bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dyadic care to improve postnatal outcomes of birthing people and their infants: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Choy Courtney C. , McAdow Molly E. , Rosenberg Julia , Grimshaw Alyssa A. , Martinez-Brockman Josefa L.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Dyadic care, which is the concurrent provision of care for a birthing person and their infant, is an approach that may improve disparities in postnatal health outcomes, but no synthesis of existing dyadic care studies has been conducted. This scoping review seeks to identify and summarize: 1) dyadic care studies globally, in which the birthing person-infant dyad are cared for together, 2) postnatal health outcomes that have been evaluated following dyadic care interventions, and 3) research and practice gaps in the implementation, dissemination, and effectiveness of dyadic care to reduce healthcare disparities.

Materials and methods

Eligible studies will (1) include dyadic care instances for the birthing person and infant, and 2) report clinical outcomes for at least one member of the dyad or intervention outcomes. Studies will be excluded if they pertain to routine obstetric care, do not present original data, and/or are not available in English or Spanish. We will search CINAHL, Ovid (both Embase and Medline), Scopus, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Google Scholar, Global Health, Web of Science Core Collection, gray literature, and WHO regional databases. Screening will be conducted via Covidence and data will be extracted to capture the study design, dyad characteristics, clinical outcomes, and implementation outcomes. The risk of bias will be assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. A narrative synthesis of the study findings will be presented.

Discussion

This scoping review will summarize birthing person-infant dyadic care interventions that have been studied and the evidence for their effectiveness. This aggregation of existing data can be used by healthcare systems working to improve healthcare delivery to their patients with the aim of reducing postnatal morbidity and mortality. Areas for future research will also be highlighted.

Trail registration

This review has been registered at Open Science Framework (OSF, https://osf.io/5fs6e/).
Exercise induced hypoalgesia during different intensities of a dynamic resistance exercise: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wilson Abigail T. , Pinette John , Lyons Kaitlyn , Hanney William J.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Exercise produces an immediate lessening of pain sensitivity (Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia (EIH)) in healthy individuals at local and distant sites, possibly through a shared mechanism with conditioned pain modulation (CPM). Dynamic resistance exercise is a recommended type of exercise to reduce pain, yet limited research has examined the effects of intensity on EIH during this type of exercise. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study is to compare changes in PPT at a local and distant site during a leg extension exercise at a high intensity, a low intensity, or a quiet rest condition. A secondary purpose is to examine if CPM changes after each intervention. The final purpose is to examine if baseline pain sensitivity measures are correlated with response to each intervention.

Methods

In a randomized controlled trial of 60 healthy participants, participants completed baseline pain sensitivity testing (heat pain threshold, temporal summation, a cold pressor test as measure of CPM) and were randomly assigned to complete a knee extension exercise at: 1) high intensity (75% of a 1 Repetition Maximum (RM), 2) low intensity (30% 1RM), or 3) Quiet Rest. PPT was measured between each set at a local (quadriceps) and distant (trapezius) site during the intervention. CPM was then repeated after the intervention. To test the first purpose of the study, a three-way ANOVA examined for time x site x intervention interaction effects. To examine for changes in CPM by group, a mixed-model ANOVA was performed. Finally, a Pearson Correlation examined the association between baseline pain sensitivity and response to each intervention.

Results

Time x site x intervention interaction effects were not significant (F(5.3, 150.97) = 0.87, p = 0.51, partial eta2 = 0.03). CPM did not significantly change after the interventions (time x intervention F(1,38) = 0.81, p = 0.37, partial eta2 = 0.02. EIH effects at the quadriceps displayed a significant, positive moderate association with baseline HPT applied over the trapezius (r = 0.61, p<0.01) and TS (r = 0.46, p = 0.04).

Discussion

In healthy participants, PPT and CPM did not significantly differ after a leg extension exercise performed at a high intensity, low intensity, or quiet rest condition. It is possible pre-intervention CPM testing with a noxious stimuli may have impaired inhibitory effects frequently observed during exercise but future research would need to examine this hypothesis.
Dispositional factors in the explanation of symptoms of depression, anxiety, health anxiety and COVID-19 Phobia
Authors: Mayor Eric , Lieb Roselind
Published: April 2024

Maladaptive personality, the motivational systems, and intolerance of uncertainty play important roles in the statistical explanation of depression and anxiety. Here, we notably examined for the first time whether symptoms of depression, anxiety, health anxiety, and fear of COVID-19 share similar associations (e.g., variance explained) with these important dispositional dimensions. For this cross-sectional study, data from 1001 participants recruited in Germany (50% women; mean age = 47.26) were collected. In separate models, we examined the cross-sectional associations of the symptoms of depression, anxiety, health anxiety, and fear of COVID-19 with the Personality Inventory for DSM Short Form Plus scales, the Behavioral Inhibition System / Flight–Fight–Freeze System / Behavioral Activation System scales, and Intolerance of Uncertainty scales. Relative weight analyses were used to determine the within-model importance of the different scales in the prediction of the symptoms. All in all, our study showed that maladaptive personality and intolerance of uncertainty dimensions are more important sets of predictors of the studied outcomes (with which depressive and anxious symptomatology feature very similar associations) than are the motivational system dimensions. Within predictor sets, the scales with the most important predictors were: Negative Affectivity, the Behavioral Inhibition System, and Burden due to Intolerance of Uncertainty. Our findings highlight the relevance of focusing behavioral targets of psychotherapy on these within-set traits and identify potential research priorities (maladaptive personality and intolerance of uncertainty) in relation to the symptoms of interest.
7T MP2RAGE for cortical myelin segmentation: Impact of aging
Authors: Mueller Susanne G.
Published: April 2024

Background

Myelin and iron are major contributors to the cortical MR signal. The aim of this study was to investigate 1. Can MP2RAGE-derived contrasts at 7T in combination with k-means clustering be used to distinguish between heavily and sparsely myelinated layers in cortical gray matter (GM)? 2. Does this approach provide meaningful biological information?

Methods

The following contrasts were generated from the 7T MP2RAGE images from 45 healthy controls (age: 19–75, f/m = 23/22) from the ATAG data repository: 1. T1 weighted image (UNI). 2. T1 relaxation image (T1map). 3. INVC/T1map ratio (RATIO). K-means clustering identified 6 clusters/tissue maps (csf, csf/gm-transition, wm, wm/gm transition, heavily myelinated cortical GM (dGM), sparsely myelinated cortical GM (sGM)). These tissue maps were then processed with SPM/DARTEL (volume-based analyses) and Freesurfer (surface-based analyses) and dGM and sGM volume/thickness of young adults (n = 27, 19–27 years) compared to those of older adults (n = 18, 42–75 years) at p<0.001 uncorrected.

Results

The resulting maps showed good agreement with histological maps in the literature. Volume- and surface analyses found age-related dGM loss/thinning in the mid-posterior cingulate and parahippocampal/entorhinal gyrus and age-related sGM losses in lateral, mesial and orbitofrontal frontal, insular cortex and superior temporal gyrus.

Conclusion

The MP2RAGE derived UNI, T1map and RATIO contrasts can be used to identify dGM and sGM. Considering the close relationship between cortical myelo- and cytoarchitecture, the findings reported here indicate that this new technique might provide new insights into the nature of cortical GM loss in physiological and pathological conditions.
The association between HIV pretreatment drug resistance and virological outcomes in children and adults in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Takem Ebako Ndip , Coox Christopher , Shang Judith , Ndongmo Clement , Dokubo Emily Kainne
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Pretreatment drug resistance (PDR) could occur in antiretroviral treatment (ART) naïve individuals, those previously exposed to ART, or individuals re-initiating ARV after a long period of interruption. Few studies have shown its association with virological outcomes, although inconsistent. The objective of this review was to provide a synthesis of the association between PDR and virological outcomes (virological failure or suppression).

Methods

This report is presented following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The method was subdivided into three main phases: record identification, screening, and report inclusion. Record identification consisted of an initial search with search term “HIV pretreatment drug resistance”. Another search was done using terms “Pretreatment drug resistance OR pre-treatment drug resistance OR Pretreatment drug resist* OR pre-treatment drug resist* OR pretreatment antiretroviral resistance OR pretreatment medic* OR pretreatment medic* resist*” and a list of all the countries in sub-Saharan Africa. After the electronic search, studies were screened from full list based on their title and abstract and then full articles retrieved and studies were assessed based on set criteria. Inclusion criteria involved observational studies that report the association between PDR and virological failure. Data from trials that reported the association were also included. Published articles like modelling studies and reviews, and studies with data that had been previously included in the review were excluded. The Mantel Haenszel method with odds ratios was used for synthesis (meta-analyses) with the weights of each study which depends on the number of events and totals.

Results

A total of 733 records(studies) were obtained from all database search of which 74 reported on PDR, virological outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Out of the 74 articles, 11 were excluded and 26 did not explicitly report data needed, and 5 did not meet the inclusion criteria. Of the remaining 32 studies, 19 studies that had complete data on the number of participants with PDR and no PDR according to virological failure (VF) were included in the metanalyses. The pooled results from eleven (13) of these studies showed those with PDR had higher odds of virological failure compared to those without PDR OR 3.64[95% CI 2.93, 4.52]. The result was similar when stratified in adults and in children. In six (6) studies that had Virological suppression (VS) as outcome, there was a reduction in the odds of VS in those with PDR compared to those without PDR, OR 0.42 (95% CI 0.30, 0.58).

Conclusion

In conclusion, this systematic review indicates that PDR increases the risk of virological failure in sub-Saharan Africa. The risk could be reduced by PDR monitoring for NNRTIs and INSTIs.
An exploratory study to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Lebanese residents towards acrylamide
Authors: Kalash Nour , Kharroubi Samer , Ballout Rouba , Saleh Fatima
Published: April 2024

Introduction

For years, heat treatment has been an essential method for ensuring mature food that meet the desired quality and safety characteristics. However, this process could lead to the formation of harmful compounds such as acrylamide. In this study we aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) of the Lebanese population toward the potential risk associated with acrylamide.

Materials & methods

An online survey (n = 598) was conducted among residents in Lebanon aged 18 years and above. The survey was divided into five sections including participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice sections, and some questions related to consumer’s preferences.

Results & discussion

The results showed that the majority of the participants had low food safety knowledge regarding acrylamide. Specifically, 82.9% of the consumers had no idea about the chemical, its formation, the foods with a high risk of acrylamide formation and the health risks associated with its exposure. Despite lack of knowledge, good domestic food practices (storage, pre-treatment) were noticed among participants. Moreover, the majority of consumers (> 80%) showed positive attitude towards proper acrylamide labeling. Participants with a bachelor’s degree appeared to have a more positive attitude toward food safety compared to those with no qualifications (p<0.001).

Conclusion

Despite the high consumption of acrylamide by the consumers in Lebanon through fried potatoes, bread, and coffee, the majority have no idea about acrylamide’s presence in food, its sources and its adverse health effects. Raising awareness among the public, involving policy makers in addressing the issue of clear labeling and encouraging the adoption of alternative practices to reduce acrylamide are all crucial to protect consumers’ health in Lebanon and promote healthier food consumption habits.
Travel burdens to access care among children with cancer between 2016 and 2019: Analysis of a national population-based cancer registry in Japan
Authors: Tsutsui Anna , Murakami Yoshitaka , Okamura Satomi , Fujimaki Takako , Endo Masayuki , Ohno Yuko
Published: April 2024

Background

Centralization of cancer care increases survival but increases the travel burden (i.e., travel durations, distances, and expenditures) in visiting hospitals. This study investigated the travel burdens to access cancer care for children aged 18 years and younger in Japan.

Methods

The study population comprised 10,709 patients diagnosed between 2016 and 2019 obtained from a national population-based cancer registry in Japan. Their residences were classified as urban or rural. We counted the number of patients treated at specialized hospitals and investigated the treatment centralization across diagnostic groups by Pareto plot. Travel burdens to access care were estimated using a route-planner web service and summarized using median values. A multivariable logistic model was performed to investigate factors associated with the events of car travel duration exceeding 1 h.

Results

Of the patients, 76.7% lived in urban areas, and 82.5% received treatment in designated hospitals for childhood cancer. The Pareto plot suggested that the top five hospitals treated 63.5% of patients with retinoblastoma. The estimated travel burdens for all patients were 0.62 h (0.57 h in urban areas and 1.00 h in rural areas), 16.9 km, and 0.0 dollars of toll charges. Regarding travel duration, 21.7% of patients had travel exceeding 1 h, and rural areas, retinoblastoma, malignant bone tumors, and childhood cancer-hub hospitals were associated with travel duration exceeding 1 h (adjusted odds ratios of 6.93, 3.59, 1.94, and 1.91, respectively).

Conclusions

Most patients were treated in specialized hospitals and the treatments for specific diseases were centralized. However, most patients were estimated to travel less than 1 h, and the travel burden tended to increase for patients in rural areas, those with specific diseases, and those going to specialized hospitals. Cancer control measures in Japan have steadily improved centralized treatment while keeping the travel burden relatively manageable.
Mixed-ownership reform and factor misallocation: Evidence from China
Authors: Peng Ping , Zhu Xingwang
Published: April 2024

An enterprise’s ownership structure is crucial for factor allocation efficiency. We used Chinese firm-level data to investigate whether changes in state-owned enterprise ownership structure contribute to resource misallocation, leading to high-quality economic development. We found a U-shaped relationship between non-state shareholding and state-owned enterprises’ resource allocation efficiency. An optimal range exists for non-state shareholding. When the shareholding of non-state shareholders reaches 10%–20%, the efficiency of resource allocation is at its highest. Additional research has revealed that mixed shareholding has varying impacts on resource allocation, displaying substantial heterogeneity. These insights offer valuable guidance for future mixed-ownership reforms and serve as a practical reference for economic reforms in other nations, particularly developing countries.
Abiotic and biotic factors influencing small-scale corn production along a shade spectrum in arid urban agriculture settings
Authors: Kruger Brittany R. , Sackett Joshua D.
Published: April 2024

Urban agriculture may be an avenue to help alleviate strain on the global production of staple crops like corn (Zea mays), but significant knowledge gaps exist regarding the optimization of staple crop production in urban settings, and especially in arid urban settings where different challenges exist for crop success. We sought to assess abiotic and biotic factors that impact sweet corn production in six arid urban agricultural plots with varying levels of shade stress, a known inhibitor of corn production. Corn successfully reached maturity in 50% of the studied plots (n = 18). Microbial richness and diversity were uniformly high in all plot soils and not indicated as a hinderance to corn production nor correlated with corn success. Multiple corn success metrics were positively correlated with average daytime light intensity (r = 0.74 to 0.84) and soil organic matter (r = 0.77 to 0.89), suggesting that these factors are critical aspects of successful corn production. In plots that did not receive optimal light exposure, exceptional soil health and morning vs afternoon sun exposure offset at least some degree of shade stress in these arid urban environments. Corn success metrics were negatively correlated with soil calcium, magnesium, sodium and sulfate (r = -0.71 to -0.90), suggesting that minimizing or mitigating the buildup of salt constituents in soils is critical for successful corn production. Optimizing staple crop production in arid urban agricultural settings supports food chain stability and social and economic security of local communities. This work suggests abiotic and biotic drivers of corn success which can be utilized for crop optimization in these environments.
Factors associated with cardiovascular disease: A comparative study of the UK Asian diaspora and residents of India
Authors: Patel Mubarak , Uthman Olalekan
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The aim of this paper is to investigate what factors are associated to cardiovascular disease and what differences exists between Asians living in the UK (from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing) and the Asians living in India (from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India).

Methods

Logistic regression was used to investigate how demographic and physical performance factors were associated with cardiovascular disease using data from Wave 6 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Wave 1 of the Longitudinal Study of Ageing in India, with the main variable of interest being country of residence, Asians in England or Asians in India.

Results

A total of 83,997 participants were included in the analyses. In the primary analysis, 73,396 participants from LASI were compared to 171 Asians in ELSA. After adjusting for age, blood pressure, resting heart rate, sex, waist circumference, gait, handgrip strength and standing balance, there was a statistically significant difference for the outcome of CVD between Whites ELSA (reference) and the participants of LASI (odds ratio = 0.77; 95% confidence interval = 0.60 to 0.99). There were no significant differences in CVD between the LASI participants, Asian ELSA, and the Non-White but not Asian ELSA groups.

Discussion

No difference was found between Asians that live in India compared to ethnic minorities living in England, including Asians, after adjusting for confounders, but was found between Whites in ELSA compared to LASI participants. A key limitation was the massive disparity in sample sizes between the ELSA subgroups and LASI. Further work is required where comparable sample sizes and longitudinal analyses allow trends to be identified and to investigate the factors associated with the difference in CVD between two similar ethnicities living in distinct locations.

Conclusion

After adjusting for risk factors, there was no difference in CVD between localised Asians and the ethnic minorities in the UK, but there was a difference between the majority ethnicities in the respective countries.
Developing feasible and acceptable strategies for integrating the use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in gender-affirming care: An implementation study
Authors: Kamran Rakhshan , Jackman Liam , Laws Anna , Stepney Melissa , Harrison Conrad , Jain Abhilash , Rodrigues Jeremy
Published: April 2024

Objective

Use CFIR guidance to create comprehensive, evidence-based, feasible, and acceptable gender-affirming care PROM implementation strategies.

Design, setting, participants

A 3-Phase participatory process was followed to design feasible and acceptable strategies for integrating PROMs in gender-affirming care. In Phase 1, barriers and enablers to PROM implementation for gender-affirming care were identified from a previous systematic review and our prior qualitative study. We used the CFIR-ERIC tool to match previously identified barriers and enablers with expert-endorsed implementation strategies. In Phase 2, implementation strategy outputs from CFIR-ERIC were organised according to cumulative percentage value. In Phase 3, gender-affirming care PROM implementation strategies underwent iterative refinement based on rounds of stakeholder feedback with seven patient and public partners and a gender-affirming healthcare professional.

Results

The systematic review and qualitative study identified barriers and enablers to PROM implementation spanning all five CFIR domains, and 30 CFIR constructs. The top healthcare professional-relevant strategies to PROM implementation from the CFIR-ERIC output include: identifying and preparing implementation champions, collecting feedback on PROM implementation, and capturing and sharing local knowledge between clinics on implementation. Top patient-relevant strategies include: having educational material on PROMs, ensuring adaptability of PROMs, and collaborating with key local organisations who may be able to support patients.

Conclusions

This study developed evidence-based, feasible, and acceptable strategies for integrating PROMs in gender-affirming care, representing evidence from a systematic review of 286 international articles, a qualitative study of 24 gender-affirming care patients and healthcare professionals, and iteration from 7 patient and public partners and a gender-affirming healthcare professional. The finalised strategies include patient- and healthcare professional-relevant strategies for implementing PROMs in gender-affirming care. Clinicians and researchers can select and tailor implementation strategies best applying to their gender-affirming care setting.
Impact of benzodiazepine use on the risk of occupational accidents
Authors: Baudot François-Olivier
Published: April 2024

Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are drugs commonly used for treating insomnia and anxiety. Although they are known to induce cognitive and psychomotor impairments, their effect on the risk of causing accidents at work remains understudied. The objective of this study is to estimate this risk by differentiating between the recommended use and overuse of these drugs (i.e., uninterrupted use for four months). The data come from the French National Health Data System, which provide a population composed of French people who had at least one work accident (WA) from 2017 to 2019 (approximately 2.5 million people). A linear probability model with two-way fixed effects is used to deal with time-constant heterogeneity and the time effect independent of individuals. The results show a reduction in the risk of WA after a short period of BZD use (one month) compared with no use at all, but the risk of WA increases when treatment exceeds the recommended duration. The intensity of use results in a greater risk of WAs: a 1% increase in BZD use (expressed as the amount reimbursed) leads to a 4.4% (p<0.001) increase in the monthly risk of WAs. Moreover, we see an increase in risk in the month following the treatment discontinuation (+3.6%, p<0.001), which could be due to rebounding and catch-up effects. Health professionals and BZD users should be made aware of the WA risk induced by the use of BZDs, particularly after prolonged use and after discontinuation of treatment. This study provides more evidence for the need to limit the duration of BZD treatment.
Dynamics of serum anion gaps with in-hospital mortality: Analysis of the multi-open databases
Authors: Yang Dong Eun , Jo Sua , Lee Dong Hyun , An Won Suk , Jeong Min Jae , Son Minkook
Published: April 2024

Background

Few studies have investigated the relationship between the anion gap, including the corrected anion gap, and patient mortality in intensive care units (ICUs) without restricting the analysis to specific diseases or medical specialties. Our primary objective was to investigate the association between the anion gap and ICU mortality using multiple open-access databases.

Methods

We identified 4229 subjects from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database, whose entries were from between 2008 and 2019. For each patient, the anion gap and corrected anion gap were calculated, and the study sample was divided into tertile groups (T) according to these levels. The association between the anion gap and in-hospital mortality was assessed using hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) derived from a multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model. Besides MIMIC-IV, we also incorporated study samples from two other databases (MIMIC-III and electronic ICU) to calculate summary HRs using a random-effects meta-analysis.

Results

Within MIMIC-IV, 1015 patients (24%) died during an average follow-up period of 15.5 days. The fully adjusted HRs and 95% CIs for T2 and T3, relative to T1, were 1.31 (95% CI 1.08–1.58) and 1.54 (95% CI 1.24–1.90), respectively. When grouped by corrected anion gap, the results remained statistically significant. In the meta-analysis, the summary HRs and 95% CIs for T2 and T3 were 1.24 (95% CI 1.08–1.43) and 1.55 (95% CI 1.33–1.82), respectively.

Conclusions

Both the anion gap and corrected anion gap were associated with in-hospital mortality regardless of specific diseases or medical specialties.
Could the mitotic count improve personalized prognosis in melanoma patients?
Authors: Buja Alessandra , Rugge Massimo , Cozzolino Claudia , Dossi Francesca , Zorzi Manuel , Vecchiato Antonella , de Luca Giuseppe , Del Fiore Paolo , Tropea Saveria , dall’Olmo Luigi , Rossi Carlo Riccardo , Boccuzzo Giovanna , Mocellin Simone
Published: April 2024

A number of studies have indicated that the mitotic rate may be a predictive factor for poor prognosis in melanoma patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the mitotic rate is associated with other prognostic clinical and anatomopathological characteristics. After adjusting for other anatomopathological characteristics, we then verified the prognostic value of the number of mitoses, determining in which population subgroup this variable may have greater prognostic significance on 3-year mortality. The Veneto Cancer Registry (Registro Tumori del Veneto—RTV), a high-resolution population-based dataset covering the regional population of approximately 4.9 million residents, served as the clinical data source for the analysis. Inclusion criteria included all incident cases of invasive cutaneous malignant melanoma recorded in the RTV in 2015 (1,050 cases) and 2017 (1,205 cases) for which the number of mitoses was available. Mitotic classes were represented by Kaplan–Meier curves for short-term overall survival. Cox regression calculated hazard ratios in multivariable models to evaluate the independent prognostic role of different mitotic rate cut-offs. The results indicate that the mitotic rate is associated with other survival prognostic factors: the variables comprising the TNM stage (e.g., tumor thickness, ulceration, lymph node status and presence of metastasis) and the characteristics that are not included in the TNM stage (e.g., age, site of tumor, type of morphology, growth pattern and TIL). Moreover, this study demonstrated that, even after adjusting for these prognostic factors, mitoses per mm2 are associated with higher mortality, particularly in T2 patients. In conclusion, these findings revealed the need to include the mitotic rate in the histological diagnosis because it correlates with the prognosis as an independent factor. The mitotic rate can be used to develop a personalized medicine approach in the treatment and follow-up monitoring of melanoma patients.
Successful Percutaneous Thoracic Duct Embolization for Chylothorax After Total Arch Replacement
Authors: Kitashima Fumihiro , Shimada Naohiro , Machii Yojiro , Tanaka Masashi
Published: April 2024

Chylothorax after cardiac surgery is a rare complication associated with severe morbidity and mortality. This report documents successful treatment with percutaneous thoracic duct embolization for chylothorax after total arch replacement. A 69-year-old man underwent replacement of the aortic arch to treat a ruptured aortic aneurysm. After surgery, the left thoracic drain discharged 2,000 to 3,000 mL serosanguineous fluid per day, even though the patient took nothing orally and was administered subcutaneous octreotide therapy. On postoperative day 9, percutaneous thoracic duct embolization was performed, and the drain could be removed. The chylothorax did not recur, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 17.
O avesso da Reforma do Ensino Médio na Rede Estadual Paulista
Authors: Jacomini Márcia Aparecida , Moutinho Junior Isaac Oliveira , Marques de Andrade Weverson , Martiniano de Souza Ozani , Paulieli Lavado Janaína
Published: April 2024

As mudanças provocadas pela Lei n.º 13.415/2017 na seção da LDB/1996 referente ao Ensino Médio alterou a concepção desta etapa de ensino e redirecionou suas finalidades. Neste artigo são apresentados dados de uma pesquisa-ação em sete escolas que acompanha a implementação do Novo Ensino Médio na rede estadual paulista, envolvendo ainda análise bibliográfica-documental e intervenções nas práticas educativas. O objetivo é analisar repercussões da organização curricular da Secretaria de Educação no trabalho pedagógico e na formação dos estudantes, e como estas escolas estão construindo propostas curriculares num processo crítico e criativo, respaldado na autonomia e na participação democrática. Resultados da investigação mostram que a organização curricular baseada em 276 componentes curriculares, vinculados a 11 itinerários formativos, fragmentou os conteúdos escolares e inviabilizou a organização de um trabalho pedagógico favorável à aprendizagem e à formação dos estudantes. A organização dos conteúdos dos componentes e das disciplinas do Inova Educação articulados às disciplinas da base comum, realizada pela pesquisa, mostrou-se interessante, porém, a não garantia de que sejam ministrados por docentes da licenciatura prioritária compromete o potencial da proposta para minimizar efeitos negativos da reforma na formação dos estudantes e no trabalho docente.
Oncología Quirúrgica: ¿necesidad de nuevos paradigmas en la relación médico-paciente?
Authors: Carda Abella Pedro , García Villanueva Augusto
Published: April 2024

Los avances en el campo de la oncología y la evolución vertiginosa de la tecnología, están configurando un nuevo horizonte de la Oncología Quirúrgica (O.Q.). Esta irrupción de nuevos conceptos y de nuevas tecnologías obliga a replantearse una nueva dinámica en la relación médico-paciente, ya que esta relación debe persistir adaptada a las nuevas circunstancias, al ser la base ética fundamental de nuestra profesión.
La debilidad de esta relación en la Oncología Quirúrgica radica en que está en un periodo de definición, con lentitud de adaptación y a falta de una organización y de criterios uniformes.
En el panorama general de la cirugía del cáncer la amenaza es evidente ya que la velocidad de los avances tecnológicos hace incontrolable su implantación, y aún no hemos sido capaces de crear organismos, ni métodos de regulación efectivos.
Queda como fortaleza un cierto espíritu humanista de los cirujanos oncólogos, pero creemos que la única oportunidad de mantener este espíritu en la relación médico-paciente de la Oncología Quirúrgica actual, es la formación adecuada de cirujanos y pacientes en estos temas esenciales.
The Effects of Dexmedetomidine As an Adjuvant with Levobupivacaine To Epidural Analgesia on The Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Total Abdominal Hysterectomy Surgery
Authors: Purwoko Purwoko , Nugroho Andy , Santoso Sugeng Budi , Supraptomo RTH , Setijanto Eko , Purnomo Heri Dwi , Arianto Ardana Tri , Thamrin Muhammad Husni , Hananto Arif Zuhal Amin
Published: April 2024

Background: Total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) characterizes as major surgery with increased risk of morbidity. It depends on adequate pain management intra- and postoperatively. Anesthesia management of TAH widely uses a regional approach with the epidural technique which administers a local anesthesia agent into the epidural space.Objective: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of epidural levobupivacaine with fentanyl versus levobupivacaine with dexmedetomidine for epidural anesthesia in patients undergoing TAH.Methods: This is a prospective, single-blinded trial conducted among 20 patients aged 18 to 40 years who underwent elective TAH with American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) class I and II status. The control group received epidural levobupivacaine 0.5% with fentanyl as an adjuvant, while the dexmedetomidine group received levobupivacaine 0.5% with dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant. We then compared the degree of pain using a numeric rating scale (NRS) 24 hours after surgery, duration of analgesia, and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in both groups.Result: Duration of analgesia was 89.60 + 7.6332 min in group dexmedetomidine, while it was 78.0 + 10.4562 min in group fentanyl, respectively (P < 0.05). The means of NRS was 3.00 + 1.88562 in group dexmedetomidine and 4.80 + 1.1352 in group fentanyl (p=0.019). The incidence of PONV in group dexmedetomidine was three, while in group fentanyl was eight (p=0.025).Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine is preferred over fentanyl when added to levobupivacaine for epidural analgesia in TAH procedures. Dexmedetomidine offers superior quality with a prolonged duration of analgesia, lower NRS values, and a lower incidence of PONV rather than fentanyl.
Exploration of traditional Ethno-gynaecological knowledge: advances to ethnobotanical studies from indigenous communities of Neelum Valley in the Himalayan Region
Authors: Manzoor Muhammad , Ahmad Mushtaq , Zafar Muhammad , Gillani Syed Waseem , Shah Ghulam Mujtaba , Shaheen Hamayun , Zaman Wajid , Sultana Shazia , Jabeen Shaista , Khilola Khishlatovna Khaydarova
Published: April 2024

The indigenous communities of the Kashmir region are exclusively dependent on medicinal plants for the treatment of various gynecological disorders. Due to the remoteness and unavailability of modern medications, indigenous communities still use traditional healthcare practices to cure various diseases related to women. The specific objective of this study is to document the traditional ethno-gynecological knowledge in Neelum Alley. Field visits were conducted from April to November 2023 to gather data on medicinal plants used for gynecological problems. Both questionnaires and group discussions were used to collect the data. The gathered data was analyzed using a variety of quantitative metrics, such as use value (UV), and relative frequency citation (RFC). A total of 45 plant species belonging to 22 families were collected from the study area. Herbs made up the majority of the medicinal plants employed by indigenous populations (91.1%), whereas leaves, the most often used plant part, contributed 22.22%. Among medicinal plants, Geranium wallichianum had the highest use value (1.41), whereas Arnebia benthamii had the highest relative frequency citation (0.80). This study emphasizes how important it is to preserve traditional knowledge, pointing out that younger people are losing understanding due to a lack of interest. The documentation of traditional ethno-gynecological knowledge is crucial for the preservation, discovery of novel medications, and sustainable conservation of vulnerable medicinal flora.
Effects of freeze–thaw cycles on soil nutrients by soft rock and sand remodeling
Authors: Zhang Haiou , Zhang Yang , Cao Tingting , Wang Yingguo , Hou Xiandong
Published: April 2024

To explore the mechanism of freeze–thaw cycles on the nutrient release of soft rock and sand-remodeled soils in Mu Us Sandy land of China, and to clarify the adaptation potential of remodeled soils with different proportions to extreme environment, indoor freezer simulation freeze–thaw experiments were carried out. The research results show that during the 2 cycles of freeze–thaw, the remodeled soil organic matter content and total nitrogen content (TNC) of the three treatments reached their peaks. Compared with that before freezing, T1, T2, and T3 treatments increased TNC by 40.9, 90.2, and 118.9%. The freeze–thaw cycle has a significant impact on the emergence rate of maize (P < 0.05). In the soil during the 2 freeze–thaw cycles, the seedling emergence rate of maize is the highest. Compared with non-freeze–thaw treatment, the maize emergence rate of T1, T2, and T3 treatments was increased by 2, 3, and 3 times, and the emergence rate of T2 and T3 treatments was higher than that of T1 treatments under different freeze–thaw cycles. In conclusion, short-term freeze–thaw cycles can promote soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization and improve nutrient availability in Mu Us Sandy land, and T2 and T3 treatments have better adaptability to the environment.
Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using the mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) leaf extract: Comparative preliminary in vitro antibacterial study
Authors: Chan Yu Bin , Aminuzzaman Mohammod , Rahman Md. Khalilur , Win Yip Foo , Sultana Sabiha , Cheah Shi-Yan , Watanabe Akira , Wong Ling Shing , Guha Samar Kumar , Djearamane Sinovassane , Rajendran Venkatachalam , Akhtaruzzaman Md. , Tey Lai-Hock
Published: April 2024

In the realm of public health, the rising threat caused by bacteria resistant to many drugs is a critical concern. In this work, we used the aqueous extract of mangosteen leaves to create zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) in an environmentally friendly manner. Through various analytical methods, we thoroughly characterized these biogenic ZnO NPs, including UV−visible, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, field emission-scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray and high resolution-transmission electron microscopy. ZnO NPs showed distinctive properties among different characterization techniques, including a small energy bandgap of 2.80 eV, a porous, a minimum crystalline size of 16.99 nm, an average particle size of 14.21 nm, and a spherical nanostructure. Additionally, we performed preliminary antibacterial experiments to assess ZnO NPs, copper oxide (CuO) NPs, and ZnO–CuO nanocomposites for antibacterial activity. Interestingly, ZnO NPs showed significant potential in suppressing the growth of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC BAA-1026, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883, with decreasing order of minimum inhibitory concentrations: S. aureus = B. subtilis (15.63 μg·mL−1) > E. coli (62.50 μg·mL−1) > K. pneumoniae (125.00 μg·mL−1). These results highlight the potential of biogenic NPs, particularly ZnO NPs, as effective agents against multi-drug-resistant bacteria.
Party games and prejudice: are these Cards Against Humanity?
Authors: Olah Andrew R. , Dillard Ashley M. , Gomez Stephanie J.
Published: April 2024

Two experiments assess the validity of common criticisms against the popular party game Cards Against Humanity (CAH), namely that it promotes prejudice while absolving players of any moral responsibility. Study 1a (based on Prejudiced Norm Theory) finds no evidence that sexist humor in CAH encourages men to express prejudice against women. However, Study 1b (based on Social Identity Theory) provides evidence that sexist humor in CAH cues women to anticipate such discrimination. CAH’s reputation does not appear to contribute to these results. Exploratory analyses further reveal that, consistent with criticisms, people do allocate moral responsibility for offense differently in CAH than in traditional verbal exchanges of humor; however, this moral allocation is generally unrelated to prejudiced outcomes. Implications and future directions for refining these theories and understanding the intergroup functions of humor in party games are discussed in light of the studies’ mixed support of CAH’s criticisms.
Kalman filter with impulse noised outliers: a robust sequential algorithm to filter data with a large number of outliers
Authors: Cloez Bertrand , Fontez Bénédicte , González-García Eliel , Sanchez Isabelle
Published: April 2024

Impulse noised outliers are data points that differ significantly from other observations. They are generally removed from the data set through local regression or the Kalman filter algorithm. However, these methods, or their generalizations, are not well suited when the number of outliers is of the same order as the number of low-noise data (often called nominal measurement). In this article, we propose a new model for impulsed noise outliers. It is based on a hierarchical model and a simple linear Gaussian process as with the Kalman Filter. We present a fast forward-backward algorithm to filter and smooth sequential data and which also detects these outliers. We compare the robustness and efficiency of this algorithm with classical methods. Finally, we apply this method on a real data set from a Walk Over Weighing system admitting around 60 % of outliers. For this application, we further develop an (explicit) EM algorithm to calibrate some algorithm parameters.
Apple mechanical damage mechanism and harvesting test platform design
Authors: Hou Junming , Ma Zhi , Liu Xu , Chen Siyu , Tang Ziyuan , Jin Jiuyu , Yu Yachen , Wang Wei
Published: April 2024

Apple is easily damaged in the process of the mechanical harvesting, which reduces the fruit’s quality. It is of great significance to study the damage principle of apple in the transport process of picking platform. In this study, the apple compression test was carried out. The compression and drop process of the fruit was analyzed by the finite element analysis (FEA). The experimental platform of apple harvesting was designed, the conveying process of apple was analyzed. The results of compression finite element analysis showed that when the compression force is greater than 15.0 N, both radial compression and axial compression will be damaged. The results of drop finite element analysis showed that when the drop direction is axial, the maximum contact stress of the peel and kernel decreases with the increase of drop angle, the maximum contact stress of the pulp increases first and then decreases. When the drop direction is radial, the maximum contact stress between pulp and kernel decreases with the increase of drop angle, the maximum contact stress of the peel first decreases and then increases. The simulation results of the harvesting platform transportation showed that the damage rate of apples is less than 10 % when the sub-conveyor belt speed is 0.02 m–0.04 m/s. This study can provide theoretical guidance for the design of the harvesting test platform and the reduction of the damage of apples during transportation.
Mainstreaming and Defamiliarizing the Rapture:The LeftoversReadsLeft Behind
Authors: Walsh Richard G.
Published: April 2024

The popularLeft Behindseries has been credited with mainstreaming dispensational premillennialism, or fragments of that ideology, in U.S. popular culture. The less popular, but critically acclaimed HBO seriesThe Leftovers, based on the novel of the same name by Tom Perrotta, attests to the ideology’s popularity while defamiliarizing its notions of Rapture and Messiah/Antichrist. WhileLeft Behindapologizes for the ideology and strives to make the metanarrative’s identity attractive, entertaining, and thrilling,The Leftoverstakes a “not quite” Rapture as its “what if” fictional starting point. The result embraces mystery, rather than apologetic certainty, and ordinary human life, rather than the supernatural. Fulfilled prophecy becomes confusion, coping, and possibly delusion. The metanarrative becomes unstuck fragments. Election (exceptional national and individual identities), miracle, and messiah are demythologized. Theodicy occurs only on a human level. At the same time, however,The Leftoverstakes its “what if” seriously and sympathetically. Despite skepticism, its characters also understand the appeal of Rapture, Messiah, and the like as they too look for something sacred.
Chronologie der Manuskripte 1885–89. Nachtrag zu KGW IX
Authors: Röllin Beat
Published: April 2024

Chronology of the Manuscripts 1885–89. Appendix to KGW IX. After the completion of the topological manuscript edition in section IX of the Kritische Gesamtausgabe der Werke (KGW IX), the additional chronological indexing of the late Nachlass remained a desideratum. The current manuscript closes this editorial gap. As an appendix to KGW IX, the chronology of the manuscripts 1885–89 provides the date for each distinguishable layer of inscription for every manuscript and note edited in KGW IX. In the first part of the following chronology, the dated inscription layers for all late manuscripts from notebook N VII 1 to the scattered notes are recorded topologically. In the second part, the inscription layers are indexed chronologically from spring 1885 to the beginning of January 1889.