bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between craniofacial skeletal patterns and anatomic characteristics of masticatory muscles: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Togninalli David , Antonarakis Gregory S. , Papadopoulou Alexandra K.
Published: September 2024

Background

The anatomic characteristics of the masticatory muscles differ across craniofacial skeletal patterns.

Objective

To identify differences in the anatomic characteristics of masticatory muscles across different sagittal and vertical craniofacial skeletal patterns.

Eligibility criteria

Studies measuring the thickness, width, cross-sectional area (CSA), volume and orientation of masticatory muscles in healthy patients of different sagittal (Class I, Class II, and Class III) and/or vertical (normodivergent, hypodivergent, and hyperdivergent) patterns.

Information sources

Unrestricted literature searches in 8 electronic databases/registers until December 2023.

Risk of bias and synthesis of results

Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment with a customised tool were performed independently in duplicate. Random-effects meta-analysis and assessment of the certainty of clinical recommendations with the GRADE approach were conducted.

Results

34 studies (37 publications) were selected with a total of 2047 participants and data from 16 studies were pulled in the meta-analysis. Masseter muscle thickness in relaxation was significantly greater by 1.14 mm (95% CI 0.74–1.53 mm) in hypodivergent compared to normodivergent patients while it was significantly decreased in hyperdivergent patients by − 1.14 mm (95% CI − 1.56 to − 0.73 mm) and − 2.28 mm (95% CI − 2.71 to − 1.85 mm) compared to normodivergent and hypodivergent patients respectively. Similar significant differences were seen between these groups in masseter muscle thickness during contraction as well as masseter muscle CSA and volume. Meta-analyses could not be performed for sagittal categorizations due to insufficient number of studies.

Conclusions

Considerable differences in masseter muscle thickness, CSA and volume were found across vertical skeletal configurations being significantly reduced in hyperdivergent patients; however, results should be interpreted with caution due to the high risk of bias of the included studies. These variations in the anatomic characteristics of masticatory muscles among different craniofacial patterns could be part of the orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning process.

Registration: PROSPERO CRD42022371187.
A multi-state evaluation of extreme risk protection orders: a research protocol
Authors: Zeoli April M. , Molocznik Amy , Paruk Jennifer , Omaki Elise , Frattaroli Shannon , Betz Marian E. , Christy Annette , Kapoor Reena , Knoepke Christopher , Ma Wenjuan , Norko Michael A. , Pear Veronica A. , Rowhani-Rahbar Ali , Schleimer Julia P. , Swanson Jeffrey W. , Wintemute Garen J.
Published: September 2024

Background

Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) are civil court orders that prohibit firearm purchase and possession when someone is behaving dangerously and is at risk of harming themselves and/or others. As of June 2024, ERPOs are available in 21 states and the District of Columbia to prevent firearm violence. This paper describes the design and protocol of a six-state study of ERPO use.

Methods

The six states included are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, and Washington. During the 3-year project period (2020–2023), ERPO case files were obtained through public records requests or through agreements with agencies with access to these data in each state. A team of over four dozen research assistants from seven institutions coded 6628 ERPO cases, abstracting 80 variables per case under domains related to respondent characteristics, events and behaviors leading to ERPO petitions, petitioner types, and court outcomes. Research assistants received didactic training through an online learning management system that included virtual training modules, quizzes, practice coding exercises, and two virtual synchronous sessions. A protocol for gaining strong interrater reliability was used. Research assistants also learned strategies for reducing the risk of experiencing secondary trauma through the coding process, identifying its occurrence, and obtaining help.

Discussion

Addressing firearm violence in the U.S. is a priority. Understanding ERPO use in these six states can inform implementation planning and ERPO uptake, including promising opportunities to enhance safety and prevent firearm-related injuries and deaths. By publishing this protocol, we offer detailed insight into the methods underlying the papers published from these data, and the process of managing data abstraction from ERPO case files across the multi-state and multi-institution teams involved. Such information may also inform future analyses of this data, and future replication efforts.

Registration

This protocol is registered on Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/kv4fc/).
The decision for or against mycoparasitic attack by Trichoderma spp. is taken already at a distance in a prey-specific manner and benefits plant-beneficial interactions
Authors: Stange Pia , Kersting Johannes , Sivaprakasam Padmanaban Prasath Balaji , Schnitzler Jörg-Peter , Rosenkranz Maaria , Karl Tanja , Benz J. Philipp
Published: September 2024

Background

The application of plant-beneficial microorganisms as bio-fertilizer and biocontrol agents has gained traction in recent years, as both agriculture and forestry are facing the challenges of poor soils and climate change. Trichoderma spp. are gaining popularity in agriculture and forestry due to their multifaceted roles in promoting plant growth through e.g. nutrient translocation, hormone production, induction of plant systemic resistance, but also direct antagonism of other fungi. However, the mycotrophic nature of the genus bears the risk of possible interference with other native plant-beneficial fungi, such as ectomycorrhiza, in the rhizosphere. Such interference could yield unpredictable consequences for the host plants of these ecosystems. So far, it remains unclear, whether Trichoderma is able to differentiate between plant-beneficial and plant-pathogenic fungi during the process of plant colonization.

Results

We investigated whether Trichoderma spp. can differentiate between beneficial ectomycorrhizal fungi (represented by Laccaria bicolor and Hebeloma cylindrosporum) and pathogenic fungi (represented by Fusarium graminearum and Alternaria alternata) in different confrontation scenarios, including a newly developed olfactometer “race tube”-like system. Using two independent species, T. harzianum and T. atrobrunneum, with plant-growth-promoting and immune-stimulating properties towards Populus x canescens, our study revealed robustly accelerated growth towards phytopathogens, while showing a contrary response to ectomycorrhizal fungi. Transcriptomic analyses identified distinct genetic programs during interaction corresponding to the lifestyles, emphasizing the expression of mycoparasitism-related genes only in the presence of phytopathogens.

Conclusion

The findings reveal a critical mode of fungal community interactions belowground and suggest that Trichoderma spp. can distinguish between fungal partners of different lifestyles already at a distance. This sheds light on the entangled interactions of fungi in the rhizosphere and emphasizes the potential benefits of using Trichoderma spp. as a biocontrol agent and bio-fertilizer in tree plantations.
Developing a framework for identifying risk factors and estimating direct economic disease burden attributable to healthcare-associated infections: a case study of a Chinese Tuberculosis hospital
Authors: Ren Nili , Liu Xinliang , Luo Yi , Li Guofei , Huang Ying , Ji Desheng , Peng Cheng , Sun Jing , Li Hao
Published: September 2024

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent a major global health burden, which necessitate effective frameworks to identify potential risk factors and estimate the corresponding direct economic disease burden. In this article, we proposed a framework designed to address these needs through a case study conducted in a Tuberculosis (TB) hospital in Hubei Province, China, using data from 2018 to 2019. A comprehensive multistep procedure was developed, including ethical application, participant inclusion, risk factor identification, and direct economic disease burden estimation. In the case study, ethical approval was obtained, and patient data were anonymized to ensure privacy. All TB hospitalized patients over the study period were included and classified into groups with and without HAIs after screening the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Key risk factors, including gender, age, and invasive procedure were identified through univariate and multivariate analyses. Then, propensity score matching was employed to select the balanced groups with similar characteristics. Comparisons of medical expenditures (total medical expenditure, medicine expenditure, and antibiotics expenditure) and hospitalization days between the balanced groups were calculated as the additional direct economic disease burden measures caused by HAIs. This framework can serve as a tool for not only hospital management and policy-making, but also implementation of targeted infection prevention and control measures. Moreover, it has the potential to be applied in various healthcare settings at local, regional, national, and international levels to identify high-risk areas, optimize resource allocation, and improve hospital management and governance, as well as inter-organizational learning. Challenges to implement the framework are also raised, such as data quality, regulatory compliance, considerations on unique nature of communicable diseases and other diseases, and training need for professionals.
Physio-biochemical and molecular characterization of wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) under post-anthesis heat stress
Authors: Vedi Aarushi , Pandey Girish Chandra
Published: September 2024

Background

Heat stress is one of the abiotic stresses that make wheat crops vulnerable, which significantly impacts crop production around the world. An increase in temperature during the reproductive phase (anthesis) beyond the optimal range of 15–20 °C leads to decreased crop production, poor quality of the grain, and altered physiological and biochemical processes. To study the association between high temperature and physio-biochemical traits under normal and late sown, a set of fifteen genotypes was utilized.

Results

Relative water content under high temperatures had an overall decrease of 8.7%. However, grain protein and malondialdehyde content were higher in the stressed conditions than in the control, with increases of 20.2% and 38.9%, respectively. Marker Xgwm67, located on chromosome 5B, was found to be significantly associated with malondialdehyde content (R2 = 21%) and Xgwm570, located on 6A, was closely linked to relative water content as well as grain protein content (R2 = 16%) revealed by regression analysis. The correlation matrix displays a positive association between the control and stressed condition by R2 = 0.92, 0.82, and 0.53 in malondialdehyde, relative water content, and grain protein, respectively. However, there was a negative correlation between water content–malondialdehyde and malondialdehyde–grain protein, though there was only a 4% correlation between grain protein content (control) and relative water content (stressed). Based on the tolerance matrix, WH730 and RAJ4079 were heat tolerant, and DBW173 and HD3086 were sensitive.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that to identify tolerant genotypes, physiological and biochemical traits can be utilized as an alternate criterion, and these closely associated markers can be applied for improved late-planted wheat production through MAS. The breeding scheme and genome editing by recognizing novel genes through physio-biochemical parameters, marker-assisted selection, and prospective screening of tolerant genotypes are proclaimed by the study.
The added value of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in anatomical staging of prostatic carcinoma in correlation with the histopathological zonal staging
Authors: Elsadawy Momena Essam Ibrahim , Omar Yehia , Taha Noha M.
Published: September 2024

Background

Prostate cancer is well known as the commonest cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. CT, MRI and bone scintigraphy are considered the commonly widely used imaging diagnostic tools for detection, staging and follow-up of prostate cancer. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a membrane glycoprotein, that can be concentrated in prostate cancer cells up to 100 times higher than in normal cells. PSMA-targeted imaging modalities have now proven their efficacy in diagnosis, staging and follow-up of prostate cancer. The use of 68Ga PSMA PET-CT has efficiently improved the detection of loco-regional and metastatic disease. 68Ga PSMA PET-CT also has an effective role in the primary diagnosis, staging, and detecting biochemical recurrence after curative treatment and in metastasis-targeted therapy. This work aims to review the role of 68Ga PSMA PET-CT in anatomical staging of prostate cancer in correlation with histopathological staging.

Results

Zonal correlation between 68Ga PSMA findings and biopsy results showed sensitivity ranging between 76.9 and 90.6% and specificity ranging from 85.7 to 100%. There was high significant correlation between the SUVmax uptake and the biopsy results, between the SUVmax uptake and the local staging as well as between the Gleason score and 68Ga PSMA PET/CT findings.

Conclusions

68Ga PSMA PET/CT is a highly promising imaging modality with an effective role in detection of prostate cancer showing high sensitivity and specificity in prediction of zonal histopathological results and loco-regional Gleason score staging with significant positive correlation between the SUV uptake results, Gleason score and the PSA levels.
Impact of antiaging additives on the conventional properties of bituminous binder
Authors: Tejeshwini S. , Gowda C. M. Prayag , Mamatha K. H. , Balreddy Muttana S. , Dinesh S. V.
Published: September 2024

Aging of binders is a complex phenomenon which reduces the longevity of flexible pavements. Aging involves change in physical, chemical, and morphological properties of binder which makes the binder brittle and highly susceptible to fatigue and thermal cracking. Antiaging additives enhance the service life of flexible pavements by reducing the impact of aging on the performance of binders. An iterative approach is essential to identify the optimal dosage of antiaging additive necessary to counteract the aging effects on binder. The present study aims to evaluate the mixing conditions for uniform dispersion of carbon black and hydrated lime within the binder matrix and thereby evaluate the impact of incorporating these antiaging additives on the conventional properties of binder. For this purpose, varying proportions of carbon black and hydrated lime are added to VG 30 binder and is subjected to softening point, ductility, and penetration tests. The optimal dosage of carbon black and hydrated lime is found to be 6 and 12% respectively based on their significant effects on the conventional properties of the binder. An optimal mixing duration of 60 and 75 min ensures uniform dispersion of carbon black and hydrated lime within the binder matrix at a mixing temperature of 120 °C and a speed of 1000 rpm thereby producing a homogenous binder mastic. Incorporation of antiaging additives up to the optimal dosage enhances the softening point whereas decreases the penetration and ductility of binder. The increase in softening point of binder with incorporation of carbon black and hydrated lime signifies enhanced resistance to rutting and permanent deformation of binder, whereas the reduction in ductility and penetration of binder with incorporation of carbon black and hydrated lime signifies the reduced susceptibility of binder to environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations, UV radiation, and oxidation. The surface texture of the additive influences the ability of binder adsorption, which subsequently affects the rheological properties of binder mastics. Significant improvement in conventional properties of binder with incorporation of carbon black and hydrated lime paves a viable and cost-effective solution for engineering application as it has a subsequent effect on the rheological properties of binder.
Decoding heterogeneity in data-driven self-monitoring adherence trajectories in digital lifestyle interventions for weight loss: a qualitative study
Authors: Li Shiyu , Du Yan , Meireles Christiane , Song Dan , Sharma Kumar , Yin Zenong , Brimhall Bradley , Wang Jing
Published: September 2024

Background

Data-driven trajectory modeling approaches have been used to identify participant subgroups with differing responses to digital lifestyle interventions. Identifying contributing factors to different participant subgroups can inform tailored strategies to early “rescue” intervention non-responders. Self-monitoring (SM) is a central mechanism in lifestyle interventions for driving behavior change and can serve as an early indicator for later intervention response. This qualitative study aimed to compare SM experiences between intervention response subgroups and to identify contributing factors to intervention response subgroups in a 6-month digital lifestyle intervention for adults with overweight or obesity.

Results

Participants were middle-aged (52.9 ± 10.2 years), mostly female (65%), and of Hispanic ethnicity (55%). Four major themes with emerged from the thematic analysis: Acceptance towards SM Technologies, Perceived SM Benefits, Perceived SM Barriers, and Responses When Facing SM Barriers. Participants across both subgroups perceived SM as positive feedback, aiding in diet and physical activity behavior changes. Both groups cited individual and technical barriers to SM, including forgetfulness, the burdensome SM process, and inaccuracy. The Responder Group displayed positive problem-solving skills that helped them overcome the SM barriers. In contrast, some in the Non-responder Group felt discouraged from SM. Both subgroups found diet SM particularly challenging, especially due to technical issues such as the inaccurate food database, the time-consuming food entry process in the Fitbit app.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that qualitative analysis is valuable for translating data-driven findings to actionable intervention improvement strategies. Our findings may inform the development of practical SM improvement strategies in future digital lifestyle interventions for weight loss. Notably, building problem solving skills emerge as a key approach to prevent potential non-responders from intervention disengagement.
ZEB1 Inhibits LHβ Subunit Transcription When Overexpressed, but Is Dispensable for LH Synthesis in Mice
Authors: Schultz Hailey , Zhou Xiang , Alonso Carlos Agustín Isidro , Ongaro Luisina , Lin Yeu-Farn , Loka Mary , Brabletz Thomas , Brabletz Simone , Stemmler Marc P , Boehm Ulrich , Bernard Daniel J
Published: September 2024

Luteinizing hormone (LH), a heterodimeric glycoprotein produced by pituitary gonadotrope cells, regulates gonadal function. Hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates LH synthesis and secretion. GnRH induces LHβ subunit (Lhb) expression via the transcription factor, early growth response 1 (EGR1), acting on the Lhb promoter. In contrast, overexpression of zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) represses LH production in mice, but the underlying mechanism was not previously elucidated. Here, we observed that ZEB1 inhibited GnRH-stimulated but not basal Lhb mRNA expression in homologous murine LβT2 cells. Moreover, ZEB1 blocked GnRH and/or EGR1 induction of murine Lhb but not human LHB promoter-reporter activity in these cells. Using chimeric reporters, we mapped the species-specific ZEB1 sensitivity to sequence differences, including in Z- and E-boxes, in the proximal Lhb/LHB promoters, immediately upstream of the transcription start sites. ZEB1 bound to the murine Lhb promoter with higher affinity than to the human LHB promoter in this region. To examine ZEB1's physiological role in LH synthesis, we characterized gonadotrope-specific Zeb1 knockout mice. Loss of ZEB1 in gonadotropes did not affect LH production or secretion. Collectively, the data suggest that ZEB1, when overexpressed, can inhibit GnRH/EGR1 induction of murine Lhb transcription but does not play a necessary role in LH synthesis in mice.
Eating Is an English Word
Authors: Mol Annemarie
Published: September 2024

Eating is generally understood as a human need that people satisfy in diverse ways. Eating, however, is also an English word. Other languages, using other words, order reality differently: they may fuse eating with breathing, or distinguish chupar from comer. Anthropologists flag such differences by leaving a few of their words untranslated, but what language do we think in? This isn’t necessarily English. We may be linguistically closer to those whose practices we study: them. Against this background, Eating Is an English Word argues that social scientists should let go of the dream of universal concepts. Our analytical terms had better vary. Annemarie Mol and her coauthors exemplify this in a series of material semiotic inquiries into eating practices. They employ terms like lekker, tasting with fingers, chupar, schmecka, gustar, and settling on an okay meal to explore appreciative modes of valuing. Welcome, then, to spirited stories about satisfied stomachs, love for a lamb, juicy fruit treats, and companionable lunches and dinners.
Settling on an Okay Meal: An English Eater between Appeals and Apprehensions
Authors: Law John , Mol Annemarie
Published: September 2024

In economics consumer choice is a notion that helps to explain the price of product. As this notion travels, it seems to suggest that consumers make a choice between different goods. In this chapter, however by John Law and Annemarie Mol, the person who settles on what to eat for lunch in a self-service restaurant along a British motorway is not primarily a buying eager to buy something good, but an eater eager to avoid eating something bad. The chapter details the concerns and apprehensions of this eater, who does not like to fiddle, but is even more concerned about a bloated stomach or a churning gut. He hopes for a balanced meal, with contrasting dishes balancing out each other’s downsides and increasing each other’s appeal. This process, the authors argue, deserves to be highlighted by using other words than that of the set phrase consumer choice. They suggest calling it settling on an okay meal.
Somatosensory Mapping Using a Novel Sensory Discrimination Task: Technical Note
Authors: Dada Abraham , Umbach Gray , Majumdar Areti , Kaur Jasleen , Oten Sena , Berger Mitchel S. , Brang David , Hervey-Jumper Shawn L.
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Although diffuse gliomas in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) are often considered resectable, gliomas in the primary motor cortex require motor mapping to preserve motor function. Recent evidence indicates that some somatosensory cortex neurons may trigger motor responses, necessitating refined somatosensory mapping techniques.

METHODS:

Using piezoelectric tactile stimulators on patients' faces and hands, we delivered 25 Hz vibrations and prompted patients to discriminate between dermatomes. Testing included areas contralateral to tumor-infiltrated and to non–tumor-infiltrated cortical regions. Sensory thresholds were determined by reducing stimulus intensity based on performance. Intraoperatively, electrocorticography electrode arrays were used to map sensory responses, and postoperative assessments evaluated sensory outcomes.

RESULTS:

The high-grade glioma case involved a 61-year-old man with right-sided weakness and numbness with a left parietal mass on MRI. Preoperative testing showed that the average vibratory detection threshold of the hand contralateral to the suspected tumor site was significantly higher than that of the hand contralateral to healthy cortex (P < .001). Intraoperative mapping confirmed the absence of functional involvement in cortical structures overlying the tumor. Postoperative imaging confirmed gross total resection, and sensory vibratory thresholds were normalized (P = .51). The low-grade glioma case included a 54-year-old man with a left parietal nonenhancing mass on MRI. No baseline sensory impairments were found on preoperative testing. Intraoperative mapping identified motor and sensory cortices, guiding tumor resection while preserving motor function. Postoperative MRI confirmed near-total resection, but new sensory impairments were noted in the hand and face contralateral to the resection site (P < .001). These deficits resolved by postoperative day 11, with no evidence of tumor progression on follow-up imaging.

CONCLUSION:

The sensory discrimination task provides a quantifiable method for assessing sensory changes and functional outcomes related to glioma. This technique enhances our understanding of how glioma infiltration remodels sensory systems and affects clinical outcomes in patients.
Racial and Sex Differences in Genomic Profiling of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Tsilimigras Diamantis I. , Stecko Hunter , Ntanasis-Stathopoulos Ioannis , Pawlik Timothy M.
Published: September 2024

Background

Racial and sex disparities in the incidence and outcomes of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) exist, yet potential genomic variations of iCCA based on race and sex that might be contributing to disparate outcomes have not been well studied.

Methods

Data from the American Association for Cancer Research Project GENIE registry (version 15.0) were analyzed to assess genetic variations in iCCA. Adult patients (age >18 years) with histologically confirmed iCCA who underwent next-generation sequencing were included in the analytic cohort. Racial and sex variations in genomic profiling of iCCA were examined.

Results

The study enrolled 1068 patients from 19 centers (White, 71.9%; Black, 5.1%; Asian, 8.4%, other, 14.6%). The male-to-female ratio was 1:1. The majority of the patients had primary tumors (73.7%), whereas 23.0% had metastatic disease sequenced. While IDH1 mutations occurred more frequently in White versus Black patients (20.8% vs. 5.6%; p = 0.021), FGFR2 mutations tended to be more common among Black versus White populations (27.8% vs. 16.1%; p = 0.08). Males were more likely to have TP53 mutations than females (24.3% vs. 18.2%, p = 0.016), whereas females more frequently had IDH1 (23.3% vs 16.0 %), FGFR2 (21.0% vs. 11.3%), and BAP1 (23.4% vs. 14.5%) mutations than males (all p < 0.05). Marked variations in the prevalence of other common genomic alterations in iCCA were noted across different races and sexes.

Conclusion

Distinct genomic variations exist in iCCA across race and sex. Differences in mutational profiles of iCCA patients highlight the importance of including a diverse patient population in iCCA clinical trials as well as the importance of recognizing different genetic drivers that may be targetable to treat distinct patient cohorts.
Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome: Updates for Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Authors: Neubauer Thomas M. , Chin Justin J. , Hill R. Dillon , Hu Yao-Wen Eliot
Published: September 2024

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome remains difficult to diagnose. Meanwhile, our limited knowledge and understanding make treatment decisions complex. The list of differential diagnoses for exertional leg pain is broad. Oftentimes, patients exhibit confounding and coexisting diagnoses. However, accurate and rapid diagnosis of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome is essential to reduce potential lasting damage to the popliteal artery. A combination of clinical history, physical examination, ankle-brachial index, along with dynamic and static imaging such as duplex ultrasound, computed tomography angiogram, and magnetic resonance angiography, aids diagnosis. Surgical treatment may be definitive depending on the type of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, but there have been recent advances in diagnostics with intravascular ultrasound and nonsurgical treatment with botulinum toxin type A. Further research is needed to standardize diagnostic criteria, uncover innovative diagnostic methods, and validate promising nonoperative treatment options.
The post-millennial popular romance novel
Authors: Αρβανιτάκη Ειρήνη
Published: September 2024

Η παρούσα διατριβή εξετάζει μια επιλογή δημοφιλών ρομαντικών μυθιστορημάτων του εικοστού πρώτου αιώνα που δημοσιεύτηκαν σε δύο σειρές της Harlequin και της Mills & Boon. Διερευνά τις προβολές των βασικών στοιχείων που αποτελούν τον πυρήνα τους (ήρωας, ηρωίδα, ερωτική σχέση και επιθυμία). Επιπλέον, διερευνά πώς αυτές οι προβολές, και κατά συνέπεια τα ρομαντικά μυθιστορήματα του εικοστού πρώτου αιώνα, αμφισβητούν ή/και ενισχύουν τις πατριαρχικές ιδέες για τις σχέσεις και τις έμφυλες νόρμες. Η βασική θέση της παρούσας διατριβής είναι ότι τα δημοφιλή ρομαντικά μυθιστορήματα μπορούν να διαβαστούν ως συντηρητικά προοδευτικά κείμενα. Η ανάλυση αυτή υπογραμμίζει ότι τα δημοφιλή ρομαντικά μυθιστορήματα εκτείνονται αρκετά ώστε να καλύπτουν και να ενσωματώνουν πτυχές που προσφέρουν μια αίσθηση προοδευτικότητας. Ωστόσο, αυτό συμβαίνει χωρίς να υπερβαίνονται τα όρια και χωρίς να διαταράσσεται η φόρμουλα του συγκεκριμένου λογοτεχνικού είδους.
Case Report : Brucella infection of total knee arthroplasty - The first case report in an endemic country!
Authors: Chalbaoui Ines , Sallem Sahar , Meddeb Mehdi , Ernandes Helmi , Abid Leila , Kaoual Salma , Mzid Ahmed , Farah Faten , Besbes Sophia , Mestiri Mondher , Kooli Ikbel
Published: September 2024

Prosthetic joint loosening due to Brucella spp. is a rare event. In this report, we describe a rare case of prosthetic infection caused by brucella. A 71-year-old woman reported a six-month history of progressing pain in the right prosthetic knee, which had been implanted for arthrosis four years prior to admission, associated with fever. No night sweats were noted. On examination, the right knee appeared slightly swollen and painful on mobilization, and the surgical wound was normal. Blood tests showed increased C-Reactive Protein (CRP) (34mg/L) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (34mm/hr). A CT scan of her right knee was performed, showing loosening of the prosthesis, joint effusion, and osteolysis in contact with the internal tibial component measuring 16mm maximum with bone remodeling of the epiphysis and metaphysis regions. Rose Bengal test was positive for brucellosis, a standard brucella tube agglutination test was positive at a titer of 1/80, blood cultures for brucella were negative and a PCR for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was negative. The patient was diagnosed as having Brucella infection of his total knee arthroplasty. Favorable outcome was observed after medical and surgical treatment. We believe this is the first detailed report of Brucella prosthetic infection in the country despite the endemicity of this type of zoonosis.
Case Report: Unveiling an anomalous diaphragmatic paraganglioma mimicking a hepatic tumor
Authors: Echeverria Ortegon Ermilo , Millet-Herrera Jose Luis , Casillas Javier
Published: September 2024

Abstract Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors, often associated with catecholamine secretion. These tumors can arise in various locations, with the majority found in the abdomen and pelvis, while a smaller percentage occurs in the thorax and head and neck regions. Diaphragmatic paragangliomas are exceedingly rare, with only two documented cases in the literature. This report details a case of a primary diaphragmatic paraganglioma in a 59-year-old patient presenting with unexplained weight loss, tremors, and diaphoresis. Imaging studies revealed a mass in the right lobe of the liver, later identified as a diaphragmatic paraganglioma during surgery. The case underscores the importance of preoperative catecholamine assessment and careful surgical planning due to the risks associated with tumor manipulation. Complete surgical resection, although challenging, remains the definitive treatment, especially in hypervascular tumors located near major vascular structures.
How science and policy came together and made a global impact: The EU common list of COVID-19 antigen tests
Authors: Raffael Barbara , Petrillo Mauro , Leoni Gabriele , Wiesenthal Tobias , Kuipers Yoline , Querci Maddalena
Published: September 2024

Science can play a pivotal role in providing support to public health policy making processes, and to ensure effective and efficient implementation of policies. This work illustrates how science was integrated into policymaking during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, in relation to countries’ COVID-19 antigen testing strategies as well as the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2021/953 on the EU Digital COVID Certificate. The lessons learnt during this process as well as the critical steps taken, and concrete recommendations, have been identified and capitalised and turned into a list of science-based advice. The availability of an already established mechanism that can be quickly adapted in case of need, is likely to be highly beneficial in case of a future public health emergency.
Contradictions and emptiness all the way down?
Authors: De Oliveira Barbalho Pedro Augusto
Published: September 2024

Markus Gabriel’s pluralism and Graham Priest’s monism can be considered new forms of skepticism in contemporary philosophy. Gabriel considers ‘emptiness’ and Priest ‘nothingness’ as safe havens for logic and philosophy. In the same way, traditional skeptics also considered nothing secure. Furthermore, we observe in this book that whilst both Priest and Gabriel present rather eloquent theories, they nevertheless lack more substantial proofs, much like many important theories in philosophy, such as Leibniz’s monadology.
Measuring and Mitigating the Risk of Advanced Cyberattackers
Authors: Gilad Amitai , Tishler Asher
Published: September 2024

Sophisticated cyberattackers (commonly known as advanced persistent threats (APTs)) pose enormous risks to organizations such as financial institutions, industrial and commercial firms, government institutions, and power grids. This study presents a method and an index to measure the vulnerability of organizations to APT risk and shows why a one-size-fits-all solution to mitigate APT risk does not exist. Our vulnerability index is based on a model that describes the optimal behavior of a cyberattacker (APT) with research and development capabilities aspiring to attack a network that manages the organization and a network operator that deploys blocking and detection measures to protect its organization from the attack. We demonstrate how our vulnerability index, which accounts for the network’s structure and the APTs’ resources and strategy, can be used in realistic risk assessments and optimal resource allocation procedures and serve as a benchmark for organizations’ preparedness against APTs’ cyberattacks. We also propose that regulatory agencies of financial (and other) institutions provide the parameters that define an APT’s profile and request, as part of their periodic assessments of the organizations that they regulate, that our (or similar) vulnerability index will be reported to them by the regulated institutions. Finally, the viability of our index in modeling modern cybersecurity defense procedures shows that not only there is no silver bullet defense against all types of APTs, it is also imperative to account for APTs’ heterogeneity because detection and blocking measures can be complements, substitutes, or even degrade each other. For example, when the attacker’s (defender’s) budget is extremely large (small), the defender should deploy only detection measures, strongly advocating Zero Trust practices.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/deca.2023.0072 .
Timely Quality Problem Resolution in Peer-Production Systems: The Impact of Bots, Policy Citations, and Contributor Experience
Authors: Mindel Vitali , Aaltonen Aleksi , Rai Arun , Mathiassen Lars , Jabr Wael
Published: September 2024

Online peer-production systems create value by enabling people to participate in the production of a common good such as an open encyclopedia by building freely on each other’s work. Fixing quality problems in peer production in a timely manner is critical because millions of people rely on peer-produced content for learning and decision making. The longer low-quality content remains in place, the more it can harm the reputation of a peer-production system and diminish the capability of the system to maintain its contributor base. We study different mechanism affecting the timeliness of quality problem resolution in Wikipedia and find that the speedy resolution of quality problems depends on the successful integration of software robots (bots) and the careful calibration of policy citations to the different levels of experience among contributors. Most control mechanisms found in firm-based production do not apply to peer production, and instead, quality control in peer production must leverage the strengths of different contributors and harness the benefits of technological support and adaptive policy frameworks to improve productivity and achieve high-quality outcomes.
A Study the Prevalence of Depression in Middle Aged Women - Based on Women Living in Geoje City -
Authors: Lee Sam-Soon , Choi Won-Hee
Published: September 2024

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of depression in middle aged women who lived in G city. Methods: In this descriptive study, the participants were 454 middle aged(40-60years) women who lived in G city. Data was collected from January to February, 2006. Personal interviews with a structured questionnaire were performed. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, %2-test. Results: The prevalence of depression was 59.7%. There were significantly differences of depression in age, monthly income, educational level, religion, satisfaction of marital status, history of hospitalization, medication history, exercise, perceived health status, subjective symptoms(insomnia, palpitation, back pain, headache, constipation, dyspepsia)(p<0.05). Conclusion: It is necessary to develop the education programs considering significant factors which can prevent the occurrence of middle aged women's depression.
Adjustment Experiences of Students in Nursing Education
Authors: Min So-Young
Published: September 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the Korean undergraduate nursing students' experiences on their adjustment in nursing education program. Methods: A grounded theory method guided the data collection and analysis. The data were collected by individual in-depth interview from 11 nursing students. These data were analyzed according to Strauss & Corbin , (1998) open coding, axial coding, selective coding, and process analysis.Results: Nursing student's experiences were a process of 'Accepting responsibility as my share.’ Processes changed in the course of time. Such changes in the process advanced with "Deciding to be a nurse "Being bewildered by a new environmenf, ‘Being pushed by a huge amount of study and time’, 'Enduring with comfort for the future’, and 'Cautiously planning the future. Conclusion: The result indicates that the supportive programs reflecting nursing students' experiences should be developed.
Influencing Factors of Marital Satisfaction in. Couples: Non-dlstessed Cowpies vs Clinical Couples
Authors: Kong Seong Suk
Published: September 2024

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the factors that affect the marital satisfaction in non-distressed couples and clinical couples. Methods: Non-distressed couples(n=69) from three well-being centers in Seoul and Gyeong-gi area and clinical couples(n=57) visited “M” couple clinic were participated in the study. Data were collected from June to October 2005 using modified versions of the inventories developed by Gottman on marital satisfaction, positive affect, conflict regulation, and communication aggravator(“Four Horsemen”). Results: Non distressed couples showed significantly higher scores on marital satisfaction, positive affect, and conflict regulation, but lower score on communication-aggravator compared to the clinical couples. The factors that significantly contribute to the marital satisfaction were positive affect and communication aggravator. Conclusion: Both in non-distressed couples and clinical couples, mental health education and nursing intervention programs for couple should empathize enhancing the positive affect and decreasing the communication aggravator in couples.
AS CONDIÇÕES GERAIS DE PRODUÇÃO NO DISCURSO DA VIABILIDADE DE INSTALAÇÃO DA ZONA DE PROCESSAMENTO DE EXPORTAÇÕES (ZPES) DE CÁCERES, MATO GROSSO
Authors: Cruz Jean da Silva , Hespanhol Antonio Nivaldo
Published: September 2024

Neste artigo são analisadas as condições gerais de produção (CGP) e o seu papel no discurso da viabilidade de instalação da Zona de Processamento de Exportações (ZPE) de Cáceres, Mato Grosso. Foram realizados levantamento documental em sites oficiais e pesquisa bibliográfica sobre o tema. Constatou-se que as ZPEs surgem como estratégia locacional face ao papel das Condições Gerais de Produção – CGP e são utilizadas como um instrumento de política econômica industrial. Ademais, as CGP reaparecem enquanto suporte material-simbólico discursivo das elites regionais, entidades não governamentais, gestores públicos vinculados às três escalas da administração pública (municipal, estadual e federal) e parlamentares (vereadores, deputados e senadores). Assim, vem se construindo uma prática política e ideológica desenvolvimentista por intermédio da implementação da ZPE de Cáceres, Mato Grosso.
A FRAGMENTAÇÃO SOCIOESPACIAL EM CIDADES MÉDIAS BRASILEIRAS: TENDÊNCIAS E PERSPECTIVAS DA NOVA CONDIÇÃO URBANA
Authors: Da Silva Cleiton Ferreira
Published: September 2024

Ao analisar o impacto do neoliberalismo, da globalização e do Pós-fordismo nas cidades da América Latina, estudos têm evidenciado transformações significativas nas formas e conteúdo dos espaços urbanos, cujos trabalhos têm denominado tais fenômenos de fragmentação socioespacial. No Brasil, a fragmentação socioespacial tem-se manifestado por meio de múltiplos fenômenos que têm sido objeto de análise de vários estudos. À luz deste debate, este trabalho propõe-se em analisar os seguintes aspectos: o surgimento de novas centralidades nas áreas periféricas das cidades, a expansão de “fortificações” residenciais nas periferias, destinadas aos moradores das classes média e alta, ao lado de habitações populares como as do PMCMV e, novas práticas voltadas ao consumo segmentado e seletivo no espaço urbano, como shoppings centers. A ideia, portanto, é caracterizar estas mudanças em cidades médias brasileiras, aqui representadas pelas cidades de Marabá-PA e Mossoró-RN.
GEOGRAFIAS ARRUINADAS:
Authors: Souza Júnior Carlos Roberto Bernardes de
Published: September 2024

Lugares podem ser definidos e (re)significados por eventos destrutivos, disruptivos e tanatológicos que os transmutam em ruínas. Destarte, há horizontes expressivos de sentidos topocídicos a serem interpretados pelos geógrafos culturais. O presente ensaio perscruta as maneiras pelas quais o fenômeno de topocídio cria geografias arruinadas pelos múltiplos processos de flagelamento dos lugares. Para tanto, adota-se um enfoque ecofenomenológico que busca expandir as compreensões acerca de como essas problemáticas afetam os enovelamentos intersubjetivos e intercorporais de lugares mais-que-humanos. Por meio de exemplos advindos de textos literários, de obras de arte e de experiências de vida do autor, evidencia-se que os topocídios ecoam em disrupções das potencialidades do fazer-lugar criativo em contextos de covulnerabilidades de ser-na-e-da-Terra. Conclui-se que é necessário decifrar as articulações intercorporificadas de experiências pluritópicas para promover outras formas de coabitar e de coexistência nas fraturas e fissuras das ruínas.
O MITO PERSISTENTE DO CRESCIMENTO ECONÔMICO E A DEGRADAÇÃO DO MEIO NA AMÉRICA LATINA
Authors: Zanotelli Claudio Luiz
Published: September 2024

A problemática central deste artigo é aquela do mito mecanicista das teorias e dos modelos econômicos importados de outras experiências dos países centrais no passado, ou originalmente elaborados na América Latina, e que defendiam o crescimento e o desenvolvimento econômico sem se interrogar sobre a heterogeneidade dos contextos históricos e todos os efeitos destrutivos sobre os modos de vida tradicionais e sobre o meio dos países nos quais se procurou aplicá-los, no nosso caso, na América Latina. Estes preceitos mecanicistas envolveram tanto as economias ortodoxas quanto as economias heterodoxas, tanto os neoclássicos quanto os neoliberais.
PASSAGENS FRONTAIS E OS IMPACTOS DE EVENTOS EXTREMOS NA ZONA COSTEIRA DO RIO DE JANEIRO (RJ)
Authors: Santos Costa Carlos Eduardo , Cadena de Vasconcelos Sérgio , Beray Armond Núbia
Published: September 2024

Diante do contexto das mudanças climáticas, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a relação entre o fenômeno atmosférico da Frente Polar Atlântica (FPA) e os impactos observados sobre o litoral do município do Rio de Janeiro – RJ, identificando um possível aumento da tendência destes impactos sobre a linha de costa carioca a partir da análise das ocorrências históricas da Frente Fria Polar Atlântica ao longo das últimas três décadas (1988 – 2017). Para isso, foi necessária a aquisição de dados meteorológicos, oceânicos e registros da mídia virtual, em conjunto com a elaboração estatística do coeficiente de correlação e a frequência relativa percentual entre estes eventos. Os resultados demonstraram uma correlação positiva moderada (0,56) e uma frequência inicial de 16,21% em direção a um crescimento final de 30,43%, o que fortalece a projeção futura do aumento numérico dos danos costeiros sobre as praias cariocas.
Palavras-chave: Frente Polar Atlântica; Ressacas; Vulnerabilidade a Impactos Costeiros.
TENDÊNCIAS GLOBAIS DE PESQUISAS SOBRE O REUSO DE ÁGUAS RESIDUÁRIAS NA AGRICULTURA A PARTIR DA ANÁLISE BIBLIOMÉTRICA
Authors: Palma Lopes Sobrinho Oswaldo , Nazário Silva dos Santos Leonardo , Batista Teixeira Marconi , Antonio Loureiro Soares Frederico
Published: September 2024

A crescente escassez de recursos hídricos e a necessidade de práticas agrícolas sustentáveis têm impulsionado o interesse no reuso de águas residuárias na agricultura. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma revisão bibliométrica de publicações científicas voltadas a investigação sobre o potencial de reuso de águas residuárias na agricultura, no período que compreende os anos entre 1973 a 2023. Utilizou-se a análise bibliométrica de publicações na base de dados Scopus e discutiu-se a quantidade de artigos publicados por ano, tipo de documentos, áreas de concentração, distribuição global por países, filiações, patrocinador financiador, periódicos e a criação da rede bibliométrica das palavras-chave e dos principais autores. Para realizar o mapeamento científico e avaliar indicadores bibliométricos, utilizou-se os softwares VOSviewer® e R Studio®. Os resultados sinalizam a seleção de 255 artigos com o primeiro publicado em 1973 e que o ano de maior pico foi 2021 totalizando 21 artigos publicados. No ranking dos países que mais publicaram, o Estados Unidos ocupa a liderança seguido da Austrália, Índia e China. Em sinopse, a revisão bibliométrica serviu para impulsionar futuras investigações promovendo o uso sustentável de águas residuárias na agricultura em todo o mundo.