Basic Science Research Research Articles

Spinal Meningiomas: A Comprehensive Review and Update on Advancements in Molecular Characterization, Diagnostics, Surgical Approach and Technology, and Alternative Therapies.

Spinal meningiomas are the most common intradural, extramedullary tumor in adults, yet the least common entity when accounting for all meningiomas spanning the neuraxis. While traditionally considered a benign recapitulation of their intracranial counterpart, a paucity of knowledge exists regarding the differences between meningiomas arising from these two anatomic compartments in terms of histopathologic subtypes, molecular tumor biology, surgical principles, long-term functional outcomes, and recurrence rates. To date, advancements at the bench have largely been made for intracranial meningiomas, including the discovery of novel gene targets, DNA methylation profiles, integrated diagnoses, and alternative systemic therapies, with few exceptions reserved for spinal pathology. Likewise, evolving clinical research offers significant updates to our understanding of guiding surgical principles, intraoperative technology, and perioperative patient management for intracranial meningiomas. Nonetheless, spinal meningiomas are predominantly relegated to studies considering non-specific intradural extramedullary spinal tumors of all histopathologic types. The aim of this review is to comprehensively report updates in both basic science and clinical research regarding intraspinal meningiomas and to provide illustrative case examples thereof, thereby lending a better understanding of this heterogenous class of central nervous system tumors.

Current Strategies to Guide the Antiplatelet Therapy in Acute Coronary Syndromes.

The role of antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes is a moving target with considerable novelty in the last few years. The pathophysiological basis of the treatment depends on platelet biology and physiology, and the interplay between these aspects and clinical practice must guide the physician in determining the best therapeutic options for patients with acute coronary syndromes. In the present narrative review, we discuss the latest novelties in the antiplatelet therapy of patients with acute coronary syndromes. We start with a description of platelet biology and the role of the main platelet signal pathways involved in platelet aggregation during an acute coronary syndrome. Then, we present the latest evidence on the evaluation of platelet function, focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of each platelet's function test. We continue our review by describing the role of aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitors in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes, critically appraising the available evidence from clinical trials, and providing current international guidelines and recommendations. Finally, we describe alternative therapeutic regimens to standard dual antiplatelet therapy, in particular for patients at high bleeding risk. The aim of our review is to give a comprehensive representation of current data on antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes that could be useful both for clinicians and basic science researchers to be up-to-date on this complex topic.

708 Trends in Carotid Stenosis Literature Between 2012-2022: Applications of Endarterectomy and Translational Research

INTRODUCTION: Carotid stenosis causes 10-20% of cases with ischemic stroke. Research in this clinical domain continues to progress in improving possible treatment modalities, imaging modalities, mechanistic understandings, and risk factors. METHODS: The WebOfScience database was investigated for 6,639 publication items between 2012-2022 pertaining to neurosurgical management of carotid stenosis. Networks were constructed analyzing keywords, key terms, and countries of publication. Subsequently, items within each network were organized into clusters and average publication date was measured for each term. Relevant items were tracked over time to compare their representation and utility in literature. Additionally, relevant key terms and connections were isolated from the network. RESULTS: For each network, the top 1,000 terms were selected for analysis. Terms were arranged into six major clusters (treatments, imaging, risk factors, prognostic markers, plaque characteristics, and basic science research). The most recent terms were observed in the treatment cluster (average publication year 2021.24) and basic science cluster (average publication year 2018.4). While terms within basic science have remained consistent over time, analysis of treatments elucidated that “carotid endarterectomy” surpassed “carotid artery stenting” in popularity after 2019. Additionally, the term “mouse” in the basic science cluster was connected to all clusters with a link strength of 18,084 (average 427.6). CONCLUSIONS: Modern research in carotid stenosis is characterized by two developments: advancements in basic science and increasing publication focus on carotid endarterectomy. Despite recent advancements in endovascular treatment of carotid stenosis, open treatment continues to remain a significant focus of study. As they continue to expand into modern scientific enterprise, developing nations will continue to impact the future of carotid stenosis research.

Challenges and progress in applying space technology in support of the sustainable development goals

The global community, with coordination from the United Nations, is energized to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a list of 17 important aspirations that summarize the key challenges of our era. The SDGs apply to every nation and represent an international effort to eliminate extreme poverty, ensure access to safe drinking water, strengthen food security, and produce clean and reliable energy, among other pursuits. Space technology is already being used around the world to advance progress toward the SDGs and monitor their related Indicators. This paper explores how six technologies related to space—satellite Earth observation, satellite communication, satellite navigation and positioning, human spaceflight and microgravity research, space technology transfer, and basic scientific research—are being used to realize the vision that the SDGs represent. The paper also discusses the obstacles that limit the application of these technologies for the SDGs and provides an overview of potential paths to overcome these barriers. The paper finally studies the historical and potential roles that four distinct types of entities involved in global sustainable development—governments, non- and inter-governmental organizations, entrepreneurial companies, and universities— have played or may play in the application of space technologies towards the SDGs.

Most Chronic Medical Conditions in Women are related to Increased Cellular Permeability and most can be Effectively Treated with Dopaminergic Drugs

Based on a conglomeration of basic science research studies a model of hypothetical mechanisms of how the fetal semi-allograft can develop into a live baby was created. One of the tenets of the model is that it is necessary to remodel some of the typically thick-walled uterine arteries found during the proliferative phase into thin-walled spiral arteries to allow nutrient exchange between mother and fetus through an autoimmune mechanism during the luteal phase. The model suggests that the rise in progesterone inhibits dopamine. One function of dopamine is to diminish cellular permeability allowing irritants to infuse into the endometrium thus evoking an inflammatory reaction. The body must suppress these cellular immune cells from attacking the fetus. Progesterone activates membrane progesterone receptors which produces immunomodulatory proteins e.g., the Progesterone Induced Blocking Factor (PIBF), which negates the killing effect of cellular immunity. One hypothesis suggested that PIBF may be secreted by malignant tumors facilitating these tumors with foreign antigens to escape immunosurveillance and thus metastasize. Progesterone receptor antagonists e.g., mifepristone, which suppresses PIBF, have successfully increased length and quality of life in patients with a large variety of end stage treatment resistant cancers. Excessive permeability of various tissues was hypothesized to be related to possible relative deficiency of dopamine. A large variety of medical conditions have been ameliorated significantly by the use of dopaminergic drugs e.g. dextroamphetamine or cabergoline. The model explains why certain conditions may get worse premenstrually e.g., pelvic pain or headaches by the added suppressive effect of progesterone on dopamine. Though possibly further research may modify this model, based on the present hypothesis, a large number of treatment refractory conditions had very successful improvement based on treating with drug releasing dopamine thus correcting tissue permeability disorders.

Acupuncture for radicular pain: a review of analgesic mechanism.

Radicular pain, a common and complex form of neuropathic pain, presents significant challenges in treatment. Acupuncture, a therapy originating from ancient traditional Chinese medicine and widely utilized for various pain types, including radicular pain, has shown promising outcomes in the management of lumbar radicular pain, cervical radicular pain, and radicular pain due to spinal stenosis. Despite its efficacy, the exact mechanisms through which acupuncture achieves analgesia are not fully elucidated and are the subject of ongoing research. This review sheds light on the current understanding of the analgesic mechanisms of acupuncture for radicular pain, offering valuable perspectives for both clinical application and basic scientific research. Acupuncture is postulated to relieve radicular pain by several mechanisms: peripherally, it reduces muscle spasms, lessens mechanical pressure on nerve roots, and improves microcirculation; at the molecular level, it inhibits the HMGB1/RAGE and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways, thereby decreasing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines; within the spinal cord, it influences synaptic plasticity; and centrally, it modulates brain function, particularly affecting the medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and thalamus within the default mode network. By acting across these diverse biological domains, acupuncture presents an effective treatment modality for radicular pain, and deepening our understanding of the underlying mechanisms regarding analgesia for radicular pain is crucial for enhancing its clinical efficacy and advancement in pain management.

The Future of Basic Science: Development of the Next Generation of Mechanistic Researchers in Female Pelvic Medicine.

The International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) brought together senior and junior members actively engaged in scholarly and educational activities for a consensus conference centered on developing a strategy for sustainable training of the next generation of mechanistic researchers in female pelvic medicine. Four a priori identified major foci were explored in a half-day virtual consensus conference. Participants included representatives from various countries and disciplines with diverse backgrounds-clinicians, physician-scientists, and basic scientists in the fields of urogynecology, biomechanical engineering, and molecular biology.Following a keynote address, each focus area was first tackled by a dedicated breakout group, led by the Chair(s) of the most relevant IUGA committees. The break-out sessions were followed by an iterative discussion among all attendees to identify mitigating strategies to address the shortage of mechanistic researchers in the field of female pelvic medicine. The major focus areas included: research priorities for IUGA basic science scholar program; viable strategies for sustainable basic science mentorship; core competencies in basic science training; and the challenges of conducting complex mechanistic experiments in low-resource countries. Key gaps in knowledge and core competencies that should be incorporated into fellowship/graduate training were identified, and existing training modalities were discussed. Recommendations were made for pragmatic approaches to increasing the exposure of trainees to learning tools to enable sustainable training of the next generation of basic science researchers in female pelvic medicine worldwide. The attendees presented multiple perspectives to gain consensus regarding critical areas of need for training future generations of mechanistic researchers. Recommendations for a sustainable Basic Science Scholar Program were developed using IUGA as a platform. The overarching goal of such a program is to ensure a successful bench-to-bedside-and-back circuit in Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, ultimately improving lives of millions of women worldwide through scientifically rational effective preventative and therapeutic interventions.

Abstract 7315: Collaboration between NIDCR and NCI promotes innovative research in head and neck cancers

Abstract The Oral and Salivary Cancer Biology Program at National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) supports research activities that improve early detection and treatment of cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and salivary glands. We promote basic science research on the regulatory pathways and transformation process of pre-cancerous lesions to primary and metastatic tumors, as well as translational science activities to develop novel technologies and therapeutics for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancers. NIDCR and National Cancer Institute (NCI) have established long-term collaborations to promote and co-manage awards funded through The Immuno-Oncology Translational Network (IOTN) of the Cancer Moonshot program, Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs), and Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) program. NIDCR and NCI have co-developed Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) and Request for Application (RFA) on Advancing Head and Neck Cancer Early Detection Research (AHEAD), which co-funded seven research projects to discover and develop molecular signatures of early detection and diagnosis of HPV positive and negative head and neck cancer (HNC). To further strengthen NIDCR and NCI collaboration, we jointly organized the symposium to promote HNC early detection and biomarker identification at the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) 11th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer in July 2023. In addition, NIDCR has organized a symposium to promote HNC research at the 2024 annual meeting of American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) to celebrate the 75th anniversary of NIDCR. This AADOCR symposium will feature the collaboration between NIDCR with NCI in the Cancer Moonshot program focusing on immunoprevention and immunotherapy, HNC early detection and biomarker research in AHEAD and EDRN, and investigation of HPV positive and negative HNC and clinical translational research under SPORE. At this 2024 AACR annual meeting, NIDCR and NCI program directors will present the collaborations and funding opportunities between NIDCR and NCI, focusing on early cancer detections and biomarker discovery and validation. Collaboration between NIDCR with NCI provides a unique opportunity to promote basic, translational, and clinical research in advancing HNC early detection to benefit cancer patients. Citation Format: Zhong Chen, Wendy Wang. Collaboration between NIDCR and NCI promotes innovative research in head and neck cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7315.

Constraints on axion-like particles from the observation of Galactic sources by the LHAASO* *Xiao-Jun Bi is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12175248). Xiaoyuan Huang is supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFF0503304), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12322302), the Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research of Chinese Academy

High-energy photons may oscillate with axion-like particles (ALPs) when they propagate through the Milky Way's magnetic field, resulting in an alteration in the observed photon energy spectrum. Ultra-high energy gamma-ray spectra, measured by the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) up to , provide a promising opportunity to investigate the ALP-photon oscillation effect. In this study, we utilize the gamma-ray spectra of four Galactic sources measured by the LHAASO, that is, the Crab Nebula, LHAASO J2226+6057, LHAASO J1908+0621, and LHAASO J1825-1326, to explore this effect. We employ the CLs method to set constraints on the ALP parameters. Our analysis of the observations of the four sources reveals that the ALP-photon coupling is constrained to be smaller than for an ALP mass of at 95% C.L. Combining the observations of the Crab Nebula from the LHAASO and other experiments, we find that the ALP-photon coupling may be set to approximately for an ALP mass of , which is similar to the CAST constraint.

Recent Advances in Implantable 3D-Printed Scaffolds for Repair of Spinal Cord Injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an important factor in sensory and motor disorders that affects thousands of people every year. Currently, despite successes in basic science and clinical research, there are few effective methods in the treatment of chronic and acute spinal cord injuries. In the last decade, the use of 3D printed scaffolds in the treatment of SCI had satisfactory and promising results. By providing a microenvironment around the injury site and in combination with growth factors or cells, 3D printed scaffolds help in axon regeneration as well as neural recovery after SCI. Here, we provide an overview of tissue engineering, 3D printing scaffolds, the different polymers used and their characterization methods. This review highlights the recent encouraging applications of 3D printing scaffolds in developing the novel SCI therapy.

Prior Information and Consumer Search: Evidence from Eye Tracking

Do consumers search the brands they know more or less frequently than the brands with which they are unfamiliar? In this paper, we attempt to answer this question using data from an experiment with two novel features: (i) survey information on consumers’ prior brand ownership, familiarity with each brand, and prior experience using different product features and (ii) eye-tracking data capturing search behavior at a very granular level. We find that consumers are generally more likely to search and buy brands they own and with which they are familiar, highlighting the importance of accounting for prior information. For this reason, we develop a search model in which both the information obtained during the search process and the information possessed by consumers prior to search are allowed to influence search and purchase decisions. Our model contributes to prior work by modeling search at the brand and attribute levels within a Bayesian learning framework. Using this model, we then quantify the impact of prior information on consumer choices as well as document the estimation bias arising when prior information is absent from the model. Finally, through a series of counterfactuals, we explore the managerial value of prior information data. This paper was accepted by Matt Shum, marketing. Funding: Q. Wang acknowledges financial support from the National Science Foundation of China [Grant 72072145] and the Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi Province [Grant 2020JQ-226]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.00611 .

Heterogeneous university research and firm R&D location decisions: research orientation, academic quality, and investment type

Universities play an important role in regional development and innovation and engage with the industry through various channels. In this paper, we examine the role of heterogeneous characteristics of university research, in particular universities’ orientation towards basic or applied research and the quality of this research, in attracting firms’ R&D investment. We analyze the location decisions in the United States by foreign multinational firms at the level of metropolitan areas. We contrast research and development projects and explore whether they are driven by different factors. We find that the drivers of location choice differ importantly as a consequence of the type of the focal R&D investment of the firm. Universities with an orientation towards applied scientific research and exhibiting higher academic quality of applied research attract more R&D investment focusing on development activities. In contrast, firms’ investments in research activities are attracted by the academic quality of basic scientific research of local universities. Hence, increased university emphasis on academic engagement and applied research may have negative consequences for industrial research in the region.

Gromov–Hausdorff variational principles and measure stability * *KL and CAM were partially supported by Basic Science Research Program through the NRF funded by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea (Grant Number: 2022R1l1A3053628).

Variational formulae for the Gromov–Hausdorff distances of compact metric spaces and their continuous maps are obtained. Also, a notion of µ-topological GH-stability on metric-measure spaces with probability µ is given. We prove that every expansive map with the weak µ-shadowing property (Lee and Rojas 2022 Russ. J. Nonlinear Dyn. 18 297–307) is µ-topologically GH-stable.

Abstract 1773 From the lab bench to bedside, the importance of basic science research in medical education and beyond

Abstract 1773 From the lab bench to bedside, the importance of basic science research in medical education and beyond

Continuous adiabatic frequency conversion for FMCW-LiDAR

Continuous tuning of the frequency of laser light serves as the fundamental basis for a myriad of applications spanning basic scientific research to industrial settings. These applications encompass endeavors such as the detection of gravitational waves, the development of precise optical clocks, environmental monitoring for health and ecological purposes, as well as distance measurement techniques. However, achieving a broad tuning range exceeding 100 GHz along with sub-microsecond tuning times, inherent linearity in tuning, and coherence lengths beyond 10 m presents significant challenges. Here, we demonstrate that electro-optically driven adiabatic frequency converters utilizing high-Q microresonators fabricated from lithium niobate possess the capability to convert arbitrary voltage signals into frequency chirps with temporal resolutions below 1 µs. The temporal evolution of the frequency correlates accurately with the applied voltage signal. We have achieved to generate 200-ns-long frequency chirps with deviations of less than 1 % from perfect linearity without requiring supplementary measures. The coefficient of determination is R2>0.999\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$R^2>0.999$$\\end{document}. Moreover, the coherence length of the emitted light exceeds 20 m. To validate these findings, we employ the linear frequency sweeps for Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) LiDAR covering distances ranging from 0.5 to 10 m. Leveraging the demonstrated nanosecond-level tuning capabilities, coupled with the potential to tune the eigenfrequency of lithium-niobate-based resonators by several hundred GHz, our results show that electro-optically driven adiabatic frequency converters can be used in applications that require ultrafast and flexible continuous frequency tuning characterized by inherent linearity and substantial coherence length.

Regional variation of the cortical and trabecular bone material properties in the rabbit skull.

The material properties of some bones are known to vary with anatomical location, orientation and position within the bone (e.g., cortical and trabecular bone). Details of the heterogeneity and anisotropy of bone is an important consideration for biomechanical studies that apply techniques such as finite element analysis, as the outcomes will be influenced by the choice of material properties used. Datasets detailing the regional variation of material properties in the bones of the skull are sparse, leaving many finite element analyses of skulls no choice but to employ homogeneous, isotropic material properties, often using data from a different species to the one under investigation. Due to the growing significance of investigating the cranial biomechanics of the rabbit in basic science and clinical research, this study used nanoindentation to measure the elastic modulus of cortical and trabecular bone throughout the skull. The elastic moduli of cortical bone measured in the mediolateral and ventrodorsal direction were found to decrease posteriorly through the skull, while it was evenly distributed when measured in the anteroposterior direction. Furthermore, statistical tests showed that the variation of elastic moduli between separate regions (anterior, middle and posterior) of the skull were significantly different in cortical bone, but was not in trabecular bone. Elastic moduli measured in different orthotropic planes were also significantly different, with the moduli measured in the mediolateral direction consistently lower than that measured in either the anteroposterior or ventrodorsal direction. These findings demonstrate the significance of regional and directional variation in cortical bone elastic modulus, and therefore material properties in finite element models of the skull, particularly those of the rabbit, should consider the heterogeneous and orthotropic properties of skull bone when possible.

The Top 100 Most Cited Journal Articles on Hydrocephalus.

Hydrocephalus represents a significant burden of disease, with more than 383,000 new cases annually worldwide. When the magnitude of this condition is considered, a centralized archive of pertinent literature is of great clinical value. From a neurosurgical standpoint, hydrocephalus is one of the most frequently treated conditions in the field. The focus of this study was to identify the top 100 journal articles specific to hydrocephalus using bibliometric analysis. Using the Journal of Citation Report database, 10 journals were identified. The Web of Science Core Collection was then searched using each journal name and the search term "hydrocephalus." The results were ordered by "Times Cited" and searched by the number of citations. The database contained journal articles from 1976 to 2021, and the following variables were collected for analysis: journal, article type, year of publication, and the number of citations. Journal articles were excluded if they had no relation to hydrocephalus, mostly involved basic science research, or included animal studies. Ten journals were identified using the above criteria, and a catalog of the 100 most cited publications in the hydrocephalus literature was created. Articles were arranged from highest to lowest citation number, with further classification by journal, article type, and publication year. Of the 100 articles referenced, 38 were review articles, 24 were original articles, 15 were comparative studies, 11 were clinical trials, six were multi-center studies, three were cross-sectional, and three were case reports with reviews. Articles were also sorted by study type and further stratified by etiology. If the etiology was not specified, studies were instead subcategorized by treatment type. Etiologies such as aqueductal stenosis, tumors, and other obstructive causes of hydrocephalus were classified as obstructive (n=6). Communicating (n=15) included idiopathic, normal pressure hydrocephalus, and other non-obstructive etiologies. The category "other" (n=3) was assigned to studies that included etiologies, populations, and/or treatments that did not fit into the classifications previously outlined. Through our analysis of highly cited journal articles focusing on different etiologies and the surgical or medical management of hydrocephalus, we hope to elucidate important trends. By establishing the 100 most cited hydrocephalus articles, we contribute one source, stratified for efficient referencing, to facilitate clinical care and future research on hydrocephalus.

The top 50 most-cited articles about COVID-19 and the complications of COVID-19: A bibliometric analysis

Background This bibliometric analysis examines the top 50 most-cited articles on COVID-19 complications, offering insights into the multifaceted impact of the virus. Since its emergence in Wuhan in December 2019, COVID-19 has evolved into a global health crisis, with over 770 million confirmed cases and 6.9 million deaths as of September 2023. Initially recognized as a respiratory illness causing pneumonia and ARDS, its diverse complications extend to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, hematological, neurological, endocrinological, ophthalmological, hepatobiliary, and dermatological systems. Methods Identifying the top 50 articles from a pool of 5940 in Scopus, the analysis spans November 2019 to July 2021, employing terms related to COVID-19 and complications. Rigorous review criteria excluded non-relevant studies, basic science research, and animal models. The authors independently reviewed articles, considering factors like title, citations, publication year, journal, impact factor, authors, study details, and patient demographics. Results The focus is primarily on 2020 publications (96%), with all articles being open access. Leading journals include The Lancet, NEJM, and JAMA, with prominent contributions from Internal Medicine (46.9%) and Pulmonary Medicine (14.5%). China played a major role (34.9%), followed by France and Belgium. Clinical features were the primary study topic (68%), often utilizing retrospective designs (24%). Among 22,477 patients analyzed, 54.8% were male, with the most common age group being 26-65 years (63.2%). Complications of COVID-19 affected 13.9% of patients, with a recovery rate of 57.8%. Conclusion Analyzing these top-cited articles offers clinicians and researchers a comprehensive, timely understanding of influential COVID-19 literature. This approach uncovers attributes contributing to high citations and provides authors with valuable insights for crafting impactful research. As a strategic tool, this analysis facilitates staying updated and making meaningful contributions to the dynamic field of COVID-19 research.

Assessing evidence-based practice competencies of undergraduate nursing students using a developed multi-criteria decision-analysis model

AimThe developed multi-criteria decision analysis model was used to identify the inter-influence relationships and key factors affecting the EBP competencies of UNSs, to assess the EBP competencies of UNSs and based on these results, to formulate an improvement strategy to enhance the EBP competencies of UNSs. BackgroundEBP is considered a core competency in international nursing practice. However, few studies have developed EBP evaluation models and applied them to assessing and improving the EBP competencies of UNSs. DesignThis is a quantitative study with multi-criteria decision-analysis model. MethodsFirstly, the questionnaire was designed based on the characteristics of the DEMATEL and VIKOR-AS methods, which was completed by 17 nursing experts from a case hospital in Zhejiang Province, China. Subsequently, the DEMATEL method was used to analyze the inter-influence relationships among various criteria to determine their respective weights. Finally, the VIKOR method is utilized to integrate multiple criteria and their relative weights to assign comprehensive scores to each UNSs. ResultsThe use of the DEMATEL method reveals that “Knowledge (C1)”, “Mastering the basic scientific research methods during the study of the undergraduate courses (C11)”, “Being able to consult clinical experts appropriately when encountering problems in clinical practice (C23)” and “Understanding the importance of reading journals related to the nursing profession regularly (C34)” were critical influencing factors. “Skill (C2),” “Being able to explain the essential roles of the best research evidence in determining clinical practice (C15),” “Being able to apply the collected research evidence to the individual case in nursing care (C25)” and “Paying attention to using the evidence-based nursing practice concept to determine the best clinical practice (C35)” were the most influential factors. According to the VIKOR method, the performance of the UNSs in the case hospitals in terms of EBP competencies from highest to lowest was Student C, Student B and Student A. However, all of these students suffered from deficiencies at the knowledge level. ConclusionsThe application of the DEMATEL and VIKOR methods provides a systematic and comprehensive approach to the assessment of EBP competencies of UNSs. The lack of EBP competencies of UNSs in case hospitals is mainly reflected in knowledge level. To improve UNSs’ EBP competencies, medical schools and hospital educators should propose short- and long-term strategies to improve knowledge.

Preclinical magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy in the fields of radiological technology, medical physics, and radiology.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an indispensable diagnostic imaging technique used in the clinical setting. MRI is advantageous over X-ray and computed tomography (CT), because the contrast provided depends on differences in the density of various organ tissues. In addition to MRI systems in hospitals, more than 100 systems are used for research purposes in Japan in various fields, including basic scientific research, molecular and clinical investigations, and life science research, such as drug discovery, veterinary medicine, and food testing. For many years, additional preclinical imaging studies have been conducted in basic research in the fields of radiation technology, medical physics, and radiology. The preclinical MRI research includes studies using small-bore and whole-body MRI systems. In this review, we focus on the animal study using small-bore MRI systems as "preclinical MRI". The preclinical MRI can be used to elucidate the pathophysiology of diseases and for translational research. This review will provide an overview of previous preclinical MRI studies such as brain, heart, and liver disease assessments. Also, we provide an overview of the utility of preclinical MRI studies in radiological physics and technology.