bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feeling the love
Authors: Jones Simon
Published: November 2024

Simon Jones travelled to Orlando for the 25th edition of the Transitions Academy conference and the first since early 2020 prior to the breakout of the Covid-19 pandemic
CPD: Fundamentals of ophthalmic dispensing 28
Authors: Black Tina Arbon , Black Peter
Published: November 2024

Evidence-based practice has become a cornerstone of medical and healthcare disciplines in recent years as the natural authority of doctors and other professionals has been challenged by regulators, patients and the courts. Here Tina Arbon Black and Peter Black discuss how evidence-based and reflective practice applies to dispensing opticians and optometrists engaged in ophthalmic dispensing practice (C102847, suitable for logging as one provider-led distance learning CPD point for optometrists and dispensing opticians).
AOP outlines five-year strategy
Authors: McClean Andrew
Published: November 2024

Andrew McClean explores the professional body’s vision for the future of eye care
Dealing with backlog
Authors: Kirkpatrick Nigel
Published: November 2024

Nigel Kirkpatrick considers the recovery of eye surgery services since the pandemic
Choosing colours
Authors: Bashforth Cliff
Published: November 2024

By understanding and working with a customer’s colouring type, face shape and style personality, a practitioner can offer a service tailored to meet the needs of every individual. Cliff Bashforth explains how
The future in mind
Authors: Harvey Bill
Published: November 2024

In the first of his reports from the recent Optometry Tomorrow conference held in Telford, Bill Harvey discusses two lectures that underline how we are moving, more and more, to an inter-disciplinary approach to eye care. And rightly so
Educator of the year
Authors: Hale Mike
Published: November 2024

Mike Hale speaks to Carole Maldonado-Codina, director at Eurolens Research about her career, biocompatibility of contact lens materials and being named one of IACLE’s Contact Lens Educators of the Year
Feedback: CLEAR Interactive – 2
Authors: Harvey Bill , Retallic Neil
Published: November 2024

Bill Harvey and Neil Retallic offer an overview some of your discussions concerning the second interactive CPD exercise relating to the BCLA CLEAR publication focusing on contact lens complications (C 102632)
No positives in 10-year ordeal
Authors: Jones Simon
Published: November 2024

Simon Jones looks at the key moments in the tragic decadelong case surrounding eight-year-old Vinnie Barker and the locum optometrist who failed to spot the condition that led to his death
Funding required in Scotland to meet potential
Authors: McClean Andrew
Published: November 2024

A new report has called to fund more optometry services in Scotland and help the profession alleviate pressures on GPs. Andrew McClean explores the findings
Fitting soft custom lenses
Authors: Dickson Jim
Published: November 2024

Jim Dickson outlines seven steps to fitting soft custom contact lenses successfully
CPD: BCLA Clear 4
Authors: Barnett Melissa , G Carrasquillo Karen
Published: November 2024

The fourth in a series of articles summarising the key findings of the BCLA CLEAR publication, a major review of the published evidence relating to all aspects of contact lens practice, Dr Melissa Barnett and Dr Karen G Carrasquillo offer an overview of the BCLA CLEAR section relating to scleral lenses. (C103226, suitable for one distance learning CPD point for optometrists, contact lens opticians and dispensing opticians)
Searching for a spark
Authors: Baverstock Toby , McClean Andrew
Published: November 2024

Toby Baverstock tells Andrew McClean about leaving a career in teaching behind for dispensing
Quest to slow myopia
Authors: Concannon Andrea
Published: November 2024

Andrea Concannon, optometrist and director of Andrea Concannon Opticians in Galway, tells us about her myopia management journey and offers advice to fellow eye care professionals on running a successful myopia management clinic
Don't say goodbye to summer just yet
Authors: Cosby Zoe
Published: November 2024

If you're lamenting whether to pack away your summer wardrobe, then don't. The days may be getting cooler and shorter, but transitional dressing has never been easier or more stylish. Cosy outerwear, luscious layers and great eyewear are the key to prolonging your summer wardrobe and looking awesome during this inconsistent weather. Optician has selected some simple and stylish ideas on how to nail the summer-to-autumn dressing dilemma.
Advertising regulator steps in over practice's dyslexia claims
Authors: Jones Simon
Published: November 2024

Templeman Opticians was told to change information on its website regarding dyslexia after the content was reported by a member of the public. Simon Jones reports
Flying the flag for sustainability
Authors: Patchett Lucy
Published: November 2024

Lucy Patchett talks to Eyespace Eyewear co-founder and managing director, Julie Abel, about how it winner of Sustainability at Opticians Award 2021
Cancellation versus termination
Authors: Morgan Katarina
Published: November 2024

Katarina Morgan explains the legal difference between cancelling and terminating a contract
CPD: Autistic adults, vision and eye care
Authors: Parmar Ketan
Published: November 2024

In the third of a four-part series based around new research looking into the assessment of eye health in the autistic population, Dr Ketan Parmar considers the challenges presented by the routine eye test as highlighted by feedback from autistic people (C103438, suitable for logging as one providerled distance learning CPD point for optometrists and dispensing opticians)
Time to boost public eye care and knowledge
Authors: Patchett Lucy
Published: November 2024

Lucy Patchett reports on the alarming findings behind National Eye Health Week's latest report and why the UK public need to be educated better on eye care services
Serial winner
Authors: White Emma
Published: November 2024

Iain Johnson speaks to Emma White about his ongoing passion for and promotion of contact lenses, putting patients first and winning Contact Lens Practitioner of the Year 2021
Supplier group launches sustainability initiative
Authors: Jones Simon
Published: November 2024

Optical suppliers can now achieve accreditation for their sustainability measures. Simon Jones reports
Global eye care reevaluated
Authors: Patchett Lucy
Published: November 2024

The World Health Organization explored data to better understand treatment of refractive error globally. Lucy Patchett reports
A case report and systematic review of periorbital emphysema following nose blowing or sneezing
Authors: Salar S , Edafe O
Published: November 2024

Periorbital emphysema following nose blowing or sneezing is rare. Although it is often self-limiting, air trapping in the orbit can raise the intraocular pressure leading to visual complications. At present, the literature on this topic is confined to case reports. In this article, we present a rare case of periorbital emphysema following nose blowing in a 34-year-old woman and a subsequent systematic review that included 43 case reports of periorbital emphysema following similar mechanisms. Orbital wall fracture was seen in 70% and a defect in the lamina papyracea is the most common finding on computed tomography imaging. Surgical intervention was performed in 30% of patients; indications included visual compromise, paranasal osteoma and inflammatory disease. Most patients can be safely discharged on the same day with oral antibiotics unless there are clinical signs of visual compromise or sinonasal mass that may necessitate surgical intervention. The recurrence rate is low (3%) and almost all will resolve within 4 weeks.
Tecnología en los toldos: los autómatas de beber en Juan Moreira
Authors: Clinger Braden
Published: November 2024

Resumen: Juan Moreira (1879–1880) de Eduardo Gutiérrez gozaba de una alta popularidad en la cultura rioplatense a finales del siglo diecinueve y generó mu chas adaptaciones. Este artículo examina y contextualiza dos apelaciones a la tecnología en un capítulo clave de la novela: “El último asilo”. El capítulo trata de la estancia de Moreira en los toldos del “indio amigo” Simón Coliqueo, y emplea las imágenes del autómata y de la electrocución para representar a los hábitos y las acciones de los indígenas. Proponemos que estas representaciones, más allá de su clara función deshumanizadora, reflejan una preocupación por la mecanización y la electrificación en la sociedad porteña, y que también desvelan cómo la sociedad urbana concibió los sujetos fronterizos subalternos. Después de un breve repaso de la imagen del autómata en el pensamiento europeo, analizamos el cuento “Horacio Kalibang o los autómatas” (1879) de Eduardo L. Holmberg para entender mejor la inquietud por la modernización tecnológica en aquella sociedad. Sostenemos que el cuento busca producir un efecto inquietante en el lector a través de un narrador que, en el giro final, se revela como un autómata. Así cómo los autómatas en “Horacio Kalibang” colapsan la diferencia ontológica entre lo humano y la máquina, los sujetos fronterizos subalternos en Juan Moreira no se distinguen fácilmente de sus pares urbanos, desplomándose el binomio civilización/barbarie. De este modo, “El último asilo” de Juan Moreira muestra que los toldos no ofrecen amparo ni de la ley ni de la modernidad electromecánica.
Hauntological Memory and Gender Performativity in Eduardo Machado’s Kissing Fidel (2011)
Authors: Pasero Anthony , Gronberg Rachel
Published: November 2024

Abstract: Kissing Fidel (2011) by Eduardo Machado portrays the contentious relationship between Oscar Marques and his extended family, stemming from his desire to return to Cuba and embrace Fidel Castro in a reconciliatory kiss aimed at harmonizing Cuban American relations. Set in a Miami funeral home after midnight on the fourteenth of August 1994, Kissing Fidel brings to the surface the repressed memories and trauma wrought from the experiences of exile and that influence the familial and interpersonal relationships of the Marques family. This study proposes a reading of Kissing Fidel through the intersecting theories of hauntology and gender performativity to examine the ways in which repression, exile, and trauma influence a dialogic negotiation that works towards the resolution of individual conflicts, secrets, and desires. Our reading further analyzes how gender roles come to be reinforced within the family dynamic and how ideological notions of heteronormativity and masculinity are passed down through generations. In turning to a greater narrative on Cuban American relations and queer liberation, Machado’s depiction of these gendered conflicts crafts a queer space wherein fluidity operates as a subversion of heteropatriarchal hegemony.
A Fourth Manuscript of the Gesta Roderici Campidocti vel Historia Roderici
Authors: Bailey Matthew
Published: November 2024

Abstract: The Gesta Roderici Campidocti ( Gesta) , also known as the Historia Roderici , is a significant and uniquely compelling text in the fields of medieval Spanish historiography and literature. It has been preserved in three manuscripts, known as mss. I, S , and M . Mss. I and S are independent copies of a now lost original, while M is a copy of I . The purpose of the present study is to introduce and describe a fourth copy of the manuscript text housed in the Biblioteca Capitular Colombina in Seville, Spain. It is a sixteenth-century copy of manuscript S . The article also reviews scholarship on the Gesta and suggests avenues of inquiry into its literary dimension. Select examples of copyist intervention provide insight into the sixteenth-century reception of the narrative, which in turn supports the call for additional studies on the narrative as a literary construction. A link to the transcribed text is included in the article.
On the Transmission of Blanco White’s Famous Sonnet: A Lost Link
Authors: Esparza Íñigo Huércanos
Published: November 2024

Abstract: This essay revisits and expands the fascinating history of “Night and Death,” a most celebrated religious sonnet written by anglicized Spaniard José María Blanco White. As previous research highlights, this English poem has produced a remarkable number of Spanish translations since it first appeared in 1828. However, there exist some rather important versions that have not yet been identified. Namely, Gaspar Núñez de Arce’s “Luz y vida,” which was written in 1873 and later included in his seminal 1875 book Gritos del combate . Although “Luz y vida” makes no reference to any source text whatsoever, I argue that there is enough internal evidence to categorize it as an imitation of Blanco White’s sonnet, and I make my case through a comparative analysis. The new data allows me to conclude that “Night and Death” had a bigger impact on nineteenth-century Spain than it was previously thought, and to position Núñez de Arce as one of the first Spanish speaking authors who productively engaged with it.
Todo el mundo conoce / que heredé de mi padre una bandera : La figura paterna en la poética de Mariluz Escribano
Authors: Jurado Manuel Gahete , Sánchez-García Remedios
Published: November 2024

Resumen: La tragedia que supuso en la sociedad española la guerra civil (1936–1939) ha sido una cuestión que no se ha abordado de manera directa y clara en la poesía contemporánea. Razones de índole política (el acuerdo tácito entre las diferentes ideologías al terminar la dictadura) o bien centradas en no reabrir las heridas de ambos bandos han provocado que la lírica se alejara de un acontecimiento que dejó no menos de setecientos mil muertos. Pocas han sido las autoras que se han atrevido a tratar el tema de las consecuencias de la guerra desde el punto de vista de los vencidos; entre ellas destaca la granadina Mariluz Escribano Pueo (1935–2019), reconocida ya como la poeta de la memoria y la concordia civil tras haber convertido la figura de su padre, fusilado por su condición de profesor comprometido en los inicios de la contienda, en argumento poemático esencial a fin de desarrollar una obra sólida que incide en la necesidad de una reconciliación nacional verdadera que no suponga el olvido de los asesinados y, sobre todo, que evite la repetición del inmenso horror que ella, como voz de millones de víctimas, padeció.
Crónicas contra el olvido: El argumento de la preservación de la memoria en la historiografía española de los siglos xvi y xvii
Authors: Gloël Matthias
Published: November 2024

Resumen: Este estudio analiza el uso del argumento de preservación de la memoria y evitar el olvido de la historia en los distintos reinos españoles de los siglos XVI y XVII. Primero, se contextualiza el concepto y uso que se tenían de la historia en aquella época. Posteriormente, se analiza el argumento referido dentro de cuatro contextos retóricos, a saber: primero, la constatación general de falta de historias; segundo, una crítica hacia los autores de pasado y presente del propio territorio por haber descuidado la historia; tercero, críticas hacia cronista de otras naciones por haber dejado una imagen de España o algún reino español particular que no le hace justicia; y, finalmente, el argumento lingüístico según el cual las obras existentes no se conocen por estar escritas en una lengua poca difundida. Se analizan también las posibles diferencias entre los autores de los distintos territorios españoles en cada una de las categorías señaladas.
Deep neural networks for endemic measles dynamics: Comparative analysis and integration with mechanistic models
Authors: Madden Wyatt G. , Jin Wei , Lopman Benjamin , Zufle Andreas , Dalziel Benjamin , E. Metcalf C. Jessica , Grenfell Bryan T. , Lau Max S. Y.
Published: November 2024

Measles is an important infectious disease system both for its burden on public health and as an opportunity for studying nonlinear spatio-temporal disease dynamics. Traditional mechanistic models often struggle to fully capture the complex nonlinear spatio-temporal dynamics inherent in measles outbreaks. In this paper, we first develop a high-dimensional feed-forward neural network model with spatial features (SFNN) to forecast endemic measles outbreaks and systematically compare its predictive power with that of a classical mechanistic model (TSIR). We illustrate the utility of our model using England and Wales measles data from 1944-1965. These data present multiple modeling challenges due to the interplay between metapopulations, seasonal trends, and nonlinear dynamics related to demographic changes. Our results show that while the TSIR model yields similarly performant short-term (1 to 2 biweeks ahead) forecasts for highly populous cities, our neural network model (SFNN) consistently achieves lower root mean squared error (RMSE) across other forecasting windows. Furthermore, we show that our spatial-feature neural network model, without imposing mechanistic assumptions a priori, can uncover gravity-model-like spatial hierarchy of measles spread in which major cities play an important role in driving regional outbreaks. We then turn our attention to integrative approaches that combine mechanistic and machine learning models. Specifically, we investigate how the TSIR can be utilized to improve a state-of-the-art approach known as Physics-Informed-Neural-Networks (PINN) which explicitly combines compartmental models and neural networks. Our results show that the TSIR can facilitate the reconstruction of latent susceptible dynamics, thereby enhancing both forecasts in terms of mean absolute error (MAE) and parameter inference of measles dynamics within the PINN. In summary, our results show that appropriately designed neural network-based models can outperform traditional mechanistic models for short to long-term forecasts, while simultaneously providing mechanistic interpretability. Our work also provides valuable insights into more effectively integrating machine learning models with mechanistic models to enhance public health responses to measles and similar infectious disease systems.
Impact of climate and land use on the temporal variability of sand fly density in Sri Lanka: A 2-year longitudinal study
Authors: Senanayake Sanath C. , Liyanage Prasad , Pathirage Dulani R. K. , Siraj M. F. Raushan , De Silva B. G. D. Nissanka Kolitha , Karunaweera Nadira D.
Published: November 2024

Background

Leishmaniasis has emerged as an escalating public health problem in Sri Lanka, with reported cases increasing nearly three folds over past decade, from 1,367 in 2014 to 3714 cases in 2023. Phlebotominae sand flies are the vectors of leishmaniasis. Their density is known to be influenced by context-specific climatic and land use patterns. Thus, we aimed to investigate how these factors drive sand fly density across Sri Lanka.

Methodology/Principal findings

We analysed monthly collections of sand flies (n = 38,594) and weather data from ten sentinel sites representing three main geo-climatic zones across Sri Lanka, over 24 months. Site-specific land use data was also recorded. The influence of climate and land use patterns on sand fly density across the sentinel sites were estimated using distributed lag non-linear models and machine learning. We found that climate played a major role on sand fly density compared to land use structure. Increase in rainfall and relative humidity at real time, and ambient temperature and soil temperature with a 2-month lag were associated with a statistically significant increase in sand fly density. The maximum relative risk (RR) observed was 3.76 (95% CI: 1.58–8.96) for rainfall at 120 mm/month, 2.14 (95% CI: 1.04–4.38) for relative humidity at 82% (both at real time). The maximum RR was 2.81 (95% CI: 1.09–7.35) for ambient temperature at 34.5°C, and 11.6 (95% CI, 4.38–30.76) for soil temperature (both at a 2-month lag). The real-time increase in ambient temperature, sunshine hours, and evaporation rate, however, reduced sand fly density homogeneously in all study settings. The high density of chena and coconut plantations, together with low density of dense forests, homesteads, and low human footprint values, positively influenced sand fly density.

Conclusions/Significance

The findings improve our understanding of the dynamic influence of environment on sand fly densities and spread of leishmaniasis. This knowledge lays a foundation for forecasting of sand fly densities and designing targeted interventions for mitigating the growing burden of leishmaniasis among the most vulnerable populations, particularly in an era of changing climate.
Phagolysosomes break down the membrane of a non-apoptotic corpse independent of macroautophagy
Authors: Kolli Shruti , Kline Cassidy J. , Rad Kimya M. , Wehman Ann M.
Published: November 2024

Cell corpses must be cleared in an efficient manner to maintain tissue homeostasis and regulate immune responses. Ubiquitin-like Atg8/LC3 family proteins promote the degradation of membranes and internal cargo during both macroautophagy and corpse clearance, raising the question how macroautophagy contributes to corpse clearance. Studying the clearance of non-apoptotic dying polar bodies in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, we show that the LC3 ortholog LGG-2 is enriched inside the polar body phagolysosome independent of autophagosome formation. We demonstrate that ATG-16.1 and ATG-16.2, which promote membrane association of lipidated Atg8/LC3 proteins, redundantly promote polar body membrane breakdown in phagolysosomes independent of their role in macroautophagy. We also show that the lipid scramblase ATG-9 is needed for autophagosome formation in early embryos but is dispensable for timely polar body membrane breakdown or protein cargo degradation. These findings demonstrate that macroautophagy is not required to promote polar body degradation, in contrast to recent findings with apoptotic corpse clearance in C. elegans embryos. Determining how factors regulating Atg8/LC3 promote the breakdown of different types of cell corpses in distinct cell types or metabolic states is likely to give insights into the mechanisms of immunoregulation during normal development, physiology, and disease.
Drug-related problems among type 2 diabetic patients in Sunwal Municipality of Western Nepal
Authors: Chapagain Sushma , Pathak Nabin , Subedi Kushal , Ghimire Prakash , Adhikari Bijay , Shrestha Niranjan , Dangi Nim Bahadur
Published: November 2024

Background

Several diseases co-exist with diabetes such as hypertension, and dyslipidemia, leading to cases of non-adherence, several drug interactions, and an increased risk of adverse drug reactions among patients, which are often termed as drug-related problems (DRPs). The role of pharmacists in high-income countries is well-defined in identifying DRPs among type 2 diabetes patients. However, these roles still need to be explored within low- and middle-income countries. The study aimed to identify DRPs in Type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Sunwal Municipality, Lumbini Province, Nepal from April to November 2021 where a stratified random sampling technique was employed to collect the data. The study included patients aged ≥ 18 years of either gender with type 2 diabetes who were prescribed at least one anti-diabetic medication. Patients were visited at their homes once identified through the community pharmacies, and a prescription review was conducted to identify the DRPs by using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) V8.02 tool and pertinent guidelines.

Results

Among 182 patients, 97 (53.3%) had DRPs. Most of the patients were 50–60 years (n = 46; 25.3%), with a mean ± SD age of 55.43±14.46, as most were female (n = 94; 51.6%). Biguanides and sulfonylureas were the common classes of drugs prescribed. The major class of drug associated with DRPs were biguanides (n = 85; 49.7%), followed by sulfonylureas (n = 42; 24.6%). Metformin was the major drug associated with DRPs (n = 85; 49.4%). The major type of DRP identified was treatment effectiveness (n = 82; 79.61%), while patients not adhering to drug therapy (n = 97; 71.85%) was the leading cause of DRPs. DRPs were significantly associated with the duration of diabetes (p = .007) and the number of fruit servings (p = .007).

Conclusion

The majority of the patients were found to have DRPs. The visiting patients at home by the pharmacists helped in identifying the DRPs and associated factors among type 2 diabetes patients, which may aid in the prevention and management of the disease.
Exploring the effects of hypoxia and reoxygenation time on hepatocyte apoptosis and inflammation
Authors: Xu Xinlu , Zhou Tanfang , Tulahong Alimu , Ruze Rexiati , Shao Yingmei
Published: November 2024

Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (HIRI) is an unavoidable pathological process during liver surgeries such as liver transplantation and hepatic resection, which involves a complex set of molecular and cellular mechanisms. The mechanisms of HIRI may involve a variety of biological processes in which inflammation and apoptosis play a central role. Therefore, it is crucial to deeply investigate the effects of different hypoxia and reoxygenation times on the construction of an in vitro model of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. The human normal liver cell line HL-7702 IRI model was constructed by hypoxia chamber, and the inflammation and apoptosis focal levels of cells were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blot and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. When 12-hour reoxygenation time was fixed, the inflammation and apoptosis indexes of HIRI model increased with the prolongation of hypoxia time (6, 12 and 24 hours). These indices reached highest level in the model group of 24-hour fixed hypoxia and 12-hour reoxygenation. Inflammation and apoptosis indices were significantly higher in the model group of 24-hours fixed hypoxia and 12-hours reoxygenation than in the group of 6 and 24 hours of reoxygenation. Taken together, the findings from this research demonstrated that during hypoxia phase, cells exhibited a clear time-dependent response of inflammation and cell death; on the contrary, during the reoxygenation phase, the cellular damage was not monotonically incremental, but showed an inverted U-shaped dynamic pattern. The present study reveals in depth the dynamic changes of cellular responses under hypoxia and reoxygenation conditions, providing us with an important theoretical basis to guide the selection and optimization of in vitro experimental models.
Qualitative insights on sexual health counselling from refugee youth in Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, Uganda: Advancing contextual considerations for brief sexuality-related communication in a humanitarian setting
Authors: Loutet Miranda G. , Logie Carmen H. , Okumu Moses , Coelho Madelaine , Blondeel Karel , McAlpine Alyssa , Mackenzie Frannie , Lukone Simon Odong , Kisubi Nelson , Lukone Jimmy Okello , Isaac Atama Malon , Kyambadde Peter , Toskin Igor
Published: November 2024

Characteristics of enabling healthcare environments to support brief sexuality-related communication (BSC) are understudied in humanitarian settings. We implemented a qualitative study with refugee youth aged 16–24 living in Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement to understand the feasibility of implementing BSC in a humanitarian context. We examined feelings toward doctor’s visits in general, including types of conversations youth engage in with healthcare providers, as well as comfort, safety, and willingness to talk with healthcare providers about sexual health. We implemented four focus groups with refugee youth in Bidi Bidi, two with young women and two with young men, and applied thematic analysis informed by a social contextual theoretical framework that explores enabling environments for sexual health promotion. Participants (n = 40; mean age: 20 years, standard deviation: 2.2; women: n = 20; men: n = 20) reported relational, symbolic, and material dimensions of context considered important when discussing sexual health. Relational contexts included a) trusting relationship with local healthcare practitioners, including practices that foster comfort and confidentiality, and b) family, friends, and mentors as additional sources of health information. Symbolic contexts refer to values, norms, and beliefs that reflect what is perceived as valuable and worthy, and in turn, what is devalued and stigmatized. Specific to sexual health, participants discussed stigma toward STIs and HIV, devaluation of women in healthcare settings, and generalized fear of doctors and disease as barriers to engaging in dialogue about sexual health with healthcare providers. Material contexts include agency linked with resource access and experiences. Youth narratives revealed that positive experiences accessing medication to manage pain and infections increased their willingness to engage in healthcare discussions, whereby clinic layouts and dynamics that compromised confidentiality and privacy reduced the likelihood of sexual health dialogue. Language barriers and healthcare provider time constraints were additional factors that reduced healthcare engagement. Taken together, findings can inform BSC implementation strategies that consider the inner and outer settings that shape sexual health dialogue and sexual health and wellbeing among refugee youth living in humanitarian settings.
Integrated global and unique metabolic characteristics to reveal the intervention effect of Yiyi decoction on acute pancreatitis
Authors: Gong Guanwen , Wu Yongping , Jiang Yanwen , Cao Yuan
Published: November 2024

Yiyi decoction is a Chinese herbal formula for the treatment of acute pancreatitis that has been used in clinical practice for decades. A previous study has suggested that resveratrol, emodin, rhein and their derivatives might be the potential pharmacodynamic components in Yiyi decoction, and researchers have proposed that resveratrol, emodin and rhein are candidate markers for quality control. The present study investigated the intervention effect of Yiyi decoction and its effective components on murine acute pancreatitis using metabolomic approach that integrated global and unique metabolic characteristics. First, serum metabolomics based on the platform of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was performed to assess metabolic changes in experimental acute pancreatitis. Second, an in-depth analysis of bile acid metabolism was performed based on an in-house database. Finally, an integrated analysis of the intervention effect of Yiyi decoction and its effective components in response to these metabolic perturbations was performed. As a result, 39 potential biomarkers for the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, mainly phospholipids, fatty acids, bile acids and lipoylcarnitines, were screened and annotated. Integrated analysis revealed that the metabolic disorders in acute pancreatitis mice were reversed by Yiyi decoction primarily via regulating glycerophospholipid metabolism, bile acid biosynthesis, carnitine synthesis and fatty acid metabolism. Yiyi decoction components may effectively target the migratory metabolome. Histopathological and biochemical analyses suggested that Yiyi decoction maintained the gut
barrier function and inhibited inflammatory cytokines, thus exert anti-acute pancreatitis effects. The present study utilized an approach that integrated global and unique metabolic characteristics to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of Chinese herbal formulas from a metabolomics perspective.
Diagnostic value of arterial spin labeling for Alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Xin-Yue , Zhang Hong , Bao Qiong-Nan , Yin Zi-Han , Li Ya-Qin , Xia Man-Ze , Chen Zheng-Hong , Zhong Wan-Qi , Wu Ke-Xin , Yao Jin , Liang Fan-Rong
Published: November 2024

Background

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that offers a non-invasive approach for measuring cerebral blood perfusion (CBF). CBF serves as a marker of neuronal activity, and ASL has demonstrated the potential to detect reductions in CBF associated with early-stage neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Consequently, ASL has garnered growing interest as a potential diagnostic tool for AD. Despite the promise of ASL for diagnosing AD, there is a paucity of data regarding the pooled specificity and sensitivity of this technique in this context. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to identify the accuracy of ASL in the diagnosis of AD with international clinical diagnosis as the gold standard.

Methods

Four English databases and four Chinese databases were searched from their inception to 30 November 2023. Two independent reviewers extracted relevant information from the eligible articles, while the quality assessment of included studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2). The meta-analysis was carried out using the area under the Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC) and sensitivity and specificity values. Meta-DiSc 1.4 was used to perform the statistical analysis. STATA 16.0 was used to perform publication bias and sensitivity analysis.

Results

Of 844 relevant articles retrieved, 10 studies involving 494 participants (AD patients = 262, healthy controls = 232) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. However, the quality of studies was low based on QUADAS-2. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio of ASL for diagnosing AD was 0.83 (95% CI: 0.78–0.87), 0.81 (95% CI: 0.76–0.86), 4.52 (95% CI: 3.40–6.00), 0.22 (95% CI: 0.17–0.28), and 19.31(95% CI: 12.30–30.31), respectively. The pooled AUC = 0.8932. There was low heterogeneity across the included studies. Finally, sensitivity analysis suggested that the results were reliable.

Conclusion

ASL is an effective and accurate method for the diagnosis of AD. However, due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, the above conclusions need to be verified by more studies.

PROSPERO registration

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023484059.
Gentiopicroside-Induced gastric cancer necroptosis via the HIF-1 signaling pathway: A study involving molecular docking and experimental validation
Authors: Xiong Bo , Fan Mingjie , Wang Zhihui , Yang Xiaolu , Cao Shan , Shen Jie , Fan Beibei
Published: November 2024

Objectives

Gentiopicroside is an effective treatment for several types of cancer, inducing numerous forms of programmed cancer cell death. However, there are few investigations into the role of necroptosis. By utilizing molecular docking, and experimental validation, this study aims to investigate whether gentiopicroside elicits necroptosis in gastric cancer.

Methods

Using software PyMOL and AutoDock, gentiopicroside was docked with RIPK1, RIPK3, MLKL and HIF-1α proteins. And a cell study was performed based on SGC7901 cells. The necroptosis-related proteins and HIF-1 signaling pathways were explored using western blot (WB) analysis. Finally, an animal study was performed to test the inhibitory effect in vivo.

Results

Docking studies indicated that the docking energies of gentiopicroside to necroptosis-related proteins and necroptosis-characteristic proteins are all below -5 kcal/mol. Additionally, gentiopicroside cells reduce gastric cancer viability and inhibit proliferation. Results from the animal experiments indicated that gentiopicroside inhibits the growth of the gastric cancer xenograft tumor. Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining demonstrated that gentiopicroside higher p-receptor-interacting protein kinase 3(p-RIPK3) levels in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

The findings of this study revealed that necroptosis is involved in the inhibitory effect of gentiopicroside toward gastric cancer.
Searching for the heritage of the Second Sino-Japanese War: A study on the site selection strategy of the defence industrial buildings of the National Resources Commission (1937–1945)
Authors: Wu Yangjie
Published: November 2024

China’s heritage protection programme has gradually included the defence industry, and many industrial buildings related to defence have been included in the national list of cultural relics for protection. The relevant research mainly concerns the value of these heritage sites, lacking of research on the site selection and construction of buildings. This field also ignores the significant historical background of the Second Sino-Japanese War. This paper researches the National Resources Commission (NRC) during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It studies its site selection strategy for the 28 factories built by the organization in Hunan and Chongqing. First, the NRC-related historical data were sorted, including the list of factories built before and during the war, and their own historical construction database was established. Then, “Historical Position Finding ‐ Site Feature Construction ‐ Site Selection Factor Evaluation” is used to analyse each site. Finally, the site selection strategy of the NRC before and after the war was analysed. The innovation of this research is to put forward a research method combining field investigation and historical archives based on the perspective of institutional history. The study determined the spatial location of each plant and provided a direct basis for subsequent protection and utilization.
Setting limits: Ethical thresholds to the CEO-worker pay gap
Authors: Cervone Carmen , Scatolon Andrea , Lenzi Michela , Maass Anne
Published: November 2024

In the discussion about wage inequality, principles of fairness and need for incentives are juxtaposed as opposing motivations for wage inequality acceptance. While previous literature focused on ideal inequality, in two correlational and one preregistered experimental study (Ntotal = 664) we tested the hypothesis of a threshold of inequality acceptance. Participants were asked to indicate what a Chief Executive Officer should earn, ideally (i.e., ideal pay gap) and at maximum (i.e., highest acceptable pay gap), given the wage of a worker. Results showed that individuals generally indicated higher values for highest acceptable than for ideal pay gaps. Study 2 also provides evidence for a minimum degree of inequality that is deemed necessary. Additionally, across studies men preferred and tolerated greater wage inequality than women. In conclusion, these studies provide evidence for a threshold of inequality acceptance and pave the way for new research on the cognitive and motivational underpinnings of attitudes towards economic inequalities.
Evaluating the impact of a pilot programme for home- and community-based services on long-term care needs among older adults in China
Authors: Ping Ruru , Hu Bo , Oshio Takashi
Published: November 2024

China is facing escalating demand for long-term care (LTC), prompting the central government to launch a 5-year pilot programme to strengthen home- and community-based services (HCBS) from 2016 to 2020. However, the effects of this pilot programme on LTC needs remain unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the programme’s impact on LTC needs of older adults. Using panel data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (N = 3,327), we evaluated the effects of the programme using a combined approach of propensity score matching and difference-in-differences. We found that the implementation of the HCBS programme reduced the number of unmet needs for assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and delayed the progression of IADL limitations among older adults. However, no significant impact was found on the number of unmet needs for assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) or the progression of ADL limitations. Heterogeneity analysis showed that the effects of the HCBS programme on ADL and IADL limitations were weaker among those living in the Eastern region, and the effects on ADL limitations were stronger among those living with other people in the same household. Our findings suggest that implementing the HCBS programme can effectively address unmet care needs and delay the decline in functional capability among older adults. However, special attention should be paid to older adults living alone to mitigate the inequalities in functional limitations.
Emotional, physiological, biochemical, and behavioral responses to acute stress and uncertainty in military personnel
Authors: Cantelon Julie A. , Navarro Ester , Brunyé Tad T. , Eddy Marianna D. , Ward Nathan , Pantoja-Feliciano Ida , Whitman Jordan , Jyoti Saikia Manob , Giles Grace E.
Published: November 2024

Stress carries diverse implications for perceptual, cognitive, and affective functions. One population particularly susceptible to acute stress-induced cognitive changes are individuals with high-stress jobs (e.g., military personnel). These individuals are often tasked with maintaining peak cognitive performance, including memory, spatial navigation, and decision-making under threatening and uncertain conditions. Previous research has separately examined decision-making under conditions of stress or uncertainty (i.e., ambiguous discrimination between friends and foes). However, questions remain about how operationally relevant stress impacts memory encoding and recall, or spatial learning, as well as how uncertainty may impact decision-making during stress. To address this gap, we examined the influence of a military-relevant emotional stressor on a series of cognitive tasks including recognition memory task (RMT), spatial orienting task (SOT), and shoot/don’t shoot decision making (DMT). To examine the effects of uncertainty and stress we varied the stimulus clarity in the DMT. We utilized threat of shock (TOS) as a high-stakes outcome for decision errors. TOS increased sympathetic arousal but did not affect subjective emotional or HPA responses. TOS influenced decision times and confidence ratings in the DMT, but not response sensitivity or response bias. DMT performance varied by stimulus clarity (uncertainty) but did not differ between stress conditions. TOS did not influence recognition memory or spatial orienting. In sum, high levels of stress and uncertainty characterize military operations, yet stress experienced in military contexts can be difficult to induce in laboratory settings. We discuss several avenues for future research, including methodological considerations to better assess the magnitude and specificity of emotional stress-induction techniques in Soldiers.
Reliability and minimal detectable change of the MX3 hydration testing system
Authors: Winter Ian , Burdin Josie , Wilson Patrick B.
Published: November 2024

Assessing hydration status outside of laboratories can be challenging given that most hydration measures are invasive, stationary, costly, or have questionable validity. This study investigated the within-day, test-retest reliability, and minimal detectable change (MDC) of the MX3 Hydration Testing System (MX3 Diagnostics), a relatively low cost, noninvasive, and portable method to measure saliva osmolality. Seventy-five adults (44 men, 31 women; 29.6±10.8 yr, 171.1±9.2 cm, 79.1±15.4 kg) presented two saliva samples approximately 3 to 5 minutes apart. Fluid intake was avoided for at least 5 minutes prior to sample collections. For each sample collection, a researcher used the MX3 to tap the tip of a test strip to saliva on a participant’s tongue. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and MDC were calculated as measures of reliability. Means for the two measurements were 64.3±19.0 mOsm and 65.5±17.9 mOsm (mean difference of -1.2±13.0 mOsm; t = -0.806, p = 0.423). Further analysis with a two-one-sided test procedure revealed equivalence between the two SOSM measurements (p < 0.001 for upper and lower bounds). Within-day repeat measures yielded an ICC of 0.75 and an MDC at the 90% confidence level of 21.3 mOsm. With moderate-to-good reliability, the MX3 appears to be a practical choice for reliably measuring moderate-sized changes (>20 mOsm) in saliva osmolality outside of laboratory constraints.
Fast food over safe food? A qualitative evaluation of a food safety training intervention for street vendors applying the COM-B model in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Authors: Madjdian Dónya S. , Dankwah Badu Vera , Ilboudo Guy , Lallogo Valerie R. , Dione Michel , van Asseldonk Marcel , Knight-Jones Theodore J. D. , de Vet Emely
Published: November 2024

The safety of ready-to-eat food sold in urban informal markets in low and middle-income countries is a pressing public health challenge, that needs to be addressed if we are to establish healthy food systems. Guided by the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation model for Behavior change (COM-B), this qualitative study aimed to explore perceptions of street vendors on their participation in a food safety capacity building intervention, consisting of training and provision of food safety equipment. The intervention aimed to improve food safety behavior of vendors of ready-to-eat chicken in informal markets in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. A total of 24 vendors selling ready-to-eat chicken at street restaurants participated in semi-structured interviews after training, which focused on vendors’ stories of change related to food safety capabilities, opportunities, motivation, and behaviors. Data were thematically analyzed following COM-B components. Vendors noted improvements in psychological (i.e., knowledge, awareness, self-efficacy, perceptions) and physical capabilities (i.e., equipment useability and applicability), and motivations (perceived responsibility, reputation, client satisfaction, profits, consumer demand). Moreover, training and provision of equipment, spill-over effects to employees or neighboring outlets, and social support were perceived as key social and physical opportunities, while structural challenges such as market infrastructure, regulations, financial resources, cost of living, and outlet culture were physical barriers to implement lessons learnt. This study provides insights into the impact of engaging vendors in improving food safety behavior through training and equipment provision. Improvements in vendors’ perceived capabilities and motivation contributed to improved food safety behavior, while contextual barriers hindered the perceived adoption of food safety behaviors.