bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of Helicobacter pylori using non-invasive techniques in Duhok City, Iraq
Authors: Polse Reem , Hasan Haliz , Khalid Haval , Mero Wijdan
Published: December 2024

Background

Helicobacter pylori infection affects over 50% of the global population. Individuals acquire this infection in early childhood that persists throughout life if not treated. The degree of the outbreak severity varied from one region to another, causing long-term clinical consequences such as gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and cancer of the stomach. The primary objective of this investigation was to estimate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori among the population in Duhok City via the implementation of non-invasive methods.

Methods

From January 2021 to December 2022, 2313 cases were studied using ELISA assays for immunoglobulins, IgG, IgM, and IgA, a stool antigen test (SAT), and a urea breath test (UBT) to identify Helicobacter pylori.

Results

Among 2313 patients of both genders, 61.7% (1427/2313) were females and 38.3% (886/2313) were males. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 35.28% among them, with a high significant difference in infection rate in females than males (60.78% vs 39.22%), and among various ages with the highest being at ages of 31 to 40 years. The serological and the SAT tests are commonly used diagnostic tests that yield the most significant number of positive results. Furthermore, a notable correlation was observed between the prevalence of infection and age, especially for IgA and UBT where males exhibited higher significant levels than females; moreover, for UBT, highly significant variations were observed among ages also.

Conclusions

Over half of the performed tests detected H. pylori antibodies with the peak at 49.3% for the IgG test, indicating the body elicits an immune response against this bacterium. Both gender and age were linked to this infection. For more clarification of the prevalence of H. pylori, we recommend conducting more in-depth investigations.
Pentraxin-3 modulates hepatocyte ferroptosis and the innate immune response in LPS-induced liver injury
Authors: Wang Huitong , Su Zhaojie , Qian Yunyun , Shi Baojie , Li Hao , An Wenbin , Xiao Yi , Qiu Cheng , Guo Zhixiang , Zhong Jianfa , Wu Xia , Chen Jiajia , Wang Ying , Zeng Wei , Zhan Linghui , Wang Jie
Published: December 2024

The liver plays a crucial role in the immune response during endotoxemia and is one of the critical targets for sepsis-related injuries. As a secretory factor involved in inflammation, pentraxin-3 (PTX3) has been demonstrated to regulate hepatic homeostasis; however, the relationship between PTX3 and cell crosstalk between immune cells and hepatocytes in the liver remains incompletely understood. In this study, we revealed that, compared with WT mice, Ptx3−/− mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia exhibited alleviated liver damage, with reduced serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels and an improved survival rate. Mechanistically, RNA-Seq and western blot results revealed that Ptx3 knockdown in hepatocytes increased the expression of Tfrc and Ccl20; consequently, Ptx3 deficiency regulated LPS-induced hepatocyte ferroptosis via increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and Fe2+ and recruited more macrophages by CCL20/CCR6 axis to be involved in inflammation and the clearance of harmful substances. Moreover, western blot and immunofluorescence staining confirmed that the NF-κB signaling pathway was upregulated upon LPS treatment in Ptx3-knockdown macrophages, promoting phagocytosis and polarization toward M1 macrophages. Collectively, our findings show that the absence of Ptx3 can ameliorate sepsis-induced liver injury by regulating hepatocyte ferroptosis and promote the recruitment and polarization of M1 macrophages. These findings offer a key basis for the development of effective treatments for acute infections.
A Unique Phenotype of Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young With a Novel Disease-Causing Insulin Gene Variant
Authors: Chua Cherie , Tan Clara Si Hua , Lim Su Chi , Vasanwala Rashida Farhad
Published: December 2024

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) represents 1% to 5% of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), and numerous genes associated with MODY have been identified. While mutations of the insulin gene (INS) are known to cause permanent neonatal DM, rare disease-causing variants have also been found in MODY. These patients demonstrate variable clinical phenotypes—from milder forms requiring lifestyle or oral agent interventions to severe forms requiring lifelong insulin. We present a case of MODY arising from a novel disease-causing INS variant, in an adolescent with atypical features. He was obese with clinical evidence of insulin resistance, diagnosed with DM through opportunistic oral glucose tolerance testing. He developed symptomatic hyperglycemia with worsening glycemic trend, requiring treatment with high-dose insulin and metformin. After 2.5 years, his glycemic profile normalized following weight loss, and pharmacotherapy was discontinued. Targeted gene testing revealed a de novo novel missense variant in exon 2 of the INS gene (p.His29Tyr), confirmed using bidirectional Sanger sequencing. Insulin resistance in patients with MODY can worsen their clinical course and increase risks of long-term complications. Management of these patients should be individualized. This case highlights the utility of genetic testing in diagnosing uncommon and variable forms of MODY, particularly those with atypical features.
Role of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Stimulation Test and Autoantibody in 952 Subjects with Subclinical Hypothyroidism
Authors: Yoo Myung Hi , Kim Hye Jeong , Park Suyeon , Park Sang Joon , Park Hyeong Kyu , Byun Dong Won , Suh Kyoil
Published: December 2024

Context

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is characterized by elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and normal free thyroxine (fT4) levels. In upper normal TSH levels, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test proved to be useful in identifying an exaggerated TSH response.

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the incidence and predictive ability of basal TSH, anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) for exaggerated TRH stimulation test in SCH.

Methods

A total of 952 subjects with SCH (TSH 4.01-10.00 mIU/L) found during health checkups were evaluated for TSH response to TRH stimulation testing and autoantibodies. Exaggerated TSH response was defined as ΔTSH (peak serum TSH level after TRH injection minus basal TSH level) of > 25.00 mIU/L.

Results

The prevalence of exaggerated TSH responses in SCH was 66% (n = 633). The proportion of exaggerated TSH response tended to increase as basal TSH levels increased (P for trend <.001). Also, the proportion of positive TPOAb or TgAb tended to increase as basal TSH levels increased (P for trend <.05). Analysis of predictive ability of basal TSH, positive TPOAb, or TgAb for exaggerated TRH stimulation test revealed that positive TPOAb or TgAb showed high specificity (> 90%) for positive TRH stimulation test but low sensitivity. Basal TSH showed low sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion

Two-thirds of SCH showed exaggerated TRH stimulation test. Positive TPOAb or TgAb showed high specificity (> 90%) for positive TRH stimulation test but basal serum TSH levels showed low predictability. The TRH stimulation test may be a valuable guide to identify SCH patients with hypothyroid state.
The Ethics and Pragmatics of Ethnographic Refusal/Acceptance
Authors: Fadil Nadia
Published: December 2024

Ethnographic refusal has been thematized as a challenge by many anthropologists. However, instead of approaching it simply as a problem, this article seeks to understand how both refusal and acceptance are socially related, appear on a continuum, and many times co-constitute and inform each other. Attending carefully to the various iterations of refusal/acceptance can serve as an entry point to study the effects of power and, just as importantly, consider the distinct methodological and ethical considerations that are at stake. In so doing, the article examines and shows how refusal/acceptance works, following Isabelle Stenger, in “making sense in common,” which figures here as a prerequisite for the ethnographic encounter. It presents two ethnographic vignettes, drawing on work with Muslims in Belgium, that reflect two moments of refusal/acceptance: one wherein refusal/acceptance operates as a technology for one's political agency and a second one in which refusal/acceptance partakes in the construction of an intimate sociality.
Decolonizing the Race Debate about North Africa
Authors: Salime Zakia
Published: December 2024

This essay discusses the discourse of race and racism as a “new zone” of theory grounded in orientalist claims about discovery and saving. It shows how this discourse centers slavery as an ultimate lens through which to understand the race question in the North Africa. The essay asks these questions: why have race and migration in North Africa and the Middle East become such an active zone of theory? Which concepts and frameworks dominate the scholarly debates, and with what political effects? These are consequential questions that the Moroccan case can help answer. A decolonial ethics should begin with the vibrant debates already taking place in Morocco. Moroccans’ engagement with the question of race preceded its discovery as a new field for generating expertise by Western-based scholars and journalists.
The proportion and determinants of appropriate health seeking behavior for febrile illness among caregivers of children under-five years in Butula sub-county, Busia county, Kenya
Authors: Kananura Jean L. , C.Rono Betsy , S.Phiri Kamija
Published: December 2024

Background Almost 10 million children under the age of five in Kenya, die due to fever-related diseases. In Busia, a county in Kenya, malaria accounts for 13% of all child fatalities under the age of five, a number higher than any other county. This study aimed to determine (a) proportion of appropriate health-seeking behavior and (b) determinants of health-seeking behaviors (HSBs) among their caregivers in Butula Sub-County, Busia County, as reported by the caregivers. Methods This cross-sectional mixed-method study included 271 caregivers, 11 community health volunteers, and health facility workers in Butula Sub-County. Systematic random sampling for participants and purposive sampling for key informants were used. A questionnaire collected the data that was analysed using frequency and percentages and logistic regression. Results Around seventy percent of caregivers reported seeking care for a child's fever within 24 hours. Individual factors that caregivers reported to influence appropriate health-seeking HSB were unemployment (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.217 – 0.593, p = 0.018), self-medication preference (aOR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.054 – 0.363, p < 0.001), had atleast two children (aOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.425 – 0.937, p = 0.042), and confidence in identifying fever (aOR = 7.0, 95% CI: 2.200 – 22.439, p = 0.001). Health-system factors reported to influence HSBs were facility too far (aOR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.526 – 0.914, p = 0.027), getting health education (aOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.201-4.122, p=0.015), and facility level (aOR = 4.4, 95% CI: 2.015 – 9.750, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings found health system factors related to HSB as stockouts, facility distance, and staff workload. Conclusions Employment, multiple children, preferences to self-medicate, confidence in fever identification, facility level, distance to facility, and education are ky factors affecting caregiver’s HSB. Policy and practice efforts should focus on these significant individual and health system determinants for HSBs among caregivers of children under five with febrile illness.
Planning Orthopedic Treatment for Patients with Occlusal-Articulation Disorders and Functional Disorders of the Dentofacial System or Pain Syndrome Associated with Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
Authors: Proshchenko Andrii
Published: December 2024

The number of patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction increases annually. This trend is largely attributed to the prolonged asymptomatic progression of these disorders and the absence of organic changes in the early stages of the disease, both clinically and radiographically. Scientific perspectives on the etiology and pathogenesis of TMJ dysfunctions remain significantly contradictory. This article highlights the following methodological approaches: Integration of modern diagnostic methods: utilization of cone-beam computed tomography to assess changes in the TMJ, synchrography to study the function of masticatory muscles and the imbalance in their activity depending on occlusal-articulatory relationships before and after prosthetic treatment; Personalized approaches: development of individual treatment protocols based on detailed multidimensional analysis and the creation of predictive models for treatment strategy selection during the preparatory and occlusal therapy stages (decision tree methodology). These protocols are adapted to the severity of disorders in patients and leverage modern digital technologies in dentistry, including the application of CAD/CAM technologies for creating permanent and temporary prosthetic constructions and Digital Smile Design methodology for harmonizing the aesthetic and functional aspects of treatment.
Exploring the Utility of Curvilinear Feedback Systems for Improving Muscle Strength via Surface Electromyography
Authors: Nguyen Matthew
Published: December 2024

Our knees play a crucial role in our everyday lives and mobility; however, their constant usage leads to life-changing injuries such as osteoarthritis and ligament tears. Recent advancements in knee-related interventions have focused on enhancing the recovery process, with a particular emphasis on the Vastus Medialis Oblique (VMO), a quadricep muscle pivotal for knee stability. The strengthening of this muscle can be beneficial for those recovering from knee-related injuries. Utilizing surface electromyography (sEMG) to measure muscle contractions, behavior analysts can provide feedback and establish contingencies for promoting stronger VMO contractions. While previous studies have worked with discrete schedules of reinforcement, this study utilizes conjugate schedules that mirror real-world contingencies. We compare two types of curvilinear relations in the conjugate schedule, influencing the relation between muscle response and feedback. In one condition, a negatively accelerating relation was created, where low to moderate muscle contractions produced the greatest amount of reinforcement. The other arrangement featured a positively accelerating relation, where highly intense contractions would be reinforced the most. Results showed that all eight participants had their strongest contractions under the positively accelerating relation. Six of them also demonstrated higher average amplitudes within that same condition, providing valuable insight into the efficacy of curvilinear relations in shaping VMO contractions.
Presidents or Premiers
Authors: Brea Oliveira Lucas
Published: December 2024

This study explores what factors influence a country’s choice between presidential and parliamentary systems during global modern processes of democratization and their impacts, with a focus on the cases of the Republics of Cyprus and Kosovo. The findings indicate that constitutional choices are influenced by the interaction of democratization movement composition, cultural traits, and historical regime experiences. These insights enhance our understanding of democratic governance and can guide future democratic transitions and constitutional design.
Determinismo, automatismo y autonomía: ¿un inventario tecnológico para la transformación social?.
Authors: Coiro Rodríguez Pedro A. , Agulles Juan M.
Published: December 2024

El objetivo de este artículo es abordar la pregunta de si es posible
realizar una elección social entre diferentes tecnologías, desarrolladas en el modo
de producción capitalista, que pudieran reapropiarse en el curso de una
transformación social. La primera parte se dedica a explorar en qué medida
conceptos como determinismo, automatización y autonomía, aplicados al
desarrollo tecnológico contemporáneo, pueden servirnos como herramientas para
orientarnos en el contexto actual. La segunda parte analiza la relación entre
desarrollo tecnológico y crisis capitalista, y aborda el problema de la elección de
diferentes tecnologías en el contexto de una crisis sistémica de largo alcance. En
el apartado de conclusiones se resume nuestra propuesta heurística para abordar el
problema del «inventario tecnológico».
Movimiento transindustrial y tecnologías 4.0. Transición de la humanidad hacia el transhumanismo.
Authors: Orengo Serra Karen L.
Published: December 2024

El transhumanismo se ha convertido en un proyecto y compromiso
político, social y económico del mejoramiento humano basado en un sistema de
gobierno tecnócrata global en el cual gira la Cuarta Revolución Industrial. Este
estudio aborda el transhumanismo desde el marco del modelo transindustrial
presente y las tecnologías que lo acompañan y apoyan la producción agrícola
transgénica, el movimiento transgénero y los proyectos estatales y privados que
adelantan la agenda transhumanista. Los hallazgos reflejan que la universalidad en
la narrativa de los movimientos e iniciativas a nivel global subyace en la
articulación del transhumanismo, donde para lograrlo, la ingeniería genética del
ser humano, la alimentación con productos transgénicos, el movimiento
transgénero y la demanda de terapias y dispositivos que alteran su ADN, con o sin
su consentimiento, es inevitable.
Occupational stress in the COVID-19 era.
Authors: García Lirios Cruz
Published: December 2024

The objective of the present work was to specify a model for the study
of work stress, considering a review of the literature that emphasizes three
components related to exhaustion, neglect and frustration. A non-experimental,
cross-sectional and correlational study was carried out with a selection of 100
workers from a public hospital, considering their working hours, as well as their
seniority. A structural equation model was established in which exhaustion was
the hegemonic component that explained the highest percentage of variance with
27%, although the research design limited the results to the research scenario,
suggesting its extension to another context.
Autonomous vehicles and rights of persons with disabilities: Risks and opportunities for an equitable transportation system.
Authors: Bustamante Donas Javier
Published: December 2024

People with disabilities face a number of barriers to personal mobility,
and creating an equitable transportation system is one of the challenges that can
promote social inclusion. Autonomous vehicles can be a solution to this problem.
This article explores the relationship between equitable transportation and social
equality, highlighting the opportunities and risks that exist for different groups of
people with disabilities and functional diversity, including people who have
difficulty driving due to age. It also discusses how different groups perceive
autonomous vehicles. The conclusions provide recommendations for the
establishment of real and effective policies for equitable transportation and for the
industry to incorporate universal design patterns. It also highlights the need for
disability organizations to be proactive in constructive dialogue with governments
and industry.
Telemedicine and Diagnostic Artificial Intelligence: Evolution, Prospects, and Social Challenges.
Authors: Penner Regina
Published: December 2024

This article examines the evolution of telemedicine as one of the key
fields in modern medicine, utilizing information and communication technologies
to provide medical services remotely. The study’s goal is to analyze the historical
development of telemedicine and its impact on medical practice, as well as assess
the prospects of using Diagnostic Artificial Intelligence (Diagnostic AI) in
telemedicine. The research methodology includes discourse analysis, based on the
works of Michel Foucault and Gilles Deleuze, allowing the examination of
medical institutions as mechanisms for controlling and normalizing patient
behavior. The study concludes that telemedicine significantly improves access to
healthcare, reduces costs, and enhances treatment efficiency. Diagnostic AI
represents a new phase in telemedicine, capable of accelerating and improving
diagnostic processes, though its implementation is accompanied by significant
ethical and social challenges. The novelty of this article lies in critically examining
the role of telemedicine and diagnostic technologies in contemporary society, with
a focus on their disciplinary functions and the influence on the relationships
between patients and healthcare professionals. The conclusion emphasizes the
importance of further study and regulation of Diagnostic AI in medical practice to
minimize risks and ensure equitable access to healthcare.
El documento notarial en Córdoba en el siglo XIII.
Authors: Guerrero Congregado Carmen
Published: December 2024

En lo documental el siglo XIII fue un momento de renovación
en gran medida impulsada por Alfonso X. Ciertamente, las innovaciones no se
dieron al mismo ritmo en todos los territorios de la corona castellana. Córdoba
figura entre los espacios más innovadores, por eso, es interesante analizar cómo
se incorporaron los cambios, pues se observa que la composición del documento
notarial de finales de siglo varió considerablemente respecto de los más antiguos
Gobernanza y medio ambiente en la bahía de Cádiz a finales de la Edad Media: las Ordenanzas de Lastre.
Authors: Martín Gutiérrez Emilio
Published: December 2024

: En este trabajo se reflexiona en torno al paradigma ambientalista
y sus posibilidades de aplicación a la hora de analizar los cambios acaecidos en
clave regional y global en el tránsito del siglo XV al XVI. Se presenta un caso
de estudio, las Ordenanzas de Lastre del año 1540, que sirve para estudiar la gobernanza de las ciudades de Cádiz y El Puerto de Santa María. El crecimiento
económico y demográfico de los núcleos del litoral durante el siglo XV constituye
la base desde la que se parte para analizar las soluciones adoptadas desde el poder
y los conflictos surgidos entre los agentes involucrados ante el impacto antrópico
en la bahía gaditana. Un entorno, especialmente sensible, que se vio cada vez más
afectado por el incremento marítimo y comercial como los propios contemporáneos supieron poner de relieve y denunciar.
Heinecio en México: circulación y censura de los Elementa philosophiae rationalis et moralis (1728).
Authors: Robert Paula
Published: December 2024

Juan Teófilo Heinecio (1681-1741) fue un autor de referencia en
el mundo hispano de los siglos XVIII y XIX y sus obras, pese a su condición de
protestante, gozaron de una gran difusión en este contexto. En consecuencia, en
1773, el Tribunal de la Inquisición de México inicia un expediente de censura
sobre las mismas tras una serie de denuncias previas. Este trabajo se propone analizar la propuesta de censura doctrinal a su obra de filosofía moral; los Elementa
philosophiae rationalis et moralis (1728), así como su circulación, especialmente las ediciones posteriores a este episodio inquisitorial. Ello permitirá, también,
reconstruir el papel que tuvo la filosofía moral durante este periodo, además de
ilustrar los mecanismos de funcionamiento de la censura.
El Curioso Andaluz de 1804 y el gaditano Juan Antonio Enríquez Lozano (1733-1809).
Authors: Durán Barceló Francisco Javier
Published: December 2024

Bajo el pseudónimo de Curioso Andaluz se publicó en Madrid,
por mayo de 1804, un Catálogo de manuscritos especiales de España, anteriores al año 1600, que contiene más de 451 volúmenes, papeles y documentos varios que habrían de venderse por mediación del librero Claros. La identidad de
su propietario anónimo ha sido un misterio hasta ahora. En este trabajo, presento
al marino gaditano Juan Antonio Enríquez Lozano (1733-1809) como el posesor
y vendedor de estos manuscritos y de otras colecciones suyas a beneficio de los
huérfanos de la Marina en Cádiz.
“Por el avmento de la dicha çeda… y por el aprobechamiento que a su magestad se le sigue”: las moriscas del reino de Granada que escaparon a la expulsión de 1584. Hiladoras y menores en administración y depósito en Guadix.
Authors: Garrido García Carlos Javier
Published: December 2024

Este artículo analiza, a través de documentación notarial inédita,
el caso de las moriscas que lograron eludir su expulsión del reino de Granada en
1584, al quedar como hiladoras o menores de edad en administración. El análisis
se lleva a cabo a través del ejemplo de la ciudad de Guadix. La principal conclusión del estudio es que este caso ejemplifica una de las causas del llamado
problema morisco: la contradicción entre las medidas de integración-aculturación
impuestas a los moriscos y los intereses económicos de las élites castellanas y
fiscales de la Corona.
Situación de la docencia universitaria en neumología y cirugía torácica en España.
Authors: López-Campos Bodineau José Luis , Caballero Eraso Candelaria , Quintana-Gallego Esther
Published: December 2024

Objetivos. La organización y la coordinación de la información que se imparte a los alumnos de medicina
resulta esencial para una formación docente adecuada. El objetivo del presente proyecto fue revisar la
organización de las asignaturas que imparten neumología y cirugía torácica en el grado de medicina en
todas las universidades españolas.
Método. Para obtener la información de análisis, accedimos al listado de grados de medicina disponibles
en España a través del registro de universidades, centros y títulos disponible en el Ministerio de Ciencia,
Innovación y Universidades en enero 2024. Posteriormente buscamos en las webs de las universidades los
programas de las asignaturas que impartían neumología o cirugía torácica. De cada web y programa
docentes seleccionamos la información sobre las universidades, la organización de las asignaturas, el
profesorado y los contenidos docentes de las clases teóricas.
Resultados. En el momento del análisis existían en España 50 universidades (11 privadas) con grado en
medicina, de las que obtuvimos el programa completo en 45 universidades. La mayoría eran asignaturas
semestrales que se impartían en 4º año del grado. Las asignaturas eran médico-quirúrgicas en 40 casos y
31 asignaturas estaban dedicadas en exclusividad a respiratorio. Las horas docentes presentaban una
variabilidad considerable entre 12 y 47 horas. El 62,3% de los profesores eran miembros de la Sociedad
Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica. Los temas impartidos presentaban una considerable
variabilidad.
Conclusiones. Nuestros datos resumen la situación de la docencia universitaria en neumología y cirugía
torácica en España mostrando con una considerable variabilidad tanto en la organización de las
asignaturas, como el profesorado y en los contenidos de las asignaturas.
To determine the effects of burnout and compassion fatigue on registered nurses' ability to deliver patient care
Authors: Girleanu Isabela
Published: December 2024

Background

This review aimed to determine the effects of burnout and compassion fatigue on nurses' ability to deliver patient care and to aid in highlighting the steps required to overcome this and obtain a healthier nursing workforce.

Methods

A narrative review methodology was used. A systematic search of Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) sourced 12,212 acticles.

Findings

A total of 20 articles met the inclusion criteria. Two recurrent themes emerged from the literature. These were factors delivery of patient care and quality and safety of patient care.

Conclusion

Burnout and compassion fatigue negatively impacts the delivery, quality and safety of patient care. There is a gap in the literature examining the effect long-term burnout and compassion fatigue has on the delivery of patient care which needs to be addressed.
Colon capsule endoscopy polyp detection rate vs colonoscopy polyp detection rate: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Woods Marc , Soldera Jonathan
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) is a modern, non-invasive method for large bowel visualization, offering a less invasive alternative to traditional colonoscopy (TC). While TC remains the gold standard for comprehensive large bowel assessment, including the detection and treatment of various conditions, the effectiveness of CCE in detecting polyps is less established.

AIM

To systematically review and compare the polyp detection rates (PDR) of CCE and TC.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted using four scientific databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE via EBSCO, Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE/PubMed. A standardized search command was utilized to ensure consistency. Full papers were retrieved if they compared PDR between CCE and TC and involved patients over 18 years old. A meta-analysis was then conducted using the meta package in R software.

RESULTS

Initially, 339 articles were identified, with 128 duplicates and 15 non-English articles excluded, leaving 196 for screening. After further exclusions, 9 articles were included in the review. The meta-analysis revealed minimal differences in PDR between CCE and TC. The pooled PDR for TC was 0.61 (95%CI: 0.48–0.72), and for CCE, it was 0.61 (95%CI: 0.48–0.73). The overall comparison of the pooled PDR of both methods was 0.96 (95%CI: 0.90–1.02), indicating that CCE is non-inferior to TC.

CONCLUSION

CCE has emerged as a modern and safe diagnostic alternative to TC for polyp detection, demonstrating non-inferiority when compared to the conventional method.
The Transformation of Group Identity Among Parents of Children With Cochlear Implants in China: A Social Identity Perspective
Authors: Liu Ying , Zheng Xin , Liang Jili
Published: December 2024

Abstract: This study aims to explore the transformation of parental perspectives on the identity of being a parent of a child with cochlear implant (CI), termed CI parent herein, within the context of Chinese culture. Narrative interviews were conducted with six parents from three families who have children with CIs. Using a narrative inquiry approach, this study reveals that the group identity of Chinese CI parents is dynamic. Their group identity changes through three stages: happy to be a CI parent, striving to be a parent of hearing children, and becoming a parent of excellent children. Additionally, technological advancement, time investment, Chinese karmic culture, social support, and educational support were identified as crucial factors influencing the shaping of Chinese CI parents' group identity. In the future, it is recommended to provide psychosocial support to CI parents in China through the establishment of parent group organizations and enhancing the quality of inclusive education.
Application of the structured analysis of written language tool to the writing of deaf Chinese students
Authors: Cui Yachong , Saulsburry Rachel , Wolbers Kimberly
Published: December 2024

Abstract: Limited access to spoken and signed language is a worldwide phenomenon affecting deaf children. Language delay caused by impeded language acquisition has negative cascading effects on deaf children's learning and development. In the event of stymied language development, deaf students exhibit highly errored writing and commit errors unseen in the writing of hearing students. There is a need for specialized tools to evaluate and monitor the progress of deaf students' written language in ways that can inform instruction. The Structured Analysis of Written Language (SAWL), developed for this purpose, has thus far been used to analyze American students' writing. The objective of this study was to determine if and how the SAWL could be used to evaluate the writing of deaf Chinese students. After establishing a protocol, we piloted the administration of six SAWL variables in analyzing the writing of 11 Chinese and 11 American matched pairs across two genres of writing. Our hypothesis was that the instrument would result in similar outcomes across the groups, which had been carefully matched on hearing, language, and literacy variables. Independent samples t tests revealed that even though the groups differed on two SAWL variables for informative writing (the percentage of complete sentences and the number of words used in perfect t-units [an independent clause and its dependent clause counterparts]), most variables across genres were not statistically significant. Results, limitations, and implications are discussed.
À l'ouest rien de nouveau: Vnde uenit Titan et nox ubi sidera condit (Lucain 1.15)
Authors: Dehon Pierre-Jacques
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT: The prologue to the Civil War includes a description of the four cardinal points, which reflects Lucan's interest in geography and astronomy (1.15–18). While the general meaning of the passage is quite obvious, the image characterising the west in the second part of line 15 ( et nox ubi sidera condit ) has led to various interpretations and controversies over the centuries. The present research provides a fresh and thorough examination of the vocabulary, imagery and internal structure of the line, as well as a comparison with texts drawn from the output of Lucan and other writers. These analyses allow us to conclude that sidera means the 'star' or the 'fires' of the sun and that the phrase refers to its setting on the horizon, as opposed to its rising in the east, mentioned in the first part of the line ( Vnde uenit Titan ).
180 BCE: Mass deportation and the order of Roman Italy
Authors: Santangelo Federico
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT: This paper offers a new discussion of the deportation of the Ligures Apuani that the Roman Republic carried out in 180 bce, and of the impact and wider implications of the decision to establish two new communities of Ligurians in inland Samnium. The logic and practicalities of the operation are given close consideration, through sustained engagement with Livy's account, on the one hand, and of the documentary and archaeological record, on the other. Some wider implications are drawn on the role of this exceptional event in the trajectory of the Roman conquest of Italy and the longer-term processes of integration and exploitation that it entailed.
Clytemnestra's Breast
Authors: Straus Michael
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT: This article examines the myth of Clytemnestra's death as portrayed variously in tragedy by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, with the goal of illustrating how each playwright used the core elements of that myth for the particular purposes of a given play. Within that general framework, I pay particular attention to the newly added but vivid detail whereby Clytemnestra bares her breast to Orestes just as he is poised to plunge the knife, a detail that then resonates not only through the plays but also in Greek artwork. I argue that the skeletal outlines of the myth left each playwright with substantial freedom address to vary the murder scene, and that the distinctive ways each addressed Clytemnestra's baring of her breast provide important keys to how a given play might be interpreted.
The Rabbinic Ban on Childless Judges Serving on the Sanhedrin: Fatherhood, Cruelty, lineage, and Roman Law
Authors: Wilfand Yael
Published: December 2024

Abstract: Tannaitic sources ban childless elders from serving on a court that deliberates on capital cases or issues halakhic rulings. Medieval and later commentators linked this criterion to compassion, claiming that men who lack offspring are typically cruel and therefore unfit for these roles. This explanation has been widely accepted by modern scholars. In this article, I challenge the assumptions that tannaitic sources perceive of individuals without children as callous, and that these texts imply that caring for a child fosters greater mercy for strangers. Rather, I show that this ban originally related to the social and religious status of childless men. In addition, a few sources indicate that fatherhood was a key qualification for candidates for public roles in the Roman Empire during the first and second centuries CE. Thus, I examine the contemporaneous Roman milieu to further support my suggestion that status was at the crux of this exclusion.
Comparative Analysis of Y-Chromosome Data from Xinjiang and Ningxia Hui Populations with the Hui Population Nationwide
Authors: Xin Chang , Yini Yang , Yao Yu , Jianxue Xiong , Meisen Shi , Shaoqing Wen
Published: December 2024

The Hui population, the third largest ethnic group in China, is dispersed throughout the country and has a history of assimilation with indigenous East Asians. Previous studies have primarily focused on Hui populations in specific regions, lacking comprehensive comparative analyses. This study analyzed 338 unrelated male individuals from Hui populations in Altay, Xinjiang Province, and Haiyuan or Tongxin, Ningxia Province, using 108 Y-chromosomal single-nucleotide polymorphisms and 24 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats, comparing findings with data from 749 published individuals from Hui populations in 11 provinces and 997 published Eurasian populations. The analysis reveals that the national Hui population can be categorized into three groups: Hui_Northwestern, Hui_Northern, and Hui_Southern, supported by analysis of molecular variance and principal components analysis. In Xinjiang and Ningxia Provinces, the most prevalent Y-haplogroups in East Asian populations accounted for 53.8% and 59.1%, respectively, while common haplogroups in West Eurasian populations accounted for 46.2% and 40.9%, respectively. This suggests a mixed paternal origin from both East Asian and Eurasian populations in both study regions. High frequencies of haplogroups R1a1a1b2-Z93 and J-M304 were observed in the Hui populations studied, with the network of haplogroup J-M304 indicating a unique cluster within the western Asian subhaplogroup J2a-M410. The most recent common ancestor for this cluster was estimated to be approximately 1341.9 years ago. Additionally, the network of haplogroup R1a1a1b2-Z93 revealed similarities between northwestern Hui populations and Iranian/Turkic-speaking populations. Our study provides insights into the complexity of Hui populations on a national scale and sheds light on potential events and ancestral origins related to the formation of the Hui population.
Sensemakr: Sensitivity Analysis Tools for OLS in R and Stata
Authors: Cinelli Carlos , Ferwerda Jeremy , Hazlett Chad
Published: December 2024

Abstract: This tutorial introduces the package sensemakr for R and Stata, which implements a suite of sensitivity analysis tools for regression models developed in Cinelli and Hazlett (2020, 2022). Given a regression model, sensemakr can compute sensitivity statistics for routine reporting, such as the robustness value , which describes the minimum strength that unobserved confounders need to have to overturn a research conclusion. The package also provides plotting tools that visually demonstrate the sensitivity of point estimates and t-values to hypothetical confounders. Finally, sensemakr implements formal bounds on sensitivity parameters by means of comparison with the explanatory power of observed variables. All these tools are based on the familiar "omitted variable bias" framework, do not require assumptions regarding the functional form of the treatment assignment mechanism nor the distribution of the unobserved confounders, and naturally handle multiple, non-linear confounders. With sensemakr, users can transparently report the sensitivity of their causal inferences to unobserved confounding, thereby enabling a more precise, quantitative debate as to what can be concluded from imperfect observational studies.
Constructing multiple, independent analyses in the regression discontinuity design with multiple cutoffs
Authors: Lee Youjin , Tan Chichun , Karmakar Bikram
Published: December 2024

Abstract: The regression discontinuity (RD) design is a commonly used non-experimental approach for evaluating policy or program effects. However, this approach heavily relies on the untestable assumption that distribution of confounders or average potential outcomes near or at the cutoff are comparable. When there are multiple cutoffs that create several discontinuities in the treatment assignments, factors that can lead this assumption to the failure at one cutoff may overlap with those at other cutoffs, invalidating the causal effects from each cutoff. In this study, we propose a novel approach for testing the causal hypothesis of no RD treatment effect that can remain valid even when the assumption commonly considered in the RD design does not hold. We propose leveraging variations in multiple available cutoffs and constructing a set of instrumental variables (IVs). We then combine the evidence from multiple IVs with a direct comparison under the local randomization framework. This reinforced design that combines multiple factors from a single data can produce several, nearly independent inferential results that depend on very different assumptions with each other. Our proposed approach can be extended to a fuzzy RD design. We apply our method to evaluate the effect of having access to higher achievement schools on students' academic performances in Romania.
Aerosol Typing from Linear estimations for the Analytical Separation (ATLAS) of complex aerosol mixtures and improved identification of microphysical parameters from multiwavelength lidar data, part 1: theory and numerical simulations
Authors: Kolgotin Alexei , Müller Detlef
Published: December 2024

We developed a mathematical model that is used for describing the relationships between the intensive parameters (IPs) of arbitrary external aerosol mixtures (AMs) and the intensive parameters of the aerosol components in these AMs. We denote this procedure as aerosol typing and aerosol characterization, respectively. The IPs of AMs can be found from multiwavelength lidar measurements of backscatter coefficients (β) at 355, 532, and 1064 nm; extinction coefficients (α) at 355 and 532 nm; particle linear depolarization ratios (δ) at 355, 532, and 1064 nm; and fluorescence backscattering coefficients (β
F
). The IPs of the AM components are known a priori. The mathematical model allows us to obtain by analytical linear estimations the fractions of all components that are contained in complex AMs in terms of extinction and backscatter coefficients at the available lidar-measurement wavelengths. We carry out numerical simulations to test the correctness of this approach of Aerosol Typing from Linear estimations for the Analytical Separation (ATLAS) of aerosol mixtures. We test the sensitivity of ATLAS to measurement errors and incorrectly given IPs of AM components. Our numerical simulations show that the uncertainty of ATLAS is proportional to measurement errors and the uncertainty of the given IPs.
Adaptive Fresnel lens: basic theory
Authors: Armstrong Ivan , Locher Maik , Courtial Johannes
Published: December 2024

We present a design for an adaptive Fresnel lens. The focal length can be altered by rotating two components relative to each other, each comprising modified cylindrical lenses wound into spirals. The main light-ray-direction change is due to transmission through pairs of parallel cylindrical lenses whose focal lengths have equal magnitude but opposite signs. Shifting the cylindrical lenses relative to each other perpendicular to the common cylinder-axis direction changes the directions of transmitted light rays, and by designing each component to be one long, thin, cylindrical lens whose focal length changes along its length and is bent into a suitable spiral, rotation of the components relative to each other shifts the cylindrical lenses as required. Adding the thickness profiles of the two parts of a cylindrical Alvarez–Lohmann lens to those of the two cylindrical lenses significantly improves the optical performance. We support our construction with raytracing simulations and discuss potential applications.
Highlighting illumination color by three-dimensional perception of scene moderates color constancy decline by systematic surface color change in stimulus background
Authors: Hou Tengxuan , Ma Ruiqing , DeLawyer Tanner , Shinomori Keizo
Published: December 2024

In our previous work [J. Opt. Soc.
Am. A 42, B81
(2025)JOAOD60740-323210.1364/JOSAA.545278], we demonstrated that the
spatial local contrast influences color constancy performance by combining
the effects of illuminant colors and background surface colors in
two-dimensional (2D) stimuli. In this study, we investigated the impact of
perceived scene dimensionality, achieved by using the perspective space
technique in which a lighting box filled with a chromatic illuminant was
simulated (abbreviated as 2D+ scene) on color constancy. White daylight
(D65) and red, green, blue, and yellow chromatic illuminants illuminated
the reference and test stimuli in a haploscopic view, respectively. Each
stimulus consisted of a central 1.2° test patch surrounded by a 4.2°
background of Mondrian-like overlapping chromatic patches and an outer
0.4° gray fringe. On a neutral background, the colors of the patches were
in the
L∗a∗b∗
hue circle around gray, and on chromatic backgrounds dominated by red,
green, blue, and yellow, these patch colors were systematically shifted to
one color direction in maintaining the hue circle. In the first two
conditions, both the reference and test stimuli had the same background
(neutral and complementary to the illuminant color). In contrast, in the
last two conditions, in which both the illuminant color and the background
dominant colors were systematically controlled, the reference and test
stimuli had different backgrounds, and the color appearance of the
backgrounds, except at the fringe, looked similar (the color of the
illuminant and neutral). The results showed that in the 2D scene, the
color constancy remarkably declined with systematic surface color changes
under the last two conditions. On the contrary, in the 2D+ scene, this
decline was strongly moderated, although the decline was still
statistically significant, except for the green illuminant. These results
suggest that if the illuminant color is perceived as a 3D light source in
the 2D+ scene, the effectiveness of the illumination estimation is
recovered, and the local contrast mechanism still partially contributes to
color constancy. However, the simultaneous and systematic color shifts in
illuminants and background surfaces still reduced the color constancy
performance, despite the lighting box and fringe providing clear and
consistent cues to estimate the illuminant colors.