bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Original Voices: A Native Comic Creator’s Journey
Authors: Lowry Chag
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT: I am of Yurok, Maidu, and Pit River Native ancestry from northern California. As a Native person, I feel it is imperative that we own every step of our storytelling process. Our stories and art are vibrant and powerful, but if we do not have editorial or publishing oversight, do they remain ours once they are shared in comic form? The task of crafting fun, exciting, and compelling stories is often fused with the adherence to cultural responsibilities for Native creators. Is the art respectful, is the dialogue correct and not stereotypical, or is it all right to show certain tribal images? These are some of the questions that I’ve pondered while creating and publishing multiple comic stories through my imprint called Original Voices. My graphic novel titled Soldiers Unknown is published by a Native-owned press (Great Oak Press) and printed by a Native-owned print company (Tribal Print Source). I will provide insights from the four-year journey to create this book, and I will cite different forms of Native community involvement as this book was created. It is true that Native people have always used sequential art to convey who we are and why we are here. Comics are another format that can spur dialogue, give meaning, and guide future Native artists. They can also further historical wrongs in publishing. Ownership, historical accuracy, community investment, and cultural responsibility are some of the aspects that Native comic creators must grapple with. These elements of the publishing process are just as important as drafting exciting stories and drawing dynamic characters.
Two-Spirit Pedagogy in Surviving the City, Vol. 2: From the Roots Up
Authors: Tatonetti Lisa
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT: This essay analyzes how From the Roots Up , volume 2 of Inninew/Trinidadian writer Tasha Spillett and Métis illustrator Natasha Donovan’s graphic novel Surviving the City , furthers their exploration of the meaning of Indigenous youth health and well-being by addressing the needs and challenges of Two-Spirit people. In From the Roots Up , Spillett and Donovan depict not only the protagonist’s acknowledgement of their Two-Spirit identity, but also the range of responses Dez encounters as they come to know and claim their gender and desire in the environment of an urban Canadian secondary school. Health, then, applies to much more than physical well-being, as Spillett and Donovan craft the teens’ experiences to consider issues of psychological and community wellness. In the process, From the Roots Up functions as a pedagogical project that teaches both young and adult readers healthy ways to engage with the intersections of queerness and Indigeneity. On the one hand, Spillett and Donovan explicitly teach Two-Spirit histories and illustrate productive approaches to queer Indigenous presents/presence, while, on the other, they directly critique the ways in which conservative understandings of “tradition” can be used as antiqueer hegemonic tools within Indigenous communities and so-called safe spaces.
The Hermit-Woman takes a lover: Quiet-Crazy Intimacies in/with the Poetry of Gayl Jones
Authors: Imhotep Ra Malika
Published: December 2024

Abstract: This creative-critical response to Gayl Jones's oeuvre (specifically The Hermit-Woman and Corregidora ) seeks to explore a personal and creative identification with Jones's articulations of muted desires, longings, and refusals and the ways this affective tangle emerges from the violated black feminine bodymind. Taking its title from a poem included in the author's debut poetry collection, gossypiin , this essay centers a black feminist poetics of survivorhood and madness that echoes that of many of Jones's embattled protagonists. Thinking through the terrain of Black feminist ontology, disability studies, and autoethnographic reflections on the author's own experiences of intimate partner violence, this exploration of "quiet-crazy intimacies" is an attempt to make sense of the voice inside the author's head that persists even through the scene(s) of their own subjection.
"Something More than Feelings / Something of Spirit": Alien Intimacies in Gayl Jones's Song for Anninho
Authors: Onubogu Ai
Published: December 2024

Abstract: Gayl Jones's novella-length poem, Song for Anninho , frequently intertwines the language of the earth with the language of racialized flesh. This essay is interested in how alien intimacies mediate the relationship between black female flesh and earth flesh in Song for Anninho . Alien intimacies describe a set of relations between black life and earth life in the New World that arose from a consciousness of being alienated. By reading for alien intimacies in Song for Anninho , it becomes possible to attend to the geographically bound interactions between black female flesh and earth flesh as they create an opportunity to understand how expression determines place through and with the pressures of constraint.
Theory of Mind and Lies in Marcel Carné’s Les Visiteurs du soir (The Devil’s Envoys)
Authors: Leverage Paula
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT: Marcel Carné directed Les Visiteurs du soir (1942), employing Jewish actors who were under sustained threat of arrest by undercover Gestapo agents. Correctly attributing thoughts and intentions to others, recognizing and inventing lies in these dangerous circumstances became survival skills. It is perhaps not surprising, then, that Theory of Mind is a central concern of the film, articulated from the beginning during the “Démons et merveilles” scene, which establishes Anne’s cognitive flexibility in contrast to the Devil’s predeterminism, and suggests that reading people and situations is an essential skill in a world infiltrated by the diabolical.
Hyper-brain independent component analysis (HB-ICA): an approach for detecting inter-brain networks from fNIRS-hyperscanning data
Authors: Luo Hailing , Cai Yutong , Lin Xiuyun , Duan Lian
Published: December 2024

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) -based hyperscanning is a popular new technology in the field of social neuroscience research. In recent years, studying human social interaction from the perspective of inter-brain networks has received increasing attention. In the present study, we proposed a new approach named the hyper-brain independent component analysis (HB-ICA) for detecting the inter-brain networks from fNIRS-hyperscanning data. HB-ICA is an ICA-based, data-driven method, and can be used to search the inter-brain networks of social interacting groups containing multiple participants. We validated the method by using both simulated data and in vivo fNIRS-hyperscanning data. The results showed that the HB-ICA had good performance in detecting the inter-brain networks in both simulation and in-vivo experiments. Our approach provided a promising tool for studying the neural mechanism of human social interactions.
Development and performance validation of an affordable and portable high-resolution darkfield polarization-sensitive multispectral imaging microscope for the assessment of radiation dermatitis and fibrosis
Authors: Hao Shicheng , Guo Sisi , Chen Shuyu , Wang Hao , Chen Qian , Zhou Xudong , Liu Lihui , Zhang Aijun , Sun Hui , Zhang Ruoyu , Wang Jianfeng
Published: December 2024

Radiation therapy (RT) is widely used for cancer treatment but is found with side effects of radiation dermatitis and fibrosis thereby calling for timely assessment. Nevertheless, current clinical assessment methods are found to be subjective, prone to bias, and accompanied by variability. There is, therefore, an unmet clinical need to explore a new assessment technique, ideally portable and affordable, making it accessible to less developed regions too. We developed an affordable (16764 CNY) and portable high-resolution ((3.91 μm) darkfield polarization-sensitive multispectral imaging (PS-MSI) microscope. The implementation of the Monte Carlo simulation on the PS multi spectra allows the quantitative analysis of physiological parameters (i.e., blood volume fraction (BVF) and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin) at different skin layers for the dermatitis assessment. Further derivation of the degree of linear polarization (DOLP) reflects randomly distributed collagen fibers associated with fibrosis for the fibrosis assessment. PS-MSI microscope developed revealed a significant decrease (p < 0.001, analysis of variance, ANOVA) in the DOLP associated with fibrosis like scar tissue, and significant (p < 0.001, ANOVA) increases in BVF and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin accompanying artificially induced dermatitis. One-dimensional convolutional neural network implemented on the DOLP and multiple spectra achieved accuracies of 96% and 92.2%, respectively, for the classification of the artificially induced skin dermatitis and fibrosis like scar, demonstrating the potential of the affordable PS-MSI microscope developed for objective, unbiased and consistent assessment of radiation dermatitis and fibrosis in the clinics.
Comprehensive analysis of the C. elegans connectome reveals novel circuits and functions of previously unstudied neurons
Authors: Emmons Scott W.
Published: December 2024

Despite decades of research on the Caenorhabditis elegans nervous system based on an anatomical description of synaptic connectivity, the circuits underlying behavior remain incompletely described and the functions of many neurons are still unknown. Updated and more complete chemical and gap junction connectomes of both adult sexes covering the entire animal including the muscle end organ have become available recently. Here, these are analyzed to gain insight into the overall structure of the connectivity network and to suggest functions of individual neuron classes. Modularity analysis divides the connectome graph into 10 communities that can be correlated with broad categories of behavior. A significant role of the body wall musculature end organ is emphasized as both a site of significant information convergence and as a source of sensory input in a feedback loop. Convergence of pathways for multisensory integration occurs throughout the network—most interneurons have similar indegrees and outdegrees and hence disperse information as much as they aggregate it. New insights include description of a set of high degree interneurons connected by many gap junctions running through the ventral cord that may represent a previously unrecognized locus of information processing. There is an apparent mechanosensory and proprioceptive field covering the entire body formed by connectivity of the many mechanosensory neurons of multiple types to 2 interneurons with output connections across the nervous system. Several additional significant, previously unrecognized circuits and pathways are uncovered, some involving unstudied neurons. The insights are valuable for guiding theoretical investigation of network properties as well as experimental studies of the functions of individual neurons, groups of neurons, and circuits.
Genome alteration of Leishmania orientalis under Amphotericin B inhibiting conditions
Authors: Anuntasomboon Pornchai , Siripattanapipong Suradej , Unajak Sasimanas , Choowongkomon Kiattawee , Burchmore Richard , Leelayoova Saovanee , Mungthin Mathirut , E-kobon Teerasak
Published: December 2024

Amphotericin B (AmB) is a potent antifungal and antiparasitic medication that exerts its action by disrupting the cell membrane of the leishmanial parasite, leading to its death. Understanding the genetic alterations induced by Amphotericin B is crucial for gaining insights into drug resistance mechanisms and developing more effective treatments against Leishmania infections. As a new Leishmania species, the molecular response of Leishmania orientalis to anti-leishmanial drugs has not been fully explored. In this study, Leishmania orientalis strain PCM2 culture was subjected to AmB exposure at a concentration of 0.03 uM over 72 hours compared to the control. The genomic alteration and transcriptomic changes were investigated by utilising the whole genome and RNA sequencing methods, followed by the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), differential gene expression, and chromosomal copy number variations (CNVs) assessed using read depth coverage (RDC) values across the entire genome. The chromosomal CNV analysis showed no significant difference between L. orientalis from the control and AmB-treated groups. The distribution of SNPs displayed notable variability, with higher SNP incidence in the control group compared to the AmB-treated group. Gene ontology analysis unveiled functions of the SNPs -associated genes involved in transporter function, genetic precursor synthesis, and purine nucleotide metabolism. Notably, the impact of AmB treatment on the L. orientalis gene expression profiles exhibited diverse expressional alterations, particularly the downregulation of pivotal genes such as the tubulin alpha chain gene. The intricate interplay between SNPs and gene expression alterations might underscore the complex regulatory networks underlying the AmB resistance of L. orientalis strain PCM2.
The relationship between self-determination and burnout: Mental health outcomes in medical residents
Authors: Mobarak Hassan , Haddad Chadia , Salameh Pascale , Towair Evelyne , El Khoury-Malhame Myriam , Chatila Rajaa
Published: December 2024

Background

Burnout is a pervasively increasing threat to personal and professional wellbeing and performance. It is yet understudied in relation to basic psychological needs (BPN), especially in at-risk population such as medical residents. This study intends to explore the differential relationship between various aspects of burnout including depersonalization (DP), emotional exhaustion (EE) and lack of personal achievement (PA) and subsets of BPN satisfaction or frustration namely autonomy, relatedness, and competence, with the framework of the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) in healthcare.

Materials

A total of 110 medical residents in various Lebanese hospitals were included. Demographics and standardized scales were used to measure basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration (BPNSFS), burnout (MBI), depression and anxiety (PHQ-4). Residents were also asked about subjective evaluation of academic training and level of impact by ongoing crises (COVID-19 pandemic, Beirut port explosion and financial breakdown).

Results

Result point to alarming prevalence of burnout and mental distress in our sample. It also indicates a differential correlation between gender, financial security and various subsets of burnout. It lastly points to association of DP with overall satisfaction scale (Beta = 0.342, p = 0.001) and PHQ-4 scores (Beta = -0.234, p = 0.017), while feeling burdened to attend lectures and having been physically affected by the Beirut blast correlated with a sense of PA (Beta = 0.332, p = 0.010, Beta = 0.187, p = 0.041 respectively) and PHQ-4 (Beta = 0.341, p = 0.000), interacting with COVID-19 patients (Beta = 0.168, p = 0.020) and feeling protected in the working environment (Beta = -.231, p = 0.002) showed a significant association with EE.

Discussion

Within the SDT framework, this study highlights the complex interplay between collective crises, subjective evaluations or work conditions and other demographics with aspects of burnout in medical residents. It mostly points to the need address this at an individual but also an institutional level to buffer distress in future healthcare providers.
Putting situational affordances in an intervention context: How the interaction between personality and intervention situations can help us explain differential intervention responses
Authors: Mertens Esther C. A. , Thielmann Isabel , Nocentini Annalaura , Siezenga Aniek M. , van Gelder Jean-Louis
Published: December 2024

We propose a framework in which interventions are described as situations affording the expression of certain personality traits to provide a systematic understanding of differential intervention response by personality traits. The goal of the present paper is twofold: 1) elaborate on the proposed framework, and 2) provide an initial test of this framework. We empirically tested this framework using data from a Randomized Controlled Trial (N = 176) that examined a smartphone-based intervention aimed at increasing future-oriented thinking and behavior, and assessed HEXACO personality traits. The results showed that more introverted and agreeable individuals profited most from the intervention. Although these results were not in line with our a priori predictions, they could be explained using the proposed situational affordances framework. This shows the potential of this framework in an intervention context, though more research and tests using different interventions are needed.

Trial registration: The trial is registered in the Netherlands Trial Register number NL9671. Additionally, the hypotheses and analysis plan of the present study were pre-registered (AsPredicted #94684; https://aspredicted.org/95F_CDR).
To test or not to test? A new behavioral epidemiology framework for COVID-19
Authors: Sarkar Jayanta
Published: December 2024

Evidence from clinical research suggests that in the first two waves of COVID-19, the virus spread rapidly through a large number of undocumented asymptomatic infections. These ‘silent’ infections camouflaged the actual incidence of the disease, leading to downward biases in the rates of transmission, disease prevalence, and fatality. These, in turn, had implications for how people and policymakers responded to changing infection prevalence. This paper posits that in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, a considerable number of SARS-CoV-2 infections spread through asymptomatic infected individuals who lacked economic incentives to test and isolate adequately. The decision to undertake testing and the subsequent possibility of isolation entails a calculus of benefits and costs for an individual. Given that the perceived net benefit of such actions is correlated with the observed risk of infection, the likelihood of an asymptomatic individual choosing to undergo testing increases with the existing infection prevalence rate. This behavior, in turn, influenced disease transmission and mortality dynamics. This study presents an analytical framework that integrates prevalence-dependent testing behavior into a traditional epidemiological model. The model’s predictions provide critical policy insights. It reveals that failing to account for testing and isolation behavior results in underestimation of the infection propagation and fatality rates when reported disease prevalence is low, thereby, skewing the containment strategies in the initial and late stages of a pandemic. The findings underscore the necessity of enhancing testing capacity as a crucial countermeasure for future contagions like COVID-19.
The global effect of aortic coarctation on carotid and renal pulsatile hemodynamics
Authors: Rafiei Deniz , Pahlevan Niema M.
Published: December 2024

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a congenital disease characterized by the narrowing of the aorta, typically the descending portion after the left subclavian artery. If left untreated, by the time individuals reach 50 years of age, the mortality rate can reach 90%. Previous studies have highlighted the adverse effects of CoA on local hemodynamics. However, no study has investigated the global hemodynamic effects of CoA in end-organ (brain and kidney) damage. Clinical studies have shown that coarctation acts as a reflection site, potentially damaging the hemodynamics of the brain and kidneys. Our goal in this study is to investigate the underlying mechanisms of these altered wave dynamics and their impacts on the pulsatile hemodynamics of end-organs. In this study, we use a physiologically accurate in-vitro experimental setup that simulates the hemodynamics of systemic circulation. Experiments are conducted across various cardiac outputs, heart rates, and coarctation degrees using aortas across a wide range of aortic stiffnesses. Our principal finding is that CoA increases cerebral blood flow and harmful pulsatile energy transmission to the brain. Conversely, both renal blood flow and pulsatile energy transmission to the kidneys are reduced in CoA at every level of aortic stiffness.
Expected features of the course leader in the rehabilitation healthcare professionals’ higher education: A qualitative study on students’ perspectives
Authors: Giardulli Benedetto , Furri Laura , Testa Marco , Dell’Isola Andrea , Bertoni Gianluca , Battista Simone
Published: December 2024

Course leaders in rehabilitation healthcare professionals’ higher education face challenges stemming from multi-disciplinarity and the co-existence of different stakeholders. So far, the literature mainly attributed to course leaders’ managerial tasks, neglecting other fundamental transversal skills. Students represent an essential source of information for understanding the expected characteristics and roles of course leaders in rehabilitation healthcare degree programmes. This study explored students’ expected features of the course leaders in the rehabilitation healthcare professionals’ higher education. A qualitative interview study was carried out. A group of recent graduates and students of the MSc in ‘Healthcare Professionals Rehabilitation Sciences’ (University of Verona, Verona, Italy) was recruited using purposive sampling. Data were analysed using ‘Reflexive Thematic Analysis’ by Braun & Clarke. Ten healthcare professionals agreed to partake in the study (age 30 ± 9; men N = 2; women N = 8). Five themes were generated from the analysis: 1) ‘A Collaborative Manager’, as students perceived course leaders as non-authoritarian managers who involved all the stakeholders in the decision-making process addressing aspects such as curriculum adjustments, program improvements, and any challenges faced; 2) ‘A Diplomatic yet Honest Communicator’, as students needed course leaders capable of communicating transparently; 3) ‘A Flexible Mediator’, as course leaders should actively listen to all stakeholders, mitigating conflicts; 4) ‘An Empathic and Available Guide’, as students need course leaders available and ready to help; 5) ‘An Experienced Healthcare Professional’, as students felt course leaders should have a clinical background related to the course they lead. The results of this study suggested that students expect the course leaders to have a wide range of qualities and attitudes about soft (i.e., adaptation, communication, organisation skills, teamwork) and hard skills (i.e., clinical experience, evidence-based practice updated). They expect a course leader to consider all stakeholders’ needs and preferences to guarantee course harmony and satisfaction.
Navigating challenges in Vietnamese enterprises: An examination of the interplay between environmental regulations, organizational innovation, resilience, learning support, and performance
Authors: Huynh Thang Nam , Nguyen Phuong Van , Doan Ngan Phi , Tran Khoa Tien , Nguyen Tien Canh
Published: December 2024

This study examines the interplay between environmental regulations, organizational innovation, resilience, learning support, and performance in the Vietnamese business context. The paper explores the mutual interaction and influence among these variables. Additionally, it focuses on the indirect effects of organizational innovation and resilience, showing that organizational innovation mediates the relationship between environmental regulations and performance and resilience mediates the relationship between organizational learning support and performance. The study extends the framework of the dynamic capabilities perspective by demonstrating that dynamic capabilities enable organizations to adapt to and capitalize on stringent environmental policies. Our sample data come from 349 Vietnamese manufacturers and are analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling, which is effective for examining complex relationships and interactions among multiple variables. The results indicate that, although environmental regulations do not directly impact organizational performance, they do so indirectly through organizational innovation. The study also demonstrates the significant role of innovation and resilience in enhancing performance, yielding valuable insights for organizations that seek sustainable growth amid uncertainty. These findings lead to practical implications for developing strategies and policies that promote resilience, innovation, and learning, including a robust framework for addressing management challenges in emerging economies.
Quantitative analysis of septin Cdc10 & Cdc3-associated proteome during stress response in the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Martinez Barrera Stephani , Hatchell Emma , Byrum Stephanie D. , Mackintosh Samuel G. , Kozubowski Lukasz
Published: December 2024

Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic basidiomycetous yeast that primarily infects immunocompromised individuals. Fatal outcome of cryptococcosis depends on the ability of C. neoformans to sense and adapt to 37°C. A complex of conserved filament forming GTPases, called septins, composed of Cdc3, Cdc10, Cdc11, and Cdc12, assembles at the mother-bud neck in C. neoformans. Septins Cdc3 and Cdc12 are essential for proliferation of C. neoformans at 37°C and for virulence in the Galleria mellonella model of infection, presumably due to their requirement for septin complex formation, and the involvement in cytokinesis. However, how exactly Cdc3, and Cdc12 contribute to C. neoformans growth at 37°C remains unknown. Based on studies investigating roles of septins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, septin complex at the mother-bud neck of C. neoformans is predicted to interact with proteins involved in cell cycle control, morphogenesis, and cytokinesis, but the septin-associated proteome in C. neoformans has not been investigated. Here, we utilized tandem mass spectrometry to define C. neoformans proteins that associate with either Cdc3 or Cdc10 at ∼25°C or after the shift to 37°C. Our findings unveil a diverse array of septin-associated proteins, highlighting potential roles of septins in cell division, and stress response. Two proteins, identified as associated with both Cdc3 and Cdc10, the actin-binding protein profilin, which was detected at both temperatures, and ATP-binding multi-drug transporter Afr1, which was detected exclusively at 37°C, were further confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. We also confirmed that association of Cdc3 with Afr1 was enhanced at 37°C. Upon shift to 37°C, septins Cdc3 and Cdc10 exhibited altered localization and Cdc3 partially co-localized with Afr1. In addition, we also investigated changes to levels of individual C. neoformans proteins upon shift from ∼25 to 37°C in exponentially grown culture and when cells entered stationary phase at ∼25°C. Our study reveals changes to C. neoformans proteome associated with heat and nutrient deprivation stresses and provides a landscape of septin-associated C. neoformans proteome, which will facilitate elucidating the biology of septins and mechanisms of stress response in this fungal pathogen.
Public perspectives on COVID-19 triage protocols for access to critical care in extreme pandemic context
Authors: Bouthillier Marie-Eve , Farmer Yanick , Calderon Ramirez Claudia , Downar James , Frolic Andrea , Dahine Joseph , Opatrny Lucie , Poirier Diane , Bravo Gina , L’Espérance Audrey , Payot Antoine , Tanuseputro Peter , Rousseau Louis-Martin , Dumez Vincent , Descôteaux Annie , Dallaire Clara , Laporte Karell , Orr Gaucher Nathalie
Published: December 2024

COVID-19 triage protocols are resource allocation processes to deal with the potential lack of resources in Intensive Care Units (ICU). They have given rise to numerous ethical issues and controversies. Among them is the fear that people will be denied access to ICU on the basis of judgments about their quality of life, social value, frailty or age. This online Democratic Deliberation (DD) with members of the public aimed to discover the necessary considerations and conditions that make triage protocols more acceptable to guide future decisions in terms of the values and criteria that must underpin triage protocols. We simultaneously conducted the online DD in Quebec and Ontario on May 28th and June 4th, 2022, among adults who do not work in the healthcare sector, recruited randomly among the members of the public registered on Leger Opinion poll website to favor sociodemographic diversity. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Among the participants who took part in the study, 27 participants were from Ontario and 20 from Quebec. Three main themes emerged: 1) Acceptance of the protocol and values, 2) Considerations to be integrated in triage protocols, 3) Conditions which may favor a greater public acceptance of these protocols. Participants supported the idea of prioritizing patients with the best prognosis of survival under extreme conditions. The maximization of benefits was the most predominant approach. Participants considered that triage protocols are necessary to reduce arbitrariness in decision making and to facilitate these tragic decisions by health professionals.
Cystoid macular edema prophylaxis in cataract surgery: A protocol for network meta-analysis
Authors: Nanji Keean , Staibano Phillip , McKechnie Tyler , Zoratti Michael , Chaudhary Varun
Published: December 2024

Objective

Cataracts are the leading cause of global preventable and treatable blindness. Cystoid macular edema (CME) is among the most common complications following cataract surgery. The development of CME impacts patients’ quality of life and has economic implications for patients and healthcare systems. The purpose of this review is to synthesize the evidence from randomized controlled trials evaluating patients receiving prophylactic treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroid medications to determine the comparative effectiveness of each specific regimen on retinal thickness, visual acuity, the development of CME, patient quality of life, intraocular pressure and adverse events following uncomplicated, age-related cataract surgery performed by phacoemulsification.

Methods

A systematic review and random effects Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) will be performed and will be reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) extension statement for NMA. A comprehensive electronic search will be performed of the MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL databases, as well as of the ClinicalTrials.gov and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registries. Data will be collected and synthesized for seven pre-specified outcomes at 6 weeks and 3 months following surgery: i) change in central retinal thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT), ii) best-recorded visual acuity iii) the rate of CME measured by OCT, and fluorescein angiography (FA) iv) the rate of patients experiencing clinically significant macular edema defined as the presence of CME and pre-specified thresholds for decreased visual acuity, v) patient quality of life, vi) intraocular pressure and vii) the number of patients experiencing one or more pre-specified adverse events. The certainty of evidence for each outcome will be assessed using GRADE NMA guidelines.

Discussion

The results of this NMA will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the evidence for this critical question with significant clinical equipoise.

Trial registration

Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42024531150.
Characterization of a novel subfamily 1.4 lipase from Bacillus licheniformis IBRL-CHS2: Cloning and expression optimization
Authors: Khazaal Kadhim Almansoori Ammar , Reddy Nidyaletchmy Subba , Abdulfattah Mustafa , Ismail Sarah Solehah , Abdul Rahim Rashidah
Published: December 2024

This study focuses on a novel lipase from Bacillus licheniformis IBRL-CHS2. The lipase gene was cloned into the pGEM-T Easy vector, and its sequences were registered in GenBank (KU984433 and AOT80658). It was identified as a member of the bacterial lipase subfamily 1.4. The pCold I vector and E. coli BL21 (DE3) host were utilized for expression, with the best results obtained by removing the enzyme’s signal peptide. Optimal conditions were found to be 15°C for 24 h, using 0.2 mM Isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The His-tagged lipase was purified 13-fold with a 68% recovery and a specific activity of 331.3 U/mg using affinity purification. The lipase demonstrated optimal activity at 35°C and pH 7. It remained stable after 24 h in 25% (v/v) organic solvents such as isooctane, n-hexane, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and methanol, which enhanced its activity. Chloroform and diethyl ether inhibited the lipase. The enzyme exhibited the highest affinity for p-nitrophenol laurate (C12:0) with a Km of 0.36 mM and a Vmax of 357 μmol min-1 mg-1. Among natural oils, it performed best with coconut oil and worst with olive oil. The lipase was stable in the presence of 1 mM and 5 mM Ca2⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, Mg2⁺, and Ba2⁺, but its activity decreased with Zn2⁺ and Al3⁺. Non-ionic surfactants like Triton X-100, Nonidet P40, Tween 20, and Tween 40 boosted activity, while Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) inhibited it. This lipase’s unique properties, particularly its stability in organic solvents, make it suitable for applications in organic synthesis and various industries.
Targeted metabolomics investigation of metabolic markers of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the cerebrospinal fluid of paediatric patients with tuberculous meningitis
Authors: Samuel Victory , Solomons Regan , Mason Shayne
Published: December 2024

Objective

To investigate metabolic markers linked to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a South African cohort of paediatric tuberculous meningitis (TBM).

Methods

Targeted proton magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy and two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC-TOFMS) metabolomics approaches were used to evaluate M. tb-linked metabolites in the CSF of 21 definite cases of TBM and 25 control cases. Uni- and multivariate statistical analyses were performed.

Results

Four statistically significant metabolites were identified to discriminate TBM cases from controls. Mannose and arabinose were found at lower concentrations in the TBM group. Nonanoic acid and propanoic acid were found in higher concentrations in the definite TBM group.

Conclusions

We identified the novel presence of nonanoic acid for the first time as a M. tb-linked marker in the CSF of cases of TBM, possibly as a degradation product of the M. tb cell wall. Propanoic acid can be related to perturbed brain neuro-energetics and neuro-inflammation in TBM cases and is likely a host-response metabolite. Mannose and arabinose–supposed surrogates for lipoarabinomannan, a component of the M. tb cell wall–were not reliable markers for M. tb. Further research should focus on the analysis of fatty acids in the CSF of patients with TBM.
Community Health Worker Optimization of Antihypertensive Care in HIV (COACH): Study protocol for a pilot trial of an intervention to improve hypertension care among Tanzanians with HIV
Authors: Min Htike Wai Yan , Manavalan Preeti , Wanda Lisa , Haukila Kelvin , Mmbaga Blandina T. , Sakita Francis M. , Zebedayo Rennyda , Gwasma Francis , Jafar Tazeen , Bosworth Hayden B. , Thielman Nathan M. , Hertz Julian T.
Published: December 2024

Objective

This study will evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the COACH (Community Health Worker Optimization of Antihypertensive Care in HIV) intervention, which integrates hypertension management into existing HIV care for people living with HIV (PLWH) in Tanzania.

Methods

The study will be conducted at two HIV Care and Treatment Centers (CTCs) in Tanzania. In a single-arm pre-post feasibility trial, 100 PLWH with hypertension will be enrolled and will receive the six-month intervention. The COACH intervention includes six monthly hypertension educational sessions delivered by community health workers (CHWs) and integrated within HIV CTC visits, monthly blood pressure monitoring, follow up care coordination, fully subsidized antihypertensive medications, a standardized antihypertensive treatment algorithm, and training for providers. The intervention’s implementation outcomes will be evaluated using the Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, and the primary study outcome (reach of the intervention) will be the proportion of all scheduled intervention sessions attended by participants, a measure of feasibility. Secondary clinical effectiveness outcomes will include adherence to antihypertensive medication, blood pressure control, body mass index, cardiovascular risk, and hypertension knowledge.

Significance

The COACH intervention has the potential to significantly improve hypertension management among PLWH in Tanzania by leveraging the existing HIV care infrastructure and CHWs. This study will provide crucial insights into the feasibility and potential effectiveness of the intervention in integrating hypertension care into HIV services, informing larger-scale implementation and policy changes in Tanzania and other resource-limitted settings.

Trial registration

Clinical trials.gov Identifer: NCT06503991.
Modulation of signature cancer-related genes in oral cancer cells (Ca9-22) by anethole treatment: Insights into therapeutic potential
Authors: Hammache Meriem , Benchekroun Sara , Alamri Abdullah , Jalouli Maroua , Yousry A. Mohamed Marwa , Boufahja Fehmi , Chahine Mohamed , Chandad Fatiha , Semlali Abdelhabib
Published: December 2024

To explore an alternative strategy to chemotherapy to combat oral cancer, natural products and their derivates constitute one promising approach. In the last previous study, we have demonstrated the potential anti-tumor properties of anethole; an aromatic compound abundantly present in nature that serves as a major active ingredient found in plants like anise and fennel. In the current study, we aimed to investigate how this molecule inhibits oral cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis. This will be carried out by a transcriptomic study of its effects on the expression profile of cell cycle and apoptosis regulation genes in gingival cancer cells. cell cycle. Ca9-22 cells were treated with 10 μM of anethole (IC50) and cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay. The percentage of cells in different stages of the cell cycle was measured by flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by LDH assay and apoptosis was investigated by Pi/Annexin V assay following 24-hour treatment. Furthermore, we employed PCR array analysis to investigate alterations in the expression levels of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes associated with cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. Finally, Gene-gene interactions were examined using the Gene MANIA database. Our findings demonstrate that anethole significantly attenuated the proliferation of Ca9-22 cells, leading to disturbances in cell cycle progression and eliciting cellular toxicity and apoptosis. By a double normalizing with two housekeeping genes (Actin and GAPDH), we show that, treatment with 10 μM of anethole alters (more than two-fold) the expression of 13 genes involved in the control of the cell cycle (8 were up regulated and 5 were down regulated) and 7 genes involved in the regulation of apoptosis (4 were up regulated and 3 downregulated by anethole). Finally, each group of genes modulated by anethole forms a network of connections between them or with other genes. Our study suggests that anethole holds promise as a potential alternative treatment for oral cancer by its ability to modify numerous oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes implicated in the cell cycle regulation and induction of apoptosis in oral cancer cells. These findings underscore the significance of further research into the potential therapeutic application of anethole as an alternative drug for managing oral cancer.
Predicting the drift of small cetaceans stranded along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula: Parametrization of the MOTHY drift model
Authors: Deslias Camille , Daniel Pierre , López Alfredo , Martínez-Cedeira José , Ridoux Vincent , Peltier Hélène
Published: December 2024

Marine mammal populations, particularly the common dolphin Delphinus delphis in the North-East Atlantic, play an essential role as indicators of ecosystem health. Effective monitoring of these populations is essential for assessing anthropogenic impacts, especially in the context of current threats such as fisheries bycatch. The MOTHY drift model, initially designed for oil spills and then adapted to carcass drift, is being used in part of the North East Atlantic (Bay of Biscay, English Chanel, and North Sea) to estimate the bycatch mortality of common dolphins. This study presents the parametrization of the drift model to estimate the bycatch mortality of common dolphins in the Iberian Peninsula waters. By comparing the actual stranding location of tagged dolphin carcasses off the Galician coast with their stranding location predicted by the drift model, we determined the best setting for the environmental input parameters. The results reveal that a 4 arc-minutes bathymetry resolution, coupled with consideration for currents, optimally predicts stranding locations in the Iberian Peninsula coast. The model’s accuracy in predicting stranding locations is 18.25 ± 14.77 km. This adaptation not only contributes to the ongoing assessment of the impacts of bycatch on common dolphin populations in the Iberian Peninsula, but also provides a standardized methodology for estimating bycatch mortality at the population level. This work can also be used as a basis for further applications for other small cetacean species in wider distribution areas, supporting comprehensive population-level assessments and management strategies.
The impact of hierarchical plateau on civil servants’ taking charge behavior: The role of work engagement and trait mindfulness
Authors: Xiao Linsheng
Published: December 2024

Taking charge behavior of civil servants is important for enhancing the transformative capacity and governance efficacy of the public sector. This study is based on the conservation of resources theory and the job demands-resources model to explore the impact of hierarchical plateau on taking charge behavior of civil servants, including the mediating role of work engagement and the moderating effect of trait mindfulness. Through the analysis of a sample of 286 civil servants in Guangdong Province, China, the results show that hierarchical plateau has a negative effect on taking charge behavior of civil servants, with work engagement partially mediating the relationship between hierarchical plateau and taking charge behavior; trait mindfulness can alleviate the negative relationship between hierarchical plateau and work engagement. Furthermore, the mediating effect of work engagement is moderated by trait mindfulness, with higher levels of civil servants’ trait mindfulness weakening the indirect influence of hierarchical plateau on taking charge behavior through work engagement. The findings of this study deepen the understanding of the psychological mechanism of hierarchical plateau on the taking charge behavior.
Evolution of two metabolic genes involved in nucleotide and amino acid metabolism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Wu Yutong , Shi Yuqi , Liang Xiaohui
Published: December 2024

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen causing various severe infections. Understanding genetic mechanisms of its metabolic versatility aids in developing novel antibacterial drugs and therapeutic strategies to address multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa infections. The metabolism of nucleotides and amino acids contributes to the cycle of two key biological macromolecules in the genetic central dogma. Guanine deaminase (GuaD) catalyzes the deamination of guanine to produce xanthine to maintain the homeostasis of the nucleotide pool, and transporters specific to BCAAs (termed as BraT) import BCAAs to keep its intracellular availability level. However, little is known about the evolution of GuaD and BraT in P. aeruginosa population. Here, two copies turned out to be widespread in P. aeruginosa population for each of GuaD and BraT. The phylogenic analysis demonstrated that GuaD1 and BraB were inherited from the ancestor of Pseudomonas, while GuaD2 and BraZ were additionally acquired via evolutionary events in the ancestors of P. aeruginosa. The functional divergence of two copies was supported by different distribution patterns of dN/dS ratios, divergent expression levels, differentially co-expressed genes, and their functional enrichment modules with few intersections. Besides, some co-expressed genes with known functions are involved in infecting hosts, forming biofilm and resisting antibiotic treatment. Taken together, functional divergence following copy number increase and differentiation of co-expression networks might confer greater metabolic potential to P. aeruginosa, especially in response to host immune responses and antibiotic treatments in clinical settings.
SEM HOME, AGORA SÓ OFFICE
Authors: Boscaini Rochele , Gehrke Karoline , Marinho Sidnei Vieira , Alberton Anete
Published: December 2024

Dilema: A UWL enfrenta o desafio de retornar ao escritório após o bloqueio pandêmico, e o dilema que os gestores da UWL enfrentam levanta a questão: permanecer com esses funcionários que mostraram resistência em retornar e em que termos ambas as partes lidariam com o resultado desses obstáculos relacionados ao retorno à modalidade presencial de trabalho na organização.
Objetivo educativo: Desenvolver reflexões vivenciais de uma situação real vivenciada por quase toda a população quanto à mudança do regime de trabalho, do trabalho em escritório para o home office, e consequentemente, seu retorno (ou não). Perceber a importância de considerar esse novo modelo de trabalho também faz parte do objetivo.
Contextualização: O mundo inteiro enfrentou uma situação completamente atípica e inusitada em 2020 e 2021, enfrentando uma pandemia causada por um vírus desconhecido que mudou a dinâmica de um planeta inteiro em questão de semanas. Naturalmente, isso também se refletiu nas relações de trabalho.
Tema principal: O tema gestão de pessoas passa por um processo de transformação, principalmente após a Covid-19, e o tema principal do case apresenta justamente os conflitos gerados nesse período em uma empresa do setor de comércio exterior na cidade de Itajaí.
Público-alvo: O case pode ser aplicado em cursos de Administração (lato e stricto sensu), nas disciplinas de Gestão de Pessoas.
Originalidade/valor: O caso permite refletir sobre a Teoria da Cultura Organizacional, aplicando seu conceito aos conflitos de gestão identificados no problema da UWL.