bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic Repair of Hip Abductor Tendon Tears: A Case Report
Authors:   [1] Department of Orthopedics. Texas Health Research Foundation, Dallas/Ft Worth Texas, USA, [2] Department of Family Medicine. LSU Health Family Medicine Residency Program, Shreveport, LA, USA,, Bucci Gabriella , Ratano Salvatore ,   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cardinale Panico Hospital Tricase, Italy,, McGovern Ryan P. ,   Department of Orthopedics, PatientIQ Customer Success Manager. 350 W. Ontario St. 300, Chicago, USA,, Singleton Steven B. ,   UT Southwestern, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Section Chief: Sports Medicine, DFW, Texas, USA,, Christoforetti John J. ,   Department of Orthopedics. Maryland Orthopedic Specialists: Centers for Advanced Orthopedics Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is a common incapacitating hip condition characterized by chronic lateral hip pain. This condition includes a range of pathologies ranging from trochanteric bursitis, hip abductor pathology involving the gluteus medius and minimum, external coxa saltans (snapping hip syndrome), or combinations of these. Hip abductor tendon tears have gained recognition as a main contributor to this condition. This pathology is often misdiagnosed and left untreated because of the frequency of partial-thickness undersurface tears. Once this challenging diagnosis is confirmed, non-operative treatments are considered the first therapeutic approach. Despite the availability and effectiveness of multiple non-operative therapies, a considerable percentage of patients will present with chronic disabling pain and refractory symptoms. Many health-care providers are unaware of accessible advanced surgical techniques that benefit patients unresponsive to conservative management. Case Report: We present the case of a 51-year-old female patient with chronic lateral hip pain refractory to conservative treatment for more than two years, treated successfully with endoscopic abductor tendon repair. The patient returned to the desired activities six months following surgery without any reported complications. Patient’s pre-operative reported outcomes utilizing the MHOT-14 and Vail hip scores improved from 27 to 79 points (on a scale of 0-100) and from 30 to 56 points (on a scale of 0-–100), respectively, at eight months follow-up. Conclusion: This case report is illustrative of endoscopic surgical repair of the hip abductor tendons in the setting of a chronic full-thickness abductor tendon tear in a female patient after failure of conservative management. The multiple advantages of the technique include performance in an ambulatory day surgery center, soft-tissue preservation, and fewer complications compared to other open techniques. Knowledge of this pathology and its state-of-the-art available treatments is relevant for orthopedic surgeons and a wide range of health providers who encounter patients with chronic lateral hip pain. Keywords: Greater trochanteric pain syndrome, lateral hip pain, gluteus medius tendon, gluteus minimus tendon, hip abductor tendon tear, endoscopic repair.
NiO thickness measurement using a rectangular-type Sagnac interferometer as the material transport layer in a perovskite solar cell
Authors: Usman Abdullahi , Bhatranand Apichai , Jiraraksopakun Yuttapong , Sabo Muhammad Khalid , Buranasiri Prathan
Published: March 2024

This work aims to utilize a phase-shifting technique in a rectangular-type Sagnac interferometer (RTSI) to measure the thickness of a thin film of nickel (II) oxide (NiO) in an electron transport layer (ETL) in perovskite solar cell preparation. The NiO layer is deposited on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate. In the RTSI setup, the signal output from the interferometer is divided into the reference and testing arms using a nonpolarizing beam splitter (NPBS). The balanced photodetectors then detect the signal, with the FTO/NiO layer placed in the testing arm and pure FTO in the reference arm. By analyzing the signal intensities at polarization settings of 0° to 180°, the phase shift and thickness of the NiO layer can be determined. The thickness values of FTO and NiO films obtained through three different phase-shifting algorithms of three-, four-, and five-steps are calculated. The obtained NiO thickness values are validated against scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, by considering the NiO thickness value that exhibits the lowest percentage error compared to one from SEM, it is confirmed that the three-step algorithm is the most suitable scheme for obtaining intensities at 0°, 45°, and 90°. Therefore, the proposed setup shows promise as a replacement for SEM in thickness measurements.
Research on ultraviolet-visible composite optical target simulation technology
Authors: Du Zongyu , Sun Gaofei , Yang Songzhou , Liu Qiang , Meng Yao , Zhang Jierui , Chen Siwen , Gao Tianyu
Published: March 2024

This study proposes an ultraviolet-visible composite optical target simulation technique based on a liquid crystal display (LCD) spatial light modulation device to solve the problem of not being able to satisfy the demand for optical target simulation for both ultraviolet and visible light operating spectral ranges in a single system when composite simulation of multi-source spatial targets is performed. We establish a composite light source model of an ultraviolet light emitting diode (LED) and a xenon lamp to enhance the energy simulation of the ultraviolet portion, and the light is mixed and homogenized by an integrating sphere. We analyze the light transmission principle of LCD display devices and derive the equation for the relationship between its working band and transmittance. We design a transmission-type projection system with a wide spectral range and simulate the transmittance of the whole system, and demonstrate the optical target simulator can realize the simulation requirements of a wide working spectral range, high interstellar angular distance accuracy, and high magnitude accuracy.
Speckle reduction for single sideband-encoded computer-generated holograms by using an optimized carrier wave
Authors: Min Kyosik , Min Dabin , Hong Jisoo , Park Jae-Hyeung
Published: March 2024

Computer-generated hologram (CGH) is an evolving field that facilitates three-dimensional displays, with speckle noise reduction being a pivotal challenge. In hologram synthesis, complex data with random phase distributions are typically employed as carrier waves for wide viewing angles and a shallow depth of focus (DOF). However, these carrier waves are a source of speckle noise, which can significantly degrade image quality. In this paper, we propose a novel technique for speckle reduction for single sideband (SSB)-encoded holograms, applicable to any arbitrary 3D object. The proposed method focuses on optimizing the random carrier wave used in the hologram synthesis to achieve a uniform amplitude distribution at the object's location. This optimization results in a carrier wave that consistently exhibits uniform amplitude at specific depth planes, leading to a significant reduction of the speckle occurring from the carrier wave. The proposed method has been validated through simulations and optical experiments.
Inverse design of metasurface based off-axis image relay
Authors: Chen Guanghao , Burns Zachary , Zhou Junxiao , Liu Zhaowei
Published: March 2024

The rapid advancement of portable electronics has created enormous demand for compact optical imaging systems. Such systems often require folded optical systems with beam steering and shaping components to reduce sizes and minimize image aberration at the same time. In this study, we present a solution that utilizes an inverse-designed dielectric metasurface for arbitrary-angle image-relay with aberration correction. The metasurface phase response is optimized by a series of artificial neural networks to compensate for the severe aberrations in the deflected images and meet the requirements for device fabrication at the same time. We compare our results to the solutions found by the global optimization tool in Zemax OpticStudio and show that the proposed method can predict better point-spread functions and images with less distortion. Finally, we designed a metasurface to achieve the optimized phase profile.
Quickly tunable ultra-narrow filter via a metal film waveguide
Authors: Shan Hongrui , Wei Qiheng , Dai Hailang , Chen Xianfeng
Published: March 2024

The development of fast, efficient, and cost-effective tunable optical filters is a tireless pursuit of the goal in the field of optical signal processing and communications. However, the traditional filters have been limited by their complex structures, slow tuning speed, and high cost. To address this challenge, we present a tunable ultra-narrow bandpass filter, which is fabricated by a metal layer cladded in a high-parallelism and high-precision piezoelectric ceramic for an interlayer. Experimental results show a remarkable full width at half maximum of 51 pm and a fast response time of 800 ns. In addition, by cascading double filters, the wavelength of the output light has been fine-tuned from a Vernier effect. Moreover, we realize a tunable filter to select and output several ultra-narrow single peaks with 56% efficiency in the 2 nm range. Furthermore, it offers a wide tunable range, exceptional narrowband filtering performance, and fast piezoelectric response times. Hence, it is particularly well suited to applications requiring precise wavelength selection and control, opening new possibilities in the field of tunable optical filters.
Continuous evaluation of denoising strategies in resting-state fMRI connectivity using fMRIPrep and Nilearn
Authors: Wang Hao-Ting , Meisler Steven L. , Sharmarke Hanad , Clarke Natasha , Gensollen Nicolas , Markiewicz Christopher J. , Paugam François , Thirion Bertrand , Bellec Pierre
Published: March 2024

Reducing contributions from non-neuronal sources is a crucial step in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) connectivity analyses. Many viable strategies for denoising fMRI are used in the literature, and practitioners rely on denoising benchmarks for guidance in the selection of an appropriate choice for their study. However, fMRI denoising software is an ever-evolving field, and the benchmarks can quickly become obsolete as the techniques or implementations change. In this work, we present a denoising benchmark featuring a range of denoising strategies, datasets and evaluation metrics for connectivity analyses, based on the popular fMRIprep software. The benchmark prototypes an implementation of a reproducible framework, where the provided Jupyter Book enables readers to reproduce or modify the figures on the Neurolibre reproducible preprint server (https://neurolibre.org/). We demonstrate how such a reproducible benchmark can be used for continuous evaluation of research software, by comparing two versions of the fMRIprep. Most of the benchmark results were consistent with prior literature. Scrubbing, a technique which excludes time points with excessive motion, combined with global signal regression, is generally effective at noise removal. Scrubbing was generally effective, but is incompatible with statistical analyses requiring the continuous sampling of brain signal, for which a simpler strategy, using motion parameters, average activity in select brain compartments, and global signal regression, is preferred. Importantly, we found that certain denoising strategies behave inconsistently across datasets and/or versions of fMRIPrep, or had a different behavior than in previously published benchmarks. This work will hopefully provide useful guidelines for the fMRIprep users community, and highlight the importance of continuous evaluation of research methods.
Gene dosage of independent dynein arm motor preassembly factors influences cilia assembly in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Penny Gervette M. , Dutcher Susan K.
Published: March 2024

Motile cilia assembly utilizes over 800 structural and cytoplasmic proteins. Variants in approximately 58 genes cause primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) in humans, including the dynein arm (pre)assembly factor (DNAAF) gene DNAAF4. In humans, outer dynein arms (ODAs) and inner dynein arms (IDAs) fail to assemble motile cilia when DNAAF4 function is disrupted. In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a ciliated unicellular alga, the DNAAF4 ortholog is called PF23. The pf23-1 mutant assembles short cilia and lacks IDAs, but partially retains ODAs. The cilia of a new null allele (pf23-4) completely lack ODAs and IDAs and are even shorter than cilia from pf23-1. In addition, PF23 plays a role in the cytoplasmic modification of IC138, a protein of the two-headed IDA (I1/f). As most PCD variants in humans are recessive, we sought to test if heterozygosity at two genes affects ciliary function using a second-site non-complementation (SSNC) screening approach. We asked if phenotypes were observed in diploids with pairwise heterozygous combinations of 21 well-characterized ciliary mutant Chlamydomonas strains. Vegetative cultures of single and double heterozygous diploid cells did not show SSNC for motility phenotypes. When protein synthesis is inhibited, wild-type Chlamydomonas cells utilize the pool of cytoplasmic proteins to assemble half-length cilia. In this sensitized assay, 8 double heterozygous diploids with pf23 and other DNAAF mutations show SSNC; they assemble shorter cilia than wild-type. In contrast, double heterozygosity of the other 203 strains showed no effect on ciliary assembly. Immunoblots of diploids heterozygous for pf23 and wdr92 or oda8 show that PF23 is reduced by half in these strains, and that PF23 dosage affects phenotype severity. Reductions in PF23 and another DNAAF in diploids affect the ability to assemble ODAs and IDAs and impedes ciliary assembly. Thus, dosage of multiple DNAAFs is an important factor in cilia assembly and regeneration.
Intraspecific trait variation modulates the temperature effect on elemental quotas and stoichiometry in marine Synechococcus
Authors: Harcourt Renne , Garcia Nathan S. , Martiny Adam C.
Published: March 2024

Diverse phytoplankton modulate the coupling between the ocean carbon and nutrient cycles through life-history traits such as cell size, elemental quotas, and ratios. Biodiversity is mostly considered at broad functional levels, but major phytoplankton lineages are themselves highly diverse. As an example, Synechococcus is found in nearly all ocean regions, and we demonstrate contains extensive intraspecific variation. Here, we grew four closely related Synechococcus isolates in serially transferred cultures across a range of temperatures (16–25°C) to quantify for the relative role of intraspecific trait variation vs. environmental change. We report differences in cell size (p<0.01) as a function of strain and clade (p<0.01). The carbon (QC), nitrogen (QN), and phosphorus (QP) cell quotas all increased with cell size. Furthermore, cell size has an inverse relationship to growth rate. Within our experimental design, temperature alone had a weak physiological effect on cell quota and elemental ratios. Instead, we find systemic intraspecific variance of C:N:P, with cell size and N:P having an inverse relationship. Our results suggest a key role for intraspecific life history traits in determining elemental quotas and stoichiometry. Thus, the extensive biodiversity harbored within many lineages may modulate the impact of environmental change on ocean biogeochemical cycles.
Long-term consequences of mothers’ and fathers’ wartime deployments: Protocol for a two-wave panel study
Authors: MacDermid Wadsworth Shelley M. , Topp Dave , Lester Patricia , Stander Valerie , Christ Sharon L. , Whiteman Shawn , Knobloch Leanne
Published: March 2024

Multiple adjustment difficulties have been associated with children’s exposure to recent parental wartime military deployments, but long-term consequences have not yet been systematically studied. This investigation will assess direct and indirect relationships between exposures to parental deployments early in life and later youth adjustment. Parents’ psychological health and family processes will be examined as mediators, and parents’ and children’s vulnerability and support will be examined as moderators. Archival data will be combined with new data gathered from two children and up to two parents in families where children will be aged 11 to 16 at the first data collection and will have experienced at least one parental deployment, for at least one child prior to age 6. Data are being gathered via telephone interviews and web-based surveys conducted twice one year apart. Outcomes are indicators of children’s social-emotional development, behavior, and academic performance. Notable features of this study include oversampling of female service members, inclusion of siblings, and inclusion of families of both veterans and currently serving members. This study has potentially important implications for schools, community organizations and health care providers serving current and future cohorts of military and veteran families.
Exploring drivers of unsafe disposal of child stool in India using hierarchical regression model
Authors: Rahaman Margubur , Roy Avijit , Chouhan Pradip , Rana Md. Juel
Published: March 2024

Background

Disposal of children’s stools is often neglected in Indian sanitation programs, putting them at higher risk of diseases transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Therefore, the current study aims to identify the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with the unsafe disposal of child stool in India and to estimate the geographical variation in unsafe disposal.

Methods

The study used 78,074 births under two years from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (2019–21). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis with the chi-square test, and a four-level hierarchical logistic regression model were applied to accomplish the study objectives.

Results

Findings revealed a 61.3% prevalence of unsafe stool disposal nationwide, significantly varying between rural (45%) and urban (67%) areas. Multilevel logistic regression highlighted that mother’s education, wealth quintile, and sanitation facility were significant predictors of unsafe disposal of child stools. Random intercept statistics revealed a substantial geographical unit-level variance in unsafe stool practice in India.

Conclusion

The study emphasizes the widespread unsafe disposal of child stool among Indian mothers with young children below two years, and the study underscores a range of contributing factors, including education, media exposure, prosperity, water availability, and sanitation. It also accentuates the significance of the geographical variance in the unsafe disposal of child stool in India, particularly at the household level, followed by the community level. Hence, the findings underscore the importance of focused interventions, including targeted household-level poverty alleviation programs, initiatives to enhance sanitation and water facilities, and community-level public health awareness programs.
Methodological insights into multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy: An empirical examination of the effects of strata configurations on between-stratum variance and of fixed effects across hierarchical levels
Authors: Humbert Anne Laure
Published: March 2024

This study aims to advance the Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA) approach by addressing two key questions. First, it investigates the impact of using increasingly complex combinations of variables to create intersectional strata on between-stratum variance, measured by the variance partitioning coefficients (VPCs). Second, it examines the stability of coefficients for fixed effects across models with an increasing number of hierarchical levels. The analysis is performed using data from a survey of over 42,000 respondents on the prevalence of gender-based violence in European research organisations conducted in 2022. Results indicate that the number of intersectional strata is not significantly related to the proportion of the total variance attributable to the variance between intersectional strata in the MAIHDA approach. Moreover, the coefficients remain relatively stable and consistent across models with increasing complexity, where levels about organisations and countries are added. The analysis concludes that the MAIHDA approach can be flexibly applied for different research purposes, either to better account for structures of power and inequality; or to provide intersectionality-sensitive estimates. The findings underscore the need for researchers to clarify the specific aims of using MAIHDA, whether descriptive or inferential, and highlight the approach’s versatility in addressing intersectionality within quantitative research. The study contributes to the literature by offering empirical evidence on the methodological considerations in applying the MAIHDA approach, thereby aiding in its more effective use for intersectional research.
Glycated albumin in the detection of diabetes during COVID-19 hospitalization
Authors: Chume Fernando Chimela , Freitas Priscila Aparecida Correa , Schiavenin Luisa Gazzi , Sgarioni Eduarda , Leitao Cristiane Bauermann , Camargo Joíza Lins
Published: March 2024

Background

Diabetes has emerged as an important risk factor for COVID-19 adverse outcomes during hospitalization. We investigated whether the measurement of glycated albumin (GA) may be useful in detecting newly diagnosed diabetes during COVID-19 hospitalization.

Methods

In this cross-sectional test accuracy study we evaluated HCPA Biobank data and samples from consecutive in-patients, from 30 March 2020 to 20 December 2020. ROC curves were used to analyse the performance of GA to detect newly diagnosed diabetes (patients without a previous diagnosis of diabetes and admission HbA1c ≥6.5%).

Results

A total of 184 adults (age 58.6 ± 16.6years) were enrolled, including 31 with newly diagnosed diabetes. GA presented AUCs of 0.739 (95% CI 0.642–0.948) to detect newly diagnosed diabetes. The GA cut-offs of 19.0% was adequate to identify newly diagnosed diabetes with high specificity (85.0%) but low sensitivity (48.4%).

Conclusions

GA showed good performance to identify newly diagnosed diabetes and may be useful for identifying adults with the condition in COVID-19-related hospitalization.
Adapt or not: A comparison of rural migrant adaptation in two cities in China
Authors: Feng Jianxi , Tang Shuangshuang
Published: March 2024

Leading with the principle of ‘people-oriented urbanization,’ the adaptation of rural migrants in urban China has attracted increasing concerns from policy-makers and scholars. Today, China has proceeded to a new stage of urbanization. Many rural migrants prefer moving to cities near their home villages rather than to large cities, reflecting the changes in migration patterns and expectations of rural migrants. Although migrant adaptation has been repeatedly investigated in academia, researchers tend to address the topic in one host setting, while migrant adaptation in diverse urban settings has rarely been compared. This paper seeks to fill this research gap via a survey conducted in two cities with different urban settings in Jiangsu. The rural migrant adaptation experiences in the two cities are systematically compared. Our statistical results show that economic structure and living costs, on the one hand, and local regulations and socio-cultural environments, on the other hand, determine rural migrant adaptation experiences in different urban settings. Despite abundant employment opportunities in more-developed cities, the high living costs, working pressure, and strict institutional schemes significantly hamper rural migrant adaptation. In less-developed cities, limited employment opportunities and conservative socio-cultural environments hinder rural migrants from adapting in host societies. Our findings suggest that the governments of different cities need to tailor strategies to assist rural migrants in adapting in urban communities.
Hypertension at the nexus of veteran status, psychiatric disorders, and traumatic brain injury: Insights from the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Authors: DeBlois Jacob P. , London Andrew S. , Heffernan Kevin S.
Published: March 2024

Variable military service-related experiences, such as combat exposure, psychiatric disorders (PD), and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), may differentially affect the likelihood of having health care professional-identified high blood pressure (i.e., hypertension). PURPOSE: Compare the odds of self-reported hypertension among non-combat and combat veterans with and without PD/TBI to non-veterans and each other. METHODS: We used data from men from the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and distinguished: non-veterans (n = 21,076); non-combat veterans with no PD/TBI (n = 3,150); combat veterans with no PD/TBI (n = 1,979); and veterans (combat and non-combat) with PD and/or TBI (n = 805). Multivariable, hierarchical logistic regression models included exogenous demographic, socioeconomic attainment and family structure, health behavior and conditions, and methodological control variables. RESULTS: One-third of men reported having been told at least once by a medical professional that they had high blood pressure. Bivariate analyses indicated that each veteran group had a higher prevalence of self-reported hypertension than non-veterans (design-based F = 45.2, p<0.001). In the fully adjusted model, no statistically significant differences in the odds of self-reported hypertension were observed between non-veterans and: non-combat veterans without PD/TBI (odds ratio [OR] = 0.92); combat veterans without PD/TBI (OR = 0.87); veterans with PD and/or TBI (OR = 1.35). However, veterans with PD and/or TBI had greater odds of reporting hypertension than both combat and non-combat veterans without PD/TBI (p<0.05). DISCUSSION: Military service-related experiences were differentially associated with a survey-based measure of hypertension. Specifically, veterans self-reporting PD and/or TBI had significantly higher odds of self-reporting hypertension (i.e., medical provider-identified high blood pressure).
Multifunction fluorescence open source in vivo/in vitro imaging system (openIVIS)
Authors: Branning John M. , Faughnan Kealy A. , Tomson Austin A. , Bell Grant J. , Isbell Sydney M. , DeGroot Allen , Jameson Lydia , Kilroy Kramer , Smith Michael , Smith Robert , Mottel Landon , Branning Elizabeth G. , Worrall Zoe , Anderson Frances , Panditaradyula Ashrit , Yang William , Abdelmalek Joseph , Brake Joshua , Cash Kevin J.
Published: March 2024

The widespread availability and diversity of open-source microcontrollers paired with off-the-shelf electronics and 3D printed technology has led to the creation of a wide range of low-cost scientific instruments, including microscopes, spectrometers, sensors, data loggers, and other tools that can be used for research, education, and experimentation. These devices can be used to explore a wide range of scientific topics, from biology and chemistry to physics and engineering. In this study, we designed and built a multifunction fluorescent open source in vivo/in vitro imaging system (openIVIS) system that integrates a Raspberry Pi with commercial cameras and LEDs with 3D printed structures combined with an acrylic housing. Our openIVIS provides three excitation wavelengths of 460 nm, 520 nm, and 630 nm integrated with Python control software to enable fluorescent measurements across the full visible light spectrum. To demonstrate the potential applications of our system, we tested its performance against a diverse set of experiments including laboratory assays (measuring fluorescent dyes, using optical nanosensors, and DNA gel electrophoresis) to potentially fieldable applications (plant and mineral imaging). We also tested the potential use for a high school biology environment by imaging small animals and tracking their development over the course of ten days. Our system demonstrated its ability to measure a wide dynamic range fluorescent response from millimolar to picomolar concentrations in the same sample while measuring responses across visible wavelengths. These results demonstrate the power and flexibility of open-source hardware and software and how it can be integrated with customizable manufacturing to create low-cost scientific instruments with a wide range of applications. Our study provides a promising model for the development of low-cost instruments that can be used in both research and education.
Examining how goals of care communication are conducted between doctors and patients with severe acute illness in hospital settings: A realist systematic review
Authors: Gross Jamie , Koffman Jonathan
Published: March 2024

Background

Patient involvement in goals of care decision-making has shown to enhance satisfaction, affective-cognitive outcomes, allocative efficiency, and reduce unwarranted clinical variation. However, the involvement of patients in goals of care planning within hospitals remains limited, particularly where mismatches in shared understanding between doctors and patients are present.

Aim

To identify and critically examine factors influencing goals of care conversations between doctors and patients during acute hospital illness.

Design

Realist systematic review following the RAMESES standards. A protocol has been published in PROSPERO (CRD42021297410). The review utilised realist synthesis methodology, including a scoping literature search to generate initial theories, theory refinement through stakeholder consultation, and a systematic literature search to support program theory.

Data sources

Data were collected from Medline, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Scopus databases (1946 to 14 July 2023), citation tracking, and Google Scholar. Open-Grey was utilized to identify relevant grey literature. Studies were selected based on relevance and rigor to support theory development.

Results

Our analysis included 52 papers, supporting seven context-mechanism-output (CMO) hypotheses. Findings suggest that shared doctor-patient understanding relies on doctors being confident, competent, and personable to foster trusting relationships with patients. Low doctor confidence often leads to avoidance of discussions. Moreover, information provided to patients is often inconsistent, biased, procedure-focused, and lacks personalisation. Acute illness, medical jargon, poor health literacy, and high emotional states further hinder patient understanding.

Conclusions

Goals of care conversations in hospitals are nuanced and often suboptimal. To improve patient experiences and outcome of care interventions should be personalised and tailored to individual needs, emphasizing effective communication and trusting relationships among patients, families, doctors, and healthcare teams. Inclusion of caregivers and acknowledgment at the service level are crucial for achieving desired outcomes. Implications for policy, research, and clinical practice, including further training and skills development for doctors, are discussed.
Strategies to improve delivery of equitable and evidence-informed care for pregnant and birthing people with a substance use disorder in acute care settings: A scoping review protocol
Authors: King Carla , Laynor Gregory , McNeely Jennifer , Fawole Adetayo , Lee Matthew , Terplan Mishka , Choi Sugy
Published: March 2024

This protocol outlines a proposed scoping review to characterize evidence on implementation and quality improvement (QI) strategies that aim to improve equitable, evidence-informed care delivery for pregnant and birthing people with substance use disorder (SUD) in acute care. Untreated SUD during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of overdose and severe maternal morbidity. Acute care settings are one important place to deliver equitable, evidence-informed clinical care. While clinical practice guidelines for substance use treatment and care of pregnant and birthing people with SUD exist, there are gaps in implementation. Our population of interest is pregnant and birthing people with SUD in an acute care setting. We will include US-based studies that describe or evaluate implementation or QI strategies, including experimental, observational, and descriptive studies published from 2016 to 2023. The proposed scoping review will be conducted in accordance with JBI methodology for scoping reviews and registered at OSF (registration number: BC4VZ). We will search MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL Complete (EBSCO), Scopus (Elsevier), and APA PsychInfo (Ovid) for published studies. Conference proceedings and Perinatal Quality Collaborative websites will be searched for grey literature. Two reviewers will independently screen then extract studies that meet inclusion criteria using a data extraction tool. The completion of this scoping review will help illuminate strengths and gaps in research and practice that aim to inform substance use treatment and care in acute care settings for pregnant and birthing people with SUD.
Health-related quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic: The impact of restrictive measures using data from two Dutch population-based cohort studies
Authors: van Hagen Cheyenne C. E. , Huiberts Anne J. , Mutubuki Elizabeth N. , de Melker Hester E. , Vos Eric R. A. , van de Wijgert Janneke H. H. M. , van den Hof Susan , Knol Mirjam J. , van Hoek Albert Jan
Published: March 2024

Objectives

We describe health-related quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic in the general Dutch population and correlations with restrictive measures.

Methods

Data were obtained from 18–85 year-old participants of two population-based cohort studies (February 2021-July 2022): PIENTER Corona (n = 8,019) and VASCO (n = 45,413). Per cohort, mean scores of mental and physical health and health utility from the SF-12 were calculated by age group, sex and presence of a medical risk condition. Spearman correlations with stringency of measures were calculated.

Results

Both cohorts showed comparable results. Participants <30 years had lowest health utility and mental health score, and highest physical health score. Health utility and mental health score increased with age (up to 79 years), while physical health score decreased with age. Women and participants with a medical risk condition scored lower than their counterparts. Fluctuations were small over time but most pronounced among participants <60 years, and correlated weakly, but mostly positively with measure stringency.

Conclusions

During the Dutch COVID-19 epidemic, health utility and mental health scores were lower and fluctuated strongest among young adults compared to older adults. In our study population, age, sex and presence of a medical risk condition seemed to have more impact on health scores than stringency of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions.
Glycoprofiling of proteins as prostate cancer biomarkers: A multinational population study
Authors: Pinkeova Andrea , Tomikova Adela , Bertokova Aniko , Fabinyova Eva , Bartova Radka , Jane Eduard , Hroncekova Stefania , Sievert Karl-Dietrich , Sokol Roman , Jirasko Michal , Kucera Radek , Eder Iris E. , Horninger Wolfgang , Klocker Helmut , Ďubjaková Petra , Fillo Juraj , Bertok Tomas , Tkac Jan
Published: March 2024

The glycoprofiling of two proteins, the free form of the prostate-specific antigen (fPSA) and zinc-α-2-glycoprotein (ZA2G), was assessed to determine their suitability as prostate cancer (PCa) biomarkers. The glycoprofiling of proteins was performed by analysing changes in the glycan composition on fPSA and ZA2G using lectins (proteins that recognise glycans, i.e. complex carbohydrates). The specific glycoprofiling of the proteins was performed using magnetic beads (MBs) modified with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and antibodies that selectively enriched fPSA or ZA2G from human serum samples. Subsequently, the antibody-captured glycoproteins were incubated on lectin-coated ELISA plates. In addition, a novel glycoprotein standard (GPS) was used to normalise the assay. The glycoprofiling of fPSA and ZA2G was performed in human serum samples obtained from men undergoing a prostate biopsy after an elevated serum PSA, and prostate cancer patients with or without prior therapy. The results are presented in the form of an ROC (Receiver Operating Curve). A DCA (Decision Curve Analysis) to evaluate the clinical performance and net benefit of fPSA glycan-based biomarkers was also performed. While the glycoprofiling of ZA2G showed little promise as a potential PCa biomarker, the glycoprofiling of fPSA would appear to have significant clinical potential. Hence, the GIA (Glycobiopsy ImmunoAssay) test integrates the glycoprofiling of fPSA (i.e. two glycan forms of fPSA). The GIA test could be used for early diagnoses of PCa (AUC = 0.83; n = 559 samples) with a potential for use in therapy-monitoring (AUC = 0.90; n = 176 samples). Moreover, the analysis of a subset of serum samples (n = 215) revealed that the GIA test (AUC = 0.81) outperformed the PHI (Prostate Health Index) test (AUC = 0.69) in discriminating between men with prostate cancer and those with benign serum PSA elevation.
Perceived self-efficacy to teach comprehensive abortion care among nursing and midwifery faculty in higher learning institutions in Rwanda: A mixed method study
Authors: Nkurunziza Aimable , Habtu Michael , Mukeshimana Madeleine , Endale Tamrat , Nsaba Uwera Yvonne Delphine , Rutayisire Reverien , Bagirisano Justine , Hitayezu Jean Bosco Henri , Bazakare Ishimwe Marie Laetitia , Uwimana Jean De Dieu
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Comprehensive abortion care is an emerging intervention being integrated into nursing and midwifery curricula. Yet, no studies have been conducted in Rwanda to determine whether faculty perceive themselves as capable of teaching comprehensive abortion care. This study aims to evaluate the perceived self-efficacy to teach comprehensive abortion care among nursing and midwifery faculty in higher learning institutions in Rwanda.

Materials and methods

The University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences Institutional Review Board approved this study (UR-CMHS-IRB No 335/CMHSIRB/2022). In quantitative, a self-administered questionnaire was administered to 98 study participants. Data were entered into Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 and analyzed using Chi-square test with a p-value of 0.05 set as the significance level. In the qualitative part, an interview guide was developed based on quantitative data to understand comprehensive abortion care teaching fully. Data were collected from four focus group discussions with eight participants in each group, entered in Dedoose, and analyzed thematically.

Results

Among the 98 study participants who were invited to participate in this study, only 85 filled out the questionnaires. This translates into 86.7% of the response rate. More than half 58.8% had adequate self-efficacy in teaching comprehensive abortion care. A Chi-square test has revealed that being a male, being a midwife, and having more years of working experience in nursing education were significantly associated with self-efficacy in teaching comprehensive abortion care (p value <0.05). In the qualitative phase, 32 study participants participated in four focus group discussions and four themes were identified: a) variability in confidence levels to teach comprehensive abortion care; b) readiness about teaching comprehensive abortion care; c) facilitators of teaching comprehensive abortion care; and d) contextual challenges to teach comprehensive abortion care.

Conclusions

The findings revealed that faculty’s self-efficacy in teaching comprehensive abortion care was not adequate. Personal and religious beliefs and institutional barriers were also reported to hinder self-efficacy in teaching comprehensive abortion care. Therefore, intensive comprehensive abortion care training for nursing and midwifery faculty in higher learning institutions should be provided, including values clarification and attitude transformation training for attitudes and beliefs. It is also critical for higher learning institutions to develop strategies for overcoming the challenges faculty face when teaching comprehensive abortion care.
Contrary to expectation: The surface urban heat island intensity is increasing in population shrinking region while decreasing in population growing region-A comparative analysis from China
Authors: Liu Luofu , Zhang Wei
Published: March 2024

Exploring the complex relationship between population change and surface urban heat island (SUHI) effect has important practical significance for the ecological transformation development of shrinking cities in the context of the prevalence of urban shrinkage and the global climate change. This paper compares the population change and SUHI effect between population shrinking region (Northeast Region, NR) and population growing region (Yangtze River Delta, YRD) in China, and explores their differences in driving mechanisms, using GIS spatial analysis and Geodetector model. Our results indicated that there are significant differences in population changes and SUHI intensity between these two regions. About 72.22% of the cities in the NR were shrinking, while their SUHI intensities increased by an average of 1.69°C. On the contrary, the urban population in the YRD shows a linear growth trend, while their SUHI intensities decreased by 0.11°C on average. The results of bivariate Moran’s I index also indicated that the spatial correlation between the urban population changes and the SUHI intensity changes are not significant in the above regions. Furthermore, there are significant differences in the primary drivers of SUHI variations between these two regions. In the NR, underlying surface changes, including the changes of green coverage and built-up areas, are the most important driving factors. However, atmospheric environment changes, such as carbon dioxide emission and sulfur dioxide emission, are the key drivers in the YRD. Northam’s theory of three-stage urbanization and environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis are powerful to explain these differences.
Transposon sequencing reveals metabolic pathways essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
Authors: Block Alisha M. , Wiegert Parker C. , Namugenyi Sarah B. , Tischler Anna D.
Published: March 2024

New drugs are needed to shorten and simplify treatment of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Metabolic pathways that M. tuberculosis requires for growth or survival during infection represent potential targets for anti-tubercular drug development. Genes and metabolic pathways essential for M. tuberculosis growth in standard laboratory culture conditions have been defined by genome-wide genetic screens. However, whether M. tuberculosis requires these essential genes during infection has not been comprehensively explored because mutant strains cannot be generated using standard methods. Here we show that M. tuberculosis requires the phenylalanine (Phe) and de novo purine and thiamine biosynthetic pathways for mammalian infection. We used a defined collection of M. tuberculosis transposon (Tn) mutants in essential genes, which we generated using a custom nutrient-rich medium, and transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) to identify multiple central metabolic pathways required for fitness in a mouse infection model. We confirmed by individual retesting and complementation that mutations in pheA (Phe biosynthesis) or purF (purine and thiamine biosynthesis) cause death of M. tuberculosis in the absence of nutrient supplementation in vitro and strong attenuation in infected mice. Our findings show that Tn-seq with defined Tn mutant pools can be used to identify M. tuberculosis genes required during mouse lung infection. Our results also demonstrate that M. tuberculosis requires Phe and purine/thiamine biosynthesis for survival in the host, implicating these metabolic pathways as prime targets for the development of new antibiotics to combat tuberculosis.
Removal of Propylparaben in an Aqueous System using Magnetite-Silica Ferrofluids of Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvent
Authors: Falahudin Aswin , Insin Numpon
Published: March 2024

A novel sorbent based on ferrofluid hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent magnetite silica (Fe3O4@SiO2@mSiO2- HDES) was successfully synthesized by adding menthol-fatty acid as carrier liquid onto Fe3O4@SiO2@mSiO2 composite. The crystallinity, morphological, functional group and magnetic properties of the materials were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy-EDX, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, vibrating sample magnetometer, thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier Transform-infrared spectroscopy. The adsorption performance of parabens was evaluated as model water pollutants. The Fe3O4@SiO2@mSiO2-HDES ferrofluid was used as a ferrofluid sorbent of parabens prior to spectrophotometry UV-Vis. The effect of several contribution parameters was optimized including ferrofluid volume, pH, stirring time and ionic strength. Under the optimum conditions, a combination of Fe3O4@SiO2@mSiO2-menthol/palmitic acid was achieved as the best ferrofluid with % removal values ranging from 81.00% to 98.62%. The ferrofluid Fe3O4@SiO2@mSiO2-HDES demonstrated high efficiency for the adsorption paraben in the water system which suggests a great potential alternative method for the adsorption of water contaminants in the aquatic system.
Bioética e vulnerabilidade social da pessoa idosa no contexto da pandemia COVID-19: um ensaio teórico
Authors: Mascarenhas Ana Pedrina Freitas , Oliveira Ana Carolina Lopes Cavalcanti de , Carvalho Clara Janyelle Gomes de , Ramos Janai de Albuquerque , Lima Núbia Maria Freire Vieira , Valença Cecília Nogueira , Távora Rafaela Carolini de Oliveira
Published: March 2024

Diante do cenário da pandemia COVID-19, aumentou a necessidade de atenção às pessoas que vivem em situação de vulnerabilidade, contudo os princípios da bioética, a justiça e a equidade devem fortalecer a proteção à vida, a ética do cuidado por sua vez, seria a base para a implementação de políticas públicas. Este ensaio teórico objetivou analisar os efeitos da pandemia da COVID-19 sobre a população idosa, considerando suas vulnerabilidades sob a perspectiva da bioética. Trata-se de um ensaio teórico, realizado a partir da revisão integrativa da literatura, sobre bioética e vulnerabilidade nas pessoas idosas diante da pandemia COVID-19. Os resultados foram discutidos o panorama da bioética. Espera-se que este ensaio possa contribuir para reflexões sobre essa dura realidade que fere e gera sofrimento a pessoa idosa, pois só através uma nova articulação entre os processos políticos, sociais e civilizatórios, talvez seja possível pensar numa sociedade mais digna e humana.
Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: Towards accuracy and accessibility
Authors: Mu Yan , Chang Ke-Xin , Chen Yu-Feng , Yan Ke , Wang Chun-Xiang , Hua Qian
Published: March 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a serious dementia afflicting aging population and is characterized by cognitive decline, amyloid-β plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles. AD substantially impairs the life quality of the victims and poses a heavy burden on the soci-ety at large. The number of people with dementia due to AD, prodromal AD, and preclinical AD is estimated to stand at roughly 3.2, 69, and 315 million worldwide, respectively. Current clinical diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms, and clinical research demonstrated that positron emission tomography (PET) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers had excellent diagnostic perfor-mance. However, the application of CSF biomarker tests and PET are restricted by the invasiveness and high cost. The presence of clinical symptoms means that AD pathology has been progressing for many years, and only a few drugs have been approved for the traetemnt of AD. Therefore, early diagnosis is extremely important for controlling the outcomes caused by AD. In this review, we provided an overview of developing clinical diagnostic criteria, diagnostic strategies under clinical research, developing blood based-biomarker assays, and promising nanotechnologically-based assays. 