bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling Barriers: Challenges to Access High-Quality Education in South African Music Schools for Underprivileged and Marginalised Communities
Authors: Yende Sakhiseni Joseph
Published: October 2024

South Africa’s music education landscape stands at the intersection of historical legacies, socio-economic disparities, and cultural intricacies, posing formidable challenges for underprivileged and marginalised communities. Despite strides made since the post-apartheid era, high-quality music education remains an elusive pursuit for many aspiring musicians. This study used a qualitative approach to explore and dissect the multifaceted challenges that hinder access to quality education within South African music schools. Adopting a descriptive phenomenological research design, this investigation involved ten music lecturers from diverse universities using the snowball sampling procedure. The interviews conducted using Microsoft Team, Zoom, and Google Team served as the primary means of data collection. Colaizzi’s phenomenological data analysis technique was applied to distil rich insights from the participants’ narratives, offering an in-depth exploration of their experiences and perceptions. The study unravels four overarching themes, each shedding light on critical aspects of the challenges faced by underprivileged and marginalised communities in South African music education. These themes include the music lecturers’ perspectives on inclusivity and diversity in the music education curriculum, the challenges encountered by students from underprivileged backgrounds, the socio-economic impact on student engagement, and the role of cultural representation in creating an enriching educational environment. The study concludes that South African music education faces challenges related to inclusivity, diversity, socio-economic disparities, and cultural representation, which hinder access for underprivileged communities. Recommendations include revising the curriculum to incorporate diverse cultural perspectives, implementing support systems for underprivileged students, addressing socio-economic barriers through policies and initiatives, and enhancing cultural representation in music education.

Keywords: Education, Inclusivity, Marginalised Communities, South African Music Schools, Socio-Economic Disparities.
Analytical calculation approach for rocket nose cone structure with orthotropic material
Authors: Sanjaya Arief Budi , Abrizal Haryadi , Saputra Muhammad Dito , Duhri Rahmat Alfi , Setianto Muhamad Hananuputra , Asraf Ahmedi , Gantina Hendra
Published: October 2024

The Authors of this research developed an analytical calculation method to estimate the strength of nose cone structures made of orthotropic materials, which were crucial components in aircraft and spacecraft. Strength analysis of nose cones had been comprehensively addressed for isotropic materials; however, the lack of efficient approaches for orthotropic materials presented a challenge. In this research, a new analytical method was proposed, combining membrane stress theory for isotropic materials with classical laminate theory for orthotropic materials. This approach enabled the determination of stresses on the nose cone shell structure in both meridional and circumferential directions in an efficient and straightforward manner. The analysis results indicated that the developed analytical method exhibited stress distribution trends similar to those obtained using the Finite Element Method. Stresses in the +45° and –45° direction, as well as in-plane shear stress and Tsai-Wu failure indices, showed trend similarity between the two methods. Despite specific numerical differences in the calculation results, these consistent trends suggested that the analytical method could serve as a tool for the preliminary design of a nose cone structure with a similar configuration analyzed in this study.
Evolution of Star Clusters within Galaxies Using Self-consistent Hybrid Hydro/N-body Simulations
Authors: Jo Yongseok , Kim Seoyoung , Kim Ji-hoon , Bryan Greg L.
Published: October 2024

We introduce a GPU-accelerated hybrid hydro/N-body code (Enzo-N) designed to address the challenges of concurrently simulating star clusters and their parent galaxies. This task has been exceedingly challenging, primarily due to the considerable computational time required, which stems from the substantial scale difference between galaxies (∼0.1 Mpc) and star clusters (∼parsecs). Yet, this significant scale separation means that particles within star clusters perceive those outside the star cluster in a semistationary state. By leveraging this aspect, we integrate a direct N-body code (Nbody6++GPU) into a cosmological (magneto)hydrodynamic code (Enzo) through utilization of the semistationary background acceleration approximation. We solve the dynamics of particles within star clusters using a direct N-body solver with regularization for few-body interactions, while evolving particles outside—dark matter, gas, and stars—using a particle-mesh gravity solver and hydrodynamic methods. We demonstrate that Enzo-N successfully simulates the coevolution of star clusters and their parent galaxies, capturing phenomena such as core collapse of the star cluster and tidal stripping due to galactic tides. This comprehensive framework opens up new possibilities for studying the evolution of star clusters within galaxies, offering insights that were previously inaccessible.
Very Extended Ionized Gas Discovered around NGC 1068 with the Circumgalactic Hα Spectrograph
Authors: Melso Nicole , Schiminovich David , Sitaram Meghna , Cevallos-Aleman Ignacio , Cruvinel Santiago Bárbara , Smiley Brian , Ong Hwei Ru
Published: October 2024

We have performed wide-field, ultra-low-surface-brightness Hα emission-line mapping around NGC 1068 with the newly commissioned Circumgalactic Hα Spectrograph. NGC 1068 is notable for its active galactic nucleus, which globally ionizes gas in the disk and halo. Line-emitting diffuse ionized gas is distributed throughout the galactic disk and large-scale ionized filaments are found well beyond the disk, aligned with the cone angle of the central jet. We report the discovery of a new ribbon of ionized gas around NGC 1068 beyond even the known outer filamentary structure, located 20 kpc from the galaxy. The Hα surface brightness of this ribbon is on the order of the bright telluric lines, ranging from 4 to 16 R, with fainter regions on the order of the sky background continuum. Unlike previous extended emission, the ribbon is not as well aligned with the current axis of the central jet. It is not associated with any galactic structure or known tidal features in the halo of NGC 1068, though it may originate from a larger distribution of unmapped neutral atomic or molecular gas in the halo. The morphology of the ribbon emission in Hα is correlated with extended UV emission around NGC 1068. Hα-to-UV flux ratios in the ribbon are comparable to extended emission-line ratios in the halos of NGC 5128, NGC 253, and M82. The Hα excess in the ribbon gas suggests ionization by slow shocks or a mixture of in situ star formation and photoionization and collisional ionization processes.
IC 10 X-1: A Double Black Hole Progenitor Probably Formed through Stable Mass Transfer
Authors: Wang Gui-Yu , Shao Yong , He Jian-Guo , Xu Xiao-Jie , Li Xiang-Dong
Published: October 2024

IC 10 X-1 is one of the close X-ray binaries containing a Wolf–Rayet donor, which can provide an evolutionary link between high-mass X-ray binaries and gravitational wave sources. It is still unclear about the precise nature of the accreting compact object in IC 10 X-1, although it looks more like a black hole (BH) than a neutron star. In this work, we use a binary population synthesis method to simulate the formation of IC 10 X-1–like binaries by assuming different common-envelope ejection efficiencies. This work represents a big step forward over previous studies since we adopt new criteria for mass-transfer stability. These criteria allow the formation of IC 10 X-1–like systems without experiencing common envelope evolution. Based on our calculations, we propose that the compact object in IC 10 X-1 is a BH with a mass of ∼10–30 M
⊙ and the progenitor evolution of this binary probably just experienced stable mass transfer.
Temporally Resolved Type III Solar Radio Bursts in the Frequency Range 3–13 MHz
Authors: Vecchio Antonio , Maksimovic Milan , Chrysaphi Nicolina , Kontar Eduard P. , Krupar Vratislav
Published: October 2024

Radio observations from space allow to characterize solar radio bursts below the ionospheric cutoff, which are otherwise inaccessible, but suffer from low, insufficient temporal resolution. In this Letter we present novel, high-temporal resolution observations of type III solar radio bursts in the range 3–13 MHz. A dedicated configuration of the Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) High Frequency Receiver (HFR) on the Solar Orbiter mission, allowing for a temporal resolution as high as ∼0.07 s (up to 2 orders of magnitude better than any other spacecraft measurements), provides for the very first time resolved measurements of the typical decay time values in this frequency range. The comparison of data with different time resolutions and acquired at different radial distances indicates that discrepancies with decay time values provided in previous studies are only due to the insufficient time resolution not allowing to accurately characterize decay times in this frequency range. The statistical analysis on a large sample of ∼500 type III radio bursts shows a power low decay time trend with a spectral index of −0.75 ± 0.03 when the median values for each frequency are considered. When these results are combined with previous observations, referring to frequencies outside the considered range, a spectral index of −1.00 ± 0.01 is found in the range ∼0.05–300 MHz, compatible with the presence of radio-wave scattering between 1 and 100 R
☉.
Near-infrared Spectral Homogeneity of the Didymos System Before and After the DART Impact*
Authors: Ieva Simone , Mazzotta Epifani E. , Dotto E. , Petropoulou V. , Deshapriya J. D. P. , Hasselmann P. H. , Poggiali G. , Perna D. , Dall’Ora M. , Lucchetti A. , Pajola M. , Ivanovski S. L. , Rossi A. , Brucato J. R. , Palumbo P. , Della Corte V. , Zinzi A. , Thomas C. A. , de León J. , Kareta T. , Moskovitz N. , Chabot N. L. , Rivkin A. S. , Amoroso M. , Bertini I. , Capannolo A. , Caporali S. , Ceresoli M. , Cremonese G. , Gai I. , Gomez-Casajus L. , Gramigna E. , Impresario G. , Lasagni Manghi R. , Lavagna M. , Lombardo M. , Modenini D. , Pirrotta S. , Tortora P. , Tusberti F. , Zannoni M. , Zanotti G.
Published: October 2024

We spectroscopically characterized the Didymos system, target of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART)/Light Italian Cubesat for Imaging of Asteroids (LICIACube) space mission, close in time to the DART impact event, during six nights between 2022 August and November at Telescopio Nazionale Galileo. Here, we show that near-infrared (NIR) spectra (0.75–2.25 μm) look mostly similar within the same night and between different nights. They are in good agreement with the only spectrum previously available in the literature, observed almost 20 years before those reported in this paper. During one of the observing nights we also obtain spectroscopy information on the ejecta tail induced by the DART impact. The spectrum of the ejecta tail is also very similar to Didymos/Dimorphos itself. All of these aspects seem to suggest that the Didymos system in the NIR looks mostly homogeneous, with very subtle spectral variations.
Hot Versus Cold Debriefing in a Nursing Context: An Integrative Review
Authors: Alanezi Fahad Zeed , Miller Elaine , Morrison Caroline F. , Kelcey Benjamin , Wagner Robin
Published: October 2024

This article has been amended to include factual corrections. An error was identified subsequent to its original publication. This error was acknowledged on page 730, volume 63, issue 11. The online article and its erratum are considered the version of record.

Background

Hot debriefing occurs shortly after simulations or real-life events, whereas cold debriefings occur after 24 hours. This integrative review examined the effects of hot versus cold debriefing after simulation on prelicensure students.

Method

Whittemore and Knafl's five-stage method was followed. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and PsycINFO. The inclusion criteria were studies published in English that involved prelicensure nursing students and measured the effect of hot or cold debriefing.

Results

Themes emerged from 10 studies and included clinical judgment and decision making, knowledge and skills, participant experiences, reflection, and psychological safety and self-efficacy.

Conclusion

Hot debriefing was preferred by participants, but cold debriefing resulted in higher knowledge and skills scores. In addition, students in the cold debriefing group were more conformable and in a safe environment compared with the hot debriefing group. Drawing a strong conclusion was difficult due to heterogeneity in study designs and methods.

[
J Nurs Educ
. 2024;63(10):653–658.]
El regreso de la hispanidad: miradas críticas desde la antropología
Authors: Suárez Navaz Liliana , Ferrándiz Francisco , Pérez Armiño Luis , Valenciano-Mañé Alba , Gimeno Martín Juan Carlos
Published: October 2024

Este artículo de autoría múltiple aborda desde trayectorias de investigación etnográfica diversas el impacto de lo que denominamos el «retorno de la hispanidad», una categoría ideológica de raíces fascistas, que se institucionalizó e impuso durante la dictadura franquista, y que está adquiriendo un nuevo protagonismo político-cultural en el contexto de crecimiento de las nuevas derechas radicales. La propuesta es explorar el empuje y el efecto de estas ideologías neoimperiales, patriarcales, y neoconservadoras en batallas culturales concretas, como lo viene siendo la Ley de la Memoria Histórica, las propuestas descolonizadoras de los museos, y las complejas relaciones con territorios africanos que fueron y aun son gestionados bajo la influencia de esta categoría ideológica. La antropología nos permite aclarar las genealogías que a menudo se invisibilizan, explorando actores e instituciones involucradas, y la especificidad de las luchas político-culturales por establecer un sentido común antiliberal, ultranacionalista, patriarcal, colonial, religioso y tradicionalista.
De la adaptación urbana a la escasez del agua en Phoenix y Tucson (Arizona): una aproximación desde la ecología política
Authors: Boyer Anne-Lise , Le Lay Yves-François , Marty Pascal
Published: October 2024

En el contexto del cambio climático, las sequias aumentan y los territorios sufren un grave estrés hídrico. Este artículo examina la gestión del desequilibrio entre la disponibilidad de agua y la creciente demande en Phoenix y Tucson, en el árido oeste de Estados Unidos. A partir de un estudio de caso que pone de relieve las cuestiones socioecologicas de la escasez, esta investigación propone considerar las ciudades de Phoenix y Tucson como laboratorios de adaptación urbana al cambio climático para explorar diferentes modalidades de adaptación. El análisis moviliza los conceptos de la ecología política urbana para examinar las relaciones de poder entre los actores de la gestión del agua en un contexto en el que se cuestiona cada vez más el sistema de infraestructuras hídricas que sustenta el crecimiento urbano. Por un lado, el artículo muestra que los actores dominantes aplican estrategias de adaptación para mantener la trayectoria de crecimiento de ciudades especialmente atractivas. Por otro lado, explora el papel de la acción ciudadana en la propuesta de alternativas y bifurcaciones del metabolismo urbano intensivo en agua para mostrar la función que pueden jugar las alternativas ambientales en la regulación de las estrategias de control de los recursos y en la exigencia de transformaciones socioambientales del funcionamiento urbano.Palabras claves: adaptación, cambio climático, gestión del agua, ciudad
Using Artificial Intelligence to Evaluate the Nature of Science Myths
Authors: Tekin Nurcan
Published: October 2024

This chapter aims to compare the performances of pre-service science teachers (PSTs) and generative artificial intelligence (AI) application (ChatGPT) in answering nature of science (NoS) myths. In this study, which was designed according to a qualitative descriptive research design, the 15 most frequently encountered NoS myths were addressed to 104 PSTs and the ChatGPT. The data were analyzed using content analysis. As a result of the research, when the items related to all myths were analyzed, approximately 48% of the PSTs had myths about the NoS, while 66% of the ChatGPT answers included correct information. Therefore, ChatGPT can be effective in seeking answers to NoS myths. However, since the resources used by ChatGPT are limited to certain books, contents, or resources of certain countries, it may not be efficient enough in terms of providing information diversity. According to these results, comparison of PSTs and ChatGPT's answers are discussed.
Metaverse and Its Underlying Challenges in Higher Education
Authors: Mukherjee Sonia
Published: October 2024

The term Metaverse has become part of today's reality. In the educational front, (1) virtual learning using the Metaverse has the potential to surge availability for students with incapacities or persons residing in the isolated and inaccessible areas; (2) classrooms using the Metaverse domain can offer collaborative knowledge experience done through numerous virtual simulations, and virtual field journeys further enable teamwork between students in actual time, irrespective of their bodily place; (3) the application of virtual learning will lead to cost reduction of teaching leading to greater engagement and motivation among students. However, in spite of the advantages, there are numerous challenges. Results show that the concept, application, and awareness related to metaverse is still not spread and is in the nascent stage. Furthermore, the study highlighted the limitations and challenges of the application of Metaverse in the 21st century with suitable suggestions for improvement in the context of higher education.
Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sustainable Development in Society 5.0
Authors: Kachhi Zidan
Published: October 2024

Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) play a vital role in advancing sustainable development within the framework of Society 5.0. This chapter explores the vision that integrates cutting-edge technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and assistive robots with human-centered values. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, HSS contributes critical social, cultural, and ethical insights that ensure technological innovations are inclusive, equitable and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter examines the use of assistive technologies to promote inclusivity in education and healthcare, focusing on how AI and VR empower marginalized communities to achieve greater autonomy and social participation. Key theories such as socio-technical systems theory and agency theory are discussed to illustrate how technology can be designed with human needs and values. The chapter also addresses ethical concerns surrounding the deployment of these technologies and highlights the barriers to effective interdisciplinary collaboration.
Palestinian Poetry Trends in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Authors: Dawabsheh Mohammed Ahmad , Fawakhriya Tarek Khaled , Jermsittparsert Kittisak
Published: October 2024

Conflict in literature is not new, but rather very old, the conflict becomes stronger when political conflicts increase between peoples, which creates a state of literary chaos that goes with the state of conflict and is expressed in the manner that the poet deems appropriate. The political conflict in Palestine extended for decades, and during these decades' poetry accompanied this conflict, and poetry began to move with the events, accompanying them and supporting them with words. The Palestinian poet Abdel Nasser Saleh is one of the poets who were loyal to the Palestinian issue and defended it, and what distinguishes his poetry is that it follows the events and political conflicts from their beginnings, this is what encouraged me to write about him. The poet's keeping up with the Palestinian issue and the political conflicts that accompanied it resulted in several poetic trends, including revolution, challenge, resistance, homeland, freedom, and rebellion.
Undefeatable IoAT and Artificial Intelligence Transformations in Livestock Farming for Pioneering Resolutions
Authors: Singh Bhupinder , Jermsittiparsert Kittisak , Kaushik Tarun Kumar , Tomer Aditya
Published: October 2024

AI and IoAT technologies continue to rapidly develop and change the way many industries, including agriculture, veterinary and fishery operate. Agriculture has also incorporated several technologies such as robotics, nanotechnology, synthetic protein and gene editing in its traditional farming system. The technology mash-up holds essential value in increasing efficiency and driving to a more sustainable, ecological agriculture. And as the world continues to enter into this time, it is also becoming clear that new solutions have turned up bringing a revolution with AI and IOAT in Livestock Management by giving a fresh way of facing these problems which then already faced for decades. This chapter provides an overview of the broad space orchids land with examples of livestock farming solutions for IoAT and AI transformations.
Revolutionizing Education With AI and ML
Authors: Mishra Padmini
Published: October 2024

Now a days, in the realm of rapid advancement, Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning play a vital role and capture a significant portion of the global market by solving the problems of various sectors like Healthcare, Agriculture, Industry, and so on. This chapter reviews the transformative potential of AIML in the education sector. In this chapter, we observe how AI and ML can enhance personalized learning experiences, streamline administrative tasks, and facilitate data-driven decision-making by exploring various AIML applications and trends including Automated grading, simulation-based learning, etc. Through the exploration, we aim to highlight the significance of incorporating AIML to enhance learning outcomes Additionally, we address the challenges associated with implementing these technologies in educational settings such as privacy concerns and ethical implications. Finally, the chapter offers recommendations for educators and policymakers on utilizing AI and ML to create a more equitable and effective educational system and prepare learners for the future workforce.
A Secure Behavior Modelling for IoT Networks Using Blockchain
Authors: Qurashi Jameel Ahmad , Singh Vikram , Keswani Bright , Shandilya Saurabh , Pandey Adarsh Kumar , Sharma Shikha
Published: October 2024

The Internet of Things (IoT) lets smart devices and humans use enticing services. Fostering adaptive machine-to-machine cooperation among intelligent objects may help IoT devices reach powerful sensing, reasoning, and real-time acting capabilities. To employ multiagent systems and the social attitude of engaging and cooperating for services, IoT devices must be paired with software agents. As IoT devices move across numerous settings, it may be challenging to locate credible partners for cooperation. As reputation may affect social groups, grouping agents in each IoT environment by social skills may be a solution. This study emphasizes agent reputation capital in a reputation model. Second, reputation capital organized IoT agents. The last contribution is employing blockchain technology to authenticate reputation capital, because this competition needs trustworthy and verified device or agent reputation information. Our testing shows that the model can identify almost all deceptive agents and provide good group composition findings if their proportion is below a threshold.
Association of Nutritional Intake with Physical Activity and Handgrip Strength in Individuals with Airflow Limitation
Authors: Heo I Re , Kim Tae Hoon , Jeong Jong Hwan , Heo Manbong , Ju Sun Mi , Yoo Jung-Wan , Lee Seung Jun , Cho Yu Ji , Jeong Yi Yeong , Lee Jong Deog , Kim Ho Cheol
Published: October 2024

Background: We investigated whether nutritional intake is associated with physical activity (PA) and handgrip strength (HGS) in individuals with airflow limitation.Methods: This study analyzed data from the 2014 and 2016 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We assessed total protein intake (g/day), caloric intake (kcal/day), and other nutritional intakes, using a 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire. HGS was measured three times for each hand using a digital grip strength dynamometer, and PA was assessed as health-enhancing PA. Airflow limitation was defined as a forced expiratory volume/forced vital capacity ratio of 0.7 in individuals over 40 years of age. Participants were categorized into groups based on their PA levels and HGS measurements: active aerobic PA vs. non-active aerobic PA, and normal HGS vs. low HGS.Results: Among the 622 individuals with airflow limitation, those involved in active aerobic PA and those with higher HGS had notably higher total food, calorie, water, protein, and lipid intake. The correlations between protein and caloric intake with HGS were strong (correlation coefficients=0.344 and 0.346, respectively). The forest plots show that higher intakes of food, water, calories, protein, and lipids are positively associated with active aerobic PA, while higher intakes of these nutrients are inversely associated with low HGS. However, in the multivariate logistic regression analysis, no significant associations were observed between nutritional intake and active aerobic PA or HGS.Conclusion: Nutritional intake was found to not be an independent factor associated with PA and HGS. However, the observed correlations suggest potential indirect effects that warrant further investigation.
Fth1-mScarlet Reports Monocyte State during Lipopolysaccharide-induced Lung Inflammation
Authors: Michalides Brandon A , Shoger Karsen E , Kruszelnicki Sonia , Cheemalavagu Neha , Martinez-Turak Anamarie , Jackson-Strong Morgan , Laughlin Colin R , Betsur Omkar S , Colby Devon , Meisel Marlies , Gingras Sebastien , Gottschalk Rachel A
Published: October 2024

Monocytes and macrophages are central to host defense but also contribute to inflammation-associated pathology. Efforts to manipulate monocyte and macrophage function are limited by our ability to effectively quantify the functional programs of these cells. We identified the gene Fth1, which encodes the ferritin H chain, as highly predictive of alveolar macrophage transcriptomic states during LPS-induced lung inflammation and developed an Fth1-mScarlet reporter mouse. In the steady-state lung, high Fth1-mScarlet expression is restricted to alveolar macrophages. In response to LPS-induced lung inflammation, Fth1 reporter activity is robustly increased in monocytes, with its expression reporting genes that are differentially expressed in monocytes versus macrophages. Consistent with this reporter-associated gene profile, within the Lyz2-GFP+CD11b+Ly6C+ gate, the highest Fth1 reporter expression was observed in CD11c+ cells, indicative of monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation. Although Fth1-mScarlet was induced in monocytes responding to either TLR4 ligation or M-CSF–induced macrophage differentiation in vitro, TLR4-dependent expression occurred with greater speed and magnitude. Considering this, we suggest that Fth1-mScarlet expression reports monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation, with increased expression in proinflammatory states. Dissecting macrophage differentiation from inflammatory programs will be enhanced when combining Fth1-mScarlet with other reporter systems. Thus, the Fth1-mScarlet model addresses an important lack of tools to report the diverse spectrum of monocyte and macrophage states in vivo.
NK Cell and Monocyte Dysfunction in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children
Authors: Dick Jenna K , Sangala Jules A , Krishna Venkatramana D , Khaimraj Aaron , Hamel Lydia , Erickson Spencer M , Hicks Dustin , Soigner Yvette , Covill Laura E , Johnson Alexander K , Ehrhardt Michael J , Ernste Keenan , Brodin Petter , Koup Richard A , Khaitan Alka , Baehr Carly , Thielen Beth K , Henzler Christine M , Skipper Caleb , Miller Jeffrey S , Bryceson Yenan T , Wu Jianming , John Chandy C , Panoskaltsis-Mortari Angela , Orioles Alberto , Steiner Marie E , Cheeran Maxim C J , Pravetoni Marco , Hart Geoffrey T
Published: October 2024

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a severe complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection characterized by multiorgan involvement and inflammation. Testing of cellular function ex vivo to understand the aberrant immune response in MIS-C is limited. Despite strong Ab production in MIS-C, SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing can remain positive for 4–6 wk postinfection. Therefore, we hypothesized that dysfunctional cell-mediated Ab responses downstream of Ab production may be responsible for delayed clearance of viral products in MIS-C. In MIS-C, monocytes were hyperfunctional for phagocytosis and cytokine production, whereas NK cells were hypofunctional for both killing and cytokine production. The decreased NK cell cytotoxicity correlated with an NK exhaustion marker signature and systemic IL-6 levels. Potentially providing a therapeutic option, cellular engagers of CD16 and SARS-CoV-2 proteins were found to rescue NK cell function in vitro. Taken together, our results reveal dysregulation in Ab-mediated cellular responses of myeloid and NK cells that likely contribute to the immune pathology of this disease.
Unsteady Blade Shape Optimization for Rotorcraft
Authors:   US Army Aviation Development Directorate, Potsdam Mark ,   Combustion Research and Flow Technology Inc., Ahuja Vineet , Kannepalli Chandrashekhar , Zambon Andrea , Lapin Hadassah
Published: October 2024

Design Optimization for rotorcraft blades is challenging given that inherently unsteady phenomena and varying freestream conditions affect the aerodynamic performance of these blades. Consequently, steady design optimization methods may be of limited use in carrying out design studies for rotorcraft blades. On the other hand, the process of unsteady design optimization is handicapped by the cost of computing the unsteady aerodynamic objective function. The authors have developed a novel unsteady optimization approach that combines Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), a modified Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Procedure (POD) and an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to evaluate the unsteady objective function with the accuracy of a time-spectral method but at a fraction of the cost. Subsequently, the unsteady optimization procedure has been used to carry out design optimization studies of pitching airfoils with dynamic stall. Traditionally these studies have been performed under constant freestream condition much like the manner in which experimental studies are undertaken to gauge performance of airfoil sections. In this paper, an unsteady optimization study of airfoil sections has been carried out for alleviating dynamic stall with varying freestream Mach number thereby incorporating the realistic effect of a rotating blade in forward flight. Knowledge extraction or the identification of patterns/rules from common properties of airfoil designs and their performance has been carried out with the help of Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs). Consequently, design rules can be identified that help in generating rotorcraft airfoil shapes that show superior airfoil performance including the delayed onset of dynamic stall.
Research advances in inflammation and oxidative stress in varicocele-induced male infertility: a narrative review
Authors: Wang Li-Hong , Zheng Lei , Jiang Hui , Jiang Tao
Published: October 2024

Varicocele, the most common and treatable cause of male infertility, significantly impacts fertility. The pathophysiological mechanisms of varicocele have not been fully understood yet. Recent studies have focused on the pathophysiology of varicocele-induced infertility, highlighting inflammation and oxidative stress as key contributing factors. We reviewed recent research on the roles of inflammation and oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of varicocele and found that they negatively impact semen parameters, spermatogenesis, and testicular and epididymal function. In addition, this article summarizes the related factors of inflammation and oxidative stress caused by varicocele. Finally, a brief consideration on the treatments to address inflammation and oxidative stress is proposed. This review may provide treatment options and targets for varicocele-induced infertility. However, the relationship between inflammation and oxidative stress in varicocele still needs further study.
Comparing the effect of letrozole on the growth of boys aged 12–16 years with constitutional short stature: A clinical randomized trial study
Authors: Homaei Ali , Razzaghi Alireza , Shamsi Maryam , Safari Zahra , Saffari Fatemeh
Published: October 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to compare the effect of letrozole on the height of boys aged 12–16 years with constitutional short stature after the onset of the third stage of puberty.

Methods

This clinical randomized trial study was performed on 93 boys with constitutional short stature referring to the Pediatric Endocrine Clinic in Qazvin, Iran. The measurements of patient height and predicted adult height (PAH) were assessed after 1 and 2 years. The patients were treated using letrozole (2.5 mg/day) or placebo (control).

Results

The level of letrozole increased the PAH compared to control. The predicted height in patients with constitutional short stature increased significantly by 5.52 cm, only 1 year after the administration of letrozole, compared to the placebo group (P = 0.03). However, after receiving letrozole in the second year, the predicted height in boys with constitutional short stature increased by 2.34 cm (P > 0.05) compared to the first year. In boys with constitutional short stature, the predicted height increased by 7.86 cm after 2 years in the intervention group receiving letrozole and 3.1 cm in the control group (P > 0.05). Furthermore, no significant difference was observed between the groups receiving letrozole and placebo before and after the intervention in terms of laboratory findings, such as hemoglobin level and serum cholesterol level (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

The results showed that the administration of letrozole at the third stage of puberty in boys aged 6–12 with constitutional short stature caused a statistically significant increase in the mean of PAH compared to placebo.
Facial Artery Arteriovenous Malformation: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Management
Authors: Thulasikumar Rathnaganpathi , Gogineni Mahesh , Ravichandran Manoj Prabakar , Gnanasekaran Marun Raj
Published: October 2024

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare vascular abnormalities that can result from defects in blood vessels. They are not often found in the facial area, and this report describes a case of a high-flow AVM in an adult patient with swelling in the left mandibular region. Since there were no complications related to swelling, a comprehensive investigation ultimately resulted in the accurate identification of the AVM. The potential risks associated with these malformations highlight the importance of accurate diagnosis and comprehensive diagnostic approaches involving detailed patient history, clinical examination, and advanced imaging techniques. Computed tomography angiography confirmed the diagnosis before undergoing angioembolization and complete excision of the AVM. This case underscores how important accurate diagnosis is for preventing serious complications associated with AVMs and emphasizes using a multidisciplinary strategy when managing these uncommon vascular anomalies.
A Case of Arterial Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Thrombus Extending to Juxtavertebral Artery
Authors: Krishna V. Radha , Elancheralathan K. , Kumar Ashok , Kumar Sharath Raj
Published: October 2024

Arterial thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) constitutes less than 1%, involving the second part of the subclavian artery (SCA). It can present as an acute upper limb ischemia or aneurysm formation. Here is a case of a 29-year-old male presented with complaints of rest pain over the left hand for the past 2 weeks. Upon evalution, found to have bilateral cervical rib with left subclavian artery occlusion. Treated by cervical rib excision decompression of scalene triangle, subclavian endarterectomy and left brachial embolectomy. Arterial TOS secondary to the cervical rib is rare; pathology involving this external compression results in repeated trauma in the intima of the SCA, resulting in subclavian stenosis, poststenotic dilatation, thrombosis, and aneurysm formation with mural thrombus and distal embolization. Symptomatic cases need decompression +/- arterial repair.
Early Prediction of Native Arteriovenous Fistula for Maturation by Doppler Ultrasound Study
Authors: Gupta Shivali , Saha Sudipta , Singh Katyayni , Andley Manoj , Anand Rama , Satija Bhawna , Pathania O. P.
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

There are significant chances of maturation failure in arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) made for vascular access for hemodialysis. AVFs are usually assessed for maturation 6 weeks after the operation. Significant time is lost for performing a salvage radiological procedure or making an alternative AVF, in case the AVF fails to mature.

Materials and Methods:

This prospective observational study was conducted to predict the chances of maturation of AVF by Doppler ultrasound (USG) study. One hundred and thirty-seven patients in whom native AVF was made as a vascular access procedure for hemodialysis were included in the study. In five patients, palpable thrill was absent after 48 h of operation and were excluded from the study. The velocity of the blood, diameter of the vessel, and depth of the vessel from the skin were assessed by USG Doppler 3 weeks after the operation and were correlated with AVF maturation.

Results:

Successful maturation occurred in 114 (86.3%) AVF. The flow rate of the blood and depth of the vein were statistically different in successful and unsuccessful AVF maturation for both the groups of radial artery (RA) and brachial artery (BA) based AVF. For RA AVF, successful maturation was predicted by the flow rate of 539 mL/min (sensitivity 95% and specificity 83%) and 4.2 mm diameter of the vein (sensitivity 93% and specificity 100%). For BA AVF, successful maturation was predicted by the flow rate of 456 mL/min (sensitivity 93% and specificity 100%) and 5.7 mm diameter of the vein (sensitivity 77% and specificity 100%). The measurement of flow and depth at 3 weeks after AVF may predict the maturation of AVF.

Conclusion:

It will be beneficial to do a USG Doppler study 3 weeks after making AVF, as the measurement of flow may predict the maturation of AVF.
Role of Vasakantakadi Lehyam and Phala Ghrutam in the Management of Asthenozoospermia: A Case Study
Authors: Lakshmi Mutnuri Vasantha
Published: October 2024

Infertility leading to the inability to conceive is a common problem but indication of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) is not a mandate always. Female factors are major highlighted issues in these cases but the importance of male factors and/or some unexplained reasons are not often explored. Ayurveda is known for treatments of infertility that range in variety, and cater based on the specific needs of each case. These treatment options often are the choice of many couples who wish to conceive naturally avoiding ART. We report a case study of a couple who presented with primary infertility treated with Ayurveda treatments with primary improvements in the male component (asthenozoospermia) and addressing a secondary/subclinical infection in his female counterpart.
Ayurvedic Approach to Visarpa (Herpes Zoster): A Case Report
Authors: Timande Sanket Anilrao , Rathod Sanjivani Nitin
Published: October 2024

Visarpa is a clinical syndrome characterized by vitiation of Vata, pitta, and predominant Tridosha. A 47-year-old female patient, suffering from Visarpa (herpes zoster), was treated with Ayurvedic medicine in the IPD, Arogyashala Rugnalaya, Nashik, from September 27, 2023 to October 14, 2023. Jalaukavacharaṇa (Hirudotherapy), Virechana Karma (therapeutic purgation), and Shamana Chikitsa (Ayurvedic medicinal treatment) were administered. The intensity of pain was recorded on a pictorial Visual Analog Scale, also assessed as per the zoster brief pain inventory (ZBPI) questionnaire, and improvement was seen in pain reduction. Herpes zoster pain management with Ayurvedic medicine offers a novel, simple, superior, and affordable treatment. Hence, this study was carried out to prove that Ayurvedic management yields remarkable results in Visarpa (herpes zoster). However, large-scale randomized controlled trials are required to further validate the same.
Embracing Radiant Living: A Holistic Expedition Through Ayurvedic Psychotherapy, Yogic Practices, and Herbal Therapies in Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Chauhan Kunjal Chetanbhai , Shirkande Abhijeet Sarjerao
Published: October 2024

The article highlights the high prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) in India, with 57 million individuals suffering from it (15.1% prevalence). It advocates for holistic techniques like yoga, herbal therapy, and Ayurvedic psychotherapy for long-term mental health recovery. The patient exhibits symptoms of panic disorder, hypothyroidism, obesity, and early-onset arterial hypertension in addition to MDD (Vishad). An Ayurvedic examination indicates a vata kapha prakriti, decreased digestive capacity, and a range of physical complaints, which correlates with the HAM-D scale results. This case study demonstrates the synergy between conventional and holistic methods and offers proof of their efficacy. Regular pranayama and yogasana practice improve perception and highlight the need for integrative approaches to Vishad (depression) treatment. It also emphasizes how important holistic methods were to her amazing recovery. The MDD patient witnessed substantial improvement through a holistic approach, combining Ayurvedic treatments with the regular practice of yogasana and pranayama, highlighting the comprehensive benefits of this integrated therapeutic strategy for mental health.
Evaluation of safety and efficacy of Vamana Karma in healthy and diseased individuals: a systemic review
Authors: Kumari Kavita , Bhatted Santosh Kumar
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

One of the five Pradhana Karmas (five chief procedures) of Panchakarma is Vamana Karma (therapeutic emesis), which is essentially a Samshodhana Karma (purification technique). Ayurvedic literature states that after Samyaka Vamana (proper Vamana), a person perceives Hrit (precordium), Kantha (voice/throat), and Shirah (head) as feelings of lightness. In the Ayurvedic system, this process is beneficial for both healthy and sick individuals in terms of bodily cleansing and dosha extraction, particularly for Kapha. In contrast, this procedure is very rarely conducted due to its associated reluctance as it is comparatively a complicated procedure with other Panchakarma therapies.

Aims and Objective:

The objective of this research is to examine numerous papers written by different writers on Vamana Karma and to establish a conceptual framework that supports the notion that Vamana Karma is safe and helpful for both healthy and unwell persons.

Research Methodology:

This study was done following the standards outlined in the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Study of Interventions. The findings are described in adherence to the Preferred Reporting Guideline for Systematic Reviews. The search included electronic databases from 1946 to the present, the Database of Systematic Reviews from 2005 to January 2015, and PubMed also recorded the searches. The search engine Google was used to get further online resources and data. This article reviews eight different research articles on Vamana in healthy and diseased individuals by different authors, these articles were assessed for the formulated question, identify study relevance appraise tier quality, and summarize the evidence to rule out the safety and efficacy of Vamana Karma.

Results:

It was observed in all the studies that Vamana is an effective technique to alleviate diseases and is safe to execute if the incorporated methodology is correct, in all the cases there were no complications found when undertaken methodically with maximum efficacy.

Conclusion:

This study concludes that Vamana is a safe and effective Panchakarma procedure.
Enhanced view totally extraperitoneal approach: The best available option for recurrent incisional hernias following previous laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh plus repairs
Authors: Shenoy K. Ganesh
Published: October 2024

The available options for recurrent incisional hernias (RIH) following previous laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) plus were open onlay repair, open Rives–Stoppa (RS), laparoscopic enhanced view totally extraperitoneal-RS (ETEP-RS) and laparoscopic subcutaneous onlay mesh repair. Majority of these RIH were managed by open onlay mesh repairs or laparoscopic Redo IPOM plus. There are not much data available in the literature on the ETEP approach for RIH following previous IPOM plus with the placement of mesh in the retrorectus space. In this article, I would like to share technical aspects, challenges faced and tips to overcome these challenges of performing ETEP for RIH following previous IPOM plus repairs.
Endoclose-assisted intracorporeal intestinal anastomosis
Authors: Mouawad Christian , Ghedira Abdessalem , Dager Nehad
Published: October 2024

While performing an intracorporeal intestinal anastomosis in minimally invasive procedures, surgeons may be encountered with many limitations which made many of them go back to doing extracorporeal anastomosis. In this article, we describe a simple but efficient technique using the Endoclose which improves the surgeon’s ability to enhance the anastomosis’ exposure while suturing, without having to add extra trocars.
A rare case of transverse testicular ectopia associated with polyorchidism addressed by minimally invasive surgery: A case report
Authors: Riquelme Mario Alberto , Cantu-Zendejas Ana , Rodriguez Carlos
Published: October 2024

This report describes the rare case of transverse testicular ectopia (TTE) associated with polyorchidism in a 16-month-old male, successfully managed through laparoscopic surgery. The patient presented with bilateral cryptorchidism, a palpable mass in the right inguinal canal and an absent left-side gonad. Ultrasound revealed three gonad-like structures. Laparoscopy identified duplicated and fused testes at the right deep inguinal ring, and a third testis in the right inguinal canal. Minimally invasive techniques positioned the duplicated testes in the right hemiscrotum and the single testis in the left hemiscrotum. Post-operative follow-up confirmed optimal scrotal positioning, with normal growth. This rare case underscores the efficacy of laparoscopy in diagnosing and managing rare paediatric conditions, providing valuable insights for surgeons facing cryptorchidism or scrotal masses.
Recent Advances in Implant Biomaterials: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Basil Merin , Mathew T. Aby , Sabu Riya , Harikumar Girish
Published: October 2024

A crucial element in the long-term viability of implants is the appropriate choice of implant biomaterial. Since no material can fully withstand the biological environment, implants should be chosen to minimise the adverse biological response without sacrificing sufficient function to improve biological performance. Each and every clinician should always acquire a comprehensive understanding of the various biomaterials used in implant dentistry. This article summarises the recent advances in implant biomaterials and their suitability for use in implant dentistry.