bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data from Radiodensities of Skeletal Muscle and Visceral Adipose Tissues Are Prognostic Factors in Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Bradshaw Patrick T. , Olsson Linnea T. , Sanchez Alejandro , Knezevic Andrea , Akin Oguz , Scott Jessica M. , Hakimi A. Ari , Russo Paul , Caan Bette J. , Mourtzakis Marina , Furberg Helena
Published: October 2024

AbstractBackground:
Body composition may be related to survival in patients with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), but studies have not simultaneously considered adipose and muscle tissue quantity and radiodensity.
Methods:
We analyzed data from 1,022 patients with ccRCC who underwent nephrectomy between 2000 and 2020 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Skeletal muscle, visceral adipose tissue, and subcutaneous adipose tissue indexes (cm2/m2) and radiodensities [Hounsfield units (HU)] were assessed from noncontrast presurgical CT scans; clinical and demographic characteristics were available from the time of surgery. HRs and confidence intervals were estimated for overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) through March 2023 in multivariable models that simultaneously accounted for all body composition measures.
Results:
The median age of the patients was 58 years, 69% were male, and 90% were White. There were 169 OS events over 8,392 person-years and 253 DFS events over 7,753 person-years of follow-up. In adjusted analyses, poor OS was associated with lower skeletal muscle radiodensity [−10 HU, HR (95% confidence interval), 1.37 (1.05–1.77)] and greater visceral adipose tissue radiodensity [+10 HU, 1.66 (1.06–2.59)], with similar findings for DFS. Poor survival was also associated with greater visceral adipose tissue index [+40 cm2/m2, OS: 1.32 (0.97, 1.79); DFS: 1.33 (1.04, 1.71)]. Associations with skeletal muscle radiodensity were limited to patients with stage 1/2 disease.
Conclusions:
Radiodensities of skeletal muscle and visceral adipose tissues may be novel presurgical prognostic factors for patients with ccRCC.
Impact:
The findings underscore the importance of evaluating the full range of body composition features simultaneously in multivariable models.
Data from Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Lifestyle and Reproductive Factors Associated with Risk of Breast Cancer in Asian Women
Authors: Ang Boon Hong , Teo Soo-Hwang , Ho Weang-Kee
Published: October 2024

AbstractBackground:
Assessing breast cancer risks from lifestyle and reproductive factors is critical for developing population-specific risk prediction tools. However, limited studies have evaluated these risks in recent Asian birth cohorts.
Methods:
We systematically reviewed articles published from January 2010 to December 2023, examining breast cancer risk factors in Asian women. Data were described narratively, estimates pooled, and prevalence and attributable proportions compared across Asian populations.
Results:
Of the 128 studies reviewed, 103 reported adjusted effect sizes for meta-analysis. Lifestyle and reproductive factors were predictive of breast cancer risk in Asian women, with varying impacts on premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Relative risks were similar within Asian populations and in comparison to European populations, except for menarche, menopause, and hormone receptor therapy. However, risk factor distributions differed across populations. While alcohol intake (21%) and oral contraceptive use (20%) emerged as the most attributable modifiable risk factors in Europeans, passive smoking (24%) and higher BMI (17%, ≥24 kg/m2 among postmenopausal women) were predominant in Asians.
Conclusions:
Our study shows that while the effects of lifestyle and reproductive breast cancer risk factors are largely similar across different populations, their distributions vary.
Impact:
Our analysis underscores the importance of considering population-specific risk factor distributions when developing risk prediction tools for Asian populations.
Supplementary Table S5 from Integrating Multisector Molecular Characterization into Personalized Peptide Vaccine Design for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma
Authors: Johanns Tanner M. , Garfinkle Elizabeth A.R. , Miller Katherine E. , Livingstone Alexandra J. , Roberts Kaleigh F. , Rao Venkata Lakshmi P. , Dowling Joshua L. , Chicoine Michael R. , Dacey Ralph G. , Zipfel Gregory J. , Kim Albert H. , Mardis Elaine R. , Dunn Gavin P.
Published: October 2024

immunoSEQ resolved TCR sequences for each subject PBMCs pre- and post-NeoVax
Supplementary Figure S5 from Lactate Induces Tumor Progression via LAR Motif-Dependent Yin-Yang 1 Degradation
Authors: Du Shujuan , Chen Xiaoting , Han Xiao , Wang Yuyan , Yu Dan , Li Ying , Zhu Caixia , Tong Yin , Gao Shujun , Wang Junwen , Wei Fang , Cai Qiliang
Published: October 2024

S5. LA dramatically enhances malignancy of cancer cells with low expression of YY1.
Supplementary Table 4 from RNA-Binding Protein Lin28B Promotes Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Blast Crisis by Transcriptionally Upregulating miR-181d
Authors: Zhou Minran , Yin Xiaolin , Zhang Lu , Cui Zelong , Jiang Xinwen , Ji Qingli , Ma Sai , Chen Chunyan
Published: October 2024

Supplementary Table 4 shows the accurate sequences of each partial promoter region of miR-181d used for the luciferase assays.
Supplementary Table 2 from RNA-Binding Protein Lin28B Promotes Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Blast Crisis by Transcriptionally Upregulating miR-181d
Authors: Zhou Minran , Yin Xiaolin , Zhang Lu , Cui Zelong , Jiang Xinwen , Ji Qingli , Ma Sai , Chen Chunyan
Published: October 2024

Supplementary Table 2 shows the sequence of the primers used for qRT-PCR.
Supplementary Figure S6 from RNA-Binding Protein Lin28B Promotes Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Blast Crisis by Transcriptionally Upregulating miR-181d
Authors: Zhou Minran , Yin Xiaolin , Zhang Lu , Cui Zelong , Jiang Xinwen , Ji Qingli , Ma Sai , Chen Chunyan
Published: October 2024

Supplementary Figure S6 shows schematic illustration of the predicted miR-181d binding site in the PDCD4 3’ UTR and the specific sequence of miR-181d binding site mutation.
Supplementary Figure S3 from RNA-Binding Protein Lin28B Promotes Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Blast Crisis by Transcriptionally Upregulating miR-181d
Authors: Zhou Minran , Yin Xiaolin , Zhang Lu , Cui Zelong , Jiang Xinwen , Ji Qingli , Ma Sai , Chen Chunyan
Published: October 2024

Supplementary Figure S3 shows schematic illustration of the predicted Lin28B binding sites in the miR-181d promoter and the specific sequence of Lin28B binding site mutation.
Supplementary Table 5 from NAPRT Silencing in FH-Deficient Renal Cell Carcinoma Confers Therapeutic Vulnerabilities via NAD+ Depletion
Authors: Noronha Katelyn J. , Lucas Karlie N. , Paradkar Sateja , Edmonds Joseph , Friedman Sam , Murray Matthew A. , Liu Samantha , Sajed Dipti P. , Sachs Chana , Spurrier Josh , Raponi Mitch , Liang Jiayu , Zeng Hao , Sundaram Ranjini K. , Shuch Brian , Vasquez Juan C. , Bindra Ranjit S.
Published: October 2024

Detailed pathology and FH mutation information for HLRCC patients' samples.
Supplementary Table 4 from NAPRT Silencing in FH-Deficient Renal Cell Carcinoma Confers Therapeutic Vulnerabilities via NAD+ Depletion
Authors: Noronha Katelyn J. , Lucas Karlie N. , Paradkar Sateja , Edmonds Joseph , Friedman Sam , Murray Matthew A. , Liu Samantha , Sajed Dipti P. , Sachs Chana , Spurrier Josh , Raponi Mitch , Liang Jiayu , Zeng Hao , Sundaram Ranjini K. , Shuch Brian , Vasquez Juan C. , Bindra Ranjit S.
Published: October 2024

Differentially methylated gene lists in common as depicted in Supplementary Figure 2.
Supplementary Table 1 from NAPRT Silencing in FH-Deficient Renal Cell Carcinoma Confers Therapeutic Vulnerabilities via NAD+ Depletion
Authors: Noronha Katelyn J. , Lucas Karlie N. , Paradkar Sateja , Edmonds Joseph , Friedman Sam , Murray Matthew A. , Liu Samantha , Sajed Dipti P. , Sachs Chana , Spurrier Josh , Raponi Mitch , Liang Jiayu , Zeng Hao , Sundaram Ranjini K. , Shuch Brian , Vasquez Juan C. , Bindra Ranjit S.
Published: October 2024

Mycoplasma testing information.
Supplementary Figure 8 from NAPRT Silencing in FH-Deficient Renal Cell Carcinoma Confers Therapeutic Vulnerabilities via NAD+ Depletion
Authors: Noronha Katelyn J. , Lucas Karlie N. , Paradkar Sateja , Edmonds Joseph , Friedman Sam , Murray Matthew A. , Liu Samantha , Sajed Dipti P. , Sachs Chana , Spurrier Josh , Raponi Mitch , Liang Jiayu , Zeng Hao , Sundaram Ranjini K. , Shuch Brian , Vasquez Juan C. , Bindra Ranjit S.
Published: October 2024

NAPRT silencing confers sensitivity to NAMPTis in IDH1/2 mutant cancer cell line models.
Supplementary Figure 6 from NAPRT Silencing in FH-Deficient Renal Cell Carcinoma Confers Therapeutic Vulnerabilities via NAD+ Depletion
Authors: Noronha Katelyn J. , Lucas Karlie N. , Paradkar Sateja , Edmonds Joseph , Friedman Sam , Murray Matthew A. , Liu Samantha , Sajed Dipti P. , Sachs Chana , Spurrier Josh , Raponi Mitch , Liang Jiayu , Zeng Hao , Sundaram Ranjini K. , Shuch Brian , Vasquez Juan C. , Bindra Ranjit S.
Published: October 2024

NAPRT protein expression is associated with response to NAMPTi alone and in combination with PARPi.
TIMP1 Mediates Astrocyte-Dependent Local Immunosuppression in Brain Metastasis Acting on Infiltrating CD8+ T Cells
Authors: Priego Neibla , de Pablos-Aragoneses Ana , Perea-García María , Pieri Valentina , Hernández-Oliver Carolina , Álvaro-Espinosa Laura , Rojas Andrea , Sánchez Oliva , Steindl Ariane , Caleiras Eduardo , García Fernando , García-Martín Santiago , Graña-Castro Osvaldo , García-Mulero Sandra , Serrano Diego , Velasco-Beltrán Paloma , Jiménez-Lasheras Borja , Egia-Mendikute Leire , Rupp Luise , Stammberger Antonia , Meinhardt Matthias , Chaachou-Charradi Anas , Martínez-Saez Elena , Bertero Luca , Cassoni Paola , Mangherini Luca , Pellerino Alessia , Rudà Roberta , Soffietti Riccardo , Al-Shahrour Fatima , Saftig Paul , Sanz-Pamplona Rebeca , Schmitz Marc , Crocker Stephen J. , Calvo Alfonso , Palazón Asís ,   RENACER, Valiente Manuel
Published: October 2024

Immunotherapies against brain metastases have shown clinical benefits when applied to asymptomatic patients, but they are largely ineffective in symptomatic cases for unknown reasons. Here, we dissect the heterogeneity in metastasis-associated astrocytes using single-cell RNA sequencing and report a population that blocks the antitumoral activity of infiltrating T cells. This protumoral activity is mediated by the secretion of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1) from a cluster of pSTAT3+ astrocytes that acts on CD63+ CD8+ T cells to modulate their function. Using genetic and pharmacologic approaches in mouse and human brain metastasis models, we demonstrate that combining immune checkpoint blockade antibodies with the inhibition of astrocyte-mediated local immunosuppression may benefit patients with symptomatic brain metastases. We further reveal that the presence of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in liquid biopsies provides a biomarker to select patients for this combined immunotherapy. Overall, our findings demonstrate an unexpected immunomodulatory role for astrocytes in brain metastases with clinical implications.

Significance: This study presents a significant advancement in understanding immune modulation in brain tumors and offers new insights into the potential therapeutic interventions for brain metastases.

See related commentary by Lorger and James, p. 11
Table 2 from Autofluorescent Cancer Stem Cells: Potential Biomarker to Predict Recurrence in Resected Colorectal Tumors
Authors: Alcala Sonia , Serralta San Martin Gonzalo , Muñoz-Fernández de Legaria Marta , Moreno-Rubio Juan , Salinas Silvia , López-Gil Juan Carlos , Rojo López José Alberto , Martínez Alegre Javier , Cortes Bandy David Abraham , Zambrana Francisco , Jiménez-Gordo Ana-María , Casado Enrique , López-Gómez Miriam , Sainz Bruno
Published: October 2024

Cumulative incidence and incidence rate for relapse
Supplementary Tables from Autofluorescent Cancer Stem Cells: Potential Biomarker to Predict Recurrence in Resected Colorectal Tumors
Authors: Alcala Sonia , Serralta San Martin Gonzalo , Muñoz-Fernández de Legaria Marta , Moreno-Rubio Juan , Salinas Silvia , López-Gil Juan Carlos , Rojo López José Alberto , Martínez Alegre Javier , Cortes Bandy David Abraham , Zambrana Francisco , Jiménez-Gordo Ana-María , Casado Enrique , López-Gómez Miriam , Sainz Bruno
Published: October 2024

Supplementary Table S1 showing the percentage of tumors with detectable AF cells and Table S2 with clinical and demographic characteristics of the CRC patients
Figure 5 from Autofluorescent Cancer Stem Cells: Potential Biomarker to Predict Recurrence in Resected Colorectal Tumors
Authors: Alcala Sonia , Serralta San Martin Gonzalo , Muñoz-Fernández de Legaria Marta , Moreno-Rubio Juan , Salinas Silvia , López-Gil Juan Carlos , Rojo López José Alberto , Martínez Alegre Javier , Cortes Bandy David Abraham , Zambrana Francisco , Jiménez-Gordo Ana-María , Casado Enrique , López-Gómez Miriam , Sainz Bruno
Published: October 2024

Recurrence-free survival. A–C, Kaplan–Meier estimates of recurrence‐free survival in global samples according to AF, EpCAM, and EpCAM/AF expression levels. D–F, Kaplan–Meier estimates of recurrence‐free survival in global sample according to AF, EpCAM, and EpCAM/AF expression levels including LN involvement.
Figure 3 from Autofluorescent Cancer Stem Cells: Potential Biomarker to Predict Recurrence in Resected Colorectal Tumors
Authors: Alcala Sonia , Serralta San Martin Gonzalo , Muñoz-Fernández de Legaria Marta , Moreno-Rubio Juan , Salinas Silvia , López-Gil Juan Carlos , Rojo López José Alberto , Martínez Alegre Javier , Cortes Bandy David Abraham , Zambrana Francisco , Jiménez-Gordo Ana-María , Casado Enrique , López-Gómez Miriam , Sainz Bruno
Published: October 2024

Expression of CSC markers in colorectal cancer. A and B, Representative confocal images of two colorectal cancer tumors showing CSC marker–expressing cells; cyan, LGR5; green, CD90; red, EpCAM; blue, DAPI (nuclear marker). Arrowheads indicate colocalization. C and D, Left two plots, representative flow cytometric plots depicting the percentage of AF- and LGR5-positive cells in two colorectal cancer tumors. Control tube, only secondary A546 added. Right two plots, analysis of the percentage of LGR5+ cells inside the AF+ population and vice versa.
Figure 2 from Autofluorescent Cancer Stem Cells: Potential Biomarker to Predict Recurrence in Resected Colorectal Tumors
Authors: Alcala Sonia , Serralta San Martin Gonzalo , Muñoz-Fernández de Legaria Marta , Moreno-Rubio Juan , Salinas Silvia , López-Gil Juan Carlos , Rojo López José Alberto , Martínez Alegre Javier , Cortes Bandy David Abraham , Zambrana Francisco , Jiménez-Gordo Ana-María , Casado Enrique , López-Gómez Miriam , Sainz Bruno
Published: October 2024

Expression of AF and CSC markers in different tumor entities. A, Representative flow cytometric plots depicting the percentage of CD133 cells in one colorectal cancer tumor and two kidney tumors. B, Representative flow cytometric plots depicting the percentage of CD90, CD133, SSEA1, and/or SSEA4 cells in colorectal cancer and stomach tumors. C, Representative flow cytometric plots depicting the percentage of CD90, EpCAM, and EpCAM/AF cells in colorectal cancer and kidney tumors.
Spotlighting Turnover Costs for Pediatric Ocular Oncology Exams under Anesthesia
Authors: Portney David S. , Demirci Hakan
Published: October 2024

Introduction: While pediatric intraocular malignancies are rare, management requires frequent examinations under anesthesia (EUAs) which are financial costly. The purpose of the study was to measure operating room (OR) turnover costs and to estimate potential cost savings of reducing turnover time. Methods: Turnover time data for EUAs with a single ocular oncology provider at the University of Michigan were analyzed from 2021 to 2023. Direct cost of OR turnover was set at USD 25.73 per minute, and turnover time after business hours utilized a cost multiplier for overtime costs. A sensitivity analysis for turnover reduction savings was based on reducing turnover times to a goal turnover time. Primary outcomes were total and average turnover time and costs for pediatric ocular oncology EUAs. Secondary outcomes included the potential cost savings associated with reduced turnover time goals. Results: 158 EUAs with valid turnover times were included. Total turnover time and costs were 5,034 min and USD 134,104. Average (standard deviation) turnover time and costs were 31.9 min (19.0) and USD 848.76 (USD 487.48). A majority of cases (65%) had turnover time less than 30 min, though a minority (23%) had a turnover time less than 20 min. By reducing maximum turnover time to 20 min, a total of USD 52,057 could be saved across these cases or USD 329 per case. Conclusions: Turnover time accounts for a notable proportion of OR costs, particularly for shorter cases. The average pediatric ocular oncology case had nearly USD 850 of turnover costs, much of which may be avoidable. Actions aimed at reducing turnover time are likely to have high return on investments if they are successful.
Low-cost multi-sensing fire-fighting robot with obstacle avoidance mechanism
Authors: Oyelami Adekunle Taofeek , Oyadokun Joshua Ayomide , Akintunlaji Olusola A. , Ihenacho George C.
Published: October 2024

Robots are mostly optimized for tasks that require strength exceeding that of humans or for operations in hazardous environments. The fire-fighting robot developed has multiple sensing capabilities with obstacle avoidance mechanisms and is divided into two units: the robot and the static unit. The robot is equipped with three flame sensors to detect flames (infrared radiation) in three directions, an ultrasonic sensor to avoid obstacles, a wireless receiver to receive data from the static unit, a magnetometer giving the robot a sense of direction, and a unit of Arduino Mega microcontroller serving as the central controlling platform. The static unit has four flame sensors and a transmitter that transmits signals to the robot unit, which an Arduino Uno directly controls. A prototype was developed, which helps prevent the escalation of fires in the home as it can detect, navigate and extinguish flames while avoiding obstacles autonomously.
Design and implementation of deep neural network hardware chip and its performance analysis
Authors: Pant Aruna , Kumar Adesh
Published: October 2024

The artificial neural network (ANN) with a single layer has a limited capacity to process data. Multiple neurons are connected in the human brain, and the actual capacity of the brain lies in the interconnectedness of multiple neurons. As a specified generalization of ANN deep learning makes use of two or more hidden layers, which implies that a greater number of neurons are required to construct the model. A network that has more than one hidden layer, also known as two or more hidden layers, is referred to as a deep neural network, and the process of training such networks is referred to as deep learning. The research article focuses on the design of a multilayer or deep neural network presented for the target field programmable gate array (FPGA) device spartan-6 (xc6stx4-2t9g144) FPGA. The simulation is carried out using Xilinx ISE and ModelSim software. There are two hidden layers in which (2×1) multiplexer blocks are utilized for processing twenty neurons into the output of ten neurons in the first hidden layer and demultiplexers (1×2) and vice versa. The hardware utilization is estimated on FPGA to compute the performance of the deep neural hardware chip based on memory, flip flops, delay, and frequency parameters. The design is scalable and applicable to various FPGA devices, which makes the work novel. FPGA-based neuromorphic hardware acceleration platform with high speed and low power for discrete spike processing on hardware with great real-time performance.
Complicações pós tireoidectomias: revisão narrativa
Authors: Abdo Giulia Ferreira Mattar , Vital Giovanna Almeida , Carvalho Isadora Rover de , Grillo Luisa Werneck , Alves Bernardo Silva Costa Corrêa
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Thyroid disorders are one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders, with thyroidectomy being the most common endocrine surgery for malignant and benign thyroid diseases. Thyroidectomy, despite its effectiveness, is a delicate procedure due to the proximity to important structures, such as the nerves, the lymph nodes and the parathyroid glands. Thus, the incidence of surgical complications is influenced by the extent of the surgery, the thyroid pathology, the anatomical differences, in addition to the surgeon's experience and the association with other procedures. Objective: To carry out a survey regarding the main complications after thyroidectomy and the factors related to the manifestations. Methodology: The literature review was carried out over the months of January and March 2023, through the PubMed, BVS and LILACS databases, using the terms validated by the DeCS “Thyroidectomy”, “Postoperative Complications” and “Postoperative Period”. Results: Eighteen studies were used in the writing of this article after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria and, subsequently, a table was made with their main findings. Hypocalcemia, hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury are the most common complications after thyroidectomy, the latter being the most serious, with different incidences, causes and prevention. Regarding risk factors, female gender, involuntary parathyroidectomy, parathyroid autograft, surgical extension, and central lymph node dissection were related to a higher incidence of complications. The parathyroid hormone levels were used with predictive value for hypocalcemia and hypoparathyroidism. Conclusion: Thyroidectomy is characterized as a well-established procedure in the medical community, however its approach can bear complications. Studies emphasize hypocalcemia, hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury as the most prevalent, in addition to addressing their causes and risk factors. However, further studies are needed to validate means of prevention to ensure the maintenance of patients' quality of life.
Trágicas heroínas, meretrizes e criadas ladras: visualidades criminais e narrativas de violência contra mulheres no periodismo policial carioca (1918-1934)
Authors: Alves Caroline Farias
Published: October 2024

This article aims to analyze the narratives and visualities regarding gender violence in three police magazines, Archivo Vermelho, Vida Policial, and Revista Criminal, published in Rio de Janeiro between 1918 and 1934. Despite specificities, the magazines preserve similar discourses focused on exposing victims in vulnerable situations, holding women responsible for the violence suffered, and the relationship between crimes and the social changes experienced in the period. In addition to the informative content and the propagation of police matters, the periodicals devoted attention to the gender relations in dispute at the time, providing analyses and images about the deaths of women and female indiscipline that, in this study, we intend to explore.
Redescription of Rhabditis maupasi Seurat in Maupas, 1919 (Rhabditida: Rhabditidae) from northwest Iran
Authors: Vazifeh Nasir , Niknam Gholamreza , Abolafia Joaquín , Shokoohi Ebrahim
Published: October 2024

Rhabditis maupasi is re-described and reviewed based on morphological, morphometric, and molecular (D2-D3 expansion segment of the rDNA 28S) analysis collected from northwest Iran. The species is characterised by having a 1.1-1.9 mm long body, lateral fields with three incisures, the lip region offset by a depression, 12-15 μm wide, with six globular lips, the stoma rhabditoid, 14-20 μm long, with distinct cheilo-, gymno- and stegostom; cheilostom slightly cuticularised, gymno-promesostegostom a short tube with well-cuticularised walls, metastegostom with glottoid apparatus bearing small teeth, stomatal or pharyngeal collar covering 40-60% of stoma; pharynx well developed, the pharyngeal corpus consisting of a more or less cylindrical procorpus and swollen metacorpus (median bulb), basal bulb ovoid to pyriform, with grinder and narrow haustrulum, excretory pore at basal bulb level; vulva a transverse slit with protruding lips, the female tail conical-elongated (65-75 μm, c = 16-26, c′ = 2.0-2.5), the male tail conoid, ventrally arcuate (29-34 μm, c = 22-41, c′ = 0.7-1.0); spicules free, with pointed end and dagger-shaped, 61-72 μm long, bursa pseudopeloderan, and with eight pairs of genital papillae plus the phasmid, and gubernaculum 34-36 μm long. Furthermore, its relationship with four closely related species of the genus is discussed. A molecular phylogenetic study using a partial sequence of large subunit ribosomal DNA fragments revealed that R. maupasi forms a clade with R. terricola, recorded previously from Iran.
Promoting ASEAN Integration
Authors: Ha Hoang Hai , Ha Nguyen An , Khanh Do Ta
Published: October 2024

This article analyses Vietnam’s proactive and in-depth integration in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with a particular focus on the first decades of the 21st century. The paper argues that Vietnam’s more active and largely responsible contributions to ASEAN integration are fundamentally shaped by its perceptions on opportunities and challenges caused by China’s rise. By maintaining ASEAN’s non-aligned status, reinforcing its strategic autonomy, centrality, and unification, Vietnam seeks to make the Association strong enough to take a unified position towards China’s aggressive behaviour in the disputed waters close to its shores. However, ASEAN’s internal limitations, China’s great power diplomacy, and geo-strategic constraints, as well as countervailing incentives, lead us to expect there will be further challenges to Vietnam’s efforts.
Green Facades
Authors: Nadalutti Elisabetta
Published: October 2024

This article examines the development of ‘Forest City’ in the Iskandar Malaysia development Corridor within the broader context of China’s international expansion, focusing on Forest City portrayal as a model of sustainability. Despite being promoted as ‘eco-cities’ and ‘green cities’, these mega-projects often fall short of these ideals, revealing a significant gap between their marketed image and their actual environmental practices (Ouis 2011). Through the lens of Practice Theory enriched by the developmental state model, this study analyses the alignment between the promotional rhetoric of Chinese-backed green city projects and their real-world execution. Practice Theory offers a valuable tool for identifying inconsistencies between stated commitments to sustainability and the tangible outcomes observed in Chinese-finance development projects in Southeast Asia. The developmental state model helps to understand the practices that are translated, transplanted, and embedded by Chinese developers across borders. This analytical framework is critical as it sheds light on the underlying dynamics of ‘global China’ initiatives, which have gained increased global attention. Such scrutiny is particularly pertinent in highlighting the contrast between the marketed sustainability of these cities and the principles of genuine sustainable development. This critique provides a deeper understanding of the environmental implications of China’s overseas investments. Based on this analysis, the overarching research question is: why do Chinese-backed green city projects, such as Forest City in Iskandar Malaysia, frequently exhibit discrepancies between their promoted environmental sustainability and the actual environmental outcomes?
Theorizing and Understanding Corporate Involvement in Atrocity Crimes
Authors: van Baar Annika
Published: October 2024

Corporate involvement in atrocity crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, has become an important topic for ngo s, activists and scholars from different disciplines, often focusing on the important question how to achieve a better regulation of and accountability for corporate roles in atrocities. This contribution, instead, is focused on the aetiology of this phenomenon. A theoretical framework is proposed based on, on the one hand, what follows from criminological research on corporate crime, state crime and state-corporate crime and, on the other hand, in-depth case studies of three contexts: Nazi Germany (1933–1945), Apartheid South Africa (1948–1994) and the drc (1996–2016). The proposed framework identifies the motivational drivers, opportunity aspects, and elements of the (lack of) control that, together, can explain why that corporation became involved in atrocity crimes. The framework is intended to—through application to new case studies—improve knowledge about and understanding of corporate involvement in atrocity crimes and to expand the conceptual and theoretical understanding of this phenomenon.
Evaluating Biophilic Design’s Effects on Virtual Museum Perception and Behavior
Authors: Dalay Lâl , Aytaç Gülşen
Published: October 2024

This study explores how the experience in virtual reality of localities such as museum spaces or digital museum environments can be enhanced by biophilic design, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic which has significantly changed the way people interact with the built environment. The research focuses on the potential effects of biophilic design elements on human behavior, perception of space, and emotional response in digital museum environments, such as the Nature, Gardens, Fantasies exhibition at the Arkas Art Center. Integrating natural shapes and forms, light, and space into digital spaces can serve as a guide for design solutions that combine nature, art, and technology to promote an internal experience of nature. The study examines the impact of biophilic design elements on individuals’ perceptions and behaviors in virtual museum settings and emerging concepts of biophilia and exhibition environments are presented. These interactions and experiences with the exhibition were reported by the participants through a questionnaire. The impact of the digital exhibition’s biophilic design on participants’ sense of orientation, space, emotions, and general well-being was examined in this study. The results showed important aspects of the design that affected these variables. The majority of participants reported feeling content, at ease, and joyful following the virtual experience, despite the fact that their emotional reactions varied. This suggests that virtual biophilic design is effective in replicating the positive impacts of physical biophilic places. According to the research, virtual places can mimic the benefits of real-world biophilic spaces and have the ability to effectively promote biophilic design. Digital interventions present a great possibility for improving human well-being through the integration of technology, art, and nature. This is especially important in view of challenges like the COVID-19 outbreak.
Effects of powderization of a granular diet on growth performance of the edible cricket, Teleogryllus occipitalis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)
Authors: Murata K. , Kagesawa W. , Akechi M. , Morimitsu Y. , Suzuki T.
Published: October 2024

Farming edible crickets has environmental and nutritional benefits, as well as social benefits such as livelihood diversification. Commercial feeds for poultry and fish farming are often used to feed crickets, and in recent years, crop and food-processing by-products have also been used to improve sustainability. However, the design of feed for crickets has not been standardized. Here, we investigated growth and development of the Asian field cricket, Teleogryllus occipitalis (Audinet-Serville) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), fed on different forms of the same diet. Body mass and the rate of development were significantly greater in crickets fed on millimetre-order granules than in crickets fed on micrometre-order powder. In addition, analysis of feeding behaviour revealed that crickets fed less frequently on the powdered diet than on the granulated diet. These results suggest that crickets have an avoidance behaviour towards fine particles, or that the granular form is easier for them to grasp and ingest than the powdery form, which may have contributed to growth performance. Simply feeding millimetre-order granules may contribute to the development of feed design for farming edible crickets.
Hexaplaric Variants to the Books of Job, Proverbs, and Canticum
Authors: Albrecht Felix
Published: October 2024

This article offers an inaugural analysis of the Septuagint manuscript Rahlfs 516 (Codex Athous Lavra 149), a codex of the libri sapientiales from the second half of the tenth century, previously misdated and overlooked in Septuagint editions. The manuscript contains five Wisdom books of the Septuagint: Job, Sirach, a prologue to the book of Proverbs, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Canticum. This manuscript, distinguished for its Hexaplaric readings in Job and its extensive parallels with Ra 248 and Ra 161, presents attributions to the Jewish revisers Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion. The analysis of this manuscript reveals interesting variants and a novel Symmachus reading in Job 1:6c, as well as a Symmachus attestation in Job 1:16b and a new Hexaplaric reading for Job 15:21b. This study accentuates the imperative of integrating Ra 516 into scholarly discourse and shows its significance for future research.
Reevaluation and Renewed Readings
Authors: Golani Shira J.
Published: October 2024

The pericope of David’s heroes is a scholarly junction of textual variation and literary-historical details regarding the military unit of David’s Heroes. This article reevaluates the spectrum of extant textual variants relating to the literary structure of this pericope in its two occurrences, at 2 Sam 23:8–39 and 1 Chr 11:11–47, with emphasis on the question of “warriors of the third rank,” with the aim of arriving at a better understanding of the structure of both the literary pericope and the military unit it describes. The textual reevaluation leads to the conclusion that, contrary to the preferred status of MT-Samuel in leading literary-historical studies, readings extant in other versions are to be preferred, while unique MT-Samuel readings, and the historiographical information they reflect, should be understood as either corruptions, reflections of a secondary tradition, or interpretation.
3. Explorations and Analyses (I)
Authors: Clarke David
Published: October 2024

This part of the book contains two discussions: the first (section 3.2) asks ‘How do you sing an ālāp?’, and the second (section 3.3) asks ‘How do you sing a choṭā khayāl?’ Section 3.2 is an article-length discussion that investigates the procedures of ālāp, the unmetred opening stage of an Indian classical performance, and one of its fundamental principles of extemporisation. I approach the question, how do you sing an ālāp? through three explorations, each involving close musical analysis of extracts from Rāg samay cakra—thus also providing commentary on the album. In the first and longest, I consider ālāp formation: how is a performer to shape an ālāp, both across its entire span and from phrase to phrase? In the second, I undertake an empirical analysis of duration and proportion in an ālāp: how long should an ālāp last, both in absolute terms and relative to its place in a rāg performance as a whole? And in the third exploration, I broach the under-examined issue of what it is that khayāl singers sing instead of words in an ālāp: how do they select and combine its non-lexical syllables? Through these inquiries, I seek to pull out general truths from the specifics of Vijay Rajput’s performances, and speculate on some of the bigger questions raised by the improvised musical procedures of ālāp. The answers are often formulated as rubrics that codify knowledge acquired by musicians and listeners over a long period. Ultimately, I ask, what kind of theoretical knowledge is constituted by such rubrics, and how does this relate to the intrinsically musical knowledge that is passed down through successive generations of performers? In shorter khayāl performances, the unmetred, preludial ālāp may be followed by a choṭā khayāl. Here the vocalist is joined by the tabla player, in the presentation of, and improvised elaboration around, a metred bandiś (song). Because this composition is only a few phrases long, considerable extemporisation around it is needed to make a fully-fledged performance—hence the salience of the question, ‘how do you sing a choṭā khayāl?’, addressed in section 3.3. In the first instance, I explore this question with examples from the Rāg samay cakra album, on which all the khayāls are choṭā khayāls. I take VR’s performance of Rāg Bhairav as an initial case study, and then widen the canvas with further empirical analyses of extracts from the entire album, examining the full range of elaborative techniques employed. These include first-line accumulation, bol ālāp or vistār, tāns, behlāvā, and lay bāṇṭ. In a second approach to the question—a more formalised theoretical account—I draw the threads of these analyses together into an extensive series of rubrics for performance; ultimately, I speculate whether what underpins the flow of a choṭā khayāl might be something like a grammar. If such theorising pushes beyond the everyday discourse of musicians, I nonetheless continue to make the pragmatics of practice my touchstone.
Violence, Affect, Empathy: The Topos of Immurement in Bulgarian School Textbooks
Authors: Siedlecka Sylwia
Published: October 2024

Violence, Affect, Empathy: The Topos of Immurement in Bulgarian School Textbooks
The article examines the presence of the topos of foundation sacrifice in Bulgarian school textbooks since the 1970s, as well as media discussions on the function and meaning of this topos in the teaching of primary school children. Local culture is an important part of the Bulgarian education system, and textbook interpretations of the song about immurement entitled Three Brothers Built a Fortress have been a regular part of the core curriculum for half a century. Textual and performative interpretations of the song Three Brothers Built a Fortress analysed in this article make it possible to track the key ways in which textbook authors have understood the topos of the foundation sacrifice over the last half-century. The analysis of key interpretations of the song Three Brothers Built a Fortress in textbooks and of accompanying performative strategies show that education remains a space for the normalisation of violence against women and the perpetuation of gender inequalities. Embedded in men’s stories, women are supporting characters that stabilise the male world but lack a significant voice or empowerment. The sacrifice of a woman is sometimes judged as equitable and noble, and an acquiescent, obedient death is judged as desirable to achieve a higher goal. Legitimisation of the sacrificial act in the song Three Brothers Built a Fortress is an analogy for defining the Bulgarian nation as a community in need of sacrifice and a way of legitimising ethnic nationalism.
 
Przemoc, afekt, empatia. Topos zamurowania w bułgarskich podręcznikach szkolnych
W artykule zanalizowano obecność toposu ofiary zakładzinowej w bułgarskich podręcznikach szkolnych od lat 70. XX wieku do współczesności oraz dyskusje medialne na temat funkcji i znaczenia tego toposu w nauczaniu dzieci w szkołach podstawowych. Kultura lokalna jest istotną częścią bułgarskiego systemu edukacji, a podręcznikowe interpretacje pieśni o zamurowaniu pod tytułem Trzej bracia budowali twierdzę od półwiecza są stałym elementem podstawy programowej. Analizowane w artykule tekstowe i performatywne interpretacje pieśni o zamurowanej pozwalają prześledzić kluczowe sposoby rozumienia przez autorów podręczników toposu ofiary zakładzinowej w perspektywie ostatniego półwiecza. Analiza kluczowych sposobów interpretowania pieśni w podręcznikach oraz towarzyszące im strategie performatywne pokazują, że edukacja nadal pozostaje przestrzenią normalizacji przemocy wobec kobiet i utrwalania nierówności genderowych. Osadzone w męskich opowieściach kobiety są postaciami pomocniczymi, stabilizującymi męski świat, ale nieposiadającymi istotnego głosu ani sprawczości. Ofiara złożona z kobiety bywa oceniana jako słuszna i wzniosła, a pokorna, pozbawiona buntu śmierć jako pożądana w imię uzyskania wyższego celu. Legitymizacja aktu ofiarniczego w pieśni jest analogią dla definiowania narodu bułgarskiego jako wspólnoty potrzebującej ofiar oraz sposobem legitymizacji nacjonalizmu etnicznego.
Adaptations of Chekhov’s “A Boring Story” in Polish Cinema
Authors: Trashchynskaya-Stsiapushyna Tatsiana
Published: October 2024

Adaptations of Chekhov’s A Boring Story in Polish Cinema
The article discusses the specifics of the adaptation of a work of Russian classical literature in the cinematography of Poland. The object of interest is A. P. Chekhov’s novel A Boring Story (1889), and its adaptation Nieciekawa historia by W. E. Has (1982). The term “adaptation” is broader than the translation of one artistic system into the language of another. The main problems of film adaptation are identified: the contradiction between a literal illustration of the original source and the director’s departure into greater artistic independence from the writer’s plan; the increasing commercialization of cinema; the difference of epochs; ethnocultural differences between the writer and the director; the use of cinema as a means of propaganda. It is argued that the adaptation of a literary work of Russian classical literature by a director of another culture living in another time gives birth to a new, independent work of cinematic art in which new meanings are added to the meanings of the literary source that have arisen precisely due to the peculiarities of film language.
 
Adaptacja opowiadania Nieciekawa historia Antona Czechowa w kinie polskim
Artykuł poświęcony jest kwestii specyfiki ekranizacji klasycznych dzieł rosyjskiej literatury w kinematografii polskiej. Przedmiotem uwagi jest opowiadanie Antona Czechowa Nieciekawa historia (1889) oraz jej ekranizacja Nieciekawa historia, autorstwa Wojciecha E. Hasa (1982). Pojęcie adaptacji filmowej (ekranizacji) jest rozumiane jako coś więcej niż tłumaczenie jednego systemu artystycznego na inny. W artykule zostały przedyskutowane główne problemy tego aktu: sprzeczność między dosłownym ilustrowaniem źródła a decyzją reżysera o odejściu od intencji pisarza w kierunku większej niezależności artystycznej, rosnąca komercjalizacja kina, różnica epok, różnice etnokulturowe między pisarzem i reżyserem, wykorzystanie kina jako środka propagandy. Pokazano, jak adaptacja dzieła literackiego klasycznej literatury rosyjskiej przez reżysera z innej kultury, żyjącego w innym czasie, rodzi nowe, niezależne dzieło sztuki filmowej, w którym do znaczeń źródła literackiego dodawane są nowe znaczenia i że powstały one właśnie ze względu na specyfikę języka filmowego.
Sojourning and Being Well Among Contemporary Chinese Gay Men in a Tourism Destination: An Extension of Dynamic Equilibrium Theory
Authors: Xiang Keheng , Xu Wenqing , Li Mimi
Published: October 2024

This study proposes an extension of the dynamic equilibrium model to investigate the intrinsic mechanisms underlying the well-being experiences of Chinese gay tourists visiting Thailand. The enhanced model incorporates elements such as stock-challenge, flow-resource, and self-concept clarity, which illuminate the intrinsic dynamics of the inner well-being framework. Findings were derived from a video ethnography conducted collaboratively by researchers and participants. The results demonstrate that the impact of sojourning on well-being among gay Chinese travelers is influenced by their typical life and travel experiences, as well as the personalized meanings they associate with tourism and well-being. These responses are intricately shaped by their personal, social, and cultural contexts. This research provides rich insights into the holiday experiences and behaviors of contemporary Chinese gay adults, emphasizing the need for the development of tailored tourism policies and marketing strategies to cultivate gay-friendly destinations within the Asia region.
Vibration analysis of shear actuated bi-directional FGP beam using generalized differential quadrature method
Authors: Sharma Akshansh , Sharma Pankaj , Parashar Sandeep Kumar
Published: October 2024

The primary objective of this study is to exhibit the shear mode vibrations of a bidirectional functionally graded piezoelectric beam. All material properties are assumed to vary bidirectional in accordance with an exponential law. Using Timoshenko beam theory, the governing equations and boundary conditions are derived using the Hamilton principle. The equations of motion are then solved using the generalized differential quadrature method. Since no previous solutions existed for the current problem, the obtained results are compared with the findings from a simplified case in previous research. The effects of exponent parameters, slenderness ratios, and boundary conditions on natural frequencies of the bidirectional FGP beam are discussed in detail.
Changes in Patient Care Experiences and the Nurse Work Environment: A Longitudinal Study of U.S. Hospitals
Authors: Rosenbaum Kathleen E. Fitzpatrick , Lasater Karen B. , McHugh Matthew D. , Lake Eileen T.
Published: October 2024

Addressing patient experience is a priority in the health care system. Hospital Consumer Assessment of Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results incentivize hospitals to elevate patient experience, a factor in patient-centered care. Although hospital nursing resources have been positively associated with better HCAHPS ratings, it is unknown how changes in nursing resources are associated with changes in HCAHPS ratings over time. This two-period longitudinal study ranked the associations between changes in nurse staffing, skill mix, nurse education, and work environment on HCAHPS ratings and found that changes in the work environment had the strongest associations (β = 2.29; p < .001) with improved HCAHPS ratings. Our findings provide hospital administrators with empirical evidence that may help make informed decisions on how to best invest limited resources to improve HCAHPS ratings, including the potential utility of improving the work environment through enhancing Nursing Quality of Care and Nurse Participation in Hospital Affairs.
Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM PD) incidence trends in the United States, 2010–2019
Authors: Bents Samantha J. , Mercaldo Rachel A. , Powell Collin , Henkle Emily , Marras Theodore K. , Prevots D. Rebecca
Published: October 2024

Background

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous environmental bacteria that cause chronic lung disease. Rates of NTM pulmonary disease (NTM PD) have increased over the last several decades, yet national estimates in the United States (US) have not been assessed since 2015.

Methods

We used a nationally representative population of Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥ 65 years to assess rates of NTM PD in a high-risk population from 2010 to 2019. Poisson generalized linear models were used to assess the annual percent change in incidence in the overall population and among key demographic groups such as sex, geography, and race/ethnicity. We evaluated the relative prevalence of various comorbid conditions previously found to be associated with NTM PD.

Results

We identified 59,724 cases of incident NTM PD from 2010 to 2019 from an annual mean population of 29,687,097 beneficiaries, with an average annual incidence of 20.1 per 100,000 population. NTM PD incidence was overall highest in the South and among women, Asian individuals, and persons aged ≥ 80 years relative to other studied demographic groups. The annual percent change in NTM PD incidence was highest in the Northeast, at 6.5%, and Midwest, at 5.9%, and among women, at 6.5%. Several comorbid conditions were highly associated with concurrent NTM diagnosis, including allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis.

Conclusions

Here we provide current estimates of NTM PD incidence and prevalence and describe increasing trends in the US from 2010 to 2019. Our study suggests a need for improved healthcare planning to handle an increased future caseload, as well as improved diagnostics and therapeutics to better detect and treat NTM PD in populations aged ≥ 65 years.