Subject Of Controversy Research Articles

Assessing the diagnostic potential of SATB2 and β-catenin as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with poor prognosis. The roles of the transcription factor special AT-rich binding protein-2 (SATB2) and β-catenin in PDAC have been a subject of controversy. We aimed to assess the diagnostic and prognostic impact of SATB2 and β-catenin in PDAC. We analyzed 44 paraffin-embedded tissue blocks along with corresponding blood and pancreatic tissues. We evaluated SATB2 expression using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). β-catenin was assessed using IHC and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). High SATB2 expression and low β-catenin expression were associated with a poor prognosis in PDAC, including advanced pathological tumor stage (pT-stage), pathological lymph node stage (pN-stage), and TNM stage. We found a positive correlation between SATB2 expression assessed by IHC and the concentration of SATB2 in both serum and tissue samples measured by ELISA. We observed a positive correlation between β-catenin expression assessed by IHC and β-catenin levels measured by qPCR. SATB2 and β-catenin could provide valuable insights into the development of pancreatic cancer, and targeting them may be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of PDAC. The levels of SATB2 in serum show promise for the diagnosis and tumor invasion of pancreatic cancer.

The impact of a mental health-focused ethics lecture on pharmacy students’ perceptions of patients with mental illness: An observational study

Background: Societal perspectives that involve negative ideation and stereotyping behaviours from health care providers, even those still in training, toward individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness can reduce the likelihood of successful outcomes. Objective: To examine the impact of didactic, lecture-based, educational interventions on reducing the stigma of mental illness among pharmacy students. Methods: A survey was distributed pre- and post-lecture to all third-year pharmacy students who attended an “Ethics of Mental Health” lecture in 2021 and 2022. Data were collected and analysed using T-tests. Statistical significance was determined with an alpha of 0.05. Results: Higher affirmative post-survey responses were observed in 2022 (average 15.46%) and 2021 (average 9.5%). Respondents approved all controversial ethical rights except voting which was the only survey question with less positive responses-1.23% was allowed the right to vote. Respondents supported the rights to refuse medications and COVID-19 vaccinations, to engage in sexual relationships, to be given erectile dysfunction medications while hospitalised, and for gun ownership post-hospitalisation. Conclusion: Simple didactic dialogue about controversial topics, like those leading to potential discrimination, can be a productive avenue to ensure the development of non-biased clinicians.

Ben Weinstein, MD (1913-1974) and his enduring impact on the history of medicine experience in medical school.

The history of medicine as a component of the medical school curriculum has been a long-standing subject of debate and controversy. Ultimately, local factors may determine this experience and be aligned with or outside of the curriculum. The opportunity at Tulane University School of Medicine is long-standing and successful. It came to fruition through the efforts of Benjamin Bernard Weinstein, MD. A native New Orleanian, he received his undergraduate (1933) and medical (1937) degrees from Tulane as well as his training in obstetrics and gynaecology. He then joined the faculty and remained there until 1953 when he entered private practice with an interest in reproductive medicine. Weinstein was internationally known in the field, travelling the globe as a prominent educator and intersecting with world leaders. But his passion was the Tulane History of Medicine Society, founded by Weinstein in 1933 as a medical student. He became its guiding force and benefactor and built the foundation that remains highly relevant and successful 91 years later with a lengthy list of distinguished Weinstein Lecturers annually. Following his death in 1974, his family has continued to engage and support the Society. Weinstein's legacy of an enriched life through the study and knowledge of the history of medicine continues through the Society.

Evidence for Endogenous Collagen in Edmontosaurus Fossil Bone.

Reports of proteins in fossilized bones have been a subject of controversy in the scientific literature because it is assumed that fossilization results in the destruction of all organic components. In this paper, a novel combination of analytical techniques is used to address this question for an exceptionally well-preserved Edmontosaurus sacrum excavated from the Upper Cretaceous strata of the South Dakota Hell Creek Formation. Cross-polarized light microscopy (XPol) shows birefringence consistent with collagen presence. Tandem LC-MS unambiguously identified, and for the first time quantified, hydroxyproline, a unique collagen-indicator amino acid, in acid-digested samples from the Edmontosaurus. LC-MS/MS bottom-up proteomics shows identical collagen peptide sequences previously identified and reported for another hadrosaur and a T. rex sample.

Facilitating Student argumentation around socioscientific issues through productive discourse and negotiation toward consensus

ABSTRACT Controversial topics that arise in science classrooms, especially those of social relevance (e.g. the climate crisis), provide opportunities to help students learn about and discuss contradictory ideas they may encounter in their everyday experiences. Such topics may also be challenging to teach, but scaffolding may facilitate effective instruction. We describe 1 type of instructional scaffolding, the Model-Evidence Link (MEL) activity, that supports students’ reasoning when evaluating connections between lines of evidence and competing explanations about phenomena. We have developed and tested these activities in middle and high school classrooms, and empirical studies have shown that they help shift students’ thinking toward a more scientific stance via group discourse and collaborative argumentation. We developed a Negotiation Framework for productive discourse to facilitate students’ conversations toward consensus. This Negotiation Framework may be particularly effective in supporting argumentation and learning about topics in which scientific explanations compete with popular, but nonscientific, alternatives.

The clinical value of short-term insemination: a retrospective analysis of 3496 patients

BackgroundThe safety and effectiveness of short-term insemination remain a subject of controversy. This study aims to investigate the impact of short-term insemination on both embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes and whether it is necessary to apply short-term insemination to all patients underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF).MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 3,496 patients from two centers over the period January 2016 to December 2022. Of these, 1307 patients underwent IVF, 1656 patients were treated with short-term IVF, 166 patients received early rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (R-ICSI) and 367 patients were treated with ICSI. The clinical and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups.ResultsThe rate of high-quality embryos was significantly lower in the short-term IVF group compared to the routine IVF group (59.89% vs. 68.16%) (P = 0.000), the rate of blastocyst formation was significantly lower in the short-term IVF group compared to the routine IVF group (44.99% vs. 61.34%) (P = 0.000). There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes or neonatal outcomes between the two groups, irrespective of whether fresh or frozen embryos were used (both P > 0.05). The incidence of ≥ 3PN demonstrated no significant difference between the early R-ICSI and ICSI groups (1.04% vs. 0.66%) (P = 0.114), furthermore, the clinical outcomes were similar in both groups, for both fresh and frozen embryos (both P > 0.05).ConclusionsFor patients with primary fertility, short-term IVF combined with early R-ICSI can effectively prevent potential low fertilization or fertilization failure, reduce the risk of patients with no transferable embryo, avoid the waste of resources and had no adverse effects on neonatal outcomes. However, short-term IVF reduced the oocytes utilization rate in one single oocyte pick-up cycle, for patients with no risk factors for fertilization failure, the overnight fertilization is still one of the most important ways of insemination worthy of affirmation.Trial registrationNA.

Comparison of Static and Spect Images on Tc-99m-PYP Bone Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Cardiac Amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is a systemic disease characterized by the extracellular accumulation of amyloid fibrils caused by misfolding of proteins. Cardiac amyloidosis has the worst prognosis of the type of organ involvements. The most common forms of cardiac amyloidosis are immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL) and transtretin (TTR) amyloidosis. The developing diagnostic methods give the clinician early diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis. Scintigraphic imaging with Technetium (Tc-99m) labelled biphosponates may faciliate early detection of cardiac involvement and distinguish various forms of cardiac amyloidosis. Bone scintigraphy for evaluation of cardiac amyloidosis especially for ATTR type amyloidosis is one of the most sensitive imaging prosedures in recent years. In our study, we compared the 1st and 3rd hour planar and SPECT imaging to investigate the importance of the 3rd hour and the necessity of SPECT in cardiac amyloidosis (CA) imaging, which is one of the controversial topics from the Nuclear Medicine perspective.

Spectroscopic Study on Identifying Synergistic Extraction Complexes of Nd(III) with Bis(2,4,4-Trimethylpentyl)Dithiophosphinic Acids and TBP

ABSTRACT Selective separation of trivalent actinide ions, An(III), from trivalent actinide ions, Ln(III), has been of great importance and considerable challenge in terms of the overall nuclear fuel cycle strategy. The construction of the hard-soft synergistic extraction system, commonly S containing-O containing ligands, aims to achieve the effective separation of the two metal ions. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism by which this system extracts metal ions remains the subject of controversy. Herein, the complexation of Nd(III) with bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid (HL) and tributyl phosphate (TBP) has been investigated with spectroscopy and extraction experiments under different conditions to clarify the mechanisms in synergistic extraction. Five complex species, NdL3(HL)(TBP), NdL2(NO3)(TBP)3, NdL3(H2O)2(TBP), NdL3(H2O)(TBP)2, and NdL3(TBP)3, are identified in the synergistic extraction system, their molar absorption spectra are deconvoluted, and the corresponding extraction equilibrium constants are determined. In addition, a complex species of Nd(III) fully coordinated by TBP, NdL3(TBP)n (n ≥ 6), is found in titrations of organic solution containing NdL3(TBP)3 with more TBP, but it is not found in synergistic extraction. Furthermore, Density Functional Theory (DFT) is employed to confirm the stability of the complexes. Investigation of the mechanism of this system will facilitate the acquisition of further insights into the selection of O-containing ligands and the development of synergistic extraction process for the separation of An(III) and Ln(III).

Analysis of the Jurisprudential Foundations of Financial Penalty in the Context of Tazirat (Disciplinary Measures)

Financial fines or penalties are among the most prevalent deterrent measures against crimes and offenses in contemporary times. This issue has long been a subject of controversy among Islamic jurists. Two viewpoints, the permissibility and impermissibility of monetary fines, have been advocated by Islamic scholars. Both sides present their arguments supported by evidence. The question arises: which viewpoint, in the present time, is more effective, the permissibility or impermissibility? This article, considering this question, examines the reasons presented by both factions, the permissibility, and the prohibition, and discusses the factors causing differences in opinions. The conclusion drawn is that the permissibility of monetary fines is preferred based on relying on verses, narrations, the actions of the companions of the Prophet, analogical reasoning (Qiyas), prioritizing public interest, societal well-being, the necessity of preserving order, and it appears to be more effective as a deterrent measure compared to other forms of disciplinary measures in this era.

In Search of an Integrative Method to Study Unconscious Processing: An Application of Bayesian and General Recognition Theory Models to the Processing of Hierarchical Patterns in the Absence of Awareness.

The dissociation between conscious and unconscious perception is one of the most relevant issues in the study of human cognition. While there is evidence suggesting that some stimuli might be unconsciously processed up to its meaning (e.g., high-level stimulus processing), some authors claim that most results on the processing of subliminal stimuli can be explained by a mixture of methodological artefacts and questionable assumptions about what can be considered non-conscious. Particularly, one of the most controversial topics involves the method by which the awareness of the stimuli is assessed. To address this question, we introduced an integrative approach to assess the extent to which masked hierarchical stimuli (i.e., global shapes composed of local elements) can be processed in the absence of awareness. We combined a priming task where participants had to report global or local shapes, with the use of subjective and objective awareness measures collected either in a separate block (offline), or trial-by-trial during the main task (online). The unconscious processing of the masked primes was then evaluated through two different novel model-based methods: a Bayesian and a General Recognition Theory modeling approach. Despite the high correlation between awareness measures, our results show that the use of alternative approaches based on different theoretical assumptions leads to diverging conclusions about the extent of the unconscious processing of the masked primes.

Insights from social media into public perspectives on investigative genetic genealogy.

Social media sites like X (formerly Twitter) increasingly serve as spaces for the public to discuss controversial topics. Social media can spark extreme viewpoints and spread biased or inaccurate information while simultaneously allowing for debate around policy-relevant topics. The arrest of Joseph J. DeAngelo in April 2018 ignited a barrage of social media conversations on how DNA and genetic genealogy led to the suspect. These conversations continued over the following years as policies changed and as the use of the approach expanded. We examined social media coverage of investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) to characterize the volume and temporal patterns in the topics and sentiments of these public conversations. First, using a data analytics tool Brandwatch Consumer Research, we built flexible search strings to collect tweets from the social media platform Twitter/X for IGG-relevant content published from 2018 to 2022, resulting in 24,209 tweets. Second, we applied informatics tools to the dataset to generate topic clusters and analyze trends in cluster volume and distribution over time to define the top 25 peaks in tweet volume, representing the 25 events that generated the highest volume of conversation over the 5-year period. Third, drawing on the contextual framework of key IGG events, we selected three of the top ten events to code for sentiment along with a randomly sampled subset of tweets across the timeframe. Qualitative coding for position on IGG revealed a majority of tweets were supportive of the use of IGG, but key concerns were also voiced about the ethics of IGG. Over a third of conversations on Twitter/X were on either cases solved or suggestions for use of IGG. We archived the social media data for future research. These data highlight key areas of public support and concern within IGG processes and across application contexts.

Curing cryptoglandular anal fistulas-Is it possible without surgery?

Empirical reviews suggested that cryptoglandular anal fistulas require surgical resolution. However, some reports have indicated the possibility of nonsurgical and conservative treatment, which is discussed in this review. This review explores the potential of nonsurgical approaches for curing anal fistulas through bacterial inhibition and immunomodulation. The longstanding cryptoglandular theory has been a subject of controversy, prompting the reevaluation of conventional surgical interventions for anal fistulas. The review was conducted through database searches, including Medline, EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library. Emerging evidence suggests that targeting the anaerobic environments present in anal fistulas and perianal abscesses and eradicating bacteria and their by-products may be critical for successful treatment. Immunomodulatory strategies show promise as a potential avenue for the nonsurgical management of anal fistulas. Ongoing developments in pharmacological research offer opportunities for alternative treatment options, shedding light on the prospects of noninvasive anal fistula management.

Gold nanorods coated with self-assembled silk fibroin for improving their biocompatibility and facilitating targeted photothermal-photodynamic cancer therapy.

Gold nanorods (AuNRs) have shown great potential as photothermal agents for cancer therapy. However, the biosafety of AuNRs ordinarily synthesized using a cationic ligand assistance procedure has always been a subject of controversy, which limits their application in tumor therapy. In this study, we propose a novel strategy to enhance the biocompatibility of AuNRs by constructing a biological coating derived from silk fibroin (SF) on their surface. The SF coating could be easily and precisely manipulated using a layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly method. The resulting SF-coated gold nanorods (AuNRs@SF) exhibited reduced cytotoxicity and improved hemocompatibility compared to untreated AuNRs. Moreover, the treated nanorods were easily modified with a tumor-targeting peptide (AuNRs@MTSF) and efficiently loaded indocyanine green (ICG). Both in vitro and in vivo analyses demonstrated that AuNRs@MTSF could more effectively reach tumor tissue and enter MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, after loading ICG, AuNRs@MTSF exhibited superior antitumor efficacy compared to other groups by combining photodynamic therapy (PDT) with photothermal therapy (PTT) under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation without inducing any side effects. This work suggests that SF coating of gold nanorods is a potential approach for improving their biocompatibility, and that function-modified AuNRs@SF are effective nanoplatforms for targeted and multimodal tumor therapy.

Amygdalin in antineoplastic medicine and the relevance of nanotechnology.

Amygdalin is a plant-based cyanogenic glycoside that has been the subject of both scientific interest and controversy for decades. Traditionally used in alternative medicine for its diverse biological activities, including anticancer, where amygdalin has been explored in complementary therapy. However, clinical utilization of amygdalin remains contentious due to concerns about its safety, primarily the release of hydrogen cyanide during its metabolism. Advancements in nanotechnology provides scope for the safe and targeted of amygdalin with improved bioavailability and targeted delivery of amygdalin, thereby, potentially eliminating the toxic effects. This review offers an update on the current research status surrounding amygdalin, with a focus on its molecular mechanisms of action, biological activities, and potential therapeutic applications. It also critically examines the challenges tied to its clinical use, particularly the safety concerns stemming from cyanide toxicity. Finally, the potential of nanotechnology in addressing cytotoxicity constraints is highlighted.

Consumption of armed catfish (Hypostomus plecostamus) in the municipality of centro, Tabasco

Armed catfish, also known as devilfish (Hypostomus plecotomus), has been the subject of controversy in Tabasco due to its impact on local fisheries. However, it is important to clarify that this species is not considered invasive in the strict sense, since its presence in the region is due to its deliberate introduction and not to a natural invasion. A species introduced to Tabasco in the 2000s, it has become a real concern due to its rapid expansion in the waters of rivers and lagoons https://www.cyd.conacyt.gob.mx/archivo/247/Articulos/BagresArmados/Bagres1.html. The objective of the research is to analyze the consumption and ways of tasting in a comprehensive way of the Armored Catfish (Hypostomus plecostomus) in the municipality of Centro, Tabasco. This research focuses on the results obtained on its consumption and benefits. This will encourage its valorization in the communities and inhabitants of the downtown municipality, and promote its responsible consumption as a food resource. The methodology used includes a descriptive approach. Surveys were carried out with 2,458 inhabitants of the downtown municipality through the FORMS OFFICE® application, to evaluate the community's perceptions of consumption, knowledge, and ways of tasting armed catfish. In the results obtained, it was found that there is knowledge of armed catfish by the inhabitants of the municipality of the center, which has an impact on its consumption. The research contributes to promoting their consumption of an underutilized resource that has significant potential to improve the diet and diversify the diets of communities and inhabitants and generate new opportunities for fishers and rural communities. As well as by promoting a culture of responsible and sustainable consumption, by integrating the community into the armed catfish and minimizing its environmental impact in the region.

Bridging research gaps in gamification in science education

Playing and learning are fundamentally connected, and in this editorial, I outline according to which criteria educational processes can be gamified. As a next step, I attempt to discover key arguments that justify the value of games in the classroom. Especially in today’s times of uncertainty, games can, for example, contribute to questioning science-related information and to reflecting corresponding discourses on controversial topics. I call for papers on gamification in science education, especially in the light of current challenges.

The Psychology of Manipulation: Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla as the Archetypal Concept of the Predator – Victim Relationship in Contemporary Culture

Carmilla (1872) is a cult Gothic work, an unorthodox example of Victorian prose written by the distinguished Irish ghost story writer Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1814–1873). In this novella, the author uses the archetypal motif of female vampirism that opposes the patriarchal concept of logic and meaning. A seemingly unusual set of circumstances in the life of the young heroine, Laura, will bring her to the very edge of a silent and imperceptible death, while the events that follow lead her to recount her experience many years later, telling a story much older than herself, both eerie and timeless. In Carmilla, the author confronts us with actions driven by passionate love, the echo of which will stretch through time, alongside the heroine’s unusual dreams and nightmares, but also with elegant social conventions and settings, such as balls, where danger takes its most seductive form. At the level of psychoanalytic, gender and cultural premises, and in the context of predator–victim dynamics, the paper aims to present the psychology of manipulation in contemporary culture. Thus, we place Carmilla within the broader framework of cultural studies through the interpretation of emotional/energetic manipulation, a phenomenon that continues to shape the modern dynamics of interpersonal relations. In this timeless story, the latent theme of homosexuality (specifically, female) further enriches Le Fanu’s idea, inviting a multi-layered new interpretation. The seductive and omnipresent vampire Carmilla becomes a fantastic allegory of the modern condition, where the ending’s final ambivalence paves the way for perpetual renewal—because manipulation never dies. There is something Gothic in the modern paradigm of manipulation, i.e. of what contemporary psychoanalysis defines as Cluster B personality disorders. They involve narcissistic and antisocial, as well as histrionic and borderline personality disorders. What all these disorders have in common are manipulative patterns of behavior (dramatization). As a ubiquitous phenomenon and a rising tendency, manipulation is becoming a distinctive feature of the modern era. In this paper, we look at the phenomenon through the metaphor of the predator-victim relationship. The controversial theme and ambiguity of Carmilla’s interpretation provide a compelling example of the overlap among the mentioned disorders, providing deeper insight into the complexity of human nature and ambiguity of identity. The past as a frame of reference, combined with Gothic premises, paradoxically sharpens our understanding of manipulation as a contemporary phenomenon, making it more real and more tragic at the same time. Where will the predatory ways of our age lead us? The past placed in a causal relation with the present acquires a wider frame of reference and imposes the question of boundaries. Literary boundaries – Is Carmilla a Victorian classic or a postmodern feminist Gothic? And the wider, cultural ones – Where do the boundaries of contemporary identity lie?

Revealing the Preference Falsification in Russia

Abstract In this study, the authors investigate the phenomenon of the influence of preference falsification in sociological surveys on socially controversial topics in the context of illiberal states. Based on the classical theories of individuals hiding their true views under the influence of public discourse and state policy, the authors test the hypothesis that in Russia the phenomenon of preference falsification affects the responses of citizens, forcing them to postulate more conservative values than those what they really profess. To confirm this hypothesis, the authors replicate the in-person World Values Survey with an online survey conducted via crowdsourcing and compare the results. The clarification of the obtained data is carried out using the Implicit Associative Test. The authors find correlated and predictable differences between results obtained online and those found in the WVS survey, which suggests that preference falsification strongly affects results of field sociological surveys and this effect is absent in surveys conducted online.

An Exploration of Spiral of Silence in Online News Comments: Characteristics of Four Flow Patterns of Users’ Comments

Abstract To address prior methodological, contextual, and conceptual gaps in research on the spiral of silence (SOS), we investigated whether SOS manifests in online news comments where public opinions naturally emerge and examined the impact of these comments on public opinion. To analyze the progression of comments, we adopted a novel approach to time-series analysis—previously confined to social media—by implementing the dynamic time warp (DTW) technique. Data were collected from 47,845 comments on 281 online news articles related to three controversial topics published on a Korean portal site. Using DTW, we categorized comment patterns into four clusters across all topics: Contentious, Parallel, Overwhelming, and Gradual gap. A key observation was that minority opinions did not consistently follow a predictable path but rather displayed varied patterns. This indicates that SOS is selectively relevant in online discussions, with various factors influencing how minority opinions are expressed and shape public opinion. However, over a longer timeframe, the Contentious type, where minority views remained strong, significantly decreased in later discussions compared with earlier ones. Moreover, the current study corroborates previous research on the influence of initial comments. The pattern of comment flows is also influenced by factors such as click speech, neutral comments, and age.

Life-history traits of the invasive and biggest European freshwater fish, the wels catfish (Silurus glanis) show high potential for colonisation in Southern Europe

Context The invasive wels catfish is spreading to many European waterbodies and is the subject of controversy concerning its environmental impact. Aims The objective was to investigate its life-history traits (growth and reproduction) for the first time in southern France. Methods A culling action was used to assess the key life-history traits, using sections of pectoral spines for age and growth estimations, and gonad macroscopic examination for the reproduction parameters. Key results The biggest individual was a 227-cm male. The age was accurately estimated from clear translucent marks on spines, with a maximum of 13 years for both sexes. The growth appeared to be extremely rapid and was the highest at old ages recorded from both the native and the invasive distribution range. The length and age at first sexual maturity, 70.1 cm for 4–5-year-old females, and 54.1 cm for 2–3-year-old males, were the lowest recorded in Europe, indicating an early maturity. Conclusions The life-history parameters (rapid growth, early maturation, high fecundity) showed a very high potential for adaptation and colonisation. Implications The cost and management required to regulate the species appear not easily feasible, particularly when combined with its high growth rate.