English Publications Research Articles

Debate and Dilemmas Regarding Generative AI in Mental Health Care: Scoping Review.

Mental disorders have ranked among the top 10 prevalent causes of burden on a global scale. Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) has emerged as a promising and innovative technological advancement that has significant potential in the field of mental health care. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research dedicated to examining and understanding the application landscape of GAI within this domain. This review aims to inform the current state of GAI knowledge and identify its key uses in the mental health domain by consolidating relevant literature. Records were searched within 8 reputable sources including Web of Science, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, medRxiv, bioRxiv, Google Scholar, CNKI and Wanfang databases between 2013 and 2023. Our focus was on original, empirical research with either English or Chinese publications that use GAI technologies to benefit mental health. For an exhaustive search, we also checked the studies cited by relevant literature. Two reviewers were responsible for the data selection process, and all the extracted data were synthesized and summarized for brief and in-depth analyses depending on the GAI approaches used (traditional retrieval and rule-based techniques vs advanced GAI techniques). In this review of 144 articles, 44 (30.6%) met the inclusion criteria for detailed analysis. Six key uses of advanced GAI emerged: mental disorder detection, counseling support, therapeutic application, clinical training, clinical decision-making support, and goal-driven optimization. Advanced GAI systems have been mainly focused on therapeutic applications (n=19, 43%) and counseling support (n=13, 30%), with clinical training being the least common. Most studies (n=28, 64%) focused broadly on mental health, while specific conditions such as anxiety (n=1, 2%), bipolar disorder (n=2, 5%), eating disorders (n=1, 2%), posttraumatic stress disorder (n=2, 5%), and schizophrenia (n=1, 2%) received limited attention. Despite prevalent use, the efficacy of ChatGPT in the detection of mental disorders remains insufficient. In addition, 100 articles on traditional GAI approaches were found, indicating diverse areas where advanced GAI could enhance mental health care. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the use of GAI in mental health care, which serves as a valuable guide for future research, practical applications, and policy development in this domain. While GAI demonstrates promise in augmenting mental health care services, its inherent limitations emphasize its role as a supplementary tool rather than a replacement for trained mental health providers. A conscientious and ethical integration of GAI techniques is necessary, ensuring a balanced approach that maximizes benefits while mitigating potential challenges in mental health care practices.

The Effect of Nutrient Supplementation on Female Fertility: A Systematic Review.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have improved infertility treatmentbut reproductive outcomes remain challenging. Nutrient supplementation is being explored to enhance pregnancy rates, increase live birth rates, and reduce miscarriage rates in females undergoing ART. Nutrients like folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants have shown potential benefits, yet conflicting results exist. Live birth rates may also be influenced by nutrient supplementation, with coenzyme Q10 and vitamin D showing promise. Miscarriage rates may be reduced with nutrients such as vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants, although more research is needed for definitive conclusions. Scientific and medical literature databases such as Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science were queried to identify relevant English publications adhering to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Various reproductive metrics, encompassing biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, implantation rate, live birth rates, and miscarriage rates, were assessed as clinical endpoints.The study population included 996 female subjects receiving ART. Two studies performed investigations on subjects diagnosed with unexplained infertility, two studies specifically included polycystic ovary syndrome patients, and five studies did not provide any specific information on the type of infertility or subfertility. All studies reported on the clinical/ongoing pregnancy rate, among which four included studies observed a significantly higher rate. Out of the four studies that reported on implantation rates, three found significantly higher rates in treatment groups. Out of the three studies that reported on biochemical pregnancy rates, two studies found significantly higher rates in treatment groups. With respect to the clinical outcomes that were studied in this analysis, variable effects of nutritional supplementation on reproductive parameters were observed. Some studies reported significantly higher rates of clinical/ongoing pregnancy, implantation, biochemical pregnancy, and live birth, while no significant difference was found in miscarriage rates.

High myopia: Reviews of myopia control strategies and myopia complications.

Myopia and especially high myopia are recognised as major public health concerns. Although the prevalence of high myopia in young children is low, 10-20% of high school children in Asia have high myopia, with many still progressing, and one in three patients with high myopia develop visual impairment with age. Most participants in myopia control studies have low and moderate myopia; relatively little is known about myopia control in high myopia. Literature searches were undertaken in MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify publications in English, investigating (Aim 1) the efficacy of myopia control strategies (environmental, pharmacological and optical) in high myopia (≤-6.00 D) and (Aim 2) the complications of high myopia using keywords. Outcomes included change in spherical equivalent refractive error (SE) and/or axial length (AL) to evaluate progression in high myopia. Aim 1: Twelve studies were identified that reported the efficacy of optical and pharmacological (none on environmental) interventions on AL and SE for high myopia control. A statistically significant reduction in progression of SE and AL in high myopes was reported with 1% and 0.5% atropine. Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segment spectacle lenses had lower efficacy in slowing high myopia progression compared to moderate and low myopia. Ortho-K lenses were equally effective in reducing myopia progression in low, moderate and high myopia. Aim 2: Myopic patients have an increased risk of myopic macular degeneration, retinal detachment, cataract and glaucoma, with the risk increasing with the level of myopia. High myopia has significant effects on quality of life, risk of pathological complications and vision impairment. Young children, excluding those with some syndromic associations, who are fast progressing moderate and high myopes require early intervention and close monitoring. Further research investigating the efficacy of myopia control strategies in highly myopic patients, both independently and through combination treatments, are necessary.

Myocardial calcification: case reports and a systematic review.

Myocardial calcification is an unusual condition in which excess calcium is deposited in the myocardium. Herein, we report two cases of myocardial calcification from our clinical experience. Furthermore, we conduct a systematic review to examine the clinical course and associated pathologies of myocardial calcification. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023463285). PubMed and Scopus were searched according to the following inclusion criteria: (i) case reports or case series describing patients with myocardial calcification; (ii) diagnosis of myocardial calcification by computed tomography (CT); (iii) adequate description of patients, including their chief complaint, medical history, evaluations, and treatments; and (iv) publication in English. Among the 75 patients, 24 had sepsis, 14 had myocarditis, and 37 had other pathologies. The mortality rate was 33% for patients with sepsis, 14% for patients with myocarditis, and 11% for patients with other pathologies. Follow-up CT findings beyond 2 years were reported in six patients, showing that the CT findings of myocardial calcification persisted but subsided over time. Autopsy was performed in seven patients, and extensive interstitial fibrosis and collection of inflammatory cells were observed in patients with myocarditis, sepsis, and ischaemic heart disease. While various medical conditions can cause myocardial calcification, accompanying conditions commonly reported with myocardial calcification were sepsis and myocarditis. The CT findings of myocardial calcification tend to regress over time if the underlying disease can be treated.

Bone Mineral Density in Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

There is an increasing population of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) at risk for treatment-related toxicities, including skeletal morbidities. Bone mineral density (BMD) is a proxy for bone health and reductions are associated with osteoporosis and fractures. To investigate bone health in CCS by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of BMD after completed treatments. We searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science in May 2019 and updated in May 2023. Studies reporting BMD Z-scores measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in CCS after treatment completion. We performed a pooled analysis of studies reporting BMD Z-scores and thereafter we analyzed studies comparing BMD in survivors and healthy controls. All analyses were performed based on the site of BMD measurement. Of 4243 studies, 84 were included (N = 8106). The mean time off-treatment across the studies ranged from 2 months to 24 years. The overall pooled mean Z-score was -0.57 (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.59 to -0.55) in the whole-body, -0.84 (95% CI -0.86 to -0.83) in the lumbar spine, -0.79 (95% CI -0.81 to -0.77) in the femoral neck and -0.14 (95% CI -0.18 to -0.11) in the total hip. When comparing survivors with controls, BMD was significantly lower in survivors at all sites. English publications, study-level meta-analysis. We showed a significant reduction of BMD Z-scores in CCS. Given the increased fracture risk already within -1 SD, these results emphasize the need for BMD surveillance and secondary prevention in CCS.

Development Status of Integrated PET/MR Products

Integrated PET/MR is one of cutting-edge technologies in functional and molecular imaging. A review of the current development status of integrated PET/MR products can provide inspiration and promote the development of related fields. This study introduced the technical characteristics and research and development difficulties of integrated PET/MR products from both hardware and software aspects, summarized the publication of English and Chinese papers related to the clinical application of PET/MR products from 2008 to 2022, analysed the differences and current status of clinical application of integrated PET/MR products at home and abroad, and pointed out the development status and direction of integrated PET/MR products in China. Finally, the development of integrated PET/MR products was discussed in terms of technology, clinical application prospects, and market strategies.

The Immune-Brain Interface: Exploring PANS and PANDAS in Pediatric Neuropsychiatry

PANDAS/PANS is a burdening disorder that affects children, adolescents and caregivers. Despite numerous investigations to establish evidence-based interventions and clinical practices, more controversies and disagreements arise. This quantitative literature review established fundamental evidence regarding viral infections, bacterial infections, comorbidity, antibiotic therapy and immunotherapy. We conducted a qualitative and quantitative literature search on, Google Scholar and PubMed/Medline. The Boolean operators were used to combine search terms. An additional manual search was performed on the reference lists of the potential literature. The literature search was limited to English publications between 2014 to 2024. Results: Literature shows diverse aspects of PANDAS and PANS among children with OCD, adolescents, and other populations. The disease has been associated with bacterial and viral infections. We found a wealth of evidence on the controversial antibiotic therapy, comorbidities, immunotherapy and reports on infections. Proponents of bacterial and viral infections, alongside antibiotic therapy, emphasized the role of the infectious agents and the therapeutic effects of the antibacterial agents. Additionally, the importance of immunotherapy, NSAIDs and corticosteroids emerged, marking fundamental developments in the management of the disorder. Streptococcal and viral infections are risk factors of PANDAS/PANS, while immunotherapy, corticosteroids, NSAIDs, and antibiotic therapy produce positive clinical outcomes. However, this literature review established controversies on comorbidity, and antibiotic therapy as doctors disagree. However, we found that the authors agree that anxiety is a common comorbid disorder. Keywords: Immune-Brain Interface, PANS, PANDAS, Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, Neuroimmune Disorders

An Exploration of Unique Mental Health Challenges and Resilience Factors within the LGBTQ+ Community: A Systematic Review

Mental health challenges in the LGBTQ+ community pressing issues as it impact the overall health status. Despite the concerns raised on the discrimination, bias and stereotypes, new challenges arise, implicating challenges to the health sector. The present review of evidence focuses on the resilience factors and the unique mental health challenges faced by members of the LGBTQ+ community. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) were used to identify, select, appraise and synthesize evidence in the present review, whereas the Sample, phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation and Research type (SPIDER) protocol guided the selection of eligible studies to be reviewed. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to rate the certainty of evidence about the unique mental health challenges and resilience factors within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQ+) community. Initial article search was limited to English publications and performed on electronic databases, including Google Scholar, ProQuest, PubMed, and Web of Science. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used to examine the risk of bias in the individual studies. Risk of bias assessment was performed on the domains, including due to the randomization process, bias due to deviations from intended interventions, bias due to missing outcome data, bias in the measurement of the outcomes, bias in the selection of the reported result, and the overall risk of bias, reflecting the overall risk of bias of the included studies. A qualitative synthesis of results was considered in the present systematic review. The evidence was contrasted and compared against the existing knowledge and theoretical orientation. The present review found that poor dissemination of interventions and implementations are unique mental health challenges among the LGBTQ+ community. The poor implementation and dissemination of interventions substantiate psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and deteriorates quality of life. The web or internet-based implementation of cognitive behavioral therapy emerged as effective resilience factor in the management of mental conditions among members of the LGBTQ+ community. Keywords: LGBTQ+, mental health, treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, resilience factors, anxiety, depression, and interventions

Economic burden of pulmonary hypertension. Systematic review

Aim. A systematic review of studies on pulmonary hypertension (PH) cost estimates.Material and methods. A systematic literature search was performed for studies assessing the cost of PH published up to November 30, 2023. The search was carried out in the PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBACE databases for publications in English and in the RSCI database for articles in Russian according to inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results. The systematic review included 13 studies. The mean direct costs per patient with PH after verification of the diagnosis per month ranged from 2023 to 9915 USD, while the median from 1141,5 to 8144 USD. Indirect costs were assessed in only 3 following studies: in Spain and USA, the mean indirect costs were 214 and 1226 USD per patient per month, respectively, while in Russia the median was 65 USD. The mean direct costs per patient with PH per month before diagnosis verification ranged from 1017 to 9723 USD. Indirect costs before diagnosis verification were assessed in only 1 study (median $102 per patient per month). After PH verification, in general, there was an increase in treatment costs with a decrease in other direct costs.Conclusion. PH causes great socio-economic damage to society and healthcare system. A decrease in non-drug therapy costs after PH verification may indicate not only the clinical effectiveness of PH-specific therapy, but also its potential costeffectiveness with reduced costs.

Trends and frontiers in signal amplification for aptamer-based tumor detection: A bibliometric analysis.

Malignant tumors are one of the leading causes of death worldwide, imposing a substantial economic and social burden. Early detection is the key to improving cure rates and reducing mortality rates, which requires the development of sensitive early detection technologies. Signal amplification techniques play a crucial role in aptamer-based early detection of tumors and are increasingly garnering attention from researchers. To investigate the current research status, developmental trajectories, and hotspots in signal amplification for aptamer-based tumor detection through bibliometric analysis. English publications pertaining to signal amplification in aptamer-based tumor detection were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. VOSviewer and CiteSpace software were employed to analyze various information within this field, including countries, institutions, authors, co-cited authors, journals, co-cited journals, cited references, and keywords. A total of 757 publications were included in this study. China accounted for 85.47% of all publications, with Nanjing University (China) emerging as the institution with the highest publication output. The most influential authors and journals were Hasanzadeh M. from Iran and "Biosensors and Bioelectronics", respectively. Exosomes and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) stood out as the most researched tumor-related molecules. Currently, the predominant signal amplification technique, nanomaterial, and signal transduction method were identified as hybridization chain reactions, gold nanoparticles, and electrochemical methods, respectively. Over the past 3 years, exosomes, CEA, electrochemical biosensors, and nanosheets have emerged as research hotspots, exhibiting a robust burst of intensity. This study is the first bibliometric analysis of literature on signal amplification in aptamer-based tumor detection and elucidates the current status, hotspots, and prospective research directions within this realm. Additionally, it provides an important reference for researchers.

Holistic Approaches in Endometriosis - as an Effective Method of Supporting Traditional Treatment: A Systematic Search and Narrative Review.

Endometriosis is one of the gynecological diseases where women suffer from pain, quality of life decreased. The aim of this review was to describe the most common non-medical methods used in the treatment of symptoms associated with endometriosis and to determine their effectiveness. The review was performed in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases. Randomized controlled trials, case studies, observational studies, retrospective studies, prospective studies, pilot studies, trails, publications in English or Polish were searched based on the Participant-Intervention-Comparator-Outcomes-Study design (PICOS) format. The criteria used to select studies were: women with endometriosis, no cancer, included any physiotherapeutic or non-medical intervention. 3706 articles were found, however only 26 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Quality of the studies was assessed by Risk of Bias 2 tool and ROBINS-1 tool. The most holistic approach used in the treatment of symptoms of endometriosis include physical therapy, manual therapy, electrophysical agents acupuncture, diet and psychological interventions. Most research has focused on relieving pain and increasing quality of life. Non-medical methods showed reduction of symptoms of endometriosis. Physical activity, manual therapy, electrophysical agents, acupuncture, diet and cognitive behavioral therapy showed no negative side effects and reduced pain, what improved the quality of life and reduced the perceived stress.

The anglicization of science in China

Abstract The preeminence of English as the lingua franca in global science has led to English-dominant publication practices, even in non-English-speaking countries. We examine the complex dynamics of language use in scientific publications in China, a major contributor to global scientific output, and the tensions between English and the native language. By analyzing 2,209,987 multilingual publications from 183,457 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, we reveal a strong preference for English as the publication language in China, with 66.2% of publications in English versus 33.8% in Chinese. Key projects and natural sciences and engineering projects favor English more; regional projects and social sciences projects use Chinese more. However, English has a growing prevalence over the years across all research fields, project types, and publication venues. There is a negative correlation between the shares of English usage in journals and conference proceedings. We find only a minor overlap between English and Chinese-language publications, indicating unique contributions rather than repetitive content. However, Chinese-language publications are more likely to be similar to English-language publications. For highly similar cross-language publication pairs, the Chinese version tends to be published earlier. The findings underscore the risk of underestimating China’s scientific output by only counting English-language publications. We highlight the importance of creating a comprehensive multilingual database and the significant role of non-English-language research in global scientific discourse. Keywords: multilingual publishing; scientific communication; language policy; academic multilingualism; bibliometrics; quantitative analysis.

Iodine deficiency in Russia: Current state of the problem, global practice and new approaches to therapy

Iodine performs a number of important functions in the body, participating in the synthesis of thyroid hormones, which creates the need for constant replenishment of the element in adequate amounts. Continuous monitoring of micronutrient deficiency in the Russian Federation reveals low average daily iodine intake and an increase in the number of cases of thyroid diseases in the period from 2010 to 2020. This actualizes the need to develop new therapeutic and preventive approaches to replenish iodine deficiency. The aim of the review is to analyze the problem of iodine deficiency in Russia and existing practices of its leveling in order to develop a new approach to the prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency conditions. The sample includes publications in Russian and English in the period from 2002 to 2023, using the resources of scientific metric databases Elibrary, Google Scholar, CyberLeninka, PubMed and ScienceDirect. The research work showed that the common practice of eliminating iodine deficiency is to increase the level of consumption of the trace element in the diet, the consequence of which is the availability of a wide range of iodized food supplements and products on the market. However, the analysis of the current functional nutrition sector has revealed a number of drawbacks associated with low bioavailability of the element and its resistance to technological factors in the production of food products. The article presents the key factors influencing the effectiveness of nutritional supplements being developed for nutritional correction of iodine deficiency. They are based on the evaluation of existing means of prevention. The study proposes the development of the technology of whey hydrolysates enriched with iodine and zinc. Application in food production of a food additive based on protein components of milk whey opens new opportunities for processing of secondary dairy raw materials and for full utilization of all milk components. The rich amino acid composition of the additive helps to increase the concentration of essential trace elements in products, as amino acid residues are able to bind iodine and chelate zinc.

Use and Design of Virtual Reality-Supported Learning Scenarios in the Vocational Qualification of Nursing Professionals: Scoping Review.

Numerous reviews advocate using virtual reality (VR) in educational contexts. This medium allows learners to test experiences in realistic environments. Virtually supported scenarios offer a safe and motivating way to explore, practice, and consolidate nursing skills in rare and critical nursing tasks. This is also cited as one of the reasons why VR can significantly increase the knowledge acquisition of nursing students. Nevertheless, studies are limited in their significance owing to the chosen design. Despite great interest, this results in a low level of confidence in VR as a curricular teaching method for nursing education. Therefore, defining concrete design and didactic-methodological parameters that support teachers in the use and implementation of VR is more relevant. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of significant design aspects for VR scenario conception and its transfer to generalist nursing education to generate value for the development of teaching scenarios and their sustainable implementation in teaching. A comprehensive literature search was performed using the MEDLINE (via PubMed) and CINAHL databases, and the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist was applied. The search was conducted from May to July 2022, using a specific search principle corresponding to the focus and the growing study corpus. A previously defined "population, concept, and context" scheme was employed as the basis for the double-blind review of all relevant international German and English publications released up to May 1, 2022. In accordance with the predefined selection procedure, 22 publications were identified. The identified aspects aided in the development of design, didactic, and research recommendations. The intuitive operation of realistically designed VR scenarios, which are standardized, reliable, and modifiable, as well as clear instructions and specific multimodal feedback functions were described positively. The same applied to the linear structure of the sequences with graduated demands and high image quality for increased immersion with low sensory overload. Changes in perspectives, multiuser options, dialogs, and recording functions can contribute to an interactive care practice. On the research side, it is advisable to define VR terminologies. In addition to considering larger samples, varying settings, and financial issues, it is recommended to conduct long-term studies on knowledge acquisition or improved patient outcomes. VR scenarios offer high potential in the context of nursing education if teachers and learners develop them co-creatively according to design features and implement them by means of a well-conceived concept. VR enables trainees to develop practical skills continuously in a standardized way. In addition, its deployment supports the sensitization of trainees to digital nursing technologies and the expansion of their digital skills in a practical setting. Furthermore, it allows sustainability issues to be addressed.

Visual Analyses of Hot Spots and Frontiers in Zanthoxylum planispinum Research Based on CiteSpace

Zanthoxylum planispinum is a type of plant with homologous properties in medicine and food, making it well-loved in China. To explore the development of the Z. planispinum field over the past 20 years, its research hotspots and frontier trends were analyzed. This study conducted database-based visualization analyses and knowledge graph analyses using CiteSpace software with data concerning Z. planispinum published in the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and Web of Science databases between 2003 and 2023. Over the last 20 years, the number of Chinese and English publications on Z. planispinum has shown increasing trends. The foci of this research were mainly germplasm resources, cultivation management, seed oil extraction technology, flavonoid extraction technology, and correlation analyses of antioxidant activities. The main research frontiers included the unified standard naming and adaptation mechanisms of Z. germplasm resources, orientation cultivation, functional component extraction, processing technology research and development, and industrial chain construction. The results provide a scientific reference for the high-quality development of the prickly ash industry.

Efficiency of Microorganisms and Effectiveness of Biodegradation Techniques on LDPE Plastics: A Systematic Review.

The aim of the research was to demonstrate the efficiency of microorganisms and the effectiveness of biodegradation techniques on Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastics. The research question was: What is the efficiency of LDPE-degrading microorganisms and the effectiveness of biodegradation techniques? The systematic review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Articles were obtained from Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), Embase, and Google Scholar. The DeCS/Mesh search terms were: Low-density polyethylene, efficiency, biodegradation, microbial consortia, fungi, bacteria. Inclusion criteria were: scientific articles that included bacteria, fungi, and microbial consortia reported as LDPE degraders that report the percentage of weight loss; articles published from January 2010 to October 2022, and publications in Spanish and English with open access. Exclusion criteria were: studies that do not report gravimetry, the biodegradation time of LDPE, and the genus or species of the polyethylene-degrading microorganism. Out of 483 studies found, 50 were included in this Systematic Review (SR). The most frequent study techniques were scanning electron microscopy (SEM), gravimetry, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and in the case of microorganisms, the most studied belonged to the genus Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Aspergillus. Regarding the isolation place, the most frequent mentioned in the reviewed articles were landfill soil and sanitary landfill soil. The efficiency of LDPE-degrading microorganisms was higher in bacteria such as Enterobacter spp., Pantoea spp., Pseudomonas spp., Escherichia coli, and Bacillus spp., which obtained a range of DE of 9.00-70.00%, 24.00-64%, 1.15 - 61.00%, 45.00%, and 1.5-40% with DT of 4-150, 120, 4-150, 30, and 30-120 days, respectively; in the case of fungi, the main microorganisms are Neopestalotiopsis phangngaensis, Colletotrichum fructicola, and Thyrostroma jaczewskii with efficiencies of 54.34, 48.78, and 46.34%, in 90 days, respectively; and the most efficient microbial consortia were from Enterobacter spp. and Pantoea sp. with 38.00 - 81.00%, in 120 days; and, Pseudomonas protegens, Stenotrophomonas sp., B. vallismortis and Paenibacillus sp. with 55. 00 - 75.00% in 120 days. The most efficient microorganisms in LDPE degradation are Enterobacter spp., Pantoea spp., Pseudomonas spp., Escherichia coli, and Bacillus spp.; in fungi Neopestalotiopsis phangngaensis, Colletotrichum fructicola, and Thyrostroma jaczewskii; and in microbial consortia, those formed by Enterobacter spp. and Pantoea sp., and that of P. protegens, Stenotrophomonas sp., B. vallismortis and Paenibacillus sp.; and the most effective techniques used in LDPE biodegradation are SEM, gravimetry, and FTIR.

Introduction: Visibility, images, Palestine/Israel

This article aims to introduce the publication in English of Ruthie Ginsburg's ‘Citizens' Photography: A Comparative Analysis' (2018) and Regev Nathansohn's ‘Shooting Occupation: The Sociology of Visual Representation’ (2007), both of which deal in different ways with the visual representation of Palestine/Israel, and specially of the Israeli occupation. The article does this by discussing the subjects of visibility and images in relation to Palestine/Israel, with a focus on how the occupied territories are seen from within the Green Line.

Reframing and Expanding Sonoran Archaeology

Archaeologists acknowledge that contemporary nation state boundaries were irrelevant to precolonial populations. Notwithstanding, the boundary between the United States and México both physically and ideologically impacts language, where archaeologists are trained, how knowledge is disseminated, and what research questions are asked. Sonora's archaeology is generally classified within the Southwest/Northwest culture area; however, English publications are rare when compared to literature from north of the international border. This has created misconceptions that Sonora is an unexplored landscape and undermines decades of diverse binational collaborations and internal research conducted by Centro INAH Sonora. It also stifles our understanding of cultural connectivity across the Southwest/Northwest. The articles within this special issue showcase diverse topics in Sonoran archaeology. They range from identifying Archaic and Early Agricultural occupations to exploring contemporary community-based archaeologies. In all cases, authors reframe Sonora within larger academic discourses and to expand our current knowledge of the region's diverse culture histories.

Prevalence of Malocclusion Traits in Primary Dentition, 2010-2024: A Systematic Review.

The present review was aimed to describe the prevalence and the regional distribution of malocclusion among preschool children worldwide. Two independent reviewers performed a systematic literature search to identify English publications from January 2010 to May 2024 using PubMed, ISI Web of Science and Embase. Search MeSH key words were "malocclusion", "primary dentition" and "child, preschool". The reporting quality was assessed by the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. We identified 2599 publications and recruited 47 articles. Fourteen of the included studies were conducted in Asia, four in Europe, twenty-eight in South America and one in Africa. The prevalence of malocclusion ranged from 28.4% to 83.9%, and half of the reported prevalences were higher than 50%. The highest percentage was in Asia (61.81%), followed by Europe (61.50%), South America (52.69%) and Africa (32.50%). Statistically significant differences existed in deep overbite, anterior open bite, posterior crossbite, edge-to-edge incisor relationship and distal step between continents (p < 0.05). Europe showed the highest prevalence (33.08%) of deep overbite. Africa showed the highest prevalence (18.60%) of anterior open bite. Europe showed the highest prevalence (15.38%) of posterior crossbite. The most common malocclusion traits were increased overjet and deep overbite. To conclude, malocclusion remained prevalent in the primary dentition and varied between countries.

Colorectal cancer outcomes among Hispanic/Latino patients in the United States: a scoping review protocol.

This scoping review will identify the patterns of survival, treatment, and recurrence among Hispanic and/or Latino/a/x (H/L) patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) living in the United States (US) and Puerto Rico. Additionally, population- and individual-level determinants of cancer outcomes among H/L CRC patients will be mapped to highlight under-reported/under-investigated research areas. CRC is the third most common cancer excluding skin cancers in the US. Unlike non-Hispanic White populations, cancer is the number one cause of death in H/L populations and currently represents 21% of total deaths. Despite this, a lack of consensus exists on CRC outcomes for H/L patients. Most research on H/L individuals has examined incidence and screening of CRC, with fewer studies focusing on cancer outcomes. All epidemiological study designs and systematic reviews will be considered. The review will only include peer-reviewed studies that report on survival, treatment, and/or recurrence patterns for H/L patients with CRC residing in the US and Puerto Rico. A 3-step search with a 2-stage study selection process will be followed, as recommended by JBI and Arksey and O'Malley. Databases to be searched will include MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), and Scopus. A data extraction tool will be designed based on JBI recommendations. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRSIMA-ScR) will be used, with the results presented in a PRISMA diagram. Publications in English from database inception to the present will be considered. Open Science Framework https://osf.io/y6qf5.