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Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Sexual function in Italian women with systemic sclerosis is affected by disease-related and psychological concerns.
No full textOBJECTIVE:
In patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), sexual function is somewhat impaired. Our aim was to evaluate sexual function in women with SSc in comparison to controls, and to investigate the association with sociodemographic and disease characteristics, and physical and psychological variables.
METHODS:
Forty-six women with SSc and 46 healthy women were assessed for sociodemographic characteristics and gynecological development and administered the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced-New Italian Version, and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue Scale. Patients were also assessed for disease duration and subset, Female Sexual Function in SSc, Hand Mobility in Scleroderma test (HAMIS), Cochin Hand Functional Disability Scale, Mouth Handicap in Systemic Sclerosis Scale (MHISS), Disability Sexual and Body Esteem Scale (PDSBE); and fist closure, hand opening, and mouth opening.
RESULTS:
In patients with SSc, only FSFI desire subscale score was significantly lower (p = 0.035) versus controls. Total FSFI score, similar to controls, was related with Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 mental component, HAQ (p = 0.022), MHISS (p = 0.038), and HAMIS (p = 0.037). In SSc, the main factors independently associated with sexual functioning were vaginal dryness [regression coefficient (B) = -0.72; p < 0.001], PDSBE (B = 0.42; p = 0.001), and HADS depression scale (B = -0.23; p = 0.035). Together, these variables explained 70% of the variance in the FSFI total score.
CONCLUSION:
In SSc, sexual function, although not different from controls, is influenced by specific disease-related and psychological concerns. Thus it should be included in patient evaluations and assessed in daily clinical practice
In systemic sclerosis, anxiety and depression assessed by hospital anxiety depression scale are independently associated with disability and psychological factors.
Full text linkBACKGROUND:
Anxious and depressive symptoms are frequent in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Our objective is to assess their prevalence and association with district and global disability and psychological variables.
METHODS:
119 SSc patients were assessed by Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). Clinical depression and anxiety were defined for HADS score cutoff ≥ 8. Patients were assessed for psychological symptoms (RSES, COPE-NIV), hand (HAMIS, CHFDS, fist closure, and hand opening) and face disability (MHISS, mouth opening), global disability, and fatigue (HAQ, FACIT).
RESULTS:
Both depression and anxiety in SSc are 36%. Depressive patients with comorbid anxiety have higher HADS-D score than patients with depression only (P = 0.001). HADS-A and -D are positively correlated with global disability, hands and mouth disability, fatigue, self-esteem and avoidance coping strategy, and, only HADS-A, also with social support (P < 0.05). By multiple regression, HADS-D is independently associated with FACIT-F (P < 0.001), RSES (P < 0.001), and MHISS total score (P = 0.016), together explaining 50% of variance. HADS-A is independently associated with RSES (P = 0.006), COPE-NIV SA (P = 0.003), COPE-NIV SS (P = 0.008), FACIT-F (P = 0.022), and MHISS mouth opening (P = 0.029), explaining 41% of variance.
CONCLUSIONS:
In SSc depression and anxiety correlate to local and global disabilities and psychological characteristics. Depressive patients with comorbid anxiety have higher level of depressive symptoms
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Enhancing Hand Dexterity Assessment Through Protocol Revision and Pilot Evaluation of the Virtual Eggs Test
No full textHand function assessment enables the therapist to select the proper rehabilitation therapy as well as to monitor the recovery progress. The Virtual Eggs Test (VET) stands out from the other tests for hand dexterity evaluation since evaluates both gross and fine dexterity. This is achieved by integrating measures of accuracy and speed in transporting objects with increasing fragilities. A clinical trial to validate VET was carried out with a population of amputees and a small group of healthy participants, showing promising results. To improve the resolution of the test, here we propose a revised version of the execution protocol without extending the duration. The new version has been preliminary evaluated by seven healthy participants of different ages. The results of this pilot study support test-retest reliability for the original formulation of the Fine Dexterity Index, while suggesting for a revision of the Gross Dexterity Index
In Women With Systemic Sclerosis Sexual Function Is Affected By Disease-Related And Psychological Concerns
No full textObjective. In Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) patients, sexual function is somewhat impaired.
Our aim is to evaluate sexual function in women with SSc in comparison
to controls and to investigate the association with socio-demographic and disease
characteristics, physical and psychological variables.
Methods. 46 women with SSc (age: 56.1 ± 12.4 years; 29 with lSSc, 17 with
dSSc) and 46 healthy women (age: 52.0 ± 9.0 years) were assessed for sociodemographic
characteristics, gynecological anamnesis and administered with Female
Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Short Form-36 (SF36), Health Assessment
Questionnaire (HAQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Rosenberg
Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Coping Orientation to Problems ExperiencedNew
Italian Version (COPE-NIV), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness
Therapy-Fatigue Scale (FACIT-F).
Patients were also assessed for disease duration and subset, Female Sexual Function
in SSc (FSFS), Hand Mobility In Scleroderma Test (HAMIS), Cochin Hand
Functional Disability Scale (CHFDS), Mouth Handicap in Systemic Sclerosis
Scale (MHISS), Disability Sexual and Body Esteem Scale (PDSBE); fist closure,
hand opening and mouth opening.
Results. In SSc patients, only FSFI desire subscale score was significantly lower
(p=0.035) versus controls. FSFI scores were not different in dSSc versus lSSc
patients (P=NS).
Total FSFI score, similar to controls, by bivariate analysis was negatively correlated
with age (p=0.014), HADS-d (p<0.001), FACIT-F (p=0.044), COPE-NIV
Avoidance Strategies subscale (p=0.012); and positively related with PDSBE
(p<0.001), SF-36 summary mental index (p=0.006) scales. FSFI total score
was also negatively correlated to HAQ (p=0.022), total MHISS (p=0.038) and
HAMIS (p=0.037) scores.
At multivariate analysis, in SSc, the factors independently associated with FSFI
were vaginal dryness (B=-0.72; p<0.001), PDSBE (B=0.42; p=0.001) and HADS
depression scale (B=-0.23; p=0.035). Together, these variables explained 70% of
the variance in total FSFI.
At multivariate analysis in healthy participants, the factors independently associated
with FSFI were age (B=-0.47; p=0.001), FACIT-F (B=-0.36; p=0.006),
physical problems PP subscale of SF-36 (B=0.29; p=0.02) and COPE-NIV transcendental
orientation scale (B=-0.24; p=0.037), together, explaining 44% of the
variance in total FSFI.
Conclusion. In SSc, sexual function, although not different from controls, is influenced
by specific disease-related and psychological concerns, different from
variables affecting sexual function in healthy controls. Thus, it should be included
in patients evaluation and assessed in daily practice
Reliability, Validity, and Responsiveness of the Craniocervical Flexion Test in People Who Are Asymptomatic and Patients with Nonspecific Neck Pain: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
No full textObjective: Among the tests designed to evaluate neck neuromuscular function, the Craniocervical Flexion Test (CCFT) assesses the function of the deep cervical flexor muscles (DCFs). The purpose of this study was to conduct a review and meta-analysis of published articles about all measurement properties of the different CCFT versions (CCFT Activation Score [CCFT-AS], CCFT Performance Index [CCFT-PI], CCFT Cumulative Performance Index [CCFT-CPI], and CCFT alternative procedures for measuring activation level (CCFT1) or endurance (CCFT2) in people who were asymptomatic and people with nonspecific neck pain. Methods: PubMed Central, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to June 30, 2020. Studies were selected if they reported data on reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness of the CCFT in adults who were asymptomatic or who had nonspecific neck pain. Two reviewers independently selected the studies, conducted quality assessment, and extracted the results. All meta-analyses used a random-effects model. Results: Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. The rating of interrater reliability (assessed for CCFT-AS and CCFT-CPI) was positive only for using the test at a group level. The same rating was ascribed to the intrarater reliability of CCFT-AS, CCFT1, and CCFT2, whereas CCFT-PI and CCFT-CPI showed positive intrarater reliability for assessment of individuals as well. CCFT validity was rated as positive for expressly assessing DCF action when measuring DCF activation through electromyography-not through ultrasonography-or craniocervical flexion motion and for differentiating patients who were asymptomatic and patients who had nonspecific neck pain (only the AS version) and was rated as negative for investigating the CCFT performance correlation with the severity of nonspecific neck pain. CCFT responsiveness was rated as negative. Conclusions: The CCFT is a potentially useful tool for detecting impairment in DCF control and identifying patients who have nonspecific neck pain and who would benefit from a targeted intervention. However, the limited reliability affects its suitability for that purpose. Further research on the reliability of different CCFT versions in which the raters are thoroughly trained is strongly recommended
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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