bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DEIKSIS RUANG DAN WAKTU DALAM FILM FORENSIC MEDICINE SONG CI KARYA HUGUOHAN
Authors: Adha T Kasa Rullah , Ulfah Nabila
Published: March 2023

Tujuan dari penelitian skripsi yang berjudul “Deiksis Ruang dan Deiksis Waktu dalam Film Forensic Medicine Song ci (法医宋慈 ) Karya Hu Guohan” adalah untuk mengetahui jenis deiksis ruang  (leksem lokatif ,leksem demonstratif ,leksem temporal) dan bentuk deiksis waktu (deiksis waktu kini, deiksis waktu ,deiksis waktu mendatang  deiksis waktu relatif) yang paling dominan ditemukan. Dalam penelitian ini penulis menganalisis bentuk dan penggunaan deiksis. Peneliti menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif .Data dalam penelitian ini ialah teks yang menjadi dialog percakapan pada film Forensic Medicine Song ci (法医宋慈 )Karya Hu Guohan .Berdasarkan hasil dan pembahasan, peneliti menyimpulkan bahwa deiksis ruang dan deiksis waktu dalam film Forensic Medicine Song ci (法医宋慈 ) Karya Hu Guohan penulis menemukan hasil data penelitian ada 71 deiksis ruang dan deiksis waktu yang terdiri atas 28 bentuk deiksis ruang dan  43 bentuk deiksis waktu. Selain itu, teori yang hasil penelitian menggunakan teori dari Bambang K.P ( 1984: 1 )menunjukkan penggunaan deiksis berhubungan dengan konteks tuturan. Deiksis mempunyai makna jika diperhatikan dan dapat diketahui melalui konteks tuturannya.
Diagnostic-therapeutic pathway and organizational model for gene therapy in the administration of congenital retinal dystrophies in real-life
Authors: Bandello Francesco , Battaglia Parodi Maurizio , Colombo Leonardo , Giansanti Fabrizio , Mennini Francesco Saverio , Pani Marcello , Parmeggiani Francesco , Procoli Ugo , Rizzo Stanislao , Scopinaro Annalisa , Sodi Andrea , Staiano Annamaria , Staurenghi Giovanni , Trama Ugo , Simonelli Francesca
Published: March 2023

Background: Leber congenital amaurosis is the first form of inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD) treated with a gene therapy approach using voretigene neparvovec (VN). To date, 42 patients have been treated, 25 of whom, treated at Clinica Oculistica Vanvitelli (Naples), have shown – after 45 days of treatment – a significant increase in dim-light visual function, a widening of the visual field, and an increase in central visual acuity.
Objective: A workshop has been organized to foster rapid access, investigate the current organizational scenario, and identify a value framework suitable for making gene therapy delivery efficient in terms of efficacy, safety, and sustainability.
Methods: The workshop involved 14 experts in clinical genetics, ophthalmology, and vitreoretinal surgery. All experts were subjected to questions related to three topics: diagnostic-therapeutic pathway of IRD patients, essential requirements for gene therapy delivery centres, and standardized model for therapy delivery. All contributions were judged to be of equal value.
Results: The panel identified: the steps of the diagnostic pathway to achieve early diagnosis; the essential criteria that delivery centres must possess in terms of experience, multidisciplinary team, and technical equipment; a standardized model for VN administration.
A network of few centres was identified as the best organizational model for VN delivery since it would ensure the gaining of experience and clinical excellence.
Conclusion: This paper provides a perspective that can be used as a starting point to standardize the diagnostic-therapeutic pathway of IRD patients and define the essential requirements that centres must meet for VN administration.
Voretigene Neparvovec for the Treatment of RPE65-associated Retinal Dystrophy: Consensus and Recommendations from the Korea RPE65-IRD Consensus Paper Committee
Authors: Han Jinu , Joo Kwangsic , Kim Ungsoo Samuel , Woo Se Joon , Lee Eun Kyoung , Lee Joo Yong , Park Tae Kwann , Kim Sang Jin , Byeon Suk Ho ,   on behalf of the Korea RPE65-IRD Consensus Paper Committee
Published: March 2023

Mutations in the RPE65 gene, associated with Leber congenital amaurosis, early-onset severe retinal dystrophy, and retinitis pigmentosa, gained growing attention since gene therapy for patients with RPE65-associated retinal dystrophy is available in clinical practice. RPE65 gene accounts for a very small proportion of patients with inherited retinal degeneration, especially Asian patients. Because RPE65-associated retinal dystrophy shares common clinical characteristics, such as early-onset severe nyctalopia, nystagmus, low vision, and progressive visual field constriction, with retinitis pigmentosa by other genetic mutations, appropriate genetic testing is essential to make a correct diagnosis. Also, fundus abnormalities can be minimal in early childhood, and the phenotype is highly variable depending on the type of mutations in RPE65-associated retinal dystrophy, which makes a diagnostic difficulty. The aim of this paper is to review the epidemiology of RPE65-associated retinal dystrophy, mutation spectrum, genetic diagnosis, clinical characteristics, and voretigene neparvovec, a gene therapy product for the treatment of RPE65-related retinal dystrophy.
Semaglutida no tratamento de obesidade e sobrepeso
Authors: Oliveira Izadora Pires de , Lino Fernando Garcia , Rabano Jéssica Laís Rossin , Silva Juliana Reis , Oliveira Ligia Zapata de , Pezzotto Poliana , Miranda Tiago Luis Machado , Brunhara Verônica Galvão , Oliveira Éric Àzara de , Rocha Carollayne Mendonça
Published: March 2023

Introdução: O aumento da prevalência da obesidade nas últimas décadas tornou-se um importante problema de saúde em todo o mundo. A semaglutida 2,4 mg uma vez por semana foi aprovada pelo FDA em junho de 2021 para o tratamento de indivíduos com sobrepeso/obesos. O objetivo deste estudo é investigar a eficácia e segurança da semaglutida no tratamento da obesidade de pacientes que não são portadores de diabetes mellitus. Metodologia: Refere-se a uma revisão integrativa da literatura que aborda qualitativamente sobre a eficácia da semaglutida no tratamento da obesidade e sobrepeso. A pergunta norteadora definida foi: “A semaglutida é eficaz no tratamento de obesidade e sobrepeso?”. A busca ocorreu nas principais bases de dados, a partir dos descritores “semaglutide”, “obesity” e “overweight”. Após a aplicação de todos os critérios de inclusão e exclusão, obteve-se uma amostra de 6 estudos. Resultados e discussão: Os artigos expostos neste estudo serviram para consolidar a segurança e eficácia do uso de semaglutida subcutânea na dose de 2,4 mg em pacientes não diabéticos, com o intuito de promover o emagrecimento e diminuição do risco cardiometabólico. Essa medicação se mostrou superior a placebo e a outro agonista de GLP-1, a liragutida. Os principais efeitos adversos são reações gastrointestinais, a exemplo de náuseas e diarreia, que tendem a diminuir com o tempo, como foi observado nos ensaios clínicos. Conclusão: O uso da semaglutida se mostrou seguro na dose de 2,4 mg, recomendada pela FDA e consolidada pelos diversos ensaios clínicos realizados nos últimos anos.
Percepção de graduandos de Química e Biologia sobre o ensino e aprendizagem da Bioquímica
Authors: Nicoletti Angelica , Loro Vania Lucia , Correa Guilherme Carlos
Published: March 2023

A bioquímica é uma disciplina que faz parte do currículo de cursos de licenciatura de química e biologia. Sua presença na grade curricular destes cursos consiste em ofertar ao aluno uma aprendizagem mais detalhada dos mundos da química e biologia que se fundem constituindo a bioquímica. Esta aprendizagem será utilizada por estes licenciados para seguir a carreira de pesquisador ou como futuros professores que irão atuar nas disciplinas de química e biologia do ensino médio. Como futuros docentes, estes alunos da licenciatura serão condutores de conhecimentos da bioquímica. Para que isto aconteça, os docentes que as ministram precisam ter a familiaridade e afinidade com a disciplina. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho buscou contextualizar como alunos de graduação dos cursos de química e biologia, se relacionam com a bioquímica, como se comporta seu gosto pelo processo de ensino e aprendizagem de seus conteúdos, quais temas na bioquímica elegem como importante um jovem conhecer. A avaliação foi efetivada mediante aplicação de um questionário para os alunos dos referidos cursos que estivessem em fase de estágio na graduação. Os alunos mostraram uma certa relação de desgosto, ao mesmo tempo que entendem a importância da bioquímica. Relataram também não ter direcionamento na disciplina de bioquímica sob o aspecto de como trabalhar com bioquímica no ensino médio. Desta forma, inferimos que há uma grande lacuna e distanciamento de saberes ofertados na Universidade aos graduandos e aqueles ofertados no ensino médio nas disciplinas de química e biologia no que diz respeito a contextualização da bioquímica.
Potencialidades e fragilidades do projeto de extensão “Alergia à Proteína do Leite de Vaca (APLV) e o cuidado com as crianças”, no período pós pandemia: um relato de experiência
Authors: Magalhães Karoline Melo , Vilar Suyane Alves de Queiroga , Lucena Maria Luíza Barros Paiva de , Ribeiro Núbia Kelly Rodrigues
Published: March 2023

A Alergia à Proteína do Leite (APLV) é a alergia alimentar que mais afeta crianças, desencadeando uma resposta imunológica variada que ocasiona uma série de sintomas, como diarreia e síndrome da alergia oral (SRO), afetando profundamente a qualidade de vida do paciente e de sua família. Em paralelo a isso, o desenvolvimento de ações de extensão acadêmica é fundamental para promover um trabalho contínuo de educação em saúde para a comunidade, inserindo o estudante em seu futuro local de atuação, oferecendo uma experiência essencial para o desenvolvimento pessoal e intelectual. O presente estudo tem como objetivo relatar a experiência de acadêmicos de Medicina de uma faculdade particular de João Pessoa/PB com o Projeto de Extensão “APLV e o Cuidado com Crianças”, descrevendo as atividades presenciais e virtuais realizadas durante o tempo de participação no projeto. Durante a experiência, pôde-se observar que o conhecimento do popular acerca da doença é, ainda, bastante escasso, despertando bastante curiosidade durante a realização de ações educativas em salas de espera. Por outro lado, notou-se que não houve interesse considerável dos profissionais da área da saúde em participar de oficinas de capacitação acerca da APLV, dificultando a disseminação de conhecimento. Por fim, conclui-se que ainda há barreiras para a disseminação da informação sobre a APLV, mas também que os meios digitais mostraram-se como excelentes ferramentas para se atingir um maior público-alvo e com maior efetividade.
Prevalência de complicações associadas à obesidade em mulheres com câncer de mama: uma revisão integrativa
Authors: Ribeiro Vitória Gonçalves , Silva Edileuda da , Matos Jamille de Araujo , Souza Alvaro Lucas Fernandes , Sousa Washington Miranda de , Queiroz Ana Beatriz Ribeiro , Cunha Samantha Cecilia Vera Cruz da , Almeida Jamile Aislin Silva de , Ferreira Paulo Henrique de Melo , Costa Camila Silva
Published: March 2023

O presente estudo objetivou revisar na literatura os efeitos que a obesidade tem sobre o desenvolvimento e maximização de sintomatologias e complicações em mulheres com câncer de mama. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de literatura, através da busca de artigos correspondentes ao objetivo deste trabalho nas bases de dados BVS, PubMed e periódicos CAPES, encontrando ao todo 13 artigos relacionados à temática que correspondiam aos critérios de inclusão. Estes estudos apontaram que em mulheres obesas com câncer de mama há maior prevalência se comparada às não obesas principalmente de complicações como a neuropatia periférica, riscos cardiovasculares e linfedemas, apontando também para maiores taxas de fadiga, alterações metabólicas e menor qualidade de vida nessa população, por outro lado, praticar exercícios físicos e manter hábitos alimentares saudáveis parece ter caráter preventivo contra essas intercorrências. Conclui-se que há uma forte associação entre obesidade e maior presença de complicações, bem como a prática de atividade física no pós-tratamento e hábitos alimentares saudáveis contribuem para menor recorrência desses sintomas, mostrando a necessidade de lançar mão de condutas específicas que busquem prevenir essas complicações e proporcionar maior conforto e qualidade de vida a essas pacientes.
Associação entre qualidade do sono e composição corporal de profissionais da saúde de um hospital universitário
Authors: Sousa Mycaele Aline Santana , Barros Gabrielly Martins de , Souza Fernanda Lopes , Vilar Thiana Magalhaes , Dias Raimunda Sheyla Carneiro , Batista Marta Maria da Silva Lira , Pinheiro Deborah Belo Paz
Published: March 2023

O artigo objetiva avaliar a associação entre a qualidade de sono e a composição corporal dos profissionais da saúde do Hospital Universitário de Teresina. É um estudo transversal prospectivo desenvolvido com profissionais da saúde do Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal do Piauí. Fizeram parte do estudo profissionais de saúde do HU UFPI de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 20 e 59 anos. As medidas antropométricas avaliadas foram: peso, altura, circunferência da cintura (CC) e do quadril (CQ). A avaliação pôndero estatural foi utilizado índice de massa corporal (IMC). A avaliação da composição corporal foi realizada pelo método de Bioimpedância Elétrica (BIA). Para a avaliação do sono foi aplicado o Índice de Qualidade de Sono de Pittsburg (PSQI). Foi realizada análise descritiva para caracterização dos participantes. As variáveis categóricas foram apresentadas por meio de frequências e porcentagens e as quantitativas por meio de média e desvio padrão. Para avaliação da associação entre as variáveis de interesse, foi realizado o teste t de student. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5. Como resultado participaram deste estudo 53 profissionais de saúde de ambos os sexos, a maioria do sexo feminino (83,0%), com idade entre 31 a 40 anos (56,6%). Em relação à formação profissional, 60,4% eram profissionais da enfermagem, 16,9%. Quanto ao estado nutricional, 58,5% dos pesquisados encontravam-se com sobrepeso ou obesidade, segundo IMC. Cabe ressaltar que grande parte dos participantes 60,4% estão com a qualidade do sono ruim, somente 18,9% afirmaram ser boa e 20,7% apresentaram distúrbio do sono.
Estresse em estudantes universitários
Authors: Meneses Aline Martins Diolindo , Santos Lucélia Campelo de Melo
Published: March 2023

Estresse é uma reação do organismo diante de um evento considerado como desafiador, em que há respostas psicológicas, físicas e hormonais, culminando com a quebra da homeostasia. Estudantes universitários representam amostras significativas de grupo acometidos por estresse. Com base nisso, o estudo objetivou realizar uma análise da produção científica sobre o estresse em estudantes universitários. Trata-se de uma revisão da literatura utilizando-se os bancos de dados: Pumed, Scielo e Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde - (BVS), utilizando os descritores: estresse, estudantes e universitários. Os resultados evidenciaram que o processo de profissionalização em uma Instituição de Ensino Superior - IES, desencadeia uma série de alterações emocionais no discente, que podem impactar na qualidade da formação, o que culmina com a necessidade das IES identificarem alunos, com estresse patológico, concomitante com a realização de ações voltadas para a saúde mental. Com base no estudo, concluiu-se que existe uma elevada ocorrência de estresse em estudantes universitários.
Uma breve análise do Instituto Brasileiro de Desenvolvimento Florestal (1967-1989): entre o desenvolvimento e a floresta
Authors: Casarin Luan Felipe Silva
Published: March 2023

O presente trabalho buscou abordar os embates entre as perspectivas desenvolvimentistas e conservacionistas no interior do Instituto Brasileiro de Desenvolvimento Florestal (IBDF) através da atuação de seus dirigentes, buscando identificar seus interesses e as disputas em torno dos projetos a serem implementados. Para tanto, além da revisão bibliográfica a respeito da temática, foi de fundamental importância a utilização do acervo da Hemeroteca Nacional Digital como forma de identificar os agentes envoltos ao instituto, suas respectivas ações e os conflitos provenientes desta. Desta maneira, compreendemos o Estado enquanto o resultante da relação conflituosa entre distintas frações de classe, e não meramente como um árbitro que visa o bem comum da sociedade, ou que seja um mero instrumento de uma classe dominante. No interior do IBDF, a expansão agrícola e desenvolvimentista sofreu oposição dos setores conservacionistas, ao passo que foi estimulada por grupos capitalistas. A contradição entre o desenvolvimento e a conservação da floresta se desenvolveu por todo período de existência da instituto, até chegar seu fim devido a sua inoperância, tanto em relaçao ao desenvolvimento econômico como das ações necessárias para a conservação da natureza.
Transformações e permanências do homem-pai no cuidado ao recém-nascido, no alojamento conjunto
Authors: Silva Cristiane Vanessa da , Olivo Katlen Susane da Silva , Alcântara Fernanda de Sá Coelho Pio , Coelho Cleydson Assis , Silva Danielle Menezes da , Oliveira Camilla Santos de
Published: March 2023

O objetivo deste estudo foi reconhecer as transformações e permanências do homem-pai no cuidado ao recém-nascido, no alojamento conjunto. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo, qualitativo com 15 homens-pais que acompanhavam suas parceiras no alojamento conjunto de uma maternidade do município do Rio de Janeiro. As entrevistas semiestruturadas ocorreram em outubro e novembro de 2022. Utilizou-se a técnica de análise temática. Resultados: A participação nos cuidados diários, na amamentação e o estreitamento dos laços afetivos foram pontuados como transformações do homem-pai. O foco da assistência centrado na mãe, e algumas controvérsias legais foram consideradas permanências desfavoráveis a paternidade ativa. Conclusão: os profissionais de saúde precisam acolher e incluir o pai no cuidado dos filhos, contribuindo para quebra de estereótipos e mudança de paradigma social em relação a paternidade corresponsável.
A BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE SOLUTION FOR BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
Authors: PODARAS ATHANASIOS , ŽIŽKA TOMÁŠ , NEJEDLOVÁ DANA , KUBÁT DAVID
Published: March 2023

The article introduces a modern business intelligence solution for facilitating business continuity and safety management proactive decisions in public organizations and units, which is currently tested in a public university for its effectiveness. The tool’s data dimensions, hierarchies and facts are based on the business continuity points method which is a modern approach for estimating proactively the recovery time and predicting the criticality level for individual business functions. From the constructed dataset, selected safety – related and highly critical business functions are used to validate the proposed contribution. The same functions are further used for estimating their availability rates and compare the results with the rates proposed by the university business continuity experts. The conducted research results indicated high accuracy when predicting criticality levels as well as computing availability rates for safety critical functions in the public university. The proposed BI tool facilitates both online analytical processing operations as well as machine learning activities.
Seed dispersal and tree legacies influence spatial patterns of plant invasion dynamics
Authors: Lu Yuanming , Xia Junfei , Magee Lukas J. , DeAngelis Donald L.
Published: March 2023

Invasive plant species alter community dynamics and ecosystem properties, potentially leading to regime shifts. Here, the invasion of a non-native tree species into a stand of native tree species is simulated using an agent-based model. The model describes an invasive tree with fast growth and high seed production that produces litter with a suppressive effect on native seedlings, based loosely on Melaleuca quinquenervia, invasive to southern Florida. The effect of a biocontrol agent, which reduces the invasive tree's growth and reproductive rates, is included to study how effective biocontrol is in facilitating the recovery of native trees. Even under biocontrol, the invader has some advantages over native tree species, such as the ability to tolerate higher stem densities than the invaded species and its litter's seedling suppression effect. We also include a standing dead component of both species, where light interception from dead canopy trees influences neighboring tree demographics. The model is applied to two questions. The first is how the mean seedling dispersal rate affects the spread of the invading species into a pure stand of natives, assuming the same mean dispersal distance for both species. For assumed litter seedling suppression that roughly balances the fitness levels of the two species, which species dominates depends on the mean dispersal distance. The invader dominates at both very high and very low mean seedling dispersal distances, while the native tree dominates for dispersal distances in the intermediate range. The second question is how standing dead trees affect either the rate of spread of the invader or the rate of recovery of the native species. The legacy of standing dead invasive trees may delay the recovery of native vegetation. The results here are novel and show that agent-based modeling is essential in illustrating how the fine-scale modeling of local interactions of trees leads to effects at the population level.
A peroxidase-like magneto-gold nanozyme AuNC@Fe3O4 with photothermal effect for induced cell apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro
Authors: Shi Xinglong , Liu Jifa , Wang Guannan
Published: March 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed and malignant cancers worldwide. Conventional therapy strategies may not completely eradicate the tumor and may cause side effects during treatment. Nano-catalytic therapy, as a novel strategy, has attracted a great deal of attention. This study aimed to synthesize a multifunctional magneto-gold nanozyme AuNC@Fe3O4 and evaluate its anti-cancer potential in HepG2 cells in vitro. The characteristics of AuNC@Fe3O4 were assessed using a transmission electron microscope, dynamic light scattering, and energy-dispersive X-ray. The photothermal performance and peroxidase (POD)-like activity of AuNC@Fe3O4 were detected, using thermal camera and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer, respectively. The anti-cancer potential of AuNC@Fe3O4 was examined using cell counting kit-8, live/dead cell staining, and apoptosis analysis. Further research on HepG2 cells included the detection of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lysosomal impairment. We observed that the AuNC@Fe3O4 had a small size, good photothermal conversion efficiency and high POD-like activity, and also inhibited cell proliferation and enhanced cell apoptotic ability in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, the AuNC@Fe3O4 enhanced ROS production and lysosomal impairment via the synergistic effect of photothermal and nano-catalytic therapies, which induced cell death or apoptosis. Thus, the magneto-gold nanozyme AuNC@Fe3O4 may offer a potential anti-cancer strategy for HCC.
Detection of the minimum concentrations of α-lactose solution using high-power THz-ATR spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Haiqing , Shi Wei , Hou Lei , Li Chunhui , Zhang Yusong , Yang Lei , Cao Juncheng
Published: March 2023

Terahertz (THz) technology has emerged as a promising tool for the qualitative and quantitative identification of markers containing major diseases, enabling early diagnosis and staged treatment of diseases. Nevertheless, the detection of water-containing biological samples is facing significant challenges due to limitations in high-power THz radiation sources and high-sensitivity detection devices. In this paper, we present a designed and constructed set of Terahertz-Attenuated Total Reflection (THz-ATR) spectrometer for high-sensitivity detection of liquid biological samples, which can dynamically maintain the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of THz detection signal of liquid biological samples at 40–60 dB. Our high-power THz-ATR spectroscopy can identify and quantitatively detect α-lactose aqueous solution with a minimum concentration of 0.292 mol/L. Moreover, we observed that the rate of change in the absorption peak position varied greatly between high and low concentration samples. Our high-power, high-sensitivity THz-ATR spectroscopy detection provides a rapid, accurate, and low-cost method for detecting disease markers such as blood and urine indicators. Additionally, this approach offers new perspectives for the refinement and in-depth detection of biomedical samples.
Green synthesis of MgO nanoparticles and its antibacterial properties
Authors: Rotti Rajeshwari B. , Sunitha D. V. , Manjunath Ramya , Roy Arpita , Mayegowda Shilpa Borehalli , Gnanaprakash A. P. , Alghamdi Saad , Almehmadi Mazen , Abdulaziz Osama , Allahyani Mamdouh , Aljuaid Abdulelah , Alsaiari Ahad Amer , Ashgar Sami S. , Babalghith Ahmad O. , Abd El-Lateef Amal Ezzat , Khidir Elshiekh B.
Published: March 2023

Magnesium oxide nanostructured particles (NP) were prepared using a simple solution combustion technique using different leaf extracts such as Mangifera indica (Mango - Ma), Azadirachta indica (Neem—Ne), and Carica papaya (Papaya—Pa) as surfactants. The highly crystalline phase of MgO nanostructures was confirmed by PXRD and FTIR studies for 2 h 500°C calcined samples. To analyze the characteristics of obtained material–MaNP, NeNP, and PaNP for dosimetry applications, thermoluminescence (TL) studies were carried out for Co-60 gamma rays irradiated samples in the dose range 10–50 KGy; PaNP and NeNP exhibited well-defined glow curve when compared with MaNP samples. In addition, it was observed that the TL intensity decreases, with increase in gamma dose and the glow peak temperature is shifted towards the higher temperature with the increase in heating rate. The glow peak was segregated using glow curve deconvolution and thermal cleaning method. Kinetic parameters estimated using Chen’s method, trap depth (E), and frequency factor (s) were found to be 0.699, 7.408, 0.4929, and 38.71, 11.008, and 10.71 for PaNP, NeNP, and MaNP respectively. The well-resolved glow curve, good linear behavior in the dose range of 10–50, KGy, and less fading were observed in PaNP as compared with MaNP and NeNP. Further, the antibacterial activity was checked against human pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A visible zone of clearance was observed at 200 and 100 μg/mL by the PaNP and NeNP, indicating the death of colonies by the nanoparticles. Therefore, PaNP nanomaterial is a potential phosphor material for dosimetry and antibacterial application compared to NeNP and MaNP.
Maternal immunization with pneumococcal surface protein A provides the immune memories of offspring against pneumococcal infection
Authors: Kono Masamitsu , Iyo Takuro , Murakami Daichi , Sakatani Hideki , Nanushaj Denisa , Hotomi Muneki
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is one of the most widespread pathogens in the world and one of the largest infectious causes of infant mortality. Although current vaccines have various benefits, antibiotic resistance and the inability to vaccinate infants less than one year old demands the development of new protective strategies. One strategy, ‘maternal immunization’, is to protect infants by passive immunity from an immunized mother, although its mechanism is still not fully understood.

Materials and methods

The current study aimed to acquire immunity against S. pneumoniae in infants by maternal immunization with pneumococcal common antigen, pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA). Four-week-old female mice were immunized with recombinant PspA intranasally twice a week for three weeks. Females were mated with age-matched males after immunization, and delivered offspring.

Results

The week-old offspring derived from and fostered by immunized mothers had more anti-PspA-specific antibody producing cells in the spleen than those derived from sham-immunized mothers. The offspring were raised up to four weeks old and were subcutaneously stimulated with recombinant PspA. The levels of anti-PspA IgG in sera after stimulation were significantly higher in the offspring derived from the immunized mothers and the induced specific antibody to PspA showed protective efficacy against systemic pneumococcal infection.

Discussion

Maternal immunization is suggested to be able to provide a sustained immune memory to offspring. The current study would be a milestone in the field of maternal immunization toward a universal pneumococcal vaccine.
A digital “flat affect”? Popular speech compression codecs and their effects on emotional prosody
Authors: Niebuhr Oliver , Siegert Ingo
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Calls via video apps, mobile phones and similar digital channels are a rapidly growing form of speech communication. Such calls are not only— and perhaps less and less— about exchanging content, but about creating, maintaining, and expanding social and business networks. In the phonetic code of speech, these social and emotional signals are considerably shaped by (or encoded in) prosody. However, according to previous studies, it is precisely this prosody that is significantly distorted by modern compression codecs. As a result, the identification of emotions becomes blurred and can even be lost to the extent that opposing emotions like joy and anger or disgust and sadness are no longer differentiated on the recipients' side. The present study searches for the acoustic origins of these perceptual findings.

Method

A set of 108 sentences from the Berlin Database of Emotional Speech served as speech material in our study. The sentences were realized by professional actors (2m, 2f) with seven different emotions (neutral, fear, disgust, joy, boredom, anger, sadness) and acoustically analyzed in the original uncompressed (WAV) version and as well as in strongly compressed versions based on the four popular codecs AMR-WB, MP3, OPUS, and SPEEX. The analysis included 6 tonal (i.e. f0-related) and 7 non-tonal prosodic parameters (e.g., formants as well as acoustic-energy and spectral-slope estimates).

Results

Results show significant, codec-specific distortion effects on all 13 prosodic parameter measurements compared to the WAV reference condition. Means values of automatic measurement can, across sentences, deviate by up to 20% from the values of the WAV reference condition. Moreover, the effects go in opposite directions for tonal and non-tonal parameters. While tonal parameters are distorted by speech compression such that the acoustic differences between emotions are increased, compressing non-tonal parameters make the acoustic-prosodic profiles of emotions more similar to each other, particularly under MP3 and SPEEX compression.

Discussion

The term “flat affect” comes from the medical field and describes a person's inability to express or display emotions. So, does strong compression of emotional speech create a “digital flat affect”? The answer to this question is a conditional “yes”. We provided clear evidence for a “digital flat affect”. However, it seems less strongly pronounced in the present acoustic measurements than in previous perception data, and it manifests itself more strongly in non-tonal than in tonal parameters. We discuss the practical implications of our findings for the everyday use of digital communication devices and critically reflect on the generalizability of our findings, also with respect to their origins in the codecs' inner mechanics.
YouTubers vs. VTubers: Persuasiveness of human and virtual presenters in promotional videos
Authors: Sakuma Hiroshi , Hori Ao , Murashita Minami , Kondo Chisa , Hijikata Yoshinori
Published: March 2023

With the recent advances in motion tracking technologies and three-dimensional computer graphics software, communication through avatars has become increasingly popular. Can avatars be sufficiently persuasive, when compared to traditional forms of interpersonal communication? What factors contribute to the persuasiveness of virtual influencers? Existing literature has studied the differences in persuasiveness between human and virtual speakers extensively, particularly in education. However, few studies have been conducted on product promotion. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the characteristics of persuasiveness for humans and virtual influencers, as well as the differences between them in this regard in a more modern and practical situation: product introduction videos used in influencer marketing. Specifically, we recruited participants to watch product introduction videos on YouTube, presented by either humans or avatars. The videos were similar, except for the appearance of the presenter. Before and after watching the videos, the participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their willingness to purchase the products and the characteristics of presenters' persuasiveness. The results show that although promotion via avatars can increase the participants' willingness to purchase, human influencers were more persuasive. However, the virtual YouTubers (VTubers) were more persuasive in certain product domains. VTubers who can change their appearance to match the product domain have potential for future applications. We also attempted to construct a model of persuasiveness in this pragmatic context based on Dyson's persuasiveness rating scale and the overall impression of the video. The degree of persuasiveness was found to be related to the presenters' likability, whether the presenter was a human or an avatar, the degree of familiarity between the presenter and the audience, the presenters' trustworthiness, and the quality as well as the entertainment level of the video. This model may be helpful for running successful promotions on YouTube. Our findings verify that avatars can be fairly persuasive in some situations, including promotional videos. These findings contribute to the future development of communication through avatars.
Study on shear characteristics of calcareous sand with different particle size distribution
Authors: Zhang Yongtao , Zhang Ruiyuan , Yu Chengcheng , Luo Huiwu , Deng Zhiqiang
Published: March 2023

For the island and reef project formed by filling calcareous sand, the problems of wide particle size distribution (PSD) and complex mechanical properties have to be faced. Therefore, in order to provide basic mechanical parameters for the construction of the island and reef project, triaxial shear tests were carried out on calcareous sands with five different typical PSDs. The results showed that as particle gradation became narrower, the axial strain corresponding to the strain-softening point all showed a decreasing trend and their differences gradually decreased; the confining pressure has a significant impact on the volumetric deformation modulus of calcareous sand with a wide PSD. The cohesion of calcareous sand showed a positive correlation with non-uniformity and curvature coefficients, while the variation of an internal friction angle showed a parabolic law; the internal friction angle also changes in the parabola with the change of fine particle contents. Furthermore, by establishing the PFC3D discrete element model, it was found that the numerical simulation results were in good agreement with the test results, which verifies the feasibility of the numerical simulation and the rationality of the mesoscopic parameter calibration. It was discovered that the wider the particle gradation range, the greater the axial strain corresponding to the critical coordination number; the sample with a narrow gradation interval was more likely to present a rotating displacement field to form a penetrating shear band. This study can provide design parameters for stability analysis of high and steep slopes in calcareous sand sites.
Factors contributing to and detracting from relational trust in leadership: The case of primary schools in South Africa
Authors: Baxter Jacqueline , Ehren Melanie
Published: March 2023

Trust in leadership is a key element in organizational effectiveness and the foundations of a successful school. However, this element of leadership is underexplored in terms of empirical work, concomitantly, distrusting school cultures have been identified as inhibitors of school improvement. This paper explores trust in leadership through a relationship-based perspective of trust, taking by taking the case of eight primary schools, in South Africa, to examine: Which factors positively influence trust in leadership of primary schools and which undermine it. The paper begins by conceptualizing trust and relational based trust in leadership before moving on to analyze trust in educational settings. It explores trust between leaders and staff and within staff member groups. From there the paper discusses the implications of the findings within the particular cultural context of South Africa. The paper concludes with a summary of factors detracting from and contributing to trust in leadership, and to what extent these align with relational trust in leadership and the construction of effective learning communities. In so doing, the paper raises awareness of the importance of trust in leadership in the context of South African Primary Education and how it can undermine leadership if not established throughout relationships in schools, offering insights for primary leaders working within the African context. It also questions the appropriateness of adopting a relational understanding of trust in distributed leadership in relation to this particular context.
The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on college enrollment: How has enrollment in criminal justice programs been affected by the pandemic in comparison to other college programs
Authors: Korotchenko Stan , Dobbs Rhonda
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected various aspects of our lives. For many, it has affected their ability to attend school. While some have switched to online classes, others have had to drop or delay college until later. Using official enrollment data for 12 public universities in the State of Texas, this study explores the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on student enrollment in criminal justice programs. A series of statistical techniques, including t-tests comparing pre- and post-pandemic enrollment numbers and panel data analysis models, are utilized to investigate the trends and changes in the program enrollments between 2009 and 2021. While in alignment with the existing research on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on college enrollment in general the authors have found a negative statistically significant effect of the pandemic on total college enrollment for all universities in the sample, no statistically significant effect of the pandemic was found on enrollment in criminal justice programs at 12 public universities. The effect was also non-existent for engineering and all social science programs combined. In contrast to all other programs studied herein, enrollment in natural science programs was found to be positively associated with the pandemic. Authors offer an explanation for these findings as well as suggest ideas for future research.
Dynamic changes of serum taurine and the association with gestational diabetes mellitus: A nested case-control study
Authors: Wang Jia , Wang Yuanyuan , Zheng Wei , Yuan Xianxian , Liu Cheng , Zhang Ya , Song Wei , Wang Xiaoxin , Liang Shengnan , Ma Xu , Li Guanghui
Published: March 2023

Objective

There is a lack of risk factors that can effectively identify gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in early pregnancy. It is unclear whether serum taurine in the first trimester and dynamic changes have different characteristics in GDM women. Whether these features are associated with the occurrence of GDM has not yet been elucidated. The main objective of this study was to observe the dynamic changes of serum taurine during pregnancy and investigate the relationship between serum taurine levels and GDM in the first and second trimesters.

Methods

This was a nested case-control study in 47 women with GDM and 47 age-matched normoglycemic women. We examined serum taurine at 8-12 weeks’ gestation and 24-28 weeks’ gestation. The serum taurine of the two groups was compared. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate how serum taurine was associated with GDM.

Results

The serum taurine concentration of GDM women was significantly lower than that of normoglycemic women in the first trimester(2.29 vs 3.94 μmol/L, P<0.001). As the pregnancy progressed, serum taurine concentration in normoglycaemic women decreased significantly(3.94 vs 2.47 μmol/L, P<0.001), but not in the GDM group(2.29 vs 2.37 μmol/L, P=0.249), resulting in the disappearance of differences between the two groups(2.47 vs 2.37 μmol/L, P=0.160). After adjustment for pre-pregnancy body mass index(BMI), fasting plasma glucose(FPG), and lipid profiles in the first trimester, the serum taurine concentration in the first trimester was negatively correlated with the risk of GDM(OR=0.017, 95% CI=0.003-0.107, P<0.001). Furthermore, dynamic change of serum taurine showed a significantly positive correlation with the risk of GDM(OR=9.909, 95% CI=3.556-27.610, P<0.001).

Conclusion

Low serum taurine concentration in the first trimester was significantly associated with the development of GDM. As the pregnancy progressed, the association between serum taurine and GDM disappeared in the second trimester, which might be related to the inhibition of taurine transporter(TauT) activity by high glucose.
High prevalence of sarcopenia and myosteatosis in patients undergoing hemodialysis
Authors: Fu Chen , Yan Dong , Wang Ling , Duan Fangfang , Gu Dalong , Yao Ning , Sun Mingke , Wang Di , Lin Xuya , Wu Yanglei , Wang Xiaofei , Cheng Xiaoguang , Zhang Dongliang
Published: March 2023

Background and purpose

Sarcopenia is highly prevalent (28.5–40.3%) in patients undergoing hemodialysis and leads to poor clinical outcomes. However, the association between muscle quality and sarcopenia in patients receiving hemodialysis remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the association between muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and proton-density fat-fraction (PDFF) in patients with sarcopenia undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods

Seventy-six patients undergoing hemodialysis for > 3 months were enrolled. Their handgrip strength (HGS), short physical performance battery (SPPB) performance, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) were measured. Sarcopenia was defined using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus update. All patients underwent quantitative magnetic resonance imaging. CSA and PDFF were measured for the thigh, trunk, and gluteus muscles.

Results

The prevalence of probable, confirmed, and severe sarcopenia in this study was 73.7%, 51.3%, and 22.4%, respectively. Older age (OR: 1.061, P < 0.003); lower body mass index (BMI) (OR: 0.837, P = 0.008), albumin (OR: 0.765, P = 0.004), prealbumin (OR: 0.987, P = 0.001), predialysis blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (OR: 0.842, P < 0.001), predialysis creatinine (OR: 0.993, P < 0.001), phosphorus (OR: 0.396, P = 0.047); lower CSA of the thigh (OR: 0.58, P = 0.035), third lumbar (L3) trunk (OR: 0.37, P = 0.004), gluteus minimus and medius (OR: 0.28, P = 0.001), and gluteus maximus (OR: 0.28, P= 0.001); and higher PDFF of the thigh (OR: 1.89, P = 0.036) and L3 trunk (OR: 1.71, P = 0.040) were identified as sarcopenia risk factors. The gluteus minimus and medius CSA was lower in patients with sarcopenia than in those without after adjusting for age and BMI (OR: 0.37, P = 0.017). Higher thigh (P = 0.031) and L3 trunk (P = 0.006) muscle PDFF were significantly associated with lower HGS. Furthermore, higher thigh (P = 0.011) and L3 trunk (P = 0.010) muscle PDFF were also inversely correlated with lower ASMI.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate the high prevalence of sarcopenia and myosteatosis in patients undergoing hemodialysis and might trigger a paradigm shift in intervention strategies for patients receiving hemodialysis.
Crosstalk between bone and muscle in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Wong Limy , McMahon Lawrence P.
Published: March 2023

With increasing life expectancy, the related disorders of bone loss, metabolic dysregulation and sarcopenia have become major health threats to the elderly. Each of these conditions is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly in more advanced stages. Our current understanding of the bone-muscle interaction is beyond mechanical coupling, where bone and muscle have been identified as interrelated secretory organs, and regulation of both bone and muscle metabolism occurs through osteokines and myokinesviaautocrine, paracrine and endocrine systems. This review appraises the current knowledge regarding biochemical crosstalk between bone and muscle, and considers recent progress related to the role of osteokines and myokines in CKD, including modulatory effects of physical exercise and potential therapeutic targets to improve musculoskeletal health in CKD patients.
Pharmacomicrobiomics and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A novel perspective towards possible treatment
Authors: Jia Liyang , Huang Shiqiong , Sun Boyu , Shang Yongguang , Zhu Chunsheng
Published: March 2023

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a major driver of mortality worldwide, is more likely to develop other cardiometabolic risk factors, ultimately leading to diabetes-related mortality. Although a set of measures including lifestyle intervention and antidiabetic drugs have been proposed to manage T2DM, problems associated with potential side-effects and drug resistance are still unresolved. Pharmacomicrobiomics is an emerging field that investigates the interactions between the gut microbiome and drug response variability or drug toxicity. In recent years, increasing evidence supports that the gut microbiome, as the second genome, can serve as an attractive target for improving drug efficacy and safety by manipulating its composition. In this review, we outline the different composition of gut microbiome in T2DM and highlight how these microbiomes actually play a vital role in its development. Furthermore, we also investigate current state-of-the-art knowledge on pharmacomicrobiomics and microbiome’s role in modulating the response to antidiabetic drugs, as well as provide innovative potential personalized treatments, including approaches for predicting response to treatment and for modulating the microbiome to improve drug efficacy or reduce drug toxicity.
Association of family income to poverty ratio and vibration-controlled transient elastography quantified degree of hepatic steatosis in U.S. adolescents
Authors: Tang Meiling , Liu Mingjiang , Zhang Ya , Xie Ruijie
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Inequality in socioeconomic status plays an important role in the prevalence of metabolic diseases in adolescents. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between family income and the degree of hepatic steatosis quantified by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) among U.S. adolescents.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included two cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2020. Multivariate linear regression and smoothing curve fitting were used to investigate the linear and nonlinear relationship between PIR and hepatic steatosis, respectively. Subgroup analysis and interaction tests were used to test whether this relationship was stable across groups.

Results

Of the 1,574 adolescent participants, 456 lived in poor households and 307 lived in wealthy households. After adjusting for all covariates, PIR (Ratio of family income to poverty) was significantly negatively associated with the degree of hepatic steatosis [-4.78 (-7.39, -2.17)], and this remained stable after converting PIR to a categorical variable. In addition, this significant negative association was more pronounced in women [-7.62 (-11.38, -3.87)], non-Hispanic blacks [-7.19 (-14.43, 0.06)], Mexican Americans [-6.80 (-13.63, 0.03)], and participants with BMI >30 cm2 [-10.83 (-19.70, -1.96)].

Conclusions

PIR was significantly and negatively associated with the degree of hepatic steatosis in US adolescents. Additional prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.