bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding co-production of injury research in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: a comprehensive scoping review
Authors: Westacott Genevieve , McCreanor Victoria , Cramb Susanna , Manzanero Silvia , Vuong Kim , Allen Michelle , Dias Shannon , Binge Geoffrey , Das Arpita
Published: January 2025

Background

Injury causes significant burden on Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. However, a considerable portion of the research conducted in this area has been carried out by Western researchers. It has been acknowledged that historical research methodologies and discourses around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research may not be suitable or beneficial. Co-production methodologies offer opportunities for research to be developed collaboratively ensuring meaningfulness of results and appropriate protection for participants. A scoping review was undertaken to investigate the use of co-production methodologies in research within the unintentional injuries space for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities over time.

Main body

A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, ProQuest, Embase and Indigenous Health Infonet databases. Study characteristics, remoteness, injury topic, co-production methods and elements were extracted from eligible studies. The search revealed 4175 papers, from which 39 studies were included in this scoping review. It was found that 69% of studies were fully co-produced with community. Studies predominately focused on general injury, falls prevention or brain injury rehabilitation. The most heavily utilised co-production strategy was the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers into the writing and research team. This helped the collection of culturally safe data and appropriate interpretation of results.

Conclusion

There is growing diversity among co-production methodologies, better enabling meaningful engagement between community and research. This co-production helps decolonise the research process to privilege Aboriginal voices, however, more work is needed to appropriately capture Indigenous perspectives.
Strategy of employing plug-and-play vectors and LC–MS screening to facilitate the discovery of natural products using Aspergillus oryzae
Authors: Shi Hanliang , Lin Beibei , Zheng Mengmeng , Gan Fengyu , Lin Zhi , Xin Xiujuan , Zhao Jian , Qu Xudong , An Faliang
Published: January 2025

Aspergillus oryzae is a widely used host for heterologous expression of fungal natural products. However, the vectors previously developed are not convenient for use and screening positive transformants by PCR and fermentation is time- and effort-consuming. Hence, three plug-and-play vectors were developed here for multi-gene expression and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry detection was introduced to screen positive transformants. Using rug BGC for verification, we demonstrated that the vectors we developed perform well and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry detection is feasible to screen positive transformants. For deleterious gene expression, PxyrA rather than PamyB was employed. Utilizing the toolkit described here to express natural products, dozen days can be saved.

Graphical Abstract
Reproductive health equity: demystifying unmet need for family planning among young women in Uttar Pradesh
Authors: Mishra Punit
Published: January 2025

Background

The unmet need for contraception among adolescent women in India is a significant public health concern, contributing to unintended pregnancies and abortions. This paper seeks to examine the regional variations and factors driving rural–urban disparities in unmet family planning needs in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India’s most populous state, where the total unmet need among adolescents is as high as 19%.

Methods

The study is based on 11,018 adolescent women from the recent round of India’s DHS, NFHS-5 (2019–21). To fulfil the study’s objective, Multilevel logit model and Oaxaca Blinder Decomposition was applied.

Results

The Multilevel logit model results show statistically significant variations at community and district level, implying a strong presence of unobserved factors affecting the unmet demand. Oaxaca decomposition results show that difference in rural and urban adolescent unmet need is explained by factors like wealth, religion and intra-state regions.

Conclusion

The results call for the need to implement culturally appropriate reproductive and sexual health literacy programs to increase uniform access to modern contraception and to raise women’s autonomy in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Facial recognition payment is cool: coolness, inspiration, and customer continuance intention to use facial recognition payment
Authors: Gao Wei , Jiang Ning , Guo Qingqing
Published: January 2025

Facial recognition payment (FRP), a new method of contactless payment, has attracted considerable attention over the past few years. However, the research on this topic remains nascent. This study assessed the drivers of customers’ FRP continuance intention from the perspectives of coolness and inspiration. We use online survey data from 610 Chinese FRP customers as the basis for our conceptual model. The results show that the coolness factors of subculture, attractiveness, utility, and originality have positive and significant effects on customers’ inspired-by states and that subculture and utility also promote inspired-to. Inspired-by is positively associated with inspired-to, which in turn enhances customers’ FRP continuance intention. Furthermore, the relationship between inspired-to and FRP continuance intention is negatively moderated by financial risk. In addition to contributing to the literature on FRP, coolness, and customer inspiration, this study offers several suggestions for implementing and developing FRP systems.
The role of the left primary motor cortex in apraxia
Authors: Perlova Ksenia , Schmidt Claudia C. , Fink Gereon R. , Weiss Peter H.
Published: January 2025

Background

Apraxia is a motor-cognitive disorder that primary sensorimotor deficits cannot solely explain. Previous research in stroke patients has focused on damage to the fronto-parietal praxis networks in the left hemisphere (LH) as the cause of apraxic deficits. In contrast, the potential role of the (left) primary motor cortex (M1) has largely been neglected. However, recent brain stimulation and lesion-mapping studies suggest an involvement of left M1 in motor cognitive processes—over and above its role in motor execution. Therefore, this study explored whether the left M1 plays a specific role in apraxia.

Methods

We identified 157 right-handed patients with first-ever unilateral LH stroke in the sub-acute phase (< 90 days post-stroke), for whom apraxia assessments performed with the ipsilesional left hand and lesion maps were available. Utilizing the maximum probability map of Brodmann area 4 (representing M1) provided by the JuBrain Anatomy Toolbox in SPM, patients were subdivided into two groups depending on whether their lesions involved (n = 40) or spared (n = 117) left M1. We applied a mixed model ANCOVA with repeated measures to compare apraxic deficits between the two patient groups, considering the factors “body part” and “gesture meaning”. Furthermore, we explored potential differential effects of the anterior (4a) and posterior (4p) parts of Brodmann area 4 by correlation analyses.

Results

Patients with and without M1 involvement did not differ in age and time post-stroke but in lesion size. When controlling for lesion size, the total apraxia scores did not differ significantly between groups. However, the mixed model ANCOVA showed that LH stroke patients with lesions involving left M1 performed differentially worse when imitating meaningless finger gestures. This effect was primarily driven by lesions affecting Brodmann area 4p.

Conclusions

Even though many current definitions of apraxia disregard a relevant role of (left) M1, the observed differential effect of M1 lesions, specifically involving subarea 4p, on the imitation of meaningless finger gestures in the current sample of LH stroke patients suggests a specific role of left M1 in imitation when high amounts of (motor) attention and sensorimotor integration are required.
Visual-inertial navigation assisted by a single UWB anchor with an unknown position
Authors: Luo Haolong , Zou Danping , Li Jiansheng , Wang Ancheng , Wang Li , Yang Zidi , Li Guangyun
Published: January 2025

Navigation technology, which integrates vision, Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) sensors in GNSS-denied environments has gained a significant attention. However, inaccurate estimation of UWB anchor positions and improper sensor weighting among heterogeneous sensors significantly impairs the positioning accuracy and robustness of Visual-Inertial-UWB (VIU) systems. To accurately and rapidly estimate the UWB anchor positions, we employed the robust ridge nonlinear least-squares method to improve the accuracy and reliability of the estimated UWB anchor position. Additionally, we proposed a simple and effective method to assess the accuracy of the UWB anchor position using the geometric dilution precision principle, which facilitates rapid and accurate estimation of the UWB anchor position. Furthermore, we designed a method to calculate the estimated UWB anchor position error in real-world settings. Finally, we proposed a nonlinear optimization method with dynamically adaptive weighting based on the HELMERT variance component estimation principle, which assigns appropriate weights to heterogeneous sensors. To validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, comprehensive simulations and real-world experiments were conducted. First, using Monte Carlo simulation and real-world experiments, we validated the effectiveness of the proposed methods for UWB anchor position and its accuracy estimation. Then, we conducted ablation experiments utilizing the open-source VIRAL and real-world datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits superior positioning accuracy and robustness in contrast to the open-source VINS-MONO and VIR-SLAM methods.
A follow-up study of effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on the cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential
Authors: Chalotra Suman , Chandanshive Chandrahas , Bhagwat Nikhil
Published: January 2025

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a systemic disorder affecting glucose metabolism. It is known to impact neuronal function and lead to generalized neuropathy. This study aims to explore its effects on cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, even after blood sugar levels are managed with appropriate treatment.

Methods

A pre-post follow-up study was conducted with 114 participants diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Initial evaluations were performed before starting diabetes treatment, and a second evaluation occurred 3 months later, after blood sugar levels had been managed. A control group was established to compare the findings from the pre-treatment and post-treatment assessments of the study group.

Results

A significant decrease in sugar levels was observed after treatment. However, there was no notable difference between the pre-treatment and post-treatment indices of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in participants with diabetes mellitus. Additionally, participants consistently showed poorer results compared to the control group, both before and after treatment.

Conclusion

It can be inferred that elevated blood sugar levels have a lasting effect on the indices of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials.
A novel approach to expedite evidence to impact in pre-eclampsia: co-developed policy labs in Zambia and Sierra Leone
Authors: Kuhrt Katy , Mabula-Bwalya Chileshe , Boulding Harriet , Beardmore-Gray Alice , Ridout Alexandra , Koroma Osman , Sam Betty , Williams Prince Tommy , Smart Francis , Meleki Isabel , Mwila Meek , Chileshe Mubanga , Mawere Racheal , Hurrell Alice , Mbiiza Christabel , Fernandez-Turienzo Cristina , Sandall Jane , Vwalika Bellington , Shennan Andrew , Bramham Kate
Published: January 2025

Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal mortality; 30,000 pre-eclampsia-related maternal deaths occur annually, with 70% in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and 16% in South Asia. We have shown that early, accurate detection of hypertension combined with planned early delivery in women with late preterm pre-eclampsia significantly reduces stillbirth and severe maternal hypertension. We describe co-development and delivery of policy labs, working with The Policy Institute (King’s College London), and local stakeholders in Sierra Leone and Zambia, to expedite integration of new knowledge into pre-eclampsia care pathways, to improve care for women and babies with the worst outcomes. Policy labs are a unique, user-centric engagement approach, bringing diverse stakeholders together in co-designing strategies for translation of evidence into policy and impact. Both labs were facilitated by local, well-respected female team members, and addressed co-developed questions: ‘How can we improve timely detection and appropriate action in women with pre-eclampsia?’ (Sierra Leone); ‘What are enablers and barriers to offering planned early delivery between 34 and 37 weeks?’(Zambia). Participants at both labs identified lack of pre-eclampsia awareness as a key barrier, and recommended local co-design of community-based strategies to increase access to timely pre-eclampsia management. We demonstrated  policy labs as an effective approach in two low-and middle income settings to facilitate transfer of new knowledge into policy and action.
Impact of a movie club on the well-being of Buckinghamshire psychiatry doctors facing moderate-to-high burnout risk
Authors: Toparlak Sureyya Melike
Published: January 2025

Burnout is a common issue among healthcare professionals and can have a negative impact on both personal and professional well-being. This initiative follows a group of doctors working in Buckinghamshire, UK, who are at moderate to high risk of burnout, over 6 months to determine whether participation in a movie club, as a form of stress relief and social support, can have a positive impact on well-being. The aim of the project was to investigate the impact on doctors’ well-being by improving connectedness, reducing the feeling of isolation and encouraging face-to-face activities.
Measuring Stigma in Pediatric Oncology: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Three Global Sites
Authors: Counts Lara E. , Tanner Robin S. , Chen Yichen , Devidas Meenakshi , Ferrara Gia , Chitsike Inam , Chokwenda Nester , Matsikidze Edith , Cáceres-Serrano Ana M. , Fuentes Lucia , Herrera Thelma Velasquez , Halalsheh Hadeel , Fraihat Nadine , Bhakta Nickhill , Jeha Sima , Santana Victor M. , Malone Sara M. , Graetz Dylan E.
Published: January 2025

PURPOSE

Stigma contributes to fear and shame, resulting in delays in care-seeking behavior among individuals with cancer. As a social construct, stigma is affected by language, religion, culture, and local norms. This study explored pediatric cancer stigma at the time of diagnosis across diverse settings through the adaptation of two stigma measures.

METHODS

This study was conducted with adolescents and caregivers of children with osteosarcoma and retinoblastoma at three centers in Jordan, Guatemala, and Zimbabwe. The Stigma-related Social Problems (SSP) and the eight-item Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness (SSCI-8) measures were translated into Arabic, Spanish, and Shona and contextually adapted for use with adolescents and caregiver proxies. Adapted measures were pilot-tested and iteratively revised.

RESULTS

Extensive adaptations were made to both measures to make them relevant to the local pediatric contexts. The final measures were used in nine patients and 28 caregivers. The exploratory analysis found that domain-specific and overall scale scores for both measures indicate a higher level of stigma than those found in previous studies (SSP: patient [51.23], caregiver [40.74]; SSCI-8: patient [50.41], caregiver [49.78]). Paired, patient-caregiver proxy responses were analyzed, with disagreement between the pairs for both scales.

CONCLUSION

Adapted measures detected high levels of stigma among patients with pediatric cancer and their caregiver proxies and demonstrated a lack of concordance in the reports. This suggests the importance of studying stigma in this population and the need to ask patients about their stigma without using proxy measures. The required adaptations suggest a need for stigma measures developed specifically for pediatric cancer.
Treatment of Pleural Mesothelioma: ASCO Guideline Update
Authors: Kindler Hedy L. , Ismaila Nofisat , Bazhenova Lyudmila , Chu Quincy , Churpek Jane E. , Dagogo-Jack Ibiayi , Bryan Darren S. , Drazer Michael W. , Forde Patrick , Husain Aliya N. , Sauter Jennifer L. , Rusch Valerie , Bradbury Penelope A. , Cho B.C. John , de Perrot Marc , Ghafoor Azam , Graham David L. , Khorshid Ola , Lebensohn Alexandra , White Julie , Hassan Raffit
Published: January 2025

ASCO Guidelines provide recommendations with comprehensive review and analyses of the relevant literature for each recommendation, following the guideline development process as outlined in the

ASCO Guidelines Methodology Manual

. ASCO Guidelines follow the

ASCO Conflict of Interest Policy for Clinical Practice Guidelines

.

Clinical Practice Guidelines and other guidance (“Guidance”) provided by ASCO is not a comprehensive or definitive guide to treatment options. It is intended for voluntary use by clinicians and should be used in conjunction with independent professional judgment. Guidance may not be applicable to all patients, interventions, diseases or stages of diseases. Guidance is based on review and analysis of relevant literature and is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. ASCO does not endorse third-party drugs, devices, services, or therapies and assumes no responsibility for any harm arising from or related to the use of this information. See complete disclaimer in
Appendix 1
and
2
(online only) for more

.

PURPOSE

To provide evidence-based recommendations to practicing physicians and others on the management of pleural mesothelioma (PM).

METHODS

ASCO convened an Expert Panel of medical oncology, thoracic surgery, radiation oncology, pathology, cancer genetics, and advocacy experts to conduct an updated literature search, which included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and prospective and retrospective comparative observational studies published from 2016 through 2024. Outcomes of interest included survival, disease-free or recurrence-free survival, and quality of life. Expert Panel members used available evidence and informal consensus to develop evidence-based guideline recommendations.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 110 additional relevant studies to inform the evidence base for this guideline.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Evidence-based recommendations were developed for surgical cytoreduction, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, pathology, and germline testing in patients with PM.

Additional information is available at
www.asco.org/thoracic-cancer-guidelines
.
Five Manifestos for the Beautiful World
Authors: Boswell Phoebe , Hartman Saidiya , Oliveira Janaína , Pierce Joseph M. , Garza Cristina Rivera , Sharpe Cristina
Published: January 2025

The second annual Alchemy Lecture brought together five artists, thinkers, and writers who proposed new ways of being and discussed radical visions for the future. Five Manifestos for the Beautiful World captures and expands these lectures to illuminate our path towards this possible beautiful world. Joseph M. Pierce (Cherokee Nation) asserts that “for this decolonial future to become possible, the guiding force must no longer be capital but relations.” Film curator Janaína Oliveira (Brazil) evokes music and movement as a means toward this relationality. Visual artist Phoebe Boswell (UK/Kenya) asks, “If we burn down the institution, what happens next?” Saidiya Hartman (US) prompts us to consider our capacity to burn, examining whether “the gift of pragmatism yields a profound tolerance of the unlivable.” Cristina Rivera Garza (US/Mexico) gives us the language of the future in the subjunctive, “the smuggler who crosses the border of the future bearing unknown cargo.” Each alchemist is intimately concerned with this cargo, our ability to bear its weight, and how we might find the beautiful world together.
Manifesto of the As Yet Unlived Thing
Authors: Boswell Phoebe
Published: January 2025

Kenyan-British visual artist Phoebe Boswell uses the space of a virtual gallery to ask, “If we burn down the institution, what happens next? Do we trust ourselves to know?” and gestures toward the possibility of this “as yet unlived, unexperienced thing.”
Crow Jane Makes a Modest Proposal
Authors: Hartman Saidiya
Published: January 2025

Professor and MacArthur fellow Saidiya Hartman asks us to consider our capacity to burn, stating that “Pragmatism yields a profound tolerance of the unlivable.”
Η φύση της εννοιολογικής αλλαγής στις φυσικές επιστήμες
Authors: Κανελλιά Ελένη
Published: January 2025

Σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας είναι να συνεισφέρει στη διερεύνηση του τρόπου με τον οποίο οι αρχικές ιδέες του ατόμου αλλάζουν προκειμένου να είναι σύμφωνες με την επιστημονική άποψη, δηλαδή στη διαδικασία της εννοιολογικής αλλαγής. Αφορμή αποτέλεσαν τα έντονα αντιφατικά ευρήματα στον χώρο της Διδακτικής των Φυσικών Επιστημών, καθώς τα τελευταία χρόνια έχουν επικρατήσει δύο αντίθετες θεωρητικές προσεγγίσεις, η συνεκτική και η κατακερματισμένη γνώση. Η παρούσα εργασία επιχειρεί να εντοπίσει τα επιστημολογικά και μεθοδολογικά ζητήματα που εγείρουν τα αντιφατικά αποτελέσματα αναφορικά με δύο πολυσυζητημένες έννοιες, τη Δύναμη και τη Γη. Το συνολικό δείγμα αποτέλεσαν 1.792 μαθητές από Β’ Δημοτικού έως και Γ’ Γυμνασίου, ενώ σε κάθε ανάλυση αξιοποιήθηκε διαφορετικός αριθμός του δείγματος. Παράλληλα, χορηγήθηκαν τα εργαλεία FORCE-RQ και EARTH-2 για την εξέταση της Δύναμης και της Γης αντίστοιχα, ενώ ορισμένοι συμμετέχοντες συμπλήρωσαν τα Test Lawson και GEFT για να μετρηθούν οι ψυχομετρικές μεταβλητές, λογική σκέψη και εξάρτηση/ανεξαρτησία από το πεδίο. Αρχικά, εξετάστηκε με επιβεβαιωτικό τρόπο η ύπαρξη ή μη των νοητικών μοντέλων των παιδιών, που έχουν προταθεί βιβλιογραφικά για τις δύο έννοιες και αξιοποιήθηκαν οι μέθοδοι: Ανάλυση Λανθανουσών Τάξεων (LCA) και Δέντρο Λανθανουσών Τάξεων (LCT). Στη συνέχεια, εφαρμόστηκε πρωτοποριακά στο πεδίο η Ανάλυση Δικτύων (ΝΑ) προκειμένου να οπτικοποιηθεί η συνέπεια στις αναπαραστάσεις των μαθητών και η σχέση τους με τις ανεξάρτητες μεταβλητές, ηλικία και φύλο, με τη μορφή δικτύων. Τέλος, η έννοιας της Δύναμης ελέγχθηκε σε συνάρτηση με τις δυο ψυχομετρικές μεταβλητές της Νεο-Πιαζέτειας, εφαρμόζοντας τη μέθοδο της γραμμικής παλινδρόμησης και του μη γραμμικού μοντέλου cusp από τη Θεωρία Καταστροφών. Επιπλέον, σ’ ένα μικρό δείγμα μαθητών επιχειρήθηκε ο εντοπισμός της συνέπειας στον χρόνο στις απαντήσεις των μαθητών αναφορικά με τη Δύναμη. Τα αποτελέσματα προσφέρουν νέες πτυχές στην έρευνα για τη συνεκτικότητα των νοητικών μοντέλων και τη διαδικασία της εννοιολογικής αλλαγής, που φάνηκε να ερμηνεύεται καλύτερα υπό το πρίσμα των πολύπλοκων μη γραμμικών συστημάτων. Η παρούσα ερευνητική προσπάθεια αποσκοπεί να συνεισφέρει μεθοδολογικά και επιστημολογικά στην κατανόηση της φύση της γνώσης των παιδιών, προκειμένου να απέλθει θεωρητική ενοποίηση στον χώρο και να δημιουργηθούν οι κατάλληλες εκπαιδευτικές πρακτικές που θα συνάδουν με μία κοινή θεωρία και θα επιφέρουν ορθότερα μαθησιακά αποτελέσματα.
Effects of salbutamol administration on the morphology and cytoarchitecture of the cerebellum and hippocampus of adult wistar rats
Authors: Popoola AbdulGafar Niyi , Ibrahim Munirudeen , Ibiyeye Ruqayyah Yetunde , Faniyi Ayodeji Amos , Balogun Musbau Olusesan , Busari Akeem Olayinka , Garba Wasiu Olanrewaju , Ogunwale Kolawole Ayobami , Lawal Abubakar Zubair , Suleiman Ibrahim Eleha , Adunmo Godwin Olawoyin , Nuhu Abdulrazak
Published: January 2025

Background: Salbutamol is the most preferred and widely used drug for treating bronchial asthma and bronchospasm. Its abuse has however been reported amongst users. Most of the side effects reports on salbutamol are clinical based such as headache, tremor, weakness etc. This study, therefore, investigated the sub-acute effect of oral salbutamol on the general morphology of the cerebellum and hippocampus of adult Wistar rats.
Method and Material: Twenty adult Male Wistar rats (125 – 224g) were divided into four groups of five rats each. The control (distilled water); the 20mg/kg salbutamol, the 30mg/kg salbutamol, and the 40mg/kg salbutamol groups. Drugs were administered orally for 21 days. The body weight of each animal was monitored throughout the experiment. On day 22, animals were euthanized, brains excised, fixed in 10% buffered formal-saline, cerebelli and hippocampi were identified and processed with Haematoxylin and Eosin staining techniques. Data were analysed by ANOVA at p≤0.05 level of significance using SPSS and results presented as mean ± SEM
Results: Results showed that the animals that received 30mg/kg and 40mg/kg salbutamol had significant weight loss. The cerebellum of the 40mg/kg group showed eroded granule cell layer. Hippocampus also revealed pyknotic cells in the pyramidal cell layers at 30mg/kg and 40mg/kg.
Conclusions: This study showed that salbutamol at relatively higher doses caused significant weight loss; degeneration of cerebellum granule cells, which might affect motor coordination; and pyknosis of hippocampal pyramidal cells which may affect learning and memory.
Selecting differential splicing methods: Practical considerations
Authors: Draper Ben  J. , Dunning Mark J. , James David C.
Published: January 2025

Alternative splicing is crucial in gene regulation, with significant implications in clinical settings and biotechnology. This review article compiles bioinformatics RNA-seq tools for investigating differential splicing; offering a detailed examination of their statistical methods, case applications, and benefits. A total of 22 tools are categorised by their statistical family (parametric, non-parametric, and probabilistic) and level of analysis (transcript, exon, and event). The central challenges in quantifying alternative splicing include correct splice site identification and accurate isoform deconvolution of transcripts. Benchmarking studies show no consensus on tool performance, revealing considerable variability across different scenarios. Tools with high citation frequency and continued developer maintenance, such as DEXSeq and rMATS, are recommended for prospective researchers. To aid in tool selection, a guide schematic is proposed based on variations in data input and the required level of analysis. Additionally, advancements in long-read RNA sequencing are expected to drive the evolution of differential splicing tools, reducing the need for isoform deconvolution and prompting further innovation.
Case Report: Can You See the Elephant in the Room? Skin Melanoma Revealed by Gastric Metastasis
Authors: Tababi Ramzi , Khsiba Amal , Mahmoudi Moufida , Ben Mohamed Asma , Yakoubi Manel , Gharbi Ghada , Chaabane Abir , Chelbi Emna , Medhioub Mouna , Hamzaoui Mohamed Lamine
Published: January 2025

Abstract Background Gastric metastasis from melanoma is rare and often presents as an unexpected finding, rarely revealing an underlying primary skin melanoma. Case presentation We report a case of a 62-year-old male who presented with abdominal pain, dyspepsia, anorexia, and weight loss. On physical examination abdominal masses and hepatomegaly were detected. Radiological imaging showed widespread masses in the abdominal and thoracic regions. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy identified an umbilicated protruded lesion with central dark pigmentation at the antro-fundic junction. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining were consistent with melanoma. A subsequent rigorous skin examination uncovered a primary malignant skin melanoma. Due to worsening general condition, the patient received palliative hospice care. Conclusion This report highlights the critical need for vigilant skin examination when dealing with widespread metastatic disease.
Income-Based analysis of health security in Western Asia through an integrated GHSI, MCDM, and Clustering Model
Authors: Nasser Adel A. , Alghawli Abed Saif Ahmed , Saleh Salem , Elsayed Amani A. K.
Published: January 2025

Objectives Infectious diseases present significant challenges to global health security in contemporary, interconnected global environments. This study aimed to evaluate and compare health security performance in Western Asia (WA), with a focus on income group-based disparities and region-specific insights. Methods This study utilized the Global Health Security Index (GHSI) to assess health security across 17 WA countries categorized by income level. Health security indicators for 2019 and 2021 were analyzed using the D-CRITIC method to determine the relative importance of each indicator (Global Health Security Index, 2021): https://ghsindex.org/report-model/). A combined D-CRITIC-CoCoSo framework was employed to rank the countries, followed by K-means clustering for grading. The study also investigated correlations between financial allocation’s indicators and health security outcomes using Spearman’s rank correlation. A comparative analysis elucidated regional disparities across income categories. Results This study highlights WA’s progress in health security by prioritizing foundational health systems, detection/reporting, rapid response, and risk management. From 2019 to 2021, priorities varied by income group, with high-income countries focusing on detection, upper-middle-income countries focusing on risk environments, and low-income countries focusing on prevention. While some nations demonstrated improvement, others, such as Armenia, experienced decline, revealing persistent vulnerabilities. This study revealed significant variability in health security capacity, with both progress and setbacks among countries in different clusters. High- and upper-middle-income countries, such as Qatar and Georgia, leverage investments and international partnerships to improve their rankings, while conflict-affected, low-resource countries, including Iraq, Yemen, and Syria, face stagnation or decline. Strong correlations were observed between financial resource allocation indicators and health performance. Higher investments in countries like Armenia and Georgia led to significantly improved health outcomes, while minimal spending in Syria and Yemen weakened their resilience to health threats. Conclusion Disparities in health resilience persist, underscoring the need for equitable resource allocation and regional cooperation to enhance public health security.
Gdańsk na nowo? Garść uwag o tym, jak można pisać o powojennej historii miasta
Authors: Loew Peter Oliver
Published: January 2025

W swoim eseju autor na podstawie wybranych historii niemieckich miast zastanawia się, co należałoby uwzględniać w badaniach nad powojenną historią Gdańska. Historia miasta nie ogranicza się bowiem wyłącznie do jego terenu, lecz sięga daleko poza miejskie granice. W przypadku Gdańska geograficzny obszar „gdańskości” jest bardzo duży, ponieważ ze względu na pochodzenie, miejsce pracy lub osobistą fascynację jest z nim związanych wiele osób przebywających poza ścisłym obrębem miasta. Historia miasta, zdaniem autora, powinna uwzględniać też i te różnorodne obszary. Innymi elementami nowej historii miasta byłyby historie środowiska naturalnego, używanych języków, nazewnictwa, roli płci lub jego dawni mieszkańcy. Tematem drugiej części artykułu jest historia wyobrażeń o Gdańsku – mieście, o którym zastanawiano się nie tylko przebywając w nim samym, lecz również w wielu innych regionach Europy.
Investor Perceptions of the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax
Authors: Gaertner Fabio B. , Hoopes Jeffrey L. , Kelley Stacie O. , Pflitsch Max
Published: January 2025

The Inflation Reduction Act establishes a new 15% corporate minimum tax on the adjusted financial accounting income for large U.S. corporations. Although the minimum tax is estimated to raise $222 billion over 10 years, some fear firms will manipulate their accounting earnings to reduce their tax liabilities, resulting in less revenue raised. Using an event study, we examine the extent to which investors believe this tax will reduce firm value. We examine stock market reactions around key legislative developments leading to the enactment of the book minimum tax. Our findings show targeted firms experience significantly lower stock returns than nontargeted firms during the enactment process (about 1.4%–1.8% of firm value). In aggregate, our findings are consistent with the Joint Committee on Taxation’s revenue estimates. In cross-sectional tests, we fail to find evidence that firms most likely to avoid the tax via earnings management experience more positive returns. We also fail to find less negative returns for firms most likely to pass on the tax to consumers. Overall, our results suggest investors do not expect firms to avoid this tax. Instead, they appear to expect a significant portion of the corporate minimum tax to be remitted by firms and borne by shareholders.

This paper was accepted by Ranjani Krishnan, accounting.

Funding: F. B. Gaertner acknowledges support from the Cynthia and Jay Ihlenfeld Professorship, M. Pflitsch acknowledges support of a postdoc fellowship of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), S. O. Kelley gratefully acknowledges support from the James L. Henderson Chair, and J. L. Hoopes gratefully acknowledges support from the Harold Q. Langenderfer fellowship.

Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2024.04750 .
Would you rather treat? A rare case of Mycobacterium scrofulaceum
Authors: Sheikh Junaid Zafar , Lunjani Nonhlanhla , Gul Hira , Kila Louay , Casserly Brian
Published: January 2025

Mycobacterium scrofulaceum is a rare cause of non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in adults, primarily affecting the immunocompromised. Pulmonary involvement has been seen in individuals with pre-existing lung pathology. We report a case of a 63-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain, cough and sputum samples yielding M. scrofulaceum, with a normal clinical examination. Initial investigations were unremarkable, prompting abdomen and pelvis computed tomography (CT), revealing minimal pericardial and ascitic fluid. Thoracic CT exhibited calcified tree-in-bud nodules and a trivial left pleural effusion. Given subdued symptoms and limited disease, discerning colonisation versus clinically relevant infection was uncertain. Due to lack of empirical data for guidance, treatment approaches at this juncture remain unclear. The patient was monitored closely for a period of one year with a plan to treat should there be evidence of active disease.
Pus in the pericardium: a pericardial-oesophageal fistula with cardiac tamponade after ablation for atrial fibrillation
Authors: Mansoor Taha , Massoudi Nahal , Bath Anandbir , Kelly Matthew , Koshy Santhosh , Tanase Armand
Published: January 2025

Background: Pericardial/atrial oesophageal fistula (PEF/AEF) is the most feared complication of cardiac atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Without urgent surgical treatment, most cases of this infrequent complication rapidly prove fatal. Case report: We present an uncommon case of a 60-year-old male who had undergone an AF ablation 2 weeks prior and presented with chest pain. Following diagnosis and treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a small pericardial effusion was noticed on computed tomography (CT) scan. Despite an initially reassuring hospital course, rapid decompensation and expansion of his purulent pericardial effusion led to his death within 24 hours of presentation. A post-mortem review of his CT imaging revealed an inconspicuous PEF. Conclusions: It is essential to maintain a high suspicion of PEF/AEF in patients presenting after AF ablation with suggestive symptoms, such as fever, chest pain/odynophagia, and neurological deficits. CT chest is the most common diagnostic modality and surgical correction is the treatment of choice.
Compasión y Empatía: Emocionalización en el Sistema Penal Juvenil Uruguayo
Authors: Maldonado Cecilia Montes , López-Gallego Laura , Medan Marina
Published: January 2025

En el artículo abordamos la dimensión moral del Estado para analizar las prácticas psi en el Sistema Penal Juvenil Uruguayo. Analizamos los procesos de responsabilización adolescente a partir de dos categorías analíticas centrales que construyen la emocionalización de la sociedad. Utilizamos los datos construidos en un estudio de caso de enfoque etnográfico desarrollado en centros que ejecutan medidas judiciales privativas de libertad (2016-2020). Realizamos análisis temático de contenido de 8 legajos móviles en donde los equipos técnicos plasman sus saberes expertos acerca de las/los adolescentes, así como sus objetivos de intervención. Los resultados muestran cómo la responsabilización se produce como un proceso temporal, en el cual la compasión circula para la explicación del delito en clave de culpabilización familiar y trauma, y la empatía se propone como un sentimiento que debería emerger como señal de una intervención adecuada y auspiciosa para un futuro, en clave de desistencia. El análisis de las emociones es una dimensión fundamental para comprender las formas de gobierno y castigo que operan en el Sistema Penal Juvenil Uruguayo. La limitación principal del estudio radica en las dificultades para acceder a la información en espacios de encierro y en lo específico del material de análisis utilizado: legajo móvil.
EDUCAÇÃO EM DIREITOS HUMANOS E A INCLUSÃO DE PESSOAS COM DEFICIÊNCIA NA EDUCAÇÃO SUPERIOR: ACESSIBILIDADE EM FOCO
Authors: Magalhães Tamara França de Almeida
Published: January 2025

As recentes políticas públicas de educação especial na perspectiva da educação inclusiva e dos direitos humanos, têm contribuído para o crescente aumento de matrículas de estudantes com deficiência na educação superior. Este cenário tem suscitado, nas instituições de ensino superior, a necessidade de reestruturação de  sua organização física e acadêmica, alicerçada em uma cultura capacitista direcionada às pessoas com deficiência. Nesta direção, compreendendo que atualmente a acessibilidade configura-se como um direito humano fundamental da pessoa com deficiência, este estudo tem como objetivo apresentar a importância do processo de consolidação da educação especial numa perspectiva inclusiva e dos direitos humanos, identificando a trajetória de atuação destas políticas na educação superior. Para isso, foi desenvolvida uma pesquisa bibliográfia dos referenciais que tratam sobre estas temáticas na educação superior, bem como dos documentos que integram o escopo das políticas desta natureza. Os dados foram analisados tendo em vista os pressupostaos da pesquisa qualitativa em diálogo com a Abordagem Histórico-Cultural do desenvolvimento humano e indicaram que as políticas de educação especial na perspectiva da educação inclusiva e dos direitos humanos na educação superior, corroboram para a compreensão da  acessibilidade como um direito humano fundamental no processo de inclusão da pessoa com deficiência também nestes espaços.
Universidades S.A: indústria educacional, capital financeiro e exclusão social
Authors: Andrade da Costa Igor , De A. da Cruz Lamosa Rodrigo
Published: January 2025

A ação das grandes empresas no Ensino Superior, vem se intensificando desde o final dos anos 2000 transformando as Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) em empresas pertencentes à holdings da Educação Superior. Empresas de capital aberto que recebem capitais nacionais e estrangeiros negociados na bolsa de valores. processo que vem sendo denominado de financeirização. Tal realidade tem implicações profundas nas formas de acesso da sociedade ao ensino superior, na socialização do conhecimento científico e na organização do trabalho docente. Para entender tais fenômenos, delimitamos a Sociedade de Ensino Superior Estácio de Sá, com sede na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Mantenedora da Universidade Estácio de Sá, empresa do grupo YDUQS Participações S.A, como objeto da nossa análise. Nosso objetivo é analisar os impactos do processo de financeirização nas IES privadas líderes do mercado educacional. Investigando os efeitos financeirização da educação superior na socialização do conhecimento científico e tecnológico e no acesso da sociedade ao ensino superior, bem como a reorganização das IES privadas sob a lógica do mercado financeiro. Como resultado evidenciamos como a dinâmica da financeirização levou a YDUQS a estratificar os cursos de graduação por faixa de renda, limitando a modalidade presencial aos cursos mais caros do chamado “Ensino Premium”, enquanto os outros cursos são totais ou parcialmente ministrados na modalidade EaD. Concluímos que a mercadorização da Educação Superior tem por consequência a transformação de um direito social em um serviço cada vez mais mediado pelos interesses do mercado financeiro.
DO GIZ À (R)EVOLUÇÃO: O FUTURO DOS ALUNOS DA ESCOLA PÚBLICA BRASILEIRA ENQUANTO SUJEITOS DE DIREITOS
Authors: Rozeira Carlos Henrique Barbosa , Maette Carla Corê , Gomes Geórgia Regina Rodrigues
Published: January 2025

A pesquisa aborda a complexidade da educação, indo além da simples transmissão formal de conhecimento, com ênfase na promoção da cidadania. O foco está na capacitação dos estudantes para gerir seu próprio futuro, conquistar espaço no mundo profissional e reconhecer suas vocações. O cerne da problemática analisada reside na escassez de recursos e tecnologias nas instituições de ensino público, influenciando significativamente a preparação dos estudantes para os atuais desafios do mercado de trabalho, notadamente quando comparados aos colegas de instituições privadas. A inclusão digital, inseparável da inclusão social, é abordada como um direito fundamental para evitar sua instrumentalização como meio de exclusão. Surge, assim, o direito emergente na sociedade: o direito à inclusão digital. Contudo, a pesquisa vai além de uma análise comparativa, destacando a urgência de transformações na estrutura da escola pública diante de uma sociedade em constante reinvenção, impulsionada pelas evoluções tecnológicas. O objetivo central é identificar os principais obstáculos enfrentados pela escola pública e avaliar as consequências caso as mudanças necessárias não se efetivem. A pesquisa, embasada em abordagem qualitativa, utiliza conceitos da literatura científica, abordando temas como a relação entre escola e mundo contemporâneo, direitos humanos, tecnologia no ensino, Quarta Revolução Industrial e as disparidades entre o ensino privado e público no Brasil. A constatação é que a falta de políticas públicas para apoiar a educação tende a negligenciar a preparação dos estudantes para os novos paradigmas, acentuando as desigualdades sociais. Nesse contexto, é imperativo que a educação brasileira se modernize, ouvindo atentamente seus alunos, para se ajustar a um mundo que transcende os limites físicos das instituições educacionais.
Educação democrática: repensando a formação dos licenciandos na Faculdade de Educação da UFF com ênfase nos direitos humanos
Authors: Oliveira Ribeiro de Souza Eduardo , Elizabeth Vieira Frazão Érika , De Araujo Penna Fernando , Merlim Moraes Viviane
Published: January 2025

O trabalho aborda as perspectivas da criação da disciplina optativa de [Nome da Disciplina] na [Nome da Instituição], surgida a partir de debates entre professores vinculados ao [Nome do Grupo de Pesquisa]. Com carga horária de 60 horas, o curso visa discutir os conceitos de educação e democracia, contextualizar as opressões estruturais na sociedade brasileira e examinar ameaças recentes à educação democrática no país. Além disso, são abordadas práticas para promover a ampliação da densidade democrática em comunidades educativas, considerando temas como movimentos sociais, inclusão, gênero e sexualidade. A disciplina se diferencia de experiências anteriores ao incorporar a interseccionalidade como metodologia, reconhecendo as múltiplas identidades dos envolvidos no processo educativo. Os principais resultados ressaltaram a importância de manter a oferta da disciplina para os estudantes de graduação, bem como ampliar o debate para os profissionais da educação que trabalham nas redes públicas de ensino. Esse debate está sendo expandido com a criação de um curso de pós-graduação lato sensu e atividades de extensão universitária.
EDUCATIONAL GAG ORDERS ON U.S. CAMPUSES: LESSONS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA
Authors: Snyder Jeffrey , Khalid Amna
Published: January 2025

This article looks at the state of Florida as a case study for the conservative “culture wars” attacks on public colleges and universities in the United States. Anti-critical race theory laws in Florida and elsewhere are undermining academic freedom and eroding the autonomy of higher education institutions. Focusing on Florida’s Stop WOKE Act, the analysis is based on research the authors conducted as fellows with the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement during the 2022/23 academic year.
ONDE ARDEM AS IMAGENS
Authors: Binda Alves Touret Fernanda , Kretli da Silva Sandra
Published: January 2025

O artigo registra o movimento de pesquisa realizado em um Centro Municipal de Educação Infantil (CMEI) na cidade de Xxxxxxx/XX, Brasil, acerca dos afetos e da potência das imagens nos cotidianos escolares. Utiliza a cartografia como metodologia para acompanhar processos em meio a mapas abertos, fazendo borrar as imagens pensadas para a Educação Infantil e com isso criar e afirmar novas imagens de currículos, de infâncias, aprendizagens e artistagens, junto a bebês, crianças e docências. A argumentação destaca a força das imagens nômades e dos signos artísticos para romper as imagens-representação. O texto ressalta a importância de compreender as imagens como expressões pensantes e relacionais, capazes de provocar afetos potentes. Conclui diante da abertura de possibilidades com um convite a "eclodir a vida" na Educação Infantil, promovendo currículos brincantes, vibrantes e intensivos. Propõe afetar-se com as imagens como potência viva, que movimentam o pensamento, instigando a pensar a Educação Infantil como um território de experimentações inventivas, longe de padrões pré-estabelecidos e estereotipados.
PROYECTO (DE)CONSTRUYENDO: RESISTENCIAS FEMINISTAS ANTE LA VIOLENCIA PATRIARCAL DESDE LA ACCIÓN SOCIAL Y LA EDUCACIÓN POPULAR CON ADOLESCENTES
Authors: Mendoza Aguilar Sofía
Published: January 2025

Este artigo compila as experiências do projeto de ação social denominado (De)Construyendo, criado no âmbito das Iniciativas Estudantis da Universidade da Costa Rica, que correspondem a projetos concebidos e implementados por estudantes. O projeto foi criado com o objetivo de proporcionar espaços horizontais com adolescentes para abordar questões relacionadas aos direitos humanos, direitos das mulheres e dissidências de gênero e direitos sexuais e reprodutivos a partir de uma abordagem crítica, feminista e decolonial. Trabalhando metodologicamente a partir da educação popular, posiciona-se a intenção política de reconhecer os adolescentes como portadores de conhecimentos e experiências de resistência contra diversas manifestações da violência patriarcal. Através do desenvolvimento do projeto constatou-se que os participantes problematizam as manifestações de violência que veem ao seu redor e que necessitam de espaços seguros onde as suas preocupações e lacunas de informação possam ser colmatadas. O artigo expõe a trajetória do projeto e busca dar visibilidade às iniciativas de educação feminista desenvolvidas fora do sistema educacional institucionalizado, promovendo o trabalho com adolescentes sobre temas que lhes dizem respeito e que atravessam suas experiências de vida.