Research Group Research Articles

Clinical Research Primer for Medical Students: Overview & Illustrative Experiences

Background The ability to participate in clinical scholarship is a foundational component of modern evidence-based medical practice, empowering improvement across essentially every aspect of clinical care. In tandem, the need for comprehensive exposure to clinical research has been identified as a critical component of medical student training and preparation for residency that is underserved by traditional undergraduate medical education (UME) models. The goal of the current work was to provide guidelines and recommendations to assist novice medical students in taking ownership of their research education. Methods The Clinical Research Primer was composed from pooled research documents compiled by the study authors and our institutional neurosurgery student research group. The Primer was then structured as the natural evolution of a research project from its inception through the submission process. Results We divided the foundational components of the Clinical Research Primer into seven domains, each representing a landmark in the development of a peer-reviewed study, and a set of skills critical for junior scholars to develop. These vital components included the following: Pitching & designing clinical studies, developing a research workflow, navigating the Institutional Review Board (IRB), data collection & analysis, manuscript writing & editing, submission mechanics, and tracking research projects for career development. Conclusion We anticipate that the tools included in the Clinical Research Primer will increase student research productivity and preparedness for residency. Although our recommendations are informed by our experiences within neurosurgery, they have been written in a manner that should generalize to almost any field of clinical study.

An Equity-Based Research Agenda to Promote Social Inclusion and Belonging for People With IDD.

Having a sense of social inclusion and belonging, typically characterized by our personal relationships and community participation, is the central essence of life for most people, yet it remains elusive for many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This article summarizes the work of a diverse group of researchers and advocates to propose 6 big-picture, equity-based goals to drive future research in the field: (1) understanding the role of intersectionality, (2) understanding intimate relationships, (3) promoting formation of communities of care to support social inclusion, (4) understanding life course trajectories of social inclusion, (5) understanding social inclusion in virtual spaces, and (6) understanding how to promote social inclusion in the entire research process.

TDP-43 Is Associated with Subiculum and Cornu Ammonis 1 Hippocampal Subfield Atrophy in Primary Age-Related Tauopathy.

TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) has been shown to be associated with whole hippocampal atrophy in primary age-related tauopathy (PART). It is currently unknown which subregions of the hippocampus are contributing to TDP-43 associated whole hippocampal atrophy in PART. To identify which specific hippocampal subfield regions are contributing to TDP-43-associated whole hippocampal atrophy in PART. A total of 115 autopsied cases from the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Neurodegenerative Research Group, and the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging were analyzed. All cases underwent antemortem brain volumetric MRI, neuropathological assessment of the distribution of Aβ (Thal phase), and neurofibrillary tangle (Braak stage) to diagnose PART, as well as assessment of TDP-43 presence/absence in the amygdala, hippocampus and beyond. Hippocampal subfield segmentation was performed using FreeSurfer version 7.4.1. Statistical analyses using logistic regression were performed to assess for associations between TDP-43 and hippocampal subfield volumes, accounting for potential confounders. TDP-43 positive patients (n = 37, 32%), of which 15/15 were type-α, had significantly smaller whole hippocampal volumes, and smaller volumes of the body and tail of the hippocampus compared to TDP-43 negative patients. Subfield analyses revealed an association between TDP-43 and the molecular layer of hippocampal body and the body of cornu ammonis 1 (CA1), subiculum, and presubiculum regions. There was no association between TDP-43 stage and subfield volumes. Whole hippocampal volume loss linked to TDP-43 in PART is mainly due to volume loss occurring in the molecular layer, CA1, subiculum and presubiculum of the hippocampal body.

Transparent wood-based materials: A new step toward sustainability and circularity

Wood is a natural composite material mainly consisting of three components, i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. It exhibits a complex hierarchical structure characterized by open channels, aligned in the growth direction, having specific porosity at micro-, meso-, and macro-scale, and an extended opacity, due to adsorption phenomena because of the presence of lignin and scattering, as different refractive indexes characterize its components. Even if during the historical ages some of its applications have been replaced by other materials, wood still covers a large part of common uses, which range from biomass for energy recovery to material for the building sector, or from artifacts to household/furniture manufacturing. Despite its real invention dating to 1992, only about ten years ago two independent research groups, one from the University of Maryland (USA) and the other from the Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) rediscovered and started to thoroughly investigate the so-called transparent wood (TW). TW can be derived from almost any wood biomass through specific chemical treatments focused on lignin. These aim to completely remove this component from wood or to eliminate the chromophore groups present in the pristine material, hence obtaining, after direct densification or after infiltration with a suitable polymer resin, a new material with very high transparency, toughness, and lightness. These characteristics can further be combined with other specific features (such as environmental protection, flame retardancy, photoluminescence, and energy storage ability, among others), which open the way toward the development of new, up-to-date, advanced, and sustainable materials for both structural and functional purposes, fulfilling the current concepts of circular economy and sustainability. The present review is aimed at providing the reader with an overview of the characteristics of transparent wood, describing the latest applications and, finally, discussing some challenging issues and perspectives for possible developments in the forthcoming years.

Pretos que voam – An Afrocentric Collective Project to Promote the Access of Peripheral Black People to Airline Crew Jobs in Brazil

Summary This case analyses the “Pretos que Voam” (Blacks who Fly) project, which aids the training of socially vulnerable black people to become flight attendants in Brazil. Since 2020, this project has been carried out by the collective Quilombo Aéreo, which brings together black crew members to aid the elimination of racism in aviation. One of the goals of this collective is to increase the representation of black people in the airline industry. Quilombo Aéreo ( 2022 ) conducted a survey of air crew members, using online forms based on self-identification, and found that black people do not reach 5% of active airline crews. The project is supported by crowdfunding and social partnerships like Fundação Tide Setúbal, Fundo Baobá for racial equity Rede de Mulheres Negras, Odabá Associação de Afroempreendedorismo, Movimento Negro Unificado and others. This made it possible to provide a complete course to become a flight attendant, a basic English course, air crew licences and a passport, and mentorship. In 2021, in Porto Alegre (RS), ten black people graduated in the first class – four women among them have already been hired by airlines. In 2022, the project raised funds to provide the first Afro-focused flight school in a distance learning model in Brazil. In 2023, they are working to start the operation of the school and crowdfunded a campaign for the second class of Pretos que Voam. Facing several forms of racism in Brazilian society and its airline industry, the project also dialogues with other forms of violence common in the sector, such as sexism and machismo . The case study examines concrete actions to transform the pain of its pioneers into fuel for structural changes, having as a framework the Afro culture and, as a scenario, a relevant mode of tourism transportation such as air travel. Information This case study originated from research into empowerment and intersectionalities between racism and sexism through the Quilombo Aéreo (see Further Reading). Here we focus specifically on the Pretos que Voam project, one of the actions developed by the collective. All authors are members of the research group Gritus – Gender, Race and Intersectionalities in Tourism , where this study was developed. Information © The Authors 2024

Comparative observation of the effectiveness and safety of remimazolam besylate versus dexmedetomidine in gastrointestinal surgery in obese patients.

Surgery for obese patients carries a higher risk of anesthesia complications compared with surgery for nonobese patients. Thus, a safe and effective anesthesia strategy is necessary to improve the medical experience of such patients and ensure their safety. To compared the effectiveness and safety of remimazolam besylate versus dexmedetomidine (DEX) in gastrointestinal surgery in obese patients. The study cohort included 60 obese patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery between July 2021 and April 2023, comprising 30 patients who received DEX intervention (control group) and 30 patients who received remimazolam besylate intervention (research group). Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), safety (nausea and vomiting, bradycardia, hypotension, and apnea), anesthesia and examination indices [induction time, anesthesia recovery time, and postanesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge time], sedation effect (Ramsay Sedation Scale), and postoperative pain visual analog scale were comparatively analyzed before anesthesia (T0), during anesthesia (T1), and after anesthesia (T2). At T1, the research group showed significantly smaller changes in HR, RR, MAP, and SpO2 than the control group, with a significantly lower adverse reaction rate and shorter induction, anesthesia recovery, and PACU discharge times. Additionally, the intra- and postoperative Ramsay Sedation Scale scores were statistically higher in the research group than in the control group. Remimazolam besylate was significantly more effective than DEX in gastrointestinal surgery in obese patients and had a higher safety profile and value in clinical promotion.

Reversal of lipopolysaccharide-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via α7nAChR by dexmedetomidine.

This study aims to analyze the reversal of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via α7nAChR by dexmedetomidine (Dex), so as to provide references for clinical treatment of myocardial disorders in the future. First, the research team divided cardiomyocytes (H9C2) were divided into a control group (normal culture), an LPS group (LPS-induced injury model), and an experimentalgroup (pretreated with Dex before LPS induction). Subsequently, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cell activity were detected, and the research team found that the LDH content of the control, experimental and LPS groups were in ascending order (P<0.05). The cell viability decreased and apoptosis increased in the LPS group, with cells mainly concentrating in the G2-M phase; the viability increased and apoptosis decreased in the experimental group, with blocked G1-G0 phase (P<0.05).This demonstrates that Dex can reverse LPS-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Subsequently, the research group also detected the expression of α7nAChR and NF-κB/AKT pathway, and it was seen that the expression of α7nAChR in the LPS group was higher than that in the control group, with activated NF-κB/AKT pathway; the α7nAChR expression in the experimental group was further elevated, but the NF-κB/AKT pathway was inhibited (P<0.05). The effects of Dex on cardiomyocytes were seen to be related to the α7nAChR and NF-κB/AKT pathways.

Effect of high-flux hemodialysis plus compound-α Ketoacid tablets under humanistic care on calcium-phosphorus metabolism in uremia patients.

Uremia (UR) is a terminal renal failure manifestation with a very high risk of death, high-flux hemodialysis (HFHD) is currently the most common treatment for UR in clinical practice. In this study, we analysed the therapeutic efficacy of HFHD plus Compound-α Ketoacid Tablets for UR under humanistic care. Firstly, we randomised 100 patients with UR into a research group (RG) for HFHD plus Compound-α Ketoacid Tablets therapy and a control group (CG) for HFHD treatment, with both therapies implemented under humanistic care. By way of comparison, we found that the study group had significantly better renal function after treatment and they had a lower inflammatory response. Also, the study group showed lower calcium and phosphorus metabolism and better immune function. Based on these results, we believe that HFHD + Compound-α Ketoacid Tablets under humanistic care have high clinical value.

AlgoRitmo Literacies In Gaming: Leveraging Chicanx Praxis To Reimagine AI Systems

ABSTRACTThis article reports on findings from a social design‐based study conducted with an intergenerational group of youth, educators and researchers participating in the Learning to Transform (LiTT) Gaming Lab. We advance the notion of AlgoRitmo Literacies, to highlight the ingenuity of youth and educators as they used a tool called Character AI to author lore emerging within a virtual city called LiTT City. We conceptualize AlgoRitmo—a play on the word algorithm—as part inquiry and reflection (the algo or “something” of AI tools), and part action and future‐oriented (ritmo as in movement). Inspired by cosmogonies influenced by Coyolxauhqui, the fragmented Aztec moon goddess, this paper illustrates how young people reconfigure AI artifacts, reshape relationships with AI‐governed non‐playable characters, and repurpose AI tools to envision alternative futures and identities. In identifying AlgoRitmo Literacies, we provide examples of how ChicanX communities subvert ideologies embedded in AI through creative and ingenious interventions in video games and the construction of cyborg Chicanx subjectivities. This paper offers implications for how educators across content areas can leverage gaming, and AI tools, toward consequential literacy development.

Saved by the Moon: Imaginaries of Earthly Afterlife in Space

Today, emergent space technology engages in visions of future off-world colonizing, while conservation technology is employed in ensuring the continuation of life on earth. In this article, we combine social science of outer space literature with biodiversity conservation work to analyze how utopian visions of off-world futures and dystopian visions of earth entangle in technoscientific future-making practices. Our case is the Lunar Ark, which is a proposed technoscientific project for a conservation base to be assembled inside the moon’s lava tubes comprising samples of the earth’s ecosystems. We investigate two interwoven imaginaries involving an imaginary of the Lunar Ark as a “reseeding of earth” and secondly, an imaginary in which the Lunar Ark becomes a platform for “escaping earth.” Based on scientific papers, web material, news articles, an interview with the head of the research group, and ethnographic observations, we conclude that the Lunar Ark engages with a speculative bioeconomy, wherein earth is imagined as an unstable and unfit protector of life. In contrast, the Lunar Ark emerges as a pan-humanitarian and maternal-like technoscientific environment.

A comprehensive characterization of Hermetia illucens derived chitosan produced through homogeneous deacetylation

The increasing demand for chitin and chitosan is driving research to explore alternative sources to crustaceans. Insects, particularly bioconverters as Hermetia illucens, are promising substitutes as they process food industry waste into valuable molecules, including chitin. Chitosan can be produced by chitin deacetylation: hot deacetylation to obtain a heterogeneous chitosan, the commonly produced, and cold deacetylation to obtain a homogeneous chitosan, not widely available. The two different treatments lead to a different arrangement of the amine and acetyl groups in the chitosan structure, affecting its molecular weight, deacetylation degree, and biological activity. This is the first report on the production and chemical-physical and biological characterization of homogenous chitosan derived from H. illucens larvae, pupal exuviae, and adults. This work, in addition to the report on heterogeneous chitosan by our research group, completes the overview of H. illucens chitosan. The yield values obtained for homogeneous chitosan from pupal exuviae (3 and 7 %) are in the range of insect (2–8 %) and crustaceans (4–15 %) chitosan. The evaluation of the antioxidant activity and antimicrobial properties against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Micrococcus flavus) bacteria confirmed the great versatility of H. illucens chitosan for biomedical and industrial applications and its suitability as an alternative source to crustaceans.

Mechanisms of Change in Exposure Therapy for Anxiety and Related Disorders: A Research Agenda

Anxiety and related disorders are a significant public-health burden with rising prevalence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As demand for effective anxiety treatment increases, so too does the need for strategies to bolster treatment outcomes. Research on the mechanisms of exposure therapy, the frontline behavioral treatment, will be critically important for optimizing clinical outcomes. We outline an initial agenda for future research on the mechanisms of change of exposure therapy, developed in collaboration with a large international team of researchers through the Exposure Therapy Consortium. Key questions and recommendations for future research focus on four priority areas: conceptualization, measurement, study design/analysis, and individual/contextual differences. Rising to the challenge of addressing these questions will require coordinated action and availability of centralized tools that can be used across trials, settings, and research groups.

Research on Madrasas in International Publications: Bibliometric Analysis with Vosviewer

The large number of studies on madrasas on Scopus means that madrasas can be used as an option for researchers in conducting research. This research aims to look at the grouping and novelty of keywords using Vosviewer. This research used 323 documents that had been sorted according to keywords. From the results of the analysis, there are fourteen research groups based on keywords in madrasa research in the Scopus database, namely improving educational practices in madrasas, developing madrasa education in rural areas, preserving architectural heritage in madrasas, improving the Arabic language curriculum in Aliyah madrasas, Islamic pedagogy and practice. memorization, heritage preservation and restoration techniques, Islamic boarding school management, integration of character in online learning during the pandemic, madrasas and maktab religious education and national training, teacher performance and academic achievement, development of religious character, leadership in moral education, environmental learning in Muslim communities, as well as the study of Islamic history. Meanwhile, the novelty of keywords such as mausoleum, Islamic boarding schools, learners, character building, online learning, emotional intelligence, critical thinking skills, and learning outcomes indicates the novelty of the keywords so that these keywords can be used as research recommendations in research on madrasas in the Scopus database.

Bibliometric Analysis of the Development of International Scientific Collaboration of Nguyen Tat Thanh University (Vietnam) over the last Decade

This study explores the key features of scientific articles resulting from international collaborations between Nguyen Tat Thanh University (NTTU), a private higher educational body in Vietnam, and scholars from other countries during the 2011-2023 period. Metadata of 1505 articles indexed in the Scopus database has been downloaded to conduct a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny software. Findings reveal that NTTU’s international collaboration publication record can be divided into two main sub-periods: before 2018, accounting for only 9% of the total publication, and after 2019, comprising over 91%. The major contributors to NTTU’s international collaboration come from scholars in Korea, the USA, and Singapore, while contributions from scholars in other countries are relatively less significant. Only three strong research groups are identified, led by some permanent scientists of NTTU, and some from other institutions in Vietnam, Singapore and the USA. Consequently, the diversity of strong research directions of NTTU is somewhat restricted, primarily focusing on a few specific topics with medical science, wastewater treatment, adsorption, and photocatalysis. Excluding most cited articles in the field of medical science, main authors of nine over ten the top cited articles in other research fields are not permanent scientists of NTTU, suggesting that contributions of NTTU in these important studies were not significant.

The Effect of the Lorsbach Model on Developing Sensory Thinking for First-Grade Female Students in Science

Experimental design with two equal groups, and the research sample consisted of Governorate, for the academic year (2023-2024). The researchers adopted an limited to first-grade female students in the city of Mosul, the center of Nineveh of the research, the researchers formulated the null hypothesis. The research was formal achievement of first-grade female students in science). To achieve the goal The current research seeks to find out (the effect of the Lorsbach model on the Steps for using it in the classroom environment teachers on the importance of the Lorsbach model and its effectiveness. And and introductory seminars for male and female first-grade primary school General Directorate of Nineveh Education to hold workshops, training courses, including: directing the training and professional development divisions in the researchers presented a number of recommendations to executive agencies, according to the Lorsbach model, and in light of the results and conclusions, the experimental group with The highest arithmetic mean, which was studied between the two groups in the mock achievement test, in favor of the research results showed: the presence of a statistically significant difference reached ( 74, 0). After processing the data and using the statistical package, the using the equation (Couder - Redchadson - 20), where the reliability coefficient The reliability of the test was confirmed. test in science, consisting of (20) items To measure the dependent variable, The researchers prepared an achievement variables: (the female students' chronological age in months, intelligence level). conducted equivalence between the two research groups with the following control group who will study according to the usual method. The researchers will study according to the Lorsbach model and (34) female students for the (66) female students, with (32) female students for the experimental group who.

Algorithmic counterspaces: exploring Afro-Latino youth information practices using TikTok

Purpose This paper investigates the digital information practices of Afro-Latino youth, focusing on their engagement with mental health content on TikTok. It aims to understand how racial and ethnic identity dimensions shape their information behaviors in digital spaces. Design/methodology/approach Employing qualitative methods, the study involved interviews with thirteen Afro-Latino teens. This exploratory approach, draws connections between Afro-Latino identity and information practices using three constructs: (i) typology of information practices, (ii) intersectionality, and (iii) assemblages. Findings The study reveals that Afro-Latino youth actively construct “information assemblages” and “algorithmic counterspaces” on TikTok, enabling them to engage with content that resonates with their identities. However, it also highlights the challenges posed by these spaces' temporary and algorithm-dependent nature in maintaining consistent engagement with mental health information. Research limitations/implications The research is limited by its small sample size and focus on a single platform, which may affect generalizability. Future research should explore other platforms, and draw a deeper distinction between content creators and other users. Practical implications This paper underscores the need for designers and educators to prioritize the importance of algorithmic literacy and design affordances that empower users to transparently understand algorithmic functionality, so as to support on-going engagement with algorithmic counterspaces. Originality/value This research offers novel insights into the digital information practices of Afro-Latino youth, a typically underrepresented group in academic research. It introduces new concepts in information science and digital media studies, highlighting the importance of intersectional identities in digital information practices.

Disclaiming knowledge to encourage participation in research group meetings

This study investigates instances where experienced researchers make explicit claims of lack of knowledge (e.g., ‘I have to reveal my ignorance completely’) in the context of paper discussions during research group meetings. Drawing on multimodal interaction analysis, the analysis focuses on epistemic disclaimers in their sequential contexts, and the local management of institutional identities and domains of knowledge. The analyzed data draw from video-ethnographic work involving participant observation and video recordings at a research program in Physical Chemistry at a Swedish university. Focusing on epistemic disclaimers occurring in first pair-parts, the analysis explores how senior researchers employ disclaimers to mark the eliciting function of their questions, as they work to encourage participation by opening the floor while positioning co-participants as (more) knowledgeable. The results evidence how the accomplishment of peer collaboration and knowledge distribution in scientific work involves the management of rights and responsibilities with respect to knowledge and scientific expertise.

Revolutionizing Schedules: The Power of AI in Physician Practices.

Since the early 2000s, artificial intelligence (AI) has raised concerns regarding its use in healthcare to manage vast amounts of patient data, ensure proper handling, and maintain robust security measures. Nevertheless, contemporary healthcare organizations are exploring ways AI can safely enhance operational efficiency and support their patient populations. Successful, evidence-based utilization relies on a well-defined ambulatory strategy, and operational efficiency must be foundational to that strategy. Patient no-shows and appointment compliance, especially in the context of social determinants of health such as access, present inherent obstacles to patient and provider satisfaction, continuity of care, practice productivity, and the financial sustainability of an organization. To address these obstacles, Berkeley Research Group has been working with Phoebe Physician Group. Their shared objective is twofold: enhance patient encounter volume and the associated revenue. This article provides insights into the steps taken to integrate AI and machine learning to mitigate the problem of no-shows by automatically double-booking appointments for patients with a high probability of not showing up. A glimpse into the outcomes achieved and lessons learned throughout the process also is presented.

Group for Research in Pathology Education at the International Association of Medical Science Educators (GRIPE@IAMSE), 52nd Annual Meeting, 2023, Cancun, Mexico.

Group for Research in Pathology Education at the International Association of Medical Science Educators (GRIPE@IAMSE), 52nd Annual Meeting, 2023, Cancun, Mexico.

The KISS Network in 2015–2016: Catalogs and Comparison of the Processing Results with Operational Estimates from the Permanent Network

As part of the international collaboration of several research groups from Russia, France, and Germany, 77 temporary seismic stations were installed in the summer of 2015 for one-year period to conduct a detailed study of the deep structure of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle in the region of the Klyuchevskoi Volcano Group (KGV) in the Kamchatka Peninsula. One of the results of the KISS experiment (Klyuchevskoi Investigation – Seismic Structure of an extraordinary volcanic system) was the final catalog of the joint data from the temporary stations and the permanent network of the Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences (KB GS RAS). The catalog comprises 2136 events, including 560 for which the permanent network catalog lacked sufficient data for correct processing. The catalog in .xlsx format and the station bulletin in .isf format are presented in the supplementary material to the paper. A comparative analysis was conducted on the joint solutions of two catalogs: one obtained solely from the data of the KB GS RAS permanent network stations and another from a denser seismic network integrated with KISS stations.