bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low body temperature and mortality in critically ill patients with coronary heart disease: a retrospective analysis from MIMIC-IV database
Authors: Luo Weiran , Cao Lixue , Wang Chuan
Published: December 2023

Background

This study was aimed to investigate the correlation between low body temperature and outcomes in critically ill patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods

Participants from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV were divided into three groups (≤ 36.5 ℃, 36.6–37.4 ℃, ≥ 37.5 ℃) in accordance with body temperature measured orally in ICU. In-hospital, 28-day and 90-day mortality were the major outcomes. Multivariable Cox regression, decision curve analysis (DCA), restricted cubic splines (RCS), Kaplan–Meier curves (with or without propensity score matching), and subgroup analyses were used to investigate the association between body temperature and outcomes.

Results

A total of 8577 patients (65% men) were included. The in-hospital, 28-day, 90-day, and 1-year overall mortality rate were 10.9%, 16.7%, 21.5%, and 30.4%, respectively. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses indicated that patients with hypothermia compared to the patients with normothermia were at higher risk of in-hospital [adjusted hazard ratios (HR) 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.49], 28-day (1.38, 1.19–1.61), and 90-day (1.36, 1.19–1.56) overall mortality. For every 1 ℃ decrease in body temperature, adjusted survival rates were likely to eliminate 14.6% during the 1-year follow-up. The DCA suggested the applicability of the model 3 in clinical practice and the RCS revealed a consistent higher mortality in hypothermia group.

Conclusions

Low body temperature was associated with increased mortality in critically ill patients with coronary heart disease.
Two resected cases of benign adenomyoepithelioma
Authors: Fukudome Yurika , Nagata Yoshika , Yamada Yui , Saeki Toshihiro , Fujikawa Takahisa
Published: December 2023

Background

Adenomyoepithelioma (AME) of the breast is an uncommon tumor characterized by the proliferation of ductal epithelial and myoepithelial cells with the heterogeneity. Although benign AME is relatively easy to differentiate from breast cancer by core needle biopsy (CNB) alone, a definitive diagnosis is often difficult. The imaging findings of AME are also variable, and there are particularly few reports about radiological features, including contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in AME.

Case presentation

We present two cases of benign AME. Case 1 is a 30-year-old woman with a history of asthma. The cystic tumor shows smooth borders, and the intracystic solid component is irregular in shape and high vascularity. The pathological findings of the tumor were benign on CNB. The MRI scan showed a decreased ADC value. Case 2 is a 60-year-old woman with only a history of arrhythmia. The tumor shows a lobulated mass with cystic space and coarse calcifications. The pathological findings of the tumor were found to be benign by CNB. Dynamic MRI scan showed a fast washout pattern with a decreased ADC value. Both patients underwent excisional biopsy to confirm the diagnosis, and the pathological diagnosis was benign AME in both cases.

Conclusions

The AME of the breast has little specific imaging information, so it can be difficult to diagnose based on pathological findings of biopsy specimen. In our case, the ADC values were exceptionally low, contrary to previous reports. It is essential to carefully diagnose AME, considering the discrepancies in imaging findings observed in this case.
Penile fracture with urethral injury: a case report of rare double trouble
Authors: Hameed Farooq , Anwaar Adeel , Saeed Humayun , Noor Usman , Saleem Abdullah , Anwar Mamoona
Published: December 2023

Background

A penile fracture occurs when the tunica albuginea of penis tears during erection. Penile fracture is a rare but serious injury that occurs when the erect penis sustains a traumatic force. It is characterized by a sudden snapping or popping sound, followed by immediate pain, swelling, and discoloration. Its association with concomitant urethral injury is very rare. This case study describes such a rare case.

Case presentation

In this case study, we present the case of a 47-year-old man who experienced sudden pain and lost erection with a popping sound while having sexual intercourse. There was bloody discharge from the urethral opening and showed the distinct sign of an "Eggplant Deformity." This result confirmed the diagnosis. Immediate surgical intervention revealed damage to the left corpora and urethra. The procedure involved repairing the tunica albuginea covering the corpora tissue and reconstructing the damaged urethra. The surgery went smoothly without complications. The patient reported satisfactory erectile function and normal urination on follow-up visit after 2 months.

Conclusion

Penile fracture with urethral injury is a rare but serious emergency. Prompt detection and surgical intervention are crucial for optimal outcomes and minimal complications. Depending on severity, either catheterization or repair may be necessary.
LARP4 is an RNA-binding protein that binds nuclear-encoded mitochondrial mRNAs to promote mitochondrial function
Authors: Lewis Benjamin M. , Cho Chae Yun , Her Hsuan-Lin , Mizrahi Orel , Hunter Tony , Yeo Gene W.
Published: December 2023

Mitochondria-associated RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have emerged as key contributors to mitochondrial biogenesis and homeostasis. With few examples known, we set out to identify RBPs that regulate nuclear-encoded mitochondrial mRNAs (NEMmRNAs). Our systematic analysis of RNA targets of 150 RBPs identified RBPs with a preference for binding NEMmRNAs, including LARP4, a La RBP family member. We show that LARP4's targets are particularly enriched in mRNAs that encode respiratory chain complex proteins (RCCPs) and mitochondrial ribosome proteins (MRPs) across multiple human cell lines. Through quantitative proteomics, we demonstrate that depletion of LARP4 leads to a significant reduction in RCCP and MRP protein levels. Furthermore, we show that LARP4 depletion reduces mitochondrial function, and that LARP4 re-expression rescues this phenotype. Our findings shed light on a novel function for LARP4 as an RBP that binds to and positively regulates NEMmRNAs to promote mitochondrial respiratory function.
DOES BOARD STRUCTURE AND OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE INFLUENCE THE PERFORMANCE OF LISTED COMPANIES: EVIDENCE FROM PHARMACEUTICALS AND CHEMICAL INDUSTRY OF BANGLADESH?
Authors: Chakraborty Brishti
Published: December 2023

This study examines the influence of board structure and ownership structure on a firm’s financial performance in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry of Bangladesh. The data of this study is based on all listed companies in the pharmaceuticals and chemical industry on Dhaka Stock Exchange. Data was collected from the annual reports of the concerned industry from 2015 to 2020. To examine the data, the study has applied descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, VIF test, and the twostage least squares (2SLS) estimator using Eviews software. Based on existing empirical studies, seven major attributes (board size, board independence, board gender, managerial ownership, institutional ownership, audit committee size, and frequency of audit committee meetings) have been selected to identify their influence on a firm’s performance. Findings from the study show that there is an insignificant negative relationship among board size, board gender, frequency of meetings, and the firm’s financial performance but a significant relationship with board independence, institutional ownership, and frequency of meetings. The study has proposed that board size can be smaller but should be representative. This study will contribute to the literature on CG and profitability in an emerging economy like Bangladesh.
DIGITALIZATION AS A LEVER OF INNOVATION FOR SMES: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY IN THE CAMEROONIAN CONTEXT
Authors: Djeudja Rovier , Matejang Letissia Stephanie , Nya Magloire Tchatchoua
Published: December 2023

The objective of this study is to examine the influence of digitalization on innovation in Cameroonian firms. To this end, we used the main variables of digitalization, namely ICT and digital technologies, to better explain innovation, whether it be process, product or organizational. To achieve this, the empirical verification was carried out through qualitative data processing analyses such as: descriptive data analysis and MCA (Multiple Correspondence Analysis) method. This qualitative methodological approach enabled us to survey 20 Cameroonian SMEs with different characteristics during the year 2020. The study shows that digitalization has a significant influence, with positive externalities on the innovation of companies. The answers collected show that the adoption and introduction of digital tools in the exercise of the company’s activities leads to the reinvention of the company’s traditional management models. The originality of our work lies in the fact that the study attempts to use a qualitative method to question the relationship between digitalization and innovation in Cameroonian SMEs.
Informal Civic Activity of Participants of the “Black Protests” and “Women’s Strike”: An Analysis of Scientific Journal Publications
Authors: Zaworska-Nikoniuk Dorota
Published: December 2023

A recent attempt to impose restrictions on the right to carry out abortions due to developmental abnormalities of a foetus and risks to the mother’s health has triggered widespread protests in Poland. These have resulted in the formation of a new social movement, the so-called “Women’s Strike,” which the author of this paper sees as a significant manifestation of informal civic activity. This paper seeks to generate and systematise the meaning of scientific research dealing with these phenomena. The main problem is the following: What categories of a social movement analysis and the meaning imparted to the new social movement called “Women’s Strike” can be identified in scientific papers? The author has chosen to employ a non-reactive research approach, and the sample selection was deliberate. The process of selecting and narrowing down the documents focused on identifying fragments of papers that could offer insights and answers to the research questions. The analysis was performed with the use of a categorisation key developed by the author, which was used to identify the thematic distribution of the scientific papers devoted to the new movement.
Results: Five categories were identified together with the assigned meanings: experience and citizenship, emotions expressed by the movement participants, feeling of community and sisterhood, development of the movement participants’ identity, the Women’s Strike future and development prospects. The conclusions contain examples of potential pedagogic studies, in particular, the educational aspects of the new movement’s impact on the young people participating in it, the experience of the identity transformation of the women participating in the strikes, reactivating the ideas and values of sisterhood and the feeling of community in the face of the threat to the freedom of reproduction, a change of the social attitude towards abortion caused by mass protests sparked by the toughening of the law, and media presentation of the new woman’s movement and its demands.
Análisis exploratorio de factores explicativos de la percepción del conocimiento sobre educación financiera
Authors: Gallardo-Vázquez Dolores , Miralles-Quirós María Mar , Miralles-Quirós José Luis
Published: December 2023

Actualmente existe una gran preocupación en numerosos países por el nivel de Educación Financiera (EF) de sus ciudadanos. En España, desde el año 2008, existe un Plan Nacional de EF impulsado por el Banco de España y la Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores que se encuentra en su cuarta fase. En esta etapa, al igual que en la anterior, se pone de manifiesto la importancia de fomentar la EF entre los estudiantes universitarios, que serán los profesionales cualificados del futuro. En este contexto, el objetivo del presente estudio es analizar las percepciones de los estudiantes de primer año de los distintos grados de la Universidad de Extremadura en el curso académico 2021-22 en aspectos tales como gasto, ingreso, presupuesto, ahorro, inversión y calidad de vida. Para ello, ha sido realizada una encuesta cuyos principales resultados nos permiten proponer líneas de actuación de carácter transversal para cursos académicos futuros en la propia universidad, así como en estudios previos de Educación Primaria y Secundaria. Por último, la presente investigación permite realizar un pronóstico para la Comunidad Autónoma de Extremadura y establecer comparaciones con otras comunidades españolas o regiones portuguesas limítrofes.
Analysis of the digital gender gap among undergraduate students in business administration and management degree programs
Authors: Arias Abelaira Triana , Prado Solano Angelina , Pache Durán María , Rodríguez Ariz Lázaro
Published: December 2023

Esta investigación tiene como objetivo general determinar el nivel de competencia digital del alumnado del Grado de Administración y Dirección de Empresas (ADE) de la Universidad de Extremadura (España) e identificar si existe o no, una brecha digital de género. La investigación se ha basado en la aplicación del Cuestionario de Competencias Digitales en Educación Superior (CDES) organizado en base a 5 dimensiones (Alfabetización tecnológica, Acceso y uso de la información, Comunicación y colaboración, Ciudadanía digital y Creatividad e Innovación), estructurado fundamentalmente en base a preguntas de una escala tipo Likert. Para alcanzar el objetivo del estudio se ha seleccionado una muestra de 371 alumnos y alumnas de la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales de la Universidad de Extremadura y los datos recogidos en el cuestionario han sido analizados con el programa informático SPSS. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que, el 73% del alumnado posee un nivel alto de competencia digital, distribuidos en un 72,6% de hombres y un 73,5% de mujeres, no encontrando diferencias significativas según el análisis estadístico realizado, por lo que se puede concluir que no se ha encontrado brecha digital de género en nuestro universo de análisis.
Radio Luxembourg y Europe n°1 en la década de 1960: actores transnacionales e intermediales por antonomasia
Authors: Legay Richard
Published: December 2023

Las emisoras de radio comerciales, como Radio Luxemburgo y Europe n°1, fueron medios de comunicación muy populares en la Europa Occidental de los años 60. Sin embargo, los investigadores no les han prestado tanta atención como a sus homólogas públicas. Siguiendo una tendencia que trata de volver a poner el foco sobre ellas, esta contribución revela el rico potencial que estas radios tienen para la literatura histórica y los radio studies. En este sentido, el trabajo constituye un alegato para profundizar en su análisis. Al tratarse de entidades comerciales, que no están obligadas a compartir sus archivos y que, a menudo, se encuentran en múltiples localizaciones y en diferentes idiomas, el proceso de investigación resulta, en ocasiones, dificultoso. A pesar de esto, escribir su historia ofrece muchas oportunidades. Así pues, y dado que estas emisoras tenían su sede en regiones periféricas de grandes mercados —en el caso francés, por ejemplo, para evitar el monopolio estatal—, se convierten en actores transnacionales clave. No obstante, no sólo son sujetos ideales para comprender la historia de la radio a través de las fronteras, sino que también son especialmente relevantes cuando se trata de estudios transmedia. En efecto, emisoras como Radio Luxemburgo y Europe n°1 dependían, en gran medida, de otros medios de comunicación para apoyar su aventura empresarial global. Por todo ello, esta contribución abordará su potencial para enriquecer la historia de la radio mediante la inclusión de perspectivas de análisis transnacionales e intermediales.
Las radios libres y comunitarias en las políticas del Consejo de Europa (1950-2010).
Authors: Reguero Jimenez Nuria
Published: December 2023

En la larga marcha para defender su actividad, las radios libres y comunitarias han apelado a los organismos internacionales de Derechos Humanos. El Consejo de Europa es el que más las ha promocionado en el ámbito europeo, siendo el antecedente y aportando el fundamento de las políticas de la Unión Europea en esta materia; su labor, sin embargo, apenas ha sido estudiada. El presente artículo pretende conocer la gestación y evolución de las políticas del Consejo sobre el sector, y la influencia de este en dichas políticas. Por un lado, se analizan declaraciones, recomendaciones, estudios y otros documentos emitidos por este organismo, a partir de una reconstrucción de su interacción con el movimiento de las radios. Por el otro, se observa la apropiación de la noción de derecho a comunicar por parte de ambos actores. La metodología empleada es cualitativa, aplicando las técnicas del análisis documental y el rastreo de procesos.
Las noticias de sucesos: la narración de un crimen en la casa del alcalde de Cieza en 'El Imparcial' y 'La Época' durante el reinado de Amadeo de Saboya
Authors: Salinas Guirao Miriam
Published: December 2023

Esta investigación analiza la narración de un asesinato en la casa del alcalde de Cieza en el marco del Sexenio Democrático, durante el reinado de Amadeo de Saboya, en ‘El Imparcial’ y ‘La Época’. El objetivo es extraer los rasgos de estilo en la redacción y los factores contextuales de uno de los primeros crímenes relatados en la prensa, en un periodo de creciente expansión de la actividad periodística, siguiendo las metodologías cuantitativas y cualitativas de las investigaciones sobre medios y comunicación. El empleo de palabras explicativas y de calificativos, de recursos literarios y el uso de corresponsalías y notas informativas, amén de los avances técnicos, conformaron las características primigenias de las noticias de sucesos.
Timeliness of Cold Plasma Treatment on Surface Modification of Polylactic Acid Fibers
Authors: Chen Yingxuan , Liu Haiyan , Ying Shuni , Ma Huihuang , Gao Jianfei , Zhou Xiaodong
Published: December 2023

Polylactic acid (PLA) fiber is a promising material due to its biodegradability, excellent mechanical properties, and good biocompatibility. However, its surface is chemically inert and has poor interfacial compatibility with gases due to a low number of polar groups. To address this issue, this study utilized cold plasma and solution wet pretreatment with varying pH levels to modify the surface of PLA fibers. The use of solution wet pretreatment helped mitigate the negative effects of plasma treatment on the timeliness, which improved the long-term stability of the PLA fibers surface properties. These modifications increased the suitability of the material for various applications. The surface of PLA fibers was modified using cold plasma and wet pretreatment with pH solutions of varying degrees. The surface chemical composition and hydrophilicity of modified fibers remained relatively stable for up to 120 days. Conversely, unpretreated fibers reverted to their original chemically inert state after 14 days.
NASCIMENTO E MORTE DE UMA ESTRELA EM UMA ABORDAGEM SIMPLES PARA O ENSINO MÉDIO: A EVOLUÇÃO ESTELAR
Authors: Maia Gil Santiago , Silva Pinho Janildes , Fernandes de Fernandes Iranderly
Published: December 2023

A curiosidade em compreender o céu sempre esteve presente na história da humanidade. O universo é fascinante e cheio de luz, oriunda de corpos que intrigam, até os dias atuais, os cientistas de diversas áreas do conhecimento, as estrelas. O nascimento, evolução e morte desses corpos celestes mostram, ao contrário do que se pensava, que o céu não é estático e eterno, pelo contrário, a sua dinâmica mostra transformações e fenômenos astronômicos. Levar esse conteúdo para sala de aula é, além de constar nos documentos norteadores da educação básica, importante para dar significado a aprendizagem de temas da física, química e matemática, além da concepção do nosso lugar no espaço e tempo no universo. Este artigo tem como objetivo mostrar ao professor como esse assunto pode ser abordado em sala de aula, sugerindo, também, alguns experimentos de baixo custo e fácil construção.
NANOCIÊNCIA E NANOTECNOLOGIA: UMA ANÁLISE DOCUMENTAL A PARTIR DA BNCC
Authors: Teixeira Rodrigues César , Dantas Lopes Mirleide
Published: December 2023

Nos últimos anos, diversas tecnologias vêm sendo desenvolvidas a partir dos saberes científicos e elas influenciam diretamente a vida em sociedade. Neste ínterim, uma área do conhecimento cada vez mais presente no mundo vivencial é a Nanociência e a Nanotecnologia (N&N), temática essencialmente interdisciplinar, uma vez que envolve conhecimentos de diversas áreas como: a Física, a Química e a Biologia. Abordar temas contemporâneos em sala de aula pode viabilizar a compreensão dos discentes no tocante às tecnologias, que muitas vezes estão presentes no cotidiano, contribuindo assim com o processo de Alfabetização Científica (AC) destes estudantes. As descobertas tecnológicas também influenciam no desenvolvimento das legislações educacionais, dentre elas a Base Nacional Comum Curricular (BNCC). Em seu escopo, este documento visa a implementação de temas contemporâneos em sala de aula. Deste modo, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar de que forma a BNCC pode favorecer o ensino de N&N na educação básica. Essa investigação partiu de uma pesquisa documental, que resultou em uma análise da BNCC estruturada em três categorias, a saber: Interdisciplinaridade; Alfabetização Científica e Saberes Científicos. A partir desta análise foi constatado que a implementação da BNCC favorece a implementação da N&N na educação básica. Nos últimos anos esta abordagem já vem sendo realizada, mesmo que de forma incipiente. Por esta razão, objetiva-se que os resultados da pesquisa ora realizada possam orientar pesquisadores que trabalham com a temática, bem como estimular professores que atuam na educação básica a abordá-la.
Emotion, Money, and Beauty: Variation and Innovation in the Story of Shuang Jian and Su Xiaoqing
Authors: Chen Tianjun
Published: December 2023

Abstract: This paper explores the circulation, recension, and reception of the story of Shuang Jian and Su Xiaoqing. This understudied story is one of the three most popular stories of the Song, Jin, and Yuan periods, appearing in zhugongdiao, zaju, and sanqu . The variations in how Yuan sanqu writers narrated, appropriated, and interpreted the story reveal three ways of portraying Su Xiaoqing: as a virtuous, victimized courtesan who mirrors her scholarly lover; as a gold digger who chooses wealth over talent; or as the primary agent who dominates all of her relationships. The juxtaposition and interconnectedness of these narrative systems manifest the flexibility and inclusiveness of the textual space of the Yuan and the distinctiveness of sanqu as an independent literary genre.
Creating A Honglou Meng for Twenty-First-Century San Francisco: Musical Confluence in Bright Sheng’s Opera, Dream of the Red Chamber (2016–2022)
Authors: Zhang Jingyi
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Bright Sheng’s opera Dream of the Red Chamber , based on the eighteenth-century novel Honglou meng , premiered at the San Francisco Opera (SF Opera) in September 2016 and, by the end of 2017, had been performed in Hong Kong, Beijing, Changsha, and Wuhan. Ticket sales and reviews were so strong that in 2022, the production was revived—a first for a piece commissioned by the SF Opera. This phenomenal success occurred despite the difficulty of condensing a 120-chapter novel that most Americans have probably never heard of into a three-hour Western opera. In San Francisco, the production had to be both accessible to newcomers to the novel and not offend die-hard fans of this famous Chinese work. After introducing the opera, I discuss how Sheng created cross-cultural music by putting Western and Chinese elements in confluence with each other, evident in his use of both Béla Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin and Chinese folk and literati music. Regarding the latter, Sheng and his creative team further rethought the role of the musical instrument most closely associated with the literati, the qin -zither, in the story. I hope to give readers critical insight into some representative challenges and opportunities faced by the production, and provide a better basis for evaluating its accomplishments.
Single-pixel imaging based on metasurface fuzzy coding
Authors: Liu Yusheng , Shi Yan , Hu Yingying , Zhou Yadong , Xu Rui , Zhan Chunlian
Published: December 2023

Single-pixel imaging, renowned for its high sensitivity, robustness against interference, and superior resolution, has become increasingly prominent in the field of optical research. Over recent years, a diverse array of light modulation devices and methodologies has been devised to accomplish megahertz modulations rates. This work presents a single-pixel imaging scheme based on the fuzzy coding of metasurfaces. This unique encoding technique manipulates the quality of the mask pattern by adjusting the pixel count within the metasurface units. Notably, we expand the metasurface units to effectively mitigate the position sensitivity during movement or rotations, thus easing the challenge for the detector in collecting the correct light intensity during sub-mask transitions. A detailed analysis is drawn of the reconstruction quality of fuzzy masks. Simultaneously, we provide simulations of single-pixel imaging under the condition where the fuzzy-coded metasurface is moving. This work provides a new, to the best of our knowledge, mask generation mode for high-speed spatial light modulation.
Manipulation of path state based on spatiotemporal dielectric metasurface
Authors: Yao Jiabao , Tang Shuai , Wang Xiaosai , Lü Cheng , Jiang Yongyuan
Published: December 2023

In this work, a spatiotemporal metasurface is proposed to manipulate the path of photons flexibly. The spatial modulation is induced by the rectangle silicon units aligned on silica in a manner with a phase gradient only for y-polarized photons, and the temporal modulation is contributed by the pumps of constructing Kerr dynamic gratings. By quantizing designed metasurfaces, the analytical solutions of output photon states can be derived correspondingly. Reversal design could be implemented by tailoring the profile of higher harmonics to infer the intensity of pumps, size of meta-atoms, and initial state. The path-polarization entanglement and correlations of output photons are realized, and then a CNOT gate is obtained by utilizing the deflection of the photon path. This work provides a scheme to deal with the spatiotemporal metasurfaces and expands the applications of metasurfaces in the quantum realm.
Sub-50-fs Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb-doped fluoride laser with 44% optical efficiency
Authors: Su Xiancui , Wang Yiran , Su Liangbi , Liu Shande , Zheng Lihe , Zhang Bingyuan , He Jingliang , Zhang Baitao
Published: December 2023

Yb-doped fluoride has been demonstrated to be potential crystals for application in efficient ultrafast lasers. However, the trade-off between the shorter pulses with higher efficiencies is a challenge. In this work, using Yb,Gd:CaSrF2 crystal, we report on a sub-50-fs Kerr-lens mode-locked oscillator with an optical efficiency up to 44%. Pumped by a 976-nm diffraction-limited fiber laser and using chirped mirrors combined with prism pairs for the dispersion compensation, a pulse as short as 46 fs was obtained with 620-mW output power, corresponding to an optical efficiency more than 40%. Stable Kerr-lens mode-locking with RMS of output power lower than 0.3% and beam quality factors M2<1.14 were achieved. Moreover, a maximum output power of 780 mW was obtained in continuous-wave operation with 55.3% optical efficiency. To the best of our knowledge, the results in this work represent the shortest pulses generated from Yb-doped fluoride lasers as well as the highest optical efficiencies ever reported in sub-100 fs Yb bulk lasers.
Highly sensitive OPD-demodulated fiber temperature sensor based on an ultra-long liquid-core with a syringe shape
Authors: Sun Chongbin , Liu Yi , Li Yan , Han Yanhua
Published: December 2023

An optical path difference (OPD)-demodulated fiber temperature sensor based on a Fabry–Perot interferometer with a liquid-core is proposed. The length of the liquid-core reaches more than 3 mm, and it shapes like a syringe. It is fabricated by filling cedar oil into a section of the hollow core fiber with two different inner diameters. The cedar oil whose refractive index is larger than that of silica can work as the liquid-core, and its length changes with the temperature variation sensitively owing to the high thermal expansion coefficient (TEC). Theoretical analysis proves that the temperature sensitivity based on the OPD demodulation is proportional to the length of the liquid-core, and the syringe shape can further amplify the sensitivity greatly. The filling length of the cedar oil can be improved greatly by the inside-instilling method through an ultra-fine silica needle. As a result, the OPD sensitivity is as high as 50.93 µm/°C, which is three orders of magnitude higher than that of most reported sensors. Besides, the sensor also offers excellent repeatability and stability owing to the absence of residual stress in the liquid material.
Knockdown of TPI in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells and its impact on angiogenesis in vitro
Authors: Herre Christina , Nshdejan Arpenik , Klopfleisch Robert , Corte Giuliano Mario , Bahramsoltani Mahtab
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Angiogenic behaviour has been shown as highly versatile among Endothelial cells (ECs) causing problems of in vitro assays of angiogenesis considering their reproducibility. It is indispensable to investigate influencing factors of the angiogenic potency of ECs.

Objective

The present study aimed to analyse the impact of knocking down triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) on in vitro angiogenesis and simultaneously on vimentin (VIM) and adenosylmethionine synthetase isoform type 2 (MAT2A) expression. Furthermore, native expression profiles of TPI, VIM and MAT2A in the course of angiogenesis in vitro were examined.

Methods

Two batches of human dermal microvascular ECs were cultivated over 50 days and stimulated to undergo angiogenesis. A shRNA-mediated knockdown of TPI was performed. During cultivation, time-dependant morphological changes were detected and applied for EC-staging as prerequisite for quantifying in vitro angiogenesis. Additionally, mRNA and protein levels of all proteins were monitored.

Results

Opposed to native cells, knockdown cells were not able to enter late stages of angiogenesis and primarily displayed a downregulation of VIM and an uprise in MAT2A expression. Native cells increased their TPI expression and decreased their VIM expression during the course of angiogenesis in vitro. For MAT2A, highest expression was observed to be in the beginning and at the end of angiogenesis.

Conclusion

Knocking down TPI provoked expressional changes in VIM and MAT2A and a deceleration of in vitro angiogenesis, indicating that TPI represents an angiogenic protein. Native expression profiles lead to the assumption of VIM being predominantly relevant in beginning stages, MAT2A in beginning and late stages and TPI during the whole course of angiogenesis in vitro.
Frequency and association of Epstein-Barr Virus genotype in rheumatoid arthritis patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Munir Ayesha , Khan Suleman , Khan Sanaullah , Attaullah Sobia , Munir Mehwish , Saleem Aisha , Ali Ijaz
Published: December 2023

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune-mediated, polyarthritis linked with various genetic and environmental causative agents. Among environmental triggers, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is considered the most potent etiological agent.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of EBV and its genotypes in RA patients and to investigate their association with clinical and laboratory parameters of RA.

Methodology

This study included blood samples of RA and control healthy individuals (100 each). Blood samples along with clinical and laboratory parameters were collected from patients after consent in the Department of Rheumatology, at Lady Reading Hospital, in Peshawar Pakistan. Blood samples were processed for DNA extraction followed by PCR amplification for EBV detection and genotype discrimination.

Results

RA patients were 85 females and 15 males with a mean age of 40.13±14.05 years. EBV Type-1 was detected in 45% of RA and 9% of control cases. The mean disease duration of RA patients was 6.61±6.23 years. Out of 100 diseased patients, 43% were seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (SPRA) and showed a significant correlation with a family history of RA in EBV-positive individuals (P = 0.017). The demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters of RA patients showed a non-significant association with EBV. Moreover, only a family history and Serum creatinine of RA patients showed a significant association with EBV (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.022 respectively).

Conclusion

It is concluded that EBV-1 is prevalent and associated with RA. Further investigation is required for detailed genetic analysis of EBV to determine its possible role in modulating the immune system in RA.
Association between use of antihypertensives and cognitive decline in the elderly—A retrospective observational study
Authors: Dhami Prabhpaul , Alagiakrishnan Kannayiram , Senthilselvan Ambikaipakan
Published: December 2023

Aim

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the prodromal phase of dementia. The objective of this study was to determine whether specific antihypertensives were associated with conversion from MCI to dementia.

Methods

In this retrospective study, a chart review was conducted on 335 older adults seen at the University of Alberta Hospital, Kaye Edmonton Seniors Clinic who were diagnosed with MCI. At the point of diagnosis, data was collected on demographic and lifestyle characteristics, measures of cognitive function, blood pressure measurements, use of antihypertensives, and other known or suspected risk factors for cognitive decline. Patients were followed for 5.5 years for dementia diagnoses. A logistic regression analysis was then conducted to determine the factors associated with conversion from MCI to dementia.

Results

Mean age (± standard deviation) of the study participants was 76.5 ± 7.3 years. Patients who converted from MCI to dementia were significantly older and were more likely to have a family history of dementia. After controlling for potential confounders including age, sex, Mini Mental Status Exam scores and family history of dementia, patients who were on beta-blockers (BBs) had a 57% reduction in the odds of converting to dementia (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.81).

Conclusions

In this study, BB use was protective against conversion from MCI to dementia. Further studies are required to confirm the findings of our study and to elucidate the effect of BBs on cognitive decline.
Predicting child development and school readiness, at age 5, for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children in Australia’s Northern Territory
Authors: Dadi Abel Fekadu , He Vincent , Nutton Georgina , Su Jiunn-Yih , Guthridge Steven
Published: December 2023

Background

Positive early development is critical in shaping children’s lifelong health and wellbeing. Identifying children at risk of poor development is important in targeting early interventions to children and families most in need of support. We aimed to develop a predictive model that could inform early support for vulnerable children.

Methods

We analysed linked administrative records for a birth cohort of 2,380 Northern Territory children (including 1,222 Aboriginal children) who were in their first year of school in 2015 and had a completed record from the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC). The AEDC measures early child development (school readiness) across five domains of development. We fitted prediction models, for AEDC weighted summary scores, using a Partial Least Square Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) considering four groups of factors–pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, known at birth, and child-related factors. We first assessed the models’ internal validity and then the out-of-sample predictive power (external validity) using the PLSpredict procedure.

Result

We identified separate predictive models, with a good fit, for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children. For Aboriginal children, a significant pre-pregnancy predictor of better outcomes was higher socioeconomic status (direct, β = 0.22 and indirect, β = 0.16). Pregnancy factors (gestational diabetes and maternal smoking (indirect, β = -0.09) and child-related factors (English as a second language and not attending preschool (direct, β = -0.28) predicted poorer outcomes. Further, pregnancy and child-related factors partially mediated the effects of pre-pregnancy factors; and child-related factors fully mediated the effects of pregnancy factors on AEDC weighted scores. For non-Aboriginal children, pre-pregnancy factors (increasing maternal age, socioeconomic status, parity, and occupation of the primary carer) directly predicted better outcomes (β = 0.29). A technical observation was that variance in AEDC weighted scores was not equally captured across all five AEDC domains; for Aboriginal children results were based on only three domains (emotional maturity; social competence, and language and cognitive skills (school-based)) and for non-Aboriginal children, on a single domain (language and cognitive skills (school-based)).

Conclusion

The models give insight into the interplay of multiple factors at different stages of a child’s development and inform service and policy responses. Recruiting children and their families for early support programs should consider both the direct effects of the predictors and their interactions. The content and application of the AEDC measurement need to be strengthened to ensure all domains of a child’s development are captured equally.
Providing a comprehensive approach to oil well blowout risk assessment
Authors: Satiarvand Mostafa , Orak Neda , Varshosaz Katayoon , Hassan Elham Mobarak , Cheraghi Mahboobeh
Published: December 2023

Drilling is one of the most dangerous activities in the oil and gas process industries. Therefore, a holistic approach was presented to prevent and control risks and reduce the uncertainty of blowouts, kick scenarios, and control layers based on the Fuzzy Bayesian Network (FBN). Four independent protection layers (IPLs) were used to evaluate the blowout outcome, and the failure probabilities of IPL1 and IPL2 were calculated with Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). Then, different events were transferred to the Bayesian Network (BN) in GeNIe software, and updated the probabilities. The Fuzzy Fault Tree (FFT) results reveal that the failure probabilities for IPL1 and IPL2 amount to 8.94×10−4 and 4.97×10−21, respectively. Also, the blowout probability results based on FFT were larger than FBN. According to FBN, the probability of the kick event was equal to 6.60×10−34. Sensitivity analysis showed that X1 (Mud volume/flow change) had the highest degree of importance in the blowout of oil wells. The results of this study can be used in both a preventive and reactive approach. Deductive and inductive reasoning, the dynamic nature and conditional dependencies, and causal relationships between events can make the model more realistic.
Ecstatic (re)constructions: The creative practice in animated documentary
Authors: Majeed Tawseef
Published: December 2023

This study explores non-fiction animation as a creative practice. It specifically engages with practitioners’ creative intervention and their reconstruction of the world we inhabit as human beings. Beyond artistic and expressive illustration, animated documentary strives towards an augmented representation of real narratives. Such a representation demands a felicitous approach from the practitioner/s for a heightened evocation of emotions, as in Ari Folman’s Waltz with Bashir and Nina Sabnani’s Tanko Bole Chhe (The Stitches Speak). I examine these two animated documentaries, and my investigation offers in-depth analyses of the practitioners’ engagement with memory and reconstruction. I employ Aumont and Marie’s (1988) film analysis method, especially the iconic analysis technique, followed by the filmmakers’ insights to understand the embedded characteristics of the filmmakers’ creative approach. I argue that the practitioner is central to the practice of eliciting emotions embodying animated subjective testimonies and manifestations. In addition, the practitioner–subject association is inclusive in the practice and evokes an affective exposition of the narratives through the creative narrative design in the animated documentary.
Intercooperación e integración financiera como modelo de innovación social: El caso de COOPCENTRAL
Authors: PEREZ COLOMBIA , Rua Castañeda Sohely , Varón Rico John
Published: December 2023

Objetivo: En el texto se presenta un análisis interpretativo del fenómeno de la intercooperación y la integración cooperativa y solidaria en el contexto del sector financiero, a partir del caso de la Red Coopcentral en Colombia. Método: Este es un estudio de caso único orientado a una generalización analítica para comprender procesos en desarrollo en contextos específicos. Su implementación incluyó entrevistas en profundidad y revisión documental. Resultados: Se observó que la integración económica entre cooperativas implica por lo menos dos aspectos: la cultura para la asociatividad y el desarrollo de estructuras organizacionales que van desde la toma de decisiones hasta lo operativo.  Discusiones: Se derivan de este análisis lecciones aprendidas, retos y desafíos que permiten aportar elementos para construir teoría acerca de la integración y la intercooperación, ya que muestra niveles complementarios de formalización y se consolida en un proceso de larga duración en permanente cambio, para responder a los desafíos del contexto; lo cual hace que no sea un hecho puntual o coyuntural sino un objetivo estratégico de las organizaciones del sector financiero solidario. Conclusiones: la intercooperación y la integración permiten la consolidación empresarial de las organizaciones cooperativas, incorporando enfoques de redes de trabajo colaborativo, integración horizontal y toma de decisiones democráticas. Esto significa que la cooperación se transforma en capacidad de gestión y se traduce en mayores beneficios para los asociados, aunque es evidente que la organización afronta permanentes desafíos para mantener un equilibrio dinámico entre la lógica empresarial y la lógica social inherente al modelo de integración.
Economía Social y Solidaria en tiempos de pandemia
Authors: Gómez Núñez Nicolás , Reyes Espejo María Isabel , González Torrealba Matías , Salinas Valdés Nicolás
Published: December 2023

Este documento presenta los elementos básicos de las representaciones sobre los artefactos de prevención y las prácticas de acompañamiento, elaboradas por las organizaciones que produjeron bienes y servicios en tiempos de COVID19, en las comunas de Valparaíso y San Bernardo en Chile; y se describen las redes de reciprocidad donde existieron esas representaciones. 

El marco conceptual estuvo formado por las categorías de colectivo, tecnología social y régimen de vitalidad, los cuales también son considerados como referentes empíricos para observar la gestión de recursos en el sector económico social y solidario.

El diseño del estudio fue cualitativo, para este artículo se trabajó con dos de los seis casos; las técnicas usadas fueron: la observación y la conversación; como herramientas se usó: la pauta de observación de documento y la entrevista; y el análisis de datos fue guiado por la comparación constante de casos por similitudes, basado en el análisis estructural del discurso y en el análisis estructural de redes.

Uno de los principales resultados fue que existieron circuitos de reciprocidad intersectorial que facilitaron la generación de mercados donde las cosas tuvieron valor de uso, estas interacciones están guiadas por una representación elemental, donde el “territorio” es parte de la evocación de la comunidad que “trabaja” como práctica de “resistencia”. Y la conclusión es que, en tiempos de pandemia se desprivatizan la vida y la muerte, lo cual contribuye a situar a las tecnologías sociales elaboradas por los colectivos, en un nivel semántico de trascendencia.
2022ko Euskal gizarte ekonomiari buruzko argitalpenak
Authors: Echebarria Rubio Ane , Villafáñez Pérez Itziar
Published: December 2023

2022ko Euskal gizarte ekonomiari buruzko argitalpenak
Not Another Plant-Based Documentary: A Critical Review of Eating Our Way to Extinction
Authors: Plisic Melissa
Published: December 2023

Despite mounting evidence that industrial animal agriculture is a formidable force of climate change and mass extinction, many humans remain impervious to this knowledge. Eating Our Way to Extinction is a timely documentary that takes this issue head on. This film review is guided by Alexandra Juhasz’s explanation of media praxis as ‘an enduring, mutual, and building tradition that theorizes and creates the necessary conditions for media to play an integral role in cultural and individual transformation’ (299). Eating Our Way to Extinction attends to some of the most popular strawman arguments against veganism and is widely accessible. That being said, it falls short of its sociopolitical potential because it is beholden to the capitalist-colonial norms of self-interested individualism, promotion of consumerism over movement-building, and using Indigenous peoples as a means to an end. Eating Our Way to Extinction contrasts a worldview based on extraction and domination with one that could actually shift the tide of climate change. It then follows the logic of the extractive worldview by promoting self-interested solutions to a problem that is only exacerbated by capitalism. The fact that Eating Our Way to Extinction acknowledges that Indigenous peoples are more adept at living in an ecologically harmonious way, then silos its viewers into the very mindset that is driving the problem is where the documentary falls flat. At its heart, Eating Our Way to Extinction relies on the Western colonial logics of individualism and capitalism that undercut the social justice demands of veganism.
THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY ON THE CYCLIC STRENGTH OF THE DEVELOPED CUTTING CERAMICS
Authors: Pronin A. I. , Mylnikov V. V. , Veselov S. V. , Valko D. A.
Published: December 2023

The paper presents the results of a study on the cyclic strength of cutting ceramics: a replaceable polyhedral plate developed at NSTU and VOK-60 cutting ceramics when processing a hardened steel billet made of HVG steel (45 HRC) with two opposite grooves. Turning was performed until the cutting edge of the plates was destroyed. Using the HITACHI S3400N electron microscope, the structure of the destroyed surface layer was investigated and the mechanism of destruction of the cutting edge of tool plates made of cutting ceramics was determined. It has been established that the developed cutting ceramics have a greater resistance to fracture under conditions of intermittent turning of hardened steel compared to the VOK-60 brand. The low operability of the cutting plates made of the developed ceramics under conditions of intermittent turning is mainly caused by the chipping of the cutting edge due to the formation of microcracks at the grain boundaries. A characteristic feature of the mechanism of brittle fracture of cutting ceramics is intergrain tearing and chipping of large Al2O3 grains.