bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do patients regret having in-office vocal fold injections for glottic insufficiency?
Authors: Liu Alice Q. , Ji Yunqi , Hu Amanda
Published: April 2023

Background

In-office vocal fold injections (VFI) are an effective treatment for glottic insufficiency. The primary objective of this study was to assess if patients reported decisional regret after VFI. Secondary objectives included determining if variables were associated with lower decisional regret.

Methods

Case–control study of patients who underwent in-office VFIs for glottic insufficiency from August 2017 to December 2019 at a tertiary laryngology clinic. Participants completed the validated Decision Regret Scale (DRS). Demographic data, clinician's perceptual analysis with GRBAS (Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain), and patient's self-reported Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) were analyzed. Nonparametric tests as well as univariate and multiple logistics regression were performed.

Results

Of patients eligible, 75% (136/182) completed the DRS (mean age 65.4 years (SD 13.9), 58.1% male). Eighty-three (61.0%) reported no decisional regret, thirty-three (24.3%) reported mild decisional regret, and twenty (14.7%) reported moderate to strong decisional regret. Improvement in most recent VHI-10 (Kendall correlation coefficient tau = 0.156, p = 0.029), Grade of voice (tau = 0.236, p value = 0.002) and Breathiness of voice (tau = 0.150, p = 0.044) were associated with lower DRS. Multivariate logistics regression results showed that the change in Grade of voice (OR 9.9, p < 0.01), Roughness (OR 0.2, p < 0.01) and Breathiness (OR 0.2, p < 0.03) were significantly associated with DRS.

Conclusion

The majority of patients had no or mild decisional regret after in-office VFI for glottic insufficiency. Both patients who reported less vocal handicap after VFI and clinician-noted improvements in perceptual evaluation of voice after VFI were associated with significantly lower decisional regret.

Graphical Abstract
Intestinal volvulus in utero causing torsion of dilated bowel with ileal atresia: a case report
Authors: Toyama Chiyoshi , Segawa Yuki , Iijima Shigeo , Murakoshi Takeshi , Nara Keigo
Published: April 2023

Background

In utero intestinal volvulus with intestinal atresia is a rare and life-threatening condition that can cause torsion of the dilated bowel. The management and outcomes of this disease remain unclear.

Case presentation

A 19-year-old woman noticed a decrease in fetal motion at 35 weeks. Fetal ultrasound showed dilated fetal bowel and the whirlpool sign. The patient was referred to our hospital for an emergency cesarean section. The neonate’s abdomen was dark and severely distended, and a laparotomy was performed. Necrotic ileum and cord-type intestinal atresia (Type II) were observed in the dilated terminal ileum. The necrotic ileum was resected, and a second-look surgery was performed the following day. Then, we anastomosed the remaining intestine, and the total intestine length was 52 cm. There were no surgical complications, and the patient was discharged without requiring total parenteral nutrition or fluid infusion. The patient’s height and weight were within the − 2 standard deviation range of the growth curve at 5 months.

Conclusions

Emergency and appropriate management of intestinal volvulus in utero causing torsion of the dilated bowel resulted in good outcomes in a patient with intestinal atresia. Perinatal physicians should be aware of this emergency condition and plan their treatment approach accordingly.
Stent appearance in a novel silicon-based photon-counting CT prototype: ex vivo phantom study in head-to-head comparison with conventional energy-integrating CT
Authors: Verelst Emma , Buls Nico , De Mey Johan , Nieboer Koenraad Hans , Vandenbergh Frans , Crotty Dominic , Deak Paul , Sundvall Albert , Holmin Staffan , De Smet Aron , Provyn Steven , Van Gompel Gert
Published: April 2023

Background

In this study, stent appearance in a novel silicon-based photon-counting computed tomography (Si-PCCT) prototype was compared with a conventional energy-integrating detector CT (EIDCT) system.

Methods

An ex vivo phantom was created, consisting of a 2% agar-water mixture, in which human-resected and stented arteries were individually embedded. Using similar technique parameters, helical scan data was acquired using a novel prototype Si-PCCT and a conventional EIDCT system at a volumetric CT dose index (CTDIvol) of 9 mGy. Reconstructions were made at 502 and 1502 mm2 field-of-views (FOVs) using a bone kernel and adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction with 0% blending. Using a 5-point Likert scale, reader evaluations were performed on stent appearance, blooming and inter-stent visibility. Quantitative image analysis was performed on stent diameter accuracy, blooming and inter-stent distinction. Qualitative and quantitative differences between Si-PCCT and EIDCT systems were tested with a Wilcoxon signed-rank test and a paired samples t-test, respectively. Inter- and intra-reader agreement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

Qualitatively, Si-PCCT images were rated higher than EIDCT images at 150-mm FOV, based on stent appearance (p = 0.026) and blooming (p = 0.015), with a moderate inter- (ICC = 0.50) and intra-reader (ICC = 0.60) agreement. Quantitatively, Si-PCCT yielded more accurate diameter measurements (p = 0.001), reduced blooming (p < 0.001) and improved inter-stent distinction (p < 0.001). Similar trends were observed for the images reconstructed at 50-mm FOV.

Conclusions

When compared to EIDCT, the improved spatial resolution of Si-PCCT yields enhanced stent appearance, more accurate diameter measurements, reduced blooming and improved inter-stent distinction.

Key points

• This study evaluated stent appearance in a novel silicon-based photon-counting computed tomography (Si-PCCT) prototype.

• Compared to standard CT, Si-PCCT resulted in more accurate stent diameter measurements.

• Si-PCCT also reduced blooming artefacts and improved inter-stent visibility.
Molecular characteristics and pathogenicity of infectious cDNA clones of the Chinese isolates of pea enation mosaic virus 1 and pea enation mosaic virus 2
Authors: Chen Xiaojiao , Xie Min , Chen Honglin , Zhang Yue , Li Kehua , Lan Pingxiu , Wei Taiyun , Li Fan
Published: April 2023

The pea enation mosaic disease (PEMD) causes significant yield losses worldwide. PEMD is caused by two taxonomically unrelated but symbiotic viruses, pea enation mosaic virus 1 (PEMV-1) and pea enation mosaic virus 2 (PEMV-2). In this study, the complete genomes of four isolates of PEMV-1 and PEMV-2 from Yunnan Province of China were determined and analyzed. The four isolates of PEMV-1 or PEMV-2 shared ≥ 98.7% nucleotide sequence identities at whole genome level. The four Chinese PEMV-1 isolates were most closely related to PEMV-1-Ramsey-1 with nucleotide sequence identities of 97.8–98.0%, while the four Chinese PEMV-2 isolates were most closely related to PEMV-2-DSMZ PV-0088, with nucleotide sequence identities of 94.3–94.5%. The two full-length infectious cDNA clones of the Yunnan-Dali isolates of the two viruses (PEMV-1-YDL and PEMV-2-YDL) were constructed. Co-inoculation of PEMV-1-YDL and PEMV-2-YDL in pea seedlings caused systemic infection, with typical enation and mosaic symptoms on new leaves after inoculation, while the inoculated Nicotiana benthamiana plants showed curling symptoms. Inoculation of pea seedlings with either PEMV-1-YDL or PEMV-2-YDL did not cause obvious symptoms on the new leaves. It has been known that PEMV-2 helps the systemic infection of PEMV-1. However, our results showed that PEMV-1-YDL alone could cause a systemic infection. The pathogenicity of the two infectious clones was tested on different pea cultivars, and some cultivars were PEMD-tolerant. This is the first report of the infectious clones constructed from the Chinese isolates of PEMV-1 and PEMV-2. The current approach will facilitate determination of the synergistic relationship between PEMV-1 and PEMV-2 and their interactions with the host plant by reverse genetic analysis.
Reproductive tract microbiome and therapeutics of infertility
Authors: Bhattacharya Koushik , Dutta Sulagna , Sengupta Pallav , Bagchi Sovan
Published: April 2023

Background

The microbiome is still a new area of research in human health and disease, especially in reproductive health. The present article aims to aid the perception on reproductive tract microbiome that may enable better management of its dysbiosis causing reproductive dysfunctions.

Main body

In recent years, identification of microbiota in every part of human body has been eased by next-generation sequencing-based tools. It has been demonstrated that resident microbiota is vital for normal reproductive functions. The development of disease may result owing to changes in the microbiota brought about by internal or external factors. Female reproductive microbiota may be crucial in the success of assisted reproductive technologies such as embryo implantation and prenatal care. Though much has been learned about the vaginal microbiota, the uterine microbiome has gotten very little research attention. The impacts of well-known microorganisms includingChlamydia trachomatis,Mycoplasma tuberculosis, andNeisseria gonorrhoeaehave been well documented, resulting in subclinical alterations that are considered risk factors for infertility and poor reproductive outcomes. Research on microbiota of male reproductive system is still in its early stages, and there are numerous questions concerning how inflammation and urogenital infections might impact male fertility. Certain microorganisms reportedly can directly affect spermatozoon function without even inducing oxidative stress or inflammatory cytokines, but via adhering to the spermatozoon or producing soluble factors capable of altering sperm motility and/or inducing apoptosis.

Conclusion

The presence of specific microbiota in the reproductive tract, regardless of their pathogenicity, or the alteration of the reproductive tract resident microbiota may pose issues with fertilization, implantation, pregnancy as well as embryo development. This may result in the failure of fertility treatments and a reduction in the number of live births.
Relation between aortic elasticity parameters and SYNTAX score in postmenopausal diabetic women
Authors: Naseem Mohamed , Alaarag Ahmed
Published: April 2023

Background

Postmenopausal women are at increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Diabetes Mellitus is a major risk factor for CAD. The stiffening of the aorta is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate the relation of aortic elasticity parameters to CAD severity assessed by SYNTAX score (SS) in diabetic postmenopausal women. The study prospectively included 200 consecutive diabetic postmenopausal women with CAD who underwent elective coronary angiography. Patients were classified into 3 groups based on SS, low-SS ≤ 22, intermediate-SS ≥ 23– ≤ 32, and high-SS ≥ 33. Echocardiographic aortic elasticity parameters, including aortic stiffness index (ASI), aortic strain (AS) (%) and aortic distensibility (AD) were obtained in all patients.

Results

Patients in the high SS group were older age and had a higher aortic stiffness. After adjusting different co-variates AD, AS, and ASI could be used as independent predictors of high SS with the following P-values (0.019, 0.016 and 0.010) and cut-off values (2.5, 3.6 and 2.9), respectively.

Conclusions

In diabetic postmenopausal women, the simple echocardiography-derived aortic elasticity parameters might predict the severity and complexity of angiographic coronary lesions assessed by the SS.
A picture is worth a thousand words: advancing the use of visualization tools in implementation science through process mapping and matrix heat mapping
Authors: Salvati Zachary M. , Rahm Alanna Kulchak , Williams Marc S. , Ladd Ilene , Schlieder Victoria , Atondo Jamie , Schneider Jennifer L. , Epstein Mara M. , Lu Christine Y. , Pawloski Pamala A. , Sharaf Ravi N. , Liang Su-Ying , Burnett-Hartman Andrea N. , Hunter Jessica Ezzell , Burton-Akright Jasmine , Cragun Deborah
Published: April 2023

Background

Identifying key determinants is crucial for improving program implementation and achieving long-term sustainment within healthcare organizations. Organizational-level complexity and heterogeneity across multiple stakeholders can complicate our understanding of program implementation. We describe two data visualization methods used to operationalize implementation success and to consolidate and select implementation factors for further analysis.

Methods

We used a combination of process mapping and matrix heat mapping to systematically synthesize and visualize qualitative data from 66 stakeholder interviews across nine healthcare organizations, to characterize universal tumor screening programs of all newly diagnosed colorectal and endometrial cancers and understand the influence of contextual factors on implementation. We constructed visual representations of protocols to compare processes and score process optimization components. We also used color-coded matrices to systematically code, summarize, and consolidate contextual data using factors from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Combined scores were visualized in a final data matrix heat map.

Results

Nineteen process maps were created to visually represent each protocol. Process maps identified the following gaps and inefficiencies: inconsistent execution of the protocol, no routine reflex testing, inconsistent referrals after a positive screen, no evidence of data tracking, and a lack of quality assurance measures. These barriers in patient care helped us define five process optimization components and used these to quantify program optimization on a scale from 0 (no program) to 5 (optimized), representing the degree to which a program is implemented and optimally maintained. Combined scores within the final data matrix heat map revealed patterns of contextual factors across optimized programs, non-optimized programs, and organizations with no program.

Conclusions

Process mapping provided an efficient method to visually compare processes including patient flow, provider interactions, and process gaps and inefficiencies across sites, thereby measuring implementation success via optimization scores. Matrix heat mapping proved useful for data visualization and consolidation, resulting in a summary matrix for cross-site comparisons and selection of relevant CFIR factors. Combining these tools enabled a systematic and transparent approach to understanding complex organizational heterogeneity prior to formal coincidence analysis, introducing a stepwise approach to data consolidation and factor selection.
Clinical profile of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis patients and the clinical suspects: a descriptive audit
Authors: Amalanathan Sophia , Satish Kumar C , Abinaya R , Prathiba K , Kumaran Ramesh Colbert , Kavitha B , Malini A , Amudhasubba Reddy
Published: April 2023

Background

India witnessed a massive surge of rhino orbital cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) cases during the second wave of COVID-19, recording the highest number of cases in the world, indeed, an epidemic within the pandemic.

Objectives

To describe the clinical profile of patients with COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) and the clinical suspects for mucormycosis.

Methods

This single-center descriptive, observational study/audit was done at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Pondicherry, South India. This study is about the clinical profile of 7 CAM patients and 14 COVID-19 patients who were suspects of CAM, based on their risk factors and clinical symptoms, and were referred to the ENT department.

Statistical analysis

All the descriptive variables were summarized as mean, frequency, and percentages for qualitative data.

Results

All 7 CAM patients were COVID-19 positive and were not vaccinated against COVID-19, All 7 were known diabetic, all 7 had steroid therapy for their COVID status, and 5 out of 7 (71%) had uncontrolled diabetes mellitus at the time of diagnosis. Facial pain, nasal discharge, and eye swelling were the presenting symptoms of CAM. Maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were the most commonly involved para nasal sinuses. Four out of seven (57.1%) CAM patients survived after 16 months of follow-up, after surgical and medical treatment for CAM. Of the 14 clinical suspects who were negative for CAM, 2 were negative for COVID-19, their risk factors were brought under control, 3 expired due to COVID complications, and 9 patients are alive till date.

Conclusion

Uncontrolled diabetes is a risk factor for ROCM/CAM, another possible risk factor is steroid therapy, and we hypothesize that COVID infection could also be a possible risk factor that needs to be studied more extensively in a larger sample. Early clinical suspicion, withdrawal of steroids, rapid control of diabetes mellitus, appropriate investigations, and early surgical intervention combined with medical treatment offers better outcome.
The Aspects of Active-Learning Science Courses That Exacerbate and Alleviate Depression in Undergraduates
Authors: Araghi Tala , Busch Carly A. , Cooper Katelyn M.
Published: April 2023

An interview study of 29 undergraduates with depression from six institutions examined the relationship between depression and active learning in college science courses. This report examines how depression impacts students’ experiences in active learning and which aspects of active learning alleviate and exacerbate students’ depressive symptoms.
A decade of successful magnetotelluric surveys for delineating shallow geothermal reservoirs beneath nonvolcanic hot springs in Thailand
Authors: Amatyakul Puwis , Siripunvaraporn Weerachai , Rung-Arunwan Tawat , Vachiratienchai Chatchai , Pirarai Kriangsak , Prommakorn Natthaporn
Published: April 2023

Magnetotelluric (MT) applications to probe the shallow reservoirs of nonvolcanic hot springs in Thailand have become ever more convincing during the past few decades. In 2013, the first modern MT survey was deployed over the Mae Chan hot spring. A shallow hot water reservoir within a network of fractured granite was imaged as a low-resistivity zone beneath the hot spring surrounded by a resistive granite heat source. With the success of the first MT deployment, in 2014 and 2015, MT measurements were expanded to five hot springs with the objective of 1 km deep drilling where the Muang Rae hot spring was chosen out of these five hot springs to assess the volume of hot fluid for a future geothermal power plant. The conductive zone was again detected at a depth of 200–600 m beneath the Muang Rae hot spring, which our team interpreted as a shallow hot fluid reservoir. However, others interpreted it as just the clay cap with no hot fluid inside, which occurs in most volcanic systems. Therefore, a 1 km well was drilled next to the conductor, instead of through it as we suggested. The well did not find any hot water flowing. In 2018, an MT survey with densely spaced stations was used around the Mae Chan hot spring to validate the shallow conductive zone beneath the hot spring through which five wells (<200 m) were drilled. The depth positions where the hot fluid was found match well with the conductor location at most wells. This is a good indicator that in the Thailand nonvolcanic system, the conductive zone beneath the hot spring is genuinely the shallow reservoir, and not the clay cap zone as in the volcanic systems.
Exercise to treat psychopathology and other clinical outcomes in schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gallardo-Gómez Daniel , Noetel Michael , Álvarez-Barbosa Francisco , Alfonso-Rosa Rosa María , Ramos-Munell Javier , del Pozo Cruz Borja , del Pozo-Cruz Jesús
Published: April 2023

Background

Psychopathology and side effects of antipsychotic drugs contribute to worsening physical health and long-term disability, and increasing the risk of mortality in these patients. The efficacy of exercise on these factors is not fully understood, and this lack of knowledge may hamper the routine application of physical activity as part of the clinical care of schizophrenia.

Aims

To determine the effect of exercise on psychopathology and other clinical markers in patients with schizophrenia. We also looked at several moderators.

Method

MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched from inception to October 2022. Randomized controlled trials of exercise interventions in patients 18–65 years old diagnosed with schizophrenia disorder were included. A multilevel random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to pool the data. Heterogeneity at each level of the meta-analysis was estimated via Cochran’s Q, I2, and R2.

Results

Pooled effect estimates from 28 included studies (1,460 patients) showed that exercise is effective to improve schizophrenia psychopathology (Hedges’ g = 0.28, [95% CI 0.14, 0.42]). Exercise presented stronger effects in outpatients than inpatients. We also found exercise is effective to improve muscle strength and self-reported disability.

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis demonstrated that exercise could be an important part in the management and treatment of schizophrenia. Considering the current evidence, aerobic and high-intensity interval training exercises may provide superior benefits over other modalities. However, more studies are warranted to determine the optimal type and dose of exercise to improve clinical outcomes in people with schizophrenia.
Long-Term Outcomes and Molecular Correlates of Sotorasib Efficacy in Patients With Pretreated KRAS G12C-Mutated Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: 2-Year Analysis of CodeBreaK 100
Authors: Dy Grace K. , Govindan Ramaswamy , Velcheti Vamsidhar , Falchook Gerald S. , Italiano Antoine , Wolf Jürgen , Sacher Adrian G. , Takahashi Toshiaki , Ramalingam Suresh S. , Dooms Christophe , Kim Dong-Wan , Addeo Alfredo , Desai Jayesh , Schuler Martin , Tomasini Pascale , Hong David S. , Lito Piro , Tran Qui , Jones Simon , Anderson Abraham , Hindoyan Antreas , Snyder Wendy , Skoulidis Ferdinandos , Li Bob T.
Published: April 2023

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned co-primary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical Trial Updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.

In the longest follow-up, to our knowledge, for a KRASG12C inhibitor, we assessed the long-term efficacy, safety, and biomarkers of sotorasib in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from the CodeBreaK 100 clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03600883 ). This multicenter, single-group, open-label phase I/phase II trial enrolled 174 patients with KRAS G12C-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC after progression on prior therapies. Patients (N = 174) received sotorasib 960 mg once daily with the primary end points for phase I of safety and tolerability and for phase II of objective response rate (ORR). Sotorasib produced an ORR of 41%, median duration of response of 12.3 months, progression-free survival (PFS) of 6.3 months, overall survival (OS) of 12.5 months, and 2-year OS rate of 33%. Long-term clinical benefit (PFS ≥ 12 months) was observed in 40 (23%) patients across PD-L1 expression levels, in a proportion of patients with somatic STK11 and/or KEAP1 alterations, and was associated with lower baseline circulating tumor DNA levels. Sotorasib was well tolerated, with few late-onset treatment-related toxicities, none of which led to treatment discontinuation. These results demonstrate the long-term benefit of sotorasib, including in subgroups with poor prognosis.
The control of breathing in fishes – historical perspectives and the path ahead
Authors: Pan Yihang Kevin , Perry Steve F.
Published: April 2023

The study of breathing in fishes has featured prominently in Journal of Experimental Biology (JEB), particularly during the latter half of the past century. Indeed, many of the seminal discoveries in this important sub-field of comparative respiratory physiology were reported first in JEB. The period spanning 1960–1990 (the ‘golden age of comparative respiratory physiology’) witnessed intense innovation in the development of methods to study the control of breathing. Many of the guiding principles of piscine ventilatory control originated during this period, including our understanding of the dominance of O2 as the driver of ventilation in fish. However, a critical issue – the identity of the peripheral O2 chemoreceptors – remained unanswered until methods for cell isolation, culture and patch-clamp recording established that gill neuroepithelial cells (NECs) respond to hypoxia in vitro. Yet, the role of the NECs and other putative peripheral or central chemoreceptors in the control of ventilation in vivo remains poorly understood. Further progress will be driven by the implementation of genetic tools, most of which can be used in zebrafish (Danio rerio). These tools include CRISPR/Cas9 for selective gene knockout, and Tol2 systems for transgenesis, the latter of which enables optogenetic stimulation of cellular pathways, cellular ablation and in vivo cell-specific biosensing. Using these methods, the next period of discovery will see the identification of the peripheral sensory pathways that initiate ventilatory responses, and will elucidate the nature of their integration within the central nervous system and their link to the efferent motor neurons that control breathing.
Evaluation of effectiveness of advanced platelet rich fibrin (A-PRF) with demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) placed into fresh extraction sockets with immediate implant placement: A clinical and radiographic study
Authors: Dare Sneha , Bajaj Pavan
Published: April 2023

Background: Dental implant placement has evolved over time with the introduction of numerous novel protocols. Following tooth extraction throughout the healing phase, alveolar ridge resorption is a potential issue that can be mitigated by the utilisation of a variety of techniques, one of which is the placement of immediate implants. The immediate implant treatment protocol offers numerous benefits, such as minimal surgical procedures, which thereby reduce overall treatment time, preserve bone height, and produce better aesthetic results, particularly in the anterior region.

Such protocols have made implant insertion so much easier that results can now be anticipated more precisely. The distance between the lateral surface of an implant and surrounding alveolus is known as the jumping gap distance (JGD). JGD of >1.5 mm affects spontaneous bone healing. Research incorporating biomaterials such as membranes produced from blood and bone grafts has significantly contributed to the success of this therapy.

Methods: This research will be carried out over the course of a year. Twelve implants will be placed in systemically healthy individuals with one tooth/teeth in the maxilla and/or mandible indicated for extraction. Using a two-stage protocol, implant placement will be done simultaneously after extraction along with augmentation with A-PRF and DFDBA. The second stage surgery will be conducted three months after implant placement. Within 3-6 weeks, abutments will be connected and the final prosthesis will be placed.

Expected results: Crestal bone changes and implant stability after using of A-PRF and DFDBA will serve as indicators to determine the implant's success after 6 months.

Conclusion: The augmentation procedures have shown to be successful in obtaining bone fill and in resolving bone defects that are present in proximity with implants. An immediate implant placement along with bone augmentation may decrease resorption of horizontal bone.

Trial registration: REF/2023/03/064371.
A study to explore the role of a low threshold, fitness focussed physical rehabilitation intervention with protein supplementation to target physical function and frailty in people with problematic substance use and homelessness: protocol for a single-arm feasibility cohort study.
Authors: Kennedy Fiona , Ní Cheallaigh Clíona , Romero-Ortuno Roman , Doyle Suzanne , Broderick Julie
Published: April 2023

Background: People who are homeless are more likely to experience poor mental health and addiction as well as suffering from non-communicable diseases. There is evidence of frailty and accelerated physical ageing among people experiencing homelessness. Appropriate physical rehabilitation and nutritional supplementation strategies can stabilise or reverse frailty and general physical decline, but it is not known how this type of intervention would work in practice in this population.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a low threshold physical rehabilitation intervention with protein supplementation to target physical functioning and frailty in people with problematic substance use who are experiencing homelessness.

Methods: The intervention will consist of a 12-week low threshold rehabilitation programme with protein supplementation. Participants will be service users of the Ballyfermot Advance Project, a day services centre for people with addiction issues and experiencing homelessness. Primary outcomes will be feasibility including numbers recruited, retention of participants and number of  repeat visits. Any adverse events will be recorded. Secondary outcomes will be strength and muscular mass, physical performance and lower extremity physical function, pain, frailty and nutritional status.

Discussion: An immediate impact may be simply a distraction from difficult circumstances and potentially an improvement of physical health of participants, which can be a conduit for the emergence of other positive behaviours and recovery. Longer term, this study will generate preliminary data on which to inform the design of a definitive randomised controlled trial of physical rehabilitation and protein supplementation, if indicated.

Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval was granted by the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee in TCD. Study findings will be disseminated through publication into an international peer-reviewed journal and presented at national and international conferences.
The genome sequence of the orange ladybird, Halyzia sedecimguttata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Crowley Liam M. , Barclay Maxwell , Roy Helen E. , Brown Peter M.J. ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: April 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual Halyzia sedecimguttata (the orange ladybird, Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera, Coccinellidae). The genome sequence is 919.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 21.0 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 27,547 protein coding genes.
Ability to Apply the Concept of Integrated Reporting to the Territory
Authors: Eremeeva Ol'ga
Published: April 2023

The article discusses the possibility of creating information about the region in the form of regional reporting in terms of the corporate approach. It proves the hypothesis that it is possible to apply the concept of integrated accounting of the organization used up to now only in micro-economics to the accounting of the territory. Highlighting of common principles and methods of accounting and macroaccounting allows to substantiate their application in the application of the idea of integrated reporting to the reporting of the level of the region.
Gender Norms under Socialism and Capitalism: A Historical Examination of Attitudes towards Maternal Employment in the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany
Authors: Kleinschrot Leonie
Published: April 2023

Research on the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in the 1980s shows a high level of congruence between conservative social policy deterring mothers from employment and traditional societal gender norms. In contrast, little is known about whether people in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) agreed with the socialist idea of continuous full-time maternal employment. Based on unexploited GDR data from 1984 and a description of contemporary social policy, this study examines attitudes towards maternal employment, whether they were related to individual preferences for work or children, and their congruence with the socialist policy. The same questions are examined for the FRG using data from 1982.

Results for the GDR indicate that one third of respondents rejected the socialist idea of maternal full-time employment, with individual work preferences being decisive for respondents’ assessments. In the FRG, there was a high degree of agreement with the gender norm of maternal non-employment, with this being dependent on individual preferences for children. These findings complement post-reunification evidence on East-West-differences in gender norms and provide insights into attitudes under Eastern European state socialism.

* This article belongs to a special issue on “Demographic Developments in Eastern and Western Europe Before and After the Transformation of Socialist Countries”.
The role of environmental factors in the etiology of schizophrenia
Authors: Brzuszkiewicz Kinga , Rudziński Gracjan , Łozowski Borys , Raczkiewicz Przemysław , Kusak Natalia , Soroka Ewelina
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a psychotic disease characterized by multifaceted psychopathology. To date, research has shown that it is an inherited disease and significant progress has been made in identifying genetic risk factors.
Methods: This paper summarizes the current and most recent findings on the role of environmental factors, and demonstrates the continued need for more in-depth research to better understand how this type of disorder occurs.
Results: Recent studies show that 15-40% of the risk that comes from environmental sources is not fully understood. Environmental factors that have been repeatedly studied and have been proven to influence the development of the disease include: obstetric complications, infections, childbirth in the winter or spring month, living in the city, severe childhood events or marijuana use.
Discussion: Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness that remains poorly understood. A full picture of how genetic and environmental risk factors affect the risk of developing schizophrenia requires an understanding of the interactions between them. It should be taken into account that for this disorder, the interactions between genetic and environmental risk factors are also not well understood and deserve further research in the future.
In the case of schizophrenia, the interactions between environmental and genetic risk factors are not well understood and still require further research. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying the disease is extremely important, as it may have an impact on taking measures to prevent the development of the disorder. In addition, their discovery will help improve treatment. In conclusion, it is important to emphasize the need for further research to better understand the impact of environmental factors on the development of susceptibility to a mental disorder such as schizophrenia.
Melatonin – a verified remedy for jet lag? Current state of knowledge
Authors: Rogala Maciej , Giżewska Kamila , Kuc Michał , Jabłońska Klaudia , Łoś Tomasz , Lorenc Karol , Bielawska Olga , Gulbicka Marta
Published: April 2023

Jet lag is a circadian rhythm disorder, affecting plane passengers travelling across multiple time zones. The severity of symptoms is strictly connected with the number of zones crossed. Common symptoms include: insomnia, difficulty concentrating attention, memory loss, anxiety, diarrhea, confusion, dizziness, headache, as well as malaise. Melatonin is a neurohormone, produced by the pineal gland. The hormone is released into the bloodstream and acts on MT1 and MT2 receptors, having the ability to induce sleep. Melatonin is therefore responsible for regulating the human biological clock and, consequently, the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness. Synthetic forms of melatonin have become a potential medication for various circadian rhythm disorders, including jet lag syndrome. Ten scientific reports were analyzed. The characteristics of the subjects, directions of the trips taken, the doses of melatonin, as well as the patterns of its administration, differed among studies. According to most of the reviewed trials, melatonin may have a beneficial effect on alleviating jet lag symptoms. The timing of intake plays a significant role – it has proven most effective when taken days before travel. However, several studies have not confirmed its effectiveness, compared to placebo. Further research seems to be inevitable to objectively reassess the effectiveness of melatonin preparations. Unambiguous determination of the melatonin dosage, the timing of its administration, the time of initiation, and the duration of the treatment would also be advisable. Nevertheless, all of the mentioned trials confirmed that the use of oral melatonin preparations, especially at low doses, turned out to be free of serious side effects.
Unintended Consequences of Advances in Matching Technologies: Information Revelation and Strategic Participation on Gig-Economy Platforms
Authors: Liu Yi , Lou Bowen , Zhao Xinyi , Li Xinxin
Published: April 2023

Recent years have witnessed significant advancements in matching technologies used to improve the matching between workers and employers requesting job tasks on a gig-economy platform. Although conventional wisdom suggests that technologies with higher matching quality benefit the platform by assigning better-matched jobs to workers, we discover a possible unintended revenue-decreasing effect. Our stylized game-theoretic model suggests that, although a technology’s matching enhancement effect can increase a platform’s revenue, the jobs assigned by the better matching technology can also unintentionally reveal more information about uncertain labor demand to workers, especially when demand is low, and thus unfavorably change workers’ participation decisions, resulting in a revenue loss for the platform. We extend our model to cases in which (1) the share of revenue between workers and platform is endogenous, (2) the matching quality can be improved continuously, (3) the opportunity cost of workers is affected by competition between platforms, and (4) workers compete for job tasks. We find consistent results with additional insights, including the optimal matching quality that a platform should pursue. Furthermore, we examine two approaches to mitigate the potential negative effect of using an advanced matching technology for the platform and find that under certain conditions, the platform can benefit from revealing labor demand or competition information directly to workers. Our results shed light on both the intended positive and unintended negative effects of improvements in matching quality and highlight the importance of thoughtful development, management, and application of matching technologies in the gig economy.

This paper was accepted by D. J. Wu, information systems.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4770 .
Topical delivery of mupirocin calcium nanostructured lipid carriers using a full-thickness excision wound healing model
Authors: Patil Priyanka V , Menon Mala D , Palshetkar Aparna D , Desai Namita D
Published: April 2023

Objective:

Treatment of contaminated wounds represents a significant challenge in healthcare and there is a need to develop approaches maximising skin retention to maintain therapeutic concentrations of anti-infectives at the wound site. The objective of the present study was to develop and evaluate mupirocin calcium nanolipid emulgels to enhance wound healing performance and patient acceptability.

Methods:

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) of mupirocin calcium were prepared by the phase inversion temperature method using Precirol ATO 5 (Gattefosse, India) and oleic acid as lipids and Kolliphor RH 40 (BASF, India) as surfactant and further incorporated into a gel base for topical delivery.

Results:

The particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential of mupirocin NLCs were found to be 128.8±1.25nm, 0.283±0.003 and –24.2±0.56mV, respectively. In vitro release studies from developed emulgel showed sustained drug release over 24 hours. Ex vivo drug permeation studies through excised rat abdominal skin showed better skin permeation (1712.38±15. 57μg/cm2) from developed emulgel compared to marketed ointment (827.92±21.42μg/cm2) after 8 hours, which was in agreement with in vitro antibacterial activity. Studies on Wistar rats indicated the nonirritant potential of developed emulgels. Further, mupirocin emulgels showed improved efficacy in percent wound contraction of acute contaminated open wounds in Wistar rats using a full-thickness excision wound healing model.

Conclusion:

The emulgels of mupirocin calcium NLCs appear to be effective in the treatment of contaminated wounds due to increased skin deposition and sustained release, thereby enhancing the wound healing potential of existing molecules.
Transfer of meaning from the educator to the student in piano interpretation within the framework of the constructionist perspective
Authors: Yahşi Fahrettin Eren
Published: April 2023

This research analyzes the concept of meaning from a constructionist perspective. From this perspective, while trying to determine how meaning is constructed and conveyed in piano interpretation, the study determined three different categories of meaning as a framework. One can list these categories as aesthetic meaning, symbolic meaning, and pragmatic meaning. In the aesthetic meaning category, music is essentially analyzed in terms of its formal qualities, that is, its immutable characteristics as indicated on the note. Researchers who analyze music based on this category often argue that music carries its meaning. The second category, symbolic meaning, refers to the symbolic meanings attributed to music in relation to the cultural context to which it belongs. Within the framework of this category of meaning, people also consider music in terms of its aesthetic qualities, but the focus is the meanings attributed to music by individuals or societies. The third and final category, pragmatic meaning, is directly related to how one uses music. Within the framework of pragmatic meaning, people base music analysis on the functional uses of music, and they analyze the other two categories accordingly. Here, in line with the brief definitions of the categories of meaning, this study examines the construction and transfer of meaning in piano interpretation with examples from selected works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Beethoven’s No. 23 Piano Sonata “Appassionata” is characterized by the concept of contrast based on the fate motif; Chopin’s Op. 31, No. 2 Scherzo is characterized by serenity and calmness; and Rachmaninoff’s Op. 33 Etude No. 8 is characterized based on fairytale-like storytelling. These examples, interpreted according to the requirements of notation and edition, do not vary fundamentally because there is no information on the notes that contribute to the interpretation and explain the subject of the piece. However, the information we have about the composers’ works has shown us that more meaning can be attributed to the work beyond the interpretation suggestions on the notation. These attributed meanings act as a suggestion for the interpreter. However, since interpretation is directly related to the individual’s qualities, these examples of suggestive meaning do not have a given and fixed structure; they vary from person to person.
Station Aridity in Weather Monitoring Networks: Evidence from the Oklahoma Mesonet
Authors: Singh Aseem , Taghvaeian Saleh , Mirchi Ali , Moriasi Daniel N.
Published: April 2023

Highlights

Station aridity can cause overestimation of ETref at weather monitoring networks in irrigated areas.

Station aridity was demonstrated in a mesoscale weather monitoring network.

Station aridity is amplified in water-scarce irrigated areas during droughts.

Station aridity should be accounted for to achieve water conservation through weather-informed irrigation.

Abstract. Many weather monitoring networks such as the Oklahoma Mesonet provide estimates of reference evapotranspiration (ETref) to facilitate weather-informed irrigation decisions. However, weather stations that collect the required input data to estimate ETref using the widely applied ASCE standardized ETref equation are not typically installed over a reference surface, defined as a large expanse of dense, well-watered, stress-free grass or alfalfa having a specified height, surface resistance, and albedo. The deviation of actual surface conditions in the surrounding environment of the weather stations from the reference condition creates station aridity effects that can lead to overestimation of ETref. Daily hydroclimate datasets for a period of 20 years (2000-2019) were used to evaluate the prevalence and spatiotemporal characteristics of station aridity across the Oklahoma Mesonet. Station aridity was characterized based on mean dew point deviation (MDD = Tmin - Tdew), maximum relative humidity (RHmax), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Results demonstrate that station aridity is prevalent and highly variable in both space and time across the Oklahoma Mesonet, as it increases from southeast to northwest in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Larger average seasonal MDD (up to 13°C), lower RHmax (e.g., 57%), and lower NDVI (e.g., 0.22) were observed during extreme to exceptional drought of 2011 in western Oklahoma, where a majority of the state’s irrigated agriculture (88%) is located. Spatiotemporal patterns of station aridity demonstrate the profound effect of wet and dry periods that influence the utility of ETref estimates to improve agricultural water conservation during high irrigation requirement times in water-scarce irrigated areas. Keywords: Evapotranspiration, Irrigation requirement, Reference condition, Station aridity, Weather station.