bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The association between the eGFR slope and cardiorenal prognosis in patients with renoprotective treatments: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bai Shuzhen , Lin Chu , Cai Xiaoling , Wu Han , Jiao Ruoyang , Hu Suiyuan , Lv Fang , Yang Wenjia , Ji Linong
Published: September 2024

Background

The associations between the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope and the cardiorenal prognosis in patients with renoprotective drugs have not been well characterized yet.

Methods

PubMed, Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, Weipu databases and Clinicaltrial.gov were searched from inception to April 2023. Event‐driven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating renoprotective drugs and reporting eGFR slopes in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, type 2 diabetes, or chronic kidney disease were included.

Results

In all, 25 RCTs with 179,893 participants were included. The preservation of eGFR was observed in patients with renoprotective drugs, with a comparator‐adjusted total eGFR slope of 0.51 mL/min per 1.73 m2/year (95% CI, 0.31 to 0.70). It was indicated that the eGFR preservation reflected by the positive comparator‐adjusted total eGFR slope was associated with a reduced risk of composite renal outcome (β = −0.097, 95% CI, –0.178 to –0.016, p = 0.022), but was not associated with the risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) or all‐cause mortality. In patients with SGLT2i, MRA, or RAASi treatments, the placebo‐adjusted acute eGFR slope was –0.59 mL/min per 1.73 m2 per week (95% CI, –0.74 to –0.43), which was marginally associated with a reduced risk of composite renal outcome (β = 0.290, 95% CI, 0.000 to 0.581, p = 0.050), but was not associated with the risks of MACE or all‐cause mortality.

Conclusions

The eGFR preservation reflected by the positive comparator‐adjusted total eGFR slope was associated with a reduced risk of composite renal outcome in patients receiving renoprotective agents. Greater acute decline in eGFR during the initiation of the treatment might confer a trend of fewer renal events in patients receiving SGLT2i, MRA, or RAASi.
Increased Expression of PDGFA Is Associated With Poor Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Kaiqin , Li Changya , Chen Huarong , Gu Ping , Lu Jiafeng , Zhao Houyu , Zhuo Xianlu
Published: September 2024

Background

Platelet‐derived growth factor A (PDGFA) has been shown to be upregulated in several tumors, contributing to their malignant phenotypes. However, its expression and function in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) are not clearly understood. Thus, we aimed to evaluate this issue using bioinformatic analyses and primary experimental validation.

Methods

The expression of PDGFA was analyzed using popular bio‐databases and further validated by RT‐PCR and immunohistochemical staining. Survival analyses were then performed. The association between PDGFA expression levels and immune cell infiltration in the immune microenvironment was assessed.

Results

PDGFA has been found to be significantly upregulated in a variety of cancers, including HNSC, and increased PDGFA expression may be an independent prognostic factor associated with immune cell infiltration in HNSC.

Conclusion

Overexpression of PDGFA in HNSC is significantly associated with poor prognosis and immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment (TME). PDGFA has potential as a molecular indicator for diagnosis, prognosis, and immune processes in HNSC.
Establishing human microbial observatory programs in low‐ and middle‐income countries
Authors: Gordon Jeffrey I. , Barratt Michael J. , Hibberd Matthew C. , Rahman Mustafizur , Ahmed Tahmeed
Published: September 2024

Studies of the human microbiome are progressing rapidly but have largely focused on populations living in high‐income countries. With increasing evidence that the microbiome contributes to the pathogenesis of diseases that affect infants, children, and adults in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs), and with profound and rapid ongoing changes occurring in our lifestyles and biosphere, understanding the origins of and developing microbiome‐directed therapeutics for treating a number of global health challenges requires the development of programs for studying human microbial ecology in LMICs. Here, we discuss how the establishment of long‐term human microbial observatory programs in selected LMICs could provide one timely approach.
Impact of Community Proactive Health Management Application on Electronic Health Literacy and Self‐Management of Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Jiang Yueyan
Published: September 2024

Objective

Investigating the impact of the Community Proactive Health Management Application on electronic health literacy, self‐management level, and blood pressure in hypertensive patients within the community.

Methods

Between September and November 2020, two communities in Hengyang City, Hunan Province, China were selected as the intervention and control groups using convenience sampling. Subsequently, 30 hypertensive patients from each of the two communities were randomly selected to participate as study subjects. The control group patients received foundational hypertension management, whereas the intervention group received additional care through the Community Proactive Health Management Application.

Results

Following a 3‐month period, the intervention group exhibited significantly higher total scores (t = 2.193, p = 0.032) and application dimension scores (t = 2.605, p = 0.012) for electronic health literacy compared to the control group. The total scores of electronic health literacy scale for both the intervention (t = −5.671, p < 0.001) and control (t = −3.613, p = 0.001) groups were higher after the intervention compared to before. The total score of the self‐management scale (t = 3.872, p < 0.001), as well as the scores for the treatment management (t = 6.580, p < 0.001) and habit management dimensions (t = 2.315, p = 0.024) of hypertensive patients in the intervention group, were significantly higher than those in the control group. The self‐management scores of both groups of hypertensive patients showed a significant increase compared to preintervention levels (intervention group t = −14.391, p < 0.001; control group t = −6.584, p < 0.001). The intervention group exhibited a statistically significant decrease in systolic blood pressure compared to the control group (Z = −2.036, p = 0.042). Following the intervention, both groups exhibited a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels compared to preintervention levels (all p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The Community Proactive Health Management Application has the potential to enhance the electronic health literacy and self‐management capabilities of hypertensive patients, enabling them to engage in better health management, reduce hypertension levels, and elevate their overall quality of life.
Knowledge‐Guided Automated Cartographic Generalization Process Construction: A Case Study Based on Map Analysis of Public Maps of China
Authors: Gao Xiaorong , Yan Haowen , Chen Zhongkui , Yin Panfei
Published: September 2024

The efficacy of conveying information through maps heavily depends on the quality of map generalization. However, automating map generalization poses a complex decision‐making challenge, requiring a profound understanding of the process—specifically, knowledge about the generalization procedure. Currently, there is a scarcity of research on the sequence of generalization operations, particularly for cartographic generalization involving symbolization and labeling. On the contrary, customary maps generated in practical applications consistently adhere to the specified generalization and symbolization protocol, which makes it feasible and credible to construct this overall process based on expert knowledge. To reconcile this incongruity, this paper presents a knowledge‐guided automated cartographic generalization process construction. Firstly, an exhaustive examination of the sequential procedures involved in manual generalization and a well‐applied automated generalization system are delineated, drawing upon map analysis methodologies, observations, and expert interviews. Then, elaborate guidelines governing each phase within this process, particularly concerning the symbolization and labeling of map features, are explored. Ultimately, details of the expert interview are described and a map generalized by the well‐applied system is analyzed. The results show that the automated generalization system follows the knowledge‐guided process in this paper can significantly improve production efficiency in practice, this study serves as a connection between cartographers and developers and may help achieve a higher level of automated cartographic generalization.
Clinical presentation, imaging characteristics, and short‐term outcome of eight cats presented with suspected traumatic atlantoaxial hyperflexion
Authors: Llanos Cesar , Fitzgerald Ella , Marti‐Garcia Bernat , De Decker Steven
Published: September 2024

Traumatic atlantoaxial hyperflexion is considered rare in cats, and only a few case reports have been published. There are other conditions that can result in a peracute onset of neurological signs localized to the cervical spinal cord segments, including acute noncompressive nucleus pulposus extrusion, ischemic myelopathy, or vertebral fractures. Appropriate treatment for these conditions can only be initiated after an accurate diagnosis has been obtained. The aim of this observational, retrospective, single‐center, descriptive case series study was to describe the clinical presentation, imaging characteristics, and short‐term outcome of eight cats presented with suspected traumatic atlantoaxial hyperflexion. Young male healthy domestic shorthair cats were overrepresented (7/8) and typically presented with a peracute, nonprogressive, nonpainful, nonlateralizing C1–C5 myelopathy (tetraplegia or nonambulatory tetraparesis) following a road traffic accident or head trauma. All MRI studies demonstrated a solitary, focal, ill‐defined intramedullary lesion immediately dorsal to the dens of the axis, affecting both grey and white matter. All cats were treated medically. In 50% of the cats, the neurological grade improved at discharge or short‐term follow‐up, 25% of the cats recovered completely, one cat was static at short‐term follow‐up, and one cat was euthanized due to persistent forebrain signs and lack of neurological improvement.
Optimal Control Allocation for Distributed Electric Propulsion in a Series/Parallel Partial Hybrid Powertrain
Authors: Litt Jonathan S.
Published: September 2024

The SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) Electrofan is a National Aeronatics and Space Administration (NASA) concept transport aircraft representative of technology anticipated for a 2040 entry-into-service date. The powertrain consists of a single thrust-producing geared turbofan engine with generators driving a series/parallel partial hybrid power/propulsion system. The architecture includes 16 underwing contrarotating fans, eight on each side. The distributed fans can be used by the flight control system to augment or replace the rudder function. This paper sets up the optimal control problem of setpoint determination for individual wingfans in the distributed propulsion system, accounting for electrical string efficiencies, saturations, and failures. The solution minimizes power consumption while maintaining thrust and torque on the airframe for maneuvering. Additionally, thrust that would have been lost due to temporary fan speed or power saturation is optimally redistributed to maintain overall desired thrust and torque on the aircraft. A simulation of a coordinated turn utilizing the distributed electric propulsion for yaw rate control in a multiple wingfan failure scenario demonstrates the robustness of the powertrain design to failures and helps define its limitations.
Christine Jeff’s Rain (2001) as an Allegory of Settlement
Authors: Simmons Laurence
Published: September 2024

This article proposes a new reading of Christine Jeffs’ 2001 film Rain as an allegory of settlement. To do so it uses Stephen Turner’s essay ‘Settlement as Forgetting’ and makes reference to the work of Lorenzo Veracini and Patrick Wolfe in settlement studies. It takes Turner’s claim that settlement requires a forgetting in order to patch over the trauma of dislocation from the mother country and explores how structures of nostalgia, fetishism and trauma construct an image of a failed and broken nation; a settler society seeking to forget its own history, afflicted with the trauma of its primal separation from Britain, and under the surface expressing anxiety about the indigenous presence that prevents settler claim over the land and (settler) cultural identity. Jeffs’ film, it is proposed, critiques the fantasmatic elements of settlement, in and through which settlers untiringly strive to envisage themselves as whole, and which sanctions the narrative of that striving to appear to be continuous.
Briefe einer Antifaschistin: 1939
Authors: Obermayer August
Published: September 2024

Beschrieben werden die Erfahrungen von Marianne Angermann-Bielschowsky, die während des spanischen Bürgerkriegs in Madrid wohnte, wo sie zusammen mit ihrem Ehemann, dem Internisten Franz Bielschowsky, in einem Militärlazarett arbeitete. Kurz vor dem Einmarsch der Nationalisten in die spanische Hauptstadt am Ende des Krieges floh das Paar über Frankreich und Belgien nach Großbritannien. Der Text besteht zum großen Teil aus tagebuchähnlichen Eintragungen von Mariannes Mutter, Charlotte Angermann, eine Einwohnerin von Dresden. Charlotte zeichnet das Alltagsleben unter dem Nationalsozialismus kurz vor dem zweiten Weltkrieg.
This text describes the experiences of Marianne Angermann-Bielschowsky who during the Spanish Civil War lived in Madrid, where she worked together with her husband, the physician Franz Bielschowsky, in a military hospital. Shortly before the Nationalists marched into Madrid at the end of that conflict the couple fled via France and Belgium to Great Britain. The text consists mainly of journal entries by Marianne's mother, Charlotte Angermann, who lived in Dresden. Charlotte records day to day life in Nazi Germany as the Second World War approached.
Angermann-Beutler Familienstammbaum
Authors: Obermayer August
Published: September 2024

Dieser Text ist eine Transkription des Stammbaumes der Familien Angermann, Beutler und Klemm, wie er am Ende eines Tagebuches, verfaßt von Charlotte Angermann, geborene Beutler, Ehefrau von Konrad Angermann und Mutter von Marianne Angermann-Bielschowsky erscheint. Die angeführten Personen stammen von alteingesessenen sächsischen Familien, doch einige sind 1946, als der Stammbaum angefertigt wurde, nach Rheinland-Westphalen verzogen. Charlotte zeichnete diese Verhältnisse für ihre Tochter Marianne auf, um ihr darzustellen, was aus den diversen Familienmitgliedern als Folge des Zweiten Weltkrieges geworden ist. Einige von ihnen waren aktive Mitglieder der NSDAP, der Wehrmacht und der SS, während andere als Antifaschisten überlebten.
The text is a transcription of the family tree for the Angermann, Beutler and Klemm families found in the back of a diary written by Charlotte Angermann née Beutler, wife of Konrad Angermann and mother of Marianne Angermann-Bielschowsky. Those listed were from long established Saxon families, though some had moved to Rhineland Westfalia at the time the tree was sketched in 1946. Charlotte detailed the family relationships for her daughter, Marianne, in order to show what had become of them as a consequence of the Second World War. Several family members were actively involved in the Nazi Party, the Wehrmacht or SS, while others were antifascists.
Letters of an antifascist: 1938
Authors: Barton Peter
Published: September 2024

The texts contain information about the situation of Marianne Angermann in Madrid which were passed on to her mother, Charlotte Angermann in Dresden, by friends living outside Germany. In 1938 there was no longer any direct postal route between Civil War Spain and Hitler's Germany. Marianne and her husband, Franz Bielschowsky, supported the Republican cause during the Spanish Civil War and worked at Military Hospital No. 6 in Madrid-Chamartín.
Artificial kinetochore beads establish a biorientation-like state in the spindle
Authors: Asai Kohei , Zhou Yuanzhuo , Takenouchi Osamu , Kitajima Tomoya S.
Published: September 2024

Faithful chromosome segregation requires biorientation, where the pair of kinetochores on the chromosome establish bipolar microtubule attachment. The integrity of the kinetochore, a macromolecular complex built on centromeric DNA, is required for biorientation, but components sufficient for biorientation remain unknown. Here, we show that tethering the outer kinetochore heterodimer NDC80-NUF2 to the surface of apolar microbeads establishes their biorientation-like state in mouse cells. NDC80-NUF2 microbeads align at the spindle equator and self-correct alignment errors. The alignment is associated with stable bipolar microtubule attachment and is independent of the outer kinetochore proteins SPC24-SPC25, KNL1, the Mis12 complex, inner kinetochore proteins, and Aurora. Larger microbeads align more rapidly, suggesting a size-dependent biorientation mechanism. This study demonstrates a biohybrid kinetochore design for synthetic biorientation of microscale particles in cells.
Emerging patterns in rodent-borne zoonotic diseases
Authors: Keesing Felicia , Ostfeld Richard S.
Published: September 2024

Rodents are ubiquitous and typically unwelcome dwellers in human habitats worldwide, infesting homes, farm fields, and agricultural stores and potentially shedding disease-causing microbes into the most human-occupied of spaces. Of the vertebrate animal taxa that share pathogens with us, rodents are the most abundant and diverse, with hundreds of species of confirmed zoonotic hosts, some of which have nearly global distributions. However, only 12% of rodent species are known to be sources of pathogens that also infect people, and those rodents that do are now recognized as tending to share a suite of predictable traits. Here, we characterize those traits and explore them in the context of three emerging or reemerging rodent-borne zoonotic diseases of people: Lassa fever, Lyme disease, and plague.
Patterns of microbiome composition in tsetse fly
Glossina palpalis palpalis
during vector control using Tiny Targets in Campo, South Cameroon
Authors: Bouaka Tsakeng Calmes Ursain , Melachio Tanekou Tito Tresor , Ngambia Freitas François Sougal , Tirados Inaki , Tsagmo Ngoune Jean Marc , Bigoga Jude Daiga , Njiokou Flobert , Wondji Charles Sinclair
Published: September 2024

Novel vector control tools against African trypanosomiases require a deep understanding of the factors driving tsetse vector fitness or population resilience in their ecosystems. Following evidence of microbiota-mediated host fitness or traits shaping, including insecticide resistance in arthropod populations, we undertook a comparative study of the microbiota in wild-caught tsetse flies during vector control with deltamethrin-impregnated traps called Tiny Targets. The bacterial microbiome composition of tsetse flies collected before and after 6, 12, and 18 months of vector control were characterized using high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and compared. Overall, 48 bacterial genera and five phyla were identified. The primary symbiont
Wigglesworthia
dominated almost all the samples with an overall relative abundance of 71.76%. A significant increase was observed in microbiome diversities over the vector control with new taxa identified. Interestingly, few genera, like
Curvibacter
for instance, displayed a regularly increasing abundance, from 0.57% to 0.65%, 4.73%, and 8.57% after 6, 12, and 18 months of tsetse control, respectively. This study provided preliminary for further investigation into the role and mechanism of action of microbiota in tsetse fly fitness under selective pressure like insecticides.

IMPORTANCE

The interest in vector control in the fight against African trypanosomiases has been reinforced in recent years, with the development of small insecticide-impregnated screens, known as “Tiny Targets”. As some tsetse biotopes are difficult to access for their installation, other tools are under consideration that involve using bacteria harbored by the tsetse vector to block the development of trypanosomes or impair the tsetse’s fitness in its natural environment. Several bacterial symbionts were previously described as important for tsetse fly development, and some like
Burkholderia
and
Citrobacter
also found in tsetse flies were found associated with insecticide tolerance in other arthropods. In this research, we found the bacterial genera,
Curvibacter
and
Acinetobacter,
increased in abundance in tsetse flies during vector control. These bacteria deserve further attention to determine if they can interfere with insecticides used to control tsetse fly populations.
Review of the Species of the Genus Tobrilus (Nematoda, Triplonchida)
Authors: Naumova T. V. , Gagarin V. G.
Published: September 2024

Based on our own material and literary data, a generalization of information on the genus Tobrilus Andrássy, 1959 has been carried out. The diagnosis of this genus has been changed, the species diagnostic characteristics have been analyzed, and the species structure of the genus has been examined. The genus includes 29 valid species. The key to the definition of the species of genus and the summary table of morphological characteristics of valid species are given.
Exploring contexts for using digital food retail services in Canada: a qualitative study
Authors: Fernandez Melissa A. , Dugan Jessica , Raine Kim D.
Published: September 2024

This study aimed to understand contexts for buying food online with food delivery apps, meal kits, and online grocers in Canada. A total of 34 participants (24% identified as men) between the ages of 16 and 60 were interviewed over the phone. The participants were recruited through personal and professional networks, electronic word of mouth, and paid social media ads. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to generate major themes: convenience, food literacy, and cost-effectiveness. Convenience was multifaceted, including protecting time, minimizing food preparation effort, and facilitating food access (without a vehicle, during illness and isolation, during bad weather, with mobility challenges, or while consuming drugs or alcohol). It was found that regardless of age, gender, or lifestyle, the contexts for using digital food retail services were similar. These services made food acquisition and preparation easier; however, the benefits may be at the detriment to food literacy. The added value that digital food retail services provided made up for any additional costs. This study highlighted the need for public health practitioners to consider different facets of convenience and the added value that digital food retail services offer when making healthy food shopping and preparation recommendations. Additionally, further investigation into the impacts of digital food retail on food literacy is warranted. Results from this study will be integrated into a larger survey exploring the relationship between online food purchasing behaviors and diet quality among Canadians.
Topological charges via Barrow entropy of black hole in metric-affine gravity
Authors: Yasir Muhammad , Tiecheng Xia , Jawad Abdul
Published: September 2024

This paper examines distinct ensembles such as canonical, mixed, and grand canonical ensembles of recently postulated black hole which is considered to be an ideal solution of metric-affine gravity utilizing the Duan’s $$\phi $$
ϕ
-mapping theory. In the scenario, charged and uncharged topological characteristics associated to thermodynamic stability criteria are explored. In contrast to the canonical ensemble, which is always possesses the constant electric and magnetic charges, but mixed ensemble possesses the constant potentials (both magnetic and electric). Also, grand canonical ensemble maintains the constant electric and magnetic potentials for both charges. Initially, we find the topological classes connected via critical points in all of the aforementioned ensembles.
Some consequences of the Kerr–Schild gauge
Authors: Álvarez Enrique , Anero Jesús
Published: September 2024

Generalized Kerr–Schild nilpotent deformations of an arbitrary background spacetime $$\overline{g}_{\mu \nu }(x)$$

g
¯

μ
ν

(
x
)

are considered. Those are of the form $$\overline{g}_{\mu \nu }+l_\mu l_\nu $$

g
¯

μ
ν

+

l
μ

l
ν

with $$l^2=0$$

l
2

=
0

. The relationship between the Ricci tensor of the background metric and the Ricci tensor of the deformed metric is found exactly. It consists of two terms, one is essentially the Fierz–Pauli operator, and the other is new. When the background is flat, the Kerr–Schild family is recovered. Novel examples for more general backgrounds (even including some simple sources) are discussed.
Hybrid soliton, breather waves and solution molecules of the (2+1)-dimensional generalized fifth-order KdV equation
Authors: Ma Hongcai , Qi Xinru , Deng Aiping
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we take the (2+1)-dimensional generalized fifth-order KdV (fKdV) equation as an example. We obtain many wave solutions, including hybrid soliton, breather waves and solution molecules. In order to solve hybrid soliton, we give two transformation forms. For Transform one, real and complex parameters lead to different wave solutions. Soliton solutions are obtained when the parameter values are real, but some breather waves appear when the parameter values are complex. When the parameter value changes, the number of solitons and the position of the waves will also change. For Transform two, we assign the parameter values to real values and obtain the corresponding two-, three- and four-soliton solutions. The most important thing is that, on the basis of Transform one, we add different constraint conditions according to different coordinate systems, and finally get a very interesting phenomenon: soliton molecules. In addition, we give not only the three-dimensional plots but also the density plots. In general, these results will enrich the existing literature on the (2+1)-dimensional generalized fKdV equation and help to understand this kind of KdV equation.
FRACTIONAL ANALYSIS OF POPULATION DYNAMICAL MODEL IN (3+1)-DIMENSIONS WITH FRACTAL-FRACTIONAL DERIVATIVES
Authors: LIU FENGLIAN , YANG BOWEN , ZHANG LI , NADEEM MUHAMMAD , ALMAKAYEEL NAIF , SHUTAYWI MESHAL
Published: September 2024

The fractal-fractional derivative is a powerful tool that is generally used for the mathematical analysis of complex and unpredictable structures. In this paper, we study a population dynamical model of (3+1)-dimensional form using the fractal derivative involving fractional order with power law kernel. The proposed scheme is known as the Sumudu Homotopy Transform Method ([Formula: see text]HTM), which depends on the association between the Sumudu Transform ([Formula: see text]T) and the Homotopy Perturbation Method (HPM). The convergence of the derived results is verified by comparing the errors in consecutive iterations with the [Formula: see text]HTM results. We display the behavior of the obtained results in three-dimensional shape across the various orders of fractal and fractional derivatives. We present three numerical tests to validate the accuracy of [Formula: see text]HTM and compare the acquired findings to the exact outcomes of the suggested model. This analysis confirms that the [Formula: see text]HTM results align perfectly with the accurate results. As a result, the [Formula: see text]HTM is widely recognized as a leading computational method for obtaining approximate solutions to various nonlinear complex fractal-fractional problems.
A NEW FORMULATION AND ANALYTICAL APPLICATIONS OF FRACTIONAL OPERATORS
Authors: MEHMOOD AHSAN , SAMRAIZ MUHAMMAD , LIU ZHI-GUO , BALEANU DUMITRU , VIVAS-CORTEZ MIGUEL
Published: September 2024

This research paper introduces a novel formulation of the modified Atangana–Baleanu (AB) Fractional Operators (FrOs). The paper begins by discussing the boundedness of the novel fractional derivative operator. Some fractional differential equations corresponding to different choices of functions as well as comparative graphical representations of a function and its derivative are provided. Furthermore, the paper investigates the generalized Laplace transform for this newly introduced operator. By employing the generalized Laplace transform, a wide range of fractional differential equations can be effectively solved. Additionally, the paper establishes the corresponding form of the AB Caputo fractional integral operator, examines its boundedness and obtains its Laplace transform. It is worth noting that the FrOs previously documented in the existing literature can be derived as special cases of these recently explored FrOs.
Design and development of strain gauge for biomedical applications: State of the art review
Authors: Sharma Kratik , Singh Tarunpreet , Sehgal Shankar , Goyal Parveen
Published: September 2024

Materials that characteristically respond to mechanical stimulus are utilized in a wide variety of engineering applications as strain gauges. The response can be produced as a change in resistance or a change in capacitance. Constantan was initially utilized in strain gauges and exhibited a gauge factor (GF) of 2. With the development of fabrication techniques, new materials are correspondingly utilized in strain gauges that revealed a GF higher than 2. However, a review pertaining to the latest materials utilized in strain gauges is absent. Therefore, in this review article, strain gauges utilizing metallic, polymer, and ceramic-based materials were investigated by evaluating their fabrication method, characterization in numerous testing conditions, gauging their sensitivity and the parameters influencing the same, and proposing a real-world biomedical application based on the sensor properties ranging from monitoring of orthopedics, knee laxity, heartbeat, and mechanical properties of implants and prosthetics, to stretchable and wearable sensors for e-skin and exoskeletons.
Design and fabrication of a three-dimensional asymmetric neonate lung model to study surfactant transport in airways
Authors: Combs Hannah , Heiss Jacob , Beaty Lillian , Gavriloff Joseph , Tavana Hossein
Published: September 2024

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition that is often treated with the delivery of exogenous surfactants through a process called surfactant replacement therapy. This therapy includes the administration of the liquid surfactant through an endotracheal tube and mechanical ventilation. Due to the difficulty of imaging neonate lungs during this therapy, the success of surfactant delivery is often determined by observational techniques and evaluation of blood oxygen levels. The limitation of imaging creates challenges in evaluating the distribution of surfactant in airways. To address this limitation, we designed a computational, eight-generation, asymmetric neonate lung model using morphometric data to mimic the geometric structure of the human airway tree and fabricated it using an additive manufacturing technique. We used our model to study two-aliquot delivery of a clinically rated liquid surfactant under two different orientations to evaluate its distribution in airways. Our study offers a complex lung airway tree design that mimics the native geometry of the human airway tree to enable studies of therapeutics transport in airways.
Green Synthesis and Anti‐Inflammatory Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Based on Leaves Extract of Aphania senegalensis
Authors: Diallo Fatemata , Seck Insa , Ndoye Samba Fama , Niang Tamsir , Dieng Sidy Mouhamed , Thiam Fatou , Ndao Moussa , Sakho El Hadji Mamour , Fall Alioune , Séne Madièye , Seck Matar
Published: September 2024

This study focuses on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the extract of Aphania senegalensis leaves. The extraction was done using maceration at room temperature in water for 48 h. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by IR, XRD, TEM, and SEM. The thermal stability of these nanoparticles was studied by TGA. The zeta potential was used to define the size, charge distribution, and stability of the nanoparticles. Optimization reactions were carried out based on reaction time, pH, and temperature. The nanoparticles obtained from optimal conditions were evaluated on induced inflammation. The determination of the average diameters and geometry of nanoparticles was carried out by XRD by calculating the lattice constants, and they are between 18.11 and 50 nm. The evaluation of anti‐inflammatory activity showed that the nanoparticles are 10 times more active than the extract of Aphania senegalensis leaves. Minimum doses of 10 mg/kg orally and 3 mg/kg were obtained for the plant extract, respectively. These results are promising for the possibility of AgNPs to be used for the treatment of inflammation.
Anti‐Inflammatory and Microbiota‐Regulating Property of Deficiency Tonic Medicines in Edible Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Promising Therapy for Depressive Disorder
Authors: Ren Siyu , Qin Peilin , Wang Gang , Yang Jian
Published: September 2024

Depression has become the leading cause of disability worldwide. Conventional serotonergic antidepressants fail to meet anticipated outcomes and increase the risk of drug dependency and side effects. Consequently, the significance of diet and nutrition in the prevention and management of depression and anxiety has increasingly received attention. Many years of clinical practice have shown that edible traditional Chinese medicines can relieve depression through their anti‐inflammatory properties, potentially acting as a nutritional remedy for depression with a higher acceptance rate and safety. In this review, we elucidated how deficiency tonic medicines in edible traditional Chinese medicines and their ingredients modulate the immune response and gut microbiota to alleviate depression. This article can offer new insights into the antidepressant effect of daily dietary treatments.
Kniest Dysplasia without Ocular and Auditory Abnormalities in a Boy of 12 Months
Authors: Kolkıran Abdulkerim , Daşar Tuğba , Kablan Ahmet , Şimşek-Kiper Pelin Özlem
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Kniest dysplasia is a rare skeletal disorder, characterized by mild dysmorphic features, cleft palate, short stature, short limbs, prominent joints, restricted joint mobility, hearing impairment, and ocular manifestations such as high-degree myopia, retinal detachment, and cataract. Typical radiological findings include platyspondyly, coronal clefts, and dumbbell-shaped long tubular bones. Case Presentation: Herein, we report on an 8-month-old boy who was referred to the pediatric genetic department due to narrow thorax and short extremities. He had mild dysmorphic features, cleft palate, narrow thorax, short extremities, and short stature. On radiographies, platyspondyly, hemivertebra, and dumbbell-shaped long tubular bones were detected. Clinical and radiological findings were consistent with Kniest dysplasia. Clinical exome sequencing was performed and revealed a heterozygous, pathogenic c.905C>T (p.Ala302Val) variant in the COL2A1 gene, confirming the initial clinical diagnosis. Discussion: Kniest dysplasia is a very rare skeletal dysplasia, and an accurate clinical diagnosis is important to provide the best possible follow-up.
Karakteristik Pasien Ulkus Kornea Infeksi di PMN RS Mata Cicendo Bandung Tahun 2020
Authors: Putranto Mohammed Uriel Reizo , Fajriansyah Angga , Mustaram Arief Akhdestira
Published: September 2024

Pendahuluan: Berdasarkan Riskesdas tahun 2013, gangguan kekeruhan kornea memiliki prevalensi sekitar 5,5%. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memberikan informasi mengenai karakteristik pasien dan karakteristik klinis penyakit ulkus kornea di PMN RS Mata Cicendo Bandung.
Metode: Penelitian ini adalah penelitian deskriptif dengan menggunakan pendekatan retrospektif. Subjek penelitian ini yaitu pasien ulkus kornea di PMN RS Mata Cicendo pada tahun 2020 dan diambil dari data rekam medis elektronik pasien.
Hasil: Dari 159 pasien, mayoritas pasien berjenis kelamin laki-laki (66,04%). Kategori dewasa (19-59 tahun) memiliki proporsi terbesar (69,81%). Buruh merupakan pekerjaan yang mendominasi dari pekerjaan lainnya (33,96%). Ulkus kornea paling banyak disebabkan oleh agen etiologi bakteri (63,52%). Hampir seluruh pasien mengalami penyakit ini hanya di satu bagian mata (98,74%). Lokasi ulkus paling banyak terletak di bagian sentral (44,03%) dan dengan ukuran ringan (<6 mm) (13,84%). Mayoritas penderita mengalami kebutaan dengan visus <0,05 (67,92%). Ulkus kornea dengan derajat keparahan ringan dan berat memiliki proporsi yang hampir sama (masing-masing 54,09% dan 45,91%).
Kesimpulan: Ulkus kornea paling banyak terjadi pada usia produktif, laki-laki, dan dengan pekerjaan yang menghabiskan banyak waktu di luar ruangan seperti buruh. Ulkus kornea paling banyak disebabkan oleh bakteri, terjadi pada satu mata, dengan lokasi ulkus sentral, dan ukuran ulkus <6 mm. Mayoritas mengalami kebutaan, tetapi proporsi derajat keparahan ringan dan berat hampir sama besar.
Karakteristik Penderita Trauma Kimia di Rumah Sakit Mata Cicendo Bandung pada Tahun 2020-2022
Authors: Nadeem Emirdha Sarahsyeika , Fajriansyah Angga , Mustaram Arief Akhdestira
Published: September 2024

Pendahuluan: Trauma kimia mata merupakan salah satu kegawatdaruratan pada mata yang membutuhkan penanganan segera dan intensif. Trauma kimia mata disebabkan karena adanya paparan bahan kimia yang bersifat asam (acid) atau basa (alkali). Menurut World Health Organization (WHO) sekitar 11,5% - 22,1% dari trauma mata mengalami trauma kimia.
Metode: Penelitian ini adalah penelitian deskriptif dengan rancangan potong lintang atau cross sectional dan menggunakan data dari rekam medis elektronik pasien. Subjek penelitian ini adalah pasien trauma kimia di Rumah Sakit Mata Cicendo Bandung pada tahun 2020 - 2022. Sampel penelitian ditetapkan dengan menggunakan metode total sampling.
Hasil: Dari 497 pasien trauma kimia, mayoritas berjenis kelamin laki-laki (72,23%) dengan usia 26-45 tahun (40,24%), bekerja (73,84%), berdomisili di Bandung (71,83%), dan sebanyak 72,84% menderita trauma kimia hanya pada salah satu mata. Pasien trauma kimia terbanyak disebabkan oleh bahan kimia basa (65,75%). Pasien dengan waktu paparan trauma paling banyak adalah < 24 jam (74,80%), dan derajat trauma kimia paling banyak menurut klasifikasi Ropper Hall adalah derajat I (78,15%).
Kesimpulan: Terdapat 497 pasien yang mengalami trauma kimia dimana mayoritas pasien berjenis kelamin laki-laki dan bahan kimia basa menjadi penyebab trauma kimia mata paling banyak.
Compositionality and Sentence Meaning: Comparing Semantic Parsing and Transformers on a Challenging Sentence Similarity Dataset
Authors: Fodor James , De Deyne Simon , Suzuki Shinsuke
Published: September 2024

One of the major outstanding questions in computational semantics is how humans integrate the meaning of individual words into a sentence in a way that enables understanding of complex and novel combinations of words, a phenomenon known as compositionality. Many approaches to modeling the process of compositionality can be classified as either “vector-based” models, in which the meaning of a sentence is represented as a vector of numbers, or “syntax-based” models, in which the meaning of a sentence is represented as a structured tree of labeled components. A major barrier in assessing and comparing these contrasting approaches is the lack of large, relevant datasets for model comparison. This article aims to address this gap by introducing a new dataset, STS3k, which consists of 2,800 pairs of sentences rated for semantic similarity by human participants. The sentence pairs have been selected to systematically vary different combinations of words, providing a rigorous test and enabling a clearer picture of the comparative strengths and weaknesses of vector-based and syntax-based methods. Our results show that when tested on the new STS3k dataset, state-of-the-art transformers poorly capture the pattern of human semantic similarity judgments, while even simple methods for combining syntax- and vector-based components into a novel hybrid model yield substantial improvements. We further show that this improvement is due to the ability of the hybrid model to replicate human sensitivity to specific changes in sentence structure. Our findings provide evidence for the value of integrating multiple methods to better reflect the way in which humans mentally represent compositional meaning.
How Often Are Errors in Natural Language Reasoning Due to Paraphrastic Variability?
Authors: Srikanth Neha , Carpuat Marine , Rudinger Rachel
Published: September 2024

Large language models have been shown to behave inconsistently in response to meaning-preserving paraphrastic inputs. At the same time, researchers evaluate the knowledge and reasoning abilities of these models with test evaluations that do not disaggregate the effect of paraphrastic variability on performance. We propose a metric, PC, for evaluating the paraphrastic consistency of natural language reasoning models based on the probability of a model achieving the same correctness on two paraphrases of the same problem. We mathematically connect this metric to the proportion of a model’s variance in correctness attributable to paraphrasing. To estimate PC, we collect ParaNlu, a dataset of 7,782 human-written and validated paraphrased reasoning problems constructed on top of existing benchmark datasets for defeasible and abductive natural language inference.1 Using ParaNlu, we measure the paraphrastic consistency of several model classes and show that consistency dramatically increases with pretraining but not fine-tuning. All models tested exhibited room for improvement in paraphrastic consistency.
Fife-factor model and diagnostic questionnaire of intra-personal gender role conflict
Authors: Lopukhova Olga G.
Published: September 2024

Background. Personal self-regulation at the level of value-semantic formations is complicated when gender self-awareness is formed with multiple, sometimes mutually exclusive gender roles and images. This creates conditions for the development of intrapersonal conflicts, one of them being the Intrapersonal Gender Role Conflict (IGRC). We define IGRC as a systemic contradiction at the value-semantic level of personality, arising as a result of the clash between the high subjective significance of various gender roles and dissatisfaction with self-realization in these roles. Compensatory behavior serves as a sign of IGRC, while the absence of IGRC is associated with effective self-regulation of a person based on the conscious individual transformation of gender models of self-realization. The study of this phenomenon requires developing the diagnostic tools. Objectives. Testing of a questionnaire developed on the basis of the five-factor IGRC model. Study Participants. 397 women and 209 men (working, having a family and children) aged 25 to 46. Methods. Descriptive statistics and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), non-linear standardization on a five-point scale, intercorrelation analysis. Results. The study presented psychometric indicators and standardization of the IGRC questionnaire on the role areas of “Gender Self”, “Professional Self”, “I am like a husband/wife”, “I am like a host/hostess”, “I am like a father/mother” on the samples of men and women. It was found that in the female sample the expression, as well as the range and dispersion of indicators in all spheres, are significantly higher compared to those in the men sample. The analysis revealed a correlation between all spheres of the IGRC formation in women, while in men this trend is not observed: the conflict may develop in one sphere and not affect the others. Conclusions. Testing of the IGRC questionnaire confirmed that both men and women can exhibit compensatory behavior, manifesting the development of this type of conflict in its five identified areas. Gender differences in IGRC are manifested in the fact that in women, as a rule, all areas of the conflict develop in a more integrated way and have greater severity, compared to men. The five-factor IGRC questionnaire with standardized scores on the scales presented in the article makes it possible to use this tool for further studies of the manifestations and mechanisms of IGRC.
Разработка и проверка эффективности программы снижения агрессивных проявлений у подростков
Authors: Tarasova Sofya Yu. , Bushmanova Maria S.
Published: September 2024

Background. The study considers the problem of increasing aggression and anxiety among teenagers in the modern society. The programs for correction of aggressive behavior allowing for effective work with teenagers are in great demand in psychological practice. Objectives. Testing the effectiveness of the correctional program “Face of Aggression” which has its purpose to optimize (reduce) the level of aggressiveness and anxiety in teenage schoolchildren. Study Participants. The study involved 61 schoolchildren aged 11 to 14, of them 26 teenagers made up two training groups and 35 teenagers constituted the control group. The research was carried out on the basis of the Universal Library affiliated to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research named after D.I. Blokhintsev in Dubna, RF. Methods. Personal anxiety scale for students aged 10–16 years by A.M. Prikhozhan; Bass — Perry method for assessing the level of aggression; Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Results. The obtained data analysis demonstrated effectiveness of the correction program “Face of Aggression”. Comparison of the studied psychodiagnostic indicators before and after the training in the experimental group revealed a significant decrease in the level of anger, statistically significant differences in the overall level of aggression, at the trend level — in indicators of physical aggression and the overall level of anxiety. Conclusions. Aggression and anxiety, which are significant indicators of the difficulties experienced in adolescence, are “two sides of the same coin” and can be reduced by means of the psychological training using Burno’s method. The empirical study confirmed previously obtained data on the relationship between the emotion of anger and hostility as a factor of readiness for aggressive behavior with self-assessment and interpersonal anxiety in adolescents.
Litotes in Paul
Authors: Croy N. Clayton
Published: September 2024

It is sometimes claimed that litotes, the rhetorical trope in which the negation of the contrary is asserted, is largely limited in the New Testament to the Acts of the Apostles, and Paul does not commonly use it. But in fact Paul does use it and with greater sophistication and complexity than Luke. This article reviews the ancient rhetorical handbooks and scholia with respect to litotes, surveys its various functions, and then demonstrates that Paul uses it frequently and deftly as a rhetorical technique of restraint to enhance his credibility.
Assessing the Body
Authors: Thurén Lauri , Lahti Aki
Published: September 2024

The pericope of 1 Corinthians 11:17–34 has been a cornerstone in the theological understanding of the Eucharist. This study seeks to reevaluate conventional interpretations by concentrating on the primary rhetorical strategies employed within the passage, using contemporary argumentation analysis. It becomes apparent that Paul strategically utilizes the Eucharist narrative to underscore the imperative of correctly interpreting the term “body,” which he imbues with dual significance. The treatment of the members of Christ’s body in Corinth is intrinsically linked to the treatment of the Lord himself. Consequently, those who metaphorically and literally fracture his body will incur commensurate repercussions.