bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stochastic Energy Performance Evaluation Using a Bayesian Approach
Authors: Terzi Erol , Gumustekin Aydin Serpil , Cengiz Mehmet Ali
Published: October 2023

In the past two decades, stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) has been extensively employed to assess energy efficiency. However, the use of the Bayesian approach in SFA for energy performance evaluation has not received significant attention. This study aims to address this gap by measuring the energy-based development performance of 29 OECD countries using stochastic frontier analysis with a Bayesian approach. In the existing literature, there is no apparent method for selecting the distribution of the inefficiency term, which represents the unexplained deviation from the production frontier. To address this issue, we propose different models with various inefficiency components, namely, the half normal, truncated normal, exponential distribution, and gamma distribution. Our analysis utilizes a panel dataset covering the period from 2004 to 2010. The Bayesian implementation of the proposed models is conducted using the WinBUGS package, employing the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. The primary objective of our study is to compare these models, each assuming a different distribution for the inefficiency term, using the deviance information criterion (DIC). The DIC serves as a reliable measure for model comparison and enables us to identify the most suitable model that accurately captures the energy efficiency scores of the countries. Based on the comparison of models with different distributional assumptions using the DIC, we find that the model with a half-normal inefficiency distribution yields the lowest DIC score. Consequently, this model is employed to rank the energy efficiency scores of the countries. In summary, our study fills a research gap by applying the Bayesian approach to SFA in the context of energy efficiency analysis. By proposing and comparing models with different inefficiency components, we contribute to the literature and offer insights into the relative energy efficiency performance of 29 OECD countries. The findings of our study not only inform the selection of an appropriate model but also facilitate the ranking of countries based on their energy efficiency using the identified best model.
From Unipolar to Bipolar: The Diagnostic Evolution in an Elderly Man
Authors: Lu Vincent John Magat , Zhang Melvyn Weibin , Tan Giles Ming-Yee , Ying Jiangbo
Published: October 2023

A pivotal concept in the field of mood disorders is the dichotomy between unipolar depression and bipolar disorder. Due to the unique treatment in older age bipolar disorder and the scarcity of research in this area, it is clinically important to raise the awareness of the diagnostic conversion of unipolar depression to bipolar disorder in the elderly population. We present a case of a 71-year-old Chinese man whose diagnosis was revised to bipolar disorder after 9 years of treatment for unipolar depression. Organic workup, including blood tests and brain imaging, was performed to rule out organic causes. This patient eventually responded well to the combined treatment of an antipsychotic and a mood stabilizer. This case report adds to the growing literature of challenges in identifying and managing bipolar disorder in the elderly. As unipolar depression and bipolar disorder have different disease courses and different treatment strategies, it is essential for clinicians to be aware of diagnostic conversion. Further research is needed to delineate bipolar disorder from unipolar depression in the elderly population.
A New Approach to Timelike Hypersurfaces of Constant Ratio in
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Authors: Büyükkütük Sezgin
Published: October 2023

In this study, we consider timelike revolution hypersurfaces of constant ratio in Minkowski space-time. At first, we exhibit the representations of revolution hypersurfaces given by three different forms. Then, we yield the conditions for such hypersurfaces to correspond to constant ratio surface. As a result of these conditions, we present the position vectors of constant ratio timelike rotational hypersurfaces in

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Supplementary Tables 1-5 from High In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of BI-847325, a Dual MEK/Aurora Kinase Inhibitor, in Human Solid and Hematologic Cancer Models
Authors: Vuaroqueaux Vincent , Musch Alexandra , Peille Anne-Lise , Kelter Gerhard , Weichert Loreen , Metz Thomas , Hendriks Hans R. , Fiebig Heinz-Herbert
Published: October 2023

Five supplementary tables 1 to 5 giving more information about:

- the culture conditions and molecular profile of the 294 cell lines tested.

- the IC70 range per cancer type.

- the number of "sensitive" and "less sensitive to resistant" cell lines per cancer type.

- the IC70 values of BI-847325 and GDC-0623 per cell line.

- the genomic alterations of MAPK pathway-related genes in the cell lines sensitive to BI-847325.
Supplementary Figure S3 from High In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of BI-847325, a Dual MEK/Aurora Kinase Inhibitor, in Human Solid and Hematologic Cancer Models
Authors: Vuaroqueaux Vincent , Musch Alexandra , Peille Anne-Lise , Kelter Gerhard , Weichert Loreen , Metz Thomas , Hendriks Hans R. , Fiebig Heinz-Herbert
Published: October 2023

Supplementary Figure S3 shows the relative body weights of the mice treated with BI-847325 or capecitabine as monotherapy and in combination (second in vivo experiment).
Supplementary Figure S1 from High In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of BI-847325, a Dual MEK/Aurora Kinase Inhibitor, in Human Solid and Hematologic Cancer Models
Authors: Vuaroqueaux Vincent , Musch Alexandra , Peille Anne-Lise , Kelter Gerhard , Weichert Loreen , Metz Thomas , Hendriks Hans R. , Fiebig Heinz-Herbert
Published: October 2023

Supplementary Figure S1 shows a scatter plot of the GDC-0623 IC70 values across cell lines sorted by cancer entities.
FIGURE 4 from High In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of BI-847325, a Dual MEK/Aurora Kinase Inhibitor, in Human Solid and Hematologic Cancer Models
Authors: Vuaroqueaux Vincent , Musch Alexandra , Peille Anne-Lise , Kelter Gerhard , Weichert Loreen , Metz Thomas , Hendriks Hans R. , Fiebig Heinz-Herbert
Published: October 2023

In vivo antitumor growth efficacy of BI-847325 in 11 solid tumor models grown as subcutaneous xenografts in nude mice. A, Tumor growth curves over time are shown as the relative tumor volumes (%). BI-847325 (either at 80 or 40 mg/kg/dose), and the vehicle were administered orally once per week for 3 or 4 weeks. Black curves: vehicle control at 10 mL/kg/dose; light blue: BI-847325 at 40 mg/kg/day and dark blue: BI-847325 at 80 mg/kg/day; green curve: capecitabine administered orally at 200 mg/kg/day on days 1–7; violet curve: GDC-0623 administered orally at 40 mg/kg/day on days 1–14. CXF 1103 and RKO: colorectal cancer; GXA 3011 and GXA 3023: gastric cancer; MAXFTN 401 and MDA-MB-231: triple-negative mammary cancer; MIA-PaCa-2: pancreatic cancer; RT112: bladder cancer. B, antitumor activity of BI-847325 in human tumor models tested at a dose level below the MTD, in vivo tumor growth inhibition, and KRAS, BRAF, NRAS, MAP2K1 mutational status are shown. Rating of BI-847325 antitumor activity is defined in the Materials and Methods section.
FIGURE 2 from High In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of BI-847325, a Dual MEK/Aurora Kinase Inhibitor, in Human Solid and Hematologic Cancer Models
Authors: Vuaroqueaux Vincent , Musch Alexandra , Peille Anne-Lise , Kelter Gerhard , Weichert Loreen , Metz Thomas , Hendriks Hans R. , Fiebig Heinz-Herbert
Published: October 2023

Comparison between the in vitro antiproliferative activities of BI-847325 and the MEK inhibitor GDC-0623. A, Contingency table with counts of CLs per class of sensitivity to BI-847325 and GDC-0623 (cutoff for Abs IC70 values for both compounds: ≤ 1 µmol/L; statistics: Fisher exact test, significance: P < 0.05). B, Correlation plot of BI-847325 and GDC-0623 Abs IC70 values for 276 CLs. Dark blue circles: CLs derived from solid tumors, Dark red circles: CLs derived from hematologic cancers. C, Counts of CLs per tumor type being sensitive to GDC-0623 and/or BI-847325 (Abs IC70 ≤ 1µmol/L). Dark blue bars: CLs sensitive to both GDC-0623 and BI-847325, Green bars: CLs sensitive to BI-847325 only. The total number of CLs per tumor type is indicated in black on the right of each bar.
FIGURE 1 from High In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of BI-847325, a Dual MEK/Aurora Kinase Inhibitor, in Human Solid and Hematologic Cancer Models
Authors: Vuaroqueaux Vincent , Musch Alexandra , Peille Anne-Lise , Kelter Gerhard , Weichert Loreen , Metz Thomas , Hendriks Hans R. , Fiebig Heinz-Herbert
Published: October 2023

In vitro antiproliferative activity of BI-847325 tested in 294 cancer CLs. A, BI-847325 Chemical structure. B, individual dose–response curves of BI-847325 in 294 solid tumor and hematologic cancer CLs after 4 days of continuous exposure. Horizontal axis: BI-847325 concentration in µmol/L (log scale). Vertical axis: drug effect on cell survival, expressed as percentage of growth inhibition in BI-847325–treated cells compared with the growth of vehicle-treated control cells [T/C × 100 (%)]. C, BI-847325 sensitivity rank order for all CLs. The red line represents the median Abs IC70 value across all CLs (0.59 µmol/L). The dashed black line represents the half-log median (median/100.5) which is used as a cutoff to discriminate between highly sensitive CLs (<0.19 µmol/L) and less sensitive to strongly resistant CLs (≥0.19 µmol/L). D, Scatter plot showing the in vitro antiproliferative activity of BI-847325 across 36 CL cancer types. Horizontal axis: Abs IC70 value per CL; vertical axis: tumor types sorted from the top to the bottom by increasing median IC70 values. The total number of CLs per tumor type is shown in parentheses. The red dots represent the median Abs IC70 values for each tumor type. The solid vertical red line represents the overall median Abs IC70 of all CLs. The dashed black line indicates the cut-off value at 0.19 µmol/L separating the BI-847325 sensitivity subsets. The colored rectangles highlight tumor types with more than three sensitive CLs (<0.19 µmol/L); dark blue: CLs derived from solid tumors; dark red: CLs from hematologic cancers.
Data from High In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of BI-847325, a Dual MEK/Aurora Kinase Inhibitor, in Human Solid and Hematologic Cancer Models
Authors: Vuaroqueaux Vincent , Musch Alexandra , Peille Anne-Lise , Kelter Gerhard , Weichert Loreen , Metz Thomas , Hendriks Hans R. , Fiebig Heinz-Herbert
Published: October 2023

Abstract
BI-847325 is an ATP-competitive inhibitor of MEK/Aurora kinases with the potential to treat a wide range of cancers. In a panel of 294 human tumor cell lines in vitro, BI-847325 was found to be a highly selective inhibitor that was active in the submicromolar range. The most sensitive cancer types were acute lymphocytic and myelocytic leukemia, melanomas, bladder, colorectal, and mammary cancers. BI-847325 showed a broader range of activity than the MEK inhibitor GDC-0623. The high efficacy of BI-847325 was associated with but not limited to cell lines with oncogenic mutations in NRAS, BRAF, and MAP2K1.

The high antiproliferative activity of BI-847325 was validated in vivo using subcutaneous xenograft models. After oral administration of 80 and 40 mg/kg once weekly for 3 or 4 weeks, BI-847325 was highly active in four of five colorectal, two of two gastric, two of two mammary, and one of one pancreatic cancer models (test/control < 25%), and tumor regressions were observed in five of 11 cancer models. The treatment was well tolerated with no relevant lethality or body weight changes. In combination with capecitabine, BI-847325 displayed synergism over single-agent therapies, leading to complete remission in the triple-negative mammary model MAXFTN 401, partial regression in the colon model CXF 1103, and stasis in the gastric models GXA 3011 and GXA 3023. In conclusion, dual MEK/Aurora kinase inhibition shows remarkable potential for treating multiple types of hematologic and solid tumors. The combination with capecitabine was synergistic in colorectal, gastric, and mammary cancer.
Significance:
We report the preclinical evaluation of BI-847325, a MEK/Aurora kinase inhibitor. Our data demonstrate that BI-847325 has potent antitumor activity in a broad range of human solid and hematologic cancer models in vitro and in vivo and is well tolerated in animal models. It also shows synergistic effect when combined with capecitabine. These findings provide a strong rationale for further development of BI-847325 as a potential therapeutic for patients with cancer.
Peritoneal Dialysis during the COVID-19 Pandemic Is an Effective Treatment in Developing Countries: A Report from Mexico
Authors: Villa-Torres Alberto , Vásquez-Jiménez Enzo , Velazquez-Silva Ricardo Iván , Herrera-Arellano Leticia , Acosta-García Nayeli , Aleman-Quimbiulco Dolores , Duarte-Pérez Ricardo , Carmona Bautista Carlos A. , Rodríguez-Chagolla José Manuel
Published: October 2023

Introduction: During the height of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, some renal replacement therapy (RRT) modalities were insufficient, forcing medical centers to diversify the RRT modalities offered. In this study, we reported the outcomes of chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and acute PD in critically ill patients during COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary care medical center in Mexico. Methods: This descriptive, longitudinal, observational, retrospective study included 47 adult patients with atypical pneumonia in a tertiary care medical center in Mexico during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chronic PD patients and PD incident patients due to acute kidney injury (AKI) were included. Results: Forty-seven patients were studied (29 chronic PD patients and 18 incident PD patients due to AKI); median age was 59 (48–68) years; 63.8% were men. The ultrafiltrate volume per day was 815 (596.1–1,193.2) mL. Overall mortality was 61.7%, 55.2% in chronic PD patients, and 72.2% in PD incident patients due to AKI. A higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, the need for mechanical ventilation at admission, and the requirement for vasopressors were predictors for mortality (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In low- and lower-middle-income countries, PD was a valid alternative for RRT during the COVID-19 pandemic. In AKI patients, PD can correct hyperkalemia, acidosis, uremia, and volume overload; however, there was higher mortality in PD incident patients due to AKI. The main risk factors for mortality were a high SOFA score at admission, the need for invasive mechanical ventilation, and the requirement for vasopressors.
The Detrimental Effect of Pre-Treatment with Ivermectin on Myocardial Ischemia
Authors: Cheraghi Sara , Babataheri Shabnam , Soraya Hamid
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Ivermectin (IVM) is a broad-spectrum anti-parasitic agent with potential antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-cancer effects. There are limited studies on the effects of IVM on cardiovascular diseases, so the present study sought to determine the effects of pre-treatment with IVM on myocardial ischemia in both ex vivo and in vivo. Methods: In the ex vivo part, two groups of control and treated rats with IVM (0.2 mg/kg) were examined for cardiac function and arrhythmias by isolated heart perfusion. In the in vivo part, four groups, namely, control, IVM, Iso (MI), and Iso + IVM 0.2 mg/kg were used. Subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (100 mg/kg/day) for 2 consecutive days was used for the induction of myocardial infarction (MI) in male Wistar rats. Then electrocardiogram, hemodynamic factors, cardiac hypertrophy, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were investigated. Results: The ex vivo results showed that administration of IVM induces cardiac arrhythmia and decreases the left ventricular maximal rate of pressure increase (contractility) and maximal rate of pressure decline (relaxation). The isoproterenol-induced MI model used as an in vivo model showed that cardiac hypertrophy were increased with no improvement in the hemodynamic and electrocardiogram pattern in the IVM-treated group in comparison to MI (Iso) group. However, the MDA level was lower in the IVM-treated group. Conclusion: IVM pre-treatment demonstrates detrimental effects in cardiac ischemia through exacerbation of cardiac arrhythmia, myocardial dysfunction, and increased cardiac hypertrophy. Therefore, the use of IVM in ischemic heart patients should be done with great caution.
Schwannoma of Common Bile Duct: A Clinico-Radiologic Diagnostic Quagmire – A Case Report
Authors: Thakur Shilpi , Dash Nihar Ranjan , Barwad Adarsh , Das Prasenjit , Madhusudhan Kumble S. , Yadav Rajni
Published: October 2023

Background: Schwannomas are benign nerve sheath tumors that are extremely rare in the biliary tract. A comprehensive review of literature enumerated approximately 30 case reports of schwannoma in the biliary tract tree and porta hepatis region. Case Presentation: We report a case of a 40-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain. Imaging revealed a mass at the porta hepatis extending from the portal bifurcation till the hilum encasing the main portal vein and abutting the right portal vein. Differentials of carcinoma, lymphoma, and mesenchymal tumor were kept. Ultrasound-guided biopsy of the mass showed a benign nerve sheath tumor, immunopositive for S100. The histopathological evaluation of the excised mass confirmed the origin of mass in the common bile duct. Conclusions: Our case highlights that schwannomas, though benign, can mimic a carcinoma or lymphoma if present at a rare site such as bile ducts. An exhaustive clinical and radiological workup with diligent histopathological evaluation is mandatory in dealing with such rare cases as radical surgery and chemotherapy can be avoided in such patients.
Applicability of Scoring Calyculin A-Induced Premature Chromosome Condensation Objects for Dose Assessment Including for Radiotherapy Patients
Authors: Sun Mingzhu , Moquet Jayne , Lloyd David , Barnard Stephen , Anbalagan Selvakumar , Steel Harriet , Sommer Aurore , Gothard Lone , Somaiah Navita , Ainsbury Elizabeth
Published: October 2023

As an extension to a previous study, a linear calibration curve covering doses from 0 to 10 Gy was constructed and evaluated in the present study using calyculin A-induced premature chromosome condensation (PCC) by scoring excess PCC objects. The main aim of this study was to assess the applicability of this PCC assay for doses below 2 Gy that are critical for triage categorization. Two separate blind tests involving a total of 6 doses were carried out; 4 out of 6 dose estimates were within the 95% confidence limits (95% CL) with the other 2 just outside. In addition, blood samples from five cancer patients undergoing external beam radiotherapy (RT) were also analyzed, and the results showed whole-body dose estimates statistically comparable to the dicentric chromosome assay (DCA) results. This is the first time that calyculin A-induced PCC was used to analyze clinical samples by scoring excess objects. Although dose estimates for the pre-RT patient samples were found to be significantly higher than the mean value for the healthy donors and were also significantly higher than those obtained using DCA, all these pre-treatment patients fell into the same category as those who may have received a low dose (<1 Gy) and do not require immediate medical care during emergency triage. Additionally, for radiological accidents with unknown exposure scenario, PCC objects and rings can be scored in parallel for the assessment of both low- and high-dose exposures. In conclusion, scoring excess objects using calyculin A-induced PCC is confirmed to be another potential biodosimetry tool in radiological emergency particularly in mass casualty scenarios, even though the data need to be interpreted with caution when cancer patients are among the casualties.
Alcohol Use Disorder in the General Population in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Gellé Thibaut , Erazo Daniells , Wenkourama Damega , Paquet Aude , Girard Murielle , Nubukpo Philippe
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is one of the major risk factors for population health worldwide. In some regions, this disorder remains underdiagnosed. This is particularly the case in sub-Saharan Africa, where data on this disease in the general population remains scarce. The aim of this review was to describe the characteristics of AUD in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We have conducted a systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, African Journals Online, African Index Medicus, PsycINFO, Cochrane, and Scopus were investigated. Studies were included if they were conducted in a general population using a validated assessment tool. Results: A total of 16 articles were selected and were conducted in 8 sub-Saharan African countries. The prevalence of AUD ranged from 0.1% to 33.2% in Nigeria. The most commonly used screening tool was the Alcohol Use Disorders Test (AUDIT), and among the factors associated with the AUD, we find mainly male gender, low income, Catholic religion, and the presence of a psychiatric comorbidity. Conclusion: In sub-Saharan Africa, too few studies have investigated the AUD in the general population with validated diagnostic tools. Prevalence data seem to vary widely between and even within countries. The main factors associated with AUD are those found in the Western literature. The wide variety of assessment tools used to screen for AUD makes it difficult to compare prevalences across countries.
Measurement of GFAP in Nasal Exudate in the Differential Diagnosis between Ischemic Stroke and Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: García-Cabo Carmen , Rioboó-Legaspi Pablo , Benavente-Fernández Lorena , Costa-Rama Estefanía , Fernández-Abedul María Teresa , Calleja-Puerta Sergio
Published: October 2023

Background: Differential diagnosis between ischemic stroke (IS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a great challenge. Recently, the discovery of cerebral lymphatic drainage toward the nostrils suggested nasal exudate (NE) as a new source for measuring biomarkers from neural damage. Objectives: In this study, we sought to confirm whether glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels in NE could identify ICH. Methods: GFAP in nasal exudate (nGFAP) was studied in 5 IS and 5 ICH patients. All patients underwent neurological examination, brain computed tomography, laboratory tests, and measurement of nGFAP and serum GFAP. Results: We found higher concentrations in ICH patients (p = 0.02). The area under the ROC curve for IS/ICH discrimination was 0.840, with a cut-off point of 0.06 pg/mg for 100% sensitivity and 80% specificity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that nGFAP could be a useful biomarker for differential diagnosis between IS and ICH and opens a potential field of study for other biomarkers in NE in neurological disorders.
Osseointegration Foundation Charity Overdenture Program Study: Part 2
Authors: Chen Chia-Yu , Romanos George , Chung Justin , Kerr Eric , Cappetta Emil Gus , Lin Sherman , Avera Sean , Hunt Mark , Sadiq Zaki , Nevins Myron
Published: October 2023

This assessment evaluated the clinical feasibility of using narrow-diameter implants to support a mandibular overdenture. Twelve patients presenting with an edentulous mandible were recruited from nine dental offices. Each patient received two to four implants in the mandible. The implants were placed without additional bone augmentation, and a total of 36 implants were placed. All sites achieved satisfactory crestal bone stability and soft tissue maintenance 1 year after the final prosthetic restoration. This investigation was supported by the Osseointegration Foundation, working in conjunction with the Zest Anchors implant company. There are three basic valuable activities that emerge from a professional foundation, which were reflected in this case study. They include disseminating information to practitioners, persuading young clinicians to become research investigators, and reaching out to patients in need of treatment who cannot afford it without a charitable opportunity.
Examining individual behavioural variation in wild adult bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) suggests divergent personalities
Authors: Vignaud Thomas M. , Meyer Carl G. , Séguigne Clémentine , Bierwirth Jan , Clua Eric E.G.
Published: October 2023

Although many animal species demonstrate individual personalities, studying these traits in wild sharks has proven challenging. Past research focused mainly on captive or juvenile sharks. Our ethological study of 31 wild adult bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) utilized an artificial provisioning site, amassing 2813 observations over 651 dives from October 2015 to January 2018 (27 months). Behavioural traits, including boldness-shyness and aggressiveness-placidity, were assessed using an ad hoc ethogram and an influencing factors table. This innovative approach not only allowed us to characterize individual shark behaviours but also to quantify their changes over time. Our findings suggest that adult bull sharks likely possess distinct personalities, spanning from extreme shyness to pronounced boldness, with varying levels of plasticity among individuals. Further exploration of shark personalities holds promise for advancing our comprehension of human–shark interactions and refining the management of potential aggressive behaviours exhibited by large shark species toward humans.
Nativus gen. nov., a new huntsman spider genus from South America (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae)
Authors: CASAS CRISTIAN M. , RHEIMS CRISTINA A.
Published: October 2023

In this paper, the new genus, Nativus gen. nov. is proposed to include the type species, Nativus tupana sp. nov. (♂♀) from Brazil and nine new species: N. carare sp. nov. (♂), N. hazzii sp. nov. (♂♀), N. janai sp. nov. (♂), N. nocaima sp. nov. (♂♀), N. tawu sp. nov. (♂♀) and N. yurupari sp. nov. (♂♀) from Colombia, N. juruti sp. nov. (♂) and N. mariua sp. nov. (♂♀) from Brazil, and N. napo sp. nov. (♂♀) from Peru. The genus is placed in the subfamily Heteropodinae due to the presence of intermarginal denticles on the chelicerae, a long-toothed female palpal claw, two recurved eye rows with median eyes smaller than laterals, and only one lateral spine on each side of metatarsi I−II, as well as a ventral branch on the RTA (vRTA) in the male palp. Within Heteropodinae, it seems to be more closely related to Guadana Rheims and Sparianthina Banks due to the presence of intermarginal denticles along the entire cheliceral groove and a dorsal tegular apophysis (DTA) in the male palp. All species are described and illustrated. An identification key and distribution maps are provided for all species of the genus.
Three new species of Nazeris Fauvel from the Jiuwan Mountain, Guangxi, China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae)
Authors: LI XIN-MENG , WU WEI-PING , HU JIA-YAO
Published: October 2023

Three new species of Nazeris Fauvel, 1873 from the Jiuwan Mountain, Guangxi, China, are described and illustrated: N. jiuwanensis, sp. n., N. qingshuius, sp. n. and N. yangmeius sp. n. An identification key to the Nazeris species in Guangxi is provided.
Two new species of the genus Sweltsa (Plecoptera: Chloroperlidae) from China
Authors: ZHANG YAO , WANG BINGLI , LI WENLIANG , LI WEIHAI
Published: October 2023

Two species of the genus Sweltsa Ricker, 1943 from China are described and figured as new to science. The morphological distinction between the new species and their similar relatives is discussed.
Contribution to the knowledge of the Neotropical Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata)
Authors: KONTSCHÁN JENŐ , ERMILOV SERGEY G. , FRIEDRICH STEFAN
Published: October 2023

Two new species of Uropodina are described from Peru—Stammeroplitis panguanaensis sp. nov. and Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) koepckeorum sp. nov.. The genus Stammeroplitis is diagnosed and a key to its Neotropical species is presented. Twenty species of Oplitis are moved to Stammeroplitis. The new family Clausiadinychidae fam. nov. is established for the genus Clausiadinychus and a key to the known species of Clausiadinychus species is provided. New information is presented for three known species of Uropodina (Clausiadinychus quadricaudatus Hirschmann, 1973, Rotundabaloghia dillerae Błoszyk, 2019 and Trichouropoda solaris Hirschmann, 1972).
A new species of the genus Euboeus Boieldieu, 1865 from Northern Iran (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Helopini)
Authors: MOFRAD FARHAD ESHRAGHI
Published: October 2023

A new tenebrionid species of the genus Euboeus Boieldieu, 1865, E. kandovanensis sp. n., is described from Alborz Province, Iran. It was collected in high mountains at an altitude of near 3.000 m. The new species belongs to the species-group huedepohli and the subgroup huedepohli within this group, which unites high mountain species with rugosity on the basal piece (dorsal surface) of the aedeagus. Euboeus kandovanensis sp. n. is most similar to E. huedepohli (Kulzer, 1964) and E. kasatkini Nabozhenko, 2022 and differs in the shape of the pronotum, the sculpture of the prothoracic hypomera, the structure of the metatibiae in both sexes, and the structure of the aedeagus.
4. Imagining higher education as infrastructures of care
Authors: Chan Leslie , Ghali Mona , Prinsloo Paul
Published: October 2023

This chapter is both retrospective and prospective. The authors contend that universities are constitutive of extractive infrastructures in the context of increased reliance on corporate controlled digital platforms, and processes that render faculty and students data objects rather than active agents of education. Using pertinent and powerful examples, the argument is made that universities are framed by extractive infrastructures that encode logics of ownership, competition, individualism and commodification to reproduce inequalities. This framework is extended to pervasive data collection practices inherent in learning management platforms, performance measurement systems, university rankings, and other technologies that inform higher education discourses, policies and practices. This prompts imagining otherwise by conceiving universities as infrastructures of care. The authors offer a remaking of the “good” university by creating material, epistemic and affective structures that operate on principles and values of reciprocity, reparation, gifting, sovereignty, hospitality, and epistemic pluralism.
8. A meditation on global further education, in haiku form
Authors: Auerbach Jess
Published: October 2023

Universities take for granted and are taken for granted. Their specificity to the places in which they operate is often lost in the uniformity of ranking, global branding, and translatable structure. Political imperatives such as inequality, changing governments, and the growing awareness of a planet in peril do sometimes lead to structures-of-knowledge scrutiny. Most academics have little time for this, as they race in the hamster-wheels of neoliberal knowledge production and consumption. Yet knowledge has radically altered since the emergence of the internet as a tool of individual and collective thinking. The structures of learning, teaching and hierarchy that shape lives are struggling to make sense of the sudden change. This chapter is written in haiku form with the arguments elaborated in footnotes, engaging the reader's increasing skill at thinking on multiple levels at once, and posing questions of the present and future of education for good.
12. Visioning futures of higher education for the common good
Authors: Makoe Mpine
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this chapter is not to use the visioning process to produce accurate descriptions of the future, but to help conjure up images of a desirable higher education system. This was done by engaging in the phases of the visioning process that took participants through the processes of identifying the problem, recognising the past successes, exploring the wishes of the future and constructing the vision of the future for higher education in 2050. The different phases of the visioning process provided a systematic way of coming up with common good as a visionary lens. Through this process, the values of common good were used to provide a direction to move higher education towards being accessible, inclusive, and affordable to fulfil its social justice mandate. Therefore, higher education needs to be reengineered to adapt to the good of the community it serves.
16. A design justice approach to Universal Design for Learning
Authors: Ramparsad Banwari Aleya , Mbulalina Dambisya Philip , Khumalo Benedict , van Tonder Kristin
Published: October 2023

This chapter focuses on the issue of exclusion in higher education and how to promote inclusivity by implementing UDL principles within a larger social and design justice context. The chapter critically analyses the strengths and challenges of a UDL approach within a Global South context, highlighting how social and design justice can be attained by focusing on broad conceptions of access and equity. The chapter documents the experiences of four postgraduate students in their roles as Educational Technology Advisors (ETAs) at the University of Cape Town, outlining collaborative insights arising from the authors’ varied positionalities and disciplinary backgrounds. The chapter seeks to offer a challenge to established epistemological paradigms that regard the very nature of knowledge as impartial and absolute, as well as to catalyse more significant insights into inclusive, accessible, and socio-culturally responsive education practices in higher education.
25. Making higher education institutions as open knowledge institutions
Authors: Misra Pradeep Kumar , Mishra Sanjaya
Published: October 2023

This chapter argues for transforming traditional face-to-face Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) into Open Knowledge Institutions (OKIs). The chapter envisions OKIs as institutions that aim to emerge as social welfare institutions by opening their policies, practices, and processes to welcome and support all those who aspire to enter and benefit from higher education. The arguments for remaking HEIs as OKIs are guided by the authors' observations and experiences of the Indian higher education system, the second largest in the world. The chapter presents sociological and developmental perspectives of HEIs as OKIs and outlines the potential benefits as well as the common issues and challenges. It also provides the strategies for using technology as an enabler for transforming HEIs into OKIs. While the strategies emancipating in the background of Indian higher education may not be relevant to all, they may well be adaptable for many HEIs across the globe.
High Ligation of the Inferior Mesenteric Artery in Left-Sided Colon and Rectal Cancer Resection: Rates of Success and Outcomes
Authors: Meece Matthew S. , Davis Jenna K. , Ramsey Walter A. , Galan Daniela C. , Castillo R. Patricia , Kutlu Onur C. , Paluvoi Nivedh V.
Published: October 2023

Background

High ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery, defined as ligation before the takeoff of the left colic artery, is often described as the gold standard in low left-sided colon and rectal cancer surgery. The aim of this study is to quantify the rate of ligation at the described level at a single academic center. Additionally, we examined the relationship between level of ligation and cancer-related outcomes.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients ages 18 and over with low left-sided colon, rectal, and anal cancers undergoing surgical resection. Radiographic evidence of high ligation was defined as ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery before the takeoff of the left colic artery. Patients with and without radiographic evidence of high ligation on CT were compared. Secondary outcomes include lymph node yield and positivity, need for adjuvant therapy, and time from surgery to adjuvant therapy.

Results

169 patients (54% male) were included in the study. 61.5% of operative reports described high ligation of the IMA. There was radiographic evidence of high ligation in 55.6% of total patients and in 70.2% of patients where high ligation was intended. There was no significant difference in surgeon experience, surgical procedure, or surgical approach. There was no difference in lymph node yield, time to adjuvant chemotherapy, or recurrence rates.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates good technical success rate of high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery but shows no difference in short-term patient-measured outcomes between high and low ligation (or successful and unsuccessful high ligation).
Measuring Implicit Biases About Disability: A Scoping Review
Authors: Huang Yunzhen , Kim Jaeyoung , Levine Allison , Park Jinhee , Kuo Hung Jen
Published: October 2023

Implicit biases about disability contribute to discriminatory behaviors and explicit attitudes toward people with disability, an issue that is of significant importance for rehabilitation researchers. The current study reviewed existing measures of implicit disability biases published between 2000 and April 2022. The search was conducted among seven databases, five major rehabilitation counseling journals, and relevant references in the retrieved articles. A total of 66 studies were identified and reviewed. Results showed that the Implicit Association Test (IAT) was the most frequently used measure of implicit disability biases. A few studies used priming tasks, inhibition tasks, and other tasks based on rating scales to measure implicit disability biases. The strengths and limitations of the measures are discussed, and recommendations for rehabilitation practitioners, educators, and researchers are provided.
Pitch as a Recipient, Channel, and Context Factor Affecting Thought Reliance and Persuasion
Authors: Guyer Joshua J. , Briñol Pablo , Vaughan-Johnston Thomas I. , Fabrigar Leandre R. , Moreno Lorena , Paredes Borja , Petty Richard E.
Published: October 2023

Three experiments tested how low versus high pitch generated from sources beyond a message communicator can affect reliance on thoughts and influence recipients’ attitudes. First, participants wrote positive or negative thoughts about an exam proposal (Experiments 1, 2) or their academic abilities (Experiment 3). Then, pitch from the message recipient (Experiment 1), channel (Experiment 2), or context (Experiment 3) was manipulated to be high or low. Experiment 1 showed that when participants vocally expressed their thoughts using low (vs. high) pitch, thoughts had a greater effect on attitudes toward exams. Experiment 2 revealed low (vs. high) pitch sounds from the keyboard participants used to write their thoughts produced the same effect on thought usage. Experiment 3 demonstrated that thoughts influenced attitudes more when listed while background music was low (vs. high) Pitch can influence attitudes through a meta-cognitive thought reliance process whether emerging from the recipient, channel, or context.
Music diversity in music education: A multiple case study of music teacher training programs in Thailand
Authors: Boonno Suthicha , Udtaisuk Dneya Bunnag , Boriboonviree Natthawut
Published: October 2023

Awareness of social and cultural diversity is one of the concepts inherited from the 1997 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, which led to the subsequent revision of several related laws, including the National Education Act of 1999. Despite the country’s strong cultural diversity, centralized governance has resulted in culture from the Central region becoming representative of the nation’s culture. Likewise in music, Thai music education has been dominated by music from the Central region, so-called Thai classical music, and Western music. This study is interested in the response of the music teacher training curriculum to the principles of cultural diversity. Thailand has music teacher training courses distributed throughout institutions across the country, which can be divided into three groups: 1) teacher colleges; 2) research universities; and 3) music conservatories. Nine teacher training courses from different regions of the country with local cultural differences were selected. The results showed that music teacher training programs in Thailand place importance on cultural diversity at different degrees depending on their missions and social and cultural contexts. Importantly, the adaptability of folk music to changing social and cultural contexts remains an important factor affecting the survival of folk music in Thai society.
Improving Emotional Safety, Coping, and Resilience Among Women Conducting Research on Sexual and Domestic Violence and Abuse
Authors: Kaul Anjuli , Chavendera Danai Daphine , Saunders Katherine , Paphitis Sharli Anne
Published: October 2023

Secondary trauma arises through indirect exposure to trauma through engaging with first-hand accounts and narratives of traumatic events. While a significant amount of research has explored secondary trauma experienced by professionals who work with survivors of trauma, such as clinicians and front-line service providers, there is little research exploring the experiences of secondary trauma among violence researchers who routinely engage with traumatic first-hand accounts through their work. This study qualitatively explored violence researcher’s professional experiences of secondary trauma and their perceptions of what enables and constrains their own coping and resilience. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted online with seven female violence researchers from the United Kingdom. Questions explored participant’s experiences of secondary trauma symptoms related to their research, perceptions of their own coping and resilience, and experiences of organizational support that have enabled or constrained their resilience. Data were analyzed thematically using a coding framework applied reflexively across interview transcripts. All participants reported experiencing symptoms of secondary trauma from their work including cognitive disturbances; altered beliefs of themselves, others or the world; and challenges connecting with others. Participants’ assessment of their own expertise in violence research did not generally impact their perception of their own resilience. Organizational support for violence researchers was rarely provided and participants felt generally unsupported—left to manage any resultant distress alone. Research organizations and universities should implement trauma-informed policies which positively transform workplace culture, provide peer support spaces, and conduct effective training in order to mitigate psychological harm and promote resilience among violence researchers. Support should be tailored to the requirements of violence researchers, and institutions should develop policies that are specifically attentive to the needs of researchers who also have lived experience of violence and abuse.
Exact closed-form solutions for the free vibration analysis of multiple cracked FGM nanobeams
Authors: Lien Tran Van , Dinh Tran Binh , Thang Nguyen Tat
Published: October 2023

Exact closed-form solutions for the free vibration analysis of multiple cracked FGM nanobeams with arbitrary boundary conditions based on the Nonlocal Elasticity Theory (NET) and the Timoshenko beam theory are presented. The NET considering the size effect of nanostructures is applied. FGM properties vary nonlinearly along the height of the beam. A crack model using two springs with stiffness depending on the crack depth is applied. The proposed solutions are provided explicitly as functions of integration constants determined from the standard boundary conditions. Frequency equations, that established in the form of the determinant of the matrix 3 × 3 order for arbitrary boundary conditions, are applied to analyse free vibration. Expressions for the mode shapes are given explicitly. The effects of geometry, material, nonlocal and crack parameters on the free vibration of the multiple cracked nanobeam are then analysed in detail.
Phenotype and disease course differences in monogenic and sporadic childhood lupus
Authors: Al-Mayouf Sulaiman M , Alkhars Fatima , AlSaleem Alhanouf
Published: October 2023

Objective

To report the differences in phenotypic characteristics, disease course, and outcome in monogenic and sporadic childhood lupus (SC-lupus) from a single tertiary childhood lupus clinic.

Methods

A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were retrospectively collected at the last follow-up visit on patients with monogenic lupus proven by genetic variants and SC-lupus seen between June 1997 and July 2022. SC-lupus patients were selected by systematic sampling from lupus patients presenting to our lupus clinic; the first patient was chosen randomly, and the subsequent patients were chosen at intervals of three. Data comprised the clinical and laboratory findings, disease activity using the SLEDAI, and damage measured by the pSDI.

Results

A total of 54 patients with a median disease duration of 6.8 (IQR 3.5–10.5) years were included. There were 27 patients with monogenic lupus and 27 patients with SC-lupus, with a median age at disease onset of 3.5 (IQR 1.0–6.0), and 9.5 (IQR 7.0–11.8), respectively. ( p < 0.05). The rate of consanguinity and family history of lupus were higher in monogenic lupus patients. The two groups were comparable. However, monogenic lupus patients showed more gastrointestinal tract symptoms, and failure to thrive ( p < 0.05). They also had more infections. The frequency of the autoantibody profile was higher in monogenic lupus patients. Belimumab was more frequently used in monogenic lupus while rituximab in SC-lupus patients. Monogenic lupus patients had a higher mean SLEDAI, but statistically, it was insignificant. Patients with monogenic lupus had greater disease damage, with a higher mean pSDI and a higher mortality rate ( p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Patients with monogenic lupus are likely to have an early disease onset and a strong family history of lupus, as well as a guarded prognosis, which is likely due to the disease’s severity and frequent infections. These differences may be related to the high consanguinity rate and underlying genetic variants.
Book review: Arup Maharatna, Higher Education in Intellectual Retrogression: The Neoliberal Reign
Authors: Tilak Jandhyala B. G.
Published: October 2023

Arup Maharatna, Higher Education in Intellectual Retrogression: The Neoliberal Reign. Routledge, 2023, £120, xx + 193 pp., ISBN: 9781032158679 (Hardback).