bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Framework to Identify Opportunities to Address Socioscientific Issues in the Elementary School Curricula: A Case Study from England, Italy, and Portugal
Authors: Pessoa Patrícia , de Lima Joelyn , Piacentini Valentina , Realdon Giulia , Jeffries Alex , Ometto Lino , Lopes J. Bernardino , Zeidler Dana L. , Fonseca Maria João , Sousa Bruno , Pinto Alexandre , Sá-Pinto Xana 
Published: August 2024

AbstractScientific literacy is crucial to address important and complex societal problems, both current and future. Teaching using a socioscientific issues (SSI) approach is a potential strategy to develop students’ scientific literacy, although teachers have reported concerns about its implementation, such as the inability to add additional distinct requirements to already demanding curricula. To facilitate this task, we describe the development of a valid and reliable instrument for curricula analysis, called “Framework for Identifying Opportunities to implement an SSI approach in science school curricula” (FIOSSI), and use it to identify opportunities to implement the SSI approach in the elementary school science curriculum of three European countries (England, Italy and Portugal). The framework categorizes SSI opportunities into three areas: 1) awareness of the issue; 2) socioscientific reasoning; and 3) socioscientific identity. Our analyses of the three countries’ elementary curricula reveal that the current versions have significant opportunities to explore awareness of SSI (especially relating to environmental and human health issues), promote the development of socioscientific reasoning, and foster socioscientific identity. FIOSSI can be a useful tool for education research and practice, and our results can help inform future research and guide educational policies.
Assessing The Relationship Between Demand And Accessibility For Pediatric Ophthalmology Services By State In The United States
Authors: Chuter Benton , Lieu Alexander C. , Huynh Justin , Bu Jennifer J. , Zangwill Linda M. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the relationship between public demand for pediatric ophthalmology services and the accessibility of such services on a statewide basis in the United States, focusing on strabismus care.MethodsUsing Google Trends data, search volumes for “strabismus” were analyzed from January 2014 to December 2023. Pediatric ophthalmologist availability was assessed via the American Academy of Ophthalmology directory, normalized for state population size to create a relative demand index. Additional metrics from the United States Census Bureau and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided socioeconomic and health data. Correlation coefficients were used to explore relationships between search volumes, specialist availability, vision screening, socioeconomics, and demographic factors.ResultsThe data revealed variability in public interest in pediatric ophthalmology across states, with Alaska showing the highest relative search volume for strabismus. The data also indicated notable disparities in pediatric ophthalmologist density, with North Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming having no pediatric ophthalmologists. A significant correlation was identified between pediatric ophthalmologist availability and vision screening (R = 0.486, p < 0.001). Negative correlations were observed between the relative demand index and urbanization (R = −0.388, p = 0.007), as well as the strabismus prevalence (R = −0.455, p = 0.001), indicating that urbanization and specialist distribution influence eyecare demand and access.ConclusionThe findings highlight disparities in accessibility and demand for pediatric ophthalmology services across the US, influenced by urbanization and distribution of healthcare professionals. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve access to care and bridge gaps in pediatric ophthalmology service provision.
Synthetic And Natural Face Identity Processing Share Common Mechanisms
Authors: Uittenhove Kim , Otroshi Shahreza Hatef , Marcel Sébastien , Ramon Meike 
Published: August 2024

AbstractRecent developments in generative AI offer the means to create synthetic identities, or deepfakes, at scale. As deepfake faces and voices become indistinguishable from real ones, they are considered as promising alternatives for research and development to enhance fairness and protect humans’ rights to privacy. Notwithstanding these efforts and intentions, a basic question remains unanswered: Are natural faces and facial deepfakes perceived and remembered in the same way? Using images created via professional photography on the one hand, and a state-of-the-art generative model on the other, we investigated the most studied process of face cognition: perceptual matching and discrimination of facial identity. Our results demonstrate that identity discrimination of naturalandsynthetic faces is governed by the same underlying perceptual mechanisms: objective stimulus similarity and observers’ ability level. These findings provide empirical support both for the societal risks associated with deepfakes, while also underscoring the utility of synthetic identities for research and development.
Urinary extracellular vesicles in healthy individuals: positive correlation between podocyte and tubular vesicles independent of kidney function
Authors: Wu Liang , Baan Carla C. , Reijerkerk Derek , Hesselink Dennis A. , Boer Karin 
Published: August 2024

AbstractUrinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) are promising non-invasive biomarkers for assessing renal physiology and disease. Focusing specifically on kidney-derived uEVs (kd-uEVs) rather than the overall uEV population may offer a more precise insight into kidney health. However, research distinguishing single kd-uEVs from various nephron segments and their relationship with kidney biology remains limited. Imaging flow cytometry (IFCM) can identify single kd-uEVs by labeling them with CD63 (a uEV marker) in combination with PODXL (a podocyte marker) or AQP2 (a tubular marker). This study investigated the correlations between CD63+ AQP2+ or PODXL+ kd-uEVs and kidney function. CD63+ AQP2+ and CD63+ PODXL+ uEVs were detected in urine compared to negative controls, including urine with detergent treatment or isotype staining and reagent-containing PBS. While no significant association was found between CD63+ AQP2+ or PODXL+ uEV concentration and kidney function, a significant correlation was observed between AQP2+ and PODXL+ uEV concentrations (Rho = 0.789, p < 0.001). This correlation could be explained by the colocalization of AQP2 and PODXL on CD63+ uEVs. In conclusion, our study is the first to demonstrate the colocalization of podocyte and tubular proteins on uEVs.
Serum protein biomarkers for degenerative cervical myelopathy: a prospective pilot study
Authors: Vedantam Aditya , Rahman Mahmudur , Salam Sakib , Banerjee Anjishnu , Satkunendrarajah Kajana , Budde Matthew D. , Meier Timothy B. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIntroductionDiagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is primarily based on clinical evaluation and evidence of cervical spinal cord compression on conventional MRI. However, delays in diagnosis are common in DCM and there is a need for additional objective assessments of spinal cord structure and function. Serum proteins are increasingly being used as biomarkers for neurological disorders and are promising targets for biomarker discovery in DCM. The objective of this study was to profile serum protein biomarkers in DCM and determine if serum proteins can aid diagnosis and prognosis in DCM.MethodsPatients with a clinical diagnosis of DCM and scheduled to undergo decompressive surgery were prospectively enrolled from July 2022 to August 2023. Serum was obtained prior to surgery and at 3 months after surgery. Serum neuronal and inflammatory proteins were quantified using ultrasensitive single-molecular array technology. Serum biomarker concentrations were compared between DCM patients and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Robust logistic regression was used to determine the panel of serum biomarkers that best differentiated DCM and controls. Serum biomarkers were also related to pre- and post-surgical functional measurements using linear regression.ResultsTwenty DCM patients (median age 70 years, 10 females) and 10 healthy controls (median age 65 years, 5 females) were enrolled. Pre-surgical NfL (30.2 vs 11.2 pg/ml, p=0.01) and IL-6 (2.9 vs 1.2, p=0.003) was significantly higher in DCM patients compared to controls. Pre-surgical NfL, IL-6 and BDNF best differentiated DCM and controls (p<0.001). At 3 months after surgery, significant increase in serum BDNF (p=0.001), AB-42 (p=0.042) and TNFa (p=0.007) were noted. Pre-surgical serum NfL was significantly associated improvement in pinch strength after surgery (p<0.05). Inflammatory biomarkers were linked to improvement in the neck pain-related disability and upper limb function assessed by the QuickDASH.ConclusionA pre-surgical serum panel of NfL, IL-6 and BDNF may aid in the diagnosis of DCM. Serum NfL is elevated in DCM and is associated with improvement in post-surgical objective measures of upper limb function. Pre-surgical serum neuronal and inflammatory biomarkers predict early post-surgical functional outcomes in DCM.
Opposite white matter abnormalities in post-infectious vs. gradual onset chronic fatigue syndrome revealed by diffusion MRI
Authors: Yu Qiang , Kwiatek Richard A. , Fante Peter Del , Bonner Anya , Calhoun Vince D. , Bateman Grant A. , Yamamura Takashi , Shan Zack Y. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractMyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex and debilitating illness with an unknown pathogenesis. Although post-infectious (PI-ME/CFS) and gradual onset ME/CFS (GO-ME/CFS) manifest similar symptoms, it has long been suspected that different disease processes underlie them. However, the lack of biological evidence has left this question unanswered. In this study, we recruited PI-ME/CFS and GO-ME/CFS patients based on consensus diagnoses made by two experienced clinicians and compared their diffusion MRI features with those of rigorously matched healthy controls (HCs) with sedentary lifestyles. PI-ME/CFS patients showed significantly higher axial diffusivities (ADs) in several association and projection fibres compared to HCs. Higher AD values in PI-ME/CFS were significantly related to worse physical summary scores. In contrast, GO-ME/CFS patients exhibited significantly decreased ADs in the corpus callosum. Lower AD values in GO- ME/CFS patients were significantly associated with lower mental summary scores in commissural and projection fibres. Distinct patterns of AD alterations in PI-ME/CFS and GO- ME/CFS provide neurophysiological evidence of different disease processes and highlight the heterogeneities of ME/CFS. These results also help explain inconsistent findings in previous ME/CFS studies and guide future intervention design.
Cryo-EM phase-plate images reveal unexpected levels of apparent specimen damage
Authors: Remis Jonathan , Petrov Petar N. , Zhang Jessie T , Axelrod Jeremy J. , Cheng Hang , Sandhaus Shahar , Mueller Holger , Glaeser Robert M. 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACTApoferritin (apoF) is commonly used as a test specimen in single-particle electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM), since it consistently produces density maps that go to 3 Å resolution or higher. When we imaged apoF with a laser phase plate (LPP), however, we observed more severe particle-to-particle variation in the images than we had previously thought to exist. Similarly, we found that images of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco) also exhibited a much greater amount of heterogeneity than expected. By comparison to simulations of images, we verified that the heterogeneity is not explained by the known features of the LPP, shot noise, or differences in particle orientation. We also demonstrate that our specimens are comparable to those previously used in the literature, based on using the final-reconstruction resolution as the metric for evaluation. All of this leads us to the hypothesis that the heterogeneity is due to damage that has occurred either during purification of the specimen or during preparation of the grids. It is not, however, our goal to explain the causes of heterogeneity; rather, we report that using the LPP has made the apparent damage too obvious to be ignored. In hindsight, similar heterogeneity can be seen in images of apoF and the 20S proteasome which others had recorded with a Volta phase plate. We therefore conclude that the increased contrast of phase-plate images (at low spatial frequencies) should also make it possible to visualize, on a single-particle basis, various forms of biologically functional heterogeneity in structure that had previously gone unnoticed.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACTHIGHLIGHTSPhase plates recover low-frequency information with significantly improved SNRLaser phase-plate images reveal unexpected amounts of structural heterogeneityIn retrospect, similar heterogeneity can also be seen in Volta phase-plate imagesParticle heterogeneity produces “structural noise”, which may diminish map quality
Exploring the impact of an artificial intelligence-based intraoperative image navigation system in laparoscopic surgery on clinical outcomes: A protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kitaguchi Daichi , Fuse Nozomu , Wakabayashi Masashi , Kosugi Norihito , Ishikawa Yuto , Hayashi Kazuyuki , Hasegawa Hiro , Takeshita Nobuyoshi , Ito Masaaki 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundIn the research field of artificial intelligence (AI) in surgery, there are many open questions that must be clarified. Well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are required to explore the positive clinical impacts by comparing the use and non-use of AI-based intraoperative image navigation. Therefore, herein, we propose the “ImNavi” trial, a multicenter RCT, to compare the use and non-use of an AI-based intraoperative image navigation system in laparoscopic surgery.MethodsThe ImNavi trial is a Japanese multicenter RCT involving 1:1 randomization between the use and non-use of an AI-based intraoperative image navigation system in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. The participating institutions will include three high-volume centers with sufficient laparoscopic colorectal surgery caseloads (>100 cases/year), including one national cancer center and two university hospitals in Japan. Written informed consent will be obtained from all patients. Patients aged between 18 and 80 years scheduled to undergo laparoscopic left-sided colorectal resection will be included in the study. The primary outcome is the time required for each target organ, including the ureter and autonomic nerves, to be recognized by the surgeon after its initial appearance on the monitor. Secondary outcomes include intraoperative target organ injuries, intraoperative complications, operation time, blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complications within 30 days, postoperative male sexual dysfunction 1 month after surgery, surgeon’s confidence in recognizing each target organ, and the postoperative fatigue of the primary surgeon.DiscussionThe impact of AI-based surgical applications on clinical outcomes beyond numerical expression will be explored from a variety of viewpoints while evaluating quantitative items, including intraoperative complications and operation time, as secondary endpoints. We expect that the findings of this RCT will contribute to advancing research in the domain of AI in surgery.Trial registrationThe trial was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network Center (https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index-j.html) on March 28th, 2023 under trial ID: UMIN000050701.
NHS staff: Sickness absence and intention to leave the profession
Authors: Scott Lauren J , Lamb Danielle , Penfold Chris , Redaniel Maria Theresa , Trompeter Nora , Moran Paul , Bhundia Rupa , Greenberg Neil , Raine Rosalind , Wessely Simon , Madan Ira , Aitken Peter , Rafferty Anne Marie , Dorrington Sarah , Morriss Richard , Murphy Dominic , Stevelink Sharon A.M. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo determine key workforce variables (demographic, health and occupational) that predicted NHS staff’s 1) absence due to illness (both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related) and 2) expressed intention to leave their current profession.MethodsStaff from 18 NHS Trusts were surveyed between April 2020 and January 2021, and again approximately 12months later. Logistic and linear regression were used to explore relationships between baseline exposures and 12-month outcomes.ResultsWe included 10,831 participants for analysis. At 12-months, 20% stated they agreed or strongly agreed they were actively seeking employment outside their current profession; 24% said they thought about leaving their profession at least several times per week. Twenty-percent of participants took 5+ days of work absence due to non-COVID-19 sickness in the 12-months between baseline and 12-month questionnaire; 14% took 5+ days of COVID-19 related sickness absence. Sickness absence (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related) and intention to leave the profession (actively seeking another role and thinking about leaving) were all more common among NHS staff who were younger, in a COVID-19 risk group, had a probable mental health disorder, and who did not feel supported by colleagues and managers.ConclusionsThere were several factors which affect both workforce retention and sickness absence. Of particular interest because they are modifiable, are the impact of colleague and manager support. The NHS workforce is likely to benefit from training managers to speak with and support staff, especially those experiencing mental health difficulties. Further, staff should be given sufficient opportunities to form and foster social connections.What is already known on this topicThe ability of the NHS to provide a good service in a timely manner is under more pressure and strain than ever before, and therefore the retention and health of current staff is incredibly important.What this study addsWe included survey data collected on 10,831 NHS staff across 18 Trusts in England between April 2020 and February 2022.Sickness absence and intention to leave the profession were more common among NHS staff who were younger, in a COVID-19 risk group, had a probable mental health disorder, and who did not feel supported by colleagues and managers.How this study might affect research, practice or policyThis study suggests that in order to improve staff retention and reduce staff sickness, the NHS workforce is likely to benefit from training managers to speak with and support staff, especially those experiencing mental health difficulties.Further, staff should be given sufficient opportunities to form and foster social connections and reflect on the challenges of the work they do together.
Multimodal prehabilitation enhances innate antitumor immunity via NK cell recruitment
Authors: Feng Lixuan , Gordon Benjamin , Su Xin , Brassard Ariane , Dhoparee-Doomah Iqraa , Leo Sabrina , Awasthi Rashami , Bourdeau France , Giannias Betty , Gill Heather , Minnella Enrico , Ferri Lorenzo , Najmeh Sara , Spicer Jonathan , Carli Francesco , Cools-Lartigue Jonathan 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDWhile the clinical benefits of multimodal prehabilitation in cancer patients are well defined, the underlying immune modulations have not been studied. The objective of this study was to examine how prehabilitation can alter lung cancer immunity.METHODSNewly diagnosed lung cancer patients were referred to the prehabilitation clinic for preoperative personalized multimodal intervention (exercise training, nutritional optimization, and anxiety reduction) and blood samples were collected at baseline and surgery. Tumor samples were collected at surgery and compared to matched control samples from patients who did not receive prehabilitation. An animal model was used to study prehabilitation and tumor growth kinetics.RESULTSTwenty-eight lung cancer patients who underwent multimodal prehabilitation were included (McGill University Health Centre Research Ethics Board #2023-9005). After prehabilitation, patient-isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) showed significantly increased cytotoxicity against cancer cells (p< 0.0001) and significantly increased circulating natural killer (NK) cells in cohort (p= 0.0290) and paired analyses (p= 0.0312). Compared to matched controls, patients who received prehabilitation had significantly more intra-tumor NK cells (p= 0.0172).In vivo, we observed a significant increase in circulating NK cells (p= 0.0364) and slower tumor growth (p= 0.0396) with prehabilitation. When NK cells were depleted in prehabilitated mice, we observed a decrease in the protective effects of prehabilitation (p= 0.0314) and overall, we observed a significant correlation between circulating NK cells and reduced tumor volume (p= 0.0203, r = -0.5143).CONCLUSIONSMultimodal prehabilitation may play a role in antitumor immunity by increasing peripheral and tumour-infiltrating NK cells leading to a reduced cancer burden. Future studies on the protective effect of prehabilitation on postoperative immunity should be conducted.
Adjunctive Intra-arterial Urokinase after Successful Endovascular Thrombectomy in Patients with Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke (POST-UK): Study protocol of a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint trial
Authors: Liu Chang , Li Fengli , Song Jiaxing , Xu Xu , Huang Jiacheng , Guo Changwei , Kong Weilin , Yang Jie , Shi Xiaolei , Ma Jinfu , Yang Shihai , Wang Zhixi , Fan Shitao , Liu Xiang , Sun Wenzhe , Yu Nizhen , Yue Chengsong , Peng Zhouzhou , Li Linyu , Huang Cheng , Yang Dahong , Wang Duolao , Saver Jeffrey , Nguyen Thanh N. , Nogueira Raul G. , Chen Yangmei , Zi Wenjie 
Published: August 2024

BackgroundIntra-arterial infusion of an adjunctive thrombolytic agent after macrovascular recanalization by endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) was regarded as a promising strategy to promote outcomes of stroke patients. Given the characteristics of urokinase (UK) as an affordable, available, and widely applied medication, especially in eastern countries, this trial aims to assess the safety and efficacy of intra-arterial UK as adjunct to EVT in improving outcomes among patients with anterior large vessel occlusion stroke after excellent to complete reperfusion.MethodsThe Adjunctive Intra-arterial Urokinase after Successful Endovascular Thrombectomy in Patients with Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke (POST-UK) trial is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint trial conducted in China. The planned sample size is 498. Those eligible patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke and achieving excellent to complete reperfusion by EVT are planned to be consecutively randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the experimental group (a single dose of intra-arterial urokinase) or to standard of care.ResultsThe primary outcome is a freedom from disability (modified Rankin Scale, mRS, of 0-1) at 90±7 days. The safety outcomes are mortality within 90±7 days and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 48 hours.ConclusionsThe POST-UK trial will provide valuable insight of efficacy and safety of intra-arterial UK in patients with large vessel occlusion stroke after achieving excellent to complete reperfusion by EVT.Trial registry numberChiCTR2200065617 (www.chictr.org.cn).