bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical characteristics of patients with prenatal hydronephrosis in early postnatal period: a single center retrospective study
Authors: Gu Song-Lei , Yang Xiao-Qing , Zhai Yi-Hui , Xu Wen-Li , Guo Wen-Xing , Shen Tong
Published: May 2023

Background

The study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics of early postnatal period in children with prenatal hydronephrosis (HN) in our single center for 8 years.

Study design

The clinical data of 1137 children with prenatal HN from 2012 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed in our center. Variables of our study mainly included different malformations and urinary tract dilation (UTD) classification, and main outcomes were recurrent hospitalization, urinary tract infection (UTI), jaundice, and surgery.

Results

Among the 1137 children with prenatal HN in our center, 188 cases (16.5%) were followed-up in early postnatal period, and 110 cases (58.5%) were found malformations. The incidence of recurrent hospitalization (29.8%) and UTI (72.5%) were higher in malformation, but the incidence of jaundice (46.2%) was higher in non-malformation(P < 0.001). Furthermore, UTI and jaundice were higher in vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) than those in uretero-pelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, Children with UTD P2 and UTD P3 were prone to recurrent UTI, but UTD P0 was prone to jaundice (P < 0.001). In addition, 30 cases (16.0%) of surgery were all with malformations, and the surgical rates of UTD P2 and UTD P3 were higher than those of UTD P0 and UTD P1 (P < 0.001). Lastly, we concluded that the first follow-up should be less than 7 days, the first assessment should be 2 months, and the follow up should be at least once every 3 months.

Conclusion

Children with prenatal HN have been found many malformations in early postnatal period, and with high-grade UTD were more prone to recurrent UTI, even to surgery. So, prenatal HN with malformations and high-grade UTD should be followed up in early postnatal period regularly.
Benefits of physical activity on reproductive health functions among polycystic ovarian syndrome women: a systematic review
Authors: Butt Muhammad Salman , Saleem Javeria , Zakar Rubeena , Aiman Sobia , Khan Muhammad Zeeshan , Fischer Florian
Published: May 2023

Background

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is among the predominant endocrine disorders of reproductive-aged women. The prevalence of PCOS has been estimated at approximately 6–26%, affecting 105 million people worldwide. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence on the effects of physical activity on reproductive health functions among PCOS women.

Methods

The systematic review includes randomization-controlled trials (RCTs) on physical exercise and reproductive functions among women with PCOS. Studies in the English language published between January 2010 and December 2022 were identified via PubMed. A combination of medical subject headings in terms of physical activity, exercise, menstrual cycle, hyperandrogenism, reproductive hormone, hirsutism, and PCOS was used.

Results

Overall, seven RCTs were included in this systematic review. The studies investigated interventions of physical activity of any intensity and volume and measured reproductive functions and hormonal and menstrual improvement. The inclusion of physical activity alone or in combination with other therapeutic interventions improved reproductive outcomes.

Conclusion

The reproductive functions of women with PCOS can be improved with physical activity. Furthermore, physical activity can also reduce infertility, as well as social and psychological stress among women.

PROSPERO systematic review registration

CRD42020213732.
“Recognition of heart attack symptoms and treatment-seeking behaviors: a multi-center survey in Tehran, Iran”
Authors: Shahmohamadi Elnaz , Sedaghat Mojtaba , Rahmani Arash , Larti Farnoosh , Geraiely Babak
Published: May 2023

Background

In acute myocardial infarction (AMI), timely recognition of symptoms and early hospital presentation positively affect patient morbidity and mortality. Due to the high burden of ischemic heart disease in Iran, this study aimed to identify factors affecting the level of knowledge, responses at the time of AMI onset, and sources of health information among the Iranian population.

Method

This cross-sectional study was conducted in three tertiary hospitals in Tehran, Iran. An expert-validated questionnaire was used to obtain data. A total of 400 individuals were enrolled.

Result

Among the respondents, 285 people(71.3%) considered “chest pain or discomfort,” and 251 (62.7%) regarded “pain or discomfort in the arm or shoulder” as MI symptoms. Approximately 288 (72.0%) respondents had poor knowledge of the AMI symptoms. Knowledge of symptoms was higher among those with higher levels of education, those with medical-associated jobs, and those who resided in the capital areas. Major risk factors identified by the participants were: anxiety (340)(85.0%), obesity (327)(81.8%), an unhealthy diet (325)(81.3%), and the presence of high LDL levels (258)(64.5%) and Diabetes Mellitus (164)(41.0%) were less appreciated. Calling an ambulance (286)(71.5%) was the most common treatment-seeking behavior in the case of a suspected heart attack.

Conclusion

It is vital to educate the general population about AMI symptoms, particularly those with comorbidities at the greatest risk for an AMI episode.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound versus conventional ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with a non-dilated collecting system: results of a pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Wang Li , Li Kun-peng , Yin Shan , Yang Lin , Zhu Ping-yu
Published: May 2023

Background

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (CEUS-PCNL) is an economical and practical technique for the treatment of patients with renal stones without significant collecting system dilatation. The aim of this systematic review is to compare the safety and efficacy of CEUS-PCNL and conventional ultrasound (US)-guided (US-PCNL) treatment of patients with renal calculi without significant hydronephrosis.

Methods

This review was conducted with strict adherence to the PRISMA guidelines. Comparative studies on CEUS-PCNL and US-PCNL published in PubMed, SinoMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Web of science until March 1, 2023, were systematically searched. RevMan 5.1 software was used for meta-analysis. Pooled odds ratios (ORs), weight mean differences (WMDs) and standard mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the fixed-effects or random-effects model. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots.

Results

Four randomized controlled trials involving 334 patients (168 with CEUS-guided PCNL and 166 with US-guided PCNL) were identified. There was no statistically significant difference between CEUS-guided PCNL and US-guided PCNL in terms of the operation time (SMD: − 0.14; 95% CI − 0.35 to 0.08; p = 0.21), minor complications (p = 0.48), major complications (p = 0.28) and overall complications (p = 0.25). However, CEUS-guided PCNL had a higher stone-free rate (OR: 2.22; 95% CI 1.2 to 4.12; p = 0.01), higher success rate of single-needle punctures (OR:3.29; 95% CI 1.82 to 5.95; p < 0.0001), shorter puncture time (SMD: − 1.35; 95% CI − 1.9 to − 0.79; p < 0.00001), shorter hospital stay (SMD: − 0.34; 95% CI − 0.55 to − 0.12; p = 0.002) and lesser hemoglobin loss (SMD: − 0.83; 95% CI − 1.06 to − 0.61; p < 0.00001) as compared with conventional US-guided PCNL.

Conclusions

According to almost all pooled data, CEUS-guided PCNL is superior to US-guided PCNL in terms of the perioperative outcomes. However, many rigorous clinical randomized controlled studies are required to obtain more accurate results.

RegistrationThe study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022367060).
Periostin level in gingival crevicular fluid in periodontal disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Abdolalian Fatemeh , Bayani Mojtaba , Afzali Saeid , Nakhostin Afrooz , Almasi-Hashiani Amir
Published: May 2023

Background

Periostin, a secreted adhesion molecule, is a matricellular protein secreted most in periodontal ligament and periosteum. Periostin is also needed for integrity and maturation of periodontal tissue. This meta-analysis was conducted to compare the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) periostin levels in subjects having periodontal disease and healthy periodontium.

Methods

In this meta-analysis, three international database including PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched and 207 studies retrieved. Also, the Google Scholar was searched to find more related studies (two studies were found). To assess the risk of bias of included studies, the Newcastle–Ottawa assessment scale adapted for case–control was used. Finally, required data was extracted and included into analysis. All statistical analysis were done using Stata software.

Results

Eight studies were included in this meta-analysis. Results showed that GCF periostin level is significant lower in chronic periodontitis group compare to healthy people (the standardized mean difference (SMD) = -3.15, 95% CI = -4.45, -1.85,p < 0.001). The syntheses of studies shown a significant decrease in the periostin level of chronic periodontitis patients compared to the gingivitis patients (SMD = -1.50, 95%CI = -2.52, -0.49,P = 0.003), while the mean level of periostin between the gingivitis patients and healthy group has no significant difference (SMD = -0.88, 95%CI = -2.14, 0.38, P = 0.173).

Conclusion

The mean concentration of GCF periostin in people with chronic periodontitis significantly decreased compared to people with gingivitis and also compared to healthy people, while no significant difference was observed between the two groups with gingivitis and healthy people. Therefore, this marker may be used as a diagnostic criterion for the disease, which requires further studies.
Pre-eclampsia during pregnancy and risk of endometrial cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jordao H , Herink K , KA Eastwood , McVicker L , Kearns C , McMenamin ÚC
Published: May 2023

Background

Pre-eclampsia may be associated with the development of endometrial cancer; however, previous findings have been conflicting.

Objectives

To investigate if pre-eclampsia is associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer.

Method

Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts of studies identified in MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception until March 2022. Studies were included if they investigated pre-eclampsia and subsequent risk of endometrial cancer (or precursor lesions). Random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between pre-eclampsia during pregnancy and endometrial cancer risk.

Main results

There were seven articles identified which investigated endometrial cancer, of which one also investigated endometrial cancer precursors. Overall, the studies include 11,724 endometrial cancer cases. No association was observed between pre-eclampsia and risk of endometrial cancer with moderate heterogeneity observed (pooled HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.79–1.46, I2 = 34.1%). In sensitivity analysis investigating risk of endometrial neoplasia (atypical hyperplasia, carcinoma in situ, or cancer), there was some evidence that pre-eclampsia was associated with an increased risk (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.15–1.57, I2 = 29.6%).

Conclusions

Pre-eclampsia was not associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer. Additional large studies with information on pre-eclampsia sub-type aiming to investigate endometrial cancer precursor conditions are merited.
Three-year evaluation of a program teaching social determinants of health in community-based medical education: a general inductive approach for qualitative data analysis
Authors: Ozone Sachiko , Haruta Junji , Takayashiki Ayumi , Maeno Takami , Maeno Tetsuhiro
Published: May 2023

Background

Social determinants of health (SDH) are intricately intertwined with various social and economic factors. Reflection is essential for learning about SDH. However, only a few reports have focused on reflection in SDH programs; most were cross-sectional studies. We aimed to longitudinally evaluate a SDH program in a community-based medical education (CBME) curriculum that we introduced in 2018 based on the level of reflection and content on SDH in students’ reports.

Methods

Study design: General inductive approach for qualitative data analysis. Education program: A 4-week mandatory clinical clerkship in general medicine and primary care at the University of Tsukuba School of Medicine in Japan was provided to all fifth- and sixth-year medical students. Students underwent a 3-week rotation in community clinics and hospitals in suburban and rural areas of Ibaraki Prefecture. After a lecture on SDH on the first day, students were instructed to prepare a structural case description based on encounters during the curriculum. On the final day, students shared their experiences in a small group session and submitted a report on SDH. The program was continuously improved and faculty development was provided. Study participants: Students who completed the program during October 2018–June 2021. Analysis: Levels of reflection were categorized as reflective, analytical, or descriptive. The content was analyzed based on the Solid Facts framework.

Results

We analyzed 118 reports from 2018–19, 101 reports from 2019–20, and 142 reports from 2020–21. There were 2 (1.7%), 6 (5.9%), and 7 (4.8%) reflective reports; 9 (7.6%), 24 (23.8%), and 52 (35.9%) analytical reports; and 36 (30.5%), 48 (47.5%), and 79 (54.5%) descriptive reports, respectively. The others were not evaluable. The number of Solid Facts framework items in reports were 2.0 ± 1.2, 2.6 ± 1.3, and 3.3 ± 1.4, respectively.

Conclusions

Students’ understanding of SDH deepened as the SDH program in the CBME curriculum improved. Faculty development might have contributed to the results. Reflective understanding of SDH might require more faculty development and integrated education of social science and medicine.
Impacts of ovarian preservation on the prognosis of neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma: a retrospective analysis based on machine learning
Authors: Xiang Xuesong , Zhang Yunqiang , Hua Keqin , Ding Jingxin
Published: May 2023

Background

Neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma (NECC) is a rare but aggressive malignancy with younger patients compared to other common histology types. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of ovarian preservation (OP) on the prognosis of NECC through machine learning.

Methods

Between 2013 and 2021, 116 NECC patients with a median age of 46 years received OP or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) and were enrolled in a retrospective analysis with a median follow-up of 41 months. The prognosis was estimated using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Random forest, LASSO, stepwise, and optimum subset prognostic models were constructed in training cohort (randomly selected 70 patients) and tested in 46 patients through receiver operator curves. Risk factors for ovarian metastasis were identified through univariate and multivariate regression analyses. All data processing was carried out in R 4.2.0 software.

Results

Among 116 patients, 30 (25.9%) received OP and showed no significantly different OS compared with BSO group (p = 0.072) and got better DFS (p = 0.038). After construction of machine learning models, the safety of OP was validated in lower prognostic risk group (p > 0.05). In patients ≤ 46 years, no impacts of OP were shown for DFS (p = 0.58) or OS (p = 0.67), and OP had no impact on DFS in different relapse risk population (p > 0.05). In BSO group, regression analyses showed that later stage, para-aortic LNM, and parametrial involvement were associated with ovarian metastasis (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Preserving ovaries had no significant impact on prognosis in patients with NECC. OP should be considered cautiously in patients with ovarian metastasis risk factors.
Functional status and spatial architecture of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells are associated with lymph node metastases in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Yang Guanqun , Cai Siqi , Hu Mengyu , Li Chaozhuo , Yang Liying , Zhang Wei , Sun Jujie , Sun Fenghao , Xing Ligang , Sun Xiaorong
Published: May 2023

Background

Anti-PD-(L)1 immunotherapy has been recommended for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with lymph node metastases (LNM). However, the exact functional feature and spatial architecture of tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T cells remain unclear in these patients.

Methods

Tissue microarrays (TMAs) from 279 IA-IIIB NSCLC samples were stained by multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) for 11 markers (CD8, CD103, PD-1, Tim3, GZMB, CD4, Foxp3, CD31, αSMA, Hif-1α, pan-CK). We evaluated the density of CD8 + T-cell functional subsets, the mean nearest neighbor distance (mNND) between CD8 + T cells and neighboring cells, and the cancer-cell proximity score (CCPS) in invasive margin (IM) as well as tumor center (TC) to investigate their relationships with LNM and prognosis.

Results

The densities of CD8 + T-cell functional subsets, including predysfunctional CD8 + T cells (Tpredys) and dysfunctional CD8 + T cells (Tdys), in IM predominated over those in TC (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified that the densities of CD8 + Tpredys cells in TC and CD8 + Tdys cells in IM were significantly associated with LNM [OR = 0.51, 95%CI (0.29–0.88), P = 0.015; OR = 5.80, 95%CI (3.19–10.54), P < 0.001; respectively] and recurrence-free survival (RFS) [HR = 0.55, 95%CI (0.34–0.89), P = 0.014; HR = 2.49, 95%CI (1.60–4.13), P = 0.012; respectively], independent of clinicopathological factors. Additionally, shorter mNND between CD8 + T cells and their neighboring immunoregulatory cells indicated a stronger interplay network in the microenvironment of NSCLC patients with LNM and was associated with worse prognosis. Furthermore, analysis of CCPS suggested that cancer microvessels (CMVs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) selectively hindered CD8 + T cells from contacting with cancer cells, and were associated with the dysfunction of CD8 + T cells.

Conclusion

Tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T cells were in a more dysfunctional status and in a more immunosuppressive microenvironment in patients with LNM compared with those without LNM.
Sex and gender differences in drug treatment: experiences from the knowledge database Janusmed Sex and Gender
Authors: Karlsson Lind Linnéa , Rydberg Diana M. , Schenck-Gustafsson Karin
Published: May 2023

Background

Evidence from clinical research indicates that men and women can differ in response to drug treatment. The knowledge database Janusmed Sex and Gender was developed to illuminate potential sex and gender differences in drug therapy and, therefore, achieve a better patient safety. The database contains non-commercial evidence-based information on drug substances regarding sex and gender aspects in patient treatment. Here, we describe our experiences and reflections from collecting, analyzing, and evaluating the evidence.

Janusmed Sex and Gender

Substances have been systematically reviewed and classified in a standardized manner. The classification considers clinically relevant sex and gender differences based on available evidence. Mainly biological sex differences are assessed except for gender differences regarding adverse effects and compliance. Of the 400 substances included in the database, clinically relevant sex differences were found for 20%. Sex-divided data were missing for 22% and no clinically relevant differences were found for more than half of the substances (52%). We noted that pivotal clinical studies often lack sex analyses of efficacy and adverse effects, and post-hoc analyzes are performed instead. Furthermore, most pharmacokinetic analyses use weight correction, but medicines are often prescribed in standard doses. In addition, few studies have sex differences as a primary outcome and some pharmacokinetic analyses are unpublished, which may complicate the classification of evidence.

Conclusions

Our work underlines the need of sex and gender analyses, and sex-divided data in drug treatment, to increase the knowledge about these aspects in drug treatment and contribute to a more individualized patient treatment.
Evolution of nutritional status and associated factors among formula-fed infants with cow’s milk protein allergy in a government program
Authors: Taveira Giuliana Rizzo , Fernandes Carolina Dadalto Rocha , Silva Yasmin Franco Rodrigues , de Aquino Maria Clara Barcelos , da Silva Ana Carolina Menezes Vieira , de Faria Carolina Perim , Barbosa Míriam Carmo Rodrigues
Published: May 2023

Background

Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is a common allergy in infants and can affect proper growth and development. This study verified factors associated with the evolution of the nutritional status (NS) among infants with CMPA fed with hypoallergenic formulas (HF).

Methods

This is a longitudinal study of infants (n = 1036) participating on a governmental program in Brazil. Researchers assessed Nutritional status before HF treatment (T1) and after HF treatment (T2). The causality of exposure variables on the evolution of NS was verified by Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR).

Results

We observed an increase in anthropometric indexes analyzed with statistically significant results (p < 0.01). The weight/age and height/age scores showed a significant reduction in infants with nutritional deficit. The Body Mass Index (BMI) showed a decrease in the number of infants with nutritional deficit (< -2 z-score). On the other hand, there was an increase in those classified as at risk of overweight, overweight and obese. MLR showed that those who remained < 12 months in the program had a lower odds ratio (95% CI = 0.355–0.906; p = 0.018) to have inadequate NS with increasing BMI. Preterm infants were 4 times more likely (CI 95% = 1.520–10.694; p = 0.005) to have their BMI decreased and those who received nutritional counseling had a lower odds ratio (CI 95% = 0.411–0.953; p = 0.029) to maintain adequate NS.

Conclusion

The program has a significant impact on the NS of infants with CMPA. The constant management and implementation of differentiated criteria according to the evolution of NS for the supply of HF is fundamental in the continuity of this public policy.
Warning signals only support the first action in a sequence
Authors: Dietze Niklas , Recker Lukas , Poth Christian H.
Published: May 2023

Acting upon target stimuli from the environment becomes faster when the targets are preceded by a warning (alerting) cue. Accordingly, alerting is often used to support action in safety-critical contexts (e.g., honking to alert others of a traffic situation). Crucially, however, the benefits of alerting for action have been established using laboratory tasks assessing only simple choice reactions. Real-world actions are considerably more complex and mainly consist of sensorimotor sequences of several sub-actions. Therefore, it is still unknown if the benefits of alerting for action transfer from simple choice reactions to such sensorimotor sequences. Here, we investigated how alerting affected performance in a sequential action task derived from the Trail-Making-Test, a well-established neuropsychological test of cognitive action control (Experiment 1). In addition to this task, participants performed a classic alerting paradigm including a simple choice reaction task (Experiment 2). Results showed that alerting sped up responding in both tasks, but in the sequential action task, this benefit was restricted to the first action of a sequence. This was the case, even when multiple actions were performed within a short time (Experiment 3), ruling out that the restriction of alerting to the first action was due to its short-lived nature. Taken together, these findings reveal the existence of an interface between phasic alertness and action control that supports the next action.
Antifungal activity of local isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin against Verticillium dahliae Kleb. causing wilt disease of cotton
Authors: Erdoğan Oktay , Sağlan Zehra
Published: May 2023

Background

Verticillium dahliae Kleb. is a soil-borne pathogen with a broad host spectrum and causes yield losses in cotton cultivation worldwide. Beauveria bassiana is an environmentally friendly entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) that has been recognized, used and studied for many years.

Results

As a control, all local of B. bassiana isolates inhibited mycelial growth of the pathogen at different rates. The highest percentage of inhibition against non-defoliating (PHCVd3 isolate) and defoliating (PHCVd47 isolate) pathotypes was determined in Bb18 (85.3; 81.7%) and Bb1 (82.3; 77.5%) isolates, respectively, when applied 2 days ago. Isolates Bb1 (80.6%) and Bb18 (77.8%) had the highest percentages of inhibition against the PHCVd3 isolate, and Bb18 (75.8%) against isolate PHCVd47, when EPF and pathogen were applied at the same time.

Conclusions

Bb18 and Bb1 isolates of B. bassiana showed a hope against both pathotypes of wilt disease caused by V. dahliae under in vitro conditions. Especially, B. bassiana was observed to induce higher inhibition rates, when EPF isolates developed in Petri dish 2 days before the pathogen.
Chronic Pain, Analgesics, and Cognitive Status: A Comprehensive Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Guo Xingzhi , Hou Chen , Tang Peng , Li Rui
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND:

Observational studies have suggested an intricate relationship among chronic pain (CP), use of analgesics, and cognitive status, but it remains unclear whether these associations are of a causal nature.

METHODS:

To investigate the causal relationship among them, summary statistics of 9 types of CP (headache, hip, neck/shoulder, stomach/abdominal, back, knee, facial, general, and multisite CP), analgesics (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], opioids, salicylic acid and derivatives, and anilides), and cognitive status (cognitive function, Alzheimer’s disease [AD], vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia [LBD], and dementia) were included in this Mendelian randomization (MR) study. As both CP and analgesic use were associated with cognitive status and vice versa, we performed a bidirectional MR analysis between CP or analgesics and dementia using strong genetic instruments (P < .001) identified from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The inverse-variance weighted method was applied to calculate estimates. The MR estimated odds ratio (OR) was interpreted as odds of outcome per unit increase in the exposure. The Benjamini-Hochberg method was applied to adjust the P value for multiple testing, and P < .05 means statistically significant.

RESULTS:

Multisite CP (MCP) was associated with worse cognitive function (OR [95% confidence interval], 0.69 [0.53–0.89], P = .043), but no significant reverse effect of cognitive status on CP was found. There were no significant associations observed between analgesics and cognitive status. Unexpectedly, patients with AD and LBD had significantly lower exposure to anilides (AD: OR = 0.97 [0.94–0.99], P = .034; LBD: OR = 0.97 [0.96–0.99], P = .012) and NSAIDs (AD: OR = 0.96 [0.93–0.98], P = .012; LBD: OR = 0.98 [0.96–0.99], P = .034).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings indicate that an elevated number of CP sites predict future cognitive decline. Patients with dementia had lower exposure to anilides and NSAIDs, suggesting that they might not be adequately medicated for pain.
Rally Day
Authors: Hoffman Danny
Published: May 2023

March 5, 2018, was the final rally day for the Sierra Leone People's Party prior to that country's national elections. The SLPP held its last day of public demonstrations in Bo, the country's second largest city and primary urban center in the Mende-dominant southeast. As was true of other political parties in other cities and other elections in Sierra Leone's turbulent past, violence played a key role in structuring rally day events and participants’ experiences of them. Yet this violence has not always been the same. In 2018 the beating of a young man by a rally crowd was in some ways unexceptional, both in Sierra Leonean politics and in the postcolonial response to urban crime. And yet it marked a subtle shift in both Sierra Leonean electoral politics and in the way such vigilante justice in African cities is interpreted. Contrasting the ethnographic elements of this single day with other representations of crowd violence in West Africa, this article explores an urban landscape that complicates the distinction between political and nonpolitical violence and between the presence and absence of the postcolonial state.
Made in Others’ Wor(l)ds: Personhood and the Angloscene in Afro-Chinese Beijing
Authors: Ke-Schutte Jay
Published: May 2023

Postcolonial theorist Frantz Fanon noted in Black Skin, White Masks that the postcolonial subject's nightmares have a time and a place—a socius of the colonial encounter that haunts and recontextualizes the future of the colonized eternally within that shape-shifting nightmare. This article—exploring the English-language-mediated cosmopolitan aspirations of African students in contemporary Beijing—recasts Fanon's observation and explores how dreams of efficacious personhood, like nightmares of compromised subjectivity, imbricate the same spatiotemporal tension between aspirational horizons and their compromised conditions of mediation. In doing so, this article maps a relationship between language, personhood, and space-time: in particular, the persistence of English in Sino-South encounters where signs of Anglocentrism and Englishness become the only available forms of cultural capital for postcolonial actors.
OptIC-Notch reveals mechanism that regulates receptor interactions with CSL
Authors: Townson Jonathan M. , Gomez-Lamarca Maria J. , Santa Cruz Mateos Carmen , Bray Sarah J.
Published: May 2023

Active Notch signalling is elicited through receptor–ligand interactions that result in release of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD), which translocates into the nucleus. NICD activates transcription at target genes, forming a complex with the DNA-binding transcription factor CSL [CBF1/Su(H)/LAG-1] and co-activator Mastermind. However, CSL lacks its own nuclear localisation sequence, and it remains unclear where the tripartite complex is formed. To probe the mechanisms involved, we designed an optogenetic approach to control NICD release (OptIC-Notch) and monitored the subsequent complex formation and target gene activation. Strikingly, we observed that, when uncleaved, OptIC-Notch sequestered CSL in the cytoplasm. Hypothesising that exposure of a juxta membrane ΦWΦP motif is key to sequestration, we masked this motif with a second light-sensitive domain (OptIC-Notch{ω}), which was sufficient to prevent CSL sequestration. Furthermore, NICD produced by light-induced cleavage of OptIC-Notch or OptIC-Notch{ω} chaperoned CSL into the nucleus and induced target gene expression, showing efficient light-controlled activation. Our results demonstrate that exposure of the ΦWΦP motif leads to CSL recruitment and suggest this can occur in the cytoplasm prior to nuclear entry.
Dramatized-performative narrative
Authors: Σάββα Δημήτριος
Published: May 2023

Η συγκεκριμένη έρευνα εισάγει τον όρο δραματοποιημένη-παραστατική αφήγηση στο πεδίο της ηλεκτροακουστικής μουσικής σύνθεσης. Η έρευνα συμπεριλαμβάνει τη σύνθεση πρωτότυπων έργων ηλεκτροακουστικής μουσικής  που  συνοδεύονται από ένα κείμενο που εξηγεί: (1) την έννοια της δραματοποιημένης-παραστατικής αφήγησης, (2) μια κεντρική μέθοδο που βασισμένη σε αυτή την έννοια χρησιμοποιείται για τη σύνθεση των έργων, και (3) μια σύντομη συζήτηση και ανάλυση για το κάθε ένα από αυτά. Ο όρος δραματοποιημένη-παραστατική αφήγηση προτείνεται για να καθορίσει ένα είδος αφήγησης που προέρχεται από  παραστατικές δράσεις και κατευθύνει προς αυτές. Βάσει αυτής της ιδέας, προτείνεται μια μέθοδος σύνθεσης για τη δημιουργία έργων ηλεκτροακουατικής μουσικής που ενσωματώνουν τη δραματοποιημένη-παραστατική αφήγηση. Συγκεκριμένα, η μέθοδος εξερευνά ποικίλους τρόπους: (1) προ-καθορισμός δραματοποιημένων δράσεων μέσω της χρήσης παρτιτούρων - γραφημάτων, (2) ηχητική καταγραφή των δράσεων αυτών με διάφορες τεχνικές ηχογράφησης και (3) χρήση αυτών των ηχογραφήσεων ως κεντρικού υλικού για τη σύνθεση και δόμηση ηλεκτροακουστικών μουσικών έργων.  Με αυτήν τη μέθοδο έχουν φτιαχτεί  τέσσερα έργα 8 καναλιών: Moments of Liberty, I – IV, και τα τρία στερεοφωνικά έργα: Echo, the nymph of reflection και Once there was a forest, I και II. Το σύνολο αυτών των έργων αναδεικνύει τις συνθετικές, μουσικές και αφηγηματικές δυνατότητες αυτής της πρωτότυπης μεθόδου.Το συνοδευτικό κείμενο ξεκινά με μια σύντομη εισαγωγή στα κύρια επιστημονικά άρθρα που είναι σχετικά με την αφήγηση και τον αναφορικό ήχο στην ηλεκτροακουστική μουσική. Στη συνέχεια, ορίζει τον όρο δραματοποιημένη-παραστατική αφήγηση στην ηλεκτροακουστική μουσική και  εν συνεχεία διατυπώνει μια σειρά από ερευνητικούς στόχους. Τέλος, συζητά τη μέθοδο αυτή καθαυτή και τη σχέση της με τη δραματοποιημένη-παραστατική αφήγηση, παραθέτοντας μια σύντομη ανάλυση για το κάθε ένα από τα έργα ηλεκτροακουστικής μουσικής που έχει δημιουργηθεί στο πλαίσιο της συγκεκριμένης έρευνας.
The genome sequence of an ichneumon wasp, Clistopyga incitator (Fabricius, 1793)
Authors: Broad Lucy , Broad Gavin R. ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: May 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Clistopyga incitator (an ichneumon wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 260.7 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 21 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 25.0 kilobases in length.
Acute renal colic / renal stones – problematic common disease. Current knowledge on etiology, diagnosis and treatments
Authors: Bakalarczyk Rafał , Rejmer Adrian , Woś Natalia , Rojek Katarzyna , Bednarz Lucjan , Wijas Karolina , Bialic Kinga , Szala-Czerwonka Karolina , Bialic Artur , Majewski Paweł
Published: May 2023

Introduction:

An attack of renal colic as a result of kidney stones is one of the most common urological emergencies, with a wide spectrum of severity that generates high morbidity and high health costs. However, there is no single pharmacological treatment regimen for its acute phase. Renal colic is described as one of the worst types of pain, and effective analgesia in the shortest possible time is of paramount importance

Aim of the study:

Summary of current knowledge on the treatment of Acute renal colic / renal stones. The main purpose of our work is to review and summarize the various recommended options for the treatment of acute renal colic attack and prevention of recurrent urolithiasis depending on the type of stones and also to price the efficacy and safety profile of various drugs used in this ailment and to propose a practical treatment regimen.

Material and methods:

We conducted a literature search in PubMed using the terms "acute renal colic," "renal colic treatment," "anti-inflammatory drugs," "renal stones," and "fluid therapy." The most relevant clinical trials, meta-analyses and systematic reviews published from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2022 in English and Spanish were reviewed.

Results:

In various studies reviewed, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) show better pain control, with lower doses and fewer side effects than treatment with opioids. Complete cure in kidney stones is rare due to the frequent recurrence of the disease. Although acute attacks of renal colic are rare in the patients studied, many patients show improvement after taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Opioids and fluid therapy are reserved for subsequent lines of treatment and also have proven benefits in relieving symptoms.
The Role of Common Risk in the Effectiveness of Explicit Relative Performance Evaluation
Authors: Tice Frances M.
Published: May 2023

I examine the effect of relative performance evaluation (RPE) on firm performance and risk-taking behavior. Agency theory suggests that, for firms that experience common shocks, RPE in executive compensation plans improves risk sharing and strengthens incentive alignment by providing more information about managerial effort than firm performance alone. In practice (i.e., in the presence of a finite number of peers), RPE effectiveness depends on the extent of firms’ common risk exposure and the amount of common risk captured by RPE peers. I develop a simple model that predicts that the benefit of using RPE exceeds the cost of adding noise from peers when the amount of common risk removed is large. Consistent with predictions, I find empirically that RPE firms perform better than similar non-RPE firms when there is high common risk exposure and the common risk removed by the selected peers is high. I also find that, in these circumstances, the use of RPE is associated with greater firm risk and a lower likelihood of underinvesting. Overall, my study provides evidence that RPE is associated with better risk sharing and stronger incentive alignment when (1) RPE firms are exposed to high common risk and (2) RPE peers are effective in removing common risk for performance evaluation.

This paper was accepted by Brian Bushee, accounting.

Funding: F. M. Tice gratefully acknowledges financial support from Texas A&M University and the University of Colorado Boulder.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4764 .
PERMANÊNCIAS E MUDANÇAS EM DISCURSOS DE PESQUISADORES SOBRE O LIVRO DIDÁTICO DE PORTUGUÊS O ENSINO DE LÍNGUA MATERNA
Authors: Apolônio Jakelyne Santos , Bessa José Cezinaldo Rocha
Published: May 2023

O livro didático de português constitui, historicamente, importante recurso didático-pedagógico, ocupando um lugar expressivo ou até central no espaço escolar brasileiro. Em que pesem os avanços na qualidade do livro didático de português, esse importante material de ensino continua suscetível a constantes apreciações, queixas e questionamentos de diversos atores da cena da educação e da pesquisa científica sobre o ensino de línguas no país. No sentido de ampliar e aprofundar o nosso entendimento sobre o ensino de língua portuguesa a partir do olhar daqueles que se dedicam, ao longo dos anos, ao estudo do livro didático de português (LDP), acompanhando suas transformações e evoluções, propomo-nos, no presente estudo, analisar discursos (re)produzidos por pesquisadores brasileiros que investigam a coleção “Português: linguagens” quanto ao tratamento dado ao ensino de língua materna. Mais especificamente, nos propomos a verificar, nas pesquisas científicas selecionadas, as modificações e permanências nos discursos produzidos pelos pesquisadores sobre o livro didático “Português: linguagens” e ensino de língua materna, considerando a dimensão temporal de tais produções. O trabalho analítico empreendido se fundamenta em pressupostos teóricos dos estudos dialógicos da linguagem e em trabalhos de pesquisadores que discutem ensino de língua portuguesa e o livro didático. A análise qualitativa e interpretativa dos 10 artigos científicos que constituem o corpus do estudo aponta que os discursos de crítica em relação ao livro didático e ao ensino de português são recorrentes, de modo que as refrações depreciativas indicam estagnação e/ou permanência em atividades e abordagens do livro didático e do ensino de português, relevando que esses não têm avançado, ao longo do tempo, tanto quanto se esperava.
O Programa Nacional do Livro e do Material Didático (PNLD) de Língua Inglesa: análise das mudanças
Authors: Lamberts Denise , Sarmento Simone
Published: May 2023

A Língua Inglesa e a Língua Espanhola têm sua inserção no Programa Nacional do Livro e do Material Didático (PNLD) a partir de 2011. Desde o primeiro Edital do Programa referente a esses componentes curriculares, têm ocorrido alterações, tanto no Programa como um todo, quanto na área de Línguas Estrangeiras Modernas (LEM). Este estudo tem o objetivo de mapear essas mudanças, especialmente as relacionadas à Língua Inglesa. Para isso, foram analisados os Editais do PNLD dos anos finais do Ensino Fundamental de 2011, 2014, 2017 e 2020 e os Editais do PNLD de Ensino Médio de 2012, 2015, 2018 e 2021, além de Decretos e Resoluções relacionados ao Programa. É possível concluir que as principais alterações, que modificaram o PNLD de forma geral e as LEM especificamente, ocorreram após a publicação do Decreto de nº 9.099, de 18 de julho de 2017. Essas mudanças afetaram a forma como o Programa funciona, sendo que algumas parecem representar melhorias ao PNLD, enquanto outras são preocupantes, conforme análise.
RELAÇÕES DE SENTIDO ENTRE INSTRUMENTOS LINGUÍSTICOS DE LÍNGUA PORTUGUESA: DICIONÁRIO E GLOSSÁRIO
Authors: Silva Jaíne De Fátima Machado da
Published: May 2023

Este estudo tem por objetivo verificar se há relação de sentido entre glossário e dicionário, ferramentas importantes ao trabalho de professor de língua. Para isso, o corpus de pesquisa se constitui de oito (08) glossários de textos de diferentes gêneros textuais e literários presentes em um livro didático, comparado a acepções de um dicionário, ambos de língua portuguesa, distribuídos e destinados a um mesmo público. A metodologia utilizada foi de base qualitativa e consistiu na análise de termos/verbetes presentes tanto nos glossários de textos presentes em um livro didático quanto no dicionário. Este trabalho é fundamentado pelo aporte teórico da Análise do Discurso de Linha Francesa em articulação com a História das Ideias Linguísticas. Os resultados alcançados apontam que há relação de sentido entre dicionário e glossário. Ainda, que os glossários podem ser importantes para a compreensão do texto em questão, servindo como um mecanismo significativo de leitura e de interpretação. Por outro lado, diferentemente do dicionário, o glossário controla o sentido de determinado termo, oferta ao leitor um já pronto, um já dado e, nessa busca de domínio pelo sentido dos termos, acaba por engessar as acepções.
ALGUNS APONTAMENTOS SOBRE AS FORMAS DE CONHECER A FOME A PARTIR DA TRAJETÓRIA SOCIAL DO PROGRAMA FOME ZERO
Authors: Blanco Lis Furlani
Published: May 2023

“Podemos falar que a insegurança alimentar grave é um pleonasmo para fome?” Essa pergunta é ponto de partida para a construção deste artigo, que busca desenvolver uma análise dos processos de estabilização da categoria de fome ao longo de sua consolidação e instituição enquanto objeto de políticas públicas. Ao ter como lugar de atenção alguns espaços, técnicas e eventos de produção de saber sobre a fome, isto é, espaços em que ela é estabilizada e (trans)formada ao longo da trajetória social do Programa Fome Zero, busco trazer à tona os seguintes questionamentos: o que estamos medindo quando dizemos que medimos a fome ou a insegurança alimentar? Questionar o caráter dito “técnico” na produção desses objetos, desvelar os fatos como feitos, é suficiente para a compreensão de fenômenos mais amplos ligados à governamentalidade? Como essa produção é coordenada na prática das políticas públicas? Para responder a tais questionamentos, tento articular certo recorte da produção bibliográfica antropológica sobre fome com um agrupamento de documentos, práticas e eventos associados à criação e instituição dessa política pública guarda-chuva.
APRESENTAÇÃO
Authors: Machado Cauê Fraga
Published: May 2023

Apresenta o Dossiê Comida, Diferença e Desigualdade.
The correlation between environmental parameters and the abundance of crabs in the mangrove ecosystem of Gemuruh River, Koto XI Tarusan District, West Sumatera
Authors: Wulandari Dwieke Putri , Kamal Eni , Suparno Suparno
Published: May 2023

Crabs are a member of the mangrove ecosystem fauna and get their food source from litter. They turn the litter into detritus and maintain ecological balance. In addition, environmental conditions in the mangrove ecosystem also play an essential role in the abundance of brachyuran crabs. Influential environmental factors include temperature, salinity, water pH, and substrate type. This study aims to determine the effect of environment types on the presence of brachyuran crabs from families Ocypodidae and Sesarmidae in the mangrove ecosystem in Gemuruh River, Koto XI Tarusan District. The method used is a descriptive method, which is a direct observation approach to crabs and environmental conditions in the mangrove ecosystem area. Collection of crab samples and environmental condition data used a purposive sampling technique. The result shows six species distributed in the area, namely Uca bellator, U. rosea, Perisesarma eumolpe, Sarmatium germaini, P. plicatum, and Sesarma curoense. The distribution of species crabs in vegetation mangroves is Rhizophora stylosa, R. apiculata, R. mucronata, Sonneratia alba, and Nypa fruticans. The environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, water pH) at each station were within the relatively good category for the growth of the Ocypodidae and Sesarmidae crab families. Based on the analysis results of the relationship between the abundance of brachyuran crabs and environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, water pH), it can be seen that there is no significant correlation between temperature, salinity, and water pH with the abundance of Ocypodidae and Sesarmidae brachyuran crabs families in the mangrove ecosystem of Gemuruh River. The factor with a dominant influence on the abundance of these crabs is the substrate type.Keywords:AbundanceKoto XI TarusanMangroveOcypodidaeSesarmidae
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Authors: . .
Published: May 2023

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Photonic-assisted generation of a frequency-octupled triangular waveform based on spectrum manipulation
Authors: Yuan Jin , Ying Mei , Liu Qisong , Liu Jinbo , Wang Yiming
Published: May 2023

A new photonic approach for generating a triangular waveform with
octupled frequency, to the best of our knowledge, is presented. The
core principle is the frequency octupling technique based on two
cascaded dual-parallel Mach—Zehnder modulators(MZMs). A dual-electrode
MZM and a single-mode fiber are subsequently applied to manipulate the
signal spectrum to satisfy the characteristics of a triangular
waveform. By applying a 2 GHz radio frequency signal, a
full-duty-cycle triangular waveform with a repetition rate of
16 GHz is obtained. The high-frequency multiplying factor shows
great potential in generating a cost-effective waveform. Additionally,
the phase imbalance of a hybrid coupler and bias drift of the MZM have
been considered in our simulation, which further verify the
feasibility and stability of our proposal.