bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk-stratified hepatocellular carcinoma screening according to the degree of obesity and progression to cirrhosis for diabetic patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in Japan: a cost-effectiveness study
Authors: Kowada Akiko
Published: November 2024

Objective

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of risk-stratified hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening in diabetic patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Design

A state-transition model from a healthcare payer perspective on a lifetime horizon.

Setting

Japan.

Population

A hypothetical cohort of 50-year-old diabetic patients with MASLD risk-stratified according to degree of obesity and progression to cirrhosis. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver (MASL), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and MASH cirrhosis are progressive manifestations of this specific type of liver disease.

Intervention

Abdominal ultrasound (US), US with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), US with AFP and lectin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3), CT, extracellular contrast-media-enhanced MRI (ECCM-MRI), gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI (EOB-MRI) and no screening.

Main outcome measure

Costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), early-stage HCC cases, advanced-stage HCC cases and HCC-related deaths.

Results

EOB-MRI is the most cost-effective screening method for non-obese diabetic patients with MASH cirrhosis and for obese diabetic patients with MASH and MASH cirrhosis. Cost-effectiveness was sensitive to HCC incidence in non-obese diabetic patients with MASH cirrhosis and obese diabetic patients with MASH, and the adherence rate of HCC screening in obese diabetic patients with MASH. When the semiannual HCC incidence was between 0.008 and 0.0138 in non-obese diabetic patients with MASH cirrhosis, US with AFP was more cost-effective than EOB-MRI. Cost-effectiveness acceptability curves showed that EOB-MRI was 50.7%, 96.0% and 99.9% cost-effective in obese diabetic patients with MASH and non-obese diabetic patients with MASH cirrhosis, and obese diabetic patients with MASH cirrhosis at a willingness-to-pay level of $50 000 per QALY gained. Compared with no screening in 100 000 non-obese diabetic patients with MASH cirrhosis and obese diabetic patients with MASH cirrhosis, EOB-MRI reduced total costs by US$69 million and by US$142 million, increased lifetime effectiveness by 12 546 QALYs and by 15 815 QALYs, detected 17 873 and 21 014 early-stage HCC cases, and averted 2068 and 2471 HCC-related deaths, respectively.

Conclusions

Of all HCC screening methods for diabetic patients with MASH cirrhosis, EOB-MRI yields the greatest cost-saving with the highest QALYs, detects the greatest number of early-stage HCC cases and averts the greatest number of advanced-stage HCC cases and HCC-related deaths. The findings provide important insights for the precise implementation of risk-stratified HCC surveillance to reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life in diabetic patients with MASLD.
Quality appraisal of clinical guidelines for peripherally inserted central catheter-related thrombosis prophylaxis in patients: a systematic review
Authors: Zhang Ning , Xu Yuan , Zhu Li Yun , Wang Yu , Lu Qiaodan , An Ranxun , Zhou Xin-Yi , Wang Xiao Jie , Ma Yufen
Published: November 2024

Objectives

To evaluate and analyse the quality of clinical practice guidelines for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter-related thrombosis (PICC-related thrombosis) to identify the most current and effective prophylactic measures recommended in the guidelines.

Design

Scoring and analysis of the guidelines using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II).

Data sources

Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wan Fang) and the relevant websites of the guideline were searched through 8 August 2024.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Studies that primarily clinical practice guidelines on the prevention of PICC-related thrombosis were included.

Data extraction and synthesis

Two reviewers independently screened the searched items and extracted data and scored documents using AGREE II. Findings were summarised in Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) evidence profiles and synthesised qualitatively.

Results

The analysis incorporated a total of nine guidelines, all rated as ‘recommended’ or ‘recommended with modifications’. Standardised scores revealed elevated performance in the domains of Scope and Purpose, Clarity of Presentation and Editorial Independence. Conversely, the Stakeholder Involvement and Applicability domains yielded the lowest average standardised scores. Disparities in standardised scores across guidelines were particularly evident in the domains of Rigour of Development, Stakeholder Involvement and Applicability. The agreement between the two appraisers was almost perfect (intraclass correlation coefficients higher than 0.80). A considerable proportion of recommendations relied on evidence of low-quality, in certain instances, were derived from expert opinions within working groups.

Conclusions

The review reveals that a significant portion of recommendations relies on low-quality evidence. Guideline developers are urged to prioritise methodological quality, with a specific focus on refining Stakeholder Involvement and Applicability domains. Addressing these aspects will enhance the overall quality and reliability of PICC-related thrombosis prevention guidelines. One potential way to mitigate these challenges is to endorse a standardised approach to guideline development and to synthesise reliable clinical evidence to reduce variation in recommendations.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023495519.
Intra-arterial alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke after mechanical thrombectomy (PEARL): rationale and design of a multicentre, prospective, open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomised controlled trial
Authors: Yang Xinguang , He Xiongjun , Pan Dong , Xu Yongteng , Peng Huiyuan , Li Kaifeng , Zhang Min , Zhu Yingying , Chen Yanting , He Baixuan , Zhou Hongxing , Li Jie , Hou Hongbiao , Sun Haoyang , Liu Yajie , Tang Yamei
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Successful reperfusion does not always lead to good neurological outcomes and impaired microcirculation can be one of the underlying causes. Intra-arterial alteplase after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) may improve microcirculation contributing to neurological recovery, but prospective randomised studies are still needed to validate its efficacy and safety. We aim to assess the efficacy and safety of intra-arterial alteplase after MT for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) with large-vessel occlusion (LVO).

Methods and analysis

TheIntra-arterial Alteplase for Acute Ischaemic Stroke After Mechanical Thrombectomy(PEARL) study is a multicentre, prospective, open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomised controlled trial. We consecutively screen AIS patients with anterior circulation LVO and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale of 6–25, who reach stable expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scores of 2b50-3 on angiography after MT. Eligible participants are 1:1 randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group. Participants in the experimental group will receive intra-arterial alteplase (0.225 mg/kg and a maximum dose of 20 mg) after MT and standard medical treatment, while those in the control group will receive standard medical treatment alone after the procedure. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients with a 90-day modified Rankin scale of 0–1. A total of 324 participants are required to test the superiority hypothesis with 80% power at a two-tailed significance level of 0.05.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (SYSKY-2023-390-02) and will be conducted following the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approvals have been obtained separately for all centres participating in the study. Study results will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals.

Trial registration number

NCT05856851.
Successful cutaneous sensory blockade following single-injection and double-injection techniques of ultrasound-guided superficial parasternal intercostal plane block: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Samerchua Artid , Sroiwong Chalita , Lapisatepun Panuwat , Leurcharusmee Prangmalee , Pipanmekaporn Tanyong , Sukhupragarn Wariya , Boonsri Settapong , Bunchungmongkol Nutchanart , Pansuan Kittitorn , Phothikun Amarit
Published: November 2024

Background

While superficial parasternal intercostal plane blocks can improve analgesia after cardiac surgery, the optimal site and the number of injections remain uncertain. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of single versus double injections of superficial parasternal blocks, hypothesizing that double injections would achieve superior cutaneous sensory blockade.

Methods

70 cardiac patients undergoing median sternotomy were randomly assigned to receive either single or double injections of superficial parasternal blocks bilaterally. Each patient received 40 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine with epinephrine 5 µg/mL and dexamethasone 10 mg. The single-injection group received 20 mL/side at the third costal cartilage, while the double-injection group received 10 mL/injection at the second and fourth costal cartilages. The primary outcome was a successful block, defined as sensory loss in the T2–T6 dermatomes. Secondary outcomes included sensory block of T1, T7, and T8 dermatomes, block-related complications, intraoperative hemodynamics, postoperative pain intensity, opioid consumption, and recovery quality.

Results

Double injections achieved an overall higher success rate compared with the single-injection technique (81% vs 51%, relative risk 1.6; 95% CI 1.2, 2.0; p<0.001). Additionally, higher blockade percentages were observed in dermatomes T1 (83% vs 59%, p=0.003), T7 (67% vs 46%, p=0.017), and T8 (61% vs 39%, p=0.011) with double injections. Other secondary outcomes did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions

Compared with single injection, double injections of superficial parasternal blocks provided more reliable coverage of the T2–T6 dermatomes, crucial for median sternotomy. However, no differences were observed in intraoperative hemodynamic effects or postoperative pain control after cardiac surgery.

Trial registration number

TCTR20230408004.
Palliative care in severe mental disorders: a scoping review
Authors: Sousa Alexia Jade Machado , Jorge Maria Salete Bessa , Lourenço Eric Wenda Ribeiro , Fernandes Helder Matheus Alves , de Sousa Marina Ferreira
Published: November 2024

Background

The WHO defines palliative care (PC) as an approach to improving the quality of life for patients and their families. Within this context, palliative psychiatry (PP) emerges. The present study undertakes a scoping review of research on the applicability of PC in people with severe mental disorders.

Methods

Nine online databases were used to identify articles published without time or language restrictions, from which 17 records were selected. These records originated from eight countries and covered eight psychiatric diagnostic groups.

Results

A descriptive synthesis of the eligible studies was conducted, which were then analysed using content analysis techniques. From the thematic analysis, three main themes emerged: general aspects of PP, critical reflections on the application of care and the strategies employed in this field.

Conclusions

Despite the growing definition of PP, the literature remains scarce, with few studies focused on PC for psychiatric disorders, leading to a neglect of such care. There is a significant demand for more empirical research and diverse approaches that include narratives and evaluations from patients and their families.

Trial registration number

The protocol for this review was registered on the Open Science Framework platform under the DOI number: 10.17605/OSF.IO/3ZVN5.
About this title - Bedding Surfaces: True Substrates and Earth's Historical Archive
Authors: Davies N.S. , Shillito A.P.
Published: November 2024

Bedding surfaces are innate to the fabric of sedimentary successions. This Special Publication provides new perspectives on these familiar features; exploring the differentiation of depositional and diagenetic bedding, the time significance of surfaces, the significance of true substrates (preserved interfaces of lithosphere and hydro/atmosphere), and palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental case studies.
Recognizing primary palaeotopography utilizing ichnofossils and 3D models: Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite, Utah
Authors: Pittinger Dakota , Rogers Garrett , Reichard-Flynn Will R. , Simpson Edward Leonard , Wizevich Michael C. , Keebler Abigail M. , Evans Shannon
Published: November 2024

Preservation and recognition of primary palaeotopography along a bedding surface is often a neglected component in palaeogeographic reconstruction. The Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite (MCDT) is a spectacular bedding plane exposure with a diverse assemblage of vertebrate ichnnofauna. Small-scale 3D photogrammetric and ichnofossil analyses of two areas on the periphery of the MCDT surface demonstrate the presence of preserved primary palaeotopography. The first area consists of a palaeotopographic bench that drops off to a minimum of
c.
0.5–0.6 m. On this bench is at least one resting trace analogous to modern traces of crocodiles documented from topographic highs along rivers and lakes. At the second locality, systematic variations in track morphology indicate that the trackmaker gait was influenced by changes in surface elevation with movement across the ridge, thus affirming that palaeorelief is preserved. The ichnofossils on this Cretaceous bedding surface likely represent months- to years-worth of biological activity.
Palaeosols and surfaces: what fossil soils tell us about the representation of time in some sedimentary successions
Authors: Wright V. Paul , Marriott Susan B. , Hillier Robert D.
Published: November 2024

Soils and, hence, palaeosols develop at geomorphic surfaces comprising landscapes. As most develop they reorganize the substrate to create texturally and chemically defined units (horizons) parallel to the land surfaces and some of these horizons become lithified resembling beds. Palaeosols, in many cases do not represent hiatuses but developed during deposition and represent condensation not lost time. The degree of pedogenic reorganization can be used to estimate the temporal significance of the length of soil formation but soils are commonly polygenetic and have not followed a simple, time-related developmental pathway. The complexity of soil development is illustrated with reference to the late Silurian–early Devonian polyphase alluvial palaeosols from South Wales which provide an example of how dynamic changes in sedimentation and erosion have occurred without changes in soil processes. The significance of these polyphase palaeosol profiles is reviewed in the broader context of mid Paleozoic landscape changes.
Cumulus: Blockchain-Enabled Privacy Preserving Data Audit in Cloud
Authors: Banerjee Prabal , Nikam Nishant , Mazumdar Subhra , Ruj Sushmita
Published: November 2024

Data owners upload large files to cloud storage servers, but malicious servers may potentially tamper data. To check integrity of remote data, Proof of Retrievability (PoR) schemes were introduced. Existing PoR protocols assume that data owners and third-party auditors are honest and audit only the potentially malicious cloud server to check integrity of stored data. In this paper we consider a system where any party may attempt to cheat others and consider collusion cases. We design a protocol, Cumulus, that is secure under such adversarial assumptions and use blockchain smart contracts to act as mediator in case of dispute and payment settlement. We use state channels to reduce blockchain interactions in order to build a practical audit solution. The security of the protocol has been proven in Universal Composability (UC) framework. Finally, we illustrate several applications of our basic protocol and evaluate practicality of our approach via a prototype implementation for fairly selling large files over the Ethereum platform. We evaluate the prototype and show that our scheme has comparable performance.
A Roadmap of Explainable Artificial Intelligence: Explain to Whom, When, What and How?
Authors: Wang Ziming , Huang Changwu , Yao Xin
Published: November 2024

Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) has gained significant attention, especially in AI-powered autonomous and adaptive systems (AASs). However, a discernible disconnect exists among research efforts across different communities. The machine learning community often overlooks “explaining to whom,” while the human-computer interaction community has examined various stakeholders with diverse explanation needs without addressing which XAI methods meet these requirements. Currently, no clear guidance exists on which XAI methods suit which specific stakeholders and their distinct needs. This hinders the achievement of the goal of XAI: providing human users with understandable interpretations. To bridge this gap, this article presents a comprehensive XAI roadmap. Based on an extensive literature review, the roadmap summarizes different stakeholders, their explanation needs at different stages of the AI system lifecycle, the questions they may pose, and existing XAI methods. Then, by utilizing stakeholders’ inquiries as a conduit, the roadmap connects their needs to prevailing XAI methods, providing a guideline to assist researchers and practitioners to determine more easily which XAI methodologies can meet the specific needs of stakeholders in AASs. Finally, the roadmap discusses the limitations of existing XAI methods and outlines directions for future research.
EVOTER: Evolution of Transparent Explainable Rule sets
Authors: Shahrzad Hormoz , Hodjat Babak , Miikkulainen Risto
Published: November 2024

Most AI systems are black boxes generating reasonable outputs for given inputs. Some domains, however, have explainability and trustworthiness requirements that cannot be directly met by these approaches. Various methods have therefore been developed to interpret black-box models after training. This paper advocates an alternative approach where the models are transparent and explainable to begin with. This approach, EVOTER, evolves rule sets based on extended propositional logic expressions. The approach is evaluated in several prediction/classification and prescription/policy search domains with and without a surrogate. It is shown to discover meaningful rule sets that perform similarly to black-box models. The rules can provide insight into the domain and make hidden biases explicit. It may also be possible to edit the rules directly to remove biases and add constraints. EVOTER thus forms a promising foundation for building trustworthy AI systems for real-world applications in the future.
ACORN+: Adaptive Compression-Reconstruction for Device-Cloud Collaboration Video Services
Authors: Lei Jiale , Yang Peihao , Kong Linghe , Ma Yehan , Lin Deyu , Chen Guihai , Zhao E
Published: November 2024

With the improvement of edge-based autonomous systems such as mobile Industrial IoT(IIoT) networks, edge devices can capture and upload videos with increasing bitrates. Massive edge-computing end nodes are eager for adequate multimedia data to satisfy the requirements of real-time video services. However, existing encoding standards for video services in Web 2.0 are specifically designed for something other than IoT video streaming. We have improved our Adaptive Compression-Reconstruction framework ACORN to obtain ACORN+, based on compressed sensing and recent advances in deep learning. At end nodes, we compress multiple sequential video frames into a single frame to reduce video volume. Given that multiple kinds of intelligent tasks are expected to be finished on the device side, we also designed a device-cloud collaboration scheme where deep learning-based algorithms can be executed on both the device and server sides. Experiments reveal that video analytics can be conducted on compressed frames. Taking action recognition as a device-cloud collaboration use case, we find ACORN+ obtains more than 3x speedup on compressed frames. The reconstruction algorithm in ACORN+ is with 1- 4 dB improvements. Moreover, the encoding time cost and the encoded video volume are reduced by more than 4x under the ACORN+ framework.

1
Navigating Challenges in Online Cybersecurity Education: Insights from Postgraduate Students and Prospects for a Standardized Framework
Authors: Salem Maher , Samara Khalid , Al-Tamimi Abdel-Karim
Published: November 2024

This study focuses on the challenges encountered in online cybersecurity education. It adopts an exploratory research design using a mixed-methods approach to investigate the perceptions and experiences of postgraduate students enrolled in an online cybersecurity program. The collection of data is structured into two distinct phases. In the initial phase, qualitative insights are gathered through workshops with students and industry experts, followed by administering a questionnaire to delve deeper into students’ perceptions and challenges. Thematic analysis of the responses reveals significant interest in online cybersecurity programs but also highlights issues such as ineffective communication and poor engagement. The findings highlight the necessity for a standardized framework to improve communication, engagement, and overall effectiveness in virtual learning environments. By empowering instructors to design more interactive courses and leveraging technology efficiently, the framework aims to improve student motivation, satisfaction, and learning outcomes. Moreover, it serves as a valuable resource for institutions, fostering collaboration, and innovation in cybersecurity education. Implementing this framework will create a more conducive learning environment, directly enhancing student preparation for success in the dynamic field of cybersecurity.
RaNAS: Resource-Aware Neural Architecture Search for Edge Computing
Authors: Gao Jianhua , Liu Zeming , Wang Yizhuo , Ji Weixing
Published: November 2024

Neural architecture search (NAS) for edge devices is often time-consuming because of long-latency deploying and testing on edge devices. The ability to accurately predict the computation cost and memory requirement for convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in advance holds substantial value. Existing work primarily relies on analytical models, which can result in high prediction errors. This paper proposes a resource-aware NAS (RaNAS) model based on various features. Additionally, a new graph neural network is introduced to predict inference latency and maximum memory requirements for CNNs on edge devices. Experimental results show that, within the error bound of ±1%, RaNAS achieves an accuracy improvement of approximately 8% for inference latency prediction and about 25% for maximum memory occupancy prediction over the state-of-the-art approaches.
Assessment of Nonmass Lesions Detected with Screening Breast US Based on Mammographic Findings
Authors: Ha Su Min , Choi Woo Jung , Han Boo Kyung , Kim Hak Hee , Moon Woo Kyung , Kim Min-Ji , Kim Kyunga , Yoen Heera , Kim Hee Jeong , Kim Haejung , Choi Ji Soo
Published: November 2024

Malignant breast nonmass lesions were associated with calcifications, posterior shadowing, segmental distribution, and mixed echogenicity at screening US and were more often seen in women with abnormal mammograms.
Utility of Gold/Multiwalled Carbon Nanocomposite for Electrochemical Determination of Omarigliptin in Tablets and Human Plasma
Authors: Abdel-Hakim Ali , Hashem Heba M. , Belal Fathalla , Hammad Mohamed A. , El-Maghrabey Mahmoud
Published: November 2024

An innovative voltammetric sensor was developed to estimate omarigliptin, a novel long-acting anti-diabetic drug. The sensor utilized a carbon paste electrode enhanced with a nanocomposite of carbon nanotubes and electrodeposited gold nanoparticles. The modified electrode was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The modification significantly improved the electrode’s sensitivity and electrochemical efficiency and decreased its electron transfer resistance. The surface area of the modified electrode increased by about 2.8-fold compared to the bare electrode. Omarigliptin’s oxidation behavior on the modified electrode was pH-dependent and irreversible, resulting in a peak current 4 times higher than the unmodified electrode. The modified electrode revealed good reproducibility, reusability, and stability. It allows for sensitive voltammetric analysis of omarigliptin over a linear range of 0.4–27 μM (LOD = 0.12 μM) and good applicability in tablets and plasma. The recovery percentages were 98.47%–101.27% in tablets and 95.86%–105.02% in plasma. The modified electrode exhibits good selectivity towards omarigliptin without interference from tablet excipients, endogenous plasma components, and co-administered drugs. The comparison with the reported methods reveals the superiority of the proposed method in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, applicability, and eco-friendliness. Finally, the proposed method demonstrates excellent environmental profiles based on recent assessment metrics.
Neutrophil elastase activates macrophage calpain as a mechanism for phagocytic failure
Authors: Ma Jonathan , Kummarapurugu Apparao B. , Zheng Shuo , Ghio Andrew J. , Deshpande Laxmikant S. , Voynow Judith A.
Published: November 2024

Neutrophil elastase, a cystic fibrosis airway inflammation biomarker, increases macrophage Calpain activity, and Calpain inhibition partially restores the decreased phagocytosis in neutrophil elastase-challenged macrophages. Neutrophil elastase increases Calpain-2 protein, degrades the Calpain inhibitor, Calpastatin, and increases intracellular calcium as potential mechanisms of Calpain activation. This presents a novel mechanism for macrophage dysfunction relevant to cystic fibrosis.
Olfactory Development and Dysfunction: Involvement of Microglia
Authors: Meller Sarah J. , Greer Charles A.
Published: November 2024

Olfactory deficits are increasingly recognized in a variety of neurological, neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and viral diseases. While the pathology underlying olfactory loss is likely to differ across diseases, one shared feature may be an immune response mediated by microglia. Microglia orchestrate the brain’s response to environmental insults and maintain neurodevelopmental homeostasis. Here, we explore the potential involvement of microglia in olfactory development and loss in disease. The effects of microglia-mediated immune response during development may be of special relevance to the olfactory system, which is unique in both its vulnerability to environmental insults as well as its extended period of neurogenesis and neuronal migration.
Penile Metastasis‐Induced Priapism as the First Sign of Lung Cancer: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Abou Zahr Rawad , Nadalin Eliott , Thiry Sarah , Da Silva Maia Raquel , Feyaerts Axel , Tombal Bertrand
Published: November 2024

Background: The penis is a relatively uncommon organ for metastases. Secondary lesions often originate from the bladder, prostate, or rectosigmoid cancers. Only a few cases have described penile lesions secondary to lung cancers, mostly as a later complication.

Case Description: We hereby report the case of an 86‐year‐old male patient who presented with a 3‐week‐long nonpainful priapism. A penile Doppler ultrasound and a chest and abdominal CT scan were performed, showing a left hilar lung mass as well as lesions in the liver, the adrenal glands, the pancreas, bone structures, and the penis. Penile metastasis is associated with a poor prognosis because of the frequent disseminated malignant lesions in other sites.

Conclusion: Malignant priapism should be suspected, especially in patients with no evident risk factors for priapism (hematological diseases, drugs, alcohol, neurological diseases, or metabolic disorders).
Utilising Polyester and Steel Slag‐Derived Metal/Carbon Composites as Catalysts in Biodiesel Production
Authors: Lee Sangyoon , Kim Minyoung , Kim Jee Young , Song Hocheol , Nam In-Hyun , Kwon Eilhann E.
Published: November 2024

Synthetic textiles such as polyesters are essential for daily life. However, large‐scale production generates large amounts of waste. This study introduces a new approach for valorising polyester textile waste (PTW) by transforming it into a catalyst for biodiesel production via pyrolysis. Specifically, a metal/carbon composite (PTW + steel slag [SS] composite—PSC) with enhanced catalytic properties was prepared by pyrolysing PTW with SS. The alkaline metals in SS facilitate the carbonisation of PTW via decarboxylation, resulting in a PSC rich in carbon, iron, and alkaline compounds. This composite featured mesopores that were larger than the micropores (MPs) typically found in PTW char. The use of porous material (silica) in thermally induced transesterification has been proven to be an efficient method for biodiesel production, achieving a yield of 97.20 wt.% in 1 min (faster than the 93.82 wt.% yields in 60 min observed from conventional alkali‐catalysed transesterification). However, the high reaction temperature (≥ 360°C) poses economic/technical challenges. To overcome this, PSC has been employed as a catalyst in thermally induced transesterification, leveraging its mesoporous structure and high alkaline content, particularly calcium oxide. The PSC achieved a biodiesel yield of 98.10 wt.% at a markedly lower reaction temperature of 120°C within 1 min. This performance was not attainable using silica or PTW char under similar conversion conditions. These findings highlight the potential of PSC produced through the pyrolysis of PTW and SS as effective catalysts for biodiesel production. This process is a promising strategy for converting waste into valuable resources and mitigating the environmental impacts associated with polyester waste.
Bioinformatics Analysis and Experimental Findings Reveal the Therapeutic Actions and Targets of Cyathulae Radix Against Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Zhang Xi , Sun Zijin , Sun Wenlong , Li Yueming , Gao Fei , Teng Fei , Han Zhenxu , Lu Yanting , Zhang Shuo , Li Lingru
Published: November 2024

Objective: This study elucidated the mechanistic role of Cyathulae Radix (CR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation.

Methods: Components and targets of CR were retrieved from the traditional Chinese medical systems pharmacology, while potential T2DM targets were obtained from GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man databases. Intersecting these datasets yielded target genes between CR and T2DM. Differential genes were used for constructing a protein–protein interaction network, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations were performed using AutoDock and GROMACS, respectively, and in vitro experiments validated the results. Experiments evaluated the effect of CR on T2DM pancreatic β‐cells.

Results: Bioinformatics analysis identified four active compounds of CR, 157 related genes, and 5431 T2DM target genes, with 141 shared targets. Key targets such as JUN, MAPK1, and MAPK14 were identified through topological analysis of the PPI network. GO analysis presented 2663 entries, while KEGG analysis identified 161 pathways. The molecular docking results demonstrated favorable binding energy between the core components and the core proteins. Among them, JUN‐rubrosterone, MAPK1‐rubrosterone, and MAPK14‐rubrosterone deserved further investigation. Molecular dynamics results indicated that all of them can form stable binding interactions. CR could inhibit the expression of JUN, MAPK1, and MAPK14, promote insulin secretion, alleviate apoptosis, and regulate autophagy in INS‐1 cells.

Conclusion: This study suggests CR approach to T2DM management by multitarget and multipathway provides a scientific basis for further research on the hypoglycemic effect of CR.
Development of the Japanese Version of Rushton Moral Resilience Scale (RMRS) for Healthcare Professionals: Assessing Reliability and Validity
Authors: Wataya Keiko , Ujihara Masana , Kawashima Yoshitaka , Sasahara Shinichiro , Takahashi Sho , Matsuura Asako , Lebowitz Adam , Tachikawa Hirokazu
Published: November 2024

Aim: To translate the Rushton Moral Resilience Scale (RMRS) into Japanese and validate its applicability among Japanese healthcare professionals.

Background: To overcome daily challenges in the field of healthcare, in which moral difficulties are routinely encountered, the development of intervention methods to address moral suffering and moral distress is crucial.

Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional survey using a web‐based questionnaire. The RMRS‐16 was translated into Japanese and confirmed through back‐translation. Reliability analyses (Cronbach’s alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]), confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs), correlation analyses, t‐tests, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to assess the validity of the scale.

Results: Participants comprised 1295 healthcare professionals, including 498 nurses. All subscales and the total scale had acceptable reliability values (α ≥ 0.70). CFA supported the original four‐factor structure (response to moral adversity, personal integrity, relational integrity, and moral efficacy), with acceptable fit indices. The ANOVA results suggested that, among Japanese healthcare professionals, nurses and individuals from other professions showed lower average moral resilience scores compared to physicians, consistent with previous research on mental health and moral distress. In addition, women scored lower for moral resilience than men. However, the ICC values for the subscales of the RMRS were below acceptable levels, and the results of the standardized residual covariances also suggested a model misfit.

Conclusion and Implications: The reliability, validity, and utility of the Japanese version of the RMRS were generally supported. However, there were areas at the item level that required structural examination. The current findings suggest that there are cultural differences in the concept of moral resilience. Therefore, for future cultural comparisons, the original four‐factor structure was maintained in the Japanese version without modifications. Further conceptual development of moral resilience is needed in Japanese healthcare.
Pilot Trial of Perampanel on Peritumoral Hyperexcitability in Newly Diagnosed High-grade Glioma
Authors: Tobochnik Steven , Regan Michael S. , Dorotan Maria K.C. , Reich Dustine , Lapinskas Emily , Hossain Md Amin , Stopka Sylwia , Meredith David M. , Santagata Sandro , Murphy Melissa M. , Arnaout Omar , Bi Wenya Linda , Chiocca E. Antonio , Golby Alexandra J. , Mooney Michael A. , Smith Timothy R. , Ligon Keith L. , Wen Patrick Y. , Agar Nathalie Y.R. , Lee Jong Woo
Published: November 2024

Purpose:

Glutamatergic neuron–glioma synaptogenesis and peritumoral hyperexcitability promote glioma growth in a positive feedback loop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and estimated effect sizes of the targeted AMPA receptor antagonist perampanel on peritumoral hyperexcitability.

Experimental Design:

An open-label trial was performed comparing perampanel with standard of care (SOC) in patients undergoing resection of newly diagnosed radiologic high-grade glioma. Perampanel was administered as a preoperative loading dose followed by maintenance therapy until progressive disease or up to 12 months. SOC treatment involved levetiracetam for 7 days or as clinically indicated. The primary outcome of hyperexcitability was defined by intraoperative electrocorticography high-frequency oscillation (HFO) rates. Seizure freedom and overall survival were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method. Tissue concentrations of perampanel, levetiracetam, and correlative biomarkers were measured by mass spectrometry.

Results:

HFO rates were similar between patients treated with perampanel and levetiracetam. The trial was terminated early after a planned interim analysis, and outcomes assessed in 11 patients (seven perampanel treated; four treated with SOC). Over a median 281 days of postenrollment follow-up, 27% of patients had seizures, including 14% maintained on perampanel and 50% treated with SOC. Overall survival in perampanel-treated patients was similar to that in a glioblastoma reference cohort. Glutamate concentrations in surface biopsies were positively correlated with HFO rates in adjacent electrode contacts and were not significantly associated with treatment assignment or drug concentrations.

Conclusions:

Glioma peritumoral glutamate concentrations correlated with high-gamma oscillation rates. Targeting glutamatergic activity with perampanel achieved similar electrocorticographic hyperexcitability levels as in levetiracetam-treated patients.
Irradiação de múltiplos e polissêmicos saberes: uma conversa com Leda Maria Martins
Authors: Tourinho Denilson Alves
Published: November 2024

La poeta, ensayista, dramaturga y docente Leda Maria Martins recorre caminos singulares en las artes desde mediados de los años 1980. En el siguiente diálogo, la pensadora aborda aspectos de su biografía – entrelazados con la poesía y la investigación de las culturas populares, el teatro, la performance, literatura y artes visuales –, los lugares que visitó y las influencias que fueron importantes para la construcción de su obra. Comenta la paradoja de la repercusión tardía de su tesis A cena em sombras, defendida en 1991 en la Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), publicada en 1995 y sólo unos 30 años después reconocida como paradigmática en los estudios de las artes negras, reeditada en 2023 tras la aparición de otras libros y homenajes a la intelectual que destila inquietud en sus escritos, sus discursos, sus canciones y sus danzas.
Danças Familiares Pretas: breves conceituações
Authors: Oliveira Victor Hugo Neves de
Published: November 2024

This article seeks to share understandings about the dances of black families. It presents a theoretical perspective on choreographic manifestations created by people of African descent in family contexts. To this end, it discusses the inadequacy of concepts that have historically served to make black poetics invisible; it presents the dances of black families as anti-colonial epistemologies that are structured through the recomposition of choreographic occurrences and proposes some constitutive principles of dances of black families, namely: the act of dancing as a teaching practice, immersion or conviviality as a dimension of the learning process and the connection between experience and ancestry. Methodologically, an explanatory approach based on bibliographic analysis is established. Finally, it is clear that further research is urgently needed in order not only to conceptually locate the definition of dance of black families, but above all to carry out comparative studies in different communities.
Incidentes críticos envolvendo graduandos de Enfermagem durante a Pandemia de COVID-19
Authors: Akutsu Hamana Yoko Novaes , Carvalho Emilia Campos de , Gimenes Fernanda Raphael Escobar , Ribeiro Vanessa dos Santos , Prates Pedro Emílio Gomes , Reis Renata Karina , Zamarioli Cristina Mara
Published: November 2024

Introduction: The academic environment is considered stressful for students. Knowing the changes in teaching-learning activities and their impacts has become essential to redirect new ways of interacting and facing such adverse situations. Thus, one of the ways to evaluate a situation experienced is by drawing parallels between the behaviors and feelings generated, through the critical incident technique (TIC). Objective: To identify critical incidents (situation, behaviors and feelings) related to academic activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Descriptive study based on the critical incident technique. The students were recruited via e-mail to inform the characterization items; they were asked to remember an academic situation and report it, listing the behaviors experienced and the feelings that originated. Results: Among the 24 situations, most portrayed the accumulation of tasks, difficulty in dealing with a new way of teaching, difficulties in adapting teachers and students to the strategies used regarding the overlapping of academic and domestic activities. Regarding the behaviors, lack of dialogue, difficulties in adapting activities and acts of understanding were mentioned. As for feelings, the positive ones were gratitude, understanding, feeling of support, learning, happiness; as for the negative ones, anxiety, sadness, anguish and physical fatigue stand out. Conclusion: This study identified critical incidents of nursing students during the pandemic. The data indicate that students experienced great stress during the period, but the impacts on professional training require further studies.
Descriptors: Nursing; Teaching; Behavior; Pandemics; Adaptation, Psychological
Como os saberes da neurociência da aprendizagem podem contribuir com o ensino da graduação e com as escolhas pedagógicas docentes?
Authors: Mello-Carpes Pâmela Billig , Tadielo Ana Luiza Trombini , Crespo Bruna Trein , Lima Karine Ramires
Published: November 2024

In Brazil, University teaching is generally a responsibility of professors who are required to postgraduate training, generally master's and Ph.D. degrees, in specific areas, depending on the discipline taught. Rarely is there a concern with teacher pedagogical training in stricto sensu courses – when there is, it does not usually include neuroscience of learning concepts. In fact, neuroscience has a limited presence even in the initial training of teachers. On the other hand, it is clear that understanding how the brain learns and the factors that can influence this learning is crucial for teachers' performance. In this article, we present reflections on this topic and share our experiences in teaching Human Physiology, which confirm the potential contribution of the neuroscience of learning in updating and teaching teachers' pedagogical choices.
Diagnosing Monogenic Stroke at Younger Age
Authors: Ilinca Andreea , Kafantari Efthymia , Wallenius Joel , Kristoffersson Ulf , Englund Elisabet , Puschmann Andreas , Lindgren Arne G.
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND:

An increasing number of monogenic conditions underlying stroke are being identified. We explored the possibilities of increasing the diagnostic yield of monogenic stroke in a population under 56 years of age.

METHODS:

Fifty probands ≤55 years at their first stroke episode were characterized clinically and investigated by whole genome sequencing. Probands had one or more of: (1) one or more first to second degree relatives with stroke under 60 years or same stroke-causing condition/disease; (2) no hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, heart disease, or smoking; or (3) either multiple stroke episodes or multiple arterial dissections. Variants with minor allele frequency under 0.01, identified by using our stroke gene panels, were assessed. The stroke subtypes, including large artery atherosclerotic, large artery nonatherosclerotic (tortuosity, dolichoectasia, aneurysm, nonatherosclerotic dissection, or occlusion), cerebral small vessel disease, cardioembolic (arrhythmia, heart defect, or cardiomyopathy), coagulation dysfunctions (venous thrombosis, arterial thrombosis, or bleeding tendency), intracerebral hemorrhage, vascular malformations (cavernoma or arteriovenous malformations), metabolic disorders, or cryptogenic embolic, were used for genotype-phenotype correlation. In a final step, we combined genetic and clinical information to determine if the genetic variant likely was the cause of stroke in the patients.

RESULTS:

Whole genome sequencing of younger patients with stroke identified 17 clinically matching genetic variants in 15 of 50 (30%) patients, while a stronger clinical correlation with stroke was established in only 6 (12%) of them. Stroke-related genetic variants were identified in 4 of 5 (80%) patients with cardioembolic stroke subtype, 3 of 4 (75%) with intracerebral hemorrhage, 7 of 18 (39%) with cryptogenic embolic stroke, 1 of 6 (17%) with small vessel disease, and 3 of 15 (20%) of patients with nonatherosclerotic large artery stroke, including 1 of 11 (9%) with cervical dissection stroke.

CONCLUSIONS:

Careful clinical interpretation of whole genome data using stroke gene panels can detect monogenic causes of early stroke, allowing individualized follow-up and opening new possibilities for potential treatment.
Open Science at the generative AI turn: An exploratory analysis of challenges and opportunities
Authors: Hosseini Mohammad , Horbach Serge P. J. M. , Holmes Kristi , Ross-Hellauer Tony
Published: November 2024

Technology influences Open Science (OS) practices, because conducting science in transparent, accessible, and participatory ways requires tools and platforms for collaboration and sharing results. Due to this relationship, the characteristics of the employed technologies directly impact OS objectives. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is increasingly used by researchers for tasks such as text refining, code generation/editing, reviewing literature, and data curation/analysis. Nevertheless, concerns about openness, transparency, and bias suggest that GenAI may benefit from greater engagement with OS. GenAI promises substantial efficiency gains but is currently fraught with limitations that could negatively impact core OS values, such as fairness, transparency, and integrity, and may harm various social actors. In this paper, we explore the possible positive and negative impacts of GenAI on OS. We use the taxonomy within the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science to systematically explore the intersection of GenAI and OS. We conclude that using GenAI could advance key OS objectives by broadening meaningful access to knowledge, enabling efficient use of infrastructure, improving engagement of societal actors, and enhancing dialogue among knowledge systems. However, due to GenAI’s limitations, it could also compromise the integrity, equity, reproducibility, and reliability of research. Hence, sufficient checks, validation, and critical assessments are essential when incorporating GenAI into research workflows.
Carry Trades and FX Risk Buffers: Foreign Currency Debt of Emerging Market Firms
Authors: Lee Annie Soyean , Yeung Wu Steve Pak
Published: November 2024

The surge in foreign currency (FC) corporate debt in emerging economies has sparked concerns about macroeconomic stability, heightened by speculation about non-financial firms engaging in carry trades. Using firm-level data on the currency denomination of both assets and liabilities, we find evidence of firms' carry trades: firms save in local currency liquid assets and earn higher interest income after issuing short-term FC debt. They also set aside FC liquid assets as FX risk buffers. A large degree of heterogeneity in incentives is observed. Notably, listed firms participate more in carry trades and allocate less FX risk buffers than non-listed firms.