bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unraveling the activation process and core driver genes of HSCs during cirrhosis by single-cell transcriptome
Authors: Li Xia , Wang Qiang , Ai Liang , Cheng Ke
Published: September 2023

Worldwide, cirrhosis is a common cause of death, manifesting itself as fibrosis of the liver tissue. When the liver is damaged, the liver produces fibrotic, proliferative myofibroblasts, which are formed by the differentiation of activated hepatic stellate cells. There are no effective antifibrotic treatment options. To deeply explore the activation process of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and to discover better therapeutic target genes, single-cell RNA sequencing data on 13 non-cirrhotic liver tissue samples and 10 cirrhotic liver tissue samples were analyzed. We identified activated HSCs from the mesenchymal cell population with high expression of ACTA2. By pseudo-time analysis, we found that the key genes for the differentiation of HSCs into myofibroblasts were C3, CCDC80, COL1A1, COL3A1, DCN, FBLN1, IGFBP3, MXRA5, SERPINE1, and MYH11. Then, we found that the main regulators of HSCs from inactive to activated state were NTF3, NTRK3, NTRK2, JAG1, NOTCH3, ESAM, and CD46 by cell–cell communication analysis. In addition, we found that the top2 hub genes of activated HSCs were CRIP1 and ACTA2. The experimental results show that the top2 hub genes were significantly overexpressed in cirrhotic samples. Our work dissected key intercellular regulators and core driver genes during hepatic stellate cell activation during cirrhosis through single-cell transcriptome data analysis, providing a research strategy to discover rational therapeutic targets for cirrhosis and some important information for gene targeting therapy.
Knowledge and Barriers to a Healthy Lifestyle in Medical Students
Authors: Nelson Brittany , Petushek Erich , Teising Sarah
Published: September 2023

Across the US, chronic illnesses, including cancer and cardiovascular disease, largely result from poor lifestyle decisions such as diet, tobacco/alcohol use, and physical inactivity. Medical students' healthy lifestyle habits drastically decline during medical school, which can result in severe medical conditions, future poor patient outcomes, and burnout. However, little evidence exists on what perceived barriers medical students hold on lifestyle behaviors or how well they understand the relationship between specific lifestyle behaviors and their impact on health. This study included data from a self-selected sample of 127 medical students aged 22-41 years. Measures included the perceived health impact of 14 different lifestyle and dietary behaviors, self-reported barriers to lifestyle behaviors, and basic demographic questions. Results showed an average correlation of −.004 between participants' perceived impact and the actual impact of the behaviors on health (SD = .25; CI = −.047 - .039). Results also identified perceived barriers across behaviors that impact health. Data suggests that medical students have insufficient knowledge of the impact of lifestyle behaviors on health. Interventions targeting a medical student population should include information on how to overcome perceived barriers and the impact of lifestyle behaviors on health. Incorporating such information will bolster future interventions' effectiveness.
Advances in novel strategies for isolation, characterization, and analysis of CTCs and ctDNA
Authors: Yaghoubi Naei Vahid , Bordhan Pritam , Mirakhorli Fatemeh , Khorrami Motahare , Shrestha Jesus , Nazari Hojjatollah , Kulasinghe Arutha , Ebrahimi Warkiani Majid
Published: September 2023

Over the past decade, the detection and analysis of liquid biopsy biomarkers such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) have advanced significantly. They have received recognition for their clinical usefulness in detecting cancer at an early stage, monitoring disease, and evaluating treatment response. The emergence of liquid biopsy has been a helpful development, as it offers a minimally invasive, rapid, real-time monitoring, and possible alternative to traditional tissue biopsies. In resource-limited settings, the ideal platform for liquid biopsy should not only extract more CTCs or ctDNA from a minimal sample volume but also accurately represent the molecular heterogeneity of the patient’s disease. This review covers novel strategies and advancements in CTC and ctDNA-based liquid biopsy platforms, including microfluidic applications and comprehensive analysis of molecular complexity. We discuss these systems’ operational principles and performance efficiencies, as well as future opportunities and challenges for their implementation in clinical settings. In addition, we emphasize the importance of integrated platforms that incorporate machine learning and artificial intelligence in accurate liquid biopsy detection systems, which can greatly improve cancer management and enable precision diagnostics.
The Library's Changing Role in Supporting Music Research: Part of the special collection on MusicLab Copenhagen.
Authors: Sørbø Solveig , Good Matthew , Bergstrøm Rebecca Josefine Five , Kvale Live Håndlykken
Published: September 2023

The widespread use of digital tools to access scientific literature and other relevant information combined with a shift towards Open Research is changing how research is conducted and academic libraries are adapting their research support services to respond to this change. In this paper, we present the case of MusicLab, and especially MusicLab Copenhagen – Absorption with The Danish String Quartet, which served as a mechanism for the University of Oslo Library to test how it can support researchers in developing Open Research practices. MusicLab is a collaboration between the University of Oslo Library and the University of Oslo's Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Rhythm, Time and Motion. Through this case, we outline the role of the research library in supporting Open Research including the different legal and data management issues occurring when conducting open research on intellectual works and people. The insights from this paper will be useful for other academic libraries looking to expand their research support services and for researchers looking to further develop their Open Research practices.
How to Survive in the Shadow of Sharing Economy Giants: Business Model Innovation for Small and Medium-Sized Platforms
Authors: Sun Shouheng , Dong Shengjie , Wu Qi , Tian Xuejiao
Published: September 2023

This study aims to explore how small and medium-sized platforms in the sharing economy can gain a competitive advantage in a market monopolized by giants. Taking China’s ride-hailing industry as an example, the k-means clustering method was employed to compare and analyze the characteristics and differences of 207 small and medium-sized platforms based on the framework of the business model canvas. An empirical typology comprising four representative successful business models of small and medium-sized ride-hailing platforms is extracted from the dimensions of key partners, value propositions, customer segmentation, and cost-revenue structure: high-end business platforms, Minibus-hailing platforms, Intercity carpool platforms, and Aggregation mode platforms. The results show that small and medium-sized platforms in the sharing economy can rely on their own characteristics and advantages to seek new potential development directions and gain development space by constructing value propositions and operating models that are different from industry giants. Specifically, it is necessary to further implement refined market identification and segmentation to continuously develop differentiated competitive advantages. In particular, more effective and open business strategies should be explored and practiced to greatly expand the network effects and business boundaries of small and medium-sized platforms, thereby significantly enhancing their competitiveness in the ride-hailing market. This study provides a new perspective on the reconstruction of market exchange in the sharing economy through the prism of small and medium-sized digital platforms and has certain important theoretical significance for supplementing and advancing existing research.
Literacy at Work: Korean Adult Immigrants’ Lived Experiences
Authors: Jung Jin Kyeong
Published: September 2023

Despite the increasing emphasis on the language and literacy practices of immigrant communities, our understanding of Asian immigrants’ everyday experiences in their workplaces remains limited. This study examines the language and literacy practices of two Korean adult immigrants within their professional environment—a family-owned dry cleaning business. Drawing on the concept of Literacy as Social Practice, this study explores their lived experiences. Research was conducted using an ethnographic approach, incorporating participant observations, interviews, and field notes. The collected data was analyzed using an inductive method, facilitating a deeper understanding of the family's evolving social practices and the crucial role their workplace plays in the context of immigrant families. Findings suggest that the family refined their professional skills and essential English proficiency through self-initiated learning, utilizing available resources. The workplace emerged as a significant platform for the family's immigrant experience, markedly shaping their language and literacy practices. This research provides insight into the underrepresented population's literacy practices and spaces, contributing valuable understanding to the field of adult literacy.
How Do Science Journalists Evaluate Psychology Research?
Authors: Bottesini Julia G. , Aschwanden Christie , Rhemtulla Mijke , Vazire Simine
Published: September 2023

What information do science journalists use when evaluating psychology findings? We examined this in a preregistered, controlled experiment by manipulating four factors in descriptions of fictitious behavioral-psychology studies: (a) the study’s sample size, (b) the representativeness of the study’s sample, (c) the p value associated with the finding, and (d) institutional prestige of the researcher who conducted the study. We investigated the effects of these manipulations on 181 real journalists’ perceptions of each study’s trustworthiness and newsworthiness. Sample size was the only factor that had a robust influence on journalists’ ratings of how trustworthy and newsworthy a finding was; larger sample sizes led to an increase of about two-thirds of 1 point on a 7-point scale. University prestige had no effect in this controlled setting, and the effects of sample representativeness and of p values were inconclusive, but any effects in this setting are likely quite small. Exploratory analyses suggest that other types of prestige might be more important (i.e., journal prestige) and that study design (experimental vs. correlational) may also affect trustworthiness and newsworthiness.
The advantages and challenges experienced with the implementation and delivery of community paramedicine programmes: A qualitative reflexive thematic analysis
Authors: Shannon Brendan , Batt Alan M. , Eaton Georgette , Leyenaar Matthew , O’Meara Peter , Barry Tomas , Lanos Chelsea , Wingrove Gary , Williams Brett , Nolan Michael , Carney Ray , Heffern J.D , Bowles Kelly-Ann
Published: September 2023

Objective

This study aims to investigate the experiences of individuals involved in implementing and delivering community paramedicine programmes across several different regions internationally, in order to identify key themes that can inform ongoing development and introduction of community paramedicine programmes.

Methods

In this study, participants were enlisted through convenience sampling and a snowballing method. They responded to a custom survey emphasising open-ended responses. We employed a qualitative reflexive thematic analysis, utilising an inductive coding technique at the semantic/explicit level. This approach allowed us to discern themes from the participants’ accounts of the programme's implementation and delivery, along with their perceptions of its strengths and challenges.

Results

Data was collected from 29 participants engaged in the development or delivery of community paramedicine programmes spanning seven countries. Five themes were created: (1) community drives the need, which emphasises the importance of community engagement and flexible response to health needs; (2) working with others, which underscores the necessity of collaboration with stakeholders for integration and relationship maintenance; (3) promotion and communication, focusing on clarifying roles and countering misconceptions; (4) recruitment and support of community paramedics, highlighting the significance of experienced paramedic recruitment and providing support for staff retention; and (5) research and evaluation, stressing the importance of data sharing for patient care and programme evaluation. These themes demonstrate the significance of community-centred approaches, interprofessional practice, and programme evaluation in community paramedicine.

Conclusion

This study highlights the significance of community-centred approaches, interprofessional practice, and programme evaluation in community paramedicine. These findings can inform policymakers and practitioners in the development and implementation of community paramedicine programmes, ultimately improving the health and well-being of communities across different regions internationally.
Enzymatic fermentation of rapeseed cake significantly improved the soil environment of tea rhizosphere
Authors: Song Yujie , Sun Litao , Wang Huan , Zhang Shuning , Fan Kai , Mao Yilin , Zhang Jie , Han Xiao , Chen Hao , Xu Yang , Sun Kangwei , Ding Zhaotang , Wang Yu
Published: September 2023

Background

Rapeseed cake is an important agricultural waste. After enzymatic fermentation, rapeseed cake not only has specific microbial diversity but also contains a lot of fatty acids, organic acids, amino acids and their derivatives, which has potential value as a high-quality organic fertilizer. However, the effects of fermented rapeseed cake on tea rhizosphere microorganisms and soil metabolites have not been reported. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effect of enzymatic rapeseed cake fertilizer on the soil of tea tree, and to reveal the correlation between rhizosphere soil microorganisms and nutrients/metabolites.

Results

The results showed that: (1) The application of enzymatic rapeseed cake increased the contents of soil organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), available nitrogen (AN), and available phosphorus (AP); increased the activities of soil urease (S-UE), soil catalase (S-CAT), soil acid phosphatase (S-ACP) and soil sucrase (S-SC); (2) The application of enzymatic rapeseed cake increased the relative abundance of beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms such as Chaetomium, Inocybe, Pseudoxanthomonas, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, and Stenotrophomonas; (3) The application of enzymatic rapeseed cake increased the contents of sugar, organic acid, and fatty acid in soil, and the key metabolic pathways were concentrated in sugar and fatty acid metabolisms; (4) The application of enzymatic rapeseed cake promoted the metabolism of sugar, organic acid, and fatty acid in soil by key rhizosphere microorganisms; enzymes and microorganisms jointly regulated the metabolic pathways of sugar and fatty acids in soil.

Conclusions

Enzymatic rapeseed cake fertilizer improved the nutrient status and microbial structure of tea rhizosphere soil, which was beneficial for enhancing soil productivity in tea plantations. These findings provide new insights into the use of enzymatic rapeseed cake as an efficient organic fertilizer and expand its potential for application in tea plantations.
A “safety cap” for improving hospital sanitation and reducing potential disease transmission
Authors: Liu Lilong , Deng Yan , Xia Shouli , Sun Zengpeng , Zhu Zhipeng , Chen Weiyi , Xiao Dongdong , Sheng Weiyong , Chen Ke
Published: September 2023

Background

During endotracheal intubation, extubation, tracheotomy, and tracheotomy tube replacement, the splashed airway secretions of patients will increase the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV‐2 and many other potential viral and bacterial diseases, such as influenza virus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, Middle East respiratory coronavirus syndrome (MERS-CoV), Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a barrier between patients and medical workers to reduce the risk of operators’ infection with potentially pathogenic microorganisms.

Methods

We designed a “safety cap” that can be connected to the opening of an endotracheal tube or tracheotomy tube to reduce the diffusion area of respiratory secretions during the process of endotracheal intubation, extubation and tracheotomy tube replace, so as to reduce the infection risk of medical workers.

Results

Through a series of hydrodynamic simulation analysis and experiments, we demonstrated that the use of “safety cap” can substantially limit the spatter of airway secretions, so as to improve the hospital sanitation.

Conclusion

The “safety cap” can effectively limit the dissemination of patients’ respiratory secretions, thus reducing the risk of potential diseases transmission and may have certain application prospects.
A clinical radiomics nomogram preoperatively to predict ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion in women with biopsy-confirmed ductal carcinoma in situ: a preliminary study
Authors: Huang Zhou , Chen Xue , Jiang Nan , Hu Su , Hu Chunhong
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To predict ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion (DCISMI) based on clinicopathologic, conventional breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) radiomics signatures in women with biopsy-confirmed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Methods

Eighty-six women with eighty-seven biopsy-proven DCIS who underwent preoperative MRI and underwent surgery were retrospectively identified. Clinicopathologic, conventional MRI, DCE-MRI radiomics, combine (based on conventional MRI and DCE-MRI radiomics), traditional (based on clinicopathologic and conventional MRI) and mixed (based on clinicopathologic, conventional MRI and DCE-MRI radiomics) models were constructed by logistic regression (LR) with a 3-fold cross-validation, all evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. A clinical radiomics nomogram was then built by incorporating the Radiomics score, significant clinicopathologic and conventional MRI features of mixed model.

Results

The area under the curves (AUCs) of clinicopathologic, conventional MRI, DCE-MRI radiomics, traditional, combine, and mixed model were 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59–0.94), 0.77 (95%CI 0.59–0.95), 0.74 (95%CI 0.55–0.93), 0.87 (95%CI 0.73–1), 0.8 (95%CI 0.63–0.96), and 0.93 (95%CI 0.84–1) in the validation cohort, respectively. The clinical radiomics nomogram based on mixed model showed higher AUCs than both clinicopathologic and DCE-MRI radiomics models in training/test (all P < 0.05) set and showed the greatest overall net benefit for upstaging according to decision curve analysis (DCA).

Conclusion

A nomogram constructed by combining clinicopathologic, conventional MRI features and DCE-MRI radiomics signatures may be useful in predicting DCISMI from DICS preoperatively.
Role of body mass index in pregnancy outcomes after emergency cerclage for cervical insufficiency in singleton pregnant patients
Authors: Liu Weiling , Lu Yaping , Fan Yuqin , Hei Guozhen , Zhang Aijuan , Xue Guoping , Wu Yanmei
Published: September 2023

Background

The study aims were to analyze pregnancy outcomes after the use of emergency cerclage in patients with different BMIs.

Methods

A total of 76 singleton pregnant patients who underwent emergency cerclage at a tertiary comprehensive hospital in China between Jan 2017 and Dec 2021 were retrospectively divided into an obesity group of 37 patients with BMIs ≥ 28 kg/m2and a non-obesity group of 39 patients with BMIs < 28 kg/m2. The medical records of patients were reviewed and all relevant clinical data were further collected into an itemized data spreadsheet for various analyses.

Results

Emergent cerclage, along with amnioreduction if needed, could be safely performed on both obese and non-obese pregnant women with a dilated external cervix (> 1 cm), which effectively prolonged the gestational week up to ≥ 25 weeks. Obese gravidae had shorter suture-to-delivery intervals and mean pregnancy lengths but more spontaneous preterm births before 37 weeks, and a lower live birth rate (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that BMI, how many times cerclages have been performed during pregnancy (frequency of cerclage) and bacterial vaginosis, aerobic vaginitis and vulvovaginal candidiasis (vaginal microecology) were significantly correlated with fetal loss (P < 0.05), while rank correlation analysis established a negative correlation between BMI values and the suture-to-delivery interval (P = 0.031).

Conclusions

Pregnant cervical insufficiency patients with BMIs > 28 kg/m2may ill-serve the gestational outcomes and suture-to-delivery interval after their emergent cerclage. Additionally, BMI, frequency of cerclage and vaginal microecology accounted for higher fetal loss in patients who underwent emergency cerclage.
​Occult extracranial malignancy after complete remission of pineal mixed germ cell tumors: a rare case report and literature review
Authors: Liu Jun , Fang Luxiong , Qi Songtao , Song Ye , Han Lei
Published: September 2023

Background

​Extracranial metastasis can occur in intracranial germ cell tumors (GCTs), but it is very rare. Recurrence or metastasis of non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs) is often accompanied by elevated tumor markers. ​Occult extracranial metastases or recurrences with negative markers are often difficult to detect in time, resulting in a very poor prognosis.

Case presentation

A 12-year-old boy was admitted to our institution with dizziness, headache, vomiting, and sleepiness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a pineal mass, accompanied by a significant increase in serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The patient subsequently underwent total removal of the tumor. Pathology revealed that the tumor was a mixed GCT, consisting of mature teratoma, germinoma, and yolk sac tumor. Intracranial GCT achieved complete remission after intensive adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Regular follow-up MRI revealed no recurrence of the intracranial tumor and continued monitoring of tumor markers revealed no abnormalities. ​Eight months later, the patient was readmitted due to progressive abdominal pain. Imaging and physical examination revealed abdominal occupation and lymphatic mass in the neck. He received salvage chemotherapy, anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, and palliative chemotherapy, but still developed multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (MODS) due to tumor progression and eventually died after one month.

Conclusions

​This profound case suggests that intracranial NGGCTs may develop occult extracranial malignancy, which can be very severe at the time of clinical symptoms and has an extremely poor prognosis. Therefore, in addition to tumor marker monitoring, regular follow-up with extracranial imaging may be warranted to detect extracranial tumors as early as possible, although perhaps not as frequently as with neuroimaging.
Village doctors: a national telephone survey of Bangladesh’s lay medical practitioners
Authors: Muurlink Olav , Uzzaman Nazim , Boorman Rhonda J , Binte Kibria Sarah , Best Talitha , Taylor-Robinson Andrew W.
Published: September 2023

Background

Bangladesh outperforms its Least Developed Country (LDC) status on a range of health measures including life expectancy. Its frontline medical practitioners, however, are not formally trained medical professionals, but instead lightly-trained ‘village doctors’ able to prescribe modern pharmaceuticals. This current study represents the most complete national survey of these practitioners and their informal ‘clinics’.

Methods

The study is based on a national Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) of 1,000 informal practitioners. Participants were sampled from all eight divisions and all 64 districts of Bangladesh, including 682 participants chosen from the purposively recruited Refresher Training program conducted by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), supplemented with 318 additional participants recruited through snowball sampling.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

In addition to demographics, village doctors were asked about the characteristics of their ‘clinics’ including their equipment, their training, income and referral practices.

Results

Three quarters of the wholly male sample had not completed an undergraduate program, and none of the sample had received any bachelor-level university training in medicine. Medical training was confined to a range of short-course offerings. Village doctor ‘clinics’ are highly dependent on the sale of pharmaceuticals, with few charging a consultation fee. Income was not related to degree of short-course uptake but was related positively to degree of formal education. Finally, practitioners showed a strong tendency to refer patients to the professional medical care system.

Conclusions

Bangladesh’s village doctor sector provides an important pathway to professional, trained medical care, and provides some level of care to those who cannot afford or otherwise access the nation’s established healthcare system. However, the degree to which relatively untrained paramedical practitioners are prescribing conventional medicines has concerning health implications.
Out of pocket expenditure and distress financing on cesarean delivery in India: evidence from NFHS-5
Authors: Singh Rajeev Ranjan , Sharma Anjali , Mohanty Sanjay K.
Published: September 2023

Background

Though over three-fourths of all births receive medical attention in India, the rate of cesarean delivery (22%) is twice higher than the WHO recommended level. Cesarean deliveries entail high costs and may lead to financial catastrophe for households. This paper examines the out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and distress financing of cesarean deliveries in India.

Methods

We used data from the latest round of the National Family Health Survey conducted during 2019–21. The survey covered 636,699 households, and 724,115 women in the age group 15–49 years. We have used 159,643 births those delivered three years preceding the survey for whom the question on cost was canvassed. Descriptive analysis, bivariate analysis, concentration index (CI), and concentration curve (CC) were used in the analysis.

Result

Cesarean deliveries in India was estimated at 14.08%, in private health centres and 9.96%  in public health centres. The prevalence of cesarean delivery increases with age, educational attainment, wealth quintile, BMI and high for those who had pregnancy complications, and previous birth as cesarean. The OOPE on cesarean births was US$133. It was US$498 in private health centres and US$99 in public health centres. The extent of distress financing of any cesarean delivery was 15.37%; 27% for those who delivered in private health centres compared to 16.61% for those who delivered in public health centres. The odds of financial distress arising due to OOPE on cesarean delivery increased with the increase of OOPE [AOR:10.00, 95% CI, 9.35–10.70]. Distress financing increased with birth order and was higher among those with low education and those who belonged to lower socioeconomic strata.

Conclusion

High OOPE on a cesarean delivery leads to distress financing in India. Timely monitoring of pregnancy and providing comprehensive pregnancy care, improving the quality of primary health centres to conduct cesarean deliveries, and regulating private health centres may reduce the high OOPE and financial distress due to cesarean deliveries in India.
Combining old and new concepts in targeting telomerase for cancer therapy: transient, immediate, complete and combinatory attack (TICCA)
Authors: Ali Jaber Haj , Walter Michael
Published: September 2023

Telomerase can overcome replicative senescence by elongation of telomeres but is also a specific element in most cancer cells. It is expressed more vastly than any other tumor marker. Telomerase as a tumor target inducing replicative immortality can be overcome by only one other mechanism: alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). This limits the probability to develop resistance to treatments. Moreover, telomerase inhibition offers some degree of specificity with a low risk of toxicity in normal cells. Nevertheless, only one telomerase antagonist reached late preclinical studies. The underlying causes, the pitfalls of telomerase-based therapies, and future chances based on recent technical advancements are summarized in this review. Based on new findings and approaches, we propose a concept how long-term survival in telomerase-based cancer therapies can be significantly improved: the TICCA (Transient Immediate Complete and Combinatory Attack) strategy.
Face mask sampling (FMS) for tuberculosis shows lower diagnostic sensitivity than sputum sampling in Guinea
Authors: Hassane-Harouna Souleymane , Braet Sofie Marijke , Decroo Tom , Camara Lansana Mady , Delamou Alexandre , Bock Sven de , Ortuño-Gutiérrez Nimer , Cherif Gba-Foromo , Williams Caroline M. , Wisniewska Anika , Barer Michael R. , Rigouts Leen , de Jong Bouke Catherine
Published: September 2023

Background

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) diagnosis relies on sputum examination, a challenge in sputum-scarce patients. Alternative non-invasive sampling methods such as face mask sampling (FMS) have been proposed.

Objective

To evaluate the value of FMS for PTB diagnosis by assessing its agreement with sputum samples processed by GeneXpert MTB/RIF (Ultra)(Xpert) testing, and describe FMS sensitivity and specificity.

Methods

This was a prospective study conducted at the Carrière TB clinic in Guinea. Presumptive TB patients willing to participate were asked to wear a surgical mask containing a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) strip for thirty minutes. Subsequently, two spot sputum samples were collected, of which one was processed by microscopy on site and the other by Xpert in Guinea’s National Reference Laboratory of Mycobacteriology (LNRM). The first 30 FMS were processed at the Supranational Reference Laboratory in Antwerp, Belgium, and the following 118 FMS in the LNRM.

Results

One hundred fifty patients participated, of whom 148 had valid results for both mask and sputum. Sputum smear microscopy was positive for 47 (31.8%) patients while sputum-Xpert detected MTB in 54 (36.5%) patients. Among the 54 patients testing sputum-Xpert positive, 26 (48.1%) yielded a positive FMS-Xpert result, while four sputum-Xpert negative patients tested positive for FMS and 90 patients were Xpert-negative for both sputum and mask samples, suggesting a moderate level of agreement (k-value of 0.47). The overall mask sensitivity was 48.1%, with 95.7% specificity.

Conclusion

In our setting, Xpert testing on FMS did not yield a high level of agreement to sputum sample.
3D-printed dual holder system for simultaneous rat PET scanning: design and influence on quantification
Authors: Bouillot Caroline , Daligault Sébastien , Bolbos Radu , Costes Nicolas , Zimmer Luc
Published: September 2023

Background

The low throughout of small animal positron emission tomography (PET) images acquisitions represents a substantial limitation. The aims of this study were (i) to design a low-cost support for simultaneous dynamic PET scanning of two lying rats and (ii) to study its impact on brain image quantification.

Results

Accuracy of concentration measurement was 5.5% for one phantom in the field of view, and 5.7% for two phantoms measured simultaneously. Ratio concentration between phantoms showed an error of 6.7% ± 5.1% for Solo upper position, 6.7% ± 3.7% for Solo lower position, 5.9% ± 4.3% for Duo upper position, and 7.4% ± 6% for Duo lower position 6.7% for separated measures, and 6.6% for simultaneous measures.

In vivo distribution profiles showed no difference between solo and duo uptakes. Region of Interest quantification in the whole brain showed 4.4% variability solo and 3.5% duo. The quantified test–retest bias was 8% in solo and 5% in duo, and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient was comparable in solo and duo (0.969 vs. 0.966).

Conclusions

Our results showed that simultaneous scans of two rats in INVEON do not affect quantification. The dual support system will allow us to reduce protocol costs and duration.
Did real economic uncertainty drive risk connectedness in the oil–stock nexus during the COVID-19 outbreak? A partial wavelet coherence analysis
Authors: Al-Shboul Mohammad , Maghyereh Aktham
Published: September 2023

This study explores the impact of real economic policy (business condition risk) on the oil–stock nexus risk connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic. It uses multivariate wavelet coherency and partial wavelet coherency methods to isolate the effects of global risk indices, such as the US economic uncertainty index, the crude oil volatility index, and the geopolitical risk index, on risk connectedness. The study is based on daily data from January 2018 to December 2020 and finds a strong impact of real economic uncertainty indices on risk connectedness, with time-varying and frequency-sensitive patterns. The results also show that during the COVID-19 crisis, higher coherencies between oil and equity volatilities exist at lower frequencies. This research provides useful insights for regulators and portfolio diversifiers.
Treatments for ADHD in adults in jails, prisons and correctional settings: a scoping review of the literature
Authors: Byrne Cory , Guenter Dale
Published: September 2023

Background

Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is prevalent at a higher rate in correctional settings than in the general population. Treatment of ADHD in this environment is challenging as stimulants, the most common treatment for ADHD, require cautious prescribing in the context of frequent substance use disorders (SUD) and diversion in the institutional setting. In addition, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches require significant staff resources. The aim of this scoping review is to map and summarize all literature addressing treatment of ADHD specifically in correctional settings, synthesize the evidence supporting various approaches, and highlight areas for future research. Due to the limited number of primary research studies addressing this question directly, we chose a scoping review methodology that would allow us to explore what kinds of studies and literature exist and include all types of articles directly related to our question.

Results

Five-hundred sixty-five relevant articles were screened. Thirty-two articles were included in the final review. Eleven of the articles reported primary research. Five of these articles were based on three randomized controlled trials. Among randomized controlled trials on the effect of stimulants, inclusion criteria, outcome measures and effectiveness varied widely. Non-male and non-white populations were under-represented. Among review articles and recommendations opinion was inconsistent, with some recommending stimulants as first-line treatment and others recommending they be avoided altogether. The effect of non-stimulant medications was examined in 2 small studies. The only non-pharmacological treatment examined was dialectical behavior therapy, and only feasibility was reported. Four articles provided practice recommendations from consensus or expert opinion. Two of these recommended stimulants as first-line treatment, and two recommended stimulants as treatment of last resort.

Conclusions

We found a diverse but shallow literature addressing our research question. Primary research in the corrections setting is limited and varies in inclusion criteria, outcomes studied, and effectiveness. Recommendations on treatment are inconsistent. Future research should address methods of diagnosis, the role of non-stimulants, non-pharmacological interventions, non-male and non-white people who are incarcerated (PWAI), and effects of treatment method on patients, staff and other PWAI. Better research and guidance on treating ADHD has potential to improve health of PWAI, the institutional environment, and resource utilization.
Shame-coping clusters: comparisons regarding attachment insecurities, mentalizing deficits, and personality pathology, controlling for general emotion dysregulation
Authors: Asgarizadeh Ahmad , Sharp Carla , Ghanbari Saeed
Published: September 2023

Background

General Emotion Dysregulation (GED) is increasingly implicated as an underlying factor in personality pathology; however, the regulation of specific emotions, such as shame, has been relatively overlooked in the literature. We aimed to identify distinct clusters of shame-coping/regulation and compare them regarding attachment insecurities, mentalizing deficits, and personality pathology, controlling for GED.

Methods

A convenience sample of 600 participants (351 females and 249 males) from the general population with ages ranging from 18 to 65 (M = 33.78, SD = 12.80) completed a battery of self-report instruments, measuring shame-coping styles, GED, attachment insecurities, mentalizing deficits, criteria A and B of the alternative model for personality disorders, and borderline personality traits. A two-stage clustering method was employed, with shame-coping styles as the clustering variables. The identified clusters were then compared for their effects on dependent variables using multivariate and univariate analyses. These comparisons were also performed after controlling for GED.

Results

Multiple determination methods suggested a two-cluster solution: maladaptive and adaptive shame-coping. Attack-self, withdrawal, and attack-other styles were the main discriminators. Compared with the adaptive cluster, the maladaptive cluster was characterized by higher use of maladaptive and lower use of adaptive shame-coping styles. Multivariate analyses demonstrated significant differences for all the between-cluster comparisons, with and without GED as the covariate (p < .001).

Conclusions

The current study provides evidence for the presence of homogenous clusters of shame-coping in community-based adults. Between-cluster contrasts after controlling for GED suggest that addressing shame-coping could have incremental utility over and above GED.
Recent advances in 3D printable conductive hydrogel inks for neural engineering
Authors: Kim Sung Dong , Kim Kyoungryong , Shin Mikyung
Published: September 2023

Recently, the 3D printing of conductive hydrogels has undergone remarkable advances in the fabrication of complex and functional structures. In the field of neural engineering, an increasing number of reports have been published on tissue engineering and bioelectronic approaches over the last few years. The convergence of 3D printing methods and electrically conducting hydrogels may create new clinical and therapeutic possibilities for precision regenerative medicine and implants. In this review, we summarize (i) advancements in preparation strategies for conductive materials, (ii) various printing techniques enabling the fabrication of electroconductive hydrogels, (iii) the required physicochemical properties of the printed constructs, (iv) their applications in bioelectronics and tissue regeneration for neural engineering, and (v) unconventional approaches and outlooks for the 3D printing of conductive hydrogels. This review provides technical insights into 3D printable conductive hydrogels and encompasses recent developments, specifically over the last few years of research in the neural engineering field.
Finding connection “while everything is going to crap”: experiences in Recovery Colleges during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Harris Holly , Shier Rowen , Black Georgia , Di Giandomenico Anna , Lin Elizabeth , Bellissimo Gail , Rovet Jordana , Gruszecki Sam , Soklaridis Sophie
Published: September 2023

Background

Recovery Colleges (RCs) are mental health and well-being education centres where people come together and learn skills that support their wellness. Co-production, co-learning and transformative education are fundamental to RCs. People with lived experience are recognized as experts who partner with health professionals in the design and actualization of educational programming. The pandemic has changed how RCs operate by necessitating a shift from in-person to virtual offerings. Given the relational ethos of RCs, it is important to explore how the experiences of RC members and communities were impacted during this time. To date, there has been limited scholarship on this topic.

Methods

In this exploratory phase of a larger project, we used participatory action research to interview people who were accessing, volunteering and/or working in RCs across Canada. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-nine individuals who provided insights on what is important to them about RC programming.

Results

Our study was conducted amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, participants elucidated how their involvement in RCs was impacted by pandemic related restrictions. The results of this study demonstrate that RC programming is most effective when it: (1) is inclusive; (2) has a “good vibe”; and (3) equips people to live a fuller life.

Conclusions

The pandemic, despite its challenges, has yielded insights into a possible evolution of the RC model that transcends the pandemic-context. In a time of great uncertainty, RCs served as safe spaces where people could redefine, pursue, maintain or recover wellness on their own terms.
Cognitive impairment among an Egyptian sample of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders: a comparative study
Authors: Khedr Eman M. , Ghanima Nashwa E. , Elbeh Khaled A. , Ahmed Gellan k , El-Fawal Bastawy
Published: September 2023

Background

The cognitive profile among patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) has varied widely across different studies. The aim of the current study was to compare different cognitive domains using psychometric and neurophysiological tests in patients with SZ to those with BD. A case–control study was conducted on 30 BD, 30 SZ and 30 age and sex matched control group. Each subject was submitted to the following: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-3rd edition (WAIS-III), Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA), Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R), Memory Assessment Scales (MAS), and the P300 event related potential (ERP).

Results

SZ and BD patients had significantly lower total and subscales of WAIS-III scores than the control group. SZ patients had significantly higher deterioration index (DI) than controls, while absence of such significant between BD and controls. SZ patients reported significantly lower MoCA scores and subitems, especially in visuospatial, naming, attention, delayed recall, and orientation subtests than controls. Only visuospatial and delayed recall scores were significantly decreased in BD than controls. SZ patients performed poorer on BVMT-R subscales than the control group. Both SZ and BD groups had lower mean values of all subscales except verbal assessment in the four memory tests. P300 latencies and amplitude had no significant difference among the three groups, although the BD group had a shorter P300 latency.

Conclusion

Patients with SZ and BD had significantly lower scores on various cognitive function domains in comparison to controls with more affection in SZ. The frequency of mood episodes, disease duration, and education level must be considered.
Nimrods
Authors: Guillermo Kawika
Published: September 2023

In Nimrods, Kawika Guillermo chronicles the agonizing absurdities of being a newly minted professor (and overtired father) hired to teach in a Social Justice Institute while haunted by the inner ghosts of patriarchy, racial pessimism, and imperial arrogance. Charged with the “personal is political” mandate of feminist critique, Guillermo honestly and powerfully recounts his wayward path, from being raised by two preachers' kids in a chaotic mixed-race family to his uncle's death from HIV-related illness, which helped prompt his parents' divorce and his mother's move to Las Vegas, to his many attempts to flee from American gender, racial, and religious norms by immigrating to South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Canada. Through an often crass, cringey, and raw hybrid prose-poetic style, Guillermo reflects on anger, alcoholism, and suicidal ideation—traits that do not simply vanish after one is cast into the treacherous role of fatherhood or the dreaded role of professor. Guillermo's shameless mixtures of autotheory, queer punk poetry, musical ekphrasis, haibun, academic (mis)quotations, and bad dad jokes present a bold new take on the autobiography: the fake-punk self-hurt anti-memoir.
Φύλο και πολιτική στη σύγχρονη Ελλάδα
Authors: Ανδρούτσου Φούλβια
Published: September 2023

Η παρούσα μελέτη αποσκοπεί να διερευνήσει τις αντιλήψεις και τις στάσεις της πορείας εισαγωγής, εφαρμογής και αποτελεσματικότητας των έμφυλων ποσοστώσεων στην πολιτική αντιπροσώπευση, όπως γίνονται αντιληπτές από τις ίδιες τις γυναίκες αντιπροσώπους και υποψήφιες του ελληνικού Κοινοβουλίου. Συνεπώς εξετάζει τις προκαταλήψεις, τα ανθρώπινα κίνητρα και τις δράσεις των γυναικών πολιτικών αντιπροσώπων όπως αυτές απεικονίζονται στα πρακτικά της Βουλής κατά τη διάρκεια συζήτησης του μέτρου των ποσοστώσεων. Όπως επίσης και από τις ιστορίες και αφηγήσεις γυναικών πολιτικών εκλεγμένων και υποψηφίων στο ελληνικό Κοινοβούλιο. Παράλληλα ανιχνεύει τις απόψεις, εμπειρίες και νοηματοδοτήσεις τόσο των αντιπροσώπων των κομμάτων όσο και των γυναικών πολιτικών σχετικά με τους λόγους της συνεχιζόμενης πολιτικής υπο – αντιπροσώπευσης των γυναικών και αναδεικνύει τους παράγοντες αύξησης της πολιτικής συμμετοχής των γυναικών. Κυριότερο λόγο διεξαγωγής της έρευνας αποτελεί το ερευνητικό κενό που υπάρχει στο ζήτημα της πολιτικής αντιπροσώπευσης των γυναικών σε σχέση με τις έμφυλες ποσοστώσεις. Οι περισσότερες έρευνες που έχουν διεξαχθεί έως τώρα δίνουν έμφαση στο σκεπτικό, το περιεχόμενο, τις νομικές και τις θεωρητικές επιπτώσεις του μέτρου των ποσοστώσεων. Η συλλογή του ερευνητικού υλικού βασίστηκε σε δύο (2) ποιοτικές εστιάσεις. Η πρώτη εστίαση αφορά στα πρακτικά της Βουλής κατά τη διάρκεια συζήτησης και ψήφισης του μέτρου των ποσοστώσεων στην ελληνική νομοθεσία. Η δεύτερη εστίαση αφορά τις αφηγήσεις είκοσι έξι (26) γυναικών πολιτικών προερχόμενες από 2 ομάδες (εκλεγμένες κατά τη διάρκεια των συνεντεύξεων μεταξύ Απριλίου 2018 και Ιανουαρίου 2019 και μη εκλεγμένες στις τελευταίες 3 εκλογικές αναμετρήσεις: 2012, 2015, 2019) που ανήκαν σε τέσσερα (4) πολιτικά κόμματα (με αλφαβητική σειρά: Κ.Κ.Ε., Ν.Δ., ΠΑ.ΣΟ.Κ., ΣΥ.ΡΙΖ.Α.). Το ερευνητικό υλικό που προέκυψε αναλύθηκε συστηματικά σύμφωνα με τις αρχές της θεματικής ανάλυσης λαμβάνοντας υπόψιν τον ιδεολογικό / κομματικό προσανατολισμό των αντιπροσώπων των κομμάτων και των γυναικών ερωτώμενων εφόσον διαμορφώνει τις θέσεις και τις απόψεις τους. Η τελική ενιαία έκθεση της έρευνας αποτελείται δύο (2) κεφάλαια. Στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο παρουσιάζονται οι στάσεις των πολιτικών κομμάτων σχετικά με την αντιπροσώπευση των γυναικών αναφορικά με την εισαγωγή των έμφυλων ποσοστώσεων στην πολιτική μέσα από τα πρακτικά της Βουλής. Το δεύτερο κεφάλαιο περιλαμβάνει την αναλυτική παρουσίαση των αποτελεσμάτων των ερευνητικών δεδομένων από τις συνεντεύξεις βάθους των γυναικών.