bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incapacidade em motociclistas envolvidos em acidente de trânsito
Authors: Souza Samuel Santos , Santos Mona Freitas , Souza Gean Maikon Santos
Published: April 2023

Objetivo: Identificar evolução dos casos de acidente de trabalho grave em motociclistas lesionados por acidente de trânsito no Brasil. Metodologia: Estudo Epidemiológico transversal de caráter exploratório dos Acidentes de Trabalho Grave (ATG), em trabalhadores motociclista, no Brasil no período entre 2009 a 2018. Resultados: Amostra estudada abrangeu 9.752 trabalhadores, que envolveram em algum acidente de trabalho grave, e que este acidente também se caracterizou como um acidente de trânsito, desses, 10,20% evoluíram para cura, 82,13% evoluíram para incapacidade temporária, para 3,76% dos envolvidos a evolução foi de incapacidade permanente e o óbito foi desfecho de 3,9%. Conclusão: Espera-se que os resultados apresentados nesse estudo, possam ampliar a discussão em busca de ações e estratégias mais especificas de modo que esses trabalhadores possam ser alcançados. E ainda, possa contribuir e subsidiar nas discussões sobre o tema, bem como, estimular a realização de outros estudos ampliando o entendimento sobre o assunto.
A importância do rastreio da neuropatia diabética no Sistema Único de Saúde uma revisão integrativa
Authors: Alves Mathias Luca Melo , Menezes Icaro Celso Gomes , Moreira Natália Guimarães , Campos Andre Luiz Baiao
Published: April 2023

Neuropatia Diabética é uma complicação da diabetes mellitus decorrente de lesões em nervos pelo estado hiperglicêmico no organismo gerando deficiências à longo prazo. Doença diagnosticada tardiamente no sistema público de saúde (SUS). O objetivo do estudo foi mostrar a importância da implementação do rastreio da neuropatia diabética no SUS de forma precoce visando prevenir complicações e estabelecer medidas eficazes de tratamento. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa, onde foram utilizados artigos pesquisados durante 3 meses, datados entre 2015 e 2022. Os critérios de inclusão na amostra de análise foram: 1) artigos com data de publicação a partir de 2015; 2) artigos reconhecidos por especialistas na área de medicina da família e neurologia. Os critérios de exclusão foram: artigos duplicados, monografias, trabalhos de conclusão de curso e capítulos de livro. Assim, grande parte das pesquisas sugerem que grande parte dos sintomas a neuropatia diabética surgem de forma progressiva e lenta, sendo difíceis de se diagnosticar precocemente. Desse modo, uma estratégia efetiva para o programa de saúde pública é prevenir, controlar a diabetes, além de usar métodos de rastreio inovadores diversas, como testes de sensibilidades frequentes com o uso de monofilamentos, diapasões, biotensiômetros e o escore de comprometimento neuropático que são essenciais para suspeita da patogenia.
Exploratory cross-sectional study of the use of a green propolis-based ointment in the treatment of skin tears in elderly hospitalized patients
Authors: Santos Janici Therezinha , Marcucci Maria Cristina , Santos Márcio Luiz dos , D'Alpino Paulo Henrique Perlatti
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the use of a green propolis-based ointment for the treatment of skin tears in an elderly hospitalized population. Eleven subjects over 60 years old were selected. They were admitted to a general hospital and received local treatment for skin tears during the hospital stay with a green propolis-containing ointment. Personal data was obtained from the hospital admission to identify the patient's characteristics. Body mass index, alleged allergy to propolis, use of medications, comorbid conditions, degree of dependence (Fugulin scale), and degree of frailty (Rockwood scale) were also obtained. The skin tears were classified using the STAR system. The use of a propolis-containing ointment in skin tears resulted in the improvement of hematomas in the flaps and periflaps of skin tears. In addition, it helped to prevent the colonization and proliferation of bacteria at the injury site, recovering the injured tissue and resulting in viable and quality tissue. No complaints of pain or side-effect events such as signs of tenderness or local or systemic toxicity in the treated patients were reported. The skin tear flaps, darkened by bruises that occurred during the trauma, were gradually absorbed, and the skin improved its surface appearance. The treated tissue presented new and better quality epithelium regardless of treatment time. The ointment containing propolis was effective for the treatment of skin tears. The set of results obtained supported the assumption that propolis-based ointment can be included as an effective option to treat skin tears.
Exploring the Application of the Backward Design Model in EFL Classrooms: Teachers' Perceptions and Practices
Authors: Alvarez-Llerena Carlos Lenin , Coutinho dos Santos Jardel , Vélez Sacoto Dolores Esthela , Vera Balbuca Johana Maribel
Published: April 2023

This qualitative approach study aimed to explore and illustrate the teachers' perceptions in applying the Backward Design Model (BDM) in designing the Ecuadorian teaching syllabi for secondary public schools. Sixteen teachers were selected, and the data was gathered through the teachers' unit designs based on the BDM, teachers' reflections on the implementations of the BDM, and focus-group interviews. The analysis was done using a thematic approach. The researchers followed an interactive process by going forwards and backwards in reading, coding, and creating common themes that emerged from the collected data. The results indicate that the participants found the BDM planning a complex but fruitful process which allows them to better align the students' learning outcomes of each unit with the instructional materials, strategies, and teaching content based on a specific goal. The implications of this research lead to a possible consideration by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education to enact this syllabus design according to the classroom context fully.
Defence acquisition: a WICKED problem?
Authors: Verlaine Alexandre
Published: April 2023

Defence acquisition is a complex undertaking involving multiple actors and processes. However, in recent years, the US and UK defence acquisition frameworks have been criticised for not being able to cope with the complex and uncertain nature of defence. The paper takes this criticism and argues that defence acquisition is best understood as a “wicked problem” in which collective processes tie the system into large and interconnected networks of systems, not as a traditional linear science problem. In particular, the paper demonstrates that the Linear Transformation Model, at the heart of the US and UK defence acquisition framework, is ill-designed to cope with the complex and uncertain nature of both defence outputs and outcomes. The main reasons are technological maturity, information asymmetry and the need for interpretation and judgement. Furthermore, the paper elaborates that defence acquisition is characterised by a “problem of theory” and a “problem of practice” and that further research is necessary in order to transform its institutional culture and tackle the theory-practice divide with a more holistic approach.
Urethral Reconstruction Using Cell-Based Tissue Engineering Approaches
Authors: Chokalingam Kumar , Gottipamula Sanjay , Sridhar Koteshwar N.
Published: April 2023

Urethral reconstruction for complex conditions remains a challenge because of the unsatisfactory long-term results and problems associated with the harvesting of adequate replacement tissues. Tissue engineered substitutes, either scaffolds alone or in combination with cells, can overcome some of the aforementioned problems. Currently, such tissue engineered substitutes have been gaining popularity, as evidenced by >80 published preclinical and 20 clinical studies. This review summarises the currently available literature on the cell-based tissue engineered substitutes (11 studies) for urethral reconstruction. Clinical translational challenges and future directions are also discussed.
Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma: Clinical Perspectives
Authors: Ni Han , Htet Aung
Published: April 2023

Adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumour which arises from the adrenal cortex with diverse clinical manifestations due to excessive hormone production, with Cushing’s syndrome and virilisation being the most common features. The diagnosis of ACC relies on clinical, hormonal, and imaging features before surgery and pathological examination after tumour removal. Pathological assessment of Weiss score and the Ki-67 labelling index play an important role in diagnosis and prognosis. The tumour, lymph node, and metastasis (TNM) classification, established by the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT) is used for staging. Currently, complete surgical resection is the only treatment option for ACC that has a curative intent, with no reported difference in overall recurrence or mortality between open and laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Mitotane is used as an adjuvant therapy after surgery for high-risk patients and as primary treatment for unresectable and advanced cases; however, it has a narrow therapeutic index and regular blood monitoring is essential. The role of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in ACC is unclear with limited studies and varying results. To date, trials which have been conducted for novel agents revealed disappointing results. Currently, trials are underway for agents targeting steroidogenic factor-1, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), and Wnt signalling pathways, as well as inhibitors of acetyl-coA cholesterol acetyltransferase 1. Unfortunately, ACC has an aggressive natural course with high recurrence rate, and a reported 10-year survival of 7% after treatment.
Negative Biopsies with Rising Prostate-Specific Antigen. What to Do?
Authors: Gómez Rivas Juan , Alvarez-Maestro Mario , Czarniecki Marcin , Czarniecki Stefan , Rodriguez Socarras Moises , Loeb Stacy
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the main tool of detection for prostate cancer (PCa). However, PSA has limited specificity and sensitivity in determining the presence of PCa, leading to unnecessary biopsies and the diagnosis of potentially indolent PCa. The aim of this article is to review the tools available to urologists in the clinical situation of rising PSA with prior negative biopsies.

Evidence synthesis: The need for prostate biopsy is based on PSA level and/or a suspicious digital rectal examination. Ultrasound-guided biopsy is the current gold standard. The incidence of PCa detected by saturation repeat biopsy is 30–43%. Prostate health indes, prostate cancer antigen 3, and 4Kscore are available second-line tests to distinguish between malignant and benign prostate conditions, reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies. Molecular testing including ConfirmMDx (MDxHealth, Irvine, California, USA) and The Prostate Core Mitomic Test™ (PCMT) (MDNA Life Sciences, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA) are tissue tests for men with prior negative biopsy. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is used for lesion identification and subsequently for biopsy or treatment. In the setting of suspected PCa, the use of prostate mpMRI has shown to have a negative predictive value for clinically significant PCa of 80–96%.

Conclusions: Approximately 70% of patients undergoing prostate examination will have a negative result following analysis of the biopsy sample. This negative diagnosis leads to the common clinical challenge of determining when and if a repeat biopsy should be performed. New blood, urine, tissue, and imaging tools are now available to guide this decision.
The Soul of a Name: Finding Jacksie
Authors: Weems Reggie
Published: April 2023

It is a well-known and established fact that C.S. Lewis famously nicknamed himself, but the circumstances surrounding his name change have remained vague for more than a century. While two popular theories about why he changed his name have dominated Lewis studies, its dating has been less definite. Focussing on the date of the name change may, however, offer intriguing insight concerning its rationale. This article compares Flora Lewis's letters and a letter Warnie Lewis sent his parents with two of Warnie's reflections about the name change to conclusively determine the year it transpired and even narrow the exact dating to within only a few days of its occurrence. In addition, it is suggested that this dating, coupled with other personal reflections about the name change, may lend sufficient weight to tip the scales towards one name-change theory.
Elven-Latin and Semitic Adûnaic: Linguistic, Religious, and Political Strife in Tolkien's Island of Númenor
Authors: Fernández Camacho Pamina
Published: April 2023

Tolkien's island of Númenor is a window on the classical tradition and its depiction of ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Persia, and Carthage. It connects Tolkien with two nineteenth-century trends: the attempt, fashionable among British intellectuals, to search for the ‘Semitic’ roots of their culture, and the negative association, established by hostile European countries, between the British empire and Carthage. Like Carthage, Númenor is a thalassocracy, engaging in the reviled practice of human sacrifice in honour of Melkor (a name strongly reminiscent of the Phoenician god Melkart), and its language, Adûnaic, has a ‘Semitic colouring’. But this language coexists with another, Quenya, described by Tolkien himself as ‘Elven-Latin’, used for ‘ceremony, and for high matters of lore and song’. Those two languages create a symbolic divide that harkens back to something that affected Tolkien personally: the centuries-long strife between Anglican Protestantism and Catholicism in his own country. This creates an interesting parallel with the original fable used by Tolkien as point of departure: Plato's story of the rise and fall of Atlantis, interpreted by modern scholars as a tale of Athens and its gradual slide into what the philosopher believed to be the wrong path.
Fra logg til blogg: Yrkesfaglæreres digitale kompetanseutvikling gjennom designbasert praktikerforskning
Authors: Berntsen Svanhild Kristine , Johannesen Hedvig
Published: April 2023

Professional digital competences (PDC) have a significant influence on Norwegian and international innovation in education and have been extended to include several aspects of the teacher’s role. There is a need for more research on vocational teachers/education in general, and specifically on digital competence. This article is an intervention study in Norwegian vocational education and training, exploring the development of vocational teacher’s professional digital competences through design-based practitioner research. The aim has been to study how the implementation of a new artefact, using blog as an ePortfolio and a boundary object, influence the practitioner researcher’s and vocational teacher colleagues’ development of PDC. The study was carried out in subjects of vocational specialisation with youth enterprise as the method. The results and analysis contribute to identifying participatory knowledge about vocational teachers’ development opportunities and competence profile related to the use of technology as boundary objects and the further establishment of new boundary-crossing practices. This study contributes to an expanded understanding of vocational teachers’ competence profile and development opportunities related to PDC, and the case contributes with increased knowledge about how practitioner research provides opportunities for development.
Multi-omic analyses in immune cell development with lessons learned from T cell development
Authors: Cordes Martijn , Pike-Overzet Karin , Van Den Akker Erik B. , Staal Frank J. T. , Canté-Barrett Kirsten
Published: April 2023

Traditionally, flow cytometry has been the preferred method to characterize immune cells at the single-cell level. Flow cytometry is used in immunology mostly to measure the expression of identifying markers on the cell surface, but—with good antibodies—can also be used to assess the expression of intracellular proteins. The advent of single-cell RNA-sequencing has paved the road to study immune development at an unprecedented resolution. Single-cell RNA-sequencing studies have not only allowed us to efficiently chart the make-up of heterogeneous tissues, including their most rare cell populations, it also increasingly contributes to our understanding how different omics modalities interplay at a single cell resolution. Particularly for investigating the immune system, this means that these single-cell techniques can be integrated to combine and correlate RNA and protein data at the single-cell level. While RNA data usually reveals a large heterogeneity of a given population identified solely by a combination of surface protein markers, the integration of different omics modalities at a single cell resolution is expected to greatly contribute to our understanding of the immune system.
Integrated approach for the investigation of groundwater quality using hydrochemical and geostatistical analyses in Wadi Fatimah, western Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alshehri Fahad , Abdelrahman Kamal
Published: April 2023

The Wadi Fatimah area suffers from a lack of freshwater resources, so this study aimed to analyze the groundwater in this region and evaluate its quality for irrigation and drinking purposes. Eleven water quality parameters, including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), Ca2+, HCO−3, NO−3, F−, Cl−, K+, Mg2+, SO2−4, and Na+, were utilized to evaluate the quality of the water and produce a water quality index (WQI). These parameters were measured at 100 different chosen locations. The spatial distribution map revealed that all parameters are high in the southern part except K+. Using the correlation matrix, a high positive correlation is obtained among TDS, Cl−, Mg2+, and Ca2+ in addition to a high correlation among TDS with Cl− and Na+. From PCA analysis, PCA1, PCA2, and PCA3 represent about 52%, 12%, and 10% of all components along the study area, respectively. PCA1 has low variance than PCA2 and PCA3. The majority of the Southern region’s sites went from having extremely poor to poor water classifications and from poor to unsuitable water. However, the center part possesses exceptionally high-quality groundwater. According to the results from the current study’s water quality index, the presence of nitrate and fluoride in the groundwater samples was primarily responsible for their high WQI values. The statistics showed that a higher percentage of the population had poor drinking water due to direct pollutant release, agricultural effects, and excessive groundwater resource use. The study offers a groundwater quality modeling technique that is both affordable and replicable in other areas.
Factors associated with body image dissatisfaction in a Brazilian university sample during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Cunha Carla de Magalhães , Pereira Emile Miranda , Souto Maria Clara Reis , de Sá Laís Barbosa , da Silva Helena Benes Matos , de Brito Edleide , de Santana Mônica Leila Portela
Published: April 2023

We investigated the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction (BID) and associated factors among professors and undergraduate students in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Stunkard’s Figure Rating Scale, BID was analyzed in a sample of 2,220 adults. The independent variables were sociodemographic, lifestyle, mental health symptoms, COVID-19-related factors, disordered eating, experience of weight stigma, and weight change concerns. We used a multinomial logistic regression analysis. The overall prevalence of BID was 82.5% (69.0% due to excess weight), with more professors dissatisfied by excess weight than undergraduate students (78.9% vs. 61.2%, p < 0.001). In the adjusted model, being a young adult (PR, 1.201, 95% CI: 1.128; 1.279), married or in a stable union (PR, 1.088, 95% CI: 1.027; 1.152), reporting of binge eating episode (PR, 1.120, 95% CI: 1.068; 1.173), concern about weight gain (PR, 1.394, 95% CI: 1.310; 1,483), and experience of excess weight stigma (PR, 1.193, 95% CI: 1.141; 1.248) increased the prevalence of BID due to excess weight. While males (PR, 1.578, 95% CI: 1.328; 1.875), moderate to severe depressive symptoms (PR, 1.217, 95% CI: 1.011; 1.465), the concern of losing weight (PR, 1.494, 95% CI: 1.221; 1.830), and experience of low weight stigma (PR, 2.620, 95% CI: 2.093; 3.280) increased the prevalence of BID due to low weight. Different factors associated with BID were observed between students and professors. Bearing in mind the complexity of body image, it is essential to consider different public health interventions and the COVID-19 pandemic’s influence on reducing BID among Brazilian adults, especially susceptible groups.
Teachers’ test construction competencies in examination-oriented educational system: Exploring teachers’ multiple-choice test construction competence
Authors: Kissi Prosper , Baidoo-Anu David , Anane Eric , Annan-Brew Ruth Keziah
Published: April 2023

This study explored the relationship between multiple choice test construction competence and the quality of multiple-choice tests among senior high school teachers in Ghana. In all, 157 teachers were selected from four senior high schools in the Kwahu-South District. Participants responded to self-designed questionnaire developed to assess teachers’ multiple-choice items construction competencies. A three-factor structure emanated from the exploratory factor analysis on teachers’ multiple choice test construction competence—content validity, item “options” handling, and test items assembling. Teachers in this study perceived more competence in ensuring content validity, followed by test item assembling, and handling of “options” (that is, alternatives) of the test items. The study also found serious problems with copies of multiple-choice items teachers have constructed for the students. Findings from this study provide unique and compelling evidence regarding teachers’ perceived test construction competence and analysis of their multiple-choice tests. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Acute inhibition of bacterial growth in coastal seawater amended with crude oils with varied photoreactivities
Authors: Headrick Erika L. , Nigro Lisa M. , Waidner Lisa A. , Ederington-Hagy Melissa , Simmering Arianna L. , Snyder Richard A. , Jeffrey Wade H.
Published: April 2023

The increased potential for contamination of seawater by crude oils requires studies of bacterial biodegradation potential, but little is known of the differential negative impacts of oils on bacterial growth. No two wells generate chemically identical oils; and importantly, solar exposure of crude oil may differentially affect the bacterial response. Elucidating the role that sunlight plays on the potential toxicity of spilled crude oils is imperative to understanding how oil spills might affect microbes in the tropical and subtropical waters of Florida. This study examined light exposure of six different crude oils, and subsequent microbial responses to altered oils. Marine bacterioplankton heterotrophic activities were measured via3H-leucine incorporation after the addition of oils’ water accommodated fractions (WAFs) that were created under varied solar conditions. Inhibition of production increased with higher concentrations of WAFs, but dose-response trends varied among the oils. Increased solar exposure during WAF preparation generally led to more inhibition, but trends varied among oils. WAFs were also prepared under different parts of the solar spectrum. Solar-irradiated WAFs resulted in significant but variable acute toxicity vs. dark counterparts. Solar-induced toxicity was primarily a result of visible and not ultraviolet light exposure. Results indicate responses to oil spills are highly dependent on the source of the oil and solar conditions at the time and location of the spill. The data presented here demonstrate the importance of photochemical changes and oil source in modulating microbial activity and bioremediation potential.
Response of temperate forest ecosystem services to rainfall: A case study in the forest nature reserves of northern China
Authors: Liang Mei , Han Tian , Ma Jinfeng , Li Ruonan , Yang Yanzheng , Qiu Xiao , Sun Hailian , Zheng Hua
Published: April 2023

In the context of global climate change, temperate forests in climate-sensitive areas are inevitably affected. To deepen the understanding of the impact on precipitation changes into the relationship between key ecosystem services (ESs), this study selected net primary productivity (NPP), soil conservation (SC) and water yield (WY) of temperate forest in northern China as objects, and the Spearman correlation test and redundancy analysis were applied to analyze the response of ESs relationship to precipitation gradient. The results show that precipitation is the meteorological factor with the greatest impact (contribution 21.2%, p<0.01) on ESs and their relationships in temperate forests. The 600-700 mm precipitation gradient is the key turning point in the change of ESs relationship of WY with NPP and SC. This indicates that attention should be paid to the spatial variation of the 600-700 mm precipitation region in the future warm-wet in northern China, which should be used as a dividing line of forest management and policy development. Based on the results, future restoration projects in northern temperate forest should focus on (1) in areas with less than 600-700 mm of precipitation, attention should be paid to the selection of tree species for afforestation to maintain regional water balance; (2) in areas with more than 700 mm of precipitation, soil and water conservation projects need to be planned, especially in mountainous area. The research can not only support the management of temperate forest ecosystems in northern China, but also provide reference to other forest ecosystems to cope with climate change.
Sympatric and allopatric Alcolapia soda lake cichlid species show similar levels of assortative mating
Authors: Lawson Michael R. M. , Hayle Michael G. B. , Shechonge Asilatu H. , Nyingi Wanja Dorothy , Ford Antonia G. P. , Hoffman Joseph I. , Day Julia J. , Turner George F. , Dasmahapatra Kanchon K.
Published: April 2023

Characterizing reproductive barriers such as mating preferences within rapid evolutionary radiations is crucial for understanding the early stages of speciation. Cichlid fishes are well-known for their adaptive radiations and capacity for rapid speciation and as such we investigate assortative mating among Alcolapia species; a recent (<10,000 years), small adaptive radiation, endemic to the extreme soda lakes, Magadi (one species) and Natron (three species), in East Africa. In seminatural aquarium conditions, we observed both courtship and mate choice (tested by microsatellite paternity analysis) to be significantly assortative among the three sympatric Natron species in a three-way choice experiment. This was also the case between allopatric species from Natron and Magadi, as found in a two-way choice experiment. However, the proportion of disassortative matings was substantial in both of these experiments, with hybrids comprising 29% of offspring in sympatric species and 11.4% in allopatric species comparisons. Previous work suggests that the Natron/Magadi split might not be much older than the radiation within Natron, so the similar rate of hybridization in the allopatric comparison is surprising and inconsistent with predictions of reinforcement theory, which predicts a faster rate of accumulation of premating isolation in sympatry. The relatively weak assortative mating in sympatry suggests that additional reproductive barriers, such as microhabitat preferences or spatial structuring may contribute to genetic isolation in nature.
Comparative gonad transcriptome analysis in cobia (Rachycentron canadum)
Authors: Shen Xueyan , Yáñez José M. , Bastos Gomes Giana , Poon Zhi Weng Josiah , Foster Derick , Alarcon Jorge F. , Domingos Jose A.
Published: April 2023

Background: Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) is a species of fish with high commercial potential particularly due to fast growth rates. The evidence of sexual size dimorphism favoring females indicate potential benefits in having a monosex culture. However, the involvement of genetic factors responsible for sexual development and gonadal maintenance that produces phenotypic sex in cobia is largely unknown.

Methods: In the present study, we performed transcriptome sequencing of cobia to identify sex-biased significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in testes and ovaries. The reliability of the gonad transcriptome data was validated by qPCR analysis of eight selected significantly differential expressed sex-related candidate genes.

Results: This comparative gonad transcriptomic analysis revealed that 7,120 and 4,628 DEGs are up-regulated in testes or ovaries, respectively. Further functional annotation analyses identified 76 important candidate genes involved in sex determination cascades or sex differentiation, including 42 known testis-biased DEGs (dmrt1, amh and sox9 etc.), and 34 known ovary-biased DEGs (foxl2, sox3 and cyp19a etc.). Moreover, eleven significantly enriched pathways functionally related to sex determination and sex differentiation were identified, including Wnt signaling pathway, oocyte meiosis, the TGF-beta signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway.

Conclusion: This work represents the first comparative gonad transcriptome study in cobia. The putative sex-associated DEGs and pathways provide an important molecular basis for further investigation of cobia’s sex determination, gonadal development as well as potential control breeding of monosex female populations for a possible aquaculture setting.
Effect of birth plans integrated into childbirth preparation classes on maternal and neonatal outcomes of Iranian women: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Mohaghegh Zaynab , Javadnoori Mojgan , Najafian Mahin , Abedi Parvin , Kazemnejad Leyli Ehsan , Montazeri Simin , Bakhtiari Shahla
Published: April 2023

Background

Involvement of women in the decision-making process during childbirth plays an important role in their physical and psychosocial preparation. A birth plan allows the woman to express her expectations and facilitates her participation in her own care. The present study is the first to assess the implementation of birth plans integrated into childbirth preparation classes in Tehran, Iran.

Methods

This study is a randomized controlled clinical trial performed on 300 pregnant women at 32–33 weeks of gestation referring to four public health centers in Tehran, Iran. The participants were randomly allocated into intervention and control groups using block randomization method. A training session on the items of the birth plan checklist was held in the fifth session of childbirth preparation classes for the participants in the intervention group. Accordingly, a birth plan was prepared according to the requests of mothers. The birth plan was implemented after the women were admitted to the maternity ward. The primary outcomes were frequency of vaginal birth, mean duration of labor stages, and mean score of childbirth satisfaction. We used a checklist of maternal and neonatal outcomes, Mackey's childbirth satisfaction questionnaire, and a partogram form for data collection. Independent t-test, Mann–Whitney U-test, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression were used for data analysis.

Results

Vaginal birth rates were significantly higher in women who had birth plans compared with those without (81.9% vs. 48.7%, p < 0.001). Also, the lengths of the first and the second stages of labor were significantly shorter in women having a birth plan (p = 0.02). Women in the birth plan group were significantly more satisfied with the process of labor and childbearing (p < 0.001), and started breastfeeding after birth earlier than those in the control group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Having a birth plan and attending childbirth preparation classes can increase the rate of normal vaginal birth. Also, according to our results, women's participation in the decision- making process and fulfilling their preferences during birth can improve maternal and neonatal outcomes and childbirth satisfaction.

Trial registration: IRCT20190415043283N2. 2020-12-07.
Eddy and tidal driven basal melting of the Totten and Moscow University ice shelves
Authors: Xia Yuwei , Gwyther David E. , Galton-Fenzi Ben , Cougnon Eva A. , Fraser Alexander D. , Moore John C.
Published: April 2023

The mass loss from the neighboring Totten and Moscow University ice shelves is accelerating and may raise global sea levels in coming centuries. Totten Glacier is mostly based on bedrock below sea level, and so is vulnerable to warm water intrusion reducing its ice shelf buttressing. The mechanisms driving the ocean forced sub-ice-shelf melting remains to be further explored. In this study, we simulate oceanic-driven ice shelf melting of the Totten (TIS) and Moscow University ice shelves (MUIS) using a high spatiotemporal resolution model that resolves both eddy and tidal processes. We selected the year 2014 as representative of the period 1992 to 2017 to investigate how basal melting varies on spatial and temporal scales. We apply the wavelet coherence method to investigate the interactions between the two ice shelves in time-frequency space and hence estimate the contributions from tidal (<1.5 days) and eddy (2-35 days) components of the ocean heat transport to the basal melting of each ice shelf. In our simulation, the 2014 mean basal melt rate for TIS is 6.7 m yr-1 (42 Gt yr-1) and 9.7 m yr-1 (52 Gt yr-1) for MUIS. We find high wavelet coherence in the eddy dominated frequency band between the two ice shelves over almost the whole year. The wavelet coherence along five transects across the ice shelves suggests that TIS basal melting is dominated by eddy processes, while MUIS basal melting is dominated by tidal processes. The eddy-dominated basal melt for TIS is probably due to the large and convoluted bathymetric gradients beneath the ice shelf, weakening higher frequency tidal mode transport. This illustrates the key role of accurate bathymetric data plays in simulating on-going and future evolution of these important ice shelves.
An assumption of in situ resource utilization for “bio-bricks” in space exploration
Authors: Zuo Hongyan , Ni Shuisong , Xu Meiying
Published: April 2023

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) mimics the natural cementation process that occurs in various geological settings by using the bicarbonate minerals resulting from various bacterial metabolic pathways as cementing agents. This bio-technique can be used to manufacture so-called “bio-bricks,” which rival regular bricks in strength and durability. In the last two decades, MICP has been increasingly utilized for the maintenance and repair of infrastructure. More recently, this process has also been shown to have great potential as an energy-saving and cost-effective means of in situ resource utilization (ISUR) to produce construction materials; these can be utilized for extraterrestrial human settlements for space programs such as lunar exploration. We thus review the description of natural cementation, the anaerobic and aerobic bacterial metabolic activities leading to calcium carbonate precipitation, the properties of the lunar regolith, the production of bio-bricks, and potential research needs.
Porous single crystalline-like titanium dioxide monolith with enhanced photoelectrochemical performance
Authors: Liu Kaipeng , Cheng Fangyuan , Luo Yunfei , Liu Ling , Wang Changtao , Xie Kui , Luo Xiangang
Published: April 2023

Macro-sized porous single crystalline-like (PSC-like) TiO2 is endowed with unique structural advantages due to its structural consistency and porosity in a large area, which would significantly enhance its photoelectrochemical function. However, there are significant technical challenges in the growth of porous single crystalline-like monoliths. The consistency of structure dominates the structure so that the grain boundary is reduced to the minimum, which is in contradiction with the three-dimensional percolation structure. Here we report a lattice reconstruction strategy based on solid-solid transformation to grow porous single crystal-like anatase TiO2 dominated by (200) and (101) facets at 2 cm scale. In comparison with the traditional definition of porous single crystal, it has two different lattice orientations, but still has good photoelectrochemical properties. The band gap engineering introduces Ti3+ gap into the lattice to generate TinO2n−1 with Magneli phase, limiting the created active structure to the lattice with two-dimensional surface, which would open a new avenue to create highly active surfaces to capture photons and transport electrons stably. The PSC-like TinO2n−1 provides enhanced exciton lifetime (3–5 ns) as a photocatalytic catalyst and shows significant visible light absorption. The independent PSC-like TinO2n−1 delivers high photocurrent of 1.8–5.5 mA · cm−2 at room temperature and does not decay for 10 h.
Insulin amyloidosis: A case report
Authors: Dubernet Arthur , Toulmonde Maud , Colombat Magali , Hartog Cécile , Riviere Etienne
Published: April 2023

Insulin amyloidosis is a rare form of localized amyloidosis due to insulin aggregation into subcutaneous amyloid fibrils. We describe the case of a 55 years old male with insulin-requiring type 1 diabetes presenting with two non-inflammatory intra-dermal nodules associated with local lymph node enlargement. Diagnosis was confirmed by Congo red coloration of the amyloid deposit and insulin protein identification on mass spectrometry. Insulin amyloidosis is a potential complication of repeated subcutaneous insulin injections. The main risk factor is the intrinsic characteristic of the insulin used. Insulin amyloidosis leads to systemic metabolic consequences such as chronic hyperglycemia or unpredictable hypoglycemia, as well as unesthetic cutaneous lumps or abscesses. Standard-of-care is yet to be defined but mainly rely on therapeutical education of insulin injections, while surgical excision is reported to improve glycemic control in some patients.
GutAlive® enables DNA-based microbiome analysis without disrupting the original composition and diversity
Authors: Montero Ignacio , Barrientos Desirée , Hidalgo-Cantabrana Claudio , Martínez-Álvarez Noelia
Published: April 2023

Introduction

A precise fecal microbiome analysis requires normalized methods for microbiome sampling, transport and manipulation in order to obtain a representative snapshot of the microbial community. GutAlive® is the unique stool collection kit that generates an anaerobic atmosphere enabling oxygen sensitive bacteria to survive, maintaining the original microbiome composition and diversity.

Methods

Five stool samples from different donors were collected using two different sampling devices, GutAlive® and Zymo DNA/RNA Shield®, and processed at four different time points. Shotgun metagenomics was used to evaluate the influence of the device and the processing timing on the microbial populations to unravel the potential fluctuations on the composition and diversity of the fecal microbiome and the metabolic pathways profiling. Additionally, RT-qPCR was used to quantify bacterial cell viability for downstream applications of microbiota samples beyond metagenomics.

Results

Our results show that GutAlive® enables bacterial cell viability overtime preserving DNA integrity, obtaining high-quantity and high-quality DNA to perform microbiome analysis using shotgun metagenomics. Based on the taxonomic profiling, metabolic pathways analysis, phylogeny and metagenome-assembled genomes, GutAlive® displayed greater performance without significant variability over time, showcasing the stabilization of the microbiome preserving the original composition and diversity. Indeed, this DNA stabilization is enabled with the preservation of bacterial viability on an anaerobic environment inside of the sampling device, without the addition of any reagents that interact directly with sample.

Conclusion

All the above makes GutAlive® an user-friendly kit for self-collection of biological samples, suitable for microbiome analysis, diagnostics, fecal microbiota transplant and bacterial isolation, maintaining the stability and bacterial viability over time, preserving the original composition and diversity of the microbiome.
Experimental study on the repair of peripheral nerve injuries via simultaneously coapting the proximal and distal ends of peripheral nerves to the side of nearby intact nerves
Authors: Li Dongdong , Yang Qi , Liu Xin , Jia Jing , Liu Guangbo , Bai Kewen , Jia Shicheng , Peng Jun , Yu Fei
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Peripheral nerve defect is a difficult disease to treat in clinical practice. End-to-side anastomosis is a useful method to treat it. At present, the end-to-side anastomosis method does not involve the proximal nerve, which results in a waste of proximal donor nerves, and even the formation of traumatic neuromas at the proximal end. The patients suffer from traumatic neuralgia and the curative effect is unsatisfactory.

Methods

In this study, an improved end-to-side anastomosis technique was proposed in this study: both the proximal and distal ends of the damaged common peroneal nerve were sutured to an adjacent normal tibial nerve. Moreover, the possible role and mechanism of the proposed technique were explained at the physiological and anatomical levels. In this study, a 10 mm common peroneal nerve defect was made in SD rats, and the rats were randomly divided into three groups. In Group I, the distal end of the common peroneal nerve was attached end-to-side to the fenestrated tibial nerve adventitia, and the proximal end was ligated and fixed in the nearby muscle. In Group II, the tibial nerve adventitia was fenestrated and the epineurial end-to-end anastomosis surgery was performed to suture the proximal and distal ends of the common peroneal nerve. Rats in Group III were taken as control and received sham operation. Twelve weeks after the operation, the recovery of the repaired nerve and distal effector functions were examined by the sciatic functional index, electrophysiology, osmic acid staining, the muscle wet weight ratio, and the muscle fiber cross-sectional area.

Results

It was found that these results in Group II were similar to those in Group III, but better than those in Group I. Through retrograde tracing of neurons and Electrophysiological examination in Group II, the study also found that the proximal common peroneal nerve also could establish a connection with tibialis anterior, even gastrocnemius.

Discussion

Therefore, it is inferred that fostering both the proximal and distal ends of defective peripheral nerves on normal peripheral nerves using the end-to-side anastomosis technique is a more effective approach to repairing injured nerves.
Research advances and trends in the surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome from 2003 to 2022: A CiteSpace-based bibliometric analysis
Authors: Zheng Daqiang , Wu Zhiming , Li Lu , Chen Sichao , Chang Jianjun
Published: April 2023

Background

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common peripheral neuropathies. The typical symptoms are tingling and numbness in the median nerve distribution of the hand. Current treatment for CTS includes general conservative treatment and surgical treatment. Surgical treatment plays a crucial role in the management of CTS, but little bibliometric analysis has been conducted on it. Therefore, this study aimed to map the literature co-citation network using CiteSpace (6.1 R4) software. Research frontiers and trends were identified by retrieving subject headings with significant changing word frequency trends, which can be used to predict future research advances in the surgical treatment of CTS.

Methods

Publications on the surgical treatment of CTS in the Web of Science database were collected between 2003 and 2022. CiteSpace software was applied to visualize and analyze publications, countries, institutions, journals, authors, references, and keywords.

Results

A total of 336 articles were collected, with the USA being the major publishing power in all countries/regions. JOURNAL OF HAND SURGERY AMERICAN VOLUME was the journal with the most published and co-cited articles. Based on keyword and reference co-citation analysis, keywords such as CTS, surgery, release, median nerve, and diagnosis were the focus of the study.

Conclusion

The results of this bibliometric study provide clinical research advances and trends in the surgical treatment of patients with CTS over the past 20 years, which may help researchers to identify hot topics and explore new directions for future research in the field.
Lacosamide as the first add-on therapy in adult patients with focal epilepsy: A multicenter real-world study
Authors: Liu Wenyu , Li Wenjing , Wang Peiyu , Zhang Hesheng , Zhang Enhui , Wu Xintong , Zhou Dong
Published: April 2023

Background

Prospective observations on the effectiveness, safety, tolerance, and influence of comorbidity of add-on lacosamide (LCM) therapy are still lacking, especially for domestic generic LCM in China.

Objective

In this multicenter real-world study, we aimed to evaluate lacosamide (LCM) as the first add-on therapy in adult Chinese patients with focal epilepsy that had initially been treated with monotherapy.

Methods

A cohort of consecutive focal epilepsy patients aged over 16 years were enrolled and followed at the multi-epilepsy centers in China. LCM was prescribed as the first add-on therapy. The main outcome measures included seizure frequency and response rate. Data on seizure-free rate, retention rate, scales of depression and anxiety, and adverse events were also collected as additional outcome measures.

Results

A total number of 107 adult subjects (60 men, 56.07%) were enrolled. The mean age was 37.16 ± 15.01 years, and the mean age at seizure onset was 312.35 ± 199.97 months. After the LCM add-on therapy, the ≥50% response rates were 76.19, 81.73, 94.12, and 95.79% at the visit at 4 weeks (visit 2), 8 weeks (visit 3), 16 weeks (visit 4), and 24 weeks (visit 5), respectively, compared to the baseline (visit 1). A total of 34 patients (31.78%) had no seizures during the whole follow-up period. The posttreatment emotional performance of the 97 subjects, defined as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory (NDDI) scores, was significantly better than the baseline one. Only one patient suffered from mild dizziness.

Conclusion

LCM as the first add-on therapy in adult focal epilepsy in China was effective and safe. Further prospective studies with long-term follow-up periods are needed to confirm our present findings.

Clinical trial registration

http://www.chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2100042485.