bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Philosophy of Russia in China (2007–2022)
Authors:   Institute of Philosophy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Yinmao Ma
Published: April 2023

The article provides an overview of the Russian philosophy studies in China over the past 16 years. In addition to the Russian religious philosophy and Marx­ist philosophy that traditionally enjoyed attention in China, research was also conducted in such areas as philosophy of culture, social philosophy, philosophy of science and technology, ethics, Eurasianism, political philosophy of Russia. The priority belongs to the philosophical thought of Nikolai Berdyaev, Lev Shestov, Vladimir Solovyov, Nikolai Fedorov, Semen Frank and Fyodor Dosto­evsky. In addition to historical and philosophical works on Marxism in Russia and the USSR, many works have been devoted to the interpretations of Marxist philosophy by modern Russian scientists, such as Ivan Frolov, Teodor Oizerman, Evald Ilyenkov, Aleksandr Buzgalin et al. The directions and priorities in the study of Russian ethics, philosophy of science, philosophy of culture, philosophy of language are outlined. Narodniks movement and Slavophilism remain impor­tant areas of research; Eurasianism enjoys great attention. The philosophy of An­cient Russia and Russian Orthodoxy are presented in general and special works and translations. The article describes the activities of the Learned Society of Philosophy of Russia. Among the scientific events, a special place is assigned to the biennial All-China Academic Conference on the Philosophy of Russia. In the field of scientific cooperation between Russian and Chinese researchers, lecture series read by Russian scholars in China and Chinese scholars in Russia, as well as joint research projects are described. In the final Section, the problems exist­ing in the research of Russian philosophy in China are indicated.
The Symbol of the Dragon in the Cosmogonic Schemes of Ancient China
Authors:   The Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Garrido Valeriia V.
Published: April 2023

The symbol of the dragon is an important element of the cultural and historical identity of the Chinese people. This article attempts to analyze the symbol of the dragon in the genesis of Chinese philosophy, particularly in its cosmogonic and cosmological systems. The article shows that the mythological symbol of the dragon did not disappear at an early stage of the formation of Chinese civiliza­tion; on the contrary, it was fixed in the corpus of categories of philosophical thought and was used to express the cosmological laws and principles of Tao. The symbol of dragon can also be found in 4 symbols (or 4 images 四象, si xi­ang), 5 elements (五行, wu xing), 6 harmonies-correspondences (六合, liu he), 7 stars (七星, qi xing), 8 trigrams (八卦, ba gua) and 64 hexagrams (六十四卦, liu shi si gua). The article concludes that the symbol of the dragon lays at the very origins of Chinese culture since it expresses its main archetypal meanings; it embodies the naturalness (⾃然, zi ran) and the cycle of universal changes.
of the Russian Society of the Digital Age
Authors:   Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia), Liseev Igor K.
Published: April 2023

In recent years, the problems of the modern civilizational choice of our country have been increasingly discussed. Various civilizational projects are considered from the social, economic, political, geopolitical, ideological, general cultural, confessional and other positions. At the same time, projects that pay attention to natural components that influence the formation of new civilizational orienta­tions take the least part in these discussions. And this is understandable. We live in a growing gap between the scientific and technical, humanitarian and social components of the development of modern society, the rapid formation of a new digital era created by the increased scientific and technical power of man. This era led to the emergence of global information networks that made global com­munications possible, which fundamentally changes the form of organization of modern society. The concept of the formation of such a digital era was compre­hensively developed in the works of D. Bell, E. Toffler, M. Castels, M. McLuhan and many other modern researchers. The paper considers the role of ecological thinking in the formation of civilizational orientations of the Russian society of the digital age. The prospects and risks of such a civilizational development are analyzed. The importance of the formation of environmentally oriented thinking for overcoming the risks and dangers of this path, for significant transforma­tions of the formation of civilizational orientations of our country is revealed. The historical prerequisites for the emergence of ecological approaches are considered. The civilizational perspectives of the functioning of ecological thinking in modern conditions are formulated. It is proved that ecological think­ing, leading to the formation of a broad ecological culture, fulfills the most im­portant strategic task of our time – the formation of an eco-oriented civilizational attitude of its development in our country.
Transdisciplinary Research Program of N.I. Zhinkin: Inner Speech and Its Experimental Projections
Authors:   Institute of Social and Humanitarian Education, Moscow State Pedagogical University, Shchedrina Tatiana G. ,   Institute for Logic, Cognitive Science and Development of Personality, Zhuravel Evgeny P. ,   nstitute for Logic, Cognitive Science and Development of Personality,   State Academic University for the Humanitie, Sabancheev Rustam Yu. ,   Institute for Logic, Cognitive Science and Development of Personality
Published: April 2023

The philosophical and theoretical legacy of the famous Russian philosopher, psychologist, film theorist Nikolai Ivanovich Zhinkin (1893–1979) is compre­hended in the article as an integral cultural and historical phenomenon. Based on his fundamental works and archival materials (letters, drafts, abstracts of re­ports and articles), the authors attempt to reconstruct the main characteristics of his transdisciplinary research program and demonstrate its current experimen­tal projections. This approach allows us to show that in the early philosophical, phenomenologically oriented works N.I. Zhinkin, speaking about the “thing” as a fundamentally social and historical phenomenon, outlined a methodological path, which he consistently implemented in the humanities and sciences – psy­chological, semiotic, logical and ethological – research of the late period. The authors pay special attention to experimental ethological studies, which N.I. Zhinkin carried out in the Sukhum monkey nursery in the 1950s. In addi­tion to the traditional interpretative and translational strategies that made it pos­sible to clarify the specific meanings of social “things”, he experimentally recorded the presence of a communicative system in the acoustic screams of monkeys. Thus, the relevance of the methodological path of N.I. Zhinkin (his transdisciplinary research program) lies in the fact that he used the experi­mental method to study social “things”, i.e. sign-symbolic reality (language, thinking as inner speech, language memory, information)
Locke and Carolina
Authors:   Independent researcher, Yakovlev Anatoly A.
Published: April 2023

Twice in his life (in 1668–1674 and 1696–1700) John Locke held relatively high government positions. The article gives a brief account of his first office, which included drawing up “The Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina” (1669). “Constitutions” presented a structure of a colony, seen as a project of a future civil society. It was a scheme of absolutist aristocratic republic, and of limited democracy of freemen with underlying labor of slaves, serfs, and indentured ser­vants. Confrontation, uncompromising struggle with the Evil, and a wide war for Empire, and World Supremacy, all that deemed to be a divine dispensation on the very eve of the Second Coming.
The Way to the “Pathless Land”
Authors:   Leo Tolstoy State Museum, Prokopchuk Yuri V.
Published: April 2023

The work is devoted to reflections on the text of A.A. Zinoviev’s dystopia “The Global Humant Hill”. The main ideas of the work, the general trends in the development of civilization outlined in the novel are traced. The close connection of the thoughts and ideas reflected in the work with the pressing problems of the development of modern society is noted. The danger of dehu­manization of human society, submission to social standards, blindly following the path of material progress is shown. The author of the article believes that one of the main problems described in the dystopia is connected with a lack of un­derstanding of the true nature of the human personality, the psychological depth of a person, his moral, spiritual basis, ignoring which leads to disastrous conse­quences. Attention is drawn to the importance of subordinating scientific and technological development to the ideas of human welfare, to critical and skepti­cal attitude to progressive technocratic social models associated with digitaliza­tion, computerization, artificial intelligence. Zinoviev’s novel is seen as a warn­ing to younger contemporaries and future generations, for whom a collision with a complex of problems associated with a new stage of human society develop­ment is inevitable.
Carbon trading systems and Credit Spreads of Highly Polluting Corporate Bonds: An Empirical Study Based on a Triple Difference Model
Authors: Liu Xingqing , Chen Zhen , Yu Qiuyue , Fang Liuhua , Gong Jianjiao , Wen Chuanhao
Published: April 2023

The global environment has been changing rapidly since the 21st century, and the harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature has been seriously challenged, and the green transformation of highly polluting enterprises has become a requirement of the times. Based on monthly corporate bond data and annual corporate financial data from January 2009 to December 2019 in China, this paper constructs a triple difference model to test the impact of carbon trading system on corporate bond credit spreads. The results show that, first, the carbon trading system has a reducing effect on the credit spreads of bonds of highly polluting companies in the carbon trading pilot region, and the implementation of the carbon trading system can promote bond financing in the green transformation process of highly polluting companies. Second, there is heterogeneity in the impact of the carbon trading system on the credit spreads of bonds of high-polluting firms, with private firms, small-scale firms and emerging firms having a greater reduction in corporate bond credit spreads than state-owned firms, large-scale firms and senior firms. Third, the carbon trading system exposes high-polluting firms to the risk of bankruptcy in the "carbon trading market" due to high operating costs and small net profits, thus incentivizing high-polluting firms to raise bonds in the "investment and financing market" to promote their green transformation.
Exploring the socioeconomic status, challenges, and roles of waste pickers in Arusha city's solid waste management system: An insight into their contributions in Tanzania's cities
Authors: Onesmo Clashon
Published: April 2023

Waste pickers play essential socioeconomic and environmental scenes in cities of developing countries. This study explored waste pickers to understand their socioeconomic characteristics, challenges, and roles in Tanzania cities. A mixed-methods research design was utilized, including questionnaires, interviews, and observations, to gather data from waste pickers in the city. The findings revealed that Arusha generates 550 tons of waste per day, with male waste pickers dominating the industry at 60%. Many waste pickers were within the active working age of 18-49 (90%), and two third possessed primary education (66%). Many waste pickers were single (50%) and married (42.5%). A significant portion of them (69%) were native to the region, while less than a third had migrated. On average, waste pickers in Arusha earn up to 153,000 TZS (USD 66) monthly, hence looking for an alternative job. Waste pickers also play a significant role in the city's informal economy. They act as recovery hubs and central suppliers of recycling materials. Their work helps extend the lifespan of landfills, conserve resources, and protect the environment. However, they face challenges such as low earnings, scarcity of materials, and health issues such as injuries, harassment, and low prices for materials. Formalizing and integrating waste pickers into the city's solid waste management system can reduce GHG emissions, providing a sustainable and meaningful model for managing waste and mitigating climate change in Arusha. The study underscores the importance of acknowledging and supporting the role of waste pickers in achieving sustainable waste management and a climate-smart city.
A high-resolution time-frequency analysis tool for fault diagnosis of rotating machinery
Authors: Cui Zhenghao , Yu Gang
Published: April 2023

Fault features in a mechanical system typically appear as transient impulses which can be analyzed using time-frequency analysis (TFA) methods. Recently, a new TFA technique termed as time-reassigned multisynchrosqueezing transform (TMSST) was proposed to capture the transient impulses in a signal for fault diagnosis. However, the TMSST was developed based on the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) which could yield unclear high-frequency image due to the fixed sliding time window used in STFT. To overcome this limitation, TMSST is combined with the S-transform and local maximum method in this study for an improved time frequency representation in the signal analysis. An extractive reconstruction algorithm binding the maximum value of the spectral envelope is further proposed for spectral decomposition. A simulated noise-added signal and four experimental bearing defect data are used in the study to verify the validity and effectiveness of the technique developed in a step-by-step manner. The results confirm that the proposed technique can accurately extract the fault features for bearing operated under constant or varying speed conditions.
Optimization of the Chemical Interesterification of Allanblackia (Allanblackia floribunda), African Walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) and Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) Seed Oil Blend for use in Bakery Shortening Production, a Response Surface Approach
Authors: Iwe Maduebibisi Ofo , Chibor Bariwere Samuel , Obasi Nneoma Elechi
Published: April 2023

The objective of this work was to optimize the interesterification temperature (X1), time (X2) and catalyst concentration (X3) ofAllanblackia, African walnut and fluted pumpkin seed oil blend for bakery shortening production, using a rotatable central composite design (RCCD) in response surface methodology (RSM). The extracted seed oils were interesterified using sodium methoxide as catalyst. Solid fat content, smoke point, melting point, density, viscosity, Iodine value and free fatty acid were evaluated as responses. Regression models were generated and adequacy tested with lack of fit test and coefficient of determination (R2). The results showed that interesterification temperature, interesterification time and catalyst concentration of the oil blend had significant (p˂ 0.05) effects on responses, with R2value of 96.8, 95.3, 94.2, 90.1, 99.5, 93.2 and 75.7 % and C.V of 0.266, 0.146, 0.502, 0.499, 0.602, 0.448 and 7.830 %, respectively for solid fat content, smoke point, melting point, density, viscosity, Iodine value and free fatty acid. Model lack-of-fit in all cases were desirably not significant (p>0.05). Adequate precision values were 16.2006, 13.328, 11.758, 10.054, 46.69, 10.024 and 14.182 for solid fat content, smoke point, melting point, density, viscosity, Iodine value and free fatty acid. Predicted optimum condition and desirability index of 0.907 was obtained at 74.57°C, 46.0 min and 0.278 % interesterification temperature, time and catalyst concentration respectively, while optimum solid fat content, smoke point, melting point, density, viscosity, Iodine value and free fatty acid were 5.15 %, 221.91°C, 32.49°C, 0.911, 25.06 cSt, 76.42 g/100g and 0.08 % respectively. The experimental results obtained validate the predicted model within the acceptable range of the responses. The results also suggest that the obtained model is acceptable and recommended for the optimization of interesterification temperature, time and catalyst concentration for improved bakery fat quality and consistency. Melting point and FFA of the oil blend were reduced significantly (p<0.05) after interesterification, while smoke point and Iodine value increased significantly (p<0.05).
Clinical efficacy of B-ultrasound-guided manual repositioning combined with intramedullary tibial nailing in the treatment of Zhang-Hou fractures
Authors: Mei Jie , He Qiang , Liu Ying
Published: April 2023

Objective:To investigate and analyze the clinical efficacy of B-ultrasound-guided manipulative repositioning combined with tibial intramedullary nailing in the treatment of Zhang-Hou's (Z-H) fractures.
Methods: Fifty-nine patients with Z-H fractures treated surgically in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2022 were selected for retrospective study, and were divided into 31 cases in the observation group (B-ultrasound-guided manipulative repositioning combined with intramedullary nailing of the tibia) and 28 cases in the control group (plate screw internal fixation) according to the surgical method. The general data, surgical indexes, VAS scores at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, and the excellent rate of functional rehabilitation at 6 and 12 months after surgery were compared between the two groups.
Results: There was no statistical difference between the general data of the two groups (P > 0.05), which was comparable. The observation group had better operating time, intraoperative blood loss, number of intraoperative fluoroscopy, hospital stay and fracture healing time than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The difference was not statistically significant when comparing the preoperative VAS scores of the two groups (P>0.05); whereas the observation group had better VAS scores than the control group at all postoperative time points, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group was 6.45% (2/31, cases), which was significantly lower than that in the control group (17.86% (5/28, cases), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The excellent functional rehabilitation rate in the observation group was 93.55% (29/31, cases) at 12 months after surgery, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (78.57% (22/28, cases), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Compared with conventional plate and screw internal fixation for Zhang-Hou fractures, B-ultrasound-guided manual repositioning combined with intramedullary nailing of the tibia has the advantages of optimizing surgical indexes, reducing postoperative complications, and improving postoperative functional recovery, and also shortens the learning curve of clinicians for intramedullary nailing surgery.
Nonlinear observer-based fault diagnosis for the control system of the stratospheric airship
Authors: Hu Jichen , Zhu Ming , Zheng Zewei , Chen Tian
Published: April 2023

This paper is dedicated to investigating an observer-based fault diagnosis (FD) approach for a Lipschitz nonlinear system and applied in a stratospheric airship (SA) flight control system. The system model uncertainties, external disturbances, and sensor noise are considered. Firstly, a detailed model of the SA is obtained by kinematics and dynamics. Then a nonlinear fault detection observer is designed via Linear Matrix Inequation (LMI) in H∞ framework, and a bank of unknown input observers is activated for isolating the faulty component. Moreover, to estimate the size of the fault, an expanded robust estimation observer is designed concerning states and fault estimator error. All of the mentioned observers are designed by a matrix inequation formulation, which reformulated the nonlinear system to a generalized Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) system mathematically. The proposed FD scheme is applied to the control system of a SA and its effectiveness is illustrated.
Mathematics Subject Classification (2020) MSC code1 · MSC code2 · more
Cauda Equina Syndrome Following Traumatic Injury Managed With Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation: A case report and literature review
Authors: Altahla Ruba , Alshorman Jamal , Tao Xu
Published: April 2023

Background: Physiotherapists often deal with spinal pathology in their caseloads, so they should have a thorough understanding of Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES). While CES treatment with physical therapy and rehabilitation is a rare presentation, A careful review only revealed four case reports. This case presented an unusual traumatic CES treatment with physical therapy and rehabilitation with a good functional outcome.
Case presentation: Here is a case of a 56 years old Chinese male who visited the hospital with the lumbar spine showed that the L1 vertebral body was compressed fracture and the corresponding plane spinal cord was compressed following a fall injury.
A description is provided of his subjective and physical examinations as well as the results of his lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient was diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome. He was further referred to the physiotherapy department for management of the same. The patient was treated with surgical laminectomy and decompression at L1-L2. Anticoagulation, anti-infection, and pain relief therapies were part of the intervention. A comprehensive rehabilitation program included paraplegia physical therapy, intelligent lower limb training, acupuncture and massage, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Conclusion: The comprehensive physical rehabilitation program and medical treatment work best to heal the lesion and its resulting function in traumatic CES.
Neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein (NELL1)-associated membranous nephropathy with heterogeneous underlying diseases: A case report
Authors: Miyazaki Reina , Ueda Hiroyuki , Okabe Masahiro , Shimizu Akihiro , Joh Kensuke , Tsuboi Nobuo , Yokoo Takashi
Published: April 2023

Background:
Neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein (NELL1) is a target antigen of membranous nephropathy (MN). NELL1-associated MN (NELL1-MN) was originally a primary form but has been associated with other diseases, including malignancies, pre-exposure to certain drugs, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Case presentation:
A 78-year-old woman with long-standing RA developed persistent proteinuria and was diagnosed with MN. Evaluation of the underlying cause revealed chronic active HCV infection and past HBV infection. The underlying cause was less likely to be drug-related; however, there was no evidence of malignancy. The patient was diagnosed with HCV-associated MN. At 4 years after MN diagnosis, the patient died of breast cancer with multiple metastases. Subsequent immunohistological analysis revealed that she had NELL1-MN and that her breast cancer tissue positively stained for NELL1.
Conclusions:
Our case illustrates the difficulty in establishing the underlying disease of NELL1-MN, even after diagnosis. However, the incidence of malignancies, particularly breast and prostate cancers, is higher in NELL1-MN than in MN with other target antigens. Therefore, malignancies are considered a priority for investigation because of their frequency and prognosis among patients with NELL1-MN.
Healthcare services utilization and seeking behaviour during COVID- 19 pandemic in the UAE – A cross-sectional study.
Authors: Kambris Mona El Kouatly , AlBlooshi Sharifa , Elamin Amal , Ajja Rahma
Published: April 2023

Background Following the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, many governments, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), imposed restrictions on movement to slow the spread of the virus. In such conditions, it is imperative that we ensure that healthcare remains accessible and safe. To better understand the impact of the pandemic on healthcare-seeking behavior, this cross-sectional study aimed to describe the patterns of healthcare utilization among adults in the UAE during the pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional study used snowball sampling to recruit participants from the UAE to complete a well-structured online questionnaire between December 2020 – March 2021. The questionnaire included closed-ended items covering demographic characteristics, medical history, and healthcare utilization during the pandemic, Results A total of 3371 participants completed the online questionnaire. A total of 66.7% of participants reported some level of worry over maintaining healthcare during the pandemic. In terms of seeking care for COVID-19 symptoms, 43% preferred seeking care in the emergency room, while 25.1% preferred the use of telemedicine services. The results showed a drop in healthcare utilization during the lockdown period (12.95%) compared to after the lockdown period (53.1%) among the respondents. Only 33.5% of healthcare services used during the pandemic were related to COVID-19. Females (p < 0.000), Emirati nationals (p < 0.05), and those with health insurance (p < 0.000) were more likely to utilize health services. Whereas those over the age of 31 (p < 0.05) were less likely to utilize health services during COVID-19 pandemic. Participants who reported chronic medical conditions were more than twice as likely to utilize health services as those without chronic medical condition. Conclusions Overall, this study found a decrease in healthcare seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many participants expressing some level of worry about seeking healthcare during that period. Telemedicine appears to have potential as an alternative during such crises. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of this reduction in healthcare utilization. Understanding the impact of the pandemic on healthcare utilization can help identify any gaps in healthcare systems and inform strategies for improving healthcare access and delivery in post-pandemic times.
Perceptions of lecturers and students regarding discriminatory experiences and sexual harassment in Academic Medicine – Results from a faculty-wide quantitative study
Authors: Sabine Ludwig , Sabine Jenner , Berger Ralph , Tappert Sylvie , Kurmeyer Christine , Oertelt-Prigione Sabine , Petzold Mandy
Published: April 2023

Background
Discrimination and sexual harassment are prevalent in higher education institutions and can affect students, faculty members and employees. Herein the aim was to assess the extent of discriminatory experiences and sexual harassment of students and lecturers at one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe. We analyze whether there are differences between lecturers and students, different study programs as well as sex/gender differences.
Methods
In an interdisciplinary, iterative process, a semi-standardized questionnaire was developed and sent to N = 7095 students (S) of all study programs and N = 2528 lecturers (L) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. The study was conducted from November 2018 to February 2019. Besides a broad range of questions on sociodemographic background allowing for diversity sensitive data analysis, they were asked if they had witnessed and/or experienced any form of discrimination or sexual harassment at the medical faculty, if yes, how often, the perceived reasons, situational factors and perpetrators.
Results
The response rate was 14% (n = 964) for students and 11% (n = 275) for lecturers. A proportion of 49.6% of students (L: 31%) reported that they have witnessed and/or experienced discriminatory behavior. Sexual harassment was witnessed and/or experienced by 23.6% of students (L: 19.2%). Lecturers (85.9%) were identified as the main source of discriminatory behavior by students. Directors/supervisors (47.4%) were stated as the main source of discriminatory behavior by lecturers. As the most frequent perceived reason for discriminatory experiences sex/gender (S: 71%; L: 60.3% ) was reported. Women and dental students experienced more discriminatory behavior and sexual harassment.
Conclusions
Discriminatory behavior is experienced by a significant number of students and lecturers, with power structures having a relevant impact. Dental students and women appear to be particularly exposed. Specific institutional measures, such as training programs for lecturers and students are necessary to raise awareness and provide resources. Furthermore, national preventive strategies should be thoroughly implemented to fight discrimination and harassment at the workplace.
Bayesian State-space modelling of Impact of COVID-19 on stock Markets in G7 Countries
Authors: ojo oluwadare
Published: April 2023

This work examines the impact of Corona virus disease (COVID-19) on the stock market of Group of Seven (G7) countries using daily data from March, 1st of 2020 to December, 31st of 2020. A Bayesian Structural Time Series Model (BSTSM) was used to capture the effects of COVID-19 on the stock market performance of these G7 countries through a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. We considered an AR(p) model with time-varying parameters and local linear trend models to know if the stock price of these countries during the period of the first wave of COVID-19 is changing overtime. There was a stochastic trend in stock prices of G7 countries during the period of the first wave of COVID-19 while the autoregressive process itself was also changing overtime. The stock market of the USA followed by Japan performed well than other G7 countries during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic while the stock market of France was affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact of reperfusion therapies on clot resolution and long-term outcomes in patients with pulmonary embolism: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Lio Ka U , Bashir Riyaz , Lakhter Vladimir , Li Si , Panaro Joseph , Rali Parth
Published: April 2023

Background: Major progress in reperfusion strategies has substantially improved the short-term outcomes of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), however, up to 50% of patients report persistent dyspnea after acute PE. This study aims to evaluate the impact of reperfusion therapies on clot resolution and compare the long-term outcomes following acute PE in patients treated with reperfusion therapies to anticoagulation alone.
Methods: A retrospective study of the pulmonary embolism response team (PERT) registry at our institution between January 2017 and June 2021 and included patients with repeat imaging at 3 to 12 months. The primary outcome was to determine the incidence of residual pulmonary vascular obstruction (RPVO) following acute PE and clot burden was assessed for each patient. Secondary outcomes included the development of PE recurrence, right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), readmission, and mortality at 12 months.
Results: A total of 382 patients were included and 107 patients received reperfusion therapies followed by anticoagulation. Patients who received reperfusion therapies including systemic thrombolysis, catheter-directed thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy presented with a higher vascular obstructive index (VOI, 47% vs 28%, p<0.001), more frequent concomitant deep vein thrombosis (DVT, 69% vs 40%, p<0.001), and right heart strain on both computed tomographic pulmonary arteriography (CTPA, 82% vs 37%, p<0.001) and echocardiogram (81% vs 43%, p<0.001) at the time of diagnosis. A higher absolute reduction in VOI (45% vs 26%, p<0.001, 95% CI 14.0-25.6), greater improvement in RV function (82% vs 65%, p=0.021), lower 12-month mortality rate (2% vs 7%, p=0.038) and readmission rate (33% vs 46%, p=0.031) were observed in the reperfusion group. No statistically significant differences were found between groups in the development of CTEPH (8% vs 5%, p=0.488) and PE recurrence (8% vs 6%, p=0.646).
Conclusion: We observed a more favorable survival, greater improvement in clot resolution and RV function in patients treated with reperfusion therapies. Future randomized control trials are needed to confirm our findings.
Influence of cyclosporine A trough level on acute graft versus host disease prophylaxis in pediatric allo- hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Yang Zi-yi , Zhang Jian-ping , Wang Lei , Zhao Ying , Zhang Shu-yu , Zhang Qian , Liu Hongxing
Published: April 2023

Purpose Cyclosporine A (CsA) is the cornerstone prophylactic drug for graft versus host disease (GVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT); however, its optimal trough level is yet to be determined. Therefore, in this study, we focused on the CsA trough levels and estimated their association with acute GvHD (aGVHD) risk in a consecutive cohort of 72 pediatric patients receiving allo-HSCT.
Method The trough CsA level was monitored 3–4 times in a week via mass spectrometry analysis during medication. The occurrence of GVHD, the trough of CsA level before and after allo-HSCT and other clinical information were recorded.
Results The cumulative incidence of aGVHD at 100 days was 19.44% for grade I and 23.61% for grades II–IV. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that the optimal trough CsA level for aGVHD prophylaxis was >119 ng/mL, 146–214.5g/mL, >123.25 ng/mL, and 100.2–166 ng/mL on the −3rd day, 3rd day, 1st week, and 2nd month after HSCT, respectively. None of the cutoff values for CsA were significantly associated with the survival outcome.
Conclusion Our findings indicate that adequate management of CsA levels during the engraftment period might improve the clinical outcomes for pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Clinical trial registration: China Clinical Trial Registration Center (ChiCTR2000034702). Registered 15 July 2020.
Infrared spectroscopy reveals the reactivity of fatty acids on copper surfaces and its implications for cultural heritage objects
Authors: Boyatzis Stamatis , Fragkos-Livanios Leonidas , Giannoulaki Maria , Filopoulou Anna
Published: April 2023

The reactivities of various fatty monoacids and diacids on copper metal-containing surfaces were investigated through reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy. The formation of copper soaps is detected on pure copper surfaces, while copper and zinc soaps are simultaneously formed as mixtures on brass surfaces. Following the changes of acidic carbonyl and carboxylate infrared bands, it is shown that fatty monoacids C8, and C10 react with clean/polished copper and its zinc alloy within 2–4 hours, while those with chains > C12 react within 15–40 days. An explanation for the above results is offered on a molecular mobility basis, where liquid monoacids at room temperature favour higher reaction rates. Furthermore, it is argued that longer-chain FMAs allow for favourable orientation resulting in self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-type molecular packing on Cu surface, may explain the slower reaction. Fatty diacids, on the other hand, do not form any carboxylate products under these conditions. In light of this interesting result, it is argued that dicarboxylic acids may also pack as self-assembled layers on Cu and ultimately protect it. The implications for fatty organic remains in copper containers are discussed, with emphasis on the stability of archaeological copper metal and carboxylates serving as molecular markers for the presence of fatty monoacids as residues in archaeological containers. Besides, the utilization of fatty acids, based on the above behaviour in copper-based dosimeters, such as those used in the Oddy test, is suggested.
Resolving the phylogeny of Thladiantha (Cucurbitaceae) with three different targeted-capture pipelines
Authors: Raza Mustafa , Ortiz Edgardo M. , Schwung Lea , Shigita Gentaro , Schaefer Hanno
Published: April 2023

Background
Despite recent advances, reliable tools to handle complex sequencing data (e.g., Targeted-capture, WGS, RNA-Seq, genome skimming) in phylogenomics are still lacking. Here, we evaluate the performance of the recently developed targeted capture pipeline Captus in comparison with the well-known pipelines HybPiper and SECAPR. As test data, we use simulated reads based on the Arabidopsis thaliana genome and empirical reads of the genus Thladiantha in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae) for which no well-resolved phylogeny estimate has been available so far.
Results
Our pipeline comparisons are based on (1) the time needed for assembly and extraction, (2) locus recovery per sample, (3) the number of informative sites in nucleotide alignments, and (4) the topology of the nuclear and plastid phylogenies. In terms of computation time, locus recovery per sample, and informative sites, Captus outperforms HybPiper and SECAPR. The resulting topologies of Captus and SECAPR are identical for coalescent trees but differ when trees are inferred from concatenated alignments. The HybPiper phylogeny is similar to Captus in both methods. The nuclear genes recover a deep split of Thladiantha in two sections, but this is not confirmed with the plastid data.
Conclusions
Captus is the best choice among the three pipelines in terms of computation time and locus recovery. Even though there is no significant topological difference between the Thladiantha species trees produced by three pipelines, Captus yields a higher number of gene trees in agreement with the nodes of the species tree (i.e., fewer genes in conflict with the species tree topology).
A laboratory study on paddle type wave energy converter for transferring seawater using wave energy
Authors: Zolghadr Masih , Pardeh Peyman Keshavarz Ab , Zomorodian Seyed Mohammad Ali , Fathi Abazar
Published: April 2023

Using wave energy for desalination is recently noticed by researchers and authorities. This is known in industry as wave to water and is especially vital for regions/islands where have access to seas and oceans but suffer from shortage of drinking water. Some devices are developed to perform this operation in industry sector as well as academic studies performed in this regard, yet study on geometrical optimization of these devices is required. Studies aiming to optimize the wave energy convertor (WEC) geometry are expensive in field. As a result, investigations are divided into numerical and experimental studies in which the former requires validation by observed data. In this paper, a preliminary experimental study on parameters affecting the performance of a paddle type WEC, such as paddle width, water depth, coast slope, and wave frequency period on the performance of the converter is conducted by running laboratory tests. This kind of WEC is used in industry. Analysis to scale up the results are provided and discussed in detail.
Characterizing entanglement robustness of N-qubit W superposition state against particle loss from
quantum Fisher information
Authors: Ren Zhihong , Li Yan
Published: April 2023

We investigate the entanglement robustness of N-qubit W superposition state against particle loss with quantum Fisher information. In the noninteracting environment, the quantum Fisher information of reduced W superposition state is found same as the W superposition state when the number of qubits larger than 5, which shows very strong entanglement robustness compared to Twin-Fock state and Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state. Meanwhile, the effect of re-particle-loss is also studied and it presents a rapid decay of quantum Fisher information with the increase of losing qubits, indicating the weak entanglement robustness. In the interacting environment, the results show that the reduced W superposition state performs better than it in noninteracting environment. Alternatively, with the increase of qubits (N > 5) the reduced W superposition state behaves much more robust than original state. To vividly approach the real noisy environment, the effects of different decoherence channels are also considered.
Effectiveness of Heilongjiang Nanwenghe Nature Reserve in Improving Habitat Quality in and around the Reserve
Authors: Li Daozheng , Liang Diling , Fakheran Sima , Li Tongning , Mumuni Joseph , Shrestha Anil , Sunderland Terry
Published: April 2023

Biodiversity loss is a critical challenge globally, and protected areas (PAs) has been established as an important policy tool for conservation. However, doubts exist regarding their effectiveness, and their policy effects and spatial spillover effects on surrounding areas are poorly understood. To address this, this study evaluated the effectiveness of Heilongjiang Nanwenghe National Nature Reserve (HNNNR) in China by using a combination of the InVEST model and the improved SDID model. The study covers a time span of approximately 31 years (1990–2020) and is divided into two periods (1990–1999 and 1999–2020), which allows for the assessment of the effects of nature reserves in the region. Our results showed that: (1) The establishment of HNNNR has improved the habitat quality in the reserve and Non-reserve area, with a greater impact on habitat quality in non-reserve areas than in the reserve; (2) The core zone within HNNNR showed the most significant improvement in habitat quality, while the buffer zone showed the least improvement; (3) The improvement of habitat quality in non-reserve area was mainly contributed by the policy spatial spillover effects, where the buffer zone has the strongest spillover benefits to the non-reserve, but the core zone has the weakest spillover effects to the non-reserve. Our results show the beneficial impact of a nature reserve for improving habitat quality in and around the reserve. This study provides a quantitative paradigm for assessing the conservation effectiveness of PAs across temporal and spatial scales.
XRCC1 gene rs72484243 polymorphism is associated with increased laryngeal cancer risk
Authors: Alimu Nilipaer , Maimaiti Aierpati , Maimaitituerxun Mulading , Muertizha Halimulati , Qukuerhan Ayiheng , Yasheng Yalikun , Yong Jun , Mierzhamu Nuerbiya , Mierzhakemu Muzhapaier , Aierken Aierpati , Abulaiti Aimitaji
Published: April 2023

Background The focus of this research is to discuss whether genetic polymorphisms in the DNA repair gene XRCC1 are linked to laryngeal cancer in patients. Methods In total 120 individuals, comprising 60 patients with Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and 60 healthy volunteers, participated in the present research. Blood samples were taken and analyzed and four XRCC1 polymorphisms (rs145135970, rs1799780, rs25489, and rs72484243) were genotyped. Results Sex, age, BMI, and smoking were shown to be the high-risk factors in the LSCC populations. Genotype and allele distributions for rs145135970, rs1799780, rs25489, and rs72484243 differed significantly between LSCC and control groups (allP < 0.05). Furthermore, carriers with the rs72484243 GTGT- allele exhibited an increased risk of LSCC relative to those who had the rs145135970 GTGTGTGTGTGTGT- allele, the rs1799780 G-A allele, or the rs25489 C-T allele, as determined by binary logistic regression analysis (OR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.27–5.91, P = 0.01), after accounting for possible confounders like sex, age, BMI, drinking and smoking behavior, and special diet requirements. In addition, a TA haplotype and a GTGTGTGTGTGTGTTG haplotype were linked to LSCC in Chinese populations in a haploid association study of four SNP loci in the XRCC1 gene (P = 0.05;OR = 1.36, 95%CI = 1.1228–1.6406). Conclusions A large-scale population-based investigation is strongly recommended since rs72484243 gene variations are linked to an elevated risk of LSCC.
A negative feedback on El Niño events caused by extreme fire activity in equatorial Asia
Authors: Kasoar Matthew , Bayley Clara , Wells Christopher , Voulgarakis Apostolos
Published: April 2023

Large peatland fires in equatorial Asia during recent El Niño years have resulted in widespread smoke pollution, with record-breaking impacts on air quality and carbon emissions. Here we show that large fires during El Niño years also create a negative feedback on El Niño intensity and regional teleconnections. By comparing climate model simulations using prescribed fire emissions from a strong El Niño event versus from a non-El Niño year, we show that El Niño-enhanced fire emissions result in large surface cooling and atmospheric heating of up to 40 Wm− 2 over much of equatorial Asia. This atmospheric heating shifts cloud cover westward in the Pacific, increasing cloud amount and precipitation over equatorial Asia, and strengthening the tropical Walker circulation. This opposes the typical El Niño circulation in the Pacific, and drives a sizeable reduction in peak sea surface temperature anomalies over the Niño 3.4 region by around 0.4 K, or 22%.
Genetic Variants of Vitamin D, Estrogen α, Parathyroid and Collagen Type I alpha Receptor Gene and its Influence on Circulating Serum Osteocalcin in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: A Cohort Study
Authors: Fernandez Chrisanne , JebasinghTennyson  , S Priscilla A
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Osteocalcin is an abundant, highly conserved bone specific protein and the serum levels of OC have been used as a biochemical marker of bone turnover. The genetic variation of certain candidate genes impacts osteocalcin levels in the postmenopausal period and may predispose some women to high bone turnover. To identify the genes influencing variation in serum OC levels, we investigated the polymorphisms of Vitamin D, Estrogen α, Parathyroid and Collagen Type I alpha Receptor genes and its association with bone turnover evaluated by serum osteocalcin in postmenopausal women from south India.
Materials and Methods: The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism strategy was used to detect the polymorphisms at all the four gene receptors (i.e., for VDR, ERα, PTH and COLIA1) in 300 postmenopausal women from South India. Serum osteocalcin levels were measured by immunoassay (ELISA).
Results: The serum osteocalcin levels for the Apa I polymorphisms showed varied results, in which, subjects in the control group with “GG” genotype and the osteopenic group with “TT” genotype of the ApaI polymorphism had a significantly higher serum osteocalcin concentration (p<0.05). The PTH-AA group in controls had a significantly higher level of serum osteocalcin, this suggests a higher state of bone turnover in the AA genotype.
Conclusion: The outcome of this study proposes the probability of a small impact of the VDR- ApaI (GG) genotype, the VDR-TaqI (TT) genotype and the (AA) genotype of the PTH-BstBI polymorphism indicating a higher rate of bone turnover in the healthy postmenopausal women.