bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pressure-Shear Crack Initiation and Expansion Mechanism of Complex Cracked Rock Mass under the Seepage Stress
Authors: Shen Lu
Published: December 2023

This work was to analyze and discuss the propagation mechanism of compressive shear initiation of complex fractured rock mass with seepage stress. The dense marble of Daye Iron mine with bulk density of 26.6 kN/m3 and uniaxial compressive strength of 52.4 MPa was selected as the material, and the upper and lower fracture surfaces were polished smoothly. The crack initiation criterion under compressive shear stress state is analyzed by taking the theory of fracture mechanics and classical mechanics. The coupling equation in the extended finite element simulation is established. The influence of lateral pressure on the crack propagation law, the relationship between lateral pressure and fracture, the initial expansion angle and pressure change law, and the effect of working face length on the crack expansion are analyzed. Results. The initial expansion angle of cracks increases with the increase of lateral pressure, and that of a single crack decreases with the increase of pressure. When other conditions are constant, the crack angle of the crevice also shows a trend of increasing with the increase of lateral pressure. When the lateral pressure becomes smaller, the initial expansion angle is relatively small. With the progress of the step size, the expansion angle shows a gradually decreasing trend, that is, the initial expansion angle gradually decreases with the increase of water pressure. The smaller the working face length, the smaller the expansion length of the floor crack. Conclusion. The expansion of the floor cracks is mainly formed by the tensile shear failure, and the fracture water pressure will reduce the initiation stress, which makes the rock mass more prone to the fracture failure.
Solving Partial Differential Equations of Fractional Order by Using a Novel Double Integral Transform
Authors: Ahmed Shams A. , Elzaki Tarig M. , Mohamed Anis
Published: December 2023

In this work, the double Sumudu–Elzaki transform was used for solving fractional‐partial differential equations (FPDEs) with starting and boundary conditions. We will use the fractional‐order derivative (Caputo’s derivatives) idea. Theorems and facts that are crucial to the newly introduced transform are also discussed and illustrated. By using this newly designed integral transform and its properties, FPDEs can be reduced into algebraic equations. This strategy has the precise answer since it does not need any discrimination, transformation, or limited assumptions. Five further instances were given to support our conclusions. The results showed that the recommended strategy is superb, reliable, and efficient. It is also a simple method for solving specific problems in a number of applied scientific and technical fields.
Aderhautmelanom: Sensitivität und Spezifität verschiedener prognostischer Systeme zur Lenkung der Überwachung auf Metastasen
Authors: Seibel Ira
Published: December 2023

Uveal melanoma (UM) metastasises in ˜50% of patients, most frequently to the liver. Surveillance imaging can provide early detection of hepatic metastases; however, guidance regarding UM patient risk stratification for surveillance is unclear. This study compared sensitivity and specificity of four current prognostic systems, when used for risk stratification for surveillance, on patients treated at the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre (LOOC) between 2007–2016 (n = 1047). It found that the Liverpool Uveal Melanoma Prognosticator Online III (LUMPOIII) or Liverpool Parsimonious Model (LPM) offered greater specificity at equal levels of sensitivity than the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) system or monosomy 3 alone, and suggests guidance to achieve 95% sensitivity and 51% specificity (i.e., how to detect the same number of patients with metastases, while reducing the number of negative scans). For example, 180 scans could be safely avoided over 5 years in 200 patients using the most specific approach. LUMPOIII also offered high sensitivity and improved specificity over the AJCC in the absence of genetic information, making the result relevant to centres that do not perform genetic testing, or where such testing is inappropriate or fails. This study provides valuable information for clinical guidelines for risk stratification for surveillance in UM.
Glucometabolic Alterations in Pregnant Women with Overweight or Obesity but without Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: An Observational Study
Authors: Linder Tina , Eppel Daniel , Kotzaeridi Grammata , Yerlikaya-Schatten Guelen , Rosicky Ingo , Morettini Micaela , Tura Andrea , Göbl Christian S.
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Maternal overweight is a risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, emerging evidence suggests that an increased maternal body mass index (BMI) promotes the development of perinatal complications even in women who do not develop GDM. This study aims to assess physiological glucometabolic changes associated with increased BMI. Methods: Twenty-one women with overweight and 21 normal weight controls received a metabolic assessment at 13 weeks of gestation, including a 60-min frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. A further investigation was performed between 24 and 28 weeks in women who remained normal glucose tolerant. Results: At baseline, mothers with overweight showed impaired insulin action, whereby the calculated insulin sensitivity index (CSI) was lower as compared to normal weight controls (3.5 vs. 6.7 10-4 min-1 [microU/mL]-1, p = 0.025). After excluding women who developed GDM, mothers with overweight showed higher average glucose during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at the third trimester. Moreover, early pregnancy insulin resistance and secretion were associated with increased placental weight in normal glucose-tolerant women. Conclusion: Mothers with overweight or obesity show an unfavorable metabolic environment already at the early stage of pregnancy, possibly associated with perinatal complications in women who remain normal glucose tolerant.
Intussusception reveals MUTYH-related polyposis syndrome and colorectal cancer
Authors: Nii Fernanda , Medeiros Kayo Augusto de Almeida , Carvalho Bárbara Justo , Martines Diego Ramos , Mesquita Gustavo Heluani Antunes de , Waisberg Daniel Reis , Meyer Alberto
Published: December 2023

We are reporting a rare case of MUTYH-associated polyposis, a colorectal cancer hereditary syndrome, diagnosticated after an intussusception. Colorectal cancer is an important cause of cancer related mortality that can be manifested by an intussusception, a rare occurrence in adults and almost always related to tumors. Approximately 5% of colorectal cancers can be attributed to syndromes known to cause hereditary colorectal cancer, such as MUTYHassociated polyposis, autosomal genetic syndrome associated with this disease. We present the case of a 44 years old male, that sought medical consultation with a complaint of abdominal discomfort, that after five days changed its characteristics. The patient was sent to the emergency department were a CT-scan revealed intestinal sub-occlusion by ileocolic invagination. Right colectomy was carried out. The anatomic-pathological examination revealed a moderately differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma and multiples sessile polyps, which led to the suspicion of a genetic syndrome. In the genetics analysis two mutations were observed in the MUTYH gene, and MUTYH-associated polyposis was diagnosticated. This case demonstrates the importance of meticulous analysis of the patient examinations results to identify possible discrete alterations that can lead to improved understanding of disease.
Rate of complications due to carotid angioplasty in a tertiary university hospital
Authors: Macêdo Isabella Sales de , Alquéres Rafaela Almeida , Schneider Lorena Souza Viana , Puglia Júnior Paulo , Conforto Adriana Bastos
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Stenoses greater than 50% in the cervical internal carotid artery cause up to 8% of all ischemic strokes. Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is an effective alternative to prevent cerebrovascular events to occur. According to recommendations from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, CAS is indicated for symptomatic patients with internal carotid stenosis greater than 70% (measured by non-invasive methods), as long as the risk for periprocedural stroke or death is less than 6%. There is few information about complication rates of CAS in developing countries. Objectives: The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the frequency of any stroke or death until hospital discharge after CAS in symptomatic patients with carotid stenosis in a tertiary university hospital. Other complication rates were also assessed as secondary aims. Methods: A single-center retrospective study based on the analysis of charts from patients submitted to CAS between April 2011 and March 2016. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥ 18 years old, admission and follow-up by neurologists from the Neurology Ward, performance of CAS according to the hospital´s protocol (carotid stenosis ≥70%, patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA), amaurosis fugax or minor stroke in the last 180 days, and life expectancy greater than a year). Patients not followed by neurologists after CAS were excluded. Results: A total of 65 patients were included: 3 (4.6%) suffered stroke or death after CAS. Two of these patients presented ischemic strokes and one, an hemorrhagic stroke that lead to death. Myocardial infarctions were not identified, as well as carotid ruptures or dissections, hyperperfusion syndrome, artery perforations, stent thrombosis or encephalopathy. Minor complication rates were: 12.3% for hypotension, 9.2% for bradycardia, 1.5% for TIA, 3.1% for carotid vasospasm and 6.2% for acute kidney injury. The total rate of minor complications was 23.1%, and none of then led to permanent harm. Conclusions: The rate of stroke or death in a reference tertiary service in a developing country was in line with international recommendations.
Food consumption and cardiovascular risk in disease-free women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a cross-sectional study in Northeast Brazil
Authors: Moreira Leonardo Victor Galvão , Mendes Matheus Veras Guterres , Sousa Rosângela Maria Lopes de , Chein Maria Bethânia da Costa , Brito Luciane Maria Oliveira
Published: December 2023

Objective: To investigate the association between dietary intake, nutritional status and cardiovascular risk markers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) without other chronic diseases.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 59 women diagnosed with PCOS and 126 age-matched healthy controls. Data collected consisted of socio-demographic and behavioral variables, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHTR), lipid accumulation products (LAP), serum triglycerides (TG) level, body fat percentage (BFP), and food consumption. Quantitative and qualitative food intake were verified by applying a food frequency questionnaire.Results: BMI, WC, WHTR and LAP index values as well as TG levels, but not BFP values, were significantly increased in the PCOS group as compared to controls (p<0.05). In the control group, eutrophic women had slightly higher TG levels, whereas obese women were younger in the PCOS group (p<0.05). In both groups, the consumption of carbohydrates and proteins was adequate, but fiber intake was insufficient. In the PCOS group, energy consumption was excessive, while carbohydrate intake was higher than in controls, but adequate.Conclusion: Although diseasefree PCOS women showed enhanced inadequacy in dietary intake and nutritional status and increased cardiovascular impairment, no correlation between dietary intake, nutritional status and cardiovascular risk markers was found.Key words: Polycystic ovary syndrome; Eating; Cardiovascular diseases; Nutritional status.
effect of botulinum toxin type A injection in the viability of dorsal flap in rats
Authors: Medeiros Sofia Amaral , Camargo Cristina Pires , Gemperli Rolf
Published: December 2023

Purpose: Botulinum toxin A (BoNTA) increased the viability of skin flap in healthy rats. Most of the studies injected this substance some days (7-15) before the flap surgery. This treatment is used only for elective surgery, there was no data about the efficacy of BontA when injected in the surgical period. This study aimed to analyze the effect of BontA on the viability of Random flap in a intra surgical injection. Methods: Twenty male Wistar rats (250–300 g) were randomly divided into four groups: saline injection 15 days prior the surgery (G1), BoNTA injection 15 days prior the surgery (G2), saline injection intraoperative period (G3), BoNTA injection intraoperative (G4). A dorsal cutaneous flap (3×10cm) was performed. Survival area and total area of the flaps were measured. Lumen diameter, external arterial diameter and lumen/wall thickness ratio were recorded. Results: Viable area increased in Bonta 15days group when compared to saline-15days (1080.7 ± 307.5 mm2 vs. 1594.5 ± 419.7mm2, p= 0.01) and in the Bonta –intraoperative injection when compared to saline intraoperative injection (1133.3 ± 462.0 mm2 vs. 1389.9 ± 320.4 mm2, p=0.014). The ratio viable area/total area showed similar results (G1 versus G2, 0.43 vs. 0.74; p<0.001, respectively) and G3 versus G4 (0.44 vs. 0.61 p= 0,04). We did not find any difference in the microscopic analysis (lumen diameter, external arterial diameter and lumen/wall thickness ratio). Conclusion: BoNTA injected fifteen days before the surgery increased skin flap viability. However, BontA injected intraoperatory time did not increased the flap viability.
Evaluation of sarcopenia in long-lived elderly patients: comparison between the muscle mass index and the calf circumference
Authors: Gama Isadora Cecília Salgado , Junior Sergio Chociay , Santana Mariana de Paula , Figueiredo Nadine Motta , Andrade Nathália de Oliveira , Montalvão Gustavo Henrique Martins Rodrigues , Luchesi Bruna  Moretti
Published: December 2023

Introduction: With population aging, many elderly citizens have been achieving extreme longevity (≥ 90 years). Sarcopenia is related to several adverse outcomes, such as disability, falls, hospitalization and death; hence, its early identification is important. Several methods can be used for its evaluation, with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) being the most accurate. Nevertheless, due to low availability and high cost, other methods are routinely adopted for screening in Primary Health Care (PHC), such as the evaluation of the Muscle Mass Index (MMI) and the Calf Circumference (CC).Objective: To evaluate sarcopenia in elderly people with extreme longevity, and then compare it by means of MMI and CC.Methodology: Cross-sectional and quantitative study, performed in 2019/2020, with n = 69 individuals aged ≥ 90 years, of both genders, users of the Unified Health System in the town of Três Lagoas – MS. We collected sociodemographic and anthropometric data in triplicate. For CC, we used a cutoff score ≤ 31 centimeters as a sign of sarcopenia. We determined MMI based on the calculation of skeletal muscle mass, using the formula of Lee and collaborators, which considers height, body mass, gender, age and ethnicity. The classification of sarcopenia adopted was that of Janssen and collaborators (women: ≤ 5.75 kg/m2 = severe sarcopenia; 5.76 – 6.75 kg/m2 = moderate sarcopenia; and ≥ 6.76 kg/m2 = normal muscle mass. Men: ≤ 8.50 kg/m2 = severe sarcopenia; 8.51 – 10.75 kg/m2 = moderate sarcopenia; and ≥ 10.76 kg/ m2 = normal muscle mass). In order to relate the variables, we applied the Spearman’s correlation test. Results: A total of 52.2% of the participants were women, with an average age of 93.5 years old and 1.3 years of schooling. The average CC was 31.2 centimeters, with 46.1% being considered sarcopenic patients according to this parameter. The average MMI was 5.1 kg/m2, with 100% of the elderly patients being considered sarcopenic through this method. There was no relationship between CC and MMI (p = 0.213).Discussion: We found a high prevalence of sarcopenia in the long-lived elderly patients, mainly using MMI. This data is worrying, since these elderly people may have several limitations due to sarcopenia. The absence of a relationship between the CC and MMI variables highlights the need to use more reliable methods to evaluate sarcopenia in long-lived elderly people, since the identification from CC, despite being easy and fast, may not be sensitive in this age group. Conclusion: We should highlight the need for personalization of public policies and evaluation recommendations for elderly people with extreme longevity in PHC, as they constitute a group that has unique characteristics.
Rediscovery of the Canary Islands endemic Aphaenogaster hesperia Santschi, 1911 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)
Authors: PÉREZ-DELGADO ANTONIO J. , LUGO DAVID , SANTOS-PERDOMO IRENE , JIMÉNEZ-GARCÍA EDUARDO , SUÁREZ DANIEL
Published: December 2023

The Canary Islands endemic species Aphaenogaster hesperia Santschi, 1911 was described based solely on two workers captured in a north-western coastal area of Tenerife (Canary Islands) in 1902 and 1903. The species has not been recorded in the last 100 years and only information on its type locality is known. This species, belonging to the crocea group, has been recently rediscovered in a new site within a pine forest at 950 m a.s.l. The new area is a very different habitat, revealing a lack of ecological knowledge of the species, which may have caused the species to have remained unnoticed for more than 100 years. Novel distributional and morphological data are provided.
Factors Associated With Tracheostomy in Ventilated Pediatric Trauma Patients. A National Trauma Database Study
Authors: Ahmed Nasim , Kuo Yen-Hong
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to find the factors that were associated with tracheostomy procedures in ventilated pediatric trauma patients.

Methods

The Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) database of the calendar year 2017 through 2019 was accessed for the study. All patients <18 years old and who were on mechanical ventilation for more than 96 hours were included in the study. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to find the factors that were associated with a tracheostomy.

Results

Out of 2653 patients, 1907 (71.88%) patients underwent tracheostomy. The patients who underwent tracheostomy had a lower median [IQR] of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) (3 [3-8] vs 5 [3-10], P < .001) and had a higher proportion of severe spine injury (On Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS]≥3) (11.6% vs 8.8%, P = .044) when compared with patients who did not have tracheostomy. Lower GCS scores and severe spine injury were associated with higher odds of tracheostomy, with all P values <.05. Higher proportion of tracheostomy procedures were performed at level I pediatric trauma centers as compared to non-designated pediatric centers (odds ratio [95% CI]: 1.848 [1.524-2.242], P < .001).

Conclusion

A lower GCS score, severe spine injury and highest level trauma centers were associated with a tracheostomy.
Novel Ameloblastin Variants, Contrasting Amelogenesis Imperfecta Phenotypes
Authors: Hany U. , Watson C.M. , Liu L. , Nikolopoulos G. , Smith C.E.L. , Poulter J.A. , Brown C.J. , Patel A. , Rodd H.D. , Balmer R. , Harfoush A. , Al-Jawad M. , Inglehearn C.F. , Mighell A.J.
Published: December 2023

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) comprises a group of rare, inherited disorders with abnormal enamel formation. Ameloblastin (AMBN), the second most abundant enamel matrix protein (EMP), plays a critical role in amelogenesis. Pathogenic biallelic loss-of-function AMBN variants are known to cause recessive hypoplastic AI. A report of a family with dominant hypoplastic AI attributed to AMBN missense change p.Pro357Ser, together with data from animal models, suggests that the consequences of AMBN variants in human AI remain incompletely characterized. Here we describe 5 new pathogenic AMBN variants in 11 individuals with AI. These fall within 3 groups by phenotype. Group 1, consisting of 6 families biallelic for combinations of 4 different variants, have yellow hypoplastic AI with poor-quality enamel, consistent with previous reports. Group 2, with 2 families, appears monoallelic for a variant shared with group 1 and has hypomaturation AI of near-normal enamel volume with pitting. Group 3 includes 3 families, all monoallelic for a fifth variant, which are affected by white hypoplastic AI with a thin intact enamel layer. Three variants, c.209C>G; p.(Ser70*) (groups 1 and 2), c.295T>C; p.(Tyr99His) (group 1), and c.76G>A; p.(Ala26Thr) (group 3) were identified in multiple families. Long-read AMBN locus sequencing revealed these variants are on the same conserved haplotype, implying they originate from a common ancestor. Data presented therefore provide further support for possible dominant as well as recessive inheritance for AMBN-related AI and for multiple contrasting phenotypes. In conclusion, our findings suggest pathogenic AMBN variants have a more complex impact on human AI than previously reported.
Toward a Latinx Stratification Economics
Authors: Lefebvre Stephan , Aja Alan , López Nancy , Darity William , Hamilton Darrick
Published: December 2023

This paper describes Latinx stratification economics (LSE) as a scholarly approach to studying the economic status of Latinas/os/es/xs primarily in the United States. We coin the term LSE to refer to work that draws on and is in conversation with both the emergent, interdisciplinary subfield of stratification economics (SE) and the interdisciplinary field of Latinx studies (LS). SE and LS have distinct intellectual traditions and drawing on both leads to strong theoretical and empirical scholarship on Latinxs, on the operation of race across space and historical time, and on the intersection of race with other systems of domination. We discuss how, based on these perspectives, it is misguided to expect racial/ethnic categories like Hispanic to be consistent over time and space and to correspond reliably with phenotypical characteristics or culture. We argue that a good faith reading of the LS literature would result in the recommendation to subordinate models of migration to models of colonialism and imperialism. We discuss the significance of normative goals and social justice to complement “gap analysis” comparisons to non-Hispanic whites. Lastly, we discuss deficiencies of the dominant models of discrimination and, as an alternative, we highlight rational models of racism that involve strategic identifications with whiteness, blackness, and mestizaje, including by members who identify as Latinx or those with Hispanic ancestry.
Numerical simulation and experimental verification of fatigue crack propagation in high-strength bolts based on fracture mechanics
Authors: Zhang Ping , Li Jiachun , Zhao Yu , Li Jiaxiao
Published: December 2023

To investigate the fatigue crack propagation behavior of high-strength bolts for high-speed train brake discs, the fatigue crack propagation of high-strength bolts with initial defects under various load ratios was numerically simulated and experimentally verified based on fracture mechanics in this paper. Firstly, the fracture mechanics model of a three-dimensional hexahedral mesh with initial root defects was established using ABAQUS-FRANC3D interactive technology. Then the stress intensity factor (SIF) of the crack front was calculated by the stress superposition of the crack surface to simulate the coupling effect of preload and axial cyclic load. Based on it, fatigue crack propagation was simulated. Finally, the corresponding fatigue experiments on prefabricated crack bolts were carried out. The results show that mode I cracks dominate in the process of crack propagation. The stable crack propagation zones of the fractured high-strength bolts all show a semi-elliptical cross-section. The SIF of the crack front decreases with the increase of the load ratio, thus making the crack propagation life increase with the increase of the load ratio. The experimental outcomes are in great agreement with the simulation results, which verify that the numerical simulation method can effectively and accurately evaluate the fatigue life of high-strength bolts with initial defects and provides an effective means for predicting the fatigue crack propagation life of the same type high-strength bolts in engineering applications.
Vertical Horizons: Dealing with luxury urban skies
Authors: Harris Andrew , Wolseley Tom
Published: December 2023

There has been a conspicuous growth in the height and extent of luxury urban development in the 21st century. This has been accompanied by important critical analyses exploring how this upward construction has created new vertical social divides and landscapes of power. This article argues, however, that there are spatial and methodological limitations to the way luxury urban skies have tended to be framed and pursued. Through a focus on the decisions taken in producing the 2017 meditative film Vertical Horizons by Tom Wolseley, the paper offers an expanded agenda for engagements with elite vertical development. This film juxtaposes views of London and Western Europe’s tallest skyscraper, the Shard, from different vantage points, with contrasting narratives about the building. Vertical Horizons seeks to use its focus on the Shard to open up more imaginative experiments with high-rise landscapes, and better recognition of the potential complicities in responses to the gleaming façades of contemporary urbanisation. The paper posits that more multi-sited, creative and reflective approaches, such as those pursued in Vertical Horizons, are required in efforts at levelling with the social and symbolic power of urban vertical luxification.
Optimization of uniformity in coronary artery enhancement using a bolus tracking technique with a dual region of interest in coronary computed tomographic angiography
Authors: Xiao Huawei , Wang Xiangquan , Yang Panfeng , Wang Ling , Xu Jian
Published: December 2023

Background

Consistent coronary artery enhancement is essential to achieve accurate and reproducible quantification of coronary plaque composition.

Purpose

To optimize coronary artery uniformity of enhancement using a bolus tracking technique with a dual region of interest (ROI) in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) on a 320-detector CT scanner.

Material and Methods

This prospective study recruited 100 consecutive patients who underwent CCTA and were randomly divided into two groups, namely, a manual trigger group (n = 50), in which a manual fast start technique was used to start the diagnostic scan with the visual evaluation of attenuation in the left atrium and left ventricle, and an automatic trigger group (n = 50), in which a bolus tracking technique was used to automatically start the breath-holding command and diagnostic scan with two ROIs placed in the right and left ventricles. Coronary artery image quality was assessed using quantitative and qualitative scores. The enhancement uniformity was characterized by attenuation variability of the ascending aorta (AAO) and coronary arteries.

Results

No statistically significant differences in the image quality of the coronary arteries were observed between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The coefficients of variation (COVs) of arterial attenuation in the automatic trigger group were significantly smaller than in the manual trigger group (AAO: 9.89% vs. 17.93%; LMA: 10.35% vs. 18.98%; LAD proximal: 12.09% vs. 20.84%; LCX proximal: 11.85% vs. 20.95%; RCA proximal: 12.13% vs. 20.84%; all P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The automatic trigger technique accompanied with dual ROI provides consistent coronary artery enhancement and optimizes coronary artery enhancement uniformity in CCTA on a 320-detector CT scanner.
Living kindness: Re-imagining kinship for a more humane future
Authors: Strang Veronica
Published: December 2023

As environmental change and mass extinctions underline an urgent need to establish more humane relationships with non-human beings, there is a creative opportunity to reimagine concepts of kinship to promote the collective well-being of all living kinds. Anthropology draws on culturally diverse interspecies relations: some locate human and other species within distinctive and hierarchical categories, while others have more fluid and egalitarian notions of personhood. Engagements with non-human species therefore range from objectifying and exploiting them, to their acceptance as kin, as persons, and as reciprocal co-creative partners in the composition of shared lifeworlds. Though the concept of kinship is conventionally used to illuminate inter-human relations, this article suggests that it has further potential to raise key questions about how societies engage with non-human beings, and our ethical responsibilities towards them. These questions might usefully inform contemporary debates about non-human rights, and how these might be upheld by state and/or international legislation.
Forum Introduction: Sugar and navies in the age of sail
Authors: Wilson Evan
Published: December 2023

This essay introduces the forum by asking: what were the basic ‘ingredients’ of sugar in the eighteenth century? How did navies relate to each ingredient?
Development and characterization of skin substitutes from electrospun polycaprolactone/silk fibroin
Authors: Yildiz Gulsah , Arslan Yavuz Emre , Derkus Burak , Sezgin Billur , Menceloglu Yusuf Ziya , Bayar Gurkan Rasit
Published: December 2023

Tissue-engineered skin substitutes have great potential to treat chronic wounds and high-degree burns. Existing solutions, such as Integra Dermal Template, are extensively used for skin defects. However, these templates are still lacking in terms of recreating the functionality of the native tissue and providing scarless healing. In this study, polycaprolactone/silk fibroin (PCL/SF)-based nanofibers with varying blends were fabricated and characterized to develop a novel skin substitute. Morphological analysis showed that the nanofiber distribution of each sample was homogenous without showing any beads. In terms of mechanical properties, all the samples other than SF showed sufficient mechanical strength. It was observed that adding a specific amount of SF into the PCL nanofiber improves the tensile strength of the samples due to the introduction of intermolecular interactions from the functional groups of SF. In addition, incorporating SF into PCL improved Young’s modulus of the PCL nanofibers since SF provides stiffness and structural integrity to the overall structure. Water contact angle analysis was performed as the hydrophilicity of a biomaterial is a significant factor in cell functionality. Each sample had a contact angle between 33° and 48°, indicating the adequate hydrophilicity of nanofibers for advanced cell proliferation other than PCL. Cell proliferation and viability studies were conducted with the seeding of primary human keratinocytes on the samples. It was examined that scaffolds containing blends of PCL and SF resulted in higher cell proliferation and viability after 7 days compared to pure PCL and SF nanofibers.
Competitiveness Analysis of Pakistan’s Cotton Yarn Exports Relative to India and USA: A Demand System Application with Focuses on China’s Market
Authors: Khan Saleem , Khan Salman Azad , Kamal Muhammad Abdul , Syed Aamir Aijaz
Published: December 2023

This study employed the revealed comparative advantage (RCA), revealed symmetric comparative advantage (RSCA) and Vollrath’s indices to measure Pakistan’s export competitiveness of cotton yarn in the world. Meanwhile, the country’s export competitiveness is evaluated using the comparative advantage by countries index in China, the world’s largest consumer of cotton yarn and Pakistan’s main export destination. Additionally, linear approximated almost ideal demand systems (LA/AIDS) is employed to anticipate the demand relations for exports of cotton yarn (Pakistan, India and the USA) in the Chinese market over the period 1991–2019. The value of RCA indices greater than one indicates that the country has comparative advantage in exports of cotton yarn in both the global and Chinese market. The findings also revealed that the nation’s comparative advantage position has decreased in global market while improved in the regional market of China. Furthermore, based on the approximation of restricted LA/AIDS model, the results affirmed that the exports of cotton yarn had high own-price sensitivity with negative signs, whereas cross-price sensitivity with positive signs. With regards to Pakistan’s exports, estimates of cross-prices indicate that China’s imports of yarn from Pakistan are substitutable for imports of yarn from India and the USA. In addition, the expenditure elasticity for India and US cotton yarn is greater than one, indicating that China viewed their exports of cotton yarn as quality good. On the other hand, the expenditure elasticity for Pakistan’s is less than one, but close enough to one, which reflects the cut-off point for exports of quality goods. Pakistan, therefore, needs to produce cotton yarn more efficiently by reducing costs and enhancing the reputation of quality to increase exports and market share.
The Qatar World Cup and Twitter sentiment: Unraveling the interplay of soft power, public opinion, and media scrutiny
Authors: Hassan Ahmed A. M. , Wang Jia
Published: December 2023

This research examines public opinion on Twitter during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, focusing on the interplay between sport, communication, and soft power. It sheds light on the online discourse surrounding a global sporting event by analyzing tweet frequency, sentiment changes, prevalent topics, and the most popular tweets surrounding controversial events. Political discussions surrounding the World Cup initially dominated but gradually declined, shifting the focus to sporting achievements and cultural exchange. Throughout the tournament, the host country, European countries participating in the World Cup, and fans contested the narrative surrounding the event. However, the study highlights how celebrities and public figures had a more significant impact on shaping conversations about sports, cultural exchange, and sociopolitical issues. These findings deepen the understanding of the interplay between sports, politics, culture, and social issues, offering insights to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
“Who Else If Not Us”: An Exploratory-Descriptive Qualitative Study of Kazakhstani Frontline Professionals’ Experience and Perceptions During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic
Authors: Foster Faye , Kanderzhanova Akbota , Umbetkulova Saltanat , Stolyarova Valentina , Sarria-Santamera Antonio , Cobb-Zygadlo Deanne
Published: December 2023

Little is known about the experiences of frontline professionals in Kazakhstan. Although studies of frontline workers have been conducted worldwide, it is imperative that caution should be exercised when extrapolating findings from disparate societies and generalizing them to Central Asian countries. As such, the purpose of this study was to explore and describe the firsthand experiences, perceptions, and knowledge gained from the experience of Kazakh frontline physicians and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. An exploratory-descriptive qualitative (EDQ) study was conducted over the course of a year in COVID-19 hospitals in Kazakhstan, with physicians ( n = 23) and nurses ( n = 7). Each participant was interviewed three times between May 2021 and May 2022. Braun and Clarke’s six-step method was used for the thematic analysis. Three overarching themes and subthemes were identified: (1) Longitudinal Journey (“Nobody knew, nobody understood, nobody was ready”; “It’s just life”); (2) Facets of Professionalism (“In my lifetime this is something unique”; “Who else if not us”; “We survived the war and the enemy”); and (3) Facets of Resilience (“God’s providence”; “A good word heals too”). In light of the lack of research that has previously been conducted in Kazakhstan, the results of this study offer important new insight into the experiences of medical professionals during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Trust, individualism, and the logics of care in middle America during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Mendenhall Emily
Published: December 2023

Polarization and turf-wars have characterized the COVID-19 response in the United States. While COVID-19 narratives can be binary and divisive, how people cared for each other throughout the first year of the pandemic is more nuanced. This article describes how and why constructs of fear, individualism, wellbeing, and personal risk-taking became imbued in behaviors that thwarted the risk of the collective. This work is based on informal conversations, public forums, and 86 in-depth interviews during the 2020 summer in a small tourist town in northwest Iowa. Some believed engaging in public health prevention was not their responsibility and instead privileged their personal enjoyment, finances, or mental health over others, de-emphasizing personal risk and stating God will protect them. Others were deeply committed to public health prevention, by staying home, masking, and social distancing. In both cases, people used shame to promote their views (e.g., shame on you for masking/unmasking!) as well as fear (e.g., I do/don’t fear coronavirus because I am virtuous). However, most engaged in logics of care, navigating what public health precautions to follow to protect themselves and those they loved most. Yet, such decisions were navigated through a culture of individualism and ideals of personal responsibility that cultivated a mistrust in public health. Understanding how and why such individualism took hold in American publics is a crucial inflection point for policy-making as well as cultural interpretation of why and how people construct risk and responsibility.
Rehabilitation vs. risk: What predicts parole board decisions and rehabilitation authority recommendations?
Authors: Walk Dror , Dagan Netanel
Published: December 2023

Parole decisions have a dramatic impact on individuals’ lives as well as public safety. Studies seeking to discern which factors predict parole decisions highlighted the role played by correctional reports submitted to parole boards by rehabilitation authorities; however, very few offered any in-depth insight into them. Moreover, research also failed to explore the interplay of reasoning employed by parole boards and rehabilitation authorities, which seem to represent different orientations and interests—risk reduction vs. the chances of rehabilitation. Using a quantitative content analysis of documents composed by parole boards and the rehabilitation authority in Israel, we have extracted risk or chance factors from 306 cases. Logistic regression models demonstrated that, while rehabilitation authority recommendations may be predicted solely by factors that focus on rehabilitation, as can be expected, parole board decisions seem to give similar weight to both rehabilitation and risk factors. The study's findings shed light on the dynamic of these two organizations and could enhance public trust in the early release process.
Designing feedback activities to help low-performing students
Authors: Bjælde Ole Eggers , Boud David , Lindberg Annika Büchert
Published: December 2023

Many students struggle with making sense of feedback information and in applying and transferring it to new contexts. Research literature suggests that low-performing students are especially at risk because they often do not understand assessment criteria and cannot utilise information they receive. This paper addresses this problem through investigating assessment processes which aim to support the influence of feedback on student improvement. It focusses on an empirical study of an undergraduate course at university level in which students resubmit assignments after having applied feedback information received on initial drafts. Such designs help educators to strengthen student improvement from feedback processes by engaging students directly with feedback comments and assessment criteria. Data from the designs enable comparison of improvements between low-performing versus high-performing students and shows that while all students improved, the gap between low-performers and their peers narrowed.
The Nationalization of Individual Campaign Contributions in U.S. Senate Elections, 1984-2020
Authors: Jacobs Nicholas , Imboywa Wasike Gil
Published: December 2023

This article explores the trend of increasing nationalization in American politics and its effect on the U.S. Senate's federalizing dynamics, using campaign finance as an indicator. We analyze the geographic distribution of campaign contributions to U.S. Senate races from 1984 to 2020, tracing the nationalization of donor behavior in America. Key findings suggest that more ideologically conservative senators and those running for their first election are likely to rely heavily on out-of-state donations, with regional differences also evident. We argue that the nationalization of campaign finance challenges the Senate's representative structure and hints at another dimension of inequality in American politics—geographical versus national influence. This study offers no definitive normative argument but posits restricting out-of-state donations as a potential solution to address the growing inequality in the voting power of Senate members.
Stopping the Steal and Selling the Big Lie: An Analysis of Tweets and Certification Votes Among House Republicans in the Wake of the 2020 Presidential Election
Authors: LaPlant Kristina M. , Lee Keith E. , LaPlant James T.
Published: December 2023

As our nation struggles to make sense of the pathologies of conspiracy thinking and hyper-polarization in our body politics, this study investigates why some members of the House GOP caucus used Twitter to promote conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election. Our study first examines the predictors of conspiracy theory tweeting, and second, whether this messaging was related to voting for or against the certification of presidential election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania on January 6th. Our results suggest President Trump’s election performance in 2020, conspiratorial tweeting, and freshman status of House members were the driving factors of voting behavior on January 6th.
An overview of viral chitinases: General properties and biotechnological potential
Authors: Oliveira Ellen Gonçalves de , Filho Clécio Alonso da Costa , Rodrigues Rodrigo Araújo Lima
Published: December 2023

Chitin is a biopolymer profusely present in nature and of pivotal importance as a structural component in cells. It is degraded by chitinases, enzymes naturally produced by different organisms. Chitinases are proteins enrolled in many cellular mechanisms, including the remodeling process of the fungal cell wall, the cell growth process, the autolysis of filamentous fungi, and cell separation of yeasts, among others. These enzymes also have properties with different biotechnological applications. They are used to produce polymers, for biological control, biofilm formation, and as antitumor and anti-inflammatory target molecules. Chitinases are classified into different glycoside hydrolase (GH) families and are widespread in microorganisms, including viruses. Among them, the GH18 family is highly predominant in the viral genomes, being present and active enzymes in baculoviruses and nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDV), especially chloroviruses from the Phycodnaviridae family. These viral enzymes contain one or more GH domains and seem to be involved during the viral replication cycle. Curiously, only a few DNA viruses have these enzymes, and studying their properties could be a key feature for biological and biotechnological novelties. Here, we provide an overview of viral chitinases and their probable function in viral infection, showing evidence of at least two distinct origins for these enzymes. Finally, we discuss how these enzymes can be applied as biotechnological tools and what one can expect for the coming years on these GHs.
Nanocarrier-mediated curcumin delivery: An adjuvant strategy for CNS disease treatment
Authors: Godse Sandip , Zhou Lina , Sakshi Swarna , Singla Bhupesh , Singh Udai P , Kumar Santosh
Published: December 2023

Neurological disorders are a major global challenge, which counts for a substantial slice of disease burden around the globe. In these, the challenging landscape of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and neuro-AIDS, demands innovative and novel therapeutic approaches. Curcumin, a versatile natural compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, shows great potential as a CNS adjuvant therapy. However, its limited bioavailability and suboptimal permeability to the blood–brain barrier (BBB) hamper the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin. This review explores how nanocarrier facilitates curcumin delivery, which has shown therapeutic efficacy for various non-CNS diseases, for example, cancers, and can also revolutionize the treatment outcomes in patients with CNS diseases. Toward this, intranasal administration of curcumin as a non-invasive CNS drug delivery route can also aid its therapeutic outcomes as an adjuvant therapy for CNS diseases. Intranasal delivery of nanocarriers with curcumin improves the bioavailability of curcumin and its BBB permeability, which is instrumental in promoting its therapeutic potential. Furthermore, curcumin’s inhibitory effect on efflux transporters will help to enhance the BBB and cellular permeability of various CNS drugs. The therapeutic potential of curcumin as an adjuvant has the potential to yield synergistic effects with CNS drugs and will help to reduce CNS drug doses and improve their safety profile. Taken together, this approach holds a promise for reshaping CNS disease management by maximizing curcumin’s and other drugs’ therapeutic benefits.
Role of macrophages in the onset, maintenance, or control of arthritis caused by alphaviruses
Authors: Atella Matheus O , Carvalho Ana S , Da Poian Andrea T
Published: December 2023

Arthritogenic alphaviruses are mosquito-borne viruses that cause a debilitating rheumatic disease characterized by fever, headache, rash, myalgia, and polyarthralgia with the potential to evolve into a severe and very prolonged illness. Although these viruses have been geographically restricted by vector hosts and reservoirs, recent epidemics have revealed the risks of their spread worldwide. In this review, we aim to discuss the protective and pathological roles of macrophages during the development of arthritis caused by alphaviruses. The progression to the chronic phase of the disease is related to the extension of viral replication and the maintenance of articular inflammation, in which the cellular infiltrate is predominantly composed of macrophages. We explore the possible implications of macrophage polarization to M1/M2 activation phenotypes, drawing a parallel between alphavirus arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory disease that also affects articular tissues. In RA, it is well established that M1 macrophages contribute to tissue damage and inflammation, while M2 macrophages have a role in cartilage repair, so modulating the M1/M2 macrophage ratio is being considered as a strategy in the treatment of this disease. In the case of alphavirus-induced arthritis, the picture is more complex, as proinflammatory factors derived from M1 macrophages contribute to the antiviral response but cause tissue damage, while M2 macrophages may contribute to tissue repair but impair viral clearance.