bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal changes in habitat use by dugongs in a spatially restricted coral reef environment
Authors: Cleguer Christophe , Garrigue Claire , Fuentes Mariana M. P. B. , Hamann Mark , Payri Claude , Marsh Helene
Published: March 2024

Context The dynamic habitat use by dugongs (Dugong dugon) in small coral reef lagoon systems spatially limited by tides is not well understood and has hampered adaptive management. Aims We investigated how dugongs locally used a high conservation value coral-reef lagoon system during different seasons and tides to support local management. Methods We conducted local-scale aerial surveys to document the seasonal and tidal changes in the distribution and number of dugongs over seagrass and non-seagrass coral reef habitats in a small lagoon in New Caledonia. The surveys were conducted fortnightly over 18 months in different seasons and at different tides. Temperature loggers and existing local footage of dugong herding behaviour were used to study the habitat use and behaviour of the animals in the area. Key results More dugongs were sighted in Cap Goulvain during the cool season than during the warm season. As tides restricted access to the intertidal seagrass meadows and during the cool season, more dugongs were sighted outside the lagoon on the fore reef shelf outside the lagoon. Dugongs were resting in large aggregations during their use of this non-seagrass habitat. Conclusions Our study emphasises the importance of non-seagrass habitats for dugongs in spatially restricted coral reef environments as well as the importance of considering outer lagoon habitats as key dugong management areas. This study also adds evidence of behavioural thermoregulation in dugongs. Implications The development of dynamic management strategies is essential, especially where different habitats should be protected at different times of the year.
V2a neurons restore diaphragm function in mice following spinal cord injury
Authors: Jensen Victoria N. , Huffman Emily E. , Jalufka Frank L. , Pritchard Anna L. , Baumgartner Sarah , Walling Ian , C. Gibbs Holly , McCreedy Dylan A. , Alilain Warren J. , Crone Steven A.
Published: March 2024

The specific roles that different types of neurons play in recovery from injury is poorly understood. Here, we show that increasing the excitability of ipsilaterally projecting, excitatory V2a neurons using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) restores rhythmic bursting activity to a previously paralyzed diaphragm within hours, days, or weeks following a C2 hemisection injury. Further, decreasing the excitability of V2a neurons impairs tonic diaphragm activity after injury as well as activation of inspiratory activity by chemosensory stimulation, but does not impact breathing at rest in healthy animals. By examining the patterns of muscle activity produced by modulating the excitability of V2a neurons, we provide evidence that V2a neurons supply tonic drive to phrenic circuits rather than increase rhythmic inspiratory drive at the level of the brainstem. Our results demonstrate that the V2a class of neurons contribute to recovery of respiratory function following injury. We propose that altering V2a excitability is a potential strategy to prevent respiratory motor failure and promote recovery of breathing following spinal cord injury.
Frequent horizontal chromosome transfer between asexual fungal insect pathogens
Authors: Habig Michael , Grasse Anna V. , Müller Judith , Stukenbrock Eva H. , Leitner Hanna , Cremer Sylvia
Published: March 2024

Entire chromosomes are typically only transmitted vertically from one generation to the next. The horizontal transfer of such chromosomes has long been considered improbable, yet gained recent support in several pathogenic fungi where it may affect the fitness or host specificity. To date, it is unknown how these transfers occur, how common they are, and whether they can occur between different species. In this study, we show multiple independent instances of horizontal transfers of the same accessory chromosome between two distinct strains of the asexual entomopathogenic fungus
Metarhizium robertsii
during experimental co-infection of its insect host, the Argentine ant. Notably, only the one chromosome—but no other—was transferred from the donor to the recipient strain. The recipient strain, now harboring the accessory chromosome, exhibited a competitive advantage under certain host conditions. By phylogenetic analysis, we further demonstrate that the same accessory chromosome was horizontally transferred in a natural environment between
M. robertsii
and another congeneric insect pathogen,
Metarhizium guizhouense
. Hence, horizontal chromosome transfer is not limited to the observed frequent events within species during experimental infections but also occurs naturally across species. The accessory chromosome that was transferred contains genes that may be involved in its preferential horizontal transfer or support its establishment. These genes encode putative histones and histone-modifying enzymes, as well as putative virulence factors. Our study reveals that both intra- and interspecies horizontal transfer of entire chromosomes is more frequent than previously assumed, likely representing a not uncommon mechanism for gene exchange.
Utilizing the oxygen-atom trapping effect of Co
3
O
4
with oxygen vacancies to promote chlorite activation for water decontamination
Authors: Su Ruidian , Gao Yixuan , Chen Long , Chen Yi , Li Nan , Liu Wen , Gao Baoyu , Li Qian
Published: March 2024

Heterogeneous high-valent cobalt-oxo [≡Co(IV)=O] is a widely focused reactive species in oxidant activation; however, the relationship between the catalyst interfacial defects and ≡Co(IV)=O formation remains poorly understood. Herein, photoexcited oxygen vacancies (OVs) were introduced into Co
3
O
4
(OV-Co
3
O
4
) by a UV-induced modification method to facilitate chlorite (ClO
2
–
) activation. Density functional theory calculations indicate that OVs result in low-coordinated Co atom, which can directionally anchor chlorite under the oxygen-atom trapping effect. Chlorite first undergoes homolytic O–Cl cleavage and transfers the dissociated O atom to the low-coordinated Co atom to form reactive ≡Co(IV)=O with a higher spin state. The reactive ≡Co(IV)=O rapidly extracts one electron from ClO
2
–
to form chlorine dioxide (ClO
2
), accompanied by the Co atom returning a lower spin state. As a result of the oxygen-atom trapping effect, the OV-Co
3
O
4
/chlorite system achieved a 3.5 times higher efficiency of sulfamethoxazole degradation (~0.1331 min
−1
) than the pristine Co
3
O
4
/chlorite system. Besides, the refiled OVs can be easily restored by re-exposure to UV light, indicating the sustainability of the oxygen atom trap. The OV-Co
3
O
4
was further fabricated on a polyacrylonitrile membrane for back-end water purification, achieving continuous flow degradation of pollutants with low cobalt leakage. This work presents an enhancement strategy for constructing OV as an oxygen-atom trapping site in heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes and provides insight into modulating the formation of ≡Co(IV)=O via defect engineering.
Modeling turbulent impurity transport in the SOL of DIII-D with a reduced model
Authors: Zamperini S , Nichols J H , Odstrcil T , Abrams T , Boedo J A , Elder J D , Rudakov D L , Donovan D C , Duran J D , Huang A
Published: March 2024

A novel impurity transport model that approximates SOL turbulence as a fluctuating poloidal electric field is shown to be an acceptable replacement for the traditional approach of assigning an arbitrary radial diffusion coefficient to the impurity ions. The model is implemented in the DIVIMP impurity transport code and applied to an L-Mode tungsten divertor experiment on DIII-D. The poloidal electric field is represented as fluctuating between ±1000 V m−1 based on previous measurements. The resulting intermittent vr = E
θ
× BT transport causes ions to transport both into the core as well as into the far-SOL. Simultaneous agreement with estimates of the W density just inside the separatrix as well as in the far-SOL is obtained (nW ∼ 1014 m−3 and nW ∼ 1012 m−3, respectively). Prompt re-deposition of the W ions was necessary to obtain agreement (fredep ∼ 99%). We conclude that simulating impurity transport using a physics-based approximation for turbulence in the SOL, versus arbitrarily assigning diffusion coefficients, may enable better reactor scale predictions of core impurity contamination.
Median Statistics Estimate of the Distance to M87
Authors: Rackers Nicholas , Splawska Sofia , Ratra Bharat
Published: March 2024

de Grijs & Bono compiled 211 independent measurements of the distance to galaxy M87 in the Virgo cluster from 15 different tracers and reported 31.03 ± 0.14 mag as the arithmetic mean of a subset of this compilation as the best estimate of the distance. We compute three different central estimates—the arithmetic mean, weighted mean, and the median—and corresponding statistical uncertainty for the full data set as well as three sub-compilations. We find that for all three central estimates the error distributions show that the data sets are significantly non-Gaussian. As a result, we conclude that the median is the most reliable of the three central estimates, as median statistics do not assume Gaussianity. We use median statistics to determine the systematic error on the distance by analyzing the scatter in the 15 tracer subgroup distances. From the 211 distance measurements, we recommend a summary M87 distance modulus of

31.08

−
0.04

+
0.05

(statistical)

−
0.06

+
0.04

(systematic) mag, or combining the two errors in quadrature

31.08

−
0.07

+
0.06

mag, rounded to 16.4 ± 0.5 Mpc, all at 68.27% significance.
Numerical investigation of a wideband supercontinuum source based on a large-mode-area photonic crystal fiber pumped at 1.3 μm
Authors: Jin Yu Xin , Hao Qian Qian , Liu Jing Jing , Liu Jie , Peng Qian Qian
Published: March 2024

A numerical investigation was conducted to obtain a supercontinuum spanning about two octaves using a large mode area photonic crystal fiber (PCF) pumped at 1.3 μm. In our study, a 1.3 μm femtosecond laser and a silica-based large mode area PCF were selected as the pump source and nonlinear medium, respectively. The nonlinear Schrodinger equation was solved with split-step Fourier method to simulate the evolution of pulse and the broadening of spectrum. The effect of several parameters including the length of PCF, the pulse width, and the average pump power on characteristics of the output spectrum was studied. The simulation results revealed that the supercontinuum extended from near 600 nm to over 2450 nm at 20 dB with length of 30 cm, pulse width of 100 fs and average power of 12 W, respectively. This work proved this large mode area PCF a potentially excellent medium for supercontinuum source and provided some theoretical guidance for future experiments.
Constant Fraction Discriminator for NA62 experiment at CERN
Authors: Zamkovsky M. , Lichard P. ,   the NA62 collaboration
Published: March 2024

A new Constant Fraction Discriminator with additional
Time over Threshold measurement capabilities will be presented.
It operates in a wide dynamic range of 1:150, with an excellent time
resolution of better than 70 ps
over one order of magnitude of the input signals.
It is highly customizable for different signal shapes and thresholds,
using remotely-programmable
parameters for Detector Control System commands.
Two outputs, each in the Nuclear Instrumentation Module and Low Voltage
Differential
Signaling standards,
provide a precise signal arrival time and Time over Threshold
information with programmable thresholds.
The technical specification and performance measured with cosmic rays and in the
high-intensity NA62 experiment will be reported.
Adaptability and efficiency of the CMS Level-1 Global Trigger firmware implementation for Phase-2
Authors: Bortolato G. , Cepeda M. , Heikkilä J. , Huber B. , Leutgeb E. , Rabady D. , Sakulin H. ,   the CMS collaboration
Published: March 2024

We present details on the new Level-1 Global Trigger at CMS for the upcoming high-luminosity operation of the LHC. Our focus is on the newly developed firmware, which employs a bottom-up generic approach to enhance menu adaptability and accommodate the increase in upstream data. We also highlight our efficient pipelining strategy that ensures excellent routability at 480 MHz. Furthermore, we discuss the firmware implementation for three prototypes targeting Serenity boards, together with their current and future testing and validation endeavours.
Human Rights and Social Work: Making the Case for Human Rights Plus (hr+)
Authors: Garrett Paul Michael
Published: March 2024

Human rights are declared to be ‘fundamental’ and ‘foundational’ to social work. Such rights are part of the ‘DNA’ of the profession. This understanding is central to the profession’s self-image, and it reflects how social work portrays its ethical base to the general public and the wider world. However, uncritical uses of ‘human rights’ by its promulgators and (re)producers occlude a range of important questions; for example, around the failure to historise the political reanimation of the phrase and concept, especially in the 1970s. Drawing on an expansive literature, the article aspires to deepen and trouble social work engagement. It is also proposed that the notion of ‘human rights plus’ (hr+) might potentially expand the political reach of the usage of the term within social work.
Resequencing of reindeer genomes provides clues to their docile habits
Authors: Wu Baosheng , Ren Qingmiao , Yan Xiaoting , Zhao Fei , Qin Tao , Xin Peidong , Cui Xinxin , Wang Kun , Du Rui , Røed Knut H , Côté Steeve D , Yannic Glenn , Li Zhipeng , Qiu Qiang
Published: March 2024

Reindeer have long been served as vital subsistence resources for inhabitants of Arctic and subarctic regions owing to their domestication. However, the evolutionary relationships and divergence times among different reindeer populations, genetic traits that distinguish domesticated reindeer, and factors that contribute to their relative docility compared with that of other Cervidae specie, remain unclear. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of 32 individuals from wild and domestic reindeer populations that inhabit Arctic and subarctic regions. We found that reindeer experienced 2 or more independent domestication events characterized by weak artificial selection pressure and limited significant differences in genomic parameters between wild and domestic populations. Alterations in conserved noncoding elements in the reindeer genomes, particularly those associated with nervous system development, may have contributed to their domestication by rendering the nervous system less responsive. Together, our results suggest that inherent species-specific traits, rather than intense artificial selection, may have played a significant role in the relatively docile behavior of reindeer and offer valuable insights into the domestication process of these animals.
Navigating Anxiety: International Politics, Identity Narratives, and Everyday Defense Mechanisms
Authors: Houde Anne-Marie
Published: March 2024

How do individuals navigate international politics and mitigate the anxieties it elicits in the everyday? Giddensian literature on ontological security suggests that (collective) internalized routines and narratives provide a sense of certainty and stability that enable individuals to “go on” with their daily lives. This article adopts a Kleinian psychoanalytical approach to show that when faced with anxiety about their internalized narratives being ruptured, individuals do not necessarily, as Giddens suggests, fall into “chaos.” Rather, they rely on psychodynamic defense mechanisms such as denial and idealization to protect their sense of self and, by extension, maintain a sense of ontological security. The article investigates everyday practices of how people cope with anxiety related to international politics. It focuses on the case of the European Union by analyzing the reactions to political cartoons of participants from eighteen focus groups conducted in Belgium, France, and Italy. The findings provide, in turn, a deeper understanding of individuals’ everyday defense mechanisms in response to threats to collective narratives of being and belonging. The article thereby advances our theoretical and empirical knowledge of how international politics can affect individuals’ everyday life and sense of self as well as shape political behavior and attitudes.
The Agency of the Global South’s Regional Organizations through the Institutionalization of Staff Recruitment
Authors: Parthenay Kevin
Published: March 2024

How is staff recruitment in regional organizations institutionalized? This article focuses on explaining the determinants of staff recruitment institutionalization in regional organizations (ROs). It is important to understand how ROs recruit their regional staff, as ROs have become players with an increasing influence in global governance, and as regional (and international) bureaucracies constantly contribute to the reshaping of power relations with member states. The institutionalization of staff recruitment offers an insightful and innovative way of unpacking the way ROs operate and exert agency. In this perspective, the article examines an RO from the Global South, the Central American Integration System (SICA), and argues that member states institutionalize staff recruitment for fear of losing control to a powerful combination of regional bureaucracy and international donors. This single-case study will be comparable with many Global South ROs that share similar characteristics, and will provide generalizable results in the realm of RO studies. This article sheds light on a very poorly known case among ROs and helps to extend the empirical scope of International Public Administration (IPA) studies beyond the “Global North,” and consolidate the field of comparative regionalism. To develop the argument, the article uses empirical material from several pieces of in-depth fieldwork conducted within SICA since 2009. It analyses official legal documents and internal documents relating to staff regulation, and uses semi-structured interviews focused on practices of recruitment standards. Keywords: Staff recruitment, Regional organizations, Institutionalization, Regional bureaucratic autonomy, External interventions
Antibiotic susceptibility patterns at the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Acute Trauma Hospital in Aden, Yemen: a retrospective study from January 2018 to June 2021
Authors: Almehdar Hussein , Yousef Nagwan , van den Boogaard Wilma , Haider Amna , Kanapathipillai Rupa , Al-Hodiani Emad , Zelikova Evgenia , Moh’d Waddah G , Michel Justine , Malaeb Rami
Published: March 2024

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an urgent global health concern, especially in countries facing instability or conflicts, with compromised healthcare systems. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) established an acute trauma hospital in Aden, Yemen, treating mainly war-wounded civilians, and implemented an antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programme. This study aimed to describe clinical characteristics and identify antibiotic susceptibility patterns representative of patients treated with antibiotics.

Methods

Retrospective cross-sectional study using routinely collected data from all patients treated with antibiotics in the MSF-Aden Acute Trauma hospital between January 2018 and June 2021. Routine clinical data from patients’ files was entered into an AMS electronic database and microbiological data were entered into WHONET. Both databases were imported and merged in REDCap and analysed using RStudio.

Results

Three hundred and sixty-three of 481 (75%) included patients were injured by violence-related trauma. Most were men aged 19–45 years (n = 331; 68.8%). In total, 598 infections were diagnosed and treated. MDR organisms were identified in 362 (60.5%) infections in 311 (65%) patients. Skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) (n = 143; 24%) were the most common, followed by osteomyelitis (n = 125; 21%) and intra-abdominal-infections (IAIs) (n = 116; 19%), and 111 (19%) secondary bloodstream infections were identified. Escherichia coli was the most frequently identified pathogen, causing IAI (n = 87; 28%) and SSTI (n = 43; 16%), while Staphylococcus aureus caused mainly osteomyelitis (n = 84; 19%). Most Gram-negatives were ESBL producers, including E. coli (n = 193; 81.4%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 72; 77.4%) and Enterobacter cloacae (n = 39; 50%) while most S. aureus were methicillin resistant (n = 93; 72.6%).

Conclusions

High rates of MDR were found. This information will facilitate a comprehensive review of the empirical antibiotic treatment guidelines.
Derivation and Validation of Thresholds Using Synthetic Data Methods for Single-Test Screening of Emergency Department Patients with Possible Acute Myocardial Infarction Using a Point-of-Care Troponin Assay
Authors: Pickering John W , Young Joanna M , George Peter M , Watson Antony S , Aldous Sally J , Verryt Toby , Troughton Richard W , Pemberton Christopher J , Richards A Mark , Cullen Louise A , Apple Fred S , Than Martin P
Published: March 2024

Background

Single-sample (screening) rule-out of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with troponin requires derivation of a single-test screening threshold. In data sets with small event numbers, the lowest one or two concentrations of myocardial infarction (MI) patients dictate the threshold. This is not optimal. We aimed to demonstrate a process incorporating both real and synthetic data for deriving such thresholds using a novel pre-production high-precision point-of-care assay.

Methods

cTnI concentrations were measured from thawed plasma using the Troponin I Next (TnI-Nx) assay (i-STAT; Abbott) in adults on arrival to the emergency department with symptoms suggestive of AMI. The primary outcome was an AMI or cardiac death within 30 days. We used internal–external validation with synthetic data production based on clinical and demographic data, plus the measured TnI-Nx concentration, to derive and validate decision thresholds for TnI-Nx. The target low-risk threshold was a sensitivity of 99% and a high-risk threshold specificity of >95%.

Results

In total, 1356 patients were included, of whom 191 (14.1%) had the primary outcome. A total of 500 synthetic data sets were constructed. The mean low-risk threshold was determined to be 5 ng/L. This categorized 38% (95% CI, 6%–68%) to low-risk with a sensitivity of 99.0% (95% CI, 98.6%–99.5%) and a negative predictive value of 99.4% (95% CI, 97.6%–99.8%). A similarly derived high-risk threshold of 25 ng/L had a specificity of 95.0% (95% CI, 94.8%–95.1%) and a positive predictive value of 74.8% (95% CI, 71.5%–78.0%).

Conclusions

With the TnI-Nx assay, we successfully demonstrated an approach using synthetic data generation to derive low-risk thresholds for safe and effective screening.
Exploring the feasibility of bacteriocins EntK1 and EntEJ97s in treatment of systemic vancomycin resistant enterococci infections in mice
Authors: Reinseth Ingvild , Diep Dzung B , Kjos Morten , Tønnesen Hanne H , Carlsen Harald
Published: March 2024

Aims

Enterocins K1 and EJ97 have specific antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis, respectively. The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of these enterocins for in vivo treatment of systemic enterococcal infections.

Methods and results

The antimicrobial effect in blood was analysed and compared against the effect in saline. Colony forming unit counts revealed that the enterocins killed all the bacteria within 1 hour. Additionally, the bactericidal effect against E. faecalis was more rapid in blood, indicating a possible synergy between EntEJ97 and blood. Importantly, no enterocin resistant mutants emerged in these experiments. Injecting the enterocins intraperitoneally in an in vivo mouse model and using fluorescence and minimum inhibitory concentration determination to estimate concentrations of the peptides in plasma, indicate that the enterocins exist in circulation in therapeutic concentrations. Alanine aminotransferase detection, and haemolysis analysis indicates that there is no detectable liver damage or haemolytic effect after injection.

Conclusions

The study revealed that EntK1 and EntEJ97 are able to kill all bacteria ex vivo in the presence of blood. In vivo experiments determine that the enterocins exist in circulation in therapeutic concentrations without causing liver damage or haemolysis. Future experiments should test these peptides for treatment of infection in a relevant in vivo model.
Pediatric Postburn Flexion Contracture Release: Early Outcomes Using 2 Bloodless Techniques
Authors: Abass Oluwatobi , Michael Afieharo I , Abubakar Mohammad L , Adebayo Wasiu O , Kabir Mohammed A , Ibrahim Abdulrasheed
Published: March 2024

Postburn flexion contracture of the hand in children constitutes a significant proportion of postburn complications. We compared the early clinical outcomes of reconstruction of pediatric postburn flexion contracture of the digits of the hand using tourniquet or tumescent technique. A prospective randomized study of pediatric patients requiring contracture release and wound resurfacing with full-thickness skin graft between September 2020 and August 2021. Patients were randomized into groups of either tourniquet or tumescent technique for contracture release. The surface area of graft take and total active motion across joints were the outcome measures. Student t test and chi-square test were performed. Twenty-two patients were randomized into either group. The mean age of the participants was 6.09 ± 2.41 years, mostly males 31 (72.1%). A grade 3 flexion contracture was the most common (72.1%). Ninety-four digits and 178 joints were operated on, with the proximal interphalangeal joint being the most common (48.9%). The mean surface area of graft take on postoperative day 10 was significantly higher for the tumescent group than the tourniquet group, P = .001. The total active motion across the joints at 6 and 9 weeks postoperative showed a strong correlation between the total active motion across joints and the technique of release, P = .004 and .001, respectively. Tumescent technique is a feasible alternative to the tourniquet method for postburn flexion contracture release of the digits in the pediatric burned hand.
Signaling outrage is a signal about the sender: moral perceptions of online flaming
Authors: Monge Charles Kevin , Laurent Sean M
Published: March 2024

Most flaming research addresses explanations for and the immediate effects of flaming on those engaging in and targeted by flaming. However, online interactions are increasingly visible, suggesting that understanding third-party evaluations of flaming is important. By integrating considerations in computer-mediated communication theorizing with the social-perceptual effects of online moral outrage, we explore how third-party observers evaluate flaming, also assessing beliefs about the signaling social function that flaming serves. In seven experiments (total N = 3,178), we manipulated the intentionality of triggering events and compared flaming to other types of online responses (less-toxic criticism; supportive), measuring reactions including moral regard, comment approval, and positive/negative engagement. Findings suggest that flaming may sometimes act as exculpable moral outrage when responding to egregious behaviors. However, contrary to participants’ beliefs, flaming does not reliably or persuasively influence perceptions of those whom it targets; rather, it mostly appears to send negative signals about the flamer.
A role for immunohistochemical stains in perinatal brain autopsies
Authors: Viaene Angela N
Published: March 2024

Identification of central nervous system injury is a critical part of perinatal autopsies; however, injury is not always easily identifiable due to autolysis and immaturity of the developing brain. Here, the role of immunohistochemical stains in the identification of perinatal brain injury was investigated. Blinded semiquantitative scoring of injury was performed on sections of frontal lobe from 76 cases (51 liveborn and 25 stillborn) using H&E, GFAP, Iba-1, and β-APP stains. Digital image analysis was used to quantify GFAP and Iba-1 staining. Commonly observed pathologies included diffuse white matter gliosis (DWMG) and white matter necrosis (WMN). DWMG scores were very similar on H&E and GFAP stains for liveborn subjects. For stillborn subjects, DWMG scores were significantly higher on GFAP stain than H&E. β-APP was needed for identification of WMN in 71.4% of stillborn subjects compared to 15.4% of liveborn subjects. Diffuse staining for Iba-1 within cortex and white matter was positively correlated with subject age. Staining quantification on digital image analysis was highly correlated to semiquantitative scoring. Overall, GFAP and β-APP stains were most helpful in identifying white matter injury not seen on H&E in stillborn subjects. Immunostains may therefore be warranted as an integral part of stillborn brain autopsies.
(026) Application of Gelatin Sponge as a Hemostatic Agent in Penile Prosthesis Implantation
Authors: Mahmoud O
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Gelfoam® Sterile Compressed Sponge is a hemostatic that is directly applied to bleeding surfaces. This cost-effective hemostatic agent is prepared from purified porcine skin, Gelatin granules and Water for Injection. It is water insoluble, however is completely absorbed within 4–6 weeks with minimal scar formation. Gelfoam is available sterile for intra-operative use, and is applied in a multitude of surgical specialties.

Objective

In this work, we demonstrate for the first time the of Gelfoam to minimize the risk of bleeding in penile prosthesis implantation.

Methods

Eight cases received a three-piece inflatable implant (Rigicon Infla10®) through a peno-scrotal incision. Following cylinder insertion, corporotomies were closed by tying the stay sutures rather than water-tight sewing. Gelfoam was soaked in antibiotic-supplemented saline. Air bubbles were squeezed out followed by soaking. Gelfoam was then applied to the corporotomies, pump space and entry rout to the reservoir space. It was secured over the corporotomies by closing a pre-fashioned layer of Buck’s fascia. A suction drain was inserted. Mummy wrap was not used. Drain output was monitored and complications recorded.

Results

In two cases, drain output was an average of 80 cc’s in the first 24 hours, then 20 cc’s in the following 24 hours. However, in 6 cases, drain output was an average of 18 cc’s in the first 24 hours, mostly sero-sanguinous, then none in the following 24 hours. No cases of hematoma formation, infection, foreign body reaction, mass formation or hypersensitivity reaction were encountered.

Conclusions

The initial results of the current small case series demonstrate that Gelfoam is well-tolerated in penile surgeries, with possible value at minimizing post-operative bleeding, encouraging a multi-center larger study.

Disclosure

No.
(053) Efficacy of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy in Management of Provoked Vulvodynia: A Feasibility Pilot Study
Authors: Bilal A , Altaf S
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Provoked Vulvodynia (PVD) is an evolving and chronic pain disorder frequently reported by women of reproductive age. Provoked Vulvodynia is a debilitating disorder and causes significant impairment in daily functioning.

Objective

The present study was designed with an aim to compare the efficacy of mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) with pharmacotherapy in the management of PVD in Pakistani women.

Methods

The present study was approved by the Ethics Review Board (ERB) of Institute of Psychological Research, Pakistan vide No. IPR/ERB/PVD/2023/006. A randomized trial design was used in this study. The women suffering from vulvodynia were included in the study. On the other hand, the women suffering from any gynecological disease, psychiatric disease, or any other medical disease or using any substance were excluded from the study. A total of 43 women suffering from PVD were referred for the treatment. 14 women were excluded as they did not meet the inclusion criteria. All women signed the compulsory informed consent form before enrolling for the study. 29 women were randomized in two treatment groups namely Group A which received 1 hour weekly session of mindfulness based cognitive therapy and Group B which received pharmacotherapy for a period of 3 months. Pharmacotherapy included Amitriptyline 25–50mg daily, Gabapentin 100–300 mg daily, and Lidocaine ointment 5% applied locally to the vestibule. There were 14 women in Group A and 15 women in Group B. A total of 6 women were dropped from the Group A and Group B because they did not want to complete the treatment protocol. 11 women in Group A and 12 women in Group B completed the treatment protocol and their data were added to the statistical analyses. The Vulvar Pain Functional Questionnaire (V-Q) was used as the main outcome measure for pretest and posttest assessments. The data was analyzed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.

Results

The mean age of the women was (M=34, SD=3.13) for Group A and (M=34.41, SD=3.26) for Group B. The data was analyzed by using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test as the data was non parametric. There was statistical significant Z= -2.94, p<.05 for Group A and Z= -3.07, p<.05 for Group B. The results established that both mindfulness based cognitive therapy and pharmacotherapy were effective in relieving symptoms of PVD.

Conclusions

The present study concluded that mindfulness based cognitive therapy was as effective in relieving symptoms of PVD as pharmacotherapy. The lack of control group was a major limitation of the study. However, the future studies may be conducted with other treatment arms such as pelvic floor therapy and by adding more women in treatment and control groups. The present study may be considered as a feasibility/pilot study for the efficacy of MBCT for treatment of PVD in Pakistani women.

Disclosure

No.
(055) Vaginal Lubrication: Equally Important for Orgasm in Premenopausal, Postmenopausal, and Post-Partum Women?
Authors: Dubinskaya A , Dallas K , Harper L , Shoureshi P , Krychman M , Eilber K
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The female sexual response cycle is complex with interconnected domains. Studies have shown that vaginal lubrication is affected by age and hormonal changes; however, the relationship between lubrication and orgasm has not been well described in premenopausal women, women who are postpartum, and postmenopausal women.

Objective

The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between vaginal lubrication and orgasm among premenopausal, postpartum, and postmenopausal women

Methods

A post-market analysis was performed of all women who had utilized the sexual wellness application Rosy between February 2022 and November 2022. Application users complete the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) short form (6-item) upon initial use of the application. We utilized multivariable linear regression models to determine significant effects between lubrication score and orgasm scores score controlling for whether the patient was on birth control, postpartum, or menopausal

Results

We reviewed a large database of 30,358 women from across the United States. Among these, 2,599 women were menopausal, 2, 011 were premenopausal women, and 795 were postpartum. The mean lubrication scores on FSFI -6 were: menopausal = 1.93, premenopausal = 2.68, postpartum = 2.73. Mean scores for orgasm were 2.2, 2.62, 2.31 respectively. Premenopausal women had higher overall scores on FSFI- 6, with orgasm scores improving with age. Higher scores in lubrication domain had less impact on orgasm domain in pre-menopausal women compared to post-menopausal women (p=0.04). No correlation between improvement in lubrication and orgasm noted among post-partum women when compared to post-menopausal women (p=0.87)

Conclusions

Lubrication has a higher impact on orgasm among post-menopausal women compared to pre-menopausal women and not correlated with orgasmic function among women in the post-partum period. These findings enhance our knowledge and refine current management of anorgasmia.

Disclosure

Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Rosy.
(079) Perception of Signals of Sexual Interest in Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Biedkova P , Androvičová R , Novák O , Ständer K
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Patients with schizophrenia (SCH) face many difficulties in forming and maintaining sexual relationships and often have unmet needs around intimacy. Low satisfaction with sexual relationships has been linked to a decrease in overall quality of life. Single relationship status also correlates with a poorer prognosis. However, the exploration of sources of sexual and relationship deficits in patients is an area that is habitually neglected, and there is little research addressing this phenomenon.

Objective

Our study aims to identify whether difficulties in forming sexual relationships reported by patients with SCH could be connected to: a) a compromised ability to interpret, recognize and respond to signals of sexual interest b) decreased salience of sexual intimacy.

Methods

Sample: Twenty male and female patients with schizophrenia and a control group of the same size, matched for demographic parameters, will be recruited from the Study of first episodes of schizophrenia (ESO). ESO is a large prospective database dedicated to the longitudinal follow-up of first-episode patients with SCH which contains a wealth of information on bio-psycho-social markers. Procedure: The variables of interest will be tested by two experiments developed in our laboratory. The first experiment depicts male and female actors showing behavioral displays conveying signals of a) sexual interest, b) neutral but friendly attitude and c) rejection, towards the observer. The second experiment is a simple viewing task designed to assess the salience of erotic stimuli compared to neutral ones. In addition, eye movements and pupil dilation will be measured using the eye-tracking device Eyelink 1000plus. Statistical analysis: A repeated-measures t-test will be used to assess the change in a continuous outcome.

Results

Preliminary results show that the patients (N=10) spent more time on erotic images (mean time= 884.69 ms) than the control group (N=9) (mean time= 772.14 ms). This difference is not statistically significant (p = 0.21). Currently, more data are being collected.

Conclusions

The preliminary results demonstrate that there is no difference in the interest in explicit sexual stimuli between patients with SCH and healthy controls. Explicit erotic signals seem to be sexually salient to them, which indicates their interest in sexual intimacy. Our research will further determine whether individuals with SCH have impaired ability to perceive, interpret, and react to signals of sexual interest. The implications of our findings could lead to a formulation of sexual remediation strategies. The study was supported by the Czech Health Research Council, no. NU21J-04-00024 and the Charles University, Fac Med1, GAUK no. 56123.

Disclosure

No.
(103) Prior Intracavernosal Injection Therapy and Prostate Cancer Treatment are Both Independently Associated with Increased Risks of Complications in Men Undergoing Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Placement
Authors: Hammad M A M , Barham D W , Jones J M , Gross M S , Chang C , Swerdloff D , Miller J , Andrianne R , Burnett A L , Gross K , Hatzichristodoulou G , Hotaling J M , Hsieh T C , Jones A , Lentz A , Modgil V , Osmonov D , Park S H , Pearce I , Perito P , Sadeghi-Nejad H , Sempels M , Suarez-Sarmiento Jr. A , Simhan J , Van Renterghem K , Warner J N , Ziegelmann M , Yafi F A ,   on behalf of the PUMP (Prosthetic Urology Multi-institutional Partnership) collaborators
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Intracavernosal injection (ICI) therapy for erectile dysfunction (ED) carries a risk of corporal fibrosis, potentially making placement of an inflatable penile prosthesis more difficult. Prostate cancer treatment may also induce corporal fibrosis.

Objective

To assess whether a history of ICI or prostate cancer treatment is associated with complications following IPP placement.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of primary IPP cases from 2016–2021 across 16 institutions. Patients were stratified by history of ICI and between-group differences in risk factors were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess for predictors of intraoperative complications, postoperative non-infectious complications and postoperative infection.

Results

A total of 2540 patients met inclusion criteria of which 781 (30.8%) had a history of ICI. Patients with a history of ICI tended to be older (mean 63 vs 64 years, p=0.002) and were more likely to have history of radical prostatectomy (21.0% vs. 32.1%, p<0.001) and/or radiation (5.51% vs 10.9%, p<0.001). On multivariable regression, a history of ICI, prostatectomy, and radiation were all significant predictors of intraoperative complications (OR 2.11, p=0.03; OR 2.27, p=0.03; OR 2.40, p=0.04, respectively). A history of ICI and patient age were predictors of non-infectious postoperative complications (OR 1.44, p=0.02, OR 1.02, p=0.004 respectively)). None of the variables were significant predictors of infection.

Conclusions

In men undergoing IPP placement, a history of ICI is associated with an increased risk of both intraoperative and postoperative, non-infectious complications. Prostate cancer treatment with radiation or surgery is independently associated with increased risk of intraoperative complications.

Disclosure

Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: D.O. has served as a consultant for Coloplast, Intuitive Surgical, and Fidelis. P.P. has served as a consultant for Coloplast, Boston Scientific, and Urofill. M.S. has served as a consultant for Boston Scientific and Coloplast. J.S. has served as a consultant for Boston Scientific and Coloplast. F.A.Y. has served as a consultant for Coloplast, Cynosure, Antares Pharma, Clarus Pharmaceuticals, and Acerus Pharma. M.S.G. has served as a consultant for Coloplast. The other authors disclose no conflicts.
(150) Assessment of Using the Syndromic Approach in Managing Patients with Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among the National Guard Primary Health Care Physicians, Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Mugti H , Banamah O
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) include a group of clinical syndromes that can be transmitted mainly through sexual activity. Using STIs’ syndromic approach for diagnosis and management is widely recommended to control and reduce the burden of these transmissible diseases

Objective

to assess the knowledge and practice of physicians concerning syndromic management of STIs in National Guard Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This observational study was conducted at the National Guard PHC centers in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia. An interview-administered questionnaire was designed. Fifty physicians have met the inclusion criteria, and all of them were included in the present study.

Results

Of the study population, 47 PHC physicians (response rate was 94%) were interviewed and the questionnaire was completed. Overall, the physicians' knowledge was different from one syndrome to another; it was highest for urethral discharge (72%) and lowest for vaginal discharge in pregnant women (21%). During the last 10 days, the physicians in the present study reported that two-thirds of their cases of STI were urethral discharge cases. However, during the previous 10 days, the practice assessment revealed that most physicians (76%) were correctly prescribed the medications as indicated by specific patients' syndromes.

Conclusions

Syndromic management is essential guidance to control and reduce the burden of STIs. Overall knowledge and practice of physicians were different from one syndrome to another. There is a need to design continuing medical education programs targeting PHC physicians to be clinically and culturally competent against socially sensitive diseases like STIs.

Disclosure

No.
(175) Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice on Sexual and Reproductive Health among Adolescent in Malaysia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mustafa Kamal N A
Published: March 2024

Introduction

A good sexual and reproductive health (SRH) encompasses dimensions of physical, emotional, mental and social-wellbeing in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction, or infirmity. A proper curriculum is needed to ensure that all adolescents have a good grasp of knowledge of SRH to have proper attitudes and the right practices in SRH.

Objective

Currently, it is believed that there is no improvement in status of knowledge, attitude and practice of SRH among adolescents in Malaysia, despite the introduction of sexual and reproductive health topics in the school curriculum. No systematic or proper evaluation to evaluate the effectiveness of the said improved SRH curriculum. This review aims to investigate the status of level of knowledge among adolescents since the introduction of SRH curriculum.

Methods

A systematic literature review in the form of narrative review was used to investigate the status of knowledge, attitude, and practice of SRH. 109 potential articles were found through Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar and Google. Articles removed due to duplications within and between databases. 109 potential articles were found but only 29 articles met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Selected articles were read through based on the 8 key concepts in the International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education, 2018.

Results

The results reported that the knowledge of sexual health among adolescents was just above the average, while poor knowledge in reproductive health. They have a positive attitude towards introducing SRH curriculum as early as primary school. It was found that these adolescents have poor information-seeking behavior, and main resources of information are from peers, internet, and magazine. Parents and teachers were the least chosen as reference.

Conclusions

There is the need to re-evaluate the current SRH curriculum, and to integrate the healthcare personnel as educator to the adolescents, trainers to the teachers and parents to ensure a holistic approach to a proper SRH education following the CSE guideline.

Disclosure

No.