bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Confounding factors affecting the clinical decision-making of nursing and midwifery students post-pandemic COVID-19: cross-sectional study in Jordan
Authors: Alnjadat Rafi , Almomani Eshraq , Al Hadid Lourance , Al-Omari Amer , Fraihat Alaa
Published: June 2024

Background

The ability of a nurse to make effective clinical decisions is the most important factor that can affect the treatment quality. However, several factors can affect the ability of nursing and midwifery students to make effective clinical decisions.

Objectives

This study aims to identify the confounding factors that may affect the clinical decision making of nurses and thus patient outcomes after the COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed in this study. An online self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 269 nursing and midwifery students selected through purposive sampling, 224 of whom completed the questionnaire. The valid and reliable nursing decision-making instrument, which consisted of 24 items, was employed to gather the data, and descriptive statistics and simple linear regression were employed for the data analysis. Data was collected from November to the end of December 2022.

Results

Among the respondents, 72.8% were female, and the average age was 20.79 years (SD = 1.44). The vast majority of the respondents (94.6%) was unmarried, and 74.1% were pursuing a nursing degree. The simple linear regression analysis showed that clinical decision making had a negative and significant relationship with social media usage of an average of 6 h a day (β=−0.085). Moreover, the male nursing students obtained lower clinical decision-making scores (β= −0.408) compared with the female nursing students.

Conclusion

Social media usage and gender have a considerable effect on the clinical decision making of the nursing and midwifery students. Therefore, the confounding factors that can affect the clinical decision making of nurses should be discussed further, and strategies to address such factors should be implemented.
Complex management and descriptive cost analysis of kidney transplant candidates: a descriptive cross-sectional study
Authors: Pedreira-Robles Guillermo , Garcimartín Paloma , Pérez-Sáez María José , Bach-Pascual Anna , Crespo Marta , Morín-Fraile Victoria
Published: June 2024

Background

The organisational care needs involved in accessing kidney transplant have not been described in the literature and therefore a detailed analysis thereof could help to establish a framework (including appropriate timing, investment, and costs) for the management of this population. The main objective of this study is to analyse the profile and care needs of kidney transplant candidates in a tertiary hospital and the direct costs of studying them.

Methods

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using data on a range of variables (sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, study duration, and investment in visits and supplementary tests) from 489 kidney transplant candidates evaluated in 2020.

Results

The comorbidity index was high (> 4 in 64.3%), with a mean of 5.6 ± 2.4. Part of the study population had certain characteristics that could hinder their access a kidney transplant: physical dependence (9.4%), emotional distress (33.5%), non-adherent behaviours (25.2%), or language barriers (9.4%). The median study duration was 6.6[3.4;14] months. The ratio of required visits to patients was 5.97:1, meaning an investment of €237.10 per patient, and the ratio of supplementary tests to patients was 3.5:1, meaning an investment of €402.96 per patient.

Conclusions

The study population can be characterised as complex due to their profile and their investment in terms of time, visits, supplementary tests, and direct costs. Management based on our results involves designing work-adaptation strategies to the needs of the study population, which can lead to increased patient satisfaction, shorter waiting times, and reduced costs.
Global burden, risk factors, and temporal trends of ureteral cancer: a comprehensive analysis of cancer registries
Authors: Huang Junjie , Pang Wing Sze , Fung Yat Ching , Mak Fung Yu , Chan Sze Chai , Liu Xianjing , Zhang Lin , Lucero-Prisno Don Eliseo , Xu Wanghong , Zheng Zhi-Jie , Moschini Marco , Pradere Benjamin , Soria Francesco , Enikeev Dmitry , Roupret Morgan , Shariat Shahrokh , Ng Anthony Chi-Fai , Teoh Jeremy Yuen-Chun , Wong Martin C. S.
Published: June 2024

Background

Ureteral cancer is a rare cancer. This study aimed to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis on the global trends of ureteral cancer incidence and its association with lifestyle and metabolic risk factors.

Methods

The incidence of ureteral cancer was estimated from the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Plus and Global Cancer Observatory databases. We analyzed the (1) global incidence of ureteral cancer by region, country, sex, and age group by age-standardized rates (ASR); (2) associated risk factors on a population level by univariable linear regression with logarithm transformation; and (3) incidence trend of ureteral cancer by sex and age group in different countries by Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC).

Results

The global age-standardized rate of ureteral cancer incidence in 2022 was 22.3 per 10,000,000 people. Regions with higher human development index (HDI), such as Europe, Northern America, and East Asia, were found to have a higher incidence of ureteral cancer. Higher HDI and gross domestic product (GDP) and a higher prevalence of smoking, alcohol drinking, physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and lipid disorder were associated with higher incidence of ureteral cancer. An overall increasing trend of ureteral cancer incidence was observed for the past decade, especially among the female population.

Conclusions

Although ureteral cancer was relatively rare, the number of cases reported was rising over the world. The rising trends among females were more evident compared with the other subgroups, especially in European countries. Further studies could be conducted to examine the reasons behind these epidemiological changes and confirm the relationship with the risk factors identified.
Application of microwave ablation assisted degradation therapy in surgical treatment of intramedullary chondrosarcoma of extremities
Authors: Qiu Xinzhu , He Hongbo , Zhang Can , Liu Yupeng , Zeng Hao , Liu Qing
Published: June 2024

Aim

Clinical diagnosis and surgical treatment of chondrosarcoma (CS) are continuously improving. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the effectiveness of microwave ablation (MWA) assisted degradation therapy in the surgical treatment of intramedullary chondrosarcoma of the extremities, to provide a new reference and research basis for the surgical treatment of CS.

Methods

We recruited 36 patients with intramedullary CS who underwent MWA assisted extended curettage. Preoperative patient demographics and clinical data were recorded. Surgery was independently assisted by a medical team. Patients were followed up strictly and evaluated for oncological prognosis, radiological results, limb joint function, pain, and complications.

Results

We included 15 men and 21 women (mean age: 43.5 ± 10.1). The average length of the lesion was 8.1 ± 2.5 cm. Based on preoperative radiographic, clinical manifestations, and pathological results of puncture biopsy, 28 patients were preliminarily diagnosed with CS-grade I and eight patients with CS-grade II. No recurrence or metastasis occurred in the postoperative follow-up. The average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 28.8 ± 1.0, significantly better than presurgery. Secondary shoulder periarthritis and abduction dysfunction occurred in early postoperative stage CS of the proximal humerus in some, but returned to normal after rehabilitation exercise. Secondary bursitis occurred at the knee joint in some due to the internal fixation device used in treatment; however, secondary osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis of the femoral head were not observed. Overall, oncological and functional prognoses were satisfactory.

Conclusions

The application of MWA assisted degradation therapy in intramedullary CS can achieve satisfactory oncology and functional prognosis, providing a new option for the limited treatment of CS.
Potential molecular mechanisms and clinical implications of piRNAs in preeclampsia: a review
Authors: Ma Yuanxuan , Hou Bo , Zong Jinbao , Liu Shiguo
Published: June 2024

Preeclampsia is a multisystem progressive condition and is one of the most serious complications of pregnancy. Owing to its unclear pathogenesis, there are no precise and effective therapeutic targets for preeclampsia, and the only available treatment strategy is to terminate the pregnancy and eliminate the clinical symptoms. In recent years, non-coding RNAs have become a hotspot in preeclampsia research and have shown promise as effective biomarkers for the early diagnosis of preeclampsia over conventional biochemical markers. PIWI-interacting RNAs, novel small non-coding RNA that interact with PIWI proteins, are involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level. However, the mechanisms underlying the role of PIWI-interacting RNAs in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia remain unclear. In this review, we discuss the findings of existing studies on PIWI-interacting RNA biogenesis, functions, and their possible roles in preeclampsia, providing novel insights into the potential application of PIWI-interacting RNAs in the early diagnosis and clinical treatment of preeclampsia.
Co-creating a global shared research agenda on violence against women in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Corboz Julienne , Dartnall Elizabeth , Brown Chay , Fulu Emma , Gordon Sarah , Tomlinson Mark
Published: June 2024

Background

Despite a large growth in evidence on violence against women (VAW) over the last 25 years, VAW persists, as do gaps in the field’s knowledge of how to prevent and respond to it. To ensure that research on VAW in low- and middle-income countries (LIMCs) is addressing the most significant gaps in knowledge, and to prioritise evidence needs to reduce VAW and better support victims/survivors, the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) and Equality Institute (EQI) led a process of developing a global shared research agenda (GSRA) on VAW in LMICs.

Methods

The GSRA was developed through a six-stage adaptation of the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method, which draws on the principle of the ‘wisdom of the crowd’. These steps included: a review of the literature on VAW in LMICs and development of domains; the generation of research questions within four domains by an Advisory Group; the consolidation of research questions; scoring of research questions by a Global Expert Group and the Advisory Group according to three criteria (applicability, effectiveness and equity); consultation and validation of the findings with the Advisory Group; and wide dissemination of the findings.

Results

The highest ranked research questions in the GSRA pertain to the domain of Intervention research, with some highly ranked questions also pertaining to the domain of Understanding VAW in its multiple forms. Questions under the other two domains, Improving existing interventions, and Methodological and measurement gaps, were not prioritised as highly by experts. There was strong consistency in top ranked research questions according to experts’ characteristics, albeit with some important differences according to experts’ gender, occupation and geographical location.

Conclusions

The GSRA findings suggest that currently the VAW field is shifting towards intervention research after several decades of building evidence on understanding VAW, including prevalence, drivers and impacts of violence. The findings also suggest a strong emphasis on under-served populations, and under-researched forms of VAW. Future priority setting exercises in LMICs that seek to decolonise knowledge should ensure that methodologies, and modalities of engagement, put diverse voices at the centre of engagement.

Trial registration Not applicable
Robot-aided assessment and associated brain lesions of impaired ankle proprioception in chronic stroke
Authors: Huang Qiyin , Elangovan Naveen , Zhang Mingming , Van de Winckel Ann , Konczak Jürgen
Published: June 2024

Background

Impaired ankle proprioception strongly predicts balance dysfunction in chronic stroke. However, only sparse data on ankle position sense and no systematic data on ankle motion sense dysfunction in stroke are available. Moreover, the lesion sites underlying impaired ankle proprioception have not been comprehensively delineated. Using robotic technology, this study quantified ankle proprioceptive deficits post-stroke and determined the associated brain lesions.

Methods

Twelve adults with chronic stroke and 13 neurotypical adults participated. A robot passively plantarflexed a participant’s ankle to two distinct positions or at two distinct velocities. Participants subsequently indicated which of the two movements was further/faster. Based on the stimulus-response data, psychometric just-noticeable-difference (JND) thresholds and intervals of uncertainty (IU) were derived as measures on proprioceptive bias and precision. To determine group differences, Welch’s t-test and the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test were performed for the JND threshold and IU, respectively. Voxel-based lesion subtraction analysis identified the brain lesions associated with observed proprioceptive deficits in adults with stroke.

Results

83% of adults with stroke exhibited abnormalities in either position or motion sense, or both. JND and IU measures were significantly elevated compared to the control group (Position sense: + 77% in JND, + 148% in IU; Motion sense: +153% in JND, + 78% in IU). Adults with stroke with both impaired ankle position and motion sense had lesions in the parietal, frontal, and temporoparietal regions.

Conclusions

This is the first study to document the magnitude and frequency of ankle position and motion sense impairment in adults with chronic stroke. Proprioceptive dysfunction was characterized by elevated JND thresholds and increased uncertainty in perceiving ankle position/motion. Furthermore, the associated cortical lesions for impairment in both proprioceptive senses were largely overlapping.
Dietary patterns and multiple chronic diseases in older adults
Authors: Mao Danhui , Li Gongkui , Liang Moxuan , Wang Shiyun , Ren Xiaojun
Published: June 2024

Background

The prevalence rate of multiple chronic diseases among the elderly is relatively high, posing a risk to their health and also imposing a financial burden on them. Optimal dietary patterns have positive effects on multiple chronic diseases. This study aimed to identify dietary patterns associated with multiple chronic diseases in older adults.

Methods

Dietary intake was assessed through two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. The presence of multiple chronic diseases was assessed based on the existence of dyslipidemia, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, sleep disorders, diabetes, moderate or severe depressive symptoms, and cognitive impairment, with two or more of these conditions being considered. Latent class analysis was used to identify types of multiple chronic diseases, and two-step cluster analysis was used to determine individual dietary patterns. Logistic regression analysis with robust standard errors was conducted to determine the associations between dietary patterns and types of multiple chronic diseases.

Results

Three dietary patterns and three types of multiple chronic diseases were identified. Individuals following a diet rich in legumes, meat, vegetables and fruits (HLMVF dietary pattern) were 59% less likely to have the cardiometabolic cognitive impairment comorbidity (CCC) than those following a diet rich in milk and eggs but with low grain intake (HME-LG) (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.27–0.64, P < 0.001) and 66% less likely to have the especially sleep disorders comorbidity (ESC) than those following a diet rich in grains but lacking milk and eggs (HG-LME) (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14–0.87, P < 0.05).

Discussion

The HLMVF dietary pattern may serve as a healthy dietary pattern to reduce the incidence of multiple chronic diseases and should be promoted among the older adult population.
A randomized trial of collaborative support for opioid taper after trauma hospitalization
Authors: Sullivan Mark D. , Katers Laura , Wang Jin , Arbabi Sam , Tauben David , Baldwin Laura-Mae
Published: June 2024

The COTAT (Collaborative Opioid Taper After Trauma) Study was a randomized trial of an opioid taper support program using a physician assistant (PA) to provide pain and opioid treatment guidance to primary care providers assuming care for adult patients with moderate to severe trauma discharged from a Level I trauma center on opioid therapy. Patients were recruited, assessed, and randomized individually by a surgery research recruitment team one to two days prior to discharge to home. Participants randomized to the opioid taper support program were contacted by phone within a few days of discharge by the PA interventionist to confirm enrollment and their primary care provider (PCP). The intervention consisted of PA support as needed to the PCP concerning pain and opioid care at weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 after discharge or until the PCP office indicated they no longer needed support or the patient had tapered off opioids. The PA was supervised by a pain physician-psychiatrist, a family physician, and a trauma surgeon. Patients randomized to usual care received standard hospital discharge instructions and written information on managing opioid medications after discharge. Trial results were analyzed using repeated measures analysis. 37 participants were randomized to the intervention and 36 were randomized to usual care. The primary outcomes of the trial were pain, enjoyment, general activity (PEG score) and mean daily opioid dose at 3 and 6 months after hospital discharge. Treatment was unblinded but assessment was blinded. No significant differences in PEG or opioid outcomes were noted at either time point. Physical function at 3 and 6 months and pain interference at 6 months were significantly better in the usual care group. No significant harms of the intervention were noted. COVID-19 (corona virus 2019) limited recruitment of high-risk opioid tolerant subjects, and limited contact between the PA interventionist and the participants and the PCPs. Our opioid taper support program failed to improve opioid and pain outcomes, since both control and intervention groups tapered opioids and improved PEG scores after discharge. Future trials of post-trauma opioid taper support with populations at higher risk of persistent opioid use are needed. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov under NCT04275258 19/02/2020. This trial was funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the University of Washington Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center (R49 CE003087, PI: Monica S. Vavilala, MD). The funder had no role in the analysis or interpretation of the data.
An exercise and patient education intervention to reduce pain and physical limitations in adults with acetabular dysplasia: study protocol for a process evaluation integrated within a randomised controlled trial (the MovetheHip trial)
Authors: Jacobsen Julie S. , Evans Rhiannon , Morgan Kelly , Thorborg Kristian , Oestergaard Lisa G. , Sørensen Dorthe
Published: June 2024

Background

The Movethehip trial investigates the effectiveness of an exercise and patient education intervention for adults with acetabular dysplasia. The intervention involves eight tailored one-to-one sessions with trained providers who employ supportive feedback tools. The present protocol reports a planned process evaluation, which aims to determine how the intervention functions by examining the implementation of the intervention (process, dose and reach), its acceptability, mechanisms of change and the influence of contextual factors.

Methods

Two hundred trial participants aged 18–50 years will be recruited from a University Hospital in Denmark and randomised to the intervention or control group. Approximately ten providers will deliver the intervention. The process evaluation adopts a concurrent mixed-methods design. The implementation will be assessed using self-report questionnaires (at baseline and 6-month follow-up), training records and semi-structured focus group interviews with intervention providers (n = 10) and healthcare managers (n = 4–6). The mechanisms of change will be explored through semi-structured one-to-one interviews (at baseline and 6-month follow-up) with 15–20 purposefully sampled participants and by measuring changes in health outcomes (self-reported pain, physical functioning and quality of life completed at baseline and at 3- and 6-month follow-up). Additionally, change will be measured through an explorative examination of associations between dose and change in health outcomes, applying simple linear regression models. The acceptability of the intervention and the influence of contextual factors will be explored through one-to-one participant interviews and focus group interviews with 4–6 healthcare managers. The interviews will focus on expectations, experiences, events, personal understandings and interaction with interpersonal and organisational aspects. Interview data will be analysed using theoretical thematic analyses, and findings will be merged with quantitative data and reported jointly on a theme-by-theme basis.

Discussion

The process evaluation conducted as part of the MovetheHip trial will illuminate how the intervention functions, and if the intervention is proven effective, the findings of the evaluation will contribute to pinpoint how the intervention may be optimised to facilitate future up-scaling and implementation.

Trial registration

The MovetheHip protocol was approved by the Committee on Health Research Ethics in the Central Denmark Region. ClinicalTrials, NCT04795843. Registered on 20 March 2021.
Bronchobiliary fistula after traumatic liver rupture: a case report
Authors: Zhou Teng , Wu Wenming , Cheng Chao , Wang Hui , Hu Xiaochuan , Jiang Zhenhui
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Bronchobiliary fistulas are rare and difficult to treat. Peacock first reported this entity in 1850 while treating a patient with hepatic encopresis.

Case presentation

A 67-year-old Chinese male patient presented to the outpatient clinic with a complaint of coughing up phlegm with chest tightness for 4 days with symptoms of intermittent bilirubin sputum with a sputum volume of about 500 ml per day but no symptoms of abdominal pain or jaundice and no yellow urine or steatorrhea. The examination revealed cyanosis of the lips and mouth, barrel chest, low breath sounds on the right side, and a large number of wet rales heard in both lungs. The imaging investigations were suggestive of bronchobiliary fistula. Therefore, the patient was operated on and discharged with no perioperative complications.

Conclusion

Bronchobiliary fistula should be considered diagnostically in patients with known liver disease who also experience trauma or medical treatment and cough up bile-colored sputum, regardless of the presence of concurrent infections, and in conjunction with radiological expertise to identify it. Here, we report a case of bronchobiliary fistula and a brief review of the literature on it.
Peer review trends in six fisheries science journals
Authors: Midway Stephen R. , Hendee Laura , Daugherty Daniel J.
Published: June 2024

Background

As the production of scientific manuscripts and journal options both increase, the peer review process remains at the center of quality control. Recent advances in understanding reviewer biases and behaviors along with electronic manuscript handling records have allowed unprecedented investigations into the peer review process.

Methods

We examined a sample of six journals within the field of fisheries science (and all published by the American Fisheries Society) specifically looking for changes in reviewer invitation rates, review time, patterns of reviewer agreements, and rejection rates relative to different forms of blinding.

Results

Data from 6,606 manuscripts from 2011–2021 showed significant increases in reviewer invitations. Specifically, four journals showed statistically significant increases in reviewer invitations while two showed no change. Review times changed relatively little (± 2 weeks), and we found no concerning patterns in reviewer agreement. However, we documented a consistently higher rejection rate—around 20% higher—of double-blinded manuscripts when compared to single-blinded manuscripts.

Conclusions

Our findings likely represent broader trends across fisheries science publications, and possibly extend to other life science disciplines. Because peer review remains a primary tool for scientific quality control, authors and editors are encouraged to understand the process and evaluate its performance at whatever level can help in the creation of trusted science. Minimally, our findings can help the six journals we investigated to better understand and improve their peer review processes.
Social deprivation and spatial clustering of childhood asthma in Australia
Authors: Khan Jahidur Rahman , Lingam Raghu , Owens Louisa , Chen Katherine , Shanthikumar Shivanthan , Oo Steve , Schultz Andre , Widger John , Bakar K. Shuvo , Jaffe Adam , Homaira Nusrat
Published: June 2024

Background

Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory illness among children in Australia. While childhood asthma prevalence varies by region, little is known about variations at the small geographic area level. Identifying small geographic area variations in asthma is critical for highlighting hotspots for targeted interventions. This study aimed to investigate small area-level variation, spatial clustering, and sociodemographic risk factors associated with childhood asthma prevalence in Australia.

Methods

Data on self-reported (by parent/carer) asthma prevalence in children aged 0–14 years at statistical area level 2 (SA2, small geographic area) and selected sociodemographic features were extracted from the national Australian Household and Population Census 2021. A spatial cluster analysis was used to detect hotspots (i.e., areas and their neighbours with higher asthma prevalence than the entire study area average) of asthma prevalence. We also used a spatial Bayesian Poisson model to examine the relationship between sociodemographic features and asthma prevalence. All analyses were performed at the SA2 level.

Results

Data were analysed from 4,621,716 children aged 0–14 years from 2,321 SA2s across the whole country. Overall, children’s asthma prevalence was 6.27%, ranging from 0 to 16.5%, with significant hotspots of asthma prevalence in areas of greater socioeconomic disadvantage. Socioeconomically disadvantaged areas had significantly higher asthma prevalence than advantaged areas (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.10, 95% credible interval [CrI] 1.06–1.14). Higher asthma prevalence was observed in areas with a higher proportion of Indigenous individuals (PR = 1.13, 95% CrI 1.10–1.17).

Conclusions

We identified significant geographic variation in asthma prevalence and sociodemographic predictors associated with the variation, which may help in designing targeted asthma management strategies and considerations for service enhancement for children in socially deprived areas.
Assessment of peripheral dose as a function of distance and depth from cobalt-60 beam in water phantom using TLD-100
Authors: Ahmad Habib , Ali Javaid , Ahmad Khalil , Biradar Ghufran , Zaman Ashfaq , Uddin Yasir , Sohail Muhammad , Ali Shahid
Published: June 2024

Background

Innovations in cancer treatment have contributed to the improved survival rate of cancer patients. The cancer survival rates have been growing and nearly two third of those survivors have been exposed to clinical radiation during their treatment. The study of long-term radiation effects, especially secondary cancer induction, has become increasingly important. An accurate assessment of out-of-field/peripheral dose (PDs) is necessary to estimate the risk of second cancer after radiotherapy and the damage to the organs at risk surrounding the planning target volume. This study was designed to measure the PDs as a function of dose, distances, and depths from Telecobalt-60 (Co-60) beam in water phantom using thermoluminescent dosimeter-100 (TLD-100).

Methods

The PDs were measured for Co-60 beam at specified depths of 0 cm (surface), 5 cm, 10 cm, and 15 cm outside the radiation beam at distances of 5, 10, and 13 cm away from the radiation field edge using TLD-100 (G1 cards) as detectors. These calibrated cards were placed on the acrylic disc in circular tracks. The radiation dose of 2000 mGy of Co-60 beam was applied inside 10 × 10 cm2 field size at constant source to surface distance (SSD) of 80 cm.

Results

The results showed maximum and minimum PDs at surface and 5 cm depth respectively at all distances from the radiation field edge. Dose distributions out of the field edge with respect to distance were isotropic. The decrease in PDs at 5 cm depth was due to dominant forward scattering of Co-60 gamma rays. The increase in PDs beyond 5 cm depth was due to increase in the irradiated volume, increase in penumbra, increase in source to axis distance (SAD), and increase in field size due to inverse square factor.

Conclusion

It is concluded that the PDs depends upon depth and distance from the radiation field edge. All the measurements show PDs in the homogenous medium (water); therefore, it estimates absorbed dose to the organ at risk (OAR) adjacent to cancer tissues/planning target volume (PTV). It is suggested that PDs can be minimized by using the SAD technique, as this technique controls sources of scattered radiation like inverse square factor and effect of penumbra up-to some extent.
A Rare Cyclic Cushing Syndrome Mystery Illustrates Diagnostic Principles
Authors: Omotosho Yetunde Bernice , McGlotten Raven , Pacak Karel , Wierman Margaret E , Nieman Lynnette K
Published: June 2024

Pheochromocytomas predominantly produce catecholamines, and rarely also produce ACTH, causing Cushing syndrome (CS). Cyclic CS, an uncommon presentation of hypercortisolism, poses a diagnostic challenge. We report a 71-year-old woman who developed cyclic ectopic ACTH secretion from a pheochromocytoma. Previous evaluations showed intermittent elevations in cortisol and ACTH levels, normal pituitary magnetic resonance imaging, and an adrenal nodule. On admission, she was hypertensive and had cushingoid features. Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling with desmopressin stimulation and an 8-mg dexamethasone suppression test suggested ectopic ACTH secretion, but ACTH increased during the peripheral desmopressin stimulation test. Plasma normetanephrines were about 2-fold above the upper reference limit. 18F-fluoro-dopa and 68Gallium-DOTATATE positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging identified an adrenal mass. After doxazosin adrenoceptor blockade, she underwent right adrenalectomy; histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed an ACTH-secreting pheochromocytoma. Postoperative blood pressure normalized and serum cortisol and plasma ACTH levels were suppressed, requiring physiologic hydrocortisone replacement. This case underscores the importance of considering pheochromocytoma in ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism with elevated metanephrines and an adrenal mass. Timely diagnosis and treatment can reduce morbidity and improve quality of life.
Performance and Feminist Collectivizing
Authors: Myers Sarah , Granet Ilona , Henes Donna , Wilson Martha
Published: June 2024

On November 23, 2022, three original core members of the all-woman art collective DISBAND—Ilona Granet, Donna Henes, and Martha Wilson—sat down to discuss the therapeutic effects of collaborative performance, the role of comedy in addressing traumatic topics, and the activist potential of feminist collectivizing. Between 1978 and 1982, DISBAND performed in a diverse cultural circuit in downtown New York City where the burgeoning performance art, no wave, and feminist art scenes collided. The multidisciplinary backgrounds of the women in DISBAND matched the hybridity of this cultural circuit; other members included Barbara Kruger, Ingrid Sischy (former editor in chief of Artforum), Diane Torr (performance artist, drag king, and gender activist), Barbara Ess (photographer and member of the no wave band Y Pants), and Daile Kaplan (photographer and drummer of The Gynecologists). The women of DISBAND approached the song format fluidly, combining hymn, anthem, cheer, and protest movement (stomping, chanting, clapping) with rapid-fire improvisation. DISBAND's songs reflected the members’ personal and collective political concerns, often focusing directly on female oppression. The women's use of costumes, role-playing, and DIY instruments brought levity and playfulness to what they describe as an apocalyptic moment.
Patients May Return to Work Sooner After Laminoplasty: Occupational Outcomes of the Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Surgical Trial
Authors: Miranda Stephen P. , Whitmore Robert G. , Kanter Adam , Mummaneni Praveen V. , Bisson Erica F. , Barker Fred G. , Harrop James , Magge Subu N. , Heary Robert F. , Fehlings Michael G. , Albert Todd J. , Arnold Paul M. , Riew K. Daniel , Steinmetz Michael P. , Wang Marjorie C. , Heller John G. , Benzel Edward C. , Ghogawala Zoher
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Return-to-work (RTW) is an important outcome for employed patients considering surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). We conducted a post hoc analysis of patients as-treated in the Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Surgical Trial, a prospective, randomized trial comparing surgical approaches for CSM to evaluate factors associated with RTW.

METHODS:

In the trial, patients were randomized (2:3) to either anterior surgery (anterior cervical decompression/fusion [ACDF]) or posterior surgery (laminoplasty [LP], or posterior cervical decompression/fusion [PCDF], at surgeon's discretion). Work status was recorded at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. For patients working full-time or part-time on enrollment, time to RTW was compared across as-treated surgical groups using discrete-time survival analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess predictors of RTW. Clinical outcomes were compared using a linear mixed-effects model.

RESULTS:

A total of 68 (42%) of 163 patients were working preoperatively and were analyzed. In total, 27 patients underwent ACDF, 29 underwent PCDF, and 12 underwent LP. 45 (66%) of 68 patients returned to work by 12 months. Median time to RTW differed by surgical approach (LP = 1 month, ACDF = 3 months, PCDF = 6 months; P = .02). Patients with longer length-of-stay were less likely to be working at 1 month (odds ratio 0.51; 95% CI, 0.29-0.91; P = .022) and 3 months (odds ratio 0.39; 95% CI, 0.16-0.96; P = .04). At 3 months, PCDF was associated with lower Short-Form 36 physical component summary scores than ACDF (estimated mean difference [EMD]: 6.42; 95% CI, 1.4-11.4; P = .007) and LP (EMD: 7.98; 95% CI, 2.7-13.3; P = .003), and higher Neck Disability Index scores than ACDF (EMD: 12.48; 95% CI, 2.3-22.7; P = .01) and LP (EMD: 15.22; 95% CI, 2.3-28.1; P = .014), indicating worse perceived physical functioning and greater disability, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

Most employed patients returned to work within 1 year. LP patients resumed employment earliest, while PCDF patients returned to work latest, with greater disability at follow-up, suggesting that choice of surgical intervention may influence occupational outcomes.
Engrailed transcription factors direct excitatory cerebellar neuron diversity and survival
Authors: Krishnamurthy Anjana , Lee Andrew S. , Bayin N. Sumru , Stephen Daniel N. , Nasef Olivia , Lao Zhimin , Joyner Alexandra L.
Published: June 2024

The neurons of the three cerebellar nuclei (CN) are the primary output neurons of the cerebellum. The excitatory neurons (e) of the medial (m) CN (eCNm) were recently divided into molecularly defined subdomains in the adult; however, how they are established during development is not known. We define molecular subdomains of the mouse embryonic eCNm using single-cell RNA-sequencing and spatial expression analysis, showing that they evolve during embryogenesis to prefigure the adult. Furthermore, eCNm are transcriptionally divergent from cells in the other nuclei by embryonic day 14.5. We previously showed that loss of the homeobox genes En1 and En2 leads to loss of approximately half of the embryonic eCNm. We demonstrate that mutation of En1/2 in the embryonic eCNm results in death of specific posterior eCNm molecular subdomains and downregulation of TBR2 (EOMES) in an anterior embryonic subdomain, as well as reduced synaptic gene expression. We further reveal a similar function for EN1/2 in mediating TBR2 expression, neuron differentiation and survival in the other excitatory neurons (granule and unipolar brush cells). Thus, our work defines embryonic eCNm molecular diversity and reveals conserved roles for EN1/2 in the cerebellar excitatory neuron lineage.
From Chinese food to Japan’s Hokkaido heritage: The transformation of the grilled mutton or lamb dish ‘Jingisukan’
Authors: Iwama Kazuhiro
Published: June 2024

Jingisukan is a dish in which mutton or lamb and vegetables are grilled using a uniquely shaped pan with a convex center. It originated from the popular Chinese dish ‘Kao Yang Rou’ (grilled mutton), which was discovered by Japanese individuals in Beijing and underwent modifications, leading to the creation of the distinctive name ‘Jingisukan.’ This dish was then introduced to the Japanese in Northeast China, specifically known as ‘Manchuria,’ and gained fame as a specialty of ‘Manchukuo,’ being highly valued even by the Japanese army. Following Japan’s defeat in World War II, Jingisukan became a local dish in Hokkaido and was recognized as a ‘Hokkaido Heritage’ in 2004. The widespread popularity of this dish in Japan can be attributed to its association with Genghis Khan. This study views Jingisukan as a type of ‘colonial cuisine’ and elucidates its dissemination by comparing it with examples such as British curry. Furthermore, it considers this cuisine a ‘difficult heritage’ to evaluate, examining how people in post-World War II Japan perceived the history of Jingisukan’s association with imperialism and how they transformed it into a local dish in Hokkaido. Jingisukan became widely popular after World War II and was initially perceived as a Chinese dish. This association evoked nostalgia for mainland China, where the Japanese Empire had expanded its influence before and during the war. In Hokkaido, Jingisukan became particularly favored for outdoor dining. By the 1960s, it gained nationwide recognition, with mutton imported from overseas. Simultaneously, Jingisukan has been actively promoted as a tourist attraction in Sapporo and throughout Hokkaido.
The genome sequence of the chlorophyte Pseudopediastrum boryanum CCAP 291/2 (Turpin) E. Hegewald 2005
Authors: Allen Rachel , Rad-Menéndez Cecilia , Green David H , Campbell Christine N. , De Boever Frederik , Field Joanne , MacKechnie Karen , Ross Michael , Saxon Rachel , Thomas Naomi ,   Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa collective,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Earlham Institute Genome Acquisition Lab and Protists Project,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: June 2024

We present a genome assembly from a colony of Pseudopediastrum boryanum (CCAP 291/2) (Chlorophyta; Chlorophyceae; Spaeropleales; Hydrodictyaceae). The genome sequence is 183.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 20 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial and plastid genome assemblies have lengths of 44.62 kilobases and 205.69 kilobases in length, respectively.
Beyond the Aesthetics: Understanding Risks in Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty
Authors: Czach Magdalena , Kamińska Monika Anna , Do Monika Kienanh , Gonciarz Marta Justyna , Paduszyńska Natalia , Dąbrowska Anna , Adamiec Dominika Karolina , Strojny Agnieszka Aleksandra , Zaliwska Dominika , Kraszkiewicz Adrianna , Czach Zuzanna
Published: June 2024

Nonsurgical rhinoplasty (NSR), colloquially referred to as a "liquid nose job," is a procedure that employs injectable fillers to modify the shape and contour of the nose. This procedure is particularly suited to patients presenting with minor imperfections and nasal defects. The procedure typically entails the injection of hyaluronic acid-based fillers, which are preferred due to their reversibility and safety profile.
Although rare, dangerous complications are possible, therefore it is important to be aware of the risks associated with performing NSR and how to recognise and manage them. This article examines a number of potential complications associated with the procedure, including minor side effects such as bruising and swelling, as well as more serious risks such as vascular obstruction, skin necrosis and blindness. It is evident that the practitioner's experience and anatomical knowledge are of paramount importance in order to minimise the aforementioned risks.
The aim of this review is to delineate the potential hazards associated with NSR. It is imperative that both clinicians and patients are cognizant that NSR is not a risk-free procedure. Dissemination of information may facilitate the implementation of safer practices and superior outcomes in facial aesthetic procedures.
Klub Ruski w Warszawie. Pierwsze ćwierćwiecze działalności (1860–1885)
Authors: Wiech Stanisław
Published: June 2024

Zwiększająca się liczba Rosjan w Warszawie stała się powodem podjęcia w 1859 r. przez wojskowych starań o założenie Klubu Ruskiego. Zawiązany w kolejnym roku, miał być miejscem wypoczynku, relaksu, rozrywki i spotkań towarzyskich dla oficerów rosyjskich. Jednakże klub przyciągał zarówno rosyjskich, jak i polskich mieszkańców Warszawy i dopiero po kilku latach stał się czysto rosyjską instytucją, odgrywającą znaczącą rolę w życiu politycznym, towarzyskim i kulturalnym Rosjan zarówno w Warszawie, jak i całym Królestwie Polskim.
„Dziwna klęska” pierwszej ewaluacji. Analiza porównawcza wyników w dyscyplinie historia za lata 2017–2021
Authors: Pomorski Jan
Published: June 2024

Artykuł prezentuje analizę porównawczą (benchmarking) wyników ewaluacji działalności naukowej trzydziestu jednostek naukowych w dziedzinie historii w Polsce w latach 2017–2021.
Anthony Collins o wolnej woli, wolności i konieczności
Authors: Spryszak Przemysław
Published: June 2024

Abstract: The paper discusses a stance on free will, liberty and necessity taken by the English philosopher and freethinker Anthony Collins (1676–1729) in the following anonymously published essays: An Essay Concerning the Use of Reason in Propositions the Evidence whereof depends upon Human Testimony (1707), A Philosophical Inquiry Concerning Human Liberty (1717), and, as I assume, in A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity (1729). Generally speaking, in these works, Collins purported to reconcile the liberty of the man with the necessity with which, as he argued, their acts of will are performed. The paper specifies this position and outlines its philosophical and historical context. It also observes that two objections, most likely unrecognized by Collins, make his conception unsatisfactory. First, Collins downplays the subjective nature of human actions. Secondly, he assumes, implicitly and illegitimately, that, necessarily, unnecessary acts would be (ceteris paribus) performed differently than the necessary ones.
La protección jurídica de las personas desaparecidas y sus familias: perspectivas actuales y desafíos del siglo XXI.
Authors: Llorens Sellés Pedro
Published: June 2024

En el contexto actual, la interdisciplinariedad se presenta como imperativa al enfrentar desafíos que trascienden las fronteras tradicionales del Derecho. Este artículo, resalta la problemática del fenómeno de las personas desaparecidas, cuyas consecuencias afectan al entorno, a la seguridad pública y a la salud comunitaria. A través de un análisis contextualizado, se evidencia que las desapariciones no solo representan tragedias humanas, sino que además, suponen desafíos jurídicos integrales, que requieren respuestas integradoras. A pesar de los avances tecnológicos existentes en la búsqueda e investigación de personas desaparecidas, y desarrollados a lo largo del siglo XXI, existe una pobre evolución legislativa en el Derecho interno español. Este artículo, expone los antecedentes, situación actual y demandas sociales a futuro, destacando la necesidad de avanzar, dentro del ámbito del Derecho, para equipararse al nivel tecnológico presente, con la cada vez más presente tecnología de la Inteligencia Artificial.
The teaching of Architecture and the online Learning
Authors: Enrico Prandi
Published: June 2024

This Manual aims to provide a framework of best practices for a blended flexible training activity in architectural Higher Education. In 2017, the year in which we built the application, within the ArchéA research we were interested in understanding how to combine ICT (Information and Communication Technology) with university teaching in Architecture. We thus hypothesized to experiment with the use of electronic blackboards, tablet and other instruments to be used in teaching, in particular, the architectural project. In practice, we were looking for tools that were useful in the project developed in the shared teacher-student activity laboratories.
Growth Opportunity: Transforming Studio-Based Education through Digital Tools during the Global SARS- CoV-2 Pandemic at the University of Florida
Authors: Bradley Walters
Published: June 2024

In Learning from Our Mistakes, Henry J. Perkinson (1930-2012) suggested that there are three primary approaches to education: education as initiation, education as transmission, and education as growth (Perkinson, 4-5). In architectural education, we see all of these models well-represented. In some cases, initiation and the notion of “teaching through example” is primary. This educational model is structured around an idea that students learn to be architects by observing an architect, doing architectural work. In a classical atelier model, the architect, faculty member, or tutor is positioned as a master, with students working and learning below them as apprentices. It depends on a clear hierarchical structure, as well as the idea that learning takes places through a process of initiation. The idea of education as the transmission of information from one person to another is a persistent one. It is the idea at the heart of the lecture format, where those with knowledge (architects, faculty members, tutors, etc.) share that knowledge with others. Education as transmission is also about a fundamentally closed and limited body of knowledge that can be parsed, ordered, packaged, and relayed from person to person, or from generation to generation.