bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Voice spoofing countermeasure for voice replay attacks using deep learning
Authors: Zhou Jincheng , Hai Tao , Jawawi Dayang N. A. , Wang Dan , Ibeke Ebuka , Biamba Cresantus
Published: September 2022

In our everyday lives, we communicate with each other using several means and channels of communication, as communication is crucial in the lives of humans. Listening and speaking are the primary forms of communication. For listening and speaking, the human voice is indispensable. Voice communication is the simplest type of communication. The Automatic Speaker Verification (ASV) system verifies users with their voices. These systems are susceptible to voice spoofing attacks - logical and physical access attacks. Recently, there has been a notable development in the detection of these attacks. Attackers use enhanced gadgets to record users’ voices, replay them for the ASV system, and be granted access for harmful purposes. In this work, we propose a secure voice spoofing countermeasure to detect voice replay attacks. We enhanced the ASV system security by building a spoofing countermeasure dependent on the decomposed signals that consist of prominent information. We used two main features— the Gammatone Cepstral Coefficients and Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients— for the audio representation. For the classification of the features, we used Bi-directional Long-Short Term Memory Network in the cloud, a deep learning classifier. We investigated numerous audio features and examined each feature’s capability to obtain the most vital details from the audio for it to be labelled genuine or a spoof speech. Furthermore, we use various machine learning algorithms to illustrate the superiority of our system compared to the traditional classifiers. The results of the experiments were classified according to the parameters of accuracy, precision rate, recall, F1-score, and Equal Error Rate (EER). The results were 97%, 100%, 90.19% and 94.84%, and 2.95%, respectively.
Immunotherapy in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a meta-analysis of data from 7 phase III studies and 3 phase II studies
Authors: Zhang Anqiang , Tong Dali
Published: September 2022

Background

Immunotherapies have emerged as potential treatments for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However, it is still unclear to identify the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy in large-scale samples. We performed a meta-analysis of 7 phase III randomized trials and 3 phase II trials comparing immunotherapy to placebo in mCRPC.

Methods

Searching the PubMed, ClinicalTrials and Cochrane Library, completed III/IV phase trials were identified. Data extraction was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. The measured outcomes were OS, PFS, ORR and AE. Based on the results of phase III randomized trials, 3 II phase trials with results were identified.

Results

A total of 4185 patients were available for evaluation of OS, and 3320 for PFS. Compared to placebo, immunotherapies were not able to improve OS (HR = 0.90; 95%CI 0.79–1.03; p = 0.13). However, immunotherapies, especially ICBs were able to decrease the risk of progression over placebo by 18% (HR = 0.82; 95%CI 0.68–1.00; p = 0.04). Significant ORR improvement was found in patients treated in ICBs (RR = 1.90; 95%CI 1.30–2.78; p < 0.001). Immunotherapies (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.40–2.56; OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 0.72–2.25) were not associated with significant any grade TRAEs and 3–4 grade TRAEs. However, in subgroup analysis, ICBs (OR = 2.85, 95% CI = 2.27–3.57) and vaccines (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.64–0.53) were associated with significant 3–4 grade TRAEs respectively. Moreover, ICBs alone induced positive PSA response [OR = 2.43(1.09–5.43), P = 0.03(I2 = 0%, P = 0.83)] and was effective in advanced PC even without classical therapies based on three phase II clinical trials about ICBs.

Conclusions

Immunotherapies are not able to improve OS, but significantly improve PFS and ORR especially in ICBs treatment. Immunotherapies were not associated with significant TRAEs. However, in subgroup analysis, ICBs and vaccines were associated with significant 3–4 grade TRAEs.
Sex specificity of dispersal behaviour and flight morphology varies among tree hollow beetle species
Authors: Martínez-Pérez Sandra , Galante Eduardo , Micó Estefanía
Published: September 2022

Background

Flight performance and dispersal behaviour can differ between sexes, resulting in sex-biased dispersal. The primary sex ratio of populations may also explain dispersal bias between sexes, as this bias may evolve with the primary sex ratio to reduce intrasexual competition. Although dispersal bias between sexes is relevant to population dynamics, there are few studies on sex-biased dispersal in insects. We studied the flight performance and dispersal behaviour of seven saproxylic beetle species associated with tree hollows from a sex perspective. We also analysed the possible coevolution of flight performance with the primary sex ratio.

Methods

Wing loading and wing aspect ratio were used as measures of the flight performance of species and sexes. Dispersal behaviour was explored by analysing the frequency of each sex in interception traps versus the primary sex ratio obtained by tree hollow emergence traps using contingency tables and posthoc standardized residuals. A more active flight behaviour was expected for the sex with higher capture frequency in the interception traps. To explore the causes of flight performance bias between sexes, we searched for possible correlations between wing loading or wing aspect ratio and primary sex ratio using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results

Wing loading and wing aspect ratio differed between species and sexes, with flight performance being higher in males than in females for four of the seven species analysed. Dispersal behaviour and flight performance matched in the case of Elater ferrugineus; males showed higher flight performance and were the most collected sex in the interception traps (more active flyers). In contrast, the higher flight activity of Cetonia carthami aurataeformis females was not correlated with a higher flight performance than that of males. Moreover, we found that a bias in the primary sex ratio towards females is often correlated with a decrease in female flight performance.

Conclusions

We stress that flight performance and dispersal behaviour of sexes do not always go hand in hand. Moreover, the relationship between the sex ratio and flight performance bias between sexes is not driven by competition within the most abundant sex. The inclusion of a sex perspective in insect dispersal studies would be useful to detect dispersal bias between sexes and its causes and would allow for further analysis of its effects on population dynamics.
Biotransformation technology and high-value application of rapeseed meal: a review
Authors: Yang Zhengfeng , Huang Zunxi , Cao Lijuan
Published: September 2022

Rapeseed meal (RSM) is an agro-industrial residue of increased functional biological value that contains high-quality proteins for animal feed. Due to the presence of antinutritional factors and immature development technology, RSM is currently used as a limited feed additive and in other relatively low-value applications. With increasing emphasis on green and sustainable industrial development and the added value of agro-industrial residues, considerable attention has been directed to the removal of antinutritional factors from RSM using high-efficiency, environment-friendly, and cost-effective biotechnology. Similarly, the high-value biotransformations of RSM have been the focus of research programmes to improve utilization rate. In this review, we introduce the sources, the nutrient and antinutrient content of RSM, and emphasize improvements on RSM feed quality using biological methods and its biotransformation applications.
Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia in the cecum: a case report
Authors: Endo Tomoyoshi , Katsuno Hidetoshi , Kikuchi Kenji , Ochi Takayuki , Matsuo Kazuhiro , Suzuki Kazumitsu , Yasuoka Hironobu , Nakano Yuko , Nakagawa Mitsuru , Kuroda Makoto , Morise Zenichi
Published: September 2022

Background

 Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH), also known as Masson's tumor, is a benign, non-neoplastic vascular lesion that is characterized by reactive proliferation of papillary endothelial cells associated with a thrombus. These lesions typically develop in the vascular regions of the head and neck, oral cavity, or extremities; however, other organ systems have been affected. IPEH in the gastrointestinal tract is rare, with only a few cases reported to date. Thus, the pathogenesis and clinical features of IPEH in the gastrointestinal tract are not entirely understood. Moreover, the local excision of certain subtypes of IPEH can be curative; this makes timely diagnosis essential. We present the case of a patient with IPEH in the cecum that was discovered while investigating the cause of severe anemia.

Case presentation

A 29-year-old woman visited a general practitioner (GP) with the complaint of abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and was prescribed antibiotics. After treatment, her abdominal pain disappeared. However, she was found to be severely anemic (hemoglobin level, 6.5 g/dl). To determine the cause of her anemia, the GP referred her to our hospital for further examination and treatment. Computed tomography scan revealed cecal wall thickening. Further, a lower gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a 2-cm raised mass-like lesion in the cecum. This lesion was pathologically identified as an inflammatory granuloma. The cause of her anemia was determined to be bleeding from the lesion in the cecum. She underwent laparoscopic ileocecal resection.

Histopathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed a spongy structure comprising many small papillary fibrous tissues lined by a typical monolayer endothelium. Further, immunohistochemical analysis showed that the cells of the endothelium monolayer expressed CD31, CD34. The Ki-67 labeling index was < 1%. Based on these findings, the lesion was identified as an IPEH in the cecum. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and there was no evidence of recurrence during the 1.3 years of follow-up.

Conclusions

 IPEH rarely arises within the abdominal cavity. Surgery remains the only treatment for IPEH and is associated with an excellent prognosis and a low recurrence rate. More aggressive lesions such as angiosarcoma should be excluded when considering the histologic diagnoses of IPEH, and expert pathologic review is vital. This is the first report of IPEH occurring in the cecum and represents a novel cause of gastrointestinal bleeding which the clinician should consider when evaluating a patient with atypical or difficult gastrointestinal bleeding sources.
“Maybe I’m not that approachable”: using simulation to elicit team leaders’ perceptions of their role in facilitating speaking up behaviors
Authors: Pack Rachael , Columbus Lauren , Duncliffe Trevor Hines , Banner Harrison , Singh Priyanka , Seemann Natashia , Taylor Taryn
Published: September 2022

Background

Simulation research that seeks to solve the problem of silence among interprofessional teams has focused almost exclusively on training subordinate team members to be more courageous and to speak up to team leaders using direct challenge scripts despite the great interpersonal cost. Consequently, the existing literature overemphasizes the responsibility of subordinate team members for speaking up and fails to consider the role and responsibilities of team leaders in sustaining silence. The purpose of this study is to identify and describe the subtle behaviors and actions of team leaders that both promote and discourage speaking up.

Methods

This study used a simulation-primed qualitative inquiry approach. Obstetricians (OB) at one academic center participated in an interprofessional simulation as an embedded participant. Five challenge moments (CM) were scripted for the OB involving deliberate clinical judgment errors or professionalism infractions. Other participants were unaware of the OB embedded participant role. Thirteen iterations were completed with 39 participants. Twelve faculty members completed a subsequent semi-structured interview. Scenarios were videotaped; debriefs and interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach.

Results

After participating in an interprofessional simulation, faculty participants reflected that being an approachable team leader requires more than simply avoiding disruptive behaviors. We found that approachability necessitates that team leaders actively create the conditions in which team members perceive that speaking up is welcomed, rather than an act of bravery. In practice, this conceptualization of approachability involves the tangible actions of signaling availability through presence, uncertainty through thinking aloud, and vulnerability through debriefing.

Conclusions

By using faculty as embedded participants with scripted errors, our simulation design provided an ideal learning opportunity to prompt discussion of the subtle behaviors and actions of team leaders that both promote and discourage speaking up. Faculty participants gained a new appreciation that their actions create the conditions for speaking up to occur before critical incidents through their verbal and non-verbal communication.
Support for learning under naturalistic conditions
Authors: Cronin-Golomb Lucy M. , Bauer Patricia J.
Published: September 2022

Educational opportunities occur through naturalistic everyday life experiences (e.g., reading a newspaper, listening to a podcast, or visiting a museum). Research primarily examines learning under controlled conditions, such as in a classroom or laboratory. There is relatively little known about the extent to which adults extract semantic content, beyond factual recall, from naturalistic educational experiences. In the present work, we focused on virtual museum exhibits. The materials were sourced directly from an art history museum. The naturalistic nature of this work stems from the type of content used though an important component of naturalistic learning—motivational processes—was not measured. In each of three experiments, we assessed adult learners’ performance on tests of factual recall, inferential reasoning, and self-derivation through memory integration from naturalistic virtual museum exhibits. In anticipation of the potential challenge associated with learning outcomes under naturalistic conditions, we administered a yoked protocol under which participants had opportunities to engage in retrieval practice (Experiment 2a) or restudy (Experiment 2b) as explicit mechanisms of support for the three tests of learning. In all experiments, participants performed successfully on all three tests of learning; factual recall was the most accessible of the three learning outcomes. There was no difference in performance at the group level across experiments, but there was at the individual level, such that idea units generated during retrieval practice predicted learning outcomes, whereas restudy of those exact idea units did not. The current work provides novel insight into mechanisms underlying adult learning from naturalistic educational opportunities.
Development of the multidimensional health perceptions questionnaire in English and Spanish
Authors: Juengst Shannon B. , Vega Marlene , Holland Alexandra B. , Herrera Susan , Higashi Robin T. , Boix Braga Maria , Khera Alka , Kew Chung Lin , Silva Valeria
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To develop the novel multidimensional health perceptions questionnaire (MHPQ), a self-reported assessment of health perceptions inclusive of (1) individuals beliefs about the causes and consequences of health conditions, benefits and barriers to maintaining and improving health, ability to accomplish health-related goals and control health circumstances, and the role of God and/or spirituality in health and healthcare, (2) anticipated discrimination in the healthcare systems, and (3) trust in healthcare providers and medicine, illustrated in our newly proposed Multidimensional Health Perceptions Conceptual Model.

Methods

We developed an initial MHPQβ item set, corresponding to domains of our conceptual model, using a patient-centered outcomes development approach. This include literature review, expert and end-user feedback, translation and language validation (specifically to Latin American Spanish), and cognitive interviewing.

Results

The initial 104 items of MHPQβ had excellent content validity, with a Content Validity Index of 98.1%. After expert (n = 13) feedback, translation and language validation, and cognitive interviewing among community-dwelling English-speakers (n = 5) and Spanish-speakers (n = 4), the final MHPQβ comprised 93 items rated on a five-point agreement scale (1 = Strongly disagree to 5 = Strongly agree), with a reading grade level of 6th grade in English and 8th grade in Spanish.

Conclusion

The MHPQβ is a promising tool to assess individuals’ health perceptions. It has excellent content validity and good reading accessibility. Future work will establish the factor structure and final item set of the MHPQ.
Beneficial effects of antitranspirants on water stress tolerance in maize under different plant densities in newly reclaimed land
Authors: Morsy Ahmed Salah Mohamed , Mehanna Hani Mohamed
Published: September 2022

Background

The global freshwater shortage is an important issue threatening the sustainable development of agriculture and food security. A field study was conducted in two seasons, i.e., 2019 and 2020, in the newly reclaimed land at Village 8, El-Minia Governorate, Egypt, to evaluate maize crop response to three irrigation levels (IL1 = 80, IL2 = 70, and IL3 = 60% of the crop evapotranspiration “ETc”), three plant densities (PD1 = 17.500, PD2 = 23.333, and PD3 = 35.000 plants fed−1), and three antitranspirants treatments (An1 = control, An2 = kaolin at 6%, and An3 = chitosan at 150 L fed−1). The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) using a split plot in strips.

Results

Results revealed that the irrigated maize plants with IL1 (80% of ETc) recorded the maximum values for all traits such as vegetative growth, phenology, and yield and its attributes in both seasons. The heaviest value of grain yield (3.15 and 3.10 tonnes fed−1, where 1 feddan = 0.42 hectare) was realized from IL1 treatment in the 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively. Plant density of 35.000 plants fed−1 (PD3) produced the greatest values of leaf area index (6.70 and 6.85), more days to 50% for each of tasseling (62.16 and 61.99 days), and silking (63.63 and 63.73 days), heaviest grain yield (3.11 and 3.16 ton fed−1) and greater water use efficiency WUE (1.46 and 1.48 kg m−3) in both seasons, respectively.

Conclusions

Foliar spraying with antitranspirants, i.e., kaolin at 6%, led to a tremendous impact on all studied traits by alleviating the water stress and reducing the rate of transpiration. The effect of second-order interaction among IL1 × PD3 × An3 indicated a significant increase in grain yield by 69.91% as compared with the interaction of IL3 × PD1 × An1 in the 2020 season only. CS 10 single-cross maize realized the highest productivity and most efficient use of available resources via using a sowing density of 35.000 plant fed−1, foliar spraying with kaolin at 6%, and irrigation level (80% of ETc) under El-Minia conditions.
The blood pressure variability in patients with cryptogenic stroke
Authors: Alaarag Ahmed , Abdelkhalek Hazem , Amin Osama
Published: September 2022

Background

Increased nighttime BP variability (BPV) was associated with stroke. Left atrial (LA) enlargement is the default clinical hallmark of structural remodeling that often occurs in response to LA pressure and volume overload. Blood pressure has proven to be an essential determinant of LA enlargement. We aimed to evaluate the influence of BPV as a risk factor for cryptogenic stroke and highlight the importance of including the (APBM) in the workup for those patients and test the relation between BPV and LA remodeling in these patients, which could be used as a clue to add APM monitoring to their workup. Also, LA remodeling may be a substrate for occult atrial fibrillation (AF). We included Group I (108 consecutive patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke) and Group II (100 consecutive adult participants without a history of stroke or any structural heart disease). We measured the maximal LA volume index (Max LAVI) and minimal LA volume index (Min LAVI). We calculated the left atrial ejection fraction (LAEF). All the participants were subjected to ABPM.

Results

In our prospective, cross-sectional cohort study, the patients in Group I had statistically significantly higher Min LAVI and Max LAVI and Less LA EF than Group II, with a P value of (0.001, 0.001, and 0.008), respectively. The Group I patients had higher BPV as measured by SD parameters than patients in Group II, with a P value of 0.001 for all SD parameters. The BPV parameters, as measured by SD parameters, were positively related to the LA remodeling parameters in both groups. After adjusting all variables, we found that age, night systolic SD, and night diastolic SD parameters were independent predictors of LA remodeling.

Conclusions

The patients with cryptogenic stroke had higher short-term BPV, Min LAVI, and Max LAVI but lower LA EF. Careful monitoring of BPV may be of value for both primary and secondary preventions of ischemic stroke.
The impact of polymorphism in PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 genes on the susceptibility and survival of hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Youssef Samar Samir , Abbas Eman Abd El Razek , Elfiky Asmaa M. , Seif Sameh , Nabeel Mohamed Mahmoud , Shousha Hend Ibrahim , Abdelaziz Ashraf Omar
Published: September 2022

Background

Genetic variants of Patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) and transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2) genes have been reported with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to explore the role of The PNPLA3 rs738409 and TM6SF2 rs58542926 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the incidence and survival of HCV-induced HCC in Egyptians.

Methods and results

This case-control study included (120) HCC and (144) hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. Baseline clinical, laboratory, tumor characteristics data, HCC recurrence, and overall survival were collected. PNPLA3 rs738409 and TM6SF2 rs58542926 polymorphism were detected by TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. We found that HCC patients were significantly older with male predominance. A significant difference between the TT genotypes of TM6SF2 frequency was observed in HCC compared with HCV patients. Moreover, the T allele of TM6SF2 distributions revealed a significant contribution to the different stages of HCC (p=0.03). Both PNPLA3 rs738409 and TM6SF2 rs58542926 variants showed a significant relation with treatment response according to the modified RECIST criteria. Age and diabetes mellitus were the independent factors associated with the development of HCC by multivariate regression analysis.

Conclusions

TM6SF2 rs58542926 polymorphism, not PNPLA3 rs738409, could be implicated in the development of HCV-induced HCC and its progression.
A system dynamics model of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and foreign direct investment in the global supply chain
Authors: Hajian Heidary Mojtaba
Published: September 2022

COVID-19 pandemic is a great challenge that the world has been faced in recent decades. The pandemic has affected the global trade and has caused a dramatic fall in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). The impact on FDI is concentrated in the countries that are severely hit by the pandemic, although negative impact of disruptions is observed in other countries. In this paper, a system dynamics model is developed to simulate the impact of the pandemic on the FDI. Results showed that the level of force majeure condition and also the level of flexibility are two important factors that impact on the FDI and other important variables of the supply chain. In the case of lower severity of pandemic and higher flexibility, FDI is higher than the case that these parameters are in their worst condition.
Assessment of quality of life by functional independence score in hemophilic patients: a single-center experience
Authors: Ibrahiem Osama Ahmed , Thabet Ahmad F. , Tony Shymaa S. , Kerollos Kerollos Motwade N. , Moeen Sawsan M.
Published: September 2022

Background

Hemophilia is an inherited condition that is caused by the deficiency of clotting factors in the blood. The most common presentations of hemophilia are hemarthrosis and muscle hemorrhage. The severity of the bleeding episodes can vary from mild to severe resulting in pain and swelling of the joints and the muscles. Repeated musculoskeletal bleeding can result in hemophilic arthropathies with subsequent joint degeneration and deformity. Our study aims to clinically assess the quality of life in hemophilic patients in terms of disease severity and morbidity in our community using the Functional Independence Score for Hemophilia (FISH).

Results

Our cross-sectional study which involved 64 hemophilia patients revealed that the most affected joints were the weight-bearing large joints (knees, elbows, ankles) and this was associated with a lower FISH score. While the total FISH score showed a significant positive correlation with the factor activity level, the average FISH score was 21.11 ± 4.5, and the score was slightly lower in severe hemophilia compared to mild-moderate disease.

Conclusion

We concluded that there is a significant decline in the functional ability of hemophilia patients having disease affecting the knee and elbow joints. Moreover, squatting was significantly reduced in patients with severe hemophilia. The quality of patients’ life can be improved by early and regular physiotherapy and regular administration of the prophylactic factor.
Understanding of the settlements with coexisting water and earth under the background of climate change—the case of Liang Village in Pingyao County, China
Authors: Shao Yong , Chen Yue , Su Jianming
Published: September 2022

Global climate change has caused general and serious damage to cultural heritage sites, and earthen settlements and buildings are particularly vulnerable to water-affected disasters. Thus, this paper uses Liang Village in Pingyao County, China, as a case study, linking the human–land study in the Liang Village Sino-French workshop of 2009/2010 to a disaster assessment completed after the devastating rainstorm in October 2021. We found that the village’s rain disaster resulted from the vulnerability of earthen material to rainstorms and from the earthen settlement’s evolution from a culture emphasising the coexistence of ‘water and earth’ to a technic fostering the disintegration of ‘water and earth’. The latter is the main cause of the village’s decrease in its capacity for disaster prevention and damage reduction. Therefore, in the context of global climate change, we find that the reestablishment of the harmonious relationship of water and earth is critical to both rural heritage conservation and village sustainable development. In addition to repairing their relation from the technical perspective of ‘planning and design’ by planners and architects, it is more crucial for local people to understand and enhance their contemporary appreciation for the traditional ‘coexistence of water and earth’ concept.
Motivating and Shaping Scientific Argumentation in Lab Reports
Authors: Gouvea Julia , Appleby Lara , Fu Liren , Wagh Aditi
Published: September 2022

This study evaluates an iterative design experiment in an introductory lab course in which instruction was restructured and uncertainty in lab activities was increased. It is proposed that these changes to the rhetorical context helped motivate and shape more authentic engagement in scientific argumentation.
Loss of Anti-Müllerian Hormone Signaling in Mice Affects Trabecular Bone Mass in a Sex- and Age-Dependent Manner
Authors: van As Christiane , Koedam Marijke , McLuskey Anke , Kramer Piet , Lahlou Najiba , van der Eerden Bram C J , Visser Jenny A
Published: September 2022

Ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in mice results from an abrupt loss of ovarian sex steroids. Anti-Müllerian hormone knockout (AMHKO) mice show a gradual but accelerated ovarian aging, and therefore may better resemble osteoporosis following natural menopause. To study the impact of AMH signaling deficiency on bone, we compared trabecular and cortical bone parameters in 2-, 4-, 10-, and 16-month-old male and female wild-type (WT), AMHKO, and AMH type II receptor knockout (MRKI) mice using micro computed tomography (microCT). Goldner's staining was performed to confirm the observed bone phenotype. Both male and female AMHKO and MRKI mice showed age-dependent loss of trabecular bone (P < 0.001). However, reproductive-aged female AMHKO and MRKI mice had higher BV/TV compared with WT (P < 0.001), coinciding with increased growing follicle numbers (P < 0.05) and increased estrus inhibin B levels (AMHKO: P < 0.001; MRKI: P < 0.05) but normal inhibin A, estrogen, and progesterone levels. In aged female AMHKO and MRKI mice BV/TV did not differ from WT mice due to greater trabecular bone loss between 10 and 16 months compared with WT mice. At these ages, AMHKO and MRKI mice had reduced growing follicle numbers (P < 0.05) and reduced inhibin B levels (P < 0.001). At age 10 months, female MRKI mice had increased cortical bone parameters compared with WT mice (P < 0.01). Bone parameters of male AMHKO and MRKI mice did not differ from male WT mice. In conclusion, AMH signaling deficiency results in a sex- and age-dependent effect on predominantly trabecular bone. Our results further suggest that reproductive hormones beyond estrogen may contribute to bone homeostasis.
Foxe1Deletion in the Adult Mouse Is Associated With Increased Thyroidal Mast Cells and Hypothyroidism
Authors: Lim Grace , Widiapradja Alexander , Levick Scott P , McKelvey Kelly J , Liao Xiao-Hui , Refetoff Samuel , Bullock Martyn , Clifton-Bligh Roderick J
Published: September 2022

Context

Foxe1 is a key thyroid developmental transcription factor. Germline deletion results in athyreosis and congenital hypothyroidism. Some data suggest an ongoing role for maintaining thyroid differentiation.

Objective

We created a mouse model to directly examine the role of Foxe1 in the adult thyroid.

Methods

A model of tamoxifen-inducible Cre-mediated ubiquitous deletion of Foxe1 was generated in mice of C57BL/6J background (Foxe1flox/flox/Cre-TAM). Tamoxifen or vehicle was administered to Foxe1flox/flox/Cre mice aged 6-8 weeks. Blood was collected at 4, 12, and 20 weeks, and tissues after 12 or 20 weeks for molecular and histological analyses. Plasma total thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine, and thyrotropin (TSH) were measured. Transcriptomics was performed using microarray or RNA-seq and validated by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Foxe1 was decreased by approximately 80% in Foxe1flox/flox/Cre-TAM mice and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Foxe1 deletion was associated with abnormal follicular architecture and smaller follicle size at 12 and 20 weeks. Plasma TSH was elevated in Foxe1flox/flox/Cre-TAM mice as early as 4 weeks and T4 was lower in pooled samples from 12 and 20 weeks. Foxe1 deletion was also associated with an increase in thyroidal mast cells. Transcriptomic analyses found decreased Tpo and Tg and upregulated mast cell markers Mcpt4 and Ctsg in Foxe1flox/flox/Cre-TAM mice.

Conclusion

Foxe1 deletion in adult mice was associated with disruption in thyroid follicular architecture accompanied by biochemical hypothyroidism, confirming its role in maintenance of thyroid differentiation. An unanticipated finding was an increase in thyroidal mast cells. These data suggest a possible explanation for previous human genetic studies associating alleles in/near FOXE1 with hypothyroidism and/or autoimmune thyroiditis.
PUBLICAÇÕES TÉCNICAS PARA A ÁREA DO DIREITO
Authors: Silva Altiéres De Oliveira , Rodrigues Leonel Cezar , Martins Cibele Barsalini , Sellos-Knoerr Viviane Coelho de
Published: September 2022

Objetivo do estudo: O objetivo do estudo é apresentar diretrizes que permitam tanto a elaboração quanto a avaliação de artigos de caráter técnico ou tecnológico para a área do Direito.Abordagem Metodológica: O presente estudo, de natureza qualitativa e prescritiva, é baseado em dados e informações secundárias e documentais.Relevância: Apesar do caráter aplicado das teorias na ciência jurídica, doutrinas em Direito com acentuado cunho hermenêutico subjetivo, possuem tradicionalmente grande implicações sobre a prática jurídica no cotidiano. A prática, assim, tende a seguir ramos doutrinários com maior aceitação.  Novas abordagens, contudo, têm sido restringidas por causa da baixa familiaridade dos operadores com estruturas de solução mais adequadas à área jurídica.  Apenas muito recentemente, com o advento da Pós-Graduação profissionalizante, as publicações de natureza técnica, que refletem métodos e técnicas mais alinhados com a natureza das intervenções em Direito assumem maior espaço na literatura e precisam de diretrizes que possam ajudar em sua aceitação pela academia e pelos praticantes da área jurídica. Principais resultados: Indicam o aumento de publicações desse gênero textual para os pesquisadores e operadores do Direito. Constata-se, em adição, a crescente importância deste tipo de produção intelectual, no sistema de avaliação da PGSS da CAPES. Assim, a análise contextual da produção técnica indica também sua utilidade para os operadores do Direito.  Dessa forma, considerando a confusão conceitual ainda reinante entre artigos científicos e artigos técnicos, sugere-se diretrizes que possam nortear a elaboração da crescente produção técnica na área de Direito. Contribuições teóricas/metodológicas: A proposta de um design estrutural para a elaboração de artigos técnicos ou tecnológicos.Conclusão: Embora a área do Direito utilize esse tipo de publicação, não há diretrizes, oriundas da área técnica do Direito, para a produção de artigos técnicos ou tecnológicos.  Assim, considera-se imperioso a organização de diretrizes que possam apoiar os pesquisadores e profissionais do Direito na elaboração de publicações direcionadas para intervenções em atividades jurídicas, com maior segurança. Dessa forma, julga-se estar contribuindo para a consolidação dos padrões básicos da literatura de caráter técnico em apoio ao exercício profissional mais eficiente dos operadores de Direito.
Medical parasitology
Authors: Novak Aleksandra , Engashev Sergey , Nikonorova Marina , Snimschikova Irina
Published: September 2022

The textbook includes various aspects of general parasitology, epidemiology, diagnostics, prevention of invasive human diseases: protozooses, helminthioses, arachnoentomoses. For each nosological form, control of the theoretical training of students is provided.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
It is intended for training students of medical, pediatric and preventive medicine faculties in the discipline "Medical parasitology".
Modern electrical products and devices for voltage up to 1000 volts
Authors: Sibikin Yuriy , Mel'nichenko E.F.
Published: September 2022

The reference book contains information about modern electrical products, switchgear, tools and mechanisms used in the work, production conditions and application of industrial installation methods, regulatory documents of electricians.
It is intended for students of technical schools and colleges preparing qualified electrical personnel. It can be useful for craftsmen and engineering and technical workers engaged in the training of workers in production.
Municipal Law of Russia
Authors: Vydrin Igor'
Published: September 2022

The textbook reveals the issues of theory and practice of local self—government - the grassroots level of public power in the Russian Federation, ensuring the implementation of civil rights in the most important areas of human existence.
The legal, territorial, functional, organizational and economic foundations of this institute are analyzed. Special attention is focused on the powers of local self-government bodies, the practical side of their direct activities, as well as controversial provisions of Russian legislation, the norms of which regulate various aspects of self-government relations in our country.
The fifth edition takes into account the latest changes in municipal legislation, reveals the practical aspects of the activities of local self-government bodies in various spheres of municipal economy.
For students, postgraduates, university professors, state and municipal employees, as well as for anyone interested in municipal issues.
Constitutional judicial process
Authors: Aleksandrova Zinaida , Kryazhkov Vladimir , Nesmeyanova Svetlana
Published: September 2022

In the textbook, in accordance with the requirements of the Federal State Educational Standard of Higher Professional Education on the basis of current legislation, judicial practice and modern procedural and legal concepts, all the main institutions of constitutional judicial procedural law are covered. The authors are researchers and practitioners, leading legal scholars in the field of constitutional law and constitutional judicial process.
For students, postgraduates and teachers of law schools, judges, state and municipal employees, anyone interested in the constitutional judicial process.
Constitutional Law of the Russian Federation
Authors: Baglay Marat
Published: September 2022

This textbook, which is the tenth, modified and supplemented edition, was written by a well-known Russian scientist, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, professor, Doctor of Law. It highlights the institutions of constitutional law, which is formed and developed after the adoption of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and in connection with the reform of the political system. The reader will gain knowledge about the new laws regulating the rights and freedoms of citizens, the mechanism of state
power. A distinctive feature of this textbook is the author's desire to provide in-depth theoretical knowledge on all issues, as well as to introduce the practice of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation into the educational process.
For students, postgraduates and teachers of law and other humanities universities and faculties and for anyone interested in issues of Russian constitutional law.
Advances in MINLP to Identify Energy-Efficient Distillation Configurations
Authors: Gooty Radhakrishna Tumbalam , Agrawal Rakesh , Tawarmalani Mohit
Published: September 2022

Separation of mixtures of chemicals, ubiquitous in chemical and petrochemical industries, by distillation is energy intensive. Nearly 3% of the overall energy is used for distillation in the United States. Improving the distillation process is crucial for making chemical industries more sustainable. However, designing distillation sequences is challenging because the choice set is vast, and the equations governing the physical process are highly nonconvex. Traditional design practices rely on heuristics and often result in suboptimal solutions. Tumbalam Gooty et al. present the first approach that reliably identifies the distillation sequence that requires the least energy for a given separation. By embedding convex hulls of substructures and adapting the reformulation-linearization technique to fractions of polynomials, they demonstrated that their approach outperforms the state-of-the-art. Their work will help the chemical industry reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with distillation.
História e cultura Afro-Brasileira e Africana: experiência na formação de professores a partir de um projeto de pesquisa-ação
Authors: Silva Raphaela Reis Conceição Castro , Carvalho Francione Oliveira
Published: September 2022

Considerando, que ainda em 2021, muitos docentes desconhecem a Lei 10.639 de 2003 e a Lei 11.645 de 2008, leis que estabelecem a obrigatoriedade da temática “História e cultura afro-brasileira e indígena” no currículo oficial da rede de ensino, em especial nas áreas de Educação Artística, Literatura e Histórias Brasileiras, objetiva-se nesse trabalho apresentar uma possibilidade de capacitação para os professores da rede de ensino da cidade de Niterói/RJ oferecendo recursos para trabalhar a cultura, a história e a memória afro-brasileira nas escolas. Para tanto, procede-se à pesquisa-ação, refletindo sobre o planejamento, a implementação, o monitoramento e a avaliação do curso de capacitação intitulado “Cultura afro-brasileira combatendo o racismo em sala de aula: reflexões e estratégias de ensino” ofertado no 1º semestre de 2021, por uma instituição de ensino federal. Desse modo, observa-se que a maioria dos concluintes do curso de extensão se autodeclararam como negros ou pardos, o que permite concluir que ainda há uma grande parcela de docentes brancos, que são a maioria na cidade de Niterói, a serem atingidos. Ademais, não podemos deixar de destacar o efeito da pandemia mundial causada pelo novo coronavírus sobre trabalho docente, que precisou conciliá-lo com um curso extra.
The effectiveness of a pain management programme on pain control and quality of life in patients with metastatic cancer
Authors: Prisutkul Apinya , Dechaphunkul Arunee , Arundorn Tippawan , Songserm Maliwan , Ruangdam Anongnart , Sathitruangsak Chirawadee
Published: September 2022

Background:

Pain is one of the most frequent symptoms in cancer patients and has a negative impact on their physical, emotional and functional status, as well as their quality of life (QOL). This study evaluated the effectiveness of a pain management programme on pain control and QOL among patients with metastatic cancer receiving systemic chemotherapy. The authors investigated whether a pain management programme contributes to a better pain control and improvement in QOL in the outpatient setting.

Methods:

The authors conducted a randomised, single-blinded, controlled, single-centre study of metastatic cancer patients experiencing cancer pain and requiring opioid therapy. Patients were enrolled from the Medical Oncology Outpatient Clinic, Songklanagarind Hospital, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand. Participants were randomly assigned to two strategies: pain assessment and management based on the programme developed by the researchers (‘pain management programme’ arm), and pain management by individual medical oncologists per the routine procedure (‘standard of care’ arm). Demographics questionnaires, a pain intensity assessment using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—General (FACT-G, version 4) were used to assess the QOL and cancer pain severity at baseline and at two follow-up visits.

Results:

Between November 2016 and July 2017, 64 consecutive patients were randomly assigned to the two treatment groups. Most were male (79.7%), with a mean age of 55.1 (±13.8) years. The majority of patients (23; 35.9%) had squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, with other prevalent types being lung cancer (9.4%), esophageal cancer (9.4%) and colorectal cancer (9.4%). The most frequent metastatic sites were the lungs (28.1%), liver (26.6%), and bone (20.3%).

Findings:

Compared with standard care, pain intensity was significantly lower among the patients receiving the pain management programme: 4.0 ±2.2 versus 5.1 ±1.8 (P = 0.033) and 3.3 ±1.7 versus 4.7 ±2.1 (P = 0.025) at visit 1 and 2, respectively. Likewise, QOL measures scored higher in the pain management programme group: 71.2 ±15.4 versus 58.6 ±14.5 (P = 0.002) and 71.8 ±15.5 versus 55.4 ±16.3 (P = 0.002) at visit 1 and 2, respectively. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between pain control and QOL improvement (P = 0.011).

Conclusion:

The investigated pain management programme significantly improved both pain control and QOL in metastatic cancer patients receiving systemic chemotherapy in the outpatient setting.
What Americans Said about the Immigrants, 1882–1921
Authors: Bon Tempo Carl J. , Diner Hasia R.
Published: September 2022

Most Americans agreed, particularly after World War I that immigration constituted a problem in need of a solution. Inspired by the Immigration Restriction League founded in the late 1890s congress moved towards passage of the 1921 Emergency Quota Act. But throughout this period Americans from a variety of backgrounds considered that the passage of time, education, and cultural outreach would transform the immigrants and their children.
Closing the Gates
Authors: Bon Tempo Carl J. , Diner Hasia R.
Published: September 2022

Immigration to the United States decreased in the 1920s and 1930s. The national origins quota system made entry of immigrants from everywhere but northwestern Europe more difficult, and sometimes impossible. The Great Depression also dulled the attraction of the United States to newcomers. As the Depression deepened, the United States actively looked to remove some recent arrivals, especially from Mexico. Even so, the resilience of immigrant communities shined in these troubled times.
Prosperity, the Braceros, and Cold War Refugees, 1945–1965
Authors: Bon Tempo Carl J. , Diner Hasia R.
Published: September 2022

Economic prosperity returned to the United States after 1945, buoying immigrant communities and attracting newcomers from all over the world. The U.S. also enacted a number of refugee programs that allowed hundreds of thousands of Europeans and Cubans to enter. The Bracero program continued to bring Mexican temporary workers to the U.S, and they were increasingly joined by many Mexicans entering without authorization.
Epilogue
Authors: Bon Tempo Carl J. , Diner Hasia R.
Published: September 2022

The history of immigration to, and in, the United States explains how the country arrived in its present condition, and helps explain how Americans might think about the future of immigration.
IJAHP Articles are Now More Accessible than Ever: Full Open Access
Authors: Mu Enrique
Published: September 2022

The journal has made several important changes this year. First, we moved to a rolling article publication mode; that is, articles are published as soon as they are fully reviewed, accepted and copyedited. This allows quicker diffusion of the studies and authors’ work.
Our second innovation has been removing the need to register as a reader to access the journal contents. The original rationale for this was to assess the number of readers of the journal; however, it is now possible to obtain this information with many other tools. Even though registration was free, it was still one more step to access the article and many people preferred to just skip registration and move to any other article in their Google search.
INFUS Conference
Authors: Kahraman Cenghiz
Published: September 2022

INFUS (http://infus.itu.edu.tr) is an acronym for Intelligent and Fuzzy Systems. It is an international research forum to advance the foundations and applications of intelligent and fuzzy systems, computational intelligence, and soft computing for applied research in general and for complex engineering and decision support systems. The principal mission of INFUS is bridging the gap between fuzzy and intelligence systems and real complex systems via joint research between universities and international research institutions, encouraging interdisciplinary research and bringing multidiscipline researchers together.