Developing Research-Oriented Health Professionals: Understanding Students' Perceptions and Needs for Extracurricular Research Opportunities.

Background: Undergraduate training in research principles is often mandated by healthcare profession regulators in Ireland to prepare graduates for higher specialist training. Students can be offered the opportunity to participate in extracurricular research activities, in addition to those embedded in the curricula. This cross-sectional study aims to explore student attitudes towards research and to understand their motivations for engaging in research-related activities and any barriers that might prevent them from doing so.

Coding intensity variation in Medicare Advantage.

Enrollment in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans rose to over 50% of eligible Medicare patients in 2023. Payments to MA plans incorporate risk scores that are largely based on patient diagnoses from the prior year, which incentivizes MA plans to code diagnoses more intensively. We estimated coding inflation rates for individual MA contracts using a method that allows for differential selection into contracts based on patient health.

Comparative Evaluation of Deciduous and Permanent Coronal Caries Using Polarizing Light Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy.

Dental caries causes mineral loss and organic damage to teeth. Understanding caries and dentin pulp reactions is crucial for effective caries management strategies. There is a lack of knowledge regarding the microscopic and ultramicroscopic changes that occur during caries destruction and reactive changes.

A fuzzy reliability assessment methodology for city gas stations based on an extended T-S fault tree.

City gas stations (CGSs) play a crucial role in ensuring a stable and safe supply of natural gas to urban users. However, as the service time of stations increases and the performance of components deteriorates, concerns about the safety and reliability of these station have grown among operators and local government authorities. This paper proposes a fuzzy reliability assessment methodology for CGSs that considers the polymorphism of component faults and the uncertainties associated with fault relationships, failure probabilities, and fault magnitudes.

-A152T mutation drives neuronal hyperactivity through Fyn-NMDAR signaling in human iPSC-Derived neurons: Insights into Alzheimer's pathogenesis.

Introduction: Tau protein plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in regulating neuronal excitability. Among tau-coding microtubule associated protein tau () gene mutations, the A152T mutation is reported to increase the risk of AD and neuronal excitability in mouse models.

Methods: To investigate the effects of gene expression and its mutations on neuronal activity in human neurons, we employed genome editing technology to introduce the A152T or P301S mutations into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

Phosphorylation of N-glycans in the brain: The case for a non-canonical pathway?

Asparagine-linked glycosylation (N-glycosylation) is a common co- and post-translational modification that refers to the addition of complex carbohydrates, called N-linked glycans (N-glycans), to asparagine residues within defined sequons of polypeptide acceptors. Some N-glycans can be modified by the addition of phosphate moieties to their monosaccharide residues, thus forming phospho-N-glycans (PNGs). The most prominent such carbohydrate modification is mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) which plays a well-established role in trafficking of acid hydrolases to lysosomes.

The rise of weekly insulins: addressing the challenges of type 2 diabetes care in Brazil.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a global health concern with a rising prevalence, particularly in Brazil. Insulin therapy plays a crucial role in managing T2D, helping to maintain glucose and energy homeostasis. Moreover, early initiation of insulin is crucial for hyperglycemic control and prevention of chronic complications.

Clade 2.3.4.4b but not historical clade 1 HA replicating RNA vaccine protects against bovine H5N1 challenge in mice.

The ongoing circulation of influenza A H5N1 in the United States has raised concerns of a pandemic caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza. Although the United States has stockpiled and is prepared to produce millions of vaccine doses to address an H5N1 pandemic, currently circulating H5N1 viruses contain multiple mutations within the immunodominant head domain of hemagglutinin (HA) compared to the antigens used in stockpiled vaccines. It is unclear if these stockpiled vaccines will need to be updated to match the contemporary H5N1 strains.

Head and neck automatic multi-organ segmentation on Dual-Energy Computed Tomography.

Background And Purpose: Deep-learning-based automatic segmentation is widely used in radiation oncology to delineate organs-at-risk. Dual-energy CT (DECT) allows the reconstruction of enhanced contrast images that could help with manual and auto-delineation. This paper presents a performance evaluation of a commercial auto-segmentation software on image series generated by a DECT.

Stem cell mechanoadaptation. II. Microtubule stabilization and substrate compliance effects on cytoskeletal remodeling.

Stem cells adapt to their local mechanical environment by rearranging their cytoskeleton, which underpins the evolution of their shape and fate as well as the emergence of tissue structure and function. Here, in the second part of a two-part experimental series, we aimed to elucidate spatiotemporal cytoskeletal remodeling and resulting changes in morphology and mechanical properties of cells and their nuclei. Akin to mechanical testing of the most basic living and adapting unit of life, i.

Stem cell mechanoadaptation. I. Effect of microtubule stabilization and volume changing stresses on cytoskeletal remodeling.

Here, we report on the first part of a two-part experimental series to elucidate spatiotemporal cytoskeletal remodeling, which underpins the evolution of stem cell shape and fate, and the emergence of tissue structure and function. In Part I of these studies, we first develop protocols to stabilize microtubules exogenously using paclitaxel (PAX) in a standardized model murine embryonic stem cell line (C3H/10T1/2) to maximize comparability with previously published studies. We then probe native and microtubule-stabilized stem cells' capacity to adapt to volume changing stresses effected by seeding at increasing cell densities, which emulates local compression and tissue template formation during development.

Attenuation of progressive surface gravity waves by floating spheres.

Laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the attenuation of progressive deep-water waves by a mono-layer of loose- and close-packed floating spheres. We measured the decay distance of waves having different incident wave frequency and steepness. The attenuation of waves was strong if the surface concentration of particles was close-packed, with the decay distance being shorter for incident waves with higher frequency and steepness.

Factors Influencing Choosing Diagnostic Radiology As a Specialty Among Medical Students.

Rationale And Objectives: Radiology plays a crucial role in modern healthcare as it facilitates the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions in different specialties. Therefore, this study aimed to gain insights into the factors that contribute to medical students choosing radiology as a future career.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study used an online, self-administered questionnaire.

Comparative evaluation of silver diamine fluoride, glass ionomer cement, and calcium hydroxide for indirect pulp therapy in young permanent molars: A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Comparative evaluation of indirect pulp therapy (IPT) with silver diamine fluoride (SDF), Type VII glass ionomer cement (GIC), and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) in young permanent molars.

Materials And Methods: This was randomized controlled trial, in which 45 children with 60 young permanent first molars were allocated as; Group A: IPT with SDF, Group B: Type VII GIC, and Group C: Ca(OH)2. Clinical and radiographic evaluation and comparison was done at baseline, 3, 6, 12 months.

Strategies in Diagnosis and Therapy of External Outflow Graft Obstruction in Patients with a Fully Magnetically Levitated Left Ventricular Assist Device: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

The HeartMate 3 (HM3, Abbott) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is the only commercially available option considered suitable for long-term circulatory support. External compression of the outflow graft causing obstruction (eOGO) is a serious adverse event affecting patients on long-term support. The obstruction occurs due to the accumulation of gelatinous substance between the bend relief and outflow graft.

Effects of Betaine and Polydextrose on Intestinal Microbiota and Liver Ergothioneine in a High-Fat Diet-Fed Mouse Model and a Human Colonic Simulation Model.

Background/objectives: Ergothioneine (EGT) is an effective antioxidant that animals cannot produce and has an important anti-inflammatory role in cell protection, which can help lower the risk of various diseases. In this study, we investigated the potential role of gut microbiota in the production of EGT, which was found to increase in the mouse liver after dietary supplementation with betaine (BET) or polydextrose (PDX).

Methods: The effects of BET and PDX on the gut microbiota and tissue EGT content were investigated using a diet-induced obese mouse model and simulated fermentation in the human colon.

The Preparation of an Environmentally Friendly Novel Daidzein-Modified Lignin Phenolic Resin with High Performance and Its Application in Friction Materials.

The preparation of biological phenolic resin (PF) with green recyclable biomaterials instead of phenol is a research hotspot for solving current resource and environmental problems. In this study, on the basis of introducing lignin into the phenolic system, daidzein of a renewable resource with a rigid structure was selected to modify lignin-based phenolic resin (LPF), and the improvement of the mechanical and thermal properties of the modified phenolic resin under different substitution ratios was studied. The friction materials were prepared with a daidzein-modified lignin-based phenolic resin (D-LPF) as the matrix binder, and their effects on the mechanics and friction and wear properties of friction materials were investigated.

Analysis of Electrical Conductivity in Commercial Adhesives Incorporating Graphene Nanoplatelets for Industrial Applications.

Polymers are often insulators, but this not a universal intrinsic characteristic of all polymers. For this work, the adhesives used, epoxy and polyurethane, do demonstrate this insulating characteristic. However, there has been significant interest in the development of conductive polymers, specifically adhesives, because of the potential properties and ease of processing of these polymers.

Bifunctional hierarchical WO nanorods@Br-doped g-CN Z-scheme heterojunctions for efficient tetracycline photodegradation: Optimization of key parameters, toxicological assessment, and electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction.

In this study, graphitic carbon nitride (CN) and tungsten trioxide (WO) were successfully incorporated into bromine (Br)-doped graphitic carbon nitride (BCN) using an in-situ hydrothermal method. The photocatalytic efficiency of the resulting WO/Br-doped CN (WBCN) composites for the removal of tetracycline (TC) antibiotics under sunlight irradiation was evaluated. The mass ratio of WO to Br-doped CN (BCN) significantly influenced TC adsorption and photocatalytic degradation, with an optimal ratio of 9:1.

Mechanism-guided engineering of a minimal biological particle for genome editing.

The widespread application of genome editing to treat and cure disease requires the delivery of genome editors into the nucleus of target cells. Enveloped delivery vehicles (EDVs) are engineered virally derived particles capable of packaging and delivering CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). However, the presence of lentiviral genome encapsulation and replication proteins in EDVs has obscured the underlying delivery mechanism and precluded particle optimization.

A protocol to study the effect of targeted parental education intervention to identify early childhood development disorder - multisite interventional study.

Background: In India, approximately 3.5 million children are affected by Developmental Delay (DD), often stemming from preterm births. These delays contribute to neurological and motor development delays, placing a significant financial burden on families.

Klebsiella oxytoca facilitates microbiome recovery via antibiotic degradation and restores colonization resistance in a diet-dependent manner.

Competition among bacteria for carbohydrates is pivotal for colonization resistance (CR). However, the impact of Western-style diets on CR remains unclear. Here we show how the competition between Klebsiella oxytoca and Klebsiella pneumoniae is modulated by consuming one of three Western-style diets characterized by high-starch, high-sucrose, or high-fat/high-sucrose content.

Prevalence and characteristics of microspurs in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension compared to the general population.

Background And Purpose: In patients diagnosed with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), microspurs are considered the culprit lesion in most ventral dural leaks (type I). The imaging characteristics of discogenic spurs, and their prevalence in the general population has not been reported in the literature.

Materials And Methods: This observational case-control study was conducted comparing the prevalence and characteristics of discogenic microspurs between SIH patients with a type I leak treated at a tertiary hospital between 2013 and 2023 and an age-and sex matched cohort of trauma patients.

Prognostic Features and Potential for Immune Therapy in Metastatic Mismatch Repair-Deficient Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis of a Large Consecutive Population-Based Patient Series.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibition therapies have provided remarkable results in numerous metastatic cancers, including mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC). To evaluate the potential for PD-1 blockade therapy in a large population-based cohort, we analyzed the tumor microenvironment and reviewed the clinical data and actualized treatment of all dMMR CRCs in Central Finland province between 2000 and 2015.

Material And Methods: Of 1343 CRC patients, 171 dMMR tumors were identified through immunohistochemical screening.