Role of the Specialized Proresolving Mediator Resolvin D1 in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Preliminary Results by Luca Navarini, Tiziana Bisogno, Domenico Paolo Emanuele Margiotta, Alessandra Piccoli, Silvia Angeletti, Alice Laudisio, Massimo Ciccozzi, Antonella Afeltra, Mauro Maccarrone

“…The aim of the present pilot study is to evaluate plasma levels of RvD1 in patients with SLE and healthy subjects, investigating its potential role as a biomarker of SLE and assessing its relationship with disease activity and laboratory parameters. …”
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Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Combined with Robotic Rehabilitation Improves Upper Limb Function after Stroke by Fioravante Capone, Sandra Miccinilli, Giovanni Pellegrino, Loredana Zollo, Davide Simonetti, Federica Bressi, Lucia Florio, Federico Ranieri, Emma Falato, Alessandro Di Santo, Alessio Pepe, Eugenio Guglielmelli, Silvia Sterzi, Vincenzo Di Lazzaro

“…After intervention, there were no adverse events and Fugl–Meyer scores were significantly better in the real group compared to the sham group. Our pilot study confirms that VNS is feasible in stroke patients and can produce a slight clinical improvement in association to robotic rehabilitation. …”
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Circulating tumor DNA for surveillance in high-risk melanoma patients: a study protocol by Magnús P.B. Obinah, Sarah A. Al-Halafi, Karin Dreisig, Tim S. Poulsen, Christoffer Johansen, Thomas Litman, Stig E. Bojesen, Estrid Høgdall, Annette H. Chakera, Lisbet R. Hölmich

“…Results and Interpretation: For validation purposes, we conducted a small pilot study using blood samples from 10 patients who had experienced recurrence and had a clinically confirmed BRAF V600E mutation. …”
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The effectiveness and risks of Treating people with Idiopathic Pulmonary fibrosis with the Addition of Lansoprazole (TIPAL): study protocol for a randomised placebo-controlled mult... by Toby M Maher, A John Simpson, Anthony Cahn, David Thickett, Luke Vale, Allan B Clark, Nazia Chaudhuri, Ian Forrest, Lisa G Spencer, Christopher Ward, Stephen Jones, Ganesh Raghu, Andrew M Wilson, Helen Parfrey, Megan Jones, Matthew Hammond, Jaclyn Ann Smith, Shajahan Wahed

“…Although several observational studies and a pilot study have investigated the role of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in IPF, their efficacy is unknown and there is much debate in international IPF guidelines on their use. …”
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Bubbling insights: unveiling the true sophorolipid biosynthetic pathway by Starmerella bombicola by Sophie L. K. W. Roelants, Stijn Bovijn, Elvira Bytyqi, Nicolas de Fooz, Goedele Luyten, Martijn Castelein, Thibo Van de Craen, Zhoujian Diao, Karolien Maes, Tom Delmulle, Maarten De Mol, Sofie L. De Maeseneire, Bart Devreese, Wim K. Soetaert

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The Impact of Acute Aerobic Exercise on General and Food-Related Inhibitory Function Among Young Adults with Obesity: An Event-Related Potential (ERP) Study by Chun Xie, Tao Huang, Yingying Wang, Peisi Wang, Yanxia Chen, Jiali Qian, Guozhuang Chen, Kun Wang

“…However, due to the relatively small sample size, caution is advised when generalizing these findings to the broader population. The pilot test indicated that obese participants had difficulty sustaining high-intensity exercise at 80–90% of their maximum heart rate for a continuous or 20 min period, highlighting potential challenges in exercise adherence at high intensities within this population. …”
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Development and validation of the pain management competency scale for nurses and a nationwide survey of Chinese nurses by Yixue Wu, Xiang Pan, Lihui Gu, Yingge Tong, Siyi Chen, Ke Ni, Hangyan Du, Meng Yang, Jianyi Wang, Yi Chen, Yeling Wei, Lingling Luo, Wenqian Cheng

“…This was followed by refinement of the scale via Delphi expert consultations and a pilot test. To validate the scale, 342 nurses were conveniently sampled from six hospitals in Eastern and Central China. …”
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Chichimene field T2 sand: a successful application of cycles in a water injection project on heavy crude oil, enabled by a novel smart selective completion system adapted for water... by Pedro Luis Solorzano, Carlos Emilio Giosa, Carol Stephanny Rojas, Mónica Andrea Satizabal, Amelia Jhoanna Araque, Luisa Fernanda Falla, Walter Enrique Sanchez, Luis Oswaldo Castañeda, Mónica Alexandra Martínez, Diana Patricia Ahmedt

“…The case study establishes a new frontier in the field of selective injection and in cycles as well, allowing an evolution step in water injection technology. This pilot combined in one design: selective injection, intelligent remote operate completions, continuous layer injection measuring by DAS, extra heavy oil WF, management of high permeability variations and it is aligned with the latest regulations in decarbonization (water and energy saving). …”
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SMRT sequencing and ddPCR reveal the complexity of developmental trajectories and temporal dynamics of gut bifidobacterial communities in infants by Xu Gao, Tao Zhang, Xiaoye Bai, Qiannan Wen, Dongyu Li, Lai-Yu Kwok, Heping Zhang, Zhihong Sun

“…However, few studies have described the precise composition and dynamics of early infant gut bifidobacterial communities. Thus, this was a pilot study aiming to describe the developmental trajectories and temporal dynamics of bifidobacterial communities in infants before 6 months of age. …”
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Les aqueducs de Rome : les activités de la Surintendance capitoline, une contribution essentielle à la recherche by Marina Marcelli, Massimiliano Munzi

“…They are allocated different colours on the GIS map, and linked with forms used to evaluate the resources needed for scheduled interventions.A targeted research and restoration project is currently underway on the acquedotto Traiano-Paolo, unique among the aqueducts in that components that capture water from springs near the Bracciano lake basin as well as some 57 km of ancient channels are still functioning.In 2017 the Sovrintendenza, in collaboration with the managing company ACEA ATO2 and with the support of speleo-archaeological organizations, launched a project to explore and study the artefact and map it on a GIS, in order to monitor its state of preservation and to learn more about its complex system of water capture, adduction and redistribution, which is still largely preserved in the original Roman phase.Because of the complexity of the hydraulic system, a “pilot project” was developed to determine the survey and mapping methodologies. …”
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Effects of group communication norms on daily steps in a team-based financial incentive mobile phone intervention in Shanghai, China by Yingnan Jia, Yingcheng Xiao, Hao Chen, Klaus Gebel, Chengshu Li, Shuangyuan Sun, Qinping Yang, Siyuan Wang, Li Zhang, Jing Wang, Minna Cheng, Dantong Gu, Yan Shi, Ding Ding

“…‘nudging’ messages had a significant association with the change in individual-level step counts in the medium or long term. Trial registration Pilot Project of the application of walking incentive technology in occupational groups, 2019, ChiCTR1900023813. …”
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Responsabilidades civiles, éticas y legales del profesional de enfermería en Caaguazú, Paraguay by Gloria Sebastiana González Vázquez, Guiomar Viveros de Cabello, Julieta Mendez Romero, Cristian Villagra Gonzalez, Deysi Galeano

“…The technique used was the survey using an instrument with 25 questions, the questionnaire was validated through pilot testing and review by a panel of experts. Results. …”
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Microbiota, parasitic infections and their relationship with nutritional status and neurocognitive functioning in children from Ecuador—Proyecto Guagua: research protocol for a cro... by Sandra Victoria Abril-Ulloa, Tannia Valeria Carpio-Arias, Renata Alejandra Alvarado-Barba, Cristina Gabriela Ríos-Romero, Pamela Vinueza-Veloz, Sueny Paloma Lima-dos-Santos, Sueny Paloma Lima-dos-Santos, Igor Eduardo Astudillo-Skliarova, Igor Eduardo Astudillo-Skliarova, Ruth Irene Arias-Gutiérrez, Manuel Pérez-Quintana, Henk-Jan Boele, Henk-Jan Boele, Henk-Jan Boele, María Fernanda Vinueza-Veloz

“…We also plan to test the hypothesis that an altered microbiota mediates the influence of malnutrition on neurocognitive functioning and parasitosis.Ethics and disseminationProyecto Guagua received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of Universidad de Cuenca in July 2022. Following the pilot phase, an addendum and minor changes to the study design were approved in October 2022. …”
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Assessing the feasibility of measuring residents’ quality of life in English care homes and the construct validity and internal consistency of measures completed by staff proxy: a... by Claire Goodman, Julienne Meyer, Karen Spilsbury, Barbara Hanratty, Rachael Carroll, Adam L Gordon, Gizdem Akdur, Anne Killett, Jennifer Burton, Ann-Marie Towers, Stacey Rand, Nick Smith, Sinead Palmer, Stephen Allan, Lucy Anne Webster

“…Objectives To assess the feasibility of capturing older care home residents’ quality of life (QoL) in digital social care records and the construct validity (hypothesis testing) and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) of four QoL measures.Design Cross-sectional data collected in wave 1 of the DACHA (Developing resources And minimum dataset for Care Homes’ Adoption) study, a mixed-methods pilot of a prototype minimum dataset (MDS).Setting Care homes (with or without nursing) registered to provide care for older adults (>65 years) and/or those living with dementia. …”
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Experimental use of mycobacterial antigens in tuberculin skin test on water buffalo by Alessandra Martucciello, Federica Signorelli, Piera Mazzone, Francesco Grandoni, Giovanna Cappelli, Lucia Boccia, Giuseppe Parente, Monica Cagiola, Maria Beatrice Boniotti, Esterina De Carlo, Francesco Napolitano, Giorgio Galiero

“…The TST can involve the single intradermal test with bovine PPD (PPDB), or the comparative test adding a second injection with avian tuberculin (PPDA), using the couple of PPDs reduces false positives caused by non-tuberculosis mycobacteria. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the potential use of PPDB, PPDA, along with 6 kDa early secretory antigenic target (ESAT-6), 10 kDa culture filtrate protein (CFP-10), and Early Secretory Proteins (ESP) in the TST, in healthy and naturally TB infected buffaloes. …”
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Reactive agility training to prevent frailty in older adults – a randomized controlled trial. by Eric Lichtenstein, Martin Keller, Ralf Roth, Sebastian Ludyga, Oliver Faude

“…Agility-based exercise training compared to traditional strength and balance training in older adults: A pilot randomized trial. PeerJ, 8, e8781. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8781 Lichtenstein, E., Erlacher, D., & Gronwald, T. (2023). …”
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Effectiveness of Massive Open Online Course on Risk Communication Knowledge in Global Health Emergencies Among Nurses by Khin Thandar Aung, Rafiza Abdul Razak, Muhammad Fadli Zulkafley

“…This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a dedicated Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) designed to enhance nurses' risk communication knowledge in global health emergencies through testing with a small nurse sample in a pilot trial. This preliminary examination seeks participant feedback and insights. …”
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Faecal microbiota transplantation for patients with diabetes type 1 and severe gastrointestinal neuropathy (FADIGAS): a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trialResearch... by Katrine Lundby Høyer, Simon Mark Dahl Baunwall, Ditte Smed Kornum, Mette Winther Klinge, Asbjørn Mohr Drewes, Knud Bonnet Yderstræde, Louise Bruun Thingholm, Martin Steen Mortensen, Susan Mikkelsen, Christian Erikstrup, Christian Lodberg Hvas, Klaus Krogh

“…Methods: In a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot trial, adults with type 1 diabetes and moderate-to-severe gastrointestinal symptoms were randomised (1:1) to encapsulated FMT or placebo. …”
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Multi-spatial urban function modeling: A multi-modal deep network approach for transfer and multi-task learning by Zhaoya Gong, Chenglong Wang, Bin Liu, Binbo Li, Wei Tu, Yuting Chen, Zhicheng Deng, Pengjun Zhao

“…Enabling such a doubly-informed framework of urban theory and AI, this study provides a pilot demonstration for the new scientific paradigm of AI for Urban Science and Modeling.…”
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Description of global innovative methods in developing the WHO Community Engagement Package by Jackeline Alger, Don Mathanga, Semeeh Akinwale Omoleke, Noel Juban, Meredith Labarda, Obinna Ikechukwu Ekwunife, Obioma Nwaorgu, Allan Ulitin, Jana Deborah Mier-Alpaño, María Isabel Echavarría, Yolanda Vargas Bayugo, Jose Rene Bagani Cruz, Pauline Marie Padilla Tiangco, Ukam Ebe Oyene, Alberto Ong Jr, Marvinson See Fajardo, Barwani Khaura Msiska, Lorena Abella Lizcano, Natalia Gomez Quenguan, Claudia Ivette Nieto Anderson, Briana Yasmin Beltran, Elsy Denia Carcamo Rodriguez, Eduardo Salomón Núñez, Vera Nkosi-Kholimeliwa, Glory Mwafulirwa-Kabaghe

“…The package comprises four modules organised by major themes such as mobilising communities, strengthening health systems, CE in health emergencies and CE as a driver for health equity.Conclusion After pilot implementation, tools and resources were made available for training and continuous collection of novel CE lessons and experiences from diverse socio-geographical contexts.…”
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