bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facial Features Detection System To Identify Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Deep Learning Models
Authors: Ahmed Zeyad A. T. , Aldhyani Theyazn H. H. , Jadhav Mukti E. , Alzahrani Mohammed Y. , Alzahrani Mohammad Eid , Althobaiti Maha M. , Alassery Fawaz , Alshaflut Ahmed , Alzahrani Nouf Matar , Al-madani Ali Mansour
Published: April 2022

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with brain development that subsequently affects the physical appearance of the face. Autistic children have different patterns of facial features, which set them distinctively apart from typically developed (TD) children. This study is aimed at helping families and psychiatrists diagnose autism using an easy technique, viz., a deep learning-based web application for detecting autism based on experimentally tested facial features using a convolutional neural network with transfer learning and a flask framework. MobileNet, Xception, and InceptionV3 were the pretrained models used for classification. The facial images were taken from a publicly available dataset on Kaggle, which consists of 3,014 facial images of a heterogeneous group of children, i.e., 1,507 autistic children and 1,507 nonautistic children. Given the accuracy of the classification results for the validation data, MobileNet reached 95% accuracy, Xception achieved 94%, and InceptionV3 attained 0.89%.
Aerobic Exercise with Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay Diet Promotes Brain Cells’ Longevity despite Sex Hormone Deficiency in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Elsayed Marwa M. , Rabiee Ahmed , El Refaye Ghada E. , Elsisi Hany F.
Published: April 2022

Objective. To investigate the combined impact of aerobic exercise and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet on brain cells longevity in spite of sex hormones deficiency in obese postmenopausal women. Design. A parallel randomized clinical trial. Subjects/Patients. Sixty-eight eligible postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to one of two groups, one experimental and one control. The participants’ age ranged from 60 to 75 years, and their body mass index ranged from 30 to 39.9 kg/m2. Methods. An experimental group whose members followed moderate-intensity treadmill exercise three times/week for three months with MIND diet and a control group whose members followed the MIND diet only. In addition to serum sex hormones, pre- and post-12-week assessments were performed to measure serum sex hormones as well as cognitive and functional levels. Results. The experimental group showed after intervention highly significant changes (

p
<
0.01

) in sex hormones, cognitive functions, and functional levels compared with the control group (

p
<
0.05

). In addition, no correlation was found between the measured variables in both groups after intervention (

p
>
0.05

). Conclusion. Aerobic exercise combined with the MIND diet improves cognitive and functional levels and substitutes sex hormones deficiency in postmenopausal women, which affects the longevity of brain health.
Field Pull-Out Test and Analysis of Fiberglass Anchors in Sanshandao Gold Mine
Authors: Wang Qingbiao , Hu Zhongjing , You Hongyue , Xu Haolin , Bai Lujie , Yang Shanghuan , Zhang Ming , Shi Zhenyue
Published: April 2022

The Sanshandao gold mine is developed near the sea and has high-chloride ion content in the groundwater, resulting in serious corrosion of metal anchors and difficulty in maintaining metal anchors. To solve the corrosion problem of anchor rods in Sanshandao, the use of fiberglass anchor rods, instead of metal anchor rods, is proposed. To verify the feasibility of fiberglass anchor application, a fiberglass anchor (diameter: 27 mm) pulling test was conducted at the Sanshandao gold mine. The test results show that (1) the pull-out resistance of fiberglass anchor rods is better than those of metal pipe slit anchor rods and threaded anchor rods currently used in the Sanshandao gold mine; (2) the failure of fiberglass anchor rods is mainly because of the destruction of anchor washer discs and nuts, whose rods play only 69.90–77.7% of their performance and remain intact; (3) the fiberglass anchor rod was damaged to different degrees several times before the pulling failure, and the damage was accompanied by sound; (4) the fiberglass anchor continued to bear pressure after each damage until complete failure occurred; and (5) the anchor washer disc relative to the nut to allow the pressure effect can avoid nut pressure collapse and improve the pulling performance of the anchor rod to a certain extent simultaneously. Through the test, it was proved that the 27 mm fiberglass anchor can meet the support demand of the Sanshandao gold mine. It also provides an important reference for the promotion and application of fiberglass anchor rods in similar mines.
Protective Effects of Interleukin-37 Expression against Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice
Authors: Xu Zhiwei , Li Kan , Pan Xiuhe , Tan Jun , Li Yan , Li Mingcai
Published: April 2022

Aim. Interleukin (IL)-37 is a new anti-inflammatory cytokine of the IL-1 family. This study aimed to determine the effects of IL-37 on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury. Materials and Methods. IL-37 plasmids were injected into mice via a tail vein hydrodynamics-based gene delivery. Results. Our results showed that IL-37 pretreatment significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, hepatic myeloperoxidase activity, and attenuated the histological liver damage. Compared to the APAP group, IL-37 administration decreased Kupffer cells numbers in the liver of APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Furthermore, IL-37 pretreatment reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, IL-17, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in APAP-induced mice. Conclusion. These results demonstrate that delivery of IL-37 plasmid can ameliorate APAP-induced liver injury by reducing proinflammatory cytokines production and preventing the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. IL-37 may be a promising candidate against APAP-induced liver injury.
Application and Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Graphic Element Algorithm in Digital Media Art Design
Authors: Tian Hua
Published: April 2022

With the development of information technology, digital media art came into being. Digital media art interface design, as a window for direct communication with users, has a direct impact on the user’s experience, so it has attracted more and more people’s attention. In the context of the continuous development of artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence algorithms have penetrated into all fields of social development. This article is based on the integration of graphic elements with artificial intelligence algorithms to build a digital media art interface design system. According to the analysis of system requirements, combined with the algorithm of artificial intelligence graphic elements, the system hierarchy is constructed from the user model, window model, and display model; software development and driver development are realized through the media library, and the window and common controls are realized. On this basis, the creation and display of windows and common controls are realized, and the design of the core functions of the system is completed to ensure the effect of system functions. The final conclusion shows that in actual design applications, the algorithm in this paper has a very high probability of finding the optimal solution, about 90%, when the number of iterations is small. Adjust parameters α and β, when

α
=
0.6

and

β
=
0.4

, are the best parameters; the image reaches the highest PSNR value, and the image restoration quality is the best; after system testing, the running time of this system is shortened by an average of 1-2 seconds, and the target detection task accuracy rate is 100%; the system is evaluated by questionnaires. The overall satisfaction of the design interface remains at about 80%, which is a great improvement compared to the previous one. Finally, it satisfies the requirements of the digital media art interface design better, and it is worthy of further exploration.
Development of Decline Curve Analysis Parameters for Tight Oil Wells Using a Machine Learning Algorithm
Authors: Li Weirong , Dong Zhenzhen , Lee John W. , Ma Xianlin , Qian Shihao
Published: April 2022

To obtain a reliable production forecast, one has to establish a geological model with well logs and seismic data. The geological model usually has to be upscaled using certain upscaling techniques. Then, a dynamic reservoir model is constructed with another dataset, including completion data, production data, fluid properties, and relative permeability curves. At last, the dynamic model needs to be validated by a history matching process. This approach is data-intensive, time-consuming, and often not rigorously accomplished due to the lack of skillset and time. In this study, 10,000 groups of reservoir/completion input data were generated by Latin hypercube sampling method, and then, 10,000 groups of output (oil rate and cumulative production data) were obtained by numerical simulation. Next, a machine learning technique was applied to establish a model between the input data and determining parameters of a decline curve analysis model by fitting the generated cumulative production rate. Overall coefficients of determination (

R

2

) of the three Arps decline curve factors were 0.966, 0.990, and 0.945. The validation result shows that the production rate and cumulative production predicted by the proposed machine learning–decline curve analysis (ML-DCA) model agreed well with those simulated by reservoir simulation. As a result of the ML-DCA regression model, a complete understanding can be established of the impact of reservoir properties on the DCA model. The proposed ML-DCA model not only provides a quick and robust method for petroleum engineers to estimate production performance for unconventional reservoirs from reservoir and completion properties without full-field geocellular modeling but also can be used to optimize the completion and operation parameters for wells of interest.
Transformation of the Education Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia
Authors: Cahaya Andi , Yusriadi Yusriadi , Gheisari Asma
Published: April 2022

During the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown period, the whole educational system from elementary to tertiary levels has been thrown into chaos in Indonesia and around the world. Online modes used by the College of Administration Puangrimaggalatung for learning as well as semester exams are shown in this research. It hopes that it will be able to make better academic decisions in the future when things get tough. The main goal of this study was to look at the need for an online model in education during the COVID pandemic and how educational institutions can use their existing resources to make formal education online with the help of no face-to-face class and other important things. The paper used quantitative and qualitative methods to examine how lecturers and students thought about online teaching learning modes. It also looked at how online teaching learning modes were put into practice. Moreover, the paper is aimed at providing a comprehensive picture of online teaching and learning activities during the lockdown period and demonstrates how the change management process and online teaching and learning processes were linked in the education system during the COVID-19 outbreak. This will aid in the elimination of academic disruption and ensure that instructional activities and discourses may continue as usual in the educational system.
Development and Verification of Prognostic Nomogram for Penile Cancer Based on the SEER Database
Authors: Chen Yon-Bo , Liu Ying-Wen , Gao Liang , Tang Liang-You , Guo Jiang , Tian Yu-Chang , You Ping-Hong
Published: April 2022

Aim. We aimed to establish a prognostic nomogram for penile cancer (PC) patients based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) database. Methods. Data from 1643 patients between 2010 and 2015 were downloaded and extracted from the SEER database. They were randomly divided into the development group (70%) and the verification group (30%), and then, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, respectively, was used to explore the possible risk factors of PC. The factors significantly related to overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) were used to establish the nomogram, which was assessed via the concordance index (C‐index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and calibration curve. An internal validation was conducted to test the accuracy and effectiveness of the nomogram. Kaplan–Meier calculation was used to predict the further OS and CSS status of these patients. Results. On multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, the independent prognostic risk factors associated with OS were age, race, marital status, N/M stage, surgery, surgery of lymph nodes, and histologic type, with a moderate C‐index of 0.737 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.713–0.760) and 0.766 (95% CI: 0.731–0.801) in the development and verification groups, respectively. The areas under the ROC (AUC) of 3‐ and 5‐year OS were 0.749 and 0.770, respectively. While marital status, N/M stage, surgery, surgery of lymph nodes, and histologic type were significantly linked to PC patients’ CSS, which have better C‐index of 0.802 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.771–0.833) and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.775–0.865) in the development and verification groups, and the AUC of 3‐ and 5‐year CSS were 0.766 and 0.787. Both of the survival calibration curves of 3‐ and 5‐year OS and CSS brought out a high consistency. Conclusion. Our study produced a satisfactory nomogram revealing the survival of PC patients, which could be helpful for clinicians to assess the situation of PC patients and to implement further treatment.
Self-Sovereign Identity Solution for Blockchain-Based Land Registry System: A Comparison
Authors: Shuaib Mohammed , Hassan Noor Hafizah , Usman Sahnius , Alam Shadab , Bhatia Surbhi , Mashat Arwa , Kumar Adarsh , Kumar Manoj
Published: April 2022

Providing an identity solution is essential for a reliable blockchain-based land registry system. A secure, privacy-preserving, and efficient identity solution is essential but challenging. This paper examines the current literature and provides a systematic literature review in three stages based on the three research questions (RQ) that show the assessment and interpretation process step by step. Based on the parameters and RQ specified in the research methodology section, a total of 43 primary articles have been selected from the 251 articles extracted from various scientific databases. The majority of these articles are concerned with evaluating the existing self-sovereign identity (SSI) solutions and their role in the blockchain-based land registry system to address the compliance issues in the existing SSI solutions with SSI principles and find the best possible SSI solution to address the identity problems in the land registry. The existing digital identity solutions cannot handle the requirements of the identity principle and are prone to various limitations like centralization and dependency on third parties that further augment the chance of security threats. SSI has been designed to overcome these limitations and provide a secure, reliable, and efficient identity solution that gives complete control to the users over their personal identity information (PII). This paper reviews the existing SSI solutions, evaluates them based on the SSI principles, and comes up with the best possible SSI solution for a blockchain-based land registry system. It further provides a detailed investigation of each SSI solution to present its functionalities and limitations for further improvement.
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4/6 Inhibitors: Is a Noncanonical Substrate the Key Target?
Authors: Frank David A.
Published: April 2022

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK), such as CDK4 and CDK6, phosphorylate RB1 to release the transcription factor E2F and drive the transition from G1 to S-phase of the cell cycle. Inhibitors of these kinases thereby block cell-cycle progression and presumably exert their therapeutic effect. While this mechanism is straight forward, several aspects have seemed problematic, not the least of which is that these drugs seem to have therapeutic effects on a relatively small number of human cancers. Tong and colleagues took an open-ended approach to this mechanistic question, and their results raise the possibility that inhibition of phosphorylation of the transcription factor p73 is a key mechanism of action of these drugs. They show that p73 inhibition and the resultant upregulation of the cell surface receptor DR5 are necessary for the anticancer effects of CDK4/6 inhibitors, including enhancement of immune-mediated cell killing, and that therapeutic benefit relies largely on their use in conjunction with other agents. While many questions remain to be answered, these findings demonstrate the importance of keeping an open mind to mechanistic aspects of therapeutic agents already in clinical use and highlight how rigorous mechanistic studies can answer both basic and translational questions.

See related article by Tong et al., p. 1340
Biomarker-Based Lung Cancer Screening Eligibility: Implementation Considerations
Authors: Hung Rayjean J.
Published: April 2022

With the convergence of promising biomarkers for lung cancer risk stratifications, and the increasing need for better eligibility assessment for lung cancer low-dose CT (LDCT) screening, the elephant in the room now is whether and how the implementation of biomarker-based lung cancer screening eligibility can be successfully achieved. This brief commentary provides an outline of key considerations for biomarker implementations for LDCT eligibility assessment and possible mitigation strategies.

See related article by Jacobsen et al., p. 758
The Importance of Drug Concentration at the Site of Action: Celecoxib and Colon Polyp Prevention as a Case Study
Authors: Thompson Patricia A. , Martinez Jessica A.
Published: April 2022

Celecoxib is among the more potent and better clinically studied, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) for use as a chemoprevention agent for colorectal cancer. Its use is associated with a 40% to 50% response rate for reduction in adenomatous polyps. However, rare serious cardiovascular effects and even death with celecoxib and other NSAIDs make it important to understand why some patients respond and others do not. Celecoxib is a selective inhibitor of COX-2. Its anticancer mechanism has largely been attributed to the inhibition of COX-2. Celecoxib also shows activity to induce apoptosis in cancer cells not expressing COX-2. This includes activity to upregulate 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LOX-1) independent of COX-2 and increase the synthesis of 13-S-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-S-HODE) from linoleic acid (LA) to downregulate PPAR-δ and induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer models. In examining the effect of celecoxib on 15-LOX-1 for reducing adenomatous polyps in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Yang and colleagues point out the potential importance of drug bioavailability in blood, normal, and neoplastic colorectal tissue in patient response.

See related article, p. 217
Think Globally, Act Locally: Globalizing Precision Oncology
Authors: Moyers Justin T. , Subbiah Vivek
Published: April 2022

Globalizing precision oncology should be a major priority for cancer care in the upcoming decades. In this issue, the K-MASTER study provides a framework for infrastructure building in East Asia illustrating the widening global potential of precision oncology. It is time to modify the precision oncology mantra: Give the right drug, to the right patient, at the right time in every country, to think globally and act locally.

See related article by Park et al., p. 938 (3).
Acute Kidney Injury Induced by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Authors: Tian Ruixue , Liang Jin , Li Rongshan , Zhou Xiaoshuang
Published: April 2022

Background: Recent advances in immune therapy have focused on several agents that target tumor suppression; specifically, use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as ipilimumab, pembrolizumab, and nivolumab, has become an important strategy in cancer therapy as they improve outcomes in malignant disease. However, the incidence of renal complications arising from the widespread use of ICIs may be underestimated. Summary: The most frequently reported renal condition caused by ICI use is acute interstitial nephritis, and for clinicians, the crucial question is how to effectively manage patients who develop renal side effects due to cancer treatment. Currently, treatment of kidney injury associated with ICIs adheres to clinical guidelines described in Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes, which entails drug withdrawal and glucocorticoids or combined immunosuppressant use based on disease stage; however, there is no consensus on renal biopsy. Key Messages: Despite significant progress in prevention and treatment, the incidence and mortality of ICI-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) remain very high. This article will discuss the general clinical manifestations, mechanisms of toxicity, renal complications of ICI therapy, and related biomarkers of renal damage. It is envisaged that this information would help clinicians effectively manage AKI due to ICI therapy.
Macular Hole Formation Following Intravitreal Aflibercept for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Ali Said Yasmin , Vanwynsberghe David , Jacob Julie
Published: April 2022

This case report describes full-thickness macular hole formation after intravitreal aflibercept injections for the treatment of macular neovascularization in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Only limited case reports and case series have reported this possible adverse event after aflibercept injection. Possible mechanisms leading to the formation of a macular hole subsequent to intravitreal injection are focal tractional forces on the vitreoretinal interface due to globe deformation during needle insertion, vitreous syneresis, and vitreous incarceration at the injection site, and tangential shearing forces on the posterior surface of the retina due to contraction and rapid volume reduction of the neovascular membrane or a decrease in intra- or subretinal fluid. Furthermore, some reports suggest a toxic effect of the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent on a previously compromised retina as etiological factor. Macular hole formation may thus represent a rare adverse event of intravitreal aflibercept injection in patients with neovascular AMD, and it should be included in the differential diagnosis of post-injectional visual loss.
Effectiveness of Intensively Applied Mirror Therapy in Older Patients with Post-Stroke Hemiplegia: A Preliminary Trial
Authors: Gámez Santiago Ana Belén , Martínez Cáceres Carlos Manuel , Hernández-Morante Juan José
Published: April 2022

Introduction: The present work was carried out to determine the effectiveness of neuromuscular stimulation triggered by mirror therapy (MT) in older patients with post-stroke hemiplegia by two different intervention protocols, either intensively or spaced. Methods: A preliminary trial conducted on Spanish rehabilitation centres was conducted. Forty older patients (>70 years) with diagnosed post-stroke hemiplegia were randomly distributed to intensive intervention group (5 times/week for 6 weeks) or to spaced intervention group (3 times/week for 10 weeks), which underwent a similar number of MT sessions (n = 30). Muscle strength and activity were measured at baseline and at the end of treatment. Functional ability was also evaluated. Results: Although both interventions improved muscle activity parameters, intensive MT showed a significantly and statistically higher intervention effect on electromyographic activity (p < 0.001) and muscle strength (p < 0.001) than the spaced over time protocol. Attending to the Barthel Index scores, the effect on functionality was also greater in the intensive therapy group (p < 0.001), although the functional improvement measured by the Fugl-Meyer test was similar (p = 0.235). The effect of the interventions was independent of age and clinical antecedents. Conclusion: Intensive MT appears to be more effective than a more spaced over time therapy; therefore, at least in the older adults, this treatment protocol should be recommended in the post-stroke recovery of these patients. Further studies will confirm with certainty whether this treatment is the most suitable guideline for to treat these patients.
Prolonged Large Seroma Formation after Breast-Conserving Therapy
Authors: Suzuki Shuhei , Oura Shoji , Makimoto Shinichiro
Published: April 2022

A 78-year-old obese woman with breast cancer underwent breast-conserving surgery and axillary lymph node dissection. Due to the prior exposure to long-term taxan chemotherapy for her recurrent gastric cancer, the patient did not undergo adjuvant chemotherapy and began to receive radiotherapy to both the conserved breast and supraclavicular region on the 39th day after operation. Two aspiration therapies were done to the enlarging seroma only at the initial phase of the radiotherapy. No further aspiration therapies were done to the seroma during and after radiotherapy for more than 3 months despite the undoubtable seroma formation. High degree of tension due to large seroma formation, extended from the axilla to deep into the breast parenchyma, made the patient request us to heal the long-lasting seroma. Five aspiration therapies and one simultaneous minocycline intrathecal injection therapy did not bring about wound healing. To heal the persistent seroma, capsulectomy was done to the encapsulated lesion 7 months after the operation. Resected capsule was 110 × 45 mm in size and had smooth inner surface. Pathological study showed the seroma capsule mainly consisting of fibrous tissue with some inflammatory changes. Postoperative course was uneventful, and wound healing was promptly obtained after capsulectomy. Breast surgeons and radiation oncologists should note this type of unfavorable radiation-induced adverse event after breast-conserving therapy.
First report of Peckia (Squamatodes) ingens (Walker, 1849) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) colonizing human corpse in the Neotropical region
Authors: Guimarães Stephanie Evelyn França , Melo Daphiner Millena Pereira de , Barbosa Taciano Moura , Farias Rodrigo Cesar Azevedo Pereira , Bicho Carla de Lima
Published: April 2022

We report a case of male corpse colonization found inside a residence in the municipality of Areia, Paraíba, Brazil. The body was found in the gaseous stage of decomposition and was colonized by fly larvae. We reared the larvae collected at the crime scene on a temperature-controlled. We supplied beef as a feeding substrate for the larvae until adult emergence to allow taxonomic identification. Three specimens of Peckia (Squamatodes) ingens emerged in the laboratory. Thus, we present the first record of the flesh-fly Peckia (S.) ingens colonizing a human corpse in Neotropical region, updating the list of species with forensic potential. In addition, information on the total time of the species development and the implications of these findings for the consolidation of forensic entomology in the Northeast region were discussed.
Fortuna de Dante: duas novelas de Franco Sacchetti
Authors: Heise Pedro Falleiros
Published: April 2022

Ainda em vida Dante foi muito lido e cantado na península itálica, e não tardou a aparecerem várias anedotas a respeito da vida do poeta florentino, que envolviam tanto sua própria característica psicofísica quanto sua obra-prima, a Comédia. A intenção deste artigo é a de mostrar um exemplo da difusão do poema dantesco na obra de um escritor da geração sucessiva à de Dante: Il trecentonovelle de Franco Sacchetti.
Para onde nos conduz a viagem de Dante?
Authors: Cavallari Doris Natia
Published: April 2022

A Itália e sua língua nacional devem muito ao ato revolucionário de um poeta que se atreveu a romper as barreiras do mundo conhecido e adentrar, em primeira pessoa, nos mistérios da outra vida, aquele “al di là” esperado, desconhecido e temido, partindo da tradição (Virgilio) para chegar à “vida nova”, onde a matéria se faz luz. Em sua jornada, o poeta peregrino passa pelo Inferno, onde antigas criaturas monstruosas e ferozes punem as paixões e as ilusões de soberba, posse, avidez; pelo Purgatório, o mundo do meio que é também meio de libertação das ilusões, reino em que a melancolia se irmana à esperança; ao final dele, o poeta alcança o Paraíso terrestre, pois seu arbítrio já é “libero, dritto e sano” e lhe permite ascender ao Paraíso, o reino em que o “ben dell’intelletto” e a contemplação aliam-se à crescente lucidez, em que a comunhão com o divino se torna real. Ao final de sua busca o “ser com Deus” faz com que o desejo humano seja preenchido de divindade (“ma già volgeva il mio disio e il velle, / sì come rota ch’igualmente è mossa, / l’Amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle”). Ao chegar ao “ponto final”, Dante parece esclarecer as dúvidas e temores dos homens de seu tempo, sigilando finalmente as portas do mundo antigo e suas formas de representação, para nos conduzir ao mundo moderno, ao Humanismo, o tempo em que o indivíduo está em contato com a natureza, com a história e o poeta em diálogo constante com sua obra e seu leitor.
Entre a entidade terrena e deífica de Beatriz: transfigurações da musa dantesca em Vida Nova e na Divina Comédia
Authors: Ribeiro Anne Caroline do Nascimento , Cavalheiro Juciane dos Santos
Published: April 2022

Neste estudo, centrar-nos-emos na inspiração máxima de Dante Alighieri, Beatriz. Um dos grandes trunfos da musa – e de Dante, ao construí-la de forma tão elaborada – encontra-se na transmutação que a personagem recebe nas obras de Dante: no amor cortês e stilnovista de Vida Nova, na filosofia de Convívio, e nas alegorias e na teologia de A Divina Comédia, é possível, através dela, tecer uma representação não apenas da intelectualidade do homem medieval, mas também das diferentes  representações da  mulher na literatura do trecento. É na personagem que também encontramos o maior símbolo desta escola literária italiana, que nos permitirá divisar o auge da concepção da mulher como figura beatificada na Idade Média. Beatriz, como uma figura profética, traz consigo a gênese da literatura italiana. Por exprimir tal efeito de transformação em cada obra dantesca e por se constituir de sentidos que se suplementam e, ao mesmo tempo, que denotam a mudança gradual da personagem, iniciaremos tratando da gênese de Beatriz em Vida Nova até sua transfiguração post mortem na Comédia.
Evolução da contaminação do solo por metais tóxicos: o caso da Plumbum Mineração e Metalurgia Ltda, Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brasil
Authors: Santos Aldeneidiane Santana dos , Anjos José Ângelo Sebastião Araújo dos
Published: April 2022

A metalurgia de chumbo, localizada em Santo Amaro, na Bahia, abandonada em 1993, poluiu e contaminou diversos compartimentos ambientais e afetou severamente a saúde da população que reside, principalmente, em seu entorno. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a evolução dos protocolos utilizados nos 17 estudos realizados nos solos contaminados provenientes da Plumbum Mineração e Metalurgia Ltda. Adotou-se como metodologia científica a pesquisa bibliográfica, na qual foram estabelecidas três fases distintas sobre a evolução desses estudos e agrupadas pela época versus fato(s) marcante(s) que caracterizasse(m) as pesquisas, bem como aplicaram-se estudos geoestatísticos aos dados analíticos de monitoramento ambiental realizado pelos autores para a área. A primeira fase, correspondente ao período de 1990 a 2001, é marcada pelos  estudos que avaliaram apenas chumbo e cádmio. A segunda fase corresponde ao período de 2002 a 2008 e é marcada pelo estudo de outros elementos, incluindo o aprimoramento dos protocolos analíticos e as possíveis técnicas de remediação adotadas. A terceira fase inicia-se com os estudos posteriores à resolução nº 420/2009 do Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (CONAMA) até 2016. Conclui-se que a falta de adoção de regulamento específico para avaliação desses solos levou a erros analíticos e conclusões inconsistentes das reais concentrações desses metais no solo em Santo Amaro. Os dados consultados não podem ser comparados, em virtude das diversas metodologias utilizadas. Caso o Estado não cumpra o que está disposto na resolução vigente, os erros poderão persistir para as pesquisas de futuras gerações.
Trace-element composition of pyrite and its implications for hydrothermal process within the Mesoproterozoic metasedimentary sequences of the São Francisco Craton, northeastern Brazil
Authors: Melo Marilane Gonzaga de , Moreira Éder Carlos , Simplicio Fábio , Queiroga Gláucia Nascimento , D’Agostim Letícia Garcia , Castro Marco Paulo de
Published: April 2022

The distribution of trace elements in pyrite has been documented for the first time in quartz veins hosted in the Mesoproterozoic metasedimentary sequence of the Tombador Formation, São Francisco Craton, northeast Brazil. In this study, Electron Microprobe Analyses (EPMA) were used to determine the trace-element compositions of pyrite in these hydrothermal quartz veins. Three pyrite types have been distinguished and interpreted from petrographical relationships and trace-element patterns. Pre-existing pyrite (Py1), derived from the host-rock quartzite, is Ni-poor with concentrations varying from 600 – 6,100 ppm. Elongated syn-tectonic pyrite (Py2) has similar trace-element composition to the Py1, with Ni amounts ranging between 830 and 7,870 ppm. In contrast, possibly post-tectonic, euhedral to subhedral hydrothermal pyrite (Py3), contains higher contents of Ni (7,970 – 26,120 ppm). Mafic and/or metasedimentary rocks from the Espinhaço Supergroup were probably the source of Ni for this fluid-flow event. Fluid generation is related to  the devolatilization of the base of the thickened crust, with migration of fluids by preexisting structures. Several shear zones and large-scale NNW-trending folds were developed during the inversion of the Espinhaço basin, as a result of the ca. 0.6 Ga Brasiliano orogenic event. Regional fluid movement through the crust at this time is supported by several mineralized veins and hydrothermal deposits in the São Francisco Craton and adjacent Neoproterozoic belts.
Hidroquímica de águas superficiais e subterrâneas em Carnaúba dos Dantas, Rio Grande do Norte
Authors: Carvalho Alan Kellnon Nóbrega de , Souza Raquel Franco de
Published: April 2022

Os recursos hídricos superficiais e subterrâneos são uma importante fonte de água no semiárido brasileiro, onde a irregularidade das chuvas e a interação água-rocha produzem águas salinizadas, o que geralmente é visto em Carnaúba dos Dantas, Rio Grande do Norte. Para preencher lacunas de dados hidroquímicos no município, foram coletadas quatro amostras de águas superficiais e sete amostras de águas subterrâneas no início do período chuvoso, em fevereiro de 2020. Foram aferidos, in situ, o pH, a condutividade elétrica, a temperatura e os sólidos totais dissolvidos (STD). Os resultados das análises químicas foram interpretados a partir da construção de diagramas hidroquímicos, matriz de correlação de Spearman e equações matemáticas. O Índice de Revelle indica maior influência de salinização nas amostras coletadas em terrenos dominados por micaxistos e menor onde predominam os quartzitos e nas águas superficiais. O diagrama de Piper exibe águas que variam entre Ca2+-Mg2+-HCO3-, Na+-Cl- e Ca2+-Mg2+-Cl-, enquanto o diagrama de Stiff mostra agrupamentos em que duas amostras de poços tubulares (LAJ1 e XIQ1) se relacionam com as águas superficiais e a influência de deformações NE-SW e E-W na recarga subterrânea. A contribuição da dissolução de silicatos é apontada no diagrama de misturas, enquanto o diagrama de Gibbs evidencia o potencial aporte antrópico nas amostras de águas subterrâneas RAJ1 e CDD1 pela influência de cloretos, aporte este corroborado pelas correlações positivas dos cloretos com SO42-, NH3 e NO2-. O índice cloro-alcalino indica a relação das amostras subterrâneas em terrenos dominados por micaxistos com a troca iônica, enquanto a troca iônica reversa é predominante nas águas superficiais.
Incremental Detection of Severe Congenital Heart Disease by Fetal Echocardiography Following a Normal Second Trimester Ultrasound Scan in Québec, Canada
Authors: Cardinal Mikhail-Paul , Gagnon Marie-Hélène , Têtu Cassandre , Beauchamp Francis-Olivier , Roy Louis-Olivier , Noël Camille , Vaujois Laurence , Cavallé-Garrido Tiscar , Bigras Jean-Luc , Roy-Lacroix Marie-Ève , Dallaire Frederic
Published: April 2022

Background:

The benefit of fetal echocardiograms (FE) to detect severe congenital heart diseases (SCHD) in the setting of a normal second-trimester ultrasound is unclear. We aimed to assess whether the increase in SCHD detection rates when FE are performed for risk factors in the setting of a normal ultrasound was clinically significant to justify the resources needed.

Methods:

This is a multicenter, population-based, retrospective cohort study, including all singleton pregnancies and offspring in Quebec (Canada) between 2007 and 2015. Administrative health care data were linked with FE clinical data to gather information on prenatal diagnosis of CHD, indications for FE, outcomes of pregnancy and offspring, postnatal diagnosis of CHD, cardiac interventions, and causes of death. The difference between the sensitivity to detect SCHD with and without FE for risk factors was calculated using generalized estimating equations with a noninferiority margin of 5 percentage points.

Results:

A total of 688 247 singleton pregnancies were included, of which 30 263 had at least one FE. There were 1564 SCHD, including 1071 that were detected prenatally (68.5%). There were 12 210 FE performed for risk factors in the setting of a normal second-trimester ultrasound, which led to the detection of 49 additional cases of SCHD over 8 years. FE referrals for risk factors increased sensitivity by 3.1 percentage points (95% CI, 2.3–4.0;
P
<0.0001 for noninferiority).

Conclusions:

In the setting of a normal second-trimester ultrasound, adding a FE for risk factors offered low incremental value to the detection rate of SCHD in singleton pregnancies. The current ratio of clinical gains versus the FE resources needed to screen for SCHD in singleton pregnancies with isolated risk factors does not seem favorable. Further studies should evaluate whether these resources could be better allocated to increase SCHD sensitivity at the ultrasound level, and to help decrease heterogeneity between regions, institutions and operators.
Inhibition of DYRK1a Enhances Cardiomyocyte Cycling After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Young Alexander , Bradley Leigh A. , Farrar Elizabeth , Bilcheck Helen O. , Tkachenko Svyatoslav , Saucerman Jeffrey J. , Bekiranov Stefan , Wolf Matthew J.
Published: April 2022

Background:

DYRK1a (dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1a) contributes to the control of cycling cells, including cardiomyocytes. However, the effects of inhibition of DYRK1a on cardiac function and cycling cardiomyocytes after myocardial infarction (MI) remain unknown.

Methods:

We investigated the impacts of pharmacological inhibition and conditional genetic ablation of DYRK1a on endogenous cardiomyocyte cycling and left ventricular systolic function in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) MI using
αMHC-MerDreMer-Ki67p-RoxedCre::Rox-Lox-tdTomato-eGFP
(
RLTG
) (denoted
αDKRC::RLTG
) and

αMHC-Cre::Fucci2aR::DYRK1a
flox/flox

mice.

Results:

We observed that harmine, an inhibitor of DYRK1a, improved left ventricular ejection fraction (39.5±1.6% and 29.1±1.6%, harmine versus placebo, respectively), 2 weeks after I/R MI. Harmine also increased cardiomyocyte cycling after I/R MI in
αDKRC::RLTG
mice, 10.8±1.5 versus 24.3±2.6 enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (eGFP)+ cardiomyocytes, placebo versus harmine, respectively,
P
=1.0×10
−
3
. The effects of harmine on left ventricular ejection fraction were attenuated in
αDKRC::DTA
mice that expressed an inducible diphtheria toxin in adult cycling cardiomyocytes. The conditional cardiomyocyte-specific genetic ablation of DYRK1a in

αMHC-Cre::Fucci2aR::DYRK1a
flox/flox

(denoted
DYRK1a k/o
) mice caused cardiomyocyte hyperplasia at baseline (210±28 versus 126±5 cardiomyocytes per 40× field, DYRK1a k/o versus controls, respectively,
P
=1.7×10
−
2
) without changes in cardiac function compared with controls, or compensatory changes in the expression of other DYRK isoforms. After I/R MI,
DYRK1a k/o
mice had improved left ventricular function (left ventricular ejection fraction 41.8±2.2% and 26.4±0.8%, DYRK1a k/o versus control, respectively,
P
=3.7×10
−2
). RNAseq of cardiomyocytes isolated from

αMHC-Cre::Fucci2aR::DYRK1a
flox/flox

and
αMHC-Cre::Fucci2aR
mice after I/R MI or Sham surgeries identified enrichment in mitotic cell cycle genes in

αMHC-Cre::Fucci2aR::DYRK1a
flox/flox

compared with
αMHC-Cre::Fucci2aR
.

Conclusions:

The pharmacological inhibition or cardiomyocyte-specific ablation of DYRK1a caused baseline hyperplasia and improved cardiac function after I/R MI, with an increase in cell cycle gene expression, suggesting the inhibition of DYRK1a may serve as a therapeutic target to treat MI.
How Close is Close Enough? A Discussion of the Distances Relevant to Personalizing Tornado Risk
Authors: Sherman-Morris Kathleen , Senkbeil Jason C. , Vaughn Cole
Published: April 2022

Risk perception and the desire to personalize and confirm warning information have been associated with protective action. Risk perception typically increases with close proximity to a threat, but research involving time, space, and tornado risk perception has stopped short of attempting to define a distance at which an individual would believe they are personally at risk from a tornado. In this study, we surveyed 1,023 individuals across the southeastern United States at risk from tornadoes. The goal was to add to our understanding of the role of distance in tornado risk perception by quantifying an individual’s “worry distance.” The study examined an individual’s worry distance in multiple ways, including three map-based warning scenarios. Our results indicated that participants would worry about their house or loved ones or take shelter in a tornado if it was on average within 11–12 mi. These distances were greater than the 7–8 mi at which they believed they could see, hear, or feel the effects of a tornado. There was a considerable amount of variation in the self-reported distances, some of which can be explained by past exposure. When provided tornado warning maps with varying scales or county borders, neither map scale nor the presence of a border had an influence. The lack of any influence of map scale raises the question of how individuals consider objective geospatial distance when using a map-based warning for familiar or novel locations.
Learning from Precipitation Events in the Wider Domain to Improve the Performance of a Deep Learning–Based Precipitation Nowcasting Model
Authors: Inoue Tsuyoshi , Misumi Ryohei
Published: April 2022

Deep learning models have been shown to perform well in terms of the radar-based precipitation nowcasting problem when compared with advection-based models. Yet, most of the existing literature has used locally trained models, and relatively little is known about how to construct deep learning–based nowcasting models applicable in wider domains. We conduct experiments for precipitation nowcasting using deep learning models spanning the region around Japan with the Japan Meteorological Agency radar precipitation dataset with 1-km spatial resolution and 5-min temporal resolution. We trained the model with radar data sampled from all over Japan, then applied transfer learning with regional data. Through this experiment, it is found that combining data from all over Japan is effective in improving the forecast performance of heavy precipitation with deep learning models.

Significance Statement

This paper proposes a methodological improvement for the problem of short-term rainfall forecasting (nowcasting) using deep learning. We trained deep learning models with data sampled from all over Japan, then applied transfer learning with regional data. We compared the performance metrics of several modeling approaches and demonstrated that learning from heavy precipitation examples collected from wider domains improves the performance significantly. This finding suggests that there are a lot of commonalities in the time evolution of rainfall patterns at different geographical locations, which could be exploited to improve the model’s performance. A future research topic could be to learn from a larger dataset, including precipitation datasets from other countries.
Cost Differences Between Teaching and Nonteaching Hospitals for Older Adults Requiring Emergency General Surgery Procedures in the State of Maryland
Authors: Ghneim Mira H. , Sadler Craig A. , Kufera Joseph A. , Hendrix Cheralyn J. , Herrold Joseph A. , Clark Jaclyn , O’Meara Lindsay B. , Diaz Jose J.
Published: April 2022

Background

Older adults (OAs; ≥ 65 years) comprise a growing population in the United States and are anticipated to require an increasing number of emergency general surgery procedures (EGSPs). The aims of this study were to identify the frequency of EGSPs and compare cost of care in OAs managed at teaching hospitals (THs) vs nonteaching hospitals (NTHs).

Methods

A retrospective review of data from the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission database from 2009 to 2018 for OAs undergoing EGSPs was undertaken. Data collected included demographics, all patient-refined (APR)-severity of illness (SOI), APR-risk of mortality (ROM), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), EGSPs (partial colectomy (PC), small bowel resection, cholecystectomy, operative management of peptic ulcers, lysis of adhesions, appendectomy, and laparotomy, categorized hospital charges, length of stay (LOS), and mortality.

Results

Of the 55,401 OAs undergoing EGSPs in this study, 28,575 (51.6%) were treated at THs and 26,826 (48.4%) at NTHs. OAs at THs presented with greater APR-ROM (major 25.6% vs 24.9%, extreme 22.6% vs 22.0%, P=.01), and CCI (3.1±3 vs 2.7±2.8, P<.001) compared to NTHs. Lysis of adhesions, cholecystectomy, and PC comprised the overall most common EGSPs. Older adults at THs incurred comparatively higher median hospital charges for every EGSP due to increased room charges and LOS. Mortality was higher at THs (6.13% vs 5.33%, P<.001).

Conclusion

While acuity of illness appears similar, cost of undergoing EGSPs for OAs is higher in THs vs NTHs due to increased LOS. Future work is warranted to determine and mitigate factors that increase LOS at THs.