bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Low Vitamin D Levels and the Development of Autoimmune Endocrine Diseases
Authors: Kuzio Agnieszka , Cieplińska Aleksandra , Ziojła-Lisowska Kinga , Jama Grzegorz
Published: August 2024

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays an important role in promoting overall health and well-being. Deficiencies of nutrients such as vitamin D are common in patients with autoimmune diseases. The incidence of these conditions is constantly increasing. As a result, patients are exposed to severe symptoms and discomfort in daily functioning. The causes, as well as the symptoms and complications they cause, are diverse, making diagnosis and treatment difficult. Therefore, during the clinical care of patients with AID, possible micronutrient deficiencies should be taken into account and, if observed, they should be treated with controlled supplementation. The aim of this article was to review the literature on the impact of low vitamin D status on the development of autoimmune diseases in the field of endocrinology.
Memoriæ causa. Brevi note su Memoriali possibili
Authors: Andriani Carmen
Published: August 2024

I Memoriali sono monumenti edificati in ricordo di un accadimento che appartiene alla memoria collettiva. Essi aspirano a una condizione di trascendenza e immanenza al tempo stesso: radicati nel luogo e legati a una precisa circostanza temporale, purtuttavia si svincolano da ogni tempo e luogo in ragione del loro portato universale. I memoriali sono l’espressione di un profondo significato simbolico condiviso da una collettività che in essi si riconosce. In questo modo essi entrano nel nostro presente in modo attivo, capaci di costruire narrazioni e luoghi di una mitologia collettiva entro cui ciascuno di noi possa identificarsi. I memoriali ci parlano, i memoriali evocano: è stato questo il senso del Concorso di Progettazione per un Monumento-Memoriale promulgato dalla rivista FAM nel 2023 e degli esiti qui commentati.
Two-Step Quadratic Programming for Physically Meaningful Smoothing of Longitudinal Vehicle Trajectories
Authors: Fan Ximeng , Jin Wen-Long , Yin Penghang
Published: August 2024

Longitudinal vehicle trajectories suffer from errors and noise because of detection and extraction techniques, challenging their applications. Existing smoothing methods either lack physical meaning or cannot ensure solution existence and uniqueness. To address this, we propose a two-step quadratic programming method that aligns smoothed speeds and higher-order derivatives with physical laws, drivers’ behaviors, and vehicle characteristics. Unlike the well-known smoothing splines method, which minimizes a weighted sum of discrepancy and roughness in a single quadratic programming problem, our method incorporates prior knowledge of position errors into two sequential quadratic programming problems. Step 1 solves half-smoothed positions by minimizing the discrepancy between them and raw positions, subject to physically meaningful bounds on speeds and higher-order derivatives of half-smoothed positions. Step 2 solves smoothed positions by minimizing the roughness while maintaining physically meaningful bounds and allowing the deviations from raw data of smoothed positions by at most those of the half-smoothed positions and prior position errors. The second step’s coefficient matrix is not positive definite, necessitating the matching of the first few smoothed positions with corresponding half-smoothed ones, with equality constraints equaling the highest order of derivatives. We establish the solution existence and uniqueness for both problems, ensuring their well-defined nature. Numerical experiments using Next Generation Simulation (NGSIM) data demonstrate that a third-order derivative constraint yields an efficient method and produces smoothed trajectories comparable with manually re-extracted ones, consistent with the minimum jerk principle for human movements. Comparisons with an existing approach and application to the Highway Drone data set further validate our method’s efficacy. Notably, our method is a postprocessing smoothing technique based on trajectory data and is not intended for systematic errors. Future work will extend this method to lateral vehicle trajectories and trajectory prediction and planning for both human-driven and automated vehicles. This approach also holds potential for broader smoothing problems with known average error in raw data.

History: This paper has been accepted for the Transportation Science Special Issue on ISTTT25 Conference.

Funding: The authors extend their gratitude to the Pacific Southwest Region University Transportation Center and the University of California Institute of Transportation Studies (UC ITS) Statewide Transportation Research Program (STRP) for their valuable financial support.
DOĞUMLA İLGİLİ İNANIŞ VE UYGULAMALARDA “DEĞİRMEN”
Authors: Öz Zeynep Dilek
Published: August 2024

Geçiş dönemlerinden ilki olan doğum, aileye ve topluma yeni bir bireyin katılmasını ifade etmektedir. Doğumla beraber soyun devamlılığı sağlanmakta ve toplum hayatı içinde de aileye verilen değer artmaktadır. Bu yüzden gebeliğin sorunsuz tamamlanması için doğum öncesi dönemden başlayarak doğum sonrası sürece kadar halk arasında geliştirilen bazı uygulama ve inanışlar ortaya çıkmıştır.
Bu çalışmada; doğum öncesinde, kısırlığın/çocuksuzluğun giderilmesi ve istenmeyen gebeliği ortadan kaldırma; doğum sonrasında, kırk basması ile çocuklarda görülen gelişimsel rahatsızlıklar ve son olarak doğum öncesi ve sonrası dönemde sakınılması gereken durumlarla ilgili pek çok inanış ve uygulamada değirmen ve değirmenle ilgili unsurların kullanıldığı tespit edilmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda değirmenlerin sadece tahılların öğütüldüğü bir mekân olmayıp doğum öncesi dönemden başlanarak anne ve bebeğin sağlığıyla ilgili pek çok uygulama ve inanışın icra edildiği bir uygulama merkezi olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Çalışmadaki veriler doküman incelemesiyle elde edilmiş olup kültür analizi yöntemiyle incelenmiştir. Bu sayede, Türk kültürünün önemli unsurları arasında olan değirmenin halkbilimsel açıdan önemine dikkat çekilmeye çalışılmıştır.
Cottonseed Shear Strength as Affected by Moisture Content
Authors: Riehl Caleb , Thomasson J. Alex , Hardin Robert , Hague Steven
Published: August 2024

Highlights

Relationships between cottonseed shear strength and cottonseed moisture content, seed surface condition (delinted and fuzzy), and cotton cultivar were studied.

Cottonseed moisture content and seed surface condition significantly affected shear strength, though seed surface condition had a relatively small impact.

No significant differences in shear strength were found among the four cultivars tested.

An exponential decay model was able to accurately estimate the shear strength of delinted cottonseeds based on cottonseed moisture content.

Abstract. Cotton gins struggle to process excessively moist cotton, so they must reduce the processing rate and increase dryer temperatures to gin seed cotton with high moisture content, resulting in monetary losses. The decrease in ginning efficiency has been linked to the moisture content of the cottonseed, but there has been limited research to elucidate this relationship. While both seed cotton moisture and fiber moisture affect ginning efficiency, if the moisture has not penetrated into the cottonseed, increased drying temperatures can effectively remove the moisture from the fiber and maintain normal processing rates. On the other hand, cottonseed becomes soft at high moisture content, resulting in increased seed coat fragments in the cotton lint and crushed seed getting stuck in the gin ribs, decreasing ginning rates. Research was thus conducted to determine the relationship between the moisture content of cottonseed and cottonseed structural integrity as indicated by shear strength. Cottonseed samples of four different cotton cultivars and two seed surface conditions (fuzzy and delinted) were stored in hermetically sealed containers at four different relative humidities for two weeks to reach equilibrium. Fifty-two individual cottonseeds from each sample were sheared with a double-shear device, and the maximum shear stress was calculated. An analysis of variance was conducted to determine whether the treatments or their interactions were significantly correlated with shear strength as determined by maximum shear stress. Results indicated a strong inverse exponential relationship between cottonseed moisture content and shear strength. The relationship between seed surface condition and shear strength was minimal, and there were no significant differences among the cultivars. Keywords: Cottonseed, Ginning, Material testing, Moisture, Shear strength.
CONDIÇÃO FINANCEIRA GOVERNAMENTAL LOCAL: um Estudo com Municípios da Região Metropolitana de Salvador-Bahia
Authors: Ana Rita Silva Sacramento  , Fabiano Maury Raupp  , Denise Ribeiro de Almeida  , Antônio Almeida Lyrio Neto
Published: August 2024

O estudo tem como objetivo conhecer, por meio da análise de indicadores, como se caracteriza a condição financeira dos municípios da Região Metropolitana de Salvador no período pré-pandemia da Covid-19. Realizou-se um estudo exploratório-descritivo e de caráter qualitativo dos entes com população de até 100.000 habitantes, referente ao período 2016-2019, fazendo-se uso do modelo desenvolvido por Brown (1993), denominado de “ten-point test of financial condition”. Ficou evidenciado que embora os municípios façam parte da mesma região metropolitana, não demonstram padrões individuais de desempenho regulares e lineares, pois, no período analisado, identificou-se variação significativa nos indicadores de todos eles, à exceção do município Mata de São João. Os municípios investigados são heterogêneos em termos de indicadores individuais, embora similares no que se refere ao contexto territorial e demográfico, e dependentes, em diferentes níveis, da cooperação técnica e financeira da União e dos Estados, para atendimento de emergências financeiras não previsíveis.
Political Conversations in the Houses of Roman Women: Livy's Account of the Bacchanalia in 186 B.C.E.
Authors: Flower Harriet I.
Published: August 2024

Abstract: This paper focuses on women's houses in republican Rome and political conversations that took place in this gendered domestic context. The Bacchanalian "conspiracy" provides suggestive insights into the roles played by women living in their own houses in the early 2nd century b.c.e. According to Livy, pivotal conversations that shaped the outcome of this crisis took place in the houses of women, including Sulpicia (mother-in-law of Spurius Postumius Albinus, consul 186 b.c.e.), Aebutia (an equestrian widow), Duronia (a married woman), and Hispala Faecenia (a freedwoman living on the Aventine). These conversations reveal social settings in which women interacted and exchanged information.
Metaforizar o "el complot está en la piña": La imagen culinaria en Las comidas profundas de Antonio José Ponte
Authors: Dignard Catia
Published: August 2024

Resumen: Con el Período Especial de la década de los noventa como telón de fondo y la experiencia concreta de la mesa vacía, Las comidas profundas (1997) de Antonio José Ponte aguanta una lectura alterna que alude a otros tipos de comida que nutren al sujeto cubano y que le hace falta: las literarias. En este artículo se propone que en su intento de (re)construir una ciudad literaria más inclusiva y abierta, nutriéndose de comidas literarias de dentro como fuera de la Isla rechazadas durante décadas, Ponte establece también un diálogo con la obra tardía de Fernando Ortiz al tiempo que adelanta una visión singular de lo cubano. Tal diálogo, a manera de contrapunteo entre la ciudad letrada anhelada por Ponte y la cultura popular, traspasa la inclusión del ajiaco como metáfora identitaria cubana por excelencia, con descentrar la mirada del lector hacia metáforas culinarias que apuntan a discursos identitarios alternativos a la más globalizante cubanidad de Ortiz. Abstract: With the Special Period of the 1990s as a backdrop and the concrete experience of an empty table, Antonio José Ponte's Las comidas profundas (1997) supports an alternate reading alluding to other types of nourishment that the Cuban subject lacks: that is, literary nourishment. This article proposes that in his attempt to (re)construct a more inclusive and open literary city, as he consumes literary nourishment both from within and beyond the island, including in forms that had been rejected for decades, Ponte also establishes a dialogue with the late work of Fernando Ortiz while advancing a singular vision of what it means to be Cuban. Such a dialogue, as a counterpoint between the literary city longed for by Ponte and popular culture, goes beyond the inclusion of the ajiaco as the quintessential metaphor of Cuban identity, decentering the reader's gaze to direct it towards culinary metaphors that suggest alternative discourses of identity to Ortiz's more globalizing Cubanness. Résumé: Comme toile de fond la Période spéciale et l'expérience concrète de la faim devant une table vide, Las comidas profundas (1997) de Antonio José Ponte évoque d'autres types de nourritures qui alimentent le sujet: les littéraires. Dans cet article, il est proposé que dans sa quête de (re) construire une cité littéraire plus inclusive et ouverte, en s'alimentant de nourritures littéraires de l'intérieur comme de l'extérieur de l'Île qui ont été rejetées depuis des décennies, Ponte établit un dialogue avec l'œuvre tardive de Fernando Ortiz en même temps qu'il énonce une vision singulière de ce qui est proprement cubain. Tel dialogue, en contrepoint, entre la cité littéraire désirée par Ponte et la culture populaire, va au-delà de l'inclusion de l' ajiaco comme métaphore de l'identité cubaine par excellence, en décentrant le regard du lecteur pour le diriger vers des métaphores culinaires qui suggèrent des discours identitaires alternatifs à la plus globalisante cubanité d'Ortiz.
Palaeobiogeography of Irish Carboniferous nautiloid cephalopods
Authors: Histon Kathleen
Published: August 2024

Abstract: Data is provided herein for the Carboniferous nautiloid cephalopod faunas regarding the premise that nautiloid morphology is a contributory factor in the stratigraphical ranges of certain species as they are restricted to particular facies by their morphological structure. The material studied is widely distributed in the Mississippian of Ireland, ranging from earliest Tournaisian to latest Serpukhovian to the Earliest Pennsylvanian. Maximum diversity and abundance of benthic, nektobenthic and nektic taxa in the late Tournaisian is associated to Waulsortian carbonate mound development, but a noticeable decline occurs with the change in facies to shelf limestones and basinal shales in the late Viséan. Species are mainly endemic to the Irish faunas and the main biogeographic affinities recognised are at the generic level for almost all morphological types. Timing of open migrational seaways allowing faunal exchange include the earliest nautiloid incursion at the base of the Tournaisian during a northwestward marine transgression; exchange during the late Tournaisian within the Waulsortian facies in Belgium and North America and between areas of Kulm facies across Britain and Europe. Episodes referred to as Time Specific Facies document faunal events in the Asbian, Brigantian and Namurian with distinct horizons and assemblages of nautiloid cephalopods.
Translation as Remembering: The Canterbury Tales in Chinese
Authors: Zhang Lian
Published: August 2024

Abstract: Fang Zhong and Huang Gaoxin are two important Chinese translators of 'The Canterbury Tales'. Their translations rewrite Chaucer's text through reinventing a number of 'lieux de mémoire' / sites of memory for Chinese readers to remember and to reconstruct their cultural identity. Three particular types of cultural symbols in classical Chinese literature, religion and philosophy, and historiographic narrative are employed in this active remembering, which maintains the past of traditional Chinese culture as a continuous presence. Chinese national history is taught via these symbols, and Chinese national identity is presented in the form of these memory sites. The two translations engage in bringing in things written in a different culture and linking a shared past to a better future. They produce a more subtle understanding of the past of China and the present China it produced. This article offers a global perspective on translation studies, and provides an insight into the potential of combination of translation and memory
.
From Here to Eternity in the Prayers of Saint Christopher and their Manuscript Variations
Authors: Thomson S. C.
Published: August 2024

Abstract: Early medieval hagiographers use the unique nature of the cynocephalic Saint Christopher's physicality to provide a contrastive frame for his actions to show how prayer transcends individual subjects and times and connects communities across centuries. Paying attention to Christopher's prayers in individual manuscripts enables us to recognise and engage with individual medieval scribes and readers and how they responded to stories. This discussion unpacks the potential for looking closely at prayers in three different ways: considering their meaning in this particular narrative; exploring how scribes responded to and reshaped them; and considering different approaches to the complex variation in their use.
Edge of dielectric coating as a graded schlieren filter with a high damage threshold
Authors: Kaganovich Dmitri , Beresnyak Andrey
Published: August 2024

A special cutoff filter is required at the Fourier plane of the imaging lens for the schlieren visualization technique. During short-pulse laser illumination, the energy density in the focal spot of the Fourier plane can surpass the damage threshold of commonly employed metals or metallic coatings used for filtering. While dielectric substrates have a much higher damage threshold, acquiring dielectric filters from commercial suppliers can be challenging. In this study, we present experimental and simulation results to demonstrate that commercially available, off-the-shelf, dielectric mirrors can serve as effective schlieren cutoff filters. These mirrors offer a much higher damage threshold, making them a viable alternative to traditional metal filters in high-energy laser applications.
A dynamic ensemble model for short-term forecasting in pandemic situations
Authors: Botz Jonas , Valderrama Diego , Guski Jannis , Fröhlich Holger
Published: August 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitals reached their capacity limits and could no longer guarantee treatment of all patients. At the same time, governments endeavored to take sensible measures to stop the spread of the virus while at the same time trying to keep the economy afloat. Many models extrapolating confirmed cases and hospitalization rate over short periods of time have been proposed, including several ones coming from the field of machine learning. However, the highly dynamic nature of the pandemic with rapidly introduced interventions and new circulating variants imposed non-trivial challenges for the generalizability of such models. In the context of this paper, we propose the use of ensemble models, which are allowed to change in their composition or weighting of base models over time and could thus better adapt to highly dynamic pandemic or epidemic situations. In that regard, we also explored the use of secondary metadata—Google searches—to inform the ensemble model. We tested our approach using surveillance data from COVID-19, Influenza, and hospital syndromic surveillance of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI). In general, we found ensembles to be more robust than the individual models. Altogether we see our work as a contribution to enhance the preparedness for future pandemic situations.
A retrospective cohort study of a community-based primary care program’s effects on pharmacotherapy quality in low-income Peruvians with type 2 diabetes and hypertension
Authors: Deaver John E. , Uchuya Gabriela M. , Cohen Wayne R. , Foote Janet A.
Published: August 2024

Little is known about the effects of the Chronic Care Model (CCM) and community health workers (CHWs) on pharmacotherapy of type 2 diabetes and hypertension in resource-poor settings. This retrospective cohort implementation study evaluated the effects of a community-based program consisting of CCM, CHWs, guidelines-based treatment protocols, and inexpensive freely accessible medications on type 2 diabetes and hypertension pharmacotherapy quality. A door-to-door household survey identified 856 adults 35 years of age and older living in a low-income Peruvian community, of whom 83% participated in screening for diabetes and hypertension. Patients with confirmed type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension participated in the program’s weekly to monthly visits for < = 27 months. The program was implemented as two care periods employed sequentially. During home care, CHWs made weekly home visits and a physician made treatment decisions remotely. During subsequent clinic care, a physician attended patients in a centralized clinic. The study compared the effects of program (pre- versus post-) (N = 262 observations), and home versus clinic care periods (N = 211 observations) on standards of treatment with hypoglycemic and antihypertensive agents, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and low-dose aspirin. During the program, 80% and 50% achieved hypoglycemic and antihypertensive standards, respectively, compared to 35% and 8% prior to the program, RRs 2.29 (1.72–3.04, p <0.001) and 6.64 (3.17–13.9, p<0.001). Achievement of treatment standards was not improved by clinic compared to home care (RRs 1.0 +/- 0.08). In both care periods, longer retention in care (>50% of allowable time) was associated with achievement of all treatment standards. 85% compared to 56% achieved the hypoglycemic treatment standard with longer and shorter retention, respectively, RR 1.52 (1.13–2.06, p<0.001); 56% compared to 27% achieved the antihypertensive standard, RR 2.11 (1.29–3.45, p<0.001). In a dose-dependent manner, the community-based program was associated with improved guidelines-based pharmacotherapy of type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Feasibility of individualized home exercise programs for patients with head and neck cancer–study protocol and first results of a multicentre single-arm intervention trial (OSHO #94)
Authors: Felser Sabine , Rogahn Julia , Glass Änne , Bonke Lars Arne , Strüder Daniel Fabian , Stolle Jana , Schulze Susann , Blaurock Markus , Kriesen Ursula , Junghanss Christian , Grosse-Thie Christina
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Patients with head and neck cancer (PwHNC) benefit from targeted exercise interventions: symptom relief, compensation for dysfunction, improvement in quality of life (QoL). Data on acceptance physical interventions in PwHNC are rare. The ‘OSHO #94’ trial investigates the short- and medium-term effects of individualized home exercise in PwHNC on QoL, physical activity and functionality. The study includes a feasibility phase (proof of concept) in order to evaluate the acceptance. Here we present the study protocol as well as the feasibility results.

Methods and analysis

This prospective, multicentre, single-arm intervention study includes PwHNC ≥18 years of age in aftercare or palliative care with stable remission under immunotherapy. The study opened in January 01, 2021, with estimated completion by December 31, 2024. The PwHNC receive an individualized home exercise program consisting of mobilization, coordination, strengthening and stretching exercises. This should be carried out at least three times a week over 12 weeks for 15 to 30 minutes, supplemented by aerobic training two to three times a week for 30 minutes (intervention). Once weekly telephone calls with a physiotherapist are performed. Subsequently, there is a 12-week follow-up (FU) without exercise specifications/contact. Outcomes are measured before and after the intervention and following the FU. Primary outcome of the feasibility phase (n = 25) was the determination of the dropout rate during the intervention with a termination cut off if more than 30% PwHNC withdrew premature. The primary outcome of the OSHO #94’ trial (N = 53) is the change in global QoL score from pre- to post-intervention (EORTC QLQ-C30). Secondary outcomes include clinical and patient-reported measures, training details as well as functional diagnostic data (e.g. level of physical activity, training frequency, flexibility, fall risk and aerobic performance).

Results

25 PwHNC were enrolled onto the feasibility cohort. Only16% (4/25 patients) did not complete the study. Therefore, recruitment of PwHNC was continued. The dropout rate was adjusted from 30% (N = 60) to 20% (N = 53, calculated sample size n = 42 PwHNC and 20% (n = 11) to dropout).

Conclusions

Individualized home exercise programs in PwHNC in aftercare seem feasible. Consequently, the aim is now to evaluate the short and medium-term effects of individualized home exercise.
Characteristics and antiviral treatment eligibility of patients diagnosed with hepatitis B at a teaching hospital in Ghana: Implications for prevention and management
Authors: Daniels Joseph , Nartey Yvonne A. , Djankpa Francis , Simpore Jacques , Obiri-Yeboah Dorcas
Published: August 2024

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a considerable public health challenge in limited-resource settings especially in the sub-Saharan African region. Even though HBV infection is incurable, timely treatment is effective in preventing disease progression to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. However, not all infected patients require treatment. The aim of the study was to determine the clinical, immunological, and virological profiles of treatment naïve patients with HBV infection, seen at the outpatient clinic of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Additionally, the study sought to determine the antiviral treatment eligibility rate based on the 2015 guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) compared with the new 2024 guidelines. A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving total sampling of 220 treatment naïve HBV surface antigen positive clients was carried out. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data that were analyzed with STATA version 16. The median age at diagnosis was 34 years (IQR 26.0–41.5) with a male to female ratio of 1:1.5. A total of 138 participants (62.7%) were diagnosed with HBV infection following voluntary testing. There was a median delay of 8.5 months (IQR 3.0–22.5) between initial diagnosis and patients’ presentation for medical care. In all, 24 patients (10.9%) had abnormal clinical examination findings, 172 patients (78.2%) had HBV DNA levels ≤ 2000 IU/ml whereas 8 (3.6%) were seropositive for the HBV envelope antigen. A few patients had concomitant human immunodeficiency virus (2.7%) and hepatitis C virus (1.4%) infections. Treatment eligibility rate based on the WHO 2015 guidelines was 6.4% (n = 14), however, with the updated 2024 guidelines, treatment eligibility was 42.3% (n = 93). Increasing the screening rate among the general population, early linkage to clinical care of screen positives and vaccination of screen negatives will help reduce HBV-related clinical conditions in resource-limited settings.
A crossover study on attentional focus and gross motor performance in individuals with Down syndrome
Authors: Cavaggioni Luca , Ardigò Luca Paolo , Castiglioni Paolo , Trecroci Athos , Casalini Linda , Formenti Damiano , Merati Giampiero
Published: August 2024

Little is known about the effect of using an attentional focus instruction on motor performance in people with intellectual disabilities. Therefore, this study explored the effects of different attentional focus instructions on gross motor skill performances in individuals with Down syndrome. Seven community-dwelling participants (age 25.2±3.2 yrs, height 1.70±0.04 m, body mass 72.0±6.3 kg) voluntarily participated in the study. Motor performance on 5-meter running (5m sprint), vertical jump (countermovement jump with arm swing, CMJ), broad jump (standing broad jump, SBJ), forward medball throw (FMBT) or overhead medball backward throw (OMBT) and rising-up from a chair (five repetition sit-to-stand, 5STS) were recorded while performing internal-focus (IF) or external-focus (EF) instructions. EF induced significantly (p<0.05) better performance than IF in CMJ (EF: 15±9 cm; IF: 11±8 cm, median ±interquartile range), SBJ (EF: 0.8±1.05 m; IF: 0.5±1.0 m), FMBT (EF: 1.5±1.4 m; IF: 1.4±1.1 m), OMBT (EF: 4.0±1.5 m; IF: 3.6±1.1 m) and 5STS (EF: 14.2±5.4; IF:15.3±7.7 s). The time over the 5m sprint tended to be shorter with EF (4.0±2.0 s) than IF (5.05±3.3 s) but the difference did not reach the statistical significance (p = 0.29). Physical trainers and school teachers should be encouraged to manage different types of attentional focus instructions to improve cognitive and gross motor performances in persons with Down syndrome.
Spatial, temporal, and demographic nonstationary dynamics of COVID-19 exposure among older adults in the U.S.
Authors: Huang Qian
Published: August 2024

This study examines demographic disparities in COVID-19 exposures across older adults age 60–79 and older adults age 80 and over, and explores the factors driving these dynamics in the United States (U.S.) from January 2020 to July 2022. Spatial clusters were identified, and 14 main health determinants were synthesized from 62 pre-existing county-level variables. The study also assessed the correlation between these health determinants and COVID-19 incidence rates for both age groups during the pandemic years. Further examination of incidence rates in relation to health determinants was carried out through statistical and spatial regression models. Results show that individuals aged 80 and over had much higher hospitalization rates, death rates, and case-fatality rates in 2020–2022. Spatial results indicate that the geographical cluster of high incidence rates for both groups shifted from the Midwest at the beginning of the pandemic to the Southwest in 2022. The study revealed marked spatial, temporal, and demographic nonstationary dynamics in COVID-19 exposures, indicating that the health effects of contextual factors vary across age groups. COVID-19 incidence rates in older adults were strongly influenced by race, healthcare access, social capital, environment, household composition, and mobility. Future public health policies and mitigations should further their efforts by considering temporal and demographic nonstationarity as well as local conditions.
External gas-assisted mold temperature control and optimization molding parameters for improving weld line strength in polyamide plastics
Authors: Truong Giang Nguyen , Son Minh Pham , Anh Son Tran , Nguyen Van-Thuc , Minh The Uyen Tran , Do Thanh Trung , Nguyen Van Thanh Tien
Published: August 2024

In this study, we present a novel approach to injection molding, focusing on the strength of weld lines in polyamide 6 (PA6) composite samples. By implementing a mold temperature significantly higher than the typical molding practice, which rarely exceeds 100°C, we assess the effects of advanced mold temperature management. The research introduces a newly engineered mold structure specifically designed for localized mold heating, distinguishing it as the ’novel cavity.’ This innovative design is compared against traditional molding methods to highlight the improvements in weld line strength at elevated mold temperatures. To optimize the molding parameters, we apply an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) in conjunction with a Genetic Algorithm (GA). Our findings reveal that the optimal ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation values are achieved with a filling time of 3.4 seconds, packing time of 0.8 seconds, melt temperature of 246°C, and a novel high mold temperature of 173°C. A specific sample demonstrated the best molding parameters at a filling time of 3.4 seconds, packing time of 0.4 seconds, melt temperature of 244°C, and mold temperature of 173°C, resulting in an elongation value of 582.6% and a UTS of 62.3 MPa. The most influential factor on the PA6 sample’s UTS and elongation at the weld line was found to be the melt temperature, while the filling time had the least impact. SEM analysis of the fracture surfaces revealed ductile fractures with rough surfaces and grooves, indicative of the weld line areas’ bonding quality. These insights pave the way for significant improvements in injection molding conditions, potentially revolutionizing the manufacturing process by enhancing the structural integrity of the weld lines in molded PA6 samples.
Association of hyperuricemia with coronary heart disease: Protocol for an updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Jinling , Pan Yi , Gao Qun , Zhuang Rui , Ma Liyong
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Hyperuricemia, characterized by elevated serum uric acid levels, has garnered significant attention in cardiovascular research due to its potential association with coronary heart disease (CHD). While some studies suggest hyperuricemia as a risk factor of CHD, others present conflicting findings. A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis is warranted to comprehensively summarize the previous studies and determine the association between hyperuricemia and CHD, thereby supporting clinical practice and future studies in this field.

Methods

In this study, we will comprehensively search Medline, EMBase, Cochrane Central, ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov, from inception to December 31, 2024. Prospective or retrospective cohort studies and case-control studies investigating the association between hyperuricemia and CHD will be included. Two independent reviewers will conduct study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. The primary outcome will be the pooled relative risk of CHD associated with hyperuricemia by using random-effect model. Dose-response meta-analysis will be performed with linear and non-linear model to explore the the magnitude and direction of the association between serum uric acid levels and CHD risk. Subgroup analyses will be conducted based on uric acid test approaches and corresponding cut-off values and human races. Sensitivity analyses will assess the robustness of the results with leave-one-out method, while publication bias will be evaluated using funnel plots, Egger’s test, and Begg’s test. We will further use GRADE to evaluate the quality of the evidences provided by our systematic review.

Expected results

From this systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis, we hope out findings will provide reliable conclusion and data support on the association between hyperuricemia and CHD. The transparent and replicable methodologies outlined in this protocol contribute to advancing understanding of hyperuricemia as a potentially modifiable risk factor for CHD, thus supporting evidence-based strategies for cardiovascular disease management.

Conclusions

This protocol describes a rigorous plan to systematically review and analyze the quantitative association between hyperuricemia and CHD risk. In a word, we will help further clinical practice and scientific studies in this field.

Trial registration

This protocol was registered in PROSPERO CRD42024538553.
Magical South:An eight-bullet-point photoshoot of everyday life in the tourist city
Authors: Hernández Pablo Estévez
Published: August 2024

Magical South is a major detour around my own island, taking a road between urban enclaves in which the popular dynamics of neighbourhoods rub up against and collide with the ‘tourist bubble’, the prototypal closed space for tourism removed from the local. This theoretical ‘photoshoot’ of sorts endeavours to disclose the unconsciousness in operation when we cross through the tourist city, imbued in a semiotics that recreates a time, repetitions and a chaotic visual mesh. It begins with Walter Benjamin’s appraisal of the mechanism that enables copies to continue facilitating motivation for tourist travel. This returns us to the detour without detracting from the critique of the bunkerization of the city through processes like gentrification, paying attention to how everyday violence also runs through ordinary affects and the mainstream banality created by tourism.
ecología en el arte contemporáneo
Authors: Gutiérrez Ajamil Estibaliz , Gómez Miranda Ander
Published: August 2024

Desde hace varias décadas, la cultura, la creación artística y la educación se han retroalimentado hasta dar lugar a lo que hoy denominamos Educación Artística para el Desarrollo Sostenible (EADS), que en la actualidad se enmarca dentro de la Agenda 2030. Desde ese paradigma, con este trabajo se pretende reflexionar acerca del legado que el arte contemporáneo brinda a la EADS, en concreto a la hora de abordar el doceavo Objetivo de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS): Garantizar modalidades de consumo y producción sostenibles. Con esa finalidad, revisamos una pequeña selección de artistas o colectivos que trabajan en torno a temáticas relacionadas con el medioambiente, el consumo responsable, o la contaminación, entre otras. La revisión de estas obras contemporáneas nos sirve para ejemplificar algunas de las metas del ODS 12, al mismo tiempo que nutren a la EADS de referentes conceptuales que ayuden al alumnado a desarrollar una mirada crítica hacia las principales problemáticas ecológicas de nuestro contexto local y global
Carteles para un planeta herido
Authors: Bilbao Salsidua Mikel
Published: August 2024

Desde su irrupción en la segunda mitad del siglo XIX, el cartel moderno ha tenido un papel muy relevante como medio de comunicación y persuasión hasta tiempos relativamente recientes. Vinculado en origen al ámbito comercial, pronto se tornó en una herramienta efectiva en el campo de la política o en tiempos de guerra. Más allá de estos usos comunes, en el último medio siglo, este soporte ha sido utilizado como herramienta de concienciación ante la vulneración de derechos esenciales, las desigualdades o el creciente deterioro del planeta. Este artículo analiza su papel en el campo del activismo ecologista desde la década de 1970, tomando como referencia las aportaciones de creadores y creadoras de la talla de Milton Glaser, Robert Rauschenberg, Seymour Chwast, Paula Scher, Shigeo Fukuda, Luba Lukova, Per Arnoldi, Marlena Buczek Smith, Uwe Loesch o Shepard Fairey, entre otros.
Évaluation des Fonctions Exécutives des apprenants en contexte malagasy
Authors: BOTO SIMÉONE Nasolo Raoël
Published: August 2024

Evaluer les Fonctions Exécutives des apprenants, une démarche plus que nécessaire pour pouvoir mettre en place les dispositifs appropriés dans le processus enseignement- apprentissage.Pour ce faire, nous avons recouru aux tests neuropsychologiques proposés par la revue de la littérature en vue d'émettre nos propres suppositions sur les perspectives à envisager .
Pityriasis lichenoides acuta after COVID-19 vaccination
Authors: Singh Maneesh
Published: August 2024

This case is notable due to the possible association between pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) and the COVID-19 vaccination. In this case report we discuss a case of a 32 year-old male who developed erythematous, oval-shaped papules on his trunk, upper and lower extremities 2 weeks after his Covid 19 vaccination.

We also discussing the the diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of this disease and how a misdiagnosis of this disease can lead to great amount of emotional and psychological stress for the patient and his family members. For this reason it is important to have this on the list of possible diagnosises.
Hepatic Insulin Resistance Increases Risk of Gallstone Disease in Indigenous Americans in the Southwestern United States
Authors: Aydin Beyza N. , Stinson Emma J. , Hanson Robert L. , Looker Helen C. , Cabeza De Baca Tomás , Krakoff Jonathan , Chang Douglas C.
Published: August 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Animal models indicate that hepatic insulin resistance (IR) promotes cholesterol gallstone disease (GSD). We sought to determine whether hepatic and whole-body IR is associated with incident GSD.

METHODS:

At baseline, 450 Southwestern Indigenous American adults without GSD were included. Participants had a 2-step hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp with glucose tracer at submaximal and maximal insulin stimulation (240 and 2,400 pmol/m2/min) for whole-body IR (M-low and M-high) and hepatic glucose production (HGP) before and during submaximal insulin infusion (HGP-basal and HGP-insulin). Incident GSD was identified during follow-up visits conducted at ∼2-year intervals. The associations of HGP (basal, insulin, and % suppression), M-low, and M-high with risk of GSD were assessed by Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, body fat (%), glucose, and insulin.

RESULTS:

Sixty participants (13%) developed GSD (median follow-up: 11.6 years). Participants who developed GSD were of similar age and whole-body IR as those who did not (P's > 0.07) but were more likely to be female; have higher body fat, higher HGP-basal, and HGP-insulin; and lower % suppression of HGP (P's < 0.02). In separate adjusted models, higher HGP-insulin and lower % suppression of HGP were associated with increased risk for GSD (hazard ratio [HR] per SD: HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.12–1.69, P = 0.002; HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.16–1.72, P = 0.0007). HGP-basal, M-low, and M-high were not associated with GSD in adjusted models (P's > 0.22).

DISCUSSION:

Resistance to insulin suppression of HGP increases risk for GSD. Hepatic IR is a link between GSD and other conditions of the metabolic syndrome.
Quantifying Swarm Resilience with Simulated Exploration of Maze-Like Environments
Authors: Emmons Megan , Maciejewski Anthony
Published: August 2024

Artificial swarms have the potential to provide robust, efficient solutions for a broad range of applications from assisting search and rescue operations to exploring remote planets. However, many fundamental obstacles still need to be overcome to bridge the gap between theory and application. In this characterization work, we demonstrate how a human rescuer can leverage minimal local observations of emergent swarm behavior to locate a lone survivor in maze-like environments. The simulated robots and rescuer have limited sensing and no communication capabilities to model a worst-case scenario. We then explore the impact of fundamental properties at the individual robot level on the utility of the emergent behavior to direct swarm design choices. We further demonstrate the relative robustness of the simulated robotic swarm by quantifying how reasonable probabilistic failure affects the rescue time in a complex environment. These results are compared to the theoretical performance of a single wall-following robot to further demonstrate the potential benefits of utilizing robotic swarms for rescue operations.
Piąta część "Villanelle" Pawła Szymańskiego w świetle teorii mieszanin pojęciowych
Authors: Kostka Violetta
Published: August 2024

Conceptualization, that is, the recognition of cognitive intuitions in concepts, is one of the basic topics of cognitive science. One of the most popular theories of this type is the conceptual blending theory by Gilles Fauconnier and Mark Turner. The aim of this article is to present the main assumptions of this theory and to interpret in its light one work by Paweł Szymański, namely the fifth movement of Villanelle for countertenor, two violas and harpsichord to the poem by James Joyce. Interpretation has several stages. At the beginning, two sets of concepts necessary for creating blends are established: the first relating to the poetic layer of the work, and the second ‒ to its musical layer. Next, the author discusses three intra-musical stylistic blends. The first is characterized by a clear dominance of concepts concerning baroque devices over modernist ones, the second ‒ by inverse proportions of devices, and the third is a similar kind of polystylism as the first. Finally, the subject of consideration are the extra-musical blends leading to the creation of three main meanings of the work. They can be summarized as the following story about the poetical and musical Persona: he begins by practising some form of love ritual in mythical/sacred time; after a fairly long time in a lethargic state, he comes closer to reality and thinks about love from the perspective of his own body and clarity; finally, he drowns in a previously performed ritual within mythical/sacred time. The article is supplemented by the poem, the table with the characteristics of the three episodes, two musical examples and four diagrams with networks of integrated concepts.
Film jako ilustracja ról społecznych. Obraz matki w wybranych filmach Alfreda Hitchcocka
Authors: Juszczak Magdalena
Published: August 2024

Popular culture texts, including films, can be an area of research reflection, e.g. in terms of social phenomena, interpersonal relations, and the interpretation of social roles. The article analyzes the content of selected films by Alfred Hitchcock. The aim of the study was to verify the presentation of the mother-child relationship and the role of the mother. For this purpose, research questions were posed: What image of the mother is presented in Alfred Hitchcock’s films, what are the characteristics of the mother in Alfred Hitchcock’s films, what are the similarities between the image of mother presented by Alfred Hitchcock and socially expected features, what are the differences between the mother’s image presented by Alfred Hitchcock maternal image and socially expected traits? Theses have been developed to answer the above questions and have been verified. A thorough analysis led to conclusions which indicate that the role of the mother had pathological features; kind of pattern of negative traits that the film women took on crystallized. Based on the research, the author defined the role as a “Hitchcock mother type”.
Społeczne postrzeganie związków intymnych młodzieży. Analiza narracji adolescentek i adolescentów
Authors: Jankowiak Barbara
Published: August 2024

Youth develop their competence to build intimate relationships during adolescence. The aim of this project is to explore what adolescents experience regarding the social perception of their intimate relationships. The method of data collection was an individual in-depth interview and the method of data analysis was conventional content analysis. The group of participants in the study consisted of 22 adolescents (12 girls and 10 boys), aged between 14 and 19 years, who had experienced at least one intimate relationship during adolescence lasting at least one month. Participants could currently be in an intimate relationship or be single. Content analysis identified four main categories: 1) “It’s not  a relationship, it’s just fun”; 2) “It’s not true love”; 3) “It won’t last very long”; 4) “You’ll get behind in school because of it!”. The results confirm that teenagers face stereotypical beliefs about their relationships. The results indicate the need to raise public awareness of the role of intimate relationships in young people’s development and to support adolescents in this vital area of interpersonal functioning.
Pokolenie Zet jako „wymagający gracz” współczesnego rynku pracy
Authors: Wawrzonek Anna
Published: August 2024

The aim of this article is to present reflections on the Zet generation/Gen Z, with particular emphasis on the context of the labor market. The analysis of available reports and studies will make it possible to point out the strengths, opportunities, and expectations verbalized by the representatives of Gen  Z themselves and the expectations placed upon them. The picture of the Gen Z presented below may become the starting point for determining or modifying educational and advisory solutions aimed at supporting young people in building lifelong careers.