bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnosis of Acute Dengue Virus Infection Using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Real-Time PCR
Authors: Iqbal Gohar , Javed Hasnain , Raza Faiz Ahmed , Gohar Umar Farooq , Fatima Warda , Khurshid Mohsin
Published: May 2023

Dengue fever is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus and is a growing concern for public health worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a commercially available NS1 ELISA kit for dengue fever in Pakistan using multiplex qRT-PCR as the gold standard. The study recruited 1236 suspected cases of dengue fever admitted to public sector hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. Of the suspected cases, 610 (49.3%) were confirmed positive for DENV infection through qRT-PCR, with all four serotypes detected. DENV-2 was the most prevalent serotype, detected in 95.7% of cases. The NS1 ELISA kit detected 71.1% of the positive cases. However, the diagnostic accuracy of the NS1 ELISA kit was found to be only 64.89%. Of the 610 confirmed cases, 68% were male and 32% were female, with a median age of 30 years. Dengue fever was diagnosed in 91.8% of cases, while 8.2% were diagnosed with dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF patients had a higher prevalence of abdominal pain, hemorrhagic manifestations, and thrombocytopenia. The cocirculation of all four DENV serotypes in Lahore is concerning and could lead to more severe forms of the disease, such as DHF or dengue shock syndrome, in the future. The study highlights the low diagnostic accuracy of commercially available NS1 ELISA kits and emphasizes the importance of using molecular methods to confirm acute dengue infections. Given the increasing prevalence of dengue fever in developing countries like Pakistan, more accurate and reliable diagnostic tools are needed for effective disease management and control.
Prevalence and Predictors of Pulmonary Tuberculosis among Prison Inmates in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Mera Habtamu Belew , Wagnew Fasil , Akelew Yibeltal , Hibstu Zigale , Berihun Sileshi , Tamir Workineh , Alemu Simegn , Lamore Yonas , Mesganaw Bewket , Adugna Adane , Tsegaye Tefsa Birlew
Published: May 2023

Introduction. Prisoners in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are at a high risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection due to overcrowding and poor ventilation. Consequently, TB is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in prison, and many inmates face a number of barriers to TB control and had limited information in the region. Thus, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the overall pooled prevalence of pulmonary TB and predictors among prison inmates in SSA. Methods. From 2006 to 2019, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using various databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus. The data were extracted in Microsoft Excel using a standardized data extraction format, and the analysis was carried out with STATA version 14. To detect heterogeneity across studies, the

I

2

and the Cochrane

Q

test statistics were computed. To determine the overall prevalence of TB and predictors among prison populations, a random effect meta-analysis model was used. Results. Of the 3,479 retrieved articles, 37studies comprising 72,844 inmates met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of pulmonary TB among prison inmates in SSA was 7.74% (95% CI: 6.46-8.47). In the subgroup analysis, the highest prevalence was found in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) (19.72%) followed by Zambia (11.68%) and then Ethiopia (9.22%). TB/HIV coinfection (OR 4.99 (95% CI: 2.60-9.58)), Body mass index (

BMI
<
18.5

) (OR 3.62 (95% CI: 2.65-6.49)), incarceration (OR 4.52 (95% CI: 2.31-5.68)), and previous TB exposure (OR 2.43 (95% CI: 1.61-3.56)) had higher odds of pulmonary TB among inmates. Conclusion. The prevalence of pulmonary TB among SSA prison inmates was found to be high as compared to total population. TB/HIV coinfection, BMI, incarceration duration, and TB exposure were all predictors with pulmonary tuberculosis in prison inmates. As a result, emphasizing early screening for prisoners at risk of pulmonary TB is an important point to achieving global TB commitments in resource-limited settings.
A Method for Analyzing Learning Sentiment Based on Classroom Time‐Series Images
Authors: Shou Zhaoyu , Zhu Ning , Wen Hui , Liu Jinghua , Mo Jianwen , Zhang Huibing
Published: May 2023

With the development of smart classrooms, analyzing students’ emotions for classroom learning is an effective means of accurately capturing their learning process. Although facial expression‐based emotion analysis methods are effective in analyzing classroom learning emotions, current research focuses on facial expressions and does not consider the fact that expressions in different postures do not represent the same emotions. To provide a continuous and deeper understanding of students’ learning emotions, this study proposes an algorithm to characterize learning emotions based on classroom time‐series image data. First, face expression data for classroom scenarios are established to address the lack of expression databases in real teaching environments. Second, to improve the accuracy of facial expression recognition, a residual channel cross transformer masking net expression recognition model is proposed in this paper. Finally, to address the problem that the existing research dimension of learning emotion is too single, this paper uses the facial expression and head posture data obtained from deep learning models for fusion analysis and innovatively proposes a Dempster–Shafer evidence‐theoretic fusion model to characterize the learning emotion within the lecture duration of knowledge points. The experiments show that both the proposed expression recognition model and the learning sentiment analysis algorithm have good performance, with the expression recognition model achieving an accuracy of 73.58% on the FER2013 dataset. The proposed learning emotion analysis method provides technical support for holistic analysis of student learning effects and evaluation of students’ level of understanding of the knowledge points.
Astragaloside IV Attenuates High-Glucose-Induced Impairment in Diabetic Nephropathy by Increasing Klotho Expression via the NF-κB/NLRP3 Axis
Authors: He Jiaxin , Cui Jialin , Shi Yimin , Wang Tao , Xin Junyan , Li Yimeng , Shan Xiaomeng , Zhu Zhiyao , Gao Yanbin
Published: May 2023

Objective. Deficiencies in klotho are implicated in various kidney dysfunctions including diabetic nephropathy (DN) related to inflammatory responses. Klotho is closely related to inflammatory responses and is a potential target for ameliorating kidney failure. Pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of programmed cell death, is reported to take part in DN pathogenesis recently. This study is aimed at exploring whether and how klotho inhibited podocyte pyroptosis and whether astragaloside IV (AS-IV) protect podocyte through the regulation of klotho. Materials and Methods. SD rat model of DN and conditionally immortalized mouse podocytes exposed to high glucose were treated with AS-IV. Biochemical assays and morphological examination, cell viability assay, cell transfection, phalloidin staining, ELISA, LDH release assay, SOD and MDA detection, MMP assay, ROS level detection, flow cytometry analysis, TUNEL staining assay, PI/Hoechst 33342 staining, immunofluorescence assay, and western blot were performed to elucidate podocyte pyroptosis and to observe the renal morphology. Results. The treatment of AS-IV can improve renal function and protect podocytes exposed to high glucose. Klotho was decreased, and AS-IV increased klotho levels in serum and kidney tissue of DN rats as well as podocytes exposed to high glucose. AS-IV can inhibit DN glomeruli pyroptosis in vivo. In vitro, overexpressed klotho and treatment with AS-IV inhibited pyroptosis of podocytes cultured in high glucose. Klotho knockdown promoted podocyte pyroptosis, and treatment with AS-IV reversed this effect. Furthermore, the overexpression of klotho and AS-IV reduces oxidative stress levels and inhibited NF-κB activation and NLRP3-mediated podocytes’ pyroptosis which was abolished by klotho knockdown. In addition, both the ROS inhibitor NAC and the NF-κB pathway inhibitor PDTC can inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation. NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 can inhibit pyroptosis of podocytes exposed to high glucose. Conclusion. Altogether, our results demonstrate that the protective effect of AS-IV in upregulating klotho expression in diabetes-induced podocyte injury is associated with the inhibition of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis via the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) Powder in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Feed: Effects on Growth, Immunity, and Yersinia ruckeri Resistance
Authors: Ghafarifarsani Hamed , Hoseinifar Seyed Hossein , Molayemraftar Taravat , Raeeszadeh Mahdieh , Van Doan Hien
Published: May 2023

The current research investigated the effects of pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) powder on growth, biochemical parameters, digestive enzymes, serum and mucus immune responses, antioxidant defense, and resistance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) against Yersinia ruckeri. Fish (No. 450,

15.06
±
0.11

 g;

mean
±
SE

) were randomly distributed to five groups fed with a diet containing 0 (control group), 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% of pot marigold powder (MP) for 60 days. Then, fish were challenged with Y. ruckeri infection. Specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain (WG), final weight (FW), feed conversion ratio (FCR), mucus lysozyme (LYZ), mucus protease, serum nitroblue tetrazolium test (NBT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) values in the 1%, 1.5%, and 2% MP groups significantly increased (

P
<
0.05

) compared to the other groups. Regression analysis exhibited that rainbow trout growth indices were polynomially linked to dietary MP concentrations. In this regard, the optimal levels of MP, according to growth parameters (SGR and FCR), were 1.31 and 1.4% diet, respectively. The intestinal protease, serum complement component 3 (C3), complement component 4 (C4), and LYZ activities in fish fed with the 1% and 1.5% MP-supplemented regime were higher (

P
<
0.05

) compared to the other groups. Also, fish fed with diets containing 1.5% MP had significantly higher intestinal lipase and mucus ALP activities than the other groups (

P
<
0.05

). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity in all MP groups remarkably increased (

P
<
0.05

) compared to the control. Moreover, fish fed with a diet containing 1.5% MP had remarkably higher (

P
<
0.05

) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and total protein (TP) values than the other groups. Serum myeloperoxidase (MPO), total immunoglobulin (Ig), and mucus peroxidase values in the 1% MP group remarkably increased (

P
<
0.05

) compared to the other groups. In addition, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in the 1.5% and 2% MP groups were significantly higher (

P
<
0.05

) compared to the others. However, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in fish fed with the 1%, 1.5%, and 2% MP-supplemented diet remarkably decreased than in the other groups (

P
<
0.05

). The highest survival rate after a challenge with Y. ruckeri was recorded in the 1.5% group compared to the control group. Our findings revealed that using pot marigold powder in diets, especially at the 1.5% level, has positive effects on growth, digestive enzyme activities, antioxidant capacity, immune response, and disease resistance in O. mykiss.
APR-246 Enhances Colorectal Cancer Sensitivity to Radiotherapy
Authors: Xie Xuqin , Fan Chuanwen , Luo Bin , Zhang Jing , Jensen Lasse D. , Burman Jonas , Jönsson Carolin , Ljusberg Anna , Larsson Peter , Zhao Zengren , Sun Xiao-Feng
Published: May 2023

p53 mutation is common and highly related to radiotherapy resistance in rectal cancer. APR-246, as a small molecule, can restore the tumor-suppressor function to mutant p53. As there is currently no existing study on combining APR-246 with radiation in rectal cancer, our objective was to investigate whether APR-246 could enhance the sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells, regardless of their p53 status, to radiation treatment. The combination treatment had synergistic effects on HCT116p53-R248W/− (p53Mut) cells, followed by HCT116p53+/+ [wild-type p53 (p53WT)] cells, and exhibited an additive effect on HCT116p53−/− (p53Null) cells through inhibiting proliferation, enhancing reactive oxygen species, and apoptosis. The results were confirmed in zebrafish xenografts. Mechanistically, p53Mut and p53WT cells shared more activated pathways and differentially expressed genes following the combination treatment, compared with p53Null cells, although the combination treatment regulated individual pathways in the different cell lines. APR-246 mediated radiosensitization effects through p53-dependent and -independent ways. The results may provide evidence for a clinical trial of the combination in patients with rectal cancer.
CD69 Imposes Tumor-Specific CD8+ T-cell Fate in Tumor-Draining Lymph Nodes
Authors: Koyama-Nasu Ryo , Kimura Motoko Y. , Kiuchi Masahiro , Aoki Ami , Wang Yangsong , Mita Yukiyoshi , Hasegawa Ichita , Endo Yukihiro , Onodera Atsushi , Hirahara Kiyoshi , Motohashi Shinichiro , Nakayama Toshinori
Published: May 2023

Tumor-specific CD8+ T cells play a pivotal role in antitumor immunity and are a key target of immunotherapeutic approaches. Intratumoral CD8+ T cells are heterogeneous; Tcf1+ stemlike CD8+ T cells give rise to their cytotoxic progeny—Tim-3+ terminally differentiated CD8+ T cells. However, where and how this differentiation process occurs has not been elucidated. We herein show that terminally differentiated CD8+ T cells can be generated within tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLN) and that CD69 expression on tumor-specific CD8+ T cells controls its differentiation process through regulating the expression of the transcription factor TOX. In TDLNs, CD69 deficiency diminished TOX expression in tumor-specific CD8+ T cells, and consequently promoted generation of functional terminally differentiated CD8+ T cells. Anti-CD69 administration promoted the generation of terminally differentiated CD8+ T cells, and the combined use of anti-CD69 and anti–programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) showed an efficient antitumor effect. Thus, CD69 is an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy that synergizes with immune checkpoint blockade.
Grounding the Global: Pathways to Elucidating Tensions in Chinese Contemporary Art
Authors: Mak Kathy Yim King
Published: May 2023

This article reviews two recent books on Chinese contemporary art, Sasha Welland's Experimental Beijing (2018) and Jenny Lin's Above Sea (2019), concerned with the sociopolitical contexts of the 1990s–2000s' globalizing Beijing and Shanghai respectively. By examining the two authors' respective methodologies—Welland's ethnographical field research and Lin's urban cultural research—, this article interprets how these two books shed light on the role of tensions in the intersectional global-local spaces of Chinese contemporary art. It argues that this field of art history necessitates the employment of non-art historical methodologies, as shown by the two books, in order to locate and make visible the intangible tensions hovering in the art's global-local spaces.
Macaronesian Muscidae (Diptera). IV. The genus Helina Robineau-Desvoidy, and description of the male of Spilogona maderensis Michelsen
Authors: MICHELSEN VERNER
Published: May 2023

The Macaronesian species of the muscid genus Helina are revised. The genus is represented in the Canary Islands by 9 species, in Madeira by 7 species, and in the Azores Islands by 1 species. Four species, one divided in two subspecies, are endemic to the Canary Islands: Helina grancanariae sp. nov. (Gran Canaria), H. obscurisquama obscurisquama (Stein) (Tenerife, La Gomera), H. obscurisquama pseudonivalis (Santos Abréu) ssp. rev. (La Palma), H. rufitibialis Hennig (Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma) and H. santosabreui sp. nov. (La Gomera, La Palma). The following three species are endemic to Madeira: Helina atlantica (Tiensuu), H. lundbladi Tiensuu and H. vilissima Hennig. Existing records of Helina almeriensis (Strobl) and H. quadrum (Fabricius) from the Canary Islands are considered as misidentifications. An identification key to males and females concludes the species accounts. Finally, a description is given of the previously unknown male sex of the endemic Madeiran Spilogona maderensis Michelsen.
Commitment to Active Allyship Is Required to Address the Lack of Hispanic and Latinx Representation in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Authors: Morales Annareli , Molina Maria J. , Trujillo-Falcón Joseph E. , Nuñez Ocasio Kelly M. , Lang Andrea L. , Murillo Elisa , Bieri Carolina , Barrett Bradford S. , Avilés Lourdes B. , Camargo Suzana J.
Published: May 2023

In 2021, people of Hispanic and Latinx origin made up 6% of the atmospheric and Earth sciences workforce of the United States, yet they represent 20% of the population. Motivated by this disparity in Hispanic and Latinx representation in the atmospheric and Earth science workforce, this manuscript documents the lack of representation through existing limited demographic data. The analysis presents a clear gap in participation by Hispanic and Latinx people in academic settings, with a widening gap through each education and career stage. Several factors and challenges impacting the representation disparity include the lack of funding for and collaboration with Hispanic-serving institutions, limited opportunities due to immigration status, and limited support for international research collaborations. We highlight the need for actionable steps to address the lack of representation and provide targeted recommendations to federal funding agencies, educational institutions, faculty, and potential employers. While we wait for systemic cultural change from our scientific institutions, grassroots initiatives like those proudly led by the AMS Committee for Hispanic and Latinx Advancement will emerge to address the needs of the Hispanic and Latinx scientific and broader community. We briefly highlight some of those achievements. Lasting cultural change can only happen if our leaders are active allies in the creation of a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive future. Alongside our active allies we will continue to champion for change in our weather, water, and climate enterprise.
Improving the Representation of Hail in the Thompson Microphysics Scheme
Authors: Jensen Anders A. , Thompson Gregory , Ikeda Kyoko , Tessendorf Sarah A.
Published: May 2023

Methods to improve the representation of hail in the Thompson–Eidhammer microphysics scheme are explored. A new two-moment and predicted density graupel category is implemented into the Thompson–Eidhammer scheme. Additionally, the one-moment graupel category’s intercept parameter is modified, based on hail observations, to shift the properties of the graupel category to become more hail-like since the category is designed to represent both graupel and hail. Finally, methods to diagnose maximum expected hail size at the surface and aloft are implemented. The original Thompson–Eidhammer version, the newly implemented two-moment and predicted density graupel version, and the modified (to be more hail-like) one-moment version are evaluated using a case that occurred during the Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) field campaign, during which hail-producing storms merged into a strong mesoscale convective system. The three versions of the scheme are evaluated for their ability to predict hail sizes compared to observed hail sizes from storm reports and estimated from radar, their ability to predict radar reflectivity signatures at various altitudes, and their ability to predict cold-pool features like temperature and wind speed. One key benefit of using the two-moment and predicted density graupel category is that the simulated reflectivity values in the upper levels of discrete storms are clearly improved. This improvement coincides with a significant reduction in the areal extent of graupel aloft, also seen when using the updated one-moment scheme. The two-moment and predicted density graupel scheme is also better able to predict a wide variety of hail sizes at the surface, including large (>2-in. diameter) hail that was observed during this case.
Evaluation of Probabilistic Snow Forecasts for Winter Weather Operations at Intermountain West Airports
Authors: Uden Dana M. , Wandishin Matthew S. , Schlatter Paul , Kraus Michael
Published: May 2023

This work set out to assess the performance of four forecast systems [the Short-Range Ensemble Forecast (SREF), High-Resolution Rapid Refresh Ensemble (HRRRE), the National Blend of Models (NBM), and the Probabilistic Snow Accumulation product (PSA) from the National Weather Service (NWS) Boulder, Colorado, Weather Forecast Office] when predicting snowfall events around the Intermountain West to advise winter weather decision-making processes at Denver International Airport. The goal was to provide airport personnel and the Boulder NWS Forecast Office with operationally relevant verification results on the timing and severity of these events so they are able to make better-informed decisions to minimize negative impacts of storms. Forecasts of snow events using various probability thresholds and a climatological snow-to-liquid ratio of 15:1 were evaluated against Meteorological Aerodrome Reports (METARs) for 24-h periods following four decision-making times spaced equally throughout the day. For the ensembles, a frequentist approach was used: the forecast probability equaled the percentage of ensemble members that predicted a snow event. The results show that the NBM had the best timing of snow events out of the products, while all the products tended to overforecast snow amount. Additionally, NBM had fewer snow events and rarely had high probabilities of snow, unlike the other forecast products.
Issues and Strategies in Training Left-Handed Surgeons
Authors: Denison Madaliene E. , Awad Kyrillos , Gillen Jacob R. , Nussbaum Michael S. , Collier Bryan R.
Published: May 2023

Left-hand dominance in surgery is a trait historically regarded as disadvantageous to both the trainee and trainer. The aim of this editorial was to identify challenges faced by left-handed trainees and trainers across multiple surgical specialties and to propose strategies that could be implemented during surgical training . Multiple themes were identified including left-handed surgeons experiencing discrimination due to their handedness. Additionally, a higher incidence of ambidexterity among left-handed trainees was noted, suggesting that left-handed surgeons may be adapting to a lack of accommodations for left-hand trainees. Also explored were the effects of handedness in training vs practice and the effects of handedness across subspecialties including orthopedic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and plastic surgery. Solutions discussed involved teaching both right-handed and left-handed surgeons' ambidexterity, pairing left-handed surgeons with left-handed trainees, having left-handed instruments available, adapting the surgical environment to the operating surgeon, communicating laterality, utilizing simulation centers or virtual reality, and encouraging prospective research looking at best-practices.
Transdiagnostic therapy compared to progressive muscle relaxation on the emotional health of mothers with premature infants: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Reisi Sajjad , Ahmadi Seyed Mojtaba , Foroughi Aliakbar , Bahrami Reza , Parvizifard Aliakbar
Published: May 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of transdiagnostic therapy compared to progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on emotion regulation strategies, self-compassion, maternal role adaptation, and social and work adjustment in mothers of premature infants.

Materials and methods

This was a randomized controlled trial with two groups and pre-test, post-test, and a two-month follow-up assessment. Included were 27 mothers randomly assigned to either the transdiagnostic therapy group or the PMR group (13 in the transdiagnostic group and 14 in the PMR group). The experimental group received eight sessions of transdiagnostic therapy while the control group received eight sessions of PMR. The participants completed the following scales: Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale, Maternal Role Adaptation Scale, and Work and Social Adjustment Scale.

Results

Transdiagnostic therapy was significantly more effective than PMR in improving emotion regulation strategies, self-compassion, maternal role adaptation, and social and work adjustment based on the between-group comparison conducted at post-test and follow-up ( p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Transdiagnostic therapy was shown to be effective in improving the emotional health of mothers with premature infants and was more effective than PMR techniques.
Examining Rail Transportation Route of Crude Oil in the United States Using Crowdsourced Social Media Data
Authors: Liu Yuandong , Uddin Majbah , Chin Shih-Miao , Hwang Ho-Ling , Chen Jiaoli
Published: May 2023

Safety issues associated with transporting crude oil by rail have been a concern since the boom of the U.S. domestic shale oil production in 2012. During the last decade, over 300 crude-oil-by-rail incidents have occurred in the United States. Some of them have caused adverse consequences including fire and hazardous materials leakage. However, only limited information on crude-on-rail routes and their associated risks is available to the public. To this end, this study proposed an unconventional way to reconstruct crude-on-rail routes using geotagged photos harvested from the Flickr website. The proposed method linked the geotagged photos of crude oil trains posted online with national railway networks to identify potential railway segments that those crude oil trains were traveling on. A shortest path-based method was applied to infer the complete crude-on-rail routes, by utilizing the confirmed railway segments as well as their directional information. Validation of the inferred routes was performed using a public map and official crude oil incident data. The results suggested that the inferred routes based on geotagged photos had high coverage, with approximately 96% of the documented crude oil incidents aligned with the reconstructed crude-on-rail network. The inferred crude oil train routes were found to pass through several metropolitan areas of high population density, who were exposed to potential risk. These findings could improve situational awareness for policy makers and transportation planners. In addition, with the inferred routes, this study has established a good foundation for future crude oil train risk-analyses along the rail route.
Importance of in situ thermal stability after surgical implantation of acellular scaffold
Authors: Zhang Xiaoguang , Pan Tengfei
Published: May 2023

Acellular scaffold is mainly composed of collagen, which is sensitive to temperature. The denaturation of collagen, whether immediately or lately after implantation will lead to profound influence on the micro-structure, biological activities of acellular scaffold, and tissue repairing process. However, the in situ thermal stability of acellular scaffold had rarely been investigated previously. In this study, the thermal stability of two acellular scaffolds, acellular bovine pericardium (S1) and acellular bovine dermis (S2), were investigated by in situ dura repairing experiments. The in situ dura repairing results showed that both samples could successfully integrate with Beagles’ dura tissue after 1 month of implantation. S1 remained stable during the 6-month implantation period and no obvious denaturation or degradation was found. However, S2 remained stable only in the first month and denatured at the 2-month dissection timepoint. S2 was completely degraded at 6-month dissection timepoint and no new dura tissue was regenerated. The study showed that maintain thermal stability was important for acellular scaffold after surgical implantation. Denaturation of the acellular scaffold led to dramatic changes in the microenvironment of the host tissue. The long-term thermal stability should also not be ignored even though successful integration between the acellular scaffold and the defect tissue was established. Maintaining thermal stability of the acellular scaffold was conducive to tissue repairing or regeneration process.
Thermal hydrolysis of sewage sludge: Improvement in biogas generation and prediction of global warming potential
Authors: Singh Diwakar Kumar , Garg Anurag
Published: May 2023

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a prominent treatment method for the sludge produced from sewage treatment plants. Poor solid reduction and longer retention time are the main drawbacks of AD. Thermal hydrolysis (TH) is a potential pretreatment method for solubilization of sewage sludge (SS) solids thereby improving biogas production during AD post-treatment. In this study, the SS sample (total solids = 1.75 wt% and total chemical oxygen demand (COD) = 15,450 mg L−1) was subjected to TH pretreatment (temperature = 140–180°C and reaction time = 60 minutes) in a 0.7-L capacity stainless-steel high-pressure reactor. At a reaction temperature of 180°C, the maximum solid solubilization (total dissolved solids = 4652 mg L−1) and improved dewaterability (time to filter = 4.7 s.L g−1) were observed. The biochemical methane potential test results showed almost doubling of methane generation from 145 to 284 mL gCOD−1 after TH pretreatment at 180°C. The life cycle assessment approach was used to compare various SS treatment and disposal scenarios, two of which included hydrothermal pretreatment. The scenarios involving hydrothermal pretreatments showed the least global warming potential.
“There Are Good and Bad Elements to It for Sure”: Students’ and Faculty/Staff’s Perceptions of the Title IX Mandated Reporting Policy
Authors: Johnson Nicole L. , Gutekunst Malaïka H. C. , Rocchino Gabrielle H. , Siepser Claire Finn , Lipp Natania S. , DeSipio Brooke E.
Published: May 2023

Faculty, staff, and students employed by or who serve as representative of universities in the United States are required by the Title IX federal law to report all instances of sexual harassment, discrimination, and sexual assault on college campuses. Despite the well-intended purpose of the Title IX regulations, less is known about campus communities’ experiences and perceptions of this “mandated reporting,” and its influence on disclosure. This exploratory mixed-methods study examines student ( n = 88) and faculty and staff ( n = 77) thoughts, concerns, and experiences regarding this policy at a mid-sized Northeastern University. Participants were recruited utilizing a campus lab system, with supplemental recruitment through student-life offices on campus. Data were collected via an anonymous survey hosted on the Qualtrics platform. Descriptive statistics were conducted for quantitative responses, whereas thematic analysis was utilized to analyze open text responses. Descriptive statistics demonstrate that the majority of participants (students and faculty/staff) were aware of their “mandated reporter” status. Additionally, students and faculty/staff varied regarding their support of the policy and the majority of faculty/staff had not had students disclose sexual violence to them and thus, had not reported any incidences of sexual violence to the university. Results of the thematic analysis further highlight the complexity of students and faculty/staff views’ regarding the “mandated reporter” policy illustrating positive and negative perceived impacts of this policy, as well as several suggestions for improvement. Implications for research and practice are framed within the literature on Title IX, sexual harassment, and violence in the context of universities.
Using artificial intelligence models to evaluate envisaged points initially: A pilot study
Authors: Amasya Hakan , Aydoğan Turgay , Cesur Emre , Kemaloğlu Alagöz Nazan , Uğurlu Mehmet , Bayrakdar İbrahim Şevki , Orhan Kaan
Published: May 2023

The morphology of the finger bones in hand-wrist radiographs (HWRs) can be considered as a radiological skeletal maturity indicator, along with the other indicators. This study aims to validate the anatomical landmarks envisaged to be used for classification of the morphology of the phalanges, by developing classical neural network (NN) classifiers based on a sub-dataset of 136 HWRs. A web-based tool was developed and 22 anatomical landmarks were labeled on four region of interests (proximal (PP3), medial (MP3), distal (DP3) phalanges of the third and medial phalanx (MP5) of the fifth finger) and the epiphysis-diaphysis relationships were saved as “narrow,”“equal,”“capping” or “fusion” by three observers. In each region, 18 ratios and 15 angles were extracted using anatomical points. The data set is analyzed by developing two NN classifiers, without (NN-1) and with (NN-2) the 5-fold cross-validation. The performance of the models was evaluated with percentage of agreement, Cohen’s (cκ) and Weighted (wκ) Kappa coefficients, precision, recall, F1-score and accuracy (statistically significance: p < 0.05). Method error was found to be in the range of cκ: 0.7–1. Overall classification performance of the models was changed between 82.14% and 89.29%. On average, performance of the NN-1 and NN-2 models were found to be 85.71% and 85.52%, respectively. The cκ and wκ of the NN-1 model were changed between −0.08 ( p > 0.05) and 0.91 among regions. The average performance was found to be promising except the regions without adequate samples and the anatomical points are validated to be used in the future studies, initially.
The Influence of Ethical Responsiveness on Relationships Through Distress
Authors: Hung Yi-Hsin , Theobald Alex , Lau Hou I. , Soloski Kristy , Fife Stephen , Wood Nathan D.
Published: May 2023

This study examined the role of ethical responsiveness on relationship satisfaction from a partner's perspective after experiencing a distressing life event (DLE). We used data from the Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (pairfam), which is a multidisciplinary, longitudinal study in Germany. Our study used anchor data, the original respondents who were randomly selected and gave permission to interview their partners. This study included two waves of anchor responses, which were 2016 and 2018, respectively. We utilized longitudinal structural equation modeling to evaluate whether the partner's ethical responsiveness buffers the negative impact of DLEs on relationship satisfaction per anchor's perspective. The results of our study indicated that partner's ethical responsiveness can buffer the negative impact of DLEs on anchor's perception of relationship satisfaction. Additionally, according to the perception of the anchors, we found that the partners who showed high levels of ethical responsiveness not only maintained their relationship satisfaction but even improved upon it 2 years beyond the DLE. Conversely, relationship satisfaction decreased over time for anchors who reported their partner with an average or lower level of ethical responsiveness. Clinical implications and limitations are also discussed.
Melanoma and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA): Immunogenicity of 69 HLA Class I Alleles With 11 Antigens Expressed in Melanoma Tumors
Authors: Georgopoulos Apostolos P , James Lisa M , Charonis Spyros A , Sanders Matthew
Published: May 2023

Host immunogenetics play a critical role in the human immune response to melanoma, influencing both melanoma prevalence and immunotherapy outcomes. Beneficial outcomes that stimulate T cell response hinge on binding affinity and immunogenicity of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) with melanoma antigen epitopes. Here, we use an in silico approach to characterize binding affinity and immunogenicity of 69 HLA Class I human leukocyte antigen alleles to epitopes of 11 known melanoma antigens. The findings document a significant proportion of positively immunogenic epitope-allele combinations, with the highest proportions of positive immunogenicity found for the Q13072/BAGE1 melanoma antigen and alleles of the HLA B and C genes. The findings are discussed in terms of a personalized precision HLA-mediated adjunct to immune checkpoint blockade immunotherapy to maximize tumor elimination.
Did Black Lives Matter Protests Change Public Opinion?
Authors: Boehmke Frederick J. , Avery Samuel M. , Good Marissa S. , Dainty Thomas C. , Ko Hyein
Published: May 2023

Protest events affect public opinion on the issue of interest. However, the extent to which an individual’s proximity to protests impacts public opinion is less examined. Does a protest event occurring nearby, i.e., within an individual’s neighborhood, impact their opinion? Do protests that happen further away, perhaps in the next county, have the same impact on public opinion? This study analyzes the impact of exposure to protests by focusing on the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in 2020 using public opinion data from Iowa merged with protest locations in Iowa. Specifically, we examine public support for BLM and for defunding the police. We evaluate the role of distance through a discrete mileage cut-off and a distance decay function. Our analysis shows that people living closer to protests show greater support for the BLM movement in general and, to a less extent, for defunding the police. The results suggest that protests may affect public opinion, but only within a very narrow range of a few miles.
The effects of explicit reasoning on moral judgements
Authors: Corral Daniel , Rutchick Abraham M
Published: May 2023

We report four experiments that investigate explicit reasoning and moral judgements. In each experiment, some subjects responded to the “footbridge” version of the trolley problem (which elicits stronger moral intuitions), whereas others responded to the “switch” version (which elicits weaker moral intuitions). Experiments 1–2 crossed the type of trolley problem with four reasoning conditions: control, counter-attitudinal, pro-attitudinal, and mixed reasoning (both types of reasoning). Experiments 3–4 examine whether moral judgements vary based on (a) when reasoners engage in counter-attitudinal reasoning, (b) when they make the moral judgement, and (c) by the type of moral dilemma. These two experiments comprised five conditions: control (judgement only), delay-only (2-minute wait then judgement), reasoning-only (reasoning then judgement), reasoning-delay (reasoning, then 2-minute delay, then judgement), and delayed-reasoning (2-minute delay, then reasoning, then judgement). These conditions were crossed with the type of trolley problem. We find that engaging in some form of counter-attitudinal reasoning led to less typical judgements (regardless of when it occurs), but this effect was mostly restricted to the switch version of the dilemma (and was strongest in the reasoning-delay conditions). Furthermore, neither pro-attitudinal reasoning nor delayed judgements on their own impacted subjects’ judgements. Reasoners therefore seem open to modifying their moral judgements when they consider opposing perspectives but might be less likely to do so for dilemmas that elicit relatively strong moral intuitions.
Subchondral Bone Plate Classification: A New and More Sensitive Approach for Predicting the Prognosis of Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head
Authors: Ma Jinhui , Ge Juncheng , Cheng Liming , Wang Bailiang , Yue Debo , Wang Weiguo
Published: May 2023

Background

This study explores the impact of subchondral bone plate necrosis on the development of the osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) and its joint collapse.

Methods

This retrospective study included 76 ONFH patients (89 consecutive hips) with Association for Research on Osseous Circulation stage II who received conservative treatment without surgical intervention. The mean follow-up time was 15.60 ± 12.29 months. ONFH was divided into 2 types (I and II): Type I with a necrotic lesion involving subchondral bone plate and Type II with a necrotic lesion not involving subchondral bone plate. The radiological evaluations were based on plain x-rays. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 statistical software.

Results

The collapse rate in Type I ONFH was significantly higher than that in Type II ONFH (P < 0.001). The survival time of hips with Type I ONFH was significantly shorter than those with Type II ONFH and with the endpoint of the femoral head collapse (P < 0.001). The collapse rate of Type I in the new classification (80.95%) was higher compared with that of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital (CJFH) classification (63.64%), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 1.776, P = 0.024).

Conclusion

Subchondral bone plate necrosis is an important factor that affects ONFH collapse and prognosis. Current classification using subchondral bone plate necrosis is more sensitive for predicting collapse compared with the CJFH classification. Effective treatments should be taken to prevent collapse if ONFH necrotic lesions involve the subchondral bone plate.
Ultrasonographic features of a urinary bladder leiomyoma in a cat
Authors: Biedak Nathan R , Penninck Dominique , Biswell Ethan
Published: May 2023

Case summary

Leiomyoma of the urinary bladder in cats is infrequently documented in the literature, and a description of the ultrasonographic appearance has never been reported. A 9-year-old female spayed cat presented with a 6-month history of intermittent hematuria and progressive pollakiuria. On abdominal ultrasound, a large ovoid mass of mixed echogenicity was seen originating from the ventral apical bladder wall. The mass had faint peripheral hyperechoic radiating striations and was mildly vascularized, especially at its 1.5 cm point of origin from the wall. A partial cystectomy was performed to remove the mass that filled the bladder lumen. Microscopically, the well-demarcated mass extended from the inner muscular layer of the wall into the submucosal layer and was diagnosed as a leiomyoma. Surgical excision was curative.

Relevance and novel information

This is the first ultrasonographic description of a bladder leiomyoma in a feline patient. Smooth muscle tumors should be included on the differential diagnosis list in future cases with similar ultrasonographic features and chronic lower urinary clinical signs.
Opening the “Black Box”: How Out-of-Class Use of Duolingo Impacts Chinese Junior High School Students’ Intrinsic Motivation for English
Authors: Zeng Cheng , Fisher Linda
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) apps such as Duolingo have great potential for promoting learners’ motivation to learn a second language (L2). However, little research has investigated how this motivational impact takes place. Additionally, despite the flexibility of mobile learning, most existing studies are conducted in classroom settings, with less attention paid to out-of-school technology usage.

Design/Approach/Methods

To address these gaps, we present a model based on self-determination theory and propose the idea of “motivational transfer” to explain the psychological mechanism underpinning the impact of technology. To examine the model, we conducted a case study with 20 Year 8 Chinese junior school students who used Duolingo to learn English as a foreign language (EFL) after school for 6 weeks.

Findings

Questionnaire and group interview data support our hypothesized mechanism: learners’ activity-specific intrinsic motivation (IM) for using Duolingo and their underlying psychological need for autonomy and competence can be transferred to a more general level, thereby enhancing learners’ global IM for L2.

Originality/Value

The proposed theoretical model expands our understanding of how digital technology stimulates learners’ L2 motivation; it can help L2 educators design better technological affordances to promote learners’ motivation both in and outside the classroom.
Social Connectedness and Negative Emotion Modulation: Social Media Use for Coping Among College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Michikyan Minas , Subrahmanyam Kaveri , Regan Pamela , Castillo Linda G. , Ham Lindsay , Harkness Audrey , Schwartz Seth J.
Published: May 2023

Using a cross-sectional survey study with undergraduate students ( N = 1257; M age = 20; 908 women) in the United States, this paper examined college students’ use of social media for coping and its association with COVID-19-related worries (loneliness, interpersonal stress, anxiety) and mental health outcomes (depression, generalized anxiety, and life satisfaction). Undergraduate students were found to use social media frequently during the pandemic to socially connect with others online and to modulate negative emotions. Structural equation modeling revealed that COVID-19-related worries were positively related to social media use for coping and that coping using social media was negatively related to general mental health concerns (depression, generalized anxiety) and positively associated with general mental health wellness (i.e., life satisfaction). Implications of using social media for coping during the pandemic for college student mental health are discussed.
Coronal alignment in total knee arthroplasty: a review
Authors: Matassi F. , Pettinari F. , Frasconà F. , Innocenti M. , Civinini R.
Published: May 2023

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) alignment has recently become a hot topic in the orthopedics arthroplasty literature. Coronal plane alignment especially has gained increasing attention since it is considered a cornerstone for improved clinical outcomes. Various alignment techniques have been described, but none proved to be optimal and there is a lack of general consensus on which alignment provides best results. The aim of this narrative review is to describe the different types of coronal alignments in TKA, correctly defining the main principles and terms.
Transcriptome profile changes in the jejunum of nonhuman primates exposed to supralethal dose of total- or partial-body radiation
Authors: Vellichirammal Neetha Nanoth , Sethi Sahil , Avuthu Nagavardhini , Wise Stephen Y. , Carpenter Alana D. , Fatanmi Oluseyi O. , Guda Chittibabu , Singh Vijay K.
Published: May 2023

The risk of exposure of the general public or military personnel to high levels of ionizing radiation from nuclear weapons or radiological accidents is a dire national security matter. The development of advanced molecular biodosimetry methods, those that measure biological response, such as transcriptomics, to screen large populations of radiation-exposed victims is key to improving survival outcomes during radiological mass casualty scenarios. In this study, nonhuman primates were exposed to either 12.0 Gy cobalt-60 gamma (total-body irradiation, TBI) or X-ray (partial-body irradiation, PBI) 24 h after administration of a potential radiation medical countermeasure, gamma-tocotrienol (GT3). Changes in the jejunal transcriptomic profiles in GT3-treated and irradiated animals were compared to healthy controls to assess the extent of radiation damage. No major effect of GT3 on radiation-induced transcriptome at this radiation dose was identified. About 80% of the pathways with a known activation or repression state were commonly observed between both exposures. Several common pathways activated due to irradiation include FAK signaling, CREB signaling in the neurons, phagosome formation, and G-protein coupled signaling pathway. Sex-specific differences associated with excessive mortality among irradiated females were identified in this study, including Estrogen receptor signaling. Differential pathway activation was also identified across PBI and TBI, pointing towards altered molecular response for different degrees of bone marrow sparing and radiation doses. This study provides insight into radiation-induced changes in jejunal transcriptional profiles, supporting the investigation for the identification of biomarkers for radiation injury and countermeasure efficacy.