the provision of safe, high value patient care and is recognized as essential by the ACGME. We aimed to assess the impact of an interprofessional continuity clinic teamwork curriculum on perceptions of team development and patient safety. This project was conducted in an IM Resident Continuity Clinic where 96 residents, supported by 28 faculty and 48 interprofessional team members, attended continuity clinic two afternoons per week during alternating months of a 50/50 outpatient-inpatient training model. Teams were configured into two groups of residents, faculty and interprofessional team members. The randomly selected intervention group participated in strategically-timed TeamSTEPPS training. The control group received usual clinic education. Teamwork and safety climate were measured using the Team Development Measure (TDM) and Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) collected before and after the intervention. Following the teamwork curriculum, team development improved in the intervention group as compared to control [mean change (95% CI) +13.9 (+9.3, +18.6) versus + 4.8 (+0.4, +9.1), p = 0.007]. Though 30% of the individual items on the SAQ improved significantly in the faculty intervention group as compared to control, the overall improvement in SAQ [intervention mean change + 0.4 (+0.2, +0.5), control mean change + 0.2 (−0.1, +0.5)] was not statistically significant (p = 0.36). It is feasible to implement a TeamSTEPPs-based interprofessional teamwork curriculum among IM residents in a block clinic model and achieve enhanced teamwork and safety attitudes. Additional assessment of clinical and educational outcomes is ongoing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractResearch on the funeral industry in the United States is limited by privatization and the dearth of publicly available data, making assessment of equitable services a challenge. The goal of this study was to explore the experiences of LGBTQIA+ deathcare providers and consumers to understand barriers to equitable services. We interviewed 23 funeral providers (N = 17) and consumers (N = 6) using a phenomenological approach and employed grounded theory to develop a deeper understanding from different perspectives that could inform more equitable practices. Results suggested that fear of religious rejection, LGBTQIA+ consumer preferences, and traditional funeral practice should be evaluated and addressed. Potential solutions may be explicit marketing and safety signaling, deathcare provider involvement in LGBTQIA+ communities, and sweeping equality legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjective:Method:Results:Conclusion:Research on nonverbal synchrony (NVS) as a core element in the therapeutic relationship has substantially increased and suggests that NVS influences therapeutic alliance and outcomes.Studies on NVS regarding body movements, vocal pitch, peripheral physiological measures, and hormonal states were included. A random-effects multilevel meta-analysis was performed on 23 publications from 13 trials.There was no significant overall association between NVS and alliance/outcome (r = .03, p = .644). Across modalities, there was a marginally significant association between higher NVS and smaller interpersonal problems (r = .10, p = .084) and a nonsignificant effect for the association between NVS and alliance (r = .06, p = .316), symptomatic outcome (r = -.06, p = .320), and other outcomes (r = .07, p = .255). There was significant heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 56.47). Moderator analyses revealed that vocal pitch synchrony was negatively associated with alliance/outcome (r = -.20, p = .011), while NVS of peripheral physiological parameters was positively correlated with alliance/outcome (r = .32, p = .006).Findings suggest that specific modalities of NVS show specific associations with outcomes. More research is needed to investigate whether NVS across modalities reflects a unified underlying construct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosion in reinforced concrete structures is among the major degradation mechanisms. The quantification and description of the spatial distribution of the corrosion condition within a structure on the basis of condition assessments are important. This study considered half-cell potential mapping data as a widely used technique to detect corrosion in reinforced concrete structures. A four-step workflow was proposed to analyse half-cell potential data with geostatistical techniques, first consisting of trend identification and possible trend removal. The obtained residuals were then subjected to a quantile-quantile transformation. Subsequently, experimental variograms were calculated and fitted with variogram models to estimate the correlation lengths. A case study with data from a road tunnel confirms the applicability of the workflow. It was assumed that the identified trend is primarily a result of the heterogeneity of the exposure conditions within the structure that ranges several metres. The residuals are interpreted as the result of the heterogeneities of material resistances that give rise to spatial variability in corrosion probability on a shorter distance range. The proposed analysis may be utilised for service life modelling (e.g. based on random fields), planning maintenance works, or optimising the grid size for half-cell potential measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decreasing political trust poses severe challenges, particularly in policy domains where solutions to societal problems are urgently needed. The reason is that low trust decreases citizens' support for policy interventions. Since trust is difficult to increase in the short to medium term, this study explores how negative trust effects on policy support could be mitigated through policymaking procedures. We connect literature on policy design processes and trust to argue that involving broader actor coalitions when designing a policy is likely to mitigate the negative trust effect on public policy support. We test this argument with an empirical focus on environmental policy, based on data from a survey experiment in Switzerland (N = 6116). Our study design combines a choice experiment with treatment conditions for procedural inclusiveness and various levels of policy stringency with a novel approach to measuring trust. The main finding is that greater inclusiveness in terms of engaging a broader actor coalition in the policy design process reduces otherwise negative effects of low trust on policy support. The main policy implication is that political trust challenges are not a predicament for failure in addressing urgent societal problems but can be offset by including broad actor coalitions in policy design processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (a total of 66,188 participants from 15 European countries) and the European Gender and Generation Survey (a total of 121,248 participants from 12 countries), we investigated i) whether differences in political attitudes and attitudes toward family values (i.e. attitudes toward homosexual couples, attitudes toward female reproduction) are associated with differences in the average number of children, and ii) whether such an association between fertility and attitudes affects the population share of these attitudes in subsequent generations. We found that in most of the countries analyzed, right-wing (conservative) individuals have, on average, more children and grandchildren than left-wing (liberal) individuals. We also found that the proportion of right-wing individuals increases from generation to generation. Since political attitudes are presumably evolved traits that are socially and genetically transmitted from one generation to the next, these findings may suggest that demographic differences can lead to shifts in prevailing political attitudes. Thus, to some extent, demography may explain longer-term political trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine social connection as a protective factor against exam stress. Participants: 55 undergraduate students at two universities. Methods: Students were evaluated on an exam day for their hardest class and at baseline, a day in a week where they had no exams. Social connection, salivary cortisol, perceived stress, and cognitive control (measured with the Stroop test) were assessed. Exam scores were later reported. Results: Higher social connection was associated with lower perceived stress on exam day. At a small liberal arts school, higher levels of social connection were associated with higher Stroop scores. This correlation with cognitive control was not significant at a large public university. Conclusions: These findings indicate that social connection may be a protective factor in mitigating perceived stress and cognitive control capabilities may help facilitate reduced exam stress in some school environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hope is in a twofold crises in Western societies: perceived as unavailable by some and as undesirable by others. Against this background, this introduction argues that there is a need to ask anew what (if anything) citizens should hope for. After some introductory remarks both about the current role of hope in the public arena and important developments in recent philosophical debates, I provide an overview of the contributions to the Special Issue. Through a variety of theoretical lenses and from a variety of theoretical backgrounds, the contributors systematically ask which hopes (if any) we should cultivate or whether it may sometimes be necessary to let go of certain hopes. While they agree that hope is indispensable as a way of dealing with our fragility and sustaining our resolve, it is not without dangers. What emerges is a profile of hope as a complex and ambivalent attitude that has so far received too little attention by political philosophers, despite its prominent and increasingly contested role in political practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a nonparametric quantile panel regression model. Within each quantile, the quantile function is a combination of linear and nonlinear parts, which we approximate using Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART). Cross-sectional information is captured through a conditionally heteroscedastic latent factor. The nonparametric feature enhances flexibility, while the panel feature increases the number of observations in the tails. We develop Bayesian methods for inference and apply several versions of the model to study growth-at-risk dynamics in a panel of 11 advanced economies. Our framework usually improves upon single-country quantile models in recursive growth forecast comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundMethodResultsConclusionDespite progress in implementing the rights outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, individuals with intellectual disability encounter challenges in participating in daily life autonomously. Exclusion and stereotypes persist, impacting education, employment, and social participation. Inclusive sports programs, particularly the Special Olympics Unified Sports® program, aim to enhance social inclusion for these persons.This quantitative cross-sectional study compares attitudes across three groups: Unified Sports® partners, volunteers, and general population. Attitudes were measured using the Attitudes Toward Intellectual Disability Questionnaire.Results reveal that both Unified Sports® partners and volunteers exhibit more positive attitudes compared to the general population. More frequent contact with individuals with intellectual disability is associated with more positive attitudes.While limitations exist, this study provides insights into the relationship between inclusive sports programs and attitudes toward individuals with intellectual disability, laying the groundwork for further research and practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While conventional wisdom holds that right-wing individuals tend to present more negative attitudes toward environmental protection, McCright and colleagues find no clear relationship between political ideology and environmental attitudes in Central and Eastern Europe. The reason for this finding remains speculative. Our study expands on this phenomenon by exploring how party competition and, thereby, parties’ focus on a specific issue moderate this ideology-environment link at an individual level across 28 European countries. Using individual level-data from the European Value Study and party-level estimates from the Chapel Hill Expert Survey, our findings emphasize that respondents’ political orientation predicts their environmental attitudes more strongly when their preferred party prioritizes environmental issues. Notably, the left-right connection weakens when parties downplay environmental concerns, revealing why such issues have less impact in Central and Eastern, and Southern European political landscapes. This underscores the contextual boundaries of political ideology’s explanatory power in diverse political arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveDesignStudy SampleResultsConclusionsAudiological tests on smartphones require consistent microphone recordings across device types with a reasonable standard uncertainty (2-3 Decibel (dB)) of the sound pressure level at the microphone. However, the calibration of smartphone microphones by the non-expert user is still an unsolved issue. We show that whistling on standardized glass bottles permits a coarse sound level calibration with an uncertainty that is smaller than the standard uncertainty of clinical audiograms (4.9dB) and enough for mobile health (mHealth) products.We define and test a calibration procedure with bottle-whistles for smartphones. The empirical sound pressure levels are used to calculate the mean and standard deviation of a single measurement.Two uncalibrated studies with a total of 30 participants, one calibrated study with 11 participants.The mean maximal sound pressure level of 330 ml Vichy-shape bottle-whistles at 50 cm distance is 92.8 ± 1.6dB sound pressure level (SPL). The sound pressure level variation of a single measurement is 3.0dB SPL.In comparison to other possible ways of level calibration estimates for smartphones (e.g. level of own voice, level of common environmental sounds), the current method appears to be robust in background noise and easily reproducible with glass bottles of defined dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business education has had limited discussion on professional development for academics. Given the increasing focus on the quality of teaching and learning in higher education, we investigate how academics conceptualise professional development. This has important implications since one's conceptions of a phenomenon can influence subsequent approaches. Few phenomenographic studies have investigated academics' conceptions of professional development. Our study asked business academics a typical phenomenograhic question: what does professional learning and development mean to you? Our participants conceptualised it in four qualitatively different ways: continual growth mindset; student-centric mindset; knowledge-sharing mindset; and purpose-oriented mindset. We discuss the implications of these mindsets for designing professional development in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to remember an intention in the future. Individuals with depression are candidates for PM failures, resulting in detrimental consequences, such as forgetting to take a medication or implement therapeutic techniques; inaccurate assessments of one's PM abilities can exacerbate these issues. The current study examined if appraisals about one's prospective memory (meta-PM) performance differs between healthy and depressed adults. Data were gathered from 137 adults and included self-reported depression, PM beliefs, objective PM, and assessment of executive functions (EFs). Participants were separated into depressed/healthy categories based on a self-report measure. There was a non-significant correlation between self-reported PM and objective PM for both depressed (r =.06, p =.61) and healthy (r =.08, p =.52) groups, suggesting both groups had inaccurate meta-PM. There were non-significant differences in meta-PM between these groups (Fisher's Z = −0.09, p =.93), but exploratory gender analyses revealed women's meta-PM was significantly less accurate than men's. Women had higher reports of depression and PM complaints compared to men. This study lends evidence that depression is not necessarily related to worse meta-PM accuracy, despite depression's association with memory complaints, and that women are at greater risk for inaccurate meta-PM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aims to demonstrate how assimilation processes indicated by formal aspects of in-session narratives change in the course of psychodynamic therapy and how this differs by therapy outcome. Method: Two sessions each from the initial, the middle, and the termination phase of six successful and six unsuccessful psychodynamic treatments were compared. All narratives were identified and coded for dramatic narrating and naming of emotions and mental verbs. Results: Good outcome cases peaked in the use of direct speech and naming negative emotions in the middle phase of treatment. Poorer treatment outcome was associated with a high amount of narrating and a tendency to more dramatic narrating in the termination phase and with a use of more narrative clauses throughout treatment. Conclusions: Emotional remembering and naming of emotional states in the middle phase could provide partial support for the role of assimilation processes in good outcome cases. Narrative characteristics of less successful treatments are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miscarriage is a pervasive and socioemotionally complex pregnancy complication. Evidence suggests that poor clinical management can worsen these experiences. Yet, assessments of healthcare communication during a miscarriage are limited and a systematic review of the literature is needed. This review identified and synthesized original research on miscarriage and healthcare communication in the United States from the past 20 years to identify existing knowledge gaps for future miscarriage research. The following databases were searched: PubMed, PsychINFO, and ERIC Database. Data were charted according to Arksey and O'Malley's Scoping Review Framework. Eleven articles were included in the review and three primary themes emerged: (a) patients overwhelmingly prefer patient-centered care; (b) miscarriage is often overmedicalized, which leads to poor communication; and (c) informed decision-making related to one's miscarriage can improve patient experiences. Several gaps were also identified, including studies seeking physician perspectives on miscarriage communication, evaluation of standard care guidelines, and studies evaluating diverse patients' perspectives. This review highlights the need for patient-centered care that utilizes compassionate and accessible language and promotes informed decision-making. Future research should use quantitative methodologies and longitudinal designs to build upon these findings and improve patient experiences of miscarriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finite element (FE) modeling provides a means to examine how global kinematics of repetitive head loading in sports influences tissue level injury metrics. FE simulations of controlled soccer headers in two directions were completed using a human head FE model to estimate biomechanical loading on the brain by direction. Overall, headers were associated with 95th percentile peak maximum principal strains up to 0.07 and von Mises stresses up to 1450 Pa, and oblique headers trended toward higher values than frontal headers but below typical injury levels. These quantitative data provide insight into repetitive loading effects on the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sawn-timber drying is the wood industry's most time- and energy-consuming process. This process can be more efficient than the conventional method by elevating the dry-bulb temperature to above 100 °C in a high-temperature drying (HTD) process, which for some species shortens the drying process by up to 50% without deteriorating the quality. Comprehending the complex correlation between the wood drying physics at high temperatures and the anatomical features of the specific species, along with its mechanical and physical properties, is crucial, as it limited its application from being broadly implemented in industry and the necessity of generalizing this method for wood species. The present study has been conducted to comprehensively review and tackle the challenges of applying this method on various species and the consequences, such as high moisture content gradients resulting in stress residual, unevenness, and color changes. Energy, environment, and economic (3E) assessments of HTD were evaluated. The accelerated drying process in HTD reduces heat losses and air leaks, resulting in higher energy efficiency than the conventional methods. Furthermore, it was proved to be 20% economically in the long term. Confliction in reported studies, such as HTD's effect on permeability and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, was raised, highlighting the importance of further studies for generalizing this method to adapt appropriate drying schedules, focusing on Scandinavian species by referring to previous industrial trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is often claimed that the structure of networks influences outcomes in environmental governance. For example, network motifs of social-ecological fit have been linked to positive environmental outcomes, but empirical tests of this link are rare. Social-ecological network fit represents a situation in which actors involved in the governance and management of linked ecological elements coordinate. We empirically analyze how motifs of social-ecological network fit are associated with actors' outcome assessments in ten cases of Swiss wetlands governance. We combine social networks among organizational actors, networks of interrelated ecosystem management activities, and actors' assessments of outcomes. Results show that – contrary to the prominent theoretical claim – more fit is linked to worse outcomes. Drawing on the so-called risk hypothesis, we argue that our negative findings likely highlight a complicated causal process between actors' assessments of outcomes and their adjustment to risks through coordination in networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the evaluation of discretely distributed treatments when outcomes are only observed for a subpopulation due to sample selection or outcome attrition. For identification, we combine a selection-on-observables assumption for treatment assignment with either selection-on-observables or instrumental variable assumptions concerning the outcome attrition/sample selection process. We also consider dynamic confounding, meaning that covariates that jointly affect sample selection and the outcome may (at least partly) be influenced by the treatment. To control in a data-driven way for a potentially high dimensional set of pre- and/or post-treatment covariates, we adapt the double machine learning framework for treatment evaluation to sample selection problems. We make use of (a) Neyman-orthogonal, doubly robust, and efficient score functions, which imply the robustness of treatment effect estimation to moderate regularization biases in the machine learning-based estimation of the outcome, treatment, or sample selection models and (b) sample splitting (or cross-fitting) to prevent overfitting bias. We demonstrate that the proposed estimators are asymptotically normal and root-n consistent and investigate their finite sample properties in a simulation study. We also apply our proposed methodology to the Job Corps data. The estimator is available in the causalweight package for the statistical software R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of rising global temperatures on human heat tolerance, particularly in regions like South and East Asia, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights a study that challenges the widely cited 35°C wet-bulb temperature limit for human adaptability to extreme heat, providing empirical evidence that skin temperatures can exceed this threshold in realistic conditions. The research emphasizes the need for further studies to understand the diverse responses of different populations to extreme heat, especially vulnerable groups like older adults. Overall, the article underscores the importance of addressing the implications of climate change on human health through a collaborative, transdisciplinary approach. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the complexity and implications of context-sensitive and patient-centered models of informal coercion in mental healthcare. It emphasizes the influence of subjective beliefs and context on the perception of coercion, including the importance of transparent communication and the physical setting. It also highlights the relevance of past experiences in shaping patients' interpretations of coercion and the challenges in balancing professional actions with patient perceptions.

Stains frequently performed to exclude infectious etiologies in esophagitis include Grocott methenamine silver (GMS) and periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) as well as immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays for cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV). The diagnostic yield of these tests, in this situation, has not been well studied. We retrospectively reviewed 261 esophageal biopsies, which had one or more of the above tests performed. The diagnostic yield for GMS and PAS was 8%, while CMV and HSV immunohistochemistry had a diagnostic yield of 1% and 0%, respectively. Our study suggests that routine use of ancillary labeling techniques in esophagitis biopsies may be of limited utility and have low diagnostic yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic development usually focuses on individuals, with activities bounded by institutional strategy. There is a lack of research exploring the emergence of cross-institutional communities of practice and their ability to offer opportunities for professional collaboration, particularly for underrepresented or marginalised groups. Our study highlights how, after a formal program, individuals from different institutions facilitated deeper connections, transcending hierarchical boundaries and nurturing a sense of trust. Drawing from our experiences, we examine the emergence of a collegiate group of academic women as a community of practice. Co-development through community-based relationships enable personal and professional growth outcomes including, but not limited to, promotion and esteem recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is a review of educational scholarship that has utilized testimonio as a methodological approach. We begin with a brief overview of testimonio, highlighting its discursive subversions that align with longstanding traditions of storytelling within Communities of Color, and in critical race storytelling. We then describe how testimonio is an important tool within a broader Critical Race Feminista Methodology—a space of theorizing humanizing, anti-colonial methodological approaches that disrupt structural oppression and are guided by "a nostalgia for wholeness" (Delgado Bernal, Pérez Huber, & Malagon, 2019). Testimonio as a Critical Race Feminista Methodology allows for an interweaving of Chicana feminist and critical race epistemological and theoretical tools with qualitative research methods to cultivate methodological space for convivencia, critical reflection, collective knowledge production, and healing. Through this literature review, we see how this methodology brings mutual validation, shared humanity, and imperatives of social justice to the fore, shifting our research praxis from one that reproduces the colonial project, to one that seeks to transform and lead to collective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article serves as an introduction to the special issue, "Critical Race Feminista Methodologies in Educational Research." We provide an overview of how we have come to understand Critical Race Feminista Methodology (CRFM) and outline several important points of consideration for those who seek to engage this approach. As co-editors we have curated this special issue to chart methodological imaginaries across generations that have come before us, and those that will follow after us. We offer our stories of coming to CRFM as co-editors, colleagues, and friends who have been collaborating, theorizing, co-authoring and dreaming together for two decades. We end with an overview of the articles included in this special issue by authors who are advancing the praxis of CRFM in educational research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This epilogue serves as a concluding article to the Special Issue, "Critical Race Feminista Methodologies in Educational Research." The co-editors of the special issue, Lindsay Pérez Huber, Verónica N. Vélez and Maria C. Malagón have joined with Daniel Solórzano and Dolores Delgado Bernal to reflect on the methodological origins, ruptures, and futures of Critical Race Feminista Methodologies. We engage in these reflections through an intergenerational epilogue across three generations of scholars who have worked collectively to (re)imagine our research processes, and specifically our qualitative methodologies with and for Communities of Color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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To evaluate dexamethasone prescribing practices, patient adherence, and outcomes by dosing regimen in children with acute asthma discharged from the emergency department (ED). Prospective study of children 2–18 years treated with dexamethasone for acute asthma prior to discharge from an urban, tertiary care ED between 2018 and 2022. Demographics, clinical characteristics, ED treatment, and discharge prescriptions were collected via chart review. The exposure was discharge prescription (additional dose) versus no discharge prescription for dexamethasone. The primary outcome was treatment failure, defined as return ED visit, unplanned primary care visit, and/or ongoing bronchodilator use. Secondary outcomes included medication adherence, symptom persistence, quality-of-life, and school/work absenteeism. Outcomes were assessed by telephone 7–10 days after discharge. 564 subjects were enrolled; 338 caregivers (60%) completed follow-up. Children were a median age 7 years, 30% Black or African American, 49% Hispanic, and 79% had public insurance. A discharge prescription for dexamethasone was written for 482 (86%) children and was significantly associated with exacerbation severity, number of combined albuterol/ipratropium treatments, and longer length of stay. There was no difference in treatment failure between the discharge prescription and no discharge prescription groups (RR 0.87; 0.67, 1.12), including after adjusting for potential confounders; there was no difference between groups in secondary outcomes. Prescription for an additional dexamethasone dose was not associated with reduced treatment failure or improved outcomes for children with acute asthma discharged from the ED. Single, ED-dose of dexamethasone prior to discharge may be sufficient for children with mild to moderate asthma exacerbations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2004 to 2008, a bubble formed in clean technologies, such as solar, biofuels, batteries and other renewable energy sources. In this paper, we analyse this clean-tech bubble through the lens of the Social Bubble Hypothesis, which holds that bubbles can accelerate technological innovation. We synthesise the development of the clean-tech bubble, its history, and the role of venture capital and government funding in catalysing it, and present evidence that the clean-tech bubble constituted an example of an innovation-accelerating process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study examined if the relationship between generalized and task-specific appraisals of prospective memory (PM) and actual PM performance (i.e., meta-PM accuracy) differed between healthy and suspected Mild Cognitive Impairment (sMCI) older adults. Older adults recruited included 50 healthy and 31 sMCI participants from the community and an outpatient neuropsychology clinic. Data collected consisted of self-reported appraisals and task-specific predictions/postdictions of PM performance, objective PM performance, and executive functioning (EF). The sMCI group had significantly lower scores on objective PM and EF measures related to simple and complex task-switching. Moreover, sMCI participants displayed lower task-specific meta-PM accuracy in the direction of overconfidence, but they displayed relatively equivalent generalized meta-PM accuracy when compared to the healthy group. Notably, the sMCI group’s task-specific inaccuracies became non-significant in relation to the healthy group on the final long-term PM tasks after exposure to metacognitive reflection on the first two PM tasks. Despite lower scores on EF measures, EF performance did not explain task-specific meta-PM differences between groups beyond neurocognitive status. Based on these data, sMCI patients may be better assisted by metacognitive calibration strategies, EF protocols, and the implementation of general compensatory memory strategies as targets for early intervention and prevention of neurocognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are multiple challenges associated with participating in a first-year undergraduate management unit at the university level. Students' performance in such units is a critical milestone in their learning journey and can create positive/negative inertia for their future performance and continuation in a program. Through exploratory abductive analysis of 990 undergraduate students' performance in a first-year, first-semester management unit at an Australian university, we find that tutor's qualification, tutor's gender, student's age, entry score, number of simultaneous degrees undertaken, and number of tutorials attended are critical factors for success. Our data indicates tutor's experience, student's gender, and engagement with the learning management system and discussion forum do not have a statistically significant influence. As the massification of higher education has led to a growing body of international students in Australian universities, we also compare and contrast the effect of these factors between international and domestic cohorts. Our results indicate that critical factors influence domestic and international undergraduate students differently (positive vs. negative vs. non-linear). We propose a theoretical model by connecting empirical constructs, current theories, and emerging theoretical constructs. The practical implications relevant to business school leadership teams and faculty members in Australian and other similar universities are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers and epidemiologists are working to improve the capture of agriculture, forestry, and fishing (AgFF) injuries in a variety of ways. A critical component of any surveillance system is the dissemination of information. The purpose of this paper is to report on a survey conducted with AgFF injury surveillance stakeholders to understand preferred dissemination strategies. The survey was distributed using REDCap via web link to organizational stakeholders, which included advisory board members, safety trainers, industry managers and workers, and research collaborators. In total, there were 75 respondents (21% response rate). Occupation and industry influenced preference in update methods. Regarding the length and breadth of updates, 63% of respondents prefer reports (one to five pages), followed by 57% desiring a summary (less than one page), while only 24% wanted a detailed analysis. Social media and news preferences were also different among stakeholders. Surveillance data were desired for 1) trend analysis, 2) tailoring activities and solutions for education, training, outreach and interventions and 3) for research purposes such as grant proposals and evaluation. The dissemination of injury surveillance data should be tailored to the intended audience. Greater attention needs to be paid to the ways in which we share our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various characteristics and circumstances lead older adults in the community to transition into long-term care homes (LTCHs). Family caregivers often provide support, resources, and encouragement to older adults during the transition into a LTCH. Therefore, this study aimed to explore family caregiver perceptions of older adults' sub-acute rehabilitation experiences that may associate with older adults' transitions into LTCHs. A descriptive survey resulted in understanding circumstances that led to older adults' transitions into the LTCH, and older adults with sub-acute rehabilitation experiences were positively associated with being more independently able to integrate into the LTCH. Future research directions and practical implications for healthcare professionals are further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the complexities of choosing a surrogate decision maker when faced with conflicting preferences and varying levels of knowledge about the patient. Topics include the ethical considerations of replacing a surrogate, the application of substituted judgment in decision-making, and the role of clinical ethicists in facilitating consensus among decision makers.

AbstractPurposeMaterials and methodsResultsConclusion\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONTo validate the de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) in older (≥65 years) patients with acute stroke in a hospital setting within the first week after stroke onset.In the Danish National Database of Geriatrics, we identified 4,176 patients with acute stroke (≥65 years). Floor and ceiling effects of DEMMI were investigated. Furthermore, convergent validity was investigated by correlations between DEMMI and the Barthel Index using Spearman’s rho. Known-groups validity was tested by comparing DEMMI scores for different groups (with/without dementia, depression, comorbidity, and walking aids), and unidimensionality of DEMMI was evaluated by Mokken scale analysis.A floor effect was identified with 22.1% of the patients scoring 0 on DEMMI on admission. Both convergent and known-groups validity were confirmed for DEMMI. Patients who were bedbound had a lower DEMMI score (median [IQR]: 0 [0;0]) than patients without any walking aid (median [IQR]: 62 [33;74]). Furthermore, Mokken scale analysis identified unidimensionality with overall fit to the model (Loevinger H 0.88 (p < 0.0001)).DEMMI is a valid instrument for use in patients with acute stroke (≥65 years) in a hospital setting within the first week after stroke onset.The de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) is a unidimensional measurement instrument of mobility in older (≥65 years) individuals with acute stroke and can be used in acute clinical work to help assess mobility ability and in planning of rehabilitation for the patient groupThe DEMMI has a high convergent validity, with a high correlation with the Barthel Index.The DEMMI has known-groups validity, as DEMMI is significantly different in patients with depression and dementia compared with patients without these conditions, and different in patients using a walking aid on admission compared with non-users and in patients with co-morbidity compared with non-comorbid patientsThe de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) is a unidimensional measurement instrument of mobility in older (≥65 years) individuals with acute stroke and can be used in acute clinical work to help assess mobility ability and in planning of rehabilitation for the patient groupThe DEMMI has a high convergent validity, with a high correlation with the Barthel Index.The DEMMI has known-groups validity, as DEMMI is significantly different in patients with depression and dementia compared with patients without these conditions, and different in patients using a walking aid on admission compared with non-users and in patients with co-morbidity compared with non-comorbid patients [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identified evidence from item response theory (IRT) to examine a German translation of the Interprofessional Facilitation Scale (IPFS). The IPFS was administered to n = 130 mixed-health profession participants in a post-interprofessional education practicum questionnaire. We used IRT analyses to examine the following three aspects of the IPFS: (a) general factor strength, (b) subscale usability, and (c) item bias. First, findings indicate a strong, general factor underlying the IPFS that supports unidimensional interpretations. Second, findings supported IPFS overall reliability, but failed to support subscale reliabilities. Third, item bias assessment using a comparator-French sample (n = 89) indicated insubstantial differences across German and French samples. Taken together, we find sufficient evidence to support the IPFS-German translation's application in IPE contexts and unidimensional interpretations. Subscores are not advisable for interpretation, and future researchers should aim to further inspect potential item bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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With the recent and rapid transition to online teaching and learning in higher education, this explanatory study investigated the key design considerations used by business educators designing assessments suitable for online delivery. From a comprehensive literature review, we identified five key design considerations for online assessments: they must (1) assure academic integrity; (2) allow for provision of quality feedback; (3) support a positive learning experience for students; (4) assure the integrity of student information; and (5) ensure all students have an equal chance to complete the assessment successfully. An additional consideration (authenticity) was identified through a survey of educators and four focus group discussions. Our analysis confirmed that scale of delivery and resource limitations, along with institutional policies and accreditation requirements, are broader and interrelated contextual factors that influence practices and decisions about assessment design. Focus group participants also identified constraints and trade-offs they negotiated in designing, evaluating and implementing online assessments. Based on our findings we propose a framework to assist educators in best-practice decision-making about online assessment design and contribute to the discourse between educators, higher education providers and professional accreditation bodies regarding online assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluate contraceptive use and pregnancy two years following an intervention in Tanzania, which provided antenatal post-partum family planning counselling and post-partum intrauterine device (PPIUD) services following delivery. We analyse data from five hospitals in Tanzania using a difference-in-difference cluster randomised design, with randomisation at the hospital level. We use women-level data collected at the index birth and a follow-up survey two years later among 6,410 women. Outcomes (overall modern contraceptive use, contraceptive type, pregnancy) are modelled with an intent-to-treat (ITT) approach using linear regression. We compare with the complier average causal effect (CACE) of the intervention among those counselled. The intervention increased long-term PPIUD use by 5.8 percentage points (95% CI: 0.7–11.2%) through substitution away from other modern methods. There was no impact on overall modern contraceptive prevalence or pregnancy. Only 29% of women reported receiving PPIUD counselling. When accounting for this in the CACE analysis we saw a larger impact with 25.7% percentage point increase in PPIUD use (95% CI: 22.7–28.6%). The intervention provided women an additional contraceptive choice, resulting in higher use of PPIUD over two years. Increase in PPIUD use was brought about by shifting methods, not creating new modern contraceptive users. The post-partum family planning intervention in Tanzania offered women a new contraceptive option and increased sustained use of post-partum IUD. The intervention did not attract new modern contraception users and could have a greater impact if implemented more widely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza is associated with significant disease burden in the US and is currently best controlled by vaccination programs. Influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) is low and may be reduced by several factors, including egg adaptations. Although non-egg-based influenza vaccines reportedly have greater VE in egg-adapted seasons, evidence for egg adaptations' reduction of VE is indirect and dissociated, apart from two previous European consensuses. This study replicated the methodology used in a 2020 literature review and European consensus, providing an updated review and consensus opinion of 10 US experts on the evidence for a mechanistic basis for reduction of VE due to egg-based manufacturing methods. A mechanistic basis was assumed if sufficient evidence was found for underlying principles proposed to give rise to such an effect. Evidence for each principle was brought forward from the 2020 review and identified here by structured literature review and expert panel. Experts rated the strength of support for each principle and a mechanistic basis for reduction of VE due to egg-based influenza vaccine manufacture in a consensus method (consensus for strong/very strong evidence = ≥ 3.5 on 5-point Likert scale). Experts assessed 251 references (from previous study: 185; this study: 66). The majority of references for all underlying principles were rated as strong or very strong supporting evidence (52–86%). Global surveillance, WHO candidate vaccine virus selection, and manufacturing stages involving eggs were identified as most likely to impact influenza VE. After review of extensive evidence for reduction of VE due to egg-based influenza vaccine manufacture, influenza experts in the US joined those in Europe in unanimous agreement for a mechanistic basis for the effect. Vaccine providers and administrators should consider use of non-egg-based influenza vaccine manufacture to reduce the risk of egg adaptations and likely impact on VE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tuberculosis is a major cause of mortality worldwide. Prisoners in Guiana have multiple risk factors. The primary objective of this study was to describe tuberculosis occurring in prison and after release in French Guiana between 2008 and 2020. Secondary objectives were to identify tuberculosis risk factors and determine annual incidences. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of tuberculosis cases was carried out at the Guiana prison between 2008 and 2020. Data were collected from prison registers and cross-referenced with the list of tuberculosis notifications in French Guiana. Results: A total of 36 cases of tuberculosis were studied. Incidence was high, at 263/100,000 per year, higher than elsewhere in France and comparable to that in Brazil. Despite visibly effective screening on entry, with little evidence of intra-prison circulation of tuberculosis, 39% of patients were diagnosed within two years of leaving prison (76% were symptomatic). This could be explained by the high prevalence of latent forms (LTI). Discussion: Continued screening on entry, in combination with annual radiological and clinical screening, and reinforced follow-up on release seem indicated to improve patient management and the search for possible LTI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic studies on the economic competitiveness of organic farming systems compared to conventional farming systems are particularly lacking in tropical environments. In tropical regions, the evaluation of organic production systems typically concentrates on main cash crops earmarked for export markets. Consequently, crops grown in rotation or in association with these main crops have been largely overlooked, with their contribution to farm profitability is often considered negligible due to perceived challenges in securing premium organic prices. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted an analysis of twelve years of economic data from four long-term farming system comparison trials in tropical regions. Our objective was to delve into the economic competitiveness of both organic and conventional production systems at the system level, considering not only the main cash crops but also the associated and rotational crops. The outcomes of our analysis revealed that in three out of four systems, the gross margins of organic and conventional systems were comparable. In the fourth system, the gross margins of the organic system were 13.13% lower, equivalent to $169.8 per hectare per year compared to the conventional system. Furthermore, the contribution of crops grown in rotation with these main crops remains similar even when premium prices are not obtained. In instances where premium prices for non-cash crops are secured, their profitability can even surpass that of cash crops. Additionally, in the case of agroforestry, companion plantings serve as valuable additions for both dietary and income diversity. These findings suggest that the profitability of an agricultural system is not solely dependent on whether it is organic or conventional but is instead influenced by various system components. The emphasis should shift from a singular focus on main cash crops to a more comprehensive understanding that considers the entire spectrum of crops within a farming system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the effect of the use of 'personal reflective diaries' and 'group-friendly criticism' to assess professional development and self-empowerment among 47 Israeli final-year pre-service teachers in a seminar course, and later on, perceptions and insights during their practicum and their internship year. Content analysis of holistic summations, a questionnaire, and interviews yielded two participant types: 'purposeful' and 'late bloomer.' For both, four main themes emerged: (1) ability to face difficulties; (2) teaching and class management strategies; (3) beliefs and insights about the teacher's role; and (4) sense of efficacy. Participants stated that fear and uncertainty had turned into satisfaction and empowerment, with growing empathy towards their students. Overall results showed that in-depth focus on one difficulty while using reflective diaries together with group-friendly criticism helped both types of participants deal with their difficulties successfully, while developing strategies and insights for their future as teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-based diets reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease but also increase the risk of certain micronutrient deficiencies, particularly, of vitamin B12 (B12). The extent to which the unsupervised use of oral nutrient supplements is sufficient to prevent these deficiencies is not well established. We analyzed nutrient intake, laboratory biomarkers, supplementation behavior, and B12 status adequacy amongst young, healthy, physically active omnivores, lacto-ovo-vegetarians and vegans from Germany. We recruited 115 participants (n = 40 omnivores; n = 37 lacto-ovo-vegetarians, and n = 38 vegans) with comparable age, sex, marital status, physical activity and educational levels through online advertisements and local newspapers in Freiburg, Germany. Energy intake and macronutrient distribution were comparable across diets. Major differences included intake of fiber, cholesterol, and several vitamins. Vegans had the lowest intake of B12 from foods (0.43 (0.58) µg/d), compared to omnivores (2.14 (2.29) µg/d) and lacto-ovo-vegetarians (0.98 (1.34) µg/day). Multivariate analysis of 36 blood biomarkers revealed that three major classes of biomarkers contributed the most to the clustering of individuals by dietary group, namely, biomarkers of B12 status (B12, holoTC, Hcy), iron (iron, ferritin, transferrin) and lipid metabolism (vitamin A, HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, TAG). This suggests that nutrients that modify the metabolic pathways represented by these biomarkers have the most penetrating effect on health status across diets. Analysis of B12 status (including 4cB12) revealed adequacy in omnivores and vegans, and a poorer B12 status amongst lacto-ovo-vegetarians. Fewer lacto-ovo-vegetarians used B12 supplements compared to vegans (51% versus 90%). Even amongst homogeneously healthy Germans, each diet manifested with measurable differences in dietary intakes and biomarkers of health. Plant-based diets, in particular the vegan diet, exhibited the most favorable patterns of lipid metabolism and glycemic control, but the lowest food intake of B12. Supplementation of healthy vegans with B12 (median 250 µg B12/day, over 1 year) secured an adequate B12 status that was comparable to that of healthy omnivores. Clinical Trial Registry: German Clinical Trial register number: DRKS00027425 Plant-based diets, in particular the vegan diet, exhibited the most favorable patterns of lipid metabolism and glycemic control, but the lowest food intake of B12. Analysis of B12 status (including 4cB12) revealed adequacy in omnivores and vegans, and a poorer B12 status amongst lacto-ovo-vegetarians. Supplementation with B12 (median 250 µg B12/day, over 1 year) in healthy physically-active vegans secured an adequate B12 status that was comparable to that of healthy omnivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the case of an adult male with a history of developmental delay and seizure disorder who was admitted to the intensive care unit for continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring for progressive altered mental status and was undergoing airway clearance therapy via a Hillrom Progressa bed. The remote monitoring technologists observed rhythmic movements in the patient's upper body and the head of the bed with simultaneous EEG changes.