bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An American in Chesil Cove, England: Pilumnus dasypodus Kingsley, 1879 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Pilumnidae), with notes on its taxonomy
Authors: CLARK PAUL F. , TREWHELLA STEPHEN M. , MICHIE LAURA A. , NG PETER K. L.
Published: January 2025

A male Pilumnus Leach, 1816 specimen was discovered on a buoy found stranded on Chesil Beach, Chesil Cove, Portland, Weymouth, Dorset, England on 2 February 2016. The morphology of its frontal carapace margin and first gonopod suggested the crab was not P. hirtellus (Linnaeus, 1761), native to NE Europe. Closer investigation suggested the buoy originated from Florida, USA. Two morphologically similar pilumnid species are known from Florida and its environs, P. dasypodus Kingsley, 1879 and P. vinaceus A. Milne Edwards, 1880. These two species were synonymised by Rathbun (1897) due to their extremely similar morphologies. Recently, however, Magalhães et al. (2021) distinguished the two species based on genetics and subtle morphological differences. The reliability of the characters used to separate the two species is discussed, showing that they are useful but variable in form. Two other characters in the subhepatic and pterygostomial regions were found to be dependable in separating P. dasypodus from P. vinaceus. The Chesil Cove invasive is now identified as P. dasypodus s. str.
A new species of the genus Myostenostomum (Platyhelminthes: Catenulida: Stenostomidae) from Lake Bile (Ukraine)
Authors: KOSTENKO ALEXANDER , GAPONOVA LIUDMYLA
Published: January 2025

A new species of freshwater catenulids, Myostenostomum styrensis sp. nov., is described from karst-glacial Lake Bile (Rivne Region, Ukraine). The morphology description and illustrations are provided. Myostenostomum styrensis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: the pharynx is complicated and divided into two parts (the oral part and the esophageal part), the anterior brain lobes are deeply dented, the basal parts of the anterior brain lobes are significantly elongated, the posterior lobes and transverse commissure are fused, forming an arcuate ganglion with folded lateral prolongations, pharyngeal glands with long stalks extend from the upper part of the intestine and open at the anterior margin of the pharynx, light-refracting bodies are absent, there are large well-defined ciliated pits, and a well-defined cauda.
Immature stages of the Zebra Hairstreak butterfly, Arawacus separata (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): a model organism for studies on mimicry and mutualism
Authors: DRESCH FLORA , LIMA LUAN DIAS , ROMANOWSKI HELENA PICCOLI , KAMINSKI LUCAS AUGUSTO
Published: January 2025

Hairstreak butterflies are model organisms in evolutionary biology due to the variety of predator-avoidance strategies they possess, including false head mimicry and symbiosis with ants, both of which Zebra Hairstreaks employ. Natural history information is basic for the generation of hypothesis-driven research in ecology and evolution, especially for holometabolous organisms. Here, the complete life cycle of the Zebra Hairstreak Arawacus separata is described for the first time. The natural history records, including citizen science, for other Zebra Hairstreaks species in Eumaeini were also reviewed. Host plant records for A. separata indicate that its caterpillars are oligophagous on Solanaceae, being locally specialized on the shrub Cestrum strigilatum (Solanaceae). Development from egg to adult was found to last ~30 days. Caterpillars underwent four instars with cryptic coloration and texture. The larval tegument is covered by short dendritic setae and pore cupola organs (PCOs), and, from the second instar on, shows a dorsal nectary organ (DNO). Caterpillars live on plants surrounded by ants throughout their entire ontogeny. Facultative symbiosis was observed in all instars with seven ant species in four genera. Myrmecophily is potentiated by honeydew-producing hemipterans and attractive sap of leaf lesions. Territory occupancy of males and non-aerial contests suggest a neglected role of sexual selection in the evolution of the false-head traits. Due to the typical false-head wing coloration pattern and myrmecophily, A. separata is proposed as a model organism to study mimicry and mutualism.
The Uses of the Russian Onomatopoeic Interjection bats ‘bam, bang’
Authors: Viimaranta Johanna , Kanerva Oksana
Published: January 2025

The Uses of the Russian Onomatopoeic Interjection bats ‘bam, bang’
Descriptions of Russian grammar have long acknowledged the possibility of using indeclinable onomatopoeic verbal interjections as predicates instead of verb forms. It has been suggested that this usage primarily replaces perfective (resultative) past tense verb forms of the same stem. We have analysed 470 examples from the Russian National Corpus to show that the interjection bats ‘bam, bang’ is not only used as a predicate. It is very often placed in positions where the verbs sharing the same stem (e.g. batsatʹ  ‘to bang repeatedly’ or ‘to bang once’) cannot be used. Many of the predicate uses are not timebound. Bats can also be used in describing sounds and their potential effects, even when no actual sound is involved.
 
O użyciach rosyjskiego wykrzyknika onomatopeicznego bac ‘bach’
W opisach gramatyki rosyjskiej od dawna rejestrowano możliwość użycia nieodmiennych onomatopeicznych wykrzykników czasownikowych jako predykatu. Wyjaśniano, że takie użycie zastępuje przede wszystkim formy rezultatywne czasownika dokonanego o tym samym temacie w czasie przeszłym. Autorki artykułu przeanalizowały 470 przykładów zaczerpniętych z Narodowego Korpusu Języka Rosyjskiego, aby wykazać, że wykrzyknik bac ‘bach’ jest używany nie tylko w funkcji predykatywnej. Uzyskane wyniki wskazują, że omawiany wykrzyknik często pojawia się w pozycjach, w których nie można użyć czasowników o tym samym temacie (np. bacatʹ ‘uderzać wielokrotnie’ lub ‘uderzyć raz’), a w wielu użyciach predykatywnych nie jest osadzony czasowo. Z przeprowadzonej analizy wynika również, że wykrzyknik bac może być używany do opisu dźwięków i ich potencjalnych skutków, nawet jeśli sam efekt dźwiękowy w istocie nie zachodzi.
Gender Disparity and Rural–Urban Divide in Literacy in Punjab
Authors: Singh Jagmohan
Published: January 2025

Literacy acts as a vital catalyst to promote human development, foster social progress, and accelerate economic growth. The prevalence of any form of disparity in literacy whether that be based on gender or caste or be region-specific is not compatible with a democratic country’s overarching objectives of socio-economic development. However, despite considerable progress in literacy in recent years, there remain disparities with a bearing on development dividend. This article seeks to investigate the extent of gender disparity and rural–urban divide in literacy in Punjab using district-level data for 1991, 2001, and 2011. Sopher’s Disparity Index and Rural–Urban Differentials Index approaches have been employed to read literacy differentials. Further, the study tried to assess the relationship between literacy disparities and selected development indicators. Besides generating evidence on widespread gender disparity and rural–urban divide in literacy across districts of Punjab, the study revealed such differentials have a systematic adverse bearing on the selected set of development indicators. It is recommended that focused policy interventions should be carried out to improve the literacy levels of females, particularly those belonging to the scheduled caste (SC) community, as well as rural dwellers in districts of Punjab that are tormented by pronounced literacy disparities.
Biomechanical Properties of Meniscal Repair Versus Meniscectomy for Horizontal Meniscal Tears: A Systematic Review
Authors: Pearsall Christian A. , Desai Sohil S. , Athanasian Christian , Piasecki Dana P. , Saltzman Bryan M. , Swindell Hasani , Trofa David P.
Published: January 2025

Background:

Limited biomechanical evidence exists describing how horizontal meniscus tears (HMTs), meniscal repair (MR), and meniscectomy alter the knee's biomechanical environment.

Purpose:

To evaluate changes in knee contact mechanics following HMTs, MR, and meniscectomy.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 5.

Methods:

PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases were systematically searched for biomechanical cadaveric studies of HMTs up to January 16, 2023, using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Studies that (1) did not examine MRs or meniscectomies, (2) did not report contact area (CA) or pressure, (3) involved concomitant injuries (eg, anterior cruciate ligament tear), (4) were nonbiomechanical studies (eg, review, technique, and clinical), and (5) were non-English language articles were excluded. The endpoints were peak contact pressure (PCP) and mean CA.

Results:

Out of 1526 initial results, 6 studies were included for final review. PCP and CA were measured in 59 intact menisci, 59 HMTs, 59 partial meniscectomies (PM), 59 complete meniscectomies (CM), and 33 MR. Among all HMTs versus the intact state, pooled PCP increased by 14.2%, and pooled CA decreased by 7.1%. Among all PMs versus the intact state, 4 of 6 studies found significantly increased PCP (27.1%), and 5 found significantly reduced CA (22.1%). Among all CMs versus the intact state, all 6 studies found significantly increased PCP (54.5%), and 5 found significantly reduced CA (33%). Among the 3 studies directly comparing PM to CM, 2 studies found PM to have significantly smaller increases in PCP (23.3% vs 52.4%) and significantly smaller reductions in CA (16.7% vs 28.1%) from the intact state.) The 3 studies evaluating MR versus the intact state found no significant difference in PCP or CA.

Conclusion:

After an HMT, MR had the smallest deviations in contact mechanics; only MR restored contact mechanics to the uninjured state. These findings support MR's superiority, illustrate that maintaining contact mechanics requires preserving meniscal tissue, and are consistent with clinical evidence. More clinical comparisons are needed to understand the differences among treatments.
Dispersion characteristics of Lamb wave in a multilayered magnetoelectroelastic plate with an imperfect interface
Authors: Zhang Xiaoming , Shen Shuo , Yu Jiangong
Published: January 2025

In this study, we investigate Lamb wave propagation in a multilayered magnetoelectroelastic plate with an imperfect magnetoelectroelastic interface using the generalized linear spring model (GLSM). The dispersion relation of the Lamb wave is obtained using an improved Legendre polynomial expansion method, which converts the wave problem into a linear eigenvalue system. The effectiveness of the present method was verified through comparison with two existing cases: SH wave in a bilayer plate with an imperfect interface and Lamb wave in a bilayer plate with a perfect interface. Numerical examples were presented for various multilayered plates composed of BaTiO3/CoFe2O4. The effects of the spring constant combinations, including the degree of mechanical, electric, and magnetic interface imperfections, layer thickness ratio, electromagnetic boundary condition, and stacking sequence on the dispersion characteristics are illustrated. The effect of the thickness ratio on the magneto-electromechanical coupling factor and the sensitivity of the phase velocity at different frequencies to changes in the interface characteristics are also discussed. The present investigation is of practical interest for developing new layered composite structures made of smart piezoelectric and piezomagnetic materials for engineering applications.
Effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Psychological Rehabilitation After Lung Cancer Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis protocol
Authors: Cao Luchang , Wang Zilin , Wang Xinmiao , Zhu Guanghui , Zhang Ying , Li Jie
Published: January 2025

Background:

The incidence and mortality of lung cancer is the highest among malignant tumors worldwide, and it seriously threatens human life and health. Surgery is the primary radical treatment for lung cancer. However, patients often experience discomfort, changes in social roles, economic pressures, and other postsurgical challenges. These factors frequently cause various psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression, significantly diminishing the quality of life and elevating the risks of recurrence, metastasis, and mortality. Therefore, effective strategies for mental function rehabilitation should be urgently developed. Traditional Chinese medicine can significantly improve psychological function and physical symptoms after lung cancer surgery, and prolong patient survival. However, its effectiveness for mental function rehabilitation after lung cancer surgery remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Chinese medicine on mental function recovery after lung cancer surgery through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods:

This study will systematically search the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, VIP database, and Chinese BioMedical Literature database. Search for studies published from the inception of each database until April 22, 2024. This study will be limited to clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcome will be depression or anxiety, as indicated by the scale score. Data analysis will be performed using RevMan 5. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool will be used to evaluate the quality of included studies. Finally, the quality of the evidence will be classified using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) System.

Results:

This meta-analysis aims to offer comprehensive evidence of the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine in mental function rehabilitation after lung cancer surgery. The study will assess the quality of the reports and conduct a subgroup analysis based on various postoperative stages, intervention measures, intervention duration, and sex to gather more evidence to fill the gap in psychological function rehabilitation after lung cancer surgery. These data can be used to guide clinical practice and inform future studies. More importantly, the results of this study will provide evidence to support the development of expert consensus and clinical guidelines in the field of mental function rehabilitation after lung cancer surgery.
The new urban wastewater treatment directive from the perspective of the receiving rivers’ quality
Authors: Kardos Máté Krisztián , Patziger Miklós , Jolánkai Zsolt , Clement Adrienne
Published: January 2025

Background

The European Union is reformulating key water management directives: the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and the Water Framework Directive. The UWWTD update mandates extended removal of nutrients and stricter limits on micropollutants, primarily at wastewater treatment plants with a constructed capacity above 10 000 population equivalents. The revised Environmental Quality Standards Directive expands the list of regulated pollutants and lowers permissible concentrations for priority substances, including pharmaceuticals. The present study, applied for the Central-European country Hungary as a pilot, examines the impact of the UWWTD recast on receiving water quality. Employing a mixing model to assess the impact of municipal wastewater treatment plant emissions on regional waters, the research aims to optimize resource allocation for plant improvements and enhance risk area designation methods.

Results

Based on the evaluation of 886 river water bodies, it was found that wastewater plant effluents explain most of the current river impairment. Stricter nitrogen and phosphorus standards foreseen in the UWWTD recast will reduce the fraction of water bodies failing to achieve good ecological status by ~ 10%. The introduction of the new environmental quality standards for pharmaceuticals, in particular clarithromycin and diclofenac, will reveal that almost half of the river water bodies fail to achieve the good chemical status. Even after the implementation of micropollutant removal at the largest plants, as required by the recast, this number will not improve substantially.

Conclusions

The UWWTD recast’s stricter effluent standards for nutrients are projected to remarkably reduce the number of water bodies failing to achieve good ecological status, particularly in lowland rivers. However, the chemical status for pharmaceuticals like diclofenac remains concerning, with more than 40% of streams expected to fail under the revised limits. To overcome this, it is suggested to revise how the implementation of micropollutant removal at plants is prioritized. In addition to plant constructed capacity, the receiving water’s dilution capacity is to be considered at the prioritization and the designation of areas at risk.
Comparison of precision of a paperless electronic input method versus the conventional paper form in an andrology laboratory: a prospective study
Authors: Lam Kevin K. W. , Tsang Percy C. K. , Chan Connie C. Y. , Ng Evans P. K. , Cheung Tak-Ming , Li Raymond H. W. , Ng Ernest H. Y. , Yeung William S. B.
Published: January 2025

Background

Manual counting for semen analysis is recommended by the World Health Organization. Technicians performing this usually record their results on a paper worksheet and then enter the data into an electronic laboratory information system. One disadvantage of this approach is the chance of post-analytical transcription errors, which can be reduced by checking the computer entries before reporting by another technician. Such practice inevitably increases the running cost and delays the reporting time. The present study was to establish a paperless electronic data entry system for semen analysis and compare its precision with the conventional paper method.

During semen analysis, readings on the cell counter were video recorded. The precision of the paper record entries was determined by comparing them with the corresponding video records. Patient characteristics and semen analysis results were input directly into an in-house developed data entry system via a tablet computer immediately after analysis. The same set of data was also handwritten on a paper form and was subsequently input into a standard computerized database according to routine practice. The agreement of the data entries between the two systems was then compared.

Results

A total of 787 semen analyses were included in the study, involving 201 samples in Phase I and 586 samples in Phase II of the study. Phase I was the initial learning period. The overall rate of transcription error of the paper form was 0.07%, whereas that of the paperless system was 0.17%. In phase II, the paperless system was modified according to users’ comments. The transcription error rate of the paper form was 0.05%, while that of the paperless system was substantially reduced to 0.01% (p = 0.008).

Conclusion

The paperless system is a reliable tool for recording data from semen analysis compared with the conventional paper form. However, training is needed to reduce the error rate of the paperless system.
Testing for wage-specific search intensity
Authors: Rendon Sílvio
Published: January 2025

Most job search intensity models assume uniform search effort across all potential wage offers. I depart from this conventional assumption by proposing that agents allocate wage-specific search intensity, strategically avoiding effort on low-paying, unacceptable jobs or high-paying, improbable ones. This alternative model generates wage distributions at acceptance that differ markedly from the truncated distributions typical of models with constant arrival rates for wage offers. I leverage these distinct empirical predictions to develop two new nonparametric tests, applied to NLSY97 data, both of which reject the hypothesis of constant search intensity across wages. Furthermore, I estimate the structural parameters identifiable in each model, revealing that wage-specific search leads to greater total search effort, faster transitions into the upper tail of the wage distribution, and ultimately higher accepted wages—more than a 25% increase following unemployment. For low wages, the classic random search model delivers a fair replication of the actual data, but for higher wages targeted search is better. Wage-specific search suggests that job seekers not only need to search more, but also search better. This insight has important implications for employment policy, particularly in promoting job search literacy among the unemployed.
Synergistic effects of PGPRs and fertilizer amendments on improving the yield and productivity of Canola (Brassica napus L.)
Authors: Muhammad Haji , Ijaz Muhammad , Sattar Abdul , Ul-Allah Sami , Sher Ahmad , Asif Muhammad , Dilshad Muhammad , Mahmood Khalid , Riaz Muhammad Waheed , Zaheer Muhammad Saqlain , Rizwan Muhammad , Manoharadas Salim
Published: January 2025

Background

Organic fertilizers are safer and more eco-friendly than chemical fertilizers; hence, organic fertilizers can be used to support sustainable farming. The effects of PGPRs are manifold in agriculture, especially in monoculture crops, where the soil needs to be modified to increase germination, yield, and disease resistance. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of PGPRs combined with fertilizer on the yield and productivity of canola. Canola was chosen for its global importance as an oilseed crop and its responsiveness to soil amendments, making it ideal for evaluating the synergistic effects of PGPRs and fertilizers on yield and soil health.

Methodology

This research, which was carried out over two years, was aimed at establishing the effectiveness of PGPRs together with organic and inorganic fertilizers on canola yields and was performed with a two-factorial RCBD design under field conditions. We applied Azotobacter salinestris and Bacillus subtilis with biochar, compost, animal manure, poultry manure, and NPK fertilizer. Insect pest management and other agronomic practices were carried out to maintain the experiment.

Results

Canola yield and agronomic traits were enhanced by the combination of Bacillus subtilis with the fully recommended N: P:K ratio (140:55:40 kg/ha). Additionally, the application of Bacillus subtilis with biochar at 2 tons/ha improved the yield and quality of canola, as well as the structure and nutrient regulation of the soil.

Conclusion

In light of these results, we recommend the application of Bacillus subtilis to canola seeds along with either 2 t/ha biochar or the entire recommended dose of N: P:K (140:55:40 kg/ha). These strategies are sustainable and help producers and the environment increase the productivity of canola. Combining PGPRs with fertilizers for canola enhances nutrient efficiency, promotes sustainable growth, and boosts stress resilience, addressing agricultural and environmental challenges.

Clinical trial number

Not Applicable.
Seroprevalence, incidence estimates, and environmental risk factors for dengue, chikungunya, and Zika infection amongst children living in informal urban settlements in Indonesia and Fiji
Authors: Rosser Joelle I. , Openshaw John J. , Lin Audrie , Taruc Ruzka R. , Tela Autiko , Tamodding Nursehang , Abdullah Nurul Pausi Emelia , Amiruddin Murni , Buyukcangaz Esra , Barker S. Fiona , Turagabeci Amelia , Ansariadi  , Leder Karin , Wahid Isra ,   on behalf of the RISE Consortium
Published: January 2025

Background

The burden of Aedes aegypti-transmitted viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are increasing globally, fueled by urbanization and climate change, with some of the highest current rates of transmission in Asia. Local factors in the built environment have the potential to exacerbate or mitigate transmission.

Methods

In 24 informal urban settlements in Makassar, Indonesia and Suva, Fiji, we tested children under 5 years old for evidence of prior infection with dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses by IgG serology. We used a catalytic model using seroprevalence and mean age to estimate annual incidence of dengue in each country. We also conducted detailed questionnaires to evaluate environmental risk factors for a positive serology result. Dengue risk factors were evaluated for children by univariate and multivariable logistic regression accounting for settlement as a fixed effect. Trash and flooding were additionally evaluated as dengue risk factors at the settlement level by univariate linear regression.

Results

In Fiji and Indonesia respectively, 46% and 33% of children under 5 years old were seropositive for dengue, 3% and 3% for chikungunya, and 9% and 2% for Zika. In Indonesia, children living in a household where trash is routinely collected and removed were significantly less likely to be dengue seropositive in both unadjusted and adjusted models [adjusted model: OR 0.3 (95% CI: 0.1–0.8)]. In Indonesia, settlements with a higher proportion of households reporting flooding also had lower dengue rates (slope = 0.44; p-value: <0.05).

Conclusions

Household trash collection and community flood management are important targets for interventions to mitigate the increasing risk of Aedes aegypti-transmitted viruses.
Identification of positive childhood experiences with the potential to mitigate childhood unhealthy weight status in children within the context of adverse childhood experiences: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Mellar Brooklyn M. , Ghasemi Maryam , Gulliver Pauline , Milne Barry , Langridge Fiona , McIntosh Tracey , Fouche Christa , Swinburn Boyd , Hashemi Ladan
Published: January 2025

Background

Despite potential protective and mitigating effects of positive childhood experiences (PCEs) on poor health outcomes, limited research has identified relevant PCEs and examined their individual and cumulative associations with weight status, or their mitigating effects on the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and obesity in children. This study aims to develop an exploratory PCEs Index with the potential to protect against or mitigate the association between ACEs and unhealthy weight status.

Methods

Data came from the Growing Up in New Zealand study. The analytic sample was restricted to those who provided obesity data at age 8 and one child per mother, resulting in a sample of 4,895 children. Nine individual ACEs and their cumulative scores, a newly developed PCEs index consisting of six individual PCEs and (their) cumulative scores, and an overweight/obesity variable were included in the analyses.

Results

By age eight, experience of at least 3 PCEs was reported by 72.1% of the sample. However, the experience of the highest number of PCEs (5–6) was only reported by 23% of the sample. Four out of six assessed PCEs were associated with decreased likelihood of overweight/obesity. A dose-response effect was observed where experience of three or more PCEs was associated with decreased odds for obesity (AORs decreased from 0.77 for 3 PCEs to 0.54 for 5–6 PCEs). No consistent mitigating effects were found for individual PCEs; however interactions were found between reporting at least four of the six PCEs, experience of cumulative ACEs, and reduced odds for overweight/obesity at age 8.

Conclusions

A critical number of PCEs may be required to mitigate the detrimental impacts of ACEs on weight status among children. These findings reinforce the need to consider a constellation of strength-focused ecological domains to alleviate the burden of childhood obesity, particularly for children exposed to multiple adversities.
Transformation and articulation of clinical data to understand students’ clinical reasoning: a scoping review
Authors: Deschênes Marie-France , Fernandez Nicolas , Lechasseur Kathleen , Caty Marie-Ève , Uctu Busra Meryem , Bouzeghrane Yasmine , Lavoie Patrick
Published: January 2025

Background

Despite the importance of effective educational strategies to promote the transformation and articulation of clinical data while teaching and learning clinical reasoning, unanswered questions remain. Understanding how these cognitive operations can be observed and assessed is crucial, particularly considering the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and its integration into health education. A scoping review was conducted to map the literature regarding educational strategies to support transformation and articulation of clinical data, the learning tasks expected of students when exposed to these strategies and methods used to assess individuals’ proficiency

Methods

Based on the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, the authors searched 5 databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Web of Science), ProQuest Dissertations & Theses electronic database and Google Scholar. The data were synthesized narratively using descriptive statistics.

Results

A total of 38 articles were included in the final synthesis. Most studies were conducted in North America and Europe (n = 30, 79%) focused primarily on medical students (n = 35, 92%) and mainly used observational (n = 17, 45%) or methodological (n = 8, 21%) designs. Various educational strategies were identified, the most common were resolution of written or computerized case-based scenarios (n = 13; 52%) and simulated or real patient encounters (n = 6; 24%). The learning tasks comprised, among others, identifying key findings, translating clinical information, synthesizing cases aloud, and writing a summary statement. Furthermore, the review included assessment methods and rubrics with assessment criteria for clinical data transformation and articulation. The narrative synthesis shows positive results when integrating various educational strategies within clinical reasoning curricula compared to a single strategy used episodically.

Limitations and conclusions

The varying objectives, diversity of educational strategies documented, and heterogeneity of the evaluation tools or rubrics limit our conclusions. However, insights gained will help educators develop effective approaches for teaching clinical reasoning. Additional research is needed to evaluate the impacts of educational strategies aimed at developing skills for the transformation and articulation of clinical data.

Clinical trial number

Not applicable.
The impact of welfare technology on care ethics: a qualitative analysis of healthcare professionals and managers’ experiences with welfare technologies
Authors: Gjerstad Brita , Gjerstad-Sørensen Ragnhild , Teig Inger Lise
Published: January 2025

Background

Providing healthcare for the elderly population is challenging due to a shortage of staff. The challenge is addressed by increased use of technology. The article explores the impact of welfare technology on healthcare personnel’s care ethical considerations in Norway’s primary healthcare sector. Through a qualitative study of how healthcare professionals, managers, and technology suppliers understand and perceive welfare technology in healthcare, we examine whether instrumental values displace care-ethical values in primary healthcare practices.

Methods

The study is based on a qualitative analysis of interviews with healthcare workers, healthcare managers and technology suppliers in primary healthcare in Norway. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers and quality developers at the municipal administrative level and healthcare managers and staff in healthcare units. Interviews with suppliers/manufacturers of welfare technology (GPS, pill dispensers and robotics) were also conducted. We combined an inductive approach with theoretical exploration as we alternated between the empirical data, a thematic approach, and theories of technology and care ethics.

Results

In the analysis of the empirical material, we identified two overarching themes that were related to our research question: 1) demands and solutions and 2) two sides of autonomy. The informants generally highlighted the benefits of welfare technology, but the informants were also ambiguous about the use of welfare technology. Autonomy was seen as an important value but was attached with ambivalence.

Conclusion

Care ethical considerations are significantly present within healthcare professionals’ understandings of technology even though managers and technology suppliers were advocating for welfare technology in a more instrumental sense. Despite extensive acclaim for user autonomy, healthcare personnel make decisions about care and technology use independently of the resource situation. They hold onto a professional room of freedom in between the patient’s needs, available resources, and suitable technology. They are sceptical about applying technological solutions if they suspect it will lead to potentially adverse consequences, such as loneliness or increased insecurity due to technological illiteracy. By engaging a relational autonomy approach in their care practices, healthcare professionals control technology rather than submit to technology and we see that rather than being displaced by technical-economic reasoning, care ethical reasoning also accommodates technology.
Viruses and neurodegeneration: a growing concern
Authors: Shouman S. , Hesham N. , Salem T. Z.
Published: January 2025

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) cause a progressive loss of neurons. Since NDDs are multifactorial, the precise etiology varies on the basis of the type of disease and patient history. Cohort studies and case studies have demonstrated a potential link between viral infections and the onset or progression of NDDs. Recent findings concerning the mechanisms by which neuropathic infections occur have provided more insights into the importance of such connections. In this review, we aim to elaborate on the occurrence of the neuropathic effects of viruses from epidemiological, clinical, and biological perspectives while highlighting potential treatments and challenges. One of the key players in viral neuropathogenesis is neuroinflammation caused by the immune response to the virus; this can occur due to both neurotropic and nonneurotropic viruses. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about whether vaccines are essential for preventing viruses or whether vaccines may play a part in exacerbating or accelerating NDDs. By classifying viruses and the common NDDs associated with them and further delving into their cellular pathways, this review provides insights to advance the development of potential treatments and diagnostic methods.

Graphical Abstract
Brief communication: gaps and opportunities in HIV research in Venezuela
Authors: Morgado Jesús A. , Medina María G. , Guevara Rafael N. , Carballo Martín , Torres Jaime R. , Carrión-Nessi Fhabián S. , Forero-Peña David A.
Published: January 2025

Over the past decade, Venezuela has experienced a political and economic crisis that has affected the country’s scientific research development. Currently, the state of HIV research in Venezuela remains unknown. We conducted a systematic review identifying 683 articles over the last 20 years of which only 101 met our inclusion criteria. A decrease in national scientific production was observed starting in 2017, although there was an increase in foreign research on the Venezuelan migrant population. Knowledge gaps were identified in areas such as epidemiology, efficacy and resistance to antiretroviral therapy, and HIV in pregnancy.
Factors associated with alcohol, smoking, and illicit drug use among university students in Yaoundé, Cameroon
Authors: Cheuyem Fabrice Zobel Lekeumo , Edzamba Michel Franck , Amani Adidja , Mossus Tatiana
Published: January 2025

Background

Substance use, including alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs, is a growing public health problem worldwide. There is a rapid increase in substance use among young adults in many sub-Saharan African countries. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with the use of different psychoactive substances among university students in Yaoundé.

Methods

A cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted from September to October 2023 at Yaoundé I University in Cameroon. All eligible students aged 18 years and older who gave written informed consent were included. A convenience nonprobability sampling method was used to recruit consenting students. The collected data were reviewed and checked for completeness before being entered. The data were analyzed using Statistics 4.3.3.

Results

A total of 191 university students were enrolled in the study. Age (p-value = 0.002), level of study (p-value = 0.048), and smoking status (p-value = 0.005) of the participants were significant factors associated with alcohol use on univariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression showed that students aged 20-25 years were significantly 2.9 times more likely to consume alcohol than those aged less than 20 years (p-value = 0.003). Students who smoke were 2.7 times more at risk to drink alcohol than those who do not smoke (p-value = 0.008). Living situation (p-value = 0.013) and drug use status (p-value < 0.0001) were significant factors associated with smoking on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, people who used drugs (cocaine, tramadol, cannabis, amphetamine) were 3.2 times more at risk to smoke than drug non-users (p-value < 0.0001). Drug use was significantly associated with district of residence of consumer on univariate analysis (p-value = 0.024). Living situation (p-value = 0.016), faculty/school (p-value = 0.04), and district of residence (p-value = 0.037) were significantly associated with polysubstance use. Students living in shared accommodation were 3.8 times more at risk to be polysubstance users than those living with their families (p-value = 0.023). Almost all smokers (95.1%) reported being aware of the psychosocial, mental and health consequences of substance use (p-value = 0.021).

Conclusions

Age, living situation, district of residence and smoking status have been associated with substance use among college students. These sociodemographic factors can inform the development and implementation of tailored interventions to reduce the risk of subsequent substance dependence and other harmful consequences.
Approaches for difficult-to-induce-seizures electroconvulsive therapy cases (DEC): a Japanese expert consensus
Authors: Takekita Yoshiteru , Suwa Taro , Yasuda Kazuyuki , Kawashima Hirotsugu , Omori Wataru , Kurimoto Naoki , Tsuboi Takashi , Noda Takamasa , Aoki Nobuatsu , Wada Ken , Inada Ken , Takebayash Minoru ,   Expert Consensus Development Working Group,   Electroconvulsive Therapy Committee,   Japanese Society of General Hospital Psychiatry
Published: January 2025

Background

Seizure threshold increases with age and the frequency of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Therefore, therapeutic seizures can be difficult to induce, even at maximum stimulus charge with available ECT devices. Such cases are known as difficult-to-induce-seizures electroconvulsive therapy cases (DECs). However, no clinical guidelines exist for DECs; thus, clinicians often face difficulties determining treatment strategies. This study aimed to obtain a consensus among clinical experts regarding the treatment of DECs.

Methods

We asked Japanese ECT experts to rate 14 approaches under six conditions of DECs on a 9-point Likert scale (1 = “disagree” to 9 = “agree”). Based on responses from 195 experts, the approaches were classified as first-line (95% confidence interval mean ≥ 6.5), second-line (mean, 3.5–6.5), or third-line strategies (mean < 3.5). Approaches rated 9 points by at least 50% of the respondents were considered “treatments of choice.”

Results

To avoid difficult seizure induction, dose reduction of benzodiazepine receptor agonist (BZRA) (8.33 ± 1.25), dose reduction or discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) or other drugs that may make seizure induction difficult (8.16 ± 1.18), and ensure hyperventilation (7.95 ± 1.47) were classified as treatments of choice. First-line treatment strategies were BRZA discontinuation (7.89 ± 1.45), stimulation timing adjustment (7.00 ± 2.00), and anesthetic dose reduction (6.93 ± 1.94). Dose reduction or discontinuation of AEDs or other drugs that might make seizure induction difficult and ensure hyperventilation were the treatments of choice across all patient conditions. The results of rating approaches for patients with mood disorders and schizophrenia were similar, with differences observed among the approaches for patients with catatonia, high risk of cognitive impairment, and cardiovascular events.

Conclusions

ECT expert recommendations are useful and can assist in clinical decision-making. Our results suggest that while some strategies are applicable across all conditions, others should be tailored to meet the specific needs of patients. These recommendations should be further evaluated in future clinical studies.
Network pharmacology: a crucial approach in traditional Chinese medicine research
Authors: Zhai Yiyan , Liu Liu , Zhang Fanqin , Chen Xiaodong , Wang Haojia , Zhou Jiying , Chai Keyan , Liu Jiangying , Lei Huiling , Lu Peiying , Guo Meiling , Guo Jincheng , Wu Jiarui
Published: January 2025

Network pharmacology plays a pivotal role in systems biology, bridging the gap between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory and contemporary pharmacological research. Network pharmacology enables researchers to construct multilayered networks that systematically elucidate TCM’s multi-component, multi-target mechanisms of action. This review summarizes key databases commonly used in network pharmacology, including those focused on herbs, components, diseases, and dedicated platforms for network pharmacology analysis. Additionally, we explore the growing use of network pharmacology in TCM, citing literature from Web of Science, PubMed, and CNKI over the past two decades with keywords like “network pharmacology”, “TCM network pharmacology”, and “herb network pharmacology”. The application of network pharmacology in TCM is widespread, covering areas such as identifying the material basis of TCM efficacy, unraveling mechanisms of action, and evaluating toxicity, safety, and novel drug development. However, challenges remain, such as the lack of standardized data collection across databases and insufficient consideration of processed herbs in research. Questions also persist regarding the reliability of study outcomes. This review aims to offer valuable insights and reference points to guide future research in precision TCM network pharmacology.
Revisiting the oxygen reactivity index in traumatic brain injury: the complementary value of combined focal and global autoregulation monitoring
Authors: Svedung Wettervik Teodor , Beqiri Erta , Hånell Anders , Bögli Stefan Yu , Olakorede Ihsane , Chen Xuhang , Helmy Adel , Lavinio Andrea , Hutchinson Peter J. , Smielewski Peter
Published: January 2025

Background

The oxygen reactivity index (ORx) reflects the correlation between focal brain tissue oxygen (pbtO2) and the cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). Previous, small cohort studies were conflicting on whether ORx conveys cerebral autoregulatory information and if it is related to outcome in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Thus, we aimed to investigate these issues in a larger TBI cohort.

Methods

425 TBI patients with intracranial pressure (ICP)- and pbtO2-monitoring for at least 12 h, who had been treated at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK, were included. Association between ORx and ICP, pressure reactivity index (PRx), CPP, ΔCPPopt (actual CPP-CPPopt [PRx based optimal CPP]), and pbtO2 were evaluated with generalized additive models (GAMs). Association between ORx and outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS]) was investigated with logistic regressions and heatmaps for those 239 patients with GOS data.

Results

GAMs showed that ORx increased with higher ICP, PRx above + 0.30, CPP below 60–70 mmHg, and negative ΔCPPopt. In contrast to PRx, ORx did not increase at higher CPP. In outcome heatmaps, there was a transition towards unfavourable outcome when ORx exceeded + 0.50, particularly for longer durations, and in combination with high ICP, high PRx, low CPP, negative ΔCPPopt, and low pbtO2. In multivariable logistic regressions, higher ORx was associated with increased mortality.

Conclusions

ORx seemed to be sensitive to the lower, but not the upper, limit of autoregulation, in contrast to PRx which was sensitive to both. The combination of high values for both ORx and PRx was particularly associated with worse outcome and, thus, ORx may provide a complementary value to the global index PRx. ORx could also be useful to determine the safe and dangerous perfusion target intervals.
Comparative assessment of Mini-FLOTAC, McMaster and semi-quantitative flotation for helminth egg examination in camel faeces
Authors: Mohammedsalih Khalid M. , Hassan Salma A. , Juma Fathel-Rahman , Saeed Shamsaldeen I. , Bashar Ahmed , von Samson-Himmelstjerna Georg , Krücken Jürgen
Published: January 2025

Background

Faecal egg counts (FECs) are essential for diagnosing helminth infections and guiding treatment decisions. For camels, no evaluations of coproscopic methods regarding precision, sensitivity and correlation between individual and pooled faecal samples are currently available.

Methods

Here, 410 camel faecal samples were collected in 2022 from South Darfur State, Sudan, and analysed to compare the semi-quantitative flotation, McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC methods in terms of precision, sensitivity, inter-rater reliability and helminth egg count correlations, as well as the effects of pooling samples. Six samples were used to assess precision for McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC, while the remaining 404 samples were evaluated for sensitivity, inter-rater reliability and egg count correlations. Of these, 80 samples were used in pooling experiments.

Results

Six analyses of each sample (n = 6) using the McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC methods revealed no significant difference in the coefficient of variation between the two. For strongyle eggs, 48.8%, 52.7% and 68.6% were positive for McMaster, semi-quantitative flotation and Mini-FLOTAC, respectively. The sensitivity of the three methods showed only minimal improvement when three egg counts were performed on the same sample. McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC had similar sensitivity for Strongyloides spp. (3.5% frequency), while it was lower for semi-quantitative flotation at 2.5%. Mini-FLOTAC was more sensitive for Moniezia spp., detecting 7.7% of positives compared with 4.5% for semi-quantitative flotation and 2.2% for McMaster. For Trichuris spp., frequencies were 0.3% with Mini-FLOTAC, 0.7% with McMaster and 1.7% with semi-quantitative flotation. Mini-FLOTAC also detected higher strongyle eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces (mean 537.4) compared with McMaster (330.1). More samples exceeded treatment thresholds with Mini-FLOTAC, with 28.5% of animals having EPG ≥ 200 compared with 19.3% for McMaster, while 19.1% showed EPG ≥ 500 with Mini-FLOTAC compared with 12.1% with McMaster. There was no significant correlation between individual and pooled strongyle FECs, as indicated by Pearson correlation coefficients of r ≥ 0.368 (P ≥ 0.113) and Spearman correlation.

Conclusions

Mini-FLOTAC outperformed semi-quantitative flotation and McMaster in diagnosing helminth infections in camels, offering greater sensitivity and detecting higher EPGs, particularly for strongyles, Strongyloides spp. and Moniezia spp. Thus, treatment decisions based on Mini-FLOTAC EPGs will lead to more treatments.

Graphical Abstract