Cross-sectional Perspective Research Articles

Substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic among persons with traumatic spinal cord injury: A cross-sectional perspective

Study design: Analysis of data from two cohorts of Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Database (SCIMS) participants, pre-pandemic (2017–2019, n = 6368) and during pandemic (2020, n = 1889). Objectives: To examine differences in substance use during the pandemic compared to the years prior to the pandemic. Setting: 19 SCIMS Centers. Methods: Participant characteristics, wellness (depression, life satisfaction, resilience), participation, and substance use between the two cohorts were compared. Multiple logistic regression examined the association of the pandemic with substance use after accounting for other factors. Results: Characteristics of the two cohorts were similar. Cannabis and sedative uses were not greatly different (28.8% vs 25.1%, and 8.3% vs 6.6%) but did reach statistical significance. Non-prescribed opioid use was double for the pandemic group (6.6% vs 3.3%). Alcohol use patterns were similar across the two cohorts. Measures of wellness were similar, while the pandemic group reported lower participation. The odds of use of cannabis, sedatives, and opioids were 1.3, 1.3, and 2.2 times greater, respectively, for the pandemic cohort after accounting for demographics, wellness, and participation. Greater use of non-prescribed opioids was reported during the pandemic in the South compared to prior to the pandemic (13.8% vs 6.1%). Conclusions: The pandemic may have been associated with increased use of non-prescribed substances in the traumatic spinal cord injury population. Efforts to pursue longitudinal investigations would be warranted for definitive analysis of trends. The provision of demonstrably effective substance use treatment resources delivered via accessible methods will likely be needed in this population, particularly opioid treatment.

Regional socioeconomic characteristics and density of general practitioners in Germany: A nationwide cross-sectional and longitudinal spatial analysis

ObjectivesLimited healthcare availability impacts population health. Regional disparities in GP density across Germany raise questions about their association with regional socioeconomic characteristics. Study designThis longitudinal nationwide ecological German study used regional data at the county level (n = 401) from 2015 to 2019 provided by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR). The outcome was general practitioners (GPs) density, defined as the number of GPs per 10,000 inhabitants. MethodsUnivariate Moran's I, cluster analysis (LISA), and spatial lag of X (SLX) models were employed to analyse the spatial distribution of GP density and its correlation with various regional socioeconomic characteristics from a cross-sectional and longitudinal perspective. ResultsIn contrast to the univariate analysis, rural counties showed the highest GP density the multivariate model. Several counties were identified as embedded in low- or high-GP-density clusters. In 2015 and 2019, larger household size (2015: std. β = −2.31, p = 0.021; 2019: std. β = −4.14, p < 0.001) and higher unemployment rate (2015: std. β = −2.84, p = 0.005; 2019: std. β = −5.47, p < 0.001) were associated with lower GP density. In the longitudinal model, a greater increase in the unemployment rate was related to a greater decrease in GP density (std. β = −2.17, p = 0.030). ConclusionA higher regional unemployment rate is linked to lower GP availability in Germany, and a greater increase in the unemployment rate was related to a greater decrease in GP availability over time. This necessitates policy intervention to avoid socioeconomic disparities in GP care.

Job crafting and entrepreneurial innovativeness: the moderated mediation roles of dynamic capabilities and self-initiated AI learning

PurposeThis paper investigates the moderated mediation roles of dynamic capabilities and self-initiated AI learning between job crafting and entrepreneurial innovativeness among owner-managers of family craft businesses in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachA convenience sampling technique was used in the selection of 498 family craft business owner-managers in Ghana. The paper deployed regression analysis to examine the hypothesized paths.FindingsUsing hierarchical regression, job crafting was found to have a positive effect on entrepreneurs’ innovativeness. Further, dynamic capabilities moderate the mediated link between self-initiated AI learning and entrepreneurial innovativeness.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study assesses self-initiated learning for work adjustment from a cross-sectional design perspective. Though, this research design is effective in the assessment of opinions and attitudes of persons, it is limited in its capacity to reflect changing opinions and attitudes overtime. This study recommends future studies to conduct a longitudinal survey on the phenomenon.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first to deploy AI affordances to extend empirical literature on the novel SIWAL concept for work adjustment among craft family business owner-managers in Africa.

Exploring the Incidence of Malignancy in Thyroid Swelling: A Cross-Sectional Perspective

Introduction: Thyroid malignancy is a global health problem. It is the most common among all endocrine malignancies. The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing all over the world. Bangladesh is not exempted. The worldwide prevalence of goiter in the general population is estimated at 4-7%. The incidence of malignancy in goitrous thyroid is about 10%. An increased incidence of thyroid carcinoma has been noted in endemic goiter zones. Bangladesh also has some goitrous zones. The frequency of carcinoma is two times higher in solitary thyroid nodules than in multinodular goiter. Male patients with thyroid swelling showed a high incidence of malignancy. Objective: The study aims to find out the incidence of malignancy in thyroid swelling in a tertiary level hospital of Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional observational study done in the department of ENT &amp; HNS, Cumilla Medical College Hospital from January 2023 to December 2023 with 60 hospitalized patients of different thyroid swelling undergone surgery. Results: In this series of 60 patients of thyroid swelling the age of the patients ranged from 15 to 80, the mean age was 37.73. There were 53 females (88.33%) and 07 males (11.66%) with female to male ratio of 7.6:1. Among the non-neoplastic group (n=33;55%) nodular goitre had the highest incidence (n=20;33.33%) followed by multinodular goitre (n=11;18.33%). The incidence of papillary cell carcinoma was predominant. Among 60 patients with thyroid swelling, it was 28.33% (n=17) and among the malignant lesions (n=22) it was 77.27%. (n=17). The incidence of malignancy (n=22;36.66%)) is more than that of benign (n=5;8.33%). A high incidence of malignancy is observed in male sex. 05 male patients out of 07 were malignant bearing an incidence of 71.42%. In relation to the age of the malignant patients, the incidence is high in 31–40-year group (27.27%). The incidence of malignancy is high in extreme ages also noted. Conclusion: The incidence of thyroid malignancy in thyroid swelling is high. Females of middle age are in a risk group and papillary carcinoma is the commonest of all thyroid malignancies. Appropriate medical attention is warranted for early diagnosis and proper management to reduce morbidity and mortality. Medicine Today 2024, Vol.36 (2): 99-103

Heading for new shores? Longitudinal participation patterns in teacher professional development

ABSTRACT Recent research indicated the advantages of diversified teacher professional development participation patterns (PDPP) to foster teachers’ professionalisation. This study investigated teachers’ PDPP from both cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives using data from the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) utilising information on teachers’ professional development enrolment across three years (N = 3,539). Results from latent class and multiple group analyses indicated that teachers showing higher professional engagement and teachers who were granted paid temporary leave from teaching demonstrated more diversified PDPP. Multiple logistic regression models revealed that the same variables seemed to prevent changes to less diversified PDPP over time. If our study results are confirmed in replications and studies that allow to detect cause-effect relationships, implications for educational policy and practice could be to raise teachers’ professional engagement and grant engaged teachers a paid temporary leave from teaching to participate in professional development activities.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree: is there a connection between the body mass indexes of adolescents and their parents?

Adolescent cases suffering from obesity tend to increase in middle-income countries. This study focused on the relationship between adolescent obesity and parents body mass index (BMI) and the variables of satisfaction, diet implementation and sports promotion. This cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents living in the Mediterranean region (n=522, evaluated n=488). Anthropometric measurements were taken by expert researchers and data were collected using face-to-face survey technique. The average BMI of the adolescents and parents' was found to be above normal values. In adolescents, there was a positive and very good correlation with maternal BMI (r=0.711, p<0.01), a positive and moderate correlation with paternal BMI (r=0.512, p<0.01); In girl adolescents, it was positively and very well with maternal BMI (r=0.731, p<0.01), positively and moderately with father BMI (r=0.549, p<0.01); In boy adolescents, a positive and good correlation was found with maternal BMI (r=0.698, p<0.01), and a positive and moderate correlation with paternal BMI (r=0.459, p<0.01). In the analyzes comparing those who thought obesity threatened them (group 1) and those who did not think it threatened them (group 2), there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of BMI distribution, satisfaction with body weight, diet program implementation, diet recommendation by the family and sports encouragement (p<0, 05). In a cross-sectional perspective paternal obesity is also significant in adolescents and the correlation with maternal obesity is relatively more effective. Also includes evidence of individual efforts and parental contribution in adolescents who see obesity as a threat.

Student-athletes’ perception of basic psychological need support in sports and school: cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives using a cluster-analytical approach

Student-athletes’ perception of basic psychological need support in sports and school: cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives using a cluster-analytical approach

Return-forecasting Signals in Australia, Brazil and United States Equity Markets

This paper offers an in-depth analysis of the role various signals play in equity indices within Australia, Brazil, and the United States. Utilizing statistical methods, particularly single-variate regression analysis, I examine the relationship between the monthly return rates of these indices alongside various signals. A noteworthy finding of my research is that certain trading signals exhibit statistical significance within the context of individual nations, yet this significance does not translate across borders. This difference could be attributed to distinct economic factors inherent to each country, such as varying inflation rates and market microstructures. This study sheds light on multiple financial literatures by offering a comparative cross-sectional perspective on equity markets, and it laid the foundation for more nuanced financial research in the future. Despite the significant insights gained from this study, it also acknowledges the potential for further enhancement of the dataset, emphasizing the quest for a deeper understanding of these complicated relationships.

Peasant families and farm size in Fascist Italy

This article looks at the key factors affecting the connection between peasant family size and farm size in Italy in 1930–1931. The association between farm size and family size was analyzed using a new dataset merging data drawn from both the Population Census of 1931 and the Census of Agriculture of 1930. We found a strict association between peasant family size, here considered as a production unit, and the surface area of the farm. The results seem to correspond to different causal relationship between family size and farm size according to access to land, and form of tenure. In some contexts, where sharecropping was widespread, farm size defines the size of the family. In others where small land ownership prevailed, it seems that family size shapes the size of the farm. In this study we propose a new explanation for peasant family size in the Fascist period. This is done adopting a cross-sectional perspective, providing a geographical analysis based on the 786 agrarian areas that formed the national territory in that period.

Tax Orientation as a Means for The Formalization of Micro and Small Enterprises in the City of Chachapoyas, 2019

Purpose: The purpose of the research was to determine how tax guidance can contribute to the formalization of micro and small enterprises in the city of Chachapoyas. Method: A quantitative approach was used with a non-experimental design from a descriptive and cross-sectional perspective. The sample consisted of 371 micro and small entrepreneurs from various economic sectors in Chachapoyas. Results and Conclusion: The results showed that the entrepreneurs were aware of SUNAT's actions to formalize them. It was concluded that tax orientation is important for the formalization of micro and small enterprises, and it was recommended that the Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza support this process. Implication of the research: The research has significant implications for improving the formalization of micro and small enterprises in Chachapoyas, as well as for strengthening the tax culture and the relationship between taxpayers and the tax administration. Originality/Value: The study adds value by highlighting the importance of tax orientation in business formalization, as well as by involving the university and accounting students in this process.

TOD effects on travel behavior: A synthesis of evidence from cross-sectional and longitudinal studies

The impacts of transit-oriented development (TOD) on travel behavior have been extensively studied, with a predominant focus on cross-sectional analyses that provide a static evaluation at a specific point in time by comparing TODs and non-TODs. Longitudinal assessments that capture changes in behavior over time remain relatively uncommon, and the literature tends to overlook differences in evaluating TOD effects across cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Additionally, the role of trip purpose as a significant but unexplored variable influencing the degree of TOD effects is often disregarded. To address these gaps, this systematic review examines 48 quantitative studies, comparing the effects of TOD on travel behavior from cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives, restructuring indicators of effects into transit use, non-motorized travel, vehicle dependence, and vehicle ownership, and differentiating the effects by trip purpose. A metric has been introduced to quantitatively assess the impact of TOD on travel behavior. The pooled results indicate that private vehicle usage remains high in TOD areas, particularly for non-commuting trips, and that the longitudinal effects of TOD are limited and potentially influenced by individual travel attitudes, residential self-selection, and long-term travel habit change. Furthermore, the methodological differences between cross-sectional and longitudinal studies may lead to divergent conclusions regarding the effects of TOD on travel behavior. Our analysis sheds light on the importance of carefully selecting an appropriate method for a given research question to maximize the accuracy and relevance of the findings. Combining TOD and shared mobility can create a more efficient multi-model transport network that meets the diverse needs of city residents and improves accessibility for all. Overall, this review provides new insights into the impacts of TOD on travel behavior and supports the potential for a paradigm shift toward multimodal transport through the integration of TOD and shared mobility.

A Coal Mine Tunnel Deformation Detection Method Using Point Cloud Data.

In recent years, the deformation detection technology for underground tunnels has played a crucial role in coal mine safety management. Currently, traditional methods such as the cross method and those employing the roof abscission layer monitoring instrument are primarily used for tunnel deformation detection in coal mines. With the advancement of photogrammetric methods, three-dimensional laser scanners have gradually become the primary method for deformation detection of coal mine tunnels. However, due to the high-risk confined spaces and distant distribution of coal mine tunnels, stationary three-dimensional laser scanning technology requires a significant amount of labor and time, posing certain operational risks. Currently, mobile laser scanning has become a popular method for coal mine tunnel deformation detection. This paper proposes a method for detecting point cloud deformation of underground coal mine tunnels based on a handheld three-dimensional laser scanner. This method utilizes SLAM laser radar to obtain complete point cloud information of the entire tunnel, while projecting the three-dimensional point cloud onto different planes to obtain the coordinates of the tunnel centerline. By using the calculated tunnel centerline, the three-dimensional point cloud data collected at different times are matched to the same coordinate system, and then the tunnel deformation parameters are analyzed separately from the global and cross-sectional perspectives. Through on-site collection of tunnel data, this paper verifies the feasibility of the algorithm and compares it with other centerline fitting and point cloud registration algorithms, demonstrating higher accuracy and meeting practical needs.

Developing foreign language teacher enjoyment among Iranian and Turkish EFL teachers: A cross-cultural study

With the burgeoning of positive psychology, foreign language teaching enjoyment (FLTE) was introduced as a combination of personal and social enjoyment and student appreciation. Despite its critical role in language teachers’ professional development and psychological growth, scant qualitative attention has been paid to clarify how it can be developed. Moreover, there needs to be more cross-cultural evidence to clarify the role of contextual and cultural factors in shaping teachers' FLTE. Therefore, this study explored how Iranian and Turkish EFL teachers experienced and developed enjoyment in their teaching careers. The study followed a cross-sectional and cross-cultural perspective as a research design. Purposeful and convenience sampling strategies were used to reach the target participants, and there were 24 Turkish EFL teachers and 22 Iranian EFL teachers in the study. An online survey method involving open-ended questions was employed to collect data. Thematic analysis was performed to interpret the data. The FLTE among Iranian and Turkish teachers were depicted under the main themes of feelings, enhancing factors, challenges, individual coping strategies, and suggested solutions. The findings implied the dynamic nature of FLTE. Based on the findings, several implications were highlighted to enhance the FLTE of Iranian and Turkish EFL teachers in educational contexts.

Erwerbstrajektorien von Varietätenkompetenz in der Zweitsprache: Eine temporal-relationale Perspektive auf das Aneignungsverhältnis standardsprachlicher und bairisch-dialektaler Merkmale

Abstract To date, no studies exist attempting to capture the temporal-relational emergence of dialect and standard German features in the second language (L2) across residence time in the Austro-Bavarian naturalistic context. In order to address this desideratum, 40 migrants with L2 German completed translation tasks assessing their ability to translate from standard German into dialect and vice versa. Taking a cross-sectional developmental perspective, our goal is to examine when dialect features (e. g., a-darkening, l-vocalization) manifest in participants’ multivarietal repertoires during residence in Austria over a timespan of approximately 13 years. The results of Bayesian binary logistic multilevel modeling reveal that participants quickly acquire dialect features such as negation particles (e. g., standard nicht vs. dialectal ned), fricative reduction (e. g., standard ich vs. dialectal i:), and Bavarian article use (e. g., standard das vs. dialectal des), but, even after over a decade of residence, do not produce morphological or syntactic dialectal features such as 2. person plural -s (e. g., standard braucht vs. dialectal brauchts) or relative clause connectors (e. g., standard die vs. dialectal de wos). Our results add to discussions concerning how the Austro-Bavarian naturalistic context impacts on patterns of L2 language variation and use and lend key insights into inquiries concerning which dialect features L2 learners acquire and when.

Travel behaviour of shared mobility users: a review of empirical evidence

ABSTRACT In recent decades, shared mobility has gained prominence as a sustainable alternative in transport, yet a comprehensive understanding of its effects on travel behaviour remains limited. This paper provides a narrative review of quantitative empirical studies, focusing on car-sharing and bike-sharing, and revisits the magnitude of the effects on four indicators: public transport use, active transport use, auto dependence, and auto ownership. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives are considered, examining variances in trip characteristics. Shared mobility users tend to rely less on private vehicles and increase cycling, with varying effects on transit use and walking. Car-sharing typically replaces private vehicles for non-commuting trips, while bike-sharing mainly competes with rather than complements public transport, especially for shorter commutes. The longitudinal effects of shared mobility appear more limited than those observed in cross-sectional analyses, indicating that shared mobility can potentially lead to a positive trend in travel mode shifts over time, albeit slowly. Additionally, this study highlights differences in shared mobility outcomes between Australia and other global contexts, exploring potential reasons for these discrepancies. Integrating shared mobility and other transport paradigms requires long-term strategies to shape travel behaviour towards multimodality, offering a continuum of choices covering most daily trips without private vehicles.

Transmission of depressive symptoms in the nuclear family: a cross-sectional and cross-lagged network perspective.

Children are more likely to develop depressive symptoms in families where parents have depressive symptoms. By conceptualizing the individual depressive symptom network of each family member as a whole, this study proposes a family symptom network model, and explored the mechanisms of transmission of depression within nuclear families at the symptom level. This study used four waves (2012, 2016, 2018, 2020) of data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), which in wave one contained a representative sample of 1963 children (1038 boys; age = 12.60), 4763 mothers and 4614 fathers from China. Children with their parents completed the Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale at each wave. Individual depressive symptom networks among children, fathers, and mothers were highly similar and stable across time. When considering depressive symptoms of all family members as a whole, there was a wide range of associations between child, father, and mother depressive symptom networks. The results of the cross-lagged network model suggest the bidirectional relationships between couples and parent-child depression. The current study provides preliminary validation of the family symptom network model. The model represents a further integration and extension of network theory of mental disorders and family systems theory, and points out the limitations of studying the intergenerational transmission of depression from a latent variable perspective. Thus, the family symptom network model proposed in this study could provide valuable new insights into understanding the intergenerational transmission of depression.

A109 A COMPARISON OF MULTIMORBIDITY AT DEATH AMONG PERSONS WITH AND WITHOUT INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE: A POPULATION-BASED STUDY

Abstract Background With improved care and life-expectancy, people with IBD are living longer and more likely to develop multiple chronic conditions. However, research on co-morbidities in the IBD population has typically focused on co-occurrences of a specific disease alongside IBD and employed a cross-sectional or short-term cohort perspective. To date, no work has taken a life-course perspective, evaluating retrospectively from death, to identify the population-level burden of multimorbidity. Aims To identify the burden of chronic conditions at time of death among people with IBD relative to their non-IBD counterparts. Methods We conducted a retrospective matched cohort study using health administrative data from Ontario, Canada. Individuals with IBD (identified using a validated algorithm) who died between 2010 to 2020 were matched to controls (1:5 ratio) based on sex, age at death, and year of death. We calculated the proportion of decedents with each of 17 different chronic conditions and the number of conditions at death. Conditions were identified using validated algorithms or clusters of diagnostic codes (when validated algorithms were not available). The number of chronic conditions at death among people with and without IBD was modeled using Poisson regression adjusting for Ontario Marginalization Index and accounting for matching. Results At the time of death, people with IBD (n=9728) were more likely than matched controls (n=42,389) to have mood disorders (69.0% vs. 60.2%), asthma (21.4% vs. 16.5%), renal failure (49.6% vs. 38.5%), osteoarthritis (76.8 vs. 67.6%), and osteoporosis (21.2% vs. 12.8%) (Figure 1B). Compared to their controls, people with IBD had were more likely to have ≥5 conditions (77.8% vs. 70.1%) (Figure 1A). People with IBD had significantly more chronic health conditions (RR 1.11, 95% CI 1.10-1.12). Conclusions People with IBD accumulate a greater degree of morbidity compared to those without IBD. Our findings add a novel understanding of multimorbidity among those with IBD from a life-course perspective. Our research highlights the need to provide quality multi-disciplinary care to people with IBD across the life course to address the increased frequency of multimorbidity. Funding Agencies ACG

Dynamics in residential relocation, car ownership, and carsharing adoption in neighborhoods with a high prevalence of carsharing

Many studies have looked into the private car ownership and residential environment factors that affect current carsharing adoption from a cross-sectional perspective, while very few have focused on dynamic variables related to home relocation and changes in vehicle access. Using survey data collected in eight typical neighborhoods with a high level of carsharing in Utrecht, the Netherlands, this study explored how dynamics in car ownership, residential relocation, and current carsharing membership are related, and how this relationship shapes intention for future carsharing membership. The explanatory variables were the changes in residential location, and past and expected changes in private car ownership. Results of our binary logistic regression and ordinary least squares regression modeling show that residential relocation has a limited effect on carsharing adoption: Newcomers from lower urbanization level neighborhoods need some time to get used to carsharing and adopt it. For car ownership dynamics, future intentions to change private car ownership are more likely to affect current and future carsharing adoption than previous changes: Previous and future changes in car ownership and carsharing adoption have different effects on actual and expected behaviors. Our study shows that different functional goals of carsharing services for different types of potential users should be distinguished.

Performance measurement of Indian banking sector: a cross-section perspective

Performance measurement of Indian banking sector: a cross-section perspective

Examining approaches to material hardship classification: Cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives

Material hardship is a significant indicator of poverty, offering direct insights into the inability to afford necessities. When examining material hardship, often a decision lies in determining the boundaries that distinguish those who experience hardship from those who do not. This decision holds significance given the threshold for differentiating hardship from non-hardship populations guides poverty identification, informs assessments of the impacts of material hardship, and directs poverty reduction initiatives. While there are several material hardship classification approaches, there is limited research investigating the effects of different approaches on outputted proportions of material hardship. This study examines three common methods for classifying families based on their material circumstances to assess the consistency and variability in who is classified as living in hardship. Data from four waves of the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study (n = 6575), spanning early childhood through to early adolescence, were utilised to explore the outcomes of these classification approaches across the four waves. Findings reveal differences in the prevalence rates and interpretations of material hardship over time, depending on the adopted method. This research demonstrates the influence of a researcher's choice of classification method on the understanding of material hardship within a given population. Setting thresholds is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ pursuit but a decision requiring careful consideration. Consequently, this study offers insights to equip researchers in selecting an appropriate method aligned with their specific research aims. Clear reporting of the chosen method is encouraged to ensure informative assessments.