bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Student Evaluations of Teaching Do Not Reflect Student Learning: An Observational Study
Authors: Gilbert Robert O , Gilbert Dave R 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background: Student Evaluations of Teaching (SET) are routinely utilized in the assessment of university faculty for purposes of hiring, promotion, tenure, and merit-based salary increases. Despite their ubiquity, much evidence exists that they are biased, amongst other factors by expected and received student grades. To our knowledge, this issue has not been examined in veterinary education. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the combination of higher grades and more favorable student evaluations might reflect enhanced learning. Our study evaluates the relationship between (A) student evaluations of courses in a veterinary curriculum, (B) grades earned in those courses, and (C) independent measures of learning in those subjects.
Methods: The Veterinary Educational Assessment (VEA) is an independent, external exam in basic sciences subjects administered by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment and is taken by Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) students in their fifth semester of study. It offers an external means of measuring student learning in specific subjects and relating them to course evaluations. RUSVM has three terms each year with three separate intakes of students. Course evaluations and student grades were recorded for courses from fall 2018 to summer 2022, spanning 12 cohorts of students, and 152 individual courses. Courses were aligned to the relevant section of the VEA taken by each cohort. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated.
Results: Mean course evaluations were significantly positively correlated to median grade in the course (rho = 0.33, P < 0.0001) and the proportion of students earning A-grades (rho = 0.35, P < 0.0001). The relationship between course evaluation and relevant VEA score was negative (rho = -0.18, P = 0.027), indicating that students judged courses favorably when higher grades were expected without necessarily learning more from those courses.
Conclusions: We confirmed the well-known relationship between SET and student grades but, for the first time in veterinary medicine, describe a small but negative relationship between SET and an independent measure of learning. SET should be interpreted with caution; their use for evaluation of teachers may have unintended consequences including reduced expectations for student achievement.
Evolution of renal function in living renal donors, five-year follow-up of patients operated in the same institution
Authors: Medina-Toscano Felipe Jesus , González-Espinosa Eduardo , González-Ojeda Alejandro , Cervantes-Guevara Gabino , Cervantes-Pérez Enrique , Ramírez-Ochoa Sol , Álvarez-Villaseñor Andrea Socorro , Cortés-Flores Ana Olivia , Chavez-Tostado Mariana , Vázquez-Sánchez Sergio Jiram , Delgado-Hernandez Gonzalo , Tavares-Ortega Jaime Alberto , Jasso-García Isaac , Muñoz Samantha Emily González , Ramirez-Velazquez Alejandro , Fuentes-Orozco Clotilde 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a pathology with an increase in its prevalence during the last years. Renal transplantation offers a greater survival advantage for patients with end-stage renal disease. Main long-term conditions for kidney donors, as well as their renal function and the development of renal failure is yet to be studied.
Methods: Cross-sectional, analytical study from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2012 of living renal donors who participated in the renal transplant program of the Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social who were > 18 years of age and who complied with follow-up for 5 years.
Results: 302 living donor nephrectomies were performed, a total of 78 patients were included. The estimated mean baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measured in 24-hour urine prior to donation was 120.7 ± 25.82 ml/min/1.73m2, showing a considerable decrease in the first 3 months with an average of 77.9 ± 17.58 ml/min/1.73m2 which represents a decrease of 35.4% with respect to baseline.
Conclusions: There is a significant decrease in renal function in living donors during the first months after nephrectomy, but this improves with evolution, although without returning to pre-donation levels.
Acquisition and validation of four painful subtypes of colon adenocarcinoma and prognostic analysis
Authors: Yao Daoke , Lv Lulu , Xu Yaowei , Li Zhisong 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background:
Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is the most common type of colorectal cancer. Pain is a multidimensional unpleasant experience and various molecular and cellular pathways are implicated in pain signaling. Nevertheless, the exploration of pain-related genes related to colon adenocarcinoma is not clear yet.
Methods:
In this study, the pathways enriched for pain-related genes were analyzed by Metascape. Then, we obtained pain subtypes versus classical subtypes and explored the link between the two. Next, marker genes for different pain subtypes were identified, the enrichment pathways were explored and these marker genes were used to validate the pain subtypes. We then performed an investigation of survival differences between pain subtypes by selecting specific top pathways in each subtype, calculating top pathway scores, and calculating pathway differences by heatmap and Kruskal test. Finally, we predicted the response of different pain subtypes to immunotherapy.
Results:
A total of 146 pain-related genes were enrolled in this study and we finally obtained 4 painful subtypes and 4 stable subtypes. The marker genes for subtypes were validated by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets and found to have a worse prognosis for CS1. The genes of CS1, CS2, CS3 and CS4 markers were mainly enriched in the pathways of Focal adhesion, Human T cell leukemia virus1 infection, Metabolic pathway, and Pertussis, respectively. CS1 and CS4 are more immunogenic. Moreover, CS1 is more sensitive to treatment with CTLA4 inhibitors, CS4 is sensitive to treatment with PD-1 inhibitors.
Conclusions:
Our study's identification of four pain subtypes of COAD provides new ideas for personalised therapy for patients with COAD.
The clinical efficacy of 4℃ stored platelet: a randomized controlled feasibility trial conducted in surgical patients with related bleeding
Authors: Sun Yang , Niu Jiameng , Xing Lili , Ma Ting , Yan Shengli , Du Gongliang , Li Xuewen , Wang Yaqin , Li Hengxin , Guo Kangshe , Wang Liqin , Chen Ping , Wang Wenhua , Song Aowei , Xie Xinxin , Yang Yingqun , Shen Yuan , Yang Jiangcun 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Platelets play an important role in acute bleeding.Whether 4℃cold stored platelets (CSPs) can be an effective substitute for platelets at room temperature (RTPs) is rarely reported, we carried out the clinical application observation trial of CSPs in China for the first time.
Method
A prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on surgical patients with related bleedingto assess the hemostatic potential of CSPs compared with RTPs. The primary outcomes measured were drainage volume, platelet counts, and Thrombelastography-maximum amplitude. Secondary outcomes included hospital stays, length of stay in the intensive care unit, medical expenses.
Results
A total of 62 patients were completed the final clinical observation. There were 31 cases ineach of the CSPs group and RTPs group. With in 1–12 hours, 13–24 hours, 25–48 hours, and 49–72 hours after platelet transfusion, drainage volume: 8.5ml/h vs 20.83ml/h ,0.52ml/h vs 5.0ml/h, 3.5ml/h vs 5.0ml/h, 0.63ml/h vs 4.1ml/h. platelet counts:58×109/L vs 79×109/L, 54×109/Lvs77×109/L,63×109/L vs 75×109/L, 66×109/Lvs79×109/L. TEG-MA: 50.1mm vs 52.0mm ,50.1mm vs 54.8mm, 53.0mm vs 56.6, 56.0mm vs 53.2mm.There was no overall difference between the two groups by Generalized estimation equation at different times (Pdrainage=0.933,PPLT counts=0.473,PTEG−MA=0.246). The secondary outcomes (hospital stay, ICU stay time, medical cost, discharge outcome) were no difference between the CSPs group and RTPs group (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in adverse platelet transfusion events between the groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
CSPs and RTP have equivalent efficacy and safety in the treatment of surgery-related bleeding. This trial provides reliable evidence to support the clinical application of CSPs.
Trial registration
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2000036353;Principal investigator's name: Jiangcun Yang. Date of registration: 22/08/2020.
Enteral supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis Bb-12 modulates gut microbiome and improves intestinal barrier in very preterm infants: a randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Xu Jinglin , Li Huamei , Fu Chunyan , Wang He , Liu Zhiyong , Lin Weihua , Chen Dongmei 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Purpose
How probiotic supplementation initiates an effective prophylactic measure for modulating the colonization and development of gut microbiota and preventing necrotizing enterocolitis and late-onset sepsis in very preterm infants remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of early enteral supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis Bb-12 on the gut microbiome and intestinal barrier function in very preterm infants.
Methods
Seventy-one very premature infants were randomized into observation and control groups. After enteral feeding, the observation and control groups received oral B. animalis BB-12 and 5% glucose (injection), respectively. On days 14 and 28 after birth, the gut microbiome, serum Zonulin protein, and fecal calprotectin (FC) levels were compared between both groups.
Results
The relative abundance of Actinomycetes and Bifidobacterium in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group on day 14 after birth (14.38% vs. 1.78%, P = 0.001; 13.95% vs. 1.24%, P = 0.000). Diversity analysis showed that the Chao value of the observation group was higher than that of the control group on day 28 (P = 0.038). The weighted UniFrac values of beta-diversity analysis on days 14 and 28 were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (P = 0.000). Furthermore, serum Zonulin and FC levels were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group on days 14 and 28 (P = 0.000).
Conclusion
Enteral supplementation with B. animalis Bb-12 can modulate the gut microbiome, affect serum Zonulin and FC levels, and improve the intestinal barrier in very preterm infants.
Unveiling Blastocystis epidemiology in Morocco: subtype diversity among clinical patients with and without gastrointestinal manifestations in the Meknes region
Authors: Boutahar Mounia , Belaouni Mourad , Ibrahimi Azeddine , Eljaoudi Rachid , Aanniz Tarik , Er-rami Mohamed , Köster Pamela C. , Dashti Alejandro , Carmena David 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Blastocystis is an intestinal protist frequently identified in humans and other animals. Its clinical significance is still controversial. This study aims to determine the Blastocystis prevalence and genetic diversity in stool samples from symptomatic (n = 55) and asymptomatic (n= 50) individuals seeking medical care in Meknes, Morocco.
Detection of the protist was accomplished by coproparasitological examination and culture in Jones medium. Culture-positive samples were subjected to molecular (PCR and Sanger sequencing) analyses based on sequences of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene of the protist. Epidemiological questionnaires on demographics and potential risk factors were collected from participating patients.
The overall Blastocystisinfection rate was 51.4% (54/105), with no differences between symptomatic (52.7%, 29/55) and asymptomatic (50.0%, 25/50) individuals. Sequence analyses identified three Blastocystissubtypes, being the most prevalent ST3 (42.0%), followed by ST1 (34.0%), and ST2 (12.0%). Regarding intra-subtype diversity, allele 4 was found within ST1, alleles 11 and 12 (alone or in combination) within ST2, and alleles 34 and 36 (alone or in combination) within ST3. ST3 allele 34 (40.8%) and ST1 allele 4 (34.7%) were the most common genetic variants circulating in the surveyed clinical population.
A statistically significant association between ST2 and the presence of flatulence was observed. This is the first study assessing the epidemiology and genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. in the Meknes region, Morocco.
Effect of Surface Dissolution on the Floatability of Brucite in Three Anionic Collector Systems
Authors: Gong Xiufeng , Yao Jin , Yin Wanzhong , Yang Bin , Wang Yulian 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

This study investigated the relation between the solubility and floatability of the soluble mineral brucite, focusing on the concentration characteristics of dissolved Mg2+ in brucite under three dissolution methods and the surface characteristics after dissolution. Some common rules of brucite flotation in three anionic collectors were discovered. Results of a flotation test showed that for three anionic collector systems of sodium oleate, sodium dodecyl sulfonate, and oxidized paraffin soap, the flotation recovery rate of brucite, increased with the time of dissolution and decreased with the removal of dissolved Mg2+, but the flotation recovery rate is lower than that of untreated brucite. Inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy indicated that the content of dissolved Mg2+ in brucite slurry increases with increasing brucite content or dissolution time. Zeta potential measurements showed that the ability of dissolved Mg2+ to increase the surface potential of brucite follows the order of H2SO4 action > HCl action > H2O action. Adsorption capacity measurements showed that the presence of dissolved Mg2+ after dissolution is not beneficial for the adsorption of the three collectors on the surface of brucite. The capacity of the adsorption collectors follows the order of brucite after H2O dissolution > brucite after HCl dissolution > brucite after H2SO4 dissolution. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses indicated that the surface dissolution promoted the dissolution of Mg2+ on brucite surface in the solution, reducing the number of Mg sites on brucite surface and deteriorating the collection effect of the collector.
A Metabolic Fingerprint of Ovarian Cancer: A Novel Diagnostic Strategy Employing Plasma Exosome-Based Metabolomics and Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Long Fei , Pu XingYu , Wang Xin , Ma DongXue , Gao ShanHu , Shi Jun , Zhong XiaoCui , Ran Rui , Wang LianLian , Chen Zhu , Yang Yang , Cannon Richard D , Han Ting-Li 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the third most common malignant tumor of women and is accompanied by an alteration of systemic metabolism. A liquid biopsy that captures and detects tumor-related biomarkers in body fluids has great potential for OC diagnosis. Exosomes, nanosized extracellular vesicles found in the blood, have been proposed as promising biomarkers for liquid biopsies. In this study we recruited 37 OC patients, 22 benign ovarian tumor (BE) patients, and 46 control (CON) patients. Plasma exosomes were purified from blood samples and sensitive thermal separation probe-based mass spectrometry analysis using a global untargeted metabolic profiling strategy was employed to characterize the metabolite fingerprints. Uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) analysis demonstrated a distinct separation of exosomes among the three groups. We screened for diagnostic biomarkers from plasma exosome metabolites using seven machine learning algorithms, including artificial neural network (ANN), decision tree (DT), K nearest neighbor (KNN), logistics regression (LR), Naïve Bayes (NB), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM). DT (0.98), RF (0.92), and ANN (0.89) were given the highest AUC values for the OC-CON comparison. RF (0.93), NB (0.88), and SVM (0.81) were given the highest AUCs for the OC-BE comparison. A total of 18, 138, and 157 metabolic features exhibited significant differences (FC= 1.5, p < 0.01, q < 0.01) in the OC vs BE, BE vs CON, and OC vs CON, comparisons, respectively. Notably, the quantities of 9-octadecenamide and 1,4-methanobenzocyclodecene were significantly elevated, while maltol showed a significant reduction in the OC group compared to the BE group. When comparing the OC group to the CON group, the concentrations of 4-amino-furazan-3-carboxylic acid 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, N-phenylethyl, and 4-morpholineethanamine were significantly elevated, while the remaining metabolites, including hydrazine and pyridine sulfonamide, were reduced, in the OC group. The metabolites showing different abundancies are associated with cancer-related mutations, immune responses, and metabolic reprogramming. We demonstrate that the RF algorithm, combined with sensitive thermal separation probe-based mass spectrometry analysis of plasma exosomes, can effectively identify OC patients with good accuracy. Thus, our study has shortlisted a set of potential biomarkers in plasma exosomes, and the proposed approach could serve as a routine prescreening tool for ovarian cancer.
A comparative Cross-Sectional Study on Amblyopia and its relationship with Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness
Authors: Saeed Muhammad Asad Saeed Muhammad , Ayub Fareeha Ayub , Aziz Amtul Aziz 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background: Amblyopia affects approximately 1.75 percent of the world's population. Atrophic alterations in the lateral geniculate nucleus have been observed in amblyopic eyes, leading to the hypothesis that RNFL thickening is caused by a limitation of normal postnatal ganglionic cell reduction. To determine and compare the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in all type of amblyopic and non-amblyopic eyes.
Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi over six months. Data were collected from 70 patients (140 eyes) using clinical structured Performa. RNFL thickness was measured using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). All the amblyopic patients were included in this study. A One-way ANOVA and paired sample t-test were applied to compare the RNFL thickness between different types of amblyopia and compare it with the non-amblyopic eyes.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 10.20±2.811 ranging from 5 to 16 years. The mean thickness of RNFL globally in strabismus amblyopia was 108.1±14.1 whereas 108.1±10.1 micrometers, and there is no statistical mean difference between thickness with a p-value > 0.05. The mean value of RNFL thickness in anisometropia amblyopia for nasal, temporal, supra-temporal, supra-nasal, inferonasal, inferotemporal quadrants and for globally is 85.82±20.7, 75.67±14.5, 135.38±16.4, 121.05±30.2, 126.18±28.5, 143.92±17.1 and 105.74±11.1 respectively. There was no statistically significant difference found between the thickness of different types of amblyopia
Conclusion: There is no significant difference in RNFL thickness between different types of amblyopia. Similarly, there is no significant difference in the thickness of RNFL in amblyopic and non-amblyopic eyes as well. So RNFL thickness is not affected in children due to amblyopia.
Refraction With and Without Cycloplegia in 10 to 16 Years Old Children – A Comparative Study
Authors: K.M. Hafsa , Perumbally Hafees Abdullah , Mathew Cyril 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Introduction:
Accommodation interferes with accurate measurement of refractive errors especially in children. This study compares automated refraction with and without cycloplegia and manual objective refraction to the final acceptance in children.
Objectives:
· To determine the concordance of refractive error, determined by automated refraction with and without cycloplegia and manual refraction method.
· To compare the values obtained by automated refraction with and without cycloplegia.
Methods:
Prospective cross sectional observational study in children aged between 10 to 16 years. After evaluation of the visual acuity with Snellen’s chart, non-cycloplegic automated refraction was taken. After adequate cycloplegia, automated refraction as well as retinoscopic refraction was done followed by post cycloplegic final acceptance. The spherical and cylindrical error as well as the spherical equivalent of non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic automated refraction and manual refraction were compared to the final acceptance. Analysis was done using SPSS software.
Results:
The study had 37 myopes and 23 hyperopes and revealed that in hyperopes, spherical error by non-cycloplegic automated refraction did not correlate with manual retinoscopic refraction or final acceptance whereas in myopes, non-cycloplegic automated refraction was reliable. But cycloplegic automated refraction correlated well to both retinoscopic refraction and final acceptance in both myopes and hyperopes. Study also revealed a significant difference between non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic refraction in hyperopes.
Conclusion:
Cycloplegic automated refraction is as reliable as retinoscopy in both myopes and hyperopes whereas non-cycloplegic automated refraction alone should not be used to prescribe glasses in children. Retinoscopy gives the best measurements amongst all the three.
Chemokine receptor 1 pathway mediagtes the progression of airway inflammation in a smoking-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mouse model
Authors: Zhao Kaishun , Dong Ran , Wei Wei , Ju Suzhen , Tu Chunlin , Yu Yanfang 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

To investigate the role of chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1) and mechanisms underlying airway inflammation in smoking-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), we established a mouse model of smoking-induced COPD. Pathological changes in the bronchial mucosa were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, CCR1 expression and cell apoptosis were detected via immunofluorescence and TUNEL, and the expression of the CCR1 downstream pathway was detected via real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting. The expression of the chemokine MIP-1β and the inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The bronchial mucosa of the COPD model mice transfected with the vector showed apoptosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, airway remodeling, and emphysema. Furthermore, the COPD model mice exhibited significantly increased CCR1 signaling and chemokine concentrations, which were further aggravated by overexpressed-CCR1 lentiviral transfection but inhibited by shRNA-CCR1 lentiviral transfection or BX471 pretreatment. These results, combined with our previous findings, elucidate the role of and mechanisms underlying CCR1 signaling in the progression of COPD, both in vivo and in vitro. This study has the potential to provide theoretical evidence for the diagnosis and therapeutic strategies of cigarette smoke-induced inflammation in COPD patients.