bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Short-segment Surgeries on the Lumbar Curve in Patients with Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis: A Prospective Analysis
Authors: Prasad Himanshu R. , Murthy P. V. Satyanarayana , Varma Vamsi K. , Srinivas V. M. S. R. , Reddy D. Anjaneylu , Reddy A. V. Gurava 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Study Design:
This study involves a prospective observational cohort study.

Purpose:
The purpose of the study was to understand the effect of short-segment surgeries (decompression and fusion) on the lumbar curve in adult degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) patients.

Overview of Literature:
The widely propagated strategy of surgical management in DLS involving decompression, deformity correction, and fusion comes with the added burden of surgery-associated complications. This study aims at evaluating the outcomes of the surgeries wherein deformity correction is not attempted.

Methods:
Twenty-two patients were included in the study. Preoperative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and VAS scores were noted and compared with that at 1 year after the surgery. Intraoperative variables such as blood loss and operative time were noted. Radiological evidence of fusion and any curve progression over the study period were assessed. Complications were reviewed as early and late onset.

Results:
Of the 22 patients included, 16 were females and average age of the cohort was 59 years. Sixteen patients underwent fusion and the remaining 6 were decompressed only. The average duration of surgery was 2.068 ± 0.54 h and the mean blood loss was 243.63 ± 65.35 ml. VAS scores improved from a mean of 8.32 ± 0.84 – 1.32 ± 1.25 at 1-year follow-up. Similarly, the mean preoperative ODI of 53.15% improved to 15.12% at the final follow-up. The mean preoperative Cobb angle of the curve was 22.24° ±3.93° which reduced to 9.86° ± 3.59° at the end of 1 year. There was no progression of the curve over the study period. Fusion was achieved in all the cases. Two patients needed reintervention.

Conclusion:
Short-segment surgeries offer good functional and radiological outcomes for degenerative lumbar scoliosis. The rate of associated complications is less compared to long segment deformity correction surgeries and patients tend to tolerate the surgery well. The study also highlights no curve progression during the period.
The Myth of the Myth? An Opinion
Authors: Stone Michael , Hornsby Guy , Long Alex , Nelson Andrew , Goode Nick , McDowell Kurt , Mizuguchi Satoshi , Gahreman Daniel , Duca Marco , Carroll Kevin , Ramsey Michael , Stone Margaret , Pierce Kyle , Gawel Wes , D'amato Joe , Fry Andrew , Batra Amit , Haff Greg 
Published: November 2024

It has become quite popular to question accepted scientific evidence, particularly as it pertains to the validity of various aspects of sport science. Recently, the concept of periodization has been questioned as to its usefulness and even its existence being described as “Myth.” It is the intent of the authors in this informed perspective to combat this idea through both a philosophical discussion on scientific theory as well as pointing out problems with their claim.
<b>Computational Analysis to Identify Novel Drug Targets for Esophageal Cancer</b>
Authors: Jangid Vinod , Rahul Chandrasekar Narayanan , Rashmi B Aarthi , Sekar Kanagaraj 
Published: November 2024

Cancer is a multigene and widespread disease. Increasing drug resistance leads to the development of new therapeutic targets. Recent research indicates that various cellular components called Stress Granules (SGs) are engaged in the cancer-related signaling pathway. The phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, considered a master regulator in cancer, has been shown through genomic profiling studies to play a key role in Esophageal Cancer (EC). In this study, we performed the in-silico analysis of an RNA sequencing dataset to investigate the effects of omipalisib, a PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, on EC cell lines. Our objective was to identify novel molecular targets, particularly stress granule-related proteins, that contribute to drug resistance in EC. Using computational approaches including differential gene expression analysis, pathway analysis, and functional enrichment, we examined the transcriptomic changes in response to omipalisib treatment. Our analysis revealed downregulation of the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway and upregulation of compensatory pathways such as FOXO and JAK-STAT signaling in response to omipalisib. Notably, we identified 16 stress granule-related proteins that were significantly upregulated, suggesting their potential role in drug resistance mechanisms. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying drug resistance in EC and highlight potential novel targets for therapeutic intervention. Currently, EC is limited by the number of potential drugs for treatment, poor prognosis, and is prone to chemotherapeutic resistance to existing clinically proven drugs. Our computational analysis offers valuable insights into targeting stress granules for cancer drug discovery, potentially enhancing the development of new therapeutic strategies for EC. These results provide a strong foundation for future experimental validation and drug development efforts aimed at overcoming resistance to EC treatment.

Received: 1 July 2024 | Revised: 20 September 2024 | Accepted: 20 November 2024

Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work.

Data Availability Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database under accession number GSE143462 at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE143462.

Author Contribution Statement
Vinod Jangid: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Visualization. Chandrasekar Narayanan Rahul: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Investigation,Writing - original draft. Aarthi Rashmi B: Validation, Writing - review & editing. Kanagaraj Sekar:Validation, Writing - review & editing, Supervision, Project administration.
Methanolic Extract of Cannabis sativa Ameliorates Rifampin-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Tubular Necrosis in Rats
Authors: Bilal Tarig Hussein Abdelrahman , Bello Sanusi Mohammad , Ja’afar Nuraddeen Ibrahim , Suliman Nada Muhammed , Shivappa Anil Bengaluru , Hashim Ahmed 
Published: November 2024

Purpose: The study was conducted for the renal protective activity of the methanolic extract of Cannabis sativa against renal toxicity induced by rifampin injection in rats. This study selected Cannabis sativa, a member of the Cannabinaceae family, for its widespread use in treating gout, constipation, pain, insomnia, kidney inflammation, and other diseases. The results showed decreased levels of serum urea, creatinine, sodium (Na), and potassium (K) inhibited the induced toxicity. Histopathological examination revealed that the kidney was protected from the marked necrosis of renal tubules caused by rifampin.
Methodology: Forty Wister white (albino) rats weighing 100-150 gm were used. We produced renal toxicity by injecting rifampin i/p- at a dose rate of 0.8 mL/kg BW for 28 days, which led to nephrotoxicity. We administered the plant extract by simultaneously administering a methanolic extract of Cannabis sativa orally at dose rates of 300 and 600 mg/kg for 28 days.
Findings: Rifampin-induced nephrotoxicity increased potassium, urea, and creatinine levels while decreasing sodium levels. When Cannabis sativa is administered with rifampin, sodium concentrations increase. A decrease in potassium, urea, and creatinine accompanies the increase in sodium levels.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: Flavonoids may be responsible for the nephroprotective effect of Cannabis sativa extract; therefore, more research to identify the active component is necessary.
EVENTOS METEOROLÓGICOS ASSOCIADOS AO CICLONE EXPLOSIVO OCORRIDO EM JUNHO DE 2020 E IMPACTOS NO ESTADO DE SANTA CATARINA
Authors: Faria Leandro Fortunato , Simões Reboita Michelle 
Published: November 2024

Os ciclones extratropicais são um dos sistemas atmosféricos que mais causam mudanças no tempo das regiões onde atuam. Em algumas situações, esses sistemas apresentam uma taxa de aprofundamento de ~24 hPa/24 h o que lhes confere o status de ciclones explosivos. Entre o final de junho e início de julho de 2020, um ciclone, que atingiu o status de explosivo, teve gênese entre o Rio Grande do Sul e Uruguai e rápido deslocamento para o oceano. Diante desse contexto, o objetivo do estudo é descrever o ciclo de vida do ciclone extratropical e os sistemas atmosféricos associados a ele, os quais causaram muitos danos ambientais e materiais e, até mesmo, o óbito de pelo menos 12 pessoas no Estado de Santa Catarina (SC). Para descrever a configuração do ciclone utilizaram-se dados de reanálise, enquanto para a descrição dos impactos no Estado de SC foram usadas notícias publicadas pela mídia e dados fornecidos pela defesa civil de tal Estado. Entre os resultados destacam-se que o ciclone teve gênese associada a um cavado em níveis médios/altos da atmosfera e que teve uma taxa de aprofundamento de 36 hPa em 24 horas, o que lhe concedeu a característica de ciclone explosivo. O ramo frontal frio desse sistema, que tinha seu centro sobre o oceano, atuou sobre SC ajudando na formação de outros sistemas meteorológicos causadores de danos na região.
Deducing land–atmosphere coupling regimes from SMAP soil moisture
Authors: Makhasana Payal R. , Santanello Joseph A. , Lawston-Parker Patricia M. , Roundy Joshua K. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the significance of land–atmosphere (L–A) interactions and feedback mechanisms in understanding and predicting Earth's water and energy cycles. Soil moisture plays a critical role in mediating the strength of L–A interactions and is important for understanding the complex and governing processes across this interface. This study aims to identify the significance of soil moisture in identifying L–A coupling strength within the convective triggering potential (CTP) and humidity index (HI) framework. To address this, a consistent and reliable dataset of atmospheric profiles is created by merging CTP and HI using triple collocation (TC) with three reanalysis datasets. The merged CTP and HI product demonstrates enhanced performance globally compared to the individual datasets when validated with radiosonde and satellite observations. This merged product of CTP and HI is then used to compare the L–A coupling strength based on Soil Moisture Active Passive Level 3 (SMAPL3) and SMAP Level 4 (SMAPL4) over 2 decades (2003–2022) where L–A coupling strength is defined as the persistence probability within the dry and wet coupling regimes. Results indicate that the persistency-based coupling strength is related to the ability of soil moisture to predict future atmospheric humidity and dry vs. wet coupling state. The coupling strength in SMAPL4 is consistently stronger than in SMAPL3 and is likely due to its reliance on a land surface model and reduced susceptibility to random noise. The difference in coupling strength based on the same CTP–HI underscores the importance of soil moisture data in estimating coupling strength within the CTP–HI framework. These findings lay the groundwork for understanding the role of L–A interactions and drought evolution due to soil moisture variations by providing insight into the quantification of coupling strength and its role in drought monitoring and forecast efforts.
Representation Matters: A Higher Percentage of Women Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Is Associated With an Increased Number of Women Residents
Authors: Ranson Rachel , Webber Kassidy , Saker Christopher , Cashin Isabella , Bunstine Josie L. , Patel Aaditya P. , Kirkland Julia , Gianakos Arianna L. , Rumps Mia V. , Mulcahey Mary K. 
Published: November 2024

Introduction:
Orthopaedic surgery has been recognized as one of the least diverse surgical specialties. Previous studies have demonstrated that women are heavily underrepresented within orthopaedic surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine whether orthopaedic surgery residency programs with a higher presence of women faculty had a higher proportion of women residents.

Methods:
The Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database was used to identify all orthopaedic surgery residency programs in the United States. Resident and faculty's sex and degree were recorded in addition to faculty administrative title (eg, program director, chair) and academic rank (clinician, professor, etc). Pearson correlation coefficients were used to compare the number of women residents with the number of women faculty.

Results:
A total of 192 orthopaedic surgery programs were analyzed. Of the 5,747 faculty members and 4,268 residents identified, 13.1% (n = 752) and 22.6% (n = 963) were women, respectively. The number of women residents markedly correlated with the number of women faculty in leadership positions (r = 0.516, P < 0.001), such as chief or chair. The most significant correlations were among women with the academic role of “professor” (r = 0.575, P < 0.001), “assistant professor” (r = 0.555, P < 0.001), and women who held faculty positions but held no higher academic appointment (r = 0.509, P < 0.001). Program directors and assistant program directors were not found to have significant correlations with the number of women residents.

Conclusion:
This study demonstrates a positive correlation between women faculty and residents at orthopaedic surgery residencies. Some academic positions, such as division chief, held more significant associations, whereas other positions, such as professor emeritus, were not held by any women, thereby limiting statistical analysis. Further investigation into minority representation in orthopaedic surgery and initiatives to address the observed disparities is paramount.
A Retrospective Comparison of Headless Versus Standard Interlocking Screw Fixation of Tibia Intramedullary Nails
Authors: Pesante Benjamin D. , Ward Byron A. , Stacey Stephen C. , Parry Joshua A. 
Published: November 2024

Introduction:
Symptomatic interlocking screws are common after intramedullary nail fixation of tibia fractures. Low-profile headless interlocking screws recently became available and could potentially reduce the rate of symptomatic screws. The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of symptomatic screws and screw removals between these screw types.

Methods:
A retrospective review identified patients with tibia shaft fractures treated with tibia intramedullary nails between August 1, 2018 to September 1, 2023 by 11 surgeons. Low-profile headless interlocking screws became available on June 28, 2021 and were routinely used thereafter. Patients treated with low-profile headless versus standard headed interlocking screws were compared in terms of symptomatic screws, defined as a patient reporting pain or discomfort at the site of a screw head in clinical documentation, symptomatic screw removals, screw failure (breakage or backout), and procedures to promote bone union.

Results:
Overall, 79 patients were included in the analysis: 33 patients treated with 144 headless screws and 46 patients treated with 187 standard screws. The median patient age was 35 years, and a majority were male (68.4%, n = 54). The median follow-up length was 8.5 months (interquartile range 5.5 to 8.8 months). The headless screw group, compared with standard screw group, did not differ in age, injury mechanism severity, open fracture classification, tobacco use, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification >2, number of interlocking screws used, or follow-up time (P > 0.05). The headless screw group was less likely to have symptomatic screws (0.0% vs. 23.9%; P = 0.002), less likely to have symptomatic screw removal (0.0% vs. 13.0%; P = 0.03), and had no difference in procedures to promote bone union (10.0% vs. 6.8%; P = 0.68) or screw backout (0.0% vs. 4.4%; P = 0.50).

Discussion:
Standard headed interlocking screws were symptomatic in 23.9% of patients and 13.0% underwent symptomatic screw removal. In comparison, no patients treated with low-profile headless interlocking screws had symptomatic screws.

Level of Evidence:
Level 3, diagnostic
Menselijke maat en maatwerk in toezicht en handhaving?
Authors: Raaphorst Nadine 
Published: November 2024

Customisation in regulation and enforcement: Navigating professional conduct amidst political and social pressure
In Dutch public policy, attention to customisation and the human factor in public service delivery has increased. Existing research on this topic focuses mainly on service-producing tasks. Little is yet known about how civil servants with a regulatory core task implement customisation and the human factor. By means of semi-structured interviews, I investigated how tax inspectors and managers of the tax administration, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), give meaning to these policy notions. In this study, customisation and the human factor appear as characteristics of professional conduct and as politically driven concepts that come with societal expectations. Tax inspectors consider circumstances of taxpayers in the context of increasing their compliance, and they offer them more space in the process to cater to individual circumstances. The human factor has come on top of this as a political concept, without further definition. Tax inspectors struggle with the question to what extent they can take into account individual circumstances, especially when it comes to breaking laws and rules. Tax inspectors have different views on this. In concert with this, tax inspectors also experience increased pressure from taxpayers.
Spanningen in street-level leiderschap
Authors: Visser E. Lianne , van Gelder Jason 
Published: November 2024

Tensions in street-level leadership: How managers navigate customisation and accountability
The government seeks to restore public trust by prioritising customised services and a citizen-centred approach in its public service delivery. While frontline workers are granted greater discretionary authority, they face dilemmas in justifying tailor-made decisions that sometimes deviate from formal rules. This study, based on twelve interviews with managers and frontline workers at the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), examines the critical role of frontline managers in balancing customisation with accountability. Managers encourage collective discretion, critically examine decisions, and justify them to higher management. These practices ensure that customisation and accountability are not viewed as conflicting but as mutually reinforcing. Theoretically, this paper adds an accountability perspective to the literature on managing frontline workers. Practically, it highlights the importance of actively fostering learning communities and promoting reflection within teams. This enables managers to not only support customised service delivery but also reshape the relationship between management and the frontline.
Signaleren, handelen, leren
Authors: Kuiper Marlot , Schiffelers Marie-Jeanne , Noordegraaf Mirko 
Published: November 2024

Detect, act, learn: How municipalities can identify and tackle pressing situations in policy implementation
The relationship between policy and implementation is under heightened scrutiny due to various issues within Dutch executive organisations, such as the Tax Administration/Benefits and the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV). Recent reports have highlighted the Dutch national government as a significant cause of ‘unprecedented injustice,’ yet local governments struggle to support their constituents effectively. Municipalities for instance have witnessed citizens being disadvantaged by governmental policies and actions, and consequently seeking debt assistance or applying for benefits. This article explores how municipalities identify the signs of these problematic situations, organise responses to these situations, and learn from these experiences. We argue that effective public services revolve around the ability to detect signs, organise responses to them, and systematically learn from them. We provide empirical examples of how this occurs in three Dutch municipalities and discuss the conditions that promote or hinder effective service delivery at the frontline. We conclude with recommendations for both practice and research.
Arrangeren van kennis voor de regio
Authors: van den Berg Arlette , Kunseler Eva , Evenhuis Emil , Verwest Femke 
Published: November 2024

Designing knowledge arrangements for multi-level policy issues: An explorative study at PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Notwithstanding a rising demand for strategic knowledge in the environmental domain at the regional level in the Netherlands, its production is mainly organised at the Dutch national level. Various parties have called for the establishment of regional knowledge institutions. Experiences of PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency however show that focusing on implementing these institutional fixes fails to recognise the multi-level character of the policy context in which the demand for strategic knowledge arises. Based on three PBL projects, this article shows how knowledge production arrangements are designed in continuous interaction between knowledge demand, method and positioning of PBL. This leads to a variety of outcomes. This article concludes with a typology of multi-level knowledge production arrangements, based on these experiences. The typology is intended to advance the debate on the organisation of such arrangements within a multi-level policy context in a reflexive and problem-specific way.
Inleiding bij het themanummer ‘Democratische innovatie en burgerparticipatie’
Authors: Verschuere Bram , Hendriks Frank , Meijer Albert 
Published: November 2024

Introduction to the special issue ‘Democratic innovation and citizen participation’
To say that democracy is under pressure is like kicking in a door that is wide open. Many (local) governments are therefore working to innovate that democracy. A frequently used way to escape the democratic malaise is to give citizens more direct input into government and policy. In practice, citizen participation comes in many different forms, from referendums and citizen surveys to citizen panels and consultation meetings, to citizen budgets and experiments with co-creation in which citizens and government join forces to develop and deliver public services. The many experiments with citizen participation have not escaped the attention of researchers in Public Administration and Political Science: there is a growing range of insights into this form of democratic innovation. In this special issue the guest editors, Albert Meijer, Frank Hendriks & Bram Verschuere, present the state-of-the-art contributions of Dutch and Flemish researchers from various universities.
Lessen uit internationaal onderzoek naar de invloed van democratische innovaties
Authors: Michels Ank 
Published: November 2024

Lessons from international research on the impact of democratic innovations
Democratic innovations aim to give citizens more say in policy and political decisions. But what is the influence of democratic innovations on policy, citizens, politicians and democratic legitimacy? This article presents international research into the influence of various forms of democratic innovations. It shows that this influence is often limited. Expectations are often high, especially when it comes to the influence on policy. But the results of democratic innovations rarely lead to substantial changes in policy. In a critical reflection on the research findings, the article then discusses some theoretical and methodological challenges in research into the influence of democratic innovations; the risk of manipulation and instrumentalisation of democratic innovations; and the problem of selective policy influence. The contribution concludes with a number of lessons for practice.