bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Piloting a one-day parent-only intervention in the treatment of youth with anxiety disorders: child and family-level outcomes
Authors: Cobham Vanessa E. , Radtke Sarah R. , Hawkins Ingrid , Jordan Michele , Ali Nasriah Rizman , Ollendick Thomas H. , Sanders Matthew R.
Published: January 2024

Objective

Parent-only cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions have promise for youth with anxiety disorders. Fear-Less Triple P (FLTP) is one such intervention that has been found comparable to child-focused CBT. Although traditionally administered in six sessions, a one-day workshop format of FLTP was developed to improve accessibility. The current study compared the effectiveness of the six-session and one-day workshop formats.

Method

Seventy-three youth (mean age, 8.4 years; 74% male) were randomized to traditional FLTP (6-week group) or the one-day workshop format. Anxiety diagnostic status, self- and parent-reported anxiety symptoms scores, independent evaluator-rated improvement, treatment satisfaction, and measures of family functioning were included to assess treatment outcome. Data were collected prior to treatment, and 1-week, 6-months, and 12-months following treatment.

Results

Both conditions resulted in significant improvement in child anxiety symptom scores per parent report (on both questionnaire and diagnostic interview measures). Furthermore, significant decreases in sibling anxiety were observed in both treatment conditions. There were no statistically significant differences between conditions on any outcome measure.

Conclusions

Results of this study add to the growing evidence that brief, low-intensity, parent-only interventions can effectively target child psychopathology. These brief interventions are ideal for families for whom the resources and time required to commit to a standard multi-week intervention are prohibitive.

Registration of Clinical Trials: This trial was registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN 12615001284550).
Chromatin activity identifies differential gene regulation across human ancestries
Authors: Pettie Kade P. , Mumbach Maxwell , Lea Amanda J. , Ayroles Julien , Chang Howard Y. , Kasowski Maya , Fraser Hunter B.
Published: January 2024

Background

Current evidence suggests that cis-regulatory elements controlling gene expression may be the predominant target of natural selection in humans and other species. Detecting selection acting on these elements is critical to understanding evolution but remains challenging because we do not know which mutations will affect gene regulation.

Results

To address this, we devise an approach to search for lineage-specific selection on three critical steps in transcriptional regulation: chromatin activity, transcription factor binding, and chromosomal looping. Applying this approach to lymphoblastoid cells from 831 individuals of either European or African descent, we find strong signals of differential chromatin activity linked to gene expression differences between ancestries in numerous contexts, but no evidence of functional differences in chromosomal looping. Moreover, we show that enhancers rather than promoters display the strongest signs of selection associated with sites of differential transcription factor binding.

Conclusions

Overall, our study indicates that some cis-regulatory adaptation may be more easily detected at the level of chromatin than DNA sequence. This work provides a vast resource of genomic interaction data from diverse human populations and establishes a novel selection test that will benefit future study of regulatory evolution in humans and other species.
The adc1 knockout with proC overexpression in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 induces a diversion of acetyl-CoA to produce more polyhydroxybutyrate
Authors: Utharn Suthira , Jantaro Saowarath
Published: January 2024

Background

Lack of nutrients, in particular nitrogen and phosphorus, has been known in the field to sense glutamate production via 2-oxoglutarate and subsequently accelerate carbon storage, including glycogen and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), in cyanobacteria, but a few studies have focused on arginine catabolism. In this study, we first time demonstrated that gene manipulation on proC and adc1, related to proline and polyamine syntheses in arginine catabolism, had a significant impact on enhanced PHB production during late growth phase and nutrient-modified conditions. We constructed Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 with an overexpressing proC gene, encoding Δ1pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase in proline production, and adc1 disruption resulted in lower polyamine synthesis.

Results

Three engineered Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 strains, including a ProC-overexpressing strain (OXP), adc1 mutant, and an OXP strain lacking the adc1 gene (OXP/Δadc1), certainly increased the PHB accumulation under nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency. The possible advantages of single proC overexpression include improved PHB and glycogen storage in late phase of growth and long-term stress situations. However, on day 7 of treatment, the synergistic impact created by OXP/Δadc1 increased PHB synthesis by approximately 48.9% of dry cell weight, resulting in a shorter response to nutrient stress than the OXP strain. Notably, changes in proline and glutamate contents in engineered strains, in particular OXP and OXP/Δadc1, not only partially balanced the intracellular C/N metabolism but also helped cells acclimate under nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stress with higher chlorophyll a content in comparison with wild-type control.

Conclusions

In Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, overexpression of proC resulted in a striking signal to PHB and glycogen accumulation after prolonged nutrient deprivation. When combined with the adc1 disruption, there was a notable increase in PHB production, particularly in situations where there was a strong C supply and a lack of N and P.
Impaired immune tolerance mediated by reduced Tfr cells in rheumatoid arthritis linked to gut microbiota dysbiosis and altered metabolites
Authors: Wu Ruihe , Wang Dongming , Cheng Liyun , Su Rui , Li Baochen , Fan Chunxue , Gao Chong , Wang Caihong
Published: January 2024

Background

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) showed impaired immune tolerance characterized by reduced follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells, and they also exhibited altered gut microbiotas and their metabolites in RA. However, the association of gut microbiotas and their metabolites with the immune tolerance mediated by Tfr cells in RA remains unclear.

Methods

Peripheral blood and stool samples were collected from 32 new-onset RA patients and 17 healthy controls (HCs) in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between January 2022 and June 2022. The peripheral blood was used to detect the circulating regulatory T (Treg), helper T(Th)17, Tfr, and follicular helper T (Tfh) cells by modified flow cytometry. The stool samples were used to analyze the gut microbiotas and their metabolites via 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomic profiling. We aimed to characterize the gut microbiotas and their metabolites in RA and identified their association with Tfr cell-mediated immune tolerance.

Results

The new-onset RA demonstrated reduced Treg and Tfr cells, associated with the disease activity and autoantibodies. There were significant differences in gut microbiotas between the two groups as the results of β diversity analysis (P = 0.039) including 21 differential gut microbiotas from the phylum to genus levels. In which, Ruminococcus 2 was associated with the disease activity and autoantibodies of RA, and it was identified as the potential biomarker of RA [area under curve (AUC) = 0.782, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.636–0.929, P = 0.001]. Eleven differential metabolites were identified and participated in four main pathways related to RA. Arachidonic acid might be the potential biomarker of RA (AUC = 0.724, 95% CI = 0.595–0.909, P = 0.038), and it was the core metabolite as the positive association with six gut microbiotas enriched in RA. The reduced Tfr cells were associated with the altered gut microbiotas and their metabolites including the Ruminococcus 2, the arachidonic acid involved in the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid pathway and the 3-methyldioxyindole involved in the tryptophan metabolism pathway.

Conclusion

The breakdown of immune tolerance mediated by reduced Tfr cells was associated with the altered gut microbiotas and their metabolites implying the possible mechanism of RA pathogenesis from the perspective of microecology-metabolism-immune.
The association between gestational weight trajectories in women with gestational diabetes and their offspring's weight from birth to 40 months
Authors: Zheng Wei , Wang Jia , Li Yichen , Shang Xiaorui , Ma Kaiwen , Yuan Xianxian , Zhang Kexin , Yang Ruihua , Ma Yuru , Li Guanghui
Published: January 2024

Aims

To identify the gestational weight gain (GWG) patterns in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and evaluate their association with offspring weight status from birth to 40 months.

Materials and methods

This study included 2,723 GDM-mother–child pairs from the Beijing Birth Cohort Study. The association between GWG trajectories identified by the latent class model and offspring weight outcomes from birth to 40 months were evaluated, after adjustment for maternal age, parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index, maternal height, and blood glucose levels.

Results

Three GWG rate groups, including the non-excessive GWG group (1,994/2,732), excessive GWG group (598 /2,732), and excessive early GWG group (140/2,732), were identified in women with GDM, respectively. Compared to the non-excessive GWG group, the adjusted OR (aOR) and 95% CI were 1.83 (1.35–2.47) and 1.79 (1.06–3.01) for macrosomia, 1.33 (1.07–1.66) and 1.48 (1.01–2.17) for large for gestational age (LGA) in the excessive GWG group and excessive early GWG group. Excessive GWG was also associated with an increased risk of BMI-for-age at 40 months (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.14–2.42).

Conclusions

Both excessive GWG and excessive early GWG increased the risk of macrosomia and LGA in women with GDM, but only the excessive GWG was associated with childhood overweight/obesity. The results suggest the long-term impact of GWG on offspring weight status in women with GDM and the potential benefits of GWG restriction after GDM diagnosis.
Activation of γ-globin expression by LncRNA-mediated ERF promoter hypermethylation in β-thalassemia
Authors: Bao Xiuqin , Gao Yuanyi , Wang Zhongju , Ye Yuhua , Chen Diyu , Zuo Yangjin , Zhao Cunyou , Xu Xiangmin
Published: January 2024

The mechanism that drives the switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin (Hb) provides a therapeutic target for β-thalassemia. We have previously identified that hypermethylation of transcription factor ERF promoter reactivated γ-globin expression. To uncover the mechanism underlying the hypermethylation of ERF promoter, we performed RNA sequencing in β0/β0-thalassemia patients and identified an upregulated long noncoding RNA (RP11-196G18.23) associated with HbF production. RP11-196G18.23 bound to the ERF promoter and recruited DNA methyltransferase 3A to promote DNA hypermethylation-mediated ERF downregulation, thereby ameliorating ERF-induced γ-globin inactivation. The identification of RP11-196G18.23 provides an epigenetic mechanism for the reactivation of fetal γ-globin expression for β-hemoglobinopathies.
Remediation of copper-contaminated soils and growth enhancement of Pakchoi (B. chinensis L.) via biofertilizers composed of new Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SYNU1
Authors: He Haisheng , Bao Sijia , Wu Yannan , Tong Deli
Published: January 2024

Background

Excessive copper contaminants are  harmful to soil, microbes, plants and humans and can be remediated by biosorption. Applying biofertilizers to remediate copper-contaminated soil is an environmentally friendly way.

Results

In this study, we identified a new strain, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SYNU1, based on morphological, biochemical, physiological and phylogenetic analyses. It has been cultured on Luria–Bertani (LB) medium and absorbs soluble Cu2+ from pH 3.5–5 and 25–40 °C at Cu2+ concentrations of 100 mg L−1. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of copper by strain SYNU1 is 53.09% w/w. Furthermore, microbe fertilizers were made based on strain SYNU1, these fertilizers were allowed to ferment for 15 days, and they were used for remediation of copper-contaminated soil and growth tests of Pakchoi (B. chinensis L) in pot experiments. The results showed that the growth of Pakchoi planted in copper-contaminated soil at concentrations ranging from 50 to 200 mg kg−1 was inhibited, and its growth indices, such as plant height, fresh weight and dry weight, decreased significantly with increasing copper concentration. Compared with the control, the increases in plant height, fresh weight and dry weight of Pakchoi treated with biofertilizer were 10.37, 65.3 and 67.78%, respectively, indicating that biofertilizer could significantly promote the growth of Pakchoi.

Conclusions

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SYNU1 is useful for the bioremediation of Cu2+-contaminated soil in Northeast China.
BioisoIdentifier: an online free tool to investigate local structural replacements from PDB
Authors: Zhang Tinghao , Sun Shaohua , Wang Runzhou , Li Ting , Gan Bicheng , Zhang Yuezhou
Published: January 2024

Within the realm of contemporary medicinal chemistry, bioisosteres are empirically used to enhance potency and selectivity, improve adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity profiles of drug candidates. It is believed that bioisosteric know-how may help bypass granted patents or generate novel intellectual property for commercialization. Beside the synthetic expertise, the drug discovery process also depends on efficient in silico tools. We hereby present BioisoIdentifier (BII), a web server aiming to uncover bioisosteric information for specific fragment. Using the Protein Data Bank as source, and specific substructures that the user attempt to surrogate as input, BII tries to find suitable fragments that fit well within the local protein active site. BII is a powerful computational tool that offers the ligand design ideas for bioisosteric replacing. For the validation of BII, catechol is conceived as model fragment attempted to be replaced, and many ideas are successfully offered. These outputs are hierarchically grouped according to structural similarity, and clustered based on unsupervised machine learning algorithms. In summary, we constructed a user-friendly interface to enable the viewing of top-ranking molecules for further experimental exploration. This makes BII a highly valuable tool for drug discovery. The BII web server is freely available to researchers and can be accessed at http://www.aifordrugs.cn/index/. Scientific Contribution: By designing a more optimal computational process for mining bioisosteric replacements from the publicly accessible PDB database, then deployed on a web server for throughly free access for researchers. Additionally, machine learning methods are applied to cluster the bioisosteric replacements searched by the platform, making a scientific contribution to facilitate chemists’ selection of appropriate bioisosteric replacements. The number of bioisosteric replacements obtained using BII is significantly larger than the currently available platforms, which expanding the search space for effective local structural replacements.

Graphical Abstract
The use of systematic reviews for conducting new studies in physiotherapy research: a meta-research study comparing author guidelines of physiotherapy-related journals
Authors: Rosen Diane , Reiter Nils L. , Vogel Barbara , Prill Robert
Published: January 2024

Background

Requiring authors to base their research on a systematic review of the existing literature prevents the generation of redundant scientific studies, thereby avoiding the deprivation of effective therapies for trial participants and the waste of research funds. Scientific medical journals could require this in their author guidelines. While this applies to all areas of research, it is also relevant to physiotherapy and rehabilitation research, which predominantly involve interventional trials in patients.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which the use of systematic reviews to justify a new trial is already being requested by physiotherapy-related scientific medical journals (PTJs). In addition, a comparison was made between PTJs and scientific medical journals with the highest impact factor in the Science Citation Index Extended (SCIE).

Methods

This meta-research study is based on a systematic examination of the author guidelines of 149 PTJs. The journals were identified and included based on the number of publications with physiotherapy as a keyword in the databases PEDro, and Medline (Pubmed). The included author guidelines were analysed for the extent to which they specified that a new trial should be justified by a systematic review of the literature. Additionally, they were compared with 14 scientific medical journals with the highest impact factor in the SCIE (LJs).

Results

In their author guidelines, none of the included PTJs required or recommended the use of a systematic review to justify a new trial. Among LJs, four journals (28.57%), all associated with the Lancet group, required the study justification through a systematic review of the literature.

Conclusion

Neither PTJs nor LJs require or recommend the use of a systematic review to justify a new trial in their author guidelines. This potentially leaves room for unethical scientific practices and should be critically considered in future research.
MSC-derived exosomes protect auditory hair cells from neomycin-induced damage via autophagy regulation
Authors: Liu Huan , Kuang Huijuan , Wang Yiru , Bao Lili , Cao Wanxin , Yu Lu , Qi Meihao , Wang Renfeng , Yang Xiaoshan , Ye Qingyuan , Ding Feng , Ren Lili , Liu Siying , Ma Furong , Liu Shiyu
Published: January 2024

Background

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) poses a major threat to both physical and mental health; however, there is still a lack of effective drugs to treat the disease. Recently, novel biological therapies, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their products, namely, exosomes, are showing promising therapeutic potential due to their low immunogenicity, few ethical concerns, and easy accessibility. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of MSC-derived exosomes remain unclear.

Results

Exosomes derived from MSCs reduced hearing and hair cell loss caused by neomycin-induced damage in models in vivo and in vitro. In addition, MSC-derived exosomes modulated autophagy in hair cells to exert a protective effect. Mechanistically, exogenously administered exosomes were internalized by hair cells and subsequently upregulated endocytic gene expression and endosome formation, ultimately leading to autophagy activation. This increased autophagic activity promoted cell survival, decreased the mitochondrial oxidative stress level and the apoptosis rate in hair cells, and ameliorated neomycin-induced ototoxicity.

Conclusions

In summary, our findings reveal the otoprotective capacity of exogenous exosome-mediated autophagy activation in hair cells in an endocytosis-dependent manner, suggesting possibilities for deafness treatment.
Model tests on ordinary and geosynthetic encased stone columns with recycled aggregates as filler material
Authors: Saxena Shivangi , Roy Lal Bahadur , Gupta Praveen Kumar , Kumar Virendra , Paramasivam Prabhu
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Sincethe availability of natural aggregates is very sparse, recycled industrial and construction waste provides a sustainable alternative to ground improvement using vibro replacement method. Utilizing recycled building waste caters the requirement for its disposal and offers an effective remedy for the scarcity of natural resources. The aim of this study was to give a sustainable alternative for the natural aggregates as the material for stone column.

Materials and methods

A good stone column material should be hard, dense, chemically inert and must comply with the size requirement. The utilization of construction debris and spent railway ballast as column material has been the subject of numerous researches. This work focuses on finding the suitability of railway ballast and concrete debris as alternatives for stone column material. A detailed laboratory testing of these materials has been carried to judge their strength requirements as the material for both Ordinary Stone Columns (OSCs) and Geosynthetic Encased Stone Columns (GESCs). The improvement in capacity of both OSCs and GESCs is evaluated by performing California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test in laboratory by creating unit cell stone column models of different recycled aggregates and comparing their load settlement behavior with natural aggregates.

Results and discussion

Railway ballast, natural aggregates, concrete debris and virgin soil were found to show decreasing order in CBR test results. Loading required for causing settlement in both OSCs and GESCsshowed remarkable increase as compared to that of virgin clay and the maximum load settlement improvement was observed for railway ballast in both the types of stone columns. The CBR values for GESC made from railway ballast, natural aggregates and concrete debris were 54, 49 and 38% respectively. On the other hand, CBR for OSC made from railway ballast, concrete debris and natural aggregates were found to be 25.5, 20.4 and 24% respectively and CBR of virgin clay was found to be just 11%.

Conclusion

The demonstrated application of sustainable sources in place of natural aggregates provides a crucial pathway for utilizing the recycled aggregates as stone column filler material. Up on encasing the OSC with geotextile the performance of stone columns has improved appreciably in terms of load capacity. Railway ballast and concrete debris can be adopted as an alternate for the natural stone column materials to improve the bearing capacity of site consisting mainly of soft clays.
A framework to improve churn prediction performance in retail banking
Authors: Brito João B. G. , Bucco Guilherme B. , Heldt Rodrigo , Becker João L. , Silveira Cleo S. , Luce Fernando B. , Anzanello Michel J.
Published: January 2024

Managing customer retention is critical to a company’s profitability and firm value. However, predicting customer churn is challenging. The extant research on the topic mainly focuses on the type of model developed to predict churn, devoting little or no effort to data preparation methods. These methods directly impact the identification of patterns, increasing the model’s predictive performance. We addressed this problem by (1) employing feature engineering methods to generate a set of potential predictor features suitable for the banking industry and (2) preprocessing the majority and minority classes to improve the learning of the classification model pattern. The framework encompasses state-of-the-art data preprocessing methods: (1) feature engineering with recency, frequency, and monetary value concepts to address the imbalanced dataset issue, (2) oversampling using the adaptive synthetic sampling algorithm, and (3) undersampling using NEASMISS algorithm. After data preprocessing, we use XGBoost and elastic net methods for churn prediction. We validated the proposed framework with a dataset of more than 3 million customers and about 170 million transactions. The framework outperformed alternative methods reported in the literature in terms of precision-recall area under curve, accuracy, recall, and specificity. From a practical perspective, the framework provides managers with valuable information to predict customer churn and develop strategies for customer retention in the banking industry.
Exploring topological data analysis for information extraction: application to recognition of Arabic machine-printed numerals
Authors: Bouchaffra Djamel , Ykhlef Faycal
Published: January 2024

This manuscript explores the capability of topological data analysis (TDA) based on homology theory (HT: a subfield of algebraic topology) to extract relevant information for recognition of confusing Arabic machine-printed numerals. In fact, topological properties may significantly reduce the confusion between some numerals such as “1” and “4” in the context of small data sets. These two latter digits differ in the sense that digit 1 has no hole and digit 4 has one hole. Our contribution consists of evaluating the contribution of TDA with its invariant descriptors such as Betti numbers in machine-printed Arabic numerals recognition. Our investigation is driven by the following set of actions: (i) we extract Betti numbers invariant features of each numeral image and partition the ten numerals into three different clusters with respect to these features. (ii) We then perform a classification by assigning a test image to its corresponding cluster, and map this image to a numeral using dynamic-time warping as a metric defined in the Freemans’ chaincode space. We compared our proposed approach with major state-of-the-art methods depicting various ways of using TDA in character recognition. The advantages and limitations of TDA (including its pros and cons) are discussed further based on numeral recognition results.
Effects of Exogenous GIP and GLP-2 on Bone Turnover in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Skov-Jeppesen Kirsa , Christiansen Charlotte B , Hansen Laura S , Windeløv Johanne A , Hedbäck Nora , Gasbjerg Lærke S , Hindsø Morten , Svane Maria S , Madsbad Sten , Holst Jens J , Rosenkilde Mette M , Hartmann Bolette
Published: January 2024

Context

Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have an increased risk of bone fractures despite normal or increased bone mineral density. The underlying causes are not well understood but may include disturbances in the gut-bone axis, in which both glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) are regulators of bone turnover. Thus, in healthy fasting participants, both exogenous GIP and GLP-2 acutely reduce bone resorption.

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate the acute effects of subcutaneously administered GIP and GLP-2 on bone turnover in individuals with T2D.

Methods

We included 10 men with T2D. Participants met fasting in the morning on 3 separate test days and were injected subcutaneously with GIP, GLP-2, or placebo in a randomized crossover design. Blood samples were drawn at baseline and regularly after injections. Bone turnover was estimated by circulating levels of collagen type 1 C-terminal telopeptide (CTX), procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), sclerostin, and PTH.

Results

GIP and GLP-2 significantly reduced CTX to (mean ± SEM) 66 ± 7.8% and 74 ± 5.9% of baseline, respectively, compared with after placebo (P = .001). In addition, P1NP and sclerostin increased acutely after GIP whereas a decrease in P1NP was seen after GLP-2. PTH levels decreased to 67 ± 2.5% of baseline after GLP-2 and to only 86 ± 3.4% after GIP.

Conclusion

Subcutaneous GIP and GLP-2 affect CTX and P1NP in individuals with T2D to the same extent as previously demonstrated in healthy individuals.
Expanding the evo-devo toolkit: generation of 3D mammary tissue from diverse mammals
Authors: Kim Hahyung Y. , Sinha Ishani , Sears Karen E. , Kuperwasser Charlotte , Rauner Gat
Published: January 2024

The varying pathways of mammary gland development across species and evolutionary history are underexplored, largely due to a lack of model systems. Recent progress in organoid technology holds the promise of enabling in-depth studies of the developmental adaptations that have occurred throughout the evolution of different species, fostering beneficial phenotypes. The practical application of this technology for mammary glands has been mostly confined to rodents and humans. In the current study, we have successfully created next-generation 3D mammary gland organoids from eight eutherian mammals and the first branched organoid of a marsupial mammary gland. Using mammary organoids, we identified a role for ROCK protein in regulating branching morphogenesis, a role that manifests differently in organoids from different mammals. This finding demonstrates the utility of the 3D organoid model for understanding the evolution and adaptations of signaling pathways. These achievements highlight the potential for organoid models to expand our understanding of mammary gland biology and evolution, and their potential utility in studies of lactation or breast cancer.
Etiology and Risk Factors for Strokes in the Pediatric Population
Authors: Bartoszek Lidia , Kapłan Wojciech , Ostański Jan , Zalewa Karolina , Orłowska Dominika , Świdziński Rafał , Skorupski Bartosz , Lipiec Jakub , Rogowska Monika , Olszak Joanna
Published: January 2024

Pediatric arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) and hemorrhagic stroke represent a relatively uncommon yet significant source of neurological challenges for neonates and children, resulting in outcomes such as hemiparesis, intellectual disabilities, and epilepsy. The etiology of pediatric strokes differs from the typical causes seen in adult stroke cases. Therefore, understanding the specific risk factors associated with strokes in children is crucial for facilitating early diagnosis, which regrettably remains frequently delayed. AIS incidence varies due to factors such as patient age, types of cerebral vascular diseases, other chronic conditions and geographic location. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the epidemiology, clinical manifestation and risk factors linked to arterial ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke in neonates and children.
La influencia de Facebook y sus cambios de algoritmos en el periodismo y las fake news.
Authors: González-Moreno Daniel , Elías Carlos
Published: January 2024

Facebook es la mayor red social del mundo (en 2023 tenía 3.030 millones de usuarios). El algoritmo que controla
su News Feed -el alimentador de publicaciones- es una de las fórmulas mediáticas más relevantes del mundo. La
pregunta de investigación de este trabajo intenta responder a si existe relación entre las decisiones de contenidos
de los periódicos y los cambios anuales en el algoritmo de Facebook. La primera fase de esta investigación ha
consistido en cartografiar, por primera vez, cómo Facebook modificó repetidamente su algoritmo respecto al
News Feed. Se ha analizado un periodo de 11 años (desde 2008 hasta 2019). Una vez detectado cada cambio, se
han contrastado esas modificaciones con los datos extraídos de 122.869 publicaciones de los 20 periódicos más
importantes de España según el EGM durante esos 11 años. El objetivo era encontrar la posible relación entre un
cambio en el algoritmo y un cambio en los contenidos periodísticos. Como conclusión demostramos que entre 2008
y 2019 existieron cambios en cómo los periódicos seleccionan los contenidos y se correlacionan con los cambios
en el algoritmo. Otra conclusión es que la modificación de estos algoritmos influye en la política y en la creación de
cámaras de resonancia que fomentan las fake news
Minería y greenwashing: tendencias en la comunicación corporativa de Grupo México (2014-2020).
Authors: Farías Aúcar Diuber , Rodríguez Gámez Liz Ileana
Published: January 2024

Este artículo presenta el estudio de los informes corporativos del consorcio minero Grupo México con el propósito de
identificar tendencias al greenwashing en la comunicación empresarial tras el derrame de tóxicos en el río Sonora,
México, ocurrido el 6 de agosto de 2014. Las unidades de análisis son los informes anuales e informes de desarrollo
sustentable correspondientes al período 2014-2020, a los cuales se les aplica análisis cualitativo de contenido
asistido por el software NVivo. Los hallazgos muestran el interés de la corporación minera en legitimar su imagen
tras el derrame y colocar a la sustentabilidad como un valor organizacional, a la vez que se observa un énfasis
excesivo en los compromisos declarados como Responsabilidad Social Empresarial. Los resultados constituyen
una representación limitada de las estrategias comunicativas de las empresas dedicadas a la minería dado que se
ajustan a la revisión de sólo un discurso corporativo. El estudio se limita a lo declarado por Grupo México en sus
informes, no se contrasta con el desempeño real de la empresa. El principal aporte de este artículo radica en su
contribución a la comprensión del fenómeno de greenwashing en la comunicación empresarial, especialmente en
el sector minero, a la vez que engrosa el acervo de estudios sobre comunicación corporativa en América Latina.
La buena educación. Cuando la transmisión del canon cinematográfico es una cuestión de élite cultural.
Authors: Azkunaga-García Leire , Fernández de Arroyabe-Olaortua Ainhoa , Chicote-González María
Published: January 2024

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo reflexionar en torno al conocimiento de los jóvenes universitarios
sobre el cine de referencia a través de un estudio de caso de la Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU). Tomando como
punto de partida la transferencia del capital cultural incorporado (CCI) de Bourdieu, se combinan dos herramientas
inéditas. En primer lugar, una selección de filmes representativos de los estilos cinematográficos que concita las
exigencias de la academia, la crítica y el público, agrupados en tres categorías generales —canon institucional,
manierismo y vanguardia— y plasmados en el cuestionario cumplimentado por 725 estudiantes universitarios, muestra
representativa de la totalidad del alumnado de la universidad analizada. Y, en segundo lugar, el diseño y aplicación al
tratamiento de datos de la variable perfil cultural que cuantifica y distingue los cuatro niveles de acumulación de
CCI de los universitarios desde su infancia hasta la edad adulta. Los resultados evidencian la hipótesis de Bourdieu
aplicada al campo cinematográfico al observarse una correlación entre el perfil cultural y el consumo cinematográfico
minoritario, siendo los jóvenes con mayor CCI quienes se posicionan como los mayores consumidores de filmes
canónicos, manieristas y de vanguardia, mientras que el alumnado de perfil cultural bajo se sitúa fuera del público
de cine minoritario. El estudio aporta, en última instancia y tomando como referencia el sistema francés, las claves
para diseñar políticas educativas que garanticen el acceso igualitario a la cultura cinematográfica desde la infancia
Stefan Śnieżko: Zarys biografii
Authors: Wosiek Kazimierz Jędrzej
Published: January 2024

Biografia Stefana Śnieżki napisana została w 2022 roku na bazie przeprowadzonych z nim kilkunastu rozmów, uzupełnionych następnie dokumentami. [...] Starałem się zachować oryginalne brzmienie wypowiedzi Stefana Śnieżki (zostały wyróżnione kursywą), choć czasem pozwalałem sobie na pewne modyfikacje, wynikające z prozaicznego powodu: rozmowy z nim są inspirujące, rozmawialiśmy godzinami, wielokrotnie wracając do niektórych motywów. Były to rozmowy o konkretach, ale i o sprawach nieistotnych (pozornie nieistotnych, jak się potem okazało). Istotniejsze wydaje się zachowanie ducha wypowiedzi. Starałem się do minimum ograniczyć swoje uwagi. Nie do końca mi się to udało – zamieściłem też swoje rozważania, dygresje, roztrząsania niektórych kwestii. To „wina” Śnieżki – przekornie napiszę, kiedy wrócę do myśli o inspirującym charakterze naszych rozmów. Czasem stosuję obszerne wyjaśnienia. To celowy zabieg. Dla ludzi pamiętających tamte czasy (mówimy zwłaszcza o latach PRL-u i „Solidarności”) mogą wydawać się niepotrzebnymi wtrętami. Celem (ba, marzeniem!) autora jest jednak, by po biografię Stefana Śnieżki sięgnęli też i młodzi ludzie, pokolenie XXI wieku. Dlatego nawet te wszystkie „oczywiste oczywistości” (jak powiedział kiedyś jeden ze znanych polityków) są ważne. Znalazły się też – za co z góry przepraszam, ale inaczej nie mogłem tego ująć – dwa zwroty uważane za wulgaryzmy. Całość napisana jest w duchu sine ira et studio, słów, które Tacyt umieścił na początku swego dzieła Annales (Roczniki), zapewniających o obiektywizmie autora – bez gniewu i bez upodobania, bezstronnie i obiektywnie. Fragment Tytułem wprowadzenia
A missed opportunity: the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and the support workforce
Authors: Griffin Richard
Published: January 2024

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan was published by NHS England in July 2023. The plan sets out a 15-year strategy to ensure that the NHS has sufficient staffing capacity and capability to meet rising demand for health care. This article critically considers the implications of the plan for the NHS clinical support workforce. It concludes that although the plan represents a step forward compared to previous strategies, it does not adequately address the needs of the support workforce and the longstanding issues and constraints that they can face.
Ofsted and mental health
Authors: Cowley Sue
Published: January 2024

As her tenure at Ofsted came to an end in December 2023, HMCI Amanda Spielman published her final annual report, covering the academic year 2022-23. In the report, Spielman examines some of the key challenges currently facing the sector, as well as identifying some potential reasons for optimism. Sue Cowley discusses the report alongside the Minds Still Matter report from the Early Years Alliance and the ruling from the inquest into the tragic death of primary headteacher Ruth Perry, following an Ofsted inspection at her school.
Behaviour and communication: Can we separate the two?
Authors: Jewson Becky Poulter , Skinner Rebecca
Published: January 2024

One in five children now have speech and language challenges, according to the charity Speech and Language UK, which is the highest number ever recorded. Becky Poulter Jewson, director of early years at Thriving Language and author, and Rebecca Skinner, Speech and Language therapist and author at Thriving Language, discuss the link between behaviour and communication, encouraging practitioners to consider what a child's ‘challenging behaviour’ may actually be expressing.
When expectations fall flat: Contradictory messages for children in early years settings
Authors: Baker Charlotte Jayne Ruth
Published: January 2024

Charlotte Baker, associate lecturer at Derby University and author, discusses the effect practitioner expectations can have on children. She outlines how important it is that staff build children's confidence and self-esteem holistically, rather than prioritising a child's academic ability or talents over their own personality, interests and other characteristics.
Using technology in early years: Findings from the pandemic
Authors: Harvey Emma
Published: January 2024

Dr Emma Harvey, lecturer and practice educator at Suffolk New College, discusses the results of her research into practitioners' use of technology in settings. This included how technology is used to both support a practitioner's role, and how it is embedded across all areas of provision to facilitate multi-modal learning among children. She also looked at the training staff received to do this. Emma outlines her recommendation for creating a new role of Digital Activity Lead Coordinator (DALCo) in settings to help facilitate the effective and safe use of technology.
Maximising the procurement process to protect both cost and quality
Authors: Hardwell Sarah
Published: January 2024

The cost of living crisis is continuing to squeeze everyone's budgets. Sarah Hardwell, nursery director for Little Peanuts Day Nursery and Forest School in York, discusses all things procurement when setting up her nursery, and shares tips for how settings can make the most of this process to maximise savings without compromising on quality.
Wiggle into Nature: A partnership project working outdoors
Authors: Evans Melanie
Published: January 2024

Melanie Evans, Education and Wellbeing officer at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, shares more about a project which gave children under 5 and their families opportunities to explore local green spaces, reserves and parks. The project was supported by Spurgeons Children's Centres and combined the play-based and child-centred ethos of Forest School, with the compassion and connection promoted through the communication style of Spurgeons' Five to Thrive approach.
‘The proposed changes do absolutely nothing to address the challenges facing our sector.’
Authors: Kenyon Claire
Published: January 2024

The Government published its response at the end of October 2023 to its own consultation on the proposed changes to requirements in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which ran from May to July 2023. Claire Kenyon, co-founder of Early Years Equality and director of Busy Lizzie's Nursery in Chichester, shares her opinion about what has been proposed.
Ofsted: Time for urgent reform and a better system
Authors: Osgood Helen
Published: January 2024

Helen Osgood, national officer for Education and Early Years at Community union, responds to the ruling from the inquest into Ruth Perry's tragic death that the Ofsted inspection at her school had been a contributing factor in her subsequent suicide a year ago. Helen shares her thoughts on ways Ofsted could be reformed to create a better system for education settings and children.
IMPORTÂNCIA DA QUANTIFICAÇÃO ABSOLUTA DE LINFÓCITOS T REGULATÓRIOS (TREG) NO CURSO DA INFECÇÃO PELO VÍRUS HIV
Authors: Holanda Nascimento Matheus , Miralha Costa Tiago , Silveira Paixão Ana Paula , Suellen Lopes Castro Mendes Nilmara , Cardoso de Brito Junior Lacy
Published: January 2024

INTRODUÇÃO. Os linfócitos T regulatórios (TReg) são células especializadas na supressão de respostas imunes superreativas como na infecção pelo vírus HIV. OBJETIVOS. Verificar a concentração absoluta de linfócitos TReg durante o curso da infecção pelo HIV em pacientes em diagnóstico ou já em tratamento. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS. Estudo realizado com 50 indivíduos que procuraram espontaneamente um laboratório particular de Belém - Pará para realizar exames de quantificação de linfócitos T CD4+ e T CD8+ e carga viral (Grupos 2 e 3) ou somente hemograma (Grupo 1 - controle), no período de julho de 2018 a agosto de 2019. O Grupo 2 foi formado por pessoas que tinham RT-PCR detectável para HIV1/HIV2 em diagnóstico; e Grupo 3 formado por pessoas que tinham RT-PCR detectável para HIV1/HIV2 e já estavam em tratamento. RESULTADOS. No Grupo 1 a mediana de idade foi de 56,5 anos e observou-se dependência estatística (p = 0,00451) entre os valores absolutos de Linfócitos T CD4+ e de Linfócitos TReg. No Grupo 2 a mediana de idade foi de 39,5 anos e houve diferença estatística (p=0,00234) apenas quando a carga viral estava não detectável e os valores absolutos de linfócito TReg estavam baixos. No Grupo 3 a mediana de idade foi de 40,5 anos e houve dependência estatística (p = 0,00188) entre os valores absolutos de Linfócitos T CD4+ e de Linfócitos TReg. CONCLUSÃO. Nossos dados reforçam a observação de outros autores quanto ao aumento dos valores absolutos de linfócitos TReg em pacientes em terapia antiretroviral específica.
CONTEXTO LOCAL DA SEGURANÇA HUMANA: abordagem metodológica da elaboração e validação de conteúdo de uma escala de conceito
Authors: Romeiro Maria do Carmo , Ramos Pereira Alexandre Wállace , Das Chagas Sousa Antonella Maria , Rozsa Funcia Francisco , Buzar Reis Anderson Gedeon
Published: January 2024

A Segurança Humana (SH) representa ferramenta útil para identificar desafios contemporâneos de promoção do bem-estar,cujos modelos de mensuração consideram, geralmente, o contexto nacional. Este estudo objetivou: a) identificar uma estrutura de mensuração da SH, no cotidiano de vida urbana em âmbito local; b) descrever uma alternativa metodológica dessa estruturação sob uma ótica replicável. Sua relevância consiste em disponibilizar instrumento para acompanhamento das condições cotidianas da SH, bem como tornar aparente a íntegra do processo metodológico oportunizando replicação a outros estudos. A alternativa metodológica apresentou referência teórica inicial de 819 artigos, sendo 56 mais aderentes à especificidade do estudo e seis diretamente contributivos do inventário com 103 itens de SH. Sequencialmente essa alternativa consolidou as dimensões da SH, seus indicadores, a revisão por especialistas e o pré-teste do instrumento. O resultado final identificou 40 indicadores, operacionalizadores das dimensões, interpretáveis localmente e ordenadores de princípios de políticas públicas de SH microescalar.
Goodbye to PIP, but hello to what? Disability, social security, devolution and policy change in Scotland
Authors: Heap Dan
Published: January 2024

The Scottish Government has ambitions to build a new social security system in Scotland with new powers over social security. With the ability to now entirely replace the UK’s Personal Independence Payment, highly controversial for the way it has narrowed entitlement and made the process of applying stressful, the Scottish Government has the opportunity to transform both the experience of disabled people in applying for social security and ensure that what is paid more accurately reflects the costs of disability. However, while significant improvements to the process of applying appear to have been made and these are having a positive impact on access to payment, the Scottish Government’s gradualist approach has also put off by some years more fundamental improvements.
Relationship of trust and surveillance in the first national piloting of Contextual Safeguarding in England and Wales
Authors: Wroe Lauren Elizabeth , Manister Molly
Published: January 2024

This article analyses data collected as part of a three-year study supporting the implementation of Contextual Safeguarding across nine children’s social care teams in England and Wales as an approach to safeguarding adolescents at risk of harm in ‘extra-familial’ contexts. The article asks to what extent the first national testing of Contextual Safeguarding features relationships of trust or relationships of surveillance with young people, families and communities. Data collected for the National Scale Up study are analysed against the Watching Over Working With framework. Findings indicate that further guidance is required to support an uptake of Contextual Safeguarding that aligns with the framework’s values and with children’s rights.
Through the Looking Glass: Perceptions About Virtual Visits From Deaf Mentors in the SKI-HI Network
Authors: Pittman Paula , Crace Jodee S.
Published: January 2024

Abstract: The SKI-HI Deaf Mentor Program is an early intervention model that supports families in creating an effective bilingual environment (American Sign Language [ASL]/English) with their deaf or hard of hearing child. The program can be adopted and implemented in any state. A Deaf Mentor is a deaf or hard of hearing adult specifically trained to engage with and teach families ASL using the Deaf Mentor Curriculum Manual. The program and materials were created for face-to-face delivery to families in home settings. When COVID-19 lockdowns and stay-at-home orders went into place in March 2020, Deaf Mentors had to think creatively to provide services to families virtually. This created a variety of challenges as well as new learning opportunities. The authors discuss both the challenges and positive experiences shared by Deaf Mentors about shifting family services to a virtual platform.