Size Bias Research Articles

Resilient Stress Reactivity Profiles Predict Mental Health Gains from Online Contemplative Training: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Low-dose app-based contemplative interventions for mental health are increasingly popular, but heterogeneity in intervention responses indicates that a personalized approach is needed. We examined whether different longitudinal resilience-vulnerability trajectories, derived over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, predicted differences in diverse mental health outcomes after mindfulness and socio-emotional dyadic online interventions. The CovSocial project comprised a longitudinal assessment (phase 1) and an open-label efficacy trial (phase 2). A community sample of 253 participants received 12 min daily app-based socio-emotional dyadic or mindfulness-based interventions, with weekly online coaching for 10 weeks. Before and after the intervention, participants completed validated self-report questionnaires assessing mental health. Stress reactivity profiles were derived from seven repeated assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2020 to March/April 2021) and were categorized into resilient (more plasticity) or vulnerable (less plasticity) stress recovery profiles. After both interventions, only individuals with resilient stress reactivity profiles showed significant improvements in depression symptomatology, trait anxiety, emotion regulation, and stress recovery. Those with vulnerable profiles did not show significant improvements in any outcome. Limitations of this study include the relatively small sample size and potential biases associated with participant dropout. Brief app-based mental interventions may be more beneficial for those with greater levels of stress resiliency and plasticity in response to stressors. More vulnerable individuals might require more intense and personalized intervention formats.

Effect of Phytases in Pig Diets on Production Performance: Meta-analysis

Feeding is one of the most critical items in pig production. Phosphorus, protein, and energy sources represent the most expensive ingredients in the feed. Phytases are enzymes used for many years to take advantage of plant phosphorus and reduce costs. Despite many studies with various methodologies and results, they have not been thoroughly systematized. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of phytases on performance in pigs. Effect size, heterogeneity, meta-regressions, and publication bias were determined. Phytase-supplemented pigs gained 25.17 g (p < 0.05) more daily weight than controls. Piglets can gain up to 39.89 g (p < 0.05). The pigs ingested a greater amount of feed, 23.44 and 28.61 g (p < 0.05), per day than the control in the general analysis and piglets, respectively. Crude protein, metabolizable energy, total calcium and phosphorus, duration, and level of phytases in the diet affected performance (p < 0.05). No publication bias was found. Including phytases favors weight gain and feed intake in general pigs and piglets but not in growing-finishing pigs. The effect of other nutrients and the duration and level (dose) of phytases must be considered at the time of formulation.

Influential Factors Shaping Consumer Behavior in Skincare Industry

This study investigates the influence of digital marketing, brand awareness, and electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM) on consumer purchasing intentions for local skincare products in East Java, Indonesia. Employing an objective and scientific quantitative research approach, data from 97 respondents were analyzed using SPSS software. Findings reveal a significant positive impact of brand awareness and e-WOM on purchasing intentions, while digital marketing showed no significant effect. These results emphasize the importance of tailored marketing strategies in driving consumer interest and suggest avenues for future research to explore additional influencing factors. Limitations include the small sample size and potential biases in data collection. This research contributes to understanding consumer behavior dynamics in the skincare industry and informs marketing strategies for local skincare products. Highlights: 1. Analyzing digital, brand, e-WOM impact on skincare consumer behavior.2. Brand awareness, e-WOM significantly influence consumer interest in skincare products.3. Tailored marketing crucial for leveraging consumer preferences in skincare industry. Keywords: Consumer Behavior, Digital Marketing, Brand Awareness, Electronic Word-of-Mouth (e-WOM), Skincare Industry

Genetic diversity of endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia infecting two mosquito species of the genus Eretmapodites occurring in sympatry in the Comoros archipelago.

The influence of Wolbachia on mosquito reproduction and vector competence has led to renewed interest in studying the genetic diversity of these bacteria and the phenotypes they induced in mosquito vectors. In this study, we focused on two species of Eretmapodites, namely Eretmapodites quinquevittatus and Eretmapodites subsimplicipes, from three islands in the Comoros archipelago (in the Southwestern Indian Ocean). Using the COI gene, we examined the mitochondrial genetic diversity of 879 Eretmapodites individuals from 54 sites. Additionally, we investigated the presence and genetic diversity of Wolbachia using the wsp marker and the diversity of five housekeeping genes commonly used for genotyping through Multiple Locus Sequence Typing (MLST). Overall, Er. quinquevittatus was the most abundant species in the three surveyed islands and both mosquito species occurred in sympatry in most of the investigated sites. We detected a higher mitochondrial genetic diversity in Er. quinquevittatus with 35 reported haplotypes (N = 615 specimens, Hd = 0.481 and π = 0.002) while 13 haplotypes were found in Er. subsimplicipes (N = 205 specimens, Hd = 0.338 and π = 0.001), this difference is likely due to the bias in sampling size between the two species. We report for the first time the presence of Wolbachia in these two Eretmapodites species. The prevalence of Wolbachia infection varied significantly between species, with a low prevalence recorded in Er. quinquevittatus (0.8%, N = 5/627) while infection was close to fixation in Er. subsimplicipes (87.7%, N = 221/252). Both male and female individuals of the two mosquito species appeared to be infected. The analysis of MLST genes revealed the presence of two Wolbachia strains corresponding to two new strain types (STs) within the supergroups A and B, which have been named wEretA and wEretB. These strains were found as mono-infections and are closely related, phylogenetically, to Wolbachia strains previously reported in Drosophila species. Finally, we demonstrate that maternal transmission of Wolbachia is imperfect in Er. subsimplicipes, which could explain the presence of a minority of uninfected individuals in the field.

PETSurfer-Based Brain Segmentation in Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Associated Hippocampal Sclerosis

PurposeIn a homogeneous cohort of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) patients with hippocampal sclerosis (HS), this study utilizes the PETSurfer method to quantify and localize areas of cerebral hypometabolism. MethodsWe selected patients from the University Clinical Center of Serbia who all underwent anterior temporal lobectomy with amygdalohippocampectomy and achieved seizure freedom (Engel class I). Our analysis involved integrating FDG-PET and MRI imaging to compare glucose metabolism between the hemispheres ipsilateral and contralateral to HS. ResultsThe quantitative PETSurfer approach identified significant hypometabolism restricted to the ipsilateral temporal lobe structures—the amygdala, hippocampus, temporal pole, superior and middle temporal gyrus—and the ipsilateral thalamus. The lack of significant hypometabolism in extratemporal regions indicates that these 'pure' mTLE cases may not involve the broader network disruptions typically associated with more extensive epileptic pathologies. The effect sizes ranged from small to medium, indicating variable degrees of metabolic reduction across different structures. ConclusionThese findings highlight the localized nature of the epileptogenic focus in HS-related mTLE with good surgical outcome. However, the small sample size and potential cohort bias, necessitate caution in generalizing these results. Future research would benefit from a comparative approach incorporating a control group, providing a broader context for interpreting these hypometabolic patterns.

The double-edged scalpel: Experiences and perceptions of pregnancy and parenthood during Canadian surgical residency training.

Only 34% of Canadian surgeons in 2022 were female. The protracted length of surgical residency training, concerns regarding infertility, and increased rates of obstetrical complications have been shown to contribute to the disproportionate lack of females in surgical specialties. A novel online survey was sent to all surgical residents in Canada. Respondents were asked about perceptions of pregnancy and parenthood during surgical training, and parents were asked about parental leave, accommodations they received, and pregnancy complications. Chi squared tests were used to compare opinions of male and female residents. A total of 272/2,419 (11.2%) responses were obtained, with a high response from females (61.8%) and orthopaedic residents (29.0%). There were 56 women reporting 76 pregnancy events during training, 62.5% of which had complications. Notably, 27.3% of men and 86.7% of women 'agreed' or 'strongly agreed' that surgeons have higher pregnancy complication rates than the general population (p<0.001). Men were much less likely to believe that pregnant residents should be offered modified duties (74.2% of men, 90.0% of women, p = 0.003). Women were much more likely to experience significant stigma or bias due to their status as a parent (43% of women, 0% of men, p<0.001). Women reported negative comments from others at a higher rate (58.5% of women, 40.7% of men, p = 0.013). Women believe there is negative stigma attached to being pregnant during training (62.7% of women, 42.7% of men, p = 0.01). The limitations of our study include a small sample size and response bias. Challenges and negative perceptions exist around pregnancy and parenthood in surgical residency, which disproportionately affect women trainees.

Do financial analysts care about ESG ?

This article studies whether financial analysts value Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria when issuing target prices. Raw results show that analysts issue lower target prices to firms with high ESG scores. We show that this relationship is, in fact, driven both by the existing size bias in ESG data and by the industry-level structure of ESG scores. When controlling for these elements, we actually find that financial analysts are more optimistic about firms that have high E, S, and G scores. Notably, the effect is more pronounced for the environmental (E) score, with a one standard deviation change associated with a 2.09 percentage point increase in the analysts’ target prices implied returns.

Meta-analysis Influence of Integrated Mind Mapping Inquiry Based Learning Model on Student Problem Solving Skills

A This study aims to determine the effect of inquiry-based learning model integrated mind mapping on students' problem-solving skills. This type of research is quantitative research with meta-analysis methods. Data comes from international journals or proceedings published 2015-2023. Data search through ScienceDirect, Springer, ProQuest, ERIC and Taylor of Francis databases. Research should be selected for data in meta-analyses. The inclusion criteria are that research must be experimental methods or quasi-experiments, research indexed by Scopus, Sinta, Web of Science, Microsoft Academic and EBSCO, Research has an experimental class inquiry learning model integrated mind mapping and conventional model control class, research has a number of samples (N), correlation values (r), t, and F and a sample consisting of 1021 participants. Data analysis with the help of JASP to determine the value of effect size, heterogeneity test and publication bias. The results showed a positive influence of minde mapping-based inquiry learning model on students' problem solving skills ( z = 7.019; p &lt; 0.001; 95% CI [0.61; 1.26]. This finding shows that the influence of mind mapping-based inquiry learning models is included in the very high category (rRE = 1.31).

Behavioural, developmental and psychological characteristics in children with germline PTEN mutations: a carer report study.

PTEN is primarily known as a tumour suppressor gene. However, research describes higher rates of difficulties including intellectual disability and difficulties relating to autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) in people with germline PTEN mutations. Other psychological characteristics/experiences are less often reported and are explored in this study. The parents of 20 children with PTEN mutations completed an online survey exploring adaptive behaviour, ASC-associated behaviours, anxiety, mood, hypermobility, behaviours that challenge, sensory experiences, quality of life and parental wellbeing. Published normative data and data from groups of individuals with other genetic neurodevelopmental conditions were used to contextualise findings. Overall levels of adaptive behaviour were below the 'typical' range, and no marked relative differences were noted between domains. Higher levels of ASC-related difficulties, including sensory experiences, were found in comparison with 'typically developing' children, with a possible peak in restrictive/repetitive behaviour; ASC and sensory processing atypicality also strongly correlated with reported joint hypermobility. A relative preservation of social motivation was noted. Anxiety levels were found to be elevated overall (and to relate to sensory processing and joint hypermobility), with the exception of social anxiety, which was comparable with normative data. Self-injurious behaviour was common. Results suggest a wide range of possible difficulties in children with PTEN mutations, including elevated anxiety. Despite elevated ASC phenomenology, social motivation may remain relatively strong. Firm conclusions are restricted by a small sample size and potential recruitment bias, and future research is required to further explore the relationships between such characteristics.

Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in patients with bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation.

This review aims to summarize the current knowledge concerning the clinical features, diagnostic work-up, and therapeutic approach of bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation (BDUMP). A meticulous literature search was performed in the PubMed database. A supplementary search was made in Google Scholar to complete the collected items. Our search strategy utilized the following keywords: "bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation", "BDUMP", and "Paraneoplastic Syndrome". Articles were considered based on their relevance, with the search spanning publications up to 2023. Studies were excluded if they did not contribute pertinent information or lacked methodological rigor. A critical appraisal of included studies was conducted, assessing study design, sample size, methodology, and potential bias, ensuring a thorough and transparent review process. BDUMP is a rare and potentially sight-threatening condition characterized by the bilateral proliferation of melanocytes within the uvea. BDUMP is typically observed in middle-aged or elderly individuals and is often associated with an underlying malignancy, most commonly of gastrointestinal origin. BDUMP is frequently misdiagnosed as a benign nevus or choroidal metastasis, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. The ophthalmic symptoms and signs typically precede the diagnosis of a systemic malignancy, emphasizing the crucial role of ophthalmologists in the recognition of BDUMP. Several diagnostic modalities can aid in the diagnosis of BDUMP, including ophthalmic examination, imaging studies such as optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography, and biopsy of the uveal tissue. Treatment of BDUMP is directed towards the underlying malignancy and may include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgical resection. Additionally, strict monitoring with regular follow-ups may contribute to the detection of new lesions and the reduction in the size of existing ones. BDUMP can be considered a potential biomarker in the management of malignancies, especially when the primary underlying tumor has not been detected. Further research is needed to better understand the pathogenesis of BDUMP and its association with malignancy.

Medial quadriceps tendon femoral ligament reconstruction and medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction have no significant differences in clinical outcomes for treatment of lateral patellar instability: a matched-cohort study

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes of medial quadriceps tendon-femoral ligament reconstruction (MQTFLR) and medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) among patients with recurrent lateral patellar instability. MethodsA retrospective matched-cohort study was conducted involving patients who underwent MQTFLR or MPFLR with or without tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) from 2019 to 2021. Subjects were matched 1:1 on age, concomitant osteochondral allograft (OCA), concomitant TTO, and follow-up time. Measured outcomes included 90-day complications, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) knee pain, return to sport/work, Kujala score, Tegner score, and MPFL-Return to Sport after Injury (MPFL-RSI) score. Outcomes were compared between groups using Mann–Whitney U-test for continuous variables and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. P-values <0.05 were considered significant. ResultsTen MQTFLR patients (mean age 28.7 years, 80% female, mean follow-up 19.7 months) and ten MPFLR patients (mean age 29.1 years, 90% female, mean follow-up 28.3 months) were included in the study. One MQTFLR patient (10%) and three MPFLR patients (30%) underwent reoperation for postoperative arthrofibrosis. Postoperative VAS resting pain was not significantly different between the groups (MQTFLR mean 1.1, MPFLR mean 0.6, p ​= ​0.31). There were no significant differences in rates of recurrent subluxations (MQTFLR 20%, MPFLR 0%, p ​= ​0.47), return to sport (MQTFLR 50%, MPFLR 75%, p ​= ​0.61), return to work (MQTFLR 100%, MPFLR 88%, p ​= ​1.00), or MPFL-RSI pass rate (MQTFLR 75% vs. MPFLR 38%, p ​= ​0.31). ConclusionThere were no significant differences in knee pain and function, return to work, and rates of recurrent patellar instability between patients who underwent MQTFLR versus MPFLR, though these results should be interpreted with caution given the small sample size and potential selection bias. Level of EvidenceIII.

Impact of Complete Surgical Resection of Metastatic Lesions in Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Era of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Complete metastasectomy (CM) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has demonstrated efficacy in the cytokine era, but its effectiveness in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remains unclear. A multi-institutional database included clinicopathological data of 367 patients with mRCC. Patients were divided into two groups: the CM group and the non-CM group. These two groups were compared before and after propensity score matching (PSM). Cox proportional hazard models were used to detect factors associated with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) from mRCC diagnosis. The CM group showed a significant association with longer overall survival compared to the non-CM group in the PSM-unadjusted cohorts (p < 0.001, hazard ratio 0.49, 95% confidence interval 0.35-0.69), but no superiority was noted in the adjusted cohorts. The median DFS after CM was 24 months, with no significant differences based on relapse timing. Notably, the international metastatic RCC database consortium risk categories and metastatic burden were associated with DFS. This study supports the potential of CM in mRCC management during the TKI/ICI era, although limitations including sample size and selection bias need to be considered.

Resolving taphonomic and preparation biases in silicified faunas through paired acid residues and X-ray microscopy.

Paired petrography and acid maceration has shown that preferential silicification of shelly faunas can bias recovery based on taxon and body size. Here, silicified fossils from the Upper Ordovician Edinburg Formation, Strasburg Junction, Virginia, USA, were analyzed using X-ray tomographic microscopy (μCT) in conjunction with recovered residues from acid maceration of the same materials to further examine sources of potential bias. Results reveal that very small (<~1 mm) fossils are poorly resolved in μCT when scanning at lower resolutions (~30 µm), underestimating abundance of taxa including ostracods and bryozoans. Acid maceration, meanwhile, fails to recover poorly silicified fossils prone to disarticulation and/or fragmentation during digestion. Tests for patterns of breakage, however, indicate no significant size or taxonomic bias during extraction. Comparisons of individual fossils from 3-D fossil renders and maceration residues reveal patterns of fragmentation that are taxon-specific and allow the differentiation of biostratinomic and preparational breakage. Multivariate ordinations and cluster analyses of μCT and residue data in general produce concordant results but indicate that the variation in taxonomic composition of our samples is compromised by the resolvability of small size classes in μCT imaging, limiting the utility of this method for addressing paleoecological questions in these specific samples. We suggest that comparability of results will depend strongly on the sample size, taphonomic history, textural, and compositional characteristics of the samples in question, as well as μCT scan parameters. Additionally, applying these methods to different deposits will test the general applicability of the conclusions drawn on the relative strengths and weaknesses of the methods.

Rapid campimetry - a novel robust kinetic approach for visual field screening in glaucoma.

To investigate the robustness and variability of a novel kinetic visual field (VF) screening method termed rapid campimetry (RC). In RC visual field (VF) screening is enabled via kinetic-based testing on any computer (10°/4.7 s at 40-cm viewing distance) and high contrast in a dark room (1 cd/cm2). In experiment (1): 30 participants [20 healthy participants (HC), 5 glaucoma patients (GLA) and 5 patients with cataract (CAT)] were included to test the intra-session variability (fatigue effect) and the following effects on RC: room illumination (140 cd/m2), ±3 D refractive errors, media opacity. In experiment (2): Inter-session variability (1-3 weeks apart) was assessed in 10 HC and 10 GLA. Since RC detects absolute scotomas, the outcome measure was the size of physiological (blindspot) and pathological (glaucoma) scotomas in degrees. A repeated measures ANOVA was employed in experiment 1 and intraclass correlation (ICC) in experiment 2. Neither the size of the blindspot nor the VF defects differed significantly between the different testing conditions. For intra-session variability, the average bias of blindspot size was -0.6 ± 2.5°, limits of agreement (LOA), in comparison to 0.3 ± 1.5° for VF defects, both with ICC of 0.86 and 0.93, respectively. For the inter-session repeatability, the average bias and LOA for blindspot size was 0.2 ± 3.85° in comparison 1.6 ± 3.1° for VF defects, both with ICC of 0.87 and 0.91, respectively. RC was robust to suboptimal testing VF conditions and showed good-to-excellent reliability between VF testing visits holding high potential for teleophthalmology.

IN-DEPTH EXAMINATION OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE, COMMUNICATION DYNAMICS, AND OPERATIONAL PRACTICES AT AN ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY

Effective communication is pivotal for success in today's interconnected and complex business environments. This research delves into the communication culture of an engineering and construction company, aiming to comprehend its organizational culture and communication practices. Using a qualitative research design, key informant interviews were conducted with three engineers holding managerial positions within the company. Thematic analysis revealed insights into the organization's values, communication patterns, and dynamics. Results indicate a culture emphasizing honesty, integrity, collaboration, and transparency. Communication channels such as team meetings, open-door policies, and suggestion boxes were identified, highlighting the importance of both formal and informal communication models. Instances impacting communication, such as deadlines and seminars, were also examined. Recommendations include promoting open communication, utilizing various communication channels, implementing training programs, fostering diversity, balancing formal and informal communication, setting clear deadlines, and continuously evaluating communication practices. Despite limitations such as sample size and potential biases, this study offers valuable insights into enhancing communication effectiveness within engineering and construction companies, contributing to organizational success.

The late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions: Patterns, causes, ecological consequences and implications for ecosystem management in the Anthropocene

Abstract Across the last ~50,000 years (the late Quaternary) terrestrial vertebrate faunas have experienced severe losses of large species (megafauna), with most extinctions occurring in the Late Pleistocene and Early to Middle Holocene. Debate on the causes has been ongoing for over 200 years, intensifying from the 1960s onward. Here, we outline criteria that any causal hypothesis needs to account for. Importantly, this extinction event is unique relative to other Cenozoic (the last 66 million years) extinctions in its strong size bias. For example, only 11 out of 57 species of megaherbivores (body mass ≥1,000 kg) survived to the present. In addition to mammalian megafauna, certain other groups also experienced substantial extinctions, mainly large non-mammalian vertebrates and smaller but megafauna-associated taxa. Further, extinction severity and dates varied among continents, but severely affected all biomes, from the Arctic to the tropics. We synthesise the evidence for and against climatic or modern human (Homo sapiens) causation, the only existing tenable hypotheses. Our review shows that there is little support for any major influence of climate, neither in global extinction patterns nor in fine-scale spatiotemporal and mechanistic evidence. Conversely, there is strong and increasing support for human pressures as the key driver of these extinctions, with emerging evidence for an initial onset linked to pre-sapiens hominins prior to the Late Pleistocene. Subsequently, we synthesize the evidence for ecosystem consequences of megafauna extinctions and discuss the implications for conservation and restoration. A broad range of evidence indicates that the megafauna extinctions have elicited profound changes to ecosystem structure and functioning. The late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions thereby represent an early, large-scale human-driven environmental transformation, constituting a progenitor of the Anthropocene, where humans are now a major player in planetary functioning. Finally, we conclude that megafauna restoration via trophic rewilding can be expected to have positive effects on biodiversity across varied Anthropocene settings.

Müller-Lyer Illusion susceptibility is conditionally predicted by autistic trait expression.

Müller-Lyer (ML) figures bias size estimation consistently, yet different methods can lead to different degrees of illusory bias. Autistic individuals may also be less likely to perceive illusory biases with varying levels of autistic trait expression proposed to modulate reported illusory biases. The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Systemizing Quotient (SQ) are self-report measures that quantify autistic trait expression and systemizing ability in neurotypical individuals. The current study sought to determine if perceptions of illusory size bias negatively correlate with autistic trait expression and the extent to which varying methods of illusion presentation change the magnitude of illusory bias. Thirty neurotypical adults completed both questionnaires as well as four size estimation tasks. Two tasks involved perceptual discrimination of ML figures by concurrent and successive presentation, where participants selected the longer figure by keypress. For Tasks 3 and 4, participants adjusted the size of a non-illusory line (Task 3) or complementary illusory figure (Task 4) to match the perceived length. Overall, task performance was not correlated with autistic trait expression. One exception was a negative correlation with AQ when adjusting a complementary illusory ML figure in Task 4. Illusory biases were also stronger when two illusory figures were presented concurrently. Given these results, illusion susceptibility to the ML is suggested to be reduced with increases in AQ, but only when the method of illusion measurement is adjustment of concurrent illusory figures. Taken together the results provide evidence that traits associated with autism in a neurotypical population may systematically modulate perception.

Effect STEAM Based Discovery Learning Model on Students Thinking Ability: Meta-Analysis Study

This study aims to determine the effect of the STEAM-based discivery learning model on students' critical thinking skills. This research is a type of meta-analysis research. The researchsample came from 17 national and international journals. Samples were obtained through databases in the journals Springer, Wiley, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Taylor of Francis, SAGE, and the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC). The inclusion criteria are research published in 2019-2023; The study had experimental and control classes, journals had to be indexed Science and Technology Index (SINTA), Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) and the sample size in this study was 1,078 students. Data analysis calculated the value of summary effect size, heterogeneity test and publication bias with JASP 0.8.0.4 application. These results conclude that the summary effect size value (rE = 0.902; p &lt; 0.001) then this result shows that the STEAM-based discovery learning model has a positive effect on students' critical thinking skills at high criteria. This finding shows that the application of the STEAM-based discovery learning model has a significant influence on students' critical thinking skills in learning at school.

Long-term burden of war injuries among civilians in LMICs: case of the July 2006 war in Lebanon.

Lebanon, a country located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, is one of the world's smaller sovereign states. In the past few decades, Lebanon endured a perpetual political turmoil and several armed conflicts. July 12, 2006, marked the start of a one-month war in Lebanon, which resulted in thousands of casualties. Little is known about the long-term consequences of war injuries inflicted on civilians during the July 2006 war. The objectives of this paper were to identify and evaluate: 1- civilians' access to healthcare and medicine under conditions of war; 2- the long-term socioeconomic burden on injured civilians; and 3- their quality of life more than a decade post-war. We adopted a mixed-method research design with an emphasis on the qualitative component. We conducted interviews with patients, collected clinical and financial data from hospital medical records, and administered a self-rated health questionnaire, the EQ-5D-5L. Simple descriptive statistics were calculated using Excel. NVivo 12® was used for data management and thematic analysis. We conducted 25 interviews. Injured civilians were mostly males, average age of 27. The most common mechanism of injury was blast injury. Most patients underwent multiple surgeries as well as revision surgeries. The thematic analysis revealed three themes: 1- recall of the time of the incident, the thousand miles journey, and patients' access to services; 2- post-trauma sequelae and services; and 3- long-term impact. Patients described the long-term burden including chronic pain, poor mobility, anxiety or depression, and limited activities of daily living. Civilians injured during the July 2006 war described the traumatising events they endured during the war and the limited access to medical care during and post-war. Up until this study was conducted, affected civilians were still experiencing physical, psychological, and financial sequelae. Acknowledging the limitations of this study, which include a small sample size and recall bias, the findings underscore the necessity for the expansion of services catering to civilians injured during wartime.

Deficits in Radiation Health Affects Knowledge among Emergency Nurses in Japan’s Nuclear Emergency Core Hospitals

Background: In the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station disaster in 2011, Japan established Nuclear Emergency Core Hospitals (NECHs) to prepare for future nuclear incidents. Objective: This study investigates the knowledge and health anxiety related to radiation among nurses working in emergency units at NECHs in Kagoshima Prefecture. Methods: A web-based questionnaire was distributed to 36 nurses, utilizing a cross-sectional design with a response rate of 55.6%. The survey covered demographic details and posed questions about radiation health effects and nuclear disaster medicine. Results: Results revealed that only 30% had studied radiation health effects at educational institutions, and 95% expressed a desire for further training. The correct response rate for questions about nuclear disaster medicine was over 40%, but less than 10% for questions about radiation health effects. Conclusion: Despite limitations such as sample size and potential sampling bias, this study is the first of its kind. It highlights the urgent need for comprehensive training programs to improve nurses' knowledge and alleviate their health anxieties about radiation. Future research should extend this study to other regions and countries to validate these findings.