bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ASPECTOS POÉTICOS E PEDAGÓGICOS NAS CRIAÇÕES TEATRAIS DE PETER BROOK E ARIANE MNOUCHKINE
Authors: Fregoneis Gabriela P. , Barone Luciana Paula Castilho
Published: March 2024

Este artigo aborda um estudo comparativo entre os procedimentos teatrais dodiretor inglês Peter Brook, fundador do Centro Internacional de Pesquisa Teatral, e dafrancesa Ariane Mnouchkine, diretora do Théâtre du Soleil, a partir da interculturalidade, dosprocessos de criação (e sua condução pedagógica) e da atualização de Shakespeare –analisando as diferenças entre as abordagens dos encenadores em cada um destes aspectos.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Processos criativos; Pedagogia; Poética.
IMAGEM E CONVENÇÃO VISUAL: A QUESTÃO DA REPRESENTAÇÃO VISUAL A PARTIR DE UMA ANÁLISE COMPARADA ENTRE NELSON GOODMAN (LINGUAGENS DA ARTE) E CHARLES PEIRCE (SEMIÓTICA)
Authors: Vilaça Michelle Figueiredo , Freitas Artur
Published: March 2024

Este artigo de Iniciação Cientí­fica consiste numa análise teórica da questão da convencionalidade no campo das imagens e da representação visual. Para tanto, partiu-se dacomparação entre o pensamento de dois autores pontuais: o filósofo Nelson Goodman e o semioticista Charles Peirce.
PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Imagem, Representação, Nelson Goodman, Charles Peirce
AS INFLUÊNCIAS DE BERTOLT BRECHT NA ESCRITA DRAMÁTICA DO ESPETÁCULO TEATRAL SALMO 91 E DA OBRA CINEMATOGRÁFICA CARANDIRU
Authors: Câmara Ramon Mattos , Dória Lília Maria Fleury Teixeira
Published: March 2024

Análise da influência do pensamento de Bertolt Brecht na dramaturgia contemporâneabrasileira para cinema e teatro. Essa influência está mais presente do que se imagina e para tanto oautor analisa o roteiro do filme "Carandiru" e o texto dramático da peça teatral Salmo 91.Destacamos do pensamento brechtiano, com mais ênfase, o distanciamento crí­tico.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Teatro; cinema; distanciamento crí­tico e dramaturgia brasileira.
AS CONTRIBUIÇÕES DO CLOWN NO TRABALHO DO ARTISTA CÊNICO: EXPERIÊNCIA E FORMAÇÃO
Authors: Martins Suzanne , Ribeiro Everton
Published: March 2024

A intenção desta pesquisa é pensar sobre aspectos de valorização do clown naformação do artista cênico, bem como expandir o conhecimento acerca desta linguagem no meioacadêmico. Através de um breve panorama histórico e significativo sobre a figura do palhaçodesde a pré-história até a contemporaneidade, analisamos a contribuição deste ser com potênciatransformadora, na condição de experiência e formação do artista cênico, a partir de nossaspróprias experiências e formação.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: clown/palhaço, artista cênico, experiência, formação.
IMAGEM E METALINGUAGEM EM MULHER ARTIFICIALMENTE BRANCA
Authors: Saidel Henrique
Published: March 2024

Neste artigo, analiso o espetáculo Mulher artificialmente branca (2006), da companhia curitibana Barridos da Cena, procurando vislumbrar como a metalinguagem podese manifestar na criação e na formalização da encenação contemporânea. Quais são asimplicações estéticas (criativas, formais e de recepção) de um discurso cênico que assume ametalinguagem como forma de abertura e exposição do ato comunicativo, que ganha autoconsciênciae se vê (e se mostra) em toda sua inteireza convencional, codificada: teatralidade, metateatralidade.
PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Metalinguagem; Teatro de Imagens; Encenação; Teatro Curitibano.
DEFICIÊNCIA EM CENA: O CORPO DEFICIENTE ENTRE CRIAÇÕES E SUBVERSÕES
Authors: Teixeira Ana Carolina Bezerra
Published: March 2024

O presente trabalho tem como meta expor uma investigação acerca docorpo deficiente na cena artí­stica brasileira com base na experiência construí­da junto aRoda Viva Cia. de Dança. O trabalho busca a reflexão sobre a questão destes corpos atéentão considerados incapazes para tal prática e que inauguram na cena artí­stica umdespertar para novas possibilidades estéticas de movimento, criação e produçãoartí­stica. Destarte o papel do corpo deficiente na cena artí­stica contemporânea passa areivindicar um lugar além dos discursos do modelo institucional de inclusão e reivindicaespaços de criação cênica e o acesso ao mercado de trabalho nas artes.PALAVRAS CHAVE: Corpo, Cena Contemporânea, Deficiência.
Desafios e potencialidades no planejamento coletivo: a interdisciplinaridade como integração na prática pedagógica e na historicidade do sujeito
Authors: Ruas Franciele Pires , Araújo Rafaele Rodrigues de , Martinez Marcia Lorena Saurin
Published: March 2024

A proposta desse estudo visa investigar as potencialidades e desafios de um planejamento coletivo no âmbito do Projeto Novos Talentos, o qual oferta cursos para professores e estudantes da Educação Básica. Uma das atividades desenvolvidas ocorreu por meio de planejamentos no coletivo entre professores e licenciandos das diversas áreas das Ciências da Natureza e Matemática da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG. Dessa forma, por meio de um questionário aberto disponibilizado aos sujeitos envolvidos utilizamos a metodologia do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo que possibilitou a partir dos relatos dos mesmos, encontrarmos dois discursos coletivos: Integração na prática pedagógica e Historicidade do sujeito. Com a análise posterior dos discursos, percebemos que existiu a intencionalidade de um planejamento pautado no diálogo, negociação de pressupostos epistemológicos e metodológicos arraigados nos sujeitos. Sendo assim, ressaltamos que a prática interdisciplinar depende da predisposição de cada sujeito, considerando sua historicidade.
A produção cientí­fica com o tema PIBID na área de Ensino de Biologia
Authors: Ferraz Daniela Frigo , Dos Santos Fábio Seidel , De Francisco Antônio Carlos , Carletto Márcia Regina
Published: March 2024

O presente estudo objetivou analisar as produções cientí­ficas com o tema PIBID (Programa Institucional de Bolsa de Iniciação à Docência) na área de Ensino de Biologia em periódicos representativos da área de Ensino (2012 a 2014) e nas atas dos ENPECs (2009 a 2013) e investigar quais tem sido as contribuições dessas pesquisas para a formação de professores de Biologia. Detectou-se e analisou-se um conjunto representativo de 27 produções com o tema nessa área, sendo somente uma produção nos periódicos analisados, demonstrando a necessidade de se investir em pesquisas sobre o tema. Destaca-se entre os resultados encontrados, a contribuição do programa para promover uma formação inicial e continuada dos envolvidos em uma perspectiva que valoriza a prática cotidiana como lugar de construção de saberes mediante a análise crí­tica dessas práticas e da ressignificação das teorias a partir dos conhecimentos da prática.
Revelações sobre o trabalho do professor de inglês no Ensino Médio
Authors: Dias Sandra Marias Araujo , Mascarenhas Filho Aníbal de Souza , Andrade Ana Paula Oliveira Vale de
Published: March 2024

Este estudo pretende investigar as representações sobre o agir do professor de lí­ngua inglesa no Ensino Médio de uma escola pública. Para isso, consideram-se todas as dimensões (cognitivas, fí­sicas, sociais) do trabalho do professor, o que possibilita compreender posicionamentos docentes assumidos no processo de ensinar e aprender uma Lí­ngua Estrangeira (LE). Considerando a escrita como elemento de construção identitária (KLEIMAN, 2007) e o ensino como trabalho (MACHADO, 2004), esta pesquisa narrativa[1] analisará relatos publicados em um diário dialogado produzido por pesquisador e colaborador, baseados em situações de aula. Alinhando-se à noção da linguagem como fator fundamental para o desenvolvimento humano, defendida pelo Interacionismo Sociodiscursivo (ISD) e adotada como corrente teórico-metodológica neste estudo, buscamos respostas para: Que temas e caracterí­sticas constitutivas do trabalho do professor são revelados em um diário dialogado[2]? Em resposta, inicialmente, tratamos de questões relativas ao Ensino como território de formação docente (CAPES, 2013); após, discutimos trabalho docente e expomos seus fatores constituintes. Para fundamentar a análise dos dados, partiremos das noções de conteúdo temático e de agir docente, delineados nas esferas do ISD e das Ciências do Trabalho (AMIGUES, 2004; BRONCKART, 1999; MACHADO, 2007; CLOT, 1999/[2007]). Observamos que os temas levantados pelos colaboradores no diário retratam que trabalho docente configura-se como atividade situada, coletiva, interacional, marcada pelas regras de ofí­cio, prescritiva e instrumentada.[1] A pesquisa narrativa está naturalmente inserida no paradigma qualitativo, como podem atestar Connelly e Clandinin (1990).[2] O conceito de diário dialogado será abordado na próxima seção.
O Termo de Inspeção Escolar de Germano Wagenführ (1934)
Authors: Stentzler Márcia Marlene , Kobelisnki Michel
Published: March 2024

Este estudo tem como base o Termo de Inspeção, elaborado pelo professor e inspetor Germano Wagenführ, em 1934, o qual compõe o relatório do Grupo Escolar Professor Balduí­no Cardoso e Escola Complementar anexa, em Porto União (SC), região da 3ª Circunscrição Escolar. O excerto, integra o livro Termos de visitas das autoridades escolares, compõe o acervo do Arquivo da referida escola e abrange, de maneira irregular, o perí­odo compreendido entre os anos 1919-1939.O livro Termos de visitas das autoridades escolares foi inventariado pelo Núcleo de Catalogação e Pesquisas em História da Educação (Nucathe), instituí­do na Universidade Estadual do Paraná (Unespar), em 2009. Vinculado ao curso de Pedagogia do campus de União da Vitória (PR), tem como objetivo ampliar o conhecimento sobre a História da Educação na região Sul do Paraná e Norte de Santa Catarina. A iniciativa contribui para a compreensão do processo sócio histórico de organização da educação republicana na região, abrangendo os arquivos de bibliotecas, escolas, faculdades, acervos comunitários e particulares, cadernos escolares, atas, cartilhas, diários escolares, livros didáticos, entre outros.
An interactive visualization tool for educational outreach in protein contact map overlap analysis
Authors: Baker Kevan , Hughes Nathaniel , Bhattacharya Sutanu
Published: March 2024

Recent advancements in contact map-based protein three-dimensional (3D) structure prediction have been driven by the evolution of deep learning algorithms. However, the gap in accessible software tools for novices in this domain remains a significant challenge. This study introduces GoFold, a novel, standalone graphical user interface (GUI) designed for beginners to perform contact map overlap (CMO) problems for better template selection. Unlike existing tools that cater more to research needs or assume foundational knowledge, GoFold offers an intuitive, user-friendly platform with comprehensive tutorials. It stands out in its ability to visually represent the CMO problem, allowing users to input proteins in various formats and explore the CMO problem. The educational value of GoFold is demonstrated through benchmarking against the state-of-the-art contact map overlap method, map_align, using two datasets: PSICOV and CAMEO. GoFold exhibits superior performance in terms of TM-score and Z-score metrics across diverse qualities of contact maps and target difficulties. Notably, GoFold runs efficiently on personal computers without any third-party dependencies, thereby making it accessible to the general public for promoting citizen science. The tool is freely available for download for macOS, Linux, and Windows.1
Current developments and future perspectives of nanotechnology in orthopedic implants: an updated review
Authors: Liang Wenqing , Zhou Chao , Bai Juqin , Zhang Hongwei , Long Hengguo , Jiang Bo , Dai Haidong , Wang Jiangwei , Zhang Hengjian , Zhao Jiayi
Published: March 2024

Orthopedic implants are the most commonly used fracture fixation devices for facilitating the growth and development of incipient bone and treating bone diseases and defects. However, most orthopedic implants suffer from various drawbacks and complications, including bacterial adhesion, poor cell proliferation, and limited resistance to corrosion. One of the major drawbacks of currently available orthopedic implants is their inadequate osseointegration at the tissue-implant interface. This leads to loosening as a result of immunological rejection, wear debris formation, low mechanical fixation, and implant-related infections. Nanotechnology holds the promise to offer a wide range of innovative technologies for use in translational orthopedic research. Nanomaterials have great potential for use in orthopedic applications due to their exceptional tribological qualities, high resistance to wear and tear, ability to maintain drug release, capacity for osseointegration, and capability to regenerate tissue. Furthermore, nanostructured materials possess the ability to mimic the features and hierarchical structure of native bones. They facilitate cell proliferation, decrease the rate of infection, and prevent biofilm formation, among other diverse functions. The emergence of nanostructured polymers, metals, ceramics, and carbon materials has enabled novel approaches in orthopaedic research. This review provides a concise overview of nanotechnology-based biomaterials utilized in orthopedics, encompassing metallic and nonmetallic nanomaterials. A further overview is provided regarding the biomedical applications of nanotechnology-based biomaterials, including their application in orthopedics for drug delivery systems and bone tissue engineering to facilitate scaffold preparation, surface modification of implantable materials to improve their osteointegration properties, and treatment of musculoskeletal infections. Hence, this review article offers a contemporary overview of the current applications of nanotechnology in orthopedic implants and bone tissue engineering, as well as its prospective future applications.
Ethical implications of developing RNA-based therapies for cardiovascular disorders
Authors: Hostiuc Mihaela , Scafa Alexandru , Iancu Bogdan , Iancu Daniela , Isailă Oana-Maria , Ion Oana Mihaela , Stroe Ana , Diaconu Camelia , Epistatu Dragos , Hostiuc Sorin
Published: March 2024

The awareness concerning RNA-based therapies was boosted significantly after the successful development of COVID-19 vaccines. However, they can potentially lead to significant advances in other areas of medicine, such as oncology or chronic diseases. In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in the number of RNA-based therapies that were evaluated as potential treatments for cardiovascular disorders. One of the areas that was not explicitly assessed about these therapies is represented by their overall ethical framework. Some studies evaluate ethical issues of RNA-based treatments in general or targeting specific disorders (especially neurodegenerative) or interventions for developing RNA-based vaccines. Much less information is available regarding the ethical issues associated with developing these therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular disorders, which is the main aim of this study. We will focus our analysis on three main topics: risk-benefit analysis (including the management of public awareness about these technologies), and justice (in both research and clinical medicine).
Future buildings as carbon sinks: Comparative analysis of timber-based building typologies regarding their carbon emissions and storage
Authors: Dzhurko Daria , Haacke Ben , Haberbosch Asta , Köhne Linde , König Nora , Lode Frida , Marx Antonia , Mühlnickel Luka , Neunzig Nina , Niemann Annika , Polewka Henrieke , Schmidtke Lea , Von der Groeben Pia Luz Marie , Wagemann Karl , Thoma Farah , Bothe Clemens , Churkina Galina
Published: March 2024

The building and construction sector is responsible for a large share of carbon emissions resulting in the need to reduce them to mitigate climate change. Timber construction methods promise to lower emissions combined with biogenic carbon storage in the built environment. While there are several studies comparing the emissions of mineral-based and timber-based buildings, a consistent comparison of different timber-based building assemblies is still missing. This study compares carbon emissions from material production and carbon storage capabilities of four timber-based and two brick and reinforced concrete building assemblies. These assemblies were designed for a residential multi-storey building in Berlin, Germany. To compare and rank the carbon impacts of these assemblies we introduce a carbon storage-to-emission ratio. The calculations were performed using a Carbon Cycle Assessment Model implementation in Python. The results indicate an average reduction in carbon emissions of timber-based building assemblies by 32.6% to “Brick” and 40.4% to “Reinforced Concrete”, respectively. Across the timber-based building assemblies, the carbon emissions range between 85 t and 115 t, leading to an average of 105 t per building. Pronounced differences were observed in carbon storage, with the “Dowel Laminated Timber” building assembly storing more than three times the amount of carbon compared to “Light Weight Timber” assembly. To further reduce emissions from buildings and the construction sector and potentially enhance urban carbon storage, “Glue Laminated Timber” and “Dowel Laminated Timber” building assemblies were identified as the most promising.
Diet-induced hyperhomocysteinemia causes sex-dependent deficiencies in offspring musculature and brain function
Authors: Suszyńska-Zajczyk Joanna , Witucki Łukasz , Perła-Kaján Joanna , Jakubowski Hieronim
Published: March 2024

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), characterized by elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels, is a known risk factor for cardiovascular, renal, and neurological diseases, as well as pregnancy complications. Our study aimed to investigate whether HHcy induced by a high-methionine (high-Met) diet exacerbates cognitive and behavioral deficits in offspring and leads to other breeding problems. Dietary HHcy was induced four weeks before mating and continued throughout gestation and post-delivery. A battery of behavioral tests was conducted on offspring between postnatal days (PNDs) 5 and 30 to assess motor function/activity and cognition. The results were correlated with brain morphometric measurements and quantitative analysis of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/autophagy markers. The high-Met diet significantly increased parental and offspring urinary tHcy levels and influenced offspring behavior in a sex-dependent manner. Female offspring exhibited impaired cognition, potentially related to morphometric changes observed exclusively in HHcy females. Male HHcy pups demonstrated muscle weakness, evidenced by slower surface righting, reduced hind limb suspension (HLS) hanging time, weaker grip strength, and decreased activity in the beaker test. Western blot analyses indicated the downregulation of autophagy and the upregulation of mTOR activity in HHcy cortexes. HHcy also led to breeding impairments, including reduced breeding rate, in-utero fetal death, lower pups’ body weight, and increased mortality, likely attributed to placental dysfunction associated with HHcy. In conclusion, a high-Met diet impairs memory and cognition in female juveniles and weakens muscle strength in male pups. These effects may stem from abnormal placental function affecting early neurogenesis, the dysregulation of autophagy-related pathways in the cortex, or epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation triggered by HHcy during embryonic development.
Mitochondrial P-JNK target, SAB (SH3BP5), in regulation of cell death
Authors: Win Sanda , Than Tin Aung , Kaplowitz Neil
Published: March 2024

Cell death occurs in various circumstances, such as homeostasis, stress response, and defense, via specific pathways and mechanisms that are regulated by specific activator-induced signal transductions. Among them, Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) participate in various aspects, and the recent discovery of JNKs and mitochondrial protein SAB interaction in signal regulation of cell death completes our understanding of the mechanism of sustained activation of JNK (P-JNK), which leads to triggering of the machinery of cell death. This understanding will lead the investigators to discover the modulators facilitating or preventing cell death for therapeutic application in acute or chronic diseases and cancer. We discuss here the mechanism and modulators of the JNK-SAB-ROS activation loop, which is the core component of mitochondria-dependent cell death, specifically apoptosis and mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT)-driven necrosis, and which may also contribute to cell death mechanisms of ferroptosis and pyroptosis. The discussion here is based on the results and evidence discovered from liver disease models, but the JNK-SAB-ROS activation loop to sustain JNK activation is universally applicable to various disease models where mitochondria and reactive oxygen species contribute to the mechanism of disease.
Artificial intelligence for optimizing benefits and minimizing risks of pharmacological therapies: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Crisafulli Salvatore , Ciccimarra Francesco , Bellitto Chiara , Carollo Massimo , Carrara Elena , Stagi Lisa , Triola Roberto , Capuano Annalisa , Chiamulera Cristiano , Moretti Ugo , Santoro Eugenio , Tozzi Alberto Eugenio , Recchia Giuseppe , Trifirò Gianluca
Published: March 2024

In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in the generation and accessibility of electronic healthcare data, often referred to as “real-world data”. The landscape of data sources has significantly expanded to encompass traditional databases and newer sources such as the social media, wearables, and mobile devices. Advances in information technology, along with the growth in computational power and the evolution of analytical methods relying on bioinformatic tools and/or artificial intelligence techniques, have enhanced the potential for utilizing this data to generate real-world evidence and improve clinical practice. Indeed, these innovative analytical approaches enable the screening and analysis of large amounts of data to rapidly generate evidence. As such numerous practical uses of artificial intelligence in medicine have been successfully investigated for image processing, disease diagnosis and prediction, as well as the management of pharmacological treatments, thus highlighting the need to educate health professionals on these emerging approaches. This narrative review provides an overview of the foremost opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence in pharmacology, and specifically concerning the drug post-marketing safety evaluation.
Task complexity and foreign language writing emotions as predictors of EFL writing performance
Authors: Wu Libo , Halim Hasliza Binti Abdul
Published: March 2024

Emotions and task complexity have gained scant attention in EFL writing. This study, based on control-value theory and a positive psychology perspective, explores the relationship between task complexity, writing anxiety, writing boredom, writing enjoyment, and task complexity and writing emotions interaction on EFL writing performance among English major students in China’s educational context (N = 84). It has been found that difficult writing tasks can result in higher writing anxiety and lower writing boredom. By 6 × 2 between-subject ANOVA, there is a significant interaction of task complexity and different levels of writing anxiety, writing boredom, and writing enjoyment for the dimensions of language fluency, complexity, and accuracy among English major students in China’s educational context. This study is an initial step in extending the writing emotions and task complexity in the production of EFL writing, which promotes the mutual integration of emotion and cognition in EFL writing research and thus supplies suggestions for task-based EFL writing instruction.
Endocrine and non-endocrine causes of fatigue in adults with Neurofibromatosis type 1
Authors: Rosenberg Anna G. W. , Mochèl Ké , Hähner Lorena M. , Ruules Lara , Davidse Kirsten , Bos-Roubos Anja G. , van Dijk Sarah A. , Zillikens M. Carola , Taal Walter , van der Lely Aart J. , de Graaff Laura C. G.
Published: March 2024

Context

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a complex system disorder, caused by alterations in RAS pathways. NF1 adults often suffer from chronic and severe fatigue, for which they are frequently referred to Internal Medicine/Endocrinology. Seeking medical help often leads to (invasive) diagnostic procedures. To prevent the personal and financial burden of this disabling fatigue, it is crucial to know the causes.

Objective

To explore somatic causes and provide practical recommendations for the approach to fatigue in adults with NF1.

Design

Cross-sectional. All adults with NF1 (N = 133) who visited our Endocrinology department underwent a systematic health screening, including a medical questionnaire, structured interview, complete physical examination, biochemical measurements and additional tests if indicated.

Main outcome measure

Prevalence of endocrine and non-endocrine health problems between NF1 adults with and without fatigue.

Results

In our cohort, 75% of NF1 adults experienced fatigue. The most frequent endocrine disorders were vitamin D deficiency (28%), obesity (18%) and hypothyroidism (8%). The most frequent non-endocrine internal disorder was high blood pressure (42%). None of the disorders differed significantly between adults with and without fatigue.

Conclusions

Endocrine and non-endocrine disorders were equally present in our cohort of NF1 adults with and without fatigue. This suggests that the high prevalence of fatigue in NF1 adults is not explained by these somatic disorders. An alternative explanation for fatigue might be deficits in cognitive functioning and other neuropsychological processes in NF1. Based on our results and review of the literature, we provide a clinical algorithm for the approach to fatigue in NF1 adults, including somatic and psychological assessment.
Assessment of the severity of diabetic polyneuropathy aids in predicting the risk of developing diabetic complications in patients with untreated diabetes
Authors: Horinouchi Shuji , Deguchi Takahisa , Mukai Miki , Ijuin Ayako , Kawamoto Yudai , Nishio Yoshihiko
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to determine the efficacy of assessing the severity of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) in patients with untreated diabetes. Seventy-two patients with untreated type 2 diabetes who were hospitalized for glycemic control were enrolled and divided into the following two groups: patients who had no prior diagnosis and patients who were unattended or had discontinued treatment. Electrophysiological criteria consistent with Baba’s classification were used to diagnose and assess the severity of DPN. The patients were divided into three subgroups: no DPN (stage 0), mild DPN (stage 1), and moderate or more-severe DPN (stages 2–4). Intergroup comparisons were performed for the clinical characteristics and the results of the nerve conduction studies. Twenty-two (30%), 25 (35%), and 25 (35%) patients were categorized into the no DPN, mild DPN, and moderate or more-severe DPN subgroups, respectively. The number of patients who were unattended or had discontinued treatment in the moderate or more-severe DPN subgroup was significantly higher than that in the no DPN subgroup. The patients in the moderate or more-severe DPN subgroup had an increased risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy, with odds ratios of 19.5 and 11.0 for advanced stages of retinopathy and nephropathy, respectively. Thus, the assessment of the severity of DPN could aid in the prediction of the risk of developing diabetic complications in patients with untreated diabetes.
Differential protection scheme for distribution network with distributed generation based on improved feature mode decomposition and derivative dynamic time warping
Authors: Wang Lei , Song Xin , Jiang Weijian
Published: March 2024

With the progress of communication technology, the cost of optical fiber and 5G continues to decrease, and data transmission becomes more convenient and fast, making it possible to realize differential protection of distribution network by various intelligent algorithms using signal waveforms. Aiming at the problem that the traditional relay protection device can not meet the actual demand when the single-phase ground fault occurs in the distribution network with distributed generation, this paper proposes a new differential protection scheme. The characteristic mode decomposition improved by the whale optimization algorithm is used to decompose the zero-sequence current waveform collected at both ends of the line. Based on the basic principle of current differential protection, the derivative dynamic time warping of the component with the largest fault feature can effectively solve the problem that the grounding current of the distribution network cannot meet the working requirements of the differential protection device, and ensure the safe and stable operation of the system. Finally, based on MATLAB software, the performance of this method is comprehensively evaluated by simulating different fault conditions, so as to ensure the feasibility and accuracy of this method in the case of diversified faults when the distributed generation is used as part of the power supply.
Online insulator defects detection and application based on YOLOv7-tiny algorithm
Authors: Wu Sheng , Gan Xiangyan , Xiao Jian , Ma Cong , Deng Tianyi , Du Zhibin , Qiu Wei
Published: March 2024

As an indispensable part of the power transmission system, insulators are of great importance to the safe and stable operation of power grids in terms of their healthy and reliable operation. To realize real-time monitoring of insulator defects under a complex environment, this paper proposes an insulator defect detection method based on the You Only Look Once version 7-tiny (YOLOv7-tiny) algorithm. Then an edge device-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) inspection system is developed to verify the real-time performance of the algorithm. By introducing the structure intersection over union (SIoU) loss function to the YOLOv7-tiny model, the regression speed of the anchor frame can be effectively accelerated on the basis of the miniature model, to accelerate the model operation. Thereafter, a smooth sigmoid linear unit (SiLU) activation function is used in the network neck to improve the nonlinear representation ability; After that, an edge computing device based on NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX is established to verify the real-time performance of the method. Experimental results reveal mean average precision (mAP) of insulators and their missing series defects is as high as 98.31%. Besides, the detection speed of the designed model deployed to mobile edge devices can reach 35 frames per second (FPS), with real-time and accurate detection performance of insulators and their missing series defects.
Facilitating childbirth choice for positive postnatal mental health well-being among women: a Namibian case study
Authors: Mlambo S. , Amukugo H. J.
Published: March 2024

Childbirth affects women in a myriad of ways including feelings of tiredness, being overwhelmed, stressed, and having baby blues, and if not attended to, this can lead to postpartum depression, which is a mental condition that can have disastrous effects. Childbirth can affect the mental and physical status of a woman and having supportive midwives who guide women by giving adequate information is an issue of critical concern for a positive birth experience. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has emphasised the need to facilitate childbirth choices for women as a means of having a safe and memorable experience as the experience in childbirth affects the psychological status of a woman. Some women may experience worry and anxiety during labour and childbirth, which may be exacerbated by bias and a lack of childbirth choice facilitation during pregnancy. A negative childbirth experience may lead to negative psychological distress and postpartum depression, which will interfere with the bond between the mother, baby, and family. Midwives, thus, need to understand the emotional aspects that are attached to childbirth and be able to facilitate and support the emotional as well as the psychosocial needs of women under their care. However, there is a dearth of empirical evidence within the Namibian context that can provide direction and context-specific solutions to the present challenge. The current study followed a qualitative research design with an exploratory approach with one-on-one interviews with 10 midwives who were purposively selected. The midwives' experiences in this study depicted their zeal towards the issue at hand; however, what stood out were some barriers in the facilitation of childbirth choices (theme 1) as they expressed the shortages of staff, the timing of information, information sharing, and cultural influences as some of their experiences in facilitating childbirth. Furthermore, midwives shared a lack of provision for childbirth choice (theme 2) as the rights of women were not observed, and a lack of women-centred care despite protocols and guidelines being there, and yet they are not adhered to. In conclusion, midwives as primary caregivers actively need to provide unbiased childbirth information to achieve positive postpartum health. Initiating childbirth choices early in pregnancy gives women the time to weigh options and clearing of any misconceptions relating to childbirth types as well as reducing anxiety and fear of birth, which could lead to postpartum depression and by extension, the mental well-being of the women. Facilitating childbirth choices is critical in positive birth experiences and the management of childbirth as well as crafting guidelines and policy formulation that ensure a mentally healthy woman and society.
Systemic Inflammatory Response Index (SIRI) is associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in population with chronic kidney disease: evidence from NHANES (2001–2018)
Authors: Gu Linguo , Xia Zhenkun , Qing Bei , Wang Wei , Chen Hongzuo , Wang Juan , Chen Ying , Gai Zhengling , Hu Rui , Yuan Yunchang
Published: March 2024

Objective

To examine the correlation between SIRI and the probability of cardiovascular mortality as well as all-cause mortality in individuals with chronic kidney disease.

Methods

A cohort of 3,262 participants from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database were included in the study. We categorized participants into five groups based on the stage of chronic kidney disease. A weighted Cox regression model was applied to assess the relationship between SIRI and mortality. Subgroup analyses, Kaplan–Meier survival curves, and ROC curves were conducted. Additionally, restricted cubic spline analysis was employed to elucidate the detailed association between SIRI and hazard ratio (HR).

Results

This study included a cohort of 3,262 individuals, of whom 1,535 were male (weighted proportion: 42%), and 2,216 were aged 60 or above (weighted proportion: 59%). Following adjustments for covariates like age, sex, race, and education, elevated SIRI remained a significant independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality (HR=2.50, 95%CI: 1.62-3.84, p<0.001) and all-cause mortality (HR=3.02, 95%CI: 2.03-4.51, p<0.001) in CKD patients. The restricted cubic spline analysis indicated a nonlinear relationship between SIRI and cardiovascular mortality, with SIRI>1.2 identified as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in CKD patients.

Conclusion

Heightened SIRI independently poses a risk for both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in chronic kidney disease patients, with potentially heightened significance in the early stages (Stage I to Stage III) of chronic kidney disease.
Tumor‐derived exosomal PD-L1: a new perspective in PD-1/PD-L1 therapy for lung cancer
Authors: Wu Yunjiao , Fu Huichao , Hao Jingwei , Yang Zhaoyang , Qiao Xinyi , Li Yingjie , Zhao Rui , Lin Tie , Wang Yicun , Wang Meng
Published: March 2024

Exosomes play a crucial role in facilitating intercellular communication within organisms. Emerging evidence indicates that a distinct variant of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), found on the surface of exosomes, may be responsible for orchestrating systemic immunosuppression that counteracts the efficacy of anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) checkpoint therapy. Specifically, the presence of PD-L1 on exosomes enables them to selectively target PD-1 on the surface of CD8+ T cells, leading to T cell apoptosis and impeding T cell activation or proliferation. This mechanism allows tumor cells to evade immune pressure during the effector stage. Furthermore, the quantification of exosomal PD-L1 has the potential to serve as an indicator of the dynamic interplay between tumors and immune cells, thereby suggesting the promising utility of exosomes as biomarkers for both cancer diagnosis and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy. The emergence of exosomal PD-L1 inhibitors as a viable approach for anti-tumor treatment has garnered significant attention. Depleting exosomal PD-L1 may serve as an effective adjunct therapy to mitigate systemic immunosuppression. This review aims to elucidate recent insights into the role of exosomal PD-L1 in the field of immune oncology, emphasizing its potential as a diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic tool in lung cancer.
Integrated plasma metabolomic and cytokine analysis reveals a distinct immunometabolic signature in atopic dermatitis
Authors: Ma Emily Z. , Deng Junwen , Parthasarathy Varsha , Lee Kevin K. , Pritchard Thomas , Guo Shenghao , Zhang Cissy , Kwatra Madan M. , Le Anne , Kwatra Shawn G.
Published: March 2024

Importance

Disease models for atopic dermatitis (AD) have primarily focused on understanding underlying environmental, immunologic, and genetic etiologies. However, the role of metabolic mechanisms in AD remains understudied.

Objective

To investigate the circulating blood metabolomic and cytokine profile of AD as compared to healthy control patients.

Design

This study collected plasma from 20 atopic dermatitis with moderate-to-severe itch (score of ≥5 on the itch Numeric Rating Scale and IGA score ≥3) and 24 healthy control patients. Mass-spectrometry based metabolite data were compared between AD and healthy controls. Unsupervised and supervised machine learning algorithms and univariate analysis analyzed metabolic concentrations. Metabolite enrichment and pathway analyses were performed on metabolites with significant fold change between AD and healthy control patients. To investigate the correlation between metabolites levels and cytokines, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were calculated between metabolites and cytokines.

Setting

Patients were recruited from the Johns Hopkins Itch Center and dermatology outpatient clinics in the Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center.

Participants

The study included 20 atopic dermatitis patients and 24 healthy control patients.

Main outcomes and measures

Fold changes of metabolites in AD vs healthy control plasma.

Results

In patients with AD, amino acids isoleucine, tyrosine, threonine, tryptophan, valine, methionine, and phenylalanine, the amino acid derivatives creatinine, indole-3-acrylic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, L-carnitine, 2-hydroxycinnamic acid, N-acetylaspartic acid, and the fatty amide oleamide had greater than 2-fold decrease (all P-values<0.0001) compared to healthy controls. Enriched metabolites were involved in branched-chain amino acid (valine, leucine, and isoleucine) degradation, catecholamine biosynthesis, thyroid hormone synthesis, threonine metabolism, and branched and long-chain fatty acid metabolism. Dysregulated metabolites in AD were positively correlated cytokines TARC and MCP-4 and negatively correlated with IL-1a and CCL20.

Conclusions and relevance

Our study characterized novel dysregulated circulating plasma metabolites and metabolic pathways that may be involved in the pathogenesis of AD. These metabolic pathways serve as potential future biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the treatment of AD.
Restoration of herbivory on Caribbean coral reefs: are fishes, urchins, or crabs the solution?
Authors: Butler Mark J. , Duran Alain , Feehan Colette J. , Harborne Alastair R. , Hykema Alwin , Patterson Joshua T. , Sharp William C. , Spadaro Angelo Jason , Wijers Tom , Williams Stacey M.
Published: March 2024

That coral reefs are in decline worldwide, particularly in the Caribbean, will come as no surprise. This decades-long decline has reached a potential tipping point as the weight of the effects of climate change have come decidedly to bear on the planet’s most diverse marine ecosystem. Whether coral reefs can persist without restorative intervention is debatable, which has prompted a surge in coral reef restoration projects focusing primarily on the cultivation and transplantation of coral fragments onto degraded reefs. But that widespread approach does little to address the underlying causes of coral loss, one of which is the proliferation of macroalgae that are deleterious to corals. An emerging solution to this problem is the enhancement of herbivory on coral reefs through improved management of herbivores, artificial enhancement of herbivore settlement, or their mariculture and subsequent stocking. This review explores the nuances of the biology of well-studied Caribbean coral reef herbivores (fishes, sea urchins, and crabs) as it relates to their mariculture and investigates the promise of herbivore stocking onto coral reefs as a restoration strategy. Fish, urchin, and crab herbivores differ appreciably in life histories, which confers advantages and disadvantages with respect to their mariculture and effectiveness as grazers. Mariculture of herbivorous marine fish for reef restoration is essentially non-existent so the reestablishment of grazing fish abundance on coral reefs focuses primarily on their protection through fishery regulations, but only at a few locations in the Caribbean. Mariculture of herbivorous urchins and crabs for restoration purposes is in its infancy, but promising especially for crabs whose larval rearing is less difficult. Perhaps the biggest challenge for the mariculture of either taxon is “scaling-up” from research settings to large-scale mariculture needed for stocking. Numerous studies extol the benefits of functional redundancy and complementarity for coral reef ecosystem stability, but whether this principal applies to the restoration of grazing function is untested. We identify gaps in our knowledge of best practices for the restoration of grazing function on coral reefs and conclude with some practical guidance on the establishment of targets for macroalgal reduction, along with strategic advice on grazer stocking in a given reef habitat.
The association of three vaccination doses with reduced gastrointestinal symptoms after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Hong Yu , Che Tianyi , Shen Xiangguo , Chen Jie , Wang Kui , Zhao Lingying , Gao Weitong , Zhang Yao , Ge Wensong , Gu Yubei , Zou Duowu
Published: March 2024

Background

The protective efficacy of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination against the new-onset gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms following COVID-19 infection is critical among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, the optimal protective vaccine dose remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify whether there is a correlation between SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations and GI symptoms following Omicron infection in patients with IBD.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study of IBD patients among three tertiary hospitals in eastern China. Professional physicians collected all data using online questionnaires. The patients were stratified into four groups: patients who were unvaccinated and patients who received one, two, or three vaccination doses. The primary outcome was the presence of any new-onset GI symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection before a negative SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test or a negative self-testing for antigens.

Results

In total, 536 patients with IBD (175 unvaccinated, 31 vaccinated, 166 vaccinated with two doses, and 164 vaccinated with three doses) reported having COVID-19 infection. Compared with the unvaccinated, the three vaccination doses group was associated with reduced GI symptoms after infection (adjusted odds ratio = 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.34–0.90, P < 0.05). Reduced diarrhea (adjusted odds ratio = 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.31–0.92, P < 0.05) and nausea or vomiting (adjusted odds ratio = 0.45, 95% confidence interval 0.21–0.92, P < 0.05) were observed in the three vaccination doses group compared with the unvaccinated group.

Conclusions

In conclusion, in the 536 patients with IBD who reported COVID-19 infection, we found that the three vaccination doses, but not the one or two doses group, were associated with reduced GI symptoms after infection compared with the unvaccinated group.
Soil microbial community are more sensitive to ecological regions than cropping systems in alpine annual grassland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Authors: Luo Feng , Mi Wenbo , Liu Wenhui , Ma Xiang , Liu KaiQiang , Ju Zeliang , Li Wen
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Modern agriculture emphasizes the design of cropping systems using ecological function and production services to achieve sustainability. The functional characteristics of plants (grasses vs. legumes) affect changes in soil microbial communities that drive agroecosystem services. Information on the relationship between legume-grass mixtures and soil microorganisms in different ecological zones guides decision-making toward eco-friendly and sustainable forage production. However, it is still poorly understood how cropping patterns affect soil microbial diversity in alpine grasslands and whether this effect varies with altitude.

Methods

To fill this gap in knowledge, we conducted a field study to investigate the effects of growing oats (Avena sativa L.), forage peas (Pisum sativum L.), common cornflower (Vicia sativa L.), and fava beans (Vicia faba L.) in monocultures and mixtures on the soil microbial communities in three ecological zones of the high alpine zone.

Results

We found that the fungal and bacterial community structure differed among the cropping patterns, particularly the community structure of the legume mixed cropping pattern was very different from that of monocropped oats. In all ecological zones, mixed cropping significantly (p  < 0.05) increased the α-diversity of the soil bacteria and fungi compared to oat monoculture. The α-diversity of the soil bacteria tended to increase with increasing elevation (MY [2,513 m] < HZ [2,661 m]  < GN [3,203 m]), while the opposite was true for fungi (except for the Chao1 index in HZ, which was the lowest). Mixed cropping increased the abundance of soil fungi and bacteria across ecological zones, particularly the relative abundances of Nitrospira, Nitrososphaera, Phytophthora, and Acari. Factors affecting the bacterial community structure included the cropping pattern, the ecological zone, water content, nitrate-nitrogen, nitrate reductase, and soil capacity, whereas factors affecting fungal community structure included the cropping pattern, the ecological zone, water content, pH, microbial biomass nitrogen, and catalase.

Discussion

Our study highlights the variation in soil microbial communities among different in alpine ecological regions and their resilience to cropping systems. Our results also underscore that mixed legume planting is a sustainable and effective forage management practice for the Tibetan Plateau.