bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repeated methamphetamine exposure decreases plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in rhesus monkeys
Authors: Zhang Wenlei , Zhou Jiahui , Su Hang , Zhang Xiaocheng , Song Weichen , Wang Zijing , Tang Chengjie , Uludağ Kadir , Zhao Min , Xiong Zhi-Qi , Zhai Rongwei , Jiang Haifeng
Published: October 2023

Background

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is known to prevent methamphetamine (METH)-induced neurotoxicity and plays a role in various stages of METH addiction. However, there is a lack of research with longitudinal design on changes in plasma BDNF levels in active METH-dependent individuals.

Aims

The aim of the study was to investigate changes in BDNF levels during METH self-administration in monkeys.

Methods

This study measured plasma BDNF levels in three male rhesus monkeys with continuous METH exposure and four male control rhesus monkeys without METH exposure. Changes in plasma BDNF levels were then assessed longitudinally during 40 sessions of METH self-administration in the three monkeys.

Results

Repeated METH exposure decreased plasma BDNF levels. Additionally, plasma BDNF decreased with long-term rather than short-term accumulation of METH during METH self-administration.

Conclusions

These findings may indicate that the changes in peripheral BDNF may reflect the quantity of accumulative METH intake during a frequent drug use period.
Effects of titanium fluoride on caries inhibition and elemental distribution in the tooth structure: Comparisons with sodium fluoride at the same fluoride concentration and pH values
Authors: Okuyama K. , Shintani K. , Tamaki Y. , Matsuda Y. , Sakurai M. , Saito T. , Yamamoto H. , Naito K. , Kanda H. , Hayashi M. , Satoh T. , Yamada N. , Yamagata R. , Ishii Y.
Published: October 2023

Titanium fluoride (TiF4) reduces mineral loss and lesion depth more effectively than sodium fluoride (NaF). However, the pH values of TiF4 and NaF solutions are different. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of TiF4 solution on the inhibition of demineralization and elemental distribution in root dentin in comparison with NaF solution at the same pH and fluoride concentrations. This study was conducted using 0.5% TiF4 or 0.675% NaF solution adjusted to pH 5 or pH 7. Bovine dentin specimens of 200 [Formula: see text]m thickness were subjected to pH cycling (pH 4.5 and 7.0; 6 cycles/day; simulated oral conditions) for eight weeks to prepare artificial carious dentin. During this cycle, the specimens were soaked in each solution once a week for 5 min. The control group involved no fluoride application during the test period. After cycling, the demineralization depth was measured and the calcium, fluorine, and titanium distributions were analyzed and calculated using an in-air micro-proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE)/proton-induced gamma emission (PIGE) system at TIARA. At pH 7, TiF4 solution yielded a lower lesion depth than the NaF solution. The NaF solution at pH 7 showed lower fluorine concentration than that with the other fluoride solutions. Thus, TiF4 is more effective in inhibiting demineralization than NaF in a solution adjusted to pH 7. Moreover, the presence of titanium may strengthen the tooth structure.
Research on degree correlations of the Thue–Morse hierarchical network
Authors: Niu Min , Shao Mengjun , Hu Xiaohua
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we construct a hierarchical network generated from the Thue–Morse sequence. First, we deduce that the degree distribution of the Thue–Morse hierarchical network follows an exponential distribution. Then, we compute the degree correlations by calculating the average degree of all neighbors of nodes which have degree k, denoted [Formula: see text]. By getting an accurate range of [Formula: see text], we show that [Formula: see text] and the Thue–Morse hierarchical network is assortative. Finally, we conclude that the hierarchical networks generated from substitution sequences still have the same properties as deterministic hierarchical networks.
Effect of annealing on thermoelectric properties of crystals YbxBi2−xTe3
Authors: Mamedov Famil , Nabieva Sayyara , Melikova Sevinj , Imanova Gunel , Tagiyev Oktay , Mansurova Esmira
Published: October 2023

The work is devoted to the study of the thermoelectric properties of solid crystal YbxBi[Formula: see text]Te3. This work presents the results of studies of the thermoelectric properties of YbxBi[Formula: see text]Te3 ([Formula: see text]) solid solutions before and after annealing in the temperature range 300–580[Formula: see text]K. Regularities of changes in the electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and total thermal conductivity of the samples depending on the content of ytterbium (Yb) are established. Dependences of electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and the thermal conductivity on temperature for the crystal under study are plotted. Temperature curves were recorded using a Termoscan-2 low-frequency temperature recorder at a heating rate of 283[Formula: see text]K/min. Studies of conductivity [Formula: see text], thermoelectric power (S) were carried out by the four-probe method at direct current in the temperature range of 300–600[Formula: see text]K. Ohmic contacts were applied using alloys. It has been established that the optimal combination of these thermoelectric characteristics is achieved for the compositions [Formula: see text], which are characterized by the maximum thermoelectric index ([Formula: see text]) of the figure of merit in the temperature range of 420–500[Formula: see text]K after annealing at 500[Formula: see text]K for [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]h. It was revealed that the YbxBi[Formula: see text]Te3 systems under study are n-type semiconductor thermoelectric materials in the temperature range of 300–600[Formula: see text]K.
Necessary and Sufficient Optimality Conditions for Fuzzy Variational Problems of Several Dependent Variables in Terms of Fuzzy Granular Derivatives
Authors: Tung Le Thanh , Tam Dang Hoang
Published: October 2023

This paper is intended to investigate fuzzy variational problems of several dependent variables. Firstly, we establish both necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for fundamental fuzzy variational problems and fuzzy variational problems with natural boundary conditions. Then, the necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for fuzzy variational problems with isoperimetric constraints and holonomic constraints are discussed. Some examples are given to illustrate our results.
Branch-and-Price Based Heuristic Algorithm for Fuzzy Multi-Depot Bus Scheduling Problem
Authors: Saffarian Mohsen , Niksirat Malihe , Ghatee Mehdi , Nasseri Seyed Hadi
Published: October 2023

This paper deals with fuzzy multi-depot bus scheduling (FMDBS) problem in which the objective function and constraints are defined with fuzzy attributes. Credibility relation is used to formulate the problem as an integer multicommodity flow problem. A novel combination of branch-and-price and heuristic algorithms, is proposed to efficiently solve FMDBS problem. In the proposed algorithm, the heuristic algorithm is applied to generate initial columns for the column generation method. Also, a heuristic algorithm is used to improve the generated solutions in each node of the branch-and-price tree. Two sets of benchmark examples are applied to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm for large-scale instances. Also, the algorithm is applied to solve the classical multi-depot bus scheduling problem. The results show that the proposed algorithm decreases integrality gap and computational time in comparison with the state-of-the-art algorithms and normal branch-and-price algorithm. Finally, as a case study, the bus schedules in Tehran BRT network are generated.
Finiteness properties and homological dimensions of skew group rings
Authors: Gubitosi Viviana , Parra Rafael
Published: October 2023

Let [Formula: see text] be a finite group acting on a ring [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] a subgroup of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we compare some homological dimensions over the skew group rings [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Moreover, under the assumption that [Formula: see text] is a separable extension over [Formula: see text], we show that the skew group rings [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] share some properties such as being [Formula: see text]-Gorenstein, [Formula: see text]-perfect, [Formula: see text]-coherent, [Formula: see text], Ding–Chen or IF-rings.
Patient-Reported Outcomes Improve after Hypothenar Fat Flap for the Treatment of Recurrent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Authors: CURRAN Matthew W. T. , ROSS Mark
Published: October 2023

Background: Recalcitrant carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can present with persistent or recurrent symptoms after carpal tunnel release (CTR). A common aetiology for recurrent CTS is the development of perineural adhesions due to excess scarring. The hypothenar fat pad flap (HFPF) has been described to decrease the amount of scarring formed after revision CTR. Herein, we present a prospective evaluation of these patients.

Methods: A prospective series of consecutive patients by a single surgeon with recurrent CTS was conducted. All patients had at least 3 months follow-up. Patients received a revision open CTR with HFPF. The primary outcome was the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ). Secondary outcomes included pain and satisfaction on visual analogue scale, range of motion, grip strength, patient-reported outcomes and complications. Clinical outcomes were compared between preoperative and postoperative intervals using paired t-tests, with significance defined as p < 0.05.

Results: Fifteen wrists (14 patients) were recruited for the study. Patients were predominantly male (n = 9; 66%). Revision open CTR with HFPF was performed a median of 42 months (range: 4–300 months) post primary CTR. Patients demonstrated improved patient-reported outcomes with significantly improved BCTQ pain score (p < 0.01), Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation (p < 0.01) and QuickDASH (p < 0.001). Two patients in the series reported postoperative complications; however, there was no incidence of donor site morbidity recorded.

Conclusions: Revision open CTR with hypothenar fat pad flap is associated with decreased pain, high patient satisfaction and improved functional measures compared to pre-operative status.

Level of Evidence: Level IV (Therapeutic)
Evidence-Based Cosmology — Black Holes as Rejuvenating Systems of the Universe
Authors: Šorli Amrit Srečko , Jafari Saeid , Fiscaletti Davide , Gorjup Rado , Gorjup Niko , Makovec Tomaž
Published: October 2023

Evidence-based cosmology (EBC) is a cosmological model that has no theoretical presumptions. In EBC, every element in the model has a corresponding element in physical reality that is observed and measured. The EBC is related to the real observable universe by a bijective function of set theory. Supermassive black holes (SMBH) in the centers of galaxies are rejuvenating systems of the universe. In the center of SMBH energy density of superfluid space is so low that atoms become unstable and fall apart into elementary particles. SMBHs transform old matter into fresh energy in the form of jets that are composed of elementary particles. This transformation of old matter into fresh energy is permanent. It has no beginning and it will not have an end. Rotation of SMBHs is rotating local superfluid space which is the physical origin of galactic rotation curves.
No-Go Theorems on Machine Consciousness
Authors: Kak Subhash
Published: October 2023

Creating machines that are conscious is a long-term objective of research in artificial intelligence. This paper looks at this idea with new arguments from physics and logic. Observers have no place in classical physics, and although they play a role in measurement in quantum physics there is no explanation for their emergence within the framework. There is a suggestion that consciousness, which is implicitly a property of the observer, is a consequence of the complexity of specific brain structures, but this is problematic because one associates free will with consciousness, which goes counter to the causal closure of physics. Considering a nested physical system, we argue that even if the system were assumed to have agency, observers cannot exist within it. Since complex systems can be viewed in nested hierarchies, this constitutes a proof against consciousness as a product of complexity, for then we will have nested system of conscious agents. As the existence of consciousness in cognitive agents cannot be denied, the implication is that consciousness belongs to a dimension that is not physical and machine consciousness is unattainable. These ideas are used to take a fresh look at two well-known paradoxes of quantum theory that are important in quantum information theory.
Businesses Need to Sustain Output for Four-Day Workweek to Work
Authors: Bajaj Abhishek , Boo Shannon , Sim Gim Guan , Lum Yvonne , Lye Edwin
Published: October 2023

The four-day workweek has gained renewed prominence globally as part of the larger employer-employee compact refresh. The Singapore National Employers Federation’s survey investigated employers’ perspectives towards the four-day workweek and their reasons for supporting or not supporting it. A total of 236 companies responded from 28 October 2022 to 11 November 2022. Results indicated that one in four companies had implemented or were interested in implementing a four-day workweek, with reasons including improving employees’ job satisfaction and well-being while strengthening the company’s value proposition. Companies who were not interested in implementing a four-day workweek cited challenges with the business operations cycle, cost increases due to additional manpower, and concerns about fair implementation across all employees. Our findings highlight the need to balance the trade-offs between business continuity and output with autonomy and flexibility in workplaces.
Upskilling for Non-PMETs: Challenges and Opportunities in the Policy Landscape
Authors: Osman Muhammad Farouq
Published: October 2023

Against the background of rapid technological change and globalisation, worker upskilling and reskilling is an important plank of Singapore’s manpower policy. It serves not only Singapore’s economic interests, but its social imperatives too, as the country strives to forge an inclusive society. However, Singapore’s non-professionals, managers, executives and technicians (non-PMETs) workers—who are at greatest risk of job redundancies—lag behind their PMET peers in training participation. This paper analyses existing policy measures to encourage skills upgrading among non-PMETs, before examining the case studies of Denmark and Norway. The paper then delves into five recommendations to make training accessible to as many non-PMETs as possible, and encourage higher training participation among them. The recommendations underline the need for a holistic and customised approach to create a more conducive policy environment for non-PMET training.
Software-Based Security Approach for Networked Embedded Devices
Authors: Ferreira José , Oliveira Alan , Souto André , Cecílio José
Published: October 2023

As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to expand, data security has become increasingly important for ensuring privacy and safety, especially given the sensitive and, sometimes, critical nature of the data handled by IoT devices. There exist hardware-based trusted execution environments used to protect data, but they are not compatible with low-cost devices that lack hardware-assisted security features. The research in this paper presents software-based protection and encryption mechanisms explicitly designed for embedded devices. The proposed architecture consists of two parts: the Agent, which is designed to work with low-cost, low-end devices without requiring modifications to the underlying hardware, and the Computing Module, which is designed for slightly more computationally powerful devices. The Computing Module enables devices to write data in protected memory and continuously verifies its integrity to provide protection. Additionally, it utilizes the Agents located on the device to safeguard device applications against attacks by requesting the Agent to generate an application code signature and validating it. The proposed solution is an alternative data security approach for low-cost IoT devices without compromising performance or functionality. Our work underscores the importance of developing secure and cost-effective solutions for protecting data in the context of IoT.
Automatic Test Value Generation for Ada
Authors: Creuse L. , Eyraud M. , Garèse V.
Published: October 2023

This article introduces novel tools to automatically generate pertinent Ada values in order to produce higher quality tests for Ada subprograms. A first tool will generate valid Ada values based on a structural analysis of the types of the parameters of the subprogram under test following various customizable strategies. Those values will then be filtered in order to satisfy the specifications of the subprogram, and new coverage criteria for executable specifications will be used to assess the relevance of the generated testsuite. This first set of values will then be used as seeds both for a fuzzing process, and a symbolic execution campaign, from which values of interest will be then extracted. This integrated process will enable users to generate a high value starting test corpus, which can then be expanded upon by domain-specific tests.
Haploinsufficient Transcription Factors in Myeloid Neoplasms
Authors: Martinez Tanner C. , McNerney Megan E.
Published: October 2023

Many transcription factors (TFs) function as tumor suppressor genes with heterozygous phenotypes, yet haploinsufficiency generally has an underappreciated role in neoplasia. This is no less true in myeloid cells, which are normally regulated by a delicately balanced and interconnected transcriptional network. Detailed understanding of TF dose in this circuitry sheds light on the leukemic transcriptome. In this review, we discuss the emerging features of haploinsufficient transcription factors (HITFs). We posit that: ( a) monoallelic and biallelic losses can have distinct cellular outcomes; ( b) the activity of a TF exists in a greater range than the traditional Mendelian genetic doses; and ( c) how a TF is deleted or mutated impacts the cellular phenotype. The net effect of a HITF is a myeloid differentiation block and increased intercellular heterogeneity in the course of myeloid neoplasia.
Intraoperative Diagnosis of Gallbladder Volvulus
Authors: Mohamed Ali Hassan , Wahab Eyad Rabih Abdul , Damaj Amjad , Moussawi Bassam , Audi Walid , Haidar Mohammad , Badra Youssef
Published: October 2023

Background. A gallbladder torsion typically presents as an acute abdomen presentation with nonspecific clinical signs. When not detected by a clinician preoperatively, it can lead to the delay of emergency surgery and possible misdiagnosis for other, more common causes of an acute abdomen. Case Presentation. We report the case of acute gallbladder volvulus in an 80-year-old woman complaining of constant pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Conclusions. The patient was successfully treated with cholecystectomy. The case highlights the high index of suspicion required to diagnose the condition preoperatively in this population of patients to reduce complications such as biliary peritonitis and death.
Antimicrobial Activities of Some Constituents Isolated from a Kenyan Medicinal Plant, Capparis fascicularis DC
Authors: Kagika Mary W. , Chhabra Sumesh C. , Nonoh James O. M. , Hassanali Ahmed
Published: October 2023

Background of the Study. Capparis fascicularis DC. is an indigenous medicinal plant belonging to the family Capparaceae found in Nyandarua County, Nairobi, Kenya, and many parts of Africa. It is a shrub whose roots are used traditionally to treat colds. Aim. The aim of the present study is to carry out antimicrobial activities of solvent extracts of different parts of Capparis fascicularis, characterize the phytochemical constituents of the most active extract, and identify the most active compounds. Place and Duration of the Study. All the experiments were carried out in the departments of Chemistry and Microbiology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya. Methodology. Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts from the leaves, stem bark, and root bark of C. fascicularis were screened against selected strains of both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli) bacteria using disc diffusion and tube dilution methods. Fractionation of the most active crude extract was carried out by column chromatography, and the fractions together with the most active crude extract were screened against the selected bacterial strains. The most active fraction was further fractionated, and the subfractions were screened against the bacterial strains to test for possible synergistic effects between the subfractions and their constituents. The most active fraction was then analysed by GC-MS and LC-ESI-MS methods to identify the major constituents. Results. The ethyl acetate extract of C. fascicularis root bark (CFR2) showed a significant in vitro antibacterial activity. From the seven fractions of CFR2 obtained, fraction 2 (F2) had the lowest MIC value and was thus most active. Moreover, F2 was found to be more active compared to the four subfractions obtained from it. This suggested that constituents of F2 worked in synergy. Fraction 2 contained phenols, terpenes, and flavonoids. Two compounds were identified by GC-MS as 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, while three compounds were identified by LC-ESI-MS as tanshinone II A, cryptotanshinone, and danshensu. Conclusion. The study revealed that CFR2 is the most active extract on bacteria, suggesting that most antimicrobial compounds are concentrated in the roots of C. fascicularis. A follow-up study is directed towards chromatographic separations to obtain the other chemical constituents and screen them against various strains of bacteria.
Normalizing Flow‐Based Industrial Complex Background Anomaly Detection
Authors: Wen Pengxv , Gao Xiaorong , Wang Yong , Li Jinlong , Luo Lin
Published: October 2023

This paper proposes a novel approach called cross‐scale with attention normalizing flow (CSA‐Flow) enhanced with channel‐attention (CA) and self‐attention (SA) modules for high‐speed railway anomaly detection in complex industrial backgrounds to reduce the manual workload of the primary maintenance of high‐speed electric multiple units. Detecting defects in industrial environments, characterized by intricate backgrounds and unclear subjects, poses significant challenges. To address this, CSA‐Flow introduces a channel feature extraction module that combining the pretrained convolutional neural network models with a CA module for feature extraction, capturing information at different scales, and uses the SA module to capture more contextual information by its larger receptive field. The performance evaluation of CSA‐Flow on the MVTec‐AD dataset demonstrates an impressive area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) score of 98.7%, with an equally remarkable score of 98.4% across all object classes. To further assess the effectiveness of CSA‐Flow in complex background scenarios, we introduce a dedicated dataset, specifically designed for high‐speed rail braking devices (HSRBDs). The experimental results establish the superiority of CSA‐Flow over current state‐of‐the‐art approaches in terms of both AUROC score and recall score, validating its exceptional capability for detecting anomalies in industrial complex backgrounds.
Esterification of Oleic Acid for Biodiesel Production Using a Semibatch Atomization Apparatus
Authors: Deus Marcell S. , Deus Katherine C. O. , Lira Daniel S. , Oliveira Jackson A. , Padilha Carlos E. A. , Souza Domingos F. S.
Published: October 2023

Although biodiesel production is undoubtedly a mature technology, there are still ways to improve it, especially through process intensification. The present study investigated the esterification of oleic acid with ethanol for biodiesel production in a nonconventional atomization reactor. The effects of the oleic acid flow rate (1.3, 2.6, and 3.9 g/min), atomization pressure (50, 100, and 150 kPa), and temperature (323, 333, and 343 K) were evaluated by a complete factorial experimental design. The size of droplets was determined by computational image processing. A mathematical model was also developed to describe the conversion of oleic acid to ethyl ester as a function of molar concentration of components and operating conditions of the reactor. A hybrid estimation of parameters (pre-exponential factor, activation energy, and equilibrium and solubility constants) was performed using particle swarm optimization followed by the Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno method. The Pareto analysis has shown that the increase in temperature in the reactor and the increase in atomization pressure have improved the conversion of oleic acid. Higher pressure values in the atomization nozzle led to the generation of small oleic acid droplets, which accelerated reagent consumption during the reaction. On the other hand, conversion values were reduced by increasing the oleic acid flow rate. The highest conversion of oleic acid (86.7%) was obtained under the following reaction conditions: temperature of 343 K, atomization pressure of 150 kPa, oleic acid flow rate equal to 1.3 g/min using 0.7% sulfuric acid (mol of sulfuric acid/mol of oleic acid), and 2 h of reaction time. The simulations showed that esterification is governed by temperature, but it is possible to observe that the atomization pressure affects more conversion of oleic acid under a low temperature (<323 K).
RuX: A Novel, Flexible, and Sensitive Mifepristone-Induced Transcriptional Regulation System
Authors: Meinzinger Anne , Zsigmond Áron , Horváth Péter , Kellenberger Alexandra , Paréj Katalin , Tallone Tiziano , Flachner Beáta , Cserhalmi Marcell , Lőrincz Zsolt , Cseh Sándor , Shmerling Doron
Published: October 2023

Inducible gene regulation methods are indispensable in diverse biological applications, yet many of them have severe limitations in their applicability. These include inducer toxicity, a limited variety of organisms the given system can be used in, and side effects of the induction method. In this study, a novel inducible system, the RuX system, was created using a mutant ligand-binding domain of the glucocorticoid receptor (CS1/CD), used together with various genetic elements such as the Gal4 DNA-binding domain or Cre recombinase. The RuX system is shown to be capable of over 1000-fold inducibility, has flexible applications, and is offered for use in cell cultures.
Preliminary Results of New Modification of Vertical Muscle Transposition to Enhance Abducting Force in Sixth Nerve Palsy
Authors: Heede Santa , Astle William , Sanders Emi , Kovalevskaya Irina , Valeina Sandra , Griebenow Uwe
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Since 1907, multiple transposition procedures have been established for the treatment of abducens paralysis. The purpose of the study was to determine where the transposed muscle should be reattached in order to increase the tangential force necessary to improve abduction. Methods: Retrospective case review of 12 consecutive patients with abducens paralysis who underwent transposition procedures between 2016 and 2019 was conducted. Vertical rectus muscles are transposed to the insertion of lateral rectus muscle; the temporal parts are joined and sutured to the sclera on top of the lateral rectus muscle in the middle of the insertion. The nasal parts are sutured to the sclera following the spiral of Tillaux. The muscle junction suture is placed 8 mm from the insertion, with the temporal parts of the vertical muscles bellies joined and sutured to the lateral rectus muscle. A full-tendon transposition was performed on 11 patients, a half-tendon transposition procedure on 1 patient. The minimum follow-up was 3 months. Results: The mean preoperative deviation was ET of 37° (range: ET 24° to ET 51°). The mean preoperative abduction limitation was 5 mm from midline (range: 7 to 1 mm). The postoperative mean deviation was ET of 2° (range: 0° to ET 5°). The postoperative mean abduction improvement was 5 mm past midline (range: 2–6 mm). There were no complications or signs of anterior segment ischemia. Conclusion: To achieve the maximal abductive force from the transposed muscles, we suggest that the vertical muscles be reattached as close as possible to the middle of the lateral rectus insertion.
Tissue miRNA Profile Is Associated with Acute Tubular Necrosis, Rejection Phenotypes and BK Polyomavirus-Associated Nephropathy in Human Kidney Allografts
Authors: Bezeljak Neva , Kojc Nika , Arnol Miha , Večerić-Haler Željka , Boštjančič Emanuela
Published: October 2023

Introduction: MicroRNAs (miRNAs), short noncoding RNAs, are involved in the modulation of gene expression, mainly by inhibiting the translation of mRNAs. Under physiological conditions, miRNAs are involved in viral infections and immune responses, among others; aberrant miRNA expression has been associated with kidney transplant pathologies, but a comprehensive comparison of later, particularly in tissue sections, is still pending. Methods: We used the genome-wide screening of miRNAs to identify those potentially involved in the disease processes after kidney transplantation. RNA was isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded kidney biopsy samples. Study included 8 patients with acute tubular necrosis (ATN), 8 patients with antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR), 10 patients with T-cell-mediated rejection (TCMR), 10 patients with BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN), and 12 surveillance biopsies from patients with stable allograft function and no major abnormalities (normal allografts, CTRL). Results: We found 136 miRNAs differentially expressed in diseased kidney transplant tissue compared with normal allografts; of these, 74 miRNAs were differentially expressed in ABMR, 65 in ATN, 62 in BKPyVAN, 69 in TCMR, and 16 miRNAs were not associated with a specific disease phenotype. In addition, 29 miRNAs were differently expressed between ABMR and ATN, 39 between BKPyVAN and TCMR, and 20 between BKPyVAN and ABMR, and 38 between ABMR and TCMR. Conclusion: Our findings show that miRNA derived from kidney allograft biopsy samples represent an additional diagnostic tool to distinguish different disease phenotypes. This finding has the potential to assist clinicians in therapeutic decision-making and to translate to noninvasive monitoring of patients, e.g., blood samples.
Enhanced Category-Based Risk Assessment for Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Lau Hoi Ying Sharon , Wang Xuelian , Wong Ho Tsun Michelia , Lam Ka Hei Catherine , Lam Hugh Simon
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Compared with multivariate risk assessment, traditional category-based risk assessment (CRA) approaches for neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) screening are usually straightforward to use, do not require electronic devices, but are associated with higher rates of antibiotic use. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a novel enhanced CRA (eCRA) framework on EOS admissions and antibiotic use and to investigate whether a modified version with adjustments in risk factor weighting can allow its performance to match the EOS calculator while remaining easy to implement. Method: This is a prospective, single-center, two-phase observational study. Infants of all gestations delivered in a tertiary hospital in Hong Kong with risk factors or clinical features of EOS were recruited. Phase I: A novel eCRA framework (period 2) was compared with the CDC 2010-based protocol (period 1). Phase II: A modified eCRA framework was compared theoretically with the EOS calculator. EOS-specific admissions and antibiotic use were measured. Results: Phase I: 1,025 at-risk infants were recruited during period 2 and compared with 757 infants of period 1. Admissions and antibiotic use decreased from 45.8% to 29.4% and 41.1% to 28.2%, respectively. Antibiotics among those at-risk but well-appearing infants decreased from 25.3% to 16.3% (p < 0.001 for all). Phase II: antibiotic use was similar (7.3 vs. 6.4%, p = 0.42) between the modified eCRA framework and the EOS calculator. Conclusions: An eCRA framework can effectively and safely provide individualized guidance for EOS screening without the need for tools such as the EOS calculator.
Chemoradiotherapy Combined with Immunotherapy in Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Safety Outcomes
Authors: Li Yang , Deng Guodong , Liang Ning , Hu Pingping , Zhang Yan , Qiao Lili , Zhang Yingying , Xie Jian , Luo Hui , Wang Fei , Chen Fangjie , Liu Fengjun , Xu Deguo , Zhang Jiandong
Published: October 2023

Background: Since the success of the PACIFIC trial, durvalumab has become the clear standard of care for many patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT). However, the duration of immune consolidation and the efficacy and safety of different immune agents remain unclear. We conducted a systematic review of relevant studies. Methods: We searched all the relevant studies in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. We also reviewed abstracts of relevant conferences to prevent omissions. The meta-analysis was performed using Stata version 16.0. Results: CRT combined with immunotherapy can improve progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard rate [HR]: 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI, 0.55–0.60) and overall survival (OS) (HR: 0.59, 95% CI, 0.53–0.66) compared with no immunotherapy. The pooled 24-month PFS and 24-month OS rates were 48.1% (95% CI, 43.5–52.7%) and 71.3% (95% CI, 67.3–75.2%), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that 24-month OS rates were 60.7% (95% CI, 51.0–70.3%) and 77.4% (95% CI, 73.2–81.7%) at 1 year and 2 years of immune consolidation, respectively. The pooled 1-year completion rate for immune consolidation was 35.6% (95% CI, 31.3–39.8%). The pooled rate of pneumonitis for all grades was 41.7% (95% CI, 31.9–51.9%). The pooled rate of pneumonitis ≥ grade 3 was 6.7% (95% CI, 5.0–8.5%). The incidence of pneumonitis ≥ grade 3 after 1 year of immunotherapy is 4.8% (95% CI, 3.1–6.5%). The incidence of pneumonitis ≥ grade 3 after 2 years of immunotherapy is 5.1% (95% CI, 2.9–7.3%). Conclusions: Prolonging the duration of immunotherapy consolidation increases survival benefits in patients with stage III NSCLC without causing higher side effects. Older patients, due to high incidence of pneumonia and low immunotherapy completion rate, have less survival benefit.
Comparison of Efficacy and Safety between Carboplatin-Etoposide and Cisplatin-Etoposide Combination Therapy in Patients with Advanced Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Imai Hiroo , Saijo Ken , Kawamura Yoshifumi , Kodera Shuto , Komine Keigo , Iwasaki Tomoyuki , Takenaga Noriko , Kasahara Yuki , Ouchi Kota , Shirota Hidekazu , Takahashi Masanobu , Ishioka Chikashi
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is characterized by a poor prognosis and is generally treated with platinum and etoposide combination therapy as first-line chemotherapy. However, it remains uncertain whether carboplatin and etoposide combination therapy (CE) and cisplatin and etoposide combination therapy (PE) have comparable treatment efficacy. In this retrospective analysis, we compared the efficacy and safety of CE and PE in patients with NEC. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the patient’s clinical record from 2005 to 2022 at the Department of Medical Oncology, Tohoku University Hospital. Patients who received either CE or PE were included in the study. Statistical analyses were performed using JMP Pro 16.0 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Results: A total of 104 patients were enrolled, with 73 patients assigned to the CE group and 31 patients assigned to the PE group. Statistically, the response rate, progression-free survival time and overall survival time were 42.6%, 5.1 months (95% CI: 3.5–6.3) and 13.6 months (95% CI: 8.9–17.4), respectively, in the CE groups and 44.4%, 5.6 months (95% CI: 3.1–7.0) and 12.5 months (95% CI: 11.2–14.6), respectively, in the PE groups. There was no significant difference in treatment efficacy between the CE and the PE groups. However, the number of patients with elevated creatinine (3.35 mg/dL and 3.88 mg/dL in 2 patients, respectively) was significantly higher in the PE group than in the CE group. Conclusion: The efficacy of CE and PE in patients with NEC is comparable. However, the incidence of renal dysfunction was found to be significantly higher in the PE group than in the CE group.
The divergence of mobility and activity associated with anti-predator adaptations in land snails
Authors: Morii Yuta , Kimura Ryota , Sato Rion , Shiobara Nana , Maeda Honoka , Nakagawa Kaede , Ito Ririka , Ueki Reiichi
Published: October 2023

The extreme divergence of phenotypes between two closely related terrestrial gastropods, Karaftohelix editha and K. gainesi (Camaenidae, Stylommatophora), has been suggested as a result of anti-predator adaptations because K. editha and K. gainesi showed shy and bold anti-predator behaviours, respectively. In this study, we measured the crawling speeds in the laboratory and the exploration (the crawled distances during every 6 h) and the activity (the active/inactive statuses) in the field for each species. As a result, K. gainesi crawled faster under ordinary conditions and moreover upregulated its crawling speed 1.21–1.28 times after the stimulus. The activity pattern of K. editha was typical of nocturnal species, but K. gainesi remained active even under daylight. These results might suggest that K. editha and K. gainesi were deemed as shy/inactive and bold/active species, respectively, and that behavioural syndromes existed between shyness–boldness and activity personalities.
From Confusion to Hope: Lament and Hope in the Faith of Late Adolescence and Early Adulthood
Authors: Clements Chris D.
Published: October 2023

Young people in late adolescence or emerging adulthood may re-examine their childhood Christian faith. Christian commitments in a pluralistic context can come to be regarded as one possible set of commitments among many options. Articulating clear claims about Christianity will be part of an approach to the faith nurture of young people. Yet Christian faith is also, fundamentally, an act of hope in Christ. A practice of hope, specifically among those beginning to question Christian commitments, can be the activity of lament. The Christian practice of lament addresses God amid the sorrows and confusions of this world. Christian lament is offered to God in the hope that he might respond. Ministering persons may participate in lament with young people, bringing to bear their own sense of Christian hope, and inviting young people to choose this hope as well.
Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from China, with the description of two new species
Authors: WANG HAIYANG , ZHANG CHENGHUI , XUE HAO , XI CHUNXIANG , YANG ZENING , ZU GUOHAO
Published: October 2023

Following a survey of parasitoid wasps, the number of encyrtid species known from China has increased from 594 to 601. Five new species records are noted, and two new species, Aphycus nigriceps Zu & Wang, sp. nov. and Psyllaephagus chinensis Zu & Wang, sp. nov., are described. Data of all species identified in our survey and a list of known species of Encyrtidae from Tianjin are provided.
Developing a Data-Driven Transfer Learning Model to Locate Tropical Cyclone Centers on Satellite Infrared Imagery
Authors: Wang Chong , Li Xiaofeng
Published: October 2023

In this paper, a data-driven transfer learning (TL) model for locating tropical cyclone (TC) centers from satellite infrared images in the northwest Pacific is developed. A total of 2450 satellite infrared TC images derived from 97 TCs between 2015 and 2018 were used for this paper. The TC center location model (ResNet-TCL) with added residual fully connected modules is built for the TC center location. The MAE of the ResNet-TCL model is 34.8 km. Then TL is used to improve the model performance, including obtaining a pretrained model based on the ImageNet dataset, transferring the pretrained model parameters to the ResNet-TCL model, and using TC satellite infrared imagery to fine-train the ResNet-TCL model. The results show that the TL-based model improves the location accuracy by 14.1% (29.3 km) over the no-TL model. The model performance increases logarithmically with the amount of training data. When the training data are large, the benefit of increasing the training samples is smaller than the benefit of using TL. The comparison of model results with the best track data of TCs shows that the MAEs of TCs center is 29.3 km for all samples and less than 20 km for H2–H5 TCs. In addition, the visualization of the TL-based TC center location model shows that the TL model can accurately extract the most important features related to TC center location, including TC eye, TC texture, and contour. On the other hand, the no-TL model does not accurately extract these features.
An Observational Analysis of the Relationship between Tropical Cyclone Vortex Tilt, Precipitation Structure, and Intensity Change
Authors: Fischer Michael S. , Rogers Robert F. , Reasor Paul D. , Dunion Jason P.
Published: October 2023

This study uses a recently developed airborne Doppler radar database to explore how vortex misalignment is related to tropical cyclone (TC) precipitation structure and intensity change. It is found that for relatively weak TCs, defined here as storms with a peak 10-m wind of 65 kt (1 kt = 0.51 m s−1) or less, the magnitude of vortex tilt is closely linked to the rate of subsequent TC intensity change, especially over the next 12–36 h. In strong TCs, defined as storms with a peak 10-m wind greater than 65 kt, vortex tilt magnitude is only weakly correlated with TC intensity change. Based on these findings, this study focuses on how vortex tilt is related to TC precipitation structure and intensity change in weak TCs. To illustrate how the TC precipitation structure is related to the magnitude of vortex misalignment, weak TCs are divided into two groups: small-tilt and large-tilt TCs. In large-tilt TCs, storms display a relatively large radius of maximum wind, the precipitation structure is asymmetric, and convection occurs more frequently near the midtropospheric TC center than the lower-tropospheric TC center. Alternatively, small-tilt TCs exhibit a greater areal coverage of precipitation inward of a relatively small radius of maximum wind. Greater rates of TC intensification, including rapid intensification, are shown to occur preferentially for TCs with greater vertical alignment and storms in relatively favorable environments.

Significance Statement

Accurately predicting tropical cyclone (TC) intensity change is challenging. This is particularly true for storms that undergo rapid intensity changes. Recent numerical modeling studies have suggested that vortex vertical alignment commonly precedes the onset of rapid intensification; however, this consensus is not unanimous. Until now, there has not been a systematic observational analysis of the relationship between vortex misalignment and TC intensity change. This study addresses this gap using a recently developed airborne radar database. We show that the degree of vortex misalignment is a useful predictor for TC intensity change, but primarily for weak storms. In these cases, more aligned TCs exhibit precipitation patterns that favor greater intensification rates. Future work should explore the causes of changes in vortex alignment.
Health Profile of Afghan Pediatric Refugees Resettled to Philadelphia in 2021-2022
Authors: Abuali Mayssa , Navarro Iris , Baisch Mina , Bashkenova Nazym , Chang-Escobar Sofia , Paoletti Andrew , Hassan Jeremy
Published: October 2023

To elucidate the physical and psychosocial health needs of newly arrived Afghan children, we conducted a retrospective chart review of patients 0 to 19 years re-settled to Philadelphia with ≥1 outpatient visit during August 2021 to August 2022. Findings on 121 patients include dental caries (74%), elevated lead (32%), eosinophilia (29%), malnutrition (25%), schistosomiasis (6%), strongyloidiasis (8%), latent tuberculosis (7%), and two cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Mental health symptoms include poor sleep in 16%, low energy in 10%, and behavioral concerns in 13%. Families with low English proficiency were more often met with delayed medical care (26.7% vs 11.5% P = .12). Parents with less than a high school education were more likely to experience delayed care (38.5% vs 9.1%; P = .001). We conclude that recently arrived Afghan children have unique physical and mental health needs that need to be addressed.
All the Sultan’s Men: Regime Type, Insecurity, and the Shuffling of Governors
Authors: Magiya Yusuf , Popescu Bogdan G. , Tezcür Güneş M.
Published: October 2023

Why do some political rulers engage in frequent shuffling of their governors while others allow their governors to serve longer? We argue that shuffling of governors reflects the level of a ruler’s perception of insecurity. Building on perspectives about situational origins of distrust and paranoid cognition, we argue that democratic leaders, characterized by higher levels of existential security, practice less frequent shuffling of governors compared to authoritarian ones. We also suggest that governors in localities characterized by higher levels of ethnic conflict and poor electoral performance by a ruling government are more likely to be replaced. Utilizing an original dataset of all Ottoman and Turkish governors from 1875 to 2019, our empirical analyses show that governors last longer under more democratic governments, in provinces with lower levels of ethnic diversity conflict, and stronger electoral support for the government.
Ali Shariati and Crafting a Collective Revolutionary Islamic Identity for Women: A Socio-Historical Perspective
Authors: Moqadam Mahbubeh
Published: October 2023

The literature on Ali Shariati, “the ideologue’’ of ‘‘the Iranian revolution,” and his arguments about women presents varied views, including rejection, criticism, and confirmation. While this literature is instructive, it primarily interprets Shariati’s texts from today’s socio-political perspective, and it thus lacks an analytical dimension that examines how and why Shariati’s ideas profoundly influenced numerous Iranian women in the 1970s. By revisiting the global and local socio-historical context of the 1970s and analyzing its influence on Iranian society, particularly the youth, as well as on Shariati’s perceptions and ideas about women’s social role within that socio-political context, this paper argues that Shariati crafted a “collective revolutionary Islamic identity” for women. This concept underscores the socio-historical and political significance of Shariati’s arguments about Muslim women in the political setting leading up to the revolution of 1979.
Bookshelf: Kappan authors on their favorite reads
Authors: Pogrow Stanley
Published: October 2023

Kappan authors recommend books that have inspired them. Stanley Pogrow recommends The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson. And Travis Wright recommends Mollie Is Three: Growing Up in School by Vivian Paley.