bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Usability of a novel Hounsfield units measurement procedure to quantify intercorporal bone graft remodeling in patients after posterior lumbar interbody fusion: a case series
Authors: Reijmer Joey F. H. , van Susante Job L. C. , Kruijt Moyo C. , van Gorp Maarten J. , de Jong Lex D.
Published: July 2024

Background

There is a lack of knowledge about the biological process of intercorporal bone graft remodeling after posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery and whether this process is associated with changes in back pain and intercorporal fusion status. As an alternative to the commonly used but unreliable fusion criteria, Hounsfield units can be used to quantify biological activity and changes in bone mineral content. However, studies assessing Hounsfield units conducted to date do not provide sufficient details about how the bone grafts were segmented to measure the Hounsfield units to allow for replication, and did not assess individual patient trends in graft changes over time. Using the data of nine patients after posterior lumbar interbody fusion, a novel Hounsfield units measurement procedure was developed and used to explore its usability to quantify the bone graft remodeling process.

Case details

We report a case series of nine patients (six male, three female, mean age 64 years, all Caucasian) who all had computed tomography scans performed at 1 and 2 years after posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery. Overall, seven out of the nine (78%) cases had a 3–41% increase in their bone grafts’ Hounsfield units between 1 and 2 years after surgery. The cases showed large interindividual variability in their Hounsfield units values over time, which coincided with varying levels of back pain and intercorporal fusion status.

Conclusion

The Hounsfield units measurement procedure used for this case series may be useful to quantify intercorporal bone graft remodeling in patients after posterior lumbar interbody fusion, and may be used as an adjunct diagnostic measure to monitor bone graft remodeling over time. Future research is warranted to explore how to interpret bone graft Hounsfield units-values and Hounsfield units trajectories in light of clinical variables or intercorporal fusion status.
CACTI: an in silico chemical analysis tool through the integration of chemogenomic data and clustering analysis
Authors: Godinez-Macias Karla P. , Winzeler Elizabeth A.
Published: July 2024

It is well-accepted that knowledge of a small molecule’s target can accelerate optimization. Although chemogenomic databases are helpful resources for predicting or finding compound interaction partners, they tend to be limited and poorly annotated. Furthermore, unlike genes, compound identifiers are often not standardized, and many synonyms may exist, especially in the biological literature, making batch analysis of compounds difficult. Here, we constructed an open-source annotation and target hypothesis prediction tool that explores some of the largest chemical and biological databases, mining these for both common name, synonyms, and structurally similar molecules. We used this Chemical Analysis and Clustering for Target Identification (CACTI) tool to analyze the Pathogen Box collection, an open-source set of 400 drug-like compounds active against a variety of microbial pathogens. Our analysis resulted in 4,315 new synonyms, 35,963 pieces of new information and target prediction hints for 58 members.

Scientific contributions

With the employment of this tool, a comprehensive report with known evidence, close analogs and drug-target prediction can be obtained for large-scale chemical libraries that will facilitate their evaluation and future target validation and optimization efforts.
Identification of the most relevant aspects of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with impact on the quality of life of SMA patients and their caregivers: the PROfuture project, a qualitative study
Authors: de Lemus Mencía , Cattinari Maria G. , Pascual Samuel I. , Medina Julita , García Mar , Magallón Ana , Dumont María , Rebollo Pablo
Published: July 2024

Background

SMA is a hereditary neuromuscular disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. Several studies have shown that the burden of SMA is very high at many levels. Functional assessment tools currently used do not completely address the impact of the disease in patients’ life. The objective of this qualitative study was to identify aspects of SMA that are relevant to patients and to design items useful for assessment purposes.

Results

Five focus group sessions were run during an annual SMA families meeting in Madrid, Spain. Focus groups were composed by parents of SMA type I children, sitter children type II-III, parents of sitter children type II-III, adult patients, and parents of walker children. Two trained facilitators conducted the focus groups using a semi-structured guideline to cover previously agreed topics based on the input of a Scientific and Patient Advisory Committee. The guideline was adapted for the different groups. According to what was communicated by participants, SMA entails a high burden of disease for both patients and their parents. Burden was perceived in physical, psychological, and social areas. Patient’s physical domain was the most relevant for participants, especially for parents of non-ambulant children, followed by limitations of motor scales to capture all changes, parents psychological burden, treatment expectations and patient’s psychological burden. Ten domains were the main areas identified as impacted by the disease: mobility and independence, fatigue and fatigability, infections and hospital consultations, scoliosis and contractures, vulnerability, pain, feeding, time spent in care, breathing, and sleep and rest.

Conclusions

This study confirms the necessity of evaluating other aspects of the disease that are not assessed in the functional motor scale. Measures of other aspects of the disease, such as pain, fatigue, feeding, should be also considered. A patient-reported outcomes instrument measuring such aspects in a valid and reliable way would be very useful. This study generated a list of new items relevant to be systematically measured in the assessment of the impact of SMA on the patients’ everyday life.
The Picasso’s skepticism on computer science and the dawn of generative AI: questions after the answers to keep “machines-in-the-loop”
Authors: Pesapane Filippo , Cuocolo Renato , Sardanelli Francesco
Published: July 2024

Starting from Picasso’s quote (“Computers are useless. They can only give you answers”), we discuss the introduction of generative artificial intelligence (AI), including generative adversarial networks (GANs) and transformer-based architectures such as large language models (LLMs) in radiology, where their potential in reporting, image synthesis, and analysis is notable. However, the need for improvements, evaluations, and regulations prior to clinical use is also clear. Integration of LLMs into clinical workflow needs cautiousness, to avoid or at least mitigate risks associated with false diagnostic suggestions. We highlight challenges in synthetic image generation, inherent biases in AI models, and privacy concerns, stressing the importance of diverse training datasets and robust data privacy measures. We examine the regulatory landscape, including the 2023 Executive Order on AI in the United States and the 2024 AI Act in the European Union, which set standards for AI applications in healthcare. This manuscript contributes to the field by emphasizing the necessity of maintaining the human element in medical procedures while leveraging generative AI, advocating for a “machines-in-the-loop” approach.
Anisotropy component of DTI reveals long-term neuroinflammation following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in rats
Authors: Cheng Ching , Lu Chia-Feng , Hsieh Bao-Yu , Huang Shu-Hui , Kao Yu-Chieh Jill
Published: July 2024

Background

This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (rmTBI) with varying inter-injury intervals by measuring diffusion tensor metrics, including mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), and diffusion magnitude (L) and pure anisotropy (q).

Methods

Eighteen rats were randomly divided into three groups: short-interval rmTBI (n = 6), long-interval rmTBI (n = 6), and sham controls (n = 6). MD, FA, L, and q values were analyzed from longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging at days 50 and 90 after rmTBI. Immunohistochemical staining against neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and myelin was performed. Analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient, and simple linear regression model were used.

Results

At day 50 post-rmTBI, lower cortical FA and q values were shown in the short-interval group (p ≤ 0.038). In contrast, higher FA and q values were shown for the long-interval group (p ≤ 0.039) in the corpus callosum. In the ipsilesional external capsule and internal capsule, no significant changes were found in FA, while lower L and q values were shown in the short-interval group (p ≤ 0.028) at day 90. The q values in the external capsule and internal capsule were negatively correlated with the number of microglial cells and the total number of astroglial cells (p ≤ 0.035).

Conclusion

Tensor scalar measurements, such as L and q values, are sensitive to exacerbated chronic injury induced by rmTBI with shorter inter-injury intervals and reflect long-term astrogliosis induced by the cumulative injury.

Relevance statement

Tensor scalar measurements, including L and q values, are potential DTI metrics for detecting long-term and subtle injury following rmTBI; in particular, q values may be used for quantifying remote white matter (WM) changes following rmTBI.

Key Points

The alteration of L and q values was demonstrated after chronic repetitive mild traumatic brain injury.

Changing q values were observed in the impact site and remote WM.

The lower q values in the remote WM were associated with astrogliosis.

Graphical Abstract
Fire severity and prolonged drought do not interact to reduce plant regeneration capacity but alter community composition in a Mediterranean shrubland
Authors: Salesa David , Baeza M. Jaime , Santana Victor M.
Published: July 2024

Background

Disturbance-regime shifts are often a manifestation related to climate change. In Mediterranean ecosystems, summer-drought lengthening and high fire-severity may be among the most detrimental processes for plant recovery capacity. However, although isolated effects have been usually assessed, the effects when both disturbances interact are less known. This paper examined the possible interactive impacts of increased fire severity and summer-drought lengthening on Mediterranean vegetation recovery. Our initial hypothesis maintained that both disturbances would interact and cause greater recovery damage than in an isolated way. For this reason, we performed an experimental fire in summer by creating two fire severity levels: control fire severity (CSev) and increased fire severity by adding dry biomass (IncrSev). Following fire, and using rainfall exclusions roofs, we extended summer drought conditions toward the first autumn after fire (AutExcl treatment) and toward the first post-fire spring (SprExcl). All the treatment-levels combinations were replicated in five 0.5 × 0.5 m plots.

Results

Emerged seedlings were not affected by treatments, but plant establishment was significantly impaired by extended droughts at the end of the first post-fire year, particularly for Cistaceae and subshrubs. Nevertheless, we found no effects of increased fire severity on either isolation or combination with drought. Notwithstanding, the combination of some treatment levels brought about changes in plant composition. These changes were driven mainly by the detrimental effects of treatments on perennial forbs. This functional group was affected by treatments, which suggests that they may be more sensitive to changes in fire severity and severe droughts.

Conclusion

Increased fire severity might not affect plant recovery either by itself or by interacting with drought because prolonged drought may mask increased fire severity impact on Mediterranean seeding species. However, fire-severity increases, together with sporadic drought events in the early stages of these communities, could imply long-lasting changes in community composition due to distinct functional-groups sensitivities. Nevertheless, these impacts depend on the considered species or functional group. These findings provide information about the impacts that Mediterranean-shrublands ecosystems might face if the trends of fire and drought regimes continue shifting.
Taking the next step in wildfire education: integrating multiple knowledge forms into co-produced high school fire science curricula
Authors: Restaino Christina , Eusden Spencer , Kay Megan
Published: July 2024

The wildfire issue in the western United States presents a complex challenge that impacts both society and the environment. Implementing K-12 education programs focused on wildfire can play a significant role in addressing this issue. By integrating wildfire education into school curricula, teachers can equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to understand fire ecology, land management, and wildfire preparedness. Early exposure to wildfire science education can also connect students with viable career paths in fire and ecosystem management. We used our position as Cooperative Extension educators in Nevada’s Living With Fire Program to catalyze fire science knowledge through creating a high school wildfire science curriculum that is focused on fire ecology, wildfire preparedness, and career exposure. We used a transdisciplinary approach to create educational materials that are effective, relevant, and accurately represent wildfire in Nevada. We integrated five different knowledge forms (technical, cultural, management, institutional, and student) to create a robust curriculum that includes many different stakeholder priorities and values, while still meeting the needs of students and teachers. Our initial impacts assessment demonstrates that our curriculum instruction is creating learning advances in fire ecology and wildfire preparedness. We assert that this curriculum and other wildfire education programs in our region can increase our overall capacity for living with fire.
Study of the relationship between genetic variants of IL-18 and the occurrence of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Al-ardawy Yahya Jaber , Al-Saadi Ali Hmood , Alkindy Mahmoud A. , Al-Lsawi Ammar M. , Fadheel Maksad A.
Published: July 2024

Background

A member of the Interleukin-1 superfamily of cytokines, interleukin-18 (IL-18) is essential to the etiology and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic inflammatory illness that affects the digestive system. This study investigated the possible association between two genetic variations, IL-18 rs187238 and IL-18 rs1946518, and IBD in Iraqi patients.

Methods

We evaluated the association of two SNPs of the IL-18 gene at rs187238 and rs1946518 in 54 IBD patients with 19 Crohn’s disease (CD), 35 ulcerative colitis (UC), and 46 healthy controls using PCR-RFLP and PCR-AS techniques for detecting IL-18 rs187238 and IL-18 rs1946518, respectively, by extracting genomic DNA from blood samples.

Results

Our findings indicated no statistically significant variations between the IL-18 rs187238 genotypes and incidences of CD and UC (P = 0.189 and 0.59, respectively). However, the allele frequency showed a significant difference with CD (P = 0.049) but did not show a significant association with UC (P = 0.887). There was no significant association between the genotype and allele frequency of IL-18 rs1946518C/A and CD risk (P = 0.171 and 0.053, respectively). However, there was a significant association between the genotype and allele frequency of IL-18 rs1946518C/A and the risk of developing UC (P = 0.028 and 0.002, respectively).

Conclusion

The study revealed statistically significant distinctions between the genetic and allelic frequencies of IL-18 rs1946518 and the probability of developing UC. Nonetheless, there were no significant distinctions between them and CD. According to the research, there were no major differences between IL-18 rs187238 and the two diseases. The frequency of the C allele is connected to CD.
The efficacy of luteal phase support in women with polycystic ovary syndrome following assisted reproductive technology: a systematic review
Authors: Harzif Achmad Kemal , Pratamasari Sarah Miriam Ratna , Rumapea Costan Tryono Parulian , Ummah Nafi’atul , Mutia Heidi Dewi , Nurbaeti Putri , Puspawardani Aisyah Retno , Wiweko Budi
Published: July 2024

Background

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine condition prevalent among a significant number of women during their reproductive years. Remarkably, 90–95% of women seeking infertility solutions due to anovulation are diagnosed with PCOS. Luteal phase support (LPS) is a crucial aspect of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of LPS in women with PCOS undergoing ART, with a focus on pregnancy rates as the primary endpoint.

Materials and methods

A systematic search was conducted on EMBASE, PubMed, and Scopus databases without language restrictions. We searched for studies up to August 1, 2023. The search strategy used terms related to PCOS and LPS. Clinical trials and cohort studies involving infertile women with PCOS undergoing ART were included. The Risk of Bias 2 (ROB2) and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) tool were used to assess the risk of bias.

Results

The review included five studies comprising a total of 818 patients. The studies used various ovulation induction medications, such as letrozole, clomiphene citrate, and human menopausal gonadotropin, in combination with different forms of progesterone for LPS (oral, intramuscular, and intravaginal). The overall results demonstrated inconsistent efficacy of LPS, with some studies showing significant improvements in pregnancy rates with LPS, while others showed no statistically significant difference.

Conclusion

The systematic review suggests that LPS may improve pregnancy rates in women with PCOS undergoing ART. However, the effectiveness appears to be influenced by the choice of ovulation induction agent and the route of progesterone administration. Personalized treatment approaches considering patient response and emerging evidence are essential.
Rehabilitation program and challenges in managing hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a case series from Egypt
Authors: Abdelftah Hoda M. , Emam Zinab , Kabil Mohamed Solyman , Elsayed Tarek M. , Saleh Sonia S.
Published: July 2024

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic urged all healthcare providers to collaborate to defeat this mortal infection. SARS-CoV-2 almost hits the respiratory system and may have subsequent serious complications like pulmonary embolism and multi-organ damage.

Objective

To illustrate the rehabilitation program challenges encountered by physiotherapists in clinically managing hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The goal was to preclude the need for invasive mechanical ventilation and to improve the patient’s oxygen saturation and general health.

Methods

In this retrospective case-series study, we described the physiotherapy strategies implemented for 14 COVID-19 patients during the hospitalization period at an Egyptian governmental quarantine hospital.

Results

The rehabilitation program was customized by physiotherapists to accommodate the specific circumstances, conditions, and acquired complications of individual patients. Patients were under the care of physiotherapists in both the COVID ward and ICU. Overcoming challenges such as patient reluctance, co-morbidities, and the effects of aging was a task faced by these healthcare professionals. Consequently, the program had to be modified to suit the unique needs of each patient. These tailored programs encompassed techniques such as percussion, positioning, range of motion, circulatory exercises, and respiratory exercises. The patients exhibited positive responses to their designated physical therapy program, experiencing improvements on various levels based on the progression of their individual cases.

Conclusion

Physiotherapy has a major role in improving patient complications after being infected with COVID-19. In this desperate pandemic era, physiotherapists gave hospitalized patients support both psychologically and physically.
A Cognitive Load Theory Perspective of the Undergraduate Anesthesia Curricula in South Africa
Authors: Spijkerman Sandra , Manning Dianne Mary , Green-Thompson Lionel Patrick
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND:

Safe anesthesia is indispensable to achieve global safe surgery and equitable health care access. The disease burden and lack of specialists in South Africa (SA) require junior, nonspecialist doctors to be fit-for-purpose from day 1 when they provide anesthetic services in peripheral hospitals with limited supervision. Graduating students report low self-perceived preparedness for administering anesthesia, but it is not known how their curricular experiences influence their learning. Cognitive load theory defines intrinsic, extraneous, and germane cognitive loads (subtypes). Intrinsic load relates to learning tasks, extraneous load to distractions, and germane load to students’ learning processes. This study used a cognitive load theory lens to explore SA students’ experiences of their undergraduate anesthesia training.

METHODS:

In a constructivist cross-sectional descriptive study, we explored the qualitative factors that influenced students’ curricular experience of undergraduate anesthesia training in SA. Two investigators analyzed the data independently in an initial coding round. An emerging theme of lack of time to achieve the expected outcomes, prompted the use of cognitive load theory as a conceptual framework for further analysis by the 3 authors. The subsequent analysis informed the development and refinement of a final cognitive load theory framework for anesthesia training, the COLOAD (COgnitive LOad in Anesthesia eDucation) framework.

RESULTS:

Data were collected between November 2017 and February 2019. The 1336 respondents (79% participation) reported a variety of determinants of learning pertaining to all 3 cognitive load subtypes. Participants were novices in an inherently complex environment and experienced a high cognitive load during anesthesia training. The number-, complexity-, and interactivity of tasks influenced intrinsic load, while extraneous load was affected by ineffective instructional methods, external- and internal distractors. Program design, metacognition, and learner motivation impacted germane load.

CONCLUSIONS:

Cognitive load theory provided a useful theoretical basis for understanding students’ curricular experiences. The COLOAD framework suggests a microlevel interrelatedness of the constituting elements of the 3 cognitive load subtypes. This has implications for curriculum design, pedagogy, and student support. Learning outcomes development and curriculum mapping are important to ensure a lean curriculum, but measures to enhance germane cognitive load might be equally important to achieve competence. Attention to the hidden curriculum and active promotion of reflective practice might reduce cognitive load in complex learning environments such as anesthesia training.
Extrinsic Positive End-Expiratory Pressure due to Failure of the Positive-Pressure Relief Valve Within the Scavenging System: A Case Report
Authors: Allen Christopher , Zagunis Daniel C. , Weston Stephen D. , Liu Linda L.
Published: July 2024

The anesthesia gas scavenging system (AGSS) removes waste gases from the anesthesia machine. Within the AGSS, safety features prevent excessive pressures from affecting ventilation. Although the literature contains reports describing failures of the AGSS, we found no reports of positive-pressure relief valve (PPRV) malfunctions. We encountered 2 cases of extrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) resulting from a malfunctioning PPRV. Both cases suffered delayed identification intraoperatively but patients did not experience postoperative complications. These cases highlight the importance of daily scavenger system prechecks, the potential physiologic implications of AGSS malfunctions, and the importance of preplanned contingencies for machine failure.
Āl-e Ahmad's Faustian Bargain? Antonio Gramsci, the “Progressive Clergy,” and the Search for Hegemony in Late-Pahlavi Iran
Authors: Sadeghi-Boroujerdi Eskandar
Published: July 2024

This article explores the first translations of the Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci into Persian and a more speculative reconstruction of Gramsci's reception during the second half of the 1960s by two prominent Iranian intellectuals and dissidents close to the League of Iranian Socialists. After examining the initial translations by the influential translator and political activist, Manūchehr Hezārkhānī (d. 2022), the author moves to unpack, Jalāl Āl-e Ahmad's (d. 1969) interpretations, reconstruction, and deployment of these fragmentary translations from an already disjointed and curated edition of the Prison Notebooks. Gramsci's analyses of culture, religion and religious institutions, intellectual production, and political mobilization were drawn upon for a variety of purposes. Thus, while some intellectuals, most famously Āl-e Ahmad, hypothesized that the politically engaged clergy's moral and political leadership was essential to the successful mobilization of the masses against imperialism and the overthrow of the US-backed Pahlavi dictatorship, others, including Hezārkhānī, ultimately came to advocate in favor of a popular front and coalition of secular and religious forces in defense of “democratic freedoms” against the threat of clerical domination in the 1979 revolution's aftermath.
To Remake the World: Frantz Fanon and Martin Luther King Jr. on Self-Emancipation
Authors: Pineda Erin R.
Published: July 2024

Martin Luther King Jr. and Frantz Fanon are often conceived as offering incompatible political strategies for liberation from the structures of white supremacy and colonization. While in 1958 King contended that the choice was not between “violence and nonviolence, but between nonviolence and nonexistence,” three years later Fanon would famously insist that “decolonization is always a violent event.” This essay refuses this apparent opposition by positioning King and Fanon as partners in a shared conversation, each grappling elements of a core dilemma: remaking the world requires new subjects not formed by domination, but these subjects must remake themselves while still enmeshed in them—must somehow act out of them. Reading with and against David Scott's (2004) conception of a “problem-space” shows how King and Fanon respond to the problem posed by the impossibility of a clean, emancipatory break with the past and present. Deploying Paul Gilroy's (1993) conception of antiphony, the essay stages a “call and response” that reveals not a romantic narrative of overcoming but a working-through of fragile, partial, and paradoxical political practices that yoke the self to a world-not-yet-made, cultivating nascent democratic publics who, as yet, lack a world in which they can survive.
Earth Diplomacy
Authors: Horton Jessica L.
Published: July 2024

In Earth Diplomacy, Jessica L. Horton reveals how Native American art in the mid-twentieth-century mobilized Indigenous cultures of diplomacy to place the earth itself at the center of international relations. She focuses on a group of artists including Pablita Velarde, Darryl Blackman, and Oscar Howe who participated in exhibitions and lectures abroad as part of the United States’s Cold War cultural propaganda. Horton emphasizes how their art modeled a radical alternative to dominant forms of statecraft, a practice she calls “earth diplomacy:” a response to extractive colonial capitalism grounded in Native ideas of deep reciprocal relationships between humans and other beings that govern the world. Horton draws on extensive archival research and oral histories as well as analyses of Indigenous creative work, including paintings, textiles, tipis, adornment, and artistic demonstrations. By interweaving diplomacy, ecology, and art history, Horton advances Indigenous frameworks of reciprocity with all beings in the cosmos as a path to transforming our broken system of global politics.
Study of the RNA splicing kinetics via in vivo 5-EU labeling
Authors: Bolikhova Anastasiia K. , Buyan Andrey I. , Mariasina Sofia S. , Rudenko Alexander Y. , Chekh Daria S. , Mazur Alexander M. , Prokhortchouk Egor B. , Dontsova Olga A. , Sergiev Petr V.
Published: July 2024

Splicing is an important step of gene expression in all eukaryotes. Splice sites might be used with different efficiency, giving rise to alternative splicing products. At the same time, splice sites might be used at a variable rate. We used 5-ethynyl uridine labeling to sequence a nascent transcriptome of HeLa cells and deduced the rate of splicing for each donor and acceptor splice site. The following correlation analysis showed a correspondence of primary transcript features with the rate of splicing. Some dependencies we revealed were anticipated, such as a splicing rate decrease with a decreased complementarity of the donor splice site to U1 and acceptor sites to U2 snRNAs. Other dependencies were more surprising, like a negative influence of a distance to the 5′ end on the rate of the acceptor splicing site utilization, or the differences in splicing rate between long, short, and RBM17-dependent introns. We also observed a deceleration of last intron splicing with an increase of the distance to the poly(A) site, which might be explained by the cooperativity of the splicing and polyadenylation. Additional analysis of splicing kinetics ofSF3B4knockdown cells suggested the impairment of a U2 snRNA recognition step. As a result, we deconvoluted the effects of several examined features on the splicing rate into a single regression model. The data obtained here are useful for further studies in the field, as they provide general splicing rate dependencies as well as help to justify the existence of slowly removed splice sites.
The effect of food timing on torpor propensity and characteristics in laboratory mice during a common food restriction paradigm
Authors: Wilcox Sian L. , Bannerman David M. , Peirson Stuart N. , Vyazovskiy Vladyslav V.
Published: July 2024

Background Many behavioural, pharmacological, and metabolic studies in mice require fasting, yet the possibility of fasting-induced torpor affecting the data is rarely considered. Torpor is a state characterised by depressed metabolism and profound alterations to physiology and behaviour. In this study we aimed to determine how the effects of torpor on experimental outcomes could be mitigated. Methods To this end, timing and characteristics of fasting-induced torpor in response to feeding in the morning versus feeding in the night were compared using non-invasive monitoring of peripheral body temperature. Results Night-fed mice entered significantly more torpor bouts per day compared to morning-fed mice (Morning: 2.79±0.197 (mean ± SEM); Night: 4.79±0.533 (mean ± SEM); p=0.0125), but these bouts were shorter on average by ~1.5h. Latency to the first torpor bout following feeding tended to be shorter during night feeding (Morning: 9.57±0.8h (mean ± SEM); Night: 6.66±1.2h (mean ± SEM); p=0.0928). Moreover, torpor bouts typically occurred during the dark phase in the morning-fed group, whilst night feeding resulted in a shift of torpor occurrence to earlier in the day (Morning: 14.2±0.4 ZT h (mean ± SEM); Night: 12.2±0.9 ZT h (mean ± SEM); p=0.0933). There was a high degree of variation in torpor occurrence within and between animals in each group. Conclusions We recommend that feeding time is kept consistent between days and the same across animals to minimise variation in torpor occurrence. Moreover, the timing of food provision may be optimised to allow measurements to be taken during euthermia, to mitigate the effects of torpor on the variables investigated. Finally, we recommend that body temperature is monitored non-invasively to determine when torpor is occurring, and that testing, or sample collection is conducted when the torpor history is comparable between animals.
Standard Operating Procedure for the determination of trace elements in hydrothermal fluids by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Authors: Correggia Monica , Di Iorio Luciano , Bastianoni Alessia Benedicta , Yücel Mustafa , Cordone Angelina , Giovannelli Donato
Published: July 2024

This standard operating procedure (SOP) validates an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) procedure for the determination of trace elements in hydrothermal fluids. Hydrothermal fluids are aqueous solutions with a wide range of temperature, salinity, pH and trace elements that can be used by a set of microbial proteins containing redox-sensitive transition metals as their catalytic core. Due to the high variability of these samples, we have developed this protocol taking into account the special features of the matrices analyzed. An ICP-MS 7900 Agilent system was used. Calibration curves are linear in the 0.01 to 100 μg/L concentration range.
Phylogenetic signatures reveal multilevel selection and fitness costs in SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Bonetti Franceschi Vinicius , Volz Erik
Published: July 2024

Background Large-scale sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 has enabled the study of viral evolution during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some viral mutations may be advantageous to viral replication within hosts but detrimental to transmission, thus carrying a transient fitness advantage. By affecting the number of descendants, persistence times and growth rates of associated clades, these mutations generate localised imbalance in phylogenies. Quantifying these features in closely-related clades with and without recurring mutations can elucidate the tradeoffs between within-host replication and between-host transmission. Methods We implemented a novel phylogenetic clustering algorithm (mlscluster, https://github.com/mrc-ide/mlscluster) to systematically explore time-scaled phylogenies for mutations under transient/multilevel selection. We applied this method to a SARS-CoV-2 time-calibrated phylogeny with >1.2 million sequences from England, and characterised these recurrent mutations that may influence transmission fitness across PANGO-lineages and genomic regions using Poisson regressions and summary statistics. Results We found no major differences across two epidemic stages (before and after Omicron), PANGO-lineages, and genomic regions. However, spike, nucleocapsid, and ORF3a were proportionally more enriched for transmission fitness polymorphisms (TFP)-homoplasies than other proteins. We provide a catalog of SARS-CoV-2 sites under multilevel selection, which can guide experimental investigations within and beyond the spike protein. Conclusions This study provides empirical evidence for the existence of important tradeoffs between within-host replication and between-host transmission shaping the fitness landscape of SARS-CoV-2. This method may be used as a fast and scalable means to shortlist large sequence databases for sites under putative multilevel selection which may warrant subsequent confirmatory analyses and experimental confirmation.
Creating a body of physical activity evidence to test the generalisation of annotation methods for automated evidence synthesis
Authors: Castro Oscar , Norris Emma , Wright Alison J , Hayes Emily , Howes Ella , Moore Candice , West Robert , Michie Susan
Published: July 2024

Background The Human Behaviour-Change Project (HBCP) aims to improve evidence synthesis in behavioural science by compiling intervention reports, annotating them according to an ontology, and using the resulting data to train information extraction and prediction algorithms. The HBCP used smoking cessation as the first ‘proof of concept’ domain but intends to extend its methodology to other behaviours. The aims of this paper are to (i) assess the extent to which methods developed for annotating smoking cessation intervention reports were generalisable to a corpus of evidence relating to a different behaviour, namely physical activity, and (ii) describe the steps involved in developing this second HBCP corpus. Methods The development of the physical activity corpus took place in four stages: (i) reviewing the suitability of smoking cessation codes already used in the HBCP, (ii) defining the selection criteria and scope of the corpus, (iii) identifying and screening records for inclusion, and (iv) annotating intervention reports using a code set of 200+ entities from the Behaviour Change Intervention Ontology. Results Stage 1 highlighted the need to modify the smoking cessation behavioural outcome codes for application to physical activity. One hundred physical activity intervention reports were reviewed, and 11 physical activity experts were consulted to inform the adapted code set. Stage 2 involved narrowing down the scope of the corpus to interventions targeting moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. In stage 3, 111 physical activity intervention reports were identified, which were then annotated in stage 4. Conclusions Smoking cessation annotation methods developed as part of the HBCP were mostly transferable to the physical activity domain. However, the codes applied to behavioural outcome variables required adaptations. This paper can help anyone interested in building a body of research to develop automated evidence synthesis methods in physical activity or for other behaviours.
Growth of Allopeas gracile under starvation: does it comply with von Bertalanffy growth equation?
Authors: Chakraborty Sabarni , Sikary Abhijit , Ghosh Tanisha , Chakraborty Ashmita , Mandal Suparna , Nandy Gargi , Aditya Gautam
Published: July 2024

The growth of the land snails is a primary indicator of the fitness at the individual and population levels. Considering starvation as a limiting factor of growth, the adaptation of the land snail Allopeas gracile (Hutton 1834) (Gastropoda: Subulinidae) was assessed using von Bertanlaffy growth equation. As a starvation treatment, the laboratory reared 0-day old snails were fed at a gap of 1 to 6 days (six levels of starvation treatment) or fed regularly (control). In all instances, the shell length and the biomass (indicators of growth) increased with the time interval complying with the von Bertalanffy growth equation, but the magnitude of maximum shell length, Lmaximum, and the asymptotic length, L∞, decreased, while the growth rate coefficient (k) increased, as the duration of starvation period extended. The k and L∞ were represented as functions of the starvation gap (T) and substituted in classical von Bertalanffy equation, representing a better fit model explaining the growth. The results indicate that the food availability is a crucial factor determining the pace of growth in the land snail A. gracile. As an extension, the present model can be used for the portrayal of the growth of the macroinvertebrates under varying level of starvation.
Shattering the Crown of the God
Authors: Leão David Pierdominici
Published: July 2024

Among the extensive repertoire of Pāṇḍya dynastic themes, the motif of clash between a Pāṇḍya sovereign and Indra is ubiquitous. This topos which supposedly originated around middle of the 5th century CE, can be traced to Cilapattikāram XI, 17–30, which celebrates a Pāṇḍya monarch wearing Indra’s garland, capturing the clouds, and breaking the god’s crown. The narrative was later employed in the Tiruviḷaiyāṭaṟpurāṇam (late 13th century) and its Sanskrit rendering, the Hālāsyamāhātmya (14th–15th centuries), where the actions of the Pāṇḍya kings were inserted in the narratives about the divine līlās of Śiva in Madurai. Since the early phase of the dynasty, this mytheme was employed as a tool of political display in the South. After a survey of the motif in the first phase of the imperial documents, the paper will focus on the reemployment of the category of royal violence in the Teṅkāśi dynastic period (14th–18th centuries CE), using the lens of the official copper plates of the late Pāṇḍya chancery and the previous Sanskrit literary production.
Atividade física na promoção da saúde: formação de estudantes de medicina durante ensino remoto
Authors: Barros Maria Luísa Siegloch , Rodrigues Nicholas Elyezer Rocha , Bortolini Miguel Junior Sordi
Published: July 2024

Na pandemia de COVID-19, tanto o isolamento quanto o fechamento temporário das academias impactaram no cotidiano das pessoas, incluindo na prática de atividade física (AF). Essa é essencial para a saúde, por isso, devemos incentivá-la. Estudantes de Medicina com tempo escasso e falta de estímulo curricular para AF, tendem a subestimar sua importância. O seguinte relato busca descrever vivências e impactos da disciplina “Atividade Física na Promoção da Saúde” em uma instituição de ensino superior no ensino remoto, sua relação com enfermidades e discussões sobre políticas de saúde. Foi perceptível impacto positivo para estudantes e familiares. A adesão dos pacientes à AF está relacionada ao estímulo despertado pelo profissional pelas linhas terapêuticas voltadas ao estilo de vida. Assim, sendo o currículo das escolas médicas inestimável, deve-se valorizar os efeitos da AF para os indivíduos. A disciplina foi um bom exemplo da importância e êxito resultante da conscientização do futuro médico ainda em graduação.
Consciousness of the vital role of transplantology among citizens of Polish small towns
Authors: Kłos Kamil , Krużel Aleksandra , Sajdak Piotr , Tomasik Justyna , Stodolak Marcel , Dębik Marika , Szydłowski Łukasz , Żurowska Klaudia , Ziajor Seweryn , Bednarski Artur
Published: July 2024

Transplantology in Poland has faced challenges in recent years, marked by a decline in organ donation rates. From 2016 to 2020, the organ donation ratio decreased from 14 to 10 donors per million inhabitants. Although a slight increase to 11.8 was observed in 2022, there remains a shortage in organ procurement. This study investigates society’s knowledge and attitudes towards organ donation, focusing on small towns where literature on transplantology is limited. A survey was conducted among 100 patients in Ryglice and Zalasowa, southeastern Poland. Analysis of demographic data revealed correlations between gender, education level, and certain aspects of transplantology knowledge. Women with higher education exhibited greater awareness and willingness to become living donors. However, the study found no correlation between age groups and transplantology knowledge. Despite technological advancements in transplantology, the study emphasizes the importance of health education, particularly in rural areas, to address the knowledge gap and foster a culture of organ donation. Strategies to increase awareness, especially among younger generations, and improve legislative measures are proposed. The study also highlights the potential of digital platforms for information dissemination and suggests statistical extrapolation to estimate the potential donor pool in rural areas. Overall, addressing these challenges is crucial for building a robust organ donation system and improving public health in Poland.

Keywords: Tissue and Organ Procurement Living Donors, Poland, Health Education, Public Health.
Navigating Turbulence: Analyzing the Crisis Response of Sriwijaya Air following the SJ182 Plane Crash using Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT)
Authors: Rahmawati Annisa , Pratiwi Miftha , Yusa Muchammad Yustian
Published: July 2024

Aircraft accidents show that the industry is vulnerable to crisis and capture the complexity of crisis management and communication. This study examines the crisis response strategies employed by Sriwijaya Air in the aftermath of the SJ-182 plane crash on January 9, 2021. Utilizing the Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) framework, the research categorizes and analyzes the airline's crisis communication actions based on primary and secondary strategies. The content analysis of news articles from Kompas.com, Detik.com, CNN Indonesia, and Reuters, as well as posts from Sriwijaya Air's social media accounts, reveals the implementation of excuse, compensation, partial apology, and ingratiation strategies. The findings indicate that while Sriwijaya Air avoided denial strategies, its delayed response negatively impacted public perception. The study highlights the importance of prompt and transparent communication in crisis management. It suggests areas for future research, including examining internal decision-making processes and the long-term impacts on organizational reputation and resilience.
Interstitial lung disease: diagnosis and management principles
Authors: Ruggiero Carmine , Fraser Emily
Published: July 2024

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses a diverse group of chronic, often progressive, parenchymal lung disorders with varying aetiologies. Advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) increasingly play a crucial role in the multidisciplinary management of ILD patients across a variety of healthcare settings, enabling timely access to specialised expertise, co-ordinating multidisciplinary care and enhancing patient understanding. An awareness of the principles of diagnosis and management are key to support patient care, as ACPs will need to consider the type of ILD, and its trajectory and prognosis, with and without treatment. Most importantly, the views and health beliefs of the patient must take centre stage, with careful assessment and counselling required prior to commencing treatment. Multimorbidity is common and may impact on both symptoms and treatment tolerance. Considering the holistic needs of the patient is essential and a focus on quality of life should remain a priority. This review examines the nature of ILDs and summarises their treatment principles, with a specific focus on symptom management.
2023 Kidney Patient Reported Experience Measures
Authors: Palmer Nick
Published: July 2024

Nick Palmer outlines the results of the 2023 Patient Reported Experience Measures
A Gnostic Noir: Y.B.'s Explication of the Algerian Crisis
Authors: Agar Trudy
Published: July 2024

Abstract: The Algerian writer Y.B. (Yassir Benmiloud) originally established himself as a satirical journalist and critic of the Algerian regime before publishing his first novel, L'Explication , from exile in Paris in 1999. Although it was met with a relative lack of critical attention, reserved more for his third novel Allah Superstar (2003), which examines the place of Muslims in post 9/11 France, L'Explication is a dynamic reimagining of noir that "others" the classically Western genre. While respecting many of the tropes of detective and noir fiction, including the gradual unveiling of the criminals and their motives for murder, an investigator-focused narrative, temporal doubling, and sassy one-liners, L'Explication deviates from reader expectations with its autobiographical elements, hybridity, and its refusal to provide a rational resolution to the investigation. The novel is imbued with a Sufi mystical structure and ideology that exist uncomfortably alongside, and call into question, French rationalism, the underpinning of a classical detective story. Y.B.'s criminal investigation proceeds along unexpected lines to become an esoteric interpretation of the history of Islam in North Africa and the rise of Algeria's cabinet noir during the 1990s civil war. This article will show that L'Explication is at once a detective novel and a parody of both that genre and of Islamic exegesis. The parodic elements allow Y.B. to circumvent censure, while offering an indirect means of giving voice to national trauma as he endeavors to explain the seemingly inexplicable Algerian civil war.