bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are non-starters accumulating enough load compared with starters? Examining load, wellness, and training/match ratios of a European professional soccer team
Authors: Oliveira Rafael , Canário-Lemos Rui , Morgans Ryland , Rafael-Moreira Tiago , Vilaça-Alves José , Brito João Paulo
Published: October 2023

Background

The aims of the study were to: (i) compare accumulated load and wellness between starters and non-starters of a European professional soccer team; (ii) analyze the relationships between wellness and load measures and; (iii) compare training/match ratio (TMr) of external and internal load between starters and non-starters.

Methods

Ten players were considered starters while seven were classified as non-starters over a 16-week period in which six training sessions and match day (MD) were considered in each weekly micro-cycle. The following measures were used: wellness (fatigue, quality of sleep, muscle soreness, stress, and mood); load (rated of perceived exertion (RPE), session-RPE (s-RPE), high-speed running (HSR), sprinting, accelerations (ACC) and decelerations (DEC)). Accumulated wellness/load were calculated by summing all training and match sessions, while TMr was calculated by dividing accumulated training load by match data for all load measures and each player. Mann–Whitney U test was used for wellness variables, while independent T-test was used for the remaining variables to compare groups. Moreover, relationships among variables were explored using the Spearman’s Rho correlation coefficient.

Results

The main results showed that non-starters presented higher significant values for fatigue (p < 0.019; g = 0.24) and lower significant values for duration (p < 0.006; ES = 1.81) and s-RPE (p < 0.001; ES = 2.69) when compared to starters. Moreover, positive and very large correlation was found between quality of sleep and RPE, while negative and very large correlation were found between stress and deceleration, and mood and deceleration (all, p < 0.05). Finally, non-starters presented higher values in all TMr than starters, namely, RPE (p = 0.001; g = 1.96), s-RPE (p = 0.002; g = 1.77), HSR (p = 0.001; g = 2.02), sprinting (p = 0.002; g = 4.23), accelerations (p = 0.001; g = 2.72), decelerations (p < 0.001; g = 3.44), and duration (p = 0.003; g = 2.27).

Conclusions

In conclusion, this study showed that non-starters produced higher TMr in all examined variables despite the lower match and training durations when compared with starters, suggesting that physical load was adjusted appropriately. Additionally, higher RPE was associated with improved sleep while higher number of decelerations were associated with decreased wellness, namely, stress and mood for non-starters.
MapReduce scheduling algorithms in Hadoop: a systematic study
Authors: Hedayati Soudabeh , Maleki Neda , Olsson Tobias , Ahlgren Fredrik , Seyednezhad Mahdi , Berahmand Kamal
Published: October 2023

Hadoop is a framework for storing and processing huge volumes of data on clusters. It uses Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) for storing data and uses MapReduce to process that data. MapReduce is a parallel computing framework for processing large amounts of data on clusters. Scheduling is one of the most critical aspects of MapReduce. Scheduling in MapReduce is critical because it can have a significant impact on the performance and efficiency of the overall system. The goal of scheduling is to improve performance, minimize response times, and utilize resources efficiently. A systematic study of the existing scheduling algorithms is provided in this paper. Also, we provide a new classification of such schedulers and a review of each category. In addition, scheduling algorithms have been examined in terms of their main ideas, main objectives, advantages, and disadvantages.
Survival analysis of age-related oral squamous cell carcinoma: a population study based on SEER
Authors: Yang Jingjing , Guo Kaibo , Zhang Anlai , Zhu Ying , Li Wendi , Yu Jieru , Wang Peipei
Published: October 2023

Background

This research aimed to investigate the prognostic factors of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), especially the role of age.

Methods

A total of 33,619 cases of OSCC were received from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database during 2005–2015. Kaplan–Meier curves of 5-year overall survival rates and 5-year cancer-specific survival rates were performed, and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses as well as competing risk model were used to help understand the relationship between various factors and mortality of OSCC.

Results

Compared to 18–39-year-old group, the older age was an important predictor of worse prognosis. The multivariate analysis of overall survival (OS) was 50–59 years (HR, 1.32; 95% CI 1.17–1.48; p ≤ .001), 60–69 years (HR, 1.66; 95% CI 1.42–1.87; p ≤ .001) and 70 + years (HR, 3.21; 95% CI 2.86–3.62; p ≤ .001), respectively, while the specific value of competing risk model was 60–69 years (HR, 1.21; 95% CI 1.07–1.38; p = .002) and 70 + years (HR, 1.85; 95% CI 1.63–2.10; p ≤ .001). In addition, female gender, unmarried, Blacks, tumor in floor of mouth, size and higher Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) classification were also other predictors that signify significant clinically deterioration of OS/cancer-specific survival (CSS).

Conclusions

Our research revealed that age was an important factor in explaining the difference of survival in the whole process of OSCC. It is suggested that we should pay attention to the influence of age on diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in the clinical process.
Nomogram for predicting survival in patients with mucinous breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy and surgery: a population-based study
Authors: Gao Ting , Chen Yuyuan , Li Ming , Zhu Keying , Guo Rong , Tang Yiyin , Huang Sheng , Chen Dedian
Published: October 2023

Background

The prognosis of patients with mucinous breast cancer (MuBC) is affected by several factors, but the low incidence of MuBC makes it difficult to conduct extensive and in-depth studies. This study was designed to establish a prognostic model and verify its accuracy in patients with MuBC after chemotherapy and surgery to help develop personalized treatment strategies.

Materials and methods

Patients with MuBC who underwent chemotherapy and surgery from 2004 to 2015 were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The prognostic factors of patients with MuBC were investigated using a Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Based on the identified factors, a nomogram was constructed to forecast the overall survival (OS) of patients at 3, 5, and 10 years. Internal (from SEER) and external (from Yunnan Cancer Center, YNCC) verification queues were used to verify the nomogram and demonstrate the predictive capacity of this model.

Results

The study comprised 1668 MuBC patients from the SEER database and 107 from the YNCC. The nomogram included four characteristics: age, anatomical stage, surgical method, and radiotherapy. The concordance indices in the training, internal verification, and external verification queues were 0.680, 0.768, and 0.864, respectively. The calibration curves for the nomogram showed excellent agreement between the predictions and observations. This nomogram has good clinical application value according to the decision curve analysis.

Conclusions

The prognosis of patients with MuBC who have undergone chemotherapy and surgery can be forecasted using this nomogram, which would be beneficial to help create individualized treatment plans for the affected patients.
An analysis of protesting activity and trauma through mathematical and statistical models
Authors: Rodríguez Nancy , White David
Published: October 2023

The effect that different police protest management methods have on protesters’ physical and mental trauma is still not well understood and is a matter of debate. In this paper, we take a two-pronged approach to gain insight into this issue. First, we perform statistical analysis on time series data of protests provided by ACLED and spanning the period of time from January 1, 2020, until March 13, 2021. After observing the data, it becomes apparent that employing kinetic impact projectiles is correlated with an increase in protests in the following days. Moreover, it serves as a more accurate indicator of the subsequent death toll compared to the mere number of protests. This leads to the conclusion that the utilization of less-lethal weapons appears to provoke rather than quell protests, exhibiting an inflammatory effect. Next, we provide a mathematical framework to model modern, but well-established social psychology research on compliance theory and crowd dynamics. Our results show that understanding the heterogeneity of the crowd is key for protests that lead to a reduction of social tension and minimization of physical and mental trauma in protesters.
The longitudinal directional associations of meaningful work with mental well-being – initial findings from an exploratory investigation
Authors: Herr Raphael M. , Brokmeier Luisa , Baron Bertil N. , Mauss Daniel , Fischer Joachim E.
Published: October 2023

Background

An increasing number of studies reveal that more meaning in life is positively related to mental well-being. Meaning in life can be derived from different sources, including the workplace. The aim of this study was to explore the longitudinal directional association of meaningful work with mental well-being.

Methods

Prospective data from 292 persons at two timepoints (two-week interval) were used to estimate the cross-lagged relationship and directionality of meaningful work with mental well-being.

Results

The cross-lagged panel model had a good fit to the data (Chi2 ms(90) = 150.9; p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.048; p = 0.576; CFI = 0.984; TLI = 0.979; SRMR = 0.040) and showed that levels of meaningful work at t1 had a positive effect on mental well-being at t2 (β = 0.15, p = 0.010). But mental well-being at t1 did not affect meaningful work at t2 (β = 0.02, p = 0.652). Sub-analyses revealed the effects to be mainly driven by women (as opposed to men) and white-collar workers (as opposed to blue-collar workers).

Conclusion

This study confirmed a directional association of meaningful work on mental well-being, indicating that more meaningful work has beneficial mental well-being effects.
Psychometric validation of the French Multidimensional Chronic Asthenia Scale (MCAS) in a sample of 621 patients with chronic fatigue
Authors: Banovic Ingrid , Scrima Fabrizio , Fornasieri Isabelle , Beaugerie Laurent , Coquart Jérémy , Fourgon Chloé , Iodice Pierpaolo , Nion-Larmurier Isabelle , Savoye Guillaume , Sorin Anne-Laure , Tourny Claire , Augustinova Maria
Published: October 2023

Background

Psychometric validation of the Multidimensional Chronic Asthenia Scale (MCAS) was conducted in order to provide an effective tool for assessing the health-related quality of life of French-speaking patients with chronic asthenia (CA).

Methods

Items resulting from the initial formulation of the self-reported MCAS (along with other materials) were completed by French-speaking volunteers with inactive or active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD-I vs. IBD-A) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Responses from 621 participants (180 patients with IBD-A, 172 with IBD-I, 269 with CFS) collected in a single online survey were divided into three subsamples to test the construct validity of the MCAS (Step 1, N = 240), to confirm its factorial structure (Step 2, N = 204) and to explore its convergent-discriminant validity with the Fatigue Symptoms Inventory (FSI) and revised Piper Fatigue Scale (r-PFS, Step 3, N = 177).

Results

Steps 1 and 2 showed that, as expected, MCAS has four dimensions: feeling of constraint (FoC), physical (PC), life (LC) and interpersonal consequences (IC), which are also related to the duration of CA (i.e., the longer it lasts, the more the dimensions are impacted). The results further showed that the MCAS is sensitive enough to capture between-group differences, with the CFS group being the most impaired, followed by IBD-A and IBD-I. While convergent-discriminant validity between the 4 factors of MCAS and FSI and r-PFS, respectively, was satisfactory overall, Step 3 also pointed to some limitations that call for future research (e.g., shared variances between the PC and IC dimensions of MCAS and behavioral dimension of r-PFS).

Conclusion

Despite these limitations, the MCAS clearly constitutes a promising tool for measuring quantitative differences (i.e., severity/intensity) in CA associated with various diseases, but also, and importantly, the clinically important differences in domains of its expression (i.e., qualitative differences).
Psychometric properties of the Persian Gaming Disorder Test and relationships with psychological distress and insomnia in adolescents
Authors: Lin Chung-Ying , Potenza Marc N. , Pontes Halley M. , Pakpour Amir H.
Published: October 2023

Background

Gaming Disorder (GD) was recently included by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a psychiatric condition in the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) and is a concern worldwide, including in Iran. Thus, based on the ICD-11 criteria, a Persian version of the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) was developed to facilitate assessment of GD.

Methods

The present study used classical test theory and Rasch analysis to examine the psychometric properties of the Persian GDT. Iranian adolescents (n = 3837; 2171 [56.6%] males; mean [SD] age = 16.02 [1.4] years) completed the GDT and other instruments assessing disordered gaming, psychological distress, and insomnia.

Results

Overall, the psychometric properties of the Persian GDT were satisfactory based on classical test theory (i.e., confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the unidimensional structure of GDT) and Rasch analysis (i.e., fit statistics suggested that all items were embedded in the concept of GD). Moreover, the Persian GDT was found to be sex-invariant, displaying no items with substantial differential item functioning across sexes. Additionally, it was found that GD mediated associations between time spent gaming and measures of psychological distress and insomnia.

Conclusion

The Persian GDT is a convenient and short instrument for assessing GD among Iranian adolescents. The mediating roles of GD in the associations between time spent gaming and psychological distress and between time spent gaming and insomnia suggest that targeting features of GD may reduce psychological distress and improve sleep for Iranian adolescents.
Current innovative approaches in reducing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in processed meat and meat products
Authors: Das Arun K. , Bhattacharya Dipanwita , Das Annada , Nath Santanu , Bandyopadhyay Samiran , Nanda Pramod Kumar , Gagaoua Mohammed
Published: October 2023

The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in processed meat and meat products is a global concern as they are known to be carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and genotoxic to living beings. PAHs are generated in processed meat through different thermo-processing techniques, such as smoking, grilling, barbecuing, roasting, and frying, which involve abnormal high-temperature treatments and extruded fuels. These carbonaceous compounds with two or more cyclic benzene rings are highly stable and toxic, and their generation is enhanced by faulty thermal processing techniques, contaminated raw materials, and environmental pollution. Based on their degree of toxicity, Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is recognized as the most probable human carcinogen among different fractions of PAHs by the European Commission Regulation (EC-No.1881/2006). Furthermore, the association between dietary PAHs exposures and their role as carcinogen in human beings has been reported clinically. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on prevention and control of PAHs formation in processed meat products through various strategies to avert public health concerns and safety issues. Accordingly, several approaches have been used to reduce the risk of PAHs formation by employing safe processing systems, harmless cooking methods, marination by natural plant components, use of biological methods etc. to eliminate or reduce the harmful effects of PAHs in the food system. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the occurrence and formation of PAHs in meat and meat products and their toxicological effects on human beings. Furthermore, the different cost-effective and environment friendly methods that have been employed as “green strategies” to mitigate PAHs in meat and meat products at both household and commercial levels are discussed.

Graphical Abstract
LncRNA PVT1 induces apoptosis and inflammatory response of bronchial epithelial cells by regulating miR-30b-5p/BCL2L11 axis in COPD
Authors: Fu Taoli , Tian Hui , Rong Hui , Ai Ping , Li Xiaoping
Published: October 2023

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious health burden worldwide with high mortality. LncRNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) has been illustrated to serve as a biomarker for COPD progression. Nonetheless, its specific functions and mechanisms in COPD are unclarified.

Methods

Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) was utilized to stimulate 16HBE cells, and cigarette smoke combining with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was employed to induce COPD in rats. Western blotting and RT-qPCR were utilized for measuring protein and RNA levels. Flow cytometry was implemented for detecting cell apoptosis. Concentrations of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IFN-γ were examined using ELISA. Luciferase reporter assay was utilized for verifying the interaction between molecules. Hematoxylin–eosin staining was performed for histological analysis of rat lung tissues.

Results

PVT1 was highly expressed in CSE-stimulated 16HBE cells and the lungs of COPD rats. PVT1 depletion restored the viability, restrained apoptosis and hindered inflammatory cytokine production in 16HBE cells under CSE treatment and alleviated pathological damages in COPD rats. PVT1 bound to miR-30b-5p and miR-30b-5p targeted BCL2 like 11 (BCL2L11). Overexpressing BCL2L11 offset the above effects mediated by PVT1 in CSE-triggered 16HBE cells.

Conclusion

PVT1 enhances apoptosis and inflammation of 16HBE cells under CSE stimulation by modulating miR-30b-5p/BCL2L11 axis.
Preparing Teaching Assistants to Facilitate Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) in the Biological Sciences: A Call to Action
Authors: Shortlidge Erin E. , Kern Amie M. , Goodwin Emma C. , Olimpo Jeffrey T.
Published: October 2023

Teaching assistants (TA) have increasingly been tasked with facilitating course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). Yet, there is little discussion in the literature regarding the need for or approaches to providing professional development (PD) for this population. This essay is a “call to action” for promoting intentional CURE TA PD.
Investigating the Influence of Assessment Question Framing on Undergraduate Biology Student Preference and Affect
Authors: Hsu Jeremy L. , Clark Noelle , Hill Kate , Rowland-Goldsmith Melissa
Published: October 2023

Quizzes and exams are widespread in undergraduate biology courses, yet there has been no work examining how the framing of assessment questions impacts student-performance and affect. We examine how using authentic scientist names, the self-referential “you”, or classmate names in scenario-based questions may impact student-affect and performance.
Violent behaviour in adolescents: assessment and formulation using a structured risk assessment tool
Authors: Pendlebury Gabrielle , Anderson Jane , Hales Heidi , Harding Duncan , Lewis Alexandra
Published: October 2023

Teenagers often present in crisis with risk issues, mainly risk to self but sometimes risk to others. Adolescent violence is commonplace and is not just the remit of adolescent forensic psychiatry. Clinicians may lack confidence assessing risk of violence and can neglect vital areas that are essential to reduce risk. Use of structured violence risk assessments enables the multi-agency professional network to formulate a young person's presentation and their violence in a holistic way and consequently develop targeted risk management plans addressing areas such as supervision, interventions and case management to reduce the risk of future violence. Of the several validated tools developed for young people, the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk – Youth (SAVRY™) is that most used by UK-based forensic adolescent clinicians. This article outlines the epidemiology, causes and purposes of violence among adolescents; discusses types of risk assessment tool; explores and deconstructs the SAVRY; and presents a fictitious risk formulation.
Pilot study of a ketogenic diet in bipolar disorder
Authors: Needham Nicole , Campbell Iain H. , Grossi Helen , Kamenska Ivana , Rigby Benjamin P. , Simpson Sharon A. , McIntosh Emma , Bahuguna Pankaj , Meadowcroft Ben , Creasy Frances , Mitchell-Grigorjeva Maja , Norrie John , Thompson Gerard , Gibbs Melissa C. , McLellan Ailsa , Fisher Cheryl , Moses Tessa , Burgess Karl , Brown Rachel , Thrippleton Michael J. , Campbell Harry , Smith Daniel J.
Published: October 2023

Background

Recent evidence from case reports suggests that a ketogenic diet may be effective for bipolar disorder. However, no clinical trials have been conducted to date.

Aims

To assess the recruitment and feasibility of a ketogenic diet intervention in bipolar disorder.

Method

Euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder were recruited to a 6–8 week trial of a modified ketogenic diet, and a range of clinical, economic and functional outcome measures were assessed. Study registration number: ISRCTN61613198.

Results

Of 27 recruited participants, 26 commenced and 20 completed the modified ketogenic diet for 6–8 weeks. The outcomes data-set was 95% complete for daily ketone measures, 95% complete for daily glucose measures and 95% complete for daily ecological momentary assessment of symptoms during the intervention period. Mean daily blood ketone readings were 1.3 mmol/L (s.d. = 0.77, median = 1.1) during the intervention period, and 91% of all readings indicated ketosis, suggesting a high degree of adherence to the diet. Over 91% of daily blood glucose readings were within normal range, with 9% indicating mild hypoglycaemia. Eleven minor adverse events were recorded, including fatigue, constipation, drowsiness and hunger. One serious adverse event was reported (euglycemic ketoacidosis in a participant taking SGLT2-inhibitor medication).

Conclusions

The recruitment and retention of euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder to a 6–8 week ketogenic diet intervention was feasible, with high completion rates for outcome measures. The majority of participants reached and maintained ketosis, and adverse events were generally mild and modifiable. A future randomised controlled trial is now warranted.
Prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in individuals with psychosis and bipolar disorder in South Asia: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Khoso Ameer B. , Noureen Amna , Un Nisa Zaib , Hodkinson Alexander , Elahi Anam , Arshad Usman , Naz Anum , Bhatti Mujeeb Masud , Asif Muqaddas , Husain Muhammad Omair , Husain Muhammad Ishrat , Chaudhry Nasim , Husain Nusrat , Chaudhry Imran B. , Panagioti Maria
Published: October 2023

Background

Suicidal ideation and attempts are growing public health concerns globally. Evidence from high-income countries suggests that individuals with psychosis and bipolar disorder are at increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempts, but there is a scarcity of evidence from South Asia.

Aims

To estimate the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts in individuals with psychosis and bipolar disorder in South Asia.

Method

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, four databases (PsycINFO, Web of Science, EMBASE and Medline) were searched until December 2022. Pooled prevalence was estimated with random-effects models. Heterogeneity was quantified with the I2-statistic.

Results

The pooled sample size across the 21 studies was 3745 participants, 1941 (51.8%) of which were male. The pooled prevalence of suicide attempts in South Asian people with either psychosis or bipolar disorder was 22% (95% CI 17–27; n = 15). The pooled prevalence of suicidal ideation with psychosis or bipolar disorder combined was 38% (95% CI 27–51; n = 10). Meta-regression, subgroup and sensitivity analysis showed that the pooled prevalence estimates for both suicide attempt and ideation remained unaffected by variations in critical appraisal ratings and study designs. Only one study reported data on suicide-related deaths.

Conclusions

One in four individuals diagnosed with psychosis or bipolar disorder have reported suicide attempts, whereas up to one in three have experienced suicidal ideation. These findings underscore the urgent need for clinicians to regularly assess and monitor suicidal ideation and attempts among individuals with these disorders in South Asia.
Buenos Días: A Letter to My Patient's Mother
Authors: Ruiz Jenny
Published: October 2023

@JennyRuizMD shares a poignant story of peds oncology immigrant family, #SDOH, & similarities to her own family’s experience. #LatinasinMedicine
Axillary Treatment and Chronic Breast Cancer–Related Lymphedema: Implications for Prospective Surveillance and Intervention From a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Boyages John , Vicini Frank A. , Manavi Behnaz Azimi , Gaw Richelle L. , Koelmeyer Louise A. , Ridner Sheila H. , Shah Chirag
Published: October 2023

Study finds that it is essential to screen for lymphedema. Early detection and intervention improves outcomes.
Is the public goods game a chaotic system?
Authors: Bazeia D. , Ferreira M. J. B. , de Oliveira B. F.
Published: October 2023

This work deals with the time evolution of the Hamming distance density for the public goods game. We consider distinct possibilities for this game, which are exactly described by a function called q-exponential, that represents a deformation of the usual exponential function parametrized by q, suggesting that the system belongs to the class of weakly chaotic systems when

. These possibilities are related to the amount of players allowed in each game.
Graves’ Disease Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Population-based, Matched Case-control Study
Authors: Gorshtein Alexander , Turjeman Adi , Duskin-Bitan Hadar , Leibovici Leonard , Robenshtok Eyal
Published: October 2023

Objective

Multiple cases and case series reported Graves’ disease (GD) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. We aimed to determine whether COVID-19 vaccination was associated with the incidence of GD.

Methods

We analyzed data from Clalit Health Services, the largest healthcare organization in Israel, which insures 4.7 million patients. A population-based, matched, case-control study was performed. Cases were defined as adult patients diagnosed with GD between December 2020 and November 2022. Each case was matched with controls in a 1:2 ratio. Each control was assigned an index date, which was identical to that of their matched case, defined as the date of GD diagnosis. Time between vaccination date and the diagnosis of GD or index date was assessed.

Results

A total of 726 patients with GD were matched with 1452 controls. The study patients and controls have received similar proportions of the COVID-19 vaccine [at least 1 dose: 80% (581/726) vs 77.8% (1129/1452), P = .22, respectively]. In a univariate analysis, at least 1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was not associated with the incidence of GD [odds ratio 95% confidence interval: 1.15 (.92-1.43)]. The mean time between first COVID-19 vaccination and the diagnosis of GD for cases or index date for controls was not significantly different [275.69 days (SD 144.37) for cases compared to 275.45 days (SD 145.76) for controls].

Conclusion

Our study found no association between COVID-19 vaccination and the incidence of GD.
Children of the Soil
Authors: Rijke-Epstein Tasha
Published: October 2023

In Children of the Soil, Tasha Rijke-Epstein offers an urban history of the port city of Mahajanga, Madagascar, before, during, and after colonization. Drawing on archival and ethnographic evidence, she weaves together the lives and afterlives of built spaces to show how city residents negotiated imperial encroachment, colonial rule, and global racial capitalism over two centuries. From Mahajanga's hilltop palace to the alluvial depths of its cesspools, the city's spaces were domains for ideological debates between rulers and subjects, French colonizers and indigenous Malagasy peoples, and Comorian migrants and Indian traders. In these spaces, Mahajanga's residents expressed competing moral theories about power over people and the land. The built world was also where varying populations reckoned with human, ancestral, and ecological pasts and laid present and future claims to urban belonging. Migrants from nearby Comoros harnessed built forms as anticipatory devices through which they sought to build their presence into the landscape and transform themselves from outsiders into “children of the soil” (zanatany). In tracing the centrality of Mahajanga's architecture to everyday life, Rijke-Epstein offers new ways to understand the relationships between the material world, the more-than-human realm, and the making of urban life.
Palmitate-induced insulin resistance causes actin filament stiffness and GLUT4 mis-sorting without altered Akt signalling
Authors: Tokarz Victoria L. , Mylvaganam Sivakami , Klip Amira
Published: October 2023

Skeletal muscle insulin resistance, a major contributor to type 2 diabetes, is linked to the consumption of saturated fats. This insulin resistance arises from failure of insulin-induced translocation of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4; also known as SLC2A4) to the plasma membrane to facilitate glucose uptake into muscle. The mechanisms of defective GLUT4 translocation are poorly understood, limiting development of insulin-sensitizing therapies targeting muscle glucose uptake. Although many studies have identified early insulin signalling defects and suggest that they are responsible for insulin resistance, their cause–effect has been debated. Here, we find that the saturated fat palmitate (PA) causes insulin resistance owing to failure of GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle myoblasts and myotubes without impairing signalling to Akt2 or AS160 (also known as TBC1D4). Instead, PA altered two basal-state events: (1) the intracellular localization of GLUT4 and its sorting towards a perinuclear storage compartment, and (2) actin filament stiffness, which prevents Rac1-dependent actin remodelling. These defects were triggered by distinct mechanisms, respectively protein palmitoylation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Our findings highlight that saturated fats elicit muscle cell-autonomous dysregulation of the basal-state machinery required for GLUT4 translocation, which ‘primes’ cells for insulin resistance.
Prognostic Significance of Pathologic Lymph Node Invasion in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Immunotherapy Era
Authors: Scheipner Lukas , Barletta Francesco , Cano Garcia Cristina , Incesu Reha-Baris , Morra Simone , Baudo Andrea , Assad Anis , Tian Zhe , Saad Fred , Shariat Shahrokh F. , Briganti Alberto , Chun Felix K. H. , Tilki Derya , Longo Nicola , Carmignani Luca , Pichler Martin , Ahyai Sascha , Karakiewicz Pierre I.
Published: October 2023

Background

This study aimed to test the prognostic significance of pathologically confirmed lymph node invasion in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients in this immunotherapy era.

Methods

Surgically treated mRCC patients were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2018. Kaplan-Meier plots and multivariable Cox-regression models were fitted to test for differences in cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and overall mortality (OM) according to N stage (pN0 vs pN1 vs. pNx). Subgroup analyses addressing pN1 patients tested for CSM and OM differences according to postoperative systemic therapy status.

Results

Overall, 3149 surgically treated mRCC patients were identified. Of these patients, 443 (14%) were labeled as pN1, 812 (26%) as pN0, and 1894 (60%) as pNx. In Kaplan-Meier analyses, the median CSM-free survival was 15 months for pN1 versus 40 months for pN0 versus 35 months for pNx (P < 0.001). In multivariable Cox regression analyses, pN1 independently predicted higher CSM (hazard ratio [HR], 1.88; P < 0.01) and OM (HR, 1.95; P < 0.01) relative to pN0. In sensitivity analyses addressing pN1 patients, postoperative systemic therapy use independently predicted lower CSM (HR, 0.73; P < 0.01) and OM (HR, 0.71; P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Pathologically confirmed lymph node invasion independently predicted higher CSM and OM for surgically treated mRCC patients. For pN1 mRCC patients, use of postoperative systemic therapy was associated with lower CSM and OM. Consequently, N stage should be considered for individual patient counseling and clinical decision-making.

Graphical abstract

Consort diagram of the study population.
Bright Red Luminescence from Ag–In–Ga–S-Based Quantum Dots with the Introduction of Copper
Authors: Uematsu Taro , Krobkrong Navapat , Asai Kenichiro , Motomura Genichi , Fujisaki Yoshihide , Torimoto Tsukasa , Kuwabata Susumu
Published: October 2023

This study presents cadmium-free, red-emission quantum dots (QDs) synthesized by incorporating Cu into silver indium gallium sulfide/gallium sulfide (Ag–In–Ga–S/Ga–S) core/shell QDs. By using a previous technique, in which the original Ag–In–Ga–S/Ga–S core/shell QDs exhibiting band-edge photoluminescence (PL) were improved to achieve a narrower emission and facile synthesis, we injected a mixture of Cu and Ag sources into a heated solution containing In, Ga, and S sources. This resulted in the formation of Ag–Cu–In–Ga–S quinary QDs without any precipitation. After being coated with a Ga–S shell, these QDs exhibit a red PL with a spectral full-width at half maximum of 55–60 nm. Although the PL wavelength was responsive to changes in In/Ga ratios, it was unaffected by variations in Cu/Ag ratios due to the transition between conduction band electrons and holes localized at Cu cites. Notably, the electroluminescence device exhibited high-purity red light that satisfies the recommendation ITU-R BT.2020 standard.
How useful is the tuberculin skin test for the detection of active tuberculosis: Assessing diagnostic accuracy metrics and selection of best cut-off value through a large Tunisian multicenter case-control study
Authors: Nouira Mariem , Ben Rayana Hazem , Ennigrou Samir
Published: October 2023

Background and aim:

During the past decade, the frequency of extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis (TB) has increased. These forms are often miss-diagnosed. This statement of the TB epidemiological profile modification, conduct us to reflect about the utility of the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) in active TB detection. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy performance of the TST for active tuberculosis detection.

Methods:

This was a case-control, multicenter study conducted in 11 anti-TB centers in Tunisia (June-November2014). The cases were adults aged between 18 and 55 years with newly diagnosed and confirmed tuberculosis. Controls were free from tuberculosis. A data collection sheet was filled out and a TST was performed for each participant.

Diagnostic accuracy measures of TST were estimated using Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) curve and Area Under Curve (AUC) to estimate sensitivity and specificity of a determined cut-off point.

Results:

Overall, 1050 patients were enrolled, composed of 336 cases and 714 controls. The mean age was 38.3±11.8 years for cases and 33.6±11 years for controls.

The mean diameter of the TST induration was significantly higher among cases than controls (13.7mm vs.6.2mm; p=10-6). AUC was 0.789 [95% CI: 0.758-0.819; p=0.01], corresponding to a moderate discriminating performance for this test. The most discriminative cut-off value of the TST, which was associated with the best sensitivity (73.7%) and specificity (76.6%) couple was   ≥ 11 mm with a Youden index of 0.503. Positive and Negative predictive values were 3.11% and 99.52%, respectively.

Conclusions:

TST could be a useful tool used for active tuberculosis detection, with a moderate global performance and accepted sensitivity and specificity at the cut-off point of 11 mm. However, it cannot be considered as a gold standard test due to its multiple disadvantages.
Scaling Blockchains: Can Committee-Based Consensus Help?
Authors: Benhaim Alon , Falk Brett H. , Tsoukalas Gerry
Published: October 2023

In the high-stakes race for scalability, some blockchains have turned to committee-based consensus (CBC), whereby the chain’s recordkeeping rights are entrusted to a committee of block producers elected via approval voting. Smaller committees boost speed and scalability but can compromise security when voters have limited information. In this environment, voting strategies are naturally nonlinear, and equilibria can become intractable. Despite this, we show that elections converge to optimality asymptotically (in voter numbers), exponentially quickly, and under relatively weak informational requirements. Compared to popular stake-weighted lottery and single-vote protocols used in practice, we find that CBC, when paired with approval voting, can offer meaningful efficiency and robustness gains if enough voters are engaged.

This paper was accepted by Will Cong, Special Section of Management Science: Blockchains and Crypto Economics.

Funding: This work was funded by The Hogeg Blockchain Research Institute.

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.03177 .
The Government's consultation on ‘the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England’
Authors: Sines David
Published: October 2023

A long-overdue system of regulation for aesthetic medicine is finally on the cards
Networking essentials: the etiquette of connecting
Authors: Bird Vanessa
Published: October 2023

Why is networking important in aesthetics and how should you go about it? The Aesthetic Consultant, Vanessa Bird explains
Drug Breakdown: Fentanyl
Authors: Rees Sharon
Published: October 2023

In this column, Sharon Rees aims to refresh knowledge and interest in some of the commonly used drugs in a series of tweets. This month she is talking about #fentanyl
Prescribing typhoid vaccines in the UK
Authors: Gawthrop Mary
Published: October 2023

Typhoid is a potentially life-threatening infection that is usually spread through contaminated food and water. Most typhoid cases reported in the UK are linked to overseas travel. UK health professionals prescribing travel vaccines, including typhoid vaccine, should ensure they are familiar with appropriate vaccine guidance and use current UK typhoid vaccine recommendations for international travel as part of their risk assessment. The importance of food and water hygiene should be emphasised to all UK travellers visiting typhoid endemic regions.
Applying Physics Knowledge and STEAM Education in High School: Connecting Traditional Vietnamese Culture Through the Moon-Shaped Lute Production Project
Authors: Ha Nguyen Thi Thu
Published: October 2023

This article explores the integration of physics knowledge and science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education in high schools through a unique project that connects traditional Vietnamese culture with the production of moon-shaped lutes. The moon-shaped lute, known as “Đàn Nguyệt” in Vietnamese, holds great cultural significance in Vietnam. By incorporating physics principles into the lute production process, students develop a deeper understanding of its construction, sound production, and structural stability. They explore concepts like material selection, sound propagation, and ergonomic design to enhance the instrument’s craftsmanship and playability. This interdisciplinary approach not only fosters scientific and technical skills but also preserves and promotes traditional Vietnamese culture. Engaging students in projects that combine art, science, and culture highlights the power of STEAM education in nurturing well-rounded individuals who have a strong connection to their heritage. The integration of physics knowledge and cultural elements in this project demonstrates the value of interdisciplinary learning and its impact on students’ appreciation for their cultural identity.
How Participation in a Teachers' Eco-Pedagogy Workshop Affects the Promotion of Teachers’ Environmental Education and Organizational Concepts
Authors: Asli Sare , Abu-Alhiga Riad , Teti Tagred , Algmal Shafea , Hofstein Avi , Shehadeh-Nasser Abeer , Hugerat Muhamad
Published: October 2023

Eco-pedagogy is a pedagogy utilized in the framework of teaching environmental education in schools. The adoption of various eco-pedagogy programs within schools has proven to be helpful in improving students' environmental attitudes, and it was concluded that schools are the best place for critical learning of environmental concerns. Thus, the primary purpose of this study was to investigate how a teachers' eco-pedagogy workshop promotes teachers' educational, environmental, and organizational concepts. An integrated study (quantitative and qualitative) was carried out that included a sample of 44 teachers in elementary schools. The sample was divided into two groups: an experimental group that participated in the workshop, and a control group that did not participate in it. Improvement was found in the environmental education and the organizational concepts of eco-pedagogy for teachers who participated in the program, compared with those who did not. The study's key findings indicated that attending an eco-pedagogy workshop helped teachers perceive the subject more favorably, developed their higher-order thinking skills, and they learned more about it. Another finding was that a workshop is crucial for teachers to advance their professional development.
Mapping the Intellectual Structure of Studies on Internationalization of the Curriculum: A Bibliometric Analysis From the Scopus Database
Authors: Cuong Do Hong , Lien Do Thi Hong , Nguyen Le Van An , Giang Tran Thi Ha , Lich Ha Thi , Nguyen Tien-Trung
Published: October 2023

The pervasive development and momentous changes of internationalization in higher education have led to the acceleration of research on its key component – the curriculum. However, there has not been any comprehensive analysis of the research status of the internationalization of the curriculum (IoC). To address the gap, this study employs the bibliometric method to construct an intellectual structure of research on the topic. The data, retrieved from the Scopus Database, consisted of 386 publications. The extracted data were then analyzed using citation, co-authorship, and keyword co-occurrence analysis. The results reveal a significant growth in research volume during the last ten years and the domination of Global North in the geographical distribution of publications. Besides, the most prominent authors include those who introduced fundamental knowledge on the topic. The most cited works and the most popular publishing sources focus on various aspects of internationalization of higher education. They also show a multidisciplinary interest in the topic. Finally, concerning newly emerged themes of studies on IoC, “cultural competence” and “internationalization at home” are outstanding keywords. The research findings emphasize IoC as a potential research matter. Hence, this study is recommended as a starting point for future researchers when examining related subjects.
Diversidade de frutos e sementes em fitofisionomias de Cerrado e suas implicações para a conservação na Serra Dourada, Goiás, Brasil
Authors: Duarte Edson Ferreira , Loures Samuel de Oliveira , Teles Aristônio Magalhães , Ferreira Heleno Dias , Aona Lidyanne Yuriko Saleme , Costa Grênivel Mota da
Published: October 2023

Neste estudo, foram investigados os tipos carpológicos e as síndromes de dispersão de espécies em diferentes fitofisionomias de Cerrado na Serra Dourada, Mossâmedes, Goiás, Brasil. O levantamento foi realizado ao longo de dois transectos com gradiente de altitude, abrangendo cinco fitofisionomias e amostrando 66 espécies. Nas fitofisionomias campestres, os frutos foram predominantemente secos e leves, associados às síndromes de dispersão autocórica e anemocórica. Nas fitofisionomias florestais, os tipos de frutos mais comuns foram cariopses, nuculânios e legumes, com predominância de espécies com síndromes de dispersão autocórica e zoocórica. A compreensão do padrão de distribuição dos tipos de frutos e sementes nas fitofisionomias da Serra Dourada poderá maximizar a colheita de sementes e contribuir para a restauração de áreas degradadas.
Creating convict criminology in the UK: a response to Aresti, Darke and Ross from members of the British Convict Criminology group
Authors: Darley Danica , Davies Bill , Earle Rod , Honeywell David , Schreeche-Powell Ed
Published: October 2023

Responding to an earlier article (Aresti et al, 2023) by two scholars involved in convict criminology at Westminster University and a third from the US, this article mounts a defence of the British Convict Criminology group against the analysis and conclusions of the first article. We argue that convict criminology is diverse and needs to embrace different approaches that correspond to national circumstances, both in prisons and universities. We suggest that far from stagnating, convict criminology in the UK is beginning to thrive and has much to offer critical criminology. This offer is strengthened by adopting critical and convivial academic practice supportive of people’s various efforts and experiences in British prisons and British universities. Our article offers a critical engagement with issues of nomenclature, convictism and coloniality which we believe will be important for an inclusive convict criminology for the future.
The Space Between: Proper Names and Other Disturbances in Jack Spicer's Poetry
Authors: Goar Jim
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Proper names in Jack Spicer's poems mark areas of uncertainty, spreading. This uncertainty stems not only from the divide between the names (sometimes the same name), but also by their use as "disturbances," exacerbating this already disorderly space above the real. This article, in search of the real Spicer spoke of, turns to this unstable gulf itself, and through the disturbances that mark it, explores a poetics that breaks from the crystalized structure of William Carlos Williams's "The Red Wheelbarrow" and diverges from the Modernism that preceded it.
From Witnessing to Redress: Objects, Remnants, and Wreckage after the Sewol
Authors: Jeong Areum
Published: October 2023

Abstracts: On April 16, 2014, the Sewol Ferry capsized off the southwestern coast of South Korea, killing 304 people, including 250 high school students. The incident traumatized Koreans, who helplessly watched the capsized ferry sink on live news. The Korean government's (mis)handling of the disaster and its aftermaths made the sinking of the Sewol Ferry the most galvanizing event in contemporary South Korean history. In the wake of the Sewol, activists and artists created memorials in honor of the victims—or rather their absence—as well as their loved ones who remember them. Using critical scholarship from memory studies and performance studies with ethnographic methodologies, this essay explores three of these works, combining tools of close reading and participant observation. In analyzing the three works, I focus on their strategic use of physical objects belonging to victims or their loved ones—namely, childhood artifacts, a blanket, and a bus. Through these objects, activists and artists go beyond an invitation to witness the Sewol and its tragic aftermaths; rather, they index the sustained nature of loss as well as critique the persistence of government malfeasance and unaccountability. Ultimately, I theorize the three case studies as activist performances that animate the material remains of disaster in the service of materializing truth and redress.