bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temperature Excursion Management: A Tier-Based Approach for Commercial Oral Solid Dosage Forms
Authors: Unnikandam Veettil Shalini Raj , Respicio Gianna , Zhang DeeDee , Garcia Daniel , Malta Stephanie , Long Hong
Published: October 2024

Temperature excursions during product storage, transportation, and handling can deteriorate product quality. Following a temperature excursion event, the impact of the event on the product quality should be evaluated to determine if the product can be used or if it needs to be discarded. Pharmaceutical companies are required to have defined procedures for managing temperature excursions and performing impact assessment after an excursion occurs. In an increasingly complex supply chain, it is vital to develop processes that can expedite the review of these events. A tier-based approach is presented for analyzing the impact of temperature excursion on commercial small molecule drug products intended to be stored at room temperature. Utilization of each of the three tiers is based on whether the excursion temperature and/or excursion duration are within a predetermined, product-specific, allowable range. The stress study temperature defines the allowable temperature range, while the allowable duration is determined using a mathematical approach outlined in this article. Tier 1, specific to the product, allows products to be dispositioned for use without further assessment when temperature excursion events fall within both the product-specific allowable excursion temperature and duration ranges. Tier 2 applies when the excursion temperature is within the allowable range, but the duration exceeds it. Lot-specific release data is used for impact assessment in this tier. Finally, Tier 3 utilizes Arrhenius extrapolation to predict the final degradation and perform the impact assessment when the excursion temperature surpasses the allowable temperature range.

Graphical Abstract
The Scribble–SGEF–Dlg1 complex regulates E-cadherin and ZO-1 stability, turnover and transcription in epithelial cells
Authors: Rabino Agustin , Awadia Sahezeel , Ali Nabaa , Edson Amber , Garcia-Mata Rafael
Published: October 2024

SGEF (also known as ARHGEF26), a RhoG specific GEF, can form a ternary complex with the Scribble polarity complex proteins Scribble and Dlg1, which regulates the formation and maintenance of adherens junctions and barrier function of epithelial cells. Notably, silencing SGEF results in a dramatic downregulation of both E-cadherin and ZO-1 (also known as TJP1) protein levels. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of this pathway are not known. Here, we describe a novel signaling pathway governed by the Scribble–SGEF–Dlg1 complex. Our results show that the three members of the ternary complex are required to maintain the stability of the apical junctions, ZO-1 protein levels and tight junction (TJ) permeability. In contrast, only SGEF is necessary to regulate E-cadherin levels. The absence of SGEF destabilizes the E-cadherin–catenin complex at the membrane, triggering a positive feedback loop that exacerbates the phenotype through the repression of E-cadherin transcription in a process that involves the internalization of E-cadherin by endocytosis, β-catenin signaling and the transcriptional repressor Slug (also known as SNAI2).
Understanding and Managing Atopic Dermatitis: Insights into Pathogenesis and Treatment Strategies
Authors: Szewczyk Kamila , Szewczyk Bartlomiej , Pytel Paulina , Krzesłowska Wiktoria Julia , Hołownia Weronika , Wiśniewski Szymon
Published: September 2024

Background:
Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as atopic eczema, is a common, chronic, non-infectious, relapsing-remitting inflammatory skin disease with increasing incidence globally. It results from a complex interaction of immune dysregulation, genetic mutations, and environmental factors, causing severe itchy skin lesions. AD affects 10-20% of children and 2-10% of adults in industrialized countries and often precedes other atopic diseases such as asthma.
Aim of the Study:
This study aims to summarize the current knowledge on atopic dermatitis, including its epidemiology, etiology, and treatment methods.
Materials and Methods:
A literature review was conducted using the PubMed database with keywords: "atopic dermatitis," "atopic eczema," "JAK inhibitors," "calcineurin inhibitors," and "AD systematic treatment."
Conclusion:
AD is a multifactorial disease involving epidermal barrier defects, genetic predispositions, and immune dysregulation. Effective management requires a combination of topical and systemic therapies. First-line treatments include emollients and topical corticosteroids, with newer options like phosphodiesterase inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, and biologics offering promising results. This study provides a comprehensive overview of AD, emphasizing the need for a multifaceted treatment approach.
‘We feel that warm breath in our necks’: experiences and impacts of criminalisation of environmental activism in Belgium
Authors: Visser Bram , Pali Brunilda
Published: September 2024

This article explores the multifaceted experiences and impacts of criminalisation on activists, focusing on the case of the Greenpeace activists arrested and trialled for occupying a gas terminal at the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium. Frustrated by their exclusion from political decision making and the ineffectiveness of traditional protest methods, environmental movements and groups like Greenpeace are increasingly turning to more contentious forms of protest, including non-violent civil disobedience. Our research highlights the significant relevance of studying civil disobedience within the broader context of the politics of crime. It reveals critical insights into how acts of civil disobedience are criminalised and the subsequent consequences for those involved. Through interviews with the activists, Greenpeace representatives, supporters, experts, and defence lawyers, as well as by attending the hearing, analysing media reporting, the judicial decision, and legislative developments, the article demonstrates that the criminalisation process was perceived as a form of intimidation, believed to have a ‘chilling effect’ on future civil disobedience in environmental activism. The criminalisation case reveals, therefore, significant impacts on the activists involved, their organisation, and the broader activist community, underscoring the need for continued scrutiny of legal measures that may threaten the right to protest.
Panorama de la música en el entremés representado del primer Barroco. El caso de Jerónimo de Cáncer
Authors: González Maya Juan C.
Published: September 2024

Abstract: This article examines an almost completely unexplored element in Jerónimo de Cáncer’s comic interludes (entremeses)—the music. Through analysis of his own works as well as comparative examinations of Cáncer’s theatrical practice with those of other dramaturgs who cultivated the entremés genre, including Pedro Calderón de la Barca and Luis Quiñones de Benavente, we find Cáncer at the forefront of artistic developments in the thriving genre of short-form theater. This panoramic examination of music in the entremeses reveals how Cáncer structured some of his most recognizable works to incorporate musical features in which a burlesque dimension adapted literary set pieces, folklore, proverbs, and witty double entendres to the dictates of rhythm. The resulting festive atmosphere, we find, left key textual signs of the protagonism of musicians and other theatrical professionals.
King of Kings of China: Central Asian Political Imagination After the Fall of the Tang
Authors: Wen Xin
Published: September 2024

abstract: As a reaction to the fall of the Tang dynasty (618–907), the kings of Khotan, a Middle Iranian-speaking oasis state in Central Asia, adopted Tang-style clothing, employed Chinese reign names, incorporated Chinese official titles in their government, and claimed to be "king of kings of China." In this article, I uncover this previously overlooked story of Central Asian political imagination through an analysis of multilingual (Chinese, Khotanese, and Tibetan) excavated documents and mural paintings from Dunhuang caves. Unlike many other self-styled Tang successors in eastern Eurasia in the tenth century, the Khotanese kings' claim is unique in its narrow adoption of the Tang legacy as first and foremost an imperial political apparatus. By creatively combining the Khotanese exogenous view of "China" with the understandings of Han, Tang, and zhongguo (central state) in their political language, the Khotanese kings crafted a uniquely non-dynastic way of imagining what "China" could mean. 摘要: 唐朝滅亡之後，中亞的于闐國王開始著漢式服飾，用漢文年號紀年，並在其政府中採用唐宋時期的一些官職。從于闐文材料可知，于闐國王甚至曾經號稱"震旦王中之王"。本文通過對多語言文獻的討論，揭示出這一段在中亞政治傳統中，對於中國王權的重新想象。
(Early) Modern Forms of Chinese Literary Play: Database, Interface, and Iconic Characters in Outlaws of the Marsh and Gensō Suikoden
Authors: Keulemans Paize
Published: September 2024

abstract: The Ming-dynasty novel Outlaws of the Marsh famously tells the tale of 108 heroes who band together to fight official corruption from their hideout in the marshes of Mount Liang. In the sixteenth-century novel, these characters are firmly embedded in a narrative that poses the initial assembly and final disbanding of this group of heroes as inevitable. But can we also think of these characters outside of the necessity of plot and the demands of fate? This paper examines these questions through one of the most popular remediations of Outlaws , the Konami-produced Japanese video game series Gensō Suikoden . To do so, this study draws on terms often associated with contemporary digital culture—database, interface, and algorithm—to question our assumptions about the novel, in particular the way we have prioritized the structure of plot over the charismatic attraction of characters, whether as individuals or as a group of 108. 摘要: 《水滸傳》中的一百單八好漢誕生於宋江起義的曆史背景以及明代的章回小說。但於古代讀者而言，他們的人格魅力不局限於此。本文著眼於日本電子遊戲 《幻想水滸傳》，通過現代數字文化來分析明代小說，解讀其中獨立於故事情節的特點進而探討如何看待人物形象。
Mark’s Unique Style of Embedding Citations: The Role of Cultural Memory and Oral Discourse
Authors: Dickie June F.
Published: September 2024

Abstract: Oral transmission of the gospel message and the importance of a community’s cultural memory have become important topics in biblical studies in the past forty years. In particular, the gospel of Mark has been recognized to have a strong oral base, as well as drawing on the community’s cultural memory in its use of Old Testament scriptures. This is apparent in various ways, including Mark’s unusual way of incorporating quotations and allusions within the narrative (significantly different to that of the other gospel writers). This paper describes Mark’s approach and indicates how his use of oral discourse gives an immediacy which makes it highly memorable, engaging all the senses of his audience. Moreover, his embedding of OT texts in the narrative calls upon the reader or hearer to get involved in the text to recognize the message Mark is highlighting: Jesus as the embodiment of God. To Mark Jesus is more than a fulfiller of written prophecies (the message transmitted by Matthew and Luke) but a living person, the one spoken of in Genesis, Psalms, and Isaiah.
Third Race Theory and Paul’s Theology of Identity: Toward an African Christian Identity
Authors: Sindo Vuyani Stanley
Published: September 2024

Abstract: Some Christian scholars, in their treatment of identity formation in Paul, tend to emphasise what is generally referred to as “the universalistic approach to Christian identity” or “third race theory.” This approach is built on four popular New Testament texts: Galatians 3:28 and Colossians 3:11, which speak of there being “neither Jew nor Greek” in Christ; 1 Corinthians 12:13, which addresses our unity in one baptism and one Spirit; and 2 Corinthians 5:17, which says that εἴ τις ἐν Χριστῷ, καινὴ κτίσις. In its treatment of identities in Paul, third race theory mostly emphasises the discontinuity between one’s previous and present identity to the point where it ignores some of the Pauline texts that speak about the continuation of those identities (i.e., 1 Corinthians 7:17–24; Romans 11:13 and 15:27). This article argues for a reconstruction approach to identity formation in Paul. It asserts that the “in Christ” event has brought about a significant change in the identity formation of Christ’s followers, but this change does not mean a complete abandoning of one’s ethnic identity. In view of this, the article seeks to investigate how the interplay between the gentile identity and being “in Christ” may be supportive of the formation of an African Christian identity.
Coherent Optical Technologies Shaping the Evolution of Passive Optical Networks
Authors: Jia Zhensheng
Published: October 2024

This paper introduces the evolution of PON technologies by ITU-T and IEEE. It evaluates the progress and limitations of IM-DD PONs, and presents the drivers for longer reach and higher split coherent PONs. The paper also explores key technology developments and options to simplify coherent designs for cost reduction.
High-accuracy fringe projection profilometry without phase unwrapping based on multi-view geometry constraints
Authors: Fu Yanjun , Luo Lin , Zhong Kejun , Li Fangfang
Published: October 2024

The number of fringes and phase unwrapping in fringe projection profilometry result in two key factors. The first is to avoid the problems of excessive fringe patterns, and the second is phase ambiguity. This paper presents a three-dimensional (3D) measurement method without phase unwrapping. This method benefits from the geometric constraints and does not require additional images. Meanwhile, epipolar rectification is performed to calibrate the rotation matrix relationship between the new plane of the dual camera and the plane of the projector. Subsequently, using depth constraints, the point pairs with incorrect 3D positions are effectively eliminated, and the initial parallax map is obtained by establishing epipolar lines of the left and right matching points in the projector domain, obtaining the intersection points, and setting up the threshold for filtering. Finally, a function combining the modulation intensity and phase is proposed to refine the parallax map such that the 3D result is insensitive to phase error. The standard step block and standard ball were used to verify the validity of the proposed method, and the experimental results showed that the root mean square error of the method was 0.052 mm.
Ultra-broadband multimode fiber-to-chip edge coupler based on periodically segmented waveguides
Authors: Sun Shijie , Fu Yushu , Li Shangrong , Ning Xia , Zhou Ziyu , Zhang Daming , Wang Xibin
Published: October 2024

Mode-division multiplexing (MDM) technology demonstrates a bright outlook for enhancing the capacity of chip-scale or fiber-based optical communication. Nevertheless, the fiber-to-chip MDM optical interconnects are hindered by the considerable mode mismatch and inter-modal cross talk between the few-mode fiber (FMF) and on-chip few-mode waveguide (FMW). In this Letter, a new, to the best of our knowledge, multimode coupling solution based on periodically segmented waveguides for the MDM system is proposed, which achieves efficient conversion between LP01, LP11a, and LP11b modes in FMF and E11, E21, and E12 modes in FMW with low refractive index difference. The simulation results show that the coupling loss is less than 0.41, 0.27, and 0.90 dB for the three modes, over the wavelength range of 1100–1800 nm. The fabricated device based on a polymer platform shows low fiber-to-chip coupling losses of less than 1.8, 1.7, and 3.0 dB, respectively, over a 130 nm wavelength. The presented scheme provides a competitive solution for realizing the ultra-efficient integration of prospective fiber-chip optical interconnections and communications.
Temporal analogs of electromagnetically induced transparency, induced absorption, and Fano resonance
Authors: Akhtar Muhammad Shaban , Naweed Ahmer
Published: October 2024

We describe the occurrence of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA), and Fano resonance due to time-controlled discontinuities in the refractive index of a medium, which leads to the formation of a double-cavity system inside a temporal photonic crystal. The temporal resonances partly resemble the optical resonances arising in conventional microcavities, since the amplified temporal EIA displays distinct spectral characteristics. Although an amplified EIT does not occur, a strongly amplified EIA affects the behavior of EIT as well. Besides modifying the temporal resonances via coupled-cavity interactions, we reveal refractive index-controlled temporal resonances. This computational study paves the way to probe the temporally driven coherent phenomena of EIT and EIA with potential applications such as slow-light, amplified fast-light, amplified ultranarrow bandwidth optical filters, and multicavity systems.
Shadow of a laser beam
Authors: Abrahao Raphael A. , Morin Henri P. N. , Pagé Jordan T. R. , Safari Akbar , Boyd Robert W. , Lundeen Jeff S.
Published: October 2024

Light, being massless, casts no shadow; under ordinary circumstances, photons pass right through each other unimpeded. Here, we demonstrate a laser beam acting like an object — the beam casts a shadow upon a surface when the beam is illuminated by another light source. We observe a regular shadow in the sense it can be seen by the naked eye, it follows the contours of the surface it falls on, and it follows the position and shape of the object (the laser beam). Specifically, we use a nonlinear optical process involving four atomic levels of ruby. We are able to control the intensity of a transmitted laser beam by applying another perpendicular laser beam. We experimentally measure the dependence of the contrast of the shadow on the power of the laser beam, finding a maximum of approximately 22%, similar to that of a shadow of a tree on a sunny day. We provide a theoretical model that predicts the contrast of the shadow. This work opens new possibilities for fabrication, imaging, and illumination.
Quantum computer-generated holography
Authors: Shimobaba Tomoyoshi , Ito Tomoyoshi
Published: September 2024

Hologram calculations pose a significant challenge for future holographic displays with extensive fields of view and wide viewing angles. Classical computers may encounter difficulties with these owing to immense computational demands. This study introduces quantum computer-generated holography (QGH) as a viable solution. QGH employs a point-cloud algorithm in which point-cloud data are represented by the superposition states of qubits, and lightwave interactions on the hologram are calculated using principles of quantum mechanics. QGH can accelerate hologram computation by a factor of $10^6$ in a 1 tera-pixel hologram from 1 tera-object points, compared to classical computer-generated holography. The study discusses advantages, limitations, and future directions.
Why aphid virus retention needs more attention: Modelling aphid behaviour and virus manipulation in non-persistent plant virus transmission
Authors: Falla Elin K. , Cunniffe Nik J.
Published: October 2024

Plant viruses threaten food security and are often transmitted by insect vectors. Non-persistently transmitted (NPT) plant viruses are transmitted almost exclusively by aphids. Because virions attach to the aphid’s stylet (mouthparts) and are acquired and inoculated via brief epidermal probes, the aphid–virus interaction is highly transient, with a very short aphid virus retention time. Many NPT viruses manipulate their host plant’s phenotype to change aphid behaviour to optimise virus transmission. Epidemiological models of this have overlooked a key feature of aphid NPT virus retention: probing or feeding on a plant causes aphids to lose the virus. Furthermore, experimental studies suggest aphids could possibly inoculate multiple healthy plants within one infective period if they do not feed. Consequences of this for virus manipulation of host plant phenotype have not been explored. Our new compartmental epidemiological model includes both behaviour-based aphid dispersal and infectivity loss rates, and the ability of infective aphids to probe multiple plants before virus loss. We use our model to explore how NPT virus-induced host phenotypes affect epidemic outcomes, comparing these results to representative previous models. We find that previous models behave fundamentally differently and underestimate the benefit of an ‘attract-and-deter’ phenotype, where the virus induces increased aphid attraction to infected plants but deters them from prolonged feeding. Our results also highlight the importance of characterising NPT virus retention upon the aphid during probing. Allowing for multiple infective probes increases disease incidence and the effectiveness of virus manipulation, with implications for epidemic prediction and control.
Breast tumor segmentation using neural cellular automata and shape guided segmentation in mammography images
Authors: Ali Mudassar , Wu Tong , Hu Haoji , Mahmood Tariq
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Using computer-aided design (CAD) systems, this research endeavors to enhance breast cancer segmentation by addressing data insufficiency and data complexity during model training. As perceived by computer vision models, the inherent symmetry and complexity of mammography images make segmentation difficult. The objective is to optimize the precision and effectiveness of medical imaging.

Methods

The study introduces a hybrid strategy combining shape-guided segmentation (SGS) and M3D-neural cellular automata (M3D-NCA), resulting in improved computational efficiency and performance. The implementation of Shape-guided segmentation (SGS) during the initialization phase, coupled with the elimination of convolutional layers, enables the model to effectively reduce computation time. The research proposes a novel loss function that combines segmentation losses from both components for effective training.

Results

The robust technique provided aims to improve the accuracy and consistency of breast tumor segmentation, leading to significant improvements in medical imaging and breast cancer detection and treatment.

Conclusion

This study enhances breast cancer segmentation in medical imaging using CAD systems. Combining shape-guided segmentation (SGS) and M3D-neural cellular automata (M3D-NCA) is a hybrid approach that improves performance and computational efficiency by dealing with complex data and not having enough training data. The approach also reduces computing time and improves training efficiency. The study aims to improve breast cancer detection and treatment methods in medical imaging technology.
Water‒soil-air‒plant mutual feedback mechanism under the application of red bed composite polymers
Authors: Chen Tianpeng , Cui Guangjun , Zhou Cuiying , Liu Zhen
Published: October 2024

Red bed composite polymers composed of weathered red bed soil, adhesive materials, and water-retaining materials have been applied as a new type of material for environmental restoration. However, the promotion and application of this material has been limited by a lack of understanding of its action mechanism in environmental restoration. The objective of this study is to innovatively propose a water‒soil-air‒plant mutual feedback mechanism based on this material. Therefore, water‒soil-air‒plant mutual feedback tests were conducted in this study under 3 initial water contents and 10 red bed composite polymers ratios. Key parameters, namely, water content, soil conductivity, pH, temperature, O2 and CO2 contents, pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) germination number and plant height were monitored and analyzed. As the results, a mutual feedback mechanism driving water retention, soil consolidation, air retention, and plant rooting was revealed under the application of red bed composite polymers. And, suitable environments and optimal compositions for this material are proposed. The study results provide a theoretical basis for the large-scale application of red bed composite polymers.
Does parents’ retirement influence the fertility intentions of subsequent generations among internal migrant populations? Evidence from China
Authors: Cai Tianxin , Ma Shilong , Zhong Renyao
Published: October 2024

Objectives

The fertility health of the migrating population has attracted significant attention. This article examines the impact of parental retirement on the fertility intentions of the offspring among the internal migrant population.

Methods

This study utilizes the mandatory retirement age system as an exogenous shock within a fuzzy regression discontinuity (FRD) experimental design to investigate the influence of parents’ retirement on the fertility intentions of their migrant offspring and potential mechanisms.

Results

The research findings indicate that parents’ retirement significantly reduces the fertility intentions of the migrant population by 34.4%. Mechanism analysis attributes this adverse effect to the reduction in intergenerational wealth transfer due to parent’s retirement. As the family’s economic situation worsens, the negative impact of retirement on fertility intentions becomes more pronounced. The childcare support mechanism provided by retired grandparents can partially offset the adverse effects of the income mechanism.

Conclusions

This study provides recommendations for enhancing policies related to delaying retirement age and childcare.
Prescribed fire regimes influence responses of fungal and bacterial communities on new litter substrates in a brackish tidal marsh
Authors: Dao Viet Q. , Johnson Crystal N. , Platt William J.
Published: October 2024

Processes modifying newly deposited litter substrates should affect fine fuels in fire-managed tidal marsh ecosystems. Differences in chemical composition and dynamics of litter should arise from fire histories that generate pyrodiverse plant communities, tropical cyclones that deposit wrack as litter, tidal inundation that introduces and alters sediments and microbes, and interactions among these different processes. The resulting diversity and dynamics of available litter compounds should affect microbial (fungal and bacterial) communities and their roles in litter substrate dynamics and ecosystem responses over time. We experimentally examined effects of differences in litter types produced by different fire regimes and litter loads (simulating wrack deposition) on microbial community composition and changes over time. We established replicated plots at similar elevations within frequent tidal-inundation zones of a coastal brackish Louisiana marsh. Plots were located within blocks with different prescribed fire regimes. We deployed different measured loads of new sterilized litter collected from zones in which plots were established, then re-measured litter masses at subsequent collection times. We used DNA sequencing to characterize microbial communities, indicator families, and inferred ecosystem functions in litter subsamples. Differences in fire regimes had large, similar effects on fungal and bacterial indicator families and community compositions and were associated with alternate trajectories of community development over time. Both microbial and plant community compositional patterns were associated with fire regimes, but in dissimilar ways. Differences in litter loads introduced differences in sediment accumulation associated with tidal inundation that may have affected microbial communities. Our study further suggests that fire regimes and tropical cyclones, in the context of frequent tidal inundation, may interactively generate substrate heterogeneities and alter microbial community composition, potentially modifying fine fuels and hence subsequent fires. Understanding microbial community compositional and functional responses to fire regimes and tropical cyclones should be useful in management of coastal marsh ecosystems.
Digitally mediated hospitality and algorithmic hostility in the platform economy: Emerging interactions across the virtual domain
Authors: Riordan Tyler
Published: September 2024

The platform economy continues to draw scholarly attention. However, the human impacts and social elements of platform work remain under-researched and poorly understood. Framed by Lashley’s domains of hospitality, this article investigates where and how platform-based food delivery workers – predominantly migrants – interact with others. This involved a multi-sited ethnography including face-to-face and digital participant observation (predominantly bicycle shadowing), and semi-structured interviews with food delivery workers and key stakeholders. The findings illustrate where interactions occur within the commercial, private and social domains of hospitality. The article then documents digital interactions that transpire beyond existing domains – demonstrating the need for a new virtual domain – which accounts for exchanges at the threshold of material and virtual contexts. The article then discusses how digital, physical and embodied artefacts are used to mediate hospitality. Finally, this article introduces the concept of algorithmic hostility to demonstrate how platforms, restaurant staff, customers and others utilize digital technologies and existing social divisions to exploit contingent workers – furthering our understanding of how people interact at the human-digital frontier.
A survey on relative Lipschitz saturation of algebras and its relation with radicial algebras
Authors: Da Silva Thiago , Schultz Netto Guilherme
Published: September 2024

In this work, we introduce Lipman’s work on relative Lipschitz saturation, along with its key categorical and algebraic properties, and demonstrate how Lipman proved that such a structure always gives rise to a radicial algebra.
Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in North-Central Nigeria
Authors: Olutola Ayodotun , Bola Gobir Ibrahim , Bazira Deus , Agboola Samson , Ohunene Sanni Fatimah , Akanbi Bello Azeez , Onyinyechi Havila Nnadozie , Adamu Aisha , Bello Fatima , Angmun Otubo Suzzy , Piring'ar Nyang Mercy
Published: October 2024

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has emerged as a major challenge to global efforts to control the pandemic, particularly in Nigeria, where hesitancy to other effective vaccines such as polio and measles has been widely reported. Several individual, societal, and structural factors contribute to this behaviour and prevent the effectiveness of COVID-19 prevention efforts.

Objectives
This study sought to identify the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the seven states of North-Central, Nigeria.

Methods
A population-based cross-sectional online survey was conducted among residents using a semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the WHO SAGE vaccine hesitancy scale and distributed via social media networks over 8-weeks.

Results
A total of 1,429 responses met the inclusion criteria and were analysed. Among the respondents, 60.7% were males, 47.5% were between the ages of 26 and 45, and 80.1% had postsecondary education. A total of 421 respondents (29.5%) were hesitant and unwilling to receive the vaccine. The reasons for hesitancy were concerns about side effects (37.1%), doubt about the existence of COVID-19 (11.0%), and the perception of time required to receive the vaccine (9.6%). Post-secondary education (AOR: 0.49, 0.36-0.66) and people of the Islamic faith (AOR: 0.68, 0.52-0.90) were found to be associated with lower levels of hesitancy.

Conclusion
The study found that vaccine hesitancy is a complex problem that is linked with multiple social determinants of health as lower educational attainment, lower income and Christian faith were found to be predictors of vaccine hesitancy. Confidence, Complacency and Convenience factors were expressed by respondents as concerns about side effects, doubt about the existence of COVID-19 and time required to receive the vaccines were the most prominent reasons for unwillingness to receive the vaccine. In order to protect the public health of communities, targeted interventions are required to increase vaccine acceptance by cultivating trust in vaccines, disseminating accurate information, and engaging with community stakeholders including religious groups.
Clinical meaning of high bone mineral density (Part I). Genetic diseases causing high bone mass
Authors: Skripnikova I. A. , Tsoriev T. T. , Polyakova E. Yu.
Published: September 2024

Over the nearly 40-year history of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the main focus has been on the diagnosis of low bone mineral density (BMD), i.e. osteoporosis, which has been the subject of many domestic and foreign publications. The problems associated with increased BMD and related not only to the difficulty of interpreting the results, but also to further patient management tactics have been covered significantly less. Most often, such cases pass unnoticed in routine clinical practice due to the orphan nature of many diseases leading to the development of pathologically high bone density, and, as a rule, are interpreted as a manifestation of osteoarthritis. Of course, arthrosis, scoliosis and other joint deformities (especially in the spine) are the cause of overestimation of BMD in most clinical situations. However, bone dysplasia, manifested by a diffuse or focal increase in BMD, can, like osteoporosis, be complicated by low-traumatic fractures; neurological and other complications, potentially leading to disability, also occur. Despite the extremely rare occurrence of these diseases, doctors’ insufficient awareness about the peculiarities of the clinical and radiological pattern and the course of sclerosing bone dysplasias can lead to errors in making a diagnosis, and first of all, to incorrect interpretation of the results of DXA. Our review aims to briefly describe genetically determined pathologies that cause an excessive increase in BMD, in order to attract the attention of the medical audience to this problem.
In vitro photoautotrophic cultivation of Melocactus zehntneri: insights from allometric characteristics from germination to acclimatization
Authors: Campos Joedna Alves , Mendonça Ane Marcela das Chagas , Nascimento Augusto Vinícius de Souza , Dias Geovane da Silva , Silva Luciano Coutinho , Santana Marlucia Cruz de , Júnior Carlos Dias da Silva , Santos Paulo Augusto Almeida
Published: October 2024

Melocactus zehntneri is a species of ornamental relevance suffering anthropogenic pressures, putting its preservation at risk. Thus, alternatives for propagating and conserving this species are needed. This study evaluated the effect of photoautotrophic cultivation of M. zehntneri to produce plants well acclimated to natural conditions. The seeds underwent different imbibition times before in vitro germination. Besides the growth room, a greenhouse hosted the photoautotrophic cultivation of seedlings. Vermiculite replaced agar in the culture medium. The imbibition pre-treatment in distilled water and the growth environments affected some parameters linked to germination. The greenhouse provided better characteristics for plants grown in vitro and for acclimatization than those kept in the growth room. Plants cultivated and acclimated ex vitro in a greenhouse photoautotrophic environment showed improved characteristics regarding ornamental significance.
Static Weapon Target Assignment Based on Battle Probabilities and Time Discounted Reward
Authors: Eung H. Nam , Jun K. Hyung
Published: October 2024

Target-based weapon-target assignment (WTA) aims to minimize the total value of enemies. It means that maximizing the total reduced value of the enemies is the objective of the target-based WTA. The reward of an assignment is typically set as the reduction in the enemy’s value when an ally and an enemy have combat, and the value is calculated by multiplying the current value of the enemy by the probability of the enemy’s survival after the combat. However, allies may be assigned to enemies who are far away if the reward is calculated similarly. Additionally, a method of calculating battle probability that reflects the characteristics and deployment of enemies and allies is needed in order to apply it in the defense industry. In this paper, we propose a target-based static weapon-target assignment to solve these problems. First, we propose a method to calculate battle probabilities for one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many combat. The probabilities are composed of 4 cases; ally-survival-enemy-survival, ally-survival-enemy-destroyed, ally-destroyed-enemy-survival, and ally-destroyed-enemy-destroyed. Then a time-discounted reward for assignment based on the battle probabilities is calculated to consider the time it takes to have combat. Finally, the tank combat simulation results are discussed. The performance of the proposed WTA algorithm is highlighted through an analysis of assignment results and a comparison of outcomes based on the application of time-discounted rewards.
The St. Meinrad Coal Member (Pennsylvanian)—Reference Sections from Spencer County, Indiana
Authors: Mastalerz Maria , Ames Phil , Eble Cortland , Hasenmueller Nancy , Padgett Penny
Published: October 2024

The purpose of this study is to (a) specify locations in Indiana that can serve as reference sections for the St. Meinrad Coal Member (Pennsylvanian) and (b) acquire more data to better correlate this coal with its equivalents in the Illinois Basin. The work focused on 1) a core from Indiana Geological and Water Survey drill hole (SDH) 537, latitude 38.180721 N, longitude 86.83895 W); and 2) an outcrop of the St. Meinrad Coal Member (latitude 38.147652 N, longitude 86.808903 W), both in Spencer County, Indiana. The borehole was drilled in November 2023 and the core is archived at the Indiana Geological and Water Survey Core Research and Teaching Repository, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. The St. Meinrad Coal Member was encountered at a depth of 44.25 to 48.45 ft (13.49 to 14.77 m), with a total coal thickness of 4.20 ft (1.28 m). On a whole-seam basis, the coal has an ash yield of 1.27 wt % and is 3.92 wt % in total sulfur. Petrographically, the coal consists of moderate amounts of vitrinite (77.12 vol %), liptinite (15.84 vol %) and inertinite (7.04 vol %). Palynologically, the coal is dominated by lycopsid tree spores (74.12 vol %), with reduced amounts of small lycopsid (13.4 vol %) and tree fern (6.14 vol %) spores. Small fern (0.9 vol %) and calamite (4.17 vol %) spores are uncommon to rare, as is cordaite pollen (0.96 vol %). The outcrop location has a coal thickness of 3.15 ft (96 cm). In outcrop, the coal is relatively clean in the middle part and is enriched in mineral matter at the top and bottom parts of the seam. The coal is underlain by claystone. Palynologically, the coal has similar spore assemblage to that documented from the core. The common occurrence of Endosporites globiformis and other stratigraphically diagnostic taxa in both locations warrant assignment of the St. Meinrad Coal Member to the early Atokan NG (Microreticulatisporites nobilis - Endosporites globiformis) miospore zone of the Illinois Basin, which correlates with the early Duckmantian strata of western Europe and Middle-Late Bashkirian strata worldwide. The palynologic data also indicate that, within the Illinois Basin, the St. Meinrad Coal Member is coeval with the Hawesville and Bell coal beds in western Kentucky.
The Relationship between Physical Education and Sports Teacher Candidates Attitudes toward the Teaching Profession and Levels of Satisfaction with Life
Authors: ÖZDEN Eslem , YAŞARTÜRK Fatih
Published: September 2024

This study aimed to examine the relationship between the attitudes of physical education and sports teacher candidates toward the teaching profession and their levels of satisfaction with life. The study population consisted of 203 students studying at Bartın University, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Department of Physical Education and Sports in the 2022-2023 academic year. The sample of the study comprised 165 volunteer students (98 male and 67 female) selected through a simple random sampling method. Data were collected using a personal information form for the candidates, the "Attitude Toward the Teaching Profession Scale (ATTPS)" and "Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)". The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage distribution, and arithmetic mean, as well as independent sample t-test and the pearson correlation analyses. The SPSS 26.0 software package was employed for data analysis. The study results revealed a significant difference in the mean total scores of ATTPS and SWLS based on the t-test results of the active engagement in sports variable (p<0.05). Regarding the family income variable, the correlation analysis indicated a moderate and positive significant relationship with mean SWLS total scores, while no significant relationship was found with mean ATTPS total scores (p<0.05). Similarly, for the leisure time variable, a moderate and positive significant relationship was identified with mean SWLS total scores, but no significant relationship was observed with mean ATTPS total scores (p<0.05). Moreover, a low and positive significant relationship was noted between ATTPS and SWLS (p<0.05). In conclusion, the study suggests that as physical education and sports teacher candidates' attitudes toward the teaching profession increase, their levels of satisfaction with life are likely to rise. Simultaneously, an increase in satisfaction with life may contribute to a higher level of positive attitude toward the teaching profession.
Right Ventricular Beneficial Effects of Intracoronary SERCA2a Gene Transfer in an Experimental Model of Heart Failure
Authors: Molina E. J. , Gupta D. , Palma J. , Gaughan J. P. , Macha Mahender
Published: September 2024

SERCA2a gene transfer ameliorates heart failure pathologic processes in left ventricular myocardium. We sought to assess the simultaneous molecular changes that occur in the right ventricle. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent aortic banding and were followed by echocardiography for development of heart failure. After a decrease in fractional shortening of 25 % from baseline, intracoronary injection of adenoviral-SERCA2a or adenoviral-β-galactosidase was performed. Successful gene transfer was confirmed by immunoblotting. Rats were randomly euthanized on post-operative day 7 or 21. Protein analysis including right ventricular levels of SERCA2a, βARK1, inflammatory mediators (IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α), apoptotic markers (Bax, Bak and Bcl-2) and MAPK (Jnk, p38 and Erk) was performed. Adenoviral-SERCA2a-treated animals showed increased right ventricular expression of SERCA2a compared with controls. Decreased levels of inflammatory markers were also demonstrated in this group. Expression of pro-apoptotic markers was similarly improved. Levels of MAPK were increased compared with the control group. These differences were most significant 7 days after gene transfer, but the majority of these changes persisted at 21 days. These results suggest that attenuation of pathologic mechanisms of calcium cycling, inflammation and apoptosis also occur in the right ventricular myocardium after SERCA2a gene transfer during heart failure. These findings support a therapeutic role for genetic manipulation of this pathway in patients with right ventricular or biventricular failure.
Polymorphisms of Genes for Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase, Tyrosine Hydroxylase, and Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase in Depression and Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Zeman Miroslav , Jáchymová M. , Jirák R. , Vecka M. , Tvrzická E. , Staňková B. , Žák A.
Published: September 2024

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome as well as the occurrence of depressive disorder, which are both connected with increased risk of diabetes mellitus type 2 and cardiovascular diseases, is continually increasing worldwide. These disorders are interconnected at various levels; the genetic one seems to be promising. Contribution of genetic factors to the aetiopathogenesis of depressive disorder weighs within the range 40–50 %, whereas the genetic background for the manifestation of metabolic syndrome is more complicated. In this pilot study, we investigated the incidence of polymorphisms in several genes supposed to play a role in the development of both depressive disorder and metabolic syndrome such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, tyrosine hydroxylase, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. The entire group consisted of 42 patients with depressive disorder, 57 probands with metabolic syndrome and 41 control individuals. We found that genotype Met/Met of the Val66Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene was positively associated with depressive disorder (P < 0.05), but we were not able to find any significant associations of both the depressive disorder and metabolic syndrome with the remaining polymorphisms studied (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677CT, methylenetet rahydrofolate reductase 1298AC, endothelial nitric oxide synthase Glu298Asp, and tyrosine hydroxylase).
MicroRNA miR-1 is Up-regulated in Remote Myocardium in Patients with Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Boštjančič E. , Zidar N. , Štajer D. , Glavač Damjan
Published: September 2024

MicroRNAs are small regulatory RNA molecules that mediate regulation of gene expression, thus affecting a variety of physiological, developmental and pathological conditions. They are believed to be new promising therapeutic targets. In recent studies two muscle-specific microRNAs were discovered to contribute to heart diseases and development: miR-1 and miR-133, but there is little data on their expression patterns in human myocardial infarction. We performed simultaneous expression analysis of miR-1, miR-133a, miR-133b in samples of infarcted tissue and remote myocardium from twenty-four patients with acute myocardial infarction. MicroRNA expression was analysed using quantitative real-time PCR and compared to the expression patterns in myocardium of eight healthy adults who died in accidents. We found ~3.8-fold miR-1 up-regulation in remote myocardium when compared to infarcted tissue or healthy adult hearts. As miR-1 has been shown in animal models and clinical studies to contribute to arrhythmogenesis by regulating pa cemaker channel genes, our finding of miR-1 up-regulation in patients with myocardial infarction in dicates that it might be responsible for the higher risk for arrhythmias in these patients. In addition, miR-133a/b down-regulation in infarcted tissue and remote myocardium was observed, indicating miR-133a/b involvement in the heart response to myocardial infarction. We conclude that miR-1 and miR-133 seem to be important regulators of heart adaptation after ischaemic stress.