bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Subsequent bilateral acute carpal tunnel syndrome due to tophaceous infiltration: A case report
Authors: Yeoh Soon-Chin , Wu Wen-Tien , Shih Jui-Tien , Su Wen-Chin , Yeh Kuang-Ting
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Acute carpal tunnel syndrome (ACTS) is commonly caused by repetitive strain, trauma, or inflammatory conditions. However, ACTS due to tophaceous gout is a clinical event that remains poorly understood and underreported. This rare manifestation necessitates prompt diagnosis and intervention to prevent irreversible complications.

CASE SUMMARY

A 51-year-old man who had poorly controlled hyperuricemia presented with ACTS secondary to tophaceous gout. Because of rapid symptom progression symptoms and severe median nerve compression within 3 mo, the patient underwent emergency decompression surgery for both wrists at different time points. Postoperatively, he exhibited complete recovery of sensory and motor functions, with no recurrence at long-term follow-up. Favorable outcomes were achieved through immediate decompression surgery, anti-inflammatory medications, postoperative active and passive range-of-motion exercises, and intermittent wrist splinting. Prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention, when necessary, are crucial for preventing long-term complications and obtaining favorable outcomes in patients with ACTS. An optimal gout management strategy involving pharmacologic therapy and lifestyle modifications may help minimize ACTS recurrence and improve clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Prompt surgical intervention and optimal gout management are crucial for preventing irreversible nerve damage and ACTS recurrence.
Significant improvement after sensory tricks and trunk strength training for Parkinson’s disease with antecollis and camptocormia: A case report
Authors: Wang Jia-Ren , Hu Yue
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit symptoms such as antecollis (AC) and camptocormia (CC). The pathology of these two conditions is unclear. Additionally, standard treatment methods have not been established. The article reports the case of a 65-year-old female patient with AC and CC who was treated with central and peripheral interventions to alleviate symptoms.

CASE SUMMARY

We present the case of a 65-year-old female PD patient with AC and CC. The course of the disease was 5 years. She was treated with rehabilitation strategies such as sensory tricks and trunk strength training. During the inpatient period, we compared and analyzed the patient's gait, rehabilitation assessment scale score, and angles of her abnormal trunk posture in the first week, the third week, and the fifth week. The patient's stride length increased, indicating that the patient's walking ability was improved. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Scale Part Three score and CC severity score decreased. Furthermore, the score of the other scale increased. In addition, the patient showed significant improvements in AC, upper CC, and lower CC angles.

CONCLUSION

This case study suggested that sensory tricks and trunk strength training are beneficial and safe for patients with AC and CC.
Mitigation in online interactions on controversial topics: A methodological proposal
Authors: Aulit Laetitia
Published: January 2024

This article puts forward a methodological proposal for the pragmatic analysis of mitigation in online written interactions, specifically in discursive genres such as the digital press forums and Twitter. Mitigation is a rhetorical and pragmatic strategy linked to the face needs and communicative goals of the participants in the communication (Albelda Marco & Briz Gómez 2020). For this reason, drawing on the existing literature concerning the selected discursive genres and on an analysis of some contributions about a controversial Spanish tradition, namely the Moors and Christians festivals, this article highlights both situational and linguistic features to be taken into account when analysing mitigation in these genres, and proposes adaptations to Albelda Marco et al.’s (2014) methodology for analysing mitigation in spoken interactions. In doing so, this study presents a methodological proposal directly suitable for analysing mitigation in online interactions in discursive genres such as digital press forums and Twitter.
Diacronía de los verbos psicológicos parasintéticos: estructura argumental y eventiva
Authors: Espejel Martínez Marina
Published: January 2024

El objetivo de esta investigación es examinar los cambios históricos que se producen en la evolución de los verbos psicológicos parasintéticos en español. Una perspectiva diacrónica nos permite advertir el cambio de productividad que tiene lugar en la formación estos verbos: de verbalizaciones deadjetivales creadas con el prefijo en– y el sufijo –ecer a verbalizaciones denominales formadas con el prefijo a–. Asimismo, se traza la evolución que han experimentado estas formaciones, tanto en su estructura argumental como eventiva, ya que no siempre han presentado el mismo comportamiento sintáctico o aspectual. Se proponen, en consecuencia, distintos escenarios que representan los cambios acaecidos. De todos ellos, predomina el escenario en el que se documentan estructuras pronominales y, posteriormente, estructuras transitivas no agentivas. Algunos verbos, además, acaban atestiguando estructuras transitivas agentivas. Del mismo modo, puede suceder que la evolución se origine en el sentido inverso. En los casos que se identifican todas las estructuras, se confirma un cambio cíclico evolutivo, mientras que, si únicamente se diferencian dos de ellas, se origina un cambio bidireccional. Se defiende que únicamente pueden considerarse verbos psicológicos aquellos que presenten estatividad.
Productivitat i pragmàtica en la sintaxi dels clítics pronominals en català antic
Authors: Torres Latorre Aina
Published: January 2024

En català antic, com en la resta de llengües romàniques, la posició dels pronoms febles amb les formes verbals finites estava motivada per restriccions pragmaticosintàctiques (Batllori et al. 2005). Progressivament, es va produir un procés de fixació (vg. Lehmann 1985: 306-307) d’aquests pronoms en la posició preverbal. L’objectiu d’aquest article és quantificar i datar aquest canvi des del segle xiii fins al segle xvi considerant tant la freqüència d’ús de les diferents posicions dels pronoms febles (token frequency, Bybee 2003) com la varietat d’entorns en què la proclisi esdevé possible (type frequency, Bybee 2003).
Wacquant, L. (2023). Bourdieu in the city. Challenging Urban Theory. Polity Press, 288 pp.
Authors: Vergel Javier
Published: January 2024

Reseña de: Wacquant, L. (2023). Bourdieu in the city. Challenging Urban Theory. Polity Press, 288 pp.
Metodología feminista en investigaciones de tesis doctoral. De las epistemologías feministas y críticas a propuestas metodológicas en construcción y revisión
Authors: Azpiazu Jokin , Luxán Serrano Marta
Published: January 2024

Este artículo pretende ser una introducción al monográfico "Metodología feminista en investigaciones de tesis doctoral". En él hacemos una breve introducción a algunas cuestiones epistemológicas y metodológicas referentes a la cuestión, así como un repaso por las actividades y líneas de trabajo principales del colectivo en el que las personas editoras del monográfico participamos. Finalizamos realizando una pequeña introducción a los artículos que componen el monográfico.
Transmedia narratives in the teaching and learning of mathematics: challenges in the practice of the teacher as an orchestrator
Authors: Gomes Pereira Marina Andrea , Mendes Gabriel Pedro Luis Francisco
Published: January 2024

The use of digital technologies as a support to the learning process may contribute to a more dynamic and participatory way of developing knowledge. Transmedia narratives assume characteristics congruent with this by facilitating the incorporation of educational methodologies that foster learning skills in interaction with digital devices during the exploration of a narrative. Simultaneously, in the case of mathematics, many students interpret the subject without connecting it to their social context and, therefore, do not understand its applicability and usefulness in the real world. This article presents a literature review related to these concepts and their interplay in mathematics learning. It also tries to explore how these approaches may affect teachers’ practices as orchestrators and facilitators of learning, as well as to how they impact the difficulties imposed by the incorporation of digital technology in educational contexts. Finally, we discuss the impact of transmedia narratives in the attempt to motivate students and draw them closer to the subject of mathematics.
It depends on you. Family beliefs of digital technologies as a regulator of children's screen use.
Authors: Grané Mariona , Suárez Rafael , Sabando Dorys
Published: January 2024

Family attitudes and beliefs around digital technologies are a key factor in young children's digital habits in the home. This study involved conducting interviews with 46 families of children under 6 years of age to understand how parental perceptions determine the screen use of young children in terms of activities, content, and time.  The aim is to provide knowledge for an in-depth reflection on media management in the home. A descriptive, quantitative study was designed, based on a questionnaire survey model to interview families. The results show few differences between the most positive and the most negative family perceptions of children's use of ICTs. The complexity of the analysis of parental digital education strategies and support systems is evident. The perceptions of families are based upon a balance that avoids extremes, are shrouded in contradictions, and are regulated according to the needs of the context. This leads to the need to consider, globally, the different factors that influence children's digital habits.
Understanding the meaning of a digital school from the perspective of primary school teachers
Authors: Cruz Elisabete , Sousa Emily , Brito Rita , Costa Fernando Albuquerque
Published: January 2024

The Escol@s Digitais Project, under development in all public primary schools of Amadora municipality (Portugal), aims to support the process of digital transformation in school dynamics. In this article, we examine the meaning that the teachers who participate in this project attribute to the “digital school” concept. For this purpose, we mobilized a corpus of qualitative data obtained through an online questionnaire that included an open question, formulated in the following terms: “What do you think a `digital school´ could be?”. The analysis carried out, with peer validation, highlighted three dimensions that help us to understand the “digital school” concept in a holistic way: the first dimension underlines the elementary requirements to ensure the digitalization process in schools (strategic dimension); the second dimension highlights the pedagogical potential of digital tools (pedagogical dimension); and the third dimension emphasizes a set of values ​​and principles by which any school, more or less digital, should guide its action (axiological dimension). In conjunction with the results of recent studies, it is concluded that the ongoing digital transformation process, despite being complex and multifaceted, is necessary to raise education to a qualitatively higher level.
Transforming Initial Teacher Education Program with Mobile Technologies. A synthesis of qualitative evidences
Authors: Ngao Ayubu , Sang Guoyuan , Tondeur Jo , Kihwele Jimmy Ezekiel , Chunga Jasmin Omary
Published: January 2024

Mobile technologies have increasingly been used in education for enhancing teaching and learning among students. The authors reviewed qualitative studies that focused on approaches towards transforming initial teacher education programs with mobile technologies. With the use of meta-ethnography approach, we compared, contrasted and interpreted the synthesis of qualitative evidences across numerous studies. This review analyzed 13 eligible studies from Web of Science conducted in different countries from 2012 to 2022. The findings were divided into three sections: (1) theme related to conceptions about the use of mobile technologies at micro-level (e.g., perceptions and affordances), (2) themes related to institutional approaches at the meso-level (e.g., professional training, technical supports, motivating and collaborative environment) and (3) theme related to policies and financial supports at the macro-level. Based to these findings, the model for transforming initial teacher education programs with mobile technologies was developed. By intensive discussions of the results, feasible conclusions were derived and future directions for further research on mobile technologies were provided.
Arab learners’ stress perception and production of English multisyllable items
Authors: Alzi’abi Safi Eldeen
Published: January 2024

Mastering word stress is a crucial part of learning the English language because it is a vital part and parcel of word recognition and intelligibility. Arab EFL learners complain about the mystifying and elusive English stress patterns. This research examines their stress production and perception of di-, tri- and polysyllabic English words. Arab learners initially produced 90 infrequent English words with various syllable structures and word classes. They then identified the stressed syllables when hearing the words from native speakers. Analysis of the data showed that Arabs had a serious problem producing English word stress correctly owing to their tendency to mainly stress ultimate heavy syllables — a strategy usually employed in Arabic. Their performance on the stress identification task was much better than the production task but still gave problems, especially with tri- and tetrasyllabic utterances. Syllabi have to comprise stress drills in conjunction with their L1 stress patterns to help them overcome their difficulties in stressing English words.
The intonation of Spanish spoken in Bucaramanga (Colombia)
Authors: Roberto Yeimy J.
Published: January 2024

This paper presents the characteristics of the intonation of Spanish spoken in Bucaramanga, Colombia, a variety considered as “strong and rude”. Spontaneous, semi-spontaneous and read utterances from four participants were analysed acoustically. After stylisation with MOMEL, the data was tagged according to the Sp_ToBI system, within the Autosegmental-Metrical model. The declarative, interrogative, and exhortative contours were compared with the intonational inventories available for Spanish. The results confirm prior dialectal boundaries based on lexical data and supports the dichotomy between coastal and mountain varieties in the dialects of Spanish spoken in Colombia.
The Impact of Corporate Governance Mechanisms on Value Creation in Family Firms: Evidence from an Emerging Economy
Authors: Esparza Aguilar José Luis , Soto Maciel Argentina
Published: January 2024

Corporate governance (CG) is a system by which firms are directed and controlled. Through its mechanisms, it ensures optimal levels of efficiency, exploits opportunities, and prevents conflicts of interest between directors, shareholders, and stakeholders. The studies do show a positive relationship between CG and performance, but they are conducted in developed countries with stable legal and economic environments. Thus, CG contributes to the value creation (VC) of the firms. But in family firms, the concentration of power resulting from the overlapping of its subsystems (family, business, and ownership) influences the functioning of CG, and probably, VC. Setting goals, monitoring results, or controlling performance can be some of its forms. But we do not know the influence in emerging countries.The aim of the study is to empirically analyze the financial contribution of CG mechanisms to the VC of listed family firms in a Latin American economy. The results show the importance of the size of the board of directors, the participation of independent directors, and the duality of the chief executive officer. All the latter are important, considering the high representation of the family firms, their traditional concentration of power, the level of legal or regulatory weakness level, the uncertainty and instability of market conditions. The study is relevant due to the lack of evidence in emerging markets.
Book review of Visual Participatory Arts Based Research in The City: Ontology, Aesthetics and Ethics
Authors: Callén Moreu Blanca
Published: January 2024

This review of the book Visual Participatory Arts Based Research In The City: Ontology, Aesthetics and Ethics, edited by Laura Trafí-Prats and Aurelio Castro-Varela, brings together contributions that continue and are part of the tradition of urban STS studies, and highlights the most original contributions that artistic research brings with it: fundamentally, art as a medium and device for sensitising bodies through aesthetic experiences that make contemporary urban problems tangible; and art as a creative and affirmative act, experimental and speculative in nature, which helps to re-imagine the city from subaltern and historically marginalised visions.
La práctica de la mediación: modelos y procesos para la resolución pacífica de los conflictos
Authors: Garcia Roqueta Carles
Published: January 2024

La mediación cuenta con un gran recorrido y un fuerte reconocimiento en los sistemas públicos de justicia de muchos Estados europeos. Fue el 21 de enero de 1998 cuando se aprobó la recomendación R(98)1 del Consejo de Europa sobre mediación en el ámbito familiar, siendo el primer documento legislativo de ámbito europeo e impulsando el fomento de mecanismos alternativos, llamados adecuados desde hace poco, para la resolución de conflictos y litigios mediante soluciones cercanas o amistosas entre las partes implicadas.
Cinco lustros después, la mediación, haciendo gala de su carácter inherentemente transversal, se ha ido extendiendo y demostrando su utilidad en ámbitos tan diversos como el consumo, el deporte o la salud. Precisamente, ha sido en estas y en otras áreas distintas donde la mediación ha puesto de relieve que esta constituye una forma de actuar, basada en elementos como el diálogo, la empatía y la escucha activa, que nos lleva a mejorar la comunicación entre las partes, a obtener un beneficio económico importante y a ser un ejemplo de lo que debe ser la convivencia en sociedad.
Entrevista a Carles Garcia Roqueta
Authors: Figueras Carolina
Published: January 2024

Entrevista a l'advocat i mediador Carles Garcia Roqueta, a càrrec de la professora Carolina Figueras.
L'entrevista es pot visualitzar en aquest enllaç: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnIE7jeukOA&ab_channel=LSCLlengua%2CSocietatiComunicaci%C3%B3
Emocions i empatia en la mediació
Authors: Figueras Carolina
Published: January 2024

La mediació és un procediment de resolució de conflictes en què es privilegia el compromís i la cooperació a través de la participació d’una tercera part neutral. En la mediació es busca disminuir la càrrega agressiva i de confrontació que sovint caracteritzen les disputes en un context de litigació (Garcia 2000). Malgrat l’esperit pacífic amb què s’aspira a conduir els processos de mediació, les emocions (negatives) associades al conflicte afloren. El professional ha de saber gestionar el tenor emocional dels encontres, a fi d’aconseguir l’entesa entre els disputants. L’empatia se situa, per tant, en el centre de la interacció. Atenent al model d’empatia aplicat, la finalitat i el resultat de la mediació variaran. En el present article reflexionem sobre les interrelacions entre emocions i empatia en funció dels principals marcs ideològics de la mediació: individualista i relacional (Della Noce 1999).
Mediación narrativa: una propuesta para la prevención y resolución de los conflictos entre padres e hijos adolescentes en China y España
Authors: Shao Lin
Published: January 2024

Este artículo explora cómo la mediación narrativa puede ayudar a gestionar los conflictos entre padres e hijos adolescentes en la vida familiar de China y España. Para empezar, se describen los conflictos más frecuentes entre padres y sus hijos adolescentes en los dos países. Acto seguido, se introduce el concepto de mediación narrativa y se detallan sus ventajas y limitaciones y su potencial de aprovechamiento para la resolución del conflicto en la esfera familiar.
Moreno Pestaña, J. L. y Romero Cuevas, J. M. (coords.). (2022). Recuperar el socialismo. Un debate con Axel Honneth
Authors: Magnet Colomer Jordi
Published: January 2024

reseña del libro José Luis Moreno Pestaña y José Manuel Romero Cuevas (coords.). Recuperar el socialismo. Un debate con Axel Honneth. Madrid: Akal, 2022, 336 págs.
Infamia de la docencia
Authors: García Olivo Pedro
Published: January 2024

Para superar el reduccionismo didáctico y pedagógico desde el que se aborda a menudo la cuestión escolar, es preciso situar la educación en su marco histórico-sociológico, cultural, epistemológico y filosófico general. Cabe entonces denunciar la doble función destructiva de la Escuela: hacia el interior de nuestra civilización deviene instancia implacable de domesticación social y control psíquico; hacia el exterior se ha manifestado como el mayor poder etnocida de Occidente.
Desarrollo de un proyecto de aprendizaje colaborativo en línea. El trabajo colaborativo y las Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación. La Perspectiva de la Internacionalización
Authors: Rivas Jhenny , Espinoza Alexander
Published: January 2024

El diseño de una experiencia de aprendizaje colaborativo se presenta a través de sus objetivos, evaluación y retroalimentación. El aprendizaje colaborativo en línea es una estrategia que integra el aprendizaje colaborativo con las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación para la construcción conjunta de conocimiento utilizando herramientas sincrónicas y asincrónicas que facilitan la comunicación, colaboración y coordinación en entornos virtuales. El proyecto se implementó mediante el uso de plataformas digitales, promoviendo el pensamiento crítico y creativo basado en la búsqueda y análisis de información para realizar actividades colectivas y construir conocimiento de manera conjunta. El aprendizaje colaborativo online es una herramienta que permite la internacionalización desde una dimensión interna, para la integración en los planes de estudio de una carrera, involucrando tanto a estudiantes como a docentes. En la presente investigación, el aprendizaje colaborativo en línea resultó ser una herramienta valiosa para activar la participación, la interactividad y el significado de la información para el estudiante, destacando su papel como creador de su propio conocimiento dentro del proceso de aprendizaje. Además, el aprendizaje colaborativo mejoró el aprendizaje activo y autodirigido y el trabajo en equipo. También se evidenció el desarrollo de habilidades interpersonales, siendo cada persona responsable de su propio aprendizaje y del de todo el equipo de trabajo.
Consideraciones éticas y jurídicas de la Inteligencia Artificial en Educación Superior: desafíos y perspectivas
Authors: Cornejo- Plaza Isabel , Cippitani Roberto
Published: January 2024

El uso de Inteligencia Artificial, en adelante IA se ha extendido en la comunidad académica y estudiantil. ChatGPT es una herramienta de modelo de lenguaje generativo que presenta oportunidades y desafíos más allá de la regulación de derecho objetivo. Los principios éticos y un derecho prospectivo deben combinarse con una adecuada educación de la comunidad educativa a fin de utilizar la IA como herramienta en la generación de conocimiento y no de simple información descontextualizada que puede llevar al fracaso en los objetivos de la educación superior, así como los objetivos del desarrollo social más grande de la sociedad moderna, que es una educación inclusiva y solidaria.
Combining near infrared fluorescence and laser speckle imaging with optical tissue clearing for in vivo transcranial monitoring of cerebral blood vessels damaged by photodynamic nanoformulation
Authors: Liu Jiantao , Xu Hao , Gao Siqi , Liu Liwei , Qu Junle , Ohulchanskyy Tymish Y.
Published: January 2024

In vivo near infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging and laser speckle
contrast imaging (LSCI) are emerging optical bioimaging modalities,
which can provide information on blood vessels morphology, volume and
the blood flow velocity. Optical tissue clearing (OTC) technique
addresses a light scattering problem in optical bioimaging, which is
imperative for the transcranial brain imaging. Herein, we report an
approach combining NIR fluorescence and LSC microscopy imaging with
OTC. A liposomal nanoformulation comprising NIR fluorescent dye ICG
and photosensitizer BPD was synthesized and injected intravenously
into mouse with OTC treated skull. Transcranial excitation of BPD in
nanoliposomes resulted in the localized, irradiation dose dependent
photodynamic damage of the brain blood vessels, which was manifested
both in NIR fluorescence and LSC transcranial imaging, revealing
changes in the vessels morphology, volume and the blood flow rate. The
developed approach allows for bimodal imaging guided, localized
vascular PDT of cancer and other diseases.
Hidden imaging in thin polymer films with embedded fluorescent peptide nanodots
Authors: Rosenbaum Paul , Barhom Hani , Inberg Alexandra , Lapsker Igor , Rosenman Gil , Apter Boris
Published: January 2024

Fluorescent (FL) encrypting nanostructures, such as quantum dots, carbon dots, organic dyes, lanthanide nanocrystals, DNA, and more, are effective tools for advanced applications in high-resolution hidden imaging. These applications include tracking, labeling, security printing, and anti-counterfeiting drug technology. In this work, what we believe to be a new FL encoding nanostructures has been proposed, which consists of recently discovered nanometer-scale peptide dots. When refolded into a beta-sheet peptide secondary structure, these biocompatible nanoparticles exhibit a strong and tunable FL effect. The biophotonic FL covers the entire visible spectrum, making the peptide dots next-generation nanoscale light sources with a quantum yield of 30%. Our studies demonstrate that these FL bio-nanodots also exhibit a significant irreversible photo-bleaching effect associated with the light-induced destruction of noncovalent intermolecular hydrogen bonds of the peptide dots’ highly stable beta-sheet secondary structure. We present what we believe is a new approach for achieving high-resolution long-term optical memory by tailoring various hidden images in the developed thin polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer films with an embedded dense array of FL peptide nanodots. The technology enables recording photo-bleached patterns, barcodes, and high-resolution images.
Metasurface-assisted amorphous germanium-tin waveguide bolometer for mid-infrared photodetection
Authors: Liu Xiaofei , Ma Ruyuan , Liu Jingchuan , Zheng Shaonan , Zhong Qize , Dong Yuan , Hu Ting
Published: January 2024

An amorphous germanium-tin (a-Ge0.83Sn0.17) waveguide bolometer featuring a one-dimension (1D) metasurface absorber is proposed for mid-infrared photodetection at room-temperature. The device is based on the germanium-on-silicon (GOS) photonic platform. The impacts of the 1D metasurface on the performances of the waveguide bolometer are investigated. The responsivity of the a-Ge0.83Sn0.17 waveguide bolometer could be significantly enhanced by the metasurface. A responsivity of around −3.17%/µW within the 4.1 ∼ 4.3 µm wavelength range is achieved. In addition, a 3-dB roll-off frequency higher than 10 kHz is obtained.
Quaternary pulse width modulation based ultra-high frame rate scene projector used for hard-ware-in-the-loop testing
Authors: Cao Yajie , Pan Yue , Hu Motong , Lu Xiaowei
Published: January 2024

The scene projector (SP) can provide simulated scene images with same optical characteristics as the real scenes to evaluate imaging systems in hard-ware-in-the-loop (HWIL) simulation testing. The single scene generation device (SGD) based SP typically projects 8-bit images at 220 fps, which is insufficient to fulfill the requirements of ultra-high frame rate imaging systems, such as star trackers and space debris detectors. In this paper, an innovative quaternary pulse width modulation (PWM) based SP is developed and implemented to realize the ultra-high frame rate projection. By optically overlapping modulation layers of two digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs) in parallel, and illuminating them with light intensities, a quaternary SGD is built up to modulate quaternary digit-planes (QDs) with four grayscale levels. And the quaternary digit-plane de-composition (QDD) is adopted to decompose an 8-bit image into 4 QDs. In addition, the exposure time of each QD is controlled by quaternary PWM, and the base time is optimized to 8 µs. The experimental results prove that the total exposure time of all QDs sequentially modulated by quaternary PWM is approximately 760 µs, namely projecting 8-bit images at 1300 fps. The quaternary PWM using two DMDs in parallel dramatically improves the grayscale modulation efficiency compared to the existing projection technologies, which provides a new approach for the SP design with ultra-high frame rate.
Ambient light immunity of a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) LiDAR chip
Authors: Kamata Mikiya , Tamanuki Takemasa , Kubota Riku , Baba Toshihiko
Published: January 2024

The interference between a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and other LiDARs or sunlight was theorized, considering the spatial overlap, frequency overlap, and intensity ratio. It has been concluded that the interference probability between LiDARs can be lower than a safety standard value for autonomous vehicles when the number of the resolution points of a single LiDAR is increased sufficiently and that the interference with incoherent sunlight does not occur. Due to the coherent detection of FMCW, such ambient light immunity is much better than time-of-flight LiDAR. The dependence of the interference on the wavelength range, sweep bandwidth, and sweep period was also observed experimentally using a silicon (Si) photonics FMCW LiDAR chip incorporating slow-light grating beam scanners. It was shown that the interference can be suppressed by increasing the number of resolution points and changing their common parameters moderately. Regarding the contamination of sunlight, unwanted beam shift due to heating was observed, although it will be suppressed simply by wavelength filtering.
Peripheral thickening of the sarcomeres and pointed end elongation of the thin filaments are both promoted by SALS and its formin interaction partners
Authors: Farkas Dávid , Szikora Szilárd , Jijumon A. S. , Polgár Tamás F. , Patai Roland , Tóth Mónika Ágnes , Bugyi Beáta , Gajdos Tamás , Bíró Péter , Novák Tibor , Erdélyi Miklós , Mihály József
Published: January 2024

During striated muscle development the first periodically repeated units appear in the premyofibrils, consisting of immature sarcomeres that must undergo a substantial growth both in length and width, to reach their final size. Here we report that, beyond its well established role in sarcomere elongation, the Sarcomere length short (SALS) protein is involved in Z-disc formation and peripheral growth of the sarcomeres. Our protein localization data and loss-of-function studies in theDrosophilaindirect flight muscle strongly suggest that radial growth of the sarcomeres is initiated at the Z-disc. As to thin filament elongation, we used a powerful nanoscopy approach to reveal that SALS is subject to a major conformational change during sarcomere development, which might be critical to stop pointed end elongation in the adult muscles. In addition, we demonstrate that the roles of SALS in sarcomere elongation and radial growth are both dependent on formin type of actin assembly factors. Unexpectedly, when SALS is present in excess amounts, it promotes the formation of actin aggregates highly resembling the ones described in nemaline myopathy patients. Collectively, these findings helped to shed light on the complex mechanisms of SALS during the coordinated elongation and thickening of the sarcomeres, and resulted in the discovery of a potential nemaline myopathy model, suitable for the identification of genetic and small molecule inhibitors.
In-silico evaluation of natural alkaloids against the main protease and spike glycoprotein as potential therapeutic agents for SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Shah Mohibullah , Yamin Ramsha , Ahmad Iqra , Wu Gang , Jahangir Zainab , Shamim Amen , Nawaz Haq , Nishan Umar , Ullah Riaz , Ali Essam A. , Sheheryar  , Chen Ke
Published: January 2024

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in global fatalities since late December 2019. Alkaloids play a significant role in drug design for various antiviral diseases, which makes them viable candidates for treating COVID-19. To identify potential antiviral agents, 102 known alkaloids were subjected to docking studies against the two key targets of SARS-CoV-2, namely the spike glycoprotein and main protease. The spike glycoprotein is vital for mediating viral entry into host cells, and main protease plays a crucial role in viral replication; therefore, they serve as compelling targets for therapeutic intervention in combating the disease. From the selection of alkaloids, the top 6 dual inhibitory compounds, namely liensinine, neferine, isoliensinine, fangchinoline, emetine, and acrimarine F, emerged as lead compounds with favorable docked scores. Interestingly, most of them shared the bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid framework and belong to Nelumbo nucifera, commonly known as the lotus plant. Docking analysis was conducted by considering the key active site residues of the selected proteins. The stability of the top three ligands with the receptor proteins was further validated through dynamic simulation analysis. The leads underwent ADMET profiling, bioactivity score analysis, and evaluation of drug-likeness and physicochemical properties. Neferine demonstrated a particularly strong affinity for binding, with a docking score of -7.5025 kcal/mol for main protease and -10.0245 kcal/mol for spike glycoprotein, and therefore a strong interaction with both target proteins. Of the lead alkaloids, emetine and fangchinoline demonstrated the lowest toxicity and high LD50 values. These top alkaloids, may support the body’s defense and reduce the symptoms by their numerous biological potentials, even though some properties naturally point to their direct antiviral nature. These findings demonstrate the promising anti-COVID-19 properties of the six selected alkaloids, making them potential candidates for drug design. This study will be beneficial in effective drug discovery and design against COVID-19 with negligible side effects.
Partisan animosity through the lens of blame: Partisan animosity can be reduced by a historicist thinking intervention
Authors: Alam Raihan , Gill Michael J.
Published: January 2024

Partisan animosity has been on the rise in America. Partisan animosity involves blame, wherein political partisans blame outparty members for their beliefs and actions. Here, we examine whether a historicist thinking intervention—drawn from research on blame mitigation—can reduce partisan animosity. The intervention consisted of three components: (1) a narrative about the idiosyncratic development of one political opponent paired with (2) a message about how unique life experiences shapeeveryone’spolitical beliefs and (3) a suggestion that outparty members can be changed by future formative experiences. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that the intervention reduced cold feelings—measured via Feeling Thermometer—towards the outparty for both Democrats and Republicans. Experiments 3 and 4 focused on more specific emotional changes. Experiment 3 showed that, for Democrats, the intervention increased compassion. Experiment 4 showed that, for Republicans, the intervention reduced disgust, disapproval, anger, and contempt, but had no impact on compassion. For Democrats, but not for Republicans, reductions in animosity were mediated by reduced perceptions of control of self-formation, the mediator identified in prior work on historicist thinking and blame mitigation.
Diagnostic accuracy of the screenings Sniffin’ Sticks Test (SST-12) in COVID-19 induced olfactory disorders
Authors: Schepens Emma J. A. , Stegeman Inge , Kamalski Digna M. A.
Published: January 2024

Objective olfactory function can be assessed using validated olfactory tests like the Sniffin’ Sticks Test (SST). However, their extensive nature makes them less suitable for clinical practice. To address this, shorter olfactory tests like the screenings Sniffin’ Sticks Test (SST-12) can be used for screening purposes and reduce testing time. The SST-12 serves as a diagnostic tool for screening olfaction in cases unrelated to COVID-19. However, these screening tests are uncertain regarding their accuracy in detecting olfactory dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 as the plausible cause. We aim to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the SST-12 in adults with post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction. We performed a diagnostic accuracy study with data from 113 consecutive COVID-19 diagnosed patients who experienced objectified smell loss ever since. At approximately 6 months after their diagnosis, all participants underwent the SST (reference standard), part of the SST was the SST-12 (index test). Diagnostic accuracy of the SST-12 is measured as negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), sensitivity, and specificity. The SST-12 detected smell loss in 85 patients among 91 patients with smell loss and ruled out smell loss in 15 patients among the 22 patients without smell loss based on the reference standard. Making sensitivity 93.4% (CI 0.87–0.97), and specificity 68.2% (CI 0.48–0.85). Out of the 92 patients with a positive test result on SST-12, 85 patients had indeed smell loss (PPV 92.4% CI 0.86–0.97), and out of the 21 patients with a negative test result, 15 patients had no smell loss regarding the reference standard (NPV 71.4% CI 0.50–0.88). The findings suggest that the SST-12 holds promise as a useful tool for identifying individuals with smell loss, also in individuals with COVID-19 as cause, but it is important to have a good understanding of the interpretation of the results of the SST-12 when considering its implementation in clinical practice.
Cat caregivers’ perceptions, motivations, and behaviours for feeding treats: A cross sectional study
Authors: Nielson Shelby A. , Khosa Deep K. , Verbrugghe Adronie , Clow Katie M.
Published: January 2024

There is an abundance of research focusing on the nutritional needs of the cat, though aspects surrounding treat feeding have received far less attention. Feeding practices have the potential to cause nutrient imbalances and adverse health outcomes, including obesity. The objective of this study was to identify and describe the perceptions, motivations, and behaviours surrounding treats, and factors that influence treat feeding by cat caregivers. A 56-question online survey was disseminated to cat caregivers (n = 337) predominantly from Canada and the USA to collect data regarding caregiver and cat demographics, the pet-caregiver relationship, perceptions surrounding treats, and feeding practices and behaviours. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the survey data. Caregivers had varying interpretations of the term ‘treat’ and how treats relate to the primary diet, and these perceptions appeared to influence the quantity of treats provided. Aspects relating to the human-animal bond were highlighted as an important factor in decisions and behaviours surrounding treat feeding in our results. Though the majority (224/337, 66%) of respondents indicated they monitor their pet’s treat intake, using an eyeball estimate was the most frequent (139/337, 41%) method reported to measure treats. Multivariable logistic regression results revealed feeding jerky, bones, dental treats, and table scraps in select frequencies were predictive of caregivers perceiving their cat as overweight/obese. Results provide valuable new insights to cat caregiver feeding practices and perceptions of treats and can be used to inform veterinary nutrition support to caregivers. More research is warranted to further our understanding and ensure that cats receive optimal nutrition and care.
Impact of exercise training associated with enalapril treatment on blood pressure variability and renal dysfunctions in an experimental model of arterial hypertension and postmenopause
Authors: dos Santos Ferreira Silva Michel Pablo , Ferreira Maycon Junior , Shecaira Tânia Plens , da Silva Dias Danielle , Kimura Débora Conte , Irigoyen Maria Cláudia , Gomes Guiomar Nascimento , De Angelis Kátia
Published: January 2024

Objective

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the concurrent exercise training (CET) associated with the enalapril maleate on blood pressure variability (BPV) and renal profile in an experimental model of arterial hypertension (AH) and postmenopause.

Methods

Female ovariectomized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were distributed into 4 groups (n = 8/group): sedentary (SO), sedentary + enalapril (SOE), trained (TO) and trained + enalapril (TOE). Both enalapril (3mg/kg) and CET (3 days/week) were conducted during 8 weeks. Blood pressure (BP) was directly recorded for BPV analyses. Renal function, morphology, inflammation and oxidative stress were assessed.

Results

The SOE, TO e TOE groups presented decreased systolic BP compared with SO. Both trained groups (TO and TOE) presented lower BPV and increased baroreflex sensitivity (TO: 0.76 ± 0.20 and TOE: 1.02 ± 0.40 vs. SO: 0.40 ± 0.07 ms/mmHg) compared with SO group, with additional improvements in TOE group. Creatinine and IL-6 levels were reduced in SOE, TO and TOE compared with SO group, while IL-10 was increased only in TOE group (vs. SO). Enalapril combined with CET promote reduction in lipoperoxidation (TOE: 1.37 ± 0.26 vs. SO: 2.08 ± 0.48 and SOE: 1.84 ± 0.35 μmol/mg protein) and hydrogen peroxide (TOE: 1.89 ± 0.40 vs. SO: 3.70 ± 0.19 and SOE: 2.73 ± 0.70 μM), as well as increase in catalase activity (vs. sedentary groups). The tubulointerstitial injury was lower in interventions groups (SOE, TO and TOE vs. SO), with potentialized benefits in the trained groups.

Conclusions

Enalapril combined with CET attenuated BPV and baroreflex dysfunctions, probably impacting on end-organ damage, as demonstrated by attenuation in the AH-induced renal inflammations, oxidative stress and morphofunctional impairments in postmenopausal rats.
Audience segmentation of New Zealand cat owners: Understanding the barriers and drivers of cat containment behavior
Authors: Chamberlain Sarah A. E. , McLeod Lynette J. , Hine Donald W.
Published: January 2024

Free-roaming companion cats have a detrimental impact on the environment and are at risk of harm. Despite these negative impacts, it is the norm in New Zealand (NZ) to allow companion cats to roam freely and only a minority of cat owners practice cat containment. This study firstly sought to identify what factors act as barriers and drivers of NZ owners’ participation in cat containment, and secondly whether NZ owners could be segmented into unique audiences based on the factors predicting their cat containment behavior. It was hypothesized that cat owners with greater capability, opportunity, and motivation to perform cat containment would have greater cat containment intentions and behavior. Furthermore, it was expected that at least three segments of cat owners would exist in NZ which differed significantly in the set of capability, opportunity and motivational factors predicting their cat containment behavior. A quantitative online cross-sectional survey of 395 NZ cat owners was conducted, measuring containment intentions and behavior, and capability, opportunity, and motivation to perform cat containment. Results from bivariate correlations and multiple regression demonstrated that capability, opportunity, and motivational factors predicted increased cat containment intentions and behavior. Latent profile analysis identified four distinct segments of cat owners with unique COM profiles; engaged (6%), receptive (17%), ambivalent (48%), and opposed (30%). Validation analysis demonstrated that these groups all differed significantly in their cat containment intentions and behaviors. From these findings theoretically grounded behavior change interventions can be developed to target the causes of non-participation in cat containment for each of the identified cat owner segments, thereby improving the management of free-roaming cats in NZ.
Breakthrough infections by SARS-CoV-2 variants boost cross-reactive hybrid immune responses in mRNA-vaccinated Golden Syrian hamsters
Authors: Diego Juan García-Bernalt , Singh Gagandeep , Jangra Sonia , Handrejk Kim , Laporte Manon , Chang Lauren A. , El Zahed Sara S. , Pache Lars , Chang Max W. , Warang Prajakta , Aslam Sadaf , Mena Ignacio , Webb Brett T. , Benner Christopher , García-Sastre Adolfo , Schotsaert Michael
Published: January 2024

Hybrid immunity (vaccination + natural infection) to SARS-CoV-2 provides superior protection to re-infection. We performed immune profiling studies during breakthrough infections in mRNA-vaccinated hamsters to evaluate hybrid immunity induction. The mRNA vaccine, BNT162b2, was dosed to induce binding antibody titers against ancestral spike, but inefficient serum virus neutralization of ancestral SARS-CoV-2 or variants of concern (VoCs). Vaccination reduced morbidity and controlled lung virus titers for ancestral virus and Alpha but allowed breakthrough infections in Beta, Delta and Mu-challenged hamsters. Vaccination primed for T cell responses that were boosted by infection. Infection back-boosted neutralizing antibody responses against ancestral virus and VoCs. Hybrid immunity resulted in more cross-reactive sera, reflected by smaller antigenic cartography distances. Transcriptomics post-infection reflects both vaccination status and disease course and suggests a role for interstitial macrophages in vaccine-mediated protection. Therefore, protection by vaccination, even in the absence of high titers of neutralizing antibodies in the serum, correlates with recall of broadly reactive B- and T-cell responses.
Architectural scaffolding
Authors: Murray Shaun
Published: January 2024

Scaffolding is a necessary attribute when you are building and constructing buildings in practice and in design. Through design practice we use scaffolding to hold ideas, a thought, a method of making, that allows us to engage with the main focus of the project. Scaffolding has many types of operation and activation, as you will discover while reading this issue of Design Ecologies, which focuses on ‘architectural scaffolding’. The five articles in this issue offer varied and wide-ranging types of scaffoldings for their projects. It is important to note that these are all practicing designers, mostly in architecture, that are constantly searching for new ways to articulate and communicate their ideas as their projects and practices evolve over time. The patterns of how we use architectural scaffolding in space is a fascinating thing to study, but difficult to visualize – the soaring and swooping doesn’t leave a trail, the way a boat does in water. Using time-based methods, we can begin to showcase the patterns of our architectural scaffolding like the faint lines and marks in the construction of a drawing.