bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy vs transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the management of upper limb spasticity in chronic-post stroke hemiplegia–A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Senarath Iresha Dilhari , Thalwathte Randika Dinesh , Pathirage Manoji , Kularatne Senanayake A. M.
Published: May 2023

Background

Traditionally both rESWT and TENS are used in treating post-stroke upper limb spasticity over years and their effectiveness had been assessed disjointedly. However, these methods were not yet compared for superiority.

Objectives

To compare rESWT vs TENS to assess their effectiveness in different parameters of stroke such as stroke type, gender, and the affected side.

Methods

The experimental group was treated with rESWT application to the middle of the muscle belly of Teres major, Brachialis, Flexor carpi ulnaris, and Flexor digitorum profundus muscles using 1500 shots per muscle, frequency of 5Hz, energy of 0.030 mJ/mm. The TENS was applied to the same muscles in the control group using 100 Hz for 15 minutes. Assessments were taken at the baseline (T0), immediately after first application (T1), and at the end of four-week protocol (T2).

Results

Patients 106 with a mean age of 63.87±7.052 years were equally divided into rESWT (53) and TENS (53) groups including 62 males, 44 females, 74 ischemic, 32 hemorrhagic, affecting 68 right, and 38 left. Statistical analysis has revealed significant differences at T1 and T2 in both groups. But at T2 compared to T0; the rESWT group has reduced spasticity 4.8 times (95% CI 1.956 to 2.195) while TENS reduced by 2.6 times (95% CI 1.351 to 1.668), improved voluntary control by 3.9 times (95% CI 2.314 to 2.667) and it was 3.2 times (95% CI 1.829 to 2.171) in TENS group. Improvement of the hand functions of the rESWT group was 3.8 times in FMA-UL (95% CI 19.549 to 22.602) and 5.5 times in ARAT (95% CI 22.453 to 24.792) while thrice (95% CI 14.587 to 17.488) and 4.1 times (95% CI 16.019 to 18.283) in TENS group respectively.

Conclusion

The rESWT modality is superior compared to the TENS modality for treating chronic post-stroke spastic upper limb.
Captive-reared Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) exhibit high survival in natural conditions using in situ enclosures
Authors: Baerwald Melinda R. , Kwan Nicole , Pien Catarina , Auringer Grace , Carson Evan W. , Cocherell Dennis E. , Ellison Luke , Fangue Nann A. , Finger Amanda J. , Gille Daphne A. , Hudson Haley , Hung Tien-Chieh , Sommer Ted , Stevenson Troy , Schreier Brian M.
Published: May 2023

Conservation of endangered fishes commonly includes captive breeding, applied research, and management. Since 1996, a captive breeding program has existed for the federally threatened and California endangered Delta Smelt Hypomesus transpacificus, an osmerid fish endemic to the upper San Francisco Estuary. Although this program serves as a captive refuge population, with experimental releases being initiated to supplement the wild population, it was uncertain how individuals would survive, feed, and maintain condition outside hatchery conditions. We evaluated this and the effects of three enclosure designs (41% open, 63% open, and 63% open with partial outer mesh wrap) on growth, survival, and feeding efficacy of cultured Delta Smelt at two locations (Sacramento River near Rio Vista, CA and in Sacramento River Deepwater Ship Channel) in the wild. Enclosures exposed fish to semi-natural conditions (ambient environmental fluctuations and wild food resources) but prevented escape and predation. After four weeks, survival was high for all enclosure types (94–100%) at both locations. The change in condition and weight was variable between sites, increasing at the first location but decreasing at the second location. Gut content analysis showed that fish consumed wild zooplankton that came into the enclosures. Cumulatively, results show that captive-reared Delta Smelt can survive and forage successfully when housed in enclosures under semi-natural conditions in the wild. When comparing enclosure types, we observed no significant difference in fish weight changes (p = 0.58–0.81 across sites). The success of housing captive-reared Delta Smelt in enclosures in the wild provides preliminary evidence that these fish may be suitable to supplement the wild population in the San Francisco Estuary. Furthermore, these enclosures are a new tool to test the efficacy of habitat management actions or to acclimate fish to wild conditions as a soft release strategy for recently initiated supplementation efforts.
An assessment of the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) situation in rural Volta Region, Ghana
Authors: Osarfo Joseph , Ampofo Gifty Dufie ,   UHAS School of Medicine Class of 2022, Arhin Yaw Attah , Ekpor Edith Esi , Azagba Charles Kofi , Tagbor Harry Kwami
Published: May 2023

Access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is a fundamental human right. However, inadequate and unequal access prevail in resource-poor settings and contribute to morbidity/mortality from diarrhoeal and other diseases. WASH-related access has improved in some districts in Ghana but little is known about the situation in many other parts. The WASH situation in two rural districts of the Volta Region was assessed to help identify specific areas for support in a cross-sectional study. Seven hundred and twenty (720) households were randomly selected and their household heads or representatives interviewed using a structured questionnaire in the Ho West and Adaklu districts. Data were collected on respondents’ demographic characteristics including education level, household characteristics including type of toilet facility and sources of water, 2-week prevalence of symptoms of water-borne diseases and handwashing practices. Summary statistics were conducted and Chi-square analysis done for association between selected variables. Results with a p-value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Almost all households (97.9%, 706/720) had access to improved water sources with piped water and sachet water being the most common. Also, 73.3% (526/718) of respondents had access to improved sanitation facilities but many of these were shared. A third of respondents (33.4%, 240/718) practiced open defecation. Significant differences existed between the Ho West and Adaklu districts regarding use of improved toilet facilities (92.1% vs 50.5%; p<0.001), in-house location of toilet facilities (51.2% vs 41.9%; p = 0.013) and in-house water sources (32.4% vs 13.5%; p<0.001). Up to 95% (679/718) of respondents indicated that they washed their hands with soap and water after using the toilet, before cooking and on arrival home from outside but these were suspected to be influenced by COVID-19 risk perceptions. Households need support to own toilet facilities in adequate numbers for household sizes. This would assist in minimizing open defecation.
Graph Neural Network: The Next Frontier in Deep Learning
Authors: A Pooja Sri Saraswathi , R Vijayabhanu , P Subashini , T T Dhivyaprabha , M B Jennyfer Susan
Published: May 2023

Graph Neural Network (GNN) is a graph based neural network that adopts the structure of graph to solve the complex problem. This poster highlight the types of GNN along with it application in the different fields like social networks, web connection data, molecular structures, geographic maps and so on. It also highlights the effectiveness of the GNN model in predicting and solving a wide range of real-world problems. Overall, the poster provides an overview of the current state of the art in GNN research and highlights its potential for further applications.
KEKERASAN TERHADAP PENGIKUT ALIRAN YANG DINILAI SESAT DALAM PERSPEKTIF HUKUM ISLAM (Studi terhadap Ahmadiyah di Indonesia)
Authors: Zuchairiyah Rofiqoh
Published: May 2023

Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, kekerasan yang dialami oleh anggota Ahmadiyah, kekerasan terjadi disebabkan karena doktrin masyarakat dan kelompok organisasi keagamaan yang menganggap Ahmadiyah telah keluar dari jalur Islam sehingga membuat keyakinan kelompok lain terusik termasuk kelompok keagamaan Islam di Indonesia. Negara wajib melindungi suatu agama yang dianut oleh suatu bangsa/Negara dan akan melindungi hukum-hukum yang ada di dalam agama itu dan mewujudkan keadilan sosial bagi seluruh rakyat Indonesia. Pemerintah harus bersikap tegas baik terhadap Ahmadiyah maupun masyarakat yang melakukan pelanggaran hukum, dengan dikeluarkannya SKB 3 Menteri akan melindungi anggota Ahmadiyah dari bentuk kekerasan apapun yang diperoleh dari kelompok tertentu dan masyarakat. Perlindungan hukum yang diberikan bagi anggota Ahmadiyah menurut Fiqh Siyasah dengan cara memberikan hak-hak asasi mereka sebagai manusia yang sama derajatnya dengan manusia yang lain, agar terciptanya suatu kedaulatan, keadilan, persamaan, dan persatuan dalam suatu negara. Islam sendiri memerintahkan kepada umatnya untuk berbuat baik terhadap yang lain dan melarang praktikpraktik kekerasan yang terjadi di masyarakat. Tujuan Islam sendiri untuk memelihara jiwa, akal, harta, agama, dan keturunan. Islam juga mengajarkan untuk berbuat baik dan hidup damai terhadap sesama manusia. Oleh karena itu, kekerasan yang dialami oleh anggotaAhmadiyah tidak dibenarkan dalam Islam dengan alasan apapun jugabaik berupa fisik maupun psikis.
PEREMPUAN DALAM LEGISLASI RUUK DI DPRD PROVINSI DIY
Authors: Mukaromah Lisa Aminatul
Published: May 2023

Secara garis besar dapat disimpulkan bahwa dalam menjalankan tugas sebagai anggota DPRD Provinsi DIY, pada proses legislasi RUUK DIY yang dalam hal ini hanya diwujudkan dalam satu kali pembahasan yakni Rapat Dewan ke 66. Keterwakilan secarakuantitas anggota dewan perempuan dalam rapat tersebut adalah 10 orang (83,33 %) hadir dan 2 orang (16,67%). Peran perempuan anggota legislatif yang menegaskan (dalam interupsinya saat rapat pembahasan muatan RUUK DIY berlangsung) bahwa yang harus ditetapkan sebagai Gubernur dan Wakil Gubernur adalah Sri Sultan HB X dan Sri Paku Alam IX telah sesuai dengan prinsipkemaslahatan/Maslahah. Dengan di sahkannya Gubernur dan Wakil Gubernur adalah Sri Sultan HB X dan Sri Paku Alam IX dengan penetapan tanpa harus diadakan pemilihan dalam RUUK DIY manfaat yang akan dirasakan masyarakat Yogyakarta akan lebih besar dari pada harus diadakan pemilihan. Peran perempuan anggota DPRD Provinsi DIY dalam pengambilan keputusan terhadap interupsinya sebagai Para wakil rakyat itu telah menjalankan amanah yang representatif kehendak masyarakat Yogyakarta. Dengan demikian prinsip-prinsip siyasah syar’iyyah yang mengandung unsur-unsur: (1) kebijakan, hukum atau aturan, (2) dibuat oleh penguasa, (3) diwujudkan untuk kemaslahatan bersama, dan (4) tidak bertentangan dengan prinsip umum syari’at Islam. Telah dijalankan oleh DPRD Provinsi DIY dalam proses legislasi RUUK baik oleh anggota dewan laki-laki maupun perempuan.
Damping-induced dispersion in simple waveguides
Authors: Kühne Anja
Published: May 2023

The goal is to gain a non-dimensional formulation of the complex wavenumber knowing the onedimensional partial differential equation for wave propagation and the harmonic wave approach. This can be disassembled into its components, namely the imaginary part, showing the decay of a wave, and the real part, showing its spatial propagation. Having an eye on damping in waveguides including internal and external damping, we discuss the resulting consequences, which are frequency-dependent phase and group velocities (dispersion), as well as the energy transport and dissipation. This bears relevance for many domains of physics such as seismic and electromagnetic waves.
Teletrabajo: percepción en las empresas grandes y medianas del Quindío (Colombia)
Authors: Mejía Vélez Silvia Helena , Betancur Echavarría María Teresa
Published: May 2023

Este artículo tiene como objetivo analizar la percepción que tienen algunas de las empresas del Quindío frente a la dinámica del teletrabajo y la implementación efectiva de esta modalidad. Se tomó una muestra de 71 empresas registradas en la Cámara de Comercio de Armenia y del Quindío a diciembre de 2020 que son catalogadas como mediana y gran empresa. La metodología de la investigación es cuantitativa, con un enfoque empírico analítico y descriptivo. Para la recolec-ción de información, se realizó una encuesta sobre el avance de las organizacio-nes en este proceso, la percepción de los líderes y colaboradores, y las dinámicas. Y como resultado se encuentra que existe un desconocimiento frente al tema, sus procedimientos y sus beneficios: el 67 % de las empresas no han contemplado el teletrabajo en su estrategia, el 24 % tienen claro que deben hacerlo y el 6 % no tienen intención de implementarlo. El teletrabajo tuvo una mayor implementa-ción en las áreas administrativas por motivo del aislamiento social causado por el covid-19 y esto permitió, en muchas ocasiones, la sostenibilidad. Sin embargo, el 73 % argumentan no sentirse preparadas o no querer continuar con el teletra-bajo en cualquiera de sus modalidades y afianzarlo en su cultura organizacional. Esta se convierte en una oportunidad para las universidades y el Estado al liderar procesos de sensibilización y formación en teletrabajo y cultura digital.
Classification of Facial Expression of Post-Surgical Pain in Children
Authors: Jiménez-Moreno Carolina , Aristizábal-Nieto Jenny Kateryne , Giraldo-Salazar Olga Lucía
Published: May 2023

There are certain difficulties in differentiating between children's facial expression related to pain and other stimuli. In addition, the limited communication ability of children in the preverbal stage leads to misdiagnosis when the child feels pain, for example, post-surgical conditions. In this article, a classification approach of facial expression of child pain is presented based on models of pre-trained convolutional neuronal networks from the study carried out in a Colombian hospital of level 4 (Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación), in the recovery areas of child surgery services. AlexNet and VGG (16, 19 and Face) networks are evaluated in the own dataset using the FLACC scale and their performances are compared in three experiments. The results show that the VGG-19 model achieves the best performance (92.9%) compared to the other networks. The effectiveness of the model and transfer learning for the classification of facial expression of child pain shows a promising solution for the assessment of post-surgical pain.
Georg Brandes and the Development of the Chinese Lyrical Tradition
Authors: Au C. T.
Published: May 2023

Georg Brandes (1842–1927) has had a significant influence on the development of the Chinese lyrical tradition since the beginning of the 20th century. During a panel on comparative literature at the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) in 1971, Chen Shih-Hsiang said that the “Chinese literary tradition as a whole is a lyrical tradition,” offering another perspective for interpreting the Chinese literary tradition. The Chinese lyrical tradition emphasizes expressing deep feelings (or embodying lyricism) in various art forms. When tracing the trajectory of the development of the Chinese lyrical tradition, one finds that Lu Xun’s “Moluo shi li shuo” (On the Power of Mara Poetry) (Mara Poetry) has had a profound impact on the formation of the lyrical tradition, which was proposed by Chen ShihHsiang in 1971, and has been consolidated by Chan K. K. Leonard since the 21st century. However, the important role that Brandes played in Lu Xun’s analysis in “Mara Poetry” has not received the attention it deserves. In fact, Lu Xun’s article is deeply indebted to Brandes’s Poland: A Study of the Land, People and Literature (Poland). In order to bridge this research gap, the aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, it attempts to examine the degree to which Brandes helped develop the Chinese lyrical tradition by identifying his influence on Lu Xun. Secondly, it traces the development of the tradition by delineating both Chen’s and Chan’s contributions. Chen’s research helps highlight the characteristics of A. Mickiewicz’s poetry introduced by both Brandes and Lu Xun, which were considered the major characteristics of the Chinese lyrical tradition by Chen later on. Chan’s study further suggested that the characteristics embodied in Mickiewicz’s poetry can also be found in Lu Ji’s (261–303 AD) “Wen Fu” (Essay on Literature).
An experimental investigation into the radiation-shielding performance of newly developed polyester containing recycled waste marble and bismuth oxide
Authors: Almuqrin Aljawhara H. , Yasmin Sabina , Abualsayed Mohammad Ibrahim , Elsafi Mohamed
Published: May 2023

To obtain better radiation shielding, a new polyester has been made by the combination of 40 wt% of polyester and 30 wt% of fine waste marble mixed along with PbO (30–0) wt% and Bi2O3 (0–30) wt%. A few significant shielding parameters such as linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), half-value layer (HVL), mean free path (MFP), and effective atomic number (Z
eff) have been measured experimentally using an HPGe detector. Theoretical values have also been calculated using XCOM software. With the aim of validating the experimental setup, the measured shielding parameters, such as LAC and HVL, have been compared with their theoretical analogs. At 0.662 MeV energy, the prepared new polyester’s HVL and MFP exhibited that the sample PWPBi-10 composed of polyester (40 wt%), fine waste marble (30 wt%), PbO (20 wt%), and Bi2O3 (10 wt%) provides the best shielding ability among other studied polyesters herein. The MFP behavior indicates that the ratio of Bi2O3 and PbO on these new polyesters has a direct impact on their radiation-shielding properties. It is noteworthy that new polyester PWPBi-10 exposed the lowest value of MFP compared to the rest of the studied samples. In conclusion, considering all the measured shielding parameters, it can be stated that the sample PWPBi-10 has the ultimate radiation diffusion capability among the rest of the studied samples.
Bridging the Gap: The Role of the Charity in Voluntary Public Good Provision
Authors: Karol Stephanie
Published: May 2023

This paper investigates how donors to food assistance charities respond to exogenous changes in recipients’ unmet needs. When food insecurity rises by one percentage point, the average food assistance charity increases fundraising by 0.9 %. Without this response, private contributions would have fallen by at least 0.2 %. These results are consistent with a model in which economic inequality simultaneously raises the donor’s marginal benefit of giving and reduces their awareness of the recipient’s circumstances. Charitable fundraising plays a key role in maintaining the charity’s revenues at a time when they are most needed.
Promising antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of essential oils extracted from fruits of Juniperus thurifera: In vitro and in silico investigations
Authors: Lafraxo Soufyane , Zouirech Otmane , El Barnossi Azeddin , Chelouati Tarik , Chebaibi Mohamed , Chebbac Khalid , Nafidi Hiba-Allah , Salamatullah Ahmad Mohammad , Bourhia Mohammed , Aboul-Soud Mourad A. M. , Bari Amina
Published: May 2023

The objective of this work was to characterize the phytochemical composition of essential oil from Juniperus thurifera (L.) fruits (EOFT) and study its antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal effects. EOFT was extracted by hydrodistillation and fingerprinted by using GC–MS. The antioxidant effect of EOFT was evaluated using 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric iron reduction assay (FRAP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assays. Importantly, the antimicrobial activity of EOFT was performed against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Proteus mirabilis. In addition, the inhibitory capacity of NADPH oxidase and human acetylcholinesterase was also investigated using molecular docking. The results of the chemical composition reveal that EOFT constituted 11 terpenic compounds with dominance of elemol (33.86%), terpinen-4-ol (27.80%), and cryptomeridiol (18.36%). The antioxidant power of EOFT recorded IC50 values of 197.07 ± 0.09 μg/mL (DPPH) and 216.34 ± 0.06 μg/mL (FRAP), while TAC of EOFT was determined to be 181.06 μg AAE/mg. The antibacterial potency on solid medium revealed that EOFT induced inhibition zone diameters reaching 14 mm, and a minimum concentration up to 2.78 µg/mL against the studied bacterial strains. The EOFT also showed an important antifungal effect as the inhibition reached 42%, and the MIC was between 7.50 and 22.25 µg/mL. The in silico study showed that o-Cymene was the most active molecule against NAD(P)H oxidase followed by cadinol with a Glide score of −5.344 and −5.143 kcal/mol, respectively. Due to their promising results, the outcome of this work suggests that EOFT could be used as an interesting natural weapon to control microbial and freed radical-related diseases.
Anatoly Kuznetsov, Author of Babi
Yar: The History of the Book and the Fate of the Author
Authors: Toker Leona
Published: May 2023

This Introduction to the special issue devoted to Anatoly Kuznetsov, author of Babi Yar: A Document in
the Form of a Novel, dwells on the different aspects of the book’s importance, surveys the life of the author as intertwined with the history of this book, suggests a way of reading his other work in the light of Babi Yar, and notes the contributions of the articles collected in this issue.
Milling route for the synthesis of nano-aluminium hydroxide for the development of low-density polymer composites
Authors: Rai Suchita , Chaddha Mukesh , Nimje Manoj , Bahadure Sneha , Mohanty Smita , Agnihotri Anupam
Published: May 2023

High loadings of coarse alumina trihydrate (ATH), commercially used in polymers as a fire-retardant filler, cause uneven dispersion and reduce workability and affect physicomechanical properties. Better tensile properties can be achieved by uniform dispersion of nanosize ATH in polymers while maintaining its flame-retardant properties. Consequently, mechanical milling, being a sustainable approach towards the creation of nano-size materials, was carried out to reduce the particle size of coarse ATH in a high-energy planetary ball mill. Investigations were carried out to optimize the milling parameters such as time, rotational speed, milling media size and feed size. During milling, some of the physical properties of ATH change. The energy profile was studied to get the desired product properties. Nano-ATH within the PP matrix reduces the loadings with improvement in tensile and flexural strength. Hence, lightweight PP/nano-ATH composites for suitable use can be developed.
Molecular mechanisms involved in fetal programming and disease origin in adulthood
Authors: Aguayo-Guerrero José Alfredo , León-Cabrera Sonia , Escobedo Galileo
Published: May 2023

Fetal programming occurs during the gestational age when exposure to environmental stimuli can cause long-term changes in the fetus, predisposing it to develop chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCD) in adulthood. Herein, we summarized the role of low-calorie or high-fat diets during pregnancy as fetal programming agents that induce intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), amplified de novo lipogenesis, and increased amino acid transport to the placenta, which favor the CNCD onset in the offspring. We also outlined how maternal obesity and gestational diabetes act as fetal programming stimuli by reducing iron absorption and oxygen transport to the fetus, stimulating inflammatory pathways that boost neurological disorders and CNCD in the progeny. Moreover, we reviewed the mechanisms through which fetal hypoxia elevates the offspring’s risk of developing hypertension and chronic kidney disease in adult life by unbalancing the renin-angiotensin system and promoting kidney cell apoptosis. Finally, we examined how inadequate vitamin B12 and folic acid consumption during pregnancy programs the fetus to greater adiposity, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance in adulthood. A better understanding of the fetal programming mechanisms may help us reduce the onset of insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and other CNCD in the offspring during adulthood.
Sub-to-super-Poissonian photon statistics in cathodoluminescence of color center ensembles in isolated diamond crystals
Authors: Fiedler Saskia , Morozov Sergii , Komisar Danylo , Ekimov Evgeny A. , Kulikova Liudmila F. , Davydov Valery A. , Agafonov Viatcheslav N. , Kumar Shailesh , Wolff Christian , Bozhevolnyi Sergey I. , Mortensen N. Asger
Published: May 2023

Impurity-vacancy centers in diamond offer a new class of robust photon sources with versatile quantum properties. While individual color centers commonly act as single-photon sources, their ensembles have been theoretically predicted to have tunable photon-emission statistics. Importantly, the particular type of excitation affects the emission properties of a color center ensemble within a diamond crystal. While optical excitation favors non-synchronized excitation of color centers within an ensemble, electron-beam excitation can synchronize the emitters excitation and thereby provides a control of the second-order correlation function g
2(0). In this letter, we demonstrate experimentally that the photon stream from an ensemble of color centers can exhibit g
2(0) both above and below unity, thereby confirming long standing theoretical predictions by Meuret et al. [S. Meuret, L. H. G. Tizei, T. Cazimajou, et al., “Photon bunching in cathodoluminescence,” Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 114, no. 19, p. 197401, 2015.]. Such a photon source based on an ensemble of few color centers in a diamond crystal provides a highly tunable platform for informational technologies operating at room temperature.
Stanley Cavell on the “Disgusting Child”: Ordinary Aesthetics and the Mental Health Crisis in Schools
Authors: Frank Jeff
Published: May 2023

This article explores Stanley Cavell’s ordinary aesthetics through a close reading of one passage inThe Claim of Reason. This close reading leads to the suggestion that educating our aesthetic sense and responsiveness has ethical implications, especially as these relate to the mental health crisis in schools. The article draws implications for individuals in caring relationships with young people, suggesting that Cavell’s thinking on ordinary aesthetics is a powerful tool in our time.
Challenges in correlating oxygen stable isotope ratios of hydrates on uranium ore concentrates to process waters
Authors: Chalifoux Aaron M. , Singleton Michael J. , Cisneros Miguel , Oerter Erik J. , Hanson Alexa B. , McDonald Luther W.
Published: May 2023

Exchange of oxygen stable isotopes (δ18O values) between precipitation waters and uranium oxides is governed by thermodynamics or kinetics. It has been assumed that meteoric waters can be related to precipitation waters in uranium ore concentrates and their calcined and reduced uranium oxide products. With this assumption, the δ18O values of uranium materials could provide forensic signatures that identify the production history and geolocation of nuclear materials. To further exploit the potential of δ18O values in nuclear material analysis, this study examines the oxygen stable isotope exchange in two UOCs, magnesium diuranate (MDU) and sodium diuranate (SDU). MDU and SDU were synthesized from solutions of uranyl nitrate hexahydrate using precipitation waters with unique oxygen isotope compositions. The structures of the MDU and SDU were analyzed using powder X-ray diffraction (p-XRD) and thermal mass loss curves, while the δ18O values of waters generated during thermal decomposition were analyzed using a thermogravimetric analyzer coupled to an isotope ratio infrared spectrometer (TGA-IRIS). By p-XRD, the MDU was uniform and amorphous across all syntheses with residual crystalline material incorporated as a minor component. Combined with the TGA results, all of the MDU is likely amorphous MgU2O7·3H2O with MgO impurities present throughout. In contrast, the SDU synthesis resulted in multiple phases with many samples exhibiting crystalline phases including a combination of Na(UO2)4O2(OH)5·5H2O and Na2(UO2)6O4(OH)6·8H2O with a Na2U2O7 minor phase. A small fraction of the SDU samples were amorphous with no crystalline XRD peaks observed. Mass loss curves of the SDU samples revealed that the amorphous samples contained inclusions of similar crystalline phases compared to the crystalline materials. The uniformity of the MDU samples enabled highly reproducible measurements of δ18O values of the water vapor yielded from two dehydration events at 170 °C and 500 °C. In contrast, the multiphase composition of the SDU samples resulted in poor reproducibility in δ18O values. Neither system revealed any correlation between the δ18O values of precipitation water and the waters released during dehydration of the UOCs.
miR-101-3p improves neuronal morphology and attenuates neuronal apoptosis in ischemic stroke in young mice by downregulating HDAC9
Authors: Zhang Mengru , Wang Jianjun , Li Jinfang , Kong Fanxin , Lin Songjun
Published: May 2023

Objective

MiRNAs play a key role in ischemic stroke (IS). Although miR-101-3p can participate in multiple disease processes, its role and mechanism in IS are not clear. The aim of the present study was to observe the effect of miR-101-3p activation on IS in young mice and the role of HDAC9 in this effect.

Methods

The young mice were first subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) or sham surgery, and the cerebral infarct area was assessed with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Meanwhile, the expressions of miR-101-3p and HDAC9 were tested using RT-qPCR or western blot. Besides, neuron morphology and apoptosis were confirmed using Nissl staining and TUNEL staining.

Results

We first verified that miR-101-3p was downregulated and HDAC9 was upregulated in the brain tissue of tMCAO young mice. Moreover, we proved that overexpression of miR-101-3p could improve cerebral infarction, neuronal morphology, and neuronal apoptosis in tMCAO young mice by lowering the expression of HDAC9.

Conclusions

Activation of miR-101-3p can protect against IS in young mice, and its mechanism is relevant to the inhibition of HDAC9. Therefore, miR-101-3p and HDAC9 might be the latent targets for IS therapy.
Impact of sintering temperature on the Al2O3 electrolyte
Authors: Khokhar Waquar Ahmed , El Jery Atef , Ahmed Adeel , Aldrdery Mouataz , Ahmed Danish , Usman Muhammad , Rafiq Muhammad , Ullah Raza , Tufail Muhammad Khurram
Published: May 2023

Highly conductive and stable β″-Al2O3 electrolyte powder is achieved via the solid-state reaction technique when sintered at 1200 °C, 1250 °C, 1300 °C, 1350 °C, and 1400 °C temperature, correspondingly. The findings show that the ionic conductivity has improved slightly from 1200 °C to 1400 °C. As the sintering temperature is increased, the EIS curve shows a short curve of resistance. A maximum ionic conductivity of 7.07 × 10−4 S cm−2 is achieved at 1400 °C (1800 Ω). This is caused by the large β″ contents in Al2O3, as inspected by the X-ray diffraction results. Furthermore, the morphology of Al2O3 shows less porosity and denser particles within the powder.
Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Coronary Rotational Atherectomy for Specific Indications
Authors: Cao Cheng-fu , Teng Wei-li , Ma Yu-liang , Li Qi , Zhao Hong , Lu Ming-yu , Liu Jian , Wang Wei-min
Published: May 2023

Objective: This study compared the long-term outcomes between rotational atherectomy (RA) for specific indications and on-label use of RA for severely calcified coronary lesions.

Methods: Data for patients who underwent RA between 2015 and 2020 in a single-center registry were analyzed. The specific indication group included patients with ostial lesions, unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis, chronic total occlusions, stent ablation, angulated lesions, and cardiac dysfunction, whereas patients with none of the above-mentioned characteristics were included in the on-label group. The primary endpoint was compared between groups.

Results: A total of 176 patients in the on-label group and 125 patients in the specific indication group were included. Patient clinical characteristics were comparable between groups. The incidence of complications during the procedure was higher in the specific indication group than in the on-label group (20.0% vs. 10.8%, P=0.018). No significant difference was observed in in-hospital MACCE between groups (12.5% vs 9.7%, P=0.392). During 35 (10–57) months of follow-up, MACCE occurred in 46 patients (15.3%). The incidence of MACCE was much higher in the specific indication group than the on-label group (25.6% vs 13.6%, P=0.034).

Conclusions: RA for specific indications, compared with on-label use, had a higher incidence of complications during the procedure and poorer long-term clinical outcomes.
Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Therapy: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Han Xinqiang , Dong Jianzeng , Benditt David G.
Published: May 2023

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, is increasing in incidence and prevalence worldwide. AF significantly increases the risk of intracardiac thrombus formation and, if left untreated, ischemic stroke. In patients with nonvalvular AF (NVAF), the left atrial appendage (LAA) has been determined to be the source of thrombus development in 91% to 99% of cases. In this regard, oral anticoagulants (OACs) have become the standard treatment for stroke prevention in most patients with AF; however, OACs are associated with a risk of bleeding complications, and their efficacy depends on optimal patient compliance. Among alternative approaches to embolic stroke prevention, surgical LAA excision for stroke prevention for valvular AF was attempted as early as the late 1940s. LAA excision remains recommended in surgical guidelines for patients with NVAF requiring open-heart coronary bypass or valvular replacement/repair surgeries. However, owing to the traumatic/invasive nature and suboptimal outcomes of conventional surgical LAA intervention, clinical application of this approach is limited in current cardiology practice. Percutaneous LAA occlusion (LAAO) is increasingly being performed as an alternative to OAC for stroke prevention, particularly in patients with elevated bleeding risk.

Substantial progress has been made in percutaneous LAAO therapy since its inception approximately 20 years ago. This article systematically reviews the literature leading to the development of LAAO and the evidence-based clinical experience supporting the application of this treatment strategy for NVAF, with a focus on recently published critical evaluations of US FDA and CE mark approved LAAO devices. Future perspectives regarding knowledge and technology gaps are also discussed, recognizing the many ongoing clinical trials that are likely to be transformative and the critical unanswered questions regarding LAAO therapy.
Host cell egress of Brucella abortus requires BNIP3L‐mediated mitophagy
Authors: Verbeke Jérémy , Fayt Youri , Martin Lisa , Yilmaz Oya , Sedzicki Jaroslaw , Reboul Angéline , Jadot Michel , Renard Patricia , Dehio Christoph , Renard Henri‐François , Letesson Jean‐Jacques , De Bolle Xavier , Arnould Thierry
Published: May 2023

The facultative intracellular pathogen Brucella abortus interacts with several organelles of the host cell to reach its replicative niche inside the endoplasmic reticulum. However, little is known about the interplay between the intracellular bacteria and the host cell mitochondria. Here, we showed that B. abortus triggers substantive mitochondrial network fragmentation, accompanied by mitophagy and the formation of mitochondrial Brucella‐containing vacuoles during the late steps of cellular infection. Brucella‐induced expression of the mitophagy receptor BNIP3L is essential for these events and relies on the iron‐dependent stabilisation of the hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α. Functionally, BNIP3L‐mediated mitophagy appears to be advantageous for bacterial exit from the host cell as BNIP3L depletion drastically reduces the number of reinfection events. Altogether, these findings highlight the intricate link between Brucella trafficking and the mitochondria during host cell infection.
Optimizing the Cas13 antiviral train: cargo and delivery
Authors: Sharma Shruti , Myhrvold Cameron
Published: May 2023

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pandemic in 2020 highlighted the need for rapid, widespread responses against infectious disease. One such innovation uses CRISPR‐Cas13 technology to directly target and cleave viral RNA, thereby inhibiting replication. Due to their programmability, Cas13‐based antiviral therapies can be rapidly deployed to target emerging viruses, in comparison with traditional therapeutic development that takes at least 12–18 months, and often many years. Moreover, similar to the programmability of mRNA vaccines, Cas13 antivirals can be developed to target mutations as the virus evolves.
Quantitative analysis of traditional Chinese color
Authors: Chen Yushu , Gu Feng
Published: May 2023

Chinese traditional colors are an important component of traditional culture, containing profound national culture and unique aesthetic ideas. Analyzing and applying the color characteristics of traditional Chinese colors can integrate traditional color design concepts into contemporary design, implying a design path from tradition to the present, and meeting the diversified and personalized consumer needs of the market. This study examined consumers’ psychological perception of traditional colors using the Natural Color System and Likert scale. Factor analysis and association tests revealed color attributes and image cognitive traits. The results reveal that blackness often degrades color image judgement. Saturation influenced Tang and Qing color perception. Red, green, and blue are the ideal hues for the Tang, Song, and Qing Dynasties, respectively. Song Dynasty culture and emotions are perfectly reflected in the green color. The Ming Dynasty’s visual traits are blue, and its culture and feeling are yellow. The red color best reflects the Qing Dynasty’s cultural and emotional traits, and the blue hue best matches its aesthetic traits. The study attempts to quantify customised furniture color design and improve product color design’s cultural meaning and aesthetic effect.
Timber knot detector with low false-positive results by integrating an overlapping bounding box filter with faster R-CNN algorithm
Authors: Chen Wenping , Liu Jing , Fang Yiming , Zhao Jianyong
Published: May 2023

Knot detection is an important aspect of timber grading. Reducing the false-positive frequency of knot detection will improve the accuracy of the predicted grade, as well as the utilization of the graded timber. In this study, a framework for timber knot detection was proposed. Faster R-CNN, a state-of-the-art defect identification algorithm, was first employed to detect timber knots because of its high true-positive frequency. Then, an overlapping bounding box filter was proposed to lower the false positive frequency achieved by Faster R-CNN, where a single knot is sometimes marked several times. The filter merges the overlapping bounding boxes for one actual knot into one box and ensures that each knot is marked only once. The main advantage of this framework is that it reduces the false positive frequency with a small computational cost and a small impact on the true positive frequency. The experimental results showed that the detection precision improved from 90.9% to 97.5% by filtering the overlapping bounding box. The framework proposed in this study is competitive and has potential applications for detecting timber knots for timber grading.
Severe Neonatal Interstitial Lung Disease Caused by a Rare Surfactant Protein C Mutation
Authors: Terpe Friederike , Schwerk Nicolaus , Griese Matthias , Laenger Florian Peter , Ballmann Manfred , Chao Cho-Ming , Ehler Johannes
Published: May 2023

Childhood interstitial lung disease (chILD) is a collective term for a group of rare lung disorders of heterogeneous origin. Surfactant dysfunction disorders are a cause of chILD with onset during the neonatal period and infancy. Clinical signs of tachypnea and hypoxemia are nonspecific and usually caused by common conditions like lower respiratory tract infections. We report on a full-term male newborn who was readmitted to the hospital at 7 days of age with marked tachypnea and poor feeding during the respiratory syncytial virus season. After exclusion of infection and other, more common congenital disorders, chILD was diagnosed using chest computed tomography and genetic analysis. A likely pathogenic heterozygous variant of SFTPC (c.163C>T, L55F) was detected by whole exome sequencing. The patient received supplemental oxygen and noninvasive respiratory support and was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone pulses and hydroxychloroquine. Despite the treatment, his respiratory situation deteriorated continuously, leading to several hospitalizations and continuous escalation of noninvasive ventilatory support. At 6 months of age, the patient was listed for lung transplant and transplanted successfully aged 7 months.
Destigmatizing disfluency
Authors: Pudlinski Christopher , Chen Rachel S. Y.
Published: May 2023

Background: Typically understood as a symptom of a speech disorder, stuttering is the verbal repetition of sounds, words, or phrases that suspend the progression of a speaker's turn. Method: Using conversation analysis, over 180 phrasal multisyllabic stutters were found in audio recordings of peer telephone support in the United States. Results: Most phrasal stutters arise from early, within-turn indicators of potential sequential, semantic, or syntactic trouble. Typically produced with quick pacing, the stutters are varied, including the latching of sounds across words, abbreviated words, word blends, and/or unintelligible sounds. Elongated or cut-off sounds often indicate the seeming end of a stutter, with either abandonment or a typically fluent completion of a current turn occurring upon a stutter's conclusion. Importantly, the other interactant never interrupts or completes the stutter. Discussion/conclusion: These findings contradict prior conversation analytic studies of stutters and describe stuttering as a normalized everyday action, where speakers can successfully navigate disfluency to reach eventual fluency.
Action formation, ascription, and the talk of people with aphasia
Authors: Windeatt-Harrison Isabel L. , Walker Traci
Published: May 2023

Background: This article uncovers why people with severe expressive aphasia's turns-at-talk are sometimes not treated as producing an action by their communication partners, and the impact this has on the person with aphasia's (PWA's) agency. We demonstrate resources PWAs use to pursue talk and which assist with the production of a recognizable action. Method: We examined turns produced by four PWAs and their communication partners (CPs), where present, using conversation analysis, identifying features that do not receive a response and features promoting action ascription. Analysis: The PWAs’ semantically empty or unclear turns, turns lacking sequential context, or the CPs’ focus on their own actions led to a lack of action ascription. However, CPs do attend to PWAs’ multimodal features of interaction, and PWAs’ repetition accompanied by an upgraded gesture was shown to pursue a response. Action ascription was aided by the PWAs’ preserved use of silence as a communicative device. Discussion: When PWAs’ actions are not appropriately ascribed, their agency may be diminished. Communication partners should attend to all features of the PWA's turns, including gesture and silence, to progress the PWA's action, rather than their own misappropriated action. This may mean accepting a delay in progressivity while the PWA pursues an appropriate response. Through this, the PWA's agency in interaction can be maintained, and intersubjectivity achieved.
The co-construction of pragmatic competencies in different settings
Authors: Vössing Lisa , Kern Friederike
Published: May 2023

Background: A considerable body of research has concentrated on pragmatic competencies in the context of autism spectrum disorder. In contrast to experimental settings, which usually adopt deficit-oriented perspectives of autistic people's communicative behavior, studies using a methodological approach informed by conversation analysis (CA) also highlight pragmatic abilities, and reveal the relevance of situated context and collaborative actions with co-participants in which pragmatic competencies can be observed. Building on this strand of research, this article aims to analyze and compare specific pragmatic competencies in different settings. Method: The investigation is based on video recordings of two autistic children in family and therapy settings. The analytical process is informed by CA and multimodal interaction analysis. It focuses on sequences in which atypical pragmatic behavior occurs, and specifically on the interactional uptake of the atypical behavior by the different conversational partners. Results: The analysis suggests a link between the respective interactional setting and the interactional uptake of atypical pragmatic behavior. This is shown in the case of both autistic children. The therapists’ uptakes are explicit and critically examine the children's atypical pragmatic behavior, thereby focusing on form, whereas the family members’ uptakes are implicit, with a focus on conversational content. These two types of uptakes have different effects on the flow of ongoing conversation: only the therapists’ uptakes lead to an interruption followed by a side sequence. Discussion/conclusion: Because of the effects that interlocutors’ uptakes have on the conversational flow, the autistic children appear pragmatically more or less competent. The results indicate that pragmatic competence should not simply be seen as a personal trait, but also as a mutually accomplished, co-constructed, and context-dependent phenomenon. This interaction-centered – in contrast to person-centered – view of pragmatic competence is accompanied by a shift of perspective in the assessment of pragmatic competencies and possible interventions.
Analyzing interaction involving wheelchairs
Authors: Rasmussen Gitte
Published: May 2023

Background: This study shows how the use of wheelchairs due to mobility impairment influences the configuration of interactional spaces and the initiation of conversation. It takes as a case in point the spatial arrangements and interactions between sports students using wheelchairs and their co-participants in a Danish sports high school. Method: Using the framework of research into ethnomethodological conversation analysis (EMCA) in atypical multimodal interaction, this study demonstrates how co-participants with and without impairments consider factors such as the position, size, design, and maneuverability of the wheelchair when they configure interactional spaces and organize conversational beginnings, and how the bodily orientation of the wheelchair user toward a specific physical environment and space is also taken into account. Furthermore, the co-participants’ conversation is adapted to fit these arrangements. The study describes features of spatial configurations that apply irrespective of the presence, type, and degree of disability in speech, language, and communication among the co-participants. The study draws on 10 hours of video recordings. Results and conclusion: The study indicates a need to investigate everyday conversation in its natural surroundings. Detailed descriptions of how co-participants draw upon available material, technological, and bodied ‘modes’ as resources may re-specify our understanding of aspects of conversations when impairments are involved.