bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Teachers to Preachers: Xi Jinping and Changing Priorities in Chinese Ideo-Political Education
Authors: HOOPER MICHAEL
Published: May 2024

Ideo-political education is the CCP’s school-based system for inculcating China’s next generation with the Party-state’s official ideology. What effect if any has Xi Jinping’s leadership had on this system? This paper compares key policy documents from the Hu Jintao (2002-2012) and Xi Jinping eras, identifying their key differences. Hu’s leadership promoted improved pedagogy, professionalization and textbook reforms as solutions to ongoing problems with ideological education. Xi instead emphasizes the political loyalty and ideological discipline of political subject teachers and ensuring that his “thought” permeates their classes and textbooks. The focus on “correct” politics in hiring decisions and promotion to leadership positions within universities stems from a broader obsession with political loyalty and ideology in the Xi era, suggesting that Chinese education will continue down the road of tightening ideological control and the penetration of politics into other subjects.
DRD-GAN: A Novel Distributed Conditional Wasserstein Deep Convolutional Relativistic Discriminator GAN with Improved Convergence
Authors: Roy Arunava , Dasgupta Dipankar
Published: May 2024

Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) exhibited significant capabilities in many applications including image enhancement and manipulation, language translation, generating images/videos from text, creating art and music, and so on. However, training GANs using large datasets remains highly computationally intensive for most of the standalone systems. Additionally, standalone GANs often exhibit poor synchronization between their generator and discriminator with unstable training, poor convergence along with a large number of mode collapses and vanishing/exploding gradients. Standalone GANs also failed to learn in a decentralized environment, where the data are distributed among several client machines. Some researchers have lately used the most prevalent decentralized setting available today, called Federated Learning (FL) to develop distributed-GAN strategies as the possible solutions, although their implementations mostly failed to address the above issues mainly because of the training instability within the distributed components, which eventually leads to the poor synchronization among the generators and discriminators scattered over several machines.

In this work, we developed a computationally inexpensive Wasserstein conditional Distributed Relativistic Discriminator-GAN (DRD-GAN) to alleviate the above issues. DRD-GAN stabilizes its training (with non-convex losses) by keeping a global generator in the central server and relativistic discriminators in the local clients (one discriminator per client) and uses Wasserstein-1 for computing local and global losses. It eventually avoids mode collapses, vanishing/exploding gradients (both in the presence of iid and non-iid samples) and helps DRD-GAN to produce high-quality fake images. Apart from that, the sheer unavailability of a capable conditional distributed-GAN model has become another motivation behind the current work. Essentially, we revisited the FL paradigms, locating one discriminator per client and a generator in the central server that aggregates the updates coming from multiple discriminators. Relativistic discriminators in the clients are trained on both iid and non-iid private data. We presented a detailed mathematical formulation of DRD-GAN and empirically evaluated our claims using CIFAR-10, MNIST, EuroSAT, and CelebA datasets.
Analysis of False Negative Rates for Recycling Bloom Filters (Yes, They Happen!)
Authors: Dozier Kahlil , Salamatian Loqman , Rubenstein Dan
Published: May 2024

Bloom Filters are a desirable data structure for distinguishing new values in sequences of data (i.e., messages), due to their space efficiency, their low false positive rates (incorrectly classifying a new value as a repeat), and never producing false negatives (classifying a repeat value as new). However, as the Bloom Filter's bits are filled, false positive rates creep upward. To keep false positive rates below a reasonable threshold, applications periodically "recycle" the Bloom Filter, clearing the memory and then resuming the tracking of data. After a recycle point, subsequent arrivals of recycled messages are likely to be misclassified as new; recycling induces false negatives. Despite numerous applications of recycling, the corresponding false negative rates have never been analyzed. In this paper, we derive approximations, upper bounds, and lower bounds of false negative rates for several variants of recycling Bloom Filters. These approximations and bounds are functions of the size of memory used to store the Bloom Filter and the distributions on new arrivals and repeat messages, and can be efficiently computed on conventional hardware. We show, via comparison to simulation, that our upper bounds and approximations are extremely tight, and can be efficiently computed for megabyte-sized Bloom Filters on conventional hardware.
BONES: Near-Optimal Neural-Enhanced Video Streaming
Authors: Wang Lingdong , Singh Simran , Chakareski Jacob , Hajiesmaili Mohammad , Sitaraman Ramesh K.
Published: May 2024

Accessing high-quality video content can be challenging due to insufficient and unstable network bandwidth. Recent advances in neural enhancement have shown promising results in improving the quality of degraded videos through deep learning. Neural-Enhanced Streaming (NES) incorporates this new approach into video streaming, allowing users to download low-quality video segments and then enhance them to obtain high-quality content without violating the playback of the video stream. We introduce BONES, an NES control algorithm that jointly manages the network and computational resources to maximize the quality of experience (QoE) of the user. BONES formulates NES as a Lyapunov optimization problem and solves it in an online manner with near-optimal performance, making it the first NES algorithm to provide a theoretical performance guarantee. Comprehensive experimental results indicate that BONES increases QoE by 5% to 20% over state-of-the-art algorithms with minimal overhead. Our code is available at https://github.com/UMass-LIDS/bones.
Network Fairness Ambivalence: When does social network capital mitigate or amplify unfairness?
Authors: Zhang Yiguang , Mukhopadhyay Reetahan , Chaintreau Augustin
Published: May 2024

Social networks inherit societal biases present across lines of gender, race, socioeconomic status, and other factors. Networks can structurally perpetuate unequal access to information and opportunities through homophilous dynamics. While there is substantial knowledge about inequity in the diffusion of opportunities in a network where nodes seek them from their immediate neighbors, much less is known when considering beyond that first hop. In this paper, we leverage recent mathematical analysis of network fairness to prove that enabling simple multi-hop dissemination can reduce inequity towards a minority group in the network as long as homophily is sufficiently weak. Otherwise, our necessary and sufficient condition proves that multi-hop dissemination strategies amplify the bias already found amongst considering direct neighbors. We empirically validate these results on four social network datasets as well as present an example of a key application of our findings with a scenario of individuals who leverage their personal network to seek job referrals. Our results suggest that online platforms designing algorithms to promote opportunities to multi-hop connections must carefully take into account network metrics measuring group size and homophily in order to avoid amplifying bias against marginalized groups on their platforms.
Screen-Printed Bimetallic Cobalt-Manganese Metal-Organic Framework Electrodes for Electrochemical Detection of Dichlorvos
Authors: Sankhla Lakshya , Abedeen Md Zainul , Gupta Ragini , Kushwaha Himmat Singh
Published: May 2024

Organophosphate pesticides are extremely hazardous to human health and the environment, discerning the development of sensitive and selective detection technologies. In this paper, we describe a novel technique for detecting dichlorvos (DDVP), an organophosphate pesticide, using a modified screen-printed electrode (SPE). The metal-organic framework (MOF) containing cobalt and manganese ions in an equimolar ratio was synthesised using a solvothermal method. The synthesized material was characterized using various techniques: FE-SEM, XRD, XPS, BET, Raman spectroscopy, and FTIR. The electro-catalytic behavior of the material was studied utilizing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The insightful behaviour of the material towards dichlorvos had been investigated through differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in the concentration range of 1–10 nM with a detection limit of 0.645 nM. Furthermore, we tested our proposed sensor’s selectivity and applicability using real-world samples. Our findings provide insight into the development of highly sensitive and selective detection systems for organophosphate pesticides, which might have implications for environmental monitoring and public health.
The Promise of a Pointillist Perspective for Comparative Immunology
Authors: Downs Cynthia J. , Sobolewski Marissa E.
Published: May 2024

Most studies in comparative immunology involve investigations into the detailed mechanisms of the immune system of a nonmodel organism. Although this approach has been insightful, it has promoted a deep understanding of only a handful of species, thus inhibiting the recognition of broad taxonomic patterns. Here, we call for investigating the immune defenses of numerous species within a pointillist framework, that is, the meticulous, targeted collection of data from dozens of species and investigation of broad patterns of organismal, ecological, and evolutionary forces shaping those patterns. Without understanding basic immunological patterns across species, we are limited in our ability to extrapolate and/or translate our findings to other organisms, including humans. We illustrate this point by focusing predominantly on the biological scaling literature with some integrations of the pace of life literature, as these perspectives have been the most developed within this framework. We also highlight how the more traditional approach in comparative immunology works synergistically with a pointillist approach, with each approach feeding back into the other. We conclude that the pointillist approach promises to illuminate comprehensive theories about the immune system and enhance predictions in a wide variety of domains, including host-parasite dynamics and disease ecology.
Cross‐Sectional Survey to Assess Dental Students’ Perception of the Utilization of a Case Difficulty Assessment Form during Various Stages of Root Canal Therapy
Authors: Hamadah Lubna E. , Algofaily Maha M. , Alaqla Ali T. , Alrubaiq Naif A. , Aljammaz Ghaida A.
Published: May 2024

Background. Several endodontic difficulty assessment forms are available to help dental students and general dentists estimate the difficulty of the case before initiating the endodontic treatment. Objectives. This study aimed to assess if the American Association of Endodontics (AAE) case difficulty assessment form affects the dental student’s perception of the difficulty encountered while performing root canal treatment (RCT). Materials and Methods. This was a cross‐sectional online survey. After obtaining IRB approval, an electronic questionnaire was sent to dental students enrolled in the 4th and 5th years at King Saud University (KSU) and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU‐HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was divided into informed consent, demographic data, the use of the AAE case assessment form, RCT steps, diagnosis, local anesthesia administration, tooth isolation, and endodontic procedure. Results. A total of 195 dental students participated in the study. There were 101 (52%) females, and 139 (71%) were from KSAU‐HS. A positive association was found between students who used the AAE assessment form and who did not with their ability to reach the correct diagnosis (p = 0.005), tooth isolation (p = 0.03), and endodontic procedure difficulty score (p = 0.018). Conclusion. The use of the AAE form by dental students enabled them to differentiate between complicated and uncomplicated cases, thus lowering the difficulty encountered during RCT.
Study of Hybrid Problems under Exponential Type Fractional-Order Derivatives
Authors: Abdo Mohammed S. , Idris Sahar Ahmed , Albalwi M. Daher , Idris Tomadir Ahmed
Published: May 2024

In this investigation, we develop a theory for the hybrid boundary value problem for fractional differential equations subject to three-point boundary conditions, including the antiperiodic hybrid boundary condition. On suggested problems, the third-order Caputo–Fabrizio derivative is the fractional operator applied. In this regard, the corresponding hybrid fractional integral equation is obtained by the Caputo–Fabrizio operator’s properties with the Green function’s aid. Then, we apply Dhage’s nonlinear alternative to the Schaefer type to prove the existence results. Finally, two examples are provided to confirm the validity of our main results.
Transcatheter Embolization in Congenital Cardiovascular Malformations—Variable Use of Vascular Plugs
Authors: Pfeifer Jochen , Gheibeh Anas , Fries Peter , Poryo Martin , Rentzsch Axel , Abdul-Khaliq Hashim
Published: May 2024

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical application and primary outcome of transcatheter embolization using Amplatzer™ Vascular Plug (AVP) Type 2 and Type 4 in different congenital cardiovascular malformations.

Design: This is a single‐center retrospective observational cohort study.

Methods: We analyzed clinical and imaging data of 36 patients retrospectively who received transcatheter embolizations of the following malformations using AVP: systemic‐to‐pulmonary collateral arteries (SPCA), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), ventricular septal defects (VSD), and aberrant pulmonary sequestration arteries (PSA). We included all patients treated in our institution from January 2010 to July 2023.

Results: In 36 patients (median age 40.0 months, range 0.5 months–42.0 years; 56.8% male), 44 AVPs were implanted in 37 procedures. The target lesions were SPCA in n = 15 procedures, PDA in n = 9, VSD in n = 9, and PSA in n = 4. Thirty‐four AVP Type 2 and 10 AVP Type 4 were applied, the latter only in SPCA and PSA. SPCA was most common in complex congenital heart disease with univentricular physiology (75.0%). VSD were associated with additional cardiac malformations in 33.3%, PDA were associated with prematurity (55.6%), and all pulmonary sequestrations occurred in scimitar syndrome. Primary total or subtotal occlusion succeeded in n38/44 (86.3%). For residual PDA, an additional occluder was implanted in one patient. In one case, pulmonary sequestration had to be treated surgically. One premature infant with PDA closure sustained a relevant obstruction of the left pulmonary artery by the outer AVP disc which required surgical correction 4 months later.

Conclusion: Embolization using AVP is a suitable approach for closure of various cardiovascular malformations with a high primary success rate and low complication rate. It should be considered in treatment of different irregular vessel anomalies and in selected VSD.
Exploring Factors Affecting the Rollout of a Policy on Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioners in Ireland
Authors: Elliott Naomi , Daly Louise , Bryant-Lukosius Denise , Fleming Sandra , Varley Jarlath , Cotter Patrick , Lehane Elaine , Rogerson Shauna , O’Reilly David , Drennan Jonathan , Brady Anne-Marie
Published: May 2024

Aim. To identify the barriers and enablers to the implementation of a national policy to increase and develop the advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) workforce in Ireland. Background. The Department of Health (Ireland) introduced a policy to increase the number of ANPs to 2% of the nursing workforce. Evaluation provides information to inform successful policy implementation and development of ANP roles in healthcare services. Methods. Qualitative descriptive design. Twenty candidate ANPs participated in four focus groups. Nine key stakeholders were also interviewed. Results. Analysis identified four barriers: lack of infrastructural resources; delay in releasing and arranging replacements for candidate ANPs; role resistance from administration, allied healthcare professionals and other nurses; and lack of organisational readiness. The five enablers were: supportive physicians; Nursing and Midwifery Practice Development Units; supportive directors of nursing; role awareness and clarity; and educational preparation. Conclusions. This evaluation identifies barriers and enablers to the implementation of a national policy to increase the critical mass of advanced practitioners within the healthcare services. Evaluation at the implementation phase informed the roll-out of future advanced practice initiatives. Implications for Nursing Management. To support advanced practice development, leadership, infrastructure, and resource planning are needed to harness known enablers and address identified barriers to the implementation and sustainability of these posts.
New‐Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus Caused by Autoimmune Encephalitis May Have a Better Prognosis than when due to Other Causes
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zhang Xinyue , Wang Haijiao , Liu Ling
Published: May 2024

Objective. To explore whether the new‐onset refractory status epilepticus caused by autoimmune encephalitis has a better prognosis. Methods. This retrospective observational study enrolled patients with NORSE who were admitted from January 2015 to February 2024. The clinical data and clinical outcomes of the patients were collected and analyzed, and the primary outcome was seizures still at follow‐up. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software V.22.0. Results. Among the 42 patients with NORSE, 15 (35.7%) had autoimmune encephalitis (AE), 3 (7.1%) patients had central nervous system infections, 24 (57.1%) patients had an unknown etiology, and 4 (9.5%) patients died in the hospital. Modified Rankin scale (MRS) scores at discharge of NORSE patients in the autoimmune encephalitis group and non‐AE group were compared (P = 0.339). After 4 years of follow‐up, analysis of patients who still had seizures showed that the only risk factor was etiology and that patients with nonautoimmune encephalitis etiology were more prone to later epilepsy (P = 0.030 (OR = 16.767, 95% CI: 1.454‐213.395)). The MRS scores of the AE group and non‐AE group were compared (P ≤ 0.001), with the autoimmune group having a better functional outcome. Significance. The overall prognosis of patients with autoimmune encephalitis may be better than that of patients with other etiologies, and later epilepsy is more likely in patients with nonautoimmune encephalitis. However, this result requires further validation in larger studies with more data.
Hydrogeochemical Evaluation of Groundwater Quality and Its Applicability for Various Purposes in the Drought-Prone Konso Zone, Rift Valley, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Abebe Abel , Jothimani Muralitharan , Berhanu Gosaye
Published: May 2024

The present study area, the Konso Zone, is in Rift Valley, Southern Ethiopia, and highly depends on rivers and groundwater for economic and social development. Water availability in this area faces multiple challenges, including scarcity, quality concerns, and seasonal variations. In the Rift Valley region, including the present study area, groundwater quality is particularly problematic due to high fluoride levels. Moreover, the high concentrations of total dissolved solids in Konso Zone groundwater pose challenges for industrial, agricultural, and drinking purposes. GIS-based spatial analysis techniques, hydrogeochemical analyses, and water quality indices were used in the current study. The evaluation of water quality involved the utilization of both groundwater quality and irrigation water quality indices. In the study area, the cations and anions exhibited a general trend with Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+ > Fe2+ and HCO3− > Cl−, SO42− > NO3− > F−. Multiple water types were identified within the research area, including Na-HCO3, Ca-Na-HCO3, NaCl, and Ca-Mg/Cl, with Na-HCO3 being the most prevalent. The formation of the NaHCO3 water type is primarily attributed to ion exchange processes, with siliciclastic aquifers being linked to cation exchange in sodium bicarbonate groundwater. Total Dissolved Solids and SO42− contaminants significantly impact the water quality, resulting in deterioration. Gibbs’s figure indicates that 50% of the water samples were found where rocks were weathered, demonstrating the importance of water-rock interactions in groundwater composition. Water samples containing more fluoride than the WHO’s limit of 1.50 mg/L were deemed unsuitable for consumption. Regarding irrigation suitability, most water samples from the Konso area were acceptable, except for the sodium percentage in 66.6% of the samples, which was unsuitable for irrigation. There are 26.67% of samples that are of questionable quality, 66.67% that are deemed inappropriate, and 26.67% that are deemed unacceptable. These findings underscore the pressing need for comprehensive strategies and interventions to address water quality issues in the Konso Zone, emphasizing the critical importance of monitoring and managing groundwater resources to ensure sustainable and safe water access for various regional uses.
Design and Implementation of a Hybrid-Driven Soft Robot
Authors: Zhang Ke , Bi Yongqi , Zhang Ruiyu
Published: May 2024

Currently, soft robots alone cannot obtain the same operating speed as rigid robots, while rigid robots are not safe enough for human-robot interaction. To address this problem, this paper describes a hybrid robot system that combines both rigid and flexible systems for unknown domain exploration. The system consists of a four-wheeled robot chassis and a cylindrical pneumatic soft actuator, and finally, a computer is used to coordinate and control both. The hardware of the robot system is designed, a bending motion model is proposed, and SOFA framework is used to carry out finite element simulation (FEM) to verify the reasonableness of the design; linear motion speeds of up to 0.5 m/s, higher than the existing soft robots investigated, were verified experimentally separately after carrying the new module, and steering ability was retained; and the robot carrying the navigation module is verified to have a certain map building and localization function through the construction of the simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) experimental platform. The hybrid robot introduced in this paper can move quickly on flat terrain and can use its soft part to avoid wear and tear.
Effect of Wetting and Drying Cycle on the Behavior of Teff Straw Ash‐Stabilized Expansive Soil
Authors: Moges Sisay Birhanu , Assefa Eleyas , M. Assefa S.
Published: May 2024

This study explores the impact of wetting and drying cycles on teff straw ash‐stabilized expansive soil, with a focus on enhancing its mechanical properties for road subgrade applications. Expansive soil, characterized by continuous swell and shrink behavior, undergoes cyclic testing to establish equilibrium and critical density. The mitigating effects of teff straw ash on soil damage and its influence on expansive soil’s mechanical attributes are investigated. Laboratory results classify natural expansive soil as A‐7‐5 and CH according to AASHTO and USCS standards, respectively. Using a one‐dimensional odometer apparatus, six wetting–drying cycles are conducted on teff straw ash‐stabilized expansive soil to observe its behavior at equilibrium. Scanning electron microscopy reveals a disordered bond between soil particles and teff straw ash, intensifying with increased wetting–drying cycles. X‐ray diffraction analysis is performed on samples subjected to different curing times, indicating heightened cation exchange and pozzolanic reactions as curing duration increases, thereby reducing soil expansiveness. A 96‐hr socked California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test assesses subgrade strength. The CBR values for natural soil fall below the Ethiopian Road Authority (ERA) standards for low‐volume roads. In contrast, expansive soil stabilized with teff straw ash at 10%, 15%, and 20% exhibits substantial increases in CBR values (3.7, 6.7, and 8.9, respectively), meeting the ERA standards. This suggests that teff straw ash stabilization renders expansive soil suitable for low‐volume road subgrades, aligning with ERA standards. This comprehensive study provides valuable insights into the potential use of teff straw ash as an effective stabilizer for expansive soils, offering sustainable solutions for road construction in regions characterized by expansive soil challenges.
Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity Syndrome in the Setting of Fat Emboli Syndrome Secondary to Polytrauma
Authors: Gould Lauren , Taylor Michael , Forestiere Matthew
Published: May 2024

Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) syndrome is a potentially life‐threatening complication after traumatic brain injuries that results from a massive release of catecholamines in the brain. Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a complication of long bone fractures that results in cerebral or pulmonary fat emboli. We describe PSH in the setting of cerebral FES in an adolescent female following polytrauma secondary to a motor vehicle collision to highlight the importance of rapid diagnosis and treatment of this rare complication.
Synthesis and Characterization of Grewia asiatica-Stabilized Silver Nanoparticle as a Selective Probe for Al+3 in Tap, Deionized, Industrial Waste Water and Human Blood Plasma
Authors: Begum Nasreen , Anis Itrat , Haider Shazia , Mallick Tabinda Zarreen , Chaudhary Muhammad Iqbal
Published: May 2024

Aluminum can be found in water and vegetables in the form of the trivalent ion (Al3+), which can potentially contaminate food and water. Overconsumption of aluminum can lead to serious health problems in humans. Therefore, there is a need for an economical and simple procedure to detect the presence of aluminum. In this study, we synthesized a conjugate of Grewia asiatica extract with silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticle-stabilized fruit extract of Grewia asiatica was found to be an extremely selective sensor of Al3+ in tap water, DI water, industrial wastewater, and human blood plasma. We characterized the Grewia asiatica-conjugated silver nanoparticles (GA-AgNPs) using UV-visible, SEM, and AFM techniques and found that they were stable in an extensive pH range and different electrolyte concentrations up to 10 M NaCl. The GA-AgNPs were circular in shape with typical particle sizes of 65–97 nm. We inspected the photo physical properties of GA-AgNPs concerning metallic ions using UV-visible spectroscopy and found that they were highly selective for Al3+ ions, with no interfering ions detected in competitive experimentation. The absorption intensity of GA-AgNPs was directly related to Al3+ concentration over a wide range of concentrations (6.25–500 μM). Jobs plot experiment displayed 1 : 1 binding stoichiometry between GA-AgNPs, and Al3+. Additionally, GA-AgNPs were effectively utilized for the recognition of Al3+ in laboratory tap water, DI water, industrial wastewater, and human blood plasma.
Transcription Factor E2F8 Activates PDK1-Mediated DNA Damage Repair to Enhance Cisplatin Resistance in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Li Hongliang , Sun Junxia , Hu Haibo , Wang Yi
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Cisplatin (DDP) is the commonest chemo drug in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) treatment, and DDP resistance is a significant barrier to therapeutic therapy. This study attempted to elucidate the impact of PDK1 on DDP resistance in LUAD and its mechanism. Methods: Bioinformatics analysis was used to determine the expression and enriched pathways of PDK1 in LUAD tissue. Subsequently, E2F8, the upstream transcription factor of PDK1, was predicted, and the binding relationship between the two was analyzed using dual-luciferase and ChIP experiments. PDK1 and E2F8 levels in LUAD tissues and cells were detected via qRT-PCR. Cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis levels were assayed by CCK-8, EdU, and flow cytometry experiments, respectively. Comet assay was used to assess DNA damage, and immunofluorescence was used to assess the expression of γ-H2AX. NHEJ reporter assay was to assess DNA repair efficiency. Western blot tested levels of DNA damage repair (DDR)-related proteins. Immunohistochemistry assessed the expression of relevant genes. Finally, an animal model was constructed to investigate the influence of PDK1 expression on LUAD growth. Results: PDK1 was found to be upregulated in LUAD and enhanced DDP resistance by mediating DDR. E2F8 was identified as an upstream transcription factor of PDK1 and was highly expressed in LUAD. Rescue experiments presented that knocking down E2F8 could weaken the promotion of PDK1 overexpression on DDR-mediated DDP resistance in LUAD. In vivo experiments showed that knocking down PDK1 plus DDP significantly reduced the growth of xenograft tumors. Conclusion: Our results indicated that the E2F8/PDK1 axis mediated DDR to promote DDP resistance in LUAD. Our findings lead to an improved treatment strategy after drug resistance.
Genetic Influence on Capsaicin Tolerance: Precision Nutrition Implications for Obesity Handling
Authors: Ramos-Lopez Omar , Martinez-Aceviz Yesenia , Sobrevilla-Navarro Ana Alondra , Chavez-Mendez Jose Roman
Published: May 2024

Introduction: It has been suggested that capsaicin (CAP), a major pungent component in chili peppers, can be used as an anti-obesity ingredient due to effects on energy metabolism, but evidence is not consistent. Genetics may account for differences in CAP tolerance and its impact on adiposity status. The aim of this study was to systematically review current evidence concerning the role of genetic polymorphisms influencing CAP tolerance. Methods: The present systematic review analyzed and synthesized available evidence concerning associations between genetic polymorphisms and CAP tolerance following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. Databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane, Scopus, Google Scholar, SciELO, and LILACS were screened. Out of 228 publications identified, only 6 meet inclusion criteria and were finally included in the final report. Results: Overall, a total of 28 single nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with several CAP tolerance traits including sensitivity to burning/stinging, heat pain, and cough reactions, and detection of bitter taste thresholds. These genetic variants were located within 6 genes involved in key physiological processes such synthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin and nitric oxide production (GCH1), CAP uptake and transduction of thermal stimuli (TRPV1), and bitter taste perception (TAS2R38, TAS2R3, TAS2R4, and TAS2R5). Conclusion: There is evidence about the influence of genetic polymorphisms on CAP tolerance by affecting nociceptive signaling, CAP binding, and bitter tasting. This knowledge may facilitate the design and implementation of innovative CAP-based nutrigenetic strategies for a more precise clinical management of obesity.
Miller Fisher’s Rules and Digital Health: The Best of Both Worlds
Authors: Andrade Joao Brainer , Mendes George Nunes , Silva Gisele Sampaio
Published: May 2024

Background: Professor Fisher’s legacy, defined by meticulous observation, curiosity, and profound knowledge, has established a foundational cornerstone in medical practice. However, the advent of automated algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine raises questions about the applicability of Fisher’s principles in this era. Our objective was to propose adaptations to these enduring rules, addressing the challenges and leveraging the opportunities presented by digital health. Summary: The adapted rules we propose advocate for the harmonious integration of traditional bedside manners with contemporary technological advancements. The judicious use of advanced devices for patient examination, recording, and sharing, while upholding patient confidentiality, is pivotal in modern practice and academic research. Additionally, the strategic employment of AI tools at the bedside, to aid in diagnosis and hypothesis generation, underscores their role as valued complements to clinical reasoning. These adapted rules emphasize the importance of continual learning from experience, literature, and colleagues, and stress the necessity for a critical approach toward AI-derived information, which further consolidates clinical skills. These aspects underscore the perpetual relevance of Professor Fisher’s rules, advocating not for their replacement but for their evolution. Thus, a balanced methodology that adeptly utilizes the strengths of AI and digital tools, while steadfastly maintaining the core humanistic values, arises as essential in the modern practice of medicine. Key Messages: A commitment between traditional medical wisdom and modern technological capabilities may enhance medical practice and patient care. This represents the future of medicine – a resolute commitment to progress and technology, while preserving the essence of medical humanities.
O insílio: certa dívida da crítica literária na América Latina
Authors: Leal Cristina Gutiérrez
Published: May 2024

Within the broad scope of themes and aesthetic currents that Latin American literature has produced, displacement in its multiple faces - migration, exile, diaspora - has played a prominent role. However, it is important to note that there are aesthetic projects built on a non-geographic type of human displacement, the insile, which represents one of the great gaps in Latin American literary historiography. In this sense, the aim of this analysis is to compile, through a non-exhaustive bibliographical review, a series of theoretical reflections that can serve as a preliminary systematization on the theme of insile. This compilation will be carried out from the analysis of certain critical and literary works, aiming to propose a reconfiguration of the critical cartography of Latin American literature. For this purpose, the corpus of the work is composed of critical texts by authors such as Jacques Derrida, Elena Palmero González and Eduardo Lalo, in addition to the novel Los Vigilantes (1994), by Chilean writer Diamela Eltit (1949).
Tradición y renovación en El Rodrigo, de Pedro Montengón (1793): ¿novela romántica?
Authors: Galiana Javier Muñoz de Morales
Published: May 2024

Traditionally, critics have considered Pedro Montengón’s El Rodrigo as the first novel of Spanish Romanticism, despite having been published in the early date of 1793. Other studies, on the other hand, consider such a link to be exaggerated, and choose to relate this work to trends previous. The present work starts from this contradiction in the bibliography, and aims to clarify how much there is tradition and how much renewal in this work, in order to limit to what extent it was novel, and in what way it is relevant in the history of Spanish literature.
Epigenetic Age Mediates the Association of Life's Essential 8 With Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality
Authors: Carbonneau Madeleine , Li Yi , Prescott Brenton , Liu Chunyu , Huan Tianxiao , Joehanes Roby , Murabito Joanne M. , Heard‐Costa Nancy L. , Xanthakis Vanessa , Levy Daniel , Ma Jiantao
Published: May 2024

Background

Life's Essential 8 (LE8) is an enhanced metric for cardiovascular health. The interrelations among LE8, biomarkers of aging, and disease risks are unclear.

Methods and Results

LE8 score was calculated for 5682 Framingham Heart Study participants. We implemented 4 DNA methylation‐based epigenetic age biomarkers, with older epigenetic age hypothesized to represent faster biological aging, and examined whether these biomarkers mediated the associations between the LE8 score and cardiovascular disease (CVD), CVD‐specific mortality, and all‐cause mortality. We found that a 1 SD increase in the LE8 score was associated with a 35% (95% CI, 27–41;
P
=1.8E‐15) lower risk of incident CVD, a 36% (95% CI, 24–47;
P
=7E‐7) lower risk of CVD‐specific mortality, and a 29% (95% CI, 22–35;
P
=7E‐15) lower risk of all‐cause mortality. These associations were partly mediated by epigenetic age biomarkers, particularly the GrimAge and the DunedinPACE scores. The potential mediation effects by epigenetic age biomarkers tended to be more profound in participants with higher genetic risk for older epigenetic age, compared with those with lower genetic risk. For example, in participants with higher GrimAge polygenic scores (greater than median), the mean proportion of mediation was 39%, 39%, and 78% for the association of the LE8 score with incident CVD, CVD‐specific mortality, and all‐cause mortality, respectively. No significant mediation was observed in participants with lower GrimAge polygenic score.

Conclusions

DNA methylation‐based epigenetic age scores mediate the associations between the LE8 score and incident CVD, CVD‐specific mortality, and all‐cause mortality, particularly in individuals with higher genetic predisposition for older epigenetic age.
White blood cells, TNF-α, and interleukin-6 in subjects with infantile colic treated with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103): a randomised prospective study
Authors: Savino F. , Passerini M. , Gambarino S. , Clemente A. , Dini M. , Montanari P. , Galliano I. , Bergallo M.
Published: May 2024

Recent metanalysis reported that certain probiotic strains, such as Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (LGG), seem effective for treatment of infantile colic of exclusively breastfed infants; some reports have also linked probiotics to have an immunological effect, however further investigation are needed to fully understand the exact mechanism. The objective of this study was to assay white blood cells, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 values in peripheral blood in subjects treated in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial for infantile colic with LGG. Fifty-eight infants were enrolled and followed for a study period of 28 days. Parent were asked to record daily crying time using a structured cry diary. Peripheral white blood cells was assessed and RNA (mRNA) expression of TNF-α and IL-6 was measured using TaqMan real-time PCR-maternal amplification. Infants with colic treated with LGG showed a reduction in daily crying duration after 28 days of treatment and a reduction in values of IL-6 () and TNF-α (); we observe also a significantly decreasing of IL-6 in the placebo group while decrease of TNF-α was not significant in this group. A significant decreased values of monocytes () was observed in infants treated with LGG. Our data therefore showed, in addition to crying time reduction, a significant decrease of TNF-α and a significant reduction of monocytes cells in colicky infants treated with LGG, compared to placebo group. This observation supports the hypothesis that probiotics may have anti-inflammatory properties. Further studies are needed to better understand the influence of probiotic on immunity cells.
A new species of the fern genus Danaea (Marattiaceae) in the Greater Antilles
Authors: CHRISTENHUSZ MAARTEN J. M.
Published: May 2024

N/A
The genus Dicrania LePeletier & Audinet-Serville, 1828 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Macrodactylini) from Colombia with the description of a new species
Authors: CLAVIJO-BUSTOS JULIÁN , MORENO JHON CESAR NEITA , FUHRMANN JUARES
Published: May 2024

The genus Dicrania LePeletier & Audinet-Serville, 1828 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Macrodactylini) is widely distributed in South America, but only one species was previously known from Colombia: Dicrania laevipennis Moser, 1921. Here the genus is revised for Colombia and Dicrania chimu Clavijo-Bustos, Neita Moreno, & Fuhrmann, new species is described from the Llanos Orientales (Orinoquía) region and a new departmental record for D. laevipennis is documented.
Macaronesian Muscidae (Diptera). V. The genera Phaonia Robineau-Desvoidy and Muscina Robineau-Desvoidy
Authors: MICHELSEN VERNER , PONT ADRIAN C.
Published: May 2024

We present a review and taxonomic update of the Macaronesian species of the muscid genera Phaonia and Muscina. As a preamble we argue that Phaonia tuguriorum (Scopoli) should be considered as a senior synonym of P. scutellata (Zetterstedt) (syn. nov.) and that the name P. signata (Meigen) (sp. rev.) is reestablished as the valid name for P. tuguriorum auctt. The Azores, Canary Islands and Madeira each have three species of Phaonia and three species of Muscina. One species and three subspecies are endemic to the Canary Islands: Phaonia nigrisquama Stein, P. tuguriorum canariensis Villeneuve (stat. nov.), P. trimaculata sordidisquama Stein (stat. nov.), and Muscina prolapsa fuscisquama ssp. nov. Identification keys to males and females are given for both genera.
Music and the Making of Modern Japan
Authors: Mehl Margaret
Published: May 2024

Japan was the first non-Western nation to compete with the Western powers at their own game. The country’s rise to a major player on the stage of Western music has been equally spectacular. The connection between these two developments, however, has never been explored.

How did making music make Japan modern? How did Japan make music that originated in Europe its own? And what happened to Japan’s traditional music in the process? Music and the Making of Modern Japan answers these questions. Discussing musical modernization in the context of globalization and nation-building, Margaret Mehl argues that, far from being a side-show, music was part of the action on centre stage. Making music became an important vehicle for empowering the people of Japan to join in the shaping of the modern world.

In only fifty years, from the 1870s to the early 1920s, Japanese people laid the foundations for the country’s post-war rise as a musical as well as an economic power. Meanwhile, new types of popular song, fuelled by the growing global record industry, successfully blended inspiration from the West with musical characteristics perceived as Japanese.

Music and the Making of Modern Japan represents a fresh contribution to historical research on making music as a major cultural, social, and political force.
Sexual History Documentation in Pediatric Patients with Technology Dependence
Authors: Sahoo Ankita , Carter Rebecca
Published: May 2024

Adolescent sexual health documentation reflects the depth of discussion physicians conduct with their patients. Limited studies exist on rates of sexual history documentation in technology-dependent patients. We sought to identify whether treatment gaps exist in a technology-dependent adolescent population. Well-child visits for patients with enterotomy or tracheostomy dependence, 12 to 19 years age, and seen in our urban clinic over a 3-year period (n = 14) were compared with a randomly selected peer group without technology dependence. Documentation of sexual activity, sexual orientation, safe sex and sexually transmitted infection (STI) guidance, and contraception or condom use were noted. Results demonstrate lower rates of documentation in sexual orientation, safe sex and STI guidance, and contraception or condom use in patients with technology dependence when compared with patients without technology dependence. Similar differences were noted in the 16- to 19-year group between the experimental and control groups. No differences were noted between gender and age groups.
Building higher value-added firm practices in challenging contexts: Formal networks and talent management in Turkey
Authors: Demirbag Mehmet , Tatoglu Ekrem , Wood Geoffrey , Glaister Alison J , Zaim Selim , Nair Smitha R
Published: May 2024

Where do high-impact human resources management practices thrive, and how do they make a difference in environments with limited institutional support? This study delves into the realm of talent management (TM) in Turkey, where institutional coverage is incomplete and unstable. Drawing on survey data, we explore the conditions under which TM succeeds, supplementing previous research on internal networks by examining the impact of external networks that encompass the entire firm. We find that when firms have closer ties with customers, suppliers and competitors (and hence, the basis for formal network tie building), TM is more prevalent and more likely to be successful. While conventional wisdom in comparative institutional literature suggests that such dense ties might be less effective in emerging markets owing to the absence of advanced complementarities found in mature economies, our study challenges these assumptions. In the eyes of managers, TM is not merely a tool to overcome disadvantages; it is perceived as a source of opportunities. This prompts a critical question: what specific advantages does the emerging economy system confer on firms embracing TM? Our study seeks to unravel these dynamics and contribute to a deeper understanding of the interplay between institutional contexts and TM.
Preparation and energy absorption of flexible polyurethane foam with hollow glass microsphere
Authors: Shu Xiangbo , Xi Huifeng , Wang Xiaogang , Huang Shiqing , Wang Bowei
Published: May 2024

This paper presents the preparation of a partially open-cell and partially closed-cell flexible polyurethane foam material (flex-PUF), which exhibits improved cushioning performance compared to conventional protective materials. Hollow Glass Microspheres (HGM) were used as a filling material to enhance the compressibility of the material. In order to investigate the effects of HGM on the multi-impact protection and vibration damping performance of flex-PUF with different thicknesses, flex-PUF samples filled with varying volume fractions of HGM were subjected to multi-impact testing and dynamic viscoelasticity experiments. The destructive mechanism of HGM under impact was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental results revealed that, under the same impact energy conditions, filling flex-PUF with HGM reduced the maximum impact displacement while enhancing energy absorption, although at the expense of cushioning performance. As the number of impact increases, the stiffness of flex-PUF decreased. In the vibration experiments, as the frequency increased, the proportion of flex-PUF’s viscous damping energy dissipation decreases.