bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chronic sildenafil citrate use decreases retinal vascular endothelial growth factor expression in diabetic rats: a pilot study
Authors: Sorour Osama A. , Nassar Elsayed , Sarhan Naglaa , El-Anwar Noha , ElKholy Reem A , Tahoon Dina M. , Sweilam Aalaa , Tadros Dina 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
Sildenafil citrate (SC) attenuates endothelial dysfunction. However, its effects on diabetic retinopathy (DR), which is mainly a microvascular disease, remain unclear. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be a critical mediator of DR. Therefore, we investigated the effects of SC on diabetic retina by measuring VEGF levels.

Methods
In this study, twenty-eight rats were divided into the following groups: group I, the control group; group II, rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes; group III, rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes receiving daily oral sildenafil at 1 mg/kg; and group IV, rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes receiving high-dose daily sildenafil at 2.5 mg/kg. After 3 months, VEGF was measured in the retina specimen in one eye and the vitreous body in the other eye by immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

Results
We found that VEGF expression in the retina was low in all rats from groups I and IV and in 30% of rats from group III; 80% of rats in group II demonstrated high VEGF expression in the retinae (P < 0.001). VEGF concentrations in the vitreous body samples were 32 ± 2, 61 ± 4, 44 ± 5, and 36 ± 3 pg/l in groups I–IV, respectively (P < 0.001).

Conclusion
VEGF decreased significantly in the eyes of diabetic rats after chronic oral sildenafil citrate treatment. SC may have a modifying/attenuating effect on DR. However, further studies are needed to evaluate its use as an adjunctive treatment.
Breast metastasis as the first presentation of an anorectal melanoma diagnosed on fine needle aspiration cytology: a case report
Authors: Khan Adil Aziz , Malik Shaivy , Ahuja Sana , Singh Mukul 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
Primary anorectal melanoma is a rare and aggressive disease accounting for approximately 1–3% of all colorectal and anal cancers.

Case report
We present a unique case of anorectal melanoma where the primary presentation was the metastatic breast lump which led to the detection of the primary tumor. A 70-year-old elderly postmenopausal female presented with complaint of left breast lump. On fine needle aspiration cytology, May Grunwald-Giemsa and Papanicolaou stained smears examined were highly cellular and showed sheets, clusters and singly scattered highly pleomorphic plasmacytoid cells having high nucleus to cytoplasmic ratio and scant to moderate cytoplasm with enlarged eccentric round to ovoid nuclei. Immunocytochemistry performed on cell block preparation showed tumor cells strongly positive for HMB-45, S-100 and negative for ER, PR, Her2neu, chromogranin, synaptophysin and Pan-CK. A thorough work up of the patient to look for the site of primary malignancy was done and radiological findings reveled presence of an ill-defined soft tissue mass in the anal canal. Biopsy from the anal mass confirmed the diagnosis of anal melanoma with metastasis to breast.

Conclusion
The present case was reported to emphasize the importance of atypical presentation where the breast lump was the primary presentation of an anal melanoma. Therefore, we should have a strong index of suspicion for metastatic tumors in case of a breast lump especially when there is unusual morphology or unexpected immunophenotype, particularly if the neoplasm is triple-negative, in patients with a previous history of other malignancies.
Home ownership, full-time employment, and other markers of higher socioeconomic status are predictive of shorter time to initial evaluation, shorter time to surgery, and superior postoperative outcomes among lateral patellar instability patients undergoing medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction
Authors: Shankar Dhruv S. , Avila Amanda , DeClouette Brittany , Vasavada Kinjal D. , Jazrawi Isabella B. , Alaia Michael J. , Gonzalez-Lomas Guillem , Strauss Eric J. , Campbell Kirk A. 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
The purpose of this study was to identify socioeconomic predictors of time to initial evaluation, time to surgery, and postoperative outcomes among lateral patellar instability patients undergoing medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR).

Methods
We conducted a retrospective review of patients at our institution who underwent primary MPFLR with allograft from 2011 to 2019 and had minimum 12-month follow-up. Patients were administered an email survey in January 2022 to assess symptom history, socioeconomic status, and postoperative outcomes including VAS satisfaction and Kujala score. Predictors of time to initial evaluation, time to surgery, and postoperative outcomes were identified using multivariable linear and logistic regression with stepwise selection.

Results
Seventy patients were included in the cohort (mean age 24.8 years, 72.9% female, mean follow-up time 45.7 months). Mean time to evaluation was 6.4 months (range 0–221) and mean time to surgery was 73.6 months (range 0–444). Having a general health check-up in the year prior to surgery was predictive of shorter time to initial evaluation (β = − 100.5 [− 174.5, − 26.5], p = 0.008). Home ownership was predictive of shorter time to surgery (β = − 56.5 [− 104.7, 8.3], p = 0.02). Full-time employment was predictive of higher VAS satisfaction (β = 14.1 [4.3, 23.9], p = 0.006) and higher Kujala score (β = 8.7 [0.9, 16.5], p = 0.03).

Conclusion
Markers of higher socioeconomic status including having a general check-up in the year prior to surgery, home ownership, and full-time employment were predictive of shorter time to initial evaluation, shorter time to surgery, and superior postoperative outcomes.
Level of evidence: IV, retrospective case series.
MRDPGA: a multiple restart dynamic population genetic algorithm for scheduling road traffic
Authors: Zachariah Babangida , Misra Sanjay , Odion Philip O. , Isah Saidu R. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractA genetic algorithm is a biologically inspired stochastic approach to finding solutions to optimization problems. However, unlike its deterministic counterpart, it cannot guarantee a globally optimal solution since it may be trapped within a local optimum of the search space. Most researchers have focused on proposing new techniques for various parameters of genetic algorithms. That is a mutation, crossover, or selection algorithm. This research proposes a modification to the standard genetic algorithm, which may serve as a framework that can integrate any of these parameters for their contribution to the final solution of the genetic algorithm. The multiple restart dynamic population genetic algorithm (MRDPGA) proposed in this research was used in training the parameters of the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for scheduling road vehicular traffic flows. The results of training the ANFIS models based on the different clustering methods showed that the MRDPGA-based ANFIS controller performed better with the mean square error (MSE) of 0.299 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.547 in the training phase; and MSE of 0.272 and RMSE of 0.521 in the testing phase. Using the controllers for traffic flow scheduling, the results showed that the MRDPGA-trained controllers performed better in terms of average waiting time (AWT) minimization and total arrived vehicles (TAV). The best-performing controller achieved 50.40% AWT minimization and 21.44% TAV improvement. Analyzing the results using a one-tailed t-test for paired two-sample means showed that the MRDPGA algorithm had a significant impact on the controllers. Particularly the FCM controller, where (p = 0.0038) and (p = 0.0003) for AWT and TAV at a 95% confidence level. Thus, MRDPGA algorithms are recommended for further assessment in other optimization problems to ascertain their performance in those problem domains.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnoses and prescriptions in UK primary care, 2000–2018: population-based cohort study
Authors: McKechnie Douglas G. J. , O'Nions Elizabeth , Dunsmuir Sandra , Petersen Irene 
Published: July 2023

Background
Rates of diagnosed attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be increasing in the UK.

Aims
Estimate incidence and prevalence of ADHD diagnoses and ADHD prescriptions in UK adults and children in primary care.

Method
We conducted a cohort study using IQVIA Medical Research Data, a UK primary care database. Rates of ADHD diagnoses and ADHD prescriptions were calculated between 2000 and 2018 for individuals aged 3–99 years, analysed by age, gender, social deprivation status and calendar year.

Results
Of 7 655 931 individuals, 35 877 (0.5%) had ADHD diagnoses; 18 518 (0.2%) received ADHD medication prescriptions. Diagnoses and prescription rates were greater in men versus women, children versus adults, and deprivation status (nearly double in most deprived versus least deprived quintile). By 2018, the proportion of ADHD diagnoses was 255 per 10 000 (95% CI 247–263) in boys and 67.7 per 10 000 (95% CI 63.5–71.9) in girls; for adults, it was 74.3 per 10 000 (95% CI 72.3–76.2) in men and 20 per 10 000 (95%CI 19.0–21.0) in women. Corresponding figures for prescriptions were 156 per 10 000 (95% CI 150–163) in boys, 36.8 per 10 000 (95% CI 33.8–40.0) in girls, 13.3 per 10 000 (95% CI 12.5–14.1) in men and 4.5 per 10 000 (95% CI 4.1–5.0) in women. Except among 3- to 5-year-olds, the incidence and prevalence of ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions have increased from 2000 to 2018 in all age groups. The absolute increase was highest in children, but the relative increase was largest among adults (e.g. among men aged 18–29 years, approximately 20-fold and nearly 50-fold increases in diagnoses and prescriptions, respectively).

Conclusions
The incidence and prevalence of both ADHD diagnoses and medication are highest among children. Proportionally, rates increased most among adults during 2000–2018. ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions are associated with socioeconomic deprivation.
Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines for Occipital Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Patients With Medically Refractory Occipital Neuralgia: Update
Authors: Staudt Michael D. , Hayek Salim M. , Rosenow Joshua M. , Narouze Samer , Arle Jeffrey E. , Pilitsis Julie G. , Schwalb Jason M. , Falowski Steven M. , Sweet Jennifer A. 
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND:
The Guidelines Task Force conducted a systematic review of the relevant literature on occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) for occipital neuralgia (ON) to update the original 2015 guidelines to ensure timeliness and accuracy for clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE:
To conduct a systematic review of the literature and update the evidence-based guidelines on ONS for ON.

METHODS:
The Guidelines Task Force conducted another systematic review of the relevant literature, using the same search terms and strategies used to search PubMed and Embase for relevant literature. The updated search included studies published between 1966 and January 2023. The same inclusion/exclusion criteria as the original guideline were also applied. Abstracts were reviewed, and relevant full text articles were retrieved and graded. Of 307 articles, 18 were retrieved for full-text review and analysis. Recommendations were updated according to new evidence yielded by this update.

RESULTS:
Nine studies were included in the original guideline, reporting the use of ONS as an effective treatment option for patients with medically refractory ON. An additional 6 studies were included in this update. All studies in the original guideline and this current update provide Class III evidence.

CONCLUSION:
Based on the availability of new literature, the current article is a minor update only that does not result in modification of the prior recommendations: Clinicians may use ONS as a treatment option for patients with medically refractory ON.
Επιμόρφωση εκπαιδευτικών σε θέματα κοινωνικής δικαιοσύνης και επαγγελματική ανάπτυξη
Authors: ΑΛΕΞΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ ΠΕΛΑΓΙΑ 
Published: July 2023

Ένα αναδυόμενο ζήτημα του περιεχομένου της επαγγελματικής ανάπτυξης των εκπαιδευτικών είναι αυτό της προώθησης της κοινωνικής δικαιοσύνης στην εκπαίδευση, καθώς υπάρχει ανάγκη εξισορρόπησης της εκπαίδευσης με το πολυπολιτισμικό περιβάλλον. Η παρούσα έρευνα αποσκοπεί να προσεγγίσει το θέμα της επαγγελματικής ανάπτυξης των εκπαιδευτικών σε ζητήματα κοινωνικής δικαιοσύνης στην εκπαίδευση. Επιχειρεί να διαπιστώσει κατά πόσο η επαγγελματική ανάπτυξη των εκπαιδευτικών περιλαμβάνει θέματα που σχετίζονται με την προώθηση της κοινωνικής δικαιοσύνης στο σχολικό τους περιβάλλον, τη συμβολή των εμπλεκόμενων μελών σε αυτή την κατεύθυνση, καθώς και τη συμβολή της ηγεσίας σε αυτό. Το δείγμα της έρευνάς μας αποτελείται από 144 εν ενεργεία εκπαιδευτικούς (διευθυντές/ντριες και υποδιευθυντές/ντριες) των δημοτικών σχολείων της πόλης του Ρεθύμνου και οι απόψεις τους διερευνήθηκαν με ερευνητικό εργαλείο το ερωτηματολόγιο που σχεδιάστηκε στηριζόμενο στα δεδομένα της υπάρχουσας βιβλιογραφίας. Μέσα από τα ευρήματα της παρούσας έρευνας διαπιστώνεται η ανάγκη και η επιθυμία των συμμετεχόντων/ουσών για βελτίωση των πρακτικών τους στην προώθηση της κοινωνικής δικαιοσύνης στην εκπαίδευση, τονίζεται ο πρωταγωνιστικός ρόλος της ατομικής πρωτοβουλίας, η απουσία καθοδήγησης και επιμόρφωσης και προκύπτει μια σειρά από κατευθύνσεις που θα συμβάλλουν στην προώθηση της κοινωνικής δικαιοσύνης στο περιβάλλον όπου ζουν και αναπτύσσονται τα παιδιά.
Multiple choice question writing and medical students: a systematic literature review
Authors: Lahti Jacob , Salamon Miriam , Farhat Jordan , Varkey Thomas 
Published: July 2023

Background: Multiple-choice question (MCQ) tests have been the standard for ensuring fairness and ease of grading within school curricula for several years. Students, teachers, and researchers alike have developed methods and materials to improve performance on MCQ tests. One practice of interest to the research team is students writing their own multiple-choice questions as a learning methodology. This study intends to review the current literature to assess the validity of student-written MCQs as a study technique. Methods: This literature review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant articles were pulled via a systematic search of various databases (Google Scholar, Cochrane, and PubMed) performed on 7.17.2022. Forty-seven non-duplicated articles were extracted. These were then limited, following full text evaluation, to a total of five articles. Results: In three out of the five articles there were positive subjective views of the use of MCQ writing as a method for studying, and one article showed that the students did not feel that the process helped them or provided value. In two of the five articles, data was collected on how MCQ writing worked in comparison with students that were not writing MCQs, and results demonstrated that those students who wrote MCQs more frequently demonstrated better exam scores as compared to those who did not use MCQ writing as a study method or utilized it infrequently. Conclusions: This literature review demonstrated some of the preliminary work that has been done thus far on the utility of MCQ writing as a learning tool in medical education. While still limited in overall understanding of the effects of the use of this method, there remains much promise for its use in the medical student population. It is the hope of the authors that further work be done on this question for the benefits of the students.
¿Por qué la emoción antecede la cognición?
Authors: Segura Delgado Paula Andrea , Ramírez-Bahena Martha Helena 
Published: July 2023

La neuroeducación comparte la importancia y necesidad de la vinculación de saberes neurocientíficos para el enriquecimiento de la epistemología y práctica docente; diversas experiencias educativas han aceptado el valor transcendental de las emociones para el logro de un aprendizaje significativo y emocional. Con los objetivos de lograr en la comunidad docente una alfabetización conceptual neurocientífica para comprender desde saberes de la neurociencia diferentes resultados positivos de experiencias educativas integradas al factor socioemocional, se presenta una revisión bibliográfica sobre conocimiento neurofisiológico que permite entender cómo aprende el cerebro junto a la relación unidireccional del suprasistema emocional-cognitivo. Así mismo, la plasticidad cerebral y las neuronas espejo son decisivas para el aprendizaje de habilidades socio-afectivas que permitan el desarrollo de personas sanas que se impliquen en la mejora de la sociedad. Actualmente se presenta la necesidad de entenderse la educación como un entorno de desarrollo social con enfoque emocional, mediante prácticas educativas coherentes a la naturaleza social del cerebro quien ha presentado una evolución biológica lenta y anticuada para la actual realidad social vertiginosa, que enfrenta situaciones sociales difíciles como lo son la violencia, estrés y depresión. Se concluye, gracias a la correspondencia de los avances teóricos de las neurociencias y la educación el deber ser la formación educativa adaptada la neurofisiología cerebral.
High-sensitivity humidity sensing of a U-shaped microfiber coated with porous methacryloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride film
Authors: Cui Danting , Huang Sihuan , Cheng Hongdao , Zheng Huadan , Zhu Wenguo , Yu Jianhui , Zhong Yongchun , Chen Zhe 
Published: July 2023

We demonstrate an intensity-modulated humidity sensor based on a U-shaped microfiber coated with porous methacryloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DMC) film. The high surface-to-volume ratios of the porous structure improve the interaction between the DMC film and water molecules, resulting in significantly enhanced sensitivity of the humidity sensor. In the humidity range of 34.0%RH to 50.0%RH, the humidity sensitivity of this microfiber sensor is up to 3.090 dB/%RH, which is six times higher than that of other fiber humidity sensors. The humidity detection range can be adjusted with high humidity sensitivity (≥1.685dB/%RH) by controlling the microfiber diameter and bent diameter. Furthermore, this type of sensor has a fast recovery time of 0.023 s and a response time of only 0.692 s. This type of sensor has broad potential applications in chemical processing, medical diagnostics, instrument manufacturing, and so on.
Integrated barium titanate electro-optic modulators operating at CMOS-compatible voltage
Authors: Han Huangpu , Wang Jing , Wang Zhengfang , Liu Chenghao , Xiang Bingxi 
Published: July 2023

We propose monolithically integrated electro-optical modulators based on thin-film x-cut barium titanate that exhibit large modulation bandwidth and operate at voltages compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology. The optical and radio frequency parameters of the modulator are systematically simulated, calculated, and optimized, respectively. Our simulation includes the evaluation of single-mode conditions, the separation distance between the electrode edge and the waveguide edge, bending loss, optical field distribution, and half-wave voltage-length product for optical parameters, and characteristic impedance, attenuation constant, radio frequency effective index, and −3dB modulation bandwidth for radio frequency parameters. By engineering both the microwave and photonic circuits, we have achieved high electro-optical efficiencies and group-velocity matching simultaneously. Our numerical simulation and theoretical analysis show that the half-wave voltage-length product was 0.48 V·cm, and the −3dB modulation bandwidths with a device length of 5 mm and 10 mm were 262 GHz and 107 GHz, respectively. Overall, our study highlights the potential of the proposed modulators for low driving voltage and high-performance optical communication systems.
Compact remote Raman system and its applications under strong sunlight research
Authors: Li Zhicong , Xue Bin , Zhao Yiyi , Huang Shuaidong , Liu Yiheng , Ling Zongcheng , Yang Jianfeng 
Published: July 2023

Raman signal with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) under a strong sunlight environment of 30000∼60000 Lux is very hard to obtain. A compact remote Raman spectrometer (CRS) has been developed for the purpose of detecting diverse types of lunar and earth minerals. The system comprises a spectrometer that is equipped with an ICCD detector, a 30 mm entry pupil diameter beam expander, and a 532 nm Nd: YAG Q-switched laser serving as the source of Raman scattering. The implementation of synchronous trigger and gating technology effectively overcomes the impact of strong sunlight. We obtained Raman spectra using a shorter integration time than in previous studies. The experimental results demonstrate that the detection of remote Raman spectroscopy under intense sunlight conditions facilitates the identification of silicates that have been discovered on the moon.
A web-based survey on self-management for patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Japan
Authors: Nagahori Masakazu , Imai Takahito , Nakashoji Mikiko , Tairaka Ai , Fernandez Jovelle L. 
Published: July 2023

Background/Aims
Self-management (SMN) is a recognized component of care for chronic conditions, yet its importance in the context of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unclear. This study evaluates the status of SMN and its relationship with quality of life (QOL) in Japanese patients with IBD.

Methods
A web-based survey was conducted among adult (≥20 years old) Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD). Registered members of an online IBD information platform completed a 45-item survey covering demographics, diet, treatment, physical condition, stress management, financial concerns, support services, and QOL. SMN was operationally defined by dietary and lifestyle behaviours, and contingency analysis was used to test for associated factors. Individual-level contributions to SMN were identified with logistic regression.

Results
There were 372 responses to the survey (211 with UC, 161 with CD). Approximately 60% of participants practiced SMN and these patients were 4–24% more likely to report positive QOL than those who did not. SMN was more common in patients with CD than those with UC. SMN practice was also associated with IBD-related hospitalisation/surgery and consultation with others about IBD (e.g. physicians, nurses, patients).

Conclusions
The results of this study suggest an association between the practice of SMN and positive QOL in patients with IBD in Japan.