Impact Scores Research Articles

Black box in overactive bladder: Central sensitization and its relationship with urinary symptom severity and quality of life.

To examine central sensitization (CS), and to investigate the relationship between CS, and urinary symptom severity, and quality of life (QoL) in women with overactive bladder (OAB). A total of 144 women with OAB included the study. CS with the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), urinary symptom with the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire-Version 8 (OAB-V8), bladder diary and Patients' Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale (PPIUS) and QoL with the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) were assessed. It was found that 47.9% (n = 69) of women with OAB had CS. It was observed that the CSI score was related to the OAB-V8 score (ρ = 0.327; p < 0.001) and the average number of voids/day (ρ = 0.291; p < 0.001). Additionally, urgency severity was higher in women with OAB with CS than in women with OAB without CS (p = 0.006). There was a relationship between the CSI score and KHQ-incontinence impact (ρ = 0.250; p = 0.012), KHQ-personal relationship (ρ = 0.253; p = 0.002), KHQ-sleep/energy (ρ = 0.180; p = 0.031), KHQ-emotional state (ρ = 0.310; p < 0.001) and KHQ-severity measurement scores (ρ = 0.391; p < 0.001). In this study, it was observed that the majority of women with OAB had CS. It was found that more severe symptoms of CS were associated with worse urinary symptom severity and QoL in these patients. It may be beneficial to evaluate CS in the management of OAB and to consider CS when determining treatment strategies.

The psychosocial functioning in adolescents with severe obesity evaluated throughout the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ): a preliminary report.

Childhood obesity is associated with poor psychological adjustment. Severely impacts the psychological adjustment of young patients. To assess the psychological functioning of children and adolescents, several questionnaires have been proposed so far. Although the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is one of the most well-used tools, its application in obesity research is scarce. The study is aimed at assessing the psychological profile of a sample of Italian children and adolescents seeking an in-hospital multidisciplinary body weight reduction program for obesity, via SDQ. One hundred and fourteen consecutive Italian children and adolescents with obesity (43 males/71 females, age range: 11-17 years, mean age ± SD: 15.1 ± 1.66, body mass index-BMI ± SD: 37.4 ± 6.13 kg/m2), were recruited at the Division of Auxology, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Piancavallo (VB). Obese Females reported worse conditions of emotional symptoms (t = 5.48; p < 0.001) and peer problems (t = 2.34; p = 0.021), as well as higher which were associated with greater scores of pro-social behaviors than obese males (t = 3.07; p = 0.003). The total difficulties score (t = 4.00; p < 0.001) and the total impact score (t = 4.53; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in females than males. No statistically significant differences in SDQ variables were found in relation to the degree of obesity (BMI SDS: 2-2.99; BMI SDS: > 3). These findings can contribute to understand the psychological condition of adolescents with obesity in a better way and also to develop effective interventions for the treatment of pediatric obesity which not only take into account the medical and physical aspects but also the emotional and social difficulties expressed by adolescents with obesity.

Assessment of microelement ecotoxicity in fen for ecological state monitoring

Wetlands, including bogs, fens, and swamps, play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by absorbing pollutants. They also conserve biodiversity and serve as breeding and migration sites for living organisms whose treated by pollutants entering to the wetland ecosystems. Pollutants entering wetland ecosystems can have detrimental effects on these important functions. The article introduces the method of toxicity assessment of microelements used in the environmental condition monitoring of the Ob River's floodplain fen (Tomsk Oblast, Russia). The impact of freshwater species (PAF m3day/kgemitted) is evaluated by calculating the Life Cycle Assessment Impact score for Be, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, Mo, Pb, Cd, Sb, Ba, and Tl at distances of 40, 100, and 160 m from the wastewater discharge site. The study considers the elemental composition and total volume of water from various areas within the research site for assessing freshwater ecotoxicity. 12 out of 15 investigated trace elements have the greatest impact on the freshwater system in the zone of 160 m from the site of anthropogenic impact on the water body. The sampling areas can be ranked based on their ∑IS value, with IS160 = 1.3E+11, followed by IS100 = 7.5E+10, and IS40 = 1.5E+10 [PAF m3day/kgemitted].

Contextualizing the revised Patient Perception of Patient-Centeredness (PPPC-R) scale in primary healthcare settings: a validity and reliability evaluation study

BackgroundAn English version of the Patient Perception of Patient-Centeredness (PPPC) scale was recently revised, and it is necessary to test this instrument in different primary care populations.AimThis study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of a Chinese version of the PPPC scale.DesignA mixed method was used in this study. The Delphi method was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data to address the content validity of the PPPC scale by calculating the Content Validity Index, Content Validity Ratio, the adjusted Kappa, and the Item Impact Score. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were used to assess the construct validity of the PPPC scale through a cross-sectional survey. The internal consistency was also assessed.Setting/participantsIn the Delphi consultation, seven experts were consulted through a questionnaire sent by email. The cross-sectional survey interviewed 188 outpatients in Guangzhou city and 108 outpatients in Hohhot City from community health service centers or stations face-to-face.ResultsThe 21 items in the scale were relevant to their component. The Item-level Content Validity Index for each item was higher than 0.79, and the average Scale-level content validity index was 0.97 in each evaluation round. The initial proposed 4-factor CFA model did not fit adequately. Still, we found a 3-factor solution based on our EFA model and the validation via the CFA model (model fit: {chi }^{2}=294.573, P < 0.001, RMSEA = 0.044, CFI = 0.981; factor loadings: 0.553 to 0.888). Cronbach's α also indicated good internal consistency reliability: The overall Cronbach's α was 0.922, and the Cronbach's α for each factor was 0.851, 0.872, and 0.717, respectively.ConclusionsThe Chinese version of the PPPC scale provides a valuable tool for evaluating patient-centered medical service quality.

Intelligent Prediction of Network Security Situations based on Deep Reinforcement Learning Algorithm

The limitations of traditional network security assessment methods characterized by manual definitions and measurements, data overload, poor performance, and non-negligible drawbacks are addressed in this research. A novel network security system employing a deep learning algorithm is proposed to overcome these challenges. The research unfolds in three key phases. First, a deep self-encoding model is developed to distinguish various network attacks effectively. Subsequently, the creation of missing measurement weights enhances pattern detection, even when dealing with a limited number of training samples. Finally, the model assesses and computes attack issues, assigns impact scores to each attack, and determines the overall network security value. Experimental results demonstrate that the deep auto encoder-based deep neural network (DAEDNN), in conjunction with the proposed unique oversampling weighting (UOSW) algorithm, significantly outperforms traditional methods such as decision trees (DT), support vector machines (SVM), and long short-term memory (LSTM) models. The F1 score of UOSW surpasses these models by approximately 2.77, 10.5, and 5.2, respectively. The deep self-encoding model employed in the proposed system offers superior accuracy and recall rates, leading to more precise and efficient measurement results.

Can an ecological scarcity method for Germany support robust decisions? – analysing the effect of uncertain target values on the impact assessment of energy generation technologies

PurposePotentially contradictory indicators in Life Cycle Assessment cause ambiguity and thus uncertainty regarding the interpretation of results. The weighting-based ecological scarcity method (ESM) aims at reducing interpretation uncertainty by applying policy-based normative target values. However, the definition of these target values is uncertain due to different reasons such as questionable temporal representativeness. By means of an uncertainty analysis, this paper examines if ESMs are an appropriate approach to support robust decisions on multidimensional environmental impacts.MethodsTo assess the effect of uncertain target values (inputs) on environmental indicators (output), the ESM based Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) is combined with a Monte Carlo Analysis. The comprehensive uncertainty analysis includes the following steps: (1) sample generation, (2) output calculation and (3) results analysis and visualisation. (1) To generate a sample, moderate and strict limits for target values are derived from laws, directives or strategies. Random input parameters are drawn from a uniform distribution within those limits. (2) The sample is used to conduct several LCIAs leading to a distribution of total impact scores. (3) The results’ robustness is evaluated by means of the rank acceptability index to identify stable ranks for energy generation systems taken from ecoinvent v. 3.7.1.Results and discussionApplying moderate and strict target values in the ESM, results in substantial differences in the weighting sets. Even though the application of stricter target values changes the contribution of an environmental indicator to the total impact score the ranking of the energy generation systems varies only slightly. Moreover, the Monte Carlo Analysis reveals that displacement effects in ranks are not arbitrary: systems switch at most between ranks next to each other and most of the analysed systems dominate at least a single rank. Technologies with high shares of land use, global warming and air pollutants and particulate matter show a higher rank variance.ConclusionsThe weighting schemes, deduced from target values, provide a meaningful ranking of alternatives. At the same time, the results are not excessively sensitive to the uncertainties of the target values, i.e. the inherent uncertainty of the target values does not result in arbitrary outcomes, which is necessary to support robust decisions. The ESM is able to effectively facilitate decision making by making different environmental issues comparable.

Translation and validation of Persian version of resilience evaluation scale (RES): A cross-cultural methodological research.

The Resilience Evaluation Scale (RES) is a new, free and short self-report questionnaire for measuring psychological resilience. This study aims to translate and assess the psychometric properties of the RES. In the present methodological study, after the translation process, face and content validity were conducted through qualitative and quantitative methods. To determine the construct validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used, and for the reliability, Cronbach's α test and inter-counter coefficient test were calculated. Persian version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale was used to determine the convergent validity of the questionnaire. Results show that the face and content validity of 9 items of RES were acceptable and they were all approved [Impact scores (IS) >1.5, S-CVI/Ave = 0.97, I-CVI = 0.93]; the Internal consistency of the scale was confirmed by the Cronbach's α coefficient (0.82) and McDonald's omega (0.83). The reliability of the scale also was confirmed by the Spearman's correlation coefficient and intra-group correlation coefficient (ICC), with results obtained above 0.8 for all items. The factor analysis identified two factors that accounted for about 56% of the variance. Also, the CFA model fitted well according to the results of the fitting indices (RMSEA = 0.084, CFI = 0.98, SRMR = 0.064, and TLI = 0.97). In addition, the convergent validity of the scale was equal to 0.65 (P < 0.001). Development of a valid and reliable psychological resilience scale may bring great benefits to the Persian society. Our findings suggest that the Persian RES has good psychometric properties, and it may serve as a valuable instrument in research and clinical practice.

Translation, cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of the Persian version of the Constipation Severity Instrument.

The aim of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Constipation Severity Instrument (CSI) and assess its reliability and validity in the Iranian Persian language with chronic functional constipation. Chronic functional constipation is a common complaint characterized by a range of symptoms. The use of a validated tool adapted to the culture is an important part of the treatment process. CSI was translated into Persian language according to Beaton's guidelines. One hundred and twenty-five patients with chronic functional constipation, according to ROME IV criteria, completed the questionnaires. Face validity was assessed in two qualitative and quantitative forms (impact score), internal consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating the total scores of the CSI and the WCSS. The floor/ ceiling effects of the questionnaire were also assessed. The impact score of all questions was greater than 1.5. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total score was 0.90 and the ICC was 0.90. The total score of the CSI was significantly correlated with the total score of the WCSS (Spearman's p=0.74). No floor/ceiling effects were found. The Persian version of the CSI is a reliable and valid tool that can be used for psychometric evaluation. Clinicians can also benefit from this questionnaire when assessing treatment outcomes in Iranian patients.

Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Perceived Stress Scale–Child

Background: Precise assessment of chronic stress is a key prerequisite to effective stress management among children. Nonetheless, there are limited valid and reliable instruments for this purpose. This study was conducted to translate the Perceived Stress Scale–Child (PSSC) into Persian and evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods: This methodological study was conducted in 2020. The 14-item PSSC was translated into Persian using the forward–backward translation method. Item impact score was calculated for face validity assessment, and content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) were calculated for content validity assessment. Construct validity was also assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. For factor analysis, 140 children were purposefully selected from two specialty psychology clinics in Sari, Iran, to complete PSSC. Reliability of PSSC was evaluated through the internal consistency and composite reliability methods. SPSS (v. 26.0) and the SmartPLS software were used for data analysis at a significance level of less than .05. Results: Most participants were male (50.7%) and aged 10–12 years (62.2%). The mean of participants’ age was 9.56 ± 1.68 years. The impact score, CVR, and CVI values of all PSSC items were more than 1.5, 0.42, and 0.79, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the Persian PSSC had two factors that explained 67.24% of its total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis also confirmed this factor structure. Cronbach’s alpha values of PSSC and its two factors were 0.916, 0.840, and 0.824, respectively. Conclusion: The Persian PSSC has acceptable validity and reliability and can be used for stress assessment and screening among children.

Prevalence of workplace bullying among employees in the general population, Saudi Arabia

Objective: This research sought to study the prevalence of workplace bullying in Saudi Arabia, examining its various types experienced by employees. Additionally, it aimed to delve into the demographic and work-related factors linked with workplace bullying. The secondary objective involved an assessment of existing policies and interventions addressing workplace bullying, with the goal of providing recommendations for enhancing prevention and management strategies in the region. Methods: This study used a self-administered questionnaire to collect data on workplace bullying experiences. Beside sociodemographic-related questions, the questionnaire used Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R) for bullying assessment. Results: The study involved 625 participants, with a mean age of 34.2 years and a balanced gender distribution. The majority were from the Eastern Province, with varying marital statuses, and were predominantly single. Most had completed university education (73.6%) and were employed (52%) in the governmental sector (64.5%). Age was found to be negatively correlated with bullying, suggesting lower levels as individuals grew older. Marital status, employment status, job role within the healthcare system, and mental disorder diagnosis significantly influenced bullying scores. Higher extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness scores were adversely correlated with bullying, while higher neuroticism scores were positively correlated with bullying. Openness to experience scores showed a weak positive correlation. Conclusion: The study reveals that workplace bullying is prevalent and significantly influenced by sociodemographic factors and different personality traits. Factors like age, marital status, employment status, job role, and mental health status impacted bullying scores. Personality traits were also found to influence the likelihood of bullying.

Exploring the impact of urban development on mountain view visualization using a GIS-based landscape assessment model: a case study in Lishui, China

Amid China’s high-speed urbanization, the lack of urban landscape and homogenization of urban image are becoming increasingly serious, prompting discussion on how to preserve the natural urban landscape. This study extends the existing landscape assessment model to evaluate the urban hillscape of the Lishui urban area of Nanjing over the past 50 years. First, a landscape quality analysis is conducted based on raster images, and a landscape quality map of the study area is drawn. Then, a visibility analysis of the site is conducted, key observation points (KOPs) are screened using a digital surface model, and the visual magnitude of each KOP is quantitatively calculated. Finally, the visual impact scores of the mountains in the site are synthesized. The results show that the model can accurately quantify the visual impact of historical mountain views. The following conclusions are drawn (1) The visual quality of the landscape in the area has improved as the urban area has spreads out. (2) The viewshed and magnitude of the area are trending downward over time. (3) The Chengnan area’s visual impact score increased by 25.7%, but that of the Tuanshan and Chengzhong areas decreased by 48% and 26.9%, respectively. This study presents a spatial decision support system that can obtain better landscape assessment results with more accessible open-source data, and can be used for historical landscape evaluation. By comparing the characteristics and trends of urban hillscapes in different historical periods, this study’s landscape assessment model can help managers better understand the impact of development on urban intentions and make better decisions.

Construction of Evaluation Indicator System of Festival Tourism Activity Effect Based on FAHP Method

Abstract The prevailing research on festival tourism activities remains limited in scope, and the methodologies employed are often flawed, offering little in terms of enhancing operational efficiency for festival tourism operators. This study advances the traditional Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) by incorporating group decision-making to develop a comprehensive evaluation model termed FAHP-FCE. Furthermore, an evaluative index system for assessing the impact of festival tourism activities has been devised, encompassing economic, social, ecological, and cultural dimensions. This framework was applied in a case study conducted in Tourist City A, utilizing a specifically designed questionnaire to gauge the effectiveness of festival tourism activities within the region. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire are substantiated by a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.923 and a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value of 0.925, respectively. The resulting impact scores across the evaluated dimensions—economy (3.96), society (2.87), ecological environment (2.16), and culture (2.62)—reveal that the economic benefits are the most substantial. In contrast, the environmental impacts are the most detrimental in City A. This research not only refines the assessment of environmental impacts but also enriches the methodologies and content of festival tourism effect evaluations, thereby offering fresh perspectives and methods for future inquiries.

Are Nurse-Led Eczema Clinics Effective in Reducing the Severity of Atopic Dermatitis and Its Impact on Children and Families?

BACKGROUND Initiation and expansion of nurse-led eczema clinics at a large tertiary hospital in Melbourne has improved timely access to treatment and education for many children with eczema and their families. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of nurse-led eczema clinics in treating eczema and reducing its impact on quality of life and also the level of parent or guardian satisfaction with the clinical experience. METHODS All families attending two weekly community-based nurse-led eczema clinics and two weekly hospital-based nurse-led eczema clinics were invited to take part in a survey-based evaluation. A parent or guardian completed surveys at initial and follow-up clinic visits, and eczema severity was assessed at both visits using SCORAD. RESULTS There were 342 participants. Eczema severity was reduced by 62% (18 points), and the quality-of-life impact scores fell by at least 50% for individuals and families. More than 90% of parents rated the clinician and overall clinic experience as “excellent” or “very good.” CONCLUSION The nurse-led eczema clinics were effective in reducing the severity of eczema and the negative impact of eczema on the individual and the family unit. The magnitude of this reduction was clinically and statistically significant. Participants' clinic experience was highly positive.

Historical Evolution and Modern Development of Piano Performance - A Visual Analysis Based on Cite space

Abstract Piano performance represents a refined artistic expression characterized by its expressive and emotive qualities. This study focuses on research papers related to piano performance indexed in the Chinese literature database, utilizing the CiteSpace visualization tool to conduct an analysis. Employing the tool’s capabilities for word frequency, thematic, and cluster analysis, we investigate the temporal and spatial distributions, key terms, research trends, and emergent themes in the literature on piano performance. This multifaceted approach enables a deeper understanding of the developmental stages and overarching trends in the field. Our findings reveal significant shifts in thematic focus and research intensity, with notable increases in themes related to the transformation of piano performance and theoretical exploration post-2017.50, achieving an impact score exceeding 0.425. Prominent emergent keywords include “piano art” (4.9948), “piano certificate” (3.8833), “style” (3.4721), “accompaniment” (3.3155), “piano technique” (2.8888), “piano teaching” (2.6997), “emotional expression” (2.6129), and “intelligence” (2.2193). These findings indicate a trend towards the integration of modern technology and intellectual approaches in piano performance. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution and current trends in piano performance research, offering insights into its future trajectory.

EVALUATING THE EFFICACY OF BRIHAT DASHAMOOLA TAILA NASYA AND RASNA DASHAMOOLA KASHAYA WITH VARUNAADI KSHEERA GHRITA NASYA AND MUNDITAKA KASHAYA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ARDHAVABHEDAKA VIS-A-VIS MIGRAINE

Introduction: Ardhavabedhaka is a condition characterized by severe pain in half of the head, such as bheda, toda, bhrama, shula appearing in interval of either 15 or 10 days or spontaneously without any cause1. This disease shows close resemblance to migraine. Migraine is a neural condition characterized by severe recurrent headache usually on one side of the head often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and photophobia2. Migraine affects globally 12% of the population. In India 14.12%-25.2% population and it is a disease predominantly seen in females, with male to female ratio of 1.7:2.6 and among those from urban than rural areas 1.3:1.83. Currently, migraines are managed by usage of analgesics and triptans. Chronic usage of these drugs may cause renal and hepatotoxicity. Therefore, it is necessary to explore ayurvedic approaches that can combat the disease. In Ayurevda this disease is managed by usage of uttama matra of chatuhsneha, shirokaya virechana, nadi sweda, niruha basti, anuvasana basti and shamanaoushadi. As Nasya karma is the prime treatment modality for the management of urdhwa jatrugata vikaras, it is considered appropriate for management of Ardhavabedhaka4. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using Brihat dashamoola taila as nasya for 8 days and Rasna dashamooladi Kashaya as shamanoushadhi for 23 days post nasya in group 1 and Varunadi ksheera ghrita nasya for 8 days and Munditaka Kashaya as shamanoushadhi for 23 days post nasya in group 2. The assessments were done on the domains of intensity of pain, frequency of attacks and duration of pain, along with the Headache impact score, on the 0th, 8th and 31st days, before and after the treatment. Result: It showed that there was significant decrease in intensity, frequency, duration of pain and Hit score, post nasya karma in both group 1 and 2, also the reduction in pain was significant in both group 1 and 2 post shamanoushadhi. With the overall treatment, it was seen that the reduction in Hit score was highly significant with a p value of 0.000. On comparing the results obtained in both groups, it was observed that group 1 had significant results compared to group 2. Conclusion: Nasya karma works as a treatment of choice in Ardhavabhedaka, due to its ability to eliminate the accumulated doshas from the shiras. The present study showed that Brihat dashamoola taila nasya along with Rasna dashamoola kashaya gives better results in vatakapha pradhana Ardhavabhedaka, and Varunadi ksheera ghrita nasya along with Munditaka Kashaya works better in vatapitta pradhana Ardhavabhedaka.

Outcomes of external and endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy according to a modified Lacrimal Symptom Questionnaire (Lac-Q).

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction is usually treated using endoscopic or external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). The anatomic outcomes of both the endoscopic and external approaches are considered excellent. However, anatomic success does not translate into patient satisfaction. The current study assessed pre- and postoperative lacrimal problems using the symptom-based Lacrimal Symptom Questionnaire (Lac-Q) and investigated patient satisfaction depending on the choice of surgical technique. A total of 112 eligible patients with lacrimal problems treated using external or endonasal DCR at the ophthalmology and ear, nose, and throat clinics at Skane University Hospital, Scania, Sweden, over a four-year period, were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were considered eligible if they experienced preoperative epiphora and had lacrimal duct stenosis. They were offered treatment using either external or endonasal DCR and were allowed to freely choose the technique. Exclusion criteria consisted of previous ipsilateral DCR, congenital NLDO, age < 18 years, presence of cancer, previous orbital trauma, or noncompliance with postoperative follow-up. After surgery, the patients were sent the Lac-Q to evaluate their lacrimal symptoms pre- and postoperatively. Complementary questions were added pertaining to the operative scar and the patients' overall satisfaction with the operation. In total, 67 (60%) patients with ages ranging from 18 to 88 years completed the questionnaire, 33 (49%) of whom underwent external DCR and 34 (51%) endonasal DCR. Of the 67 respondents, 51 (76%) were women and 16 (24%) were men. Patients scored preoperative lacrimal problems highly on the Lac-Q, reporting both symptomatic and social problems due to epiphora. Following surgery, the group that underwent external DCR remained home from work for 2 - 14 days (median, 3.5 days). However, 17 (52%) were retired. After the endonasal DCR, the patients remained home for 0 - 7 days (median, 2 days). Most patients were satisfied after DCR surgery, with both techniques significantly improving total, lacrimal symptom, and social impact scores (all P < 0.001). No differences in postoperative satisfaction were observed between the external DCR and endonasal DCR groups (P > 0.05). A small number of patients expressed scar-related concerns after external DCR. The patients perceived lacrimal problems as a significant symptomatic and social burden. Postoperative satisfaction and symptom relief were good regardless of the surgical approach. Further prospective studies assessing patient satisfaction and its correlation with anatomical and functional success rates after external and endonasal DCR could provide robust, practical, real-world implications.

Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the health, safety and environment (HSE)culture questionnaire based on the OGP guide in process industries

Background and Objective: HSE culture is a part of the general culture of the organization, it is considered as a kind of management tool in reducing incidents and controlling unsafe behaviors in the organization. The purpose of this study was to present a valid and reliable tool in the field of HSE culture based on the OGP guide in process industries. Materials and Methods: The current research is an instrument-making study that was conducted in order to determine the validity and reliability of the HSE culture questionnaire among the employees of Shahid Hashminejad Gas Refinery. After studying various texts, and using World Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) guide to design related questions, quantitative and qualitative content validity by 10 experts, face validity (comprehensibility), reproducibility and internal consistency by 30 employees and construct validity was done by 410 employees. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis of the final version of the questionnaire including 34 questions in 6 dimensions of the observable program of HSE management, competence and awareness of the situation, communication, training of work procedures and human factors, incident management and HSE evaluation and audit confirmed. The average impact score, validity ratio, and validity index were 3.81, 0.82, and 0.92, respectively. (α = 0.94 and ICC = 0.975), which was within the acceptable range. Conclusion: Iranian HSE specialists can use this valid and reliable tool to evaluate the HSE culture of employees, especially in process industries, and use the findings as guidelines for effective health, safety and environmental interventions.

Recipient Outcomes With Extended Criteria Donors Using Advanced Heart Preservation: An Analysis of the GUARDIAN-Heart Registry

PurposeThe prevalence of end stage heart failure and patients that could benefit from heart transplantation requires an expansion of the donor pool, relying on the transplant community to continually re-evaluate and expand the use of extended criteria donor organs. Introduction of new technologies such as the Paragonix SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System aids in this shift. We seek to analyze the impact of the SherpaPak system on recipient outcomes who receive extended criteria organs in the GUARDIAN Heart Registry. MethodsBetween October 2015-December 2022, 1,113 adults from 15 US centers receiving donor hearts utilizing either SherpaPak (N=560) or conventional ice storage (Ice, N=453) were analyzed from the GUARDIAN-Heart registry using summary statistics. A previously published set of criteria was used to identify extended criteria donors, which included 193 SherpaPak and 137 ice. ResultsThere were a few baseline differences among recipients in the 2 cohorts, most notably IMPACT Scores, distance traveled and total ischemic time were significantly greater in SherpaPak, and significantly more donor hearts in the SherpaPak cohort had >4 hours total ischemia time. Post-transplant MCS utilization (SherpaPak 22.3% vs. ice 35.0%, p=0.012) and new ECMO/VAD (SherpaPak 7.8% vs. ice 15.3%, p=0.033) was significantly reduced, and the rate of severe PGD (SherpaPak 6.2% vs. ice 13.9%, p=0.022) was significantly reduced by over 50% in hearts preserved using SherpaPak. One-year survival between cohorts was similar (SherpaPak 92.9% vs. ice 89.6%, p=0.27). ConclusionThis subgroup analysis demonstrates that SherpaPak can be safely used to utilize extended criteria donors, with low severe PGD rates.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Dizziness Handicap Inventory – Screening Version

ObjectivesThe Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) is the most popular and widely used questionnaire in evaluating patients with vertigo. This questionnaire has a screening version with a high correlation with DHI. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian DHI – Screening version (DHI-S). MethodsThis cross-sectional and methodological study was conducted on 300 patients at the central vestibular clinic in Mashhad, Iran, from 2020 to 2021. First, the DHI-S was translated into Persian using the backward-forward translation method. Subsequently, the following types of validity and reliability were examined: content validity based on content validity index and content validity ratio, face validity based on impact score, construct validity based on confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency based on Cronbach’s α and Ω, and test-retest stability based on intraclass correlation coefficient and smallest detectable change. ResultsThe DHI-S had high content and face validity. Score 8 was selected for the cutoff point between patients and the normal group with a sensitivity of 63.67% and specificity of 96.08%. The construct validity indicated that the questionnaire is one-dimensional. The Cronbach’s α and Ω for internal consistency were 0.855 and 0.851, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.981 and the smallest detectable change was 5.521. ConclusionsThe DHI-S in the Persian language has high and acceptable psychometric properties. This questionnaire can be used in research and clinical settings.

FAIR digital objects for academic publishers

For 200 years, collective scholarly knowledge was advanced by reporting new findings in the form of narrative text that is rich in logic, pinned to data, hedged with cautious nuance, and yielding novel claims. Authors' narratives evolved over the years into the now familiar academic research article, whose form has radiated into thousands of specialized intellectual niches (i.e., journal titles). In the last decades the corpus of collective scholarly knowledge (both narrative text and published data) has come to exceed human comprehension and challenges the ability of researchers, even those working in narrowly defined disciplines, to keep up. As a response, a wide range of abstracting and indexing services emerged and were among the first to push toward “electronic” publishing. By now, articles are routinely made available in digital repositories, but still the content and the form remain bound to human readers while the powerful information processing capabilities of machines, which ought to assist the researcher, are marginalized to the mundane calculation of impact scores. Today, the long-form narrative and the lack of standards in the academic publishing industry make the bulk of this information notoriously difficult for the machine process and reuse in scientific applications. As such, the classical research article has become increasingly untenable as a meaningful unit of intellectual progress. Since 2016, the FAIR Principles have provided guidance on how to compose data, including information contained in narrative text, to make them machine actionable. Recent developments in FAIR Digital Objects are now being exploited in academic publishing to expose FAIR information at the source, avoiding cumbersome text mining, and making exact meaning available to machine assistants supporting human scholars. Here I describe some of these long-term developments and how they relate to a new Sage/IOS Press journal called FAIR Connect. These trends signal an inevitable movement towards the FAIRifcation of scholarship, and hint at key issues that will impact the practice and business of academic publishing.