bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PDE5 inhibitor potentially improves polyuria and bladder storage and voiding dysfunctions in type 2 diabetic rats
Authors: Kabuto Takafumi , Inamura So , Kobayashi Hisato , Zha Xinmin , Nagase Keiko , Taga Minekatsu , Seki Masaya , Tanaka Nobuki , Okumura Yoshinaga , Yokoyama Osamu , Terada Naoki
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Bladder dysfunction associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) includes urine storage and voiding disorders. We examined pathological conditions of the bladder wall in a rat T2DM model and evaluated the effects of the phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor tadalafil.

Materials and methods

Male Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats and Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats were used as the T2DM and control groups, respectively. Tadalafil was orally administered for 12 weeks. Micturition behavior was monitored using metabolic cages, and bladder function was evaluated by cystometry. Bladder blood flow was evaluated by laser speckle imaging, and an organ bath bladder distention test was used to measure adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release from the bladder urothelium. The expression levels of vesicular nucleotide transporter (VNUT), hypoxia markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in the bladder wall were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bladder wall contractions in response to KCl and carbachol were monitored using bladder-strip tests.

Results

With aging, OLETF rats had higher micturition frequency and greater urine volume than LETO rats. Although bladder capacity was not significantly different, non-voiding bladder contraction occurred more frequently in OLETF rats than in LETO rats. Bladder blood flow was decreased and ATP release was increased with higher VNUT expression in OLETF rats than in LETO rats. These effects were suppressed by tadalafil administration, with accompanying decreased HIF-1α, 8-OHdG, IL-6, TNF-α, IGF-1, and bFGF expression. The impaired contractile responses of bladder strips to KCl and carbachol in OLETF rats with aging were restored by tadalafil administration.

Conclusions

The T2DM rats had polyuria, increased ATP release induced by decreased bladder blood flow and impaired contractile function. PDE5 inhibition improved these changes and may prevent T2DM-associated urinary frequency and bladder storage and voiding dysfunctions.
Effects of an instructional WhatsApp group on self-care and HbA1c among female patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Alhazmy Riham Saud , Khalil Asmaa Hamdi , Almutary Hayfa
Published: September 2024

Aims and objectives

To assess the effect of an instructional WhatsApp group on self-care and HbA1c levels among female patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Background

T2DM is a chronic disease that requires effective self-care. WhatsApp is a free application that can be effectively used for patient education.

Design

This study used a quasi-experimental design.

Methods

A convenience sample of 62 female participants was recruited from the medical outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital. The Diabetes Self-Care Scale was used to assess the self-care profiles of the participants pre- and post-intervention. HbA1c samples were also collected at baseline and three months after receiving instructions from the WhatsApp group. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected during the pre-intervention stage.

Results

The mean HbA1c level decreased from 8.61 ± 1.70 to 7.92 ± 1.60 after implementing the WhatsApp group instructions; the values showed a significant difference (t-value = 5.107 and P-value < 0.001). The post-test mean score of total self-care was higher than the pre-test mean score (t-value = 12.359, P-value <0.001), indicating a highly significant difference.

Conclusions

The study demonstrated that the instructional WhatsApp group is an effective method for improving self-care and HbA1c levels in patients with T2DM. This study suggests the use of WhatsApp group instructions as a teaching method in the healthcare system for the education and follow-up of patients with T2DM.

Relevance to clinical practice

The findings support the need to initiate effective and dynamic interventional follow-ups through WhatsApp groups for patients with T2DM to improve their self-care and HbA1c levels and ultimately reduce the burden on hospitals and governments.
Nearby and non-nested genes in the human genome have more similar genotype tissue expression
Authors: Dong Jiahong , Brown Stephen , Truong Kevin
Published: September 2024

Neighboring genes within a shared promoter arrangement (i.e. opposite direction with the neighboring ends as the transcriptional start sites) are expected to have a high similarity in genotype tissue expression due to the potential overlap in the promoter region. This raises the question of whether similarity in expression profiles depends on orientation of the neighboring genes and whether there exist thresholds of locality where the similarity diminishes. Thus, in this work, we compared genotype tissue expression profiles at different genomic orientations and localities. Interestingly, there exist gene pairs in the human genome with very high or low expression similarity. Shorter chromosomes tend to have more similarly expressed genes. Also, a cluster of 3 adjacent genes within the average range of 20 to 60 kilobase pairs can have very similar expression profiles regardless of their orientations. However, when genes are nested and in opposite orientations, a lower than expected similarity was observed. Lastly, in cases where genotype tissue expression data does not exist or have low read counts (e.g. non-coding RNA), our identified influencing range can be a first estimate of the genotype tissue expression.
Green industrial policy and green development of agriculture—Quasi-natural experiment based on the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China
Authors: Shao Jingbo
Published: September 2024

Based on the panel data of 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China from 2012 to 2022, from the perspective of harmony between man and nature, this paper selects 20 indicators to measure the level of agricultural green development from five dimensions such as ecological conservation and resource conservation by entropy weight method. On this basis, taking the implementation of green industrial policy in the Yangtze River Economic Belt as a quasi-natural experiment, the policy effect of green industrial policy on agricultural green development was analyzed by using the difference-in-difference method. The study found that: (1) the green development of agriculture is basically increasing year by year in each province, but there are some differences in the green development of agriculture among provinces; (2) Compared with the non-implementation areas of policies, the green development of agriculture in the implementation areas of policies has been significantly improved, and has passed a series of robustness tests; (3) The mechanism analysis shows that the green industrial policy has a crowding-out effect on industrial development, but significantly enhances the ecological construction and protection, thus promoting the green development of agriculture; (4) Heterogeneity analysis shows that the policy has a significant positive incentive effect on the upper and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and the incentive effect on the middle reaches is not significant; (5) The impact of technological level on agricultural green development shows a positive U-shaped relationship. The improvement of education and information development levels also effectively promotes the green development of agriculture. This paper provides important empirical evidence and factual references for further promoting the green development of agriculture and the improvement of green industrial policies.
A rapid increase in tropical species of grouper (Perciformes: Serranidae) in the temperate waters, the Goto Islands, Japan
Authors: Okuyama Junichi , Nakagawa Masahiro , Taneda Takeshi
Published: September 2024

Global warming has resulted in rapid poleward shifts in the geographical distributions of many tropical fish species. This study conducted daily market surveys from 2008 to 2013 to investigate catch trends of seven commercially important grouper species in the temperate Goto Islands, Japan. Our results revealed that the catch numbers of tropical grouper species increased rapidly by an average of 5.9-fold (12.3-fold at maximum) within six years, whereas the temperate and subtropical species did not exhibit substantial changes. Based on the findings of several previous studies, the rapid increase in the number of tropical groupers in temperate waters was most likely caused by the successful settlement of larvae transported from tropical waters. Large-scale ocean currents may facilitate larval transport from tropical waters because the Goto Islands face the Tsushima Warm Current, which branches from the Kuroshio Current. Meanwhile, the transition processes of size distribution in tropical groupers suggest a possible hypothesis that adults migrating from tropical waters first settle in temperate waters and then enhance their populations by reproduction. Further studies are required to determine how tropical grouper species settle and how their populations increase in temperate waters.
Food and fluid intake during labor in maternity wards: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Soares Brenda Kelly Pontes , Carneiro Byanca Rodrigues , Feitoza Ilana Bruna de Lima , de Medeiros Anna Cecilia Queiroz , Magalhães Adriana Gomes
Published: September 2024

During the 1940s, aspiration of stomach contents was recognized as a serious problem during labor, which is why fluid and food restriction was adopted for women who would undergo general anesthesia. Currently, the practice of generalized food restriction is a routine that is being discontinued. This review aims to map the evidence on the effects of the intake of foods, supplements and drinks in women on labor outcomes. To that end, documents investigating this topic in pregnant women admitted for uncomplicated deliveries in maternity wards, published from 2013 onwards, will be assessed. This interval was defined based on the publication by Singata et al., who carried out a systematic review on the benefits and harms of oral fluid intake or food restriction during labor. The scoping review methods of the JBI and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA) were followed. Firstly, a preliminary search was carried out to identify the existence of similar scoping reviews or protocols, as well as the keywords and MeSH descriptors in the titles and abstracts, with a view to developing a complete search strategy. Subsequently, a search will be carried out in the Cochrane Library, Medline/PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases. The search strategy will be adapted for each of these databases. Finally, a reverse search will be carried out using the references of the included studies. The obtained documents will be imported into Rayyan for duplicate detection and removal. Two independent reviewers will read the titles and abstracts, observing the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data extraction from each included study will be carried out independently by two reviewers, using the extraction form created for this purpose. In order to report results, we will follow the PRISMA checklist and report descriptive statistics and a narrative summary.
A modeling method for thermal steady-state simulation of the four-layer printed circuit board
Authors: Zhang Yabin , Chen Lin
Published: September 2024

Thermal simulation of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) can help identify potential overheating risks in the circuit. The proposed modeling method combines analytical temperature solutions and numerical approximations. Only Fourier-series analytical solutions related to the prepreg-layer surfaces need to be calculated, rather than the entire structure. Heat transfer through the lateral sides of a PCB is approximately considered as part of the compensated heat flux of the insulating-layer surface boundaries. Heat diffusion within or between metal layers is numerically approximated using the finite volume method. The core layer is treated as “thermally-thick”. Temperature-dependent boundary conditions are considered through iterations. A test solver was developed based on the method. The modeling accuracy was validated by comparison with COMSOL Multiphysics for a four-layer structure with a moderate degree of discretization. Additionally, a PCB for generating DC 3.3V was designed, tested, and modeled, with the modeling results confirmed by the thermal images. The electro-thermal analysis of the distribution of electric potential and Joule heating in traces and vias was integrated into the PCB model. The layout maps of the PCB were further adjusted to reduce Joule heating in the output circuit, and the improvement on reducing the IR drop and hotspot temperature was examined.
The TIRS trial: Enrollment procedures and baseline characterization of a pediatric cohort to quantify the epidemiologic impact of targeted indoor residual spraying on Aedes-borne viruses in Merida, Mexico
Authors: Earnest James T. , Kirstein Oscar D. , Mendoza Azael C. , Barrera-Fuentes Gloria A. , Puerta-Guardo Henry , Parra-Cardeña Manuel , Yam-Trujillo Kevin , Collins Matthew H. , Pavia-Ruz Norma , Ayora-Talavera Guadalupe , Gonzalez-Olvera Gabriela , Medina-Barreiro Anuar , Bibiano-Marin Wilberth , Lenhart Audrey , Halloran M. Elizabeth , Longini Ira , Dean Natalie , Waller Lance A. , Crisp Amy M. , Correa-Morales Fabian , Palacio-Vargas Jorge , Granja-Perez Pilar , Villanueva Salha , Delfın-Gonzalez Hugo , Gomez-Dantes Hector , Manrique-Saide Pablo , Vazquez-Prokopec Gonzalo M.
Published: September 2024

Aedes mosquito-borne viruses (ABVs) place a substantial strain on public health resources in the Americas. Vector control of Aedes mosquitoes is an important public health strategy to decrease or prevent spread of ABVs. The ongoing Targeted Indoor Residual Spraying (TIRS) trial is an NIH-sponsored clinical trial to study the efficacy of a novel, proactive vector control technique to prevent dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infections in the endemic city of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. The primary outcome of the trial is laboratory-confirmed ABV infections in neighborhood clusters. Despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, by early 2021 the TIRS trial completed enrollment of 4,792 children aged 2–15 years in 50 neighborhood clusters which were allocated to control or intervention arms via a covariate-constrained randomization algorithm. Here, we describe the makeup and ABV seroprevalence of participants and mosquito population characteristics in both arms before TIRS administration. Baseline surveys showed similar distribution of age, sex, and socio-economic factors between the arms. Serum samples from 1,399 children were tested by commercially available ELISAs for presence of anti-ABV antibodies. We found that 45.1% of children were seropositive for one or more flaviviruses and 24.0% were seropositive for CHIKV. Of the flavivirus-positive participants, most were positive for ZIKV-neutralizing antibodies by focus reduction neutralization testing which indicated a higher proportion of participants with previous ZIKV than DENV infections within the cohort. Both study arms had statistically similar seroprevalence for all viruses tested, similar socio-demographic compositions, similar levels of Ae. aegypti infestation, and similar observed mosquito susceptibility to insecticides. These findings describe a population with a high rate of previous exposure to ZIKV and lower titers of neutralizing antibodies against DENV serotypes, suggesting susceptibility to future outbreaks of flaviviruses is possible, but proactive vector control may mitigate these risks.
Comparative analysis of tardigrade locomotion across life stage, species, and disulfiram treatment
Authors: Anderson Emma M. , Houck Sierra G. , Conklin Claire L. , Tucci Katrina L. , Rodas Joseph D. , Mori Kate E. , Armstrong Loriann J. , Illingworth Virginia B. , Lo Te-Wen , Woods Ian G.
Published: September 2024

Animal locomotion requires coordination between the central and peripheral nervous systems, between sensory inputs and motor outputs, and between nerves and muscles. Analysis of locomotion thus provides a comprehensive and sensitive readout of nervous system function and dysfunction. Tardigrades, the smallest known walking animals, coordinate movement of their eight legs with a relatively simple nervous system, and are a promising model for neuronal control of limb-driven locomotion. Here, we developed open-source tools for automated tracking of tardigrade locomotion in an unconstrained two-dimensional environment, for measuring multiple parameters of individual leg movements, and for quantifying interleg coordination. We used these tools to analyze >13,000 complete strides in >100 tardigrades, and identified preferred walking speeds and distinct step coordination patterns associated with those speeds. In addition, the rear legs of tardigrades, although they have distinct anatomy and step kinematics, were nonetheless incorporated into overall patterns of interleg coordination. Finally, comparisons of tardigrade locomotion across lifespan, between species, and upon disulfiram treatment suggested that neuronal regulation of high-level aspects of walking (e.g. speed, turns, walking bout initiation) operate independently from circuits controlling individual leg movements and interleg coordination.
Isolation and characterization of IgG3 glycan-targeting antibodies with exceptional cross-reactivity for diverse viral families
Authors: Vukovich Matthew J. , Shiakolas Andrea R. , Lindenberger Jared , Richardson Robert A. , Bass Lindsay E. , Barr Maggie , Liu Yanshun , Go Eden P. , Park Chan Soo , May Aaron J. , Sammour Salam , Kambarami Chipo , Huang Xiao , Janowska Katarzyna , Edwards Robert J. , Mansouri Katayoun , Spence Taylor N. , Abu-Shmais Alexandra A. , Manamela Nelia P. , Richardson Simone I. , Leonard Sabina E. W. , Gripenstraw Kathryn R. , Setliff Ian , Saunders Kevin O. , Bonami Rachel H. , Ross Ted M. , Desaire Heather , Moore Penny L. , Parks Robert , Haynes Barton F. , Sheward Daniel J. , Acharya Priyamvada , Sautto Giuseppe A. , Georgiev Ivelin S.
Published: September 2024

Broadly reactive antibodies that target sequence-diverse antigens are of interest for vaccine design and monoclonal antibody therapeutic development because they can protect against multiple strains of a virus and provide a barrier to evolution of escape mutants. Using LIBRA-seq (linking B cell receptor to antigen specificity through sequencing) data for the B cell repertoire of an individual chronically infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), we identified a lineage of IgG3 antibodies predicted to bind to HIV-1 Envelope (Env) and influenza A Hemagglutinin (HA). Two lineage members, antibodies 2526 and 546, were confirmed to bind to a large panel of diverse antigens, including several strains of HIV-1 Env, influenza HA, coronavirus (CoV) spike, hepatitis C virus (HCV) E protein, Nipah virus (NiV) F protein, and Langya virus (LayV) F protein. We found that both antibodies bind to complex glycans on the antigenic surfaces. Antibody 2526 targets the stem region of influenza HA and the N-terminal domain (NTD) region of SARS-CoV-2 spike. A crystal structure of 2526 Fab bound to mannose revealed the presence of a glycan-binding pocket on the light chain. Antibody 2526 cross-reacted with antigens from multiple pathogens and displayed no signs of autoreactivity. These features distinguish antibody 2526 from previously described glycan-reactive antibodies. Further study of this antibody class may aid in the selection and engineering of broadly reactive antibody therapeutics and can inform the development of effective vaccines with exceptional breadth of pathogen coverage.
“In the dry season, our suffering doubles”: Barriers to water access in poor urban settlements in Ghana
Authors: Leahy Willow , Achore Meshack , Dery Florence
Published: September 2024

If current trends of water insecurity continue, nearly two-thirds of the world’s population will live in water-scarce conditions by 2025. Nevertheless, qualitative studies on barriers to water access, particularly in informal settlements, remain limited. This study used in-depth interviews to examine the daily barriers to water access faced by urban poor households in Ghana. A total of 30 (n = 30) semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with residents in water-insecure areas in Tamale and Accra, Ghana. Four themes emerged from our analysis: lack of financial resources, distance and travel time, land and topography, and poor water infrastructure. Sustainable Development Goal Six cannot be achieved if the water needs of the urban poor, particularly those who dwell in informal settlements, are unmet. Thus, governments and systems must implement measures to eliminate inequalities and inequities in water distribution.
Equivalence of magnetic flux and energy
Authors: Nikolayevich Sukhanov Vladimir
Published: September 2024

Magnetic flux and energy equivalence is the principle that everything that has magnetic flux has an equivalent amount of energy, and vice versa.
The main methods used: transformation of natural units, algebra, analogy.
The equivalence of magnetic flux and energy, despite its widespread use in describing the principles of physics, has not yet been formulated. This paper presents the formula for this equivalence. This is done based on known measurement systems, parameters and principles of physics.
Five examples (Stoney units, Planck units, standard gravitational parameter, Lorentz force, and Ampere force) of the algebraic representation of this principle show its universality. Five examples should justify the universality of the new principle and its use in physics and astrophysics.
Using the equivalence of magnetic flux and energy, new physical units of mass and magnetic flux are proposed, each of which is suitable for measuring both mass and magnetic flux. Natural values of electric current and voltage, linear density of electric capacitance and inductance, linear density of magnetic flux, linear density of electric charge, as well as natural units of electric voltage and current, electrical resistance, magnetic flux, electrical capacitance and inductance are also described.
The article presents the Einstein field equation (additional magnetic stress–energy–momentum tensor) and a standard astrophysical parameter for refining the orbits of celestial bodies.
El amor, la política y la vida
Authors: Alberich Nistal Tomás
Published: September 2024

Los viajes al pasado son imposibles, porque el pasado no existe. Lo único posible es conocerlo con bastante exactitud, nunca modificarlo. Las memorias se dedican a esto, a conocer. Aquí se recogen numerosos recuerdos, materiales y diarios, escritos desde la adolescencia de un autor con ciertas dosis de síndrome de Diógenes. "Mis recuerdos de infancia, como el resto, los cuento tal cual y son en general agradables, aunque hay algunos, digamos, agridulces". Realiza una muestra de radical desnudez dándonos a conocer cómo se vivía la infancia, adolescencia y juventud, en una familia trabajadora media de la España católica y franquista de los años sesenta. Descripciones relatadas con la máxima exactitud en base a recuerdos y documentos recopilados. Con larga parada de vivencias en un colegio religioso de la época y, a partir de los once años, el descubrimiento de la prohibida sexualidad, el amor y las tribulaciones adolescentes, seguido de diversas aventuras, campamentos y microviolencias. A los 16 años se produce el otro gran descubrimiento que cambiará su vida: la política. A través del activismo social y del estudio del marxismo construirá su cosmovisión del mundo. Con el activismo antifranquista "ibas construyendo un imaginario que da sentido a tu existencia", vivido en un barrio del sur madrileño, Usera. La política se entremezcla con las experiencias de todo tipo, las amistades y noviazgos, las salidas al extranjero y los primeros trabajos asalariados. A partir de los 19 años los estudios universitarios, la vida independiente y los más variados trabajos, son la tercera faceta vital del autor. Como tantos españoles de la época, sufre un corte casi traumático con la realización del servicio militar. Las memorias terminan con un avance, una precuela de la vida posterior a 1980.
Comparative phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of rhizome and leaves of Curcuma caesia Roxb. and Curcuma longa L.
Authors: Charaya Natasha , Choudhary Priyvart , Prasad Bobby , Bhawna  , Sharma Rohit , Kumar Nishant , Singh Gurmeet , Sharma Nishesh
Published: September 2024

Turmeric is a well-known medicinal herb used for traditional and medicinal purposes since ancient times. It is also an important ingredient in the cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries. Two common species, Curcuma longa L. (yellow turmeric) and Curcuma caesia Roxb. (black turmeric), are noted for their medicinal potential. However, commercially, yellow turmeric is more extensively explored than black turmeric. In the present study, a comparative phytochemical analysis was conducted, along with in vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity assessment of the rhizome and leaves of both yellow and black turmeric. GC-MS and FTIR analysis revealed a wide range of phytocompounds with known medicinal properties in both yellow and black turmeric rhizome. The presence of biologically significant phytocompounds such as methyl stearate, glycidyl oleate, curcumenol and eucalyptol in higher proportion in the rhizome of C. caseia compared to yellow turmeric supports further exploration of the commercial and medicinal potential of C. caseia. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory analyses indicated that the rhizome of C. caseia possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities comparable to those of C. longa. This study also reports the presence of bioactive metabolites in the leaves of both black and yellow turmeric, along with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in the leaves comparable to their respective rhizomes. These findings suggest that turmeric leaves could be as significant as turmeric rhizomes for medicinal and industrial applications.
Evaluating the Efficiency of Capital Enhancement and Investment Constraints in Life Insurance Supervision
Authors: Chang Shih-Chieh Bill , Hsuan Wei , Lee Yen-Kuan , Tzeng Yu-Ying
Published: September 2024

This study addresses the critical public concern of effectively mitigating solvency risks in insurance companies through supervisory intervention. Building upon existing research, we extend our analysis to incorporate the effects of foreign investment and examine the impact of varying degrees of risk aversion among insurers. Furthermore, we investigate the optimal expected terminal utility in relation to initial insurance company premiums, integrating interest and exchange rates into our analytical framework. Additionally, we evaluate the impact of regulatory interventions, specifically capital injection schemes and risk-constrained asset allocation, on insurers’ default risk and certainty equivalent wealth using a utility-based approach. Our findings indicate that: (1) when policyholders exhibit higher degrees of risk aversion, a reduced propensity to allocate funds to riskier assets, such as stock index funds and foreign assets, is observed; (2) when exchange rates offer higher returns, an increased allocation to foreign assets is advisable; (3) conversely, when exchange rate returns exhibit greater uncertainty, a reduction in foreign asset allocation is recommended; (4) in scenarios where foreign risk-free rates yield higher returns, an increased allocation to foreign assets is suggested; and (5) under conditions of capital minimization, the influence of exchange rates and foreign interest rates on optimization becomes less discernible.
Financial Sustainability of Social Insurance: The Case of Korean Workers’ Compensation Insurance and Possibility of Triple Moral Hazard
Authors: Jung Hongjoo , Kim Changseob , Lim Soyoung
Published: September 2024

This study examines the economic stability of Korean Workers’ Compensation Insurance (WCI), highlighting the system’s vulnerability to triple moral hazard. Korean WCI features more generous worker compensation, lower employer premiums, and more active government involvement in accident prevention in addition to a higher industrial accident rate, compared to the system in Germany and Japan. The negotiation process of the WCI among workers, employers, and insurance managers often prioritizes short-term benefits, undermining long-term financial health. Workers seek greater compensation, employers push for lower premiums, and insurance managers may prioritize collective interests, exacerbating the system’s economic instability. Over recent years, applications for occupational disease recognition have surged, and premium rates have decreased, indicating increasing strain. To mitigate these issues, the study proposes enhancing transparency and rationality, involving non-political experts in decision-making, and clearly defining the government’s role in managing WCI. These measures aim to balance stakeholder interests and ensure the WCI system’s sustainability for future generations.
Airborne Toxicity in Don DeLillo’s White Noise
Authors: Ömerali Uslu Mine
Published: September 2024

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, people across the world came to realize the significant relationship between air and human health. This pandemic, which changed the course of many lives, demonstrated how air serves as a transmitter of viruses. However, this quality of air is not new, with air acting as a significant tool in transmitting diseases, pollution, and even death. It is crucial to understand that airborne diseases include but are not limited to epidemics or pandemics such as the black death, influenza, or COVID-19. Since the Chernobyl disaster, it is perceived that the previously feared disasters were replaced by new and human-made hazards such as toxicity and radioactivity. Environmental disasters such as the Bhopal disaster, Donora Smog, and the Chernobyl disaster emphasize the impact of toxic chemicals on humans and more-than-human lives. These disasters show that toxic substances that threaten the lives of all living things imperceptibly seep into the soil, water, and air, causing harm to ecosystems, and entering into human and more-than-human bodies. Exposure to toxicity and radioactivity can happen in the blink of an eye, transmitted through the air we breathe. Don DeLillo’s novel White Noise presents a significant example of toxicity through its striking portrayal of an airborne toxic event. This event, the appearance of a cloud of the fictional chemical Nyodene D., presents an environmental crisis through which relationships between air and environments can be explored. Similar to the issues and reflections experienced after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the characters in White Noise experience chaos, uncertainty, and fear following the abrupt occurrence of an airborne toxic event.
Eco-Thrax: Anthrax Narratives and Unstable Ground
Authors: Mitchell Chantelle
Published: September 2024

Numerous articles predicting pandemic futures identify threats tied directly to a warming planet. One notable example is the threat of once-stable pathogens held in ice shelves being released into the world. Bacillus anthracis, or anthrax, presents as the key bacterial threat emerging from melting permafrost. Such a threat reads like a fictitious horror brought into direct proximity with the real. Exploring perceptions of microbes across time and the resonance of specific tropes in television and eco-horror in the context of anthrax reveals an unstable theoretical and ecological landscape characterized by shifting human/biological relationships. Untangling this relationship more than 20 years after the last great anthrax-related challenge – the “Amerithrax” incident – and in recognition of the impact of COVID-19 on contemporary environmental humanities, it becomes possible to think of contagion as more than an epidemiological threat. Instead, contagion, as related to anthrax, can be identified as a window across time and place, one which assists in rethinking relationships to ecologies and environments. Two theoretical frameworks, the “outbreak narrative” as proposed by Priscilla Wald and the “hijacker model” introduced by Hannah Landecker, are deployed as lenses to introduce and think differently anthrax’s contemporary condition.
Ableism in the Air: Disability Panic in Stephen King’s The Stand
Authors: Young Alexis
Published: September 2024

This article uses Stephen King’s 1990, uncut release of his famous 1978 horror novel The Stand to reveal the ways the contemporary horror genre implements the language of pandemics and contagious disease to promote ableist ideas about disability. The horror novel villainizes an antagonist as a central function of its plot. When the antagonist is an airborne disease that inflicts disability and death upon its victims, the novel can be a site of production for what I term “disability panic,” a fear and disgust at the possibility of becoming disabled, and a contempt for those who already are. This article argues that The Stand calls attention to how stereotypes and misconceptions around illness-induced disability form in times of crisis. This article merges genre studies in horror, disability language, and rhetoric of disease in literature to uncover how King reveals that the language of the horror novel can contribute to a cultural fear and hatred of disability. This novel, though written decades ago, mimics the language of corona virus disease 2019 in current popular media. This article demonstrates how fear of airborne disease in a horror novel can increase fear of real-life pandemics and contribute to ableist views of those suffering from illness-related disability.
Study of technical means for heat generation, its application, flow control, and conversion of other types of energy into thermal energy
Authors: Ismayilzada Matanat , Abbasova Sevda , Novruzova Ulduza , Safarova Tarana
Published: September 2024

The relevance of the study of technical means for the production, management, application, and conversion of heat is conditioned by the rapid development of the energy sector, the global challenges of climate change, and the need for sustainable and efficient solutions for providing thermal energy, in connection with the need for energy efficiency, optimization of resource use, sustainability, and environmental compatibility, as well as technological progress and innovation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the problems associated with technical means for heat generation, identify shortcomings related to the production, use, and management of thermal energy flows, and consider technical devices for converting alternative types of energy into thermal energy to identify recommendations that would allow them to be used more efficiently. The main results of the study were the analysis of technical means and devices in the field of thermal power engineering and alternative energy, the main problems and shortcomings that lead to a decrease in the efficiency of the operation of technical means, heat loss, reduced comfort, and emissions of harmful substances into the environment, which can lead to a negative impact on human health, a decrease in quality, and other environmental problems.
Numerical modeling of site response at large strains with simplified nonlinear models: Application to Lotung seismic array
Authors: Di Buccio Francesco , Pagliaroli Alessandro
Published: September 2024

Site response analyses at large strains are routinely carried out neglecting the shear strength of soil and the stiffness degradation due to the increase in pore pressures, leading to unrealistic predictions of the seismic response of soil deposits. The study investigates the performance of a simplified nonlinear (NL) approach, implemented in the Deepsoil code, constituted by coupling a hyperbolic model incorporating shear strength with a strain-based semi-empirical pore pressure generation model. The first part of the study, based on a large one-dimensional parametric study, shows that above a shear strain of 0.1%, it is necessary to include shear strength in the site response modelling to get more realistic results. Then, the approach has been evaluated with reference to the well-known downhole Large-Scale Seismic Test array located in Lotung (Taiwan): numerical results have been compared with recordings in terms of acceleration response spectra and pore water pressure time histories at different depths along the soil profiles. The comparison shows that the NL simplified model is characterized by an accuracy comparable with more sophisticated advanced elasto-plastic NL analyses adopting essentially the same input data of the traditional equivalent linear approaches(shear modulus and damping curves) and simple physical-mechanical properties routinely determined during geotechnical surveys (i.e., shear strength, relative density, fine content). This approach is therefore recommended for site response analyses reaching large strains (i.e., soft soil deposits and moderate-to-high input motions).
Demographic Data for the Pre-Statistical Age (Late Sixteenth Century to 1870)
Authors: Pfister Ulrich , Fertig Georg
Published: September 2024

The article provides an overview of the historical organization of data collection on vital events and population in German territories during the pre-statistical era and briefly presents about a dozen related datasets. Data can be divided into the two categories of aggregate data on population and vital rates at the national, regional and community levels, and of nominative data at individual and household levels. The latter type of data is typically available only for individual communities or parishes. We illustrate the use of the datasets in published studies and point to directions for future research. The most important recent development concerns the increasing availability of indexed church records and online village genealogies, which offer a vast and little exploited potential for analysing the demographic patterns that prevailed prior to the onset of the demographic transition.
Methodological advances in formulation and assay of herbal resources-based topical drug delivery systems
Authors: Gunawardana Shehara , Dias Bhavantha
Published: September 2024

Medicinal plants have been utilized for centuries as a source of healing compounds, which consist of thousands of known bioactive molecules with therapeutic potentials. This article aims to explore and emphasize the significance of medicinal plants and bioactive compounds in the development of topical pharmaceutical formulations. The journey from the extraction of phytochemicals to the development of topical pharmaceutical formulations is described with the aid of scientific evidence selected from PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Articles published in English during 2018–2023 period were considered and selected randomly. The review discusses the extraction process of medicinal plants, solvent selection, and green synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Subsequently, various biological activities of plant extracts are elaborated especially focusing on antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and sun protection activities, along with the corresponding in vitro assays commonly employed for the evaluation. The article presents the process of compound isolation through bioactivity-guided fractionation and also the toxicity evaluation of isolated fractions. Finally, the formulation of medicinal plant extracts into topical pharmaceuticals is addressed, emphasizing the stability evaluation procedures necessary for ensuring product quality and efficacy.
Assessment of iron metabolism and iron deficiency in incident patients on incident continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
Authors: Yin Qinghua , Guo Na , Fu Ping , Zhong Hui
Published: September 2024

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate iron status and iron deficiency in incident continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients and identify influencing factors.

Methods

Patients with end-stage renal disease were enrolled. Clinical data of iron metabolism and biochemical and dialysis parameters during the first peritoneal dialysis evaluation were collected. Serum ferritin (SF) and transferrin saturation (TSAT) levels were evaluated, and independent influencing factors were identified by correlation and regression analyses.

Results

Of 1,128 adult CAPD patients, 41.2% had iron deficiency (ID), 15.7% had absolute iron deficiency, and 8.2% had functional iron deficiency. The average SF level was (276.8 ± 277.9) μg/L, and iron saturation was (29.8 ± 12.7)%. Additionally, 50.2 and 69.3% of patients reached targets in SF level and iron saturation recommended by the Chinese Society of Nephrology. SF level and TSAT were not correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate, whereas negatively correlated with platelet count and inflammatory factors. Low platelet count, presence of diabetes mellitus and high interleukin 6 levels were independent factors of lower TSAT.

Conclusions

ID is common in patients with CAPD. Women and those with thrombocytopenia, diabetes, and inflammation are at higher risk for iron storage or reduced iron utilization. In the initial CAPD stage, a reasonable iron supplement strategy may be established for CAPD patients with high-risk factors.
Topic Tendencies in Global Studies: Beyond the Boundaries of Regions and Disciplines in 30 Years of Publication Using Bibliometrics
Authors: Rozo-Higuera Carolina
Published: September 2024

This essay answers the research question: What are the main topic tendencies in Global Studies journals within 30 years of publication from 1989 to 2019? As Global Studies is an interdisciplinary field, the methodology being applied addresses the problem of analyzing fields of knowledge whose content shares research interests, objects of study and methods with others. I map the field, being aware of the crossroads between fields as an opportunity to show how, from the diversity of topics, fields nourish themselves from this intellectual richness and, at the same time, delineate their “own” space within the complex system of sciences. For this purpose, I use bibliometric tools for visualizing data such as VOSviewer and CiteSpace. The conclusions show (1) how an important percentage of content from Area Studies (Co-field of Global Studies) become “global” over time; (2) how disciplines merge through relationships among topics in global research; and (3) how topics about crisis, war, and health issues had already high occurrence degrees in the Global Studies field before the crisis of pandemics and war after 2019.
Development of fibre properties in mill scale: high- and low consistency refining of thermomechanical pulp (part 2) – Importance of fibre curl
Authors: Ferritsius Rita , Sandberg Christer , Rundlöf Mats , Ferritsius Olof , Daniel Geoffrey , Engberg Birgitta A. , Nilsson Fritjof
Published: September 2024

Increased knowledge on the correlation between pulp processing, fibre-properties and paper properties is required to improve fibre-based products. Part 1 of this investigation deals with the effects of HC and LC refining on fibre properties development. LC refining reduced curl and increased tensile index in a manner similar to hot disintegration whereas HC refining increased curl slightly. In this second part, the correlation between fibre curl and handsheet properties of thermomechanical pulp, subjected to low consistency (LC) refining and hot/cold disintegration is examined. Fibre curl decreased by laboratory disintegration and LC refining and showed a linear correlation with increased tensile index and tensile stiffness. Evaluation of fibre property distributions gave a more detailed description of the development of fibre properties. These revealed that disintegration and LC refining gave different fibre curl versus fibre length distributions, even when their average values were similar. These results confirm that analysing fibre property distributions contributes to a more detailed knowledge of the development of pulp quality. Hot disintegration before laboratory testing exaggerated pulp quality and increase internal fibrillation and can therefore be questioned. When hot disintegration is performed before pulp analyses, the impact of LC refining on paper properties may be misjudged.
A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial on the effect of Surya Nadi Pranayama practice on cognitive abilities in school children
Authors: Sathya Aravind , Arumugam Velan , Balakrishnan Arthi , Subramanian Kahlil , Annamalai Gayathri , Venkateswaran Sankaralingam Thirupathy , Ponnurangam Ramesh , Kuppusamy Maheshkumar
Published: September 2024

Background

Surya Nadi Pranayama is a yogic breathing technique that involves controlled breathing through the right nostril. The study aims to evaluate the effects of the 20-min practice of Surya Nadi pranayama (4 weeks) on cognition among schoolchildren, comparing it to observing a normal breathing pattern.

Methods

A randomized control study design will be adopted for this study with 100 school children with 12–16 years of age, will be recruited. Subjects will be randomly divided into the study and control groups. The study group will be advised to practice Surya Nadi Pranayama (n = 50), whereas the control group (n = 50) will be asked to relax in a sitting posture between 9 am and 10 am, Monday to Friday, for 20 min daily over 30 days.

Results

A baseline and post-intervention assessment will be performed for all the subjects a day before and after the intervention. The primary outcome measures are visual reaction time and auditory reaction time. The secondary outcome is critical flicker fusion frequency.

Conclusion

The potential benefits of this yogic breathing technique and the findings of this research may contribute to the development of interventions aimed at improving cognitive functioning in school-aged children. The study is prospectively registered in the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2024/05/067441).
Removal of acidic dyes; acid yellow 25 and acid red 4 from wastewater by degassed activated carbon
Authors: Gul AlSaba , Alam Sultan , Ilyas Muhammad , Zahoor Muhammad , Umar Muhammad Naveed , Ullah Riaz , Iqbal Zafar
Published: September 2024

Activated carbon was prepared at 300 °C and 600 °C, characterized by SEM, EDX and XRD, and was then used as an adsorbent for the removal of acidic dyes; acid yellow 25 and acid red 4. The activated carbon prepared at high temperature (600 °C) due to its high carbon contents and surface area was subsequently used as adsorbent for the selected dyes adsorption using batch adsorption approaches to estimate different adsorption parameters. For the estimation of kinetics and equilibrium parameters a number of kinetics and isotherm models were employed. Dyes were adsorbed on activated carbon surface at a high rate for the first 15 min, after which it began to diffuse into the micro pores and thus the process became steady. The rate constant was estimated for first and second order kinetics models. The maximum adsorption capacities recorded were 526.32 mg g−1 for acid red 4 and 555.55 mg g−1 for acid yellow 25. The enthalpy change values recorded were; 19.44 kJ mol−1 for acid yellow 25 adsorption and 16 kJ mol−1 for acid red 4 adsorption, meant that the process is endothermic. The negative values of Gibbs free energy change (−393.28, −1,515.48, −2,634.68 J mol−1) of acid red 4 and acid yellow 25 (−251.72, −1,058.06, −2,367.84 J mol−1) at tested temperatures, confirmed the feasibility and spontaneity of the adsorption processes. The adsorption of dyes on the carbon surface was diffusion-controlled process, as demonstrated by the linear graph of intraparticle diffusion model.