bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute mountain sickness: pathophysiology and prevention
Authors: Moczydłowski Paweł , Kuczapska Karolina , Gliwa Anna , Ryglewicz Monika , Fabian Dariusz , Leszczyńska-Knaga Elżbieta , Jakubczyk Natalia , Rutkowska-Kawalec Weronika , Kurowski Marek , Michalczuk Karolina
Published: January 2025

This review discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Key mechanisms including changes in blood-brain barrier permeability, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and the role of diuresis in the development of AMS are analysed. The effectiveness of various preventive strategies, such as acclimatisation and pharmacotherapy (acetazolamide, dexamethasone, ibuprofen), as well as alternative approaches, including the use of natural remedies such as Rhodiola roses, coca leaves and Ginkgo biloba, are discussed. The paper emphasises the importance of correct diagnosis and prompt action in the treatment of AMS, which is crucial in preventing complications.
 
Material and methods
Data  bases  such  as  Pubmed  and  GoogleScholar  were  used  for  research  with  the  key  words: acute mountain illness (AMS), acetazolamid, dexametazone, altitude, prevention, acclimatisation.
 
Conclusions
Acute altitude sickness is a challenge in terms of understanding pathophyslogy and effective treatment methods. The primary methods of preventing AMS are properly managed acclimatisation and the use of acetazolamide. Other pharmacological and natural measures require further research.
Cystic Fibrosis and Reproductive Outcomes: The Latest Insights into Fertility and Pregnancy
Authors: Małagocka Weronika , Zagórski Karol , Kozik Mateusz , Skalska-Dziobek Nina , Chybowska Karolina , Naruszewicz Maria , Cetnarowski Przemysław
Published: January 2025

Introduction and purpose: Due to improvement in treatment of people with cystic fibrosis (CF), the number of adult patients increases. CF patients are living longer, with better quality of life and a growing number of them are considering parenthood. Most people with CF are suffering because of reduced fertility, however the number of pregnant CF patients rises. The aim of this paper was to summarize the date available in the literature and recent reports about the fertility, pregnancy and treatment of pregnant CF patients.
 
Material and methods: The literature was reviewed in PubMed database, GoogleScholar and in European Cystic Fibrosis Society database with the use of keywords.
 
State of knowledge:78% of women with CF declare that they want to have a child in the future. Reduced fertility may be overcome with assisted reproduction technologies, which also gives an opportunity to do preimplantation genetic tests. CFTR modulators therapy during the pregnancy was described in a small number of studies, but the current experts statement declares that those drugs are probably safe for the infant, and discontinuing this therapy is connected with an increased risk of pulmonary exacerbation in mothers.
 
Summary: Women with CF nowadays have an opportunity to become parents. Despite fertility lower than in the general population, they are able to become pregnant. The decision about the conception should be planned before and consulted with the CF team. Planning the pregnancy gives time to prepare the mother, optimize her nutrition status and make sure medications she takes are safe for the fetus. Data about the use of CFTR modulators during pregnancy and breastfeeding are limited. In the future the MAYFLOWER study may determine the impact of CFTR modulators on pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Zwalczanie przestępczości w polskiej i litewskiej doktrynie kryminalistycznej
Authors: Łabuz Paweł , Malewski Henryk
Published: January 2025

The authors of the book aim to outline the major approaches and achievements of Poland and Lithuania in the field of criminalistics, which may inspire further research and practical implementations. Analyzing the differences and identifying similarities prepares the ground for a better understanding of effective strategies of crime control. The editors of this collective monography adopted an unorthodox model of the publication where, on the one hand, criminology serves as a lens presenting the current state, problems, and tendencies of crime prevention and control in Poland and Lithuania, and on the other hand, it is hoped that readers will become active participants of the process thanks to their reflection on it and comparison of the ideas. To this end, the book contains alternating chapters by Polish and Lithuanian authors that have corresponding titles and similar structures, but often differ significantly in their content; this is intended to familiarize readers with particulars of the field in both countries, and also to let them assess and compare respective paradigms and scientific approaches.
Hexágono de control organizacional. Propuesta metodológica para gestionar el riesgo en mipymes del sector manufacturero en Colombia
Authors: Olarte Cabana Jairo Alberto , Loaiza Franco Jaime Andrey
Published: January 2025

El objeto de estudio del control es el riesgo, tesis que nace tras la separación entre la propiedad y el control (agente y principal). Aunque esto último no es visible con frecuencia en micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas (mipymes), la gestión del riesgo se identifica como una herramienta asociada a su permanencia, las cuales, por su naturaleza y recursos, presentan limitaciones para ser sostenibles. Objetivo: diseñar el hexágono de control organizacional como una propuesta metodológica para la gestión del riesgo en mipymes del sector manufacturero en Colombia. Metodología: el alcance es descriptivo, su método es mixto y el enfoque es cualitativo. Se capturó información de fuentes primarias (instrumento de medición) y secundarias.Resultados principales: se establecieron los propósitos, la estructura, los instrumentos del modelo y se testeó en estudios de caso. Conclusiones: se identificaron oportunidades de mejora en los controles estratégicos y los riesgos ambientales, sociales y tecnológicos, categorías relevantes para la sostenibilidad organizacional.
A Preregistered Falsification Test of the Decision by Sampling Model and Rank-Order Effect
Authors: Forsgren Mattias , Frimanson Lars , Juslin Peter
Published: January 2025

Many social scientists have assumed that people’s preferences can be described by stable and coherent “utility” functions. This notion of stable utility functions has been challenged by cognitive psychologists who suggest that preferences are malleable and constructed in the moment, but neither camp has explained how the subjective valuations underpinning preferences arise. One influential attempt to do so is the Decision by Sampling (DbS) model, which suggests that a quantitative attribute’s (e.g., money sum’s) subjective value is its rank order in a momentarily activated memory sample. DbS thus implies that manipulating the recently experienced attribute distribution should change people’s subsequent valuations of that attribute: for example, from the typically assumed concave shape of the utility function to a convex shape. However, recent studies have pointed out methodological concerns in the evidence previously thought to support this prediction (and thus, DbS). In this preregistered study, we replicate the previous paradigm but address the methodological concerns to test if such a “rank-order” manipulation does change valuations. We derive qualitative predictions from DbS to verify that our conditions yield distinct predictions. We find strong evidence against the DbS’s prediction that a “rank-order” manipulation changes what options the participants select and how strongly they prefer the options. We also find extreme evidence in favor of a contextualization effect, implying that people value formally identical gambles differently depending on whether they cue a real-life setting or not. Although we encourage replication by independent laboratories, these results suggest that the DbS is falsified for this binary choice task.

This paper was accepted by Yuval Rottenstreich, behavioral economics and decision analysis.

Funding: This research was funded by the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation [Grant MAW 2016.0132] and the Swedish Research School of Management and IT.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.03611 .
Envy-Free Dynamic Pricing Schemes
Authors: Bérczi Kristóf , Codazzi Laura , Golak Julian , Grigoriev Alexander
Published: January 2025

A combinatorial market consists of a set of indivisible goods and a set of buyers, where each buyer has a valuation function that represents the buyer’s preferences over the subsets of items. In the dynamic pricing model, the buyers arrive in a sequential order, and each buyer selects a bundle of the remaining items that maximizes her utility. The buyers’ preferences are known in advance, and the seller is allowed to update the prices between the arrivals of buyers based upon the remaining set of items but without knowing the identity of the next buyer. We study the existence of optimal dynamic prices under fairness constraints in unit-demand markets and propose five possible notions of envy-freeness depending on the period over which agents compare themselves to others: the entire time horizon, only the past, only the future, a mixture of the two, or only the present.
Versal deformations: a tool of linear algebra
Authors: Dmytryshyn Andrii
Published: January 2025

A versal deformation of a matrix $A$ is a normal form to which all matrices $A+E$, close to $A$, can be reduced by similarity transformation smoothly depending on the entries of $A+E$. In this paper, we discuss versal deformations and their use in codimension computations, in investigation of closure relations of orbits and bundles, in studying changes of canonical forms under perturbations, as well as in the reduction of unstructured perturbations to structured perturbations.
Assessing chromatic discrimination in women on hormonal contraceptives
Authors: Paramei Galina V. , Ainsworth Catherine , Senna Irene
Published: January 2025

We explored whether chromatic discrimination is affected in women using hormonal contraceptives (HCs). Leaning upon earlier studies of oral contraceptives (OCs), we reasoned that estrogen and/or progestin, HC components, would reveal mild tritan-like defects in HC users. A sample of 68 women (18–45 years) was stratified by the HC type and use history: (a) non-users with past HC use (PC=21), (b) never used (NC=16), (c) oral contraceptives (OCs=23), and (d) long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs=8). Employed was the Cambridge Colour Test (CCT), along with screening using the D-15 and D-15d tests. Significant inter-group differences were identified by the CCT Trivector measures and D-15d indices. Specifically, the majority of LARC users revealed higher tritan and/or protan and deutan thresholds. The D-15d indices were comparable for users of modern OCs and NC but were higher in the LARC and PC groups. Conceivably, the long-acting progestin in LARC users down-regulates the expression of retinal estrogen receptors implicated in color discrimination.
Pyramidal hyperbolic metamaterials fabricated using an anodic alumina template
Authors: Huang Jingchao , Sun Hong , Geng Lulu , Pan Yinuo , Wang Wenyan , Wen Rong , Ji Ting , Cui Yanxia , Li Guohui
Published: January 2025

The manipulation of light at the nanoscale is of great significance in engineering electromagnetic spaces and controlling light propagation. Stratified hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs), with their highly anisotropic properties, can be further patterned to achieve precise control over light, enabling a wide range of applications in advanced optical technologies such as energy harvesting, sensing, and near-field light manipulation. Reported patterned HMM devices, primarily fabricated using electron beam lithography and etching processes, are costly and unsuitable for large-area manufacturing. In this paper, we report the fabrication of well-aligned, large-area HMM nanoarrays composed of alternating layers of thermally evaporated Ag and MoO3 on a glass substrate. This was achieved using a cost-effective, structurally tunable, ultrathin anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template. Our approach enables the formation of an HMM structure with a pyramidal geometry, which demonstrates a significant reduction in reflection, decreasing to below 25% within the visible light spectrum (375–685 nm). Theoretical analysis suggests that the observed anti-reflection effect in this wavelength range is attributed to the excitation of plasmonic resonances. This method for fabricating patterned HMM structures can be applied to various substrates, offering a low-cost solution for HMM device production. The resulting HMM devices hold potential for use in advanced optical systems, such as customized optical absorbers and enhanced photodetection instruments.
Persistently increased post-stress activity of paraventricular thalamic neurons is essential for the emergence of stress-induced alterations in behaviour
Authors: Jász Anna , Biró László , Buday Zsolt , Király Bálint , Szalárdy Orsolya , Horváth Krisztina , Komlósi Gergely , Bódizs Róbert , Kovács Krisztina J. , Diana Marco A. , Hangya Balázs , Acsády László
Published: January 2025

A single exposure to a stressful event can result in enduring changes in behaviour. Long-term modifications in neuronal networks induced by stress are well explored but the initial steps leading to these alterations remain incompletely understood. In this study, we found that acute stress exposure triggers an immediate increase in the firing activity of calretinin-positive neurons in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT/CR+) that persists for several days in mice. This increase in activity had a causal role in stress-induced changes in spontaneous behaviour. Attenuating PVT/CR+ neuronal activity for only 1 h after the stress event rescued both the protracted increase in PVT/CR+ firing rate and the stress-induced behavioural alterations. Activation of the key forebrain targets (basolateral amygdala, prelimbic cortex, and nucleus accumbens) that mediate defensive behaviour has also been reduced by this post-stress inhibition. Reduction of PVT/CR+ cell activity 5 days later remained still effective in ameliorating stress-induced changes in spontaneous behaviour. The results demonstrate a critical role of the prolonged, post-stress changes in firing activity of PVT/CR+ neurons in shaping the behavioural changes associated with stress. Our data proposes a therapeutic window for intervention in acute stress-related disorders, offering potential avenues for targeted treatment strategies.
Language-specific neural dynamics extend syntax into the time domain
Authors: Coopmans Cas W. , de Hoop Helen , Tezcan Filiz , Hagoort Peter , Martin Andrea E.
Published: January 2025

Studies of perception have long shown that the brain adds information to its sensory analysis of the physical environment. A touchstone example for humans is language use: to comprehend a physical signal like speech, the brain must add linguistic knowledge, including syntax. Yet, syntactic rules and representations are widely assumed to be atemporal (i.e., abstract and not bound by time), so they must be translated into time-varying signals for speech comprehension and production. Here, we test 3 different models of the temporal spell-out of syntactic structure against brain activity of people listening to Dutch stories: an integratory bottom-up parser, a predictive top-down parser, and a mildly predictive left-corner parser. These models build exactly the same structure but differ in when syntactic information is added by the brain—this difference is captured in the (temporal distribution of the) complexity metric “incremental node count.” Using temporal response function models with both acoustic and information-theoretic control predictors, node counts were regressed against source-reconstructed delta-band activity acquired with magnetoencephalography. Neural dynamics in left frontal and temporal regions most strongly reflect node counts derived by the top-down method, which postulates syntax early in time, suggesting that predictive structure building is an important component of Dutch sentence comprehension. The absence of strong effects of the left-corner model further suggests that its mildly predictive strategy does not represent Dutch language comprehension well, in contrast to what has been found for English. Understanding when the brain projects its knowledge of syntax onto speech, and whether this is done in language-specific ways, will inform and constrain the development of mechanistic models of syntactic structure building in the brain.
Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic RNAs that enhance viral fitness and immune evasion
Authors: Mears Harriet V. , Young George R. , Sanderson Theo , Harvey Ruth , Barrett-Rodger Jamie , Penn Rebecca , Cowton Vanessa , Furnon Wilhelm , De Lorenzo Giuditta , Crawford Margaret , Snell Daniel M. , Fowler Ashley S. , Chakrabarti Anob M. , Hussain Saira , Gilbride Ciarán , Emmott Edward , Finsterbusch Katja , Luptak Jakub , Peacock Thomas P. , Nicod Jérôme , Patel Arvind H. , Palmarini Massimo , Wall Emma , Williams Bryan , Gandhi Sonia , Swanton Charles , Bauer David L. V.
Published: January 2025

Coronaviruses express their structural and accessory genes via a set of subgenomic RNAs, whose synthesis is directed by transcription regulatory sequences (TRSs) in the 5′ genomic leader and upstream of each body open reading frame. In SARS-CoV-2, the TRS has the consensus AAACGAAC; upon searching for emergence of this motif in the global SARS-CoV-2 sequences, we find that it evolves frequently, especially in the 3′ end of the genome. We show well-supported examples upstream of the Spike gene—within the nsp16 coding region of ORF1b—which is expressed during human infection, and upstream of the canonical Envelope gene TRS, both of which have evolved convergently in multiple lineages. The most frequent neo-TRS is within the coding region of the Nucleocapsid gene, and is present in virtually all viruses from the B.1.1 lineage, including the variants of concern Alpha, Gamma, Omicron and descendants thereof. Here, we demonstrate that this TRS leads to the expression of a novel subgenomic mRNA encoding a truncated C-terminal portion of Nucleocapsid, which is an antagonist of type I interferon production and contributes to viral fitness during infection. We observe distinct phenotypes when the Nucleocapsid coding sequence is mutated compared to when the TRS alone is ablated. Our findings demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 is undergoing evolutionary changes at the functional RNA level in addition to the amino acid level.
Multi-modal investigation reveals pathogenic features of diverse DDX3X missense mutations
Authors: Mosti Federica , Hoye Mariah L. , Escobar-Tomlienovich Carla F. , Silver Debra L.
Published: January 2025

De novo mutations in the RNA binding protein DDX3X cause neurodevelopmental disorders including DDX3X syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. Amongst ~200 mutations identified to date, half are missense. While DDX3X loss of function is known to impair neural cell fate, how the landscape of missense mutations impacts neurodevelopment is almost entirely unknown. Here, we integrate transcriptomics, proteomics, and live imaging to demonstrate clinically diverse DDX3X missense mutations perturb neural development via distinct cellular and molecular mechanisms. Using mouse primary neural progenitors, we investigate four recurrently mutated DDX3X missense variants, spanning clinically severe (2) to mild (2). While clinically severe mutations impair neurogenesis, mild mutations have only a modest impact on cell fate. Moreover, expression of severe mutations leads to profound neuronal death. Using a proximity labeling screen in neural progenitors, we discover DDX3X missense variants have unique protein interactors. We observe notable overlap amongst severe mutations, suggesting common mechanisms underlying altered cell fate and survival. Transcriptomic analysis and subsequent cellular investigation highlights new pathways associated with DDX3X missense variants, including upregulated DNA Damage Response. Notably, clinically severe mutations exhibit excessive DNA damage in neurons, associated with increased cytoplasmic DNA:RNA hybrids and formation of stress granules. These findings highlight aberrant RNA metabolism and DNA damage in DDX3X-mediated neuronal cell death. In sum our findings reveal new mechanisms by which clinically distinct DDX3X missense mutations differentially impair neurodevelopment.
What enabled the successful implementation of a quality certification initiative in Bhavnagar, Gujarat? A policy analysis case study
Authors: Lekha K. Shruti , Ramani Sudha , Joshi Harsha , Verma Preet , Malhotra Sumit , Puwar Tapasvi , Kumar Chandramani , Shah Ankita , Sinha Anish , Saxena Deepak
Published: January 2025

High-quality health systems are key to improving population health outcomes globally. In India, the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) is a certification policy adopted by the government to improve the quality of care in public health facilities. This policy aims to assess public health facilities through a set of comprehensive, pre-defined standards derived from global best practices. However, only a small number of districts in the country have been able to effectively complete certifications as mandated. Bhavnagar, a district in the state of Gujarat in western India, is a positive deviant that has certified the majority of its primary health facilities. This study attempts to delineate factors that have led to successful quality certifications in Bhavnagar. Qualitative data was collected between December 2023–February 2024, and includes in-depth interviews of staff from state, district, and facility levels (n = 20), and group discussions with facility staff (n = 2). Data has been analysed from the lens of the ‘policy triangle’, comprising actors (policymakers, managers, implementers), context (political support), content (the policy and interpretation), and processes (plans, implementation, and evaluation). We found that Bhavnagar’s political context is supportive of quality certifications, with the district’s top managers directing the certification process. The district’s mid-level operational team on quality has engaged with innovative solutions to solve checklist-related hurdles in infrastructure like establishing a temporary fire-escape or installing screens between rooms for additional space. A peer-mentoring system, wherein staff from already certified primary health facilities act as mentors to prospective ones, has been instituted. This study consolidates empirical lessons for boosting quality certifications in similar contexts. Further, it engages with quality as not just a technical issue, but a political one that is dependent on actors, their relationships, and the implementation context. In doing so, it deepens current understandings of quality improvement strategies in health systems globally.
Effectiveness of app-based cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia on preventing major depressive disorder in youth with insomnia and subclinical depression: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Chen Si-Jing , Que Jian-Yu , Chan Ngan Yin , Shi Le , Li Shirley Xin , Chan Joey Wing Yan , Huang Weizhen , Chen Chris Xie , Tsang Chi Ching , Ho Yuen Lam , Morin Charles M. , Zhang Ji-Hui , Lu Lin , Wing Yun Kwok
Published: January 2025

Background

Increasing evidence suggests that insomnia plays an important role in the development of depression, supporting insomnia intervention as a promising approach to prevent depression in youth. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of app-based cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in preventing future onset of major depressive disorder (MDD) in youth.

Methods and findings

This was a randomized, assessor-blind, parallel group-controlled trial in Chinese youth (aged 15−25 years) with insomnia disorder and subclinical depressive symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to 6-week app-based CBT-I or 6-week app-based health education (HE) delivered through smartphones. Online assessments and telephone clinical interviews were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, 6- and 12-month follow-ups. The primary outcome was time to onset of MDD. The secondary outcomes included depressive symptoms and insomnia at both symptom and disorder levels. Between September 9, 2019, and November 25, 2022, 708 participants (407 females [57%]; mean age, 22.1 years [SD = 1.9]) were randomly allocated to app-based CBT-I group (n = 354) or app-based HE group (n = 354). Thirty-seven participants (10%) in the intervention group and 62 participants (18%) in the control group developed new-onset MDD throughout the 12-month follow-up, with a hazard ratio of 0.58 (95% confidence interval 0.38–0.87; p = 0.008). The number needed to treat to prevent MDD at 1 year was 10.9 (6.8–26.6). The app-based CBT-I group has higher remission rates of insomnia disorder than the controls at post-intervention (52% versus 28%; relative risk 1.83 [1.49–2.24]; p < 0.001) and throughout 12-month follow-up. In addition, the CBT-I group reported a greater decrease in depressive (adjusted difference −1.0 [−1.6 to −0.5]; Cohen’s d = 0.53; p < 0.001) and insomnia symptoms (−2.0 [−2.7 to −1.3], d = 0.78; p < 0.001) than the controls at post-intervention and throughout 6-month follow-up. Insomnia was a mediator of intervention effects on depression. No adverse events related to the interventions were reported.

Conclusions

App-based CBT-I is effective in preventing future onset of major depression and improving insomnia outcomes among youth with insomnia and subclinical depression. These findings highlight the importance of targeting insomnia to prevent the onset of MDD and emphasize the need for wider dissemination of digital CBT-I to promote sleep and mental health in the youth population.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.Gov (NCT04069247).
Deep neuromuscular blockade during radiofrequency catheter ablation under general anesthesia reduces the prevalence of atrial fibrillation recurrence when compared to moderate neuromuscular blockade: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Oh Eun Jung , Shim Jae-Geum , Jeon Suyong , Cho Eun Ah , Lee Sung Hyun , Jeong Taeho , Ahn Jin Hee
Published: January 2025

Background

Proper anesthesia management is required to maintain immobilization and stable breathing of the patient to improve catheter contact and stability during catheter ablation for PVI. However, it remains unclear whether the depth of neuromuscular blockade affects the results of RFCA under general anesthesia.

Methods

The patients were randomly assigned to either the moderate neuromuscular blockade group (Group M, train-of-four 1 to 2) or the deep neuromuscular blockade group (Group D, posttetanic count 1–2). The primary outcome was the 12-month AF recurrence rate using confirmed electrocardiographic diagnosis after the ablation procedure at two different neuromuscular blockade depths.

Results

Total 94 patients (47 in each group) were included in the analysis. Recurrence of AF during the A 12-month follow-up was 12 (25%) in group D and 22 (46%) in group M. The AF recurrence rate was significantly higher in group M (p =  0.03). The relative risk (RR) for the risk of 12-month AF recurrence was 0.545 in group D. AF symptom recurrence was observed during the A 12-month follow-up in 12 (25%) and 26 (54%) patients in groups D and M, respectively.

Conclusions

Compared to moderate neuromuscular blockade, deep neuromuscular blockade while performing RFCA under general anesthesia reduced 12-month AF recurrence rate. Deep neuromuscular blockade under general anesthesia is thought to increase the success rate by providing a stable surgical environment during the RFCA procedure.

Trial registration

Clinical trials of Korea KCT 0003371
Effects of photobiomodulation combined with rehabilitation exercise on pain, physical function, and radiographic changes in mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial protocol
Authors: Tay Yan Ling , Ahmad Mohd Azzuan , Mohamad Yahaya Nor Hamdan , Ajit Singh Devinder Kaur
Published: January 2025

Background

Photobiomodulation, specifically high-energy photobiomodulation therapy (H-PBMT), is gaining recognition as a promising non-invasive intervention for managing knee osteoarthritis (KOA). While H-PBMT has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing pain and improving physical function, most evidence to date focuses on short-term symptomatic relief. The potential for H-PBMT to offer sustained benefits and modify the underlying progression of KOA remains insufficiently explored, warranting further investigation.

Objective

This study aims to assess the short-term and sustained effects of H-PBMT combined with rehabilitation exercises in patients with mild to moderate KOA, focusing on knee radiographic morphological changes over a 3-month follow-up period.

Methods

This protocol outlines a parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Fifty participants with mild to moderate KOA (based on the Kellgren-Lawrence classification) will be randomly assigned to either the active H-PBMT plus exercise group (H-PBMT+E, n = 25) or the placebo photobiomodulation plus exercise group (PL+E, n = 25). Both groups will undergo an 8-week intervention, consisting of conventional rehabilitation exercises paired with either active or placebo photobiomodulation. H-PBMT will be delivered using the BTL-6000 HIL device with a 1064 nm wavelength, providing a total energy dose of 3190 J per 15-minute session. The treatment protocol includes both pulse mode (25 Hz, 5 W, 190 J) for analgesia and continuous mode (5 W, 3000 J) for biostimulation. Participants will be blinded to their group allocation through the use of a placebo device that mimics the active treatment without emitting therapeutic energy. Additionally, the outcome assessors will be blinded to the group allocations to ensure unbiased evaluation of the trial outcomes. The primary outcome is the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. Secondary outcomes include the Timed Up-and-Go test, Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and knee X-rays. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, immediately post-intervention (week 8), and at 3-month follow-up (week 20). Data will be analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle, with a two-way repeated measures ANOVA used to assess time, group, and interaction effects.

Conclusion

This study is expected to provide valuable insights into the sustained effects and potential disease-modifying properties of combining H-PBMT with rehabilitation exercises in managing KOA. The findings could inform more effective treatment protocols, improving rehabilitation outcomes and patient quality of life.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12624000699561p).
Feasibility, safety and tolerability of estrogen and/or probiotics for improving vaginal health in Canadian African, Caribbean, and Black women: A pilot phase 1 clinical trial
Authors: Gill Biban , Wessels Jocelyn M. , Hayes Christina L. , Ratcliffe Jenna , Wokuri Junic , Ball Elizabeth , Reid Gregor , Kaul Rupert , Rana Jesleen , Alkhaifi Muna , Tharao Wangari , Smaill Fiona , Kaushic Charu
Published: January 2025

Background

A dysbiotic vaginal microbiome (VMB) is associated with clinical conditions such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and an increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection. Considering the high prevalence of BV among African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) women, we conducted a prospective, randomized, open-label phase 1 clinical trial to determine the feasibility, safety and tolerability of administering low-dose estrogen, probiotics or both in combination to improve vaginal health and decrease HIV-1 susceptibility.

Methods

ACB women aged 18–49 from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) were randomized to one of four study arms: intravaginal estradiol (Estring©; 7.5mg/day); a vaginal probiotic (RepHresh™ Pro-B™) administered twice daily; a combination of Estring© and vaginal RepHresh™ Pro-B™ (twice daily); or the Estring© and oral RepHresh™ Pro-B™ (twice daily), for a duration of 30 days. Feasibility was evaluated through enrolment, retention, and adherence rates, while safety and tolerability were determined by a pre- and post-treatment blood panel and reported adverse events (AEs).

Results

Overall, 63 ACB women were screened, 50 were enrolled and received the intervention while 41 completed the study, resulting in 80% enrollment and 82% retention rates. Overall adherence to the study protocol was high at 93%, with an adherence of 92% for RepHresh™ Pro-B™ and 97% for Estring©. A total of 88 AEs were reported by 29 participants which were mild (66/88; 75%) and largely resolved (82/88;93%) by the end of the study, with no serious AEs (SAEs) noted. In addition, a panel of safety blood markers measured pre- and post-intervention confirmed no clinically significant changes in blood chemistry or blood cell count.

Conclusion

Overall, the administration of intravaginal estrogen and/or probiotics in pre-menopausal ACB women is feasible, safe, and well tolerated.

Trial registration

The trial was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03837015) and CIHR HIV Clinical Trials (CTN308).
Pseudorabies virus infection triggers pUL46-mediated phosphorylation of connexin-43 and closure of gap junctions to promote intercellular virus spread
Authors: Tishchenko Alexander , Romero Nicolás , Van Waesberghe Cliff , Delva Jonas L. , Vickman Oliver , Smith Gregory A. , Mettenleiter Thomas C. , Fuchs Walter , Klupp Barbara G. , Favoreel Herman W.
Published: January 2025

Gap junctions (GJs) play a pivotal role in intercellular communication between eukaryotic cells, including transfer of biomolecules that contribute to the innate and adaptive immune response. However, if, how and why viruses affect gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) remains largely unexplored. Here, we describe how the alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus (PRV) triggers ERK1/2-mediated phosphorylation of the main gap junction component connexin 43 (Cx43) and closure of GJIC, which depends on the viral protein pUL46. Consequently, a UL46null PRV mutant is unable to phosphorylate Cx43 or inhibit GJIC and displays reduced intercellular spread, which is effectively rescued by pharmacological inhibition of GJIC. Intercellular spread of UL46null PRV is also rescued by inhibition of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING), suggesting that pUL46-mediated suppression of GJIC contributes to intercellular virus spread by hindering intercellular communication that activates STING. The current study identifies key viral and cellular proteins involved in alphaherpesvirus-mediated suppression of GJIC and reveals that GJIC inhibition enhances virus intercellular spread, thereby opening new avenues for the design of targeted antiviral therapies.
¿Refugiados o migrantes? La terminología utilizada por los diputados del Parlamento Europeo del Grupo del Partido Popular en inglés, alemán y español
Authors: Ther Friederike
Published: January 2025

En el presente artículo se analizan desde una aproximación cuantitativa las intervenciones de los europarlamentarios del Grupo Popular Europeo y del Partido Conservador del Reino Unido en las sesiones plenarias durante la crisis de los refugiados entre enero de 2015 y junio de 2017, además de dos incidentes de gran impacto en 2020. Se ha investigado la terminología utilizada en alemán, español e inglés, especialmente cuándo se sirven de las palabras refugiado y migrante/s en los tres idiomas. La fuente principal ha sido la página web del Parlamento Europeo. En los resultados, observamos que existe una clara diferencia entre las intervenciones en lengua alemana, donde la palabra Flüchtling (refugiado) es la más utilizada, siendo el término Migrant (migrante) mucho menos frecuente. En español hay menos variedad de términos utilizados, mientras que se ha utilizado más la palabra migrante que en alemán. Las intervenciones en lengua inglesa presentan muchas más expresiones diferentes junto con migrante/s y su número también es porcentualmente el más alto de los tres idiomas.
Los cronotopos en discursos ficcionales sobre refugiados: Relaciones dialécticas y metáforas
Authors: Valverde Velasco Alicia
Published: January 2025

Las ficciones sobre refugiados se caracterizan por ser narraciones sobre una migración forzosa, desde el país de origen al país de acogida o asilo. La dimensión espaciotemporal constituye, por su relación con acciones y personajes, un objeto pertinente de estudio en este tipo de relatos. A través de un enfoque metodológico que integra perspectivas y contribuciones de varios campos del conocimiento, como la geografía, la narratología o la teoría poscolonial, se ha analizado el espacio narrativo en una selección de discursos ficcionales sobre refugiados, tanto literarios como fílmicos (The Visitor, Y respiren normalmente, Bienvenidos a Occidente y Europa). Como resultado, se pueden determinar cronotopos específicos que se caracterizan por las relaciones dialécticas y las metáforas que subyacen en la configuración textual del espacio, representado como refugio, prisión, trinchera o no-lugar, según los hechos y las negociaciones sociales; es decir, significados simbólicos que se desplazan de un extremo a otro en función del proceso narrativo (de mejora o degradación).
Imaginario social del lema ‘refugiado’ en las redes sociales de España
Authors: Teso Craviotto Marisol del , Acevedo Berenice
Published: January 2025

En este artículo exploramos la idea de los imaginarios sociales examinando el caso específico de los refugiados. Dado que los imaginarios proporcionan un marco interpretativo para las realidades sociales, podemos esperar similitudes en los discursos sobre refugiados en dos contextos diferentes. Para poner a prueba nuestra hipótesis, hicimos una comparación entre los discursos sobre refugiados en la prensa (tal y como se desprende de una variedad de estudios empíricos), y los discursos sobre refugiados en redes sociales a partir de nuestro propio análisis de corpus de Facebook y Twitter en España. Los resultados muestran que en ambas redes sociales los discursos más importantes son el humanitario y el de la prevención, aunque el primero es más prevalente en Twitter y el segundo en Facebook. Las redes comparten estos discursos con la prensa, pero también muestran algunas diferencias, ya que tanto la defensa como el rechazo de los refugiados es más abierta que en los medios de comunicación de masas. Concluimos que tanto Facebook como Twitter muestran ser parte de un imaginario social común sobre los refugiados en España, pero al mismo tiempo son plataformas que transforman ese imaginario, sobre todo en el caso de Twitter.
La animadversión y el odio de Twitter hacia los refugiados
Authors: Sánchez Ortega Juan Jesús
Published: January 2025

Este trabajo pone de manifiesto situaciones particulares dentro de la red social Twitter en las que los refugiados siempre son considerados de un modo negativo. Con este análisis pormenorizado lo que se pretende es demostrar cómo un colectivo tan vulnerable puede recibir comentarios tan extremos —por peyorativos—, llegando en muchos casos a alcanzar la etiqueta de “odio”. La intención última de este trabajo será generar en el lector una súbita reacción que modifique cuestiones de conciencia individuales, así como que esta vaya acompañada de una forzosa necesidad de revertir cuestiones de índole internacional con respecto a los refugiados.
Tommaso M. Milani (ed.), Queering Language, Gender and Sexuality, Gotenburgo: Equinox, 2018, 328 pp. ISBN 9781781794937
Authors: Siusyte Zydre
Published: January 2025

Tommaso M. Milani (ed.), Queering Language, Gender and Sexuality, Gotenburgo: Equinox, 2018, 328 pp. ISBN 9781781794937.
Perfil léxico-discursivo de la inmigración en la prensa escrita chilena
Authors: Contreras Castro Marco
Published: January 2025

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo analizar la noción de inmigración en artículos de la prensa chilena en el periodo de campaña política presidencial del 2017. Se busca responder a las interrogantes ¿cómo se construye discursivamente el acontecimiento inmigración? y ¿cómo se construyen los participantes del acontecimiento migración? El corpus de trabajo está compuesto por 24 textos periodísticos de diversos medios digitales y organizados a partir de categorías gramaticales y discursivas. Los hallazgos permiten interpretar de los artículos de prensa que la inmigración es vista como caos, como delito o delincuencia, como responsabilidad y como un fenómeno complejo. Ello permite construir un perfil léxico y discursivo del fenómeno inmigración a partir de lo declarado por diversos locutores políticos en situaciones de enunciación política.
Representación discursiva-multimodal de la estudiante liceana en medios digitales alternativos chilenos antes y después del estallido social
Authors: Vásquez-Rocca Liliana , Aldana Vielma Analicia , Ceroni Patricia
Published: January 2025

Este artículo explora la representación discursiva-multimodal de la estudiante liceana en la prensa digital chilena. A través de una metodología cualitativa y siguiendo las categorías del sistema de VALORACIÓN se analizaron ocho textos periodísticos. Los hallazgos indican que las posturas valorativas en cuanto a ‘las estudiantes’ son representadas por otros actores sociales legitimados desde el poder, quienes, además, las agreden física y psicológicamente. De esta manera, vemos cómo los medios alternativos digitales reproducen lecturas hegemónicas de la realidad, naturalizando enfoques adultocéntricos y sexistas de las estudiantes secundarias. Esto confirma la invisibilización y subrepresentación a la que se enfrentan las mujeres en la conformación del espacio público.
(Des)fiação discursiva em disputa: censura e resistência entre grafites e pichações – "Marielle, presente!"
Authors: Rodrigues Eduardo Alves , Agustini Cármen Lúcia Hernandes , Araújo Érica Daniela de
Published: January 2025

Neste artigo, analisamos, a partir da perspectiva teórico-metodológica da Análise de Discurso, o funcionamento discursivo de uma disputa semântica, delimitada de março de 2019 a março de 2022, entre grafites em homenagem à Marielle Franco e pichações que procuram negar/silenciar essa homenagem. Essa disputa coloca em jogo censura e resistência. Nesse funcionamento, procuramos analisar e compreender como os gestos de grafitar e de pichar significam esse jogo como gestos político-simbólicos que determinam e são determinados pelo espaço da vida social, movimentando o jogo das interpretações sobre o social e sobre o modo como o(s) sujeito(s) com ele se relacionam. No âmbito da análise que desenvolvemos, questionamos: o que esses gestos, inscritos nos muros de uma universidade pública, dão a ler-interpretar? Trabalhamos esse questionamento por meio de uma leitura dessa disputa que procurou restituir a (des)fiação discursiva sobre a qual se constitui certa narratividade sobre Marielle e seu assassinato. A análise permitiu compreendermos que censura e resistência são movimentos dominantes que determinam a (des)regulação dos dizeres sobre Marielle e seu assassinato.
Brecha digital de género y uso diferencial de TIC para el aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras
Authors: Torres Outón Sara María
Published: January 2025

Esta investigación tiene como objetivo examinar el uso diferencial de las herramientas de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) para el aprendizaje de lenguas entre hombres y mujeres. Estudios previos señalan que los hombres tienden a evaluar sus habilidades digitales de manera más positiva y que las mujeres tienen mayor motivación para aprender idiomas. De ahí el interés en conocer cómo interactúa la competencia digital con el aprendizaje de lenguas. Se llevó a cabo un estudio cuantitativo con una muestra de estudiantes del Grado de Educación Primaria que inician sus estudios universitarios en Galicia con el objetivo de identificar en qué contexto y con qué finalidad utilizan herramientas de traducción automática y con qué frecuencia usan recursos online para el aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras; con especial interés en conocer si existen diferencias entre hombres y mujeres. Se estimaron las medias de las variables dicotómicas como medida de tendencia central y en las variables con cinco opciones de respuesta los porcentajes de cada opción en función del sexo. Se utilizaron pruebas de proporciones para contrastar hipótesis para las primeras y chi-cuadrado para las restantes. El nivel de significación estadística se estableció en p<0,05. Los resultados muestran que, aunque no hubo diferencias significativas entre hombres y mujeres en el uso general de traductores automáticos para fines personales, sí se observaron discrepancias en su utilización en contextos académicos y profesionales. Además, se identificaron diferencias de género en el empleo de herramientas TIC como diccionarios en línea y consultas de información para resolver dudas. En términos de frecuencia de uso, las mujeres mostraron una mayor preferencia por herramientas que implican procesos más complejos de conocimiento, como el uso de programas de reconocimiento automático de voz.
A technológiahasználat sokféle arca és hatása a diákok
teljesítményére
Authors: Molnár Gyöngyvér
Published: January 2025

A figyelemelterelés korát éljük. Naponta átlagosan 85-ször
ellenőrizzük telefonunkat, a 15 éves diákok közel fele tanulás
közben is bekapcsolva hagyja értesítéseit, illetve 40%-a éjszaka
sem kapcsolja ki azokat. A diákok kétharmadának vonta már el
figyelmét saját vagy más telefonja tanórán. Ugyanakkor a
technológia módszertanilag jól felépített oktatási alkalmazása
jelentős potenciállal bír, a pedagógus hatékony segítsége lehet a
minél inkább személyre szabott oktatás megvalósításában. E két
különböző eszközhasználat erőteljesen elkülönítendő és
elkülöníthető egymástól. A bemutatásra kerülő elemzések célja,
hogy tág életkori intervallumban bemutassa a diákok mindennapi
mobilhasználati szokásait, annak együttjárását, hatását néhány, a
tanulás szempontjából lényeges kognitív képesség (induktív
gondolkodás, problémamegoldó képesség, tudáselsajátítás és
tudásalkalmazás hatékonysága, vizuális memória, logikai
gondolkodás és internetes információkeresési hatékonyság)
fejlődésére. Az elemzésbe 24 861 1–11. évfolyamos és 4990, az
ország egyik vezető egyetemére frissen felvett első évfolyamos
diák kognitív teszteredményeit és válaszait vontuk be. Az
eredmények alapján megállapítható, hogy a diákok által
egyértelműen preferált technológiai eszköz a mobiltelefon, amin
kortól függetlenül leggyakrabban a Messengert, illetve a TikTokot,
legkevésbé oktatással kapcsolatos alkalmazásokat (pl. Classroom)
használnak. Az eszköz kismértékű, napi 1-2 órát nem meghaladó
általános használata pozitív, túlzott alkalmazása egyértelműen
negatív következményekkel bír kognitív képességeik fejlődésére. Az
agy számára tanulási műveletet nem tartalmazó programok (pl.
TikTok) kis mértékű használata is már jelentősen negatív hatást
gyakorol a diákok kognitív képességeinek fejlődésére. Ugyanakkor
lényeges kiemelni, hogy nem maga a technológia, hanem a
használata, a nem felelős használata a problémás. A technológia
megfelelő módszertannal párosított oktatási célú alkalmazása az
oktatás fontos kiegészítőjeként egyértelműen pozitív hatással van
a diákok fejlődésére, tanulási sikerességére.