bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptation and validation of the Longer-term Unmet Needs after Stroke (LUNS) monitoring tool in Sri Lanka
Authors: Wellappuli Nalinda Tharanga , Perera Hettiarachchige Subashini Rasanja , Kasthuriratne Gunendrika , Chang Thashi , Gunawardena Nalika Sepali
Published: September 2023

Background

Globally, stroke is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. Unmet needs are defined as expressed needs that are not fulfilled by services provided and are considered an important indicator of the adequacy and quality of stroke follow-up care. This study aimed to culturally adapt, modify, translate and validate, the Longer-term Unmet Needs after Stroke (LUNS) monitoring tool, to Sri Lanka. Currently, there is no validated tool in Sri Lanka to assess unmet needs among stroke survivors and unmet needs are not systematically assessed.

Methods

A phased approach followed to culturally adapt, translate, establish its factorial validity and evaluate the convergent and divergent validity, reliability, and overall acceptability. The process of culturally adapting the tool was carried out using two rounds of the modified Delphi technique. The modified tool was translated to Sinhala and pretested among 10 stroke survivors. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 119 stroke survivors to establish the factorial validity and convergent and discriminant validity using the GHQ-12 and Barthel Index. The Socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants are presented. Communalities were assessed for 21 items and 2 items were dropped. Factor structure was confirmed with varimax and oblique rotations. The correlation coefficient was calculated to assess convergent and divergent validity. Cronbach’s alpha value was calculated to assess internal reliability.

Results

Following the modified Delphi technique, 5 items of LUNS tool were removed, and 5 items were modified. Three new items were added based on expert recommendation. One item related to driving also removed as it does not fit with the factor structure emerged. In establishing factorial validity 5 factors emerged from the exploratory factor analysis. In assessing the convergent and discriminant validity, test results revealed that both General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) and Barthel Index significantly correlated as expected with unmet needs. The results of Cronbach’s alpha showed that all the factors were moderately high confirming the reliability of the tool.

Conclusions

The Sinhala version of the LUNS monitoring tool is a valid and reliable instrument to assess the unmet needs of stroke survivors. Assessment of unmet needs will add new insight into evaluation of the quantity, quality, and effectiveness of healthcare interventions received by stroke survivors in Sri Lanka.
Ulnar nerve anteposition with adipofascial flap, an alternative treatment for severe cubital syndrome
Authors: Riccio Michele , Gravina Pasquale , Pangrazi Pier Paolo , Cecconato Valentina , Gigante Antonio , De Francesco Francesco
Published: September 2023

Background

Ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow is the second most common cause of nerve entrapment in the upper limb. Surgical techniques mainly include simple decompression, decompression with anterior transposition and medial epicondylectomy.

Methods

We performed decompression with anterior transposition and protected ulnar nerve by adipofascial flap (a random flap with radial based vascularization, harvested through the avascular plane of Scarpa’s fascia. We analyzed patients who underwent ulnar nerve ante-position from 2015 to 2022 according to inclusion and exclusion criteria for a total of 57 patients. All patients included were graded on the McGowan's classification Messina criteria and the British Medical Research Council modified by Mackinnon and Dellon.

Results

The average McGowan’s score was 2.4 (± 0.6), Messina’s criteria 91.2% indicated a satisfactory or excellent result, sensibility at 6 months was 98.5% S3 or more. A preferential technique has not yet been defined.

Conclusions

The adipofascial flap offers numerous advantages in providing a pliable, vascular fat envelope, which mimics the natural fatty environment of peripheral nerves and creates favorable micro-environmental conditions to contribute to neural regeneration via axon outgrowth.
Upper airway changes after rapid maxillary expansion: three-dimensional analyses
Authors: de Julián-López Carlos , Veres Jesús , Marqués-Martínez Laura , García-Miralles Esther , Arias Santiago , Guinot-Barona Clara
Published: September 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate volumetric changes in the upper airway using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) in orthodontic patients with maxillary transversal hypoplasia undergoing maxillary disjunction. The influence of factors such as sex, age, and growth pattern on airway volumetric changes was also assessed. The sample consisted of 50 growing patients from the dental clinic of Cardenal Herrera CEU University of Valencia. Airway volume was measured in mm3 before treatment (T0) and after palatal disjunction (T1). The final sample included 37 subjects in the treatment group and 13 in the control group. The volume gained exclusively from the disjunction treatment was determined to differentiate it from natural growth. The control group showed a mean volume increase from 10,911.3 ± 1,249.6 mm3 to 13,168.9 ± 1,789.7 mm3, representing a mean increase of 2,257.6 mm3 or + 20.9%. The treatment group exhibited an increase from 14,126.3 ± 4,399.8 mm3 at T0 to 18,064.1 ± 4,565.9 mm3 at T1, corresponding to a gain of 3,937.8 mm3 or + 31.8%. Significant differences in airway volume were observed after palatal disjunction compared to the control group. The expansion of the maxilla led to a significant increase in airway volume in the treated patients, estimated at 5,183 mm3 (+ 41.5%).
Ethnic differences in the association between age at diagnosis of diabetes and the risk of cardiovascular complications: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Ke Calvin , Stukel Thérèse A. , Thiruchelvam Deva , Shah Baiju R.
Published: September 2023

Background

We examined ethnic differences in the association between age at diagnosis of diabetes and the risk of cardiovascular complications.

Methods

We conducted a population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada among individuals with diabetes and matched individuals without diabetes (2002-18). We fit Cox proportional hazards models to determine the associations of age at diagnosis and ethnicity (Chinese, South Asian, general population) with cardiovascular complications. We tested for an interaction between age at diagnosis and ethnicity.

Results

There were 453,433 individuals with diabetes (49.7% women) and 453,433 matches. There was a significant interaction between age at diagnosis and ethnicity (P < 0.0001). Young-onset diabetes (age at diagnosis < 40) was associated with higher cardiovascular risk [hazard ratios: Chinese 4.25 (3.05–5.91), South Asian: 3.82 (3.19–4.57), General: 3.46 (3.26–3.66)] than usual-onset diabetes [age at diagnosis ≥ 40 years; Chinese: 2.22 (2.04–2.66), South Asian: 2.43 (2.22–2.66), General: 1.83 (1.81–1.86)] versus ethnicity-matched individuals. Among those with young-onset diabetes, Chinese ethnicity was associated with lower overall cardiovascular [0.44 (0.32–0.61)] but similar stroke risks versus the general population; while South Asian ethnicity was associated with lower overall cardiovascular [0.75 (0.64–0.89)] but similar coronary artery disease risks versus the general population. In usual-onset diabetes, Chinese ethnicity was associated with lower cardiovascular risk [0.44 (0.42–0.46)], while South Asian ethnicity was associated with lower cardiovascular [0.90 (0.86–0.95)] and higher coronary artery disease [1.08 (1.01–1.15)] risks versus the general population.

Conclusions

There are important ethnic differences in the association between age at diagnosis and risk of cardiovascular complications.
MALAT1/ mir-1-3p mediated BRF2 expression promotes HCC progression via inhibiting the LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway
Authors: Li Guang-Zhen , Meng Guang-Xiao , Pan Guo-Qiang , Zhang Xiao , Yan Lun-Jie , Li Rui-Zhe , Ding Zi-Niu , Tan Si-Yu , Wang Dong-Xu , Tian Bao-wen , Yan Yu-Chuan , Dong Zhao-Ru , Hong Jian-Guo , Li Tao
Published: September 2023

Background

The long non-coding RNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) has been reported to play a vital role in the occurrence and development of various tumors. However, the underlying mechanism of MALAT1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been thoroughly elucidated.

Methods

The expression levels of MALAT1 in HCC tissues and different cell lines were detected by qRT-PCR. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASO)-MALAT1 transfected cells were used to explore the biological effects of MALAT1 in HCC cells by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8), colony formation, transwell, wound healing, and flow cytometry analysis. Western blotting was performed to measure AMPK and apoptosis-related protein levels. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the relationship between MALAT1 and its specific targets.

Results

We found that MALAT1 was upregulated in HCC, and MALAT1 knockdown in HCC cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and inhibited apoptosis in vitro. Further studies demonstrated that MALAT1 positively regulated the expression of transcription factor II B‑related factor 2 (BRF2), which was associated with tumor recurrence, large tumor size, and poor prognosis in HCC. Mechanistically, MALAT1 was found to act as a competitive endogenous RNA to sponge has-miR-1-3p, which upregulated BRF2 expression. Knockdown of BRF2 inhibited the progression of HCC by activating the LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway. Overexpression of BRF2 reversed the inhibitory effect of MALAT1 knockdown on HCC cell viability. Moreover, ASO targeting MALAT1 inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate a novel MALAT1/miR-1-3p/BRF2/LKB1/AMPK regulatory axis in HCC, which may provide new molecular therapeutic targets for HCC in the future.
Association of sugar intake from different sources with incident dementia in the prospective cohort of UK Biobank participants
Authors: Schaefer Sylva M. , Kaiser Anna , Eichner Gerrit , Fasshauer Mathias
Published: September 2023

Background

Dementia is a common disease with around 55 million cases worldwide. Therefore, dietary changes and lifestyle interventions are important approaches to delay the progress of a decline in cognitive function. The study aims to explore the association of various sources of free sugars (FS) and intrinsic sugars with dementia risk in the prospective population-based UK Biobank cohort.

Methods

Sugar consumption was assessed in 186,622 UK Biobank participants with at least one web-based dietary questionnaire (Oxford WebQ). Over a mean follow-up of 10.6 (standard deviation 1.1) years, 1498 incident dementia cases occurred. The hazard ratios (HR) for incident dementia were assessed with Cox proportional hazard regression models including sugar intake from different sources as penalized cubic splines to allow for non-linear predictor effects.

Results

The intake of FS and intrinsic sugar was significantly associated with dementia risk in a J-shaped fashion with the HR-nadir observed at 9% and 8% total energy (%E), respectively. FS in beverages were significantly associated with dementia risk in an ascending approximately linear way, whereas no significant association was found for FS in solids. Assessing beverage subtypes, FS in soda/fruit drinks, milk-based drinks and to a lesser extent in juice were significantly and positively related to dementia risk, whereas no association was found for FS in tea/coffee. The association between sugar subtype consumption and dementia risk remained consistent in most sensitivity analyses but changed from a J-shape to a more linear shape when the analysis was restricted to participants with at least two Oxford WebQs.

Conclusions

A linear-shaped association between sugar subtype intake and dementia risk is most consistently found for FS in beverages and more specifically for FS in soda/fruit drinks, as well as in milk-based drinks.

Graphical Abstract
Enhanced diabetic wound healing using platelet-derived extracellular vesicles and reduced graphene oxide in polymer-coordinated hydrogels
Authors: Hao Ping-Chien , Burnouf Thierry , Chiang Chih-Wei , Jheng Pei-Ru , Szunerits Sabine , Yang Jen-Chang , Chuang Er-Yuan
Published: September 2023

Impaired wound healing is a significant complication of diabetes. Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs), rich in growth factors and cytokines, show promise as a powerful biotherapy to modulate cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, immunomodulation, and inflammation. For practical home-based wound therapy, however, pEVs should be incorporated into wound bandages with careful attention to delivery strategies. In this work, a gelatin-alginate hydrogel (GelAlg) loaded with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was fabricated, and its potential as a diabetic wound dressing was investigated. The GelAlg@rGO-pEV gel exhibited excellent mechanical stability and biocompatibility in vitro, with promising macrophage polarization and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging capability. In vitro cell migration experiments were complemented by in vivo investigations using a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat wound model. When exposed to near-infrared light at 2 W cm− 2, the GelAlg@rGO-pEV hydrogel effectively decreased the expression of inflammatory biomarkers, regulated immune response, promoted angiogenesis, and enhanced diabetic wound healing. Interestingly, the GelAlg@rGO-pEV hydrogel also increased the expression of heat shock proteins involved in cellular protective pathways. These findings suggest that the engineered GelAlg@rGO-pEV hydrogel has the potential to serve as a wound dressing that can modulate immune responses, inflammation, angiogenesis, and follicle regeneration in diabetic wounds, potentially leading to accelerated healing of chronic wounds.
New insights into the biology and development of lung cancer in never smokers—implications for early detection and treatment
Authors: Wang Peiyao , Sun Sophie , Lam Stephen , Lockwood William W.
Published: September 2023

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Despite never smokers comprising between 10 and 25% of all cases, lung cancer in never smokers (LCNS) is relatively under characterized from an etiological and biological perspective. The application of multi-omics techniques on large patient cohorts has significantly advanced the current understanding of LCNS tumor biology. By synthesizing the findings of multi-omics studies on LCNS from a clinical perspective, we can directly translate knowledge regarding tumor biology into implications for patient care. Primarily focused on never smokers with lung adenocarcinoma, this review details the predominance of driver mutations, particularly in East Asian patients, as well as the frequency and importance of germline variants in LCNS. The mutational patterns present in LCNS tumors are thoroughly explored, highlighting the high abundance of the APOBEC signature. Moreover, this review recognizes the spectrum of immune profiles present in LCNS tumors and posits how it can be translated to treatment selection. The recurring and novel insights from multi-omics studies on LCNS tumor biology have a wide range of clinical implications. Risk factors such as exposure to outdoor air pollution, second hand smoke, and potentially diet have a genomic imprint in LCNS at varying degrees, and although they do not encompass all LCNS cases, they can be leveraged to stratify risk. Germline variants similarly contribute to a notable proportion of LCNS, which warrants detailed documentation of family history of lung cancer among never smokers and demonstrates value in developing testing for pathogenic variants in never smokers for early detection in the future. Molecular driver subtypes and specific co-mutations and mutational signatures have prognostic value in LCNS and can guide treatment selection. LCNS tumors with no known driver alterations tend to be stem-like and genes contributing to this state may serve as potential therapeutic targets. Overall, the comprehensive findings of multi-omics studies exert a wide influence on clinical management and future research directions in the realm of LCNS.
The effect of an exercise intervention on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a network meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Yonghuan , Zhang Zhendong , Zhu Qiuhan
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To explore the effect of exercise intervention on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), various exercise forms were compared and the sequence of the possibility of improving the effect of each exercise form was sorted out. We expect that our findings will provide clinicians and patients with more effective treatments and references.

Method

A thorough search was done on CNKI, Wanfang, WOS, Cochrane library, Embase, PubMed, Scopus and obtained the publication time from the database establishment to May 6, 2023. The relevant contents of the literature that passed the screening criteria were extracted, including relevant information about the sample, first author, intervention measures, intervention time, and outcome indicators. Analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.4 and Stata17.0.

Result

The study finally included 12 articles with 538 samples. After comparison, it was found that exercise interventions to reduce Cobb's angle were more effective than conventional therapies and reached a statistically significant difference. Compared with conventional therapy, core strength training, Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercise (PSSE), yoga, Schroth, and sling reduced the Cobb angle by an average of 3.82 degrees, 3.79 degrees, 4.60 degrees, 3.63 degrees, and 3.30 degrees, respectively. However, the therapeutic effects on AIS did not show statistically significant differences between the exercise interventions. According to the SUCRA value and the cumulative probability, the MeanRank of improving the AIS effect by various sports intervention measures as follows: yoga (2.2), core strength training (2.8), PSSE (2.8), Schroth exercise (3.2), and sling exercise (4.0).

Conclusion

Exercise intervention can significantly improve AIS. There was no significant difference in the improvement effect of AIS among different exercise forms. Yoga may have the best effect on AIS improvement.
Dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine as adjuvants to ropivacaine do not prolong analgesia in wound infiltration for lumbar spinal fusion: a prospective randomized controlled study
Authors: Li Wenkai , Ali Khan Akhtar , Deng Xinyue , Li Yong , Fang Zhong
Published: September 2023

Background and objectives

Local anesthetics (LAs) are widely used to infiltrate into surgical wounds for postoperative analgesia. Different adjuvants like dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine, when added to LA agents, could improve and prolong analgesia. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and opioid-sparing properties of dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine when added to ropivacaine for wound infiltration in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).

Methods

We conducted a controlled study among 68 adult patients undergoing TLIF, which was prospective, randomized and double-blind in nature. The participants were divided into four equal groups at random. Group R was given 150 mg of 1% ropivacaine (15 mL) and 15 mL of normal saline. Group R + DXM received 150 mg of 1% ropivacaine (15 mL) and 10 mg of dexamethasone (15 mL). Group R + DEX received 150 mg of 1% ropivacaine (15 mL) and 1 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine (15 mL). Lastly, group R + DXM + DEX was given 150 mg of 1% ropivacaine (15 mL), 10 mg of dexamethasone and 1 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine (15 mL). The primary focus was on the length of pain relief provided. Additionally, secondary evaluations included the amount of hydromorphone taken after surgery, the numerical rating scale and safety assessments within 48 h after the operation.

Results

Based on the p value (P > 0.05), there was no significant variance in the duration of pain relief or the total usage of hydromorphone after surgery across the four groups. Similarly, the numerical rating scale scores at rest and during activity at 6-, 12-, 24- and 48-h post-surgery for all four groups showed no difference (P > 0.05). However, the incidence of delayed anesthesia recovery was slightly higher in group R + DEX and group R + DXM + DEX when compared to group R or group R + DXM. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between the four groups in terms of vomiting, nausea, dizziness or delayed anesthesia recovery.

Conclusion

For wound infiltration in TLIF, the addition of dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine did not result in any clinically significant reduction in pain or opioid consumption and could prompt some side effects.
Circadian gene ARNTL initiates circGUCY1A2 transcription to suppress non-small cell lung cancer progression via miR-200c-3p/PTEN signaling
Authors: Zhao Deze , Dong Yeping , Duan Minghao , He Dan , Xie Qun , Peng Wei , Cui Weifang , Jiang Junjie , Cheng Yuanda , Zhang Heng , Tang Faqing , Zhang Chunfang , Gao Yang , Duan Chaojun
Published: September 2023

Background

As a subclass of endogenous stable noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs are beginning to be appreciated for their potential as tumor therapeutics. However, the functions and mechanisms by which circRNAs exert protective functions in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain largely elusive.

Methods

The prognostic role of circGUCY1A2 was explored in lung adenocarcinoma specimens. The overexpressed and knockdown plasmids were used to evaluate the effect of circGUCY1A2 on NSCLC cell proliferation and apoptosis efficacy. Luciferase reporter system is used to prove that circGUCY1A2 could bind to miRNA. Chip-PCR was used to prove that circGUCY1A2 could be initiated by transcription factors ARNTL. Subcutaneous tumorigenicity grafts models were established to validate findings in vivo.

Results

The expression of circGUCY1A2 were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with tumor size (P < 0.05) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). CircGUCY1A2 upregulation promoted apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation and growth of subcutaneous tumorigenicity grafts in nude mice (P < 0.01). In addition, intra-tumor injection of pLCDH-circGUCY1A2 inhibited tumor growth in patient-derived NSCLC xenograft models (PDX). Mechanism studies showed that circGUCY1A2 could act as a sponge to competitively bind miR-200c-3p, promote PTEN expression, and thereby inhibit PI3K/AKT pathway. In addition, we found that the circadian gene ARNTL, which was reduced in NSCLC and prolonged the overall survival of patients, could bind to the promoter of circGUCY1A2, thereby increasing its expression.

Conclusions

This study is an original demonstration that ARNTL can inhibit the development of lung adenocarcinoma through the circGUCY1A2/miR-200c-3p/PTEN axis, and this finding provides potential targets and therapeutic approaches for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma.
Pervasive under-dominance in gene expression underlying emergent growth trajectories in Arabidopsis thaliana hybrids
Authors: Yuan Wei , Beitel Fiona , Srikant Thanvi , Bezrukov Ilja , Schäfer Sabine , Kraft Robin , Weigel Detlef
Published: September 2023

Background

Complex traits, such as growth and fitness, are typically controlled by a very large number of variants, which can interact in both additive and non-additive fashion. In an attempt to gauge the relative importance of both types of genetic interactions, we turn to hybrids, which provide a facile means for creating many novel allele combinations.

Results

We focus on the interaction between alleles of the same locus, i.e., dominance, and perform a transcriptomic study involving 141 random crosses between different accessions of the plant model species Arabidopsis thaliana. Additivity is rare, consistently observed for only about 300 genes enriched for roles in stress response and cell death. Regulatory rare-allele burden affects the expression level of these genes but does not correlate with F1 rosette size. Non-additive, dominant gene expression in F1 hybrids is much more common, with the vast majority of genes (over 90%) being expressed below the parental average. Unlike in the additive genes, regulatory rare-allele burden in the dominant gene set is strongly correlated with F1 rosette size, even though it only mildly covaries with the expression level of these genes.

Conclusions

Our study underscores under-dominance as the predominant gene action associated with emergence of rosette growth trajectories in the A. thaliana hybrid model. Our work lays the foundation for understanding molecular mechanisms and evolutionary forces that lead to dominance complementation of rare regulatory alleles.
Enhancing mesenchymal stem cell survival and homing capability to improve cell engraftment efficacy for liver diseases
Authors: Yu Shaoxiong , Yu Saihua , Liu Haiyan , Liao Naishun , Liu Xiaolong
Published: September 2023

Although mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation provides an alternative strategy for end-stage liver disease (ESLD), further widespread application of MSC therapy is limited owing to low cell engraftment efficiency. Improving cell engraftment efficiency plays a critical role in enhancing MSC therapy for liver diseases. In this review, we summarize the current status and challenges of MSC transplantation for ESLD. We also outline the complicated cell-homing process and highlight how low cell engraftment efficiency is closely related to huge differences in extracellular conditions involved in MSC homing journeys ranging from constant, controlled conditions in vitro to variable and challenging conditions in vivo. Improving cell survival and homing capabilities enhances MSC engraftment efficacy. Therefore, we summarize the current strategies, including hypoxic priming, drug pretreatment, gene modification, and cytokine pretreatment, as well as splenectomy and local irradiation, used to improve MSC survival and homing capability, and enhance cell engraftment and therapeutic efficiency of MSC therapy. We hope that this review will provide new insights into enhancing the efficiency of MSC engraftment in liver diseases.
The mixed legacy of the rat estrous cycle
Authors: Zucker Irving
Published: September 2023

Background

The rat estrous cycle first characterized by Long and Evans in 1922 profoundly affected the course of endocrine research. Investigators took advantage of sex steroid hormone fluctuations associated with the cycle to assess hormonal influences on anxiety, depression, food intake, stress, brain structure and other traits. Similarities of the rat estrous and human menstrual cycles facilitated understanding of human reproductive physiology. I assessed the impact of awareness of the estrous cycle on the emergence of a sex bias that excluded female rats from biomedical research.

Methods

Beginning with the 1918 volume of the American Journal of Physiology and ending in 1976 when the journal subdivided into several separate disciplinary journals, all studies conducted on rats were downloaded; the use of females, males, both sexes and sex left unspecified was tabulated for 485 articles. A second analysis tracked the number of rat estrous cycle studies across all disciplines listed in PubMed from 1950 to 2021.

Results

The description and awareness of variability associated with the rat estrous cycle was correlated with a precipitous decline in investigations that incorporated both sexes, a marked increase in male-only studies and a striking sex bias that excluded female rats. The number of rat estrous cycles studies increased markedly from earlier decades to a peak in 2021.

Conclusions

The initial description the rat estrous cycle was correlated with a substantial decline in investigations that incorporated both sexes; one result was a marked increase in male-only studies and a striking sex bias that excluded female rats from biomedical research. Recognition of the advantages of studies that incorporate the rat estrous cycle has resulted in recent years in an increase of such investigations. Female rats and females of several other species are not more variable than their male counterparts across traits, arguing for female inclusion without requiring cycle monitoring. There, remain, however, many advantages of incorporating the estrous cycle in contemporary research.
Maternal healthcare use by women with disabilities in Rajasthan, India: a secondary analysis of the Annual Health Survey
Authors: Casebolt M. Tara , Singh Kavita , Speizer Ilene S. , Halpern Carolyn T.
Published: September 2023

Background

Women with disabilities face a number of barriers when accessing reproductive health services, including maternal healthcare. These include physical inaccessibility, high costs, transportation that is not accessible, negative attitudes from family and healthcare providers, and a societal belief people with disabilities shouldn’t be parents. While qualitative studies have uncovered these barriers, there is limited quantitative research to determine their effect on use of maternal health services. This study aims to analyze associations between disability and maternal healthcare use among married women in Rajasthan.

Methods

This study is a secondary analysis of the Indian Annual Heath Survey first wave data from 2011. The sample includes 141,983 women aged 15–49 who had given birth between 2007 and 2009. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between disability and use of antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care. Stratified models were created to analyze difference based on birth order of the pregnancy and whether the woman’s place of residence is rural or urban.

Results

The prevalence of disability was 1.23%. Attending at least three antenatal care visits was reported by 50.66% of the sample, skilled delivery use by 83.81%, and receiving postnatal care within 48 h of birth by 76.02%. In the regression model, women with disabilities were less likely to report attending the minimum antenatal care visits (OR = 0.84; CI: 0.76, 0.92). No association was found between disability and skilled delivery or postnatal care. Once the sample was stratified by birth order, women with disabilities reporting their first birth were more likely to report receiving postnatal care than women without disabilities (OR = 1.47; CI: 1.13, 1.91).

Conclusion

Additional research is needed to determine use of maternal healthcare among women with disabilities in India. Maternal services need to be assessed to determine their accessibility, especially regarding recent laws requiring accessibility.
Evaluation of N1-P2 cortical auditory evoked potential results in adult stutterers
Authors: Khaled Ashraf Mahmoud , Dabbous Abeir Osman , Hady Aisha Fawzy Abdel , Sabour Dina Moustafa Abdel , Koura Rabab Ahmed
Published: September 2023

Background

Stuttering is a fluency disorder characterized by changes in speech flow caused by neuroaudiological factors linked to central auditory processing. We aimed to assess the affection of cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEP) in stutterers with secondary intention to compare the results with non-stutterers.

Methods

This was a case–control study, involved 80 participants distributed into 2 groups: 40 adults stutterers formed the study group and 40 adult non stutterers as the control group, aged between 18 and 45 years. N1-P2 recordings were done using tone bursts stimuli. The absolute amplitudes of the N1 and P2 cortical auditory evoked potential wave forms, as well as the peak-to-peak amplitudes and latencies of the N1 and P2 waves, were measured.

Results

Latencies N1 and P2 CAEP waves were statistically significant prolonged in stutterers than the control group. Regarding N1-P2 amplitudes, there was no significant difference between the two groups. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between N1-P2 amplitude and degree of stuttering.

Conclusion

Cortical auditory evoked potentials could be an important tool in diagnoses and in assessment of improvement in adult stutterer individuals throughout treatment phases.
The associations between physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep with mortality and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and mental health in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
Authors: Duncan Mitch J. , Murphy Leah , Oftedal Stina , Fenwick Matthew J. , Vincent Grace E. , Fenton Sasha
Published: September 2023

Background

Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep are interrelated and may have a synergistic impact on health. This systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies aimed to evaluate the combined influence of different combinations of these behaviours on mortality risk and incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, diabetes, and mental health.

Methods

Four online databases were used to identify studies from database inception to May 2023. Prospective cohort studies that examined how different combinations of physical activity, sedentary and sleep behaviours were associated with mortality and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and mental health in adults were included. Random effects meta-analyses using the Der Simonian and Laird method were conducted.

Results

Assessment of 4583 records resulted in twelve studies being included. Studies were qualitatively summarised and a sub-group of studies (n = 5) were meta-analysed. The most frequent combination of behaviours was duration of leisure time physical activity and sleep (n = 9), with all-cause mortality (n = 16), CVD mortality (n = 9) and cancer mortality (n = 7) the most frequently examined outcomes. Meta-analysis revealed that relative to High physical activity & Mid sleep, High physical activity and Short sleep was not associated with risk of all-cause mortality (RR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.97, 1.14), however Low physical activity and Short Sleep (RR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.24, 1.63), Low physical activity and Mid Sleep (RR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.12, 1.52), High physical activity and Long Sleep (RR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.32), and Low physical activity and Long Sleep were associated with risk of all-cause mortality (RR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.21, 2.20).

Conclusions

High levels of physical activity may offset all-cause mortality risks associated with short sleep duration. Low levels of physical activity combined with short sleep duration and any level of physical activity in combination with long sleep duration appear to increase mortality risk. Currently there is limited evidence regarding how dimensions of physical activity, sedentary and sleep behaviours other than duration (e.g., quality, timing, type) are associated with future health status.
Drug-related deaths among housed and homeless individuals in the UK and the USA: comparative retrospective cohort study
Authors: Roberts Emmert , Copeland Caroline , Humphreys Keith , Shover Chelsea L.
Published: September 2023

Background

The UK and USA currently report their highest number of drug-related deaths since records began, with higher rates among individuals experiencing homelessness.

Aims

Given that overdose prevention in homeless populations may require unique strategies, we evaluated whether substances implicated in death differed between (a) housed decedents and those experiencing homelessness and (b) between US and UK homeless populations.

Method

We conducted an internationally comparative retrospective cohort study utilising multilevel multinomial regression modelling of coronial/medical examiner-verified drug-related deaths from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2021. UK data were available for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; US data were collated from eight county jurisdictions. Data were available on decedent age, sex, ethnicity, housing status and substances implicated in death.

Results

Homeless individuals accounted for 16.3% of US decedents versus 3.4% in the UK. Opioids were implicated in 66.3 and 50.4% of all studied drug-related deaths in the UK and the USA respectively. UK homeless decedents had a significantly increased risk of having only opioids implicated in death compared with only non-opioids implicated (relative risk ratio RRR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.76–1.98, P < 0.001); conversely, US homeless decedents had a significantly decreased risk (RRR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.29–0.48, P < 0.001). Methamphetamine was implicated in two-thirds (66.7%) of deaths among US homeless decedents compared with 0.4% in the UK.

Conclusions

Both the rate and type of drug-related deaths differ significantly between homeless and housed populations in the UK and USA. The two countries also differ in drugs implicated in death. Targeted programmes for country-specific implicated drug profiles appear warranted.
State-dependent, visually guided behaviors in the nudibranch Berghia stephanieae
Authors: Quinlan Phoenix D. , Katz Paul S.
Published: September 2023

Nudibranch mollusks have structurally simple eyes whose behavioral roles have not been established. We tested the effects of visual stimuli on the behavior of the nudibranch Berghia stephanieae under different food and hunger conditions. In an arena that was half-shaded, animals spent most of their time in the dark, where they also decreased their speed and made more changes in heading. These behavioral differences between the light and dark were less evident in uniformly illuminated or darkened arenas, suggesting that they were not caused by the level of illumination. Berghia stephanieae responded to distant visual targets; animals approached a black stripe that was at least 15 deg wide on a white background. They did not approach a stripe that was lighter than the background but approached a stripe that was isoluminant with the background, suggesting the detection of spatial information. Animals traveled in convoluted paths in a featureless arena but straightened their paths when a visual target was present even if they did not approach it, suggesting that visual cues were used for navigation. Individuals were less responsive to visual stimuli when food deprived or in the presence of food odor. Thus, B. stephanieae exhibits visually guided behaviors that are influenced by odors and hunger state.
A neurophysiological limit and its biogeographic correlations: cold-induced spreading depolarization in tropical butterflies
Authors: Andersen Mads Kuhlmann , Willot Quentin , MacMillan Heath A.
Published: September 2023

The physiology of insects is directly influenced by environmental temperature, and thermal tolerance is therefore intrinsically linked to their thermal niche and distribution. Understanding the mechanisms that limit insect thermal tolerance is crucial to predicting biogeography and range shifts. Recent studies on locusts and flies suggest that the critical thermal minimum (CTmin) follows a loss of CNS function via a spreading depolarization. We hypothesized that other insect taxa share this phenomenon. Here, we investigate whether spreading depolarization events occur in butterflies exposed to cold. Supporting our hypothesis, we found that exposure to stressful cold induced spreading depolarization in all 12 species tested. This reinforces the idea that spreading depolarization is a common mechanism underlying the insect CTmin. Furthermore, our results highlight how CNS function is tuned to match the environment of a species. Further research into the physiology underlying spreading depolarization will likely elucidate key mechanisms determining insect thermal tolerance and ecology.
Beneath Thy Protection: Portrait of the Holy Virgin as a semantic operator
Authors: Galofaro Francesco
Published: September 2023

Starting from the third century, many songs, prayers, and icons testify to the way the Virgin Mary – Mother of God – has been attributed the role of protecting the community. Examples include the Akhathist hymn traditionally dated to the siege of Constantinople (626), the Polish anthem “Bogurodzica”, associated with the battle of Grunwald (1410), the icon of Częstochowa that protected Poland from the Swedish invasion (1655), and numerous others. The role of menace is embodied by different enemies: infidels, heretics, or atheists. The Virgin watches over the frontier between two cultural spaces: the inside and the outside of the semiosphere. A case study will provide insight into the function played by the Madonna at the border: the Madonna of the Rocciamelone, the highest sanctuary in Europe, founded by the crusader knight Rotharius (1358). A bronze statue of the Virgin was placed in the sanctuary in 1899. A small corpus of pastoral letters written by blessed Edoardo Rosaz, bishop of Susa (Piedmont), expresses the hope that the Virgin will protect Catholics from liberal heresy. Plastic oppositions such as top/bottom, resulting from the relationship between the Virgin and the landscape, are used to manifest abstract oppositions such as reason/passion, order/disorder, and Church/revolution. This homologation helps us understand how the Virgin, placed in upper space, embodies knowledge and cognition: she becomes a lookout, allowing a transfer of values from the semantic field of war to the religious one. The Virgin guards the border of the semiosphere, the border dividing the self from the other. Her function is the semiotization of incoming materials, transforming external non-communication into information and meaning. This article thus considers the Virgin as a semantic operator inverting the values of liberal discourse into information stored in Catholic cultural space. A mathematical model of the function played by the Virgin will be presented in the terms of quantum computing.
Formation and development of the sports tourism in Ukraine
Authors: Kudelina S. , Hetmanenko A. , Nikolaieva O. , Khomutov V.
Published: September 2023

The article discusses the features of the development of sports tourism. It is proved that the beginning of the new millennium was marked by the rise of the world tourist movement. Under the influence of rapid development of infocommunication technologies and international economic relations tourism has become one of the most representative branches of the world economy. The article proves that the development of the recreational and tourist complex of Ukraine should become a priority direction of the national economy and culture, an important factor in increasing the international prestige of the country, a source of socio-economic development of the regions, an important condition for preserving the historical and cultural heritage.
La etnografía arquitectónica como método de trabajo con los animales no humanos. El caso de Alcalá de Henares.
Authors: García Triviño Francisco , González Torremocha Ana , Ballesteros Mateos Víctor
Published: September 2023

¿Cómo se puede proceder en arquitectura cuando se pretenden trabajar las posibles relaciones existentes entre la arquitectura, los humanos y los animales no humanos? ¿Cómo proceder, si tan solo la presencia de guras de animales en las representaciones arquitectónicas ha sido anecdótica o bajo una atención que se aleja de la mirada actual que se tiene sobre ellos? La Etnografía Arquitectónica, como metodología de trabajo y de acercamiento, que fue puesta en valor en la 16ª Bienal de Venecia en 2018 por Momoyo Kajima, abre una posibilidad de acercamiento que queda por explorar de forma más concreta bajo esta condición de atender las relaciones con otros animales. Con este el artículo explora un marco institucional concreto donde se espera que tenga un rol importante la arquitectura, en las guías de integración de la fauna urbana. Indaga sobre las potencialidades y limitaciones que tiene la metodología etnográfca de la mano de Madden, Deprest, Hartigan, Escobar y Sánchez Maldonado. De ne las aportaciones y limitaciones de una posible Etnografía Arquitectónica Multiespecie que pueda sumarse a las guías existentes. Y ejemplica este acercamiento a través del caso de Alcalá de Henares, una de las ciudades con la mayor colonia de cigüeñas de España y Europa.
La pandemia de COVID-19 como individuo biológico: un nuevo modelo teórico.
Authors: Ricote David , Maeso Ignacio
Published: September 2023

En este trabajo interpretamos la pandemia de COVID-19 como un individuo biológico dividido en cinco niveles de organización. Para llevar esto a cabo, introducimos primero el concepto de individuo biológico, comparándolo con otros individuos complejos como el holobionte. Después resumimos qué son los niveles de organización en biología, ofreciendo ejemplos de agentes con una ontología propia relacionada con su propio nivel de organización. Al aplicarlo a la descripción de la pandemia de COVID-19 tendríamos los siguientes niveles de organización: N1-Molecular, compuesto por el virus SARS-CoV-2. N2-El celular, representado por la célula infectada. N3-El organísmico, teniendo como agente el organismo enfermo de COVID-19. N4-El nivel ecológico, sería el propio de la pandemia como tal. Y a esto añadimos uno de cuño propio, el N5-Lingüísticosimbólico, compuesto por la red de mensajes e imágenes compartidas, fundamentalmente por medios electrónicos, relacionados con la pandemia de COVID-19. A partir de la descripción, pondremos en relación a los niveles de organización indicando primero la emergencia bottom-up desde el nivel inferior hacia los superiores, donde la reproducción de los agentes propios de cada nivel alcanza un umbral donde crean un fenómeno en el siguiente nivel de organización. De igual modo, la relación de regulación entre niveles top-down forma un entramado de inhibiciones que regula la reproducción de los niveles inferiores, definiendo y acotando así la figura tanto espacial como temporal del individuo biológico de la pandemia de COVID-19.
Formas de vida o formas de vivir y su papel en la evolución. Una reflexión interdis-ciplinar bajo un contexto de enorme complejidad.
Authors: Muñoz Ruiz Emilio
Published: September 2023

Este articulo nace con una perspectiva evolutiva que cubre aspectos de la vida como el origen, la diversidad y la coevolución a lo largo de todos los grandes reinos o dominios que agrupan taxonómicamente a los seres vivos del planeta. Se ha afrontado a través de una nueva forma de abordar los estudios humanistas y sociales: perspectiva multi e interdisciplinar y aproximación a los estudios experimentales. Se persigue investigar para disponer de una metodología adecuada, analizar los resultados del modo más integrador y cooperativo posible, explorar nuevas preguntas que surjan de la propia investigación, contar con un acervo propio que permita confirmar y avanzar conclusiones y hasta formular nuevas hipótesis. Los libros de Lane y McGowan que se glosan, con el propósito de crear patrimonio intelectual, han sido decisivos. Ideas contrastadas y conceptos testados en trabajos previos, como la importancia de la educación, de los conocimientos, de una visión más integrada y actual de la teoría de la evolución, del entorno de sociabilidad NACE, de la convergencia evolutiva intelectual y de las interéticas, y el concepto de paradojas antrópicas, han sido el soporte que ha permitido alcanzar conclusiones como que la introducción de los límites físicos (bioenergética) permite explicar la detención de la evolución, asentar la idea de que cada grupo de seres vivos tiene su propio mundo en el que han experimentado la evolución, que la simbiosis fue esencial para las células eucariotas y que su metabolismo y relación con el tamaño y las estrategias reproductivas han contribuido a la evolución de los animales.