bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A quality control system for logistic ports goods movable harbor cranes based on internet of things and deep learning
Authors: Hatem Awad Ahmed , Sabry Saraya Mohamed , Shrief Mostafa Elksasy Mohamed , M. T. Ali-Eldin Amr , Moawad Abdelsalam Mohamed
Published: January 2024

The growth of commercial activity and the transportation of goods around the world has increased the challenges of stevedoring within ports. In case of loading and unloading ships safely, quickly, and efficiently, goods movable harbor cranes play an important role. This work aims to propose an industrial internet of things (IIoT)-based quality control system for logistic services ports goods movable harbor crane (QC-GMHC). The GMHC system based on using programmable logic controller (PLC), along with a multi-sensor data collecting system. Several operations have been done to establish the QC-GMHC system as: GMHC sensors real-time data storage, and data sharing; monitoring the GMHC status (remote-local); and the efficiency reporting. In order to validate the proposed system’s hardware, it was used in an already operational GMHC for six months, during which data were collected and analyzed. The results revealed that the proposed hardware system worked efficiently for 24 hours. To forecast the efficiency of the GMHC, a deep learning (DL) conventional long short-term memory (LSTM) and neural network model was trained and validated using synthetic data generated from acquired real data. The results showed that QC-GMHC can calculate efficiency with an accuracy of 80%, which is sufficient for our application.
Wireless internet of things solutions for efficient photovoltaic system monitoring via WiFi networks
Authors: Yacine Himri , Boufeldja Kadri
Published: January 2024

The imperative for sustainable energy production has necessitated the significant expansion of renewable energy sources, particularly photovoltaic (PV) systems. The utilization of real-time monitoring and data analysis is imperative to enhance the efficiency and performance of photovoltaic systems. This abstract presents developing and deploying a wireless monitoring system for a photovoltaic system. The system utilizes a Raspberry Pi device connected to a WiFi network and an SD card for data storage to enable remote monitoring and management of PV systems. The proposed monitoring system comprises a Raspberry Pi equipped with sensors to measure various parameters such as voltage, current, temperature, and the ambient conditions of the solar panels; the monitoring system can be remotely accessible through the wireless capabilities of the Raspberry Pi, which are activated by establishing a connection to an existing WiFi network. The proposed configuration facilitates the placement of the monitoring station in any desired location, hence eliminating the requirement for intricate wiring connections. These real-time data enable solar system managers to quickly identify anomalies, anticipate breakdowns, and optimise energy production. The paper presents a wireless monitoring system with a cost-effective and scalable solution for monitoring photovoltaic systems.
Electroencephalogram based human emotion classification for valence and arousal using machine learning approach
Authors: Chunawale Abhishek , Bedekar Mangesh
Published: January 2024

Humans have unique ability to express emotions and electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are one of the sought-after ways to analyze a person’s emotional state. However, extracting proper emotion related features from EEG and finding corresponding emotion is challenging because of complex nature of emotions and underlying brain activities. The objective of this paper is to address this issue for more accurate emotion classification based on EEG. It also compares feature extraction methods namely fast fourier transform (FFT) and discrete wavelet transform (DWT). DEAP dataset is used for classification of human emotions through support vector machine (SVM) and K-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithms by considering features such as standard deviation, mean, variance, power spectrum density (PSD) for FFT; and energy, entropy for DWT. It is observed that feature extraction from FFT yielded better results than DWT and KNN gave more accuracy of 96.61% for valence and 96.42% for arousal as compared to SVM. The proposed method based on PSD and FFT fared better than other existing ones in terms of accuracy when compared against different features and feature extraction techniques. This approach is expected to help researchers to understand feature extraction from EEG signals and decide proper features and techniques for better implementation.
Design of adaptive array using least mean square beamformer
Authors: Pramod Kodgirwar Vidya , R. Joshi Kalyani , B. Deosarkar Shankar
Published: January 2024

This paper introduces an 8-element linear array designed for adaptive array applications, using least mean square (LMS) algorithm to enhance the directivity of the array. Microstrip antenna has been optimized at 2.3 GHz, a pivotal frequency ranges relevant to 4G and 5G applications. This design is thoughtfully extended to encompass 8-elements, achieved through the art of parameterization using computer simulation technology (CST) microwave studio. This geometry of 8-element exhibits considerable promise, significantly elevating the gain from 6.13 dBi for a single element to an impressive 15.5 dBi for all eight-element array. To further empower the array’s adaptability and beam-steering capabilities, the LMS algorithm is simulated. This intelligent algorithm computes complex weights, thoughtfully with various angles, including those for the interested user at 60° and 30°, as well as potential interferers at 10° and 15°, as simulated in MATLAB. These meticulously calculated weights are effectively applied to antenna elements using CST, facilitating beam steering in various directions. During CST simulations, notable peaks in performance emerge at 54° and 28°, strategically aligned with nulls at 10° and 15°. Remarkably, these results exhibit a remarkable degree of concurrence with those obtained through MATLAB simulations, affirming effectiveness of the proposed adaptive array design.
Real-time forest fire detection, monitoring, and alert system using Arduino
Authors: Ikhwan Mohd Anuar Afiq , Mohamad Roslina , Munira Markom Arni , Concepcion II Ronnie
Published: January 2024

Early fire detection is critical to protecting forests from wildfires and enabling rapid responses to minimize fire spread. Existing forest fire detection methods cannot quickly detect forest fires and evaluate the fire risk of these sensitive areas. Hence, this research aims to develop a real-time forest fire detection, monitoring, and alert system. The development of the system started with assembling temperature and humidity sensors, a smoke sensor, an Arduino microcontroller, and a wireless fidelity module. Then, a fire monitoring and alert system was developed using Blynk. From the sensitivity flame sensor analysis with the fire, the flame sensor detected the presence of fire up to 60 cm. The sensor also indicated high temperature (45 °C) and low humidity (53.4%) at noon. Low temperature (29 ℃) and high humidity (88.4%) were identified in the morning. Moreover, the highest carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration of 1,800 ppm was recorded when the smoke from the fire was detected. The global positioning system module shows the accurate real-time location of the system displayed in the Blynk application. In conclusion, this system can detect and monitor early forest fires in real-time and can alert the authorities to protect forests from wildfires.
Maize seed variety identification model using image processing and deep learning
Authors: Gebeyehu Seffi , Sintayehu Shibeshi Zelalem
Published: January 2024

Maize is Ethiopia’s dominant cereal crop regarding area coverage and production level. There are different varieties of maize in Ethiopia. Maize varieties are classified based on morphological features such as shape and size. Due to the nature of maize seed and its rotation variant, studies are still needed to identify Ethiopian maize seed varieties. With expert eyes, identification of maize seed varieties is difficult due to their similar morphological features and visual similarities. We proposed a hybrid feature-based maize variety identification model to solve this problem.
 For training and testing the model, images of each maize variety were collected from the adet agriculture and research center (AARC), Ethiopia. A multi-class support vector machine (MCSVM) classifier was employed on a hybrid of handcrafted (i.e., gabor and histogram of oriented gradients) and convolutional neural network (CNN)-based feature selection techniques and achieved an overall classification accuracy of 99%.
An assessment of muslim user behaviour on Facebook utilizing the UTAUT model
Authors: Azma Nasrudin Zan , Hapiza Mohd Ariffin Nor , Rahman Jusoh Abdul
Published: January 2024

Facebook is a popular social networking tool that has changed the behaviour and daily interactions of Muslims. The present investigation employs a quantitative methodology for data collection by disseminating a survey over several social media platforms. The present study employed the purposive sampling strategy to effectively acquire a sample size of 385 individuals residing in the Klang Valley region. This study utilises the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) framework to examine the potential influence of Performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and behaviour intention on the Facebook behaviour of individuals who identify as Muslim. The findings of the study indicate that there is a relationship between performance expectancy (PE) and social influence (SI) and the level of Muslim Facebook engagement. Moreover, a significant correlation exists between age and both PE and effort expectancy (EE). In contrast, age exhibits a negative correlation with both experience and gender. Anticipated outcomes of future research endeavours include the creation of an innovative social media platform specifically tailored for the Muslim community, including the principles of Muslim centred user interface design (MCUID).
A cultura ciberpunk e derivações queer em vídeos musicais brasileiros
Authors: Malhado André Filipe Cecília
Published: January 2024

Neste artigo, discute-se a relação entre a música queer e o ciberpunk, habitualmente heteronormativo, patente em vídeos musicais do século XXI. Através de cluster de dez casos, interroga-se que estratégias audiovisuais, e seus temas, são explorados no repertório; porque se adotam códigos marcados por sons e imagens capazes de discriminar os corpos com base na tecnologia; o que representam e quais as suas implicações políticas. Através de uma análise qualitativa do som, imagem e texto, conclui-se que os problemas e valências da exploração ciberpunk do capitalismo e desvio são negociados pelas práticas queer, criando afetos e efeitos que politizam a arte audiovisual.
Os três delitos da câmera-arma: crime passional, assassinato em série e selficídio
Authors: Oliveira Michel de
Published: January 2024

A presente reflexão toma como ponto de partida a metáfora da câmera como arma para discutir as mudanças do ato fotográfico a partir de três crimes alegóricos: o crime passional, o assassinato em série e o selficídio. Diante das consequências nefastas desses delitos, o ensaio apresenta como possibilidade o desarmamento da imaginação em torno do ato fotográfico, para buscar outras metáforas que não sejam violentas, predatórias e colonizadoras.
Fronteiras da leitura: sobre cinema e literatura, por Manuel Puig
Authors: Romanzoti Natasha , Suppia Alfredo Luiz Paes de Oliveira
Published: January 2024

Tradução para o português do texto “Cinema and the Novel”, de Manuel Puig, originalmente publicado em volume editado por John King, Modern Latin American Fiction: A Survey (1987), pp. 283-290, com tradução para o inglês por Nick Caistor.
No meio do faroeste, tinha uma montanha: paisagens queerizadas
Authors: Silva Daniel Oliveira
Published: January 2024

O artigo analisa como Brokeback Mountain (2005), de Ang Lee, e Ataque dos Cães (2021), de Jane Campion, subvertem o imaginário do faroeste, usando o gênero sexual para desestabilizar o gênero cinematográfico. Ao explorar a justaposição do espaço doméstico com a natureza, e qual gênero sexual tradicionalmente pertence a cada um, os dois cineastas recorrem às ferramentas estéticas do melodrama romântico e do drama psicológico para desafiar a rigidez dessas configurações a partir de uma perspectiva queer. Como resultado, os longas desconstroem a masculinidade inerente ao faroeste, com a montanha surgindo como o elemento que traz à tona as implicações queer enterradas na paisagem do gênero.
“Ameaça Islâmica” antes do 11 de Setembro: uma análise desde os Estudos Críticos de Segurança
Authors: Cheaito Karime Ahmad Borraschi , Rodrigues Thiago
Published: January 2024

Este ensaio tem como objetivo analisar como o processo de identificação de um “inimigo islâmico” como “ameaça” à segurança estadunidense não se iniciou em 11 de Setembro de 2001. Para isso, recorreu-se ao método de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, em conjunto com o emprego da análise crítica de discurso. Foi possível apreender que a identificação e construção dos “maus muçulmanos” como supostas “ameaças” vinculadas ao “novo terrorismo” se iniciou na década de 1980, se intensificou a partir da década de 1990, com o fim da Guerra Fria, e alcançou seu auge a partir de 2001.
Direito à Comunicação: Proteção Jurídica na Era da Pós-Verdade
Authors: Delbono Benedita de Fátima
Published: January 2024

O presente artigo tem por premissa estabelecer a interface entre a comunicação e o direito, com ênfase na proteção jurídica na era da pós-verdade. Os direitos constitucionais de liberdade de expressão e de informação foram trazidos como elementos vitais às reflexões éticas contemporâneas, cuja violação pede a apreciação dos aspectos legais. Foram trazidas as hipóteses do excesso na esfera pública e da falta na esfera privada, com ênfase nas mídias digitais. A reflexão sobre ética e pós-verdade se faz presente diante da era da informação envolta pela desinformação, que tem sua prática no sensacionalismo e na conveniente seleção das informações. É mostrado, ainda, como o discurso midiático atual está marcado pelos movimentos sociais digitais, e como os impactos decorrentes da tecnologia fortalecem os movimentos sociais e transformam valores, hábitos e comportamentos pessoais. O caso Klara Castanho vem para ilustrar os reflexos jurídicos pela falta diante da esfera privada configurada por sigilo e segredo de justiça e, ainda, como a indústria das celebridades, potencializada pelas mídias digitais, atua com total desprezo à ética e à intimidade. A metodologia empregada foi a pesquisa bibliográfica e documental.
Quando Paulo Freire e o Marco Legal da Primeira Infância dialogam: novas narrativas de comunicação de direitos e emancipação de vozes de crianças no Brasil
Authors: Nassar Paulo , Andreucci Ana Claudia Pompeu Torezan , Farias Luiz Alberto de
Published: January 2024

O presente trabalho apresenta um diálogo entre os pressupostos da comunicação e educação voltados para o empoderamento e emancipação propostos pelo educador Paulo Freire e o Marco Legal da Primeira Infância Brasileira, Lei nº 13.257/2016, destinado a crianças de zero a seis anos de idade, e que, entre muitos direitos, elegeu o direito à comunicação como direito humano universal e núcleo para o desenvolvimento de novas narrativas, cidadania e emancipação de crianças, as quais passam a se compreender como sujeitos de direito, conscientes dos valores da participação, do protagonismo e do pertencimento, em uma ambiência normativa e pragmática para o exercício e a consolidação de ações políticas.
O direito de brincar e a criança com deficiência física: do arcabouço legal à materialização do Direito, uma análise do Plano Diretor Estratégico do Município de São Paulo
Authors: Junqueira Michelle Asato , Machado Madalena Chiquetto
Published: January 2024

Sob o pressuposto do direito ao brincar como elemento de efetivação dos direitos das crianças, em especial com deficiência física, o artigo objetiva descrever projetos da sociedade civil que tenham por objetivo gerar acesso de crianças com deficiência a espaços lúdicos ou que tenham desenvolvido brinquedos adaptados para essa população, e analisar leis que estabelecem diretrizes para planejamento dos municípios. A pesquisa é bibliográfica na área jurídica e da saúde, utilizando bases de dados, sites e redes sociais. Conclui que o arcabouço jurídico é suficiente para assegurar a inclusão e a observância da prioridade absoluta que deve permear a proteção infanto-juvenil, cabendo a verificação na prática de sua efetividade.
Low-Level Auditory Processing Correlates With Language Abilities: An ERP Study Investigating Sequence Learning and Auditory Processing in School-Aged Children
Authors: Kautto Anna , Railo Henry , Mainela-Arnold Elina
Published: January 2024

Auditory processing and procedural learning deficits have been associated with language learning difficulties. We investigated the relationship of these skills and school-age language abilities in children with and without a history of late talking using auditory event related potentials (ERPs). Late talking (i.e., slow early language development) increases the risk of persistent language difficulties, but its causes remain unknown. Participants in this study were children with varying language abilities (n = 60). Half of the participants (n = 30) had a history of late talking. We measured procedural learning by manipulating the predictability of sine tone stimuli in a passive auditory ERP paradigm. Auditory processing was tested by examining how the presence of noise (increasing perceptual demands) affected the ERPs. Contrary to our hypotheses on auditory processing and language development, the effect of noise on ERPs did not correlate with school-age language abilities in children with or without a history of late talking. Our paradigm failed to reveal interpretable effects of predictability leaving us unable to assess the effects of procedural learning. However, better language abilities were related to weaker responses in a 75–175 ms time window, and stronger responses in a 150–250 ms time window. We suggest that the weak early responses in children with better language ability reflect efficient processing of low-level auditory information, allowing deeper processing of later, high-level auditory information. We assume that these differences reflect variation in brain maturation between individuals with varying language abilities.
Approaches to Measuring Language Lateralisation: An Exploratory Study Comparing Two fMRI Methods and Functional Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound
Authors: Bishop Dorothy V. M. , Woodhead Zoe V. J. , Watkins Kate E.
Published: January 2024

In this exploratory study we compare and contrast two methods for deriving a laterality index (LI) from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data: the weighted bootstrapped mean from the LI Toolbox (toolbox method), and a novel method that uses subtraction of activations from homologous regions in left and right hemispheres to give an array of difference scores (mirror method). Data came from 31 individuals who had been selected to include a high proportion of people with atypical laterality when tested with functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound (fTCD). On two tasks, word generation and semantic matching, the mirror method generally gave better agreement with fTCD laterality than the toolbox method, both for individual regions of interest, and for a large region corresponding to the middle cerebral artery. LI estimates from this method had much smaller confidence intervals (CIs) than those from the toolbox method; with the mirror method, most participants were reliably lateralised to left or right, whereas with the toolbox method, a higher proportion were categorised as bilateral (i.e., the CI for the LI spanned zero). Reasons for discrepancies between fMRI methods are discussed: one issue is that the toolbox method averages the LI across a wide range of thresholds. Furthermore, examination of task-related t-statistic maps from the two hemispheres showed that language lateralisation is evident in regions characterised by deactivation, and so key information may be lost by ignoring voxel activations below zero, as is done with conventional estimates of the LI.
Qui volunt eos cognoscere, Argonautas legant
Authors: Madeła Alexandra
Published: January 2024

The late antique De excidio Troiae historia, supposedly written by a soldier in the Trojan War, Dares the Phrygian, encourages the reader to consult a work called Argonautae. This article discusses three possibilities of how to understand this reference—it could either be a comment by the real author of this pseudonymous work, or the supposed translator Nepos, or the ostensible author Dares. It argues that audiences in antiquity were familiar with the idea of literature written prior to the Trojan War, and debates the possibility that the Trojan Dares might refer to a poem about the Argonauts which was composed by the mythical Orpheus. It comes to the conclusion that the reference is intentionally ambiguous.
Wellbeing Perceptions of Humans Who “Borrow” and “Loan” Dogs in the Context of a Dog-Walk
Authors: Smith Catherine M. , Treharne Gareth J. , Carrington Lizz
Published: January 2024

Dog-walking contributes positively to the wellbeing of humans; however, there is little evidence about any wellbeing benefits of dog-walking for “non-guardians.” We use the terminology “borrowers” to refer to non-guardians who borrow dogs to walk and “loaners” to refer to guardians who loan their dogs. In this qualitatively driven, mixed-methods study, we explored dog-walking and wellbeing for a sample of nine borrowers and four loaners. Data were collected from dog-walk-along interviews and participatory analysis sessions with borrowers, seated interviews with loaners, and supplementary questionnaires. Wellbeing of borrowers and loaners was analyzed using an existing theoretical model, Therapeutic Dog-walking Spaces, which led to two themes: “Balancing Wellbeing and Responsibility” and “Wellbeing and Trust.” Two novel theoretical spaces were identified: a “dog-space” and a “shaper space,” to further account for the role of borrowers and illustrate the active role that dogs and “shapers” like policymakers might play in enhancing therapeutic dog-walking spaces.
“Liking,” “Commenting,” and “Reposting”: Psychological Factors Associated to Online Animal Abuse
Authors: McGuirk Lauren Ryan , Alleyne Emma
Published: January 2024

Advancements in technology and internet accessibility bring potential for new forms of offending behavior. Social Networking Sites (SNS) provide platforms for nonhuman animal abuse to be displayed and interacted with. There is a dearth of research into the characteristics of animal abuse perpetrated with the intent to be displayed on SNS. The aim of this study was to explore the psychological correlates of engagement with SNS content depicting animal abuse and likelihood to create new animal abuse content. One hundred and eighty-five university students completed an online questionnaire, which included their self-reported likelihood to engage with images of animal abuse on SNS (i.e., “like,” “comment,” “share,” and/or recreate). We found high levels of animal-oriented callousness, as opposed to other predicted factors (e.g., narcissism), were significantly related to likelihood to recreate animal abuse for display on SNS. The implications of the findings such as factors associated with bystander intervention are discussed.
Study on Inhibition of Glioma Tumorigenesis by Circular RNA Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 via miR-587/Dipeptidyl Peptidase 9 Regulatory Pathway
Authors: Tang Hengxin , Zhu Delong , Li Wenxiang , Zhang Guozhi , Peng Qiujiao
Published: January 2024

Accumulating evidence verified that, circular RNA MAPK1 (Hsa_circ_0004872) is involved in tumorigenesis, and whether circMAPK1 is involved in glioma remains unclear. circMAPK1 was markedly downregulated in glioma tissues. Upregulation of circMAPK1 attenuated activities of glioma cells.
Moreover, circMAPK1 could bind miR-587, which was upregulated in glioma cells. DPP9 was a downstream gene for miR-587, indicating that, DPP9 upregulation inhibits glioma progression, while downregulation of DPP9 abolished circMAPK1 overexpression effect on glioma cell growth. Our discoveries
demonstrated that, the circMAPK1 is a tumor suppressor by regulating the circMAPK1/miR-587/DPP9 signaling pathway in glioma, and circMAPK1 might be a potential biomarker or target for glioma diagnosis and therapy.
Significance of RNA Processing Factors in Prognosis and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Implications for Precision Medicine
Authors: Zhan Ruyu , Wang ShuXiang , Zheng Nanmei , Zhou Fushan
Published: January 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with heterogenous nature and high mortality worldwide. RNA processing has been implicated in tumorigenesis, progression, and prognosis to develop early diagnosis and targeted therapy for cancer, including HCC. This study aimed to identify
and validate a novel RNA processing gene signature for predicting HCC prognosis. Transcriptome and clinical data of HCC samples were obtained from Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), Gene Expression Omnibus databases, and RNA processing factors from the
AmiGO database. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to examine prognostic gene signatures. Correlation analysis of prognostic models with clinical features and HallMark pathway-based Genomic Variation Analysis enrichment
analysis were performed. We identified seven distinguished RNA processing factors to build the prognostic model for HCC patients. ROC curve analysis of the TCGA-HCC, ICGC-HCC, and GSE76427 cohorts determined the ability to predict prognosis through a sevengene-based model (AUC > 0.7). A
nomogram to forecast the overall survival among HCC patients was established. In addition, 7 cell types (CD3+ cells, CD8+ T cells, macrophage/monocyte, monocyte, myeloid dendritic cells, neutrophils and cancer-associated fibroblast) significantly differed between the two risk groups. Furthermore,
enrichment analysis showed significant enrichment in fatty acid metabolism, lipogenesis, pancreatic beta cells, and bile acid metabolism in the low-risk group, while in the high-risk group, DNA repair, protein secretion, and mitotic pathways were significantly enriched. Analyzing the Tumor
Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion results demonstrated that immune checkpoint blockade therapy was poorly efficacious in the high-risk group. This study constructed and validated a novel prognostic signature related to RNA processing factors in HCC, improving therapeutic strategies for HCC.
Building such prognostic signatures could pave the way for developing targeted therapy and precision medicine in HCC.
Circ-AKT3 Inhibits Malignant Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Negatively Regulating PDK1
Authors: Dong Feng , Ke Chunlin , Wang Peirong , Chen Biao , Cai Chuanshu
Published: January 2024

This study investigated the clinical and functional significance of circ-AKT3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its impact on tumor progression. Using qRT-PCR, we found reduced circ-AKT3 levels in HCC tissues compared to adjacent liver samples. Clinical data revealed that low circ-AKT3
expression correlated with increased lymphatic and distant metastasis. Functional experiments in MHCC-97H and Hep3B cells, chosen due to their low circ-AKT3 levels, demonstrated that circ-AKT3 overexpression suppressed HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Bioinformatics analysis
and luciferase assays indicated that circ-AKT3 potentially targets PDK1. PDK1 expression was elevated in HCC tissues and cells, inversely correlated with circ-AKT3, and reduced upon circ-AKT3 overexpression. Rescue experiments illustrated that PDK1 overexpression reversed circ-AKT3-induced
inhibition of HCC cell proliferation and migration. In conclusion, downregulated circ-AKT3 in HCC, associated with aggressive clinical features, hinders tumor progression by modulating PDK1. This suggests circ-AKT3′s potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for HCC.
Interleukin-17 Regulates Keratinocyte Proliferation in Psoriasis Through the MALAT1/miR-125b/BRD4 Axis
Authors: Wang Xiaokang , Chen Yihe , Zhu Xiaofang , Lin Xiangfei , Pan Min
Published: January 2024

This study investigated the role of LncRNA MALAT1 in psoriasis development. Serum from psoriasis patients and healthy subjects was collected, and IL-17 levels were measured. HaCaT cells were exposed to IL-17 and transfected with shMALAT1 or treated with Secukinumab. Cell viability,
proliferation, and cell cycle were assessed, along with the expression of key cell cycle regulators. Various LncRNAs were analyzed, and the interaction between MALAT1 and p65 was confirmed through luciferase assays and ChIP assays. Results showed that IL-17 treatment increased cell proliferation
and MALAT1 expression. p65 binding to the MALAT1 promoter enhanced keratinocyte proliferation. Secukinumab mitigated IL-17-induced cell proliferation and rescued miR-125b expression, which was reduced by IL-17. IL-17 also elevated BRD4 expression, which Secukinumab attenuated. In summary,
IL-17 promotes HaCaT cell proliferation by upregulating MALAT1, with p65 facilitating this process. Secukinumab effectively counteracts these effects, restoring miR-125b levels and reducing BRD4 expression. These findings provide new insights into potential treatments for psoriasis.
An overview of rehabilitation approaches for focal hand dystonia in musicians: A scoping review
Authors: Catellani Ilaria , Arcuri Pasquale , Vita Fabio , Platano Daniela , Boccolari Paolo , Lanfranchi Elena , Fairplay Tracy , Tedeschi Roberto
Published: January 2024

Objective

To provide a comprehensive overview of rehabilitation treatment strategies for focal hand dystonia (FHD) in musicians, examining their evolution and effectiveness.

Data Sources

A systematic search of five databases, PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane Library, Trip, and Google Scholar, to identify relevant articles on FHD rehabilitation. The last search was performed on 20 December 2023.

Methods

Inclusion criteria were applied to 190 initially identified articles, resulting in 17 articles for review. Exclusions were made for duplicates, irrelevant titles, abstracts, and non-rehabilitation interventions.

Results

Ten different rehabilitation approaches were identified over 20 years. While no definitive intervention protocol exists, a multimodal approach is commonly recommended.

Conclusions

This scoping review underscores the diversity of rehabilitation strategies for FHD. It suggests the potential of multimodal approaches, emphasizing the need for further large-scale clinical efficacy studies.
True selves, suspicious lives: Public deceits, hopes of restoration, and existential troubles in misdocumented pasts
Authors: Roux Sébastien , Macalli Paul
Published: January 2024

How do individuals, after having discovered they were lied to about the conditions of their births and their childhoods, seek out their own identities and re/establish the “truths” about themselves? Based on two ethnographic studies conducted in sites where lives and kinships were disrupted by political violence, this article aims to examine the urge for narrative coherence in contexts defined by public deceit and betrayal. In Argentina, [Author 1] lived with the nietos who, decades after the dictatorship, discovered they had been stolen and educated by those responsible for their parents’ death. In Ethiopia, [Author 2] met with adopted children who were searching for their life “of before”. In these two contexts, the interviewees explained how their lives had been shattered when they discovered the lies they had been told. Their testimony equally revealed how they felt an existential and urgent need to re-establish the “truth”. Drawing on their experiences and their feelings, this article examines the link between two truths, truth regarding the past and truth about oneself, and explores the need to be certain of facts in the making of identities.
Efficiency evaluation of the enhanced nonlinear energy sink with electromagnetic energy harvesting mechanism
Authors: Xu Junjie , Leng Yonggang , Su Xukun , Chen Xiaoyu
Published: January 2024

Nonlinear energy sinks (NESs) have received considerable attention in vibration suppression, and the optimal design around the stiffness and damping is considered the key to achieving improved performance. This paper investigates the tri-magnet monostable and bistable enhanced NESs with electromagnetic energy harvesting mechanism. A comprehensive evaluation of the absorption and harvesting efficiency of the enhanced NES is conducted. The tri-magnet structure is developed further to realize both monostable and bistable configurations. Then, an enhanced series coils energy conversion element based on the electromagnetic energy harvesting mechanism is proposed for damping adjustment. The NES is attached to the cantilever beam subject to transient excitations. Furthermore, the equivalent model of the cantilever beam with an NES is obtained by exploiting the extended Hamilton’s principle. An optimization design method that considers both vibration absorption and harvesting efficiency is provided. The instantaneous energy variations of the optimized monostable and bistable NESs are discussed based on simulation and experimental results. Finally, the experiments with two load modes, R load and C load, demonstrate the effectiveness of the enhanced NESs in vibration absorption and its promising application in energy harvesting.
Interventions and Hospital Characteristics Associated With Patient Experience: An Update of the Evidence
Authors: Beckett Megan K. , Quigley Denise D. , Lehrman William G. , Giordano Laura A. , Cohea Christopher W. , Goldstein Elizabeth H. , Elliott Marc N.
Published: January 2024

Patient experience is a key hospital quality measure. We review and characterize the literature on interventions, care and management processes, and structural characteristics associated with better inpatient experiences as measured by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. Prior reviews identified several promising interventions. We update these previous efforts by including more recent peer-reviewed literature and expanding the review’s scope to include observational studies of HCAHPS measures with process measures and structural characteristics. We used PubMed to identify U.S. English-language peer-reviewed articles published in 2017 to 2020 and focused on hospital patient experience. The two HCAHPS domains for which we found the fewest potential quality improvement interventions were Communication with Doctors and Quietness. We identified several modifiable processes that could be rigorously evaluated in the future, including electronic health record patient engagement functionality, care management processes, and nurse-to-patient ratios. We describe implications for future policy, practice, and research.
Vision loss due to atypical bilateral edema of the optic nerve in a patient with hereditary angioedema: A case report
Authors: Castellino Niccolò , Dammino Edoardo , Scollo Davide , Russo Andrea , Livia Francesca , Neri Sergio , Avitabile Teresio , Giardino Francesco
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To describe a rare case of vision loss due to bilateral edema of the optic nerve in a patient with Hereditary Angioedema, treated with prophylactic C1-esterase inhibitor.

Methods

A 60-year-old Caucasian male affected by Hereditary Angioedema with unknown genetic defect (HAE- UNK) was admitted to our hospital presenting bilateral vision loss (best corrected visual acuity of 20/32 in the right eye and hand motion in the left eye) during an HAE attack. Intravenous administration of C1- esterase inhibitor (C1-INH, 1500 IU, Berinert, CSL Behring) determined the resolution of facial and periorbital swelling, however visual impairment persisted, in contrast with previous attacks experienced by the patient. Fundus examination revealed a vital optic disc without papilledema in both eyes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head and orbits showed bilateral edema of the optic nerve sheath. Treatment with intravenous and oral steroids was ineffective. Subsequently, a prophylactic treatment strategy with subcutaneous C1-esterase inhibitor was started (7000 IU every four days).

Results

Complete regression of edema of the optic nerves was observed by imaging at two months of follow-up after chronic treatment with C1-esterase inhibitor (7000 IU every four days). Complete restoration of visual acuity was achieved (BCVA 20/20 in both eyes) and multimodal imaging of the optic nerves demonstrated the absence of anatomical and functional damage.

Conclusion

Patients affected by HAE may show atypical presentation with edema of the optic nerves without involvement of the optic nerve head. They may significantly benefit from prophylactic and chronic treatment with C1-esterase inhibitor.
Instagram and end of life. Exploring the mediational role of social networks in young cancer patients through a case study
Authors: Seró Torroja Ignasi , Brescó Ignacio , Jiménez-Alonso Belén
Published: January 2024

The growing prominence of social networks has changed the field of death by allowing people to share their personal experience of dying or surviving the death of loved ones. This paper features a case study through which we examine the mediational role of new technologies in end-of-life experiences in young cancer patients. The case study revolves around an Instagram account created by a young Spanish woman after being diagnosed with a cancer that would ultimately end her life. The thematic analysis carried out on the 196 posts focuses on three of the main topics addressed in the account: (1) the visibilisation of cancer and its impact on the daily lives of young patients; (2) the life lessons learnt from the experience of cancer; (3) a critique of the traditional imaginary of cancer, understood in terms of an individual struggle, together with the denunciation of the lack of social protection for young cancer patients. Ultimately, the analysis shows how Instagram acts in this case as a mediational tool through which the account’s creator not only relates to her community of followers, but also to herself and to her own illness, giving rise to different meaning-making and self-regulating functions.
Clinical Experience of External Application of Clearing Heat and Removing Dampness in Relieving Grade 2 to 3 Rash Caused by Programed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD-1)/Programed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Inhibitors: A Single-Center Retrospective Study
Authors: Chen Shu-yi , Zhao Fang-min , Yu Rui , Sun Lin , Yin Yu-dan , Zhang Gao-chen-xi , Yang Jia-yao , Shu Qi-jin
Published: January 2024

Objective:

In China, grade 2 to 3 immune-related rash will probably lead to the interruption of immunotherapy. Corticosteroid (CS) is the main treatment, but not always effective. The external application of clearing heat and removing dampness, which is represented by Qing-Re-Li-Shi Formula (QRLSF), has been used in our hospital to treat immune-related cutaneous adverse events (ircAEs) for the last 5 years. The purpose of this study was to discuss its efficacy and safety in the treatment of grade 2 to 3 rash.

Methods:

A retrospective study of patients with grade 2 to 3 immune-related rash in our hospital from December 2019 to December 2022 was conducted. These patients received QRLSF treatment. Clinical characteristics, treatment outcome, and health-related quality of life (HrQoL) were analyzed.

Results:

Thirty patients with grade 2 to 3 rash (median onset time: 64.5 days) were included. The skin lesions of 24 cases (80%) returned to grade 1 with a median time of 8 days. The accompanying symptoms were also improved with median time of 3 to 4 days. The addition of antihistamine (AH) drug didn’t increase the efficacy of QRLSF (AH + QRLSF: 75.00% vs QRLSF: 83.33%, P = .66). No significant difference was observed in the efficacy of QRLSF treatment regardless of whether patients had previously received CS therapy (untreated population: 88.24% vs treated population: 69.23%, P = .36). During 1-month follow-up, 2 cases (8.33%) underwent relapses. In terms of HrQoL, QRLSF treatment could significantly reduce the median scores of all domains of Skindex-16, including symptoms (39.58 vs 8.33, P < .0001), emotions (58.33 vs 15.48, P < .0001), functioning (46.67 vs 13.33, P < .0001) and composite (52.60 vs 14.06, P < .0001).

Conclusion:

External application of clearing heat and removing dampness was proven to be an effective and safe treatment for such patients. In the future, high-quality trials are required to determine its clinical application in the field of ircAEs.
Evidentiary Significance of Routine EEG in Refractory Cases: A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatry
Authors: Swatzyna Ronald J. , Morrow Lorrianne M. , Collins Diana M. , Barr Emma A. , Roark Alexandra J. , Turner Robert P.
Published: January 2024

Over the past decade, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual's method of prescribing medications based on presenting symptoms has been challenged. The shift toward precision medicine began with the National Institute of Mental Health and culminated with the World Psychiatric Association's posit that a paradigm shift is needed. This study supports that shift by providing evidence explaining the high rate of psychiatric medication failure and suggests a possible first step toward precision medicine. A large psychiatric practice began collecting electroencephalograms (EEGs) for this study in 2012. The EEGs were analyzed by the same neurophysiologist (board certified in electroencephalography) on 1,233 patients. This study identified 4 EEG biomarkers accounting for medication failure in refractory patients: focal slowing, spindling excessive beta, encephalopathy, and isolated epileptiform discharges. Each EEG biomarker suggests underlying brain dysregulation, which may explain why prior medication attempts have failed. The EEG biomarkers cannot be identified based on current psychiatric assessment methods, and depending upon the localization, intensity, and duration, can all present as complex behavioral or psychiatric issues. The study highlights that the EEG biomarker identification approach can be a positive step toward personalized medicine in psychiatry, furthering the clinical thinking of “testing the organ we are trying to treat.”
Democracy and Institutional Change in Times of Crises in Latin America
Authors: Buben Radek , Kouba Karel
Published: January 2024

Latin American democracies have gone through a series of perfect storms over the recent years. In what ways have these challenges transformed the institutional infrastructure of democracy? How have institutional reforms impacted the democratic prospects? This review article analyzes four recent edited volumes that approach the problems of institutional change against the backdrop of the multiple crises unfolding throughout the region. It describes two modes through which the reforms of political institutions have had an ambivalent or outright negative effect on the quality of democracy, and assesses the resilience of political institutions. Arguing for a more prominent role of informal institutions and political parties in institutional analyses, the article suggests that changes in formal political institutions have had a limited impact vis-à-vis the profound changes in political cleavages, culture wars, swift changes in religious identities and the decline of political parties.
Advances in the transdermal delivery of antiretroviral drugs
Authors: Limenh Liknaw Workie
Published: January 2024

Antiretroviral therapy regimens are successful in stopping the advancement of human immunodeficiency virus infection to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and other opportunistic infections. However, they do have significant disadvantages, including long-term treatment, limited oral bioavailability, inaccessibility to organs, non-adherence by patients, and the development of medication resistance. Because of the listed drawbacks of available routes and the availability of curative medicines for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, advanced solutions are required. Antiretroviral therapy transdermal delivery is one of the current strategies that have attracted much attention from many researchers. In this narrative review, various in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo transdermal antiretroviral therapy delivery strategies were reviewed, such as transdermal patches and films, lipid-based nano-delivery systems, microneedles, chemical penetration enhancers, and iontophoresis, which showed promising results. Although the majority of studies on Antiretroviral transdermal delivery have produced hopeful findings, additional in-depth research on passive and physical enhancement techniques, both existing and new, is necessary to fully understand the potential of this route and to make it accessible to human immunodeficiency virus patients.
Person-centered maternity care during childbirth and associated factors among mothers who gave birth at public health institutions of Debre Markos town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Alelign Yaregal Admasu , Melesse Misganaw Fikrie , Beka Endihnew , Alemu Addisu Alehegn , Ejigu Meskele Neway , Asres Chernet Getnet
Published: January 2024

Background:

Person-centered maternity care is a crucial scheme for a positive childbirth experience. It enhances facility-based delivery, improves patient–provider communication, and increases women’s satisfaction. However, there is limited evidence on the magnitude of person-centered care and certain variables were missed in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study assessed the magnitude of person-centered maternity care during childbirth and associated factors at health institutions of Debre Markos town, Ethiopia.

Methods:

Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at public health institutions of Debre Markos town. Participants were enrolled using systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected through face-to-face exit interviews, cleaned, coded, and entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. After generating simple linear regression analysis, variables with p-value ⩽ 0.25 were fitted into multivariable linear regression model and p-value < 0.05 was declared statistically significant with 95% CI for β. Finally, study findings were presented using texts, tables, and figures.

Results:

In this study, 380 women participated, with a response rate of 98.19%. The respondent’s mean person-centered maternity care score was 56.83 with 95% CI: (55.83, 57.83). Mean score for sub-scale was 15.08 for dignity and respect, 14.42 for communication and autonomy, and 27.33 for supportive care. Commencing antenatal care during third trimester (β = −4.86, 95% CI: −8.22, −1.49), caesarean delivery (β = −5.78, 95% CI: −7.68, −3.87), college and above educational level of women (β = 3.75, 95% CI: 1.11, 6.39), being multiparous (β = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.85, 5.55), and health center delivery (β = 6.59, 95% CI: 4.17, 9.02) were factors significantly associated with person-centered maternity care.

Conclusion:

This study showed person-centered maternity care was low compared with World Health Organization standards. This informs local policymakers, district health offices, institutional healthcare administrators, and healthcare professionals of the discrepancies in achieving international standards of quality care.