bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
As Organizações Sociais na prestação dos serviços de natureza publicizada em parceria com o Estado
Authors: Silva Leonardo Vinicius Diniz Cavalcante da
Published: September 2023

O presente trabalho irá abordar a relevância das Organizações Sociais (OS) no papel de representantes do Estado, enquanto prestam serviços de natureza publicizada. A descentralização dos serviços públicos para as OS, na visão deste autor, é um tema importante que estima atenção, principalmente, após as mudanças em curso das normas que se debruçam sobre os processos licitatórios. O objetivo do trabalho é, então, analisar as vantagens e desvantagens na transferência para as OS dos serviços públicos que devem ser ofertados pelo Estado. Todavia, para o entendimento da temática abordada, primeiro, será realizada uma construção argumentativa sobre os modelos de Administração Pública. Em seguida, serão apresentados os princípios que justificam a descentralização dos serviços públicos que devem ser prestados pelo Estado. Posteriormente, será abordada a ideia central dessa obra, a prestação do serviço público por OS, que será explanada de maneira problematizada, no que tange às vantagens e desvantagens da Administração Pública realizar parcerias com as OS para gerirem instrumentos de serviços públicos. Nesse ponto, busca-se responder se a Administração Pública ao delegar às OS a administração de instrumentos públicos, é o que torna o serviço prestado mais eficiente e econômico para o Estado.
A new species of Chiloschista (Orchidaceae, Aeridinae) from Myanmar
Authors: WOJTAS K. PHILIP , BANDARA CHAMPIKA , KUMAR PANKAJ
Published: September 2023

A new species of Chiloschista is described and illustrated from Myanmar (Shan State) with colour plates, line drawing and photographs. The comparison and differentiation are made with Chiloschista rodriguezii, C. parishii and C. lunifera. Chiloschista shanica is most similar to C. rodriguezii from which it differs in having brownish streaks on green coloured peduncle and pedicel, densely placed flowers on the peduncle; sepals and petals comparatively shorter and wider, white coloured dotted with reddish-brown spots and being glabrous on the outer surface; labellum sac pointing forwards; side lobes of labellum acute with denticulate margin and arching above the column and denticulate upper margin of rostellum. From C. parishii and C. lunifera the new species differs in having a deeply saccate labellum with hairs on its front and back wall and sepals and petals almost glabrous on outer surface.
Begonia piraquara (Begoniaceae) a new species from Atlantic Coastal Forest in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: JACQUES ELIANE DE LIMA
Published: September 2023

Begonia piraquara is a species endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, a biome rich in endemism and species diversity, and is described and illustrated herein. Begonia piraquara resembles to B. fimbritepala E.L.Jacques in the shape of its leaf blades, but differs in having cystoliths (vs. cystoliths absent), staminate tepals with entire to slightly crenulate margins (vs. tepals with ciliate margins).
Genome-wide association study of abnormal elevation of ALT in patients exposed to atabecestat
Authors: Li Qingqin S. , Francke Stephan , Snoeys Jan , Thipphawong John , Romano Gary , Novak Gerald P.
Published: September 2023

Background

Atabecestat, a potent brain penetrable BACE1 inhibitor that reduces CSF amyloid beta (Aβ), was developed as an oral treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Elevated liver enzyme adverse events were reported in three studies although only one case met Hy’s law criteria to predict serious hepatotoxicity.

Method

We performed a case-control genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic risk variants associated with liver enzyme elevation using 42 cases with alanine transaminase (ALT) above three times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and 141 controls below ULN. Additionally, we performed a GWAS using continuous maximal ALT/ULN (expressed as times the ULN) upon exposure to atabecestat as the outcome measure (n = 285).

Results

No variant passed the genome-wide significance threshold (p = 5 × 10− 8) in the case-control GWAS. We identified suggestive association signals in genes (NLRP1, SCIMP, and C1QBP) implicated in the inflammatory processes. Among the genes implicated by position mapping using variants suggestively associated (p < 1 × 10− 5) with ALT elevation case-control status, gene sets involved in innate immune response (adjusted p-value = 0.05) and regulation of cytokine production (adjusted p-value = 0.04) were enriched. One genomic region in the intronic region of GABRG3 passed the genome-wide significance threshold in the continuous max(ALT/ULN) GWAS, and this variant was nominally associated with ALT elevation case status (p = 0.009).

Conclusion

The suggestive GWAS signals in the case-control GWAS analysis suggest the potential role of inflammation in atabecestat-induced liver enzyme elevation.
Dyspareunia, signs of epithelial disruption, sexual abstinence, and HIV status in female sex workers in Nairobi: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Fischer Bastian , Jaoko Walter , Kirui Elvis , Muture Bernard , Madegwa Isaac , Kageni Lisbeth
Published: September 2023

Background

Epithelial trauma is a risk factor of HIV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSWs). Painful intercourse may be indicative of epithelial tissue disruption. Previous studies on a cohort of Kenyan FSWs established an association between prolonged sexual abstinence and late HIV seroconversion. Our research objective was to establish whether there is a relationship between HIV serostatus and signs of epithelial disruption and between HIV serostatus and sexual abstinence behaviour.

Methods

Participants were selected from a Nairobi health facility. A structured questionnaire was administered to 322 FSWs, who provided data on HIV status, sexual behaviour, abstinence intervals and the level of sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction scores were created using parts of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-19). Additional questions addressed epithelial trauma signs. Descriptive data analysis, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to describe the study population and determine factors associated with living with HIV. Potential factors influencing sexual dysfunction were assessed by FSWs via self-rating.

Results

36% of FSWs reported discomfort or pain during vaginal penetration half the time. 44% noticed genital bleeding half the time. Vaginal tenderness was experienced by 70.6% half the time during or after intercourse. Variables predictive of living with HIV on multivariate analysis included a medium and high score of discomfort or pain during and following vaginal penetration (medium: AOR 2.288, p-value 0.032, 95% CI 1.075–4.871; high: AOR 3.044, p-value 0.031, 95% CI 1.110–8.348). No significant association of HIV status with past abstinence durations as reported by participants could be established in the multivariate analysis. A majority of FSWs agreed that steady partnerships (81% agreement), regularity of intercourse (74%), foreplay (72%) and lubricants (65%) alleviated dyspareunia.

Conclusions

Recurrent exposure to blood during sex was highly prevalent in FSWs, as was sexual dysfunction. Complaint levels were associated with living with HIV, providing evidence that reducing sexual dysfunctions may prevent HIV transmission. Preventive initiatives may be created that address sexual dysfunction in key populations and general populations with a high HIV prevalence. Subjective assessments indicate that prevention may include the promotion of sexual intercourse regularity, foreplay, and lubricant use.
Perceptions of orthodontic residents toward the implementation of dental technologies in postgraduate curriculum
Authors: Nakornnoi Theerasak , Chantakao Chanchawan , Luangaram Nutchanon , Janbamrung Thapakorn , Thitasomakul Teetouch , Sipiyaruk Kawin
Published: September 2023

Background

Dental technologies have increasingly been implemented in orthodontic practice to offer better experiences for orthodontists and patients, however, there is no scientific evidence yet whether which technologies should be implemented into the postgraduate programs.

Objectives

To investigate perceptions of orthodontic residents toward the confidence and importance of dental technologies, as well as to determine their necessity in postgraduate programs.

Materials and methods

The online questionnaire was designed to collect data from residents from all accredited orthodontic postgraduate programs in Thailand. The questionnaire consisted of four sections, which were (1) demographic data, (2) self-perceived importance of orthodontic technologies, (3) self-perceived confidence toward orthodontic technologies, and (4) the necessity of orthodontic technologies in postgraduate programs. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, and a chi-square test.

Results

Intraoral scanner was found to be an orthodontic technology with the highest scores for both self-perceived importance (4.37 ± 0.59) and confidence (4.23 ± 0.75), followed by cone-beam computed tomography, digital treatment planning software, and lab-produced aligners. These orthodontic technologies were also considered as mandatory in orthodontic postgraduate programs. CAD/CAM technologies appeared to be least important, and their training may be arranged as short course training. There was no significant influence of training locations on the necessity of all orthodontic technologies (P > 0.05), except CBCT. Self-perceived importance and confidence in all technologies were found to have significant positive correlations (P < 0.05), except teledentistry and in-office aligners.

Conclusion

Orthodontic technologies were perceived as important in clinical workflow. Intraoral Scanners, CBCT, digital treatment planning software, lab-produced aligners, and digital modeling software appeared to be necessary for clinical practice and should be considered for orthodontic postgraduate programs, while other technologies may be arranged as short course training. Further research should investigate how to arrange and organize training sessions in orthodontic postgraduate programs.
Knowledge and attitudes toward evidence-based cariology and restorative dentistry among Egyptian dental practitioners: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Elkady Dina M. , Khater Ahmad G. A.
Published: September 2023

Background

This is the first study to assess Egyptian dental practitioners’ knowledge about conservative caries management approaches and investigate whether this knowledge transfers into clinical practice and the barriers to translating research into evidence-based practice.

Methods

A sample of dental practitioners was surveyed using an online questionnaire. Convenience and snowball sampling were used to collect data from February to June 2022. We included graduated dentists from Egyptian universities who practiced in Egypt. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, and the associations between variables were checked using Kruskal Wallis and Chi-Square tests.

Results

This study included 396 participants from throughout Egypt. There were significant correlations between specialty and participants’ knowledge and behaviors toward evidence-based caries management (p = 0.002) and between specialization and tools used to detect carious lesions (p < 0.001). Most participants (59.1%) used G.V Black’s classification, and (80.8%) removed caries based on the feature of dentin hardness and color, whereas (67%) removed caries until hard dentine remained. The participants’ primary hurdle to staying up-to-date was their belief that the newly gained information would not be clinically applicable due to a lack of equipment or working in low-economic areas. Patient-related barriers were the major obstacles for participants in implementing evidence-based practice.

Conclusion

Egyptian dentists did not fully embrace minimal invasive approaches for caries management, and practitioners’ experiences continue to shape decision-making. It emphasizes the imperative to practically educate dentists using effective knowledge translation dissemination to promote evidence adoption in daily practice and advocate value-based dental care to address the economic crisis’s impact on Egypt’s healthcare.
The medical humanities at United States medical schools: a mixed method analysis of publicly assessable information on 31 schools
Authors: Anil Joshua , Cunningham Phoebe , Dine C. Jessica , Swain Amanda , DeLisser Horace M.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

There have been increasing efforts to integrate the arts and humanities into medical education, particularly during undergraduate medical education (UME). Previous studies, however, have focused on courses and curricular programming without rigorous characterization of the associated paracurricular environment or infrastructure enabling or facilitating these offerings.

Methods

To assess opportunities for students to engage the arts and humanities during their medical education as well as the institutional resources to support those opportunities, we developed the Humanities and Arts Programming Scale (HARPS): an 18-point scale involving eight sub-domains (Infrastructure, Curricular Opportunities, Extracurricular Engagement, Opportunities for Immersion, Faculty Engagement, Staff Support, Student Groups, and Scholarship). This scale was used to evaluate the top-31 ranked United States medical schools as determined by US News and World Report’s (USWNR) Medical School Research Rankings using information derived from public-facing, online information.

Results

Mean cumulative HARPS score was 11.26, with a median score of 12, a standard deviation of 4.32 and a score range of 3–17. Neither USWNR ranking nor private/public institution status were associated with the cumulative score (p = 0.121, p = 0.739). 52% of institutions surveyed had a humanities-focused center/division with more than 70% of the schools having significant (> 5) faculty engaged in the medical humanities. 65% of schools offered 10 or more paracurricular medical humanities events annually, while 68% of the institutions had more than 5 medical humanities student organizations. While elective, non-credit courses are available, only 3 schools required instruction in the arts and humanities, and comprehensive immersive experiences in the medical humanities were present in only 29% of the schools.

Conclusions

Although there is a significant presence of the medical humanities in UME, there is a need for integration of the arts and humanities into required UME curricula and into immersive pathways for engaging the medical humanities.
Pharmacogenetic analysis of inter-ethnic variability in the uptake transporter SLCO1B1 gene in Colombian, Mozambican, and Portuguese populations
Authors: Nega Mulata Haile , Berhe Derbew Fikadu , Ribeiro Vera
Published: September 2023

Background

Statin-induced myopathy is reported to be associated with the solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 gene single nucleotide polymorphism, c.521 T > C. There is no epidemiologic data on this gene polymorphism in several countries. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the genotype and allele frequencies of the gene variant in three countries.

Methods

This study involved healthy individuals from Colombia, Mozambique, and Portugal. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood samples using the Qiamp DNA Extraction Kit (Qiagen). The isolated DNA was genotyped using novel Polymerase Chain Reaction—Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism. Microstat and GraphPad QuickCal software were used for the Chi-square test and the evaluation of Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium respectively.

Results

A total of 181 individuals’ blood samples were analyzed. Overall, the TT (74.0%) genotype was the highest and the CC (7.8%) was the lowest. Country wise genotypic frequencies were Colombia 47(70.2%) TT, 12(17.9%) TC and 8(11.9%) CC; Mozambique 47(88.7%) TT, 5(9.4%) TC, and 1(1.9%) CC; and Portugal 40(65.6%) TT, 16(26.2%) TC, and 5(8.2%) CC. The reference (T) allele was highest among Mozambicans (93.4%) compared to Colombians (79.1%) and Portuguese (78.7%). Mozambicans showed statistically significant genotypic and allelic frequency differences compared to Colombians (p < 0.01) and Portuguese (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Overall and country-wise, CC genotype was less frequent and it is relatively high for Colombians and Portuguese populations. This finding may imply statins risk–benefit variability associated with CC genotype among these populations that needs further understanding.
Disease characteristics of HLA-B27 positive and negative finnish patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis - results of the 18-year cohort follow-up study
Authors: Peltoniemi Suvi Oili Orvokki , Glerup Mia , Lahdenne Pekka , Eklund Kari K , Aalto Kristiina
Published: September 2023

Background

The aim of this long-term follow-up study was to compare the disease characteristics of HLA-B27 positive and negative patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods

The study is a cohort study with consecutive cases of newly diagnosed Finnish patients with JIA according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) criteria [1]. Patients were enrolled between 1997 and 2000 from a defined area of Southern Finland. Clinical data including disease activity and serology were registered during a mean period of 17.5 years.

Results

159 patients completed the 18-year follow-up study. HLA-B27 was available for 151 patients, of which 25% were HLA-B27 positive. Chronic uveitis was diagnosed in 30% of HLA-B27 positive and 29% of HLA-B27 negative patients. HLA-B27 positive patients had a lower prevalence of temporomandibular (TMJ) involvement than the antigen negative ones, 19% versus 28%. None of the HLA-B27 positive patients had cervical spine affected compared to 11% of antigen negative patients (p = 0.022). Of the HLA-B27 positive patients, 54% had had biological medication at some point during follow-up versus 25% in the negative group (p = 0.003). At last follow-up, 32% of antigen positive patients were not in remission compared to 18% of the antigen negative (p = 0.017).

Conclusions

The use of biological medication was more common in HLA-B27 positive patients with JIA. At the 18-year follow-up, more antigen positive patients had active disease compared HLA-B27 negative patients. This real-world follow-up study indicates that the prospects for worse outcome with HLA-B27 positivity in long-term should be taken into consideration.
Analysis of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome cluster in east China
Authors: Liu Tao , Zhang Nannan , Li Haiwen , Hou Shuting , Liu Xiuwei
Published: September 2023

Background

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a common tick-borne, natural focal disease. SFTS virus (SFTSV) transmission can occur between family members through close contact with an infected patient. In this study, we explored the possible transmission route of an outbreak cluster in east China.

Method

A case-control study was carried out to analyze the potential risk factors for person-to-person transmission. Bunia virus was detected by IgM antibody, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Chi-square, univariate, and multivariate analyses were performed to calculate the association of possible risk factors for SFTSV transmission.

Results

Two patients had a clear history of blood and aerosols contact, and one may be exposed to aerosols in a closed environment. Five close contacts of the Index patient were IgM-positive and three were IgM and SFTSV RNA positive. Exposure to a poorly ventilated space where the corpse was stored (χ2 = 5.49, P = 0.019) and contact with the Index patient’s contaminated items (χ2 = 15.77, P < 0.001) significantly associated with SFTSV infection.

Conclusion

We suspect that the cluster outbreak was possibly a person-to-person transmission of SFTSV, which may have been transmitted by directly contacting with blood of SFTS patient. The propagation of aerosols in closed environments is also an undeniable transmission.
Development of an addiction recovery patient-reported outcome measure: Response to Addiction Recovery (R2AR)
Authors: Okrant Elisabeth , Reif Sharon , Horgan Constance M.
Published: September 2023

Background

Recovery, a primary goal of addiction treatment, goes beyond abstinence. Incorporating broad domains with key elements that vary across individuals, recovery is a difficult concept to measure. Most addiction-related quality measurement has emphasized process measures, which limits evaluation of treatment quality and long-term outcomes, whereas patient-reported outcomes are richer and nuanced. To address these gaps, this study developed and tested a patient-reported outcome measure for addiction recovery, named Response to Addiction Recovery (R2AR).

Methods

A multi-stage mixed methods approach followed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measure development standard. People with lived experience (PWLE) of addiction, treatment providers, and other experts contributed to item distillation and iterative measure refinement. From an item bank of 356 unique items, 57 items were tested via survey and interviews, followed by focus groups and cognitive interviews.

Results

Face validity was demonstrated throughout. PWLE rated item importance higher and with greater variance than providers, yet both agreed that “There are more important things to me in my life than using substances” was the most important item. The final R2AR instrument has 19 items across 8 recovery domains, spanning early, active, and long-term recovery phases. Respondents assess agreement for each item as (1) a strength, and (2) importance to ongoing recovery.

Conclusion

R2AR allows PWLE to define what is important to their recovery. It is designed to support treatment planning as part of clinical workflows and to track recovery progress. Inclusion of PWLE and providers in the development process enhances its face validity. Including PWLE in the development of R2AR and using the tool to guide recovery planning emphasizes the importance of patient-centeredness in designing clinical tools and involving patients in their own care.
Intravascular leiomyomatosis with cardiac extension, a case report
Authors: Garcés Garcés Juan , Terán Camacho Fernando , Dávalos Dávalos Gerardo , Zárate León Sofía , Redrobán Armendáriz Ligia , Ullauri Solórzano Vladimir , Molina Gabriel A. , Endara Aguirre Santiago
Published: September 2023

Background

Intravascular leiomyomatosis (IVL) is a histologically benign smooth muscle tumor arising from the uterus that can spread through the pelvic veins and, on rare occasions, extend as far as the heart via the inferior vena cava. Despite its benign characteristics, it can behave like a malignant tumor leading to significant morbidity and even mortality if left untreated.

Case presentation

The patient is a 42-year-old woman with a past medical history of uterine leiomyomas. She presented with heavy bleeding and frequent spotting; therefore, she went to her gynecologist. After further evaluation, a mass within the uterus that expanded into the pelvic veins, inferior vena cava, and right atrium was discovered. After the complete removal of the mass, the patient underwent full recovery. IVL with cardiac extension was the final diagnosis.

Conclusion

Although IVL is rare, it must be considered in women who underwent previous hysterectomies or myomectomies and present with symptoms of right heart failure. The ideal therapy will need the aid of a multidisciplinary team and will depend on the patient’s symptoms, previous operative history, the tumor’s extension, and resectability.
Correlation of the ultrasound thyroid imaging reporting and data system with cytology findings among patients in Uganda
Authors: Isse Hamdi Mohamed , Lukande Robert , Sereke Senai Goitom , Odubu Fualal Jane , Nassanga Rita , Bugeza Samuel
Published: September 2023

Background

Ultrasonography is a noninvasive modality for the initial assessment of thyroid nodules. The American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS) has demonstrated good performance in differentiating malignant thyroid nodules. However, the combination of ACR TI-RADS categories and cytology has not been studied extensively, in Uganda. The study aims to correlate ACR TI-RADS with cytology among patients referred for US-guided fine-needle aspiration at Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Methods

This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study that recruited 132 patients with thyroid nodules. Spearman’s correlation was used to establish a relationship between TI-RADS and cytology findings. The diagnostic accuracy of TI-RADS was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and positive and negative likelihood ratios.

Results

Of 132 study participants, 90% (n = 117) were females, and the mean age was 41 ± 13 years. One hundred sixty-one thyroid nodules were analyzed. More than half of the thyroid nodules (54.7%, n = 87) were solid or almost solid, 96.9% (n = 154) were shaped wider than tall, 57.2% (n = 91) had smooth margins, 83.7% (n = 133) were hyperechoic or isoechoic, and 88.7% (n = 141) had no echogenic foci. TI-RADS 3 was the most common at 42.9% (n = 69). The proportions of malignancy for TI-RADS 4 and TI-RADS 5 were 73.3% and 85.7%, respectively. The correlation between ACR TI-RADS and the Bethesda system of thyroid classification scores was r = 0.577. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and positive and negative likelihood ratios of ACR TI-RADS were 90.9%, 98.5%, 90%, 99.3%, 62.3, and 0.1, respectively.

Conclusion

We found that ACR TI-RADS classification is an appropriate and noninvasive method for assessing thyroid nodules in routine practice. It can safely reduce the number of unnecessary fine-needle aspiration in a significant proportion of benign thyroid lesions. Thyroid nodules classified as TI-RADS 3 should be followed routinely. ACR TI-RADS should be standardized as the screening tool in resource-limited areas.
Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy vs chemotherapy for resectable biliary tract cancer: a propensity score matching analysis based on the SEER database
Authors: Zhu Yueting , Liu Xia , Lin Yiyun , Tang Liansha , Yi Xianyanling , Xu Hang , Yuan Yunlong , Chen Ye
Published: September 2023

Background

Although the role of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) for resectable biliary tract cancer (BTC) is gradually recognized, the benefit of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is still controversial. Our study is designed to compare the prognosis of CRT versus CT in BCT patients.

Methods

Clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with operable gallbladder cancer (GBCA), intrahepatic bile duct cancer (IHBDC), or extrahepatic bile duct cancer (EHBDC) were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database (2004–2015). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). Selection bias were reduced by propensity-score matching (PSM). Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to estimate the survival time.

Results

Within 922 patients, 53.9% received adjuvant CRT, and 46.1% received adjuvant CT. Multivariate analysis showed age, primary tumor site, T stage, N stage, tumor size, number of removed lymph nodes, and treatment were independent risk factors for OS. Similar improvement of CRT on survival was identified by PSM in the matched cohort compared with CT (28.0 months vs. 25.0 months, p = 0.033), particularly in GBCA cohort (25.0 months vs. 19.0 months, p = 0.003). Subgroup analysis indicated CRT improved outcomes of patients with age ≥ 60, female, lymph nodes positive, tumor size ≥ 5 cm, and none removed lymph node diseases.

Conclusion

Adjuvant CRT correlated with improved survival in patients with resected BTC compared with adjuvant CT, particularly in GBCAs. In addition, patients with age ≥ 60, female, lymph nodes positive, tumor size ≥ 5 cm, and none removed lymph node diseases may receive more benefits from adjuvant CRT.
GPS tracking analyses reveal finely-tuned shorebird space use and movement patterns throughout the non-breeding season in high-latitude austral intertidal areas
Authors: Basso Enzo , Horstmann Johannes , Rakhimberdiev Eldar , Abad-Gómez José M. , Masero José A. , Gutiérrez Jorge S. , Valenzuela Jorge , Ruiz Jorge , Navedo Juan G.
Published: September 2023

Background

Long-distance migratory birds spend most of their annual cycle in non-breeding areas. During this period birds must meet their daily nutritional needs and acquire additional energy intake to deal with future events of the annual cycle. Therefore, patterns of space use and movement may emerge as an efficient strategy to maintain a trade-off between acquisition and conservation of energy during the non-breeding season. However, there is still a paucity of research addressing this issue, especially in trans-hemispheric migratory birds.

Methods

Using GPS-tracking data and a recently developed continuous-time stochastic process modeling framework, we analyzed fine-scale movements in a non-breeding population of Hudsonian godwits (Limosa haemastica), a gregarious long-distance migratory shorebird. Specifically, we evaluated if these extreme migrants exhibit restricted, shared, and periodic patterns of space use on one of their main non-breeding grounds in southern South America. Finally, via a generalized additive model, we tested if the observed patterns were consistent within a circadian cycle.

Results

Overall, godwits showed finely-tuned range-residence and periodic movements (each 24–72 h), being similar between day and night. Remarkably, range-resident individuals segregated spatially into three groups. In contrast, a smaller fraction of godwits displayed unpredictable and irregular movements, adding functional connectivity within the population.

Conclusions

In coastal non-breeding areas where resource availability is highly predictable due to tidal cycles, range-resident strategies during both the day and night are the common pattern in a long-distance shorebird population. Alternative patterns exhibited by a fraction of non-resident godwits provide functional connectivity and suggest that the exploratory tendency may be essential for information acquisition and associated with individual traits. The methodological approach we have used contributes to elucidate how the composition of movement phases operates during the non-breeding season in migratory species and can be replicated in non-migratory species as well. Finally, our results highlight the importance of considering movement as a continuum within the annual cycle.
Current Challenges of Asian National Children's Cancer Study Groups on Behalf of Asian Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Group
Authors: Li Chi-kong , Kurkure Purna , Arora Ramandeep Singh , Chen Bow Wen , Kirgizov Kirill , Okamoto Yasuhiro , Seksarn Panya , Tang Yongmin , Yoo Keon Hee , Agarwal Bharat , Chan Godfrey C.F. , Dalvi Rashmi , Hori Hiroki , Khan Muhammad Saghir , Yu Alice , Nakagawara Akira
Published: September 2023

In Asia, a few countries have a long and established history of collaborative clinical trials successfully formed national children's cancer study groups, but many still do not have such groups. The process of forming national children's cancer groups is fraught with many hurdles, which varies among the countries. One of the basic requirements for running clinical trials is an affordable health care system in which most of the children with cancer can receive the proposed treatment. The health insurance coverage for children with cancer varies from <20% to as high as 100% among Asian countries, and the operation of clinical trials must also be adjusted accordingly. Shortage of research personnel is common, including medical, nursing, research coordinators, and data managers. The establishment of the Asian Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Group aims to provide a good platform for promotion of international clinical trials in the Asian countries.
Blood Test for Multicancer Detection in Symptomatic Individuals
Authors: Wang Yuxuan , Tie Jeanne
Published: September 2023

Multicancer early detection blood test may help guide the diagnostic workup of symptomatic individuals.
Empire and the Origins of Twentieth-Century Migration from Mexico to the United States
Authors: González Gilbert G. , Fernández Raúl
Published: September 2023

This chapter shows how the twentieth-century appearance of a Chicano minority population in the United States originated from the subordination of the nation of Mexico to U.S. economic and political interests. We argue that, far from being marginal to the course of modern U.S. history, the Chicano minority, an immigrant people, stands at the center both of that history and of a process of imperial expansionism that originated in the last three decades of the nineteenth century and that continues today.
Legal Violence: Immigration Law and the Lives of Central American Immigrants
Authors: Menjívar Cecilia , Abrego Leisy J.
Published: September 2023

This chapter advances the analytics of “legal violence” to capture the normalized but cumulatively injurious effects of the law. It draws on the interrelated arenas of work, family, and school to expose how the criminalization of Central American migrants at the federal, state, and local levels is not only exclusionary but also generates violent effects for individual immigrants and their families.
Tijuana Cuir
Authors: Triana Sayak Valencia
Published: September 2023

Valencia Triana examines the radical defiance of queer subjectivities that open up in the border spaces of Tijuana and disrupt the machista state of Mexico and the concomitant global cultivation of capitalist subjectivities.
Migrant Melancholia: Emergent Discourses of Mexican Migrant Traffic in Transnational Space
Authors: Camacho Alicia Schmidt
Published: September 2023

Alicia Schmidt Camacho calls on us to consider migrant melancholia as a framework for understanding not only the material consequences of immigration but also its psychological toll. Schmidt Camacho also invites us to see these narratives as political acts against the substantive erosion of citizenship.
Amnesty or Abolition? Felons, Illegals, and the Case for a New Abolition Movement
Authors: Hernández Kelly Lytle
Published: September 2023

Kelly Lytle Hernández explores the rise of the criminal justice and immigration control systems that frame the caste of outsiders. Reaching back to the forgotten origins of immigration control during the era of Black emancipation, this chapter highlights the deep and allied inequities rooted in the rise of immigration control and mass incarceration.
“Wavering on the Horizon of Social Being”
Authors: Saldaña-Portillo María Josefina
Published: September 2023

This chapter underlines the racial governmentalities unleashed by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and its insistence on stripping away Mexican character and holding in abeyance “savage” Indianness in order to receive the benefits of US citizenship.
Miraji's Poetics for Queering History
Authors: Patel Geeta
Published: September 2023

Born in Pakistan, the Urdu modernist poet Miraji began his forays into translation and lyric by scrounging for literary exemplars in Lahore libraries. Among them was the poet Sappho. This chapter turns to Miraji's essay on Sappho, a lyricist whose life and lyric was always on the move to speak about Miraji as a queer Hindustani lyricist-theorist who died in Bombay longing for Pakistan. Over the course of his essay, Miraji began to fold Sappho's voice into his own, asking, in the process, for hamdardī, shared solicitude, rather than veracity as a mode of belonging-knowing. Following his process of aligning the fifth century poet Sappho with Urdu modernism, this chapter plaits migrating texts as translations, routed through Lahore, flowering into the grammar of surmise, the signature of prophecy, to offer another telos-sojourn through which we, through Miraji, can imaginatively theorize queer archives, and queer histories.
Temporal Nonconformity
Authors: Hamzić Vanja
Published: September 2023

This chapter engages the temporality of khwajasara communal experience by examining a variety of ways in which this Pakistani gender nonconforming subjectivity has shared in the larger South Asian and/or Muslim memories and performance of gender and sexuality, whilst forging alongside a space and a time of their own. First, I turn to khwājasarāʾ and hijṛā historical subjectivities to account for the distemporalizing effects as well as some potentially productive tensions between present-day khwajasara and hijra views of the(ir) past and those of the(ir) historians. Second, I briefly examine a site of khwajasara's present/future-making. At this site, khwajasara are literally made part of another, virtual world, but find ways to disrupt or “rewire” such transformation. Third, based on divergent khwajasara experiences of temporality and distemporalization as well as a range of decolonial queer, Black and trans/feminist timely studies, I ask how time matters differently in the postcolony.
The Researches of Bouvier and Bordage on Mutations in Crustacea of the Family Atyidæ
Authors: Calman W. T.
Published: September 2023

Some six years ago Professor E. L. Bouvier (‘04,’05)1 called attention to the remarkable dimorphism of certain tropical river-prawns of the family Atyidæ, which he compared with the phenomenon of mutation described by de Vries in the vegetable kingdom. He pointed out that the case was especially noteworthy, not only because of the marked discontinuity and constant occurrence of the variations, but also because they affected characters regarded as distinctive of genera; and he drew the conclusion that these genera had originated by a process of mutation. M. E. Bordage has recently published (’08,’09A,’09B) the results of some observations and experiments on the living animals which seem to support Bouvier’s views, and to indicate, at all events, a promising field for further investigations. At the suggestion of Sir Ray Lankester the following account has been prepared in the hope that it may induce some naturalists, who have the opportunity of studying the animals under natural conditions, to give attention to the matter.
The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity
Authors: Bowles Samuel
Published: September 2023

Samuel Bowles of Santa Fe Institute and CORE Econ reviews “The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity” by David Graeber and David Wengrow. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Presents an interpretation of human history that revises long-held assumptions about the emergence of social inequality and hierarchy, considering the implications of this counternarrative for accounts of the origins of farming, property, cities, democracy, slavery, and civilization itself.”
Oral microbial dysbiosis in cardiovascular diseases
Authors: Osiak Joanna , Wołowiec Łukasz , Żukow Xawery , Fydrych Dagmara , Jasniak Albert , Gawłowska Kinga , Staniewska Agata , Grześk Grzegorz
Published: September 2023

The most common diseases in humans are oral infections. Although modern research is mainly concerned with the role of the gut microbiota in systemic diseases, there are also reports indicating that oral infections, and especially periodontal infection, are one of the risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD).The composition of the oral biofilm is a community of several hundred species of bacteria, fungi, spirochetes, viruses and protozoa. It varies depending on the state of health and disease. Pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity can cause systemic disease by entering the bloodstream or by triggering immune responses at the cellular level. The discovery of the role of the oral microbiome in CVD is leading to new methods of prevention and their treatment.  In this review, we discuss  the various mechanisms by which oral dysbiosis may contribute to the pathogenesis of CVD as well as available options for their prevention and treatment.
Oral dysbiosis, or the imbalance of bacteria in the oral cavity, has been linked to an increased risk of CVD. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain how oral dysbiosis may contribute to CVD, including: The production of inflammatory molecules by oral bacteria. The activation of the immune system, which can lead to inflammation throughout the body. The entry of oral bacteria into the bloodstream, where they can travel to other organs and tissues. There are a number of things that can be done to prevent oral dysbiosis and reduce the risk of CVD, including: Good oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing twice a day. Regular dental checkups and cleanings. Avoiding tobacco use. Eating a healthy diet.
Conclusions. The evidence is growing that oral dysbiosis is a risk factor for CVD. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms involved and to develop effective interventions for prevention and treatment. The following are some other important points: The role of oral dysbiosis in CVD is likely to be complex and involve multiple factors. The effects of oral dysbiosis on CVD may vary depending on the individual's overall health status and other risk factors. More research is needed to determine the optimal methods for preventing and treating oral dysbiosis in order to reduce the risk of CVD.
Salud sexual y reproductiva en exguerrilleras Colombianas antes y después del acuerdo de paz
Authors: Garces- Palacio Isabel
Published: September 2023

El objetivo de este artículo es describir las experiencias en salud sexual y reproductiva de exguerrilleras de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - Ejército del Pueblo (Farc-Ep) durante el conflicto armado y después de la firma del acuerdo de paz. Durante el 2018 se realizó un estudio de caso interpretativo a través de observación participante, 11 entrevistas y dos grupos focales. En las Farc-Ep no hubo un enfoque de salud sexual y reproductiva integral ni con perspectiva de género; se privilegió la prevención del embarazo con métodos y sanciones para las mujeres. Debido a su carácter de ejército clandestino las decisiones no eran tomadas de manera individual, y la autoridad del superior implicaba las relaciones erótico-afectivas, aunque se arantizaba una atención expedita para casos de urgencias. Posterior a la firma del acuerdo, con su consiguiente inserción en el sistema de salud colombiano, se amplían las posibilidades de atención para casos no urgentes, pero se enfatizan las barreras de atención del sistema de salud.

Palabras clave: salud sexual y reproductiva, anticoncepción, conflicto armado, proceso de paz, Colombia
Participación juvenil en la prevención del consumo de sustancias psicoactivas
Authors: Acosta-Ramírez Naydu , Villegas de los Ríos Reina Myriam
Published: September 2023

Introducción: el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas (SPA) en escolares es un fenómeno complejo con múltiples efectos negativos. Desde la perspectiva de los determinantes sociales y la promoción de la salud, la institución educativa (IE) es un agente decisivo para acciones participativas. El objetivo fue identificar factores individuales e institucionales asociados con la participación de estudiantes en una ie pública de Cali (Colombia) para prevenir el consumo de spa. Materiales y métodos: estudio de caso con enfoque mixto. La aproximación cualitativa implicó un análisis documental para explorar la respuesta y factores institucionales de la ie seleccionada como caso crítico; mientras que para identificar los factores individuales relevantes se desarrolló un componente cuantitativo mediante encuesta a 156 estudiantes (secundaria-media) de esa ie. Resultados: los estudiantes identifican como factor relevante para el consumo de spa la presión de amigos o compañeros; se evidencia que los espacios y procesos de prevención de mayor aporte son la comunicación con pares. También se reconoce como factor institucional el trabajo curricular desde las áreas para fortalecer la toma de decisiones. Conclusión: en la estrategia de escuelas saludables, es crucial la alianza entre el sector educativo y el sector salud, para dinamizar espacios y procesos de participación dirigidos a prevenir el consumo de spa. Los estudios de análisis del desarrollo de la estrategia de escuelas saludables son requeridos para generar elementos de reflexión dirigidos al ajuste de las acciones de empoderamiento de los estudiantes y que los procesos de participación juvenil logren la continuidad requerida.
Exploring the New Frontier: Decentralized Financial Services
Authors: Junqué de Fortuny Enric , Zhang Yifei
Published: September 2023

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) marks a transformative shift in financial services, harnessing the power of distributed ledger and smart contract technologies. Despite only five years of development, DeFi has rapidly matured, pioneering state-of-the-art financial products, a stratified ecosystem, and a myriad of innovative vertical and horizontal protocol integrations. Its distinctive characteristics establish DeFi as a crucible for innovation, carrying potential to spur advancements across various service sectors. However, the research community has yet to fully explore this burgeoning field. In this manuscript, we navigate the complexities of this emerging service system, analyzing 362 notable Ethereum-based DeFi initiatives. Our study reveals a robust and dynamic growth trajectory, the advent of a multi-tiered ecosystem, and a sophisticated network of primary market investors. We conclude by highlighting promising avenues for future exploration in DeFi and service system research.
Recruiting adults of ethnic minorities into clinical trials: a synthesis of strategies
Authors: Sam Nirmala , Hill James , Hamer Oliver
Published: September 2023

In this commentary, Nirmala Sam and colleagues critically appraise a systematic literature review that synthesised strategies to recruit adults of ethnic minorities to clinical trials in the UK.
Highlighting the latest research: August 2023
Authors: Palmer Sarah Jane , Cowan Helen
Published: September 2023

Sarah Jane Palmer presents a selection of recently published articles of interest to nurses working in cardiovascular nursing, while Helen Cowan explores their application to practice. The aim of this roundup is to provide a brief overview of the research papers selected and highlight their relevance to cardiac nursing practice. A full reference is provided for those who wish to look at the research in further detail.
The rapid-access patient passport
Authors: Smith Lowri , Subbe Chris
Published: September 2023

In this patient story, Lowri Smith explains how she collaborated with Dr Chris Subbe and other contributors to develop a rapid‑access patient passport app to facilitate timely care for patients with complex needs.