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Abstract Background Sexual violence against women is a global public health issue with both short- and long-term effects on the physical and mental health of women. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sexual violence and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in Rwanda. Methods We used secondary data from the 2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey of 1,700 participants, who were selected using multistage stratified sampling. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to explore factors associated with sexual violence using SPSS (version 25). Results Of the 1,700 women of reproductive age, 12.4% (95%CI: 11.0–14.1) had experienced sexual violence. Justified beating (AOR = 1.34, 95%CI: 1.16–1.65), not having health insurance (AOR = 1.46, 95%CI: 1.26–2.40), not being involved in healthcare decision-making (AOR = 1.64, 95%CI: 1.99–2.70), having a husband/partner with primary (AOR = 1.70, 95%CI: 5.47–6.21) or no education (AOR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.21–3.37), as well as having a husband/partner who sometimes (AOR = 3.37, 95%CI: 1.56–7.30) or often (AOR = 12.87, 95%CI: 5.64–29.38) gets drunk were positively associated with sexual violence. However, women from male-headed households (AOR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.29–0.92) were less likely to experience sexual violence. Conclusions There is a need to demystify negative culturally-rooted beliefs favouring sexual violence, such as justified beating, as well as increase efforts to promote women’s empowerment and healthcare access. Moreover, engaging men in anti-sexual violence strategies is paramount to addressing male-related issues that expose women to sexual violence.

Abstract Background Sexual violence is a public health concern globally and locally, and trauma-informed services are put in place to mitigate its consequences. A few studies have evaluated the quality and uptake of these trauma-informed services for sexual violence. This study aimed at; i) assessing the knowledge of participants about trauma-informed services, ii) exploring the attitudes of females about trauma-informed services, and iii) assessing different factors associated with the utilization of trauma-informed services. Methods This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional qualitative design. The participants were females at Kyangyenyi health center III and Kigarama health center III in Sheema district, southwestern Uganda. We used a purposive sampling procedure for all participants and then a consecutive sampling of females. Data about; knowledge of trauma-informed services for sexual violence, attitudes towards trauma-informed services, and factors influencing the utilization of trauma-informed services were collected using an in-depth interview guide. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results We interviewed 32 participants. There was a high prevalence of sexual violence, and it was a big concern in the community. Many of the respondents were not sensitized about trauma-informed services. Most of them knew only about HIV treatment. Our study shows that a good section of females did not seek the services after being sexually violated due to the fear of the perpetrator, bribing of the family of the affected and authorities, or even fear of family breakup and stigmatization. There were a lot of bribery, poor road networks, and inadequate health care services. These hindered survivors of sexual violence from utilizing trauma-informed services. Conclusions There was a knowledge gap about trauma-informed services for survivors of sexual violence. There was sexual violence in the community. Sensitization needs to be done among the populations by respective authorities to iron out issues of ignorance about the services and health workers evaluated for competence in offering the trauma-informed services.

Enlarged perivascular spaces have been previously reported in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy, but their significance and pathophysiology remains unclear. We investigated associations of white matter enlarged perivascular spaces with classical imaging measures, cognitive measures and plasma proteins to better understand what enlarged perivascular spaces represent in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy and whether radiographic measures of enlarged perivascular spaces would be of value in future therapeutic discovery studies for cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy. Twenty-four individuals with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy and 24 age- and sex-matched controls were included. Disease status was determined based on the presence of NOTCH3 mutation. Brain imaging measures of white matter hyperintensity, brain parenchymal fraction, white matter enlarged perivascular space volumes, clinical and cognitive measures as well as plasma proteomics were used in models. White matter enlarged perivascular space volumes were calculated via a novel, semiautomated pipeline, and levels of 7363 proteins were quantified in plasma using the SomaScan assay. The relationship of enlarged perivascular spaces with global burden of white matter hyperintensity, brain atrophy, functional status, neurocognitive measures and plasma proteins was modelled with linear regression models. Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy and control groups did not exhibit differences in mean enlarged perivascular space volumes. However, increased enlarged perivascular space volumes in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy were associated with increased white matter hyperintensity volume (β = 0.57, P = 0.05), Clinical Dementia Rating Sum-of-Boxes score (β = 0.49, P = 0.04) and marginally with decreased brain parenchymal fraction (β = -0.03, P = 0.10). In interaction term models, the interaction term between cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy disease status and enlarged perivascular space volume was associated with increased white matter hyperintensity volume (β = 0.57, P = 0.02), Clinical Dementia Rating Sum-of-Boxes score (β = 0.52, P = 0.02), Mini-Mental State Examination score (β = -1.49, P = 0.03) and marginally with decreased brain parenchymal fraction (β = -0.03, P = 0.07). Proteins positively associated with enlarged perivascular space volumes were found to be related to leukocyte migration and inflammation, while negatively associated proteins were related to lipid metabolism. Two central hub proteins were identified in protein networks associated with enlarged perivascular space volumes: CXC motif chemokine ligand 8/interleukin-8 and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2/monocyte chemoattractant protein 1. The levels of CXC motif chemokine ligand 8/interleukin-8 were also associated with increased white matter hyperintensity volume (β = 42.86, P = 0.03), and levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2/monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 were further associated with decreased brain parenchymal fraction (β = -0.0007, P < 0.01) and Mini-Mental State Examination score (β = -0.02, P < 0.01) and increased Trail Making Test B completion time (β = 0.76, P < 0.01). No proteins were associated with all three studied imaging measures of pathology (brain parenchymal fraction, enlarged perivascular spaces, white matter hyperintensity). Based on associations uncovered between enlarged perivascular space volumes and cognitive functions, imaging and plasma proteins, we conclude that white matter enlarged perivascular space volumes may capture pathologies contributing to chronic brain dysfunction and degeneration in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy.

Summary: Context: Hepatic and renal damages manifest in patients with acute or chronic heart failure after the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI). Objective: Our objective in this study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and taurine, which are bioactive compounds with protective functions, on liver and kidney toxicity rat exposed to isoprenaline, a popular tool for MI induction. Materials and methods: Following two (2) consecutive days of exposure to isoprenaline (200 mg/kg, i.p.), adult Wistar rats were treated with CoQ10 (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and taurine (100 mg/kg, i.p.) singly and in combination for 19 days. Following 21 days of experimentation, blood, liver and kidney were collected for biochemical and histological studies indicative of hepatic and kidney damage. Results: Our result showed that CoQ10 and taurine significantly decreased serum LDH, AST, ALT, and ALP, indicative of hepatic damage compared to isoprenaline groups. The increased creatinine and urea release suggestive of kidney dysfunction were suppressed by CoQ10 and taurine relative to the isoprenaline group. Additionally, CoQ10 and taurine significantly reversed isoprenaline-mediated oxidative stress-induced liver and kidney damage, which are shown by decreased malondialdehyde and nitrite accompanied by increased antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GST, GSH). Modifications to cellular histoarchitectural and fibrosis of the hepatic and renal tissues were attenuated by CoQ10 and taurine therapy. Discussion and conclusion: The findings from this study suggest that CoQ10 and taurine supplements may prevent isoprenaline-induced hepatorenal dysfunctions, possibly by alleviating oxidative stress and histoarchitectural protective functions of the hepatic and kidney cells.

This ethnographic study utilized border theory to examine how a bilingual Latinx teacher created equitable instruction for Mexican immigrant second-graders in a 50-50 dual-language (DL) classroom in the U.S. Midwest. Approximately half the students in the DL classroom came from Spanish-speaking, working-class homes, and half from English-speaking, middle-class homes. The teacher reduced linguistic borders when she drew from her personal experiences and knowledge of bilingualism to forbid linguistic discrimination, separated students' second-language mastery from their conceptual understanding, and facilitated translanguaging (bilingual individuals' use of integrated linguistic resources). She promoted class border crossings when she intentionally grouped students and told the English-dominant students that they were disrespecting their Spanish-dominant classmates when they refused to speak Spanish. Borders that the teacher could not change were the high status of English at the school and the English-dominant students' expectation that the Spanish-dominant students would help them with their Spanish but that they did not have to reciprocate. Educational implications included training DL teachers so that they know how to reduce the privileges of the English speakers and how to support translanguaging. A call for more classroom research to address the power dynamics between language-minority and majority students in DL classrooms was made.

Motivated by the increasing needs for reliable seasonal climate forecasts for enhanced living and protection of property, this study evaluates the predictive skill of the European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecast's Sub-seasonal to Seasonal (ECMWF-S2S) precipitation forecasts during the peak of West Africa Monsoon in Nigeria. It investigates the ability of the ECMWF-S2S model to reproduce the atmospheric dynamics that influence the monsoon variability in West-Africa. Rain gauge values of 46 meteorological stations and 10-member ensemble of ECMWF-S2S forecasts from the Ensemble Prediction System (EPS) version of the ECMWF were subjected to quantitative statistical analyses. Results show that the model has weak capability in predicting wind strength at 700 mb level to depict the African Easterly Jet (AEJ). However, irrespective of the ENSO phases, ECMWF-S2S model is capable of adequately and reliably predicting the latitudinal positions of the Inter-Tropical Discontinuity (ITD), mean sea level pressure component of the thermal lows and sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies over the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. On inter-annual time-scales, results also show that ECMWF-S2S model performs best over the Savannah in forecasting of rainfall anomalies (synchronization = 75%) and over the Sahel in the prediction of rainfall accumulation. The model may however not be able to forecast extreme precipitation reliably because the disagreement between the model's ensemble members increases as higher rainfall accumulation values are attained. The implication here is that the reproducibility of the atmospheric dynamic by the model is a better measure of rainfall prediction than the actual quantitative rainfall forecasts especially in areas south of latitude 10°N. The study therefore suggests considering some climate driving mechanisms as predictability sources for the ECMWF-S2S model to enable the atmospheric dynamics to be better represented in the model.

Background. The specific role of 18F-flurodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains to be validated. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess the accuracy of staging FDG-PET/CT for newly diagnosed NPC. Methods. We searched various biomedical databases and conference proceedings for relevant studies. We determined the pooled sensitivities and specificities, diagnostic odds ratios (DOR) and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves using the hierarchical regression model. Results. 15 relevant studies including 851 patients were identified. Five addressed primary tumor (T), nine addressed regional lymph nodes (N) and seven addressed distant metastasis (M). The combined sensitivity estimate for FDG-PET/CT in T classification was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.95). For N classification, combined sensitivity was 0.84 (95% CI 0.76-0.91), specificity was 0.90 (95% CI 0.83-0.97), DOR was 82.4 (23.2-292.6) and Q*-index was 0.90. For M classification, the combined sensitivity estimate was 0.87 (95% CI 0.74-1.00), specificity was 0.98 (95% CI 0.96-1.00), DOR was 120.9 (43.0-340.0) and Q*-index was 0.89. Conclusion. FDG-PET/CT showed good accuracy in N and M but not T classification for newly diagnosed NPC. FDG-PET/CT, together with Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the nasopharynx, should be part of the routine staging investigations

ABSTRACT Background In Australia, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer‐related deaths. In Victoria, the mortality risk is assumed to vary across Local Government Areas (LGAs) due to variations in socioeconomic advantage, remoteness, and healthcare accessibility. Thus, we applied Bayesian spatial survival models to examine the geographic variation in lung cancer survival in Victoria. Methods Data on lung cancer cases were extracted from the Victorian Lung Cancer Registry (VLCR). To account for spatial dependence and risk factors of survival in lung cancer patients, we employed a Bayesian spatial survival model. Conditional Autoregressive (CAR) prior was assigned to model the spatial dependence. Deviance Information Criterion (DIC), Watanabe Akaike Information Criterion (WAIC), and Log Pseudo Marginal Likelihood (LPML) were used for model comparison. In the final best‐fitted model, the Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) with the 95% Credible Interval (CrI) was reported. The outcome variable was the survival status of lung cancer patients, defined as whether they survived or died during the follow‐up period (death was our interest). Results Our study revealed substantial variations in lung cancer mortality in Victoria. Poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, diagnosed at a regional hospital, Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), advanced age, and advanced clinical stage were associated with a higher risk of mortality, whereas being female, presented at Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting, and diagnosed at a metropolitan private hospital were significantly associated with a lower risk of mortality. Conclusion Identifying geographical disparities in lung cancer survival may help shape healthcare policy to implement more targeted and effective lung cancer care services.

The human genome contains 61 codons encoding 20 amino acids. Synonymous codons representing a given amino acid are decoded by a set of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) called isoacceptors. We report the surprising observation that two isoacceptor tRNAs that decode synonymous codons become modulated in opposing directions during breast cancer progression. Specifically, tRNAIleUAU became upregulated, whereas tRNAIleGAU became repressed as breast cancer cells attained enhanced metastatic capacity. Functionally, tRNAIleUAU promoted and tRNAIleGAU suppressed metastatic colonization in mouse xenograft models. These tRNAs mediated opposing effects on codon-dependent translation of growth-promoting genes, consistent with genomic enrichment or depletion of their cognate codons in mitotic genes. Our findings uncover a specific isoacceptor tRNA pair that act in opposition, divergently impacting growth-regulating genes and a disease phenotype. Degeneracy of the genetic code can thus be biologically exploited by human cancer cells via tRNA isoacceptor shifts that causally facilitate the transition toward a growth-promoting state.

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a well-established determinant of cardiovascular health. However, the relationship between SES and clinical outcomes in long-term out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is less well-understood. The Singapore Housing Index (SHI) is a validated building-level SES indicator. We investigated whether SES as measured by SHI is associated with long-term OHCA survival in Singapore. Methods: We conducted an open cohort study with linked data from the Singapore Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcomes Study (PAROS), and the Singapore Registry of Births and Deaths (SRBD) from 2010 to 2020. We fitted generalized structural equation models, calculating hazard ratios (HRs) using a Weibull model. We constructed Kaplan–Meier survival curves and calculated the predicted marginal probability for each SHI category. Results: We included 659 cases. In both univariable and multivariable analyses, SHI did not have a significant association with survival. Indirect pathways of SHI mediated through covariates such as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response time (HR of low-medium, high-medium and high SHI when compared to low SHI: 0.98 (0.88–1.10), 1.01 (0.93–1.11), 1.02 (0.93–1.12) respectively), and age of arrest (HR of low-medium, high-medium and high SHI when compared to low SHI: 1.02 (0.75–1.38), 1.08 (0.84–1.38), 1.18 (0.91–1.54) respectively) had no significant association with OHCA survival. There was no clear trend in the predicted marginal probability of survival among the different SHI categories. Conclusions: We did not find a significant association between SES and OHCA survival outcomes in residential areas in Singapore. Among other reasons, this could be due to affordable healthcare across different socioeconomic classes.

Existing mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have shown efficacy in reducing severe cases and fatalities. However, their effectiveness against infection caused by emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants has waned considerably, necessitating the development of variant vaccines. Ideally, next-generation vaccines will be capable of eliciting broader and more sustained immune responses to effectively counteract new variants. Additionally, in vitro assays that more closely represent virus neutralization in humans would greatly assist in the analysis of protective vaccine-induced antibody responses. Here, we present findings from a SARS-CoV-2 VLP vaccine encompassing three key structural proteins: Spike (S), Envelope (E), and Membrane (M). The VLP vaccine effectively produced neutralizing antibodies as determined by surrogate virus neutralization test, and induced virus-specific T-cell responses: predominantly CD4+, although CD8+ T cell responses were detected. T cell responses were more prominent with vaccine delivered with AddaVax compared to vaccine alone. The adjuvanted vaccine was completely protective against live virus challenge in mice. Furthermore, we utilized air–liquid-interface (ALI)-differentiated human nasal epithelium (HNE) as an in vitro system, which authentically models human SARS-CoV-2 infection and neutralization. We show that immune sera from VLP-vaccinated mice completely neutralized SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, demonstrating the potential of ALI-HNE to assess vaccine induced Nab.

Jennie Garcia-Olivares,1 Brittney Yegla,1 Frank P Bymaster,2 Jami Earnest,1 Jennifer Koch,1 Chungping Yu,1 Jonathan Rubin1 1Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Rockville, MD, USA; 2Bymaster Neuroscience Consulting, Green Cove Springs, FL, USACorrespondence: Jennie Garcia-Olivares, Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 9715 Key West Avenue, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA, Fax +1 301-560-5542, Email jgarciaolivares@supernus.comBackground: Viloxazine ER (viloxazine extended-release capsules; Qelbree®), a nonstimulant attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment, has known activity as a norepinephrine (NE) transporter (NET) inhibitor. In vitro studies have also shown direct pharmacological effects on specific serotonin (5-HT) receptors, but not on the serotonin transporter (SERT). An in vivo microdialysis study in rats showed viloxazine (50 mg/kg i.p.) increased extracellular 5-HT, NE, and dopamine (DA) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a key brain region in ADHD pathology. This study evaluated whether these effects occur at clinically relevant concentrations.Methods: Microdialysis experiments were conducted in freely-moving, Sprague-Dawley rats (males, 8 weeks). Viloxazine (1, 3, 10, 30 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to establish the dose range in rats at which viloxazine plasma concentrations aligned with those of individuals with ADHD administered therapeutic doses of viloxazine ER. Concentrations of unbound viloxazine, NE, 5-HT, DA, and NE and 5-HT metabolites (3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycol [DHPG] and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid [5-HIAA]) were measured in PFC interstitial fluid. After identifying a therapeutically relevant dose (30 mg/kg), the experiment was repeated using 30 and 50 mg/kg viloxazine (as 50 mg/kg increased NE, 5-HT, and DA in prior studies).Results: Viloxazine unbound (free drug) plasma concentrations in rats at 30 mg/kg were comparable to free drug concentrations in individuals with ADHD taking clinically effective doses (based on validated population PK models). Viloxazine 30 mg/kg significantly increased extracellular NE, 5-HT, and DA PFC levels compared to vehicle. Concomitant decreases in DHPG, but not 5-HIAA, support the inhibitory effect of viloxazine on NET but not SERT.Conclusion: At clinically relevant concentrations, viloxazine increases PFC NE, DA, and 5-HT. Prefrontal augmentation of 5-HT does not appear to result from 5-HT reuptake inhibition but may be related to activation of 5-HT neurons. The potential therapeutic role of serotonergic effects in ADHD treatment merits further exploration.Plain Language Summary: Viloxazine ER (Qelbree®) is a non-stimulant, FDA-approved treatment for ADHD in children and adults. Viloxazine and other ADHD medications are thought to work by increasing two signaling molecules, called norepinephrine and dopamine, in a brain area called the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is important in ADHD as it helps control impulsive behavior, attention, hyperactivity, and learning. A third signaling molecule called serotonin may also be important for ADHD. Previous experiments in rats have shown that viloxazine increases norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in the prefrontal cortex. To better understand how viloxazine increases serotonin and if the increase occurs at the same doses used to treat ADHD, we did another microdialysis study in rats. Our study showed that viloxazine increases norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in the prefrontal cortex at doses used to treat ADHD in humans. We showed that viloxazine increases norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the neuron where these signaling molecules work by blocking the way that they are recycled back into the nerve space. However, viloxazine does not block the serotonin recycling mechanism, meaning viloxazine works differently than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications (often used in depression). Additional studies are needed to determine exactly how viloxazine increases serotonin in the brain and whether this increase plays a role in treating ADHD. These additional studies will also help us understand how viloxazine acts differently than other ADHD medications. Keywords: viloxazine, microdialysis, prefrontal cortex, serotonin, NET, ADHD

Abstract While residual insecticide applications have the potential to decrease pathogen transmission by reducing the density of vectors and shifting the age structure of the adult mosquito population towards younger stages of development, this double entomological impact has not been documented for Aedes aegypti. Aedes collected from households enrolled in a cluster-randomized trial evaluating the epidemiological impact of targeted indoor residual spraying (TIRS) in Merida, Mexico, were dissected and their age structure characterized by the Polovodova combined with Christopher’s ovariole growth methods. In total, 813 females were dissected to characterize age structure at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months post-TIRS. Significant differences in the proportion of nulliparous Ae. aegypti females between the treatment groups was found at one-month post-TIRS (control: 35% vs. intervention: 59%), three months (20% vs. 49%) but not at six or nine months post-TIRS. TIRS significantly shiftted Ae. aegypti age structure towards younger stages and led to a non-linear reduction in survivorship compared to the control arm. Reduced survivorship also reduced the number of arbovirus transmitting females (those who survived the extrinsic incubation period). Our findings provide strong evidence of the full entomological impact of TIRS, with important implications for quantifying the epidemiological impact of vector control methods.

Purpose: Identification of children with specific language impairment (SLI) can be difficult even though their language can lag that of age peers throughout childhood. A clinical grammar marker featuring tense marking in simple clauses is valid and reliable for young children but is limited by ceiling effects around the age of 8 years. This study evaluated a new, more grammatically challenging complex sentence task in children affected or unaffected with SLI in longitudinal data, ages 5-18 years. Method: Four hundred eighty-three children (213 unaffected, 270 affected) between 5 and 18 years of age participated, following a rolling recruitment longitudinal design encompassing a total of 4,148 observations. The new experimental grammaticality judgment task followed linguistic concepts of syntactic sites for finiteness and movement within complex clauses. Growth modeling methods evaluated group differences over time for four different outcomes; three were hypothesized to evaluate optional omissions of overt finiteness forms in authorized sentence sites, and one evaluated an overt error of tense marking. Results: As in earlier studies of younger children, growth models for the SLI group were consistently lower than the unaffected group, although the growth trajectories across groups did not differ. The results replicated across four item types defined by omissions with minor differences for an item with an overt error of tense marking. Covariates of child nonverbal IQ, mother's education, and child sex did not significantly moderate these effects. Conclusion: The outcomes support the task as having potential screening value for identification of children with SLI and are consistent with linguistic interpretations of task demands.

In this longitudinal, qualitative case study, critical pedagogical and sociocultural perspectives were employed to analyze the language and literacy strengths, challenges, inequities, and gentrification issues that characterized the first three years of a two-way, 50-50 Spanish-English dual-language (DL) program's implementation, and how the DL staff addressed the challenges, inequities, and gentrification issues. Examples of strengths were a balanced Spanish-English instructional schedule, literacy materials in Spanish and English, and the presence of translanguaging. Some challenges were the required use of instructional reading materials and English report cards employed with the district's monolingual English-speaking students, and finding time to teach literacy in both languages. Several initial gentrification issues were allowing more students from English-speaking families to enroll in the DL program than students from Spanish-speaking families and not providing Spanish report cards. Although the DL personnel resolved some of the inequities and gentrification issues, the district's actions and policies undermined the DL program's bilingual and biliteracy goals. The English-dominant students were privileged compared to the Spanish-dominant students, and the DL students' English performance was prioritized over their Spanish performance. The importance of working with district staff to develop political and ideological clarity along with educational and research implications are highlighted.

Validating the intended interpretations for proposed uses of tests scores is paramount for making valid inferences in educational and psychological research. Ascertaining measurement invariance for measurement instruments is an assumption for comparing means. If measurement invariance does not hold for groups of interest, comparison of means will be invalid since making valid inferences presupposes that the instrument measures the same construct across subgroups. One of the most widely used instruments for measuring learning strategies for college students is the "Learning and Study Strategies Inventory"-second edition. The inventory has 10 subscales namely, information processing, selecting main ideas, test strategies, anxiety, attitude, motivation, concentration, self-testing, study aids, and time management with eight items for each subscale. Although it is stated that the learning and study strategies inventory is internationally adopted to measure students' use of learning and study strategies, little is known about its measurement invariance across gender (males/females) and discipline (science/humanities) in Egyptian college students. The authors utilize an adapted Arabic version of the "Learning and Study Strategies Inventory" administered to 522 Egyptian college students to investigate if the adopted model has measurement invariance across gender (males/females) and discipline (science/humanities). Results revealed that the effort-related activities, goal orientation, and cognitive activities model was confirmed for these students. Using multiple-group confirmatory factor analyses, results also showed that the factorial structure of the adopted model had partial measurement invariance across gender and full measurement invariance across discipline. Centers for teaching and learning at universities can use the validated instrument to measure students' learning and study strategies across gender and discipline. More implications and suggestions for future research are also addressed.

Drawing on racial battle fatigue as theoretical framing and critical race methodology, we offer the counterstories of 16 Black men doctoral scientists and engineers who relied on same race peer support to successfully persist in their science and engineering (S&E) doctoral programs. Our analysis of narratives and interviews yielded three themes that illustrate the men's engagement with Black peers and how racism influences the types of peer relationships they formed in their S&E doctoral programs. Further, we describe three types of same race peer relationships that support Black men as they pursue S&E doctoral degrees. We underscore the salience of racism and recommend expanding research in S&E by: (1) including the lived experiences of Black men scientists and engineers in the scholarly literature, and (2) highlighting the importance of same race peer networks as academic, emotional, and social structures for Black men persisting in S&E. Within, we offer implications for science education, higher education, and S&E researchers interested in creating supportive S&E environments for Black men.

Background Stroke is a primary cause of disability and death in adults worldwide. This study aimed to determine whether uric acid (UA), total bilirubin (TBIL), serum creatinine (Scr), homocysteine (Hcy), platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR), mean platelet volume (MPV), red blood cell volume distribution width (RDW), and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) were risk factors for ischemic stroke and whether there were sex differences in their associations. Methods This was a case-control study, and all data were collected from the medical records at Fuzhou First People’s Hospital of Jiangxi Province, China. The case group consisted of 400 patients treated for ischemic stroke at the Neurology Department, Fuzhou First People’s Hospital from January 2017 to June 2023. The control group included 200 patients with non-ischemic stroke in the same period and at the same hospital. In this study, clinical history, physical examination, and biochemical indices such as UA, TBIL, Scr, Hcy, P-LCR, MPV, and RDW were obtained from the patients’ medical records. Craniocerebral imaging was performed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT). CCA-IMT was measured using ultrasonography of the carotid arteries. Results In the multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, Hcy, FBS, right CCA-IMT and Hypertension were associated with ischemic stroke (p Conclusions Hcy, FBS, right CCA-IMT, and hypertension are independent risk factors for ischemic stroke in China. There was no association between TBIL, Scr, P-LCR, MPV, RDW, and the incidence of ischemic stroke. There was no sex difference in the association between Hcy, TBIL, Scr, P-LCR, and the incidence of ischemic stroke.

This report outlines the case of a child affected by a type of congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG) known as ALG2-CDG (OMIM 607906), presenting as a congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) caused by variants identified in ALG2, which encodes an α1,3-mannosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.132) involved in the early steps of N-glycosylation. To date, fourteen cases of ALG2-CDG have been documented worldwide. From birth, the child experienced perinatal asphyxia, muscular weakness, feeding difficulties linked to an absence of the sucking reflex, congenital hip dislocation, and hypotonia. Over time, additional complications emerged, such as inspiratory stridor, gastroesophageal reflux, low intake, recurrent seizures, respiratory infections, an inability to maintain the head upright, and a global developmental delay. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) revealed the presence of two ALG2 variants in compound heterozygosity: a novel variant c.1055_1056delinsTGA p.(Ser352Leufs*3) and a variant of uncertain significance (VUS) c.964C>A p.(Pro322Thr). Additional studies, including determination of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) revealed a mild type I CDG pattern and the presence of an abnormal transferrin glycoform containing a linear heptasaccharide consisting of one sialic acid, one galactose, one N-acetyl-glucosamine, two mannoses and two N-acetylglucosamines (NeuAc-Gal-GlcNAc-Man2-GlcNAc2), ALG2-CDG diagnostic biomarker, confirming the pathogenicity of these variants.

Lecaniodiscus cupanioides Planch (ex. Benth) is effective in treating burns, fevers, and inflammatory conditions. This study investigates the toxicity effects of the aqueous leaf extract (ALE) of L. cupanioides and its effect on stress-induced ulcers in animal models. The plant was collected and a 1:30 (g/ml) plant powder/solvent ratio was extracted using an ultrasonic bath at 50 °C for 45 min. Up-and-down procedure was used for acute toxicity. During subacute toxicity testing, a total of 20 mice were divided into four groups of five animals each. While group 1 served as control, groups 2, 3, and 4 received 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of the extract daily for 21 days. On day 22nd, animals were sacrificed and samples were collected for hematology, biochemical, and histological analyses. In the stress-induced ulcer activity, male albino mice were randomly separated into 5 groups of 5 animals, treated with the test drug, and then dissected after being stressed using the water immersion model. LD50 was > 5000 mg/kg, and in biochemical examination, there was a significant decrease in the ALP level at medium and high doses (p value < 0.05) and non-significant alterations in the values of urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), body weight and hematology parameters (p > 0.05). The histology results showed no evidence of liver and kidney toxicity. In conclusion, aqueous leaf extract of L. cupanioides was safe following a single dose (at 5000 mg/kg) and following repeated doses for 21 days (at 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg). This study demonstrated that the extract had a significant effect on stress-induced ulcers at various dose levels when compared to the control (native, negative control, and omeprazole). The animals treated with 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of the extract showed a significant increase in ulcer score, ulcer index, ulcer severity, and total acidity (p < 0.05). The ulcer protection ability of the aqueous plant extract was dose-dependent.

Abstract Little is known about the methods and outcomes of patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) use among high-risk medical device registries. The objective of this scoping review was to assess the utility and predictive ability of PROMs in high-risk medical device registries. We searched Ovid Medline, Embase, APA PsychINFO, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases for published literature. After searching, 4323 titles and abstracts were screened, and 262 full texts were assessed for their eligibility. Seventy-six papers from across orthopedic (nnnnnn Level of Evidence: 4