bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A review of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage and gastroenterostomy: assisted approaches and comparison with alternative techniques
Authors: Xu Rongmin , Zhang Kai , Guo Jintao , Sun Siyu
Published: December 2024

Over the last 40 years, the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has evolved from being diagnostic to therapeutic. EUS-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) and EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) are emerging techniques in recent years; however, there are limited studies and inconsistent results regarding these techniques. In addition, EUS has become a more common alternative to traditional interventions due to its super minimally invasive nature, but the mobility of both the gallbladder and intestine makes it challenging to introduce stents. An increasing number of researchers are dedicating themselves to solving this problem, leading to the development of various assisted technologies. Consequently, this review focused on the comparison of EUS-GBD and EUS-GE with other alternative approaches and explored the various assisted techniques employed for EUS-GBD and EUS-GE.
An Interpretation of the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention in the Context of Climate Change: Some Reflections
Authors: Warren Leon Karbic
Published: December 2024

This paper considers whether climate change falls within the scope of the 1997 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (UN Watercourses Convention). General principles of treaty interpretation are used to examine various environmental obligations concerning the protection and preservation of ecosystems and the marine environment, pollution, harmful conditions, and emergency situations. While similar analyses have been conducted in relation to other treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, this paper represents a novel analysis with respect to the UN Watercourses Convention. This paper concludes that climate change may be implied into three obligations: the obligation to protect and preserve the ecosystems of international watercourses, the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment, and the obligation to prevent or mitigate harmful conditions.
Use of a weight indexed umbilical artery systolic diastolic ratio to predict the risk for adverse outcomes among growth restricted fetuses
Authors: Russell Ruby , Tessier Katelyn , Contag Stephen
Published: December 2024

Background and Objectives: To evaluate weight-indexed umbilical systolic diastolic ratio (UASDR) to discriminate risk for adverse outcomes among growth restricted fetuses (FGR).

Design and Setting: Retrospective study using prenatal ultrasound data and neonatal outcome data. Two primary outcomes: admission to intensive care and a composite outcome of severe neonatal morbidity. We included births among individuals with a singleton pregnancy at 24–40 weeks gestation without other indications for preterm delivery. We calculated the percentile of the measured standard UASDR, and the same value indexed to the EFW (iUASDR).

Results: 296 pregnancies met inclusion criteria. Forty-seven percent required NICU admission and 31% developed a component of the composite outcome. The sensitivity of the iUASDR increased at lower birthweight percentiles. The positive predictive value of the standard UASDR was higher among fetuses with EFW <5th % and <10th % for NICU admission and composite outcome ((EFW <5th %) 0.82 (95% CI: 0.71, 0.91) and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.48, 0.72) and ((EFW <10th %) 0.81 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.89) and 0.58 (95% CI: 0.45, 0.69) compared with indexed values.

Discussion: Data does not support use of the iUASDR to improve the test characteristics of the UASDR. Despite a moderate increase in specificity, the positive predictive value was low. UASDR non-indexed or standard values in conjunction with clinical findings and severity of FGR perform best.
Effect of neonatal intensive care unit design on infants with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome
Authors: Nyman Katherine , Decker Elyse , Ronan Kristin , Gopalakrishnan Mathangi , El-Metwally Dina
Published: December 2024

Background/Objective

Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) requires advanced and often prolonged medical care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We examined the effect of NICU design on treatment and NICU length of stay (NICU-LOS) for infants with NOWS.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of eligible infants with NOWS was conducted from 2013 to 2018. We collected and analyzed data on demographics, medication, and NICU-LOS characteristics. A multivariable linear regression on log-transformed NICU-LOS was performed for comparison between the open-bay design (OBD) for 2013–2015 (August) and the new single-family-room (SFR) NICU for September 2015–2018.

Results

There were 118 neonates analyzed in OBD and 138 neonates in the SFR. Among infants in the SFR NICU, 86% received pharmacotherapy, compared to 76% of infants in the OBD ( p = 0.059). The breastfeeding rate was 26% in the SFR and 6% in the OBD ( p =< 0.001 ). Infants in the SFR NICU had 1.3 times longer mean NICU-LOS ( p = 0.0163) than infants in OBD after adjusting for covariates including small for gestational age. The median (1Q, 3Q) cumulative doses of morphine (mg/kg) among the SFR and OBD groups were 6.4 (2.3,17.3) and 8.7 (3.2,19.3) p: NS, respectively.

Conclusions

The SFR NICU was associated with longer NICU-LOS for infants with NOWS despite higher rates of breastfeeding and no difference in morphine dosage. While providing more privacy and possible improved patient satisfaction, there may be unintended consequences of the SFR design.
Effect of vasopressin infusion in refractory neonatal shock
Authors: Thakur Anup , Dangi Sachin , Gehlawat Rohit , Kler Neelam , Garg Pankaj , Fursule Anurag
Published: December 2024

To evaluate the effect of vasopressin infusion in refractory neonatal shock.

Method

This was a cohort study involving retrospective review of medical records of all neonates who received intravenous vasopressin infusion for at least 6 h for treatment of refractory shock in a level 3B neonatal intensive care unit of northern India between Jan 2016 to May 2021. Outcome measures assessed were systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure, heart rate, urine output, serum sodium level, inotrope score, and oxygenation index at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of vasopressin therapy. Outcome measures were compared before (T1) and 48 h (T2) after initiation of vasopressin.

Results

A total of 32 neonates received vasopressin. The mean (SD) systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure improved significantly between T1 and T2 from 54 (9) to 64 (11) mm Hg (MD (95% CI) = 10.3 (4.2–16.6), p = 0.003), 36 (8) to 42 (10) mm Hg (MD (95% CI) = 6.2 (1.3–11.3), p = 0.01), and 43 (8) to 51 (10) mm Hg (MD (95% CI) = 8.5 (2.3–14.6), p = 0.01), respectively. Median (IQR) urine output improved from 1.25 (0–3.2) to 2.1 (1.6–7) ml/kg/hr, p = 0.004. There was a significant fall in serum sodium from 139 (9) to 134 (8) mEq/l, p = 0.01. Out of 32 infants, 19 (59.4%) survived, while 6 (18.8 %) were transferred out and 7 (21.8%) died.

Conclusion

Vasopressin improved hemodynamic parameters in refractory neonatal shock and can be used as a rescue therapy. Vasopressin therapy is associated with a fall in serum sodium.
Breastfeeding initiation according to the severity of Class 3 obesity
Authors: Cordero Leandro , Stenger Michael R , Landon Mark B , Needleman Bradley J , Noria Sabrena , Nankervis Craig A
Published: December 2024

Background: Class 3 obesity is composed of morbid (BMI 40–49 kg/m2) and extreme (BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2) subgroups. Adverse perinatal outcomes have been associated with obesity; however, data on breastfeeding (BF) initiation for women in either group remains limited.

Objective: To compare BF initiation rates (exclusive or partial BF) and related comorbidities of 890 women with morbid and 890 with extreme obesity matched by race, parity, and year of delivery.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of women who delivered singletons at ≥ 34 weeks gestation (2013–2021). Those who had bariatric surgery or infants with major malformations were excluded.

Results: Both groups were similar in: primiparity (38%), age (29y), white race (58%), African American (36%), current (10 vs 12%) and former (25 vs 27%) smokers, gestational hypertension (15 vs 16%), polycystic ovary syndrome (5 vs 7%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (10 vs 10%), and anemia (17 vs 17%). Women in the extreme group had a higher prevalence of gestational (17 vs 12%) and pregestational diabetes (12 vs 6%), chronic hypertension (41 vs 17%), severe preeclampsia (18 vs 12%), obstructive sleep apnea (12 vs 3%), asthma (22 vs 16%), and cesarean deliveries (62 vs 44%). Intention to BF (64 vs 71%), exclusive BF (23 vs 34%), and BF initiation (57 vs 64%) rates were lower in the extreme obesity group at discharge.

Conclusion: Higher frequency of comorbidities in the extreme obesity group highlights the need for antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum targeted interventions if the benefits of BF to mothers and infants are to be realized.
Olfactory training affects the correlation between brain structure and functional connectivity
Authors: Rezaeyan Abolhasan , Asadi Somayeh , Kamrava Seyed Kamran , Zare-Sadeghi Arash
Published: December 2024

Purpose

and background: Neuroimaging studies have increasingly found functional connectivity (FC) changes and structural cortical abnormalities in patients with post-traumatic anosmia (PTA). Training and repeated exposure to odorants lead to enhanced olfactory capability. This study is conducted to investigate the correlations between FC and cortical thickness on the olfaction-related regions of the brain in PTA after olfactory training (OT).

Methods

Twenty-five PTA patients were randomly divided in three groups: (1) 9 control patients who did not receive any training, (2) 9 patients underwent classical OT by 4 fixed odors, and (3) 7 patients underwent modified OT coming across 4 sets of 4 different odors sequentially. Before and after the training period, all patients performed olfactory function tests, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Sniffin’ Sticks test was used to assess olfactory function. MRI data were analyzed using functional connectivity analysis and brain morphometry.

Results

Modified OT resulted in heightened activation in the medial orbitofrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex and increased FC between the piriform cortex (PIRC) and the caudate cortex. Conversely, classical OT induced increased activation in the insula cortex and greater FC between the PIRC and the pre-central gyrus. Furthermore, after OT, both training groups achieved significantly improved scores in the changes in brain connectivity associated with OT, which were attributable to anatomical measures.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that intensive olfactory training can enhance functional connectivity, and this improvement correlates with structural changes in the brain’s olfactory processing areas.
Alert prescribing of clozapine: a comparison of five drug–drug interaction sources
Authors: Govaerts Jeroen , Verluyten Annelies , Bouckaert Filip , De Hert Marc A. F. , Desplenter Franciska A. M.
Published: December 2024

Introduction:

Clozapine, an antipsychotic used in the treatment of schizophrenia, is known for its serious side effects. In order to promote patient safety, drug–drug interaction (DDI) databases can be consulted by clinicians. In this study, the degree of consensus between five sources on DDIs with clozapine is determined.

Methods:

The summary of product characteristics of clozapine, Delphicare interaction database, Stockley’s interaction checker, the Lexicomp interaction database, and the interaction database of Clinical Pharmacology are included. By comparing the original categories assigned to interactions with clozapine by the included DDI sources, a degree of consensus between sources is determined. Furthermore, based on the combined information, an evaluation on the severity of each potential interaction is made.

Results:

One hundred eighty-three potential DDIs with clozapine are retrieved from the five included sources. A consensus between sources is found in 47.5% ( n = 87) of DDIs.

Conclusion:

This study shows major discrepancies between five different sources on DDIs with clozapine. The potential impact of the use of one specific database on patient safety and prescribing behavior could prove to be problematic.
Long-term comparison of two β-TCP/PLCL composite scaffolds in rabbit calvarial defects
Authors: Pihlman Hanna , Linden Jere , Paakinaho Kaarlo , Hannula Markus , Morelius Mikael , Manninen Mikko , Laitinen-Vapaavuori Outi , Keränen Pauli
Published: December 2024

Improving bone-graft substitutes and expanding their use in orthopedic and spinal surgery leads to shorter surgical times, fewer complications, and less pain among patients both in human and veterinary medicine. This study compared an elastic porous β-tricalcium phosphate/poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (β-TCP/PLCL) copolymer scaffold (composite scaffold) and a commercially available β-TCP/PLCL bone-graft substitute (chronOS Strip) in a rabbit calvarial defect. A bilateral, 12-mm circular defect was created in the parietal bones of 12 rabbits. Both graft materials were soaked in bone marrow aspirate before implantation, and the usability of the material was recorded during surgery. After a follow-up time of 24 ( n = 5) and 48 ( n = 7) weeks, artificial intelligence- (AI-) assisted micro-CT imaging was used to evaluate the bone formation and β-TCP distribution. Bone formation, implant material decomposition, and tissue reactions were further investigated through histopathology and AI-assisted histomorphometric analyses. Both materials supported tissue ingrowth and vascularization and modest 10%–16% new bone formation through the implant. In both materials the degradation advanced during the follow-up time, but there was implant material visible 48 weeks after implantation. Typical long term foreign body reaction with histiocytes, giant cells and lymphocytes, was seen in both materials being more pronounced in composite scaffold. The benefit of the new composite scaffold was its superior usability during surgery.
Operative Treatment of Nonprimary Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: A Systematic Review
Authors: Correia Cardoso Rui , Andrade Renato , Monteiro Inês , Machado Cátia , Malheiro Filipe Sá , Serrano Pedro , Amado Paulo , Espregueira Mendes João , Pereira Bruno S.
Published: December 2024

Background:

Nonprimary osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) pose a significant challenge in orthopaedics, with no definitive consensus on optimal surgical treatment.

Purpose:

To consolidate the most recent evidence on operative treatments for nonprimary OLT by assessing patient-reported outcomes (PROs), postoperative complications, and clinical failures.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 and PRISMA in Exercise, Rehabilitation, Sport medicine and Sports science guidelines. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases through June 2023. Eligible studies evaluated operative outcomes in skeletally mature patients with nonprimary OLT after failed previous surgeries. Primary outcomes included clinical and functional PROs. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications and clinical failures. Quantitative analyses involved weighted means, mean differences, minimal clinically important differences, success rates (95% binomial proportion confidence interval), and a pre-to-postoperative meta-analysis.

Results:

Out of 3992 identified records, 50 studies involving 806 ankles from 794 patients were included. All operative treatments significantly improved PROs ( P < .05), except osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA) for American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society and pain (visual analog scale/numeric rating scale [VAS/NRS]) scores and HemiCAP for pain (VAS/NRS) scores. Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) and osteochondral autologous transplantation (OAT) demonstrated the greatest PRO success rates, exceeding 80%. Postoperative complications occurred in 4% of cases, most frequently with HemiCAP. Clinical failures affected 22% of cases, particularly with autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis, OAT, OCA, and HemiCAP.

Conclusion:

Our systematic review demonstrated that ACI and OAT are promising treatments for nonprimary OLT, with ACI showing fewer clinical failures than OAT. Conversely, OCA and HemiCAP exhibited lower effectiveness and higher clinical failure rates, suggesting a need for reassessment.
The role of personality in whistleblowing: An integrative framework
Authors: Fischer Moritz , Thielmann Isabel , Gollwitzer Mario
Published: December 2024

People differ in the way they respond to perceived immoral or illegal activities within their organization. One possible response in such situations is whistleblowing. Empirical research, however, shows that many individuals who observe questionable organizational practices refrain from blowing the whistle. Although previous studies have identified certain personality traits that may predict whistleblowing, we currently lack a thorough theoretical understanding of the dispositional basis of whistleblowing. To close this gap, we (1) organize the whistleblowing decision along four phases, (2) identify situational characteristics present in each of these phases, and (3) derive hypotheses regarding the effects of broad personality dimensions (i.e., Big Five/FFM and HEXACO dimensions) and narrow personality traits on whistleblowing based on these situational characteristics. We hope that this framework contributes to a more holistic understanding of how personality shapes the whistleblowing decision-making process and stimulates systematic research on the nexus of personality and whistleblowing.
Evaluating COVID-19 impact, vaccination, birth registration, and underreporting in a predominantly indigenous population in Chiapas, Mexico
Authors: Joaquin-Damas Elienai , Mamelund Svenn-Erik , Schnneider Benjamin M. , Sánchez-Hernández Beatriz E. , Patishtán-López Amanda , Bleichrodt Amanda , Chowell Gerardo
Published: December 2024

Background

 Indigenous populations globally face significant health disparities compared to non-Indigenous groups, primarily due to marginalization and limited access to healthcare. In Mexico, which is home to the largest Indigenous population in the Americas, these disparities were further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with impacts intensified by factors such as marginalization, discrimination, and inadequate access to essential services.

Methods

This study aimed to investigate the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on mortality, vaccination access and uptake, and official birth registration among a predominantly Indigenous population in San Juan Chamula, Chiapas. We conducted an online survey among high school students at the Colegio de Bachilleres del Estado de Chiapas, supplemented with epidemiological and socio-demographic data (N = 107).

Results

The survey revealed that 14% of respondents reported being infected with COVID-19, while national dashboard data indicated only 212 confirmed cases and one death in Chamula between April 2021 and June 2023. Additionally, 79.4% of respondents were unvaccinated, with significant communication barriers and a lack of information in Indigenous languages contributing to low vaccination rates. Additionally, 5.6% of surveyed family members and 4.7% of community residents lacked official birth certificates, significantly impeding their ability to access essential services such as education, healthcare, and vaccinations.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight significant underreporting of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Indigenous communities, likely due to inadequate diagnostic resources and medical evaluation. The study underscores the urgent need for tailored public health strategies that integrate local Indigenous languages, cultures, and knowledge systems supported by trusted Indigenous leaders. Investing in education in Indigenous languages is crucial for improving vaccination adherence and overall public health outcomes. These strategies can inform national preparedness and response plans to address the unique challenges faced by Indigenous populations during pandemics and other public health crises.
Theta power reduction and theta–gamma coupling desynchronization are associated with working memory interference and anxiety symptoms in panic disorder: a retrospective study
Authors: Ahn Ji Seon , Hong Hye-Jin , Lee Jee Hang , Park Jin Young
Published: December 2024

Background

Theta-gamma coupling (TGC) describes the modulation of gamma oscillations by the theta phasic activity, which is crucial for processes such as the ordering of information during working memory (WM) performance. The mental arithmetic (MA), which involves performing calculations with numbers, is a crucial tool for evaluating and understanding the sensory processing and management abilities of WM. Evaluating TGC may provide greater insight into the neural mechanisms mediating WM deficits in panic disorder (PD).

Methods

Medical and electroencephalography (EEG) records of psychiatric outpatient clinic between 1 March 2020 and 30 September 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 34 PD patients and 34 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent EEG to assess the overall functional interaction of the brain using multi-channel EEG analysis, focusing on specific brain regions including the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes. EEG recordings were conducted during two sessions: a 5-min eyes-closed resting-state (RS) and a subsequent 5-min eyes-closed MA. The TGC and the spectral power of the theta and gamma frequency bands, which are well known to be associated with WM, were analysed.

Results

Compared to those in HCs, TGC and theta power were significantly attenuated in PD patients. When analysing both HCs and PD patients together, RS TGC and relative theta power were negatively correlated with state anxiety and perceived stress scores, respectively. In contrast, TGC and relative theta power during the MA condition were positively correlated with the MA performance. Specifically, in PD patients, RS theta power across all electrodes was significantly negatively correlated with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score. Linear regression analysis revealed that theta power in the T5 channel remained negatively correlated with pathological anxiety as measured by the HAMA score, even after controlling for other confounding factors.

Conclusions

This study highlights significant alterations in TGC and theta power in PD patients. PD patients exhibit reduced TGC and theta power compared to HCs, indicating deficits in the neural mechanisms underlying anxiety and/or WM in PD. These insights contribute to a better understanding of the neural basis of WM deficits in PD and suggest potential avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions.
A supervised machine learning tool to predict the bactericidal efficiency of nanostructured surface
Authors: Chen Yaxi , Chen Hongyi , Harker Anthony , Liu Yuanchang , Huang Jie
Published: December 2024

The emergence and rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains is a growing concern of public health. Inspired by the natural bactericidal surfaces of lotus leaves and shark skin, increasing attention has been focused on the use of mechano-bactericidal methods to create surfaces with antibacterial and/or bactericidal effects. There have been several studies exploring the bactericidal effect of nanostructured surfaces under various combinations of parameters. However, the correlation and synergies between these factors still need to be clarified. Recently machine learning (ML), which enables prediction or decision-making based on data, has been used in the field of biomaterials with promising results. In this study, we explored ML in nanotechnology to investigate the antimicrobial potential of nanostructured surfaces. A dataset of nanostructured surfaces and their antimicrobial properties was built by extracting the published literature. Based on the literature review and the distribution of our dataset, 70% bactericidal efficiency was selected as a practical benchmark for our classification model that balances stringent bactericidal performance with achievable targets in diverse conditions. Subsequently, we developed an ML classification model, which demonstrated an 81% accuracy in its predictive capability. A regression model was further developed to predict the value of bactericidal efficiency for nanostructured surfaces. Feature importance analysis of the ML models suggested that nanotopographical features have a greater influence on bactericidal properties than material properties, thus providing insight into the principles of the mechano-bactericidal effect of nanostructured surfaces. Overall, this ML model tool could help researchers to effectively select and design the parameters of the surface structure prior to experimentation, thereby improving the timeliness and reducing the number of experiments and the associated costs.

Graphical Abstract
The place of subjective emptiness in the structure of personality
Authors: Hopwood Christopher J. , Gjorgjieva Julija
Published: December 2024

Background

Subjective emptiness is a transdiagnostic clinical dimension related to suicide, distress, and other maladaptive outcomes. Although it is typically conceptualized as a symptom of borderline personality disorder, it has a different pattern of correlates than other symptoms of that phenotype and is present in individuals with other diagnoses. The goals of this study were to replicate and extend previous findings regarding the place of emptiness as a standalone construct within a relatively comprehensive array of personality features.

Method

A sample of 992 anonymous participants (M = 45.37 years, SD = 16.53) who were census-matched to the US population completed an online survey including measures of emptiness, normal-range and maladaptive trait domains and aspects, as well as interpersonal values and problems.

Results

Overall, the pattern of correlations suggests that people who report feelings of emptiness tend to have negative emotions, be socially withdrawn, and are low in energy.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the relevance of subjective emptiness beyond the borderline category, replicate previous findings regarding the personality and psychopathology correlates of subjective emptiness, and portray a particular profile of personality that represents a risk factor for the experience of subjective emptiness.
LearningViz: a dashboard for visualizing, analyzing and closing learning performance gaps—a case study approach
Authors: Pei Bo , Cheng Ying , Ambrose Alex , Dziadula Eva , Xing Wanli , Lu Jie
Published: December 2024

The availability of large-scale learning data presents unprecedented opportunities for investigating student learning processes. However, it is challenging for instructors to fully make sense of this data and effectively support their teaching practices. This study introduces LearningViz, an interactive learning analytics dashboard to help instructors identify, analyze, and close performance gaps among students in their classes. In this dashboard, we incorporated three modules to enhance human and computer interactions for better supporting the teaching practices: the Student Overall Performance Analysis Module, which provides a comprehensive understanding of students’ learning in the course; the Student Group Performance Analysis Module, which examines performance gaps across different groups and identifies factors contributing to these gaps; and the Final Exam Item Analysis Module, which evaluates the quality of exam questions and identifies strategies for closing performance gaps. The overall design of the platform follows a user-centered approach, integrating data analysis with various visualization strategies in a unified platform. A case study is then conducted to highlight the effectiveness of LearningViz in supporting instructors analyzing students’ learning patterns and associated factors impacting learning performance. We further conduct a usability test with several domain experts, to evaluate the usefulness and effectiveness of this platform in supporting the teaching practices. Our findings underscore the platform's ability to support instructors in detecting performance gaps among students, investigating influential factors, evaluating assessment quality and implementing targeted instructional strategies for closing performance gaps.
Long-read sequencing sheds light on key bacteria contributing to deadwood decomposition processes
Authors: Richy Etienne , Thiago Dobbler Priscila , Tláskal Vojtěch , López-Mondéjar Rubén , Baldrian Petr , Kyselková Martina
Published: December 2024

Background

Deadwood decomposition is an essential ecological process in forest ecosystems, playing a key role in nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration by enriching soils with organic matter. This process is driven by diverse microbial communities encompassing specialized functions in breaking down organic matter, but the specific roles of individual microorganisms in this process are still not fully understood.

Results

Here, we characterized the deadwood microbiome in a natural mixed temperate forest in Central Europe using PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing and a genome-resolved transcriptomics approach in order to uncover key microbial contributors to wood decomposition. We obtained high quality assemblies, which allowed attribution of complex microbial functions such as nitrogen fixation to individual microbial taxa and enabled the recovery of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from both abundant and rare deadwood bacteria. We successfully assembled 69 MAGs (including 14 high-quality and 7 single-contig genomes) from 4 samples, representing most of the abundant bacterial phyla in deadwood. The MAGs exhibited a rich diversity of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), with Myxococcota encoding the highest number of CAZymes and the full complement of enzymes required for cellulose decomposition. For the first time we observed active nitrogen fixation by Steroidobacteraceae, as well as hemicellulose degradation and chitin recycling by Patescibacteria. Furthermore, PacBio HiFi sequencing identified over 1000 biosynthetic gene clusters, highlighting a vast potential for secondary metabolite production in deadwood, particularly in Pseudomonadota and Myxococcota.

Conclusions

PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing offers comprehensive insights into deadwood decomposition processes by advancing the identification of functional features involving multiple genes. It represents a robust tool for unraveling novel microbial genomes in complex ecosystems and allows the identification of key microorganisms contributing to deadwood decomposition.
Psychological antecedents of vaccine inequity: keys to improve the rates of vaccination
Authors: Hussein Mohamed F. , Ibrahim Sarah A. , Abdel-Rahman Suzan , Elshabrawy Abdelhamid , Nasr Haqema A. A. , Yazbek Saja , Jabbar Abdul , Albadri Cinaria T. , Alsanafi Mariam , Aji Narjiss , Youssef Naglaa , Hammad Hammad M. , Abdullah Fatimah S. A. , Elrewany Ehab , Tahoun Mohamed M. , Tolba Mahmoud , Abo Salama Mohamed K. , Ghazy Ramy M.
Published: December 2024

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) stresses the importance of worldwide vaccine coverage of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) vaccination. This study fills a critical gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence on the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and inequity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study investigated the determinants of psychological antecedents and other factors behind COVID-19 vaccination and their role in vaccine coverage in MENA.

Methods

An anonymous online cross-sectional survey was conducted in 11 MENA countries (Egypt, Sudan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Libya, Afghanistan, and Pakistan). The minimum required sample size from each country was 307, which was increased to 330 to accommodate a non-response rate of 7%. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to capture the clustering of observations in each country and estimate the explanatory variables’ effects on each item of the 5C components of the psychological antecedents scale namely (confidence, constraints, complacency, calculation, and collective responsibility).

Results

The total number of respondents was 3630, 40.5% of them were between the ages of 18 and 25 years, 61.1% were females, 54.0% completed university education, 55.8% were unmarried, 19.5% had chronic diseases, 43.7% reported a previous COVID-19 and 42.4% had relatives who died from COVID-19. Much of the variation in the log of the odds in each item of the 5Cs was due to heterogeneity between different countries (intraclass correlation > 0.05). Therefore, this variability confirms the various effects of psychological antecedents on vaccination coverage, stimulating vaccination inequity among them. Increasing confidence in vaccines and collective responsibility towards relatives and the community is related to increasing acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. The reduction in complacency, calculations, and constraints was found to be associated with acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Conclusions

This study is novel in shedding light on the importance of psychological determinants as hidden causes of vaccine inequities by using a multilevel logistic regression model for COVID-19 vaccination intention. The findings suggest that targeted interventions addressing socio-demographic factors, psychological antecedents, and accessibility barriers are essential to mitigate vaccine inequity and improve vaccination rates.
Indenture Aesthetics
Authors: Ellapen Jordache A.
Published: December 2024

In Indenture Aesthetics, Jordache A. Ellapen examines the visual and performance art practices of feminist, queer, femme, and gender-nonconforming Afro-Indian and South African black artists to understand the paradoxes of freedom in contemporary South Africa. Tracing the afterlife of apartheid-era racial categories and revisiting Bantu Stephen Biko’s Black Consciousness, Ellapen theorizes South African blackness through the Indian Ocean World, showing how the development of an Afro-Indian identity after generations of indentured labor and segregation troubles persistent racial hierarchies. Staging unexpected encounters between artists such as Sharlene Khan, Mohau Modisakeng, Lebohang Kganye, and Reshma Chhiba, he analyzes how their works challenge these racial categories to create new imaginaries of freedom. Situated in a context in which the authentic (hetero)normative black subject of the post-apartheid state is bracketed from other formulations of blackness, these artists’ aesthetic practices, alongside those of other artists like Ellapen himself, disrupt desires for national belonging and catalyze alternative and transgressive politics and subjects. By rethinking the relationship between blackness, Afro-Indianness, and Africanness, Ellapen highlights the role of the aesthetic in crafting a blueprint for coalitional building across difference in contemporary South Africa.
Endoscopic Techniques in Sagittal Synostosis Correction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: da Costa Marcos , Pinheiro Vitoria , Borges Pedro G. L. B. , Cavalheiro Sergio
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Scaphocephaly is a craniofacial deformity caused by the premature fusion of the sagittal suture, which can affect skull growth and shape. For decades, surgical treatment or craniosynostosis has involved open procedures, ranging from the removal of a single suture to complex cranial remodeling techniques with large skin incisions. Since the 1990s, endoscopic approaches have emerged as potentially less invasive options. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of and differences between endoscopic scaphocephaly correction techniques.

METHODS:

A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus for clinical trials and observational studies analyzing endoscopic correction of scaphocephaly and describing the procedure. The outcomes analyzed included pre- and postoperative cephalic indexes, operation time, blood loss, number of transfusions, complications, and subgroup analysis.

RESULTS:

Thirty-two studies involving 1566 patients (mean age at the time of surgery: 3.3 months) were included. Overall, the cephalic index showed a significant increase in the mean difference of 7.58 (95% CI 6.35-8.80; P < .01), and when analyzed by subgroups based on the size of the removed strip (≤2 and >2 cm), there was no significant difference in the cephalic index. In addition, the analysis of lateral osteotomies showed no difference in CI between the subgroups.

CONCLUSION:

Our results suggest that less invasive techniques, involving smaller incisions and excisions, can achieve comparable success with traditional techniques. These findings have significant implications for clinical practice, underscoring the importance of exploring less invasive options for scaphocephaly correction to improve patient outcomes and reduce morbidity.
Comparative Analysis of Outcomes and Kyphotic Risk Factors After Cervical Laminoplasty in 2 Different Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Groups and Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy
Authors: Mun Hyun Woong , Lee Jong Joo , Shin Hyun Chul , Kim Tae-Hwan , Kim Seok Woo , Oh Jae Keun
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Cervical laminoplasty is commonly used to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Postoperative kyphotic changes can restrict spinal cord dorsal shift, leading to poor neurological outcomes. This study analyzes risk factors for loss of cervical lordosis (LCL) after laminoplasty in 3 groups: CSM, continuous OPLL, and other OPLL. It also evaluates postoperative changes in cervical spine parameters: C2-7 sagittal vertical axis, C2-7 Cobb angle (CA), T1 slope, and C2 slope.

METHODS:

This retrospective study included 154 patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty from January 2018 to January 2023. Patients were categorized into 3 groups: CSM (Group 1), continuous OPLL group (Group 2), and noncontinuous OPLL group (Group 3). Preoperative and postoperative radiographic parameters were measured. Analysis of variance and Tukey HSD post hoc tests identified significant differences among the groups. Receiver operating characteristic analysis determined the cutoff value of K-line tilt.

RESULTS:

Kyphotic changes (>10°) were observed in 18.2% of patients postoperatively: 23.8% in Group 1, 1.7% in Group 2, and 28.3% in Group 3. Significant differences were found among the groups in preoperative K-line, C2-7 CA, extension C2-7 CA, and C2 slope (P < .05). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that greater age, higher K-line tilt, lower preoperative CA-extensor CA, and lower extensor muscle volume were significant risk factors of LCL in Groups 1 and 3. In Group 2, higher preoperative K-line tilt and K-line negative status were associated with greater LCL. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that K-line tilt is a strong predictive parameter with a threshold of 15.15°.

CONCLUSION:

The continuous OPLL group had a lower likelihood of postoperative kyphosis due to structural support. K-line tilt, dynamic extension reserve, and extensor muscle volume were significant predictors of LCL in CSM and segmental OPLL groups. K-line tilt is a valuable radiographic parameter for predicting outcomes and guiding surgical decisions in cervical laminoplasty patients.
Blunted Exercise Pressor Response to Isometric Knee Extension and Post Exercise Ischemia in Individuals with Down Syndrome
Authors: Sherman Sara R. , Jackson Ronald , Lima Natalia S. , Hibner Brooks A. , Fernhall Bo , Baynard Tracy
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit autonomic dysfunction, which contributes to reduced work capacity. The metaboreflex produces exercise-induced sympathoexcitation and can be assessed via post-exercise muscle ischemia (PEMI). Blunted sympathoexcitation is common in individuals with DS and contributes to the physiological basis for reduced work capacity observed this population, but the influence of the metaboreflex is unknown. Using unilateral isometric knee extension exercise with PEMI, we hypothesized that individuals with DS would demonstrate a reduced metaboreflex compared to individuals without DS.

Methods

Twenty-four individuals with DS (M/F: 13/11; 24 ± 5 years; 30.3 ± 6.2 kg/m2) and without DS (M/F: 13/11; 25 ± 4 years; 26.5 ± 4.5 kg/m2) performed a unilateral isometric knee extension at 30% of their maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) on a leg dynamometer. Following 2-min of contraction, a thigh-cuff was rapidly inflated to 220 mmHg on the exercised leg for 3-min to isolate the activation of the muscle metaboreflex via PEMI. Beat-to-beat mean and systolic blood pressure (MAP, SBP) were assessed using finger photoplethysmography. Heart rate (HR) was collected via 3-lead electrocardiogram.

Results

Despite similar baseline values of all variables in both groups, individuals with DS demonstrated a blunted pressor response to unilateral isometric knee extension compared to individuals without DS (MAP; DS: 103 ± 14 vs. Non-DS: 125 ± 19 mmHg), and the blunted MAP response was maintained with PEMI (MAP; DS: 95 ± 13 vs. Non-DS: 106 ± 18 mmHg; groupXtime interaction, p < 0.001). Individuals with DS also exhibited reduced HR 2-min into contraction compared to individuals without DS (HR; DS: 90 ± 16 vs. Non-DS: 114 ± 22 bpm; groupXtime interaction, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Individuals with DS demonstrated a diminished metaboreflex response compared to their peers without DS, during a task known to induce sympathoexcitation. Our findings suggest that reduced influence of the metaboreflex contributes to the reduced exercise pressor response in individuals with DS. Such exercise-specific peripheral autonomic alterations extend beyond our previous cardiac autonomic findings demonstrating blunted sympathoexcitatory perturbations in individuals with DS, which may contribute to reduced work capacity observed in this population.
Διερεύνηση της ανθεκτικότητας ινοπλεγμάτων σε ανόργανη μήτρα (ΙΑΜ) και στοιχείων ΙΑΜ/οπλισμένου σκυροδέματος (ΟΣ) για διάφορα επιθετικά περιβάλλοντα
Authors: Καρακάσης Ιωάννης
Published: December 2024

Η αυξανόμενη ανάγκη επισκευής και ανακατασκευής των υφιστάμενων κατασκευών οπλισμένου σκυροδέματος (ΟΣ), οδήγησε τη διεθνή ερευνητική κοινότητα να αναπτύξει καινοτόμα δομικά στοιχεία και τεχνικές ενίσχυσης, με στόχο να αυξήσει την αντοχή ή/και την ικανότητα παραμόρφωσης των παλαιών κατασκευών. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, εισήχθησαν σύνθετα υλικά, τα οποία αποτελούνται από πλέγματα υψηλής αντοχής ενσωματωμένα σε ανόργανες μήτρες και τα οποία ονομάζονται ινοπλέγματα σε ανόργανη μήτρα (ΙΑΜ). Παρόλο που η έρευνα σχετικά με τα στοιχεία ΙΑΜ βρίσκεται σε πολύ προχωρημένο στάδιο, όσον αφορά την ενίσχυση υφιστάμενων στοιχείων, υπάρχουν περιορισμένα δεδομένα στη διεθνή βιβλιογραφία σχετικά με την ανθεκτικότητα των ΙΑΜ συναρτήσει διαφόρων περιβαλλόντων έκθεσης. Κύριος στόχος της τρέχουσας ερευνητικής προσπάθειας είναι η συστηματική διερεύνηση της ανθεκτικότητας τόσο των στοιχείων ΙΑΜ, όσο και των δομικών στοιχείων οπλισμένου σκυροδέματος ενισχυμένων με ΙΑΜ, κάτω από έντονα επιθετικά περιβάλλοντα για τα ΙΑΜ και για τις κατασκευές ΟΣ, όπως η δράση χλωριόντων, η διείσδυση διοξειδίου του άνθρακα από την ατμόσφαιρα και οι κύκλοι ψύξης-απόψυξης, στοχεύοντας στη δημιουργία ΙΑΜ τα οποία -ενισχύοντας ένα δομικό μέλος- εκτός από την αύξηση στην αντοχή, θα του προσδίδουν και αύξηση στη διάρκεια ζωής του.
The Use of the Comparative Law Method in Classic Pieces by Aristotle and Plato
Authors: Platsas Antonios Emmanuel
Published: December 2024

The article explores the Platonic roots and the Aristotelian essence of such a leading academic subject as comparative law.  Comparative law is not a creation of the 20th century, even though modern comparative law, as we know it, has indeed matured and developed in the 20th century.  The journey of comparative law commences with Plato and Aristotle, even though it was Aristotle that seems to have placed comparative law on its academic rails through his extensive, systematic, and rigorous comparative exploration of constitutions. Nevertheless, Plato must have inspired his best student, Aristotle, in the examination of comparative legal matter.  Equally, the mastermind and the driving spirit behind the subject of comparative law, as it came to flourish in modernity, seems to have been Aristotle.  Generations of comparative lawyers from Lambert and Salleiles to Zweigert, Kötz, and David effectively cultivated a subject which is quintessentially Aristotelian, despite the subject’s apparent Platonic roots.  This exposition proves, substantiates, and analyses the Aristotelian spirit of our subject, a subject which has inspired the discipline of law, Academia, and the world, the article taking a balanced approach between the subject’s Platonic roots and the subject’s Aristotelian essence.
'Tis the season
Authors: Barclay Meg
Published: December 2024

Meg Barclay, education consultant and early years reviewer for the School Library Association, reviews picturebooks for December all about the festival of Christmas and how it is celebrated in different ways all over the world
Improving quality of care and quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease living in residential care
Authors: Palmer Sarah Jane
Published: December 2024

Sarah Jane Palmer discusses how to improve quality of life among people with Parkinson's disease living in residential care
Supporting older people in residential and nursing care homes and the older visitor during the winter
Authors: Ashurst Adrian M
Published: December 2024

Adrian Ashurst discusses the important role that care homes can play in supporting older people during the colder months, both those visiting and those living in residential and nursing care homes.
Sensus Communis —Reason, Rhetoric, and Race in Kant
Authors: Librett Jeffrey S.
Published: December 2024

Abstract: In part to shed indirect light on the rhetorical dimensions of current socio- and cultural-political polemics, and on current versions of the rationalist-irrationalist polarity, I examine Kant's critique of both rationalism and irrationalism in "What Does it Mean to Orient Oneself in Thinking?" and related texts through the Critique of Judgment . I show that Kant insightfully produces there an undecidability of the nature-culture and the philosophy/rhetoric oppositions, an undecidability that in turn challenges aspects of his own conception of the critical enterprise. I show then how Kant's development of aesthetic judgment as sensus communis in the Critique of Judgment extends his thinking about this undecidability. Considering the limits of Kant's own adherence to the maxim of the sensus communis —"putting oneself in the place of every other"—I proceed to reexamine his racist race-theory, and to argue that this theory helps him avoid confronting the problems raised by his insights into the inseparability of the nonetheless mutually opposed terms, nature-and-culture and philosophy-and-rhetoric. I suggest here that his insistence on this ideological race theory is significantly overdetermined—his investment in it intensified—by the degree to which it papers over problems with his system to which his own thinking has given rise. Finally, I suggest that it would be useful, in the current situation of widespread manipulation and disavowal of rhetorical means within cultural-political polemics, to confront and acknowledge head-on the undecidabilities Kant exposes but then evades, undecidabilities that emerge in his double critique of rationalism and irrationalism.