1,720,961 research outputs found
Clinical applications of EEG power spectra aperiodic component analysis: A mini-review
Full text linkObjective: The present mini-review summarizes recent clinical findings related to the analysis of the aperiodic component of EEG (electroencephalographic) power spectra, making them quickly accessible to medical specialists and health researchers, with the aim of boosting related research. Methods: Based on our experience about clinicians’ literature-searching, we queried the PubMed database with terms related to EEG power spectra aperiodic component analysis and selected clinical studies that referenced such terms in the title/abstract, and were published in the last five years. Results: A total of 11 journal articles, dealing with 9 different neurologic and psychiatric conditions published between 1st January 2016 – April 1st 2021, were surveyed. Conclusions: All the reviewed studies focused on exploring the pathophysiological significance of the aperiodic component and its correlation with disease presence, stage, and severity. Despite the heterogeneity of pathologies, it was possible to cluster most of them according to the mechanism underlying slope alterations, namely hypo-/hyper-excitability. It was also possible to identify some counterintuitive findings, probably related to compensation mechanisms of disease-specific neurophysiological alterations. Significance: All the findings seem to support the role of the aperiodic activity as index of excitation/inhibition balance, with promising clinical applications that might challenge the traditional approach to pathologies diagnosis/treatment/follow-up
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
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
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
Network Analysis of the HLS19-Q12 Health Literacy Questionnaire: insights from an Italian Pilot Study
Full text linkBackground. The widespread use of the internet and social media has transformed how people access health information impacting health literacy. Health literacy, the ability to access, understand, and use health information, is crucial to promote and maintain good health. This study is the first exploring with network analysis the correlation and distribution of the items of the Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-Q) 12 short form to verify their correspondence to the principal domains of the health literacy conceptual model proposed by Sorensen et al. in 2013. Materials and Methods. A digital version of the Italian HLS19-Q12 questionnaire was distributed online through social media and informal channels in May 2024. The sample consisted of 352 participants from the metropolitan area of Cagliari, Italy. Network analysis was employed to examine the clustering and relationships between the questionnaire items, via JASP using the Ising Fit method. Results. Key findings include significant difficulties in accessing professional help and understanding medical emergencies. Network centrality measures highlighted the prominence of items related to understanding medical emergencies and making health decisions. Three clusters corresponding to healthcare, disease prevention, and health promotion, were visually identified with the last two closely interconnected. The item “making decisions to improve health” is crucial, acting as a bridge between clusters. Some items traditionally belonging to one domain shifted to another. Conclusions. The network analysis provided a clear depiction of health literacy as complex system, emphasizing interactions. Health literacy involves accessing, evaluating, and applying information, with empowerment playing a key role according to our findings. By addressing identified needs and focusing on prominent items, healthcare professionals and policymakers can enhance health literacy and improve health outcomes for individuals and communities. This pilot study’s findings could benefit future research and interventions to improve health literacy
Pilot evaluation of the effectiveness of an ergonomics awareness educational programme addressed to middle-school children
Full text linkBackground: Ergonomics programmes addressed to children fit the health-promoting schools (HPS) framework. Beyond the integration of ergonomics in curricula, an important aspect is the effectiveness of the programme. This pilot study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme proposed to a sample of middle-school children (aged 10–13 years) of the metropolitan city of Cagliari. Methods: The programme was designed along the lines of the INAIL (Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work) scheme and proposed to 260 children. It consisted of three phases: 1) assessment of students’ background with a pre-intervention questionnaire (completed by 142 students); 2) teaching of the ergonomics training modules and evaluation of the weight of a sample of 160 backpacks, and of students’ perception to be able to sit by putting their feet on the ground; 3) evaluation of conceptual understanding of ergonomics concepts with a post-intervention questionnaire (completed by 107 students out of the 142 students who completed phase 1). Results: There was a substantial improvement in the percentage of correct responses post-intervention, confirmed by the chi-square test, regarding concepts about ergonomics, backpack weight and handling. Most of the backpacks exceeded the maximum allowed value, and 20% of students were perceived to be unable to sit putting their feet on the ground. Conclusions: The practical application of ergonomics pedagogy proved effective in the school setting and should be integrated into school curricula. The prevention technicians can offer a holistic approach, while the teachers are essential to implement the programme on a large scale. Effectiveness evaluation is necessary to guide resource allocation and implement and sustain the HPS approach. A tailored programme has a greater chance of reaching its target audience and maximizing effectiveness
Exploring manual therapy in the management of irritable bowel syndrome in adults: A scoping review
Full text linkIntroduction: IBS is a prevalent gut-brain interaction disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, significantly affecting quality of life (QoL). IBS contributes to substantial work absenteeism and economic burdens and often coexists with other somatic and psychiatric conditions, with psychological well-being being a critical determinant of QoL. IBS sufferers often turn to MT due to dissatisfaction with conventional treatments. However, no comprehensive review has assessed the evidence for MT in treating IBS. Objective: The objective of this review is to identify and map the available evidence on the effects of various manual therapy (MT) techniques on the biopsychosocial functioning, well-being, and QoL of individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. Studies involving adults with IBS and investigating the effects of MT on biological, psychological, and social outcomes, well-being, or QoL were included. A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Study quality was assessed using The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Study Quality Assessment Tools. The protocol for this review was registered with the Open Science Framework and is available at https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/QN4WU. Results: Of 730 records identified, 30 studies met the inclusion criteria (9 trials, 21 reviews). The interventions reviewed included osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology, traditional Chinese spinal orthopaedic manipulation, and Tuina. The most frequently assessed outcomes were biological and psychological variables, as well as QoL, with well-being being the least commonly examined. Conclusions: Although the results suggest potential benefits of MT in IBS treatment, they should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of robust trials, inconsistent findings, and occasional adverse events. High-quality randomized controlled trials and standardized outcome measures are necessary to validate these therapies and improve IBS management
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