bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease biomarkers estimate cardiovascular risk based on coronary artery calcium score in type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study with two independent cohorts
Authors: Denimal Damien , Ponnaiah Maharajah , Jeannin Anne-Caroline , Phan Franck , Hartemann Agnès , Boussouar Samia , Charpentier Etienne , Redheuil Alban , Foufelle Fabienne , Bourron Olivier
Published: February 2024

Background

Studies have demonstrated that coronary artery calcification on one hand and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on the other hand are strongly associated with cardiovascular events. However, it remains unclear whether NAFLD biomarkers could help estimate cardiovascular risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The primary objective of the present study was to investigate whether the biomarkers of NAFLD included in the FibroMax® panels are associated with the degree of coronary artery calcification in patients with T2D.

Methods

A total of 157 and 460 patients with T2D were included from the DIACART and ACCoDiab cohorts, respectively. The coronary artery calcium score (CACS) was measured in both cohorts using computed tomography. FibroMax® panels (i.e., SteatoTest®, FibroTest®, NashTest®, and ActiTest®) were determined from blood samples as scores and stages in the DIACART cohort and as stages in the ACCoDiab cohort.

Results

CACS significantly increased with the FibroTest® stages in both the DIACART and ACCoDiab cohorts (p-value for trend = 0.0009 and 0.0001, respectively). In DIACART, the FibroTest® score was positively correlated with CACS in univariate analysis (r = 0.293, p = 0.0002) and remained associated with CACS independently of the traditional cardiovascular risk factors included in the SCORE2-Diabetes model [β = 941 ± 425 (estimate ± standard error), p = 0.028]. In the ACCoDiab cohort, the FibroTest® F3-F4 stage was positively correlated with CACS in point-biserial analysis (rpbi = 0.104, p = 0.024) and remained associated with CACS after adjustment for the traditional cardiovascular risk factors included in the SCORE2-Diabetes model (β = 234 ± 97, p = 0.016). Finally, the prediction of CACS was improved by adding FibroTest® to the traditional cardiovascular risk factors included in the SCORE2-Diabetes model (goodness-of-fit of prediction models multiplied by 4.1 and 6.7 in the DIACART and ACCoDiab cohorts, respectively). In contrast, no significant relationship was found between FibroMax® panels other than FibroTest® and CACS in either cohort.

Conclusions

FibroTest® is independently and positively associated with the degree of coronary artery calcification in patients with T2D, suggesting that FibroTest® could be a relevant biomarker of coronary calcification and cardiovascular risk.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers NCT02431234 and NCT03920683.
Advances in the assessment of cosmetic outcomes, sensory alteration in surgical areas, and health-related quality of life of endoscopic thyroidectomy
Authors: Zhou Di , Zhang Zeyu , Dou Xiaolin , Xia Fada , Li Xinying
Published: February 2024

Background

Endoscopic thyroidectomy has been preliminarily proven effective and safe for thyroid diseases. The cosmetic outcomes and life quality are critical contents of postoperative assessment. This review will primarily focus on the assessment methods and results related to cosmetic outcomes, sensory alteration of surgical area, and quality of life following endoscopic thyroidectomy.

Methods

A comprehensive search of published articles within the last decade was conducted using the terms “endoscopic/robotic thyroidectomy,” “patient satisfaction scores,” “questionnaire,” “quality of life,” and “cosmetic” in PubMed.

Results

Assessment methods for postoperative cosmetic satisfaction and sensory alterations encompassed verbal/visual analog scales, scar evaluations, Semmes–Weinstein monofilament tests, and more. The evaluation of postoperative quality of life in endoscopic thyroidectomy involved tools such as SF-36, SF-12, thyroid-specific questionnaires, thyroid cancer-specific quality of life questionnaires (THYCA-QOL), as well as assessments related to voice and swallow function. The cosmetic results of endoscopic thyroidectomy generally surpassed those of open thyroidectomy, while the quality of life in endoscopic procedures was either superior or equivalent to that in open thyroidectomy, especially with respect to general health, role emotion, and vitality.

Conclusions

Assessments of cosmetic outcomes and sensory alterations following endoscopic thyroidectomy predominantly relied on patients’ subjective feelings. The objective and subjective perspectives of scar assessments remain underutilized. In addition, postoperative laryngoscopy and voice function assessments in endoscopic thyroidectomy procedures require more attention.
Simulation of a control method for active kinesiotherapy with an upper extremity rehabilitation exoskeleton without force sensor
Authors: Falkowski Piotr , Jeznach Kajetan
Published: February 2024

Exoskeleton-aided active rehabilitation is a process that requires sensing and acting upon the motion intentions of the user. Typically, force sensors are used for this. However, they increase the weight and cost of these wearable devices. This paper presents the methodology for detecting users’ intentions only with encoders integrated with the drives. It is unique compared to other algorithms, as enables active kinesiotherapy while adding no sensory systems. The method is based on comparing the measured motion with the one computed with the idealised model of the multibody system. The investigation assesses the method’s performance and its robustness to model and measurement inaccuracies, as well as patients’ unintended motions. Moreover, the PID parameters are selected to provide the optimal regulation based on the dynamics requirements. The research proves the presented concept of the control approach. For all the tests with the final settings, the system reacts to a change in the user’s intention below one second and minimises the changes in proportion between the system’s acceleration and the generated user’s joint torque. The results are comparable to those obtained by EMG-based systems and significantly better than low-cost force sensors.
Exosome-derived lncRNA A1BG-AS1 attenuates the progression of prostate cancer depending on ZC3H13-mediated m6A modification
Authors: Yang Zhi , Luo Yu , Zhang Fan , Ma Likun
Published: February 2024

Background

Exosome-derived long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications of lncRNAs have been shown crucial functions in prostate cancer (PCa). Herein, we aim to investigate the detailed mechanism of exosome-derived lncRNA A1BG-AS1 in PCa process.

Methods

PCa cell exosomes were extracted, exosomal marker proteins (CD63, CD9) were detected utilizing western blotting, and exosomes with overexpressing A1BG-AS1 were co-cultured with targeted PCa cells. qRT-PCR was used to detect A1BG-AS1 expression and m6A methyltransferase ZC3H13 in PCa. Transwell, colony formation and CCK-8 assays were utilized to assess the invasion, migration, and proliferation ability of PCa cells. Then, we performed actinomycin D and MeRIP assays to analyze the regulatory effect of ZC3H13 on A1BG-AS1 mRNA stability and m6A modification level.

Results

We observed that A1BG-AS1 and ZC3H13 expression was restricted in PCa tumors. The invasion, proliferation and migratory capacities of PCa cells could be inhibited by up-regulating A1BG-AS1 or by co-culturing with exosomes that up-regulate A1BG-AS1. Additionally, ZC3H13 promoted stable A1BG-AS1 expression by regulating the m6A level of A1BG-AS1.

Conclusion

Exosomal A1BG-AS1 was m6A-modified by the m6A methyltransferase ZC3H13 to stabilize expression and thus prevent PCa cell malignancy. These findings offer a possible target for clinical therapy of PCa.
The effect of body mass index on short-term outcomes in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a retrospective study from a single cardiovascular center
Authors: Ding Chen-ying , Qi Wen-hui , An Yu-jie , Yuan Xin , Yao Yun-tai ,   the Evidence in Cardiovascular Anesthesia (EICA) Group
Published: February 2024

Objective

This study is designed to investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the short-term outcomes of patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCAB) surgery.

Methods

Data was obtained from 1006 Chinese patients who underwent isolated, primary OPCAB at a high-traffic cardiovascular center during 2020. Subjects were categorized, by BMI, into a low & normal weight (LN) group (BMI < 24 kg/m2), an overweight (OVW) group (24 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m2), and an obese (OBS) group (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2). Information pertaining to patients’ short-term outcomes (including incidence of mortality and morbidities; duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation; length of stay in the ICU and hospital; postoperative bleeding; etc.) were extracted, and the data from each group were compared.

Results

The incidences of in-hospital mortality and morbidities were similar for all three groups. The volume of fluid infusion, postoperative bleeding within 24 h and total bleeding in LN group were higher than those in the OBS group (P < 0.001). The hemoglobin level was lower in the LN group than that in the OBS group (P < 0.001). Duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in the ICU in the LN group were longer than those in the OBS group (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that BMI is not significantly related with short-term outcomes in OPCAB patients. However, we suggest that OPCAB patients with low-normal BMI are more susceptible to post-operative blood loss.
pyHiM: a new open-source, multi-platform software package for spatial genomics based on multiplexed DNA-FISH imaging
Authors: Devos Xavier , Fiche Jean-Bernard , Bardou Marion , Messina Olivier , Houbron Christophe , Gurgo Julian , Schaeffer Marie , Götz Markus , Walter Thomas , Mueller Florian , Nollmann Marcelo
Published: February 2024

Genome-wide ensemble sequencing methods improved our understanding of chromatin organization in eukaryotes but lack the ability to capture single-cell heterogeneity and spatial organization. To overcome these limitations, new imaging-based methods have emerged, giving rise to the field of spatial genomics. Here, we present pyHiM, a user-friendly python toolbox specifically designed for the analysis of multiplexed DNA-FISH data and the reconstruction of chromatin traces in individual cells. pyHiM employs a modular architecture, allowing independent execution of analysis steps and customization according to sample specificity and computing resources. pyHiM aims to facilitate the democratization and standardization of spatial genomics analysis.
Field-based assessments of the seasonality of Culex pipiens sensu lato in England: an important enzootic vector of Usutu and West Nile viruses
Authors: Seechurn Nicola , Herdman M. Trent , Hernandez-Colina Arturo , Vaux Alexander G. C. , Johnston Colin , Berrell Morgan , Lopez Javier , Eckley Lindsay , Gonzalez-Olvera Merit , Gillespie Lisa , Kelly Paul Pearce , Baylis Matthew , Medlock Jolyon M.
Published: February 2024

Background

Usutu virus (USUV), which is closely related to West Nile virus (WNV), sharing a similar ecology and transmission cycle, was first reported in the UK in the southeast of England in 2020. Both USUV and WNV are emerging zoonotic viruses hosted by wild birds. The 2020 finding of USUV in England raised awareness of this virus and highlighted the importance of understanding the seasonality of Culexpipiens sensu lato (Cx. pipiens s.l.), the main enzootic vector of these viruses. Zoos are prime locations for trapping mosquitoes because of their infrastructure, security, and range of vertebrate hosts and aquatic habitats.

Methods

Three independent zoo-based case studies at four locations that cover the seasonality of Cx.pipiens s.l. in England were undertaken: (i) London Zoo (Zoological Society London [ZSL]) and surrounding areas, London; (ii) Chester Zoo (Cheshire); (ii) Twycross Zoo (Leicestershire); and (iv) Flamingo Land (zoo; North Yorkshire). Various adult mosquito traps were used to catch adult Cx.pipiens s.l. across seasons.

Results

High yields of Cx.pipiens s.l./Culex torrentium were observed in Biogents-Mosquitaire and Center for Disease Control and Prevention Gravid traps in all studies where these traps were used. Mosquito counts varied between sites and between years. Observations of adult Cx.pipiens s.l./Cx. torrentium abundance and modelling studies demonstrated peak adult abundance between late July and early August, with active adult female Cx.pipiens s.l./Cx. torrentium populations between May and September.

Conclusions

The information collated in this study illustrates the value of multiple mosquito monitoring approaches in zoos to describe the seasonality of this UK vector across multiple sites in England and provides a framework that can be used for ongoing and future surveillance programmes and disease risk management strategies.

Graphical Abstract
Hemicentral retinal vein occlusion in a patient with a history of coronavirus disease 2019 infection: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Riazi-Esfahani Hamid , Sadeghi Reza , Soleymanzadeh Mahdi , Farrokhpour Hossein , Bazvand Fatemeh , Ebrahimiadib Nazanin , Khalili Pour Elias , Mirghorbani Masoud
Published: February 2024

Background

Considering the various manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 and its imperative importance in terms of the right clinical approach and early management, we sought to present a hemicentral retinal vein occlusion case, with a history of heterozygosity of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genes and potential for clotting complications as a late manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019, and provide a brief review of reported retinal vein occlusion cases in patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Case presentation

A 35-year-old Iranian patient presented with a visual impairment in the left eye 4 months after recovering from coronavirus disease 2019. He reported a mild blurring of vision in the same eye a few days after admission due to coronavirus disease 2019. The ophthalmic evaluation was compatible with hemicentral retinal vein occlusion. Systemic and laboratory workups were negative except for borderline protein C activity, homocysteine levels, and heterozygosity of MTHFR genes. The patient was scheduled to receive three monthly intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections.

Conclusion

We present a case of inferior hemicentral retinal vein occlusion case with an MTHFR mutation with sequential loss of vision 4 months after coronavirus disease 2019 to make clinicians aware of the possibility of late ocular coronavirus disease 2019 manifestations.
Sex differences in the effects of individual anxiety state on regional responses to negative emotional scenes
Authors: Chaudhary Shefali , Wong Hak Kei , Chen Yu , Zhang Sheng , Li Chiang-Shan R.
Published: February 2024

Background

Men and women are known to show differences in the incidence and clinical manifestations of mood and anxiety disorders. Many imaging studies have investigated the neural correlates of sex differences in emotion processing. However, it remains unclear how anxiety might impact emotion processing differently in men and women.

Method

We recruited 119 healthy adults and assessed their levels of anxiety using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) State score. With functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we examined regional responses to negative vs. neutral (Neg-Neu) picture matching in the Hariri task. Behavioral data were analyzed using regression and repeated-measures analysis of covariance with age as a covariate, and fMRI data were analyzed using a full-factorial model with sex as a factor and age as a covariate.

Results

Men and women did not differ in STAI score, or accuracy rate or reaction time (RT) (Neg-Neu). However, STAI scores correlated positively with RT (Neg-Neu) in women but not in men. Additionally, in women, STAI score correlated positively with lingual gyrus (LG) and negatively with medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and superior frontal gyrus (SFG) activity during Neg vs. Neu trials. The parameter estimates (βs) of mPFC also correlated with RT (Neg-Neu) in women but not in men. Generalized psychophysiological interaction (gPPI) analysis in women revealed mPFC connectivity with the right inferior frontal gyrus, right SFG, and left parahippocampal gyrus during Neg vs. Neu trials in positive correlation with both STAI score and RT (Neg-Neu). In a mediation analysis, mPFC gPPI but not mPFC activity fully mediated the association between STAI scores and RT (Neg-Neu).

Conclusion

With anxiety affecting the behavioral and neural responses to negative emotions in women but not in men and considering the known roles of the mPFC in emotion regulation, we discussed heightened sensitivity and regulatory demands during negative emotion processing as neurobehavioral markers of anxiety in women.
Dynamic routing optimization in software-defined networking based on a metaheuristic algorithm
Authors: Chen Junyan , Xiao Wei , Zhang Hongmei , Zuo Jiacheng , Li Xinmei
Published: February 2024

Optimizing resource allocation and routing to satisfy service needs is paramount in large-scale networks. Software-defined networking (SDN) is a new network paradigm that decouples forwarding and control, enabling dynamic management and configuration through programming, which provides the possibility for deploying intelligent control algorithms (such as deep reinforcement learning algorithms) to solve network routing optimization problems in the network. Although these intelligent-based network routing optimization schemes can capture network state characteristics, they are prone to falling into local optima, resulting in poor convergence performance. In order to address this issue, this paper proposes an African Vulture Routing Optimization (AVRO) algorithm for achieving SDN routing optimization. AVRO is based on the African Vulture Optimization Algorithm (AVOA), a population-based metaheuristic intelligent optimization algorithm with global optimization ability and fast convergence speed advantages. First, we improve the population initialization method of the AVOA algorithm according to the characteristics of the network routing problem to enhance the algorithm’s perception capability towards network topology. Subsequently, we add an optimization phase to strengthen the development of the AVOA algorithm and achieve stable convergence effects. Finally, we model the network environment, define the network optimization objective, and perform comparative experiments with the baseline algorithms. The experimental results demonstrate that the routing algorithm has better network awareness, with a performance improvement of 16.9% compared to deep reinforcement learning algorithms and 71.8% compared to traditional routing schemes.
Reunion helper: an edge matcher for sibling fragment identification of the Dunhuang manuscript
Authors: Zheng Yutong , Li Xuelong , Weng Yu
Published: February 2024

The Dunhuang ancient manuscripts are an excellent and precious cultural heritage of humanity. However, due to their age, the vast majority of these treasures are damaged and fragmented. Faced with a wide range of sources and numerous fragments, the process of restoration generally involves two core elements: sibling fragments identification and fragment assembly. Currently, fragment restoration still heavily relies on manual labor. During the long practice, a consensus has been reached on the importance of edge features for not only assembly but also for identification. However, accurate extraction of edge features and their use for efficient identification requires extensive knowledge and strong memory. This is a challenge for the human brain. So that in previous studies, fragment edge features have been used for assembly validation but rarely for identification. Therefore, an edge matcher is proposed, working like a bloodhound, capable of “sniffing out” specific “flavors” in edge features and performing efficient sibling fragment identification accordingly, providing guidance when experts perform entity assembly subsequently. Firstly, the fragmented images are standardized. Secondly, traditional methods are used to compress the representation of fragment edges and obtain paired local edge images. Finally, these images are fed into the edge matcher for classification discrimination, which is a CNN-based pairwise similarity metric model proposed in this paper, introducing residual blocks and depthwise separable convolutions, and adding multi-scale convolutional layers. With the edge matcher, a complex matching problem is successfully transformed into a simple classification problem. In the absence of a standard public dataset, a Dunhuang manuscript fragment edge dataset is constructed. Experiments are conducted on that dataset, and the accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 scores of the edge matcher all exceeded 97%. The effectiveness of the edge matcher is demonstrated by comparative experiments, and the rationality of the method design is verified by ablation experiments. The method combines traditional methods and deep learning methods to creatively use the edge geometric features of fragments for sibling fragment identification in a natural rather than coded way, making full use of the computer’s computational and memory capabilities. The edge matcher can significantly reduce the time and scope of searching, matching, and inferring fragments, and assist in the reconstruction of Dunhuang ancient manuscript fragments.
Understanding ADC variation by fat content effect using a dual-function MRI phantom
Authors: Liu Yi-Jui , Tsai Tung-Sheng , Li Ya-Hui , Peng Jo-Hua , Chang Hing-Chiu , Peng Hsu-Hsia , Lee Ying-Chieh , Lee Tung-Yang , Liou Chang-Hsien , Lin Tz-Feng , Chew Fatt-Yang , Chou Ruey-Hwang , Juan Chun-Jung
Published: February 2024

Background

A dual-function phantom designed to quantify the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in different fat contents (FCs) and glass bead densities (GBDs) to simulate the human tissues has not been documented yet. We propose a dual-function phantom to quantify the FC and to measure the ADC at different FCs and different GBDs.

Methods

A fat-containing diffusion phantom comprised by 30 glass-bead-containing fat-water emulsions consisting of six different FCs (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%) multiplied by five different GBDs (0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 g/50 mL). The FC and ADC were measured by the “iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least squares estimation-IQ,” IDEAL-IQ, and single-shot echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging, SS-EP-DWI, sequences, respectively. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship among the fat fraction (FF) measured by IDEAL-IQ, GBD, and ADC.

Results

The ADC was significantly, negatively, and linearly associated with the FF (the linear slope ranged from -0.005 to -0.017, R2 = 0.925 to 0.986, all p < 0.001). The slope of the linear relationship between the ADC and the FF, however, varied among different GBDs (the higher the GBD, the lower the slope). ADCs among emulsions across different GBDs and FFs were overlapped. Emulsions with low GBDs plus high FFs shared a same lower ADC range with those with median or high GBDs plus median or lower FFs.

Conclusions

A novel dual-function phantom simulating the human tissues allowed to quantify the influence of FC and GBD on ADC.

Relevance statement

The study developed an innovative dual-function MRI phantom to explore the impact of FC on ADC variation that can affect clinical results. The results revealed the superimposed effect on FF and GBD density on ADC measurements.

Key points

• A dual-function phantom made of glass bead density (GBD) and fat fraction (FF) emulsion has been developed.

• Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values are determined by GBD and FF.

• The dual-function phantom showed the mutual ADC addition between FF and GBD.

Graphical Abstract
Forensic short tandem repeat markers alteration in cancerous tissues: a scoping review
Authors: Omar Izzah Syahira , Hafiza Md Yusop Nur , Zafarina Zainuddin , Norasikin Mohd Nafi Siti , Azmel Mohd Isa Seoparjoo , Shafini Mohamed Yusoff , NurWaliyuddin Hanis Z. A.
Published: February 2024

Background

Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) are segments of DNA composed of a short sequence of nucleotides that repeat consecutively. These repeating sequences exhibit distinct lengths and nucleotide sequences among individuals, showcasing high variability and uniqueness. The STR profile remains consistent across all cells in an individual’s body. Nonetheless, changes in the STR profile have been documented in cancerous tissues. This scoping review aimed to investigate the occurrence and pattern of forensic STR markers alterations in cancerous tissues. We conducted a scoping review of the English-language publications published between 2002 and 2022 in the PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus databases and a manual search of reference lists from reviewed papers. The review was carried out in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews.

Results

Our search resulted in a total of 1,065 articles associating forensic STR studies with cancerous tissues. A total of 18 of these studies met our inclusion criteria. The D18S51 marker was most often found to be altered when associated with cancers such as breast, colorectal, gastric, gynaecology, and lung cancers. Following with that, FGA, VWA, D19S433, and D13S317 markers could as well be seen to have allelic alteration in cancerous tissues. Four other STR markers (TPOX, D7S820, D2S1338, and Penta D) could be potentially represented as stable STR markers in cancerous tissues.

Conclusions

According to our review, colorectal cancer tissue has the highest level of genomic instability compared to that of other cancer types. In summary, the genetic instability caused by faulty DNA mismatch repair processes in human carcinomas can pose challenges for forensic genotyping and DNA profile matching.
Fire-type heat increases the germination of Cistaceae seeds in contrast to summer heat
Authors: Lamont Byron B. , Burrows Geoffrey E. , Pausas Juli G.
Published: February 2024

Our analyses of data in Luna et al. (Fire Ecology 19:52, 2023) do not support the proposal that dormancy release of the hard seeds in 12 species of Cistaceae is a “two-step process” involving high summer temperatures followed by fire-type heat. The reverse is true: subjection to a month of daily alternating temperatures of 50/20 °C (summer heat) is more likely to induce dormancy among initially soft seeds or secondary dormancy among those softened by fire heat or reduce the ability of fire heat to soften the seeds. The need to inspect seeds for the presence of an open “water gap” following various heat treatments, and using more realistic summer temperatures in future studies, is clear.
Fidelity-consistency and deliberateness of modifications in parenting programs
Authors: Pettersson Kristoffer , Liedgren Pernilla , Lyon Aaron R. , Hasson Henna , von Thiele Schwarz Ulrica
Published: February 2024

Background

Evidence-based interventions (EBIs) are frequently modified in practice. It is recommended that decisions to modify EBIs should be made deliberately to ensure fidelity-consistency, yet the relationship between fidelity-consistency and deliberateness is not well understood. This study aims to explore modifications in a sample of practitioners delivering evidence-based parenting programs (i.e., interventions to strengthen parent–child relationships, reduce harmful interactions, and improve child health and well-being). The study investigated three research questions: (1) What kind of modifications are made during the delivery of parenting programs? (2) To what degree are the identified modifications consistent with the core functions of each program? and (3) Is deliberateness associated with the fidelity-consistency of the identified modifications?

Methods

In total, 28 group leaders of five widely disseminated parenting programs in Sweden participated in five focus groups, and two participants from each group also participated in individual interviews (n = 10). A content analysis approach was used where the identification of modifications was directed by the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced (FRAME) and then assessed for fidelity-consistency and four levels of deliberateness (universal, situational, conditional, and unintentional). Chi-square tests were performed to compare consistent and inconsistent modifications, and logistic regression was performed to explore whether deliberateness predicted consistency.

Results

A total of 137 content modifications were identified, covering most of the content modification categories in FRAME. The most common were tailoring/tweaking/refining, adding elements, shortening/condensing, lengthening/extending, and integrating another treatment. Modifications were mostly fidelity-consistent but consistency varied greatly among categories. Furthermore, modifications made unintentionally or situationally were more likely to be fidelity-inconsistent.

Conclusions

These results indicate that explicit consideration of modifications and their impact could be essential for sustaining the fidelity-consistent use of EBIs, even as such interventions are continuously modified.
Preoperative clear fluids fasting times in children: retrospective analysis of actual times and complications after the implementation of 1-h clear fasting
Authors: Ricci Zaccaria , Colosimo Denise , Saccarelli Luca , Pizzo Mariateresa , Schirru Elena , Giacalone Salvatore , Mancinelli Paola , Baldini Gabriele , Serio Paola
Published: February 2024

Background

Preoperative fasting before elective pediatric surgery is a matter of ongoing debate. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the compliance to a recently implemented preoperative fasting protocol (clear fluids until 1 hour from the induction of anesthesia), to identify predictors of prolonged preoperative fasting time, and to determine whether duration of preoperative fasting was associated with adverse outcomes.

Methods

Retrospective single-center study in an operating theater of a tertiary pediatric hospital.

Results

In a 6-month period, 1820 consecutive patients were analyzed. The data collected in the questionnaire reporting the time of last food, milk and/or liquid intake, and eventual reasons for nonadherence was analyzed. Median (interquartile range) preoperative fasting time was 186 (110–345) min. In 502 patients (27.6%), duration of preoperative fasting to clear fluid ranged from 60 to 119 min, whereas in 616 (34%) it was 120–240 min. The reasons for not respecting fasting time rules are mostly related to communication issues or unwillingness by the patients. A significant difference in fasting times was evident between infants and children older than 10 years (188, 105–290 vs. 198, 115–362; p = 0.02). Fasting times were significantly shorter in the inpatient group and in the first scheduled patients of the morning. Clear fluids fasting times were significantly longer in patients with hypovolemia complications than in those without, 373 (185–685) vs. 180 (110–330) min (p < 0.0001). Longer fasting times to clear fluids, younger age, and scheduled surgery time were independently associated with the odds of experiencing complications.

Conclusions

In this single pediatric center study, median clear fluids fasting time was three times higher (180 min) than those recommended by the preoperative fasting protocol. Compliance to the protocol was observed in approximately 1 out of 4 patients (27.6%). Longer fasting times were associated with an increased risk of complications, which might be due to dehydration and/or hypovolemia.
Nonoperative, Active Surveillance of Larger Malignant and Suspicious Thyroid Nodules
Authors: Altshuler Benjamin , Bikas Athanasios , Pappa Theodora , Marqusee Ellen , Cho Nancy L , Nehs Matthew A , Liu Jason B , Doherty Gerard M , Landa Iñigo , Ahmadi Sara , Alexander Erik K
Published: February 2024

Context

Active surveillance for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) meeting criteria for surgical resection is uncommon. Which patients may prove reasonable candidates for this approach is not well defined.

Objective

This work aimed to examine the feasibility and safety of active surveillance for patients with known or suspected intrathyroidal PTC up to 4 cm in diameter.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted of all consecutive patients who underwent nonoperative active surveillance of suspicious or malignant thyroid nodules over a 20-year period from 2001 to 2021. We included patients with an initial ultrasound–fine-needle aspiration confirming either (a) Bethesda 5 or 6 cytology or (b) a “suspicious” Afirma molecular test. The primary outcomes and measures included the rate of adverse oncologic outcomes (mortality and recurrence), as well as the cumulative incidence of size/volume growth.

Results

Sixty-nine patients were followed with active surveillance for 1 year or longer (average 55 months), with 26 patients (38%) having nodules 2 cm or larger. No patients were found to develop new-incident occurrence of lymph node or distant metastasis. One patient, however, demonstrated concern for progression to a dedifferentiated cancer on repeat core biopsy 17 years after initial start of nonoperative selection. A total of 21% of patients had an increase in maximum diameter more than 3 mm, while volume increase of 50% or greater was noted in 25% of patients. Thirteen patients ultimately underwent delayed (rescue) surgery, and no disease recurrence was noted after such treatment. Age and initial nodule size were not predictors of nodule growth.

Conclusion

These data expand consideration of active surveillance of PTC in select patients with intrathyroidal suspected malignancy greater than 1 cm in diameter. Rescue surgery, if required at a later time point, appears effective.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress impedes regulated secretion by governing key exocytotic and granulogenic molecular switches
Authors: Mukherjee Mohima , Mukherjee Chandramouli , Ghosh Vinayak , Jain Aamna , Sadhukhan Souren , Dagar Sushma , Sahu Bhavani Shankar
Published: February 2024

Dense core vesicles (DCVs) and synaptic vesicles are specialised secretory vesicles in neurons and neuroendocrine cells, and abnormal release of their cargo is associated with various pathophysiologies. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and inter-organellar communication are also associated with disease biology. To investigate the functional status of regulated exocytosis arising from the crosstalk of a stressed ER and DCVs, ER stress was modelled in PC12 neuroendocrine cells using thapsigargin. DCV exocytosis was severely compromised in ER-stressed PC12 cells and was reversed to varying magnitudes by ER stress attenuators. Experiments with tunicamycin, an independent ER stressor, yielded similar results. Concurrently, ER stress also caused impaired DCV exocytosis in insulin-secreting INS-1 cells. Molecular analysis revealed blunted SNAP25 expression, potentially attributed to augmented levels of ATF4, an inhibitor of CREB that binds to the CREB-binding site. The effects of loss of function of ATF4 in ER-stressed cells substantiated this attribution. Our studies revealed severe defects in DCV exocytosis in ER-stressed cells for the first time, mediated by reduced levels of key exocytotic and granulogenic switches regulated via the eIF2α (EIF2A)–ATF4 axis.
Effects of binocular cue availability on leaping performance in Cheirogaleus medius: implications for primate origins
Authors: Kemp Addison D.
Published: February 2024

Multiple competing hypotheses attribute the evolution of the suite of traits that distinguish primates from their closest relatives, including forward-facing eyes, which create a wide field of binocular vision, to specific behavioral and ecological factors. The grasp-leaping hypothesis suggests that the evolution of these traits in basal primates was driven by the demands of a form of leaping locomotion unique to primates. Whether the grasp-leaping hypothesis provides a viable mechanism for the evolution of primates' forward-facing eyes remains untested. To determine whether grasp-leaping locomotion may have contributed to driving the evolution of primates' forward-facing eyes, the importance of vision within the binocular field for this type of leaping was evaluated experimentally in Cheirogaleus medius, one of the cheirogaleid primate species considered reasonable living analogs of the earliest primates. Availability of binocular visual cues was experimentally restricted using a head-mounted blinder that narrowed the binocular visual field without altering the total visual field. Animals altered their launch behavior, reduced their horizontal leap speed, and were significantly more likely to select paths that offered the shortest available leaps when their binocular field was restricted. Restriction of binocular cue availability also significantly increased the probability of adverse landings even when statistically controlling for potentially confounding variables such as leap distance, horizontal leap speed, learning effects, etc. These results suggest a functional mechanism by which selection for improved grasp-leaping could also have contributed to the evolution of forward-facing eyes in the earliest crown primates.
Playing with the cultural pilgrimage to stimulate tourism: the xFORMAL project on cultural heritage and informal learning.
Authors: Siri Anna , Di Nuzzo Annalisa , Marchesini Simona
Published: February 2024

The focus on culture as an engine of sustainable development has favoured its gradual acquisition by institutions engaged in the protection and promotion of heritage as an enabling and systemic factor capable of connecting innovation, continue education, research, and citizen engagement in a single chain. Knowledge of the landscape that combines works of nature and humankind and its bio-cultural diversity makes it possible to identify innovative informal education and new tourist itineraries where the real experience is presented as a cultural pilgrimage. The European project of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Programme RISE ‘Informal and non-Formal E-Learning for Cultural Heritage - xFORMAL’, currently halfway through its lifecycle, was born to create an informal way of accessing the cultural heritage of one's territory, revealing its past, history, and the civilisations that preceded us. After two years of closure due to the pandemic, this project reintroduced an authentic experience through gamification, a contact with landscapes, museums, and archaeological sites with physical, social, and cultural dimensions of their environments across space and over time. Building upon this foundation, the article delves into the intricate design and architectural principles that underpin the creation of the xFORMAL game, showcasing it as a paradigm of informal learning. This exploration includes a detailed analysis of the game's innovative design elements, educational strategies, and its role in facilitating an engaging and immersive learning experience outside traditional educational settings.
Humanising research on migration decision-making: a situated framework
Authors: Fresnoza-Flot Asuncion
Published: February 2024

The question of why some people (re)migrate while others choose to stay remains one of the important preoccupations in migration studies. It underlines the need to further conceptualise transnational migration to identify the drivers behind individuals’ aspiration or intention to (re)migrate or stay where they are. Drawing from several migration theories and perspectives in various disciplines, this paper proposes the situated framework of “humanising research on migration decision-making”, that is, highlighting its human aspects. This scholarly enterprise is critically important as mainstream migration theories put more emphasis on individuals’ rationality and some life dimensions, thereby overlooking other human aspects of migration and stasis. Viewing individuals as persons, this framework offers three ways to humanise the analysis: thick contextualisation, life dimensions-focused analysis, and time-situated inquiry. It also calls for the engendering of the analysis and decolonising the methodologies adopted in the study of (non-)migration decision-making.
Public perception and acceptance of CCUS: preliminary findings of a qualitative case study in Greece
Authors: Stavrianakis Kostas , Nielsen Jacob , Morrison Zoe
Published: February 2024

The development and implementation of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies plays an increasingly important part in European Union (EU) and global decarbonisation policies and strategies that seek to address climate change to achieve the Paris Agreement goals. Several studies have shown the important role social acceptance plays in determining the outcomes of CCUS projects and how social acceptance is shaped by the national and local contexts. Yet most studies on CCUS and social acceptance have focused on countries in northern Europe and North America despite the increasing numbers of CCUS projects in other regions of the world. This study seeks to help address this gap by conducting a case study on how local dynamics shaped people's acceptance and awareness of CCUS in a Greek community. Based on semi-structured interviews with six community members near a CCUS pilot plant, this single case study explores the factors and dynamics that shaped the interviewees' perceptions of CCUS technologies. Our findings indicate that, despite the low level of awareness of CCUS technologies, participants could draw on their situated knowledge to identify potential drawbacks with their application. We identified scepticism regarding the adoption of new technologies and the organisations involved based on past experiences, and a notable lack provision of technology and location-specific information as well public engagement by the project consortium. Our recommendations for future projects and community engagement include the early involvement of the public in project development, location-based transparent information, appropriate channels to facilitate knowledge exchange, and educational initiatives to build communities' capability to influence projects.
Measures of puberty in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) offspring cohort
Authors: Golding Jean , Iles-Caven Yasmin , Northstone Kate , Fraser Abigail , Heron Jon
Published: February 2024

Background When studying the development of children through the preteen years into adolescence, it is often important to link features of their physical and mental health to the stage of puberty at the time. This is complex since individuals vary substantially in the ages at which they reach different pubertal milestones. Methods The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is an ongoing longitudinal cohort study based in southwest England that recruited over 14000 women in pregnancy, with expected dates of delivery between April 1991 and December 1992. From 1999, information on puberty was collected using a number of different methods : (a) A series of annual questionnaires were administered when the index children were aged between eight and 17 years; these were mainly concerned with the physical changes associated with puberty; (b) identification of the age at peak height growth using the SITAR methodology; and (c) retrospective information from the girls on their age at onset of menstruation (menarche). Results The advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed. Conclusions The data are available for analysis by interested researchers.
IMAGES OF THE PAST AND THE PRESENT IN RUSSIAN UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS
Authors: Vasilieva Marina A.
Published: February 2024

This article examines a “double” or “two-layer” appeal to the past in Russian university museums and the formation of a special visual language in them. The first layer is an appeal to ancient images in Russian culture of the 18th -19th centuries, during the Age of Enlightenment. The second layer is the reception of it in modern culture. The author has chosen university museums as a material for the research, because at the time of their appearance they represented the most relevant and progressive ideas of the Enlightenment and today they are also significant centers of education and communication. Their developed interiors use such ancient images as architectural details and images of ancient philosophers, which was common for the 18th-19th century. The aim of the study is a description of the embedded meaning`s changing. What image of the past and the present could or should have been formed among museum visitors in the 18th -19th centuries? What image of the past and the present is being formed today? The author believes that it is productive to consider any example of the representation of the past through the considering of two points: the current concept of time and the political interest of the present in a specific period of the past. The findings of the research can be used as illustrations or examples to demonstrate the specifics of the Russian Enlightenment culture and modern culture.
DIGITALIZATION AS A MODERN CONDITION OF SOCIAL INTERACTION IN CULTURE
Authors: Gasparyan Lyudmila S.
Published: February 2024

The formation of the digital environment leads to the development of new behaviors, where the principle of social interaction is fundamentally changing. Obviously, these changes will be one of the most significant aspects of shaping the world picture. The emerging difference in the ways of interaction actualizes research in the field of constructing a social reality that acquires a predetermined meaning and shape, within which technological aspects become much more significant than substantive ones.

Digitalization contributes to the emergence of new ways of interaction that can significantly transform public perceptions of the surrounding space and its constituent elements.

The high information noise of the digital environment reduces not only the focus of the user’s attention, but also, as a result, leads to the so-called “attention economy”. Emerging practices using “big data” change the usual ways of interaction and indicates that modern technologies can change the design of an individual’s behavior.

In this regard, the question becomes relevant, to what extent is it possible to construct an individual’s behavior through digital influence? And what methods of construction are in demand today to the greatest extent?