bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Türkiye’deki Dil ve Konuşma Terapistlerinin Hızlı Bozuk Konuşma Tanısında Kullandıkları Kriterler
Authors: Bektaşoğlu Ayşenur , Saraç Ayşe Buse
Published: November 2024

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye’deki dil ve konuşma terapistlerinin hızlı bozuk konuşma değerlendirmesinde kullandıkları kriterleri listelemektir.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya Türkiye’de yaşayan 205 dil ve konuşma terapisti katılmıştır. Katılımcıların deneyimleri ve uygulamaları, hazırlanan çoktan seçmeli sorular ile analiz edilmiştir.
Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan dil ve konuşma terapistlerinin HBK tanısında kullandıkları kriterler içinde en fazla oranda yüksek hızda konuşma (tachylalia) (%82,9), düzensiz konuşma hızı (%73,7), kelimeler arasında duraklamaların olmaması (%67,8), sözcüklerdeki sesleri silme (%66,8), konuşma hızına ilişkin yetersiz farkındalık düzeyi (%64,9), uygun olmayan prozodik örüntüler (%60), ailede HBK’nın varlığı (%60) ve giderek artan (festinating) konuşma hızını (%59,5) ifade ettikleri görülmüştür. Çalışmaya katılan dil ve konuşma terapistlerinin HBK tanısında kullandıkları kriterler içinde en az oranda görsel algısal problemler (%10,7), yazmaya ilişkin yetersizlikler (%21,5), motor koordinasyondaki eksiklikler (%26,5), sözcük bulma problemleri (%27,3), kötü el yazısı (%27,8), okumaya ilişkin yetersizliklerini (%28,8) ifade ettikleri görülmüştür. Çalışmaya katılan dil ve konuşma terapistlerinin HBK’ya eşlik ettiğini ifade ettikleri bozukluklar içinde en sık kekemelik (%70,2) ve dikkat eksikliği ve hiperaktivite bozukluğunu (%66,3) ifade ettikleri görülmüştür. Çalışmaya katılan dil ve konuşma terapistleri HBK’ya eşlik ettiğini ifade ettikleri bozukluklar içinde en az oranda Fragile X sendromu (%7,8) ve Down sendromunu (%9,3) ifade ettikleri görülmüştür.
Sonuç: Çalışma sonucunda elde edilen bulgular dahilinde Türkiye’deki dil ve konuşma terapistlerinin HBK değerlendirmesinde kullandıkları kriterler listelenmiştir. Bu doğrultuda HBK’ya ilişkin yapılan değerlendirmelere, standart araçlara ek olarak dil ve konuşma terapistlerinin kullanmış oldukları parametrelerin dahil edilmesi, multifaktöriyel ve derinlemesine bir bakış için büyük önem arz etmektedir.
Ortaokul Öğrencilerinin Empatik Eğilimleri, Özel Gereksinimli Çocuklara Yönelik Tutumları ve Akran Zorbalığı Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi
Authors: Algüzel Ayşe , Bumin Gonca
Published: November 2024

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı, ortaokul öğrencilerinin empatik eğilim düzeyleri, özel gereksinimli çocuklara yönelik tutumları ve akran zorbalığı arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesidir.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırmanın örneklemini 2022 – 2023 eğitim öğretim yılında Hakkari’de öğrenimini sürdüren 92 ortaokul öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada ölçme aracı olarak KA-Sİ Çocuk ve Ergenler için Empatik Eğilim Ölçeği, Chedoke-Mcmaster Engelli Çocuklara Yönelik Tutumlar Ölçeği ve Akran Zorbalığı Belirleme Ölçeği Ergen Formu kullanıldı. Verilerin analizinde Spearman korelasyon analizi, t-testi ve ANOVA kullanıldı.
Bulgular: Öğrencilerin empatik eğilimleri ile özel gereksinimli çocuklara yönelik tutumları arasında pozitif yönde anlamlı bir ilişki vardı (r:0.276; p<0.05). Öğrencilerin empatik eğilimleri ile akran zorbalığına maruz kalma arasında (r:0.037; p>0.05) ve özel gereksinimli çocuklara yönelik tutumları ile akran zorbalığına maruz kalma arasında (r:0.954; p>0.05) bir ilişki yoktu.
Sonuç: Empati becerisi yüksek olan ortaokul öğrencilerinin, empati becerisi düşük olan öğrencilere göre özel gereksinimli çocuklara karşı tutumunun daha iyi olduğu tespit edildi. Dolayısıyla bu yönüyle ortaokul öğrencilerini özel gereksinimli çocuklara yönelik tutumlarını iyileştirilebilmesi için özellikle okul öncesi dönemden itibaren çocuklara empati ve empatik eğilim konusunda eğitim verilmesi ilerleyen dönemdeki yaşantılarında bu beceriyi kazanmaları açısından oldukça önemlidir.
Fizyoterapi ve Rehabilitasyon Öğrencilerinin Karar Vermede Öz-Saygı Düzeylerinin ve Karar Verme Stillerinin Sosyodemografik Özelliklere Göre Karşılaştırılması: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma
Authors: Seçer Erhan , Dinç Güldane , Uzunlar Hilal , Korucu Tuğçe Şirin , Özer Kaya Derya
Published: November 2024

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı fizyoterapi ve rehabilitasyon öğrencilerinin karar vermede öz-saygı düzeylerini ve karar verme stillerini sosyodemografik özelliklere göre karşılaştırmaktı.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırmaya 128 fizyoterapi ve rehabilitasyon öğrencisi (yaş ortalaması 21.17±2.17 yıl) dâhil edildi. Öğrencilerin sosyodemografik özellikleri veri kayıt formuna kaydedildi. Karar vermede öz-saygı düzeyleri ve karar verme stilleri Melbourne Karar Verme Ölçeği ile değerlendirildi. Değişkenler açısından 2 bağımsız grup karşılaştırmaları için Mann-Whitney U testi, 2’den fazla bağımsız grup karşılaştırmaları için Kruskal Wallis testi kullanıldı. p<0,050 değeri istatistiksel olarak anlamlı kabul edildi.
Bulgular: Öğrencilerin sınıf düzeyine göre karar vermede öz-saygı skorları arasında anlamlı bir fark bulundu (p=0,014). Sınıf düzeyi dışında diğer kişisel (cinsiyet, gelir düzeyi) ve ailesel özelliklere (anne/baba eğitim/meslek durumu, ailenin tutumu) göre karar vermede öz-saygı skorları arasında anlamlı bir fark bulunmadı (p˃0,050). Sınıf düzeyine göre kaçıngan karar verme skorları arasında anlamlı bir fark bulundu (p=0,023). Kişisel (cinsiyet, sınıf/gelir düzeyi) ve ailesel özelliklere (anne/baba eğitim/meslek durumu, ailenin tutumu) göre dikkatli, erteleyici ve panik karar verme skorları arasında anlamlı bir fark bulunmadı (p˃0,050).
Sonuç: İkinci sınıf öğrencilerinin karar vermede öz-saygı düzeylerinin daha yüksek olduğu ve üçüncü sınıf öğrencilerinin kaçıngan karar verme stilini benimsediği görüldü. Ayrıca, karar vermede öz-saygı düzeylerinin ve karar verme stillerinin ailesel özelliklere göre değişiklik göstermediği sonucuna ulaşıldı.
Adaptation and Validation of the Turkish Version of a Single-Item Food Choice Questionnaire
Authors: Haydaroglu Mehmet , Dikmen Derya , Bilgiç Pelin
Published: November 2024

Objectives: The single-item Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) is a self-reported instrument with 11 dimensions to assess food choice motives alternative to the multi-item FCQ. This study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of a Turkish version of the questionnaire.
Materials and Methods: In phase 1, forward-backwards translation, cognitive debriefing with thirty participants, and content validity with ten experts were carried out. In phase 2, the psychometric properties were evaluated through a cross-sectional survey. A total of 350 responses were analyzed for convergent validity by comparing dimensions of single-item and multi-item FCQs. The questionnaire was reposted after a month, and 50 re-administration data (11.4% retest rate) were examined for test-retest reliability.
Results: The eight dimensions of single-item FCQ (health, mood, convenience, sensory, price, weight, and familiar) were correlated with corresponding factors in multi-item FCQ, ranged between 0.431 to 0.646. The three dimensions (environment friendliness, animal friendliness, and social justice) corresponding to a single factor regarding ethical concern in multi-item FCQ were analyzed separately and significantly correlated (0.569, 0.433, and 0.572 respectively). All correlations were statistically significant at p <0.001 significance level. The Pearson’s correlations of test-retest analysis ranged from r = 0.407 to 0.673 (p = 0.000). The intraclass correlation coefficient values ranged between 0.581 to 0.796, indicating moderate to good reliability for all dimensions. The sensory appeal, convenience, and price dimensions were the most crucial motives.
Conclusion: The results indicate that the single-item FCQ is a valid alternative instrument in the Turkish population.
İşitme Cihazı Kullanım Süresinin Bireysel ve Sosyal Sorumluluğa Etkisi
Authors: Yerlikaya Aysel Bengi , Çetin Kara Halide , Çögen Talha
Published: November 2024

Amaç: Bu çalışmada işitme cihazı kullanıcılarında cihaz kullanım süresinin, bireylerin sosyal sorumluluğu ile ilişkisinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya, çalışma grubuna dahil edilen 27 kadın, 31 erkek olmak üzere toplam 58 işitme kayıplı birey ve verilerin karşılaştırılacağı kontrol grubunu oluşturan 37 kadın ve 34 erkek olmak üzere toplam 71 normal işiten birey katılmıştır. Tüm katılımcılara web tabanlı anket aracılığıyla Demografik Bilgi Formu, Bireysel Sosyal Sorumluluk Ölçeği ve çalışma grubuna Uluslararası İşitme Cihazları Değerlendirme Envanteri Türkçe Versiyonu kullanılmıştır.
Bulgular: İşitme kayıplı bireyler ile normal işitmeye sahip bireyler arasında Bireysel Sosyal Sorumluluk Ölçeği skorları açısından istatistiksel anlamlı fark bulunmamıştır. İşitme kayıplı bireylerde, demografik alt başlıklarla karşılaştırılan Bireysel Sosyal Sorumluluk Ölçeği skorlarının, çalışan bireylerde istatistiksel anlamlı olarak daha yüksek olduğu belirlenmiştir. Yapılan korelasyon analizi yaş, kardeş sayısı, işitsel amplifikasyon yöntemi ve kullanım süresi ile Bireysel Sosyal Sorumluluk Ölçeği ve Uluslararası İşitme Cihazları Değerlendirme Envanteri Türkçe Versiyonu skorları arasında istatistiksel anlamlı korelasyon bulunmamıştır.
Sonuç: İşitme kayıplı bireylerin işitme kaybının etkileri ve işitme cihazından memnuniyet hakkında farkındalığının artırılması gerekmektedir. Bu çalışmanın sonuçları, işitme cihazı kullanımı ve bireysel sosyal sorumluluk kavramı konusunda literatüre öncü ve yol gösterici olarak katkı sağlamaktadır, işitme cihazı kullanımında toplumsal farkındalığı artırmada ve toplumsal iletişimi güçlendirmede iyi bir araç olacaktır.
Fındık Alerjeninin Çapraz Kontaminasyon Yolaklarının Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: Sabur Öztürk Büşra , Dikmen Derya
Published: November 2024

Amaç: Çapraz kontaminasyon, besinlerdeki gizli alerjenlerin başlıca kaynaklarından biridir ve toplu beslenme sistemlerindeki tüm aşamalarda ortaya çıkabilir. Bu çalışma, toplu beslenme hizmeti veren bir kurum düzeninde, fındık alerjeninin çapraz kontaminasyon yolları ve bulaş düzeyini araştırma amacı ile yapılmıştır.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Temizlik bezi, tepsi, el ve şekerliklerin çapraz bulaşa etkisi ve temizlik prosedürü dört aşamada araştırılmıştır. İşlem sonrası alınan örneklerde ELISA kullanılarak fındık alerjen düzeyleri belirlenmiştir.
Bulgular: Bu çalışma sonuçlarına göre Fındık ezmesi sürülen bir masanın temizlemede kullanılan temizleme bezinin çapraz bulaş nedeni olsa da temizleme süreci ve dezenfeksiyonunun kontaminasyon düzeyini belirlemede etkili olduğu gösterilmiştir. Tepsi üzerindeki fındık alerjeni düzeylerinin, masadan masaya geçişlerde ve dezenfeksiyon sonrasında değiştiği gözlemlenmiştir. Ellerin fındık ezmesi ile bulaştırılmasının ardından şekerliklere bulaşma ve kontaminasyon düzeylerinin arttığı belirlenmiştir. Ellerin temizleme yöntemlerinin, musluk kullanımının ve dezenfeksiyonun fındık alerjeni kontaminasyonunu etkilediği gösterilmiştir
Sonuç: Çalışma sonucunda alerjenler için temizleme bezi, tepsi ve ellerin çapraz kontaminasyon kaynağı olabileceği tespit edilmiştir. Toplu beslenme sistemlerinde alerjen kontaminasyonuna yönelik kontrol adımları ve risk planları hazırlanmalıdır. Bu çalışma, toplu beslenme sistemlerinde fındık alerjeni çapraz bulaşının önemini vurgulayarak, gıda güvenliği aşamalarına göre gerçekleştirilen uygulamalarının bu tür riskleri azaltmada kritik olduğunu göstermektedir.
Factors Influencing EFL Pre-service Teachers’ Experience in Classroom Management
Authors: Waloyo Edy , Rifai Ahmad , Tanjung Khoiriyah Shofiyah , Mutiaraningrum Ira
Published: November 2024

Classroom management has been of interest for decades. EFL Pre-service teachers at IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon had experiences in teaching practices and classroom management. They had completed teaching practices at formal school for two months. This quantitative research employed factor analysis to determine the research variables that affect classroom management. The variables of classroom management involved in this study are discipline, organization of the lesson, interaction during the lesson, teacher-student personal communication, and psychological and social classroom environment. The findings show that the KMO Measure of Sampling Adequacy (MSA) number is 0.800. Because the value is 0.800 (> 0.5), it means that all factors influence EFL pre-service teachers’ experience in classroom management. This study highlights discipline as the main factors contributing to classroom management. This study also highlights the role of the university in preparing pre-service teachers to be ready for their future teaching practice. 
Transitioning Geoscientists from Regulatory Roles to Active Explorationists: A Reskilling Perspective
Authors: Dubois A. , Nemakonde N.
Published: November 2024

This paper details the strategic shift of a Sub-Saharan national operator from a regulatory role to active operational involvement. To support this transition, the company has initiated a three-year reskilling program for 25 geoscientists, previously engaged in regulatory tasks, to equip them with the technical expertise needed for operational roles.

The paper outlines the program's process, starting with an initial competency assessment to identify strengths and skill gaps, followed by a customized training plan that integrates classroom learning with hands-on, on-the-job experience in real-world exploration projects. As the program reaches its midpoint, interim results indicate significant progress, with participants showing improved proficiency levels, increased confidence, and greater independence in their new roles.

By documenting this transition, the paper highlights the company's evolution from a regulator to an active industry participant and underscores the importance of targeted reskilling programs in building internal expertise and reducing reliance on external consultants. The program's success thus far offers valuable insights for other organizations undergoing similar transformations, demonstrating how focused skill development can drive organizational change and enhance operational capabilities.
Prevalence and predictors of double burden of malnutrition among Indian adolescents
Authors: Raushan Mukesh , Singh Aradhana
Published: November 2024

Background: Malnutrition and obesity are major public health concerns around the world. Despite the magnitude of double burden of malnutrition and nutritional transition dynamics-poor people consuming more fat- very few literatures available for Indian population.
Methods: Using the nationally represented data from National Family Health Survey - 5, the study investigates the factors closely associated with the double burden of malnutrition among Indian adolescents. The bivariate, multivariate logistic regression technique and non-linear decomposition analysis was done in STATA 14. The backward regression technique was used to maintain the uniformity of the number of samples.
Result: The female adolescent with higher education were more to experience any burden of malnutrition. The analysis confirms that the accessibility and affordability play crucial role in deciding the current malnutrition status in India. Equalizing the urban differential would be expected to reduce the poor-rich obesity gap by about 20%. Similarly, equalizing higher education, caste and region would be expected to reduce the poor-rich obesity gap by about 4% 7%, 16% (in south region) respectively.
Conclusion: A single factor will not be effective to reduce the malnutrition among female adolescent in India. Paper advocates to consider wealth and rural-urban differential in selecting the education based informed choices for nutritious diet as regular practice may provide a solution to minimize double burden of malnutrition among female adolescents in India.
Sinkites: km-scale sand bodies sinking into ooze
Authors: Rudjord Jan Erik , Huuse Mads
Published: November 2024

Oligo-Miocene strata in the northern North Sea comprise hundreds of enigmatic km-scale sand-cored mounds. We investigated these using a basin-scale high-resolution 3D seismic dataset coupled with petrophysical logs and cuttings mineralogy for hundreds of wells. This new evidence underpins our discovery of sinkites’, large-scale sand bodies that have sunk into layers of low-density bio-silicious ooze, violating the law of superposition when swapping places with ooze rafts, now located above the sands. The inversion is attributed to buoyancy instabilities between low density ooze and younger, denser, unconsolidated sand, which was liquefied by earthquakes shortly after deposition. The sand slurry dislodged the ooze as rafts, disjointed by early-stage polygonal faults. Akin to load casts, but vastly bigger, ‘sinkites’ introduce a new large-scale process into geology. The discovery is important to stratigraphy and for reservoir, seal and fluid flow evaluation in petroleum and CO2 storage projects and may have geotechnical implications.
High-Performance Achromatic Flat Lens by Multiplexing Meta-Atoms on a Stepwise Phase Dispersion Compensation Layer
Authors: Lin Jingen , Wang Xue-Hua
Published: November 2024

Flat optics have attracted interest for decades due to their flexibility in manipulating optical wave properties, which allows the miniaturization of bulky optical assemblies into integrated planar components. Recent advances in achromatic flat lenses have shown promising applications in various fields. However, it is a significant challenge for achromatic flat lenses with a high numerical aperture to simultaneously achieving broad bandwidth and expanding the aperture sizes. Here, we present the zone division multiplex of the meta-atoms on a stepwise phase dispersion compensation (SPDC) layer to address the above challenge. In principle, the aperture size can be freely enlarged by increasing the optical thickness difference between the central and marginal zones of the SPDC layer, without the limit of the achromatic bandwidth. The SPDC layer also serves as the substrate, making the device thinner. Two achromatic flat lenses of 500 nm thickness with a bandwidth of 650 - 1000 nm are experimentally achieved: one with a numerical aperture of 0.9 and a radius of 20.1 µm, and another with a numerical aperture of 0.7 and a radius of 30.0 µm. To the best of our knowledge, they are the broadband achromatic flat lenses with highest numerical apertures, the largest aperture sizes and thinnest thickness reported so far. Microscopic imaging with a 1.10 µm resolution has also been demonstrated by white light illumination, surpassing any previously reported resolution attained by achromatic metalenses and multi-level diffractive lenses. These unprecedented performances mark a substantial step toward practical applications of flat lenses.
Differences in three-dimensional spinal kinematics between individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain and age- and sex-matched asymptomatic controls
Authors: Dambadarjaa Batlkham , Khuyagbaatar Batbayar , Boldbaatar Damdindorj , Avirmed Baljinnyam , Wong Arnold YL , Sullivan Justin , Ferreira Paulo H. , Bayartai Munkh-Erdene
Published: November 2024

The aim of this study to investigate three-dimensional spinal kinematics among individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP) during range of motion (ROM) and functional tests, comparing them with those in age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. A total of 60 individuals (30 participants with and 30 without LBP), aged between 18 and 50 years participated in the study. The full-body Xsens system was employed to record the three-dimensional movements during ROM tests (flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation) and functional activities (single-leg standing, Hurdle step, squat, and picking up a box tests). Statistically significant between-group differences in some spine variables were observed during the ROM and functional tests (p < 0.05). Compared to healthy individuals, those with LBP demonstrated less movement in their spine [thorax flexion, difference between groups (Δ) = -15.9°, 95% CI -23.8° to -8.0°, p = 0.0001] and pelvis (pelvic flexion, Δ = -9.8°, 95% CI -17.1° to -2.5°, p = 0.009) during ROM tests, while these parameters moved more during functional tasks (lumbar flexion-extension, Δ = 12.5°, 95% CI 8.8° to 16.1°, p = 0.0001). These findings emphasize the significance of incorporating both ROM and functional tests in spinal assessments. Addressing impairments in these areas could be crucial for managing individuals with chronic LBP and tracking their progress.
A Study on the Accuracy of Pre-Treatment Consultation Responses for Adult Orthodontic Patients Based on Large Language Models
Authors: Miao Chunqin , Ge Xiangyu , Chen Yanan , Li Xiangyu , Yuan Chenyang , Chen Shixiang , Zheng WeiYing , Chen Jingcheng
Published: November 2024

This study compiled the 50 most common preoperative consultation questions from adult orthodontic patients through clinical observation. Responses were generated in new dialogue sessions using three large language models: Ernie Bot, ChatGPT, and Gemini. The answers were assessed across five dimensions: professionalism and accuracy, clarity and comprehensibility of language, personalization and specificity, completeness and thoroughness of information, and empathy and humanistic care. The results demonstrated that Technical Accuracy(TA) was rated as reliable (44%, 78%, 74%); Clarity and Comprehensibility (CC) was also found reliable (62%, 44%, 46%); Personalization and Relevance (PR) and Information Completeness (IC) were reliable as well (58%, 70%, 70%) and (74%, 82%, 66%) respectively; Empathy and Human-Centeredness (EHC) was considered moderately reliable (64%, 54%, 46%). The three AI language models showed moderate to reliable performance in terms of clarity, personalization, and completeness. However, they fell short in the dimension of humanistic care. Therefore, it can be concluded that AI language models present potential benefits for preoperative consultations. Nonetheless, given the complex individual needs of patients in clinical settings, further optimization of AI models is essential, and clinical consultations should be prioritized when necessary.
Real-world utility of ChatGPT in pre-vasectomy counselling in an office-based setting: A pilot study
Authors: Chung David , Sidhom Karim , Dhillon Harliv , Bal Dhiraj S. , Fidel Maximilian G. , Jawanda Gary , Patel Premal
Published: November 2024

Purpose
This study sought to assess if pre-vasectomy counselling with ChatGPT can safely streamline the consultation process by reducing visit times and increasing patient satisfaction through the consultation process.
Methods
A single-institution randomized pilot study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ChatGPT for pre-vasectomy counselling. All adult patients interested in undergoing a vasectomy were included. Unwillingness to provide consent or not having internet access constituted exclusion. Patients were randomized 1:1 to ChatGPT with standard in-person or in-person consultation without ChatGPT. Length of visit, number of questions asked, and a Likert scale questionnaire (on a scale of 10, with 10 being defined as great and 0 being defined as poor), were collected. Descriptive statistics and a comparative analysis were performed.
Results
18 patients were included with a mean age of 35.8 ± 5.4 (n = 9) in the intervention arm and 36.9 ± 7.4 (n = 9) in the control arm. Pre-vasectomy counselling with ChatGPT was associated with a higher provider perception of patient understanding of the procedure (8.8 ± 1.0 vs 6.7 ± 2.8; p = 0.047) and a decreased length of in-person consultation (7.7 ± 2.3 min vs 10.6 ± 3.4 min; p = 0.05). Quality of information provided by ChatGPT, ease of use, and overall experience were rated highly at 8.3 ± 1.9, 9.1 ± 1.5, and 8.6 ± 1.7, respectively.
Conclusions
ChatGPT for pre-vasectomy counselling improved the efficiency of consultations and the provider’s perception of the patient’s understanding of the procedure.
Ultra Minimally Invasive Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures (uMI-SSRF): Reduction and Fixation techniques to minimize the surgical wound
Authors: LO HON LOK , Lee Jui-Ying , Lu Chun Kuan , Lo On-Yee , Lu Cheng-Chang , Tsai Dong-Lin
Published: November 2024

Background:
Rib fractures are common in trauma patients, often leading to complications such as pneumonia and prolonged hospitalization. Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures (SSRF) has become increasingly prevalent in treating severe cases. However, traditional approaches, like posterolateral thoracotomy, are invasive and cause significant muscle damage. Recently, muscle-sparing minimally invasive techniques have been introduced, yet they still require advanced reduction and fixation techniques to avoid complications. This study presents an "ultra" minimally invasive SSRF (uMI-SSRF) technique designed to minimize surgical wounds and soft tissue damage while maintaining the benefits of rib fixation.
Methods:
This study involved 76 patients with multiple rib fractures treated using the uMI-SSRF technique between August 2021 and December 2023. Preoperative chest tomography with 3D reconstruction was used for surgical planning. The technique employed small incisions (3-5 cm), muscle-sparing approaches, and advanced fixation techniques. Data on patient demographics, intraoperative details, and postoperative outcomes were collected.
Results:
The mean patient age was 58 years, with 66% being male. On average, patients had 6.4 fractured ribs, and 4 ribs were fixed per surgery, achieving a fixation ratio of 59%. The average wound length was 4.2 cm, with a mean operation time of 122 minutes. Most patients required one incision (74%). Median hospital length of stay was 7 days, with a pneumonia rate of 5%. No wound infections or implant-related complications were observed.
Conclusions:
The uMI-SSRF technique effectively reduces wound size and soft tissue damage in rib fracture stabilization while maintaining high fixation quality. This method shows promise for improving patient outcomes, reducing recovery time, and minimizing complications. Further studies with larger sample sizes and comparisons with other methods are warranted to verify the advantages of uMI-SSRF.
Bromatological Analysis of Marine Macroalgae Present in the Central Coast of Manabí, Ecuador
Authors: ESPAÑA JUAN NAPA , SORNOZA KESHIA PICO , MENDOZA JESÚS BRIONES , ALIÓ JOSÉ JAVER , QUIJIJE LUBER
Published: November 2024

Macroalgae play an important role in maintaining the overall balance of the planet, not only through oxygen production but also due to their importance as the foundation of food webs, climate regulation, habitats, nutrient cycles, and their commercial value to humans. The purpose of this study was to determine the richness of marine macroalgae species along the coastal profile of the central zone of Manabí, Ecuador, their bromatology, and presence of heavy metals, as a contribution to the knowledge of the nutritional potential of these species. Three zones were selected for their composition: Punta Blanca-Jaramijó, Barbasquillo-Manta and Puerto Cayo, where algal species samples were collected according to established protocols. Monthly bromatological analyses of three species, Ulva Lactuca, Padina pavonica and Caulerpa racemosa, were performed from August 2018-July 2019. A total of 18 macroalgae species were identified, belonging to three phyla: Chlorophyta, Ochrophyta, and Rhodophyta, with Lobophora variegata (Ochrophyta: Phaeophyta) being the most frequently recorded species. Regarding the bromatological analyses, humidity and ash contents varied in a cyclical and inverse way, with higher humidity values from August to December. Lipid content was ≤ 3% while protein content in Ulva lactucavaried in the range 17.5 – 0.6%, while the other species between 5 – 0.33%. A high concentration of Mn was observed among minerals, providing guidelines for future beneficial research. The ecotoxicological tests (heavy metals) showed values above the permissible normal indices, highlighting the need to consider these results for the conservation and recovery of contaminated areas.
Different Findings in Neonate Carbamyl-Phosphate Synthetase I Deficiency Disease
Authors: Jiang Shou-Liang , He Qi , Zhang Li , Tang Jun
Published: November 2024

Background
Carbamyl-Phosphate Synthetase I Deficiency Disease (CPS1) is a rare condition that is a disorder of the urea cycle. It often results in severe hyperammonaemia with poor prognosis due to inappropriate feeding.
Case presentation:
We report a case of a patient admitted with poor response and jaundice, with initial metabolic screening suggestive of hyperammonemia, refinement of blood and urine metabolic screening and second-generation sequencing clarifying CPS1, who was discharged from the hospital cured after a synergistic course of peritoneal dialysis, haemoexchange therapy, haemodialysis and oral ammonia-lowering medications. The patient was neurologically assessed for only mild brain damage and recovered.
Conclusion
Severe forms of CPS1 can also have excellent outcomes if early detection and treatment are achieved. Blood exchange therapy combined with peritoneal dialysis might be a less invasive treatment for patients in the acute phase.
The clinical trial number:
not applicable.
What is behind high turnover intention among hospital nurses during the full liberalization of COVID-19 and post-pandemic era in China: a 2-wave repeated multicenter survey
Authors: Xiao Julan , Liu Lili , Peng Yueming , Lv Xia , Xing Chunfeng , Tao Yanling , Zhu Shening , Mai Aihuan , Liang Lijun , Hu Hongying , Fan Yi , Peng Weisi , Xie Haishan , Ren Jun , Luo Weixiang
Published: November 2024

Background
The COVID−19 pandemic was a major public health crisis, which has exacerbated the difficulties nurses face, resulting in higher turnover rates and workforce shortages. While many early studies that have examined factors contributing to turnover intention, surprisingly, as yet, no studies have compared the turnover intention of Chinese hospital nurses during the full liberalization of COVID−19 period and post-pandemic era, and it is unclear which potential factors may be associated with turnover intention of nurses at the different periods. This 2-wave repeated survey purposed to explore the prevalence and correlates of turnover intention at different stages of the full liberalization of COVID−19 and post-pandemic era in a large sample of nurses in China.
Method
Using a repeated cross-sectional survey design, we conducted two online surveys at 25 hospitals in Guandong, China. The 2 surveys were conducted during the full liberalization of COVID−19 period (T1: 27 December 2022 to 7 January 2023, N = 1,766), and post-pandemic era (T2: 11 May to 23 May 2023, N = 2,643). Turnover intention was measured by the six-item Turnover Intention Scale (TIS). A range of turnover intention-related factors was assessed, including sociodemographic characteristics, preceived stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, job burnout, intolerance of uncertainty, satisfaction with life, and work-related factors.
Results
The prevalence of turnover intention were 73.33% and 72.34% at T1 and T2, respectively. Dissatisfaction with nursing work (aOR: 2.160–6.536, Ps < 0.001), lack of interest in nursing (aOR: 2.513–2.802, Ps < 0.001) and job burnout (aOR: 1.360–4.096, Ps < 0.01) were associated with an increased risk of turnover intention. And satisfaction with life (aOR: 0.343–0.683, Ps < 0.05) was associated with a reduced risk of turnover intention.
Conclusions
Turnover intention were particularly higher both in the full liberalization of COVID−19 period and the post-pandemic era. Multiple factors, especially dissatisfaction with nursing work, lack of interest in nursing, job burnout and satisfaction with life are associated with turnover intention. Early detection of turnover intention among hospital nurses and preventive and promotive interventions should be implemented during the full liberalization of COVID−19 and the post-pandemic era to reduce turnover intention among nurses.
Pollen–pistil interactions in divergent wide crosses lead to spatial and temporal pre-fertilization reproductive barrier in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)
Authors: Raut Vijaykumar Kailasrao , Yadav Aneeta , Kaur Vikender , Rao Mahesh , Pathania Pooja , Wankhede Dhammaprakash , Singh Mamta , Singh Gyanendra Pratap
Published: November 2024

Linseed, has been a source of natural fiber for terxtile industries since its domestication. However, despite being the potential source of trait reservoir, the use of Linum wild genetic resources for the improvement of economic traits are not exploited widely. This is mainly due to the degree of genetic divergence that exists among the interspecific ecotypes causing crossability issues. Self-incompatibility due to the occurrence of heterostyly is very well reported in distantly related crop wild relatives of Linum and, the mechanism of self-incompatibility between different floral morphs is also studied. However, pollen germination and tube growth responses in the interspecific crosses are rarely studied. Thus, the present study was exclusively carried out to assess the major pre-zygotic barriers and their effect on pollen germination on foreign stigma using fluorescent microscopy of aniline blue stain-aided technology, to understand how the species barriers operate on pollen germination and pollen tube growth. The study revealed that the pollen-pistil interaction in the wide crosses among L. usitatissimum X L. grandiflorum was regulated by both temporal and spatial pre-fertilization barriers. Callose deposition within 2 hours after pollination (HAP) at the stigma surface, was the major cause inhibiting pollen germination. Various kinds of aberrations started appearing during the 2-4HAP. The complexity of interspecific hybridization was observed in terms of arrest of pollen tube (PT) growth in the ovary, ruptured, twisted and swollen pollen tube tip, tube growth in reverse direction, convoluted and terminated growth patterns. The results suggest that although, distant hybridization is usually less efficient, hybridization success can be improved by advanced techniques such as embryo rescue and in vitro culture of isolated immature embryos that will undoubtedly yield crucial information on selecting the ideal culture conditions and medium, paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries in this field.
Long-term impact of pregnancy on mortality and graft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kanbay Mehmet , Brinza Crischentian , Ozbek Lasin , Unlu Selen , Abdel-Rahman Sama Mahmoud , Guldan Mustafa , Aktas Ozgur , Covic Andreea , Burlacu Alexandru , Covic Adrian
Published: November 2024

Background and aim: Pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients involves complex physiological changes that could potentially impact long-term graft function and survival. Despite some evidence suggesting minimal long-term effects on graft survival, conflicting results on graft function and timing-related risks highlight the need for a comprehensive review. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the long-term impact of pregnancy on patient survival, graft failure, serum creatinine levels, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and proteinuria in kidney transplant recipients.
Materials and methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis adhering to PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024569702). We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Ovid MEDLINE. Studies were eligible if they provided data on adult kidney transplant recipients (>18 years) who became pregnant post-transplant and included a control group of non-pregnant or non-conceived individuals.
Results: Among the 6,118 results screened, 19 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The risk of allograft failure or graft loss was similar between pregnant and non-pregnant controls (OR 1.13, 95% CI: 0.83–1.53, p = 0.43), with a slightly higher adverse outcome rate in pregnant patients (25.4% vs. 19.8%). All-cause mortality risk was also comparable (OR 0.63, 95% CI: 0.38–1.07, p = 0.09), with low heterogeneity (I² = 12%). Creatinine levels were significantly lower before pregnancy compared to after delivery (SMD -0.33, 95% CI: -0.52 to -0.14, p = 0.0008).
Conclusion: Pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients leads to increased creatinine levels in postpartum but does not significantly affect long-term graft survival. While creatinine levels generally decrease during pregnancy, they show variability by trimester. The risk of allograft failure and mortality is similar between pregnant and non-pregnant recipients, though adverse outcomes are slightly more frequent in pregnant patients, emphasizing the need for careful monitoring and individualized management.
Disclosing the potential mechanisms of Amomi Fructus phenolic compounds inducing ferroptosis in SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells: a joint network pharmacology-based analysis
Authors: Lv Yana , Xia Bin , Shi Wei , Mou Yan , Su Jing , Ding Xuan , Zhang Lixia , Li Guang , Chen Xi
Published: November 2024

Objectives
This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which Amomi Fructus phenolic compounds (AFPC) induce ferroptosis in gastric cancer (GC) using a combination of network pharmacology and experimental validation.
Methods
Targets associated with AFPC, ferroptosis, and GC were compiled, and a component-target network was constructed to identify key compounds. Hub targets of AFPC-induced ferroptosis in GC were determined through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses were conducted to assess these hub targets. The hub targets' mRNA and protein expression levels were evaluated using UALCAN, GEPIA, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, HPA, and TISCH1. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to determine the binding affinity and stability between hub targets and active compounds. Finally, in vitro cell experiments validated the network pharmacology findings. Finally, in vitro cell experiments validated the network pharmacology findings.
Results
Two main active compounds, gallic acid and quercetin, and five hub targets—TP53, HIF1A, IL6, STAT3, and EGFR—were identified. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that AFPC treatment in GC primarily involves oxidative stress, nuclear localization, p53 binding, and cancer-associated pathways. Molecular docking and simulations suggested that gallic acid and quercetin inhibit GC through modulating hub targets. Experimental results demonstrated that gallic acid and quercetin suppress GC cell viability and induce ferroptosis in SGC7901 cells by elevating Fe2+, MDA, and reducing GSH levels. The expressions of p-STAT3, STAT3, and IL-6 were significantly downregulated.
Conclusions
This study suggests that AFPC inhibits GC cell proliferation and induces ferroptosis by blocking the IL-6/STAT3 pathway.
Climate seasonality and predictability during the Middle Stone Age and implications for technological diversification in early Homo sapiens
Authors: Timbrell Lucy , Clark James , Linares-Matás Gonzalo , Boisard Solène , Arous Eslem Ben , Blinkhorn James , Grove Matt , Scerri Eleanor M. L.
Published: November 2024

Regionalisation is considered to be a hallmark of the Middle Stone Age (MSA) compared to the Early Stone Age. Yet what drove diversification around a shared technological substrate that persisted across Africa for hundreds of thousands of years remains debated. Non-mutually exclusive hypotheses include region-specific styles in manufacture, social signalling, cultural drift between geographically isolated populations,, and diverse environmental adaptations, as well as the impacts of unequal research histories and intensities. We explore the potential ecological bases of behavioural diversity during the MSA between two well-studied and diverse areas: eastern and northwestern Africa. We utilise a set of standardised bioclimatic simulations, as well as a time series decomposition algorithm, to determine the nature and extent of regional differences in terms of environmental productivity, seasonality and predictability at MSA sites through time. Our results highlight that, compared to human occupations of eastern Africa, northwestern African MSA occupations are associated with colder, drier and less productive environments, albeit wetter, colder, and more productive compared to surrounding areas, with higher temperature seasonality and more predictable climates across millennia. We then theoretically consider the implications of our results for technological diversification between these two regions during the Middle to Late Pleistocene, such as for the investment in specific risk mitigation strategies for dealing with seasonally mobile resources in northern localities, and the diversification of flexible MSA toolkits in tropical eastern Africa.
The Impact of Intra-tumoral and Sera Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Levels on Glioblastoma and Brain Metastases Patients' Survival
Authors: Kaisman-Elbaz Tehila , Haddad-Shlaifshtein Snir , Eskira Yael , Merkin Vladimir , Dumanis Guy , Turiel Sivan , Atar-Vardi Maya , Bari Romi , Alt Adi , Zamed Tali , Rotem-Dai Noa , Lavrenkov Konstantin , Kezerle Yarden , Dyomin Victor , Razon Ronit , Chakraborty Moumita , Asraf Hila , Hershfinkel Michal , Melamed Israel
Published: November 2024

Purpose: Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) has been shown to induce glioblastoma and brain metastases (BM) development and spread. However, its clinical significance for monitoring disease progression has yet to be established. This study evaluates intra-tumoral and sera MMP-9 levels and their influence on glioblastoma and BM patients' overall survival (OS).
Methods: 92 tumor and pre-operative sera samples were obtained from the brain tumor bank of the neurosurgery department at Soroka University Medical Center from patients who underwent tumor resection between 2015 and 2021. Clinical and imaging data from 27 glioblastoma and 30 BM patients were analyzed, and their MMP-9 levels and activity were measured and compared with meningioma patients and healthy subjects. Survival analyses were performed to examine the impact of MMP-9 level, activity, and clinical parameters on patients' OS.
Results: Glioblastoma and BM patients demonstrated increased median intra-tumoral MMP-9 levels (8ng/ml and 4ng/ml, respectively, p<0.001), activity, and pre-operative sera levels (2.8ng/ml and 1.8ng/ml, respectively, p<0.001). MMP-9 was specifically detected within and between glioblastoma cells and tumor endothelia. High intra-tumoral and sera MMP-9 levels, but not its activity, were linked to decreased OS in glioblastoma and BM patients (15.8 versus 8.4 months, p=0.022). Sera MMP-9 was readily measured in patient sera.
Conclusions: This study suggests that intra-tumoral and sera MMP-9 can assist in identifying glioblastoma and BM recurrence/progression and that high intra-tumoral and/or sera MMP-9 levels at diagnosis correlate with significantly shorter patient OS. Importantly, sera MMP-9 could be longitudinally and non-invasively monitored in those patients and, once rising, may indicate tumor progression.
Lying mirror
Authors: Ozcan Aydogan , Li Yuhang , Chen Shiqi , Bai Bijie
Published: November 2024

We introduce an all-optical system, termed the “lying mirror”, to hide input information by transforming it into misleading, ordinary-looking patterns that effectively camouflage the underlying image data and deceive the observers. This misleading transformation is achieved through passive light-matter interactions of the incident light with an optimized structured diffractive surface, enabling the optical concealment of any form of secret input data without any digital computing. These lying mirror designs were shown to camouflage different types of input image data, exhibiting robustness against a range of adversarial manipulations, including random image noise as well as unknown, random rotations, shifts, and scaling of the object features. The feasibility of the lying mirror concept was also validated experimentally using a structured micro-mirror array along with multi-wavelength illumination at 480, 550 and 600 nm, covering the blue, green and red image channels. This framework showcases the power of structured diffractive surfaces for visual information processing and might find various applications in defense, security and entertainment.
Incidence and Predictors of Secondary Transmission of Ebola among Contacts in Central Uganda in 2022: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Mulongo Muhamed , Matovu Joseph K. B. , Lubaale Yovani A. M. , Olupot-Olupot Peter
Published: November 2024

Background
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a highly lethal zoonotic viral hemorrhagic fever that is responsible for 41 outbreaks. In 2022, Uganda experienced its sixth EVD outbreak, with 164 cases and a case fatality rate of 39%. Secondary transmission is a key driver of the magnitude and complexity of Ebola outbreaks. This study aimed to determine the incidence, predictors, and survival outcomes associated with secondary transmission during the 2022 Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study leveraging surveillance data collected during the 2022 EVD outbreak in Uganda. The study population comprised individuals identified as Ebola cases or contacts. Data were extracted and subjected to rigorous statistical analysis via STATA version 15. This analysis involved calculating incidence rates and survival outcomes and assessing predictors of secondary transmission through appropriate multivariable regression models, ensuring robustness in the findings and controlling for potential confounders. The study protocol was approved by the Busitema University Research Ethics Committee (BUFHS-2023-145) and the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology (HS3947ES). Individual informed consent was waived, and all the data were anonymized.
Results
A total of 3,140 contacts were included in the study, with 50.64% being female and a mean age of 24 years. The incidence rate of EVD was 1.6 cases per 1,000 person-days of follow-up. Survival rates for those diagnosed with Ebola significantly declined between the 10th and 28th days postexposure. The incidence of Ebola in secondary transmission settings was 1.8 times higher than that in primary transmission settings (IRR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.202–2.735; P < 0.001). Significant predictors of Ebola transmission included high-risk contact status (aHR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.68–3.72; P < 0.001) and male sex in secondary transmission settings (aHR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.15–4.01; P = 0.02).
Conclusions
This study revealed a high incidence of Ebola among contacts, with cases emerging beyond the standard 21-day follow-up period. The incidence was notably higher in secondary transmission settings, with high-risk contacts and males being particularly vulnerable. These findings suggest the need to extend the contact follow-up period beyond 21 days and to prioritize follow-up on the basis of risk stratification. Further research is warranted to explore sex-related differences in secondary transmission dynamics.