Participant Responses Research Articles

Verbal Support From a Stranger Reduces the Development of Mechanical Hypersensitivity: Behavioral and Neurophysiological Evidence

Hand-holding reduces experimentally induced acute pain and buffers against the development of mechanical secondary hypersensitivity, an indirect proxy of central sensitization. Here, we tested if verbal support from a stranger, a common occurrence in clinical contexts, exerts the same effects. In this preregistered study, 44 healthy female participants were assigned to an alone or support group whereby a supportive female stranger encouraged them through the painful procedure leading to secondary mechanical hypersensitivity. Mechanical hypersensitivity was measured via self-reports and by the size of the anteroposterior and mediolateral spread of mechanical hypersensitivity. We investigated the moderating role of attachment style on self-reports and the effects of support on skin conductance level, salivary cortisol, and pinprick-evoked potentials. We also tested whether theta/beta ratio in the resting-state electroencephalogram predicted mechanical hypersensitivity. Self-reported ratings and the late part of the pinprick-evoked potentials were reduced in the support group, but the spread of mechanical hypersensitivity was not. Attachment anxiety and avoidance moderated the self-reported intensity such that individuals with higher attachment anxiety and avoidance scores reported lower intensity ratings in the support group. No significant effect of the verbal support was observed on skin conductance level and salivary cortisol. The theta/beta ratio did not predict the extent of hypersensitivity. Our data indicate that, in women, verbal support during intense pain leading to hypersensitivity is effective on some behavioral outcomes, but altogether the lack of group differences in cortisol, self-reported stress, and skin conductance does not provide strong support for the stress-buffering hypothesis. PerspectiveVerbal support by a stranger during a painful procedure leading to secondary mechanical hypersensitivity attenuated the development of some measures of mechanical hypersensitivity and associated neural responses in healthy female participants. No evidence was found for the role of stress. Data AvailabilityThe authors will make all data available upon request.

Pengembangan Media Pembelajaran Video Berbasis Animasi pada Pelatihan Pengenalan Produk Bahan Bakar Minyak dan Liquified Petroleum Gas

Digital learning media using animation-based videos can help trainees to understand learning material in accordance with learning objectives. This research uses the ADDIE development model which consists of stages of analysis, planning, development, implementation, and evaluation, and this research only reaches the development stage. Determination of samples using random sampling techniques, and the number of samples was 50 participants. The data obtained in the development of this animated video media was obtained by validating the material and media, as well as seeing the participants' responses to the media developed using participant response questionnaires, scale methods with Likert modifications. The results of expert validation are in the Very Valid category and received a very decent response from participants and it can be stated that the animated video learning media developed is very valid for use in learning.

Optimizing the Development of P5 Worksheets for Teachers: Shaping Student Character at SMAN 1 Terara, East Lombok Regency

Character education through the implementation of P5 (Projek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila) is an important initiative in the Indonesian education system to form students with integrity and national insight. This research aims to optimize the development of the P5 Worksheet for teachers at SMAN 1 Terara, East Lombok Regency, with a focus on building student character. Evaluation is carried out based on the responses of training participants regarding various aspects of material delivery and the abilities of the presenters. The results showed that the majority of participants (50) strongly agreed that the material was delivered well, while 15 participants agreed. The delivery of P5 integration was considered interesting by 44 participants who strongly agreed and 21 participants who agreed. The material was considered easy to understand by 48 participants who strongly agreed and 17 participants who agreed. Apart from that, the presenters were considered capable of creating creativity in the participants, with 47 participants strongly agreeing and 18 participants agreeing. There were no participants who gave responses that disagreed or disagreed with all aspects assessed. Overall, the results of this research show that the development of the P5 Worksheet is effective in improving the quality of learning and shaping student character in accordance with the Pancasila Student Profile

SWIFT clustering analysis of intracellular cytokine staining flow cytometry data of the HVTN 105 vaccine trial reveals high frequencies of HIV-specific CD4+ T cell responses and associations with humoral responses.

The HVTN 105 vaccine clinical trial tested four combinations of two immunogens - the DNA vaccine DNA-HIV-PT123, and the protein vaccine AIDSVAX B/E. All combinations induced substantial antibody and CD4+ T cell responses in many participants. We have now re-examined the intracellular cytokine staining flow cytometry data using the high-resolution SWIFT clustering algorithm, which is very effective for enumerating rare populations such as antigen-responsive T cells, and also determined correlations between the antibody and T cell responses. Flow cytometry samples across all the analysis batches were registered using the swiftReg registration tool, which reduces batch variation without compromising biological variation. Registered data were clustered using the SWIFT algorithm, and cluster template competition was used to identify clusters of antigen-responsive T cells and to separate these from constitutive cytokine producing cell clusters. Registration strongly reduced batch variation among batches analyzed across several months. This in-depth clustering analysis identified a greater proportion of responders than the original analysis. A subset of antigen-responsive clusters producing IL-21 was identified. The cytokine patterns in each vaccine group were related to the type of vaccine - protein antigens tended to induce more cells producing IL-2 but not IFN-γ, whereas DNA vaccines tended to induce more IL-2+ IFN-γ+ CD4 T cells. Several significant correlations were identified between specific antibody responses and antigen-responsive T cell clusters. The best correlations were not necessarily observed with the strongest antibody or T cell responses. In the complex HVTN105 dataset, alternative analysis methods increased sensitivity of the detection of antigen-specific T cells; increased the number of identified vaccine responders; identified a small IL-21-producing T cell population; and demonstrated significant correlations between specific T cell populations and serum antibody responses. Multiple analysis strategies may be valuable for extracting the most information from large, complex studies.

Climate-sensitive health counselling in Germany: a cross-sectional study about previous participation and preferences in the general public

BackgroundIn response to climate change (CC), medicine needs to consider new aspects in health counselling of patients. Such climate-sensitive health counselling (CSHC) may include counselling patients on preventing and coping with climate-sensitive diseases or on leading healthy and climate-friendly lifestyles. This study aimed to identify previous participation in and preferences for CSHC as well as associated sociodemographic and attitudinal factors among the general public in Germany.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in a population-based online panel in five German federal states (04–06/2022). We performed descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analysis to assess prior participation in CSHC and content preferences regarding CSHC, as well as associations between sociodemographic variables and general preference for CSHC.ResultsAmong 1491 participants (response rate 47.1%), 8.7% explicitly reported having participated in CSHC, while 39.9% had discussed at least one CSHC-related topic with physicians. In the studied sample, 46.7% of participants would like CSHC to be part of the consultation with their physician, while 33.9% rejected this idea. Participants aged 21 to 40 years (versus 51 to 60), individuals alarmed about CC (versus concerned/cautious/disengaged/doubtful/dismissive), and those politically oriented to the left (vs. centre or right) showed greater preference for CSHC in the multivariable regression model. Most participants wanted to talk about links to their personal health (65.1%) as opposed to links to the health of all people (33.2%).ConclusionsAlmost half of the participants in this sample would like to receive CSHC, especially those who are younger, more alarmed about CC and more politically oriented to the left. More research and training on patient-centred implementation of CSHC is needed.

Perceptions of a Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Intervention for Sexual Minority Adults

Sexual minority (SM) adults have a higher prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), largely attributed to increased exposure to minority stressors. There are no evidence-based CVD risk reduction interventions tailored to the needs of SM adults. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study to explore SM adults’ perceptions and preferences for a culturally tailored, minority stress-informed intervention for CVD risk reduction. SM adults without CVD were interviewed and presented with a proposed 10-week intervention that combined elements of existing interventions for minority stress and CVD risk reduction. Participants were asked about preferences regarding intervention delivery methods, setting, and duration. Interviews were deductively coded into cognitive, behavioral, and socio-environmental themes informed by the social cognitive theory (SCT). Themes were also inductively coded based on participant responses. The sample included 22 SM adults with a mean age of 52 (±7.16) years; approximately 55% were female-identified and 59% were non-Latinx White. Cognitive themes included recognition of stress associated with minoritized identities and self-efficacy for behavior change. Behavioral themes included stress management skills and maintaining a healthy lifestyle (e.g., exercise). Socio-environmental themes included barriers (e.g., time commitment) and facilitators (e.g., financial incentives) for participating in the proposed intervention. All participants were interested in an intervention that would improve their cardiovascular health. A majority indicated they preferred a 12-week, virtual, synchronous, group intervention. All participants endorsed the proposed intervention with particular emphasis on stress reduction components. This study provides important knowledge that should be considered in designing tailored interventions for CVD risk reduction among SM adults.

Test-Retest Reliability of the Verran Professional Governance Scale©.

Background and Purpose: Stability testing, conducted using a test-retest protocol, measures an instrument's reliability by evaluating the consistency of participant responses to survey questions with repeated testing within a short interval. No studies have measured the stability of the Verran Professional Governance Scale© (VPGS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the VPGS. Methods: Volunteers from a parent study using the VPGS were sent a link to a retest version of the survey 14 days after taking the initial survey with a reminder email sent 5 days after the first request. Item-level and subscale comparisons were made between participants' initial and retest responses using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) applying a two-way random-effects model. Results: VPGS subscales had ICC scores of 0.71 for decision-making, 0.73 for collateral relationships, and 0.86 for professional obligation. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the VPGS demonstrates test-retest reliability. Future research should evaluate the instrument's responsiveness.

The influence of President Trump's micro-expressions during his COVID-19 national address on viewers' emotional response.

This preregistered study replicates and extends studies concerning emotional response to wartime rally speeches and applies it to U.S. President Donald Trump's first national address regarding the COVID-19 pandemic on March 11, 2020. We experimentally test the effect of a micro-expression (ME) by Trump associated with appraised threat on change in participant self-reported distress, sadness, anger, affinity, and reassurance while controlling for followership. We find that polarization is perpetuated in emotional response to the address which focused on portraying the COVID-19 threat as being of Chinese provenance. We also find a significant, albeit slight, effect by Trump's ME on self-reported sadness, suggesting that this facial behavior served did not diminish his speech, instead serving as a form of nonverbal punctuation. Further exploration of participant response using the Linguistic Inventory and Word Count software reinforces and extends these findings.

Experiences of Deployed Physicians in Support of Operation Allies Refuge/Operation Allies Welcome: Lessons to Inform Improvements in Training.

Stability operations, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, are key functions of U.S. Military medicine and the Military Medical Humanitarian Assistance Course (MMHAC) is a 2-day course widely used to prepare military medical personnel for such missions. It focuses on caring for those most vulnerable in the wake of disasters, particularly children. The large-scale humanitarian deployment of military medical providers in support of Operation Allies Welcome/Operation Allies Refuge (OAW/OAR) presents an opportunity to evaluate the preparedness of these providers to care for the needs of the Afghan travelers, so we explored the experiences of military medical providers deployed in support of OAW/OAR to inform improvements in the MMHAC. We conducted a qualitative study of military medical providers who were deployed in support of OAW/OAR using a series of three virtual focus groups. Focus group questions were structured around the main topics covered in the MMHAC (patient care, ethical considerations, logistical concerns, and preventive and public health) and explicitly asked about adaptive leadership challenges faced and strategies used to overcome them. We analyzed transcripts using inductive thematic analysis within a constructivist paradigm, with adaptive leadership as a sensitizing concept. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Uniformed Services University. We constructed 4 themes from participant responses, each addressing challenges that medical providers faced during their mission: (1) Medical providers navigated tension between medical and public health priorities and military mission priorities; (2) Chronic and complex care needs posed unique challenges for medical personnel; (3) Challenges in patient care were compounded by logistical and system-based barriers; and (4) Cultural barriers led to ethical dilemmas that physicians felt inadequately prepared to handle, most notably with respect to gender-related concerns. Within each theme, participants described which aspects of MMHAC training were most helpful and which areas were inadequate. Physicians found the OAR/OAW mission meaningful but also identified challenges related to medical care provision, public health, logistics, and ethical dilemmas that hindered their ability to carry out their medical mission. Lessons learned from OAW/OAR highlight several areas in which the MMHAC training could be augmented and improved to further mitigate these challenges.

Probing a neural unreliability account of auditory sensory processing atypicalities in Rett Syndrome

BackgroundIn the search for objective tools to quantify neural function in Rett Syndrome (RTT), which are crucial in the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy in clinical trials, recordings of sensory-perceptual functioning using event-related potential (ERP) approaches have emerged as potentially powerful tools. Considerable work points to highly anomalous auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) in RTT. However, an assumption of the typical signal-averaging method used to derive these measures is “stationarity” of the underlying responses – i.e. neural responses to each input are highly stereotyped. An alternate possibility is that responses to repeated stimuli are highly variable in RTT. If so, this will significantly impact the validity of assumptions about underlying neural dysfunction, and likely lead to overestimation of underlying neuropathology. To assess this possibility, analyses at the single-trial level assessing signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), inter-trial variability (ITV) and inter-trial phase coherence (ITPC) are necessary.MethodsAEPs were recorded to simple 100 Hz tones from 18 RTT and 27 age-matched controls (Ages: 6–22 years). We applied standard AEP averaging, as well as measures of neuronal reliability at the single-trial level (i.e. SNR, ITV, ITPC). To separate signal-carrying components from non-neural noise sources, we also applied a denoising source separation (DSS) algorithm and then repeated the reliability measures.ResultsSubstantially increased ITV, lower SNRs, and reduced ITPC were observed in auditory responses of RTT participants, supporting a “neural unreliability” account. Application of the DSS technique made it clear that non-neural noise sources contribute to overestimation of the extent of processing deficits in RTT. Post-DSS, ITV measures were substantially reduced, so much so that pre-DSS ITV differences between RTT and TD populations were no longer detected. In the case of SNR and ITPC, DSS substantially improved these estimates in the RTT population, but robust differences between RTT and TD were still fully evident.ConclusionsTo accurately represent the degree of neural dysfunction in RTT using the ERP technique, a consideration of response reliability at the single-trial level is highly advised. Non-neural sources of noise lead to overestimation of the degree of pathological processing in RTT, and denoising source separation techniques during signal processing substantially ameliorate this issue.

Cough effectiveness during airway invasion in adults with oropharyngeal dysphagia: A systematic review of literature

BACKGROUND: Cough and swallowing share common neuroanatomic pathways, leading to an overlap between their mechanisms. Despite the widely recognised role of cough as an airway defence mechanism, empirical evidence supporting its effectiveness for airway clearance is lacking. OBJECTIVE: This review summarises and appraises available evidence regarding the effectiveness of cough in response to airway penetration and/or aspiration during videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) or flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) in adults with oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) of any aetiology. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines were followed. Literature search was conducted in March 2023 and updated in March 2024 across six databases without publication status, language, or date restrictions. Two independent reviewers performed screening, with disagreements resolved through consensus and majority vote. The principal investigator conducted data extraction and quality appraisal using the Downs and Black checklist. RESULTS: Of 6,049 studies retrieved, 25 met the eligibility criteria. Due to heterogeneous reporting, a summary of participant demographics could not be compiled. Absence of a standardised method for measuring cough effectiveness meant meta-analysis was impossible. Nonetheless, an effective cough response to penetration/aspiration was noted for some participants within 17 studies, ineffective cough responses for some within 17 studies, while one study reported a partially effective cough response for participants. CONCLUSIONS: Robust evidence on cough effectiveness is lacking due to study heterogeneity and inconsistent reporting. Developing a standardised tool to assess cough effectiveness would ensure consistency and comparability across studies, improving clinical reporting of VFSS and FEES outcomes.

Effects of adult children's marriage on household stock market participation: An event‐study difference‐in‐differences approach using Chinese micro data

AbstractThis paper examines households' stock market participation responses to a critical life‐cycle event, adult children's marriage. An event‐study difference‐in‐differences approach is employed to facilitate identification, which compares changes in the stock market participation behaviors of households that experience children's marriage with households that experience it later as well as households that never experience it. Exploiting household‐wide variations in exposure to children's marriage using the China Family Panel Studies data over the 2010–2020 period, this paper finds that 2 years after children's marriage, households significantly enhance their likelihood of participating in the stock market. Households' willingness to participate increases by 1.1 to 1.6 percentage points depending on specifications. This paper's finding supports time‐varying risk aversion at the household level. Mechanism analysis indicates that children's marriage raises household risk preferences because it mitigates parental old‐age support concerns and alleviates households' consumption commitment to housing and children.

Science communicators from marginalized backgrounds challenge STEM cultural norms to promote community belonging

In the U.S., navigating STEM with marginalized identities can affect scientists' communication practices. There is a critical need for science communication training that accounts for the historical oppressions, discriminations, and inequities of marginalized communities. In this paper we analyzed 712 participant responses from ReclaimingSTEM science communication workshops to understand how marginalized scientists' identities influence their science communication practices. We found that participants' experiences of exclusion and hostility in STEM spaces influenced their engagement in science communication. Scientists from marginalized backgrounds aim to change the culture of STEM through their communication efforts to promote a sense of belonging for their communities.

Exploring Reproductive Experiences With Women Enrolled in the International Vasculitis Pregnancy Registry.

This study explored the reproductive journeys of women with vasculitis, including their conversations with healthcare providers, disease activity, medication changes, and delivery experiences. Interviews were conducted with women registered in the Vasculitis Pregnancy Registry (VPREG), an online patient-reported registry of pregnant women with vasculitis. A team of physicians, patients, and qualitative researchers developed a qualitative interview guide. Participant responses were evaluated using thematic analysis. Eighteen patients with vasculitis who had experienced pregnancy were interviewed (10 antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, 4 Takayasu arteritis, 2 Behçet disease, 1 IgA vasculitis, 1 relapsing polychondritis). Thematic analysis revealed common experiences in the decision-making process during pregnancy planning, including accessing information from multiple sources, communicating with medical professionals, and changing treatment for vasculitis. Women sought information about vasculitis and pregnancy from various sources, including social media; however, opinions from their physicians and family members were most influential. Patients were more likely than providers to initiate conversations regarding family planning. Balancing differing opinions from subspecialists was challenging as many patients recalled acting as a liaison between multiple physicians during pregnancy. The need for self-advocacy was a common experience among patients. Most women had pregnancies that resulted in live births with delivery at term. When making decisions about pregnancy, women of reproductive age with vasculitis used multiple resources. Patients consistently valued their medical provider's opinion over alternative sources of information. To ensure comprehensive medical care, half of women relied on self-advocacy to coordinate communication among subspecialists. Most women had pregnancies that resulted in live births with delivery at term.

Analyzing The Impact of Ai-Generated Email Marketing Content on Email Deliverability in Spam Folder Placement

Abstract This study investigated the impact of AI-generated email content on email marketing deliverability, specifically its placement in spam folders. A controlled experiment was conducted with 450 participants who received AI-generated emails sent from different domains using plain text content and clear subject lines. The emails were analyzed for placement in inboxes or spam folders based on participant responses. The results revealed no significant impact of AI-generated content on email deliverability, regardless of the sender's domain or the recipient's email provider. All emails consistently reached primary inboxes, suggesting that the applied precautions (plain text, clear subject lines, and avoidance of suspicious elements) mitigated any potential spam triggers. This study shows AI-generated email content can be deliverable and personalized, challenging concerns about spam placement. Marketers can use AI to craft engaging emails that land in inboxes, not spam folders. This finding also aligns with SEO trends, where AI content isn't automatically penalized.

Foundation Phase Teachers’ Point of Views Towards Using Social-Constructivism Learning Theory in Professional Development

The study offers the findings from the Foundation Phase teachers’ interviews assessing the effectiveness of social constructivism learning theory as a teaching method for educating teachers to identify learners with learning barriers in various classroom contexts. South African education officials need to consider which teaching practices have the potential to impact teacher professional development and ultimately improve learners’ outcomes. As the nation transitions to inclusive education, South African teachers have the challenge of not meeting the different needs of learners individually and helping them realise their full potential. An extensive body of work discusses the significance of social constructivism learning theory as the essential instrument to end the circumstance. This research had a quantitative focus. A study of twenty (n = 20) female primary school teachers in the Motheo District of South Africa who were instructing foundation phase learners participated in investigating teachers’ opinions of applying social constructivism learning theory during professional development. Purposively, participants were chosen. Four rural elementary schools were used for the investigation. A questionnaire was used to gather the data. Based on participant responses, it was discovered that social constructivism learning theory may be applied as a teaching and learning technique for teacher professional development, empowering them to identify learners with learning barriers in a range of classroom contexts.

MicroRNA profile of inflammatory response in COVID-19 participants

microRNA profile of inflammatory response in COVID-19 participants

Psychophysiological effects of equine-facilitated psychotherapy on Veterans with PTSD and their horse partners

LAY SUMMARY Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often struggle with emotion and impulse control, resulting in an inability to appropriately handle even minimal stress, which can lead to physiological dysregulation. This study used a variety of measures to assess the effect of equine-facilitated psychotherapy on Veterans with PTSD. Given that maintaining practices of good welfare for animals is essential in supporting these types of therapeutic programs for Veterans, the study also evaluated the welfare of the horse participants. The results showed that equine-facilitated psychotherapy had a positive impact on the perceived post-program responses of human participants and that horses were not stressed during the sessions and likely perceived the sessions as a neutral stimulus.

Exploring a method to reduce inconsistency in the group Analytic Hierarchy Process using the Delphi method and Nudge theory

This paper reports a new method based on a Delphi process to nudge responses of participants toward consistency in an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) study. We hypothesized that data collected during an early round of an AHP study could establish ranges of answers for later rounds that would improve consistency of responses. In our design, the Delphi method provided an effective framework for feedback of the bounds calculated between rounds. Using Delphi within the AHP to nudge answers of experts toward answers that promote consistency was the focus of our method. We propose an application using four mini scenarios depicting alternate futures for the management of genetic modification technologies. We found that in most instances our nudges improved the consistency of responses in sequential Delphi rounds; however, in some instances, the Delphi suggestions of bounds were not followed by a sufficient number of participants and a small number of inconsistencies remained. The value of this work may be in its warning to other researchers who attempt to achieve consistency by nudging responses in a paired comparison AHP study, to be quite explicit in instructions about remaining within the given bounds and perhaps creating incentives for respondents to do so.

Phase II clinical trial of nab‐paclitaxel plus cisplatin plus gemcitabine (NABPLAGEM) in patients with untreated advanced pancreatic cancer

AbstractBackgroundA previous phase IB/II study of nab‐paclitaxel + cisplatin + gemcitabine (NABPLAGEM) in 25 patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) demonstrated favorable results. This phase II study was conducted to further evaluate the safety, efficacy, and impact on quality of life (QOL) of NABPLAGEM in a multi‐center setting.MethodsParticipants were ≥18 years; had measurable PDAC; Karnofsky performance status of ≥70%; life expectancy ≥12 weeks; <grade 2 pre‐existing peripheral neuropathy, and adequate hematologic, hepatic, and renal function. Study treatment included nab‐paclitaxel (125 mg/m2), cisplatin (25 mg/m2), and gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2), on Days 1 and 8 of a 21‐day cycle. The primary endpoint was 12‐month overall survival (OS).ResultsA total of 42 patients were enrolled with a median age of 66.8 years, a majority were male (66.7%) and white (76.2%). Treatment‐related adverse events ≥grade 3 were: thrombocytopenia (64.3%), anemia (47.6%), and neutropenia (26.1%). OS at 12 months was 38.1%, with 12% of patients alive as of last contact (20–40+ months). In 37 evaluable participants responses included: partial response (40.5%), stable disease (43.2%), and progressive disease (16.2%), with overall response rate of 40.5% and DCR of 88.6%. Statistically significant improvement in QOL was reported during the first three cycles.ConclusionThe primary objective of achieving a 12‐month survival comparable to the previous phase Ib/II NABPLAGEM PCRT 12‐001 was not achieved in this trial. NABPLAGEM has efficacy in advanced PDAC, demonstrating early disease control noted by improvement in patient symptoms, decrease in tumor volume and tumor markers within the first 9 weeks. The activity and tolerability make this a suitable regimen for further testing in the neoadjuvant setting.