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Introduction: Pain related to injection of propofol during induction of anesthesia decreases from 66.8% without prevention, to 22–31% of cases when lidocaine is associated. Hypnoanalgesia of the hand is currently used for painful procedures in children but has never been evaluated in this indication. The primary aim of this prospective randomized single‐blind study was to evaluate the efficacy of hypnoanalgesia of the hand for the prevention of moderate to severe pain during intravenous injection of propofol alone in comparison to lidocaine admixture. The secondary aim was to compare the global satisfaction of children in both methods. Patients and Methods: One hundred patients aged 7–14 years, ASA 1‐2, admitted for scheduled surgery under general anesthesia were randomized into two groups. Group L received a mixture of 1% propofol (3 mg/kg) and 1% Lidocaine (0.3 mg/kg). Group H received 1% propofol (3 mg/kg) after hypnoanalgesia of the hand realized by a single experimented operator. A video was made in order to evaluate the pain related to propofol injection by a blinded observer using the 4‐point score of Cameron (painful ≥ 2). The global satisfaction of children was evaluated in postanesthesia care unit and documented if visual analog score was <7/10. Results: Ninety‐six patients were analyzed. The rate of painful patients did not differ significantly between groups (8.5% in group H [n = 47] vs 6.1% in group L [n = 49], OR= 0.70; 95% CI [0.13–3.35], p = 0.65), nor did the rate of nonsatisfied patients (10.6 in group H vs. 12.2% in group L, OR = 0.85; 95% CI [0.19–3.65], p = 1). Conclusions: Our results suggest that hypnoanalgesia of the hand alone is effective to prevent the pain related to propofol injection in children. No significant difference was found in comparison with lidocaine admixture nor for pain or satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contact tracing played a crucial role in minimizing the onward dissemination of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the recent pandemic. Previous studies had also shown the effectiveness of preventive measures such as mask-wearing, physical distancing, and exposure duration in reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission. However, there is still a lack of understanding regarding the impact of various exposure settings on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within the community, as well as the most effective preventive measures, considering the preventive measures adherence in different daily scenarios. We aimed to evaluate the effect of individual protective measures and exposure settings on the community transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, we aimed to investigate the interaction between different exposure settings and preventive measures in relation to such SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Routine SARS-CoV-2 contact tracing information was supplemented with additional data on individual measures and exposure settings collected from index patients and their close contacts. We used a case-control study design, where close contacts with a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 were classified as cases, and those with negative results classified as controls. We used the data collected from the case-control study to construct a Bayesian network (BN). BNs enable predictions for new scenarios when hypothetical information is introduced, making them particularly valuable in epidemiological studies. Our results showed that ventilation and time of exposure were the main factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. In long time exposure, ventilation was the most effective factor in reducing SARS-CoV-2, while masks and physical distance had on the other hand a minimal effect in this ventilation spaces. However, face masks and physical distance did reduce the risk in enclosed and unventilated spaces. Distance did not reduce the risk of infection when close contacts wore a mask. Home exposure presented a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and any preventive measures posed a similar risk across all exposure settings analyzed. Bayesian network analysis can assist decision-makers in refining public health campaigns, prioritizing resources for individuals at higher risk, and offering personalized guidance on specific protective measures tailored to different settings or environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vertebral infections, including vertebral osteomyelitis, septic physitis, and discospondylitis, are rarely reported in goats, and when reported, have been largely limited to necropsy case reports. Objective: Describe clinical findings and outcome in goats with vertebral infections evaluated by computed tomography (CT). Animals: Five goats with vertebral osteomyelitis, septic physitis, and discospondylitis evaluated by CT. Methods: Retrospective case series. Results: The most common presenting complaints were progressive weakness, paresis and recumbency. Three goats were tetraparetic and 2 goats had pelvic limb paraparesis. Clinicopathologic findings included leukocytosis, mature neutrophilia, and hyperfibrinogenemia. The most common vertebrae affected were C7‐T1. All 5 goats had discospondylitis with or without vertebral osteomyelitis and septic physitis. Computed tomographic evidence of spinal cord compression was present in 4/5 goats. Medical management (antimicrobials, physical therapy, analgesia, supportive care) was attempted in 4 goats, and 1 goat was euthanized at the time of diagnosis. All 4 goats that were treated regained ambulatory ability and survived to hospital discharge. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Despite severity of CT imaging findings, goats with discospondylitis, septic physitis, and vertebral osteomyelitis can successfully return to ambulatory function. Additional studies are required to determine ideal treatment regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that contributes in part to irreversible bowel damage and long-term complications, reduced quality of life, invalidity, and economic burden. Suboptimal control of IBD is associated with higher healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), impaired quality of life (QoL), and reduced work productivity. Aims: The IBD-PODCAST study aimed to assess the proportion of IBD patients with suboptimal control and its associated impact. Methods: IBD-PODCAST is a cross-sectional, multicenter study that aimed to characterize the CD and UC population with optimal or suboptimal control according to the STRIDE-II criteria and patient- and physician-reported measures. Here we present the results of the Spanish cohort (n = 396). Results: A total of 104/196 (53.1%) CD and 83/200 (41.5%) UC patients were found to have suboptimal disease control. Long-term treatment targets according to STRIDE-II were applied in 172 (87.8%) CD and 181 (90.5%) UC patients. 125 of 172 (72.7%) CD and 74 of 181 (40.9%) UC patients were currently treated with targeted immunomodulators. Patients with CD and UC and suboptimal disease control showed impaired QoL, higher HCRU and direct costs, and also loss of work productivity compared to those with optimal control. Conclusion: Despite a high rate of targeted immunomodulator therapy, a substantial proportion of IBD patients show suboptimal disease control according to the STRIDE II criteria. Those patients with suboptimal disease control exhibit impaired QoL, less work productivity, and higher HCRU, suggesting that there is considerable need for better treatment approaches in IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Shapiro's syndrome (SS) is a rare condition characterized by spontaneous periodic hypothermia. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and etiology of this syndrome remain controversial, and fewer than 100 cases have been reported to date. The objective of this case report is to present a unique iatrogenic case of SS and contribute additional insights into the underlying etiology of this rare disorder. Methods: We conducted an analysis of existing medical literature and described a clinical case of SS secondary to a neurosurgical procedure. Results: To our knowledge, we present the first iatrogenic case of SS in a 53-year-old woman who underwent a partial right parieto-occipital lobectomy in 2003 as a treatment for refractory epilepsy. Several years after the surgical procedure, she began experiencing recurrent episodes of hypothermia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the absence of the splenium of the corpus callosum (CC) and pituitary hyperplasia. After ruling out other potential causes of hypothermia, a diagnosis of SS was made. Discussion: The most plausible mechanism to explain the recurrent hypothermia associated with SS in our patient is a probable disruption of the pathways involved in thermoregulation through the CC as a consequence of the surgical procedure. This case report provides further insights into the etiology of this rare disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial-fungal interactions are pervasive in the rhizosphere. While an increasing number of endohyphal bacteria have been identified, little is known about their ecology and impact on the associated fungal hosts and the surrounding environment. In this study, we characterized the genome of an Enterobacter sp. Crenshaw (En-Cren), which was isolated from the generalist fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani, and examined the genetic potential of the bacterium with regard to the phenotypic traits associated with the fungus. Overall, the En-Cren genome size was typical for members of the genus and was capable of free-living growth. The genome was 4.6 MB in size, and no plasmids were detected. Several prophage regions and genomic islands were identified that harbor unique genes in comparison with phylogenetically closely related Enterobacter spp. Type VI secretion system and cyanate assimilation genes were identified from the bacterium, while some common heavy metal resistance genes were absent. En-Cren contains the key genes for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and phenylacetic acid (PAA) biosynthesis, and produces IAA and PAA in vitro, which may impact the ecology or pathogenicity of the fungal pathogen in vivo. En-Cren was observed to move along hyphae of R. solani and on other basidiomycetes and ascomycetes in culture. The bacterial flagellum is essential for hyphal movement, while other pathways and genes may also be involved. IMPORTANCE The genome characterization and comparative genomics analysis of Enterobacter sp. Crenshaw provided the foundation and resources for a better understanding of the ecology and evolution of this endohyphal bacteria in the rhizosphere. The ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid and phenylacetic acid may provide new angles to study the impact of phytohormones during the plant-pathogen interactions. The hitchhiking behavior of the bacterium on a diverse group of fungi, while inhibiting the growth of some others, revealed new areas of bacterial-fungal signaling and interaction, which have yet to be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transitions from sexual to asexual reproduction are common in eukaryotes, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly known. The pea aphid—Acyrthosiphon pisum—exhibits reproductive polymorphism, with cyclical parthenogenetic and obligate parthenogenetic lineages, offering an opportunity to decipher the genetic basis of sex loss. Previous work on this species identified a single 840 kb region controlling reproductive polymorphism and carrying 32 genes. With the aim of identifying the gene(s) responsible for sex loss and the resulting consequences on the genetic programs controlling sexual or asexual embryogenesis, we compared the transcriptomic response to photoperiod shortening—the main sex-inducing cue—of a sexual and an obligate asexual lineage of the pea aphid, focusing on heads (where the photoperiodic cue is detected) and embryos (the final target of the cue). Results: Our analyses revealed that four genes (one expressed in the head, and three in the embryos) of the region responded differently to photoperiod in the two lineages. We also found that the downstream genetic programs expressed during embryonic development of a future sexual female encompass ∼1600 genes, among which miRNAs, piRNAs and histone modification pathways are overrepresented. These genes mainly co-localize in two genomic regions enriched in transposable elements (TEs). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the causal polymorphism(s) in the 840 kb region somehow impair downstream epigenetic and post-transcriptional regulations in obligate asexual lineages, thereby sustaining asexual reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a clinical syndrome that can cause neurological disorders due to a reduction or interruption in the blood flow at the brain level. Transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) is a non-invasive electrotherapy technique with the ability to modulate the function of nervous tissue. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to analyze the effects derived from the application of the TDCS for post-stroke patients on functionality and mobility. METHODS: The data search was conducted in PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus between July and August 2023. The search focused on randomized clinical trials conducted in the period of 2019–2023, and according to the selection criteria, seven studies were obtained. RESULTS: The results found are mainly focused on the analysis of the scales Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity and Wolf Motor Function Test. CONCLUSION: The application of TDCS presents benefits in post-stroke individuals on functionality, mobility and other secondary studied variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastatic gastrointestinal cancer is not an uncommon situation, especially for pancreatic, gastric, and colorectal cancers. In this setting, few data are available on the impact of the treatment of the primary tumour. Oligometastatic disease is associated with longer survival in comparison with more advanced disease. Metastasis-directed therapy, such as stereotactic body radiotherapy, seems related to better outcomes, but the level of evidence is low. In most tumour locations, prospective data are very scarce and inclusion in ongoing trials is strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Located in the province of Lleida (Catalonia, Spain), this study aims to identify and analyze the predictors of linguistic acculturation preferences of autochthonous high-school students toward their peers of Latin American descent. Autochthonous high-school students (N = 349) filled a questionnaire measuring linguistic acculturation and a series of linguistic and social-psychological variables (i.e. multicultural ideology, ethnic tolerance, attitudes toward minority languages, identification with Catalan culture and identification with Spanish culture). A k-means cluster analysis identified that autochthonous students endorse two linguistic acculturation preferences toward their Latin American peers: assimilation and multilingual preferences. Meanwhile, a logistic regression model found that participants with higher scores on attitudes toward minority languages have more likelihood to endorse a multilingual preference. The results highlight the importance and need to further work for a genuine intercultural educational model that allows the integration of Latin American students as well as of other minority groups. Particularly, this study found the importance of boosting the use of minority languages through educational approaches such as translanguaging and language architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buena Pinta Cave (Pinilla del Valle, Madrid) has been interpreted as a hyena den with sporadic occupations of Homo neanderthalensis in the western part of the site (level 23). In order to identify the different formation processes in this area of the site, spatial analyses have been carried out with GIS and spatial statistics based on the taphonomic analysis of the faunal remains. Based on the vertical and sectional analyses of the assemblage, it has been possible to determine that level 23 actually corresponds to three archaeological levels with well-differentiated characteristics: a lower level with few faunal remains and fossil-diagenetic alterations related to humid environments associated with clays; an intermediate level with a high percentage of remains with water-related modifications and evidences of transport; and an upper level delimited mainly thanks to by a paraconformity evidenced by the concentration of weathered remains in this area and a significant reduction in remains with water-related alterations above. The results obtained show the necessity to redefine field layers and the usefulness of integrating taphonomic data and spatial studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solidification of the cores of small planets and moons is thought to occur in the "iron snow" regime, in which iron crystals form near the core‐mantle boundary and fall until re‐melting at greater depth. The resulting buoyancy flux may sustain convection and dynamo action. This regime of crystallization is poorly understood. Here we present the first laboratory experiments designed to model iron snow. We find that solidification happens in a cyclic pattern, with intense solidification bursts separated by crystal‐free periods. This is explained by the necessity of reaching a finite amount of supercooling to re‐initiate crystallization once the crystals formed earlier have migrated away. When scaled to planetary cores, our results suggest that crystallization and the associated buoyancy flux would be strongly heterogeneous in time and space, which eventually impacts the time variability and geometry of the magnetic field. Plain Language Summary: In small planets or moons with iron core, solidification proceeds from the top down, producing solid iron crystals at the top of the core. These crystals then fall until they melt at deeper depth, where the temperature is larger. By analogy with snow in the atmosphere, this regime is called iron snow. It creates motions in the liquid core and provides energy for generating a magnetic field. However, the key aspects of this regime remain largely unknown. Using analog laboratory experiments, we have found that solidification occurs in a cyclic pattern, with periods of intense crystal formation followed by quiet periods with no crystals. This happens because crystallization needs a certain amount of cooling below the solidification temperature to be triggered, during which all crystals have risen and melted. Applied to planetary cores, it means that the iron snow would be heterogeneous in space and time, with intermittent and localized crystals falling. This would affect the shape and strength of the planet's magnetic field. Key Points: We have carried out an experimental study of the dynamics of iron snowOur experiments present crystallization cycles, with intense solidification bursts separated by quiet periodsThis cyclic pattern is controlled by thermal diffusion and by the amount of supercooling required for crystallization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal cancers are one of the most frequent cancers and a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. We provide an overview of the most important practice-changing trials that were either published or presented at the international scientific meetings in 2021–2023. Highlights included reports on three phase III trials (CONCORDE/PRODIGE 26, ARTDECO, and a study by Xu et al.) that evaluated dose escalation in the definitive setting for locally advanced oesophageal cancers, as well as two phase III trials that evaluated the role of chemotherapy (neo-AEGIS) and targeted therapy (NRG/RTOG 1010) in the neoadjuvant setting for adenocarcinoma oesophageal cancers or gastroesophageal junction cancer. CheckMate 577 evaluated nivolumab in patients who had residual pathological disease after neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by complete resection. The use of radiation therapy for borderline and locally advanced pancreatic cancer is also discussed (SMART and CONKO-007 trials). Stereotactic body radiation therapy followed by sorafenib was compared to sorafenib alone in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the NRG/RTOG 1112 study. New options in the management of rectal cancer are emerging such as total neoadjuvant treatment (PRODIGE 23, RAPIDO, PROSPECT), organ preservation (OPRA, OPERA), and the role of immunotherapy in patients with DNA mismatch-repair deficient/microsatellite instability. Finally, preliminary results of the ACT 4 trial that evaluated de-escalation in anal cancer are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sweet potato soil rot pathogen Streptomyces ipomoeae differs in disease pathology, host range, and virulence factor production from Streptomyces species that cause scab diseases on potato and other plant hosts. Nevertheless, previous phylogenomic analysis suggested S. ipomoeae and the oldest scab species, Streptomyces scabiei, are derived from a common ancestor. While genomes of scab pathogens have been described in some detail, similar knowledge of S. ipomoeae has been lacking. Here, we performed comparative genomic analyses involving both virulent and avirulent strains of S. ipomoeae, along with other plant-pathogenic and saprophytic Streptomyces spp. The txt gene cluster for the phytotoxin thaxtomin C was found in all virulent strains of S. ipomoeae, but, contrary to scab species, the thaxtomin locus does not appear to reside within a genomic island and has diverged from its scab pathogen counterparts. Increased TTA rare codon usage appears to be a hallmark of S. ipomoeae, and in particular, for its txt locus. The txtR activator gene, which we show here is essential for pathogenicity, appears to be subject to exceptional bldA translational control. Ortholog group searches identified genes found only in virulent S. ipomoeae strains in our analysis, and genome mining revealed secondary metabolite gene clusters of S. ipomoeae, which are not shared with scab species. Overall, we have identified novel aspects of genome organization and gene content consistent with niche development by S. ipomoeae, and the results here will facilitate the elucidation of the mechanisms governing its virulence and ecology. IMPORTANCE While most plant-pathogenic Streptomyces species cause scab disease on a variety of plant hosts, Streptomyces ipomoeae is the sole causative agent of soil rot disease of sweet potato and closely related plant species. Here, genome sequencing of virulent and avirulent S. ipomoeae strains coupled with comparative genomic analyses has identified genome content and organization features unique to this streptomycete plant pathogen. The results here will enable future research into the mechanisms used by S. ipomoeae to cause disease and to persist in its niche environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the impact of spin effects on the nonequilibrium transport properties of a nanowire hosting Majorana zero-energy modes at its ends, coupled to a quantum dot junction with ferromagnetic leads. Using the real-time diagrammatic technique, we determine the current, differential conductance and current cross-correlations in the nonlinear response regime. We also explore transport in different magnetic configurations of the system, which can be quantified by the tunnel magnetoresistance. We show that the presence of Majorana quasiparticles gives rise to unique features in all spin-resolved transport characteristics, in particular, to zero-bias anomaly, negative differential conductance, negative tunnel magnetoresistance, and it is also reflected in the current cross-correlations. Moreover, we study the dependence of the zero-bias anomaly on various system parameters and demonstrate its dependence on the magnetic configuration of the system as well as on the degree of spin polarization in the leads. A highly nontrivial behavior is also found for the tunnel magnetoresistance, which exhibits regions of enhanced or negative values—new features resulting from the coupling to Majorana wire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expanding ß cell mass is a critical goal in the fight against diabetes. CDK4, an extensively characterized cell cycle activator, is required to establish and maintain ß cell number. ß cell failure in the IRS2-deletion mouse type 2 diabetes model is, in part, due to loss of CDK4 regulator cyclin D2. We set out to determine whether replacement of endogenous CDK4 with the inhibitorresistant mutant CDK4-R24C rescued the loss of ß cell mass in IRS2-deficient mice. Surprisingly, not only ß cell mass but also ß cell dedifferentiation was effectively rescued, despite no improvement in whole body insulin sensitivity. Ex vivo studies in primary islet cells revealed a mechanism in which CDK4 intervened downstream in the insulin signaling pathway to prevent FOXO1-mediated transcriptional repression of critical ß cell transcription factor Pdx1. FOXO1 inhibition was not related to E2F1 activity, to FOXO1 phosphorylation, or even to FOXO1 subcellular localization, but rather was related to deacetylation and reduced FOXO1 abundance. Taken together, these results demonstrate a differentiation-promoting activity of the classical cell cycle activator CDK4 and support the concept that ß cell mass can be expanded without compromising function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Obesity during childhood has become a pandemic disease, mainly caused by a diet rich in sugars and fatty acids. Among other negative effects, these diets can induce cognitive impairment and reduce neuroplasticity. It is well known that omega-3 and probiotics have a beneficial impact on health and cognition, and we have hypothesized that a diet enriched with Bifidobacterium breve and omega-3 could potentiate neuroplasticity in prepubertal pigs on a high-fat diet. Methods: Young female piglets were fed during 10 weeks with: standard diet (T1), high-fat (HF) diet (T2), HF diet including B. breve CECT8242 (T3) and HF diet including the probiotic and omega-3 fatty acids (T4). Using hippocampal sections, we analyzed by immunocytochemistry the levels of doublecortin (DCX) to study neurogenesis, and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) as a synaptic plasticity related protein. Results: No effect of T2 or T3 was observed, whereas T4 increased both DCX+ cells and Arc expression. Therefore, a diet enriched with supplements of B. breve and omega-3 increases neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in prepubertal females on a HF diet from nine weeks of age to sexual maturity. Furthermore, the analysis of serum cholesterol and HDL indicate that neurogenesis was related to lipidic demand in piglets fed with control or HF diets, but the neurogenic effect induced by the T4 diet was exerted by mechanisms independent of this lipidic demand. Conclusion: Our results show that the T4 dietary treatment is effective in potentiating neural plasticity in the dorsal hippocampus of prepubertal females on a HF diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Many patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) experience disease progression and switch to another TKI, but each switch yields diminishing returns. To gain insight into the burden of repeated TKI treatment failures, this study analyzed the characteristics, treatment and disease patterns, and outcomes of adult patients with CP-CML in France whose disease progressed after treatment with two or more TKIs between 2006 and 2021. Patients switched TKIs up to six times; in many cases, treatment with the first and second TKIs lasted <2 years. On the other hand, patients who showed a good response to their third TKI had a lower risk of death. These findings provide a broad view of CP-CML treatment in France over the last 15 years and highlight the need for more effective therapies early in the treatment course that can improve outcomes for patients with CP-CML. This retrospective chart review study investigated the clinical burden of adult patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) treated at three centers in France (2006–2021) who failed on two or more tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs; third-line [3L]+ cohort) or harbored the BCR::ABL1 T315I mutation (T315I cohort). In the 3L+ cohort (N = 157; median age at diagnosis, 56 years), TKIs received in 3L (median duration: 17 months) were dasatinib (32%), nilotinib (19%), imatinib (18%), ponatinib (17%), and bosutinib (14%). Of the 145 patients with documented responses in 3L, 42% experienced major molecular response (MMR) at 12 months. Median event-free survival [95% confidence interval] was 53.6 [44.0, 67.5] months, and median progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were not reached. Achieving MMR in 3L was associated with a decreased mortality risk. In the T315I cohort (N = 17; 52 years), 41% of patients received five or more lines of therapy. Following identification of the T315I mutation, ponatinib was the most common TKI used (59%); the median [interquartile range] OS was 5 [3–10] years. The most common adverse events were infections (3L+ cohort) and thrombocytopenia (T315I cohort) (both 18%). Well-tolerated therapies that achieve durable responses are needed in 3L or earlier to improve CP-CML prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the use of BCG and Mitomicin C instillations administered with Electromotive Drug Administration (EMDA) in patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer in whom Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy had failed, in order to provide bladder preservation for these patients. We evaluated the oncological outcomes and tolerability in a long follow up This treatment seems to be safe and to provide good responses in well selected patients, without a high progression rate. Background: Nowadays, there is no standard non-surgical treatment for patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) in whom Bacillus Calmette-Güerin (BCG) therapy has failed.Objectives: To assess the clinical and oncological outcomes of sequential treatment with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and Mitomycin C (MMC) administered with Electromotive Drug Administration (EMDA) in patients with high-risk NMIBC who fail BCG immunotherapy. Material and Methods: We retrospectively studied patients with NMIBC who failed BCG and received alternating BCG and Mitomycin C with EMDA between 2010 and 2020. Treatment schedule consisted in an induction therapy with 6 instillations (BCG, BCG, MMC + EMDA, BCG, BCG, MMC + EMDA) and a 1-year maintenance. Complete response (CR) was defined as the absence of high-grade (HG) recurrences during follow-up, and progression was defined as the occurrence of muscle invasive or metastatic disease. CR rate was estimated at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Progression rate and toxicity were also assessed. Results: Twenty-two patients were included with a median age of 73 years. Fifty percent of tumors were single, 90% were smaller than 1.5cm, 40% were GII (HG) and 40% were Ta. CR rate was 95.5%, 81% and 70% at 3 and 6 months, 12 months and 24 months, respectively. With a median follow-up of 28.8 months, 6 patients (27%) presented HG recurrence and only 1 patient (4.5%) progressed and ended in cystectomy. This patient died due to metastatic disease. Treatment was well tolerated and 22% of the patients presented adverse effects, being dysuria the most frequent one. Conclusion: Sequential treatment with BCG and Mitomycin C with EMDA achieved good responses and low toxicity in selected patients who did not respond to BCG. Only 1 patient ended in cystectomy and died due to metastatic disease, therefore, cystectomy was avoided in most cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird assemblages can be found in archeological sites throughout the Pleistocene. Taphonomy studies are key to understanding how such assemblages were formed. These assemblages can be generated by various agents, including human groups, animals, and natural death. In this paper, we analyzed the avifaunal assemblage from level TE9d at the Sima del Elefante site, where corvid (Corvidae) remains are the most abundant taxa, as reported in previous studies from that deposit. The remains of smaller birds (Charadriiformes, Rallidae) and large raptors (Aquila cf. heliaca/adalberti, Haliaeetus albicilla) have also been documented. Our taphonomic analysis shows that birds of prey were the main accumulators of bird remains at the site. The presence of modifications such as beak/talon marks and different degrees of digestion reinforce the idea that both diurnal and nocturnal raptors were involved. Nevertheless, we cannot rule out the accumulation by natural death of those species that could have nested in the rocky walls of the cave. The absence of evidence of anthropogenic activity on the bird remains from level TE9d therefore indicates that hominins were not involved in this accumulation. These results can be considered a new contribution to the discussion on the origin of avifaunal accumulations in Pleistocene archeological contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hip fractures in amputees pose a significant challenge for the orthopedic surgeon due to technical difficulties and there is no standardisation in their management. Their treatment is consequently left to the surgeon's ingenuity. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of a series of hip fractures in lower limb amputees. Methods: A total of 12 patients and 15 hip fractures in lower limb amputees were included. Amputations below the malleoli and prosthetic surgery due to osteoarthritis constitute the exclusion criteria. Demographic, amputation-related and fracture data as well as radiological, functional, and clinical outcomes were collected through the patients' medical records. Results: Age at fracture and at amputation were different depending on the cause of amputation. Most patients (10/12) were male. Seven patients had an infracondylar amputation and five patients had a supracondylar amputation. Ten hip fractures were on the same side of the amputation, three were contralateral and one was bilateral. Pertrochanteric (6/15) and subcapital (5/15) were the main types observed. Different traction methods and surgical procedures were used. We observed no significant differences in terms of outcome regardless of the fracture, traction method, and surgical management. No complications related to surgery or during follow-up were found. Mortality at one year postoperatively was absent. Conclusion: Provided an experienced orthopaedic surgeon, a pre-operative assessment, a comprehensive surgical planning, and a multidisciplinary rehabilitation strategy are present; a satisfactory outcome is to be expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Molecular recurrence (MRec) occurs in about half of all patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) who discontinue tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in sustained deep molecular response. A second TKI discontinuation has been attempted in some patients who regain the discontinuation criteria after resuming treatment. Nilotinib treatment affords faster and deeper molecular responses than imatinib as first‐line therapy. We prospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of nilotinib (300 mg twice daily) in chronic‐phase CML patients who experienced MRec, after imatinib discontinuation and analysed the probability of TFR after a new attempt in patients treated for 2 years with sustained MR4.5 for at least 1 year. A total of 31 patients were included in the study between 2013 and 2018. Seven (23%) patients experienced serious adverse events after a median of 2 months of nilotinib treatment leading to discontinuation of treatment. One patient was excluded from the study for convenience. Among the 23 patients treated for 2 years with nilotinib, 22 maintained their molecular response for at least 1 year (median: 22 months) and stopped nilotinib. The TFR rates at 24 and 48 months after nilotinib discontinuation were 59.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 41.7%–83.7%) and 42.1% (95% CI: 25%–71%) respectively (NCT #01774630). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is one of the most frequent HIV-related neoplasms, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype. In people with HIV (PWH), DLBCL classically presents with aggressive characteristics. As in the general population, HIV-related DLBCL is a heterogeneous disease that includes morphological and molecular subtypes. When combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) became widely available, a strong improvement of the immune function and a better management of infectious complications during lymphoma treatment were observed in PWH with lymphoma. Moreover, the concomitant treatment of cART with chemotherapy was shown to be beneficial. These changes have led to a marked improvement in prognosis for PWH with DLBCL, approaching that of the general population. Despite the widespread use of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) and the subsequent decrease in AIDS-defining cancers, HIV-related lymphomas remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with HIV (PWH). Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) subtype in PWH. This lymphoma is a heterogeneous disease including morphological variants and molecular subtypes according to the cell of origin or the mutation profile. In the pre-cART era, treatment with standard-dose chemotherapy induced high rates of toxicity and outcomes were very poor. The introduction of cART and the incorporation of infection prophylaxis allowed the use of conventional intensive chemotherapy regimens used in the general population, such as R-CHOP or R-EPOCH. The use of cART during chemotherapy treatment was initially controversial due to the potential risk of adverse drug–drug interactions. However, the availability of current cART regimens with less potential to cause drug interactions and evidence that cART improves survival rates in NHL strongly support the use of cART in PWH with DLBCL. Consequently, interdisciplinary collaboration between HIV specialists and hemato-oncologists for the management of potential interactions and overlapping toxicities between antiretroviral and antineoplastic drugs is crucial for the optimal treatment of PWH with NHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the gene-encoding acid sphingomyelinase (ASM). ASMD impacts peripheral organs in all patients, including the liver and spleen. The infantile and chronic neurovisceral forms of the disease also lead to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration for which there is no effective treatment. Cellular accumulation of sphingomyelin (SM) is a pathological hallmark in all tissues. SM is the only sphingolipid comprised of a phosphocholine group linked to ceramide. Choline is an essential nutrient that must be obtained from the diet and its deficiency promotes fatty liver disease in a process dependent on ASM activity. We thus hypothesized that choline deprivation could reduce SM production and have beneficial effects in ASMD. Using acid sphingomyelinase knock-out (ASMko) mice, which mimic neurovisceral ASMD, we have assessed the safety of a choline-free diet and its effects on liver and brain pathological features such as altered sphingolipid and glycerophospholipid composition, inflammation and neurodegeneration. We found that the choline-free diet was safe in our experimental conditions and reduced activation of macrophages and microglia in the liver and brain, respectively. However, there was no significant impact on sphingolipid levels and neurodegeneration was not prevented, arguing against the potential of this nutritional strategy to assist in the management of neurovisceral ASMD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of tau is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases and is associated with neuronal hypoactivity and presynaptic dysfunction. Oral administration of the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist rolofylline (KW-3902) has previously been shown to reverse spatial memory deficits and to normalize the basic synaptic transmission in a mouse line expressing full-length pro-aggregant tau (TauΔK) at low levels, with late onset of disease. However, the efficacy of treatment remained to be explored for cases of more aggressive tauopathy. Using a combination of behavioral assays, imaging with several PET-tracers, and analysis of brain tissue, we compared the curative reversal of tau pathology by blocking adenosine A1 receptors in three mouse models expressing different types and levels of tau and tau mutants. We show through positron emission tomography using the tracer [18F]CPFPX (a selective A1 receptor ligand) that intravenous injection of rolofylline effectively blocks A1 receptors in the brain. Moreover, when administered to TauΔK mice, rolofylline can reverse tau pathology and synaptic decay. The beneficial effects are also observed in a line with more aggressive tau pathology, expressing the amyloidogenic repeat domain of tau (TauRDΔK) with higher aggregation propensity. Both models develop a progressive tau pathology with missorting, phosphorylation, accumulation of tau, loss of synapses, and cognitive decline. TauRDΔK causes pronounced neurofibrillary tangle assembly concomitant with neuronal death, whereas TauΔK accumulates only to tau pretangles without overt neuronal loss. A third model tested, the rTg4510 line, has a high expression of mutant TauP301L and hence a very aggressive phenotype starting at ~3 months of age. This line failed to reverse pathology upon rolofylline treatment, consistent with a higher accumulation of tau-specific PET tracers and inflammation. In conclusion, blocking adenosine A1 receptors by rolofylline can reverse pathology if the pathological potential of tau remains below a threshold value that depends on concentration and aggregation propensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the multilevel factors associated with controlled blood pressure is important to determine modifiable factors for future interventions, especially among populations living in poverty. This study identified clinically important factors associated with blood pressure control among patients receiving care in community health centers. This study includes 31,089 patients with diagnosed hypertension by 2015 receiving care from 103 community health centers; aged 19–64 years; and with ≥1 yearly visit with ≥1 recorded blood pressure in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Blood pressure control was operationalized as an average of all blood pressure measurements during all the 3 years and categorized as controlled (blood pressure <140/90), partially controlled (mixture of controlled and uncontrolled blood pressure), or never controlled. Multinomial mixed-effects logistic regression models, conducted in 2022, were used to calculate unadjusted ORs and AORs of being in the never- or partially controlled blood pressure groups versus in the always-controlled group. A total of 50.5% had always controlled, 39.7% had partially controlled, and 9.9% never had controlled blood pressure during the study period. The odds of being partially or never in blood pressure control were higher for patients without continuous insurance (AOR=1.09; 95% CI=1.03, 1.16; AOR=1.18; 95% CI=1.07, 1.30, respectively), with low provider continuity (AOR=1.24; 95% CI=1.15, 1.34; AOR=1.28; 95% CI=1.13, 1.45, respectively), with a recent diagnosis of hypertension (AOR=1.34; 95% CI=1.20, 1.49; AOR=1.19; 95% CI=1.00, 1.42), with inconsistent antihypertensive medications (AOR=1.19; 95% CI=1.11, 1.27; AOR=1.26; 95% CI=1.13, 1.41, respectively), and with fewer blood pressure checks (AOR=2.14; 95% CI=1.97, 2.33; AOR=2.17; 95% CI=1.90, 2.48, respectively) than for their counterparts. Efforts targeting continuous and consistent access to care, antihypertensive medications, and regular blood pressure monitoring may improve blood pressure control among populations living in poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial analysis has been much used to examine the distribution of archaeological remains at Pleistocene sites. However, little is known about the distribution patterns at sites identified as hunting camps, i.e., places occupied over multiple short periods for the capture of animals later transported to a base camp. The present work examines a Neanderthal hunting camp (the Navalmaíllo Rock Shelter in Pinilla del Valle, Madrid, Spain) to determine whether different activities were undertaken in different areas of the site. A spatial pattern was detected with a main cluster of materials (lithic tools, faunal remains, and coprolites) clearly related to the presence of nearby hearths—the backbone of the utilised space. This main cluster appears to have been related to collaborative and repetitive activities undertaken by the hunting parties that used the site. Spatial analysis also detected a small, isolated area perhaps related to carcasses processing at some point in time and another slightly altered by water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated cadmium (Cd) levels in cacao products have been detected in a major cacao-producing region of Colombia, with concentrations well above those permitted for export and posing a potential threat to human health. Geochemical and petrographic analyses of fertilizer, soil and rocks from three farms were used to determine the origin of Cd. Parent rocks were the main source of the Cd in soils, while organic fertilizer may have further contributed to elevated metal content in one farm. High Cd levels in the organic fertilizer were most likely due to bioaccumulation, since it was sourced from animals in the same area. Even though the soil pH range, elevated OM content and the presence of Mn and K diminish bioavailability, the extremely high Cd content in soils results nonetheless in significant uptake by the plants and subsequent accumulation in cocoa beans. Traditional methods to reduce Cd adsorption, such as the addition of calcium, will not be effective in this case. Instead, the selection of cacao species that are naturally low accumulators and amendment with soil microorganisms with mineralization and biotransformation capabilities, as well as testing of fertilizers before application, could all be cost-effective solutions to reduce Cd in the final product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few have studied the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on tobacco use status assessment and cessation counseling. Electronic health record data from 217 primary care clinics were examined from January 1, 2019 to July 31, 2021. Data included telehealth and in-person visits for 759,138 adult patients (aged ≥18 years). Monthly rates of tobacco assessment per 1,000 patients were calculated. From March 2020 to May 2020, tobacco assessment monthly rates declined by 50% and increased from June 2020 to May 2021 but remained 33.5% lower than pre-pandemic levels. Rates of tobacco cessation assistance changed less, but remain low. These findings are significant given the relevance of tobacco use to increased severity of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify the risk factors of early occurrence of malnutrition in infants with severe congenital heart disease (CHD) during their first year of life. Retrospective longitudinal multicenter study carried out from January 2014 to December 2020 in two tertiary care CHD centers. Four CHD hemodynamic groups were identified. Malnutrition was defined by a Waterlow score under 80% and/or underweight under -2 standard deviations. A total of 216 infants with a severe CHD, e.g., requiring cardiac surgery, cardiac catheterization, or hospitalization for heart failure during their first year of life, were included in the study. Malnutrition was observed among 43% of the cohort, with the highest prevalence in infants with increased pulmonary blood flow (71%) compared to the other hemodynamic groups (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, low birthweight (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.44–0.89, p = 0.009), CHD with increased pulmonary blood flow (OR 4.80, 95% CI 1.42–16.20, p = 0.08), heart failure (OR 9.26, 95% CI 4.04–21.25, p < 0.001), and the number of hospitalizations (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.08 l–1.69, p = 0.009) during the first year of life were associated with malnutrition (AUC 0.85, 95% CI 0.79–0.90). Conclusions: In infants with a severe CHD, early occurrence of malnutrition during the first year of life affected a high proportion of subjects. CHD with increased pulmonary blood flow, low birthweight, heart failure, and repeated hospitalizations were risk factors for malnutrition. Further studies are required to identify optimal nutritional support in this population. What is Known: • Malnutrition is a known morbidity and mortality factor in children with severe congenital heart disease. What is New: • Early occurrence of malnutrition during the first year of life in infant severe congenital heart disease (CHD) was high (43%). • CHD with increased pulmonary blood flow, low birthweight, heart failure, and repeated hospitalizations during the first year of life were risk factors for malnutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mollusks have been widely investigated for antimicrobial peptides because their humoral defense against pathogens is mainly based on these small biomolecules. In this report, we describe the identification of three novel antimicrobial peptides from the marine mollusk Nerita versicolor. A pool of N. versicolor peptides was analyzed with nanoLC-ESI-MS-MS technology, and three potential antimicrobial peptides (Nv-p1, Nv-p2 and Nv-p3) were identified with bioinformatical predictions and selected for chemical synthesis and evaluation of their biological activity. Database searches showed that two of them show partial identity to histone H4 peptide fragments from other invertebrate species. Structural predictions revealed that they all adopt a random coil structure even when placed near a lipid bilayer patch. Nv-p1, Nv-p2 and Nv-p3 exhibited activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The most active peptide was Nv-p3 with an inhibitory activity starting at 1.5 µg/mL in the radial diffusion assays. The peptides were ineffective against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. On the other hand, these peptides demonstrated effective antibiofilm action against Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Candida auris but not against the planktonic cells. None of the peptides had significant toxicity on primary human macrophages and fetal lung fibroblasts at effective antimicrobial concentrations. Our results indicate that N. versicolor-derived peptides represent new AMP sequences and have the potential to be optimized and developed into antibiotic alternatives against bacterial and fungal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the calibration and validation of models for water yield from a confined aquifer in a tropical region. From 2015 to 2019, 20 variable flow pumping tests were carried out. The average pumping flows varied between 0.07 and 17.4 L/s; the average drawdown of the water levels, between 5.99 and 50.94 m; the values of transmissivity and storage coefficient were lower than 77 m²/day and 6 x 10 -5, for probability of non-exceedance of 85%. In the calibration stage, the mean values of the coefficients of the proposed models a and b were in the order of 10¹ and 10³. The determination coefficients obtained in the statistical adjustment of the proposed models are satisfactory, they varied between 76 and 85%. The validation stage revealed that the models need to be tested with a larger number of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is of vital importance to study the risk factors associated with suicidal behaviour. The purpose of this study is to analyse the presence of suicide ideation and related factors in an applied clinical environment. Method: A correlative-predictive study is conducted with a sample of 180 adult patients, 64% women, with an average age of 31.88 (SD = 14.473) at University Psychology Clinic of Complutense University of Madrid (CUP-UCM). Suicide ideation is analysed (measured by Item 9 of the BDI-II), together with its relationship with clinical diagnosis, symptoms of depression, hopelessness and a range of sociodemographic variables. Results: 31.7% of the sample had shown suicide ideation. Significant differences were found depending on: cohabitation unit, symptoms of depression, presence of hopelessness, personal history and being under pharmacological treatment. Living alone is postulated as a stable predictor of suicide ideation (with an OR of 0.403). Together with personal history, symptoms of depression and hopelessness, these factors explain 42.5% of the presence of suicide ideation (χ²(13) = 65.056; p < .001; R2 = 0.425). Conclusions: The high prevalence of suicide ideation in the clinical population and the risk factors found, confirm the importance of focusing on this phenomenon, in particular taking into account its presence within different problems beyond the diagnostic label and the significance in certain contextual factors (e.g., living alone). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power of traditional leaders varies across and within sub-Saharan African countries. Existing literature explains this as the result of state-building decisions about where to employ indirect rule in the colonial and postcolonial periods. We argue that the contemporary power of traditional leaders is also influenced by land quality. In the precolonial period, land quality played little role in encouraging political centralization due to its abundance relative to the population. In the current period, traditional chiefs are more influential in places with higher agricultural potential because of increased competition for land. Drawing on survey, ecological, and anthropological data, we show that the power of traditional leaders is endogenous to local land quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the notion of democracy present in the Marxist tradition, including the political positions of Marx himself, the parliamentary practices of the German Social Democracy at the end of the century and Leninist politics after the October revolution. It examines the anti-democratic turn of the Leninist strategy, understandable by the harsh conditions of the Soviet revolution that nevertheless deserves the criticism of R. Luxemburg. This turn began the decline of the Soviets and the subsequent subordination of the Trade Unions to the supremacy of the Party. It ends with a call to attention about the new accents that feminism and the struggle of women bring to anti-capitalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Preventing or delaying frailty has important benefits. Studies show the effectiveness of multifactorial interventions in the frail and pre-frail elderly, but few have evaluated their long-term effectiveness. Frailty and its consequences have been shown to increase the use of health resources. The main aim was to evaluate the long-term effect of a multifactorial primary healthcare intervention in pre-frail elderly people at 36 months and determine the health resources used and their cost. Methods: A follow-up of a cohort study of patients who participated in a randomized clinical trial in an urban primary care centre in Barcelona was carried out. We included 200 non-institutionalized people aged ≥80 years who met the Fried pre-frailty criteria. The intervention group (IG) received a 6-month interdisciplinary intervention based on physical exercise, Mediterranean diet advice, assessment of inadequate prescribing in polypharmacy patients, and social assessment, while the control group (CG) received standard of care primary healthcare treatment. Sociodemographic variables were collected at baseline. The Fried criteria, comorbidities, and geriatric syndromes were collected at baseline and 12 and 36 months. For the analysis of health costs, data were collected on visits, complementary tests, hospital admissions, and surgical interventions in the last 36 months. Complexity, the rate of expected emergency admission, and the rate of expected mortality were collected at 36 months. Between-group characteristics were compared at baseline and 36 months using the χ2 test and the t test for independent samples. The post-intervention (12-month follow-up) versus longitudinal follow-up (36-month follow-up) comparison used McNemar's test for each group. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used to compare health costs. Results: Of the 200 patients initially included, we evaluated 135 (67.5%) patients who completed the 36-month follow-up. The mean age was 88.5 years and 64.4% were female. At 36 months, the transition to frailty was much lower in the IG than in the CG (22.1% vs. 32.8%, p = 0.013). The total mean health cost at 36 months was 3,110 EUR in the CG and 2,679 EUR in the IG. No significant between-group differences were observed according to Clinical Risk Groups. Conclusions: A multifactorial, interdisciplinary intervention carried out in primary care prevented frailty in pre-frail elderly people at 36-month follow-up. Although the IG was grouped into higher grade Clinical Risk Groups and therefore had greater morbidity, the cost was lower than that in the CG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In two-stage replacements for septic loosening, some studies have suggested an association between bacterial colonisation of spacers and a higher number of complications after implantation of the definitive prosthesis. Our study aimed to determine the reoperation rate of patients undergoing two-stage revision surgery according to the culture results of spacer sonication. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in which hip or knee spacers implanted at our institution with a diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection from 2010 to 2018 were analysed. Patients were grouped into three categories: Patients with positive spacer sonication fluid culture, with or without positive cultures of the rest of the samples. Patients with negative spacer sonication culture and negative cultures of the rest of intraoperative samples. Patients with negative spacer sonication culture but positive cultures of the rest of intraoperative samples. Results: A total of 45 spacers were analysed: 10 were included in group A, 24 in group B and 11 in group C. The reoperation rate during the first year after the 2-stage revision surgery was 20%, 29.2% and 54.5% for each group, respectively, due to an infection in 10%, 20.8% and 45.5%. Spacers were colonised in all cases by low virulent micro-organisms. Conclusion: In our study, bacterial colonisation of the spacer is not associated with a higher rate of reoperation. The group of patients with positive intraoperative cultures during the second-stage had the highest reoperation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culture is a central concept in the social sciences. It is also difficult to examine rigorously. I study the oldest university in East Africa and a cradle of political elites, Makerere University, where halls of residence developed distinct cultures in the 1970s such that some hall cultures are activist (e.g. Lumumba Hall) while others are respectful to authorities (e.g. Livingstone Hall) even though assignment to halls has been random since 1970. I leverage this unique setting to understand how culture forms and affects the values and behaviours of young adults. Participant observation, interviews and archives suggest that cultural differences arose from critical junctures that biased group (hall) composition and from intergroup (inter-hall) competition. Hall governments promote cultural and institutional persistence through the intergenerational transmission of norms and practices, thereby highlighting the role of political hierarchy in reproducing culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work demonstrates the potential for improved CO2 capture capabilities of ionic liquids (ILs) by supporting them on a polysulfone polymeric matrix. CO2 is one of the main gases responsible for the greenhouse effect and is a focus of The European Commission, which committed to diminishing its emission to 55% by 2023. Various ILs based on combinations of 1-butyl-3-methyl- imidazolium cations and different anions (BMI·X) were synthesized and supported on a polysulfone porous membrane. The influence of the membrane structure and the nature of ILs on the CO2 capture abilities were investigated. It was found that the membrane's internal morphology and its surface characteristics influence its ILs sorption capacity and CO2 solubility. In most of the studied configurations, supporting ILs on porous structures increased their contact surface and gas adsorption compared to the bulk ILs. The phenomenon was strongly pronounced in the case of ILs of high viscosity, where supporting them on porous structures resulted in a CO2 solubility value increase of 10×. Finally, the highest CO2 solubility value (0.24 molCO2/molIL) was obtained with membranes bearing supported ILs containing dicarboxylate anion (BMI.MAL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 11‐year‐old, female spayed, domestic shorthair cat with a 1‐week history of vomiting was diagnosed with a gastrogastric intussusception using ultrasound. Distinguishing ultrasonographic findings included invagination of the gastric fundus into the body and were correlated to radiographs acquired at the time of the evaluation. Spontaneous resolution of the gastrogastric intussusception was observed on a positive‐contrast upper gastrointestinal fluoroscopic study done the following day. Due to worsening comorbidities, which most significantly included chronic renal disease and pancreatitis, and declining quality of life, the patient was humanely euthanized 10 months later. Necropsy revealed no gross and histopathologic abnormalities associated with the stomach. A definitive cause for the intussusception remains unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recent advances, the prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinomas remains poor, even for patients with resectable tumors. For these latter, new approaches based on neoadjuvant treatment have been developed. Two components are used: chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT). Indeed, pre-operative RT has many advantages in terms of efficacy and tolerance. It increases notably the chances of subsequent complete tumor resection. Several prospective trials are currently ongoing to clarify its place in the therapeutic arsenal. Another crucial question is to know which is the best RT technique: conventional normofractionated chemoradiotherapy or hypofrationated stereotactic body RT? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The war that Russia has waged in the Ukraine in shifting world geopolitics. We cannot see yet the cadence of changes to come. It remains to be seen whether the shifts that impact on the world system for instance the breakdown of the global markets, may be a sympton of conunctural or structural transformations. In fact, the global division of labor and distribution is suffering a maior disarrangement. The geopolitical risk data sugest that tightness between Kremlin and the NATO.is in a dangerous high level, the indicators warn about the polarization of the USA and China interests. China s advantage is favored by russian loss of institutional and economic status in the global framework. So, in the following pages, they are valued some geopolitical drifts of the current war in Ukraine, such as the one concerning Europe (European Union), in the rethinking its borders, or the European's ability to manage war timings according to the continental security interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Following the ACA, millions of people gained Medicaid insurance. Most electronic health record (EHR) tools to date provide clinical-decision support and tracking of clinical biomarkers, we developed an EHR tool to support community health center (CHC) staff in assisting patients with health insurance enrollment documents and tracking insurance application steps. The objective of this study was to test the effectiveness of the health insurance support tool in (1) assisting uninsured patients gaining insurance coverage, (2) ensuring insurance continuity for patients with Medicaid insurance (preventing coverage gaps between visits); and (3) improving receipt of cancer preventive care.Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, twenty-three clinics received the intervention (EHR-based insurance support tool) and were matched to 23 comparison clinics. CHCs were recruited from the OCHIN network. EHR data were linked to Medicaid enrollment data. The primary outcomes were rates of uninsured and Medicaid visits. The secondary outcomes were receipt of recommended breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings. A comparative interrupted time-series using Poisson generalized estimated equation (GEE) modeling was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the EHR-based tool on the primary and secondary outcomes.Results: Immediately following implementation of the enrollment tool, the uninsured visit rate decreased by 21.0% (Adjusted Rate Ratio [RR] = 0.790, 95% CI = 0.621-1.005, p = .055) while Medicaid-insured visits increased by 4.5% (ARR = 1.045, 95% CI = 1.013-1.079) in the intervention group relative to comparison group. Cervical cancer preventive ratio increased 5.0% (ARR = 1.050, 95% CI = 1.009-1.093) immediately following implementation of the enrollment tool in the intervention group relative to comparison group. Among patients with a tool use, 81% were enrolled in Medicaid 12 months after tool use. For the 19% who were never enrolled in Medicaid following tool use, most were uninsured (44%) at the time of tool use.Conclusions: A health insurance support tool embedded within the EHR can effectively support clinic staff in assisting patients in maintaining their Medicaid coverage. Such tools may also have an indirect impact on evidence-based practice interventions, such as cancer screening.Trial Registration: This study was retrospectively registered on February 4th, 2015 with Clinicaltrials.gov (#NCT02355262). The registry record can be found at https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02355262 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Laplace–de Rham operator acting on a one-form a: □a in R n + 2 or R n + 1 spaces is restricted to n-dimensional pseudo-spheres. This includes, in particular, the n-dimensional de Sitter and anti-de Sitter space-times. The restriction is designed to extract the corresponding n-dimensional Laplace–de Rham operator acting on the corresponding n-dimensional one-form on pseudo-spheres. Explicit formulas relating these two operators are given in each situation. The converse problem of extending an n-dimensional operator composed of the sum of the Laplace–de Rham operator and additional terms to the Laplace–de Rham operator on ambient spaces is also studied. We show that for any additional term, this operator on the embedded space is the restriction of the Laplace–de Rham operator on the embedding space. These results are translated to the Laplace–Beltrami operator thanks to the Weitzenböck formula, for which a proof is also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromagnetic fields are emerging as a therapeutic option for patients with spasticity. They have been applied at brain or peripheral level. The effects of electromagnetic fields applied to the brain have been extensively studied for years in spasticity, but not so at the peripheral level. Therefore, the purpose of our work is to analyze the effects of electromagnetic fields, applied peripherally to spasticity. A systematic review was conducted resulting in 10 clinical trials. The frequency ranged from 1 Hz to 150 Hz, with 25 Hz being the most commonly used and the intensity it was gradually increased but there was low homogeneity in how it was increased. Positive results on spasticity were found in 80% of the studies: improvements in stretch reflex threshold, self questionnaire about difficulties related to spasticity, clinical spasticity score, performance scale, Ashworth scale, spastic tone, Hmax/Mmax Ratio and active and passive dorsal flexion. However, results must be taken with caution due to the large heterogeneity and the small number of articles. In future studies, it would be interesting to agree on the parameters to be used, as well as the way of assessing spasticity, to be more objective in the study of their effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroscopic oscillations in the brain have been observed to be involved in many cognitive tasks but their role is not completely understood. One of the suggested functions of the oscillations is to dynamically modulate communication between neural circuits. The Communication Through Coherence (CTC) theory proposes that oscillations reflect rhythmic changes in excitability of the neuronal populations. Thus, populations need to be properly phase-locked so that input volleys arrive at the peaks of excitability of the receiving population to communicate effectively. Here, we present a modeling study to explore synchronization between neuronal circuits connected with unidirectional projections. We consider an Excitatory-Inhibitory (E-I) network of quadratic integrate-and-fire neurons modeling a Pyramidal-Interneuronal Network Gamma (PING) rhythm. The network receives an external periodic input from either one or two sources, simulating the inputs from other oscillating neural groups. We use recently developed mean-field models which provide an exact description of the macroscopic activity of the spiking network. This low-dimensional mean field model allows us to use tools from bifurcation theory to identify the phase-locked states between the input and the target population as a function of the amplitude, frequency and coherence of the inputs. We identify the conditions for optimal phase-locking and effective communication. We find that inputs with high coherence can entrain the network for a wider range of frequencies. Besides, faster oscillatory inputs than the intrinsic network gamma cycle show more effective communication than inputs with similar frequency. Our analysis further shows that the entrainment of the network by inputs with higher frequency is more robust to distractors, thus giving them an advantage to entrain the network and communicate effectively. Finally, we show that pulsatile inputs can switch between attended inputs in selective attention. Author summary: Oscillations are ubiquitous in the brain and are involved in several cognitive tasks but their role is not completely understood. The Communication Through Coherence theory proposes that background oscillations in the brain regulate the information flow between neural populations. The oscillators that are properly phase-locked so that inputs arrive at the peaks of excitability of the receiving population communicate effectively. In this paper, we study the emerging phase-locking patterns of a network generating PING oscillations under external periodic forcing, simulating the oscillatory input from other neural groups. We identify the conditions for optimal phase-locking and effective communication. Namely, we find that inputs with higher frequency and coherence have an adavantage to entrain the network and we quantify how robust are to distractors. Furthermore, we show how selective attention can be implemented by means of phase locking and we show that pulsatile inputs can switch between attended inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) without anaemia is a common comorbidity associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that has a negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: This multicentre, prospective, observational study examined the response to, safety of and impact on HRQoL of a single 500 mg dose of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in patients with IBD and ID without anaemia. The diagnostic criteria for ID were low serum ferritin (<30 µg/L in the absence of inflammatory activity or <100 µg/L with inflammation) and transferrin saturation index (TSAT) < 16%. The effect on iron levels and HRQoL, according to the health status questionnaires SF-12v2 and EQ-5D, was evaluated 1 month after FCM infusion in an outpatient setting. Results: Of the 105 patients who received FCM, 98 patients completed the study. After 1 month, a single dose of FCM significantly increased serum ferritin, serum iron and TSAT. Importantly, patients reported fewer ID symptoms and problems on all EQ-5D dimensions. They also had higher EQ-5D visual analogue scale and SF-12v2 scores after treatment. FCM had similar clinical effects on men and women and on patients with Crohn's disease (n = 66) and ulcerative colitis (n = 32). Conclusion: A single dose of FCM rapidly restored iron parameters and significantly improved patients' symptoms and HRQoL at 1 month after treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic Neck Pain (CNP) is one of the main causes of disability worldwide, and it is necessary to promote new strategies of therapeutic approach in the treatment of chronic pain. Dry needling (DN) is defined as an invasive physiotherapy technique used in the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this review was to assess the effectiveness of invasive techniques in treatment of CNP. The search focused on randomized clinical trials, and according to the selection criteria, eight studies were obtained. In conclusion, DN can be an effective treatment option for CNP, positive outcomes were achieved in the short-term and in the follow-up performed between three and six months, and this technique may offer better outcomes than a placebo intervention based on the application of simulated DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the Brenier–Schrödinger problem on compact manifolds with boundary. In the spirit of a work by Arnaudon, Cruzeiro, Léonard, and Zambrini, we study the kinetic property of regular solutions and obtain a link to the Navier–Stokes equations with an impermeability condition. Moreover, by a method of taking quotients by reflection groups, we enhance the class of models for which the problem admits a unique solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]