bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
O Instagram de João Paulo Cuenca como epitexto intermidiático de sua obra Descobri que estava morto
Authors: Prass Rochele Moura , Mügge Ernani
Published: October 2023

Tematizamos a presença de autores de literatura brasileira contemporânea na plataforma Instagram e, mais especificamente, postagens que dialogam com o texto literário. O objetivo foi analisar o uso que o autor João Paulo Cuenca faz do seu Instagram enquanto recurso paratextual, intermidiático, da obra Descobri que estava morto. As principais perspectivas teóricas são os conceitos de autor, de Roland Barthes, Michel Foucault e Giorgio Agamben; de paratextos, epitexto público, de Gérard Genette; produção cultural no contexto de plataformização, de Thomas Poell, David Nieborg e Brooke Erin Duffy; e de intermidialidade, de Irina Rajewsky e de Jürgen Müller. Cotejamos seis posts do autor no seu perfil no Instagram, publicados entre 2016 e 2020, com a narrativa. Essas postagens figuram como epitextos públicos e têm caráter intermidiático, inseridas no fenômeno de plataforma. Percebemos que dialogam diretamente com a figura do autor, podem direcionar a leitura do texto e suas interpretações bem como figurar como traço da literatura brasileira contemporânea.
Um canto no tempo: narração espaçotemporal na graphic novel Aqui, de Richard Mcguire
Authors: Domingos Ana Claudia Munari , Vieira Miriam de Paiva
Published: October 2023

O tempo é um dos grandes temas da arte, mas não exatamente ele, e sim o que sua ação faz sobre as pessoas, sempre o verdadeiro foco da criação artística: a existência humana. Em Aqui (2017), graphic novel de Richard Mcguire, o tempo se torna uma espécie de narrador-personagem na sua intersecção com o espaço. Neste artigo, nossa leitura de Aqui focaliza essa relação, entendendo aquilo que Lars Elleström (2021) chama de modalidade espaçotemporal como um dos principais elementos narrativos, em que o narrador se mostra como essa câmera fixada pelo tempo, mostrando o espaço da quina de uma sala como uma personagem-testemunha de uma longa história. Para tal, fazemos convergir teorias da intermidialidade, da ficção e dos quadrinhos, e suas relações com a arquitetura.
A poesia está na rua: “pichação poética” e diálogos entre poesia e graffiti no Brasil
Authors: Cipriani Augustto Correa
Published: October 2023

As cidades brasileiras são tomadas de graffiti e pichações, muitas das quais apresentam frases líricas e fragmentos de poesia. As chamadas “pichações poéticas” são uma forma de escrita mural que teve seu boom durante os anos 1970 e 1980, num momento histórico de transformações no campo da poesia nacional. Nesse sentido, faz-se relevante aproximar as discussões de poesia e de graffiti no Brasil, tendo em vista seu contexto histórico e político. Mais contemporaneamente, por outro lado, pesquisas como a de Alberto Pucheu apontam para a sobrevivência da pichação poética e estabelecem aproximações entre graffiti e poesia contemporânea, que abrem a possibilidade de se “pensar com graffiti” como forma alternativa de compreensão da literatura e da arte contemporâneas.
Trabajar con la muerte desde el Trabajo Social. Implicaciones antropológicas, psicológicas, bioéticas y legales
Authors: Pérez Bandera María
Published: October 2023

El Trabajo Social se caracteriza por ser una profesión multidisciplinaria, puesto que se nutre de teorías y prácticas de disciplinas como la sociología, antropología, psicología, entre otras, y, dentro de los diversos campos de actuación, uno de ellos es el de los cuidados paliativos, única opción a ofrecer a toda persona que padece una enfermedad terminal, a falta de una regulación estatal que garantice la puesta en práctica de la eutanasia, sin que de ella se deriven consecuencias penales. Este artículo, supone una revisión teórica acerca de cómo se trata y percibe la muerte desde diferentes disciplinas (antropología, psicología, bioética y legislación estatal y andaluza), así como poner de manifiesto la importancia que tiene intervenir desde el Trabajo Social mediante la escucha activa y el acompañamiento -como elementos principales- tanto con paciente como con su respectiva familia cuando la enfermedad desborda emocionalmente, complicando en consecuencia, las relaciones tanto familiares como comunicacionales. Este artículo corresponde a la parte teórica del Trabajo Fin de Grado denominado "Proyecto de intervención para la gestión comunicacional y emocional en cuidados paliativos".
La protección social en España ante la crisis social y sanitaria. Una oportunidad para el cambio
Authors: Arredondo Quijada Rafael , Macias León Almudena
Published: October 2023

En menos de quince años han estallado dos crisis que han puesto sobre las cuerdas la protección social en España. La crisis financiera de 2008 y la actual crisis sanitaria a raíz de la COVID-19, que ha promovido unas dinámicas exclusógenas con un impacto diferencial en la sociedad incidiendo significativamente en aquellos sectores de población más vulnerables. Este artículo aborda la demanda a Servicios Sociales como sistema de protección, construidos a raíz de la constitución de 1978. Desde un análisis de fuentes secundarias oficiales que permite establecer una radiografía de la situación en cuanto a necesidades. En un escenario postpandemia que se convierte en una oportunidad para el cambio, a raíz de las experiencias vividas, así como del plan de reconstrucción europeo.
Reparación del daño: el derecho de las víctimas de trata de seres humanos a la compensación económica
Authors: Jiménez Romero Marta
Published: October 2023

Este trabajo tiene como finalidad analizar el derecho de las víctimas de trata de seres humanos a la reparación económica, tanto a nivel normativo como práctico. Se ha llevado a cabo mediante una revisión de la legislación nacional e internacional sobre el fenómeno de la trata de seres humanos y del derecho de las víctimas a la compensación, así como de un breve análisis de las diferentes vías para solicitar la reparación económica del daño.
Newborn Male Circumcision
Authors: Walsh Heidi A.
Published: October 2023

Abstract: This symposium includes twelve personal narratives from parents about making the decision whether to circumcise their infant male children. The authors of the narratives include five fathers and seven mothers. Nine of the 12 parent authors opted to circumcise their infant sons, though the reasons they stated for doing so varied. Most of the parent authors relied on cultural or social beliefs, religious guidance, or a desire for sameness with the infant's father. Parents who didn't circumcise their male infants discuss their convictions about autonomy, bodily rights, and the medical benefits of circumcision versus the harm or pain caused by the procedure. The symposium includes four expert commentaries on the narratives that are informed and enriched by the commentators' expertise in pediatric bioethics, healthcare ethics, gender studies, Jewish law and tradition, and the medical and surgical techniques of circumcision.
L'écrivaine Africaine Fatou Diome : De la prose romanesque à la prose politique
Authors: Doho Gilbert
Published: October 2023

Abstract: La Sénégalaise Fatou Diome est une écrivaine politique ayant une perception aiguë du problème d'identité. Autrice des romans et essais comme Le Ventre de l'Atlantique (2003), Celles qui attendent (2011) Marianne porte plainte (2017) et Marianne face aux faussaires (2021), Diome pose ses productions littéraires comme « prose politique ». Les deux grandes guerres ont transformé les sujets/indigènes de l'empire en agents, activistes combattants de la justice. Plus concrètement, l'armée républicaine fut, pendant ces heures tragiques, comme l'équipe nationale de football française de 1998 et 2018. L'armée et le foot, deux corps de métiers prisés par les jeunes, ont offert à la République les moments de liesse populaire, d'héroïques destinées, mais aussi des rêves comme on le lit dans Le Ventre de l'Atlantique . Du Ventre de l'Atlantique à Marianne face aux faussaires , Fatou Diome reste dans les commentaires et citations politiques des autres, doublés de ceux de son invention. L'intrigue romanesque ne sert qu'à amplifier les commentaires politiques. À aucun moment, l'écrivaine ne se limite à romancer, ne se contente de divertir ses lecteurs/lectrices. Dans sa mission d'éclairer, de faire dissiper autant d'ombres que possible, l'écrivaine se lance, comme Mongo Béti, dans la démystification de l'Occident en proposant de la salubrité politique.
Analysis of error propagation: from raw light-field data to depth estimation
Authors: Xu Shengming , Shi Shengxian
Published: October 2023

In micro-lens-array-based light-field imaging, the micro-lens centers serve as the origins of local micro-lens coordinate systems. Each micro-lens receives angular/depth information coded according to its center location. Therefore, the errors in positioning the micro-lens centers will lead to errors in depth estimation. This paper proposes a method that resolves error propagation from raw light-field data to depth estimation based on analyzing large amounts of simulated images with various aperture sizes, noise levels, and object distance values. The simulation employs backward ray tracing and Monte Carlo sampling to improve computational efficiency. The errors are counted and accumulated stepwise from center positioning and generation of sub-aperture images to depth estimation. The disparity errors calculated during depth estimation are shown to be more apparent either with more significant center positioning errors or with a greater defocusing distance. An experiment using an industrial light-field camera is conducted, confirming that disparity errors at considerable object distances can be reduced significantly when the micro-lens centers are positioned with higher accuracy.
Silicon nanocavity with a quality factor of 6.7 million fabricated by a CMOS-compatible process
Authors: Katsura Masaaki , Ota Yuji , Mitsuhashi Ryota , Ohtsuka Minoru , Seki Miyoshi , Yokoyama Nobuyuki , Asano Takashi , Noda Susumu , Okano Makoto , Takahashi Yasushi
Published: October 2023

Here, we report on the increase of the quality-factors of photonic crystal nanocavities fabricated by a CMOS-compatible process. We fabricated nanocavities with the same cavity design but used either a binary photomask or a phase-shift photomask in the photolithography step to assess the impact of the photomask-type on the fabrication accuracy of the air holes. We characterized 62 cavities using time-resolved measurements and the best cavity had a quality-factor of 6.65 × 106. All cavities exhibited a quality-factor larger than 2 million and the overall average was 3.25 × 106. While the estimated magnitude of the scattering loss due to the air hole variations in the 33 cavities fabricated with the phase-shift photomask was slightly lower than that in the 29 cavities fabricated with binary photomask, the phase-shift photomask did not provide a significant improvement in the fabrication accuracy. On average, the scattering loss in these samples is more than 3 times larger than that of nanocavities fabricated using electron-beam lithography, which indicates room for further improvement.
Machine learning models to predict traumatic brain injury outcomes in Tanzania: Using delays to emergency care as predictors
Authors: Zimmerman Armand , Elahi Cyrus , Hernandes Rocha Thiago Augusto , Sakita Francis , Mmbaga Blandina T. , Staton Catherine A. , Vissoci Joao Ricardo Nickenig
Published: October 2023

Constraints to emergency department resources may prevent the timely provision of care following a patient’s arrival to the hospital. In-hospital delays may adversely affect health outcomes, particularly among trauma patients who require prompt management. Prognostic models can help optimize resource allocation thereby reducing in-hospital delays and improving trauma outcomes. The objective of this study was to investigate the predictive value of delays to emergency care in machine learning based traumatic brain injury (TBI) prognostic models. Our data source was a TBI registry from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Emergency Department in Moshi, Tanzania. We created twelve unique variables representing delays to emergency care and included them in eight different machine learning based TBI prognostic models that predict in-hospital outcome. Model performance was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Inclusion of our twelve time to care variables improved predictability in each of our eight prognostic models. Our Bayesian generalized linear model produced the largest AUC, with a value of 89.5 (95% CI: 88.8, 90.3). Time to care variables were among the most important predictors of in-hospital outcome in our best three performing models. In low-resource settings where delays to care are highly prevalent and contribute to high mortality rates, incorporation of care delays into prediction models that support clinical decision making may benefit both emergency medicine physicians and trauma patients by improving prognostication performance.
Sensitive detection of specific cell-free DNA in serum samples from sheep with cystic echinococcosis
Authors: Hadipour Mahboubeh , Darani Hossein Yousofi , Talebzadeh Hamid , Eslamian Mohammad , Aboutalebian Shima , Harandi Majid Fasihi , Mirhendi Hossein
Published: October 2023

Background

Developing more sensitive methods for the diagnosis of echinococcosis is essential. In this study PCR assay for sensitive detection of specific cell-free DNA (cfDNA) of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato in the sera of the sheep naturally infected with echinococcosis was investigated.

Methods

To extract cfDNA from 35 infected sheep, the modified phenol-chloroform method was used for two different volumes (0.5 and 2 ml) of serum samples. From each extracted sample, two DNA volumes (5 and 10 μl) were amplified using both standard PCR and semi-nested PCR targeting NADH dehydrogenase subunit I.

Results

Standard and semi-nested PCR on 0.5 ml of serum samples detected Echinococcus DNA in 8 and 12 out of 35 sheep, respectively; however, using 2 ml of serum samples, they detected 24 and 27 samples. By increasing the volume of template DNA, the PCRs could detect 29 and 33 out of 35 samples. The results were confirmed by sequencing of randomly selected PCR amplicons and comparing them with GenBank databases.

Conclusions

Larger volumes of serum for DNA extraction, greater volumes of DNA template for PCR, and employing a semi-nested PCR protocol, increased the sensitivity of PCR to 95%. This approach can also be applied to the diagnosis of echinococcosis in humans.
Performance analysis of PID controller and fuzzy logic controller for DC-DC boost
converter
Authors: Daraz Amil , Basit Abdul , Zhang Guoqiang
Published: October 2023

Demand of Power electronics converter is increased due to the rapid increase of green re-sources. The distributed nature of uncontrolled renewable energy resources are connected with the grid via power electronics converter. DC-DC converters are high-frequency current conversion circuits that use transformers, inductors, and capacitors to smooth switching noise into regulated DC voltages. In this study, a comparative performance analysis of Proportional integral Derivative (PID) and fuzzy logic controller (FLC) for DC-DC Boost Converter is presented. PID-based controller for dynamic boosting of DC-DC boost converter was replaced by Fuzzy Inference system (FIS) to study the system behavior. Five different membership functions were performed to observe the response of the system for DC -DC boost converter with FIS controller. The performances of FIS-based controller and PID-based controller for DC-DC boost converter were compared in detail. Also, the proposed techniques for the switching mode of DC-DC converter have been applied. The performance analysis of both PID and fuzzy controller was simulated using MAT LAB. The results of FIS based approach are better than PID based controller in terms of transient responses.
Applying a PID-SMC synthetic control algorithm to the active suspension system to ensure road holding and ride comfort
Authors: Nguyen Tuan Anh
Published: October 2023

Vehicle vibration has an essential effect on vehicle stability and smoothness. This article introduces a new solution to direct an active suspension system called the PID-SMC hybrid algorithm. In this work, a dynamic model is considered with external disturbances and parametric uncertainties. Besides, the design process of the hybrid controller is also clearly shown. Different from previous studies, this controller is built upon the synthesis of two component signals which are generated from two separate controllers. The error signals of the two-component controllers are derived from the results of the body displacement and acceleration measured by the sensors. A simulation process is done by the MATLAB software to evaluate the system’s quality. Two cases are used for the simulation, including four scenarios examined for each case. Based on the results obtained from the simulation and calculation technique, the acceleration and displacement values of a vehicle body were greatly decreased once the PID-SMC method was used, compared with the rest of situations. In the first case, the maximum value of the acceleration is only 0.54 (m/s2), while the average value and the RMS value are 0.06 (m/s2) and 0.07 (m/s2), respectively. In the second case, the maximum value of vehicle body displacement is only 9.54 (mm), only 8.75%, compared to cars with only mechanical suspensions. Besides, the change in the dynamic load at the wheel is also relatively small. Therefore, the road holding and ride comfort of the automobile has been improved. In the near future, this algorithm will be combined with intelligent control algorithms to apply to many different types of random stimuli from the road surface.
Regulation of gene expression downstream of a novel Fgf/Erk pathway during Xenopus development
Authors: Cowell Laura M. , King Michael , West Helena , Broadsmith Matthew , Genever Paul , Pownall Mary Elizabeth , Isaacs Harry V.
Published: October 2023

Activation of Map kinase/Erk signalling downstream of fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) tyrosine kinase receptors regulates gene expression required for mesoderm induction and patterning of the anteroposterior axis during Xenopus development. We have proposed that a subset of Fgf target genes are activated in the embyo in response to inhibition of a transcriptional repressor. Here we investigate the hypothesis that Cic (Capicua), which was originally identified as a transcriptional repressor negatively regulated by receptor tyrosine kinase/Erk signalling in Drosophila, is involved in regulating Fgf target gene expression in Xenopus. We characterise Xenopus Cic and show that it is widely expressed in the embryo. Fgf overexpression or ectodermal wounding, both of which potently activate Erk, reduce Cic protein levels in embryonic cells. In keeping with our hypothesis, we show that Cic knockdown and Fgf overexpression have overlapping effects on embryo development and gene expression. Transcriptomic analysis identifies a cohort of genes that are up-regulated by Fgf overexpression and Cic knockdown. We investigate two of these genes as putative targets of the proposed Fgf/Erk/Cic axis: fos and rasl11b, which encode a leucine zipper transcription factor and a ras family GTPase, respectively. We identify Cic consensus binding sites in a highly conserved region of intron 1 in the fos gene and Cic sites in the upstream regions of several other Fgf/Cic co-regulated genes, including rasl11b. We show that expression of fos and rasl11b is blocked in the early mesoderm when Fgf and Erk signalling is inhibited. In addition, we show that fos and rasl11b expression is associated with the Fgf independent activation of Erk at the site of ectodermal wounding. Our data support a role for a Fgf/Erk/Cic axis in regulating a subset of Fgf target genes during gastrulation and is suggestive that Erk signalling is involved in regulating Cic target genes at the site of ectodermal wounding.
Novel conditionally replicating adenovirus-mediated efficient detection of circulating tumor cells in lung cancer patients
Authors: Ikemoto Sena , Sakurai Fuminori , Tokuoka Sora , Yamashita Tomoki , Takayama Kosuke , Hoshi Kazuaki , Okabe Takahiro , Sumiyoshi Issei , Togo Shinsaku , Takahashi Kazuhisa , Tachibana Masashi , Mizuguchi Hiroyuki
Published: October 2023

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are present in the blood of cancer patients from the early stage of cancer development, and their presence has been correlated with patient prognosis and treatment responses. Accordingly, CTCs have been attracting attention as a novel biomarker for early detection of cancer and monitoring of treatment responses. However, since patients typically have only a few CTCs per milliliter of blood, development of an accurate and highly sensitive CTC detection method is crucial. We previously developed a CTC detection method using a novel conditionally replicating adenovirus (Ad) that expresses green fluorescence protein (GFP) in a tumor cell-specific manner by expressing the E1 gene using a tumor-specific human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter (rAdF35-142T-GFP). CTCs were efficiently detected using rAdF35-142T-GFP, but GFP expression levels in the CTCs and production efficiencies of rAdF35-142T-GFP were relatively low. In this study, in order to overcome these problems, we developed four types of novel GFP-expressing conditionally replicating Ads and examined their ability to visualize CTCs in the blood samples of lung cancer patients. Among the four types of novel recombinant Ads, the novel conditionally replicating Ad containing the 2A peptide and the GFP gene downstream of the E1A gene and the adenovirus death protein (ADP) gene in the E3 region (rAdF35-E1-2A-GFP-ADP) mediated the highest number of GFP-positive cells in the human cultured tumor cell lines. Titers of rAdF35-E1-2A-GFP-ADP were significantly higher (about 4-fold) than those of rAdF35-142T-GFP. rAdF35-E1-2A-GFP-ADP and rAdF35-142T-GFP efficiently detected CTCs in the blood of lung cancer patients at similar levels. GFP+/CD45- cells (CTCs) were found in 10 of 17 patients (58.8%) for both types of recombinant Ads.
Comparison of home range size, habitat use and the influence of resource variations between two species of greater gliders (Petauroides minor and Petauroides volans)
Authors: McGregor Denise , Nordberg Eric , Yoon Hwan-Jin , Youngentob Kara , Schwarzkopf Lin , Krockenberger Andrew
Published: October 2023

Knowledge of the spatial requirements of a species is fundamental to understanding its environmental requirements. However, this can be challenging as the size of a species’ home range can be influenced by ecological factors such as diet and size-dependent metabolic demands, as well as factors related to the quality of their habitat such as the density and distribution of resources needed for food and shelter. Until recently, the genusPetauroideswas thought to include only a single species with a widespread distribution across eastern Australia. However, a recent study has provided genetic and morphological evidence supportingPetauroides minoras a distinct northern species. Previous studies have focused on the ecology ofP.volans, but there has been inadequate research onP.minor. Data on home range and habitat use were obtained for both species using a combination of techniques including GPS collar locations, radiotelemetry, and spotlighting and comparisons were made using consistent methodology. Home range sizes ofP.minor(4.79 ha ± 0.97 s.d., KUD .95) were significantly larger than those ofP.volans(2.0 ha ± 0.42 s.d., KUD .95). There were no significant differences between male and female home range sizes in either species. Both species showed site-specific preferences for tree species and for larger diameter trees for both forage and shelter. Tree size and biomass/ha were significantly greater in theP.volansstudy sites than theP.minorstudy sites and there was a negative correlation between home range size and eucalypt biomass. Larger home range size is likely driven by the substantial differences in biomass between northern (tropical) and southern (temperate) eucalypt-dominated habitats affecting the quality and quantity of resources for food and shelter. Understanding landscape use and habitat requirements within each species ofPetauroidescan provide important information regarding limiting factors and in directing conservation and management planning.
Integrated prediction of water pollution and risk assessment of water system connectivity based on dynamic model average and model selection criteria
Authors: Ruan Jinlou , Cui Yang , Meng Dechen , Wang Jifeng , Song Yuchen , Mao Yawei
Published: October 2023

In recent years, with the rapid development of economy and society, river water environmental pollution incidents occur frequently, which seriously threaten the ecological health of the river and the safety of water supply. Water pollution prediction is an important basis for understanding development trends of the aquatic environment, preventing water pollution incidents and improving river water quality. However, due to the large uncertainty of hydrological, meteorological and water environment systems, it is challenging to accurately predict water environment quality using single model. In order to improve the accuracy and stability of water pollution prediction, this study proposed an integrated learning criterion that integrated dynamic model average and model selection (DMA-MS) and used this criterion to construct the integrated learning model for water pollution prediction. Finally, based on the prediction results of the integrated learning model, the connectivity risk of the connectivity project was evaluated. The results demonstrate that the integrated model based on the DMA-MS criterion effectively integrated the characteristics of a single model and could provide more accurate and stable predictions. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of the integrated model was only 11.1%, which was 24.5%–45% lower than that of the single model. In addition, this study indicates that the nearest station was the most important factor affecting the performance of the prediction station, and managers should pay increased attention to the water environment of the control section that is close to their area. The results of the connectivity risk assessment indicate that although the water environment risks were not obvious, the connectivity project may still bring some risks to the crossed water system, especially in the non-flood season.
Light and dark cycles modify the expression of clock genes in the ovaries of Aedes aegypti in a noncircadian manner
Authors: Cruz Leo Nava Piorsky Dominici , Teles-de-Freitas Rayane , Resck Maria Eduarda Barreto , Fonseca Andresa Borges de Araujo , Padilha Karine Pedreira , Farnesi Luana Cristina , Araripe Luciana Ordunha , Bruno Rafaela Vieira
Published: October 2023

Circadian oscillators (i.e., circadian clocks) are essential to producing the circadian rhythms observed in virtually all multicellular organisms. In arthropods, many rhythmic behaviors are generated by oscillations of the central pacemaker, specific groups of neurons of the protocerebrum in which the circadian oscillator molecular machinery is expressed and works; however, oscillators located in other tissues (i.e., peripheral clocks) could also contribute to certain rhythms, but are not well known in non-model organisms. Here, we investigated whether eight clock genes that likely constitute the Aedes aegypti clock are expressed in a circadian manner in the previtellogenic ovaries of this mosquito. Also, we asked if insemination by conspecific males would alter the expression profiles of these clock genes. We observed that the clock genes do not have a rhythmic expression profile in the ovaries of virgin (VF) or inseminated (IF) females, except for period, which showed a rhythmic expression profile in ovaries of IF kept in light and dark (LD) cycles, but not in constant darkness (DD). The mean expression of seven clock genes was affected by the insemination status (VF or IF) or the light condition (LD 12:12 or DD), among which five were affected solely by the light condition, one solely by the insemination status, and one by both factors. Our results suggest that a functional circadian clock is absent in the ovaries of A. aegypti. Still, their differential mean expression promoted by light conditions or insemination suggests roles other than circadian rhythms in this mosquito’s ovaries.
Dynamics of temporal immune responses in nonhuman primates and humans immunized with COVID-19 vaccines
Authors: Ravindran Resmi , Kang Harsharonjit , McReynolds Cindy , Sanghar Gursharan Kaur , Chang W. L. William , Ramasamy Santhamani , Kolloli Afsal , Kumar Ranjeet , Subbian Selvakumar , Hammock Bruce D. , Hartigan-O’Connor Dennis J. , Ikram Aamer , Haczku Angela , Khan Imran H.
Published: October 2023

We assessed the humoral immune responses to a COVID-19 vaccine in a well-controlled rhesus macaque model compared to humans immunized with two mRNA vaccines over several months post-second dose. The plasma IgG levels against seven coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2) and antibody subtypes (IgG 1–4 and IgM) against SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated using multiplex assays. The neutralization capacity of plasma antibodies against the original SAR-CoV-2 isolate and nine variants was evaluated in vaccinated humans and non-human primates. Immunization of macaques and humans with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines induced a robust neutralizing antibody response. In non-SIV-infected adult macaques immunized with an adenoviral vector expressing S-RBD (n = 7) or N protein (n = 3), elevated levels of IgG and neutralizing antibodies were detected 2 weeks post-second dose. Immune responses to the S-RBD vaccine in SIV-infected adult macaques (n = 2) were similar to the non-SIV-infected animals. Adult humans immunized with Pfizer (n = 35) or Moderna (n = 18) vaccines developed IgG and neutralizing antibodies at 4 weeks post-second dose. In both vaccine groups, IgG 1 was the predominant subtype, followed by IgG 3. The IgG levels, including total and IgG 1,2,3 elicited by the Moderna vaccine, were significantly higher than the corresponding levels elicited by the Pfizer vaccine at 4 weeks post-second dose. A significant correlation was observed between the plasma total IgG antibody levels and neutralization titers in both macaques and humans. Furthermore, broad-spectrum neutralization antibodies against several variants of SARS-CoV-2 were detected in the plasma of both macaques and humans after two vaccinations.
Development and validation of the Economic Coercion Scale-20 (ECS-20): A short-form of the ECS-36
Authors: Miedema Stephanie Spaid , Cheong Yuk Fai , Naved Ruchira Tabassum , Yount Kathryn M.
Published: October 2023

The Economic Coercion Scale 36 (ECS-36) is a validated scale measuring women’s exposure to economic coercion for low-income countries. A valid short form is needed to facilitate parsimonious measurement of economic coercion in general surveys or program evaluations. We used data from a probability sample of 930 married women 15–49 years in Matlab, Bangladesh. We selected 21 items from the ECS-36 based on theory, content coverage, and item and dimensional information. We evaluated external validity with measures of non-economic intimate partner violence and depressive symptoms. We tested measurement invariance of the short-form scale across participants and non-participants of microfinance programs. A final, 20-item scale captured husband’s interference with wife’s (1) acquisition of economic resources and (2) use or maintenance of economic resources. IRT results of the ECS-20 demonstrated precision over the higher range of the economic coercion trait. Tests of external validity confirmed expected correlations of the ECS-20 with measures of IPV and depressive symptoms. The ECS-20 was measurement invariant across groups of women who did and did not participate in microfinance programs. The ECS-20, a valid short-form of the ECS-36, is suitable for general surveys and monitoring potential adverse impacts of microfinance programs targeting women.
Transcriptomic analyses of juvenile Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) exposed to chronic and acute temperature change
Authors: Penny Faith M. , Pavey Scott A.
Published: October 2023

Striped Bass are economically important, migratory fishes, which occur across a wide range of latitudes. Given their wide-ranging nature, Striped Bass can cope with a broad range of environmental temperatures, yet the mechanisms underlying this ability have not been thoroughly described. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are inducible molecular chaperones, which help mitigate protein damage resulting from increased temperatures. The importance of HSPs has been demonstrated in a number of fish species, but their role in Striped Bass is poorly understood. This study characterizes changes in gene expression in juvenile Striped Bass, following acute and chronic temperature change. Fish were acclimated to one of three temperatures (15, 25 or 30°C) and sampled at one of two treatments (control or after CTmax), following which we assessed differential gene expression and gene ontology in muscle. It is clear from our differential expression analyses that acclimation to warm temperatures elicits more robust changes to gene expression, compared to acute temperature increases. Our differential expression analyses also revealed induction of many different heat shock proteins, includinghsp70,hsp90,hsp40and other small HSPs, after both acute and chronic temperature increase in white muscle. Furthermore, the most consistent gene ontology pattern that emerged following both acclimation and CTmaxwas upregulation of transcripts involved in “protein folding”, which also include heat shock proteins. Gene ontology analyses also suggest changes to other processes after acclimation, including decreased growth pathways and changes to DNA methylation. Overall, these data suggest that HSPs likely play a major role in the Striped Bass’s ability to tolerate warm waters.
Higher Bifidobacterium spp. fecal abundance is associated with a lower prevalence of hyperglycemia and cardiovascular risk markers among schoolchildren from Bahia, Brazil
Authors: Menezes Camilla A. , Zanette Dalila L. , Magalhães Letícia B. , da Silva Jacqueline Tereza , Lago Renata M. R. S. , Gomes Alexvon N. , dos Santos Ronald A. , Ladeia Ana Marice T. , Vianna Nelzair A. , Oliveira Ricardo R.
Published: October 2023

The gut microbiome has recently been the subject of considerable scientific interest due to its essential bodily functions. Several factors can change the composition and function of the gut microbiome, and dietary habits are one of the most important contributors. Despite the recognition of the probiotic effects related to the genus Bifidobacterium spp. (BIF) studies aiming to assess its relationship with metabolic outcomes show conflicting results, particularly in the child population. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the fecal abundance of BIF in a group of schoolchildren from public schools in Bahia, Brazil, and to investigate their relationship with food consumption and laboratory and anthropometric characteristics. A sample of 190 subjects aged 5 to 19y was randomly selected for dietary, laboratory, and anthropometric assessment. Fecal BIF abundance assessment was performed using the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction assay. Fecal BIF abundance was higher among subjects who had lower intakes of meat. The abundance of BIF was also higher among subjects with lower Waist Circumference and Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR). Low BIF abundance was associated with a higher prevalence of hyperglycemia (PR 1.04, 95%CI 1.02–1.07, p = 0.001) and high WHtR (PR 1.04, 95%CI 1.01–1, 08, p = 0.015). These findings allow us to conclude that BIF fecal abundance is related to dietary and anthropometric parameters in schoolchildren, and its increase is associated with positive metabolic outcomes.
Dietary intake, body composition and micronutrient profile of patients on maintenance hemodialysis attending Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, Uganda: A cross sectional study
Authors: Sembajwe Fred Lawrence , Namaganda Agnes , Nfambi Joshua , Muwonge Haruna , Katamba Godfrey , Nakato Ritah , Nabachenje Prossy , Kawala Kagoya Enid , Namubamba Annet , Kiggundu Daniel , Bitek Brian , Kalyesubula Robert , Iputo Jehu
Published: October 2023

Patients on maintenance hemodialysis are at a great risk for altered nutritional status, characterized by protein energy wasting and micronutrient deficiency due to medication interactions and dietary restrictions. This study determined the dietary intake, micronutrient profile and body composition of patients on maintenance hemodialysis at Kiruddu National referral hospital (KNRH), Uganda. A cross sectional study was done among adult CKD patients on maintenance hemodialysis therapy at KNRH. Data concerning patients’ demographics, clinical history and dietary intake was obtained using interactive and quantitative food frequency questionnaires. Body composition was obtained using the TANITA BC-351, Japan weighing Bathroom scale and anthropometric measurements using standard methods and procedures. Serum micronutrient profile assessment was done using the COBAS Auto analyzer. Data analysis was done using the SPSS software version 20. T-test was used to make comparisons and logistic regression analysis was done to check for any correlations. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Among the 63 hemodialysis patients, 38% were female, with a median duration of hemodialysis of 12 months and the overall age range of patients was 31–40 years. Majority (92.1%) of the patients had hypertension. Carbohydrates like maize flour were highly consumed, in addition to eggs among the proteins on the daily basis. Fruits and vegetables were not highly consumed. Regarding body composition; 75% of the study participants had normal Body mass Index (BMI), the mean muscle mass was 51.94±8.68, body fat was 15.25±7.35, bone mass was 2.77±0.46 and body water was 62.04±9.06. Patients had deranged micronutrient levels especially for Vitamin D, Potassium and phosphorus. In conclusion, hemodialysis patients at KNRH, have altered nutritional status as evidenced by altered body weight for some patients and deranged micronutrient levels. We recommend that hemodialysis patients should be regularly assessed for nutritional status, appropriately treated and educated about their nutritional status.
Social connectedness and mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in a community sample in Korea
Authors: Lee Sojung , Moon Hyejoo , Ko Jisu , Cankaya Banu , Caine Eric , You Sungeun
Published: October 2023

This study compared social connectedness patterns and examined the relationships between objective or subjective social connectedness and mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among community dwelling adults in South Korea. An identical online survey was administered at two time points, in 2019 prior to the onset and again in 2021. Objective (network diversity and network size) and subjective (thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness) social connectedness were measured along with positive and negative indices of mental health (depression, suicidal behavior, happiness, and life satisfaction). The results indicated that among social connectedness indices perceived burdensomeness were significantly higher during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the prior period, while network size was smaller. Subjective social connectedness was associated with all aspects of mental health consequences, either positive or negative. Among objective social connectedness, only network diversity was significantly associated with increased happiness and life satisfaction, and objective social connectedness was not associated with depression and suicidal behavior. These associations did not differ across the two time periods. The findings, both before and during the pandemic, indicated that network diversity is an important factor for positive indices of mental health and that efforts to increase subjective social connectedness are needed to decrease the risk of depression and suicidal behavior.
Constructing training set using distance between learnt graphical models of time series data on patient physiology, to predict disease scores
Authors: Chakrabarty Dalia , Wang Kangrui , Roy Gargi , Bhojgaria Akash , Zhang Chuqiao , Pavlu Jiri , Chakrabartty Joydeep
Published: October 2023

Interventional endeavours in medicine include prediction of a score that parametrises a new subject’s susceptibility to a given disease, at the pre-onset stage. Here, for the first time, we provide reliable learning of such a score in the context of the potentially-terminal disease VOD, that often arises after bone marrow transplants. Indeed, the probability of surviving VOD, is correlated with early intervention. In our work, the VOD-score of each patient in a retrospective cohort, is defined as the distance between the (posterior) probability of a random graph variable—given the inter-variable partial correlation matrix of the time series data on variables that represent different aspects of patient physiology—and that given such time series data of an arbitrarily-selected reference patient. Such time series data is recorded from a pre-transplant to a post-transplant time, for each patient in this cohort, though the data available for distinct patients bear differential temporal coverage, owing to differential patient longevities. Each graph is a Soft Random Geometric Graph drawn in a probabilistic metric space, and the computed inter-graph distance is oblivious to the length of the time series data. The VOD-score learnt in this way, and the corresponding pre-transplant parameter vector of each patient in this retrospective cohort, then results in the training data, using which we learn the function that takes VOD-score as its input, and outputs the vector of pre-transplant parameters. We model this function with a vector-variate Gaussian Process, the covariance structure of which is kernel parametrised. Such modelling is easier than if the score variable were the output. Then for any prospective patient, whose pre-transplant variables are known, we learn the VOD-score (and the hyperparameters of the covariance kernel), using Markov Chain Monte Carlo based inference.
Effects of gear modifications in a North Atlantic pelagic longline fishery: A multiyear study
Authors: Lima Françoise D. , Parra Hugo , Alves Rita B. , Santos Marco A. R. , Bjorndal Karen A. , Bolten Alan B. , Vandeperre Frederic
Published: October 2023

The threat of population declines caused by pelagic longline fisheries in the Atlantic has increased the concern to find strategies that minimize the bycatch and mortality of non-target marine animals. Gear modification, such as the use of circle hooks instead of conventional J-hooks, has been identified as an effective bycatch reduction strategy in different pelagic longline fisheries around the world. This study aimed to verify the effectiveness of the use of circle hooks by quantifying catch rates, relative size selectivity, and anatomical hooking position for the most common target species (swordfish, Xiphias gladius, and blue shark, Prionace glauca), and some bycatch species (loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, and shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus) caught by the Azorean longline fishing fleet. The trial was conducted for five consecutive years (2000–2004) using eight different types of hooks. In general, the blue shark catches using circle hooks were significantly higher compared to J (Mustad 9/0). The circle hooks also showed high probabilities of catching juvenile blue sharks. Conversely, the circle hooks were efficient in reducing the loggerhead sea turtle bycatch and were related to fewer catches of small sea turtle individuals. The use of circle hooks was also associated with reduced swordfish catches compared to J (Mustad 9/0), and the effect of hook types on length at capture was only significant for Circle (L. & P. 18/0—CLP18) and Ringed Tuna (RT). No significant differences were observed comparing hook type to either catch rates or size selectivity for shortfin mako. Additionally, circle hooks were more likely to lodge in the mouth than in deeper anatomical positions, when compared to J (Mustad 9/0), for the four species analysed. The present study demonstrated that the use of circle hooks could mitigate the impact of the pelagic longline fisheries in the Azores by decreasing the bycatch of sea turtles and reducing animal injuries caused by deep hooking.
Development and optimization of sustained release triptolide microspheres
Authors: Zeng Hui-lin , Qiu Qian , Fu Ting-xiong , Deng Ai-ping , Xie Xiang-yang
Published: October 2023

Rheumatoid arthritis is considered a chronic systemic autoimmune disorder that may cause joint destruction. Triptolide, an active component isolated fromTripterygium wilfordiiHook.f., is considered to have promising potential for clinical use in treating rheumatoid arthritis. However, its clinical application has been limited by the narrow therapeutic window, side effects associated with plasma drug fluctuations, low oral bioavailability, and poor patient compliance with the long and frequent dosing regimen. An extended drug release preparation may address these limitations. The aim of this work was therefore to develop, formulate and optimize sustained release triptolide microspheres with poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). Triptolide-loaded microspheres were prepared using PLGA as the matrix polymer, dichloromethane as the oil phase, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the matrix forming emulsifier. An oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion solvent evaporation technique was utilized to prepare the microspheres. Surface response methodology (RSM) coupled with central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize the formulation and a total of twenty formulations were prepared. PVA concentration (X1), PLGA concentration (X2), and theoretical drug content (X3) were selected as independent variables; and drug content (Y1), encapsulation efficiency (Y2), mean diameter (Y3) and the initial release during the first day (Y4) were taken as the response variables. The optimized formulation showed mean diameter of 42.36 μm, drug content of 7.96%, encapsulation efficiency of 80.16% and an initial release of 14.48%. The prepared microspheres exhibited a sustained release profile of triptolidein vitroover 4 weeks, which was wellfitted with a Korsmeyer-Peppas equation. However, the initial drug release (~14%) of triptolide-loaded microspheres was very high and should be specifically investigated in future studies. The results indicate that long-term sustained release microspheres of triptolide can be considered a strategy to overcome the low bioavailability and poor patient compliance with conventional triptolide tablets. The issue of initial burst release andin vivoevaluations should be specifically investigated in the future.