bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Off-pump bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting in patients with left main coronary artery disease
Authors: Hachiro Kohei , Takashima Noriyuki , Suzuki Tomoaki
Published: February 2024

Background

To compare postoperative outcomes in patients with left main coronary artery disease who underwent off-pump isolated coronary artery bypass grafting for multivessel disease using either skeletonized bilateral or single internal thoracic artery (ITA).

Methods

Among 1583 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in our hospital between 2002 and 2022, 604 patients with left main coronary artery disease underwent single (n = 169) or bilateral (n = 435) ITA grafting. We compared postoperative outcomes between the two groups after adjusting preoperative characteristics using inverse probability of treatment weighting.

Results

After adjustment using inverse probability of treatment weighting method, the sum of weights was 599.74 in BITA group and 621.64 in SITA group. There was no significant difference in postoperative deep sternal wound infection (p = 0.227) and 30-day mortality (p = 0.612). Follow-up was completed in 98.7% (596/604) of the patients, and the mean follow-up duration was 6.7 years. At 10 years, the overall survival following bilateral versus single ITA grafting was 71.2% and 60.6%, respectively (log-rank test, p = 0.040), and freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) was 63.3% and 46.3%, respectively (log-rank test, p = 0.008). In multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, bilateral ITA grafting was significantly associated with a lower risk of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.706, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.504–0.987; p = 0.042) and MACCE (HR: 0.671, 95% CI: 0.499–0.902; p = 0.008).

Conclusions

Bilateral skeletonized ITA grafting is associated with lower rates of all-cause death and MACCE than single ITA grafting in patients with left main coronary artery disease undergoing off-pump CABG.
Nose vs. mouth breathing– acute effect of different breathing regimens on muscular endurance
Authors: Lörinczi František , Vanderka Marián , Lörincziová Drahomíra , Kushkestani Mehdi
Published: February 2024

Background

It has been reported that the way we breathe (whether through the nose or mouth) can influence many aspects of our health and to some extent, sport performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of different breathing regimens on muscular endurance and physiological variables.

Methods

A randomized experiment to verify the acute effect of different breathing regimens (NN– inhaling and exhaling through the nose; NM– inhaling through the nose, exhaling through the mouth; MM– inhaling and exhaling through the mouth) on the muscular endurance performance was conducted. 107 physically active college students (68 males, 39 females) performed repeated bench press testing protocol (repetitions to failure (RTF) with 60% of body weight for males (BP60), respectively 40% of body weight for females (BP40)) with various breathing regimens (NN, NM, MM) in random order. Heart rate (HR), blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and perceived exertion by Borg scale (RPE) were measured as well. A short questionnaire, given after the testing protocol and observation during familiarization, was used to detect each subject’s normal breathing approach during resistance training.

Results

In both genders, no significant differences in RTF, RPE and SpO2 were found. No individual case of deviation of arterial oxygen saturation outside the physiological norm was recorded. ​​In the male group, significantly lower HR values were found during the NN trials, compared to during the NM (p = 0.033) and MM (p = 0.047) trials with no significant differences in females. The HR differences in the males demonstrated a small effect size (NN < NM, d = 0.32; NN < MM, d = 0.30). Questionnaire results suggest that 80% of our participants use NM breathing, 15% use MM breathing and 5% use NN breathing during resistance training.

Conclusion

It seems, that various breathing regimens have none or only minor effect on muscular endurance performance and selected physiological parameters. NN seems to be as efficient as other two regimens, which are mostly used in practice (NM, MM).
Ultrasound imaging of the posterior lateral corner of the knee: a pictorial review of anatomy and pathologies
Authors: Wu Wei-Ting , Onishi Kentaro , Mezian Kamal , Naňka Ondřej , Wang Bow , Su Daniel Chiung-Jui , Ricci Vincenzo , Chang Ke-Vin , Özçakar Levent
Published: February 2024

Assessment of the posterior lateral knee pain poses diagnostic challenges, requiring accurate evaluation of various structures in light of the medical history and physical examination. Despite substantial progress in the ultrasonographic diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders, the current protocol (EURO-MUSCULUS/USPRM. Basic scanning protocols for knee) fails to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the intricate, tendons, and ligaments of the posterior lateral knee. This pictorial review aims to bridge this gap by offering a systematic approach to utilize ultrasound examination of the less-discussed structures in this specific region. Providing cadaveric and magnetic resonance images, this essay demonstrates the efficacy of ultrasound in diagnosing posterior lateral knee pain. Notably, pathologies such as ligamentous sprains and tears are clearly discernible. Moreover, the integration of ultrasound guidance plays a vital role in reducing the risk of inadvertent neurovascular injury during injection, such as the common peroneal nerve and lateral genicular artery. This comprehensive approach will enhance clinicians’ understanding and equip them with effective management strategies for posterior lateral knee pain.

Critical relevance statement In this visual exposition, we delve into the intricacies of the posterior lateral corner of the knee. Offering a methodical approach to employ ultrasound for visualization of the less-explored structures within this region, the authors aim to enhance the diagnosis in posterior lateral knee pain.

Key points

1. Ultrasound excels at revealing intricate structures in the posterior lateral knee.

2. Due to proximity of vital structures, extreme caution is crucial during injections.

3. Employing dynamic scan and understanding ligaments enables a comprehensive exploration of pathologies.

Graphical Abstract
Simultaneous determination of 31 Sulfonamide residues in various livestock matrices using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Kim Yu Ra , Park Sunyoung , Kim Ji Young , Choi Jang-Duck , Moon Gui-Im
Published: February 2024

The widespread use of sulfonamides can result in the residue of sulfonamides in the foods of animal origin that are the major concerns of consumers and regulatory bodies due to their adverse reaction such as the development of antibiotic resistance. A rapid and efficient multi-residue analytical method was developed to screen and confirm 31 sulfonamides in livestock samples in a single run, using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with comprehensive mass spectrometric approaches. In this study, a novel sample preparation procedure was used, based on a modified QuEChERS method (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe). The linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision of the method were validated according to the Codex guidelines. The response of the detector was linear for each target compound over a wide concentration range, with a correlation coefficient (r2) greater than 0.98. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.3 to 5 ng g−1 and from 1 to 19 ng g−1 and the average recoveries (%) for three laboratories ranged from 85 to 109% with a CV (n = 5) below 22%. The applicability of this screening method was verified using real livestock samples. The proposed analytical method achieves identification and quantification of target sulfonamides at trace levels in a short analysis time. None of the samples contained residues that exceeded the maximum residue limit (MRL).
Assessing the Seismic Performance of Exterior Precast Concrete Joints with Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Kim Seungki , Shin Jinwon , Kim Woosuk
Published: February 2024

This study was conducted to evaluate the seismic performance of an exterior precast concrete (PC) beam–column joint with ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). Currently, 45 MPa non-shrinkage mortar is used as grouting for the connection between PC beams and columns. In this study, PC joint specimens were designed using 45 MPa non-shrinkage mortar and 120 MPa UHPFRC as a grouting agent for connecting PC members. The shear reinforcement effect of UHPFRC was confirmed to reduce shear cracks in the joint core; this trend was similar in the specimens with reduced shear rebars. The maximum moment of the test specimen with the corbel was slightly increased, but there was no significant difference, and the failure pattern also showed similar results to the specimen without the corbel. In the test specimen to which the U-shaped beam was applied, the attachment surface of ultra-high-performance concrete and normal concrete were separated, and a large decrease in strength was observed. Considering workability, U-shaped beam do not seem to have any major merits in general, such as increased strength and difficulty in manufacturing, and it was judged that it was effective to separate the PC beams from the column face through corbels. Shear reinforcement through UHPFRC is effective in relieving congestion by reducing shear reinforcement bars at the joint, and it is judged that it can be used as PC joint grouting due to its excellent fluidity.
Examining disparities in common agriculture policy direct payments among farming systems: evidence from Portugal
Authors: Dinis Isabel
Published: February 2024

One of the stated goals of the common agricultural policy reforms has been to provide a fairer distribution of payments across and within member states, but little progress has been accomplished, with about 20% of farmers receiving 80% of the total amount of direct payments. This research aims to investigate the underlying structural factors that contribute to this inequity in Portugal, with a particular focus on farming systems. A logit model was developed using agricultural census data at the commune level, with the percentage of farmers receiving direct payments as the dependent variable. The findings reveal that the local importance of arable crops (cereals) and cattle farming systems, as well as the existence of larger farms and younger farmers, all contributed to farmers' increasing access to direct payments between 2009 and 2019. In traditional Mediterranean farming systems, access to direct payments has been restricted to a smaller proportion of farmers. Nevertheless, it is evident that a certain degree of redistribution took place during the previous programming cycle of the common agricultural policy. This redistribution included a shift in support from larger to smaller farmers, older to younger farmers, and from olives, cereals, and cattle to other farming systems, particularly vineyards.
Pathological complete response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Shimamaki Yoshitaka , Hosokawa Isamu , Takayashiki Tsukasa , Takano Shigetsugu , Sonoda Itaru , Ohtsuka Masayuki
Published: February 2024

Background

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver cancer. Cases when found are often advanced with vascular invasion, and radical resection is often difficult. Despite curative resection, the postoperative recurrence rate of patients with histological lymph node metastasis is high, and their prognosis is poor. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish multidisciplinary treatment that combines chemotherapy and surgical resection. The efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for locally advanced ICC is unclear. In this report, a case of locally advanced ICC in which pathological complete response (pCR) was achieved after NAC is described.

Case presentation

A 79-year-old woman was admitted to a local hospital with appetite loss. Computed tomography showed a 100 × 90 mm low-contrast tumor in the left hepatic lobe and segment 1 with invasion to the inferior vena cava (IVC), and several lymph nodes along the left gastric artery and lesser curvature were enlarged. Therefore, she was treated with a combined chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine and cisplatin. After four courses, the tumor size decreased to 30 × 60 mm without invasion to the IVC. Left hepatectomy extending to segment 1 with bile duct resection combined with middle hepatic vein resection (H1234-B-MHV), dissection of regional lymph nodes and pyloroplasty were performed. After radical resection, pCR was achieved. She is alive with no evidence of disease, 2 years after surgery.

Conclusions

In this case, a patient with locally advanced ICC achieved pCR to NAC. NAC may be effective for ICC. Patients who achieve pCR may have a better prognosis.
The Effects of Stretching Exercise on Levels of Blood Glucose: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
Authors: Thomas Ewan , Ficarra Salvatore , Nakamura Masatoshi , Drid Patrik , Trivic Tatjana , Bianco Antonino
Published: February 2024

Background

Physical activity plays an important role in the management of blood glucose levels. However, compelling evidence exists only for aerobic and resistance training. In this review, we aimed to identify the potential effects of stretching exercises on blood glucose levels.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed using the following databases: Scopus, NLM PubMed, and Web of Science. Studies regarding the effects of stretching exercise in humans on blood glucose or any related variable were included. Further inclusion criteria were: (1) original articles (published from database inception to October 2022), (2) applying stretching as a unique exercise modality, (3) having either longitudinal or acute interventions, (4) including healthy and pathological populations, and (5) having within each study a pre- and post-intervention measure. Quality assessment of the studies was conducted using the Downs and Black checklist.

Results

A total of 13 articles were included. The quality assessment revealed an overall moderate quality of the included records. Ten articles included patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), whereas the remaining three included at-risk populations. A total of 731 people with a mean age of 56.7 ± 6.1 years old were analysed. Fasting blood glucose, 2 h post-oral glucose uptake, post-stretching intervention blood glucose levels, and HbA1c were identified as variables related to blood glucose within the studies. After the stretching interventions, a significant reduction was observed in either blood glucose (ES = − 0.79; p = 0.0174) or HbA1c (ES = − 1.11; p =  < 0.0001). Meta-analytic results highlighted greater effects in T2D patients (ES = − 1.15; p = 0.02) and for studies applying stretching as an exercise intervention (ES = − 1.27; p = 0.006) rather than considering stretching as a control exercise modality.

Conclusion

The results of this systematic review highlight the potential of stretching exercises to reduce blood glucose levels. In particular, if stretching is applied as a specific form of exercise intervention in patients with T2D greater effects are observed. However, further studies with more solid research designs are required, therefore, caution is needed before prescribing stretching as an exercise intervention for glycaemic management.
FDI-growth and trade-growth relationships during crises: evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Sarker Bibhuti
Published: February 2024

This study examines foreign direct investment (FDI)-growth and trade-growth relationships in Bangladesh during three major crises: the economic crisis of 2007–2008, the commodity crisis of 2016, and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020. The augmented autoregressive distributed lag (AARDL) bounds testing approach and Bayer and Hanck cointegration are employed on time-series data spanning the period 1974–2020. The results suggest that exports have positive effects on economic growth, while imports have insignificant effects in both the short run and long run. Total trade (the sum of exports and imports) has a positive but weakly significant effect on economic growth only in the long run, whereas FDI exhibits a positive effect in both the short run and long run. Although the crises are not found to affect economic growth directly or through trade (i.e., no dampening effect on trade-led growth), they are found to distort FDI-led growth in both the short run and long run. As robustness tests for long-run elasticities, the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) cointegration techniques are implemented, yielding results similar to those obtained with the AARDL.
Engaging critically: exploring the varying roles of lived experience advisors in an implementation science study on management of opioid prescribing
Authors: Nicholas Angl Emily , Laur Celia , Strange Michael , Sklar Barbara , Tadrous Mina , Ivers Noah
Published: February 2024

Involvement of individuals with lived experience, also called “patient partners”, is a key element within implementation science, the study of how to put evidence into practice. While conducting a 4-year implementation study focused on improving physician management of opioid prescribing, our research team worked closely with Lived Experience Advisors (LEAs). LEAs were involved throughout the study, including developing patient-facing recruitment material, informing the analysis of results, and as a regular reminder of the real-world impact of this work. However, through regular critical reflection, we acknowledged that we were still uncertain how to articulate the impact of LEA involvement. As a team, we continually discussed why and how people with lived experience were involved in this study. We probed ill-defined concepts such as “patient perspective”, which was particularly complex for a study focused on changing physician behaviour with indirect impact on patients. This critical reflection strengthened trust and rapport between team members (characteristics deemed essential to meaningful patient involvement), while underscoring the value of including concerted time to explore the muddier aspects of engagement. In short, patient engagement did not proceed as smoothly as planned. We advocate that “best practices” in the engagement of people with lived experience include regularly setting aside time outside of practical study tasks to interrogate complex aspects of patient engagement, including reflecting on how and why individuals with lived experience are involved.
Assessing emotional intelligence domains and levels in substance use disorders
Authors: Maghawry Hanan Faried , Darwish Alaa M. , Mohammed Naglaa Abd ElMegeed , Abd El-hameed Nadia Abd El-ghany , Ahmed Gellan K.
Published: February 2024

Background

Many individuals with substance use disorders face challenges in their social interactions and often have strained relationships with peers. Challenges related to problem-solving, stress management, and impulsivity often contribute to their substance use disorders. Emotional intelligence plays a pivotal role in assisting individuals with substance use disorders in coping with stress, enhancing peer connections, resolving problems, and preventing relapse. Consequently, our study aimed to assess emotional intelligence in individuals with substance use disorders and explore the factors influencing it. A cross-sectional study compared 50 individuals with substance use disorders and 50 healthy individuals. We assessed various factors, including clinical data, sociodemographic variables, family socioeconomic status, Addiction Severity Index (ASI) scores, and Emotional Intelligence (EI) scale scores.

Results

Individuals with substance use disorders had significantly lower mean scores in total EI and its subscales compared to the healthy control group. Additionally, a higher percentage of individuals with substance use disorders exhibited low EI levels, while healthy individuals demonstrated better EI. Furthermore, there was a substantial association between higher ASI scores in individuals with substance use disorders and lower EI scores.

Conclusions

Lower EI scores are associated with an increased risk of substance use disorders. Also, can contribute to difficulties in impulse control, and challenges in managing relationships and stress. These findings underscore EI crucial role in preventing and treating substance use disorders.
Challenges facing level I evidence in treatment of low-grade gliomas and subsequent uncertainties
Authors: Fawzy Peter , Karpin Tiffany
Published: February 2024

Background

The current era of molecular characterisation has contributed greatly to our understanding and management of low-grade gliomas (LGGs); however, this has also contributed to a paucity in level 1 evidence.

Review

Diagnostic breakthroughs in LGGs are moving quicker than our experimental capacity can react. The design, analysis, and clinical application of first-level evidence are struggling to compete with the considerable variability in the natural course of LGGs and the rapidly evolving utility of molecular characterisation of tumours. This poses several uncertainties to researchers, clinicians, and more importantly, patients.

Conclusion

Individualised case-by-case decisions based on best available evidence, albeit lacking level 1 evidence, must be made by considering the tumour behaviour, clinical course, and specific patient needs and goals.
Assessing and improving radiation safety in cardiac catheterization: a study from Cairo University Hospital
Authors: Ghallab Muhammad , Abdelhamid Magdy , Nassar Mahmoud , Mostafa Karim S. , Salama Dina H. , Elnaggar Wael , Alramlawy Shaban , Alagha Zakaria , Abdelmoteleb Salma , Hashad Assem
Published: February 2024

Background

Catheter laboratories are high-radiation exposure environments, especially during X-ray procedures like percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and electrophysiological studies. Radiation exposure poses risks of stochastic (e.g., cancer) and deterministic (e.g., skin changes) effects. This study assessed radiation safety and health practices in a cardiac catheterization unit to optimize radiation safety. A cross-sectional study in Cairo University Hospital (March–September 2019) evaluated 700 patients and healthcare workers. Real-time radiation measurements, educational lectures, and radiation protection measures were implemented in three phases. Data on radiation exposure, procedures, and compliance were collected and analyzed.

Results

The total procedure time and fluoroscopy time per cardiologist did not significantly differ between phases, but there was a statistically significant reduction in the mean total cumulative radiation doses between Phase I and Phase III for cardiologists (P = 0.013). Among nurses and technicians, there was no significant difference in radiation doses between the two phases. Significant correlations were found between operators' radiation doses, procedure time, and fluoroscopy time. Patients' radiation doses decreased significantly from Phase I to Phase III, with correlations between dose, procedure time, and gender. Compliance with radiation protection measures was suboptimal.

Conclusions

Compliance with radiation safety standards in the cardiac catheterization unit at the Cairo University Hospital needs improvement. The study highlights the importance of adhering to radiation safety principles and optimizing protective measures to reduce radiation exposure for both patients and healthcare personnel. Despite low compliance, significant reductions in radiation doses were achieved with increased awareness and adherence to specific protection measures. Future efforts should focus on enhancing radiation safety protocols and organ-specific radiation impact assessments.
Effect of construction demolition waste as fine aggregate and NaOH molarity on strength and fracture parameters of slag based geopolymer mortars
Authors: Rohit Poleboyana , Gunneswara Rao T. D. , Chandrasekhar M.
Published: February 2024

To achieve sustainable development, it is imperative that we find ways to manage sand resources wisely. One approach to mitigate the impact of sand extraction is the recycling of construction demolition waste (CDW) and its reuse in construction activities. This research paper primarily delves into the investigation of the strength and fracture properties of slag-based geopolymer mortar (SGPM) while varying the molarities of sodium hydroxide and altering the proportions of recycled fine aggregate (RFA) sourced from CDW. Two distinct binder-to-fine aggregate mix ratios, namely 1:1 and 1:3, were taken into consideration. The study employed sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate solutions as alkali-activators. Various NaOH concentrations of 2 M, 4 M, 6 M, 8 M, and 10 M were utilized, and RFA was employed to replace natural fine aggregate at levels of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%. The workability of SGPM was assessed in terms of flowability, while the compressive and flexural strengths were measured following a 28-day curing period. Moreover, fracture parameters, including load–deflection behavior, peak load, deflection at peak load, and fracture energy, were investigated through a three-point bending (TPB) test conducted on notched beams. The test results revealed that the flowability, expressed as a percentage of flow, decreased as the molarity of NaOH and the percentage of RFA increased. Conversely, the compressive and flexural strength values exhibited an upward trend as the NaOH concentration increased from 2 to 10 M. A substantial improvement in both compressive and flexural strengths was observed at a 10 M NaOH solution, with increases of 20.73% and 10.63% in the 1:1 mix ratio and 18.94% and 10.46% in the 1:3 mix ratio. However, these values decreased with an increase in the percentage of RFA, ranging from 10 to 40%. Notably, specimens containing 8 M and 10 M NaOH concentrations demonstrated a more brittle behavior compared to specimens with other NaOH concentrations. Moreover, a decline in fracture energies was evident as the molarity of NaOH and the percentage of RFA increased. These findings highlight effect of NaOH concentration, RFA content on mechanical and fracture properties of SGPM, providing valuable insights for sustainable construction materials.
The Representation of Earlier African American Vernacular English by Charles W. Chesnutt
Authors: Kimbara Irene
Published: February 2024

This article examines the validity of regional speech represented in the writings of an African American short story writer, essayist, lawyer, and stenographer Charles W. Chesnutt (1858–1932) with a corpus of dialogues extracted from his literary works (approximately 40,000 words). As a touchstone for exploring its accuracy, the Atlas data from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and the surrounding regions in Cape Fear and Pee Dee Valley− a region where the author spent his youth and his stories are set−are compared with the speech of his African American characters. The result reveals that the Atlas records and Chesnutt’s dialogues share many expressions in their regional lexicons ranging from single words to phrases. Considering the difficulty of recording all the synonyms and semantically related words from the same informant during the interview, the overall agreement between the two provides further evidence that as an African American writer who spent his formative years in a rural community in North Carolina, Chesnutt’s literary dialect offers a glimpse of earlier AAVE spoken in the region in the mid-nineteenth century. Furthermore, this article touches on Chesnutt’s racial identity and what led him to enter the literary world as it is pertinent to his linguistic background and the motive behind the use of literary dialect.
The black goby Gobius niger Linnaeus, 1758 in the Marchica Lagoon (Alboran Sea, Morocco): spatio-temporal distribution, its environmental drivers, and the site-related footprint
Authors: LAMKHALKHAL AMAL , SELFATI MOHAMED , RAHMOUNI IMANE , KADDOURI NASSIR , BADAOUI BOUABID , PARISELLE ANTOINE , BENHOUSSA ABDELAZIZ , KOVAČIĆ MARCELO , KMENTOVÁ NIKOL , VANHOVE MAARTEN P.M. , BAZAIRI HOCEIN
Published: February 2024

Gobies (Gobiidae) are well represented in the Marchica Lagoon on the Moroccan Mediterranean coast, both in terms of species richness and in terms of abundance, with the black goby, Gobius niger Linnaeus, 1758, being the dominant species. The present study aims to examine (1) the spatial and temporal distribution of G. niger and its environmental drivers in the lagoon and (2) the potential lagoon-related footprint using morphometric, genetic, and parasitological proxies. Systematic monthly sampling covering the whole lagoon basin performed between October 2015 and September 2016 revealed a year-long presence of G. niger throughout the lagoon with significantly low densities in winter. The highest abundances were recorded in the shallow bottoms of the lagoon’s inner margins on a variety of substrates (mud, muddy-sand, sandy-mud, and fine sand) mostly covered by macroalgae and/or seagrass meadows. Depth was revealed to be the most important predictor of the distribution of the black goby in the lagoon. It should, however, be regarded as a variable that acts synergistically with other factors, such as temperature, vegetation cover, and the sediment’s mean grain size. Comparison of black goby populations from the lagoon with their conspecifics from the adjacent Mediterranean coast of Morocco revealed that specimens caught at sea are larger than those of the lagoon population. Of the 180 gobies investigated, not a single one hosted the parasites we targeted in the parasitological approach, monogenean flatworms. The absence of population structuring, low genetic diversity, and the presence of common haplotypes indicate no apparent restriction in the gene flow between the two populations. Therefore, the observed morphometric differences seem to be due to external environmental conditions rather than genetic differences.
Joint controllers in large research consortia: a funnel model to distinguish controllers in the sense of the GDPR from other partners in the consortium
Authors: Van Veen Evert-Ben , Boeckhout Martin , Schlünder Irene , Boiten Jan Willem , Dias Vasco
Published: February 2024

Large European research consortia in the health sciences face challenges regarding the governance of personal data collected, generated and/or shared during their collective research. A controller in the sense of the GDPR is the entity which decides about purposes and means of the data processing. Case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and Guidelines of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) indicate that all partners in the consortium would be joint controllers. This paper summarises the case law, the Guidelines and literature on joint controllership, gives a brief account of a webinar organised on the issue by Lygature and the MLC Foundation. Participants at the webinar agreed in large majority that it would be extreme if all partners in the consortium would become joint controllers. There was less agreement how to disentangle partners who are controllers of a study from those who are not. In order to disentangle responsibilities, we propose a funnel model with consecutive steps acting as sieves in the funnel. It differentiates between two types of partners: all partners who are involved in shaping the project as a whole versus those specific partners who are more closely involved in a sub-study following from the DoA i or the use of the data Platform. If the role of the partner would be comparable to that of an outside advisor, that partner would not be a data controller even though the partner is part of the consortium. We propose further nuances for the disentanglement which takes place in various steps. Uncertainty about formal controllership under the GDPR can stifle collaboration in consortia due to concerns over (shared) responsibility and liability. Data subjects’ ability to exercise their right can also be affected by this. The funnel model proposes a way out of this conundrum.
The genome sequence of the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso, 1913)
Authors: Ross Laura , Mongue Andrew J. , De La Filia Andres ,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: February 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Planococcus citri (the citrus mealybug; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hemiptera; Pseudococcidae). The genome sequence is 403.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 5 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 30.9 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 18,466 protein coding genes.
Psychological features of emotional disorders in military personnel after mine-explosion injury during their medical-psychological rehabilitation
Authors: Chumaieva Yuliia , Pahmurny Victor , Fedorenko Vitaliy
Published: February 2024

Research in the field of psychology of emotional disorders in military personnel with mine-explosion injuries intersects various disciplines such as psychology, medicine, military science, sociology, rehabilitation, etc. Unfortunately, there is currently no unified system, technology, and methodology for comprehensive medical-psychological rehabilitation of combatants, as preference is given to individual types – social, psychological, medical, physical, pedagogical, and the rehabilitation measures themselves have a fragmented nature. Therefore, the question arises about the justification of the effectiveness and measures of medical-psychological rehabilitation for military personnel who have participated in combat operations. The study involved 99 individuals – male military personnel aged 18 to 61 years, undergoing treatment and recovery in a medical institution.

For the statistical analysis of the research results, factor, cluster analysis, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted.

Based on the research results, three clusters were identified, differing in the average level of intelligence and characteristic diagnoses. It was found that individuals with higher intelligence more often experience adaptation disorders (33%), those with average intelligence – PTSD (27%), and those with low intelligence – organic emotional disorders (66%).

The strongest correlation between verbal intelligence and the following personality profile scales was found: schizoid (-0.445, p≤0.01), psychasthenia (-0.436, p≤0.01), paranoia (-0.379, p≤0.01), depression (-0.371, p≤0.01), hysteria (-0.350, p≤0.01), psychopathy (-0.322, p≤0.01), hypomania (-0.251*), and hypochondria (-0.200, p≤0.05).

The research results allow for the development of specific recommendations regarding psychological support and medical-psychological rehabilitation for military personnel who have experienced Mine-Explosion Trauma (MET). The obtained data can be utilized to enhance psychological training programs for military personnel in the event of possible traumatic situations, helping them better cope with emotional difficulties.
Loneliness in early childhood education: It's more common than you think
Authors: Picha Summer
Published: February 2024

Summer Picha, creator of Conscious Classroom, shares her thoughts on loneliness among early childhood education leaders, and ways to increase connection between professionals to help alleviate this issue.
Picture Book Reviews
Authors: Barclay Meg
Published: February 2024

Richard Willis, visiting professor at the University of South Wales, reviews a book about Friedrich Froebel, the ‘father of kindergarten’, and his educational theories and legacy for early childhood education. Meg Barclay, education consultant and early years reviewer for the School Library Association, reviews picture books which teach young children about the seasons, explore friendship and introduce babies to stories and illustrations for the first time.
Deposition in the northwest Porcupine Basin during the Cretaceous
Authors: Sha'th Tareq , Naylor David
Published: February 2024

Abstract: The paper details the sedimentary infill of the northwest part of the Porcupine Basin, offshore west Ireland, during the Cretaceous. This is a critical area for understanding the sediment input and incremental infilling of the basin, particularly during the early Cretaceous. Late Jurassic rifting and early Berriasian erosion produced a northward narrowing valley on the Base Cretaceous unconformity surface, which provided an entry point for sediment into the basin and also constrained the lateral extent of initial sedimentation. Following Berriasian marine transgression, the first deposits in the Porcupine Basin were turbidites located in localised depressions on the unconformity surface (named here informally as Basal Deposits 1–4). As the unconformity surface became smoother, the succeeding layers were more widespread (Sequences 1–3, the top being of probable Barremian age). Several features, interpreted as mounded fans sourced from the basin flanks, are developed in the Valanginian-Barremian section. Where drilled, the Berriasian to Barremian section is predominantly fine-grained. The rifted marginal horsts were covered in late Barremian time, and Aptian and later sediments onlapped the flanks of the Porcupine High to the west. The 'Near Base Aptian' is a well-defined prograding surface and the 'Near Top Aptian' horizon is a marked unconformity. The Aptian section is comprised predominantly of deep-water mudrocks and siltstones, although a distinctive, possibly shallower, erosive Intra-Aptian event was also mapped. A renewed sediment influx, comprising of sand prone deltaics, occurred at the northern margin of the basin during the Albian. Sand content decreases southwards into the basin. Sedimentation in the late Cretaceous was dominated by the basinwide deposition of the Chalk Group (Cenomanian-Selandian) deposited in a stable thermal subsidence setting. At the northern basin margin Upper Cretaceous deposits are thin and lithologically variable. The well-defined 'Top Chalk' reflector, which shows mounded features, is overlain unconformably by Paleocene clastics.
New light on the Oughterard Granite: Connemara's S-Type granite, Ireland
Authors: Leake Bernard Elgey
Published: February 2024

Abstract: Most of the Connemara granites, including the Galway Granite batholith, have a clearly defined circular or ellipsoidal outcrop shape and are I-Type granites often with K-feldspar phenocrysts, whereas the Oughterard Granite (OG) forms numerous small intrusions scattered east-west over 40km with two larger linked bodies near Oughterard and is S-Type and aphyric. The only comprehensive mapping, mineralogical and chemical study of the OG was published over 50 years ago before the important 1974 recognition of the distinction of I- and S-Type granites was first made. New mapping of the southern Oughterard area with small OG intrusions is presented and many scattered published chemical and Rb, Sr, S and Pb isotopic studies integrated to confirm overall their individual conclusions that the peraluminous OG is of S-Type, being formed from melted Dalradian rocks as are the fluid-carried associated uneconomic mineral deposits. The OG is confined to the high sillimanite zone, mostly south of, and mainly later than, the 465-464Ma D4 Connemara Antiform, where a wide (>15km N-S) >70km E-W band of 469Ma gabbros and 467Ma quartz diorite gneisses intruded into already hot Dalradian rocks undergoing regional metamorphism. This generated the OG magmas by partial melting of pelites and semi-pelites. The upward intrusion of the OG magma was significantly delayed, as has been shown by precise dating in other granites elsewhere, to ∼464-461Ma during the late stages and mostly after D4 but before the country rocks had completely cooled. The OG intrusions as a whole probably form the second largest area of S-Type granite in Ireland, after the Leinster Granite.
California Genocide: A Historiography of Settler Innocence
Authors: Malloy Kerri J.
Published: February 2024

Abstract: California's history of anti-Indigenous violence from its admission into the United States in 1850 to the end of the nineteenth century represents an acceleration of the settler-colonial violence experienced in the rest of the nation over centuries. In this article, the settler-colonial impetus for anti-Indigenous violence, which remains unaddressed in the historiography of genocide in California, is examined at the state, regional, and tribal levels. The absence of a settler-colonial analytic moves the historiography away from interrogating genocide and anti-Indigenous violence to arguments that support "settler innocence" and lends credibility to those who argue that what occurred in California and the entirety of the American continents was merely an unavoidable clash of cultures. The historiography analysis shows a need for future scholarly inquiry and case studies that apply settler-colonial theory to provide context and illuminate the framework that championed these atrocities. Ignoring the settler-colonial origins, foundations, and persistence of genocide in California permits and legitimizes the denial of the crimes that took place.
Mapping Tahlequah History: A Collaboration to Learn and Teach about Cherokee Places in Northeastern Oklahoma
Authors: Corcoran Dave , King Farina , McBride Justin T. , McIntosh John
Published: February 2024

Abstract: Mapping Tahlequah History (MTH) is a mapping project wherein students work with community to create narratives that help the public to better understand the layers of history that surround the diverse populations of Tahlequah and the surrounding interrelated regions of Green Country in northeastern Oklahoma, known as the reservation land of the Cherokee Nation and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees. Spaces within this land have found themselves at the center of contestation as different groups have claimed authority over them. Each group within these spaces offers unique narratives that they use to describe this part of what is now known as Oklahoma. This article features a roundtable that addresses how the mapping project came about and how its organizers have guided their students to address narratives from different peoples who have shaped and been shaped by the land. MTH pays particular attention to the people who inhabit Tahlequah, which is home to two Native Nations. This article introduces the past, present, and future of MTH as it develops to Indigenize mapping and collaboration among Native and non-Native communities and peoples.
Lecture Notes: Reminders, Challenges, and Inspiration
Authors: Malloy Kerri J.
Published: February 2024

Abstract: When lecture notes serve their practical purpose, they are discarded or find their way into a pile to await their eventual disposal. On rare occasions, they become valuable assets in the academic and professional careers of the undergraduates who scribble them down. In reflecting on the life of Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, one set of notes has served as a reminder of the principles of the discipline she aided in molding and both a challenge and inspiration for those who have followed her footsteps into the academy. The sentiments shared in that lecture resurfaced in her memoir over a decade later. While most of the notes taken during that lecture have met their fate, one is threading her legacy into building a new Native American and Indigenous studies program.
Portable optical fiber biosensors integrated with smartphone: technologies, applications, and challenges [Invited]
Authors: Yang Chengwei , Wang Zhuo , Xiao Kun , Ushakov Nikolai , Kumar Santosh , Li Xiaoli , Min Rui
Published: February 2024

The increasing demand for individualized health monitoring and diagnostics has prompted considerable research into the integration of portable optical fiber biosensors integrated with smartphones. By capitalizing on the benefits offered by optical fibers, these biosensors enable qualitative and quantitative biosensing across a wide range of applications. The integration of these sensors with smartphones, which possess advanced computational power and versatile sensing capabilities, addresses the increasing need for portable and rapid sensing solutions. This extensive evaluation thoroughly examines the domain of optical fiber biosensors in conjunction with smartphones, including hardware complexities, sensing approaches, and integration methods. Additionally, it explores a wide range of applications, including physiological and chemical biosensing. Furthermore, the review provides an analysis of the challenges that have been identified in this rapidly evolving area of research and concludes with relevant suggestions for the progression of the field.
Factors associated with academic performance among medical students at a medical school in South Korea: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chung Eun-Kyung , Yun Heoncheol , Yang Jung-Ho , Shin Min-Ho , Han Eui-Ryoung
Published: February 2024

Longitudinal research has provided systematic empirical data on the short- and long-term outcomes of admissions policies, curricular innovations, and complex decisions on students’ academic progress. This study aimed to investigate the academic performance of medical students and related factors using cohort database collected from a medical school. The study participants included 134 medical students who graduated from Chonnam National University Medical School in 2022. The medical school’s cohort database was used to collect data on demographics, admission, academic performance, extracurricular activities, and performance on the National Korean Medical Licensing Examination (KMLE). Participating in club activities had a significant association with medical students’ academic advancement delay or leave of absence during the entire course of medical school (P = 0.007). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the nationwide clinical knowledge mock examination during the fourth year of medical school was significantly associated with passing the KMLE (adjusted odds ratio 1.12, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.22; P = 0.014). Extracurricular school activities (a non-cognitive student attribute) and a wide range of cognitive student attributes captured from the cohort database were associated with medical students’ academic performance. In conclusion, this study can reinforce a strong emphasis on the inclusion of cognitive and non-cognitive information in medical school curricula and assessments in order to improve medical education programs and future postgraduate performance.