Academic Conferences Research Articles

Quality and completeness of, and spin in reporting of, pilot and feasibility studies in hip and knee arthroplasty: a protocol for a methodological survey

IntroductionPilot or feasibility trials examine the feasibility, viability and recruitment potential of larger, main trials. Specifically, a pilot trial can be instrumental in identifying methodological issues essential to the development...

The Seven-Year Twitch

In February 2024, the “Stream Team” of Ryan Thompson, Dana Plank, Julianne Grasso, and Karen Cook celebrated the seventh anniversary of the “Ludomusicology Thursday” livestream. These weekly broadcasts have evolved into a collegial gathering space engendering informal discussion of the soundscapes of the games we play, with a diverse audience. As we are scholars actively publishing on video games in musicology and music theory, our stream serves as an introduction to the field of game audio studies for students and the broader public. Livestreaming platforms are not only a convenient platform to connect with colleagues and develop a network of strong relationships outside of formal academic conferences, they are also a space to observe new music and sound and to develop ideas collaboratively, in real time, that might blossom into more formal, traditionally situated academic presentations and publications. In this article, we reflect on the history and evolution of our stream from its creation to the present day, share examples of our collaborative process of public scholarship on Twitch through moments of interesting musical observations or extemporaneous analysis, situate our stream in the context of public musicology by exploring how our experiences resonate with academic literature, and examine the significance of cultivating our collegial virtual community.

Historical Geography in Brazil: Examining Backgrounds and New Perspectives

ABSTRACTThe sub‐discipline of historical geography in Brazil, in contrast to the Anglophone and Francophone scholarship, often tends to be overlooked by the northern disciplinary history of this sub‐discipline. In Brazil, historical geography studies emerged in the 1980s as a result of personal initiatives. Nonetheless, in the last few years, distinct generations of Brazilian historical geographers have contributed to this sub‐discipline's promotion and recognition, mainly by diversifying their methodological approaches and research interests. Undoubtedly, developing transnational academic networks and collaborations represents a crucial contribution. This review provides an overview of the main Brazilian historical geographers engaged in studying past geographies. It delves into the central themes they address and also examines the academic conferences and research groups responsible for establishing institutional spaces to foster the practice of historical geography in Brazil in recent years. In doing so, the review calls for a ‘polyphonic’ approach to historical geography, urging the inclusion of southern sites of knowledge production and embracing a diverse scholarship beyond the English‐speaking community.

Contactless monitoring to prevent self-harm and suicide in custodial settings: Protocol for a global scoping review

IntroductionSelf-harm and suicide are major contributors to the global burden of disease and people in custodial settings are at a markedly increased risk of these adverse outcomes. Contactless monitoring technology...

Preface

Materials are not only the basic elements of people’s daily life, but also indispensable components in high-tech fields such as energy, information, and advanced manufacturing. The unique and versatile characteristics of advanced materials make them a highly desirable group of candidate materials for various engineering applications. A thorough and comprehensive analysis of the challenges associated with advanced materials can pave the way for their cost-effective applications. In this context, the 2024 International Conference on Materials Physics and Composites (ICMPC 2024) undoubtedly provides a valuable communication platform for experts, scholars, researchers and practitioners in the field of materials science around the world. The conference was successfully held in Chengdu, China from May 24th to 26th, 2024 via virtual form, establishing a forum to gather the world’s top wisdom and strength to discuss the latest research results, technological advances and future development trends in materials physics and composites. A number of well-known scholars and experts were invited to deliver keynote speeches, and oral presentations and poster sessions were set up to provide more opportunities for the participants to communicate and demonstrate. These activities not only promoted the collision and integration of academic ideas, but also deepened the friendship and cooperation among the participants. This Proceedings, as one of the important outcomes of ICMPC 2024, contains many excellent papers submitted during the conference. These papers cover a wide range of research directions in materials physics and composites, including but not limited to the Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Materials, Physical Properties and Structural Characterization of Materials, Preparation and Application of Composites, and Mechanical Properties of Materials, etc. Each paper is the result of the authors’ hard work and wisdom, and shows the latest progress and research results in the field of materials science. In the process of reviewing the papers, we strictly followed the academic standards and criteria, and invited well-known scholars and experts in related fields to be the reviewers. After several rounds of meticulous evaluation and screening, we have finally selected the papers with innovative, prospective and practical value for this Proceedings published in IOP Press-Journal of Physics: Conference Series. We believe that the publication of these papers will not only provide useful reference for researchers in the field of materials science, but also further promote the development and progress of materials science Looking ahead, materials science will continue to play an important role in scientific and technological progress and social development. We look forward to further strengthening the communication and cooperation in the field of materials science worldwide through international academic conferences such as ICMPC 2024, and jointly promoting the prosperity of materials science. Finally, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the experts, scholars, researchers, committee members and staff who have participated in ICMPC 2024. It is thanks to your hard work and selfless dedication that this conference has been a great success. We look forward to continuing to work together with you in the future to create a better future for materials science. The Committee of ICMPC 2024 List of Committee Member is available in this pdf.

Conference Equity in Community Medicine: A Brief Analysis of Financial and Geographical Barriers to Participation at Community Medicine Conferences

Background: Academic conferences in community medicine offer valuable learning platform for postgraduate residents and faculty. However, to demonstrate commitment towards conference equity, financial and geographical barriers need to be enumerated and eliminated. Materials & Methods: Academic medical conferences representing the specialty of community medicine or preventive and social medicine, held between 1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024, were included under the study. Variables identified for the study included registration fees, location, affiliation to professional society, geographical scope, presence of virtual/hybrid component, and availability of scholarship/travel grant for postgraduate residents. Results: None of the conferences were held in resource-constrained states of India – the North Eastern Region (except Assam) and islands of Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep. Only 2 out of 31 conferences had virtual or hybrid component and none of the conferences offered financial support for postgraduate residents. The study found no significant difference in conference registration fees between members and non-members for postgraduate residents and faculty. Conclusions: Registration fees and location of conferences are critical geographical and financial barriers to effective participation. Membership to societies offer no advantage over non-membership in terms of financial benefits of participation at conference.

Evaluating treatment practices and challenges in systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: a comprehensive survey analysis

ObjectiveThis study aims to assess current diagnostic and management for systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (sJIA) among physicians, evaluate the challenges encountered in diagnosis and treatment, and identify the educational needs and professional development engagements of physicians managing sJIA.MethodsA nationwide survey was conducted from November 2023 to March 2024 across tertiary and secondary pediatric and general hospitals in China. The survey targeted physicians with at least three years of specialty experience, resulting in 310 valid responses from 25 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. The survey collected data on diagnostic practices, treatment approaches, and professional development related to sJIA. Data collection was facilitated through WeChat, and statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Beijing Children’s Hospital, with informed consent provided electronically by participants.ResultsThe survey indicated that all physicians encountered suspected or confirmed cases of sJIA, highlighting its prevalence and the diagnostic challenges associated. Regarding diagnostic standards, 53.9% of physicians used the “Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of sJIA and Macrophage Activation Syndrome,” 18.1% followed the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) standards, and 24.8% adhered to the Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO) standards. In treatment strategies, glucocorticoids and IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibodies were extensively used, with the latter receiving “excellent” and “satisfactory” ratings of 46.5% and 36.1%, respectively, demonstrating high efficacy and acceptance. Main challenges included high treatment costs, complexity of diagnosis, patient compliance issues, and potential long-term side effects of biologics. Additionally, 126 doctors (40.7%) actively participated in more than three academic conferences or systematic learning courses related to sJIA, indicating a strong demand for ongoing education, particularly in new treatment developments and diagnostic skills.ConclusionThe findings emphasize the necessity for standardized diagnosis and customized treatment plans tailored to patient-specific conditions in managing sJIA.Key Points• The survey highlights the prevalence and clinical challenges of sJIA among physicians, emphasizing the importance of vigilant diagnosis, multi-system involvement, and differential diagnosis to improve treatment outcomes and patient quality of life.

Out-BREAK!: An IDWeek 2023 Escape Room to Break Out of the Educational Mold.

An escape room is a cooperative game that has been adapted into medical education and major academic conferences. We describe the design, development, and implementation of an educational ID-themed escape room activity entitled "Out-BREAK!" at an international conference, IDWeek 2023. An anonymous survey was conducted to collect demographic data, assess participant satisfaction with the escape room puzzles, and gauge participant interest in game-based learning. Thirty escape room sessions were held over 3 days and included 201 participants. Escape room survey respondents (n = 132) were younger and more likely to be trainees compared with in-person IDWeek attendants. Among 131 responses, all respondents enjoyed the experience and would recommend the escape room activity to friends. Survey respondents enjoyed the puzzle solving (93%), medical content (92%), and team building (79%) components. Only 35% of the respondents had ever previously participated in game-based learning; 95% thought the escape room was a valuable teaching method. Among the 72 survey respondents involved in medical education, almost all (90%) said they were interested in incorporating escape rooms into medical education. The Out-BREAK! escape room at IDWeek 2023 was successfully implemented and well received. Despite only a third of participants having prior experience with game-based learning, almost all respondents perceived the escape room to be an effective teaching method.

Impact of increasing post-filter ionised calcium target on regional citrate anticoagulation efficacy in ICU continuous renal replacement therapy: the non-inferiority randomised controlled Ca-CIBLE protocol

IntroductionContinuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is a critical therapeutic intervention for patients with severe acute kidney injury in intensive care. However, premature filter clotting remains a significant challenge during CRRT,...

About the All-Russian academic conference with international participation “The Image of a Common Future in the Discourses of Gender Studies in the CIS Countries and Russia”

About the All-Russian academic conference with international participation “The Image of a Common Future in the Discourses of Gender Studies in the CIS Countries and Russia”

Implementation of an electronic prospective surveillance model for cancer rehabilitation: a mixed methods study protocol

IntroductionAn electronic prospective surveillance model (ePSM) uses patient-reported outcomes to monitor impairments along the cancer pathway for timely management. Randomised controlled trials show that ePSMs can effectively manage cancer-related impairments....

Do conference-journal articles receive more citations? A case study in physics

Conference-journal articles, which are expanded versions of conference proceedings papers, play an essential role in disseminating scientific knowledge but remain understudied. In the context of increasingly stringent research evaluation systems, this study focuses on conference-journal articles, examining the effectiveness of journals in selecting conference-derived publications. We also explore the factors influencing the citations of conference-journal articles. Here, we focused on Physics, analyzing 59,329 conference-journal articles published between 2012 and 2020, matched with general journal articles and conference proceedings papers based on the conference and journal. Results show that conference-journal articles receive significantly more citations than conference proceedings papers but fewer than general journal articles. Conference-journal articles in special issues receive fewer citations than those in regular issues. A U-shaped pattern emerges between the duration from the conference convening to the journal publication and the citation. We also found that conferences with sponsorship and those held in OECD member countries are more likely to produce highly cited conference-journal articles. Additionally, results indicate that conferences held in the USA, Japan, France, China, and Poland produce the most conference-journal articles, with articles from conferences in the USA, Japan, and France receiving relatively high citation counts. In contrast, articles from conferences held in China and Poland receive relatively low citation counts. This research provides valuable insights for academic conference committees, journal managers, and conference participants.

Dementia mindset of caregivers providing residential care for older persons: study protocol for a replication study on the validation of the Dementia Mindset Scale

IntroductionProfessional caregivers’ perspectives on dementia and on people living with dementia (PlwD) can influence their feelings, judgements and behaviours in work situations, for example, how they think about symptoms, disease...

Too stressed to think? A scoping review of the literature for healthcare educators utilising high acuity clinical scenarios

BackgroundThe practise of paramedicine can be highly stressful particularly where urgent lifesaving decisions need to be made. Traditionally, educators have adopted the approach of placing students in simulated stressful situations as a way of learning to cope with these challenges. It is unclear from the literature whether traditional stress inoculation enhances or hinders learning. This scoping review aims to identify and examine both the peer-reviewed and grey literature reporting physiological stress responses to high-acuity scenarios in paramedicine and cognate healthcare disciplines.MethodsAdhering strictly to JBI Evidence Synthesis Manual for conducting a scoping review, medical subject headings and areas, keywords and all other possible index terms were searched across EBSCOhost (Medline, CINAHL and APA PsycInfo), Scopus and, PubMed. English language articles both published (peer-reviewed academic papers, reports and conference proceedings) and unpublished (grey literature, Google Scholar reports) were included, and publications citing retrieved articles were also checked.ResultsSearches performed across five electronic databases identified 52 articles where abstracts indicated potential inclusion. From this, 22 articles which reported physiological or psychophysiological responses to stressful scenario-based education were included.ConclusionThis review identified that an acceptable level of stress during simulation can be beneficial, however a point can be exceeded where stress becomes a hinderance to learning resulting in underperformance. By identifying strategies to moderate the impact of acute stress, educators of paramedic and other healthcare students can utilise high-acuity clinical scenarios to their andragogical armamentarium which has the potential to improve real-world clinical outcomes.

Academia's Role in Climate Action: Enhancing Awareness and Reducing Environmental Impact of Academic Events

A clean environment is vital for both population health and the well-being of our planet (Brusseau et al., 2019). In-person gatherings, like academic conferences, significantly contribute to carbon emissions that harm the environment, highlighting the importance of finding opportunities to reduce these emissions (Tao et al., 2021). Cognizant of the environmental cost of our annual national in-person research team gathering, our team sought to minimize the environmental impact of our 2023 gathering while raising awareness among team members. Our actions included using reusable tableware, composting food waste, and hosting an education session by the local environment office. Not only did our efforts increase awareness among gathering attendees about the importance of considering environmental impact reduction opportunities in their work, but they also catalyzed similar efforts at two national conferences. Our team took the lead in developing an evaluation of the environmental impact of each national conference and surveyed over 150 conference attendees. We collected demographic information, travel mode to the conference, and attitudes about environmental harms via a digital conference application. We also observed environmental actions implemented by event organizers and venue hosts. A carbon emission score and frequency distributions of attitudes surrounding the environment were calculated. Where possible, a food waste assessment was conducted. Findings showed that event organizers made efforts to minimize the environmental impact of their event by selecting a venue whose management was interested in collaborating; by encouraging attendees to carpool and use reusable water bottles; by serving plant-based meals, and by minimizing single-use products. Findings also revealed that most conference attendees consider it important to reduce the environmental impact of their professional lives. Given the value of face-to-face interaction in facilitating knowledge exchange (Chan et al., 2023), it is important that organizers continue to make efforts to reduce carbon emissions when planning events.

Risk factors for cardiometabolic health in Ghana: Cardiometabolic Risks Study Protocol-APTI Project.

Cardiometabolic diseases are rapidly becoming primary causes of death in developing countries, including Ghana. However, risk factors for these diseases, including obesity phenotype, and availability of cost-effective diagnostic criteria are poorly documented in an African-ancestry populations in their native locations. The extent to which the environment, occupation, geography, stress, and sleep habits contribute to the development of Cardiometabolic disorders should be examined. The overall goal of this study is to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes, prediabetes, and associated cardiovascular risks using a multi-sampled oral glucose tolerance test. The study will also investigate the phenotype and ocular characteristics of diabetes and prediabetes subgroups, as well as determine if lifestyle changes over a one-year period will impact the progression of diabetes and prediabetes. The study employs a community-based quasi-experimental design, making use of pre- and post-intervention data, as well as a questionnaire survey of 1200 individuals residing in the Cape Coast metropolis to ascertain the prevalence and risk factors for undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes. Physical activity, dietary habits, stress levels, sleep patterns, body image perception, and demographic characteristics will be assessed. Glucose dysregulation will be detected using oral glucose tolerance test, fasting plasma glucose, and glycated hemoglobin. Liver and kidney function will also be assessed. Diabetes and prediabetes will be classified using the American Diabetes Association criteria. Descriptive statistics, including percentages, will be used to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and cardiovascular risks. Inferential statistics, including ANOVA, t-tests, chi-square tests, ROC curves, logistic regression, and linear mixed model regression will be used to analyze the phenotypic variations in the population, ocular characteristics, glycemic levels, sensitivity levels of diagnostic tests, etiological cause of diabetes in the population, and effects of lifestyle modifications, respectively. Additionally, t-tests will be used to assess changes in glucose regulation biomarkers after lifestyle modifications. Ethics approval was granted by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana (UCCIRB/EXT/2022/27). The findings will be disseminated in community workshops, online learning platforms, academic conferences and submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication.

Paul Gerhardt in America 1743–2007

Abstract: German Hymnwriter Paul Gerhardt (1607–1676), often described as the most important Lutheran hymnwriter other than Martin Luther, has had an impact in America. His hymns helped shape the faith and ministry of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (1711–1787), often described as the “father” of the Lutheran church in America. His hymns helped Lutherans to face the crisis of World War I. Since the eighteenth century Gerhardt hymns have appeared in North American Lutheran hymnals. Even today they appear in both Lutheran hymnals and the hymnals of other Christian groups. Lutherans observed the 300th anniversary of his birth in 1907 with celebrations for laity and clergy featuring Gerhardt’s hymns. Many articles in church periodicals described Gerhardt and his hymns. The 400th anniversary of his birth in 2007 gained some attention, in church publications and academic conferences, but generally less attention than in 1907.

Preface

As an annual academic conference, ICPMS has been successfully held over the last 7 years in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Yichang and online platform, attracted delegates from more than 10 countries and regions including China, Thailand, Japan, the United States, South Korea. During May 23-25, 2024, the 7th International Conference on Physics, Mathematics and Statistics (ICPMS2024) was successfully held in Yichang, China and online platform! This conference included keynote speeches, invited speeches, oral and poster presentations, and featured multi-topic special sessions, including: Fusion and Plasma Physics, Gravitation and Cosmology, Non-localized quantum mechanics and quantum entanglement, Engineering Thermophysics, Electrical Materials and Applications. Prof. Lixing Zhou from Tsinghua University, Prof. Qiwei Zhan from Zhejiang University and Prof. Fang Wang from Beihang University attended the conference and delivered keynote speeches. In addition, experts and scholars from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Surgut State University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, and other universities and institutes shared more than 20 wonderful speeches. This conference proceedings included 22 accepted articles selected from 54 submissions, all the papers have been through rigorous review and process to meet the requirements of international publication standard. We would like to express our gratitude to the reviewers of these manuscripts, who provided constructive criticism and stimulated comments and suggestions to the authors. We are extremely grateful as organizers, technical program committee and editors and extend our most sincere thanks to all the authors for their excellent contribution and work. Our sincere gratitude also goes to the IOP Publishing editors and managers for their helpful cooperation during the preparation of the proceedings. On behalf of the Organizing Committee of ICPMS2024. List of Technical Program Committee is available in this Pdf.

Looking at Arts Institutions, Communities, and Space: Reflections and Research from the Field of Art Sociology

In this introduction to the journal issue, the editors characterize the individual scholarly articles included in the volume. They also briefly recall their research interests in the field of art. The texts in the volume deal with three intertwining dimensions: cultural and art institutions, communities (artistic and aesthetic), and space. Most of the authors presented their research at the academic conference ‘Esthetic Communities and Artistic Institutions’ (2023), organized by the Art Sociology Section of the Polish Sociological Association. Polish contemporary sociology of art is mainly empirical sociology. Qualitative research in the field of art sociology in Poland has been used since the 1960s. Initially, they had been treated as experimental, gradually transforming into an increasingly common approach. Sociologists most often used various types of qualitative analyses of materials as well as interviews. Researchers still often use these techniques today, but one can also see the use of other methods, e.g., as part of the art-based research approach (this methodological orientation was used in one of the articles).

Inclusion of home languages during early childhood instructional conversations

Including home languages in classrooms can increase multilingual students’ participation, improve literacy, and promote inclusion. It is a prevalent topic at academic conferences; however, home language use in classrooms is less common. This study was a microanalysis of home language use during Instructional Conversations at a linguistically diverse English-medium preschool. Data sources included 27 h of classroom videos of Instructional Conversations and interviews with educators who used children's home languages. Home language use during Instructional Conversations was rare in these data; however, when employed, it was followed by increased participation by the multilingual children, facilitating language and concept development. These findings indicate a need for explicit educator preparation on home language use in classrooms. Educators in this study who used children's home languages adopted alternative discourse patterns than those traditionally found in schools. They reported being motivated by the increased participation of multilingual children and positive responses from families.