bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Investigations of Flows and Heat Transfer in Turbine Disk Cavities
Authors: Beaux Jean-Hugues , Girardeau Julian , Khelladi Sofiane , Deligant Michael , Perilhon Christelle
Published: May 2024

In gas turbines, the stator wells play a key role in the efficiency of the turbomachine. The research for performance gains requires a good understanding and an accurate modeling of the flows and heat transfers occurring in these areas. Within the framework of the European program main annulus gas path interaction (MAGPI) WP1, a two-stage axial turbine test rig provided an experimental database used to validate the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. The aim of this study is to setup a numerical methodology using the CFD solver ANSYSFluent to accurately predict the conjugate heat transfer in the stator well area. The validation of the methodology relies on thorough comparison of the results with the MAGPI WP1 experimental temperature/pressure measurements. A geometry with axial cooling injection through lock plate slot was chosen. A Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) three-dimensional sectorized CFD model of the turbine with conjugate heat transfer was used. It includes main gas path, cavities with labyrinths, disks rotor, the casing, and the nozzle guide vanes (NGV). Mixing planes are placed between the static and rotating frames. Different influences (mesh, turbulence model, thermal boundary conditions, radial labyrinths clearances) were studied and compared with experimental data. As a baseline, the first calculations were performed with a cooling flowrate chosen so that hot gas ingresses from the main stream into the stator well cavity. Good agreements between predicted and measured temperatures/pressures were observed, especially in the vicinity of the stator well. Discrepancies were spotted at the first rotor hub endwall and at the upstream wheelspace and will be discussed. Two other cooling configurations were conducted, one with cooling air exiting from the disk rim cavity to the main gas path and the other with the lowest cooling flowrate and so the highest ingress. Finally, the turbine performance under nonadiabatic conditions has been evaluated with an appropriate efficiency definition.
Stem-cell states converge in multistage cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma development
Authors: Taylor Mark A. , Kandyba Eve , Halliwill Kyle , Delrosario Reyno , Khoroshkin Matvei , Goodarzi Hani , Quigley David , Li Yun Rose , Wu Di , Bollam Saumya R. , Mirzoeva Olga K. , Akhurst Rosemary J. , Balmain Allan
Published: May 2024

Stem cells play a critical role in cancer development by contributing to cell heterogeneity, lineage plasticity, and drug resistance. We created gene expression networks from hundreds of mouse tissue samples (both normal and tumor) and integrated these with lineage tracing and single-cell RNA-seq, to identify convergence of cell states in premalignant tumor cells expressing markers of lineage plasticity and drug resistance. Two of these cell states representing multilineage plasticity or proliferation were inversely correlated, suggesting a mutually exclusive relationship. Treatment of carcinomas in vivo with chemotherapy repressed the proliferative state and activated multilineage plasticity whereas inhibition of differentiation repressed plasticity and potentiated responses to cell cycle inhibitors. Manipulation of this cell state transition point may provide a source of potential combinatorial targets for cancer therapy.
Solid-state continuous time crystal in a polariton condensate with a built-in mechanical clock
Authors: Carraro-Haddad I. , Chafatinos D. L. , Kuznetsov A. S. , Papuccio-Fernández I. A. , Reynoso A. A. , Bruchhausen A. , Biermann K. , Santos P. V. , Usaj G. , Fainstein A.
Published: May 2024

Time crystals (TCs) are many-body systems that display spontaneous breaking of time translation symmetry. We demonstrate a TC by using driven-dissipative condensates of microcavity exciton-polaritons, spontaneously formed from an incoherent particle bath. The TC phases are controlled by the power of a continuous-wave nonresonant optical drive exciting the condensate and the interaction with cavity phonons. Those phases are, for increasing power, Larmor-like precession of the condensate pseudo-spins—a signature of continuous TC; locking of the frequency of precession to self-sustained coherent phonons—stabilized TC; and doubling of TC’s period by phonons—a discrete TC with continuous excitation. These results establish microcavity polaritons as a platform for the investigation of time-broken symmetry in nonhermitian systems.
The future of the ocean
The High Seas
Olive Heffernan
Greystone Books, 2024. 368 pp.
Authors: Czerski Helen
Published: May 2024

A journalist probes the challenges facing the global commons
Living bioelectronics resolve inflammation
Authors: Olofsson Peder S.
Published: May 2024

Coupling skin bacteria and electronics opens paths to adaptive treatment of inflammation
Niche partitioning of bobcat and Canada lynx near their distribution contact zone
Authors: Nakamoto Bobby J. , Forbes G. , Bursey C. , Cormier J. , O'Sullivan A. , Hayden B.
Published: May 2024

Canada lynx ( Lynx canadensis) are keystone predators. However, contact with congenerics, like the bobcat ( Lynx rufus), could alter lynx trophic ecology and destabilize boreal food webs. We set out to describe the trophic niches of these species in allopatry and sympatry to assess how resources are partitioned among them and project whether the northward expansion of the bobcats’ range will lead to the displacement of lynx. To quantify the trophic niche, we measured stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in muscle and liver samples of bobcat and lynx. Our results indicate that both bobcat and lynx consumed snowshoe hare as their primary prey. However, lynx specialized on hare throughout our study, whereas bobcats foraged as generalists in sympatry with lynx and hare-specialists in allopatry. Our results highlight the contrasting ecological strategies of two congeneric felids and underscore the potential relevance of foraging efficiency in shaping the trophic niche of consumers in competitive environments.
A discrete three-dimensional divdiv complex on polyhedral meshes with application to a mixed formulation of the biharmonic problem
Authors: Di Pietro Daniele A. , Hanot Marien-Lorenzo
Published: May 2024

In this work, following the Discrete de Rham (DDR) paradigm, we develop an arbitrary-order discrete divdiv complex on general polyhedral meshes. The construction rests on (1) discrete spaces that are spanned by vectors of polynomials whose components are attached to mesh entities and (2) discrete operators obtained mimicking integration by parts formulas. We provide an in-depth study of the algebraic properties of the local complex, showing that it is exact on mesh elements with trivial topology. The new DDR complex is used to design a numerical scheme for the approximation of biharmonic problems, for which we provide detailed stability and convergence analyses. Numerical experiments complete the theoretical results.
IMPROVEMENT IN THE RECAST LAYER THICKNESS, CORNER RADIUS AND SURFACE ROUGHNESS OF MONEL K 400 THROUGH CFRP, NANO-SiC, AND ZrSiO4 PARTICLES ADDED WIRE EDM
Authors: SUNDARAPANDIAN G. , ARUNACHALAM K.
Published: May 2024

Monel K 400 is a potential superalloy that is used in heat exchanger piping, process vessels, gasoline, and portable water owing to superior mechanical properties at zero temperature. Square holes are needed in the high-temperature application components and are difficult to machine using conventional methods. Hence, in this study, the square holes have been fabricated on Monel K 400 superalloys with varying pulse duration, current, pulse interval, and servo voltage and its influences on Recast Layer Thickness (RLT), Corner Radius (CR), and Surface Roughness (SR) have been analyzed. Experiments are planned on using Taguchi design and the responses are analyzed with mean surface plots. The overall analysis found that the SiC powder mixed in EDM oil has a larger improvement % than that of CFRP and ZrSiO4 powder. The performance of SiC powder mixed in EDM oils increased to 62 % for RLT, 32 % for CR, and 51 % for SR. The current and pulse duration are revealed to be the most significant parameters using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Quadratic and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) models are developed for prediction. The Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), coefficient of determination (R), and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) are calculated for evaluating the models and it is discovered that both models have low RMSE, MAPE, and high R. Finally, the multiple response decision making based on Taguchi based Data Envelopment Analysis based Ranking (DEAR) methodology is an improvement of 28 % for RLT, a 16 % for CR, and a 21 % for SR.
Small Object Detection via Scale-Adaptive Label Assignment and Localization Uncertainty
Authors: Qin Hui , Mei Tiancan , Wang Yaru
Published: May 2024

Despite the current detectors achieving outstanding performance, detecting small objects remains a challenging problem. The challenge mainly arises from the low quantity and quality of samples as well as the inherent difficulty in localization. Focusing on these problems, we present an approach for small object detection with a scale-adaptive label assignment scheme and a novel quality-driven localization loss (QLL). First, we perform the scale-adaptive label assignment by combining distance-based and Intersection-over-Union (IoU)-based criterion along with a scale discriminator mechanism to obtain larger quantity and higher quality of training samples. Then, we extend an additional branch parallel to the original localization branch, modeling the localization task as predicting Gaussian probability distributions to incorporate localization uncertainty. Finally, we develop QLL by integrating the scale information and IoU to achieve more accurate localization for small objects. Extensive experiment results on two natural images benchmarks demonstrate that our method underscores its superiority over baseline detector in detecting small objects. Moreover, our method performs better than other recent state-of-the-art methods on the large-scale small object detection benchmark SODA-D without bells and whistles.
Geochemical anomaly recognition using Shapley values and cell-wise outlier detection: a case study in the Yuanbo Nang District, Gansu Province, China
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Carranza Emmanuel John M. , Fu Changliang , Zhang Wenzhi , Qin Xiang , Zhang Yujun
Published: May 2024

Geochemical pattern recognition has long been of interest for geologists to reveal geochemical anomalies associated with mineralization. In regional-scale exploration, geochemical anomalies are derived conventionally from stream sediment samples and processed in the form of vectors, resulting in row-wise outliers. However, geochemical anomalies derived through various means of pattern recognition have shown their limits in depicting complex geochemical distributions. In this paper, we propose to utilize the Shapley value, linked to the Mahalanobis distance (MD), and cell-wise outlier detection to facilitate the recognition of anomalous geochemical indicator elements. First, by considering the compositional nature of geochemical data, multivariate outliers are detected based on the MD in isometric log-ratio coordinates. Secondly, to quantify the contributions of individual elements to the outlyingness of an outlier, Shapley values are used to express the MDs of data as outlyingness contributions of single elements. Finally, cell-wise outlier detection is introduced to examine and quantify the outlyingness of each cell in a geochemical data matrix. The outlying cells serve as criteria for further recognition of element associations. By analysing the Shapley values of individual elements and the outlying cells in a geochemical data matrix, more information contained in multivariate outliers can be recognized. Using this proposed methodology, the element associations that relate to regional mineralization in the study area were Au-only anomalies, Au–As–Sb anomalies, As–Sb–Hg anomalies and Ag-related anomalies.
Lower Bound for Independence Covering in
C
4
-free Graphs
Authors: Kuhn Michael , Lokshtanov Daniel , Miller Zachary
Published: May 2024

An
independent set
in a graph
G
is a set
S
of pairwise non-adjacent vertices in
G
. A family

\(\mathcal {F}\)

of independent sets in
G
is called a
k
-
independence covering family
if for every independent set
I
in
G
of size at most
k
, there exists an

\(S \in \mathcal {F}\)

such that

\(I \subseteq S\)

. Lokshtanov et al.
(ACM Transactions on Algorithms
, 2020) showed that graphs of degeneracy
d
admit
k
-independence covering families of size

\(\binom{k(d+1)}{k} \cdot 2^{o(kd)} \cdot \log n\)

and used this result to design efficient parameterized algorithms for a number of problems, including
Stable Odd Cycle Transversal
and
Stable Multicut
.

In light of the results of Lokshtanov et al.
(ACM Transactions on Algorithms,
2020) it is quite natural to ask whether even more general families of graphs admit
k
-independence covering families of size

\(f(k)n^{O(1)}\)

. Graphs that exclude a complete bipartite graph

\(K_{d+1,d+1}\)

with

\(d+1\)

vertices on both sides as a subgraph, called

\(K_{d+1,d+1}\)

-
free graphs
, are a frequently considered generalization of
d
-degenerate graphs. This motivates the question of whether

\(K_{d,d}\)

-free graphs admit
k
-independence covering families of size

\(f(k,d)n^{O(1)}\)

. Our main result is a resounding “no” to this question—specifically, we prove that even

\(K_{2,2}\)

-free graphs (or equivalently

\(C_4\)

-free graphs) do not admit
k
-independence covering families of size

\(f(k)n^{\frac{k}{4}-\epsilon }\)

.
Pressure never sucks, pressure only pushes: a physiological exploration of the pushing power of pressure
Authors: Nallabelli Akila , Lujan Heidi L. , DiCarlo Stephen E.
Published: May 2024

The concept that pressure never sucks, pressure only pushes challenges common misconceptions about pressure, shedding light on the dynamic forces that govern the movement of gases. In this Illumination, we will explore the essence of this concept and its applications in pulmonary ventilation. Specifically, we used five readily available, simple, inexpensive demonstrations to introduce the physics and power of pressure.
The left ventricle increases contractility in response to baroreceptor unloading, which is sympathetically mediated in the anesthetized rat
Authors: Stewart Liam C. , Wainman Liisa , Ahmadian Mehdi , Duffy Jennifer , Seethaler Rudolph , Mueller Patrick J. , Eves Neil D. , West Christopher R.
Published: May 2024

This study empirically demonstrates a sympathetically mediated increase in LV contractility in response to baroreceptor unloading using a load-independent index of cardiac contractility in the anesthetized rat.
The Causal Effects of Nuclear Fusion Reactors, Human Development, and Economic Growth on Nuclear Energy Consumption in the United States
Authors: Aydin Mucahit , Aydin Mehmet
Published: May 2024

The study is aimed at investigating the effects of nuclear fusion reactors, human development, and economic growth on nuclear energy consumption in the United States from 1990 to 2019 using time and frequency causality analyses. The time domain causality analysis examined the relationship between variables over time using a single test statistic, while the frequency domain analysis explored causality in the short and long term at different frequencies. The findings from the time domain analysis indicated that nuclear energy consumption had a unidirectional causal effect on the human development index. Conversely, nuclear fusion reactors had a unidirectional causal impact on nuclear energy consumption. The results from the frequency domain analysis revealed that economic growth had a permanent unidirectional causal effect on nuclear energy consumption. In contrast, nuclear energy consumption had a temporary unidirectional causal impact on the human development index. Additionally, there was a bidirectional temporary and permanent causal effect between nuclear fusion reactors and nuclear energy consumption. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the United States continue providing financial incentives to develop nuclear energy technologies, such as constructing new nuclear power plants and offering subsidies to encourage the use of nuclear energy.
Exploring the Phytochemical Compositions, Antioxidant Activity, and Nutritional Potentials of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms
Authors: Al Qutaibi Mohammed , Kagne Suresh R.
Published: May 2024

Mushrooms are a valuable source of food and medicine that have been used for centuries in various cultures. They contain a variety of phytochemicals, such as terpenoids and polysaccharides, that exhibit diverse biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and antidiabetic effects. However, mushroom’s phytochemical composition and bioactivity vary depending on their species, cultivation conditions, processing methods, and extraction techniques. Therefore, using reliable analytical methods and standardized protocols is important for systematically evaluating the quality and quantity of mushroom phytochemicals and their therapeutic potential. This review provides a bibliometric analysis of the recent literature on biological activities, highlights trends in the field, and highlights the countries and journals with the highest contribution. It also discusses the nutritional value of the total content of phenolic and other phytochemicals in some species of mushrooms.
Cell‐Derived Matrix: Production, Decellularization, and Application of Wound Repair
Authors: Xu Yidan , Yao Yao , Gao Jianhua
Published: May 2024

Chronic nonhealing wounds significantly reduce patients’ quality of life and are a major burden on healthcare systems. Over the past few decades, tissue engineering materials have emerged as a viable option for wound healing, with cell‐derived extracellular matrix (CDM) showing remarkable results. The CDM’s compatibility and resemblance to the natural tissue microenvironment confer distinct advantages to tissue‐engineered scaffolds in wound repair. This review summarizes the current processes for CDM preparation, various cell decellularization protocols, and common characterization methods. Furthermore, it discusses the applications of CDM in wound healing, including skin defect and wound repair, angiogenesis, and engineered vessels, and offers perspectives on future developments.
Long-Term Administration of Omeprazole-Induced Hypergastrinemia and Changed Glucose Homeostasis and Expression of Metabolism-Related Genes
Authors: Kabaliei Alina , Palchyk Vitalina , Izmailova Olga , Shynkevych Viktoriya , Shlykova Oksana , Kaidashev Igor
Published: May 2024

Introduction. PPIs, or proton pump inhibitors, are the most widely prescribed drugs. There is a debate regarding the relationship between long-term PPI use and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A potential connection between T2DM and PPIs could be an elevated gastrin concentration. This study is aimed at investigating the long-term effects of PPI omeprazole (OZ) on glucose homeostasis and pancreatic gene expression profile in mice. Methods. Healthy adult male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into three equal groups (n=10 in each one): (1) experimental mice that received OZ 20 mg/kg; (2) control mice that received 30 μl saline per os; (3) intact mice without any interventions. Mice were treated for 30 weeks. Glucose homeostasis was investigated by fasting blood glucose level, oral glucose tolerance test (GTT), insulin tolerance test (ITT), and basal insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Serum gastrin and insulin concentration were determined by ELISA. Expressions of Sirt1, Pparg, Nfκb1 (p105), Nfe2l2, Cxcl5, Smad3, H2a.z, and H3f3b were measured by RT-PCR. Result. The ROC analysis revealed an increase in fasting blood glucose levels in OZ-treated mice in comparison with control and intact groups during the 30-week experiment. A slight but statistically significant increase in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity was observed in OZ-treated mice within 30 weeks of the experiment. The mice treated with OZ exhibited significant increases in serum insulin and gastrin levels, accompanied by a rise in the HOMA-IR level. These animals had a statistically significant increase in Sirt1, Pparg, and Cxcl5 mRNA expression. There were no differences in β-cell numbers between groups. Conclusion. Long-term OZ treatment induced hypergastrin- and hyperinsulinemia and increased expression of Sirt1, Pparg, and Cxcl5 in mouse pancreatic tissues accompanied by specific changes in glucose metabolism. The mechanism of omeprazole-induced Cxcl5 mRNA expression and its association with pancreatic cancer risk should be investigated.
Assessment of Anatomical Dentin Thickness in Mandibular First Molar: An In Vivo Cone‐Beam Computed Tomographic Study
Authors: Choudhari Sahil , Venkata Teja Kavalipurapu , Ramesh Sindhu , Jose Jerry , Cernera Mariangela , Soltani Parisa , Nogueira Leal da Silva Emmanuel João , Spagnuolo Gianrico
Published: May 2024

Aim. To determine the minimum dentin thickness in the mesial and distal walls of the mesiobuccal (MB) and mesiolingual (ML) canals of the mandibular first molars using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods. CBCT examinations of 624 mandibular first molars from an Indian subpopulation were analyzed. The mesial and distal minimum dentin thickness was evaluated in 1 mm intervals apical to the furcation area. Independent t‐test was used to analyze the data (α = 0.05). Using Cohen’s kappa coefficient, the interexaminer and intraexaminer reliability was evaluated. Results. The mesial dentin thickness was significantly higher than the distal dentin thickness for MB and ML canals (P = 0.01). The average dentin thickness in the distal and mesial plane of the MB canal was 1.15 ± 0.15 mm and 1.52 ± 0.19 mm at the 1 mm level and 0.83 ± 0.13 and 1.08 ± 0.18 at the 5 mm level, respectively. For the ML canal, the average dentin thickness in the distal plane and the mesial plane was 1.24 ± 0.18 mm and 1.44 ± 0.21 at the 1 mm level and 0.91 ± 0.16 and 1.01 ± 0.17 at the 5 mm level, respectively. Statistical analysis between the MB and ML canals showed significant differences in the dentin thickness at 4 and 5 mm levels in both the distal and the mesial planes (P = 0.01). In more than 85% of the cases, the minimum dentin thickness was seen at the 5 mm level in both the distal and mesial planes in MB and ML canals. Conclusion. The distal planes of the mesiolingual and mesiobuccal canals were thinner in most cases, making the distal surface more prone to iatrogenic perforations. Considerably, at 4 and 5 mm from the furcation, the distal wall was significantly thinner than the mesial walls. Understanding the anatomy of the danger zone in the mesial roots of the mandibular first molars may serve to minimize the risk of endodontic mishaps such as strip perforations.
FIGURE 3 from Exploring Co-occurring POLE Exonuclease and Non-exonuclease Domain Mutations and Their Impact on Tumor Mutagenicity
Authors: Shah Shreya M. , Demidova Elena V. , Ringenbach Salena , Faezov Bulat , Andrake Mark , Gandhi Arjun , Mur Pilar , Viana-Errasti Julen , Xiu Joanne , Swensen Jeffrey , Valle Laura , Dunbrack Roland L. , Hall Michael J. , Arora Sanjeevani
Published: May 2024

Molecular features of colorectal cancer (A) and endometrial cancer (B). The mutational landscape and patient demographic/clinical characteristics (PD-L1 by IHC, MSI comprehensive, age, and sex) of the four cohorts for each cancer type were plotted using the GenVisR package of R.
FIGURE 3 from Pan-Cancer Interrogation of B7-H3 (CD276) as an Actionable Therapeutic Target Across Human Malignancies
Authors: Miller Carly D. , Lozada John R. , Zorko Nicholas A. , Elliott Andrew , Makovec Allison , Radovich Milan , Heath Elisabeth I. , Agarwal Neeraj , Mckay Rana R. , Garje Rohan , Bastos Bruno R. , Hoon Dave S.B. , Orme Jacob J. , Sartor Oliver , VanderWalde Ari , Nabhan Chadi , Sledge George , Shenderov Eugene , Dehm Scott M. , Lou Emil , Miller Jeffrey S. , Hwang Justin H. , Antonarakis Emmanuel S.
Published: May 2024

Independence of B7-H3 expression and immunotherapy biomarkers. Alteration frequency of TMB-high (A), MSI-high (B), MMRd (C), and PD-1/ PD-L1 status (D) across 11 different cancer types with high and low B7-H3 expression, including prostate cancer from a primary site (PRAD-Prostate), prostate cancer from a metastatic site (PRAD-Metastatic), colorectal cancer with microsatellite stability (CRC-MSS), colorectal cancer with microsatellite instability (CRC-MSI), non–small cell lung adenocarcinoma (NSCLC-Ad), non–small cell lung squamous carcinoma (NSCLC-Sq), triple-negative breast cancer (BRCA-TNBC), hormone receptor–positive/HER2-negative breast cancer (BRCA-HR+/HER2−), HER2-positive breast cancer (BRCA-HER2+), ovarian surface epithelial carcinoma (OSEC), and pancreatic carcinoma (PDAC). *, q < 0.05; **, q < 0.01; ***, q < 0.001. Cox proportional HRs were calculated for each comparison group with significance determined as q values of <0.05 using log-rank statistics.
Effect of a Management Algorithm for Wet Contamination of Peritoneal Dialysis System on the Prevention of Peritonitis: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Yi Chunyan , Zhang Wenbo , Guo Qunying , Lin Jianxiong , Chen Wei , Mao Haiping , Yang Xiao
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Wet contamination was a common problem of peritoneal dialysis (PD) system. We developed a management algorithm for wet contamination of PD system (wet contamination) on the basis of the related research literature and clinical practice experience. The purpose of this study was to observe clinical effect of the management algorithm on the prevention of peritonitis. Methods: Patients treated wet contamination in a single PD center between October 2017 and September 2022 were included. A management algorithm was established to treat wet contamination. It comprised identification of the contamination type, addressing contaminated or aging catheters, prophylactic antibiotics, and retraining. Demographic data and clinical data about wet contamination were collected and compared. Results: One hundred and forty-one cases of wet contamination were included in this study. The mean age was 51.7 ± 14.1 years, and 49.6% were female. The proportion of diabetic nephropathy was 9.9%. The median PD duration was 27.0 (1.7–79.7) months. Eighteen episodes (12.8%) of wet contamination-associated peritonitis developed after wet contamination. The main pathogenic bacteria of peritonitis were Gram-positive bacteria (33.3%) and Gram-negative bacteria (27.8%). The incidence of wet contamination-associated peritonitis in the compliance with the management algorithm group was significantly lower than that in the non-compliance with the management algorithm group (0.9 vs. 48.6%; p < 0.001). Non-compliance with management algorithm (OR = 185.861, p < 0.001) together with advance age (OR = 1.116, p < 0.001) and longer distance from home to hospital (OR = 1.007, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for wet contamination-associated peritonitis. Conclusion: The management algorithm for wet contamination of PD system could reduce the risk of peritonitis.
A Eficiência do Consumo Residencial de Energia Elétrica no Brasil
Authors: Soares Thiago Costa , Lopes Luckas Sabioni , Cunha Dênis Antônio da
Published: May 2024

Este estudo analisou a eficiência do consumo residencial de energia elétrica nos estados brasileiros entre 1991 e 2014. A estratégia empírica consistiu em estimar, no primeiro estágio, a função de demanda, controlando a endogeneidade da tarifa e da renda. No segundo estágio, foram obtidas as estimativas da eficiência energética por um modelo de fronteira estocástica. Os principais resultados revelaram que o consumo residencial de energia elétrica é inelástico à tarifa, porém, bastante sensível à renda. Em adição, encontraram-se evidências de melhorias na eficiência do consumo de energia, possivelmente associadas com a substituição de produtos intensivos por outros mais econômicos.
Os Determinantes do Aprendizado com Dados de um Painel de Escolas do SAEB
Authors: Franco Ana Maria de Paiva , Menezes Filho Naercio Aquino
Published: May 2024

Este trabalho analisa os impactos das características de alunos, professores, turmas, diretores e escolas sobre o desempenho em matemática de alunos da 4ª série, valendo-se de dois painéis de escolas construídos a partir de dados do SAEB 1997-2005. É a primeira vez que um painel de escolas com dados desagregados por alunos é utilizado para explorar este tema no caso brasileiro. O background familiar se mostrou muito importante para explicar desempenho, enquanto poucas variáveis de escolas apresentaram algum efeito. As análises apontam também para efeitos diferenciados das variáveis explicativas sobre o aprendizado dependendo da escola ser pública ou privada.
A construção e re-configuração da identidade negra no Brasil
Authors: Nascimento Tassia
Published: May 2024

Neste trabalho observaremos duas formas de representação e significação da identidade negra no Brasil, quais sejam: a que se refere a ele enquanto anacronismo de uma cultura etnocêntrica e a reconhecedora deste como sujeito histórico e responsável por uma produção cultural. Através do entendimento de suas particularidades, observaremos o lócus específico de produção desta comunidade e sua expressão através da literatura.
Notícias
Authors: Espinosanos Cadernos
Published: May 2024

Notícias referentes ao segundo semestre de 2022 sobre os estudos sobre o século XVII e sobre o espinosismo.
Internalized β2-Adrenergic Receptors Oppose PLC-Dependent Hypertrophic Signaling
Authors: Wei Wenhui , Smrcka Alan V.
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND:

Chronically elevated neurohumoral drive, and particularly elevated adrenergic tone leading to β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) overstimulation in cardiac myocytes, is a key mechanism involved in the progression of heart failure. β1-AR (β1-adrenergic receptor) and β2-ARs (β2-adrenergic receptor) are the 2 major subtypes of β-ARs present in the human heart; however, they elicit different or even opposite effects on cardiac function and hypertrophy. For example, chronic activation of β1-ARs drives detrimental cardiac remodeling while β2-AR signaling is protective. The underlying molecular mechanisms for cardiac protection through β2-ARs remain unclear.

METHODS:

β2-AR signaling mechanisms were studied in isolated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes and adult mouse ventricular myocytes using live cell imaging and Western blotting methods. Isolated myocytes and mice were used to examine the roles of β2-AR signaling mechanisms in the regulation of cardiac hypertrophy.

RESULTS:

Here, we show that β2-AR activation protects against hypertrophy through inhibition of phospholipaseCε signaling at the Golgi apparatus. The mechanism for β2-AR–mediated phospholipase C inhibition requires internalization of β2-AR, activation of Gi and Gβγ subunit signaling at endosome and ERK (extracellular regulated kinase) activation. This pathway inhibits both angiotensin II and Golgi-β1-AR–mediated stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis at the Golgi apparatus ultimately resulting in decreased PKD (protein kinase D) and histone deacetylase 5 phosphorylation and protection against cardiac hypertrophy.

CONCLUSIONS:

This reveals a mechanism for β2-AR antagonism of the phospholipase Cε pathway that may contribute to the known protective effects of β2-AR signaling on the development of heart failure.
Group Identification and Employer Support Predict Lower Occupational Stress in Animal Shelter Employees
Authors: Andrukonis Allison S. , Hall Nathaniel J , Hohman Zachary P.
Published: May 2024

Animal shelter employees are at risk for significant occupational stress. Research in other care-based occupations has found that group identification and social support are protective factors against work stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between employee wellbeing and group identification and social support in animal shelter employees. Participants completed a survey containing measures of identity and social support, as well as outcome measures of perceived stress, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, compassion satisfaction, moral injury, and turnover intent. Identifying as an animal shelter employee significantly predicted turnover intent, burnout, compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, moral injury, and perceived stress. Satisfaction with employer support significantly predicted turnover intent, burnout, moral injury, and perceived stress. The current study suggests that identifying as an animal shelter employee and satisfaction with employer support may be significant protective factors against occupational stress in animal shelter employees.
Birdsong Complexity and Preference: The Role of Birdwatching Expertise
Authors: Rosenstein Rebecca , Goldblatt Mollie L.
Published: May 2024

This study examined the influence of birdsong complexity (melodic and rhythmic) on the preferences of primarily older, White Americans and whether individual differences and acquired experience moderate this relationship. An anonymous, online survey presented recordings of 11 anonymous birdsongs followed by a series of questions. Respondents (N = 209) were unpaid volunteers, recruited from a variety of sources. Using a mixed model analysis, the study found a positive linear relationship between both forms of complexity and preference. The relationship between rhythmic complexity and preference became curvilinear when birdwatching expertise was a moderator. Birdwatchers tended to show a greater preference for birdsong than non-birdwatchers over the entire range of rhythmic complexity, but particularly at the highest levels. Future research should focus on the types of information embedded within birdsongs and the ways in which they are interpreted by humans.
Gomphus indicus, a new species of Gomphaceae from Northwestern Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, India
Authors: SINGH SHINY , VERMA KOMAL , KUMAR SANJEEV , SHARMA YASH PAL
Published: May 2024

Gomphus indicus is proposed here as a new species based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer and large subunit of the rDNA region. The combination of morphological and molecular data confirmed the novelty of the species and its infrageneric placement within the genus Gomphus Pers. This species was found in association with Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D. Don) G. Don and Abies pindrow (Royle ex D. Don) Royle and is characterized by infundibuliform to flabelliform pileus with wavy irregular margins, greyish yellow to light yellow, wrinkled rugose pileus surface, cylindrical to bacilliform large basidiospores (15–21.5 × 6–8 µm) with irregular isolated warts, the absence of hymenial cystidia, and pileipellis composed of thin-walled, loosely interwoven hyphae. A detailed description, illustrations, and comparisons with morphologically similar and related taxa are provided here. Additionally, a worldwide key to the globally known species of Gomphus is also provided.
Australian academic libraries and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Missingham Roxanne
Published: May 2024

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals have created an opportunity for the library sector to reconceptualise the services delivered to their communities. They provide the opportunity for libraries to be involved in national policy discussions and for their work to be translated into national programs for economic and social development. This article uses Australia as a case study of academic libraries in a broader policy context. The academic library community has built on many decades of work supporting social justice to set the scene to enable a significant contribution to be made to address the Sustainable Development Goals. The contribution that libraries have made has the potential to be reflected in university-wide reporting. The emergence of international university rankings on sustainability is assessed to review potential areas of impact. It is found that the most effective work to date has been collaborative. Further collaboration can contribute to strategic national planning and reporting.
First-line treatments for advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer with immune checkpoint inhibitors plus chemotherapy: a systematic review, network meta-analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis
Authors: Tian Wentao , Niu Lishui , Shi Yin , Li Shuishi , Zhou Rongrong
Published: May 2024

Introduction:

The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chemotherapy is a promising first-line therapy for patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The cost-effectiveness of combinations with different ICIs is yet to be compared.

Methods:

We utilized Bayesian network meta-analyses for the comparisons of overall survival, progression-free survival, and incidence of adverse events of the included treatments in the total population and subgroups with different programmed death-ligand 1 tumor proportional scores (TPS). The cost-effectiveness of the treatments from the perspectives of the US and Chinese healthcare systems was assessed using Markov models.

Results:

Three combinations, including pembrolizumab + chemotherapy (PembroC), nivolumab + ipilimumab + chemotherapy (NivoIpiC), and atezolizumab + chemotherapy (AteC), were included in our study. In terms of efficacy, PembroC was most likely to be ranked first for extending progression-free survival (PFS) (93.16%) and overall survival (OS) (90.73%). Nevertheless, from the US perspective, NivoIpiC and PembroC showed incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of $68,963.1/quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) and $179,355.6/QALY, respectively, compared with AteC. The one-way sensitivity analysis revealed that the results were primarily sensitive to the hazard ratios for OS or the cost of immunotherapy agents. At a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $150,000/QALY, NivoIpiC had the highest probability of being cost-effective (63%). As for the Chinese perspective, NivoIpiC and PembroC had ICERs of $145,983.4/QALY and $195,863.3/QALY versus AteC, respectively. The results were primarily sensitive to the HRs for OS. At a WTP threshold of $38,017/QALY, AteC had the highest probability of cost-effectiveness (94%).

Conclusion:

Although PembroC has the optimal efficacy, NivoIpiC and AteC were the most favorable treatments in terms of cost-effectiveness for patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC from the US and Chinese perspectives, respectively.
Effects of Descriptive Peer Assessment on the Learning of Middle and High School Students in South Korea
Authors: Son Mihyun , Ha Minsu
Published: May 2024

This study examined the impact of online peer assessment based on descriptive questions on student learning in Korea. The validity of the scores for student-written descriptive responses rated by middle and high school students were compared to teacher grading. The impact of peer assessment activities based on descriptive questions on student learning was also investigated, as was investigated students’ perceptions of peer assessment. First-year middle and high school students studying science were recruited. The results reveal a high level of agreement between peer assessment scores of middle and high school students and teacher grades. The peer assessment activity based on descriptive questions enhanced students’ academic achievement. Students stated peer assessment activity was effective for conceptual learning. This study confirmed the effectiveness of peer assessment activities based on descriptive questions in students’ conceptual learning.
Chromosomal mapping of repetitive DNA and retroelement sequences and its implications for the chromosomal evolution process in Ctenoluciidae (Characiformes)
Authors: de Sousa e Souza José Francisco , Guimarães Erika Milena Corrêa , Figliuolo Vanessa Susan Pinheiro , Soares Simone Cardoso , de Bello Cioffi Marcelo , de Menezes Cavalcante Sassi Francisco , Feldberg Eliana
Published: May 2024

Ctenoluciidae is a Neotropical freshwater fish family composed of two genera, Ctenolucius (C. beani and C. hujeta) and Boulengerella (B. cuvieri, B. lateristriga, B. lucius, B. maculata, and B. xyrekes), which present diploid number conservation of 36 chromosomes and a strong association of telomeric sequences with ribosomal DNAs. In the present study, we performed chromosomal mapping of microsatellites and transposable elements (TEs) in Boulengerella species and Ctenolucius hujeta. We aim to understand how those sequences are distributed in these organisms’ genomes and their influence on the chromosomal evolution of the group. Our results indicate that repetitive sequences may had an active role in the karyotypic diversification of this family, especially in the formation of chromosomal hotspots that are traceable in the diversification processes of Ctenoluciidae karyotypes. We demonstrate that (GATA)n sequences also accumulate in the secondary constriction formed by the 18 S rDNA site, which shows consistent size heteromorphism between males and females in all Boulengerella species, suggesting an initial process of sex chromosome differentiation.
COMBAT-C: COntrol of Major Bleeding by Application of Tourniquets over Clothing
Authors: Lechner Raimund , Oberst Amelie , Beres Yannick , Mayer Benjamin , Kulla Martin , Hossfeld Björn , Gässler Holger
Published: May 2024

Introduction

External bleeding is the leading cause of preventable trauma-related death. In certain circumstances, tourniquet application over clothing may be necessary. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of tourniquets over different clothing setups.

Methods

Three windlass tourniquets (CAT, SAMXT, SOFTT-W) were applied over nine different clothing setups and without clothing on the Hapmed™ Tourniquet Trainer. We compared each tourniquet in each clothing setup to the tourniquet trainer that was not dressed, and we compared the three tourniquets within each clothing setup concerning blood loss, applied pressure and application time. Regression analysis of the effect of thickness, mean weight, mean deformation, application time, and applied pressure on blood loss was performed.

Results

Although blood loss was significantly greater in the CAT and SAMXT tourniquets when they were applied over leather motorcycle trousers, the overall findings showed that the clothing setups significantly reduced or did not affect blood loss. The mean blood loss was the lowest with CAT and the highest with SOFTT-W. The measured mean pressures were lower than 180 mmHg in four out of nine clothing setups with SOFTT-W, but CAT and SAMXT always exceeded this threshold. CAT had the fastest application time. Blood loss was significantly influenced by applied pressure and application time but was influenced to a far lesser degree by clothing parameters.

Conclusion

The effects of the clothing setups were of little clinical relevance, except for leather motorcycle trousers. The effects of rugged protective equipment, e.g., hazard suits, are conceivable and need to be tested for specific garments with the tourniquet intended for use. No clothing parameter for predicting tourniquet effectiveness could be identified.
Physico-chemical characterization of Anopheles gambiae s.l. breeding sites and kdr mutations in urban areas of Cotonou and Natitingou, Benin
Authors: Djègbè Innocent , Hessou-Djossou Donald , Gounou Boukari Massioudou Koto Yerima , Nonfodji Odilon , Tchigossou Geneviève , Djouaka Rousseau , Cornelie Sylvie , Akogbeto Martin , Djogbenou Luc , Chandre Fabrice
Published: May 2024

Background

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the physicochemical characteristics of An. gambiae s.s. and An. coluzzii breeding sites, the susceptibility profiles to commonly used insecticides in public health, and the underlying insecticide resistance mechanisms.

Methods

Anopheles breeding sites surveys were conducted in Cotonou and Natitingou in September 2020, January and August 2021. Physicochemical properties and bacterial loads were determined in individual breeding sites. The WHO susceptibility assays were carried out using the female of the emerging adult mosquitoes. Anopheles species were identified through PCR techniques. Kdr L1014F/S, N1575Y and G119S mutations were investigated using TaqMan genotyping assays.

Results

Molecular analysis showed that all mosquitoes analyzed in Cotonou were Anopheles coluzzii, while those of Natitingou were Anopheles gambiae s.s. Fecal coliforms were identified as playing a role in this distribution through their significant influence on the presence of An. coluzzii larvae. WHO susceptibility assay indicated a high level of resistance to deltamethrin in the two cities. The resistance levels to deltamethrin were higher in Cotonou (X2 = 31.689; DF = 1; P < 0.0001). There was a suspected resistance to bendiocarb in Cotonou, whereas the mosquito population in Natitingou was resistant. The kdr L1014F mutation was highly observed in both mosquito populations (frequence: 86–91%), while the Ace-1 mutation was found in a small proportion of mosquitoes. In Cotonou, salinity was the only recorded physicochemical parameter that significantly correlated with the resistance of Anopheles mosquitoes to deltamethrin (P < 0.05). In Natitingou, significant correlations were observed between the allelic frequencies of the kdr L1014F mutation and pH, conductivity, and TDS.

Conclusion

These results indicate a high level of pyrethroid resistance in the anopheles populations of both Cotonou and Natitingou. Moreover, this study report the involvement of abiotic factors influencing Anopheles susceptibility profile.
Patient experiences: a qualitative systematic review of chemotherapy adherence
Authors: Rashidi Amineh , Thapa Susma , Kahawaththa Palliya Guruge Wasana Sandamali , Kaur Shubhpreet
Published: May 2024

Adherence to chemotherapy treatment is recognized as a crucial health concern, especially in managing cancer patients. Chemotherapy presents challenges for patients, as it can lead to potential side effects that may adversely affect their mobility and overall function. Patients may sometimes neglect to communicate these side effects to health professionals, which can impact treatment management and leave their unresolved needs unaddressed. However, there is limited understanding of how patients’ experiences contribute to improving adherence to chemotherapy treatment and the provision of appropriate support. Therefore, gaining insights into patients’ experiences is crucial for enhancing the accompaniment and support provided during chemotherapy.

This review synthesizes qualitative literature on chemotherapy adherence within the context of patients’ experiences. Data were collected from Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library, systematically searched from 2006 to 2023. Keywords and MeSH terms were utilized to identify relevant research published in English. Thirteen articles were included in this review. Five key themes were synthesized from the findings, including positive outlook, receiving support, side effects, concerns about efficacy, and unmet information needs. The review underscores the importance for healthcare providers, particularly nurses, to focus on providing comprehensive information about chemotherapy treatment to patients. Adopting recommended strategies may assist patients in clinical practice settings in enhancing adherence to chemotherapy treatment and improving health outcomes for individuals living with cancer.