Search

Summary: TSPEAR variants cause autosomal recessive ectodermal dysplasia (ARED) 14. The function of TSPEAR is unknown. The clinical features, the mutation spectrum, and the underlying mechanisms of ARED14 are poorly understood. Combining data from new and previously published individuals established that ARED14 is primarily characterized by dental anomalies such as conical tooth cusps and hypodontia, like those seen in individuals with WNT10A-related odontoonychodermal dysplasia. AlphaFold-predicted structure-based analysis showed that most of the pathogenic TSPEAR missense variants likely destabilize the β-propeller of the protein. Analysis of 100000 Genomes Project (100KGP) data revealed multiple founder TSPEAR variants across different populations. Mutational and recombination clock analyses demonstrated that non-Finnish European founder variants likely originated around the end of the last ice age, a period of major climatic transition. Analysis of gnomAD data showed that the non-Finnish European population TSPEAR gene-carrier rate is ∼1/140, making it one of the commonest AREDs. Phylogenetic and AlphaFold structural analyses showed that TSPEAR is an ortholog of drosophila Closca, an extracellular matrix-dependent signaling regulator. We, therefore, hypothesized that TSPEAR could have a role in enamel knot, a structure that coordinates patterning of developing tooth cusps. Analysis of mouse single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data revealed highly restricted expression of Tspear in clusters representing enamel knots. A tspeara−/−;tspearb−/− double-knockout zebrafish model recapitulated the clinical features of ARED14 and fin regeneration abnormalities of wnt10a knockout fish, thus suggesting interaction between tspear and wnt10a. In summary, we provide insights into the role of TSPEAR in ectodermal development and the evolutionary history, epidemiology, mechanisms, and consequences of its loss of function variants.

This study reviews factors affecting Muslim consumer behavior towards halal food products, using bibliometric analysis to identify key research trends and influential works in the field. A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 613 peer-reviewed articles from the Scopus database (2015-2024), using VOSviewer to visualize co-citation, keyword clusters, and research themes. The analysis reveals that religious beliefs, halal certification trust, and perceived product quality are key drivers of halal food purchasing behavior. Interest in halal products is growing globally, appealing to both Muslim and non-Muslim consumers due to perceived ethical and safety standards. The study identifies top contributors, influential journals, and leading countries in halal food research. Insights suggest further exploration into halal certification for alternative proteins, sustainability, and comparative studies across diverse regions. The findings are useful for researchers and businesses targeting the global halal market. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric review of halal consumer behavior, highlighting trends and research gaps. It is essential for those seeking to understand the evolving dynamics of the halal food sector. Keywords: Halal Food, Consumer Behavior, Halal Certification, Bibliometric Analysis, VOSviewer

Abstract The pharmaceutical industry has been primarily focused on developing synthetic drugs to address orofacial pain (OFP)-related conditions. There is limited knowledge regarding the efficacy of the use of herbal extracts in treating OFP. A systematic review and a meta-analysis of 62 randomized controlled trials assessing the analgesic effects of herbal extracts on pain intensity in various orofacial conditions was conducted. The intervention comprised the use of herbal extracts compared with a placebo and/or standard treatment. The primary outcome was pain intensity assessed before and after the intervention. The pain scores were compared with the baseline scores in each treatment. When compared with standard therapy, the pooled results of the patients who received herbal extracts revealed lower pain intensity in periodontal pain (MD = -0.92[-6.69, 4.85]), oral surgery pain (MD = 18.80[8.80, 28.79]), oral neuropathic pain (MD = 20.34[6.16, 34.52]), endodontic pain (MD = -8.04[-11.72, -4.37]), oral mucosal pain (MD = 8.74[2.76, 14.73]), and temporomandibular pain (MD = 30.94[6.04, 55.83]). The findings indicated a pain-attenuating effect of herbal extracts such as cannabis, turmeric, capsaicin, licorice, ginger, chamomile, clove, Hypericum perforatum, and Arnica montana. These findings revindicate that herbal extracts may be valuable alternatives to traditional pain medications and promising source for the development of new active ingredients for pharmaceuticals.

Abstract Background and objective Tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) is required when repair is not feasible, and it continues to be a relatively high-risk procedure owing to the complex medical and/or surgical profile of patients. The choice between mechanical and biological prostheses for TVR remains a subject of debate owing to their distinct advantages and disadvantages. This study aimed to analyse and compare the clinical outcomes of these two types of prostheses in the tricuspid position. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the COCHRANE library were searched from 1995 to April 2023 for studies comparing clinical outcomes of mechanical versus biological valves in the tricuspid position. Data on 30-day mortality, reoperations, 5-year valve failure rates, thrombotic/thromboembolic events, and long-term survival were extracted, pooled, and analysed. Forest plots were generated using a random-effects model. Results From an initial pool of 4716 citations, 37 studies meeting our inclusion criteria were assessed, collectively encompassing 8316 prostheses (3796 mechanical, 4520 bioprostheses). Our analysis revealed that mechanical valves exhibited a non-significant trend towards diminished 30-day mortality (RR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.69–1.06). A distinct disparity emerged in valve durability, with mechanical valves demonstrating a significantly increased risk of 5-year valve failure (RR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.38–3.56). Strikingly, mechanical valves displayed a substantial six-fold elevated risk of thrombotic events (RR = 6.29, 95% CI = 3.98–9.92). In contrast, the long-term survival and reoperation rates demonstrated no statistically significant differences between the two valve types. Conclusions This systematic review and meta-analysis provides insights into the selection of mechanical and bioprosthetic valves for TVR. These findings highlight the potential advantages and disadvantages of mechanical and bioprosthetic valves in terms of early mortality, valve durability, and thrombotic risk. Our analysis provides clinicians with evidence-based guidance for optimizing outcomes in TVR, offering a foundation for informed decision-making in this intricate surgical landscape. Despite these insights, clinicians must overcome the limitations of retrospective studies, evolving healthcare, and anticoagulant disparities to ensure careful consideration in tricuspid valve replacement decisions.

This study explores ICT profiles of teacher educators to understand personal, pedagogical and organisational factors affecting technology use in teacher education. After delineating latent profiles based on survey data, 12 teacher educators were interviewed on technology integration in educational settings for a deeper insight. Based on the Synthesis of Qualitative Research model developed to outline strategies for preparing preservice teachers to integrate technology, findings revealed key issues including teacher educators' classroom stance as role models for effective technology use, importance of technological-pedagogical content knowledge in designing technology-enriched learning environments, peer collaboration and avoidance of using technology regardless of pedagogical concerns. Issues related to assessment, professional development, attitudes and ICT competency were raised. Findings are discussed considering potential consequences for current practices and areas of future research.

The digitalisation of education has been emphasised over the last two decades, affecting and developing both the theories and practices of teaching and learning. Considering these developments, the need for addressing teachers' and students' digital competence has gained ground. In the last few years, the concept of digital agency has been noted in empirical and theoretical research - broadly focusing on the integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) in education. Nonetheless, how digital agency is understood and how it relates to the more established concept of digital competence remains unclear. To address this gap, we conducted a conceptual systematic review and examined the current state of the knowledge on digital agency. Specifically, we review the conceptualisations of digital agency, its underlying theoretical frameworks, and how it relates to digital competence and similar concepts. Database searches resulted in 32 publications, with the majority published in education and design journals and stemming from Scandinavian countries. Our findings show that out of 32 studies, only one aimed at defining digital agency explicitly. Nevertheless, for the last three years, digital agency has been more frequently used in the body of literature, emphasising the design and transformation of teaching and learning with technology towards a 'new normal' considering the post-pandemic era and lessons learned. Reviewing the extant body of knowledge on digital agency, we review the strengths and weaknesses of the concept and compare it to the more established notion of digital competence. Finally, we discuss implications for policy, research, and practice in education.

Meta-analyses and international large-scale assessments (ILSA) are key sources for informing educational policy, research, and practice. While many critical research questions could be addressed by drawing evidence from both of these sources, meta-analysts seldom integrate ILSAs, and current integration practices lack methodological guidance. The aim of this methodological review is therefore to synthesize and illustrate the principles and practices of including ILSA data in meta-analyses. Specifically, we (a) review four ILSA data inclusion approaches (analytic steps, potential, challenges); (b) examine whether and how existing meta-analyses included ILSA data; and (c) provide a hands-on illustrative example of how to implement the four approaches. Seeing the need for meta-analyses on educational inequalities, we situated the review and illustration in the context of gender differences and socioeconomic gaps in student achievement. Ultimately, we outline the steps meta-analysts could take to utilize the potential and address the challenges of ILSA data for meta-analyses in education.

Since challenging behaviors are present in classrooms, it is imperative to understand how teachers acknowledge and respond to these unwanted actions within their schools. The overarching purpose of this study is to understand schoolteachers' perspectives on the causes of students' unwanted behaviors and their responses in the classroom. The study was also designed to explore schoolteachers' perspectives on the relationship between the students' challenging behavior and disability. A total of 1,056 Ghanaian (n=502) and Namibian (n=554) schoolteachers were surveyed to identify their understanding of causes of their students' challenging behavior and how they addressed the behaviors. Results of the study indicated that the teachers perceived challenging behavior as related to discipline and not disability. Most teachers also believed that both home and school environmental factors influenced challenging behavior. Furthermore, most schoolteachers from both countries did not believe that physical punishment was an effective way to address challenging behavior and did not support its use in schools. Teacher training programs in both countries need to emphasize the use of evidence-based proactive strategies to address students' challenging behavior in order to minimize the use of punitive strategies such as physical punishment.

Purpose: To (1) systematically assess which orthobiologic agents are being used in acetabular labral repairs and (2) report all available outcomes for patients undergoing operative management for labral repairs with orthobiologic agents. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were queried in August 2023. Articles were included if they used an orthobiologic agent during hip arthroscopy for acetabular labral repair and reported functional outcomes. Each study was queried for demographic data, orthobiologic agent used, volume of agent used, imaging modality used to guide administration, follow-up period, and all reported outcomes. The following Boolean phrase was used to systematically search the current literature: ((Orthobiologics) OR (Platelet-rich plasma) OR (PRP) OR (Mesenchymal stem cells) OR (MSCs) OR (Hyaluronic acid) OR (Growth factors) OR (bone marrow aspirate) OR (BMAC)) AND (hip joint OR (acetabular labrum) OR (Chondrolabr∗ damage) OR (Chondrolabr∗ tear)) AND (outcome∗ OR function∗ OR PROM OR PRO OR arthr∗ OR image OR pain OR complication). Results: Three studies met the inclusion criteria and included 201 patients who received treatment with orthobiologic agents. Of these patients, 119 (59.7%) were women, with age ranging from 35 to 49 years. Ninety-seven patients (48.3%) received bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), and 104 (51.7%) received platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Both BMAC studies showed no significant improvements compared with controls; however, a subanalysis limited to patients with moderate cartilage damage who received BMAC showed significantly improved 2-year patient-reported outcome measures (International Hip Outcome Tool 33 score, 82.5 vs 69.5; P = .03). The one PRP study did not show significant improvements compared with controls. No complications were noted after either PRP or BMAC harvesting and application in any included study. Conclusions: Overall, BMAC and PRP do not significantly improve patient-reported outcome measures compared with controls. However, there is limited evidence that BMAC may help patients with moderate cartilage damage. Level of Evidence: Level III, systematic review of Level II and III studies.

This manuscript presents enhanced versions of two methods: the natural transform iterative method (NTIM) and the q-homotopy analysis method (q-HAM). These methods harness concepts from Fractional Calculus, particularly leveraging the Caputo fractional derivative operator, to successfully manage the complexities of fractional-order systems. To validate their accuracy and efficiency, we applied the proposed techniques to FPDEs like the fractional-order KDV-Burger and fifth-order Sawada–Kotera equations. Our outcomes, which closely resemble the exact solutions, demonstrate how useful NTIM and q-HAM are for solving difficult FPDEs and improving the study of fractional calculus.

Purpose: This study discusses the role of spirituality and religiosity in predicting integrity moderated by the religious involvement of local government auditors. Design/methodology/approach: Data collection was conducted by distributing paper-based questionnaires to 122 local government auditor respondents in two regions in West Java, Indonesia. Findings: This study found that spirituality and religiosity have a positive and significant relationship with auditor integrity. Research limitations/implications: Inspectorate in two regions in West Java, Indonesia. Practical implications: Spirituality and religiosity will increasingly influence the integrity of auditors when accompanied by the auditor's religious involvement. Originality/value: Religiosity and spirituality have a significant influence on auditor integrity. However, religious involvement only moderates the relationship between religiosity and integrity, not spirituality and integrity. Paper type: Research paper