A guide to preprinting for early-career researchers

The use of preprints, research manuscripts shared publicly before completing the traditional peer-review process, is becoming a more common practice among life science researchers. Early-career researchers (ECRs) benefit from posting preprints as they are shareable, citable, and prove productivity. However, preprinting a manuscript involves a discussion among all co-authors, and ECRs are often not the decision-makers. Therefore, ECRs may find themselves in situations where they are interested in depositing a preprint but are unsure how to approach their co-authors or advisor about preprinting. Leveraging our own experiences as ECRs, and feedback from the research community, we have constructed a guide for ECRs who are considering preprinting to enable them to take ownership over the process and to raise awareness about preprinting options. We hope that this guide helps ECRs to initiate conversations about preprinting with co-authors and encourage them to preprint their future research

A golden ratio for foramen magnum: an anatomical pilot study

Background: The foramen magnum (FM) is an important landmark because of its close relationship to key structures such as the brainstem and spinal cord, an extension of the medulla oblongata. Because of the similarity in their shape, the existence of a relationship between cranial length and anteroposterior diameter of the FM, and between cranial width and transverse diameter of the FM may reveal the magnificent harmony of the skull and FM. Based on this idea, we investigated the existence of this harmony in skulls that we used in our study. Materials and methods: In this study, 60 adult dry skulls belonging to the Turkish population were examined. The anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the foramen magnum and the length and width of the skull were measured. Measurements were made directly on the skull using a digital sliding caliper. New indices and ratios were applied with those measurements. Results: Our study suggests that FM width and FM length could be estimated by using the cranial length and cranial width measurements in the skull by accepting the mean of these coefficients (4.62) as the golden ratio. The average of the coefficients of cranial width to FM width ratio [4.62 ± 0.35 (95% CI: 4.52-4.70)] and the average of the coefficients of cranial length to the FM length ratio [4.62 ± 0.50 (95% CI): 4.49-4.76)] were found to be equal to each other. In order to check the accuracy of this hypothesis, FM width and FM lengths were estimated with the help of new equations. Conclusions: In the present study, the ratio between the anteroposterior and transverse diameters of both FM and the cranium was estimated at 4.62, indicating a magnificent harmony between cranial and subcranial structures. With this ratio, it is easy to estimate FM's size based on simple cranial measurements

Use of human nail for reconstruction of the orbital floor: an experimental study in rabbits

The orbital floor is the thinnest part of the orbital wall, and in 20% of all maxillofacial injuries it is fractured. Autografts, allografts, and alloplastic materials are used in reconstruction, but there is no consensus about which material is the most appropriate. Nail is a semirigid material that is easy to reshape and is not antigenic. Alloplastic materials, which are used in reconstructions of the orbital floor, have various complications and are expensive. Autografts have donor-site problems, high rates of resorption, and take a long time to do. We created bilateral 10 mm defects in the orbital floors in 18 New Zealand rabbits. We reconstructed the left orbital floors with double-ground human nail while the right orbital floors were left open as controls. The orbital floors were examined macroscopically and microscopically at 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively, and there were no macroscopic signs of infection, inflammation, or extrusion. Forced duction tests showed that it was possible to induce movement of the eyeball for all 18 of the reconstructed sides throughout the observation period, and in 14 of the 18 rabbits on the control sides. Positive forced duction test shows us that orbital muscles are trapped in orbital floor defect and due to this movement of eyeball is restricted. Acute and chronic inflammation, fibrosis, vascularisation, and the presence of foreign body giant cells were evaluated microscopically. Acute inflammation and the presence of foreign body giant cells were recorded as mild, whereas fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and vascularisation were severe, as were epithelialisation on the maxillary sinus side of the nails, calcification, and progression of collagen. We found no signs of resorption of the nails. © 2016 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

A Guide to Preprinting for Early Career Researchers

The use of preprints, research manuscripts shared publicly before the traditional peer-review process, is becoming more common in the life sciences. Early career researchers (ECRs) benefit from posting preprints as they are shareable, citable, and prove productivity. However, the decision to preprint a manuscript involves a discussion among all co-authors, and ECRs are often not the decision-makers. Therefore, ECRs may find themselves in situations where they are interested in posting a preprint but are unsure how to approach their co-authors or advisor about preprinting. Leveraging our own experiences as ECRs, and feedback from the research community, we have constructed a guide for ECRs who are considering preprinting - to enable them to take ownership over the process, and to raise awareness about preprinting options. We hope that this guide helps ECRs to initiate conversations about preprinting with co-authors and encourage them to preprint their future research

Supplemental materials for preprint: A Guide to Preprinting for Early Career Researchers

Supplemental materials for: A Guide to Preprinting for Early Career Researcher

Depressive symptoms moderate the association between the recent history of alcohol use severity and suicide attempt history among adults in a pretrial jail diversion program

Background: Justice-involved individuals are at elevated risk for suicidal behavior; however, research examining risk for suicidal behavior in pretrial jail diversion programs (pretrial diversion) is limited. Aims: We aimed to test 1) associations between depressive symptoms and alcohol and drug use, and suicide attempt history (SAH), and 2) interactions between depressive symptoms and alcohol and drug use in relation to SAH among adults in an urban pretrial jail diversion program. Method: The design was cross-sectional, including self-report assessments and file reviews of historical information. Adults ( N = 274; M age = 33.72; 73.7% men; 52.6% Non- Hispanic Black) completed assessments within two weeks of beginning the pretrial program. Results: Depressive symptoms were positively associated with SAH after adjusting for other covariates. The significant depressive symptoms by alcohol use interaction indicated that adults with low to average depressive symptoms evidenced a similar likelihood of SAH to those with high depressive symptoms when they also had elevated alcohol use scores. Limitations: We used cross-sectional self-report data. Conclusion: It may be important to conduct suicide risk assessments for justice involved people who use alcohol even when depressive symptoms are low

Selective and sensitive fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensor for detection of CO3 2- anions in aqueous solution and living cells

PubMed:30029421A new colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for visual determination of carbonate ions was developed by the microwave assisted solvent free synthesis of 7,8-dihydroxy-3-(4-methylphenyl) coumarin (DHMC). The structural characterization of DHMC was confirmed by microanalysis and spectroscopy methods (MALDI-TOF, FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and 2D HETCOR). The binding behaviors of DHMC were investigated towards various anions by UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. DHMC showed a selective and sensitive fluorometric and colorimetric responses towards carbonate ion over other anions. The detection limit of CO3 2- was found to be 1.03 µM. Moreover, the fluorescence imaging in living cells suggests that DHMC has a great potential in the biological imaging application. It has been demonstrated that DHMC can be used as a rapid and reliable sensor for the determination of carbonate anion in a variety of practical applications.Firat University Scientific Research Projects Management Unit: FF.16.08 110T652The authors are grateful to the Research Fund of the TUBITAK for their support (for the synthesis of compound) with the project No- 110T652 . The sensor applications were supported by the Firat University Research Fund (Project no: FF.16.08 ) Appendix