bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dual Neural Network Control of a Hybrid Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycling System
Authors: Merritt Glen R. , Akbari Saiedeh , Cousin Christian A. , Yoon Hwan-Sik
Published: September 2023

Hybrid functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling is a method to rehabilitate people with neurological conditions when they are not in and of themselves capable of fully controlling their extremities. To ensure smooth cycling and adequate stimulation to accomplish the rehabilitation task, admittance control is applied between the human and the robotic cycle. The cycle motor is actuated by a dual neural network control structure with an additional robust element tracking the admittance trajectory, while muscles are stimulated with a simple saturated robust controller. The dual neural network structure allows adaptation to separable functions of the dynamic system, in addition to shared adaptation through the admittance filter. A Lyapunov analysis shows that the admittance tracking controller is globally exponentially stable. A passivity analysis shows that the admittance system and cadence tracking error are output strictly passive. A combined analysis shows that the total system is passive. Experiments are performed on eight participants without neurological conditions, on 12 differing protocols including a robust controller for comparison, the addition of noise, and the addition or lack of stimulation. One participant with a neurological condition was evaluated on three different protocols, including a robust controller, a neural network controller, and a game-like mode where the participant was asked to track the trajectory as it appeared on a screen. Statistical analysis of the experiments show that the standard deviation of the tracking error is significantly improved with the adaptive dual neural network control addition when compared to the robust controller, in some instances reducing the magnitude by half.
Uncovering virulence factors in
Cronobacter sakazakii
: insights from genetic screening and proteomic profiling
Authors: Chen Xi , Xue Juan , Dong Xiaoli , Lu Ping
Published: September 2023

The increasing problem of antibiotic resistance has driven the search for virulence factors in pathogenic bacteria, which can serve as targets for the development of new antibiotics. Although whole-genome Tn5 transposon mutagenesis combined with phenotypic assays has been a widely used approach, its efficiency remains low due to labor-intensive processes. In this study, we aimed to identify specific genes and proteins associated with the virulence of
Cronobacter sakazakii
, a pathogenic bacterium known for causing severe infections, particularly in infants and immunocompromised individuals. By employing a combination of genetic screening, comparative proteomics, and
in vivo
validation using zebrafish and rat models, we rapidly screened highly virulent strains and identified two genes,
rcsA
and
treR
, as potential regulators of
C. sakazakii
toxicity toward zebrafish and rats. Proteomic profiling revealed upregulated proteins upon knockout of
rcsA
and
treR
, including FabH, GshA, GppA, GcvH, IhfB, RfaC, MsyB, and three unknown proteins. Knockout of their genes significantly weakened bacterial virulence, confirming their role as potential virulence factors. Our findings contribute to understanding the pathogenicity of
C. sakazakii
and provide insights into the development of targeted interventions and therapies against this bacterium.

IMPORTANCE

The emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria has become a critical global health concern, necessitating the identification of virulence factors as potential targets for the development of new antibiotics. This study addresses the limitations of conventional approaches by employing a combination of genetic screening, comparative proteomics, and
in vivo
validation to rapidly identify specific genes and proteins associated with the virulence of
Cronobacter sakazakii
, a highly pathogenic bacterium responsible for severe infections in vulnerable populations. The identification of two genes,
rcsA
and
treR
, as potential regulators of
C. sakazakii
toxicity toward zebrafish and rats and the proteomic profiling upon knockout of
rcsA
and
treR
provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying bacterial virulence. The findings contribute to our understanding of
C. sakazakii
’s pathogenicity, shed light on the regulatory pathways involved in bacterial virulence, and offer potential targets for the development of novel interventions against this highly virulent bacterium.
Optimization of Adiabatic Superconducting Logic Cells by Using π Josephson Junctions
Authors: Khismatullin G. S. , Klenov N. V. , Soloviev I. I.
Published: September 2023

Adiabatic superconducting logic circuits can ensure the practical implementation of operations with the energy dissipation below the Landauer limit. However, applications of the existing solutions are limited because of two contradictory requirements of a high energy efficiency and a sufficiently fast response of devices. Josephson junctions with a negative critical current (π junctions) allow one to obtain a certain form of the potential energy of superconducting circuits and, as a result, a practically required degree of control of dynamic processes in the proposed reversible logic cells. The features of the current transport and balance of Josephson phases in circuits with π junctions make it possible to improve the coupling between the parts of a reversible computer by a factor more than 2. At the same time, the continuous evolution of the state is ensured at higher critical currents and higher characteristic voltages of the main Josephson junctions of adiabatic superconducting logic cells, which allows an increase in the response rate.
Bilateral cochlear implantation in infantile Bartter’s syndrome
Authors: Mohanraj Lekhaa , Saravanam Prasanna Kumar
Published: September 2023

Bartter’s syndrome (BS) is a rare group of hereditary salt losing tubulopathies due to impairment of renal transport mechanism. Herein, we report a boy in early childhood who was diagnosed to have infantile Bartter’s syndrome. Laboratory investigations revealed hypokalaemia and metabolic alkalosis which was managed with oral potassium chloride supplementation. The inner ear showed no anatomical abnormalities. Sequential cochlear implantation was performed 4 months apart. Postoperative electrical stimulation yielded good response and a symmetric mapping. The patient was on regular audio-verbal therapy. Cognitive impairment improved over time. Bilateral cochlear implantation showed excellent auditory outcomes.
Traumatic testicular dislocation in the abdomen: diagnosis and management
Authors: Colalillo Gaia , Pletto Simone , Laudazi Mario , Asimakopoulos Anastasios D
Published: September 2023

Testicular dislocation in the abdomen after scrotal trauma is a rare and sometimes unrecognised event.

Early detection and timely management reduce possible complications which include the risk of fertility loss, endocrine dysfunction, and future malignancy.

We present the case of a man who suffered a traumatic dislocation of the right testis in the abdomen after a motorcycle crash. The large scrotal haematoma did not permit adequate physical examination. Furthermore, during the clinical management of the polytrauma, the main focus was on active arterial bleeding, multiple pelvic fractures and clinical investigation of the integrity of the lower urinary tract. Therefore, the diagnosis and surgical management of the testicular dislocation were delayed.

The patient underwent abdominal-inguinal surgical exploration, haematoma evacuation, identification of the right testis and right orchidopexy.

After 6 months, the right testis of the patient is of regular volume, consistency and physiologic echogenicity on ultrasound evaluation.

Hormonal evaluation and semen analysis were normal after 3 months.
Osseous metaplasia in a rectal polyp
Authors: Sampath Ananyan , Panwar Hemalata , Kapoor Neelkamal N A , Sharma Pramod Kumar
Published: September 2023

Rectal polyps are finger-like projections of the mucosal surface that generally present with complaints of bleeding or mass per rectum. Polyps are classified histopathologically as neoplastic and non-neoplastic. Here, we present one such rare case of a middle-childhood boy who presented with complaints of bleeding per-rectum and revealed a 1.5 cm long rectal polyp. Histopathological examination revealed an osseous change in the rectal polyp. A detailed literature review of reported cases of benign rectal polyps with osseous metaplasia was conducted and consolidated all postulated theories of pathogenesis. This case report shows an interesting incidental finding of osseous metaplasia of the rectal polyp.
Ligature effect on wrist of a child
Authors: Bhosale Ranjit , Chandrasekar Shruthi , Nerkar Kiran Trambak , Tiwari Raja
Published: September 2023

A rubber band worn around a limb in an infant has the potential to cut through the tissues. The cutting potential of a rubber band is proportional to the strain within the band. A circumferential scar over the wrist with multiple discharging sinuses is the usual presentation. Such presentations should raise the suspicion of ‘the rubber band syndrome’. A forgotten band migrates through the tissues and the skin epithelialises over it. As a result, continuity and function in the limb may be maintained, leading to misdiagnosis and wrong treatment. A high level of suspicion and treatment in the form of surgical removal and adequate debridement at first followed by formal reconstruction of deficits secondarily are required in the management of such patients.
SevereUreaplasma urealyticuminfection in a patient with ocrelizumab-induced hypogammaglobulinaemia
Authors: Poulsen Emma Elisabeth , Jensen-Fangel Søren , Rudolf Frauke
Published: September 2023

Infections caused byUreaplasma urealyticumin immune-competent people are typically simple and uncomplicated. However, in cases of immunosuppression, severe disseminated infections can occur.

This case report describes the case of a severe, disseminated infection caused byU. urealyticumin a young female with unacknowledged humoral immunosuppression due to treatment with ocrelizumab for multiple sclerosis.

The patient was admitted due to a recurrent episode of a tubo-ovarian abscess. Throughout the following 2 months of hospitalisation, treatment with several types of antibiotics and the placement of various drains led to no improvement. As extensive investigations indicated hypogammaglobulinaemia,U. urealyticumwas suspected, and tests came back positive. Treatment with doxycycline and moxifloxacin led to a full recovery.

This demonstrates how humoral immunosuppression is a risk factor for severe disseminated infections and how these may be avoided through monitoring of immunoglobulin levels in patients treated with ocrelizumab.
Early Detection and Progression of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Psoriasis (EDSAP): protocol for an observational, single-centre, prospective cohort study
Authors: Abbad-Jaime de Aragón Carlota , Berna-Rico Emilio , Ballester-Martinez María Asunción , Jaén Pedro , Solís Jorge , Barderas María G , Fernández-Friera Leticia , N Mehta Nehal , Gelfand Joel M , González-Cantero Álvaro
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Life expectancy of patients with psoriasis is reduced by 4–5 years due to cardiovascular disease with an increased risk of myocardial infarction at an earlier age compared with the general population. This increased risk is independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and higher in moderate-to-severe forms of psoriasis. Inflammation may play a key role in the development of atherosclerosis in these patients.

Methods and analysis

A prospective cohort study, Early Detection and Progression of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Psoriasis (EDSAP), was initiated in January 2020 to investigate the presence and progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with psoriasis. 120 patients aged 30–65 years and eligible for biological treatment have been recruited at Hospital Ramón y Cajal in Madrid, Spain. Patients undergo a baseline visit, and 1-year follow-up visit after starting biological therapy. Each visit includes: assessment of cardiovascular risk factors, screening for subclinical atherosclerosis by two-dimensional/three-dimensional ultrasound of carotid and femoral arteries, cardiac CT of coronary arteries and blood sampling. All baseline visits were completed by December 2022, and the remaining follow-up visits will be concluded by the end of 2023. The EDSAP study aims to identify new molecular and imaging markers associated with the presence of atherosclerosis and its progression in a chronic inflammatory state such as psoriasis. This has the potential to: (1) help improve primary cardiovascular prevention strategies in these patients; (2) understand the effect of biological drugs on the cardiovascular system; and (3) serve as a model for understanding atherosclerosis in other chronic inflammatory diseases.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Hospital Ramón y Cajal in Madrid. We will present our findings at national and international congresses, and peer-reviewed journals.

Trial Registration number

NCT05858099.
Knowledge on gestational diabetes mellitus and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics of North Shewa zone public hospitals, Oromia region, Central Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Dissassa Hiwot Dejene , Tufa Derara Girma , Geleta Leta Adugna , Dabalo Yohannes Amsalu , Oyato Befekadu Tesfaye
Published: September 2023

Background

Globally, the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is currently rising. Assessing GDM knowledge and taking various public health actions will help pregnant women know more about the condition, resulting in its prevention.

Objective

To assess pregnant women’s knowledge of GDM and associated factors at antenatal care clinics of public hospitals in the North Shewa zone, Oromia region, Central Ethiopia.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Five public hospitals of North Shewa zone, Oromia regional state, Central Ethiopia.

Participants

A total of 417 pregnant women.

Methods

A face-to-face interview was conducted. A 13-items tool was used to measure GDM knowledge. Multivariable binary logistic regression was fitted to identify factors associated with the knowledge of GDM. The adjusted OR (AOR) with 95% CI and a p<0.05 was used to determine statistical significance.

Results

Overall, 48% (95% CI 43.4% to 52.8%) of pregnant women had sufficient knowledge about GDM. The level of sufficient knowledge for GDM risk factors, screening/treatment and its consequences were 48%, 54.4% and 99%, respectively. Age group 15–24 years (AOR 3.49, 95% CI 1.05 to 11.59), attending secondary and above education (AOR 4.27, 95% CI 1.29 to 14.070, women whose partners attended primary school (AOR 3.83, 95% CI 1.36 to 10.78), history of GDM (AOR 3.36, 95% CI 1.68 to 6.71), history of hypertension (AOR 2.42, 95% CI 1.21 to 4.84), receiving preconception care (AOR 3.02, 95% CI 1.74 to 5.22) and being multigravida (AOR 3.19, 95% CI 1.52 to 6.67) were factors significantly associated with sufficient knowledge about GDM.

Conclusion

Overall, more than half of pregnant women have insufficient knowledge about GDM. Significant association between GDM knowledge and women’s age, women’s and partners’ educational status, preconception care, history of GDM and hypertension, and the number of pregnancies were detected. Therefore, to increase pregnant women’s GDM knowledge, health education programmes in the community and healthcare facilities should target the identified factors.
Automated choice for the best renormalization scheme in BSM models
Authors: Heinemeyer S. , von der Pahlen F.
Published: September 2023

The explorations of models beyond the Standard Model (BSM) naturally involve scans over the unknown BSM parameters. On the other hand, high precision predictions require calculations at the loop-level and thus a renormalization of (some of) the BSM parameters. Often many choices are possible for the renormalization scheme (RS). This concerns the choice of the set of to-be-renormalized parameters out of a larger set of BSM parameters, but can also concern the type of renormalization condition which is chosen for a specific parameter. A given RS can be well suited to yield “stable” and “well behaved” higher-order corrections in one part of the BSM parameter space, but can fail completely in other parts, which may not even be noticed numerically if an isolated parameter point is investigated, or when the higher-order BSM calculations are performed in an automated, not supervised set-up. Consequently, the (automated) exploration of BSM models requires a choice of a good RSbeforethe calculation is performed. We propose a new method with which such a choice can be performed. We demonstrate the feasibility of our new method in the chargino/neutralino sector of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), but stress the general applicability of our method to all types of BSM models.
Charged particles motion and quasiperiodic oscillation in Simpson–Visser spacetime in the presence of external magnetic fields
Authors: Vrba Jaroslav , Rayimbaev Javlon , Stuchlik Zdenek , Ahmedov Bobomurat
Published: September 2023

The present work is devoted to the study of the dynamics of charged particles around Simpson–Visser black holes (with the length parameter $$ l\le $$

l
≤

2) and wormholes ($$l>2$$

l
>
2

) immersed in an external asymptotically uniform magnetic field. To do this, first, we solve the Maxwell equation for 4-potentials of the electromagnetic field and show that the difference between the numerical solution and Wald’s solution is small enough to neglect it, which may allow us to use the solution obtained by Wald. We also study fundamental frequencies of in the vertical and radial oscillations of charged particles around circular stable orbits around the magnetized black hole. The effects of the magnetic interaction and length parameters on the fundamental frequencies. We investigate the quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs) around the black hole in relativistic precession and epicyclic resonance models. It is also shown that the combined effects of magnetic interaction for negatively charged particles and length parameters can mimic the spacetime effects of the Schwarzschild black hole compensating for their effects, as well as the spin of rotating Kerr black holes. The distance between an orbit where a QPO is generated with the ratio of upper and lower frequencies 3: 2 and innermost stable circular orbits is also studied. It is found that the QPO orbits are very close to ISCO in the RP model at $$l<2$$

l
<
2

. This implies that the obtained result helps to determine the ISCO around black holes. We also study the applications of observed QPOs around stellar-mass black holes in microquasars and supermassive black holes.
Comparing mathematical modeling approaches for compact objects: vanishing complexity and embedding class one approaches in spherically symmetric systems with static background
Authors: Gedela Satyanarayana , Bisht Ravindra K.
Published: September 2023

This study delves into the realm of solving Einstein’s field equations within the framework of general relativity. In this paper, we present an exact solution derived through the vanishing complexity approach and offer a comparative analysis with the established embedding class one approach. This exploration sheds light on the efficacy and validity of these methods in generating solutions for Einstein’s field equations. Our study involves a comprehensive exploration of several key parameters, encompassing thermodynamic factors, causality conditions, stability evaluations, as well as analyses of the mass function. Based on our findings, it can be suggested that the vanishing complexity approach could serve as a viable alternative method to the embedding class one approach for the derivation of exact solutions of Einstein’s field equations.
An Unsupervised Gradient-Based Approach for Real-Time Log Analysis From Distributed Systems
Authors: Wang Minquan , Lu Siyang , Xiao Sizhe , Wang Dongdong , Wei Xiang , Han Ningning , Wang Liqiang
Published: September 2023

We consider the problem of real-time log anomaly detection for distributed system with deep neural networks by unsupervised learning. There are two challenges in this problem, including detection accuracy and analysis efficacy. To tackle these two challenges, we propose GLAD, a simple yet effective approach mining for anomalies in distributed systems. To ensure detection accuracy, we exploit the gradient features in a well-calibrated deep neural network and analyze anomalous pattern within log files. To improve the analysis efficacy, we further integrate one-class support vector machine (SVM) into anomalous analysis, which significantly reduces the cost of anomaly decision boundary delineation. This effective integration successfully solves both accuracy and efficacy in real-time log anomaly detection. Also, since anomalous analysis is based upon unsupervised learning, it significantly reduces the extra data labeling cost. We conduct a series of experiments to justify that GLAD has the best comprehensive performance balanced between accuracy and efficiency, which implies the advantage in tackling practical problems. The results also reveal that GLAD enables effective anomaly mining and consistently outperforms state-of-the-art methods on both recall and F1 scores.
Some two-weight codes invariant under the 3-fold covers of the Mathieu groups M22 and Aut(M22)
Authors: Rodrigues B. G.
Published: September 2023

Using an approach from finite group representation theory we construct quaternary non-projective codes with parameters [Formula: see text], quaternary projective codes with parameters [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and binary projective codes with parameters [Formula: see text] as examples of two-weight codes on which a finite almost quasisimple group of sporadic type acts transitively as permutation groups of automorphisms. In particular, we show that these codes are invariant under the [Formula: see text]-fold covers [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively, of the Mathieu groups [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Employing a known construction of strongly regular graphs from projective two-weight codes we obtain from the binary projective (respectively, quaternary projective) two-weight codes with parameters those given above, the strongly regular graphs with parameters [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] respectively. The latter graph can be viewed as a [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-symmetric design with the symmetric difference property whose residual and derived designs with respect to a block give rise to binary self-complementary codes meeting the Grey–Rankin bound with equality.
Introduction to the Special Collection from iFM 2022
Authors: Monahan Rosemary , ter Beek Maurice H.
Published: September 2023

This special collection arose from the 17th International Conference on integrated Formal Methods (iFM) held in beautiful Lugano, Switzerland, hosted by the Software Institute of USI Università della Svizzera italiana.
A Decision Procedure for a Theory of Finite Sets with Finite Integer Intervals
Authors: Cristiá Maximiliano , Rossi Gianfranco
Published: September 2023

In this paper we extend a decision procedure for the Boolean algebra of finite sets with cardinality constraints (ℒ
|⋅|
) to a decision procedure for ℒ
|⋅|
extended with set terms denoting finite integer intervals (ℒ
[]
). In ℒ
[]
interval limits can be integer linear terms including
unbounded variables
. These intervals are a useful extension because they allow to express non-trivial set operators such as the minimum and maximum of a set, still in a quantifier-free logic. Hence, by providing a decision procedure for ℒ
[]
it is possible to automatically reason about a new class of quantifier-free formulas. The decision procedure is implemented as part of the {
log
} (‘setlog’) tool. The paper includes a case study based on the elevator algorithm showing that {
log
} can automatically discharge all its invariance lemmas, some of which involve intervals.
Performing Cancer Diagnosis via an Isoform Expression Ranking-based LSTM Model
Authors: Reyes Óscar , Pérez Eduardo
Published: September 2023

The known set of genetic factors involved in the development of several types of cancer has considerably been expanded, thus easing to devise and implement better therapeutic strategies. The automatic diagnosis of cancer, however, remains as a complex task because of the high heterogeneity of tumors and the biological variability between samples. In this work, a long short-term memory network-based model is proposed for diagnosing cancer from transcript-base data. An efficient method that transforms data into gene/isoform expression-based rankings was formulated, allowing us to directly embed important information in the relative order of the elements of a ranking that can subsequently ease the classification of samples. The proposed predictive model leverages the power of deep recurrent neural networks, being able to learn existing patterns on the individual rankings of isoforms describing each sample of the population. To evaluate the suitability of the proposal, an extensive experimental study was conducted on 17 transcript-based datasets, and the results showed the effectiveness of this novel approach and also indicated the gene/isoforms expression-based rankings contained valuable information that can lead to a more effective cancer diagnosis.
Pan-Turkism in Action? Turkic Nationalists, Nazi Germany and Turkey During World War ii
Authors: Lüdke Tilman
Published: September 2023

For Pan-Turkists, the Nazi German attack on the Soviet Union in June 1941 seemed to offer a chance for the liberation of Turkic peoples from Soviet domination. Consequently, they attempted to win over both the Turkish and the Nazi German governments to support their aims. Although active Pan-Turkist policies—entailing entry into the war on the German side—were intensively debated during 1941 and 1942, Turkey ultimately suppressed the Pan-Turkist movement for fear of alienating the Soviet neighbour and provoking Soviet retaliation. The Germans saw themselves confronted with collaboration offers by Pan-Turkist activists from the Soviet Union. Such collaboration provided the increasingly hard-pressed Germans with large numbers of volunteers, but indecision and the clashes of racist and imperialist Nazi ideologies with the interests of the peoples living under Soviet authority ultimately rendered this cooperation ineffective.
Tacitus’ Critique of Republicanism in His Germania
Authors: Cole Thomas J.B.
Published: September 2023

Although Tacitus began his writing career during the Principate at the end of the first century CE, the dominant approach to thinking about political life was still guided by Republicanism, a constellation of concepts from the mid-first century BCE Roman Republic. Republicanism held that there was only one type of monarchy and that it necessarily precluded libertas. Tacitus, who was living under different iterations of monopolistic power in the Principate, questions this tenet by examining various Germanic tribes. The Germania explores different types of monarchical arrangements, showing that monarchy is not a one-size-fits-all form and that there are significant political differences among the Germanic monarchies, some of which preserve libertas. In this examination, he highlights the inapplicability of Republicanism to a system as dynamic as the Principate.
Effects of Cortex meliae on the Intestinal Flora in Rats
Authors: Zhang Qi , Duan Xueqing , Chen Rui , Duan Zhixuan , Zhu Chen , Yu Qi , Tian Weiyi
Published: September 2023

Objective: Studies have revealed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) regulates gut microbiota, which have a important stone in human health and disease development. Cortex meliae is a medicinal herb that has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-tumor effects, but
its influence on intestinal flora has not been reported yet. Here, the effects of different doses of Cortex meliae on the distribution of microflora in different intestinal segments were studied in order to provide information for disease prevention and control based on intestinal flora.
Methods: Samples of the duodenum, ileum, colon and jejunum (including gut contents) were taken from rats administered different doses of Cortex meliae decoction by gavage at time points of 7, 14 and 21 days. Bacterial numbers in each intestinal segment were observed using qRT-PCR.
Results: (1) For Enterococcus, of which the growth was promoted in the ileum (lle) and was inhibited in the duodenum (Duo) and colon (Col) by Cortex meliae, while the growth of Enterococcus was first inhibited and then promoted in the jejunum (Jej). (2) The growth
of Colibacillus was inhibited by Cortex meliae in the Duo, Jej, Ile and Col. (3) Cortex meliae had an inhibitory effect on the growth of Bacteroides in the Due, and has a stimulating effect on the growth of Bacteroides in the Jej, Ile and Col. However, with the
prolongation of the administration time, the above promoting or inhibiting effects were sometimes lost or the opposite effect appeared for some intestinal segments or bacteria, and there was a certain dose effect. Conclusion: The effects of Cortex meliae on three dominant intestinal
bacteria (Enterococcus, Colibacillus, and Bacteroides) were different in different intestinal segments and had obvious quantitative and temporal regularity.
Acidogenic Fermentation of Kitchen Waste for the Production of Volatile Fatty Acids: Bioaugmentation by Bacillus GIEC
Authors: Wang Fei , Wang Zhi , Xing Tao , Huang Yuan , Guo Ying , Xie Zhili , Sun Yongming , Kong Xiaoying , Yi Zhang
Published: September 2023

In this study, the lignocellulosic (banana peel, tea residue, and paper towel in a ratio of 1:1:1) and protein (chicken breast) components of kitchen waste (KW) were used as substrates for mesophilic anaerobic fermentation to produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The ability of a new
strain belonging to Bacillus sp. to improve the degradation of kitchen waste and VFAs production was investigated. The results showed that the addition of Bacillus cell wall depolymerization GIEC (Bacillus GIEC) to the fermentation system could result in higher concentrations
of soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD), improved the removal rates of volatile solids (VS), and increased yield of VFAs from the substrates. Compared with the control group, the sCOD concentrations of lignocellulosic and protein substrates increased by 132.58% and 18.36%, respectively; the
volatile solids removal rates of lignocellulosic and protein substrates increased by 84.96% and 135.53%, respectively; the yield of VFAs of lignocellulosic and protein substrates increased by 61.29% and 35.92%, respectively, reaching 0.31 g/g VSadded and 0.67 g/g VSadded,
separately. According to the study, the addition of Bacillus GIEC enhanced the solubilization of solid organic matter during hydrolysis process, further resulting in a higher yield of VFAs compared to the control group. Furthermore, the micro-aerobic test showed that the bioaugmentation
ability of Bacillus GIEC has little effect by the presence of oxygen. The Bacillus GIEC has the potential for bioaugmentation of the VFAs production from kitchen waste.
Influences of Reaction Temperature, Duration, and Catalysts on Hemicellulose Pyrolysis Products
Authors: Sun Tanglei , Li Yuanna , Wang Ruisi , Zhang Lu , Li Yanling , Liu Peng , Lei Tingzhou
Published: September 2023

Fast pyrolysis experiments were conducted on xylan (XY) using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) to explore influences of the reaction temperature, duration, and catalysts on product distributions from XY pyrolysis. The results show that temperature and duration
can notably influence the classes and yields of compounds generated by the pyrolysis of hemicellulose. Pyrolysis at 500–600 °C for a duration of 5–20 s is conducive to improving the yields of condensable volatiles from hemicellulose pyrolysis. In all catalytic experiments,
when taking HZSM-5 as the catalyst, alcohols (37.31%), carbohydrates (27.61%), and hydrocarbons (3.71%) have the highest contents while aldehydes (9.76%), ketones (2.20%), esters (0%), furans (0%), and N-compounds (4.09%) possess the lowest contents. MCM-41 promotes production of aldehydes
(59.94%), acids (5.11%), ketones (6.92%), phenols (0.30%), ethers (0.61%), and N-compounds (18.70%) while inhibiting generation of alcohols (1.21%) and carbohydrates (3.79%). ZrO2 is conducive to increasing the content of furans (2.23%) while decreasing the content of acids (0.64%).
Does Preoperative Weight Loss Affect Outcomes After Major Liver Resection? Analysis of a National Database
Authors: Nordan Taylor , Ahmad Shahzaib , Karagozian Raffi , Schnelldorfer Thomas , Aziz Hassan
Published: September 2023

Introduction: The association between unintentional weight loss (WL) and outcomes after major hepatectomy for malignancy remains unclear.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study reviewed the 2014-2019 NSQIP database of all patients who underwent major liver resections. The patients were categorized into two groups based on their history of weight loss. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day mortality. The secondary outcome was 30-day in-hospital complications.

Results: In total, 384 patients had a history of preoperative weight loss. Preoperative WL was an independent predictor of septic shock (OR, 2.44; CI: 1.61, 3.69), bile leak (OR: 1.96; CI: 1.51, 2.55), and grade C liver failure (OR: 2.57; CI: 1.64, 4.01). However, preoperative WL was not a significant predictor of perioperative mortality (OR: 1.38; CI: 0.82, 2.32).

Conclusion: The study found higher morbidity rates in patients undergoing liver resection with a history of weight loss. Further validation with prospective weight monitoring is needed to validate as a prognostic marker in patients undergoing hepatectomy. In addition, weight changes can help guide multidisciplinary decision-making in treating patients undergoing hepatectomy.
A Comment on Markovits’s Welfare Economics and Antitrust
Authors: Hylton Keith N.
Published: September 2023

I criticize two features of the new book by Richard Markovits. One is the notion that ethics or moral judgments should be part of our analysis of antitrust. The other is the notion that market definition is incoherent.
The Effect of Interactive Television-Based Visual Arts and Expressive Arts Therapy on the Critical Thinking Skills of School Children that Survived Abduction
Authors: Xie Yanhong , Zhou Shutian , Apuke Oberiri Destiny
Published: September 2023

This study examined the effect of interactive television-based visual art therapy and expressive arts therapy on the critical thinking skills of school children that survived abduction. A quasi-experiment was conducted among 470 school children in two secondary schools. The participants were divided into a control group ( N = 235) and experimental group ( N = 235). The experiment group was further divided into the art therapy group and the expressive art therapy group. We found that art therapy and expressive art therapy were effective in improving the critical thinking skills of the children who experienced kidnapping in Nigeria.
Energy absorption capability of laterally loaded glass/epoxy tubular components containing halloysite nanotubes
Authors: Awd Allah Mahmoud M. , Abd El-baky Marwa A. , Alshahrani Hassan , Sebaey Tamer A. , Hegazy Dalia A.
Published: September 2023

The crashworthiness capability of laterally loaded glass/epoxy (GFRE) tubular components containing halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) was explored in this article. GFRE components filled with 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weight percent (wt.%) of HNTs were created using wet-wrapping by hand lay-up technique. For the laterally loaded tubes, the crushing load and the energy absorption versus displacement responses were presented. In addition, distortion histories were tracked. The crashworthiness analysis was carried out by evaluating different indicators, i.e., initial crush load [Formula: see text], average crush load ([Formula: see text]), crush load efficiency (CFE), energy absorption (U), and specific absorbed energy (SEA). Two parameters of the Weibull distribution were employed to assess the experimental findings statistically. In addition, mathematical regression models were built to predict the energy absorption indicators. Experimental results demonstrated that an unfilled tube demonstrated the largest CFE of 1.84, while the maximum [Formula: see text] was demonstrated by a tube filled with 2 wt.% of HNTs with a value of 3.70 kN. Additionally, the tube filled with 4 wt.% of HNTs represents the extremes [Formula: see text], U, and SEA with values of 4.26 kN, 128.82 J, and 3.84 J/g, respectively. Due to their improved crashworthiness characteristics, GFRE filled with 4 wt.% of HNTs is suitable for use as a crashworthy device in automobiles.
Acting Upon Student Voice-Based Teaching Assessment Initiatives: An Account of Participatory Action Research for Teacher Professional Learning
Authors: Finefter-Rosenbluh Ilana , Berry Amanda , Ryan Tracii
Published: September 2023

Numerous nations implement Student Perception Surveys (SPS) in their schools to assess teaching for student learning improvement. However, research suggests no significant change in teachers’ practices following such student voice-based assessment initiatives, noting their struggle to act upon it. Utilizing the pyramid of student voice as a key framework, we investigate how a Participatory Action Research (PAR)-based professional development (PD) shapes a group of Australian secondary teachers’ interaction with SPS and professional learning. Analyses of the teachers’ interviews, research projects, and reflective notes about their use of SPS illustrate how the PAR-based PD informed their practice, specifically: (i) transforming ‘survey fatigue’ to increased student voice; (ii) contemplating personal, professional, and political entanglements; and (iii) (re)building teacher agency—employing SPS as collective learning tools of professional empowerment rather than accountability measures of teaching. Implications include pathways to strengthen teachers’ agency—honoring their professionalism—in assessment spaces increasingly shaped by student voices.
Turkish Validity and Reliability Study of “Intensive Care Nurses” Attitude Scale Toward Brain Death and Organ Transplantation
Authors: Özbek İrfan , Gürler Hesna , Gültürk Esra Akaydın
Published: September 2023

This study was carried out to analyze the validity and reliability of the Turkish adaptation of the “Intensive Care Nurses” Attitude Scale towards Brain Death and Organ Transplantation”. The research was carried out as a methodological study and 256 nurses were included in the study. Language, content validity, explanatory and confirmatory factor analyzes were used to analyze data. Twenty-one point 5% of nurses stated that they had an organ donation card. It was determined that the Cronbach alpha coefficient of scale was .85, and item-total score correlations were between .143 and .700. It was established that the scale showed three-factor structure and the first factor was named as “Approving Organ Donation”, the second factor as “Discomfort” and the third factor as “Improving The Quality of Life”. The Turkish version of the scale was found to be an valid and reliable measurement tool.
Hastening slowly on classroom-based conversational skills teaching: A commentary on Abbot-Smith et al., 2023
Authors: Snow Pamela C. , Weadman Tessa A. , Serry Tanya A.
Published: September 2023

The focus of classroom instructional time continues to be debated among educators, policy makers, academics and health professionals such as speech-language therapists. In this commentary, we emphasise the importance of reserving precious instructional time for developing children’s biologically secondary skills such as reading, writing and spelling. We argue that maintaining a focus on these core curriculum areas is critical. We advise against committing Tier 1 classroom time to conversational skills at the current time, due to the paucity of research evidence to support this. We propose an alternative model for including conversational skills in classroom practice, through the application of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, and in particular, Response to Intervention.
Intracapsular Enucleation of Brachial Plexus Schwannoma With Intraoperative Neuromonitoring: A Case Series Study and a Review of Literature
Authors: Shi Juan , He Kai-Xuan , Dong Yan-Bo , Liu Yu-He , Lu Cheng , Li Wan-Xin
Published: September 2023

Objective:

Brachial plexus schwannoma (BPS) is a rare clinical entity that poses a significant challenge for head and neck surgeons due to its neuroanatomical complexity and potential severe complications, such as major motor or sensory neurological deficits or pain of the corresponding upper extremity. This article summarizes our experience in its diagnosis and intracapsular enucleation with intraoperative neuromonitoring (INM).

Methods:

A retrospective review of BPS cases treated at our tertiary medical institution was conducted between April 2020 and May 2023. The clinical and demographic data were retrieved from case notes.

Results:

Totally, 3 cases were included. All 3 patients were male, aged 43 to 54 years (median age = 52). The presenting symptom was a palpable supraclavicular mass in all these cases (2 on the left side and 1 on the right side). Neuromonitoring was performed with a 4-channel nerve integrity monitor, with the electrodes placed in the upper arm and forearm muscles, as demonstrated in the literature. After exposing the mass and identifying its origin from the brachial plexus, a unipolar stimulating probe was used to stimulate the tumor surface or the nerves with a 1.0-mA current, and a longitudinal incision into the tumor capsule was made along a carefully mapped line with no INM response. Then the mass was carefully exposed and meticulously dissected from its capsule to achieve an intact enucleation. Immediate postoperative neurological deficit was documented in Case 1 as a mild grasping weakness. The recovery of the other 2 patients was uneventful. The follow-up duration was 7 to 38 months (median = 8 months). The minor motor deficit of Case 1 recovered completely 1 month after surgery. No recurrence of BPS was observed.

Conclusions:

Intracapsular enucleation with INM could result in complete removal of BPS and minimal postoperative neurological deficit, whose recovery was quick and satisfactory.
The politics of drama: How Hegel’s aesthetics inform contemporary theories of radical democracy
Authors: Hunter Leonie
Published: September 2023

The history of political philosophy is marked by a conception of politics as inherently tragic. As such, it has hardly ever been systematically contrasted with the other model of dramatic art, comedy. In this article, I explore the relation between Hegel's twofold notion of drama as an ordered genre of disorder – what he considers to be the highest form of self-reflective art – and the post-foundational concept of radical democracy. After outlining the interplay between order and disorder in post-foundationalist theories of political difference, I summarize the way in which the steps of Hegel's poetics consecutively build on each other and elaborate the role of the dramatic genres. By means of a genealogical reconstruction of the respective concepts of democracy and drama, I demonstrate the extent to which these two methodologies correspond to poetic and political order formation in a structural homology. This conceptualization concludes with the assertion of a constitutive dramatization of political modernity which does not, however, culminate in the concept of political tragedy but points towards a still-to-be-realized, comically ordered democracy.
Between Habermas and Lyotard: Rethinking the Contrast between Modernity and Postmodernity
Authors: Verovšek Peter J. , Burdman Javier
Published: September 2023

The article shows that Habermas’s modernism and Lyotard’s postmodernism are not as antithetical as they are often taken to be. First, we argue that Habermas is not a strong foundationalist concerned with identifying universal rules for language, as postmodern critiques have often interpreted him. Instead, he develops a social pragmatics in which the communicative use of language is the fundamental presupposition of any meaningful interaction. Second, we argue that Lyotard is not a relativist who denies any universal linguistic structure. Instead, he claims that language involves a universal element of dissensus that cannot be subordinated to consensus. Third, we show that neither does Habermas defend a new version of the kind of philosophy of history characteristic of the Enlightenment, nor is Lyotard a historical relativist, but instead they both seek alternatives to these positions. The conclusion calls for more nuance in the interpretation of both perspectives.
Subject realization in Greek preschool learners of English
Authors: Faitaki Faidra , Murphy Victoria A.
Published: September 2023

Languages differ in their realization of the subject argument: non-null-subject languages, like English, require subjects to be phonologically overt; rather, null-subject languages, like Greek, allow the subject to be overt or null. This cross-linguistic difference can lead to the transfer of grammatical properties across languages during bilingual language acquisition. The direction of crosslinguistic transfer is known to be affected by structural overlap and linguistic dominance. This exploratory study was conducted to establish whether structural overlap or linguistic dominance affect the production patterns of Greek children who acquire English at preschool. If structural overlap determines the direction of transfer, then children will overuse overt subjects in Greek; if dominance determines the direction of transfer, then children will overuse null subjects in English. Two groups of Greek children (between 3;6–4;5 and 4;6–5;8) attending a monolingual English immersion programme in Greece participated in a novel oral elicitation task that tested their use of null and overt subjects in both languages. Both groups produced significantly more null and fewer overt subjects in English than an English monolingual control group, but the same number of null and overt subjects in Greek as a Greek monolingual control group. This finding suggests that the preschoolers, who start learning English at 3;0 years, experience crosslinguistic transfer from Greek, their dominant language, to English – thus highlighting the role that dominance plays in determining the direction of crosslinguistic transfer among successive bilingual children.