bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Smear layer removal comparing conventional irrigation, passive ultrasonic irrigation, EndoActivator System, and a new sonic device (Perfect Clean System) by scanning electron microscopy: An ex vivo study
Authors: Gonçalves Bruna Fernanda Alionço , Reddy Divya , Machado Ricardo , Soares Júunior Paulo César , Ignácio Sérgio Aparecido , Fernandes Couto Douglas Augusto , Frasquetti Karine Santos , Ditzel Westphalen Vânia Portela , Carneiro Everdan , Silva Neto Ulisses Xavier da 
Published: December 2024

Aim
This study evaluated the smear layer removal provided by conventional, sonic, and ultrasonic irrigation techniques.

Methodology
Forty extracted human mandibular first premolars were selected and instrumented using the ProTaper Next System files and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite. Afterward, they were divided into 4 groups (n. 10) according to the irrigation technique used to perform the final irrigation with a chelating solution (17% EDTA): conventional irrigation (CI), passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), EndoActivator System (EAS), and Perfect Clean System (PCS). The smear layer removal was determined through a score after evaluating scanning electron microscope images (1.000x) obtained at 1, 5, 8, and 12mm from the working length (WL). Statistical analyses were carried out by the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s tests with a significance level of 5% (P < 0.05).

Results
All irrigation techniques were unable to promote an effective smear layer removal at 1mm from the WL in comparison with the other locations (P < .05). At 5, 8, and 12mm from the WL, no statistically significant differences were observed among CI, PUI, EAS, and PCS (P > 0.05). At 12mm from the WL, statistically significant differences were only identified after comparing PCS and CI (P < .05).

Conclusion
The smear layer removal was only efficient at 5, 8, and 12 from the WL with no significant statistical differences among CI, PUI, EAS, and PCS (P > 0.05).
Configurations associated with the efficiency of the ophthalmology departments in public hospitals of Central South China
Authors: Li Yimeng , Chen Yao , Ma Bosheng , Chen Jyu-lin , Zhong Jie , Jiang Yan , Luo Jing , Guo Jia 
Published: December 2024

Background
Improving the efficiency of ophthalmology service is a global challenge to fight vision impairment, yet there is little concrete evidence of the current efficiency status. This study aimed to examine the efficiency of ophthalmology departments in the Hunan Province, China, and determine the associating factors of low-efficiency and high-efficiency ophthalmology departments.

Methods
This cross-sectional study included a province-level survey of ophthalmology departments of public hospitals. All the ophthalmology departments of public hospitals in Hunan Province were invited to complete an online survey on ophthalmic competence resources. Bootstrap Data Envelopment Analysis was conducted to describe the service efficiency status of the ophthalmology departments using Maxdea (version 8.0) software. Then, we employed Fuzzy Set-Qualitative Comparative Analysis to explore the recipes of low-efficiency and high-efficiency ophthalmology departments using Fs-QCA (version 3.0) software.

Results
One hundred and ninety-five ophthalmology departments (87 in tertiary and 108 in secondary public hospitals) completed the survey. The mean efficiency score was 0.78 for ophthalmology departments in tertiary hospitals and 0.82 for secondary hospitals. The number of ophthalmologists and equipment positively contributed to the efficiency of ophthalmology departments in tertiary and secondary hospitals. While increasing the bed capacity was not always beneficial to improving the efficiency of ophthalmology departments in secondary hospitals. For ophthalmology departments in tertiary hospitals, simply increasing the number of nurses did not universally increase efficiency unless there were enough ophthalmologists and equipment to support the nurses’ work. This study also revealed 2 configurations for ophthalmology departments in secondary hospitals and 5 configurations for those in tertiary hospitals that could guide their efficiency improvement efforts.

Conclusions
Moderate efficiency levels in ophthalmology departments at both tertiary and secondary hospitals were found. Prioritizing the number of ophthalmologists and equipment was recommended to achieve high efficiency for ophthalmology departments in tertiary and secondary hospitals. We also proposed that blindly increasing the number of beds and nurses was meaningless, and ophthalmology departments should flex the bed capacity and number of nurses after premising having high numbers of ophthalmologists and equipment.
Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on uptake and experiences of gestational diabetes mellitus screening in Ontario: A parallel convergent mixed-methods study
Authors: Hadid Dima , Correia Rebecca H. , McDonald Sarah D. , Darling Elizabeth K. , Kirkwood David , Jones Aaron , Carruthers Andrea , Kuyvenhoven Cassandra , Howard Michelle , Greyson Devon , Kandasamy Sujane , Vanstone Meredith 
Published: December 2024

Objective
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common medical complication of pregnancy that leads to adverse outcomes for both infants and pregnant people. Early detection and treatment can mitigate these negative outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic strained healthcare and laboratory services, including GDM screening programs. Adapted GDM screening guidelines were introduced in many jurisdictions. This study examined changes in uptake, modality, and experiences of GDM screening in Ontario, Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods
This convergent mixed-method study involved a population-based retrospective cohort analysis of Ontario-based health administrative data to describe and compare gestational diabetes screening rates among 85,228 individuals with live, in-hospital births between January 1-March 31 before (2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021 and 2022). Descriptive analyses were conducted for GDM screening pathways aligning with usual and pandemic-adapted screening guidance. Qualitative descriptive interviews were conducted about experiences and decision-making of GDM screening with 43 Ontario residents who gave birth between May 2020 and December 2021. Data were integrated during the design and interpretation phases.

Results
There were small but significant increases in GDM screening during the pandemic; likelihood of screening completion using any modality increased in 2021 and 2022 compared to 2019. Testing modality shifted; the alternate screening strategies introduced during COVID-19 were adopted by clinicians. Interview participants perceived GDM screening to be important and obligatory but accompanied by a degree of stress about potential COVID-19 exposure.

Conclusion
Despite health system challenges experienced in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic, GDM screening rates increased in the study population, demonstrating the success of adapted GDM screening guidelines. Decisions about screening modalities were driven by clinician expertise, and interview participants were satisfied to provide informed consent to these recommendations.
Association between exposure to urinary metal and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in US adults
Authors: Cheng Ting , Yu Dongdong , Li Geng , Chen Xiankun , Zhou Li , Wen Zehuai 
Published: December 2024

Background
Further evidence is required regarding the influence of metal mixture exposure on mortality. Therefore, we employed diverse statistical models to evaluate the associations between eight urinary metals and the risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Methods
We measured the levels of 8 metals in the urine of adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018. Based on follow-up data, we determined whether they died and the reasons for their deaths. We estimated the association between urine metal exposure and all-cause mortality using Cox regression, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models. Additionally, we used a competing risk model to estimate the relationship between metal exposure and cardiovascular mortality.

Results
Among the 14,305 individuals included in our final analysis, there were 2,066 deaths, with 1,429 being cardiovascular-related. Cox regression analysis showed that cobalt (Co) (HR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.13, 1.30) and antimony (Sb) (HR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.40) were positively associated with all-cause mortality (all P for trend <0.001). In the competing risk model, Co (HR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.48), lead (Pb) (HR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.37), and Sb (HR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.75) were significantly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (all P for trend <0.001). Sb, Pb, cadmium (Cd), and molybdenum (Mo) had the highest weight rankings in the final WQS model. All metals showed a complex non-linear relationship with all-cause mortality, with high posterior inclusion probabilities (PIPs) in the final BKMR models.

Conclusions
Combining all models, it is possible that Sb may have a more stable impact on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Meaningful metal effects in individual statistical models still require careful attention.
Simulated low-dose dark-field radiography for detection of COVID-19 pneumonia
Authors: Schick Rafael C. , Bast Henriette , Frank Manuela , Urban Theresa , Koehler Thomas , Gassert Florian T. , Sauter Andreas P. , Renger Bernhard , Fingerle Alexander A. , Karrer Alexandra , Makowski Marcus R. , Pfeiffer Daniela , Pfeiffer Franz 
Published: December 2024

Background
Dark-field radiography has been proven to be a promising tool for the assessment of various lung diseases.

Purpose
To evaluate the potential of dose reduction in dark-field chest radiography for the detection of the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pneumonia.

Materials and methods
Patients aged at least 18 years with a medically indicated chest computed tomography scan (CT scan) were screened for participation in a prospective study between October 2018 and December 2020. Patients were included if they had a CO-RADS (COVID-19 Reporting and Data System) score ≥ 4 (COVID-19 group) or if they had no pathologic lung changes (controls). A total of 89 participants with a median age of 60 years (interquartile range 48 to 68 yrs.) were included in this study. Dark-field and attenuation-based radiographs were simultaneously obtained by using a prototype system for dark-field radiography. By modifying the image reconstruction algorithm, low-dose radiographs were simulated based on real participant images. The simulated radiographs corresponded to 50%, 25%, and 13% of the full dose (41.9 μSv, median value). Four experienced radiologists served as blinded readers assessing both image modalities, displayed side by side in random order. The presence of COVID-19-associated lung changes was rated on a scale from 1 to 6. The readers’ diagnostic performance was evaluated by analyzing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) using Obuchowski’s method. Also, the dark-field images were analyzed quantitatively by comparing the dark-field coefficients within and between the COVID-19 and the control group.

Results
The readers’ diagnostic performance in the image evaluation, as described by the AUC value (where a value of 1 corresponds to perfect diagnostic accuracy), did not differ significantly between the full dose images (AUC = 0.86) and the simulated images at 50% (AUC = 0.86) and 25% of the full dose(AUC = 0.84) (p>0.050), but was slightly lower at 13% dose (AUC = 0.82) (p = 0.038). For all four radiation dose levels, the median dark-field coefficients within groups were identical but different significantly by 15% between the controls and the COVID-19 pneumonia group (p<0.001).

Conclusion
Dark-field imaging can be used to diagnose the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pneumonia with a median dose of 10.5 μSv, which corresponds to 25% of the original dose used for dark-field chest imaging.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lung cancer diagnosis in northern Poland–addressing the COVID-19 debt
Authors: Romaszko-Wojtowicz Anna , Doboszyńska Anna , Piechnik Anna , Kuziemski Krzysztof , Szplit Dariusz , Cofta Szczepan , Glińska-Lewczuk Katarzyna 
Published: December 2024

Introduction
Lung cancer, one of the leading causes of death due to neoplasms, requires prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic affected healthcare systems worldwide, having adverse effects on all aspects, particularly on the fate of patients with suspected neoplastic diseases. Limited access to healthcare, disruptions in regular operations (reassigning roles to some wards), postponed hospital admissions, prolonged diagnostic processes, and other factors have collectively led to the phenomenon known as COVID-19 debt.

Material and methods
A retrospective analysis covered statistical data concerning the diagnosis of lung cancer obtained from three centres in northern Poland (Olsztyn, Bydgoszcz, Gdansk) and concerning years 2016 to 2022. Relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for cancer event were calculated. Before the pandemic, these centers prioritized the diagnosis of suspected lung cancer cases, which was subsequently disrupted during the pandemic due to various factors.

Results
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in diagnosed lung cancer cases, especially in hospitals repurposed for COVID-19 care. A statistically significant trend in lung cancer incidence per 100,000 inhabitants was observed specifically in healthcare centers that maintained normal operations without disruption.

Conclusion
The concept of the COVID debt helps explain changes in lung cancer diagnosis during and post-pandemic, highlighting the need for increased public awareness and intensified diagnostic efforts to facilitate earlier disease detection.
The epigenetic mechanisms of adaption to the hot and humid climate in Hu sheep (Ovis aries)
Authors: Ren Hangxing , Jiang Jing , Li Jie , Sun Xiaoyan , Chen Cancan , Liu Liangjia , Lv Shipeng , Qu Minghao , Fan Yuxue , Zhou Peng , Wang Gaofu 
Published: December 2024

AbstractHu sheep is characterized by its excellent fecundity and high adaptability to various ecological environments. To reveal the molecular basis involved in Hu sheep, we first examined the 10 index of neuroendocrine and metabolism in blood in Hu sheep during non‐stress period (April–May) and stress period (July–August) using ELISA, including CRH, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, aldosterone, adrenaline, T3,T4, SOD, GSH‐PX, and T‐AOC. Then we conducted the Whole genome DNA methylation sequencing in blood and performed the comparative analysis of global DNA methylation between the non‐stress period and the stress period. Our results demonstrated that among the 10 index tested in blood, only ACTH, T3, and T‐AOC were significantly changed (p < 0.01) in Hu sheep between two periods. This indicates Hu sheep's special adaptability to the high hygrothermal environment takes the decrease of metabolic level and total antioxidant capacity as compensation, which differ obviously from other intolerant hygrothermal animals. At the epigenetic level, differential methylation of TPO, ADCY9, PRKACB, and CREB5 play important roles in excellent resistance to hygrothermel environment in Hu sheep by modulation of the secretion of in neuroendocrine hormones (T3, ACTH) and thermogenesis. These findings are valuable for breeding the novel animal breeds resistant to climate stress.
Serum proteome profiling of plateau acclimatization in men using Olink proteomics approach
Authors: Pan Jingyu , Dong Yue , Zou Zhihao , Gu Tianyan , Chen Ling , Li Kai , Wang Li , Shi Qinghai 
Published: December 2024

AbstractPlateau acclimatization involves adaptive changes in the body's neurohumoral regulation and metabolic processes due to hypoxic conditions at high altitudes. This study utilizes Olink targeted proteomics to analyze serum protein expression differences in Han Chinese individuals acclimatized for 6 months–1 year at 4500 and 5300 m altitudes, compared to those residing at sea level. The objective is to elucidate the proteins' roles in tissue and cellular adaptation to hypoxia. We identified 54 metabolism‐related differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the serum of the high‐altitude group versus the sea‐level group, comprising 20 significantly upregulated and 34 downregulated proteins. Notably, 2 proteins were upregulated and 11 downregulated at both 4500 and 5300 m altitudes. The top three protein correlations among DEPs included CRKL with CA13, RNASE3 with NADK, and NADK with APEX1, alongside APLP1 with CTSH, CTSH with SOST, and CTSH with NT‐proBNP in inverse correlations. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated significant DEP involvement in various metabolic pathways, particularly those associated with hypoxic cellular metabolism like glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and the HIF‐1 signaling pathway. Correlation with clinical phenotypes showed positive associations of SOST, RNASE3, CA13, NADK, and CRKL with SaO2 and negative correlations with Hemoglobin and Hematocrit; ALDH1A1 positively correlated with Triglyceride; and SDC4 inversely correlated with Uric acid levels. This study provides insights into specific DEPs linked to metabolic adaptations in high‐altitude acclimatized individuals, offering a foundation for understanding acclimatization mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
Split antecedents: A dependency grammar account in terms of predicate-valent structures
Authors: Osborne Timothy , Jiaxin Li 
Published: December 2024

AbstractPlural pronouns can have split antecedents distributed in various positions. This article scrutinizes the distribution of plural pronouns taking split antecedents in English, relying heavily on informant judgments to determine acceptability. Two conditions on split antecedents are proposed. These conditions are expressed in terms of the valents of predicates in a dependency grammar (DG) framework of syntax. The DG approach proves to be effective in cases that challenge semantic predicate-argument approaches.
Translating Emotions in the Modern „Waste Land”: Winterreise at the Turn of the 20th and 21st Centuries
Authors: Tenczyńska Anna 
Published: December 2024

The subject of this paper is the process of translating emotions in Podróż zimowa (1994), a cycle of 24 poems by the poet and translator, Stanisław Barańczak. The Polish author wrote them to the music of Franz Schubert, who had previously composed this music to the work of another poet, Wilhelm Müller. In each of these three artefacts – by Müller, Müller-Schubert, Müller-Schubert-Barańczak – a different emotional landscape is created. The comparative analysis of selected aspects of each of them, proposed in the article, is providing the opportunity to examine the exceptionally complex process of translating emotions: from the early romantic poetic text to music of the same era, and from these vocal works – back to a poetic text, almost two hundred years younger. One of the crucial figures we can observe in Podróż zimowa, when read or listened, is irony, both in the poems as well as between them and the Schubert’s music.
Propostas de formação docente e discente na perspectiva decolonial
Authors: STEFFEN MUNSBERG JOÃO ALBERTO , Fuchs Henri Luiz 
Published: December 2024

Resumo: Este artigo objetiva analisar a formação docente e discente na perspectiva decolonial, a partir de duas pesquisas desenvolvidas no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação da Universidade La Salle. Uma pesquisa tinha como objetivo geral investigar experiências instituintes de currículos de Pedagogia em instituições de ensino superior da América Latina (Abya Yala) sob a perspectiva decolonial. Outra, analisar as potencialidades do Ensino Médio Politécnico como proposta pedagógica inscrita na perspectiva da educação intercultural decolonizadora. Quanto à metodologia, neste texto realizamos análise documental das duas teses, estabelecendo diálogos sobre elementos pertinentes ao objetivo. A análise aponta como principais resultados: a) a construção de projetos pedagógicos decoloniais requer atitude crítica, intercultural e participativa; b) propostas de formação docente decolonial implicam organização da comunidade, pesquisa participante, interculturalidade, trans/inter/disciplinaridade, docência e metodologia dialógica horizontal; e c) a proposta pedagógica do Ensino Médio Politécnico tem foco no protagonismo juvenil, preparando as juventudes para compreender, intervir, transformar e mudar a realidade em que vivem. Em efeito, concluímos que: a) um currículo de formação docente decolonial parte dos fundamentos e princípios epistemológicos outros produzidos por meio de pesquisa participante enraizada na Mãe-Terra; b) o currículo decolonial busca a emancipação dos sujeitos, mediante uma formação outra fundamentada em experiências de povos e culturas que convivem na interculturalidade e pluriversalidade; e c) a proposta pedagógica do Ensino Médio Politécnico tem potencial para ser implementada na perspectiva da educação intercultural decolonizadora, formando cidadãos críticos e ativistas em busca de um mundo de vida boa, digna e justa para todos.
Palavras-chave: formação discente; formação docente; proposta pedagógica; currículo; decolonialidade.
Os entrelaçamentos da ação docente na implantação do novo ensino médio da Rede La Salle
Authors: Maria Elisa Schuck Medeiros  
Published: December 2024

O presente estudo sobre a implementação dos itinerários formativos do Novo Ensino Médio na Rede La Salle emerge de inquietações relacionadas à necessidade de atender às disposições da Lei 13.415/17. O objetivo central foi investigar o processo de implantação desses itinerários, analisando os desafios enfrentados pela docência. Para tanto, utilizou-se a metodologia de Grupo Focal, que favoreceu a interação com professores da Rede La Salle, e os dados obtidos foram tratados por meio da Análise Textual Discursiva. O estudo visou mapear tanto as experiências exitosas quanto os aspectos que demandam aprimoramento no processo de implementação da proposta. Foram identificados fatores cruciais que impactam a prática docente, com destaque para a formação continuada, a metodologia empregada e os processos avaliativos. Neste artigo, aborda-se uma das categorias de análise da tese de doutorado, com foco nos entrelaçamentos entre a ação docente e as vivências dos professores durante a transição para o Novo Ensino Médio. Como aporte teórico utilizou-se Nóvoa (2017), Tardif (2014), Freire (1992), Libâneo (1992), Pimenta (2000) e Zabala (1998). Os relatos evidenciam que, em algumas situações, as ações propostas pelas escolas não contemplaram plenamente as necessidades dos professores. Ressalta-se a importância de uma formação continuada que articule teoria e prática, promovendo espaços para a troca de experiências entre os docentes. Esses espaços colaborativos constituem uma base essencial para a construção do saber, permitindo que os professores ressignifiquem suas práticas e se apropriem de maneira significativa das mudanças pedagógicas impostas pela nova legislação.