bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction for post-ERCP pancreatitis in non-elderly patients with common bile duct stones: a cross-sectional study at a major Chinese tertiary hospital (2015–2023)
Authors: Yan Chaoqun , Zheng Jinxin , Tang Haizheng , Fang Changjian , Zhu Jiang , Feng Hu , Huang Hao , Su Yilin , Wang Gang , Wang Cheng
Published: May 2024

Background

Post-ERCP pancreatitis is one of the most common adverse events in ERCP-related procedures. The purpose of this study is to construct an online model to predict the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis in non-elderly patients with common bile duct stones through screening of relevant clinical parameters.

Methods

A total of 919 cases were selected from 7154 cases from a major Chinese tertiary hospital. Multivariable logistic regression model was fitted using the variables selected by the LASSO regression from 28 potential predictor variables. The internal and external validation was assessed by evaluating the receiver operating characteristic curve and the area under curve. Restricted cubic spline modelling was used to explore non-linear associations. The interactive Web application developed for risk prediction was built using the R “shiny” package.

Results

The incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis was 5.22% (48/919) and significantly higher in non-elderly patients with female, high blood pressure, the history of pancreatitis, difficult intubation, endoscopic sphincterotomy, lower alkaline phosphatase and smaller diameter of common bile duct. The predictive performance in the test and external validation set was 0.915 (95% CI, 0.858–0.972) and 0.838 (95% CI, 0.689–0.986), respectively. The multivariate restricted cubic spline results showed that the incidence of pancreatitis was increased at 33–50 years old, neutrophil percentage > 58.90%, hemoglobin > 131 g/L, platelet < 203.04 or > 241.40 × 109/L, total bilirubin > 18.39 umol / L, aspartate amino transferase < 36.56 IU / L, alkaline phosphatase < 124.92 IU / L, Albumin < 42.21 g / L and common bile duct diameter between 7.25 and 10.02 mm. In addition, a web server was developed that supports query for immediate PEP risk.

Conclusion

The visualized networked version of the above model is able to most accurately predict the risk of PEP in non-elderly patients with choledocholithiasis and allows clinicians to assess the risk of PEP in real time and provide preventive treatment measures as early as possible.
Co-habiting ants and silverfish display a converging feeding ecology
Authors: Parmentier Thomas , Molero-Baltanás Rafael , Valdivia Catalina , Gaju-Ricart Miquel , Boeckx Pascal , Łukasik Piotr , Wybouw Nicky
Published: May 2024

Background

Various animal taxa have specialized to living with social hosts. Depending on their level of specialization, these symbiotic animals are characterized by distinct behavioural, chemical, and morphological traits that enable close heterospecific interactions. Despite its functional importance, our understanding of the feeding ecology of animals living with social hosts remains limited. We examined how host specialization of silverfish co-habiting with ants affects several components of their feeding ecology. We combined stable isotope profiling, feeding assays, phylogenetic reconstruction, and microbial community characterization of the Neoasterolepisma silverfish genus and a wider nicoletiid and lepismatid silverfish panel where divergent myrmecophilous lifestyles are observed.

Results

Stable isotope profiling (δ13C and δ15N) showed that the isotopic niches of granivorous Messor ants and Messor-specialized Neoasterolepisma exhibit a remarkable overlap within an ant nest. Trophic experiments and gut dissections further supported that these specialized Neoasterolepisma silverfish transitioned to a diet that includes plant seeds. In contrast, the isotopic niches of generalist Neoasterolepisma silverfish and generalist nicoletiid silverfish were clearly different from their ant hosts within the shared nest environment. The impact of the myrmecophilous lifestyle on feeding ecology was also evident in the internal silverfish microbiome. Compared to generalists, Messor-specialists exhibited a higher bacterial density and a higher proportion of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria. Moreover, the nest environment explained the infection profile (or the 16S rRNA genotypes) of Weissella bacteria in Messor-specialized silverfish and the ant hosts.

Conclusions

Together, we show that social hosts are important determinants for the feeding ecology of symbiotic animals and can induce diet convergence.
The impact of major depressive disorder on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes: a longitudinal cohort study using UK Biobank primary care records
Authors: Gillett Alexandra C. , Hagenaars Saskia P. , Handley Dale , Casanova Francesco , Young Katherine G. , Green Harry , Lewis Cathryn M. , Tyrrell Jess
Published: May 2024

Background

This study evaluates longitudinal associations between glycaemic control, measured by mean and within-patient variability of glycated haemaglobin (HbA1c) levels, and major depressive disorder (MDD) in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), focusing on the timings of these diagnoses.

Methods

In UK Biobank, T2D was defined using self-report and linked health outcome data, then validated using polygenic scores. Repeated HbA1c measurements (mmol/mol) over the 10 years following T2D diagnosis were outcomes in mixed effects models, with disease duration included using restricted cubic splines. Four MDD exposures were considered: MDD diagnosis prior to T2D diagnosis (pre-T2D MDD), time between pre-T2D MDD diagnosis and T2D, new MDD diagnosis during follow-up (post-T2D MDD) and time since post-T2D MDD diagnosis. Models with and without covariate adjustment were considered.

Results

T2D diagnostic criteria were robustly associated with T2D polygenic scores. In 11,837 T2D cases (6.9 years median follow-up), pre-T2D MDD was associated with a 0.92 increase in HbA1c (95% CI: [0.00, 1.84]), but earlier pre-T2D MDD diagnosis correlated with lower HbA1c. These pre-T2D MDD effects became non-significant after covariate adjustment. Post-T2D MDD individuals demonstrated increasing HbA1c with years since MDD diagnosis ($$\beta =0.51$$

β
=
0.51

, 95% CI: [0.17, 0.86]). Retrospectively, across study follow-up, within-patient variability in HbA1c was 1.16 (95% CI: 1.13–1.19) times higher in post-T2D MDD individuals.

Conclusions

The timing of MDD diagnosis is important for understanding glycaemic control in T2D. Poorer control was observed in MDD diagnosed post-T2D, highlighting the importance of depression screening in T2D, and closer monitoring for individuals who develop MDD after T2D.
The influence of hospital accreditation on nurses’ perceptions of patient safety culture
Authors: Oweidat Islam Ali , Atiyeh Huda , Alosta Mohammed , Al-Mugheed Khalid , Saeed Alabdullah Amany Anwar , Alzoubi Majdi M. , Farghaly Abdelaliem Sally Mohammed
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Hospitals’ accreditation process is carried out to enhance the quality of hospitals’ care and patient safety practices as well. The current study aimed to investigate the influence of hospitals’ accreditation on patient safety culture as perceived by Jordanian hospitals among nurses.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional correlational survey was used for the current study, where the data were obtained from 395 nurses by convenient sampling technique who were working in 3 accredited hospitals with 254 nurses, and 3 non-accredited hospitals with 141 nurses, with a response rate of 89%.

Results

The overall patient safety culture was (71.9%). Moreover, the results of the current study revealed that there were no statistically significant differences between the perceptions of nurses in accredited and non-accredited hospitals in terms of perceptions of patient safety culture.

Conclusion

The current study will add new knowledge about nurses’ perceptions of patient safety culture in both accredited and non-accredited hospitals in Jordan which in turn will provide valid evidence to healthcare stakeholders if the accreditation status positively affects the nurses’ perceptions of patient safety culture or not. Continuous evaluation of the accreditation application needs to be carried out to improve healthcare services as well as quality and patient safety.
SIRT1 regulates hepatic vldlr levels
Authors: Peyman Mona , Babin-Ebell Anna , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Rosalía , Rigon Matilde , Aguilar-Recarte David , Villarroya Joan , Planavila Anna , Villarroya Francesc , Palomer Xavier , Barroso Emma , Vázquez-Carrera Manuel
Published: May 2024

Background

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated increases in the hepatic levels of the very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor (VLDLR) promote hepatic steatosis by increasing the delivery of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins to the liver. Here, we examined whether the NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) regulates hepatic lipid accumulation by modulating VLDLR levels and the subsequent uptake of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.

Methods

Rats fed with fructose in drinking water, Sirt1−/− mice, mice treated with the ER stressor tunicamycin with or without a SIRT1 activator, and human Huh-7 hepatoma cells transfected with siRNA or exposed to tunicamycin or different inhibitors were used.

Results

Hepatic SIRT1 protein levels were reduced, while those of VLDLR were upregulated in the rat model of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) induced by fructose-drinking water. Moreover, Sirt1−/− mice displayed increased hepatic VLDLR levels that were not associated with ER stress, but were accompanied by an increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α)-target genes. The pharmacological inhibition or gene knockdown of SIRT1 upregulated VLDLR protein levels in the human Huh-7 hepatoma cell line, with this increase abolished by the pharmacological inhibition of HIF-1α. Finally, SIRT1 activation prevented the increase in hepatic VLDLR protein levels in mice treated with the ER stressor tunicamycin.

Conclusions

Overall, these findings suggest that SIRT1 attenuates fatty liver development by modulating hepatic VLDLR levels.
Determinants for Mediterranean diet adherence beyond the boundaries: a cross-sectional study from Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Hashim Mona , Radwan Hadia , Ismail Leila Cheikh , Faris MoezAllslam Ezzat , Mohamad Maysm N , Saleh Sheima T. , Sweid Bisan , Naser Raghad , Hijaz Rahaf , Altaher Rania , Rashed Eman , Turki Eman , Kitbi Mahra Al
Published: May 2024

Background

Substantial evidence embraced the nutrition competence of the Mediterranean diet (MD) as a healthy model for decreasing the risk of chronic diseases and increasing longevity, with the bonus of ensuring environmental sustainability. Measuring adherence to this diet is marginally investigated in the Arabian Gulf region, an area away from the Mediterranean region. The current study aimed to assess the MD adherence among adults in Sharjah/the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and to identify the most influential predictors for MD adherence among the study participants.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was employed using a self-reported, web-based electronic questionnaire that questioned sociodemographics, lifestyle factors, and familiarity with the MD. The MD adherence was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener validated questionnaire. The adherence level was classified as low for a total score of [0–5], medium [score 6–7], and high (8–13).

Results

The study included 1314 participants (age 25–52 years) comprised 822 (62.6%) females and 492 (37.4%) males. There was a moderate adherence score (5.9 ± 1.9) among the study participants. The food constituent expressed the lowest contribution to the MD was fish (9.3%), followed by fruits (12.3%), and legumes (18.3%). The multivariable linear regression analysis showed an overall significant linear trend for the association between the MD adherence score and physical activity, while nutrition information from dietitians and social media were the most two strongly related predictors for the higher adherence (β = 0.747; 95% CI 0.51–0.98, and β 0.60; 95% CI 0.269–0.93; p < 0.001, respectively). On the other side, being a smoker and from a non-Mediterranean country was associated with lower adherence scores (β = 0.538; 95% CI 0.252–0.82, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The findings of the current study showed a moderate adherence, low proportion for high adherence, and a gap in the familiarity with the diet name. Being married, physically active, non-smoker, and getting nutrition information from dietitians and social media were the strongest predictors for higher adherence. It is warranted that public health and nutrition specialists/dietitians to tailor new modern approaches for promoting healthy dietary behaviours consistent with the MD.
Effects of multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation on everyday life physical activity and gait in patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Prigent Gaëlle , Aminian Kamiar , Gonzenbach Roman Rudolf , April Roger , Paraschiv-Ionescu Anisoara
Published: May 2024

Background

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive neurological disease that affects the central nervous system, resulting in various symptoms. Among these, impaired mobility and fatigue stand out as the most prevalent. The progressive worsening of symptoms adversely alters quality of life, social interactions and participation in activities of daily living. The main objective of this study is to bring new insights into the impact of a multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation on supervised walking tests, physical activity (PA) behavior and everyday gait patterns.

Methods

A total of 52 patients, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, were evaluated before and after 3 weeks of inpatient rehabilitation. Each measurement period consisted of clinical assessments and 7 days home monitoring using foot-mounted sensors. In addition, we considered two subgroups based on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores: ‘mild’ (EDSS < 5) and ‘severe’ (EDSS ≥ 5) disability levels.

Results

Significant improvements in fatigue, quality of life and perceived mobility were reported. In addition, walking capacity, as assessed by the 10-m walking test, two-minute walk test and timed-up-and-go test, improved significantly after rehabilitation. Regarding the home assessment, mildly disabled patients significantly increased their locomotion per day and complexity of daily PA pattern after rehabilitation, while severely disabled patients did not significantly change. There were distinct and significant differences in gait metrics (i.e., gait speed, stride length, cadence) between mildly and severely disabled patients, but the statistical models did not show a significant overall rehabilitation effect on these gait metrics.

Conclusion

Inpatient rehabilitation showed beneficial effects on self-reported mobility, self-rated health questionnaires, and walking capacity in both mildly and severely disabled patients. However, these improvements do not necessarily translate to home performance in severely disabled patients, or only marginally in mildly disabled patients. Motivational and behavioral factors should also be considered and incorporated into treatment strategies.
Association between the systemic immune-inflammation index and sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xie Siye , Wu Qi
Published: May 2024

Background

Sarcopenia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) has been correlated to a variety of disorders. The present study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between SII and sarcopenia.

Methods

A literature search was performed in Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang Database, and VIP Chinese Science and Technology Database, from inception to March 2024. Then, the literature quality was assessed. After the heterogeneity test, a random effects or fixed effects model was applied to establish the forest plot, and investigate the relationship between SII and sarcopenia. Then, the sensitivity analysis and publication bias were examined.

Results

Nine articles, which included 18,634 adults, were analyzed. Sarcopenic adults had higher SII levels, when compared to non-sarcopenic adults (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.22 − 0.19,p = 0.003). The high SII level was associated to the increased risk of sarcopenia (odds ratio = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.09–2.13,p = 0.01). In addition, the subgroup analysis revealed that the SII levels were higher in the sarcopenic group, when compared to the non-sarcopenic group, in elderly adults, as well as in adults with or without gastrointestinal disorders. The analysis was robust with a low risk of publication bias.

Conclusions

SII is closely associated to sarcopenia. Sarcopenic adults had elevated SII levels. The high SII level increased the risk of sarcopenia. Large scale multi-center prospective studies are required to validate these study findings.
Plant hormones and phenolic acids response to UV-B stress in Rhododendron chrysanthum pall
Authors: Sun Qi , Li Xiangqun , Sun Li , Sun Mingyi , Xu Hongwei , Zhou Xiaofu
Published: May 2024

Our study aims to identify the mechanisms involved in regulating the response of Rhodoendron Chrysanthum Pall. (R.chrysanthum) leaves to UV-B exposure; phosphorylated proteomics and metabolomics for phenolic acids and plant hormones were integrated in this study. The results showed that UV-B stress resulted in the accumulation of salicylic acid and the decrease of auxin, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, cytokinin and gibberellin in R.chrysanthum. The phosphorylated proteins that changed in plant hormone signal transduction pathway and phenolic acid biosynthesis pathway were screened by comprehensive metabonomics and phosphorylated proteomics. In order to construct the regulatory network of R.chrysanthum leaves under UV-B stress, the relationship between plant hormones and phenolic acid compounds was analyzed. It provides a rationale for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of radiation tolerance in plants.
Cell envelope and stress-responsive pathways underlie an evolved oleaginous Rhodotorula toruloides strain multi-stress tolerance
Authors: Antunes Miguel , Mota Marta N. , Sá-Correia Isabel
Published: May 2024

Background

The red oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula toruloides is a promising cell factory to produce microbial oils and carotenoids from lignocellulosic hydrolysates (LCH). A multi-stress tolerant strain towards four major inhibitory compounds present in LCH and methanol, was derived in our laboratory from strain IST536 (PYCC 5615) through adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) under methanol and high glycerol selective pressure.

Results

Comparative genomic analysis suggested the reduction of the original strain ploidy from triploid to diploid, the occurrence of 21,489 mutations, and 242 genes displaying copy number variants in the evolved strain. Transcriptomic analysis identified 634 genes with altered transcript levels (465 up, 178 down) in the multi-stress tolerant strain. Genes associated with cell surface biogenesis, integrity, and remodelling and involved in stress-responsive pathways exhibit the most substantial alterations at the genome and transcriptome levels. Guided by the suggested stress responses, the multi-stress tolerance phenotype was extended to osmotic, salt, ethanol, oxidative, genotoxic, and medium-chain fatty acid-induced stresses.

Conclusions

The comprehensive analysis of this evolved strain provided the opportunity to get mechanistic insights into the acquisition of multi-stress tolerance and a list of promising genes, pathways, and regulatory networks, as targets for synthetic biology approaches applied to promising cell factories, toward more robust and superior industrial strains. This study lays the foundations for understanding the mechanisms underlying tolerance to multiple stresses in R. toruloides, underscoring the potential of ALE for enhancing the robustness of industrial yeast strains.
Causal effect between gut microbiota and metabolic syndrome in European population: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yan Jiawu , Wang Zhongyuan , Bao Guojian , Xue Cailin , Zheng Wenxuan , Fu Rao , Zhang Minglu , Ding Jialu , Yang Fei , Sun Beicheng
Published: May 2024

Background

Observational studies have reported that gut microbiota composition is associated with metabolic syndrome. However, the causal effect of gut microbiota on metabolic syndrome has yet to be confirmed.

Methods

We performed a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study to investigate the causal effect between gut microbiota and metabolic syndrome in European population. Summary statistics of gut microbiota were from the largest available genome-wide association study meta-analysis (n = 13,266) conducted by the MiBioGen consortium. The summary statistics of outcome were obtained from the most comprehensive genome-wide association studies of metabolic syndrome (n = 291,107). The inverse-variance weighted method was applied as the primary method, and the robustness of the results was assessed by a series of sensitivity analyses.

Results

In the primary causal estimates, Actinobacteria (OR = 0.935, 95% CI = 0.878–0.996, P = 0.037), Bifidobacteriales (OR = 0.928, 95% CI = 0.868–0.992, P = 0.028), Bifidobacteriaceae (OR = 0.928, 95% CI = 0.868–0.992, P = 0.028), Desulfovibrio (OR = 0.920, 95% CI = 0.869–0.975, P = 0.005), and RuminococcaceaeUCG010 (OR = 0.882, 95% CI = 0.803–0.969, P = 0.009) may be associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, while Lachnospiraceae (OR = 1.130, 95% CI = 1.016–1.257, P = 0.025), Veillonellaceae (OR = 1.055, 95% CI = 1.004–1.108, P = 0.034) and Olsenella (OR = 1.046, 95% CI = 1.009–1.085, P = 0.015) may be linked to a higher risk for metabolic syndrome. Reverse MR analysis demonstrated that abundance of RuminococcaceaeUCG010 (OR = 0.938, 95% CI = 0.886–0.994, P = 0.030) may be downregulated by metabolic syndrome. Sensitivity analyses indicated no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy.

Conclusions

Our Mendelian randomization study provided causal relationship between specific gut microbiota and metabolic syndrome, which might provide new insights into the potential pathogenic mechanisms of gut microbiota in metabolic syndrome and the assignment of effective therapeutic strategies.
Thoracoscopic enucleation of an esophageal glomus tumor in the prone position: a case report and literature review
Authors: Matsumoto Shigeki , Okumura Tomoyuki , Miwa Takeshi , Numata Yoshihisa , Hamashima Takeru , Ito Miki , Nagaoka Yasuhiro , Takeshita Chitaru , Sakai Ayano , Kimura Nana , Fukasawa Mina , Mori Kosuke , Takeda Naoya , Yagi Kenta , Muranushi Ryo , Manabe Takahiro , Shirai Yoshihiro , Watanabe Toru , Hirano Katsuhisa , Hashimoto Isaya , Shibuya Kazuto , Yoshioka Isaku , Fujii Tsutomu
Published: May 2024

Background

Glomus tumors (GT) generally occur in the skin. However, esophageal GT, an extremely rare condition, has no established standardized treatment guidelines. Herein, we report the case of an esophageal GT successfully removed by thoracoscopic enucleation in the prone position using intra-esophageal balloon compression.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old man underwent an annual endoscopic examination and was found to have a submucosal tumor in the lower esophagus. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) revealed a hyperechoic mass originating from the muscular layer. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography identified a 2 cm mass lesion with high contrast enhancement in the right side of the lower esophagus. Pathologic findings of EUS-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS–FNA) revealed round to spindle shaped atypical cells without mitotic activity. Immunohistochemically, the tumor was positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin, but negative for CD34, desmin, keratin 18, S-100 protein, melan A, c-kit, and STAT6. He was diagnosed with an esophageal GT and a thoracoscopic approach to tumor resection was planned. Under general anesthesia, a Sengstaken–Blakemore (SB) tube was inserted into the esophagus. The patient was placed in the prone position and a right thoracoscopic approach was achieved. The esophagus around the tumor was mobilized and the SB tube balloon inflated to compress the tumor toward the thoracic cavity. The muscle layer was divided and the tumor was successfully enucleated without mucosal penetration. Oral intake was initiated on postoperative day (POD) 3 and the patient discharged on POD 9. No surgical complications or tumor metastasis were observed during the 1-year postoperative follow-up.

Conclusions

As malignancy criteria for esophageal GT are not yet established, the least invasive procedure for complete resection should be selected on a case-by-case basis. Thoracoscopic enucleation in the prone position using intra-esophageal balloon compression is useful to treat esophageal GT on the right side of the esophagus.
First report of Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Egypt
Authors: El-Gepaly Hosam Mohamed Khalil Hammam , Mohamed Samira A. , Obala Francis , Abdelall Manal F. , Yaseen Thaer
Published: May 2024

Background

The polyphagous alien invasive pest, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), invaded Africa and has so far spread across the continent, causing devastating impacts on maize production. In Egypt, the management of the pest by maize growers has been characterized by the application of broad-spectrum synthetic chemical insecticides, a strategy which is associated with various detrimental effects on the environment and human health. To mitigate the overreliance and excessive use of those synthetic chemicals, biological control using egg parasitoids species provides an ecologically friendly and sustainable management strategy. In that regard, this study had the objective of identifying the natural existing egg parasitoids, which could be effectively used in augmentative biocontrol of the pest in Egypt.

Results

For the first time in Egypt, natural occurrence and parasitism of Telenomus remus Nixon, 1937 (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on S. frugiperda egg masses was recorded. Infested maize farms in Qena Governorate, Egypt, were surveyed, and S. frugiperda egg masses were collected and incubated in the laboratory. Emerging parasitoids’ wasps were grouped based on their morphological similarities. Natural parasitism of the egg parasitoids (Telenomus sp.) was computed from the parasitized field collected egg masses. In addition, to confirm the laboratory parasitism and suitability of the parasitoid, Telenomus sp. to develop on S. frugiperda, the parasitoid was reared on S. frugiperda egg masses for three generations under laboratory conditions. Moreover, both morphological and molecular identifications were conducted. The recovered parasitoid samples from the field S. frugiperda egg masses were Telenomus remus (Nixon) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Moreover, the average field parasitism level by T. remus on S. frugiperda was 15.9%, while under laboratory conditions, the parasitism was 63.5%.

Conclusions

The natural occurrence of T. remus in Egypt and its association with S. frugiperda is an important finding upon which augmentative biocontrol strategy can be leveraged on to sustainably manage the pest populations.
Serum osteoprotegerin and its gene polymorphisms in patients with Takayasu’s arteritis: a bicentric cross-sectional study
Authors: Cendon Duran Camila da Silva , de Falco Caparbo Valéria , Santiago Mittermayer Barreto , Hounkpe Bidossessi Wilfried , Pedreira Ana Luisa Souza , de Souza Lima Isabella Vargas , Giardini Henrique Ayres Mayrink , Bonoldi Virgínia Lucia Nazario , Domiciano Diogo Souza , Shinjo Samuel Katsuyuki , Pereira Rosa Maria R
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Takayasu’s arteritis (TAK) patients are at an elevated risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Currently, there are no well-validated biomarkers to assess this risk in this population. Previous research in different cohorts has linked serum levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and its polymorphisms to accelerated atherosclerosis and a marker of poor prognosis in CVD. Thus, we assessed this protein as a potential biomarker of CVD in TAK patients.

Objectives

To evaluate the serum levels of OPG and its SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in TAK patients and healthy controls, and to associate these parameters with clinical data.

Methods

This bicentric cross-sectional study included TAK patients who were compared with healthy individuals (control group). The serum levels of OPG and the frequency of OPG SNPs [1181G > C (rs2073618), 245 A > C (rs3134069), 163T > C (rs3102735), and 209 C > T (rs3134070)] were compared between the both groups and associated with clinical data.

Results

In total, 101 TAK patients and 93 controls were included in the study. The serum levels of OPG (3.8 ± 1.9 vs. 4.3 ± 1.8pmol/L, respectively; P = 0.059), and its four polymorphisms were comparable between both groups. In an additional analysis of only TAK patients, serum OPG levels and its four genes were not associated with any CVD parameters, except for higher OPG levels among patients without dyslipidemia.

Conclusion

No significant differences were observed in serum OPG levels or in the genotype frequencies of OPG SNPs between the patient and control groups. Similarly, no correlation was found between laboratory parameters and clinical data on CVD risk in TAK patients.
Exploring phonological awareness skills in Arabic-speaking children with borderline intellectual functioning and poor reading
Authors: Hesham Sara , Afsah Omayma , Baz Hemmat
Published: May 2024

Background

Phonological awareness (PA) is the awareness of speech sounds and the ability to reflect on and manipulate the phonemic segments of speech. Research on PA skills in children with borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) is scarce. The objective of this study was to explore PA skills in Arabic-speaking children with BIF and poor reading in comparison to dyslexic children using a modified version of the Arabic PA test.

Methods

A sample of 98 Egyptian children in the age range 6 years and 6 months to 11 years and 5 months was subjected to assessment by the modified Arabic PA test. The sample included 50 typically developing children, 24 dyslexic children, and 24 children with BIF and poor reading.

Results and conclusion

Children with BIF and poor reading demonstrated poor PA skills. Their performance on the modified Arabic PA test was significantly lower than the performance of normal as well as dyslexic children in younger age groups (6 years and 6 months to 8 years). However, in the older age group (8 years and 1 month to 11 years and 5 months), the performance of BIF and dyslexic children was comparable and significantly lower than normal children. The modified Arabic PA test shows evidence for its validity and reliability and can be used for the assessment of PA skills of children with average intelligence as well as children with intellectual dysfunction.
Mentorship for Transfer Student Success in STEM Research: Mentor Approaches and Reflections
Authors: Zuckerman Austin L. , Lo Stanley M. , Juavinett Ashley L.
Published: May 2024

This study describes variations in how mentors in undergraduate research experiences acknowledge and integrate the transfer student experience and identity in their approach to mentorship. Our findings suggest that the transfer student experience may need to be better foregrounded in conversations on inclusive mentorship approaches.
Changing the Trade and Development Consensus: Evidence Building from Little, Bhagwati, Krueger, and Balassa in the 1960s
Authors: Irwin Douglas A.
Published: May 2024

Economists became skeptical about the benefits of free trade for developing countries during the Great Depression, but in the 1960s some had come to recognize the problems with import substitution policies and the benefits of encouraging exports. This article examines how four economists who led this transition—Ian Little, Jagdish Bhagwati, Anne Krueger, and Bela Balassa—came to their views and helped build a new professional consensus on trade policy and economic development. In each case, practical experience, and empirical observation, particularly from India, helped shape their opinions, persuading two of the four to revise their previous beliefs.
Georg Friedrich Knapp's Legacy to Modern Monetary Theory: A Reconsideration
Authors: Guesdon Tristan
Published: May 2024

This article is a reassessment of the relation between Georg Friedrich Knapp and Modern Monetary Theory, a contemporary strand of economics that, under the term chartalism coined by Knapp, is presented by its proponents as a continuation of his 1905 State Theory of Money. It shows that, contrary to Modern Monetary Theory, which proposes a policy-oriented monetary view of public deficit, Knapp's scientific aim is restricted to finding a generally valid concept of means of payments. Different meanings of the terms chartalism and money also separate the two theories. However, both share an understanding of the use of money as driven by taxes and a general concept of means of payment as a situational counterclaim over a central issuer, be it private or public. In their view, private money always holds subordinate rank inside public monetary systems because of imposed convertibility into state currency. Despite such theoretical convergence, the article shows that Knapp's chartalist theory was not rediscovered from oblivion in the mid-1990s when Modern Monetary Theory made its appearance, in which it arguably played no decisive role.
Neither Populist nor Neoclassical: The Classical Roots of the Competition Principle in American Antitrust Law
Authors: Giocoli Nicola
Published: May 2024

Contemporary critics of American antitrust law lament a supposed misinterpretation by modern, welfare-driven enforcers of the true meaning of the competition principle. This essay contributes to the debate by reconstructing the principle's historical origin. While it did not feature in the Sherman Act, the competition principle was introduced by the Supreme Court during the early years of antitrust law. The court formulated alternative versions of the principle; the one that eventually prevailed was neither populist nor neoclassical, as it was based on classical political economy and, in particular, on freedom of contract and “natural” values. This historical circumstance may pave the way for a new approach to antitrust law.
Immuno-scanning electron microscopy of islet primary cilia
Authors: Sviben Sanja , Polino Alexander J. , Melena Isabella L. , Hughes Jing W.
Published: May 2024

The definitive demonstration of protein localization on primary cilia has been a challenge for cilia biologists. Primary cilia are solitary thread-like projections that have a specialized protein composition, but as the ciliary structure overlays the cell membrane and other cell parts, the identity of ciliary proteins are difficult to ascertain by conventional imaging approaches like immunofluorescence microscopy. Surface scanning electron microscopy combined with immunolabeling (immuno-SEM) bypasses some of these indeterminacies by unambiguously showing protein expression in the context of the three-dimensional ultrastructure of the cilium. Here, we apply immuno-SEM to specifically identify proteins on the primary cilia of mouse and human pancreatic islets, including post-translationally modified tubulin, intraflagellar transport (IFT)88, the small GTPase Arl13b, as well as subunits of axonemal dynein. Key parameters in sample preparation, immunolabeling and imaging acquisition are discussed to facilitate similar studies by others in the cilia research community.
Essays on co-operatives’ idiosyncrasies
Authors: Μπένος Θεόδωρος
Published: May 2024

Στόχος της διατριβής είναι να φωτίσει ιδιόμορφα χαρακτηριστικά των συνεταιρισμών (π.χ. το έντονο κοινωνικό τους στοιχείο, την ιδιαίτερη μέτρηση της απόδοσής τους) και να συγκεράσει την «αναμέτρησή» τους με επιχειρηματικά χαρακτηριστικά που είναι έμφυτα σε συμβατικές εταιρικές μορφές ή σε άλλες μορφές επιχειρηματικής δράσης (π.χ. τις κοινωνικές επιχειρήσεις), οι οποίες, όπως οι συνεταιρισμοί, συνδυάζουν το επιχειρηματικό με το κοινωνικό στοιχείο. Η διατριβή αυτή, λοιπόν, υιοθετεί μια διττή οπτική, την επιχειρηματική και την κοινωνική, εξετάζοντας την ικανότητα και την τάση των συνεταιρισμών να ανταποκρίνονται σε (συχνά αντιφατικές) επιχειρηματικές και κοινωνικές απαιτήσεις. Αποτελείται από τέσσερα δοκίμια, πρωταρχικοί σύνδεσμοι των οποίων είναι η ανάλυση συγκεκριμένων ιδιόμορφων χαρακτηριστικών των συνεταιρισμών, αλλά και η σύνθεση αυτών με επιχειρηματικά χαρακτηριστικά που είναι ριζωμένα σε συμβατικές ή άλλες μορφές επιχειρήσεων. Το Δοκίμιο 1 εξετάζει τις αλληλεπιδράσεις μεταξύ της εσωτερικής οργάνωσης των συνεταιρισμών, των στρατηγικών τους και της απόδοσής τους. Αποκαλύπτει ότι οι συνεταιρισμοί χρειάζεται να αγκαλιάσουν στρατηγικές με επίκεντρο τον πελάτη (π.χ. τον προσανατολισμό στην αγορά και τα εμπορικά σήματα), αρκεί να περιφρουρήσουν τα «ανασχεδιασμένα» οργανωτικά χαρακτηριστικά που διασφαλίζουν τη δέσμευση των μελών (π.χ. τους φραγμούς εξόδου). Το Δοκίμιο 2 παρέχει έναν νέο ολοκληρωμένο πίνακα εργαλείων για την αξιολόγηση της απόδοσης των συνεταιρισμών που αντικατοπτρίζει τις ιδιαιτερότητές τους (π.χ. συμφιλιώνει τις επιχειρηματικές και κοινωνικές πτυχές τους), συνεισφέροντας στη δημόσια συζήτηση σχετικά με τον βέλτιστο τρόπο αξιολόγησης. Το Δοκίμιο 3 διερευνά έναν κυρίαρχο κίνδυνο για τους συνεταιρισμούς, τον εξοστρακισμό μελών-πελατών, ο οποίος σχετίζεται κατά κύριο λόγο με το κοινωνικό περιβάλλον των συνεταιρισμών, αλλά αγγίζει και επιχειρηματικής φύσης θέματα (π.χ. τη συμμετοχή των μελών-πελατών στη λήψη αποφάσεων). Στο ίδιο δοκίμιο αναπτύσσεται και ένα αξιόπιστο διαγνωστικό εργαλείο του κινδύνου αυτού. Το Δοκίμιο 4 εμβαθύνει στις «δηλητηριώδεις» επιδράσεις του εξοστρακισμού μελών-πελατών, αξιολογώντας εμπειρικά την επιρροή του σε κρίσιμα αποτελέσματα της σχέσης με τα μέλη, αλλά και παρέχοντας ένα «αντίδοτο» για τον περιορισμό των τοξικών συνεπειών του. Συνολικά, η διατριβή στηρίζεται σε κυρίαρχη ακαδημαϊκή έρευνα για τους συνεταιρισμούς, σε ξεχωριστά υποδείγματα από τη βιβλιογραφία του μάρκετινγκ και της διοίκησης, καθώς και σε πλούσιες διαδικασίες συλλογής δεδομένων και αναλύσεις, ρίχνοντας φως σε ιδιόμορφα χαρακτηριστικά των συνεταιρισμών που, μαζί με άλλα επιχειρηματικά χαρακτηριστικά, μπορούν να προστατεύσουν τα ανταγωνιστικά πλεονεκτήματα των συνεταιρισμών και να βελτιώσουν τη διοίκηση και τη λειτουργία τους. Συνεπώς, η διατριβή δύναται να βοηθήσει τους ηγέτες και τα διοικητικά στελέχη των συνεταιρισμών στη λήψη αποφάσεων σχετικά με τα οργανωτικά και στρατηγικά χαρακτηριστικά των συνεταιρισμών, την τεκμηρίωση και την επικοινωνία του κοινωνικοοικονομικού αντικτύπου τους, αλλά και την καλύτερη διαχείριση της σχέσης με τα μέλη.
Supporting contraceptive self-care and reproductive empowerment with a digital health game in Barbados: Development and Pre-implementation study for What’s My Method?
Authors: Bertozzi Elena , Bertozzi-Villa Clara , Sabato Erin , Alleyne Nicole , Watson-Miller Sonia , Jordan Tiffany , Langdon Anderson
Published: May 2024

Effective contraceptive education is essential to reducing unwanted pregnancy, increasing uptake of modern contraceptive methods, and thoughtfully planning desired births. New WHO and family planning organization guidelines recommend situating contraceptive education and counseling within a broader context of self-care that emphasizes individual agency and reproductive empowerment. Digital health interventions, and games for health specifically, have been validated as effective and scalable tools for self-guided and interactive health education, especially among younger tech-savvy individuals. Barbados currently supplements provider-based contraceptive counseling with analog materials (pamphlets and posters) and informational videos that play on a screen in the waiting room. This study seeks to conduct a formative evaluation of the What’s My Method? (WMM) game intervention as a tool to support contraceptive counseling and increase reproductive empowerment among childbearing persons in Barbados. We test-deployed the WMM game in Bridgetown, Barbados, conducting focus groups and sample deployments with prototypes of the WMM game among three groups of stakeholders (youth contraception ambassadors: n=8; healthcare providers: n=7; and nursing students: n=27) to determine acceptability of the intervention, efficacy of the game as a learning tool, and willingness to adopt the tool in their healthcare context. Feedback on acceptability of the game was largely positive. Constructive feedback informed modifications and improvements to the game. Assessment of contraceptive knowledge gain was complicated by several factors and resulted in modifications of the questionnaire and methodology for measurement of efficacy. Results indicate that the WMM game is well-reviewed and accepted by the target audience of childbearing people and healthcare professionals who would be deploying it. The questionnaire did not perform as intended for our target audience. This pilot testing has informed the design and outcome selection for the upcoming RCT with the final version of the game.
The hidden professionalism curriculum: Teach it, see it, do it and repeat!
Authors: Oliver Scott W. , Collins Kathleen
Published: May 2024

Background Professionalism is a complex and multifaceted component of medical education. Historically, students have learned about professionalism informally and as part of the hidden curriculum. Currently, professionalism is increasingly prominent in formal curricula, but uncertainty remains regarding optimal professionalism pedagogies. In this study, the authors explored medical students’ exposure to professional topics and considered factors that enabled students to correctly recognize and manage these issues. Methods Convenience sampling was used to recruit medical students from existing clinical attachments at the authors’ hospital. A semi-structured interview format was used to explore participants’ awareness of professional issues within fictional vignettes created using published regulatory guidance. The interview transcripts and interview guide field notes were then analyzed. Results The data suggest that students require a combination of didactic teaching and experiential learning to reliably recognize and manage professional issues. Didactic teaching alone enabled topic recognition, but with uncertainty about management strategies. Experiential learning alone led to erratic recognition of the subject and reliance upon role modeling to guide its management. This work stimulates faculty development to enhance teaching professionalism. Conclusions Undergraduate medical education on professionalism must be introduced into the formal curriculum. Didactic teaching is required to scaffold experiential learning. Failure to do so renders students unable to reliably recognize or manage professional issues encountered in clinical practice. Further research questions were identified to progress this work.
Alrecon: computed tomography reconstruction web application based on Solara
Authors: Iori Gianluca , Foudeh Ibrahim , Alzu’bi Mustafa , Al Mohammad Malik , Matalgah Salman
Published: May 2024

Synchrotron X-ray computed tomography is a non-destructive 3D imaging technique that offers the possibility to study the internal microstructure of samples with high spatial and temporal resolution. Given its unmatched image quality and acquisition speed, and the possibility to preserve the specimens, there is an increasing demand for this technique, from scientific users from innumerable disciplines. Computed tomography reconstruction is the computational process by which experimental radiographs are converted to a meaningful 3-dimensional image after the scan. The procedure involves pre-processing steps for image background and artifact correction on raw data, a reconstruction step approximating the inverse Radon-transform, and writing of the reconstructed volume image to disk. Several open-source Python packages exist to help scientists in the process of tomography reconstruction, by offering efficient implementations of reconstruction algorithms exploiting central or graphics processing unit (CPU and GPU, respectively), and by automating significant portions of the data processing pipeline. A further increase in productivity is attained by scheduling and parallelizing demanding reconstructions on high performance computing (HPC) clusters. Nevertheless, visual inspection and interactive selection of optimal reconstruction parameters remain crucial steps that are often performed in close interaction with the end-user of the data. As a result, the reconstruction task involves more than one software. Graphical user interfaces are provided to the user for fast inspection and optimization of reconstructions, while HPC resources are often accessed through scripts and command line interface. We propose Alrecon, a pure Python web application for tomographic reconstruction built using Solara. Alrecon offers users an intuitive and reactive environment for exploring data and customizing reconstruction pipelines. By leveraging upon popular 3D image visualization tools, and by providing a user-friendly interface for reconstruction scheduling on HPC resources, Alrecon guarantees productivity and efficient use of resources for any type of beamline user.
A silent cause of shock: autoimmune polyglandular syndromes
Authors: Colantonio Mark , Hartzell Michelle , Shannon Brooke , Iyer Apoorva
Published: May 2024

Addison’s disease is a rare, autoimmune condition leading to the destruction of the adrenal gland. Autoimmune conditions are known to commonly co-occur. When Addison’s disease presents in the setting of autoimmune thyroid disease and/or type 1 diabetes, this condition is termed autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type II, a rare endocrinopathy found in roughly 1.4-4.5 per 100,000 individuals. Here, we describe a clinical case presenting with hypotension refractory to fluid resuscitation and electrolyte derangements later diagnosed as autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type II.
Impact of Social Media and Peer Pressure on Moral Disengagement among Secondary School Students in Onitsha North LGA, Anambra State
Authors: Ojiakor-Umenze Ifeoma , Nelson Etodike Chukwuemeka Nelson Etodike , Evelyn Uchechukwu Nwafor , Alex Njoku
Published: May 2024

Nigerian students are at a crossroads because of the rapid erosion of the value system in Nigeria, not because of corruption, unemployment, and poverty. The emergence of social media and peer influence has a different impact. This study explored the effects of social media and peer pressure on moral disengagement among secondary school students in Onitsha North LGA of Anambra State. The research sample size was 400 secondary school students selected through a multi-stage sampling technique from a population of 1,400 secondary school students in 12 government secondary schools in the Onitsha Education Zone. The results show that the presence of participants on social media, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, etc., is quite high, with more than half of the population 167 (50.9%) always using social media. These findings also reveal the high use of social media among students, which may hurt student life, especially moral life. It was also confirmed that friendship and fun were the main satisfactions students got from social media, with a combined rate of 68% for 238 students. In addition, peer pressure has a negative (but not significant) impact on students' moral disengagement. However, this impact did not reach a substantial proportion at β = 0.06, p > 0.05 (n = 389), which means that the results did not support the first hypothesis, so it was rejected. Social media has a positive and significant impact on students' moral disengagement at β = 0.49, p < 0.05 (n = 389). These findings reveal a directly proportional impact of social media use on students' moral disengagement. It is recommended that parents, teachers, and other guardians regulate internet exposure via social media in teenagers and young adults to prevent them from becoming too busy or becoming addicted.