bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for relaparotomy after a cesarean delivery: a case-control study
Authors: Amikam Uri , Botkovsky Yael , Hochberg Alyssa , Cohen Aviad , Levin Ishai , Yogev Yariv , Hiersch Liran , Lavie Anat
Published: April 2024

Background

Relaparotomy following a cesarean delivery (CD) is an infrequent complication, with inconsistency regarding risk factors and indications for its occurrence. We therefore aimed to determine risk factors and indications for a relaparotomy following a CD at a single large tertiary center.

Methods

A retrospective case-control single-center study (2013–2023). We identified all women who had a relaparotomy up to six weeks following a CD (study group). Maternal characteristics, obstetrical and surgical data were compared to a control group in a 1:2 ratio. Controls were women with a CD before and immediately after each case in the study group, who did not undergo a relaparotomy. Included were CDs occurring after 24 gestational weeks. CD performed at different centers and indications for repeat surgery unrelated to the primary surgery (e.g., appendicitis) were excluded. Logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounders.

Results

During the study period, 131,268 women delivered at our institution. Of them, 28,280 (21.5%) had a CD, and 130 patients (0.46%) underwent a relaparotomy. Relaparotomies following a CD occurred during the first 24 h, the first week, and beyond the first week, in 59.2%, 33.1%, and 7.7% of cases, respectively. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, relaparotomy was significantly associated with Mullerian anomalies (aOR 3.33, 95%CI 1.08–10.24, p = 0.036); uterine fibroids (aOR 3.17, 95%CI 1.11–9.05,p = 0.031); multiple pregnancy (aOR 4.1, 95%CI 1.43–11.79,p = 0.009); hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (aOR 3.46, 95%CI 1.29–9.3,p = 0.014); CD during the second stage of labor (aOR 2.54, 95%CI 1.15–5.88, p = 0.029); complications during CD (aOR 1.62, 95%CI 1.09–3.21,p = 0.045); and excessive bleeding during CD or implementation of bleeding control measures (use of tranexamic acid, a hemostatic agent, or a surgical drain) (aOR 2.23, 95%CI 1.29–4.12,p = 0.012). Indications for relaparotomy differed depending on the time elapsed from the CD, with suspected intra-abdominal bleeding (36.1%) emerging as the primary indication within the initial 24 h.

Conclusion

We detected several pregnancy, intrapartum, and intra-operative risk factors for the need for relaparotomy following a CD. Practitioners may utilize these findings to proactively identify women at risk, thereby potentially reducing their associated morbidity.
Enhancing routine HIV and STI testing among young men who have sex with men: primary outcomes of the get connected clinical randomized trial (ATN 139)
Authors: Bauermeister J.A. , Horvath K.J. , Lin W.Y. , Golinkoff J.M. , Claude K.F. , Dowshen N. , Castillo M. , Sullivan P.S. , Paul M. , Hightow-Weidman L. , Stephenson R.
Published: April 2024

Background

Regular HIV and STI testing remain a cornerstone of comprehensive sexual health care. In this study, we examine the efficacy of Get Connected, a WebApp that combines test locators with personalized educational resources, in motivating young men who have sex with men (YMSM) to undergo regular HIV and STI testing.

Methods

Participants were randomly placed in one of two conditions. The first condition included the full version of GC (GC-PLUS), which included content tailored to users’ psychosocial characteristics (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, relationship status, HIV/STI testing history). The second condition served as our attention-control and only included the testing locator (GC-TLO) for HIV/STI testing services. Participants were recruited from three cities (Houston, Philadelphia, and Atlanta) characterized by high HIV incidence. Assessments were collected at 1, 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-month follow-ups.

Results

Both versions of GC were acceptable and efficacious in increasing routine HIV and STI testing over a 12-month period. 40% of the sample reported testing at least twice, with no main effects observed across the two intervention arms (OR = 1.11; 95% CI: 0.69, 1.80), p =.66). Greater intervention effects were observed among YMSM who engaged more frequently with the intervention, with regional differences observed.

Conclusions

Our findings underscore the need to cater to the diverse needs of YMSM through multilevel approaches. Broadly, mHealth HIV/STI testing interventions, such as Get Connected, would benefit from matching technologies to the local context to have the greatest impact.

Trial Registration

This study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03132415).
Knowledge and trust of mothers regarding childhood vaccination in Rwanda
Authors: Mbonigaba Edward , Yu Fengyun , Reñosa Mark Donald C , Cho Frederick Nchang , Chen Qiushi , Denkinger Claudia M , A McMahon Shannon , Chen Simiao
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Knowledge and trust are some of the contributing factors to vaccine acceptance(VA) and Vaccine hesitancy (VH) is one of the top threats to global health. A significant drop in childhood vaccination has been observed in recent years. One important reason that influences mothers' choice to either postpone or avoid children's vaccinations is knowledge and trust in childhood vaccines. This study aimed to assess mothers' knowledge and trust on vaccination of their children, and to examine the association between vaccination knowledge and selected socio-demographic factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January 2022 to March 2022 to assess the knowledge and trust of mothers regarding childhood vaccination. Data was collected with self-administered questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to assess factors associated with childhood vaccine knowledge and trust.

Results

Of the 2,126 Rwandan parents who participated in the study, the proportions with good knowledge of – and good trust in childhood vaccination were 95.5% and 91.4%, respectively. The popular sources of information about childhood vaccination were health care professionals (91.8%) and mass media (28.9%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that good knowledge of – and trust in childhood vaccination were associated with the relationship with child(ren), education, occupation, and monthly income. The Multinomial logistic regression also revealed that the determinants of good knowledge of – and trust in childhood vaccination were; caregiver (p = 4.0 × 10–4, adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR); 1.7, 95%C.I; 1.3 – 2.3), no formal educational status (p = 3.3 × 10–2, aOR; 1.7, 95%C.I; 1.0 – 3.0), the unemployed occupational status (p = 2.4 × 10–2, aOR; 1.2, 95%C.I; 1.0 – 1.4), and persons on more than $401 per month (p = 2.0 × 10–4, aOR; 3.5, 95%C.I; 1.8 – 6.8).

Conclusion

The majority of parents in Rwanda had both good knowledge of—and good trust regarding childhood vaccination. Public health strategies to promote vaccination, education programmes as well as improved communication tools between health care professionals/traditional leaders/religious leaders and parents need to be considered to achieve favourable vaccination attitudes and practices for all parents in Rwanda.
Causal impact of gut microbiota and associated metabolites on pulmonary arterial hypertension: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Li Xin , Tan Jiang-Shan , Xu Jing , Zhao Zhihui , Zhao Qing , Zhang Yi , Duan Anqi , Huang Zhihua , Zhang Sicheng , Gao Luyang , Yang Yue Jin , Yang Tao , Jin Qi , Luo Qin , Yang Yanmin , Liu Zhihong
Published: April 2024

Background

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) exhibit a distinct gut microbiota profile; however, the causal association between gut microbiota, associated metabolites, and PAH remains elusive. We aimed to investigate this causal association and to explore whether dietary patterns play a role in its regulation.

Methods

Summary statistics of gut microbiota, associated metabolites, diet, and PAH were obtained from genome-wide association studies. The inverse variance weighted method was primarily used to measure the causal effect, with sensitivity analyses using the weighted median, weighted mode, simple mode, MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO), and MR-Egger methods. A reverse Mendelian randomisation analysis was also performed.

Results

Alistipes (odds ratio [OR] = 2.269, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.100–4.679, P = 0.027) and Victivallis (OR = 1.558, 95% CI 1.019–2.380, P = 0.040) were associated with an increased risk of PAH, while Coprobacter (OR = 0.585, 95% CI 0.358–0.956, P = 0.032), Erysipelotrichaceae (UCG003) (OR = 0.494, 95% CI 0.245–0.996, P = 0.049), Lachnospiraceae (UCG008) (OR = 0.596, 95% CI 0.367–0.968, P = 0.036), and Ruminococcaceae (UCG005) (OR = 0.472, 95% CI 0.231–0.962, P = 0.039) protected against PAH. No associations were observed between PAH and gut microbiota-derived metabolites (trimethylamine N-oxide [TMAO] and its precursors betaine, carnitine, and choline), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), or diet. Although inverse variance-weighted analysis demonstrated that elevated choline levels were correlated with an increased risk of PAH, the results were not consistent with the sensitivity analysis. Therefore, the association was considered insignificant. Reverse Mendelian randomisation analysis demonstrated that PAH had no causal impact on gut microbiota-derived metabolites but could contribute to increased the levels of Butyricicoccus and Holdemania, while decreasing the levels of Clostridium innocuum, Defluviitaleaceae UCG011, Eisenbergiella, and Ruminiclostridium 5.

Conclusions

Gut microbiota were discovered suggestive evidence of the impacts of genetically predicted abundancy of certain microbial genera on PAH. Results of our study point that the production of SCFAs or TMAO does not mediate this association, which remains to be explained mechanistically.
A prospective study on direct out-of-pocket expenses of hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a Philippine tertiary care center
Authors: Ang Blake Warren , Fernandez Lenora
Published: April 2024

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines and majority of the economic burden lies in hospitalizations during an exacerbation. Despite coverage of hospitalization cost with the national health insurance system (Phil-Health) for COPD exacerbations, patients often pay out-of-pocket. This study aimed to determine the demographic characteristics of COPD admissions at a Philippine tertiary care center, Philippine General Hospital, and assess mean cost of hospitalization, and identify predictors of prolonged hospitalization and cost > 20,000 Philippine pesos (Php). A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted for 6 months by chart review. Patients were categorized as charity service patients, that is, with no charged professional fees and free medications and private service patients who pay for their health care services. A total of 43 COPD admissions were included. The average daily cost of hospitalization (at peso-dollar rate of 56) for service patients was at $ 75.89 compared to private service patients at $ 285.71. Demographic characteristics and type of accommodation were not significant predictors of prolonged hospital stay nor hospitalization cost of ≥ $ 357. Accommodation cost and professional fees accounted for majority or 61.6% of the overall cost for private patients, while medications and diagnostic tests were the major or 76.01% contributor to the overall cost for charity patients. Despite existence of Phil-health, in-patient coverage for COPD remain insufficient. Measures for maximizing COPD control in the out-patient setting could potentially reduce total cost for this disease.
A data-driven combined prediction method for the demand for intensive care unit healthcare resources in public health emergencies
Authors: Zhang Weiwei , Li Xinchun
Published: April 2024

Background

Public health emergencies are characterized by uncertainty, rapid transmission, a large number of cases, a high rate of critical illness, and a high case fatality rate. The intensive care unit (ICU) is the “last line of defense” for saving lives. And ICU resources play a critical role in the treatment of critical illness and combating public health emergencies.

Objective

This study estimates the demand for ICU healthcare resources based on an accurate prediction of the surge in the number of critically ill patients in the short term. The aim is to provide hospitals with a basis for scientific decision-making, to improve rescue efficiency, and to avoid excessive costs due to overly large resource reserves.

Methods

A demand forecasting method for ICU healthcare resources is proposed based on the number of current confirmed cases. The number of current confirmed cases is estimated using a bilateral long-short-term memory and genetic algorithm support vector regression (BILSTM-GASVR) combined prediction model. Based on this, this paper constructs demand forecasting models for ICU healthcare workers and healthcare material resources to more accurately understand the patterns of changes in the demand for ICU healthcare resources and more precisely meet the treatment needs of critically ill patients.

Results

Data on the number of COVID-19-infected cases in Shanghai between January 20, 2020, and September 24, 2022, is used to perform a numerical example analysis. Compared to individual prediction models (GASVR, LSTM, BILSTM and Informer), the combined prediction model BILSTM-GASVR produced results that are closer to the real values. The demand forecasting results for ICU healthcare resources showed that the first (ICU human resources) and third (medical equipment resources) categories did not require replenishment during the early stages but experienced a lag in replenishment when shortages occurred during the peak period. The second category (drug resources) is consumed rapidly in the early stages and required earlier replenishment, but replenishment is timelier compared to the first and third categories. However, replenishment is needed throughout the course of the epidemic.

Conclusion

The first category of resources (human resources) requires long-term planning and the deployment of emergency expansion measures. The second category of resources (drugs) is suitable for the combination of dynamic physical reserves in healthcare institutions with the production capacity reserves of corporations. The third category of resources (medical equipment) is more dependent on the physical reserves in healthcare institutions, but care must be taken to strike a balance between normalcy and emergencies.
Factors associated with the risk of malaria among children: analysis of 2021 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey
Authors: Isiko Isaac , Nyegenye Simon , Bett Daniel Kiprotich , Asingwire Jackson Micheal , Okoro Lenz Nwachinemere , Emeribe Nana Awaya , Koech Catherine Chepkoskei , Ahgu Ovye , Bulus Naya Gadzama , Taremwa Kelly , Mwesigwa Aaron
Published: April 2024

Background

Malaria remains a burden globally, with the African region accounting for 94% of the overall disease burden and deaths in 2019. It is the major cause of morbidity and mortality among children in Nigeria. Though different environmental factors have been assessed to influence the distribution and transmission of malaria vectors, there is a shortage of information on how they may influence malaria transmission among under-fives in Nigeria.

Methods

This study was based on the secondary data analysis of the Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey 2021. The study sample comprised 10,645 women (aged 15–49) who delivered a child in the 2 years preceding the survey. The study was restricted to under-fives. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the risk of malaria.

Results

There was a positive association between the risk of malaria and heard/seen malaria messages in the last 6 months (AOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.19–1.62), houses with walls built using rudimentary materials (AOR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.04–1.83), at least 6 children living in the house (AOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.00–1.49), children being 1 or 2 years old was associated with increased odds (AOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.50–2.34 and AOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.52–2.36), children from households with only treated nets (AOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.04–1.46) and those from the North West or South East regions (AOR 1.50, 95% CI 1.10–2.05 and AOR 1.48, 95% CI 1.01–2.16), respectively. All other predictors were not associated with the risk of malaria.

Conclusion

The factors associated with the risk of malaria in this study included sleeping under treated mosquito nets, the age of the children, residing in the northwest and southeast regions, wall construction material, 6 children and above in the household and hearing/seen malaria messages in the last 6 months. Continuous health education and public health interventions, such as the provision of LLITNs, will reduce the risk of malaria and improve the health and well-being of children under 5 years of age.
The global diet quality score as an indicator of adequate nutrient intake and dietary quality – a nation-wide representative study
Authors: Norde Marina M. , Bromage Sabri , Marchioni Dirce M. L. , Vasques Ana Carolina , Deitchler Megan , Arsenaut Joanne , de Carvalho Aline M. , Velloso Lício , Willett Walter , Giovannucci Edward , Geloneze Bruno
Published: April 2024

Background

The Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) was developed to be a simple, timely and cost-effective tool to track, simultaneously, nutritional deficiency and non-communicable disease risks from diet in diverse settings. The objective was to investigate the performance of GDQS as an indicator of adequate nutrient intake and dietary quality in a national-representative sample of the Brazilian population.

Methods

Nationally-representative data from 44,744 men and non-pregnant and non-lactating women aging ≥ 10 years, from the Brazilian National Dietary Survey were used. Dietary data were collected through two 24-h recalls (24HR). The GDQS was calculated and compared to a proxy indicator of nutrient adequate intake (the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women—MDD-W) and to an indicator of high-risk diet for non-communicable diseases (caloric contribution from ultra-processed foods—UPF). To estimate the odds for overall nutrient inadequacy across MDD-W and GDQS quintiles, a multiple logistic regression was applied, and the two metrics’ performances were compared using Wald’s post-test.

Results

The mean GDQS for Brazilians was 14.5 (0–49 possible range), and only 1% of the population had a low-risk diet (GDQS ≥ 23). The GDQS mean was higher in women, elderly individuals and in higher-income households. An inverse correlation was found between the GDQS and UPF (rho (95% CI) = -0.20(-0.21;-0.19)). The odds for nutrient inadequacy were lower as quintiles of GDQS and MDD-W were higher (p-trend < 0.001), and MDD-W had a slightly better performance than GDQS (p-diff < 0.001). Having a low-risk GDQS (≥ 23) lowered the odds for nutrient inadequacy by 74% (95% CI:63%-81%).

Conclusion

The GDQS is a good indicator of overall nutrient adequacy, and correlates well with UPF in a nationally representative sample of Brazil. Future studies must investigate the relationship between the GDQS and clinical endpoints, strengthening the recommendation to use this metric to surveillance dietary risks.
Klotho-mediated activation of the anti-oxidant Nrf2/ARE signal pathway affects cell apoptosis, senescence and mobility in hypoxic human trophoblasts: involvement of Klotho in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia
Authors: Xu Baomei , Cheng Fang , Xue Xiaolei
Published: April 2024

The anti-aging gene Klotho is implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE), which is a pregnancy disease characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. Oxidative stress is closely associated with the worse outcomes in PE, and Klotho can eliminate Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), but it is still unclear whether Klotho regulates PE pathogenesis through modulating oxidative damages. Here, by analyzing the clinical data, we found that Klotho was aberrantly downregulated in PE umbilical cord serum and placental tissues, compared to their normal counterparts. In in vitro experiments, the human trophoblasts were subjected to hypoxic pressure to establish the PE models, and we confirmed that hypoxia also decreased the expression levels of Klotho in those trophoblasts. In addition, through performing functional experiments, we confirmed that hypoxia promoted oxidative damages, cell apoptosis and senescence, whereas suppressed cell invasion in human trophoblasts, which were all reversed overexpressing Klotho. The following mechanical experiments verified that Klotho increased the levels of nuclear Nrf2, total Nrf2, SOD2 and NQO1 to activate the anti-oxidant Nrf2/ARE signal pathway, and silencing of Nrf2 abrogated the protective effects of Klotho overexpression on hypoxic human trophoblasts. Consistently, in in vivo experiments, Klotho overexpression restrained oxidative damages and facilitated cell mitosis in PE rats’ placental tissues. In conclusion, this study validated that Klotho activated the Nrf2/ARE signal pathway to eliminate hypoxia-induced oxidative damages, cell apoptosis and senescence to recover normal cellular functions in human trophoblasts, and our data supported that Klotho could be used as novel biomarker for PE diagnosis and treatment.
Chylous leakage after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: a systematic review
Authors: Zheng Xing , Yang Xi , Lei Sujuan
Published: April 2024

Background

Chylous leakage is a rare complication following esophagectomy; however, it can lead to mortality. We aimed to systematically evaluate the factors that may lead to increased chylous leakage after esophagectomy.

Methods

Three databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) were systematically searched for all studies investigating the occurrence of chylous leakage after esophagectomy.

Results

A total of 32 studies were identified, including 26 randomized controlled trials and 3 cohort and case–control studies, each. The overall incidence of chylous leakage was 4.7% (278/5,971 cases). Analysis of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors showed that most of the qualitative analysis results did not significantly increase the incidence of chylous leakage. In some quantitative analyses, the chylous leakage rate was significantly lower in the thoracic duct mass ligation group than in the conservative treatment group (relative risk [RR] = 0.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13–0.83; I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.327). Direct oral feeding significantly reduced chylous leakage compared with jejunostomy (RR = 0.06; 95% CI 0.01–0.33; I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.335). However, preoperative inspiratory muscle training (RR = 1.66; 95% CI, 0.21–12.33; I2 = 55.5%; P = 0.134), preoperative chemoradiotherapy (RR = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.55–1.80; I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.943), and robotic assistance (RR = 1.62; 95% CI, 0.92–2.86; I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.814) did not significantly reduce the incidence of chylous leakage.

Conclusions

Ligation of the thoracic duct and direct oral feeding can reduce the incidence of chylous leakage after esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer. Other contributing factors remain unclear and require validation in further high-quality studies.

Graphical Abstract
LapEmerge trial: study protocol for a laparoscopic approach for emergency colon resection—a multicenter, open label, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Grönroos-Korhonen Marie T. , Kössi Jyrki A. O.
Published: April 2024

Background

Due to faster recovery and lower morbidity rates, laparoscopy has become the gold standard in elective colorectal surgery for both the benign and malignant forms of the disease. A substantial proportion of colorectal operations are, however, carried out in emergency settings, and most of the emergency resections are still performed open. The aim of this study is to compare the laparoscopic versus open approach for emergency colorectal surgery.

Method/design

This is a multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial including adult patients presenting with a condition requiring emergency colorectal resection.

Discussion

Previous studies cautiously recommend wider use of laparoscopy in emergency colorectal resections, but all earlier reports are retrospective, are mostly single-center studies, and have limited numbers of patients. Laparoscopy may involve some unpredictable risks that have not yet been reported because of the infrequent use of the techniqueded to assess the safety of laparoscopy as well as the advantages and disadvantages of open compared with laparoscopic emergency surgery.

Trial registration

Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05005117. Registered on August 12, 2021.
Comparison of statistical low-frequency earthquake activity models
Authors: Nishikawa Tomoaki
Published: April 2024

Slow earthquakes are slow fault slip events. Quantifying and monitoring slow earthquake activity characteristics are important, because they may change before large earthquakes occur. Statistical seismicity models are useful for quantifying seismicity characteristics. However, no standard statistical model exists for slow earthquake activity. This study used a high-quality catalog of low-frequency earthquakes (LFEs), a type of slow earthquake, in the Nankai subduction zone from April 2004 to August 2015 and conducted the first comparison of existing statistical LFE activity models to determine which model better describes LFE activity. Based on this comparison, this study proposes a new hybrid model that incorporates existing model features. The new model considers the LFE activity history in a manner similar to the epidemic-type aftershock sequence (ETAS) model and represents the LFE aftershock rate (subsequent LFE occurrence rate) with a small number of model parameters, as in the Omori–Utsu aftershock law for regular earthquakes. The results show that the proposed model outperforms other existing models. However, the new model cannot reproduce a feature of LFE activity: the sudden cessation of intense LFE bursts. This is because the new model superimposes multiple aftershock activities and predicts extremely high seismicity rates during and after the LFE bursts. I suggest that reproducing and successfully predicting the sudden cessation of intense LFE bursts is critical for the further improvement of statistical LFE activity models. In addition, the empirical equations formulated in this study for the LFE aftershock rates may be useful for future statistical and physical modeling of LFE activity.

Graphical Abstract
School readiness among vulnerable children: a systematic review of studies using a person-centered approach
Authors: Garon-Carrier Gabrielle , Mavungu-Blouin Corinne , Letarte Marie-Josée , Gobeil-Bourdeau Jasmine , Fitzpatrick Caroline
Published: April 2024

Background

Research has consistently shown that some children are more vulnerable at the time of school readiness. Better understanding the characteristics of these children is therefore important. Most studies have used a variable-based approach, which may mask the presence of small but important subgroups of children with mixed patterns of readiness strengths and weaknesses. Identifying subgroups with mixed readiness patterns using a person-centered approach matters because their developmental trajectories might differ in important ways from children with broader difficulties across all readiness domains.

Objective

This systematic review attempts to synthesize existing profiles of school readiness conducted on preschool-aged children and to describe how these various profiles are associated with children’s academic achievement and social adjustment during their school years. Specifically, we described how the school readiness profiles vary in number of profiles identified and differences in the specific domains of school readiness. We further describe the school readiness profiles and how they predict later academic and social outcomes. Furthermore, we focus on profile differences between at-risk and non-at-risk preschoolers.

Methods

Longitudinal studies published between 2005 and 2022 on profiles of school readiness before school entry and at least one subsequent academic and/or social outcomes were extracted from five databases. Eight articles were included in this systematic review out of the 117 screened peer-reviewed articles.

Results

All the studies incorporated both the cognitive and socioemotional domains of school readiness in their profiles. Fifteen profiles of school readiness at preschool age were identified based on the child level of cognitive and socioemotional skills, with 7 profiles at risk of later academic and social difficulties. Despite variation, children in these at-risk profiles of school readiness shared similar features.

Conclusion

This literature review provides an exhaustive summary on the number of profiles and domains of school readiness most frequently reported in studies using a person-centered approach. Yielding an in-depth description of at-risk profiles of school readiness can help designing early preventive intervention for these children.
Tissue-resident memory T cells: decoding intra-organ diversity with a gut perspective
Authors: Murakami Mari
Published: April 2024

Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) serve as the frontline of host defense, playing a critical role in protection against invading pathogens. This emphasizes their role in providing rapid on-site immune responses across various organs. The physiological significance of TRM is not just confined to infection control; accumulating evidence has revealed that TRM also determine the pathology of diseases such as autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer. Intensive studies on the origin, mechanisms of formation and maintenance, and physiological significance of TRM have elucidated the transcriptional and functional diversity of these cells, which are often affected by local cues associated with their presence. These were further confirmed by the recent remarkable advancements of next-generation sequencing and single-cell technologies, which allow the transcriptional and phenotypic characterization of each TRM subset induced in different microenvironments. This review first overviews the current knowledge of the cell fate, molecular features, transcriptional and metabolic regulation, and biological importance of TRM in health and disease. Finally, this article presents a variety of recent studies on disease-associated TRM, particularly focusing and elaborating on the TRM in the gut, which constitute the largest and most intricate immune network in the body, and their pathological relevance to gut inflammation in humans.
Playing for cognition: investigating the feasibility and user experience of a virtual reality serious game for cognitive assessment in children with congenital heart disease
Authors: van de Wouw C. L. , Bousché E. , van Schooneveld M. M. J. , Breur J. M. P. , Nijenhuis H. P. , Huygelier H. , Nijboer T. C. W.
Published: April 2024

Background

In order to facilitate the development and implementation of innovative technology in clinical practice, it is important to understand the user experience of end-users. Virtual Reality (VR) offers the possibility to assess cognitive functioning in a dynamic environment that simulates real-world situations. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the feasibility of a VR Serious Game for cognitive assessment in school-aged children with congenital heart disease (CHD). The sub-aims were two-fold: (1) to objectively evaluate the feasibility of the VR Serious Game in children with CHD in comparison to typically developing (TD) children and (2) to explore the user experience of both groups following their interaction with the VR Serious Game.

Results

A total of 101 children participated in this study; 98 children were included in the final analysis (CHD: n = 54; TD: n = 47). The VR Serious Game appeared feasible for both children with CHD and TD children, with 88% children completing the innovative VR assessment without encountering any issues. There were no discernible differences in completion rates between groups. Children with CHD reported significantly lower scores than TD children on three user experience scales: Engagement, Flow and Presence. Nonetheless, the scores for Engagement and Flow were still considered "moderate to good". Both groups reported minimal adverse physiological reactions.

Conclusions

The findings suggested that the VR Serious Game was feasible for children with CHD and that the user experience was positive. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of the VR Serious Game compared with a conventional or digital neuropsychological assessment, prioritising the development of novel outcome measures that can better estimate and explain the impact of cognitive impairment on daily functioning.
Factors associated with help-seeking by women facing intimate partner violence in India: findings from National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–2021)
Authors: Ghoshal Rakhi , Patil Priti , Sinha Isha , Gadgil Anita , Nathani Priyansh , Jain Nethra , Ramasubramani Premkumar , Roy Nobhojit
Published: April 2024

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women has harmful effects on their psychological and physical health. However, help-seeking for IPV is significantly low among women in the Indian context. This study examines the different factors that influence help-seeking behaviour among women in India. It also studies associations of the type of IPV with the source of help.

Methods

The study analyses data from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey that was conducted in India (2019–2021). Independent variables were categorized at individual, relationship-household and community levels. The Stata 14.2 software was used to calculate the prevalence ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Variables with p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Poisson regression helped identify factors associated with help-seeking.

Results

Results indicate that among 72,320 women aged 18–49 years, 17,765 women ever-faced IPV. Of them, 14.2% of women who faced either physical and/or sexual IPV sought any help. Husband’s consumption of alcohol almost doubled the likelihood of help-seeking among women (19.91%), compared to women whose husbands did not drink alcohol (10.19%). Witnessing parental IPV also increased the odds (17.26%) of help-seeking. Women who were not empowered were more likely to seek help (14.11%) compared to women who were empowered (12.56%). The police were the predominant source where women went for formal help (6.94 to 8.43%), followed by doctors (1.84 to 2.71%). Close to 1 in 4 women (22.5%) sought help for sexual IPV, while 14.4% of women sought help for physical IPV. Around 95% of all women who faced IPV sought informal help, with 3 in 5 of them approaching their own families, and 3 in 10 approaching their in-laws or marital families.

Conclusions

Two significant factors that associate positively with help-seeking by women facing IPV are husbands’ alcohol consumption and witnessing parental IPV. Most women preferred informal help from the natal family, while among formal providers, the police were the foremost choice. Programmes and initiatives to build capacities of communities, and of police to respond to women seeking help for IPV, would enable more women to reach out for help.
Gaps in Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care for Patients Living With and Beyond Cancer: We Must Do Better
Authors: Peterson Douglas E. , Stout Nicole L. , Shulman Lawrence N. , Perkins Jennifer , LeMarier Gabrielle , Nekhlyudov Larissa
Published: April 2024

Delivery of high-quality, evidence-based oral care for those living with and beyond cancer needed!
Osseointegrative and antimicrobial properties of graphene oxide nano coated dental implants: A systematic review
Authors: Rayannavar Sounyala , MV Sunil Kumar , Kamath Vignesh , Bembalgi Mahantesh , Nayak Namratha , Jodalli Praveen
Published: April 2024

Introduction Osseointegration stands as a pivotal concept within the realm of dental implants, signifying the intricate process through which a dental implant integrates with the adjoining bone tissue. Graphene oxide (GO) has been shown to promote osseointegration, the process by which the implant fuses with the surrounding bone. The objective of this study was to assess the osseointegrative and antimicrobial properties of GO nano coated dental implants. Methods A systematic search was conducted using electronic databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) to identify relevant studies published. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies that evaluated the effects of GO nano coating on osseointegrative and antimicrobial characteristics of dental implants. Studies not written in English and published before 2012 were excluded. Results The initial search yielded a total of 127 potential studies, of which six met the inclusion criteria and five were included in the review. These studies provided data on GO nano coated dental implants and their osseointegrative and antimicrobial properties. All the included studies showed moderate risk of bias. None of the studies provided information related to sample size calculation or sampling technique. Discussion The findings from the included studies demonstrated that GO nano coating had a positive impact on osseointegrative properties of dental implants. Enhanced bone-implant contact and increased bone density were observed in animals and humans receiving GO nano coated implants. Furthermore, the antimicrobial properties of GO nano coating were found to inhibit bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on the implant surface, reducing the risk of implant-associated infections. Conclusion The findings indicate that GO nano coating holds promise in enhancing the success rate and longevity of dental implants. However, more studies with larger sample sizes, are needed to further strengthen the evidence and determine the long-term effects of GO nano coated dental implants.
Responsabilidad laboral, intermediación, tercerización y solidaridad en materia laboral
Authors: Barbosa Ramírez David Hernando
Published: April 2024

Este capítulo presenta los temas trabajados durante las sesiones a cargo del autor en el seminario doctoral del Doctorado en Derecho de la Facultad de Jurisprudencia de la Universidad del Rosario durante 2022. Para analizar la reparación plena de perjuicios en entornos laborales y la eventual solidaridad de un tercero frente a las acreencias laborales, en primer lugar, se discutieron los principios protector y primacía de la realidad, se revisó lo relativo a los representantes del empleador, la intermediación y tercerización, en la solidaridad ante el pago de acreencias laborales. El análisis del alcance del artículo 216 del Código Sustantivo del Trabajo requirió revisar lo relativo al esquema de aseguramiento del Sistema General de Riesgos Laborales. Se analizó la jurisprudencia pertinente para el capítulo.
¡Colombia necesita de filosofía! Aproximación histórica a la educación filosófica que necesita Colombia
Authors: Tovar González Leonardo
Published: April 2024

Este capítulo examina, desde una perspectiva histórica, las diferentes transformaciones que ha experimentado la educación filosófica en Colombia a través de diferentes momentos de su historia. Siguiendo esta línea, el trabajo estará articulado alrededor de tres grandes momentos en los que se espera mostrar cuál es el tipo de educación filosófica que necesita Colombia. Así, en un primer momento, el autor se pregunta por el significado del doble sentido de la educación filosófica, esto es, como enseñanza de la filosofía y como filosofía educativa. Acto seguido, el trabajo emprende un recorrido histórico por cinco rupturas que, se supone, han marcado el devenir de dicha educación filosófica en Colombia. Para finalizar, se plantea la necesidad de articular la filosofía con las necesidades de la democratización de la sociedad colombiana.
Enseñanza de la filosofía y pedagogía por proyectos
Authors: Leguizamón Oliveros Hayder Germán
Published: April 2024

Este trabajo analiza las consecuencias generadas a partir de la eliminación del componente filosófico de las pruebas Saber 11 en el año 2014 y su posterior sustitución por una evaluación de análisis de textos. Según el autor, esta circunstancia dio pie a una serie de debates en torno al futuro de la educación filosófica en el país. Siguiendo esta idea, el trabajo afirma que la crisis actual que atraviesan las humanidades, a causa de la poca incidencia que tienen estas disciplinas en el desarrollo económico de una nación, influye de forma significativa en la implementación de políticas educativas —como las establecidas por el ICFES— que a largo plazo produjeron que se eliminara de los currículos en la educación media la enseñanza de la filosofía. A la luz de estos acontecimientos, según el autor, la reflexión en torno a didácticas, metodologías y estrategias pedagógicas ha adquirido cierto protagonismo precisamente como una manera de legitimar y justificar el papel de la filosofía en la educación media. Este trabajo se vale de esta discusión para hacer algunas reflexiones a propósito de la enseñanza de la filosofía y su articulación con el aprendizaje a través de proyectos en un colegio rural en la localidad de Ciudad Bolívar en Bogotá, Colombia.
Variantes de la didáctica de la filosofía: cuerpo y fenomenología
Authors: Siu Lanzas Elsa Patricia , Vargas Guillén Germán
Published: April 2024

Este capítulo parte de un interrogante fundamental: ¿qué significa enseñar filosofía? Detrás de esta pregunta, sin embargo, descansa una distinción clave de la investigación fenomenológica que, dicho sea de paso, orientará el sentido general del capítulo. Según los autores, los métodos de la investigación en filosofía son distintos de los métodos propios de la didáctica o enseñanza de la filosofía. En ese orden de ideas, y para dar cuenta de esta diferencia, los autores plantean un análisis en el que se buscan tematizar las variaciones de la enseñanza de la filosofía y, con esto, mostrar de qué manera ciertos rasgos de la forma en la que hoy en día se enseña filosofía no son más que una reproducción acrítica de contenidos, teorías y tradiciones.
Relaciones entre taltuzas y taltuceros
Authors: Barboza-Arias Luis M.
Published: April 2024

Las taltuzas o tuzas son roedores que viven en galerías subterráneas que ellas mismas construyen. Algunas especies se consideran “vertebrados plaga” por el daño que provocan a las actividades agrícolas, pero ahora eso parece estar cambiando.
Reflection on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a community specialist palliative care nurse team
Authors: Mack
Published: April 2024

Background:

A global COVID-19 pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization in March 2020.

Aim:

To explore COVID-19's impact on one specialist community palliative care nurse (SCPCN) team 8 months after the first COVID-19 wave in the UK.

Method:

The Gibbs Reflective Cycle was used.

Findings:

This SCPCN team described the COVID-19 pandemic as the most difficult and challenging time experienced at work, due to the increased workload and having to provide unsustainable levels of support for patients and their families.

Conclusion:

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic's significant demands on community palliative care, the SCPCN team was able to adapt accordingly. This resulted in an increasingly collaborative, reflexive, responsive, skilled and resilient team, proud of the personalised support offered to patients, their families and to other services.
Stanford University: Hydrogen's key role in creating clean energy grids
Authors: Jacobson Mark
Published: April 2024

New research shows it's now possible to develop cost-effective and 100% reliable clean energy grids – and the best way to do this in most world regions is by combining green hydrogen with battery storage.
The Influence of a Robotics Program on Students’ Attitudes Toward Effective Communication
Authors: Sharif Sabariah , Muniandy Thiwagar , Mariappan Muralindran
Published: April 2024

This research aimed to explore the influence of a robotic program using the robot kit "RoboBuilder RQ+110" on students' attitudes toward effective communication. The study used a quantitative research design and involved 475 grade 4 (10 years old) students from Malaysia's Selangor and Malacca states. A quasi-experimental research (pre-test & post-test) approach with control and experimental groups was adopted, and the data were analyzed with inferential statistical test and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS 25 software at 0.05 significance level. Questionnaires were administered to collect data from the experimental and control groups. The results showed statistically significant changes (α ≤ .05) in attitudes toward effective communication for the experimental group that received a robotics program compared with the control group. The study results suggest that innovative technological tools or programs such as robotics programs are recommended as innovative science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program rooted in constructivism to improve students' attitudes toward effective communication.
An Investigation of the Relationship between Effective Relative Permittivity and Infill Density in a 3D Printed Slab
Authors: Kattel Bibek , Hutchcraft Winn Elliott , Gordon Richard K.
Published: April 2024

This paper presents a simulation-based study on the relative permittivity of 3D printed dielectric slabs printed with varying infill densities. In this study, a percentage volumetric model has been employed to model the infill density in a 3D printed dielectric slab. The relative permittivity of the filament material used to design the slab is assumed to be 2.45. The modeled slab is fitted into various rectangular waveguides with varying dimensions corresponding to different frequency ranges. As the infill density decreases, the relative permittivity of the dielectric slabs decreases. This lower value of relative permittivity is referred to as effective relative permittivity (εr.eff) throughout the paper. The study concludes that the effective relative permittivity of the slab decreases linearly as the infill density is decreased for the model. This study offers valuable insights into the effective relative permittivity of dielectric slabs under varying infill densities, providing implications for applications in areas such as antenna design.
Policrisis o crisis múltiple Latinoamericana
Authors: Merchand Rojas Marco Antonio
Published: April 2024

El artículo analiza cómo las ininterrumpidas y sucesivas crisis entrelazadas del capitalismo latinoamericano se caracterizan por ser el día de hoy cada vez más repetitivas y sucesivas en el tiempo. Estas crisis más manifiestas muestran rasgos indisociables por medio de manifestaciones de confluencia mutua, irreversibles e insondables por imponer un modelo económico periférico de contradicciones económicas y sociales cada vez más irresolubles. Este modelo económico periférico, aplicado a rajatabla conduce a múltiples encadenamientos causales cada vez más pronunciados, que hace pensar en un modelo insustentable y/o inviable con retornos más deteriorados en términos de bienestar socioeconómico y experimentando, a su vez, crisis superpuestas con ciclos recesivos y depresivos más reiterativos en el tiempo. Conviene resaltar, en la relación a la problemática expuesta, que el enfoque epistémico y metodológico que se utiliza para sustentar la narrativa expuesta, será la perspectiva marxista, ya que se considera que el pensamiento dialéctico marxista concibe la realidad como una “totalidad concreta”; una realidad que es un todo, que constantemente cambia. Esta idea de “totalidad concreta” se considera y embona perfectamente con la idea de “complejidad” de Edgar Morin. Este enfoque del pensamiento marxista, aunado con el de Edgar Morin, se visualiza para abordar la problemática de estudio referida. En las líneas narrativas subsecuentes, se ejemplifica, cómo está policrisis se plasma analógicamente, en toda geografía latinoamericana con sus múltiples procesos paradójicos in situ.