bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early onset colorectal cancer in Canterbury, New Zealand
Authors: Thompson Nasya , Gatenby Grace , Waddell Oliver , Purcell Rachel , Keenan Jacqui , Pearson John F. , Frizelle Francis , Glyn Tamara
Published: February 2023

Background

The overall incidence of colorectal cancer is decreasing in much of the world, yet the incidence in those under 50 years of age is increasing (early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC)). The reasons for this are unclear. This study was undertaken to describe the clinical, pathological and familial characteristics of patients with EOCRC and their oncological outcomes and compare this with previously published data on late onset colorectal cancer (LOCRC).

Methods

A retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with EOCRC in Canterbury between 2010 and 2017 was conducted. Data was collected on demographics, family history, treatment, and oncologic outcomes. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were calculated to assess overall survival based on disease stage.

Results

During the study period (2010–2017) there were 3340 colorectal cancers diagnosed in Canterbury, of which 201 (6%) were in patients under 50 years (range: 17–49). Of these, 87 (43.3%) were female and 125 (62.2%) were aged between 40 and 49 years. 28 (13.9%) were associated with hereditary conditions. Of the 201 patients, 139 (69.2%) had rectal or left‐sided cancers. 142 (70.6%) patients presented with either stage 3 or 4 disease and the 5‐year overall survival by stage was 79.1% and 14.4%, respectively.

Conclusion

EOCRC is increasing and usually presents as distal left sided cancers, and often at an advanced stage. They do not appear to have the common risk factors of family history or inherited pre‐disposition for colorectal cancer. Planning by healthcare providers for this epidemiological change is imperative in investigating symptomatic patients under 50 and optimizing early detection and prevention.
Effectiveness of golimumab intensification in ulcerative colitis: A multicentric prospective study
Authors: Fumery Mathurin , Nancey Stéphane , Filippi Jérôme , Altwegg Romain , Hébuterne Xavier , Boshetti Gilles , Barraud Mathilde , Meynier Jonathan , Paul Stéphane , Roblin Xavier
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Loss of response to golimumab occurs in nearly 40% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Unlike others anti‐TNF, no study has reported a correlation between serum golimumab level and response to drug intensification. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of golimumab intensification and to identify the best threshold of serum golimumab before drug intensification predictive of response.

Patients and Methods

We included all consecutive patients with active UC with loss of response to golimumab in a prospective multicentric cohort study. Patients with loss of response at 50 mg q4 weeks (W) and 100 mg q4W underwent therapeutic intensification at 100 mg q4W and 100 mg q2W, respectively. Effectiveness and safety were assessed between Weeks 2 and 4 (visit 2) and between Weeks 4 and 8 (visit 3) after intensification. Serum level and anti‐golimumab antibodies were evaluated at each medical visit (Lisa Tracker, Theradiag France).

Results

A total of 47 UC patients (Female, 50%; median age, 39 years (IQR, 27–52)) treated with golimumab for a median of 20.4 weeks (IQR, 10.7–38.3) were included. The median partial Mayo score was 6 (IQR, 5–7), and the median endoscopic Mayo score was 3 (IQR, 2–3). The median golimumab serum level before intensification was 2.23 μg/mL (IQR, 1.02–3.96) and only one patient (2.1%) had anti‐drug antibodies. At Visit 2 (Week 2–4), 40% patients experienced clinical response, 10% clinical remission, 33% endoscopic response and 23% endoscopic remission. At Visit 3 (Week 4–8), 44% of patients had clinical response, 22% of patients had clinical remission, 45% of patients had endoscopic response, and 41% of patients had endoscopic remission. The median golimumab levels before intensification do not differ between responders and non‐responders (2.13 μg/ml (0.76–2.76) and 3.37 μg/ml (IQR, 1.08–4.67), respectively; p = 0.14) assessed at Visit 3. Golimumab intensification to 100 mg q4W (vs q2W) (OR 1.98, 95% CI [1.06–3.70]; p = 0.032) was significantly associated with clinical remission at Visit 3. Serum drug level at baseline or the presence of antidrug antibodies were not associated with clinical or endoscopic remission/response. Two serious adverse events (one infection and one UC flare) were reported during the 24‐week follow‐up.

Conclusion

In this prospective multicentric study, half of patients recaptured response following golimumab intensification in UC. Therapeutic drug monitoring did not predict response after optimisation of golimumab.
Present and prospective health status of older adults in the Philippines: The role of education
Authors: Vicerra Paolo Miguel Manalang
Published: February 2023

Utilizing current information to project prospective ill health prevalence can help prepare the country to ensure the well‐being of older people. The prevalence of ill health in terms of physical, psychological, and cognitive health dimensions was estimated by age, sex, and education attainment level using the 2018 Longitudinal Study on Aging and Health in the Philippines. Subsequently, the said rates were integrated into population projection estimates from 2020 to 2080. It was observed that the depression prevalence rate among older people was highest at above 40%, while physical and cognitive limitations were at around 18% and 22% respectively. It was also found that prevalence rates of ill health increased with age and that ill health was more prevalent among women than men, particularly at more advanced ages. The use of population projections has shown that education differentials in the analyses estimate lower prevalence rates of ill health for both sexes. The findings provide estimates for the prospective care needs of the older population in the Philippines. It was also suggested that education may possibly have preventive effects on ill health. Utilizing present information in order to prepare for issues can be beneficial for securing the well‐being of older adults.
Documentary analysis of the legal and policy framework of transracial adoption in South Africa
Authors: Luyt Jean , Swartz Leslie
Published: February 2023

Transracial adoption was legalized in South Africa through legislative reform as South Africa moved into a post‐apartheid era of non‐racialism. Transracial adoption offers one option of placement for Black children in need of alternative care. However, adoption continues to face obstacles to implementation, including cultural obstacles which impact on placement of Black African children. This paper reports on adoption statistics on national adoption in the period 2013–2021 and a documentary analysis of the current legal and policy framework governing transracial adoption. We cover international instruments, local laws, including the Children's Act of 2005, and relevant policy documents designed to facilitate the implementation of adoption. We show that the law is supportive of transracial adoption, but that policy documents offer a somewhat contradictory stance to the practice. The lack of success of transracial adoption as a child protection strategy does not lie within the legal framework but may lie in the difficulties in interpreting and implementing the range of different policies by those implementing these policies. More research into the implementation practice of these bureaucrats is required to understand the underutilization of transracial adoption as a placement option for Black children in South Africa.
Texture Inpainting for Photogrammetric Models
Authors: Maggiordomo A. , Cignoni P. , Tarini M.
Published: February 2023

We devise a technique designed to remove the texturing artefacts that are typical of 3D models representing real‐world objects, acquired by photogrammetric techniques. Our technique leverages the recent advancements in inpainting of natural colour images, adapting them to the specific context. A neural network, modified and trained for our purposes, replaces the texture areas containing the defects, substituting them with new plausible patches of texels, reconstructed from the surrounding surface texture. We train and apply the network model on locally reparametrized texture patches, so to provide an input that simplifies the learning process, because it avoids any texture seams, unused texture areas, background, depth jumps and so on. We automatically extract appropriate training data from real‐world datasets. We show two applications of the resulting method: one, as a fully automatic tool, addressing all problems that can be detected by analysing the UV‐map of the input model; and another, as an interactive semi‐automatic tool, presented to the user as a 3D ‘fixing’ brush that has the effect of removing artefacts from any zone the users paints on. We demonstrate our method on a variety of real‐world inputs and provide a reference usable implementation.
Effect of small vessel disease severity on blood pressure management after endovascular therapy in theBP TARGETtrial
Authors: Brauner Ran , Gory Benjamin , Lapergue Bertrand , Sibon Igor , Richard Sebastien , Kyheng Maeva , Labreuche Julien , Desilles Jean‐Philippe , Blanc Raphael , Piotin Michel , Halimi Jean‐Michel , Mazighi Mikael , Maïer Benjamin ,   for the BP TARGET Investigators
Published: February 2023

Background and purpose

Acute ischaemic stroke patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), including cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), have worse outcomes. The effect was investigated of two blood pressure strategies (intensive vs. standard) and blood pressure variability (BPV) after reperfusion according to CSVD burden in the BP TARGET trial.

Methods

Patients with available magnetic resonance imaging at baseline were included. CMBs were described as absent or present and WMH severity was described according to the Fazekas classification (0–1, absent–mild; 2–3, moderate to severe). Outcomes consisted of any intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at 24 h and favorable outcome at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale score between 0 and 2).

Results

In all, 246 patients were included. The intensive systolic blood pressure target was not associated with lower rates of ICH or favorable outcome according to CSVD subgroups (allpvalues >0.35). Several BPV parameters were associated with increased odds of ICH in patients with CMBs but not in patients without CMBs (diastolic blood pressure coefficient of variation, odds ratio 2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–3.77, in patients with ≥1 CMB vs. 0.94, 95% CI 0.68–1.31, in patients without CMBs,phet = 0.026). Several diastolic BPV parameters were associated with worse outcomes in patients with severe WMHs but not in patients without WMHs (diastolic blood pressure coefficient of variation, odds ratio 0.32, 95% CI 0.17–0.61, in patients with severe WMHs vs. 1.09, 95% CI 0.67–1.79, in patients without WMHs;phet = 0.003).

Conclusion

No effect of the intensive systolic blood pressure management strategy was found on ICH occurrence or functional outcome according to CSVD burden. BPV was associated with higher odds of ICH in patients with CMBs and worse outcome in patients with moderate‐to‐severe WMHs.
FAM237A, rather than peptide PEN and proCCK56‐63, binds to and activates the orphan receptor GPR83
Authors: Li Hao‐Zheng , Wang Ya‐Fen , Shao Xiao‐Xia , Liu Ya‐Li , Xu Zeng‐Guang , Wang Shi‐Long , Guo Zhan‐Yun
Published: February 2023

G protein‐coupled receptor 83 (GPR83) is primarily expressed in the brain and is implicated in the regulation of energy metabolism and some anxiety‐related behaviours. Recently, the PCSK1N/proSAAS‐derived peptide PEN, the procholecystokinin‐derived peptide proCCK56‐63, and family with sequence similarity 237 member A (FAM237A) were all reported as efficient agonists of GPR83. However, these results have not yet been reproduced by other laboratories and thus GPR83 is still officially an orphan receptor. The peptide PEN and proCCK56‐63 share sequence similarity; however, they are completely different from FAM237A. To identify its actual ligand(s), in the present study we developed NanoLuc Binary Technology (NanoBiT)‐based ligand‐binding assay, fluorescent ligand‐based visualization, and NanoBiT‐based β‐arrestin recruitment assay for human GPR83. Using these assays, we demonstrated that mature human FAM237A could bind to GPR83 with nanomolar range affinity, and could activate this receptor and induce its internalization with nanomolar range efficiency in transfected human embryonic kidney 293T cells. However, we did not detect any interaction of PEN and proCCK56‐63 with GPR83 using these assays. Thus, our results confirmed that FAM237A is an efficient agonist of GPR83, but did not support PEN and proCCK56‐63 as ligands of this receptor. Clarification of their pairing paves the way for further functional studies of the brain‐specific receptor GPR83 and the so far rarely studied neuropeptide FAM237A in the future.
The flaneur in the Borsig locomotive works: Walter Benjamin, the Berlin Radio Youth Hour, and sound as pedagogy
Authors: Amidon Kevin S.
Published: February 2023

Walter Benjamin's radio addresses for young people remain a comparatively neglected part of his work. New scholarship and translations have begun to address this, however. This article argues that the radio addresses, and particularly the address on the Borsig locomotive and machine works, deserve a prominent place within the critical and intellectual trajectory of Benjamin's career. A close reading of “Borsig” demonstrates how the addresses model the modes of experience mediated by and through Benjamin's master figure of the flaneur and generate the possibility for a historical pedagogy adequate to modernity. In the radio addresses, in general, and in “Borsig,” in particular, the mediation of experience entirely through sound and the narrating voice requires the simultaneity of past, present, and future that resolves into Benjamin's theory of history. “Borsig” thus points directly toward the stakes of the Passagen‐Werk and Benjamin's later theoretical essays.
Different prognostic role of EGFR mutation according to the IASLC histological grade in patients with resected early‐stage lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Hong Tae H , Hwang Soohyun , Choi Yoon‐La , Lee Genehee , Park Sehhoon , Ahn Myung‐Ju , Lee Yoonseo , Jeon Yeong J , Lee Junghee , Shin Sumin , Park Seong Y , Cho Jong H , Choi Yong S , Kim Jhingook , Shim Young M , Cho Juhee , Kim Hong K
Published: February 2023

Aims

The prognostic role of EGFR mutations remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of EGFR mutation in consideration of the IASLC histological grade in patients with resected early‐stage lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods and results

A total of 3297 patients with stages I–IIA resected lung adenocarcinoma who had had EGFR mutation tests between January 2014 and December 2019 at the Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea were included. Recurrence‐free survival (RFS) was compared by EGFR mutation status (EGFR‐M+ versus EGFR‐WT) and IASLC histological grade (G1, G2 and G3). Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the adjusted HRs (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Compared to the EGFR‐WT group, the EGFR‐M+ group had a significantly lower proportion of G3 tumour (16 versus 33%, P < 0.001). During a median follow‐up of 41.4 months, 376 patients experienced recurrence. After adjusting for histological grade, the aHR for recurrence comparing the EGFR‐M+ to the EGFR‐WT was 1.30 (95% CI = 1.04–1.62, P = 0.022). The EGFR‐M+ group had a significantly lower 5‐year RFS than the EGFR‐WT group among G3 patients (58.4 versus 71.5%, P < 0.001), but not among G1 and G2 patients.

Conclusions

EGFR mutation status was associated with a risk of recurrence after consideration of the IASLC histological grading, especially in G3 tumours. The results of this study would be useful for developing a new staging system and identifying a subset of patients who may benefit from adjuvant targeted therapy.
Lack of reproducibility of histopathological features in MYC‐rearranged large B cell lymphoma using digital whole slide images: a study from the Lunenburg lymphoma biomarker consortium
Authors: Natkunam Yasodha , de Jong Daphne , Farinha Pedro , Gaulard Philippe , Klapper Wolfram , Rosenwald Andreas , Sander Birgitta , Tooze Reuben , Advani Ranjana , Burton Catherine , Gribben John G , Kersten Marie‐José , Kimby Eva , Lenz Georg , Molina Thierry , Morschhauser Franck , Scott David , Sehn Laurie , Stevens Wendy , Clear Andrew , Baia Maryse , Habi Abdelmalek , Elsensohn Mad‐Helenie , Langlois‐Jacques Carole , Maucort‐Boulch Delphine , Calaminici Maria
Published: February 2023

Aims

Subclassification of large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) is challenging due to the overlap in histopathological, immunophenotypical and genetic data. In particular, the criteria to separate diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and high‐grade B cell lymphoma (HGBL) are difficult to apply in practice. The Lunenburg Lymphoma Biomarker Consortium previously reported a cohort of over 5000 LBCL that included fluorescence in‐situ hybridisation (FISH) data. This cohort contained 209 cases with MYC rearrangement that were available for a validation study by a panel of eight expert haematopathologists of how various histopathological features are used.

Methods and results

Digital whole slide images of haematoxylin and eosin‐stained sections allowed the pathologists to visually score cases independently as well as participate in virtual joint review conferences. Standardised consensus guidelines were formulated for scoring histopathological features and included overall architecture/growth pattern, presence or absence of a starry‐sky pattern, cell size, nuclear pleomorphism, nucleolar prominence and a range of cytological characteristics. Despite the use of consensus guidelines, the results show a high degree of discordance among the eight expert pathologists. Approximately 50% of the cases lacked a majority score, and this discordance spanned all six histopathological features. Moreover, none of the histological variables aided in prediction of MYC single versus double/triple‐hit or immunoglobulin‐partner FISH‐based designations or clinical outcome measures.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that there are no specific conventional morphological parameters that help to subclassify MYC‐rearranged LBCL or select cases for FISH analysis, and that incorporation of FISH data is essential for accurate classification and prognostication.
Range expansions of sexual versus asexual organisms: Effects of reproductive assurance and migration load
Authors: Satow Takeaki , Takimoto Gaku
Published: February 2023

It is generally considered that sexual organisms show faster evolutionary adaptation than asexual organisms because sexuals can accumulate adaptive mutations through recombination. Yet, empirical evidence often shows that the geographic range size of sexual species is narrower than that of closely related asexual species, which may seem as if asexuals can adapt to more varied environments. Two potential explanations for this apparent contradiction considered by the existing theory are reproduction assurance and migration load. Here, we consider both reproductive assurance and migration load within a single model to comparatively examine their effects on range expansions of sexuals and asexuals across an environmental gradient. The model shows that higher dispersal propensity decreases sexuals' disadvantage in reproductive assurance while increasing their disadvantage in migration load. Moreover, lower mutation rate constrains adaptation more strongly in asexuals than in sexuals. Thus, high dispersal propensity and high mutation rates promote that asexuals have wider range sizes than sexuals. Intriguingly, our model reveals that sexuals can have wider geographic range sizes than asexuals under low dispersal propensity and low mutation rates, a pattern consistent with a few exceptional empirical cases. Combining reproductive assurance and migration load provides a useful perspective to better understand the relationships between species' mating systems and their geographic ranges.
Semblances of truth: The Romantic lyric revisited
Authors: Townsend Chris
Published: February 2023

The ‘Romantic lyric’ as an idea or critical entity finds itself doubly maligned in contemporary lyric studies. As a perceived product of New Criticism, it finds itself accused by historicists of bringing about the ‘lyricisation’ of poetry in twentieth‐century criticism, and, as a mimetic model of subjective expression, it’s disfavoured by lyric theorists who view it as a stepping stone towards the currently common misconception that lyrics are a species of dramatic monologue. Yet returning to the Romantics themselves, we discover other models of the lyric that sit outside the expressive model or the paradigm of lyricisation, and which may well be of use to contemporary lyric studies. This essay offers a reading of one such model in the works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in the form of lyric’s semblance character: Coleridge is peculiarly and persistently concerned with the way the world appears to be (which is often not how the world really is), and his lyric poetry figures as a kind of seemingness in its own right, and one that reflects on the nature of appearances themselves. Before making a case for lyric semblance, this essay offers an overview of the state of lyric studies today, taking as exemplary the work of Virginia Jackson and Jonathan Culler; it places emphasis on the role of the ‘Romantic lyric’ in both accounts, and teases out some of what’s at stake in the tension between historicism and formalism that is at the centre of lyric studies today.
The state, identity politics and ethnic boundaries in Afghanistan: The case of Sunni Hazaras
Authors: Ibrahimi Niamatullah
Published: February 2023

In recent years, a growing number of activists in Afghanistan have been proactively self‐identifying as Sunni Hazaras. The trend demonstrates an important shift that illuminates how ethnic boundaries may change and evolve in response to elite politics and state policies in Afghanistan. Many of the communities that are the subjects of new collective identity discourses share important commonalities, including shared belief in a common origin, with the Shi'a Hazaras. However, because the Shi'a Hazaras were persecuted and marginalised under successive regimes in Afghanistan, it was not common for these communities to publicly identify as Hazaras. Instead, they tended to identify with local identity categories such as those based on places of origin or as Tajiks because, like most Tajiks, they speak Dari and practise Sunni Islam. This article contributes to understanding these dynamics through a detailed examination of the National Council of the Sunni Hazaras of Afghanistan. Taking a social constructivist approach, it develops an argument that emphasises an interactive process between state formation and top‐down programmes of national identity construction and bottom‐up resistance by groups that appropriate and articulate ethnic and other forms of ethnic identities to demand political representation and symbolic recognition.
Metallochaperone OsHIPP9 is involved in the retention of cadmium and copper in rice
Authors: Xiong Shuo , Kong Xiaohang , Chen Guoqiang , Tian Lihong , Qian Dandan , Zhu Zhen , Qu Le Qing
Published: February 2023

Metallochaperones are a unique class of proteins that play crucial roles in metal homoeostasis and detoxification. However, few metallochaperones have been functionally characterised in rice. Heterologous expression of Heavy metal‐associated Isoprenylated Plant Protein 9 (OsHIPP9), a metallochaperone, altered yeast tolerance to cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu). We investigated the physiological role of OsHIPP9 in rice. OsHIPP9 was primarily expressed in the root exodermis and xylem region of enlarged vascular bundles (EVB) at nodes. KO of OsHIPP9 increased the Cd concentrations of the upper nodes and panicle, but decreased Cd in expanded leaves. KO of OsHIPP9 decreased Cu uptake and accumulation in rice. Constitutive OX of OsHIPP9 increased Cd and Cu accumulation in aboveground tissues and brown rice. OsHIPP9 showed binding capacity for Cd and Cu. We propose that OsHIPP9 has dual metallochaperone roles, chelating Cd in the xylem region of EVB for Cd retention in the nodes and chelating Cu in rice roots to aid Cu uptake.
Evaluation of an immunochromatographic serologic test to detect the presence of anti‐Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in cats
Authors: Villanueva‐Saz Sergio , Martínez Mariví , Giner Jacobo , Pérez María Dolores , Tobajas Ana Pilar , Yzuel Andrés , Verde María Teresa , Lacasta Delia , Fernández Antonio , Marteles Diana , Ruíz Héctor
Published: February 2023

Background

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Different T. gondii confirmatory techniques, including serologic methods, are available to detect the presence of the parasite. Among serology techniques, immunochromatographic rapid testing could be a reliable alternative to serologic laboratory techniques.

Objective

This study evaluated a commercial immunochromatographic test (FASTest TOXOPLASMA g) in seronegative and seropositive cats.

Methods

Two indirect immunofluorescence antibody reference tests, an in‐house technique, and a commercial test were used to classify 292 feline serum samples. The rapid test was evaluated in different groups of cats, including healthy seronegative cats (n = 121), seropositive cats with variable anti‐Toxoplasma antibodies (n = 146), and cats with positive serologic results for other pathogens (n = 25). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, receiver operating characteristic curves, and kappa statistics were analyzed as performance measures.

Results

Of the 292 samples, 146 were classified as T. gondii seropositive and 146 as T. gondii seronegative. Concordant results were obtained for all samples using immunofluorescence antibody tests. The diagnostic measures of this rapid test showed 98.63% sensitivity and 100% specificity, and 99.32% accuracy. The kappa statistics value was 0.986, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.993.

Conclusions

This rapid test showed diagnostic measurements similar to those of traditional quantitative serologic methods. In situations where laboratory techniques are not available, this test, under clinical conditions, could be a useful alternative to obtain accurate results rapidly.
ON DIFFERENT FORMULATIONS FOR THE MULTI-PERIOD VEHICLE ROUTING PROBLEM WITH SIMULTANEOUS PICKUP AND DELIVERY
Authors: Windras Mara Setyo Tri , Rifai Achmad Pratama , Norcahyo Rachmadi
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we extend the vehicle routing problem with simultaneous pickup and delivery (VRPSPD) with a consideration of multiple planning horizons. We propose three alternative mathematical formulations for Periodic-VRPSPD (P-VRPSPD) based on the available formulations for VRPSPD in the literatures, namely the three-index commodity flow formulation, four-index commodity flow formulation, and three-index vehicle flow formulation. We perform comparison analysis by conducting extensive numerical experiments on a set of instances with various complexities in order to evaluate the performance of these formulations. Overall, it is observed that the three-index commodity flow formulation returns the best results.
SPOKEN-DIGIT CLASSIFICATION USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK
Authors: M. Adoptante Aunhel John , Baes Arnie M. , A. Catilo John Carlo , L. Lucero Patrick Kendrex , P. De Ocampo Anton Louise , S. Alon Alvin , M. Dellosa Rhowel
Published: February 2023

Audio classification has been one of the most popular applications of Artificial Neural Networks. This process is at the center of modern AI technology, such as virtual assistants, automatic speech recognition, and text-to-speech applications. There have been studies about spoken digit classification and its applications. However, to the best of the author's knowledge, very few works focusing on English spoken digit recognition that implemented ANN classification have been done. In this study, the authors utilized the Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) features of the audio recording and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) as the classifier to recognize the spoken digit by the speaker. The Audio MNIST dataset was used as training and test data while the Free-Spoken Digit Dataset was used as additional validation data. The model showed an F-1 score of 99.56% accuracy for the test data and an F1 score of 81.92% accuracy for the validation data.
Appraising the Universal Concepts of Insurance and Takaful: Similarities and Differences
Authors: Rifas Abi Huraira , Ab Rahman Asmak , Buang Ahmad Hidayat
Published: February 2023

Social security is a crucial part in human life, which is consisted pre-arrangements against risky life. Takaful is an essential approach which provides confidence and ethical guidlines in protecting assets. Takaful, is considering Shari’ah principles, also applies the same principles of insurance for its operation even though insurance consists of some prohibited elements in Islam. The objectives of this study are to analyse the governing principles of insurance and takaful and explain how Islam focuses on these principles and ethical aspects in takaful operation from Shariah perspective. The study is designed as documentary research which provides conceptual and theoretical knowledge, and it uses secondary sources such as journal articles, books, reports, as well as main sources of Islamic law. Findings of the study are that principles that are applied in takaful comply with shariah. Similarly, Shari’ah usually does not prohibit general guidelines which are created even in conventional institutions; however, it strictly prohibits the elements which are nocuous to the community. The advantage of takaful is making confidence and truth under religion, which is to be applied in transactions, social life to be free from fear, privation, and poverty. This research supports to takaful researchers and operators to be educated strongly on principles with shariah views and takaful’s importance.
On the Islamism Identity of Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (JDP): A Systematic Review
Authors: Ibrahim Muhammad Khalis , Mohd Nor Mohd Roslan
Published: February 2023

This paper aims to study the Islamism identity of Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (JDP). To date, the question regarding the JDP’s identity has been widely debated. The JDP has frequently been labelled as an Islamist party due to its historical background, while other perspectives perceive the JDP as a non-Islamist party. Contradiction among scholars regarding the identity of the party has resulted in several debates in the existing literature. Therefore, this study attempts to review previous studies related to the discussion on the JDP’s identity. Methodologically, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was adopted to review related studies by utilizing two journal databases, namely the Web of Science and Scopus, with support by other databases. The searching process retrieved 24 sources that can be analyzed systematically. As a result of the thematic analysis, three main themes have been developed that represent arguments on the JDP’s identity, namely the JDP as an Islamist party, the JDP as a non-Islamist party, and the JDP as a party that undergoes a shift in identity. Finally, the present study offers some recommendations that can be considered for future studies.
The Relationship Between Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Religious Commitment in Choosing Shariah Compliant Hospital in Malaysia
Authors: Mat Hamidah , Wan Ab Rahaman Wan Mohd Al Faizee , Shafie Norazzila
Published: February 2023

Religion and religiosity are frequently explored topics in consumer behavior. It demonstrates how religion influences both individual and society views and behaviors. Religiosity has two dimensions: intrapersonal and interpersonal. It is one of the most influential variables in people's lives. This study aims to identify the level of intrapersonal and interpersonal religious commitment among respondents and the relationship between their religious commitment and choosing a shariah compliance hospital. This quantitative research involved 30 samples from OUM academic staff. The Religious Commitment Inventory (RCI-10) developed by Worthington et al. (2003) was used to assess this religiosity. A 5-point Likert scale was used to assess each construct's items.  According to the findings of this study, the respondents have a high level of intrapersonal and interpersonal religious commitment, and there is a strong relationship between intrapersonal and interpersonal religious commitment. The study also found that religious commitment and choosing a Shariah Compliance Hospital have a significant moderate relationship.
Project management and research governance – towards a critical agenda beyond neoliberalization? – commentary to Refstie
Authors: Pascucci Elisa
Published: February 2023

In this contribution to the debate that followed the publication of Hilde Refstie’s timely and cogent Reconfiguring research relevance, I propose to take a closer look at the funding structures that bind academia and other institutional and private sector actors into networks of collaboration and research co-production often experienced as dysfunctional. In particular, I focus on competitive funding bids that distribute financial and labour resources by awarding short-term ‘projects’, with particular reference to European Union (EU) projects. Drawing on my current research work on the ‘project economy’, co-led with Nadine Hassouneh and funded by the KONE Foundation at Tampere University, I make two initial suggestions that expand on some of the points raised so far in the discussion hosted by Fennia. First, project-based research funding is a more politicized and coercive tool than we tend to think. Second, project management and project-based work, and the associated patterns of (gendered and racialized) precarization and even abuse, have a longer and more ingrained history than what we commonly identify as the ‘neoliberalization’ of academia. By way of conclusion, I highlight how scrutinizing the funding architectures that enable and constrain our work help us to explore the relation between research and policy, beyond the limits of critical categories such as ‘neoliberalism’.
Hybrid octa-silane polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (OS-POSS) optical films prepared by ion beam assisted evaporation
Authors: Shelemin Artem , Zabeida Oleg , Qian Jincheng , Klemberg-Sapieha Jolanta , Martinu Ludvik
Published: February 2023

Ion beam assisted thermal evaporation of the octa-silane polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane solid organic precursor was employed to deposit hybrid silicon oxide for the first time. This deposition process was primarily developed for ophthalmic lens applications as an alternative to the ion beam assisted chemical vapor deposition process. The main advantage of the proposed concept combining thermal evaporation and ion beam discharge is its transferability to industrial systems without significant scale-up investments. In the first part of this work, we performed a detailed diagnostic analysis (residual gas analysis and optical emission spectroscopy) of the effect of the experimental parameters on gas-phase processes. In the second part, we assessed and discussed the optical, chemical, structural, and mechanical properties of the deposited films. It has been found that the discharge current and oxygen gas ratio are the main parameters that adjust the coating properties and performance over a broad range. The adequately optimized combination of these two parameters allows one to fabricate flexible optical films with a low refractive index and a high elastic recovery.
Looks, Liveliness, and Laughter: Visual Representations in Commercial Sports for Children
Authors: Karlsson Jesper , Bäckström Åsa , Kilger Magnus , Redelius Karin
Published: February 2023

In contemporary society, visual information is influential, not least when businesses are communicating with potential customers. It represents and influences how people understand phenomena. In sports, much attention is directed toward how media represent elite sports and sport stars. Less attention is directed toward children’s sports. The aim of this article is to explore and analyze visual representations of children on sport businesses’ websites. The sample contained 697 images of sporting children, on which an interpretative content and discourse analysis was conducted. The study shows that the ideal customer emerging on these sites is a White, physically active, able, and slim boy or girl. Consumer culture seems to reproduce and preserve existing normative frameworks rather than producing alternative norms and ideas in children’s sport. Moreover, dilemmatic images of children both as competent and as innocent develop, displaying a childhood that should be both joyful and active but also safeguarded.
Variations in Power Performance and Perceptual Responses to Training in Olympic Boxers Over a 7-Month Training Period
Authors: Pereira Lucas A. , Romano Felipe , Alves Mateus , Mercer Valter P. , Bishop Chris , Franchini Emerson , Loturco Irineu
Published: February 2023

Purpose: To assess the variations in power performance and perceptual training responses and compare the physical performance of national boxing athletes qualified or not qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games over a 7-month training period. Methods: Twelve amateur boxers from the Brazilian national team were tested 6 times across 7 months. In the first assessment, boxers performed squat and countermovement jumps and bench press, prone bench pull, half squat, and jump squat power tests. In the following testing sessions, only countermovement jump and bench press power were assessed. In addition, the rating of perceived exertion and total quality recovery status were assessed in 106 training sessions across the study. Independent t test and repeated-measures analysis of variance were used for data analysis purposes. Results: No significant differences (P > .05) were observed between Olympic and non-Olympic groups for any test variables (effect size [95% CI] ranging from 0.01 [−1.13 to 1.13] to 0.69 [−0.53 to 1.79]). No significant changes (P > .05) were detected throughout the study for countermovement jump height and bench press power in either group (effect size [95% CI] ranging from 0.01 [−1.13 to 1.13] to 1.03 [−0.25 to 2.14]). Overall, both groups exhibited similar variations in both rating of perceived exertion and total quality recovery over the 7-month period. Conclusions: Within the same national team, power-related performance was similar between Olympic and non-Olympic boxers. The maintenance of power abilities and optimization of technical and tactical skills seem to be key issues to consider during the final stages of preparation for international boxing competitions.
A Fungal P450 Enzyme from Fusarium graminearum with Unique 12β-Steroid Hydroxylation Activity
Authors: Wang Ling , Wu Xiaowei , Gao Chenghua , Wei Lingrui , Li Qian , Li Aitao
Published: February 2023

Regioselective and stereoselective hydroxylation is of vital importance in the functionalization of steroids, which remains challenging in organic synthesis. In particular, the C12-hydroxy steroids play a significant role in the synthesis of many important steroidal drugs.
Effects of Low-Level Persistent Infection on Maintenance of Immunity by CD4 T Cell Subsets and Th1 Cytokines
Authors: Ibitokou Samad A. , Gbedande Komi , Opata Michael M. , Carpio Victor H. , Marshall Karis M. , Stephens Robin
Published: February 2023

CD4 T cells are required, along with antibodies, for complete protection from blood-stage infection with
Plasmodium
spp., which cause malaria. Without continuous exposure, as on emigration of people from endemic areas, protection from malaria decays.
Performance of the MSI-2 Database for Fungal Identification by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry from Cleanroom Environments
Authors: Trivitt Gloria E. , Lau Anna F.
Published: February 2023

Accurate mold identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is dependent on robust organism representation in available databases. The Mass Spectrometry Identification (MSI) platform has proven successful for mold identification in clinical and veterinary settings but has yet to be studied with a large set of environmental isolates.
Performance of a System for Rapid Phenotypic Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Gram-Negative Bacteria Directly from Positive Blood Culture Bottles
Authors: Göransson J. , Sundqvist M. , Ghaderi E. , Lisby J. G. , Molin Y. , Eriksson E. , Carlsson S. , Cederlöf A. , Ellis L. , Melin J.
Published: February 2023

The rapid administration of optimal antimicrobial treatment is paramount for the treatment of bloodstream infections (BSIs), and rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) results are essential. Q-linea has developed the ASTar system, a rapid phenotypic AST device.
Conceptualizations and Limitations of STEM Literacy across Learning Theories
Authors: Tenney Kristin , Stringer Brinley Poulsen , LaTona-Tequida Talia , White Isabel
Published: February 2023

The concept of literacy is relevant in many areas of life, both inside and out of the classroom. With science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) being fast-growing fields, STEM literacy in particular holds an important place in today’s education system and beyond.
MLKL-Driven Inflammasome Activation and Caspase-8 Mediate Inflammatory Cell Death in Influenza A Virus Infection
Authors: Lei Xuqiu , Chen Yongzhi , Lien Egil , Fitzgerald Katherine A.
Published: February 2023

Influenza A virus (IAV) induces multiple types of cell death, which play important roles in the host antiviral responses but can also cause unwanted inflammation and tissue damage. In this study, we dissect the interplay of cell death pathways and demonstrate that macrophages utilize redundant mechanisms to drive an inflammatory form of cell death upon IAV infection.
FliL Functions in Diverse Microbes to Negatively Modulate Motor Output via Its N-Terminal Region
Authors: Liu Xiaolin , Roujeinikova Anna , Ottemann Karen M.
Published: February 2023

FliL is a protein found in the flagellar motor of bacteria, but what it does was not clear. To study FliL function, scientists often remove it and see what happens.
Complete Genome Sequences of Oryctes rhinoceros
nudivirus
Strains Detected in Haplotype-G Oryctes rhinoceros from Johor, Malaysia
Authors: Anggraini Erise , Vadamalai Ganesan , Kong Lih Ling , Mat Mazidah , Lau Wei Hong
Published: February 2023

Two members of the species
Oryctes rhinoceros
nudivirus
(OrNV) were detected in
O. rhinoceros
haplotype G beetles collected from an oil palm plantation in Kluang and a wild coconut tree in Batu Pahat (Johor, Malaysia). OrNV strain Kluang comprised 125,794 bp, encoding 125 open reading frames (ORFs), while OrNV strain Batu Pahat comprised 124,925 bp, encoding 126 ORFs.
RND Pump-Mediated Efflux of Amotosalen, a Compound Used in Pathogen Inactivation Technology to Enhance Safety of Blood Transfusion Products, May Compromise Its Gram-Negative Anti-Bacterial Activity
Authors: Green Alex B. , Chiaraviglio Lucius , Truelson Katherine A. , Zulauf Katelyn E. , Cui Meng , Zhang Zhemin , Ware Matthew P. , Flegel Willy A. , Haspel Richard L. , Yu Edward W. , Kirby James E.
Published: February 2023

Pathogen inactivation is a strategy to enhance the safety of transfused blood products. We identify the compound, amotosalen, widely used for pathogen inactivation, as a bacterial multidrug efflux substrate.
Alterations in the Gut Microbiota in Pregnant Women with Pregestational Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Ren Yuan , Hao Lilan , Liu Juntao , Wang Pei , Ding Qiuxia , Chen Chen , Song Yingna
Published: February 2023

The incidence of pregestational type 2 diabetes mellitus (PGDM) is increasing, with high rates of serious adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes that are strongly correlated with hyperglycemia. Recent studies have shown that type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with gut microbial dysbiosis; however, the gut microbiome composition and its associations with the metabolic features of patients with PGDM remain largely unknown.
Aneuploidy Mediates Rapid Adaptation to a Subinhibitory Amount of Fluconazole in Candida albicans
Authors: Sun Liu-liu , Li Hao , Yan Tian-hua , Fang Ting , Wu Hao , Cao Yong-bing , Lu Hui , Jiang Yuan-ying , Yang Feng
Published: February 2023

Genome instability is a hallmark of
C. albicans
. Aneuploidy usually causes fitness loss in the absence of stress but confers better fitness under particular stress conditions.
Fitness of INTERGROWTH-21st birth weight standards for Chinese-ethnicity babies
Authors: Wang Xuelian , Hui Lai Ling , Cole Tim J , Nelson E Anthony S , Lam Hugh Simon
Published: February 2023

Objective

To determine the fitness of the INTERGROWTH-21st birth weight standards (INTERGROWTH21) for ethnic Chinese babies compared with a local reference (FOK2003).

Design

Population-based analysis of territory-wide birth data.

Setting

All public hospitals in Hong Kong.

Participants

Live births between 24 and 42 complete weeks’ gestation during 2006–2017.

Main outcome measures

Babies’ birth weight Z-scores were calculated using published methods. The two references were compared in three aspects: (1) the proportions of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) or small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants, (2) the gestation-specific and sex-specific mean birth weight Z-scores and (3) the predictive power for SGA-related complications.

Results

488 896 infants were included. Using INTERGROWTH21, among neonates born <33 weeks’ gestation, the mean birth weight Z-scores per week were closer to zero (−0.2 to 0.05), while most of them were further from zero (0.06 to 0.34) after excluding infants with a high risk of abnormal intrauterine growth. Compared with FOK2003, INTERGROWTH21 classified smaller proportions of infants as SGA (8.3% vs 9.6%) and LGA (6.6% vs 7.9%), especially SGA among preterm infants (13.1% vs 17.0%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting SGA-related complications was greater with FOK2003 (0.674, 95% CI 0.670 to 0.677) than INTERGROWTH21 (0.658, 95% CI 0.655 to 0.661) (p<0.001).

Conclusions

INTERGROWTH21 performed less well than FOK2003, a local reference for ethnic Chinese babies, especially in infants born <33 weeks’ gestation. Although the differences are clinically small, both these references performed poorly for extremely preterm infants, and thus a more robust chart based on a larger sample of appropriately selected infants is needed.