bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Refractory Ulcerative Colitis With Associated Synovitis, Acne, Pustulosis, Hyperostosis, Osteitis Syndrome Successfully Treated With Tofacitinib
Authors: Kim Bryan J. , Thiemann Anna , Dietz Brett , Beck Kendall
Published: April 2024

Synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome is a rare inflammatory condition associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Limited data exist on standardized management. We report a case of refractory SAPHO syndrome and ulcerative colitis (UC) treated successfully with tofacitinib. A 54-year-old man with UC presented with an intractable headache. A diagnosis of SAPHO syndrome was made based on the finding of sterile osteitis in the skull base and persistent severe UC. Symptoms, imaging, and endoscopy revealed persistent UC and osteitis despite multiple therapies. Tofacitinib was initiated and clinical remission was achieved. Tofacitinib is an effective treatment of refractory inflammatory bowel disease and SAPHO syndrome.
Unusual Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Due to a Neuroendocrine Tumor Arising in Meckel Diverticulum
Authors: Eberly Katherine Elizabeth , Martinez Jasmin , Sardana Nitin
Published: April 2024

Meckel diverticulum is the most common congenital variation of the gastrointestinal tract arising from incomplete obliteration of the vitelline duct during gestation. In most cases, individuals are asymptomatic. This is a case of a 38-year-old patient with hematochezia in whom Meckel diverticulum was diagnosed. A mass was identified within the diverticulum. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies revealed a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor. The development of tumors in Meckel diverticulum is rare, and when identified, only 0.5%–3.2% of these tumors are found to be malignant. Furthermore, gastrointestinal bleeding is an infrequent clinical feature of neuroendocrine tumors. A unique aspect of this case was that numerous imaging studies and endoscopic procedures were unable to definitively identify the presence of Meckle diverticulum and underlying neuroendocrine tumor. Through a high clinical suspicion and collaboration with surgical colleagues, an exploratory laparotomy was performed, which ultimately led to the identification and diagnosis of the underlying pathology.
Analysis of Steel Beam Installation Operation Productivity (Case Study: Construction of University Pasundan Campus II)
Authors: Tanne Yongki Alexander , Pratama Andhyka Putra , Rahardian Reza
Published: April 2024

Construction operations productivity remains a challenge due to the influence of space limitations and construction methods. This condition was experienced by the construction of Pasundan University’s new campus building within a narrow and congested location. This research carried out a productivity evaluation on the steel beam installation based on Time Studies, MPDM, Work Sampling and 5-Minutes Rating. Productivity analysis uses the MPDM, Cycle Chart, Process and Crew Balance Chart. The evaluation of the overall productivity of steel beam installation operations shows a comparison of the percentage of work execution versus delay of 62% versus 38%. This result is quite good considering that the proportion of construction worker productivity is in the range of 40-70% compared to 62% on this project. Improvement of productivity can still be done by preventing delays due to equipment; efficiency of the number of workers; as well as optimizing the duration of each task by referring to the best cycle duration. Thus, the productivity can increase from 10.36 minutes/unit to 6.25 minutes/unit. It is hoped that these results will attract similar research with objects to produce productivity data on construction operations in Indonesia and encourage an improvement in the construction sector.
L’ethos collectif du họ vietnamien dans le lexique des termes de parenté et dans le discours exercitif
Authors: Dallot Christophe , Dao Huy Linh
Published: April 2024

By questioning the notion of ethos in utterance from an attested production of Vietnamese speeches, we make the postulate of the instruction of a collective ethos at the level of kinship terms. Moreover, dynamic discursive traces reveal the implicit encoding of this collective ethos. We rely on a concept of Vietnamese collective ethos: họ.
La construction discursive de l’identité collective. Le cas des formules : au nom de la Rzeczpospolita et au nom de la Pologne
Authors: Dyoniziak Jolanta , Pirogowska Ewa
Published: April 2024

The article attempts to analyze the discourse formulas: on behalf of Rzeczypospolita and on behalf of Poland in the speeches of the presidents of the Third Polish Republic (1995-2023). The aim is to describe the potential of these formulas in the context of constructing the collective identity. The authors continue the debate undertaken in the previous publication (Dyoniziak & Pirogowska, 2023) and show on the basis of 1000 presidential speeches written on www.prezydent.pl that the proper name Rzeczpospolita has greater identity potential than the name Polska in creating a national community.
Manifestation de l’identité dans le discours des supporters de football
Authors: Napieralski Andrzej
Published: April 2024

Identity is a complex concept, as it is not solely a matter of an individual’s perception of oneself, but also influenced by how others perceive them. This is the view of Patrick Charaudeau, who defines identity as “a complex matter, as it is not only a matter of self, but also a matter of others, or more precisely, a matter of self through the eyes of others”. To gain insight into the construction of identity among football supporters, particularly those of the Polish National Team, this study aims to analyze the discourse of online football supporters during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Specifically, the study focuses on the comments made by fans on the Facebook page Łączy nas piłka. The research will examine how a collective identity is formed through the comments made by supporters in a virtual cultural reality. The analysis will be based on the various comments made by online users, including judgments, encouragements, replies, insults, and internet mèmes. The comments section of Łączy nas piłka serves as the fertile ground for linguistic exchanges where the online football supporters express their discourse, marked by a diverse range of emotions and values that are commonly shared among the fans of the Polish National Team. Through this study, we aim to present the discourse of online football supporters, which reflects the manifestation of collective identity among football supporters. By examining the language used by these supporters in online discourse, we can gain insights into how collective identities are formed and expressed in the digital realm.
Det som ikke vises
Authors: Takle Cecilie
Published: April 2024

Theme: Motherhood and Mothering. Ill. ©Stina Wirsén

That Which Is Not Shown: Buster’s Mother in the Book and on Screen

This article is a study of mother characters in the stories about Buster Oregon Mortensen, as they are portrayed in books and on screen. The children’s book Busters verden (Buster’s World) by Bjarne Reuter was published in 1979 and it has later been adapted into two movies with different directors. I investigate the portrayal of Buster’s mother in the three versions of the story and how she changes as a character in the adaptations. Through adaptation analysis I explore the various expectations of her as a mother, and how her social circumstances affect her ability to protect and raise her children. By studying how Buster’s mother is portrayed in different media expressions produced over forty-two years, I demonstrate how each narrative addresses children regarding the topic of motherhood. In the book the mother is presented as a victim of abuse and violence who is exhausted and annoyed, while in the first film she is portrayed as a quiet figure who mostly remains a neutral character in the background, and in the second she is absent due to her own studies.
Inconsequential role for chemerin‐like receptor 1 in the manifestation of ozone‐induced lung pathophysiology in male mice
Authors: Johnston Richard A. , Pilkington Albert W. , Atkins Constance L. , Boots Theresa E. , Brown Philip L. , Jackson William T. , Spencer Chantal Y. , Siddiqui Saad R. , Haque Ikram U.
Published: April 2024

We executed this study to determine if chemerin‐like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), a Gi/o protein‐coupled receptor expressed by leukocytes and non‐leukocytes, contributes to the development of phenotypic features of non‐atopic asthma, including airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to acetyl‐β‐methylcholine chloride, lung hyperpermeability, airway epithelial cell desquamation, and lung inflammation. Accordingly, we quantified sequelae of non‐atopic asthma in wild‐type mice and mice incapable of expressing CMKLR1 (CMKLR1‐deficient mice) following cessation of acute inhalation exposure to either filtered room air (air) or ozone (O3), a criteria pollutant and non‐atopic asthma stimulus. Following exposure to air, lung elastic recoil and airway responsiveness were greater while the quantity of adiponectin, a multi‐functional adipocytokine, in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was lower in CMKLR1‐deficient as compared to wild‐type mice. Regardless of genotype, exposure to O3 caused AHR, lung hyperpermeability, airway epithelial cell desquamation, and lung inflammation. Nevertheless, except for minimal genotype‐related effects on lung hyperpermeability and BAL adiponectin, we observed no other genotype‐related differences following O3 exposure. In summary, we demonstrate that CMKLR1 limits the severity of innate airway responsiveness and lung elastic recoil but has a nominal effect on lung pathophysiology induced by acute exposure to O3.
Mechanism analysis and mixing characterization of variable-speed mechanical mixing enhancement
Authors: Lin Yuchen , Wang Shibo , Wang Hua , Xu Jianxin , Xiao Qingtai
Published: April 2024

In response to the observed phenomenon of poor fluid mixing within the reactor, this study proposes a novel mixing method to enhance fluid mixing efficiency. In this study, numerical simulation and purification tests were carried out for the purification of zinc sulfate solution. Numerical simulations were conducted to compare the effects of variable-speed stirring and uniform-speed stirring on mixing efficiency, considering both momentum transfer process and mass transfer process. The purification test further demonstrated a significant improvement in the reaction rate under variable-speed stirring, as evidenced by the analysis of purification efficiency and microscopic morphology. It was elaborated that the enhancement mechanism of variable-speed stirring involved disrupting the periodic order structure in the tank, leading to the generation of a multi-scale vortex that increased stirring kinetic energy to form a shear force. This force contributed to reducing the velocity slip between the impurity ions and zinc particles, consequently decreasing reaction time and enhancing purification rate. The results indicated that sinusoidal stirring yielded the most effective mixing. When implemented in practical production settings, it enhanced dimensionless mixing efficiency by 24.83 % compared to the homogeneous stirring system. Additionally, it reduced reaction time by 15.47 % and decreased mixing energy per unit volume by 32.38 %, while simultaneously lowering energy consumption by 24.77 %.
Investigation on the mechanical and moisture uptake properties of epoxy-Terminalia arjuna fiber natural composites containing nano-silica
Authors: Arumugam Karthick , Kaliannagounder Mylsamy
Published: April 2024

Natural composites are gaining attention among researchers due to its characteristics like low density, eco-friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. However, their performance falls short when compared to traditional materials, necessitating research focused on enhancing the strength of natural composites. The limited attention given by researchers to Terminalia arjuna fiber, a natural fiber, prompted an exploration to unveil novel scientific insights into Terminalia arjuna fiber-based composites. This study involved the creation of a natural composite through the hand layup process, combining Terminalia arjuna fiber and epoxy resin. Additionally, nanofiller like silica (SiO2) were introduced as reinforcing agents. Various materials were fabricated for different weight percentages of fiber and particles. The assessment covered mechanical and water absorption characteristics. The composite composed of epoxy with 30 wt% Terminalia arjuna and 2 wt% SiO2 showcased excellent mechanical properties, including high tensile strength (74 MPa), flexural strength (98 MPa), impact resistance (6.6 kJ/m2), and hardness (90 shore-d). Furthermore, it demonstrated minimal water absorption (18.4 % after 10 days). This research suggests that the epoxy/Terminalia arjuna/2 wt% SiO2 composite could be a preferred choice for industrial applications due to its outstanding performance.
Jacob’s Nightly Encounter at Peniel and the Status of the Son: Reading Genesis 32 with Athanasius
Authors: Bucur Bogdan G.
Published: April 2024

This paper considers the theophany at Penuel-Peniel/Εἶδος Θεοῦ (Genesis 32) and its use by Athanasius of Alexandria. The biblical text itself is quite enigmatic, forcing the readers to entertain a variety of interpretive solutions. Athanasius continues, unsurprisingly, the venerable tradition of Christological exegesis – identifying, that is, the mysterious man with the Word of God incarnaturus – but seems to reinforce the inherited Christophanic exegesis by taking advantage of a textual ambiguity that only occurs in the LXX text. This further allows him to highlight, repeatedly, the dogmatic import of the biblical text, showing that, once the divine appearance to Jacob is understood Christologically, the theophany can only be accounted for by confessing the Son as “proper” (ἴδιος) to the Father, inseparable from him according to essential propriety (κατὰ τὴν ἰδιότητα τῆς οὐσίας), ὁμοούσιος with the Father.
Network security framework for Internet of medical things applications: A survey
Authors: Tarish Hiba A. , Hassan Rosilah , Ariffin Khairul Akram Zainol , Jaber Mustafa Musa
Published: April 2024

Limited device resources and an ever-changing cybersecurity landscape compound the challenges faced by the network protection infrastructure for Internet of medical things (IoMT) applications, which include different device ecosystems, privacy concerns, and problems with interoperability. Protecting private medical information in IoMT apps is challenging; a comprehensive strategy that provides user education, standard protocols, and robust security mechanisms is necessary to overcome these obstacles. With the advancement of IoMT, the network of clinical systems, gadgets, and sensors is integrated with the Internet of things (IoT) to enable intelligent healthcare solutions. However, the sensitive data sharing and the substantial connections in the IoMT systems raise security and privacy concerns in the network. Therefore, network security is critical in IoMT applications due to data breaches, vulnerabilities, and distributed denial of service attacks on medical data. This study reviews the network security techniques implemented in the existing studies for IoMT applications using machine learning and blockchain technology. This study presents an overview of IoMT healthcare applications by highlighting the security challenges encountered and the necessity of adopting advanced techniques to deal with complex threats. The research is mainly about how deep reinforcement learning (DRL), commonly used for intrusion detection, access control, and anomaly detection, works over time and how it can be used in IoMT applications. With the notion of providing robust security in IoMT applications, this study appraises the benefits of blockchain technology, such as data integrity, accountability, and confidentiality. Besides, this study addresses the limitations and challenges of various security techniques that IoMT systems employ. This work assesses the findings, research gaps, and future advancements for enhancing network security in IoMT applications. With an extensive analysis of existing research, this survey guides researchers, medical practitioners, and decision-makers to scale up the DRL and blockchain in IoMT systems more efficiently in the future.
Wavelength division multiplexing of free space optical system under the effect of oil fire smoke
Authors: Sabri Noor Wisam , Mohammed Firas S. , Abdul Razaq Asmaa A.
Published: April 2024

In this paper, two wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) based free space optical (FSO) systems (single, multiple) are proposed and their performance is compared on the basis of Q-factor, eye opening diagrams and the total power of the received signal for different link distances under effect of oil fire smoke. The obtained results illustrate that the values of WDM single FSO of (1 km) distance exhibit good performance based on (Q-factor ≥ 6), but it was out of line performance at (2 km) FSO distance. The values of (1 km) distance exhibit good performance. On the other hand, the results of the FSO distance (2 km) indicate poor performance without signal loss. The presented results show that the eye opening for all the power values of (1 km) distance for both systems. Moreover, the eye opened only at the highest power value of (2 km) distance for single FSO systems. The eye opened partially at the lowest power of (2 km) distance and became fully opened at the mid-point and highest power values for multiple FSO systems. Thus, the proposed MIMO-FSO systems with multiplexes multiple optical carriers WDM demonstrates better results than SISO-FSO systems with WDM and the well knowing systems under similar atmospheric conditions.
Bias in the prenatal lung measurements in fetal congenital diaphragmatic hernia with intrauterine growth restriction
Authors: Aydın Emrah , Khanmammadova Narmina , Burns Patricia , Lim Foong-Yen , Habli Mounira A. , Peiró Jose Luis
Published: April 2024

Objectives

The failure of a fetus to develop to its full potential due to maternal or placental factors is known as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Fetal head growth is usually preserved in that situation producing a potential discordance between head and body size. Our goal is to discover if IUGR has an impact on the prenatal ultrasound measurements taken to assess pulmonary development in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Methods

A retrospective chart review (IRB#2017-6361) was performed on all prenatally diagnosed CDH patients from 2007 to 2016. Patient demographics, fetal and neonatal anthropometric measurements, and fetal lung parameters were the main subjects of the data that were gathered. Fetal growth was assessed by the curves based on US data by Olsen et al. and by Peleg et al. Of 147 CDH patients, 19 (12.9 %) patients were diagnosed with IUGR before the 30th gestational week while there were 20 (13.6 %) patients after the 30th gestational week.

Results

Patients with IUGR and the observed-to-expected lung-to-head ratio (O/E LHR) less than 25 % had better survival rates both to discharge and date compared to non IUGR group (p=0.226, OR 2.25 95 % CI 0.60–1.08 and p=0.175, OR 2.40 95 % CI 0.66–1.17, respectively). Moreover, the ECMO need of the patients who had IUGR and O/E LHR less than 25 % was significantly less than the patients without IUGR (38.5 vs. 80.0 %, p=0.005).

Conclusions

This study confirms that the intrauterine measurements to predict pulmonary hypoplasia in CDH patients are misleading in the presence of IUGR and cause an overestimation.
Association between aneuploidy screening analytes and adverse outcomes in twin gestations
Authors: Yamasato Kelly , Ono Aiwa
Published: April 2024

Objectives

To evaluate associations between serum analytes used for genetic screening and obstetric complications among twin pregnancies.

Methods

This cohort included twins delivered at a tertiary care hospital from 2009 to 2017. Abnormal levels of pregnancy associated plasma protein (PAPP-A), first and second trimester human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), estriol, and inhibin, reported as multiples of the median (MoM), were defined as <5 %ile or >95 %ile for our cohort. Associations between abnormal analytes and preterm delivery, small for gestational age, and pregnancy-associated hypertension were calculated using Fisher’s exact test.

Results

A total of 357 dichorionic/diamniotic and 123 monochorionic/diamniotic twins were included. Among dichorionic/diamniotic twins, elevated AFP (>3.70 MoM) was associated with increased preterm delivery <34 weeks (44.4 vs. 16.5 %, p=0.007), while elevated inhibin (>4.95 MoM) was associated with increased preterm delivery<37 weeks (94.1 vs. 58.8 %, p=0.004). For monochorionic/diamniotic twins, elevated inhibin (>6.34 MoM) was associated increased preterm delivery <34 weeks (66.7 vs. 24.8 %, p=0.04) and hypertension (66.7 vs. 21.4 %, p=0.03).

Conclusions

Selected abnormal analyte levels were associated with increased rates of adverse outcomes in twin pregnancies, which differed by chorionicity. Our findings assist providers in interpreting abnormal analyte levels in twin pregnancies and may help to identify those at increased risk for adverse outcomes.
Gain scheduled internal model control based on the dynamic sliding mode method for the water level of nuclear steam generators
Authors: Farzampanah Farzaneh , Ansarifar GholamReza
Published: April 2024

The Steam Generator (SG) is a crucial component of a nuclear power plant. Proper water level control in a nuclear steam generator is of great importance to ensure a sufficient cooling source for the nuclear reactor and to prevent damage to turbine blades. The water level control problem of steam generators has been a leading cause of unexpected shutdowns in nuclear power plants, which must be addressed for plant safety and availability. The control problem is challenging, particularly at low power levels due to shrink and swell phenomena and flow measurement errors. Furthermore, the dynamics of the steam generator vary as the power level changes. Therefore, there is a need to enhance the water level control system of the SG. In this paper, a Gain Scheduled Internal Model Control (IMC) based on the Dynamic Sliding Mode (DSMC) method is developed for the level control problem. The proposed method exhibits the desired dynamic properties throughout the entire output tracking process, independent of perturbations. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller in terms of performance, robustness, and stability. The simulation results confirm the improvement in transient response achieved by using the proposed controller.
Study on analysing the potential benefits of utilizing nuclear waste for biodiesel production
Authors: D. Christopher Selvam , Devarajan Yuvarajan , T. Raja
Published: April 2024

This work examines the opportunities and obstacles related to the novel idea of transforming nuclear waste into biodiesel in the Indian setting. Given India’s increasing energy needs and the necessity for sustainable options, repurposing nuclear waste for biodiesel production presents a unique strategy. The paper examines the possible advantages of this approach, covering economic, environmental, and technological factors, as well as discussing the associated difficulties, such as safety issues, technical obstacles, and public perception intricacies. The goal is to provide valuable information for future research and development endeavors by examining India’s distinct nuclear waste and biodiesel environment, considering socio-economic aspects, legislative structures, and the changing energy industry. The paper provides a detailed analysis that adds to the ongoing discussion on sustainable energy choices, emphasizing the significance of creative strategies in addressing energy demands and handling nuclear waste efficiently.
Headless relative clauses with a gap: a typological trait of Mesoamerican languages
Authors: Palancar Enrique L. , Maldonado Roberto Zavala , Chamoreau Claudine
Published: April 2024

This paper has two main goals. One is to introduce a type of “headless” (or “antecedentless”) relative clause that presents a gap strategy and that has not been sufficiently discussed in the typological literature. The other is to show that this type of headless relative clause with a gap is a characteristic trait of Mesoamerican languages, since it exists in many languages of the Mesoamerican linguistic area as an important constructional option in their relativization syntax, independently of the genetic relationships of the language in question. Two types of headless relative clauses are well known to date: one involving a relativization strategy with a relative pronoun (e.g., I wore what you asked me to wear) and another with a light head, introduced by Citko (2004. On headed, headless, and light-headed relatives. Natural Language and Linguistic Theory 22. 95–126), somewhat comparable to I wore the one that you asked me to wear. The third type of headless relative clause discussed here presents a gap (i.e., there is no manifestation of the relativized term in the relative clause). It would be equivalent to saying ‘I wore you asked me to wear’. The phenomenon we study here is interesting both from a typological and areal point of view.
In vitro enzymatic, in silico ADME and molecular docking based analysis for the identification of novel bis-indole containing triazine–thiazole hybrids derivatives as promising urease inhibitors
Authors: Khan Shoaib , Hussain Rafaqat , Khan Yousaf , Iqbal Tayyiaba , Anwar Saeed , Aziz Tariq , Alharbi Metab
Published: April 2024

The current study details a sequence of sequential reactions for synthesizing bis-indole-based triazine bearing thiazole derivatives. Several steps were involved in the synthesis of bis-indole-based triazine bearing thiazole derivative. The synthetic reactions were monitored via thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Synthesized compounds were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques, including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HR-EIMS. The inhibitory activity against urease enzyme of these synthesized compounds was compared with that of thiourea, a standard drug (IC50 = 9.30 ± 0.20 µM). A range of inhibitory potencies were observed for the synthesized compounds, ranging from moderate to excellent, as follows (IC50 = 5.10 ± 0.40 µM to 29.80 ± 0.20 µM). Analyzing the structure–activity relationship (SAR) provided insight into the results, showing that different substituents had different effects on aromatic rings. Several compounds displayed outstanding inhibitory properties (among those tested were 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 with IC50 = 6.30 ± 0.80, 5.10 ± 0.40, 5.90 ± 0.50, 8.20 ± 0.10, 8.90 ± 0.60 µM, respectively). Anti-urease evaluation of all the synthesized derivatives was conducted in which the selected compounds have shown remarkable potency compared with the standard drug thiourea (IC50 = 9.30 ± 0.20 µM). Molecular docking analysis was carried out for investigating the better binding sites and distance of the derivatives. Moreover, the drug-like properties were explored by the ADME attributes of the synthesized analogs.
Targeted Poverty Alleviation in China: The Policy Perspective of the Communist Party of China
Authors: Liu Nana , Wang Guixian
Published: April 2024

China's achievements in poverty alleviation and reduction are obvious and it is necessary to summarize as well as rethink the experience of it. In discussing poverty-alleviation policies over time before 2012 and targeted poverty alleviation started in 2012, it is clear that the leading and decisive role of the CPC is the key to understanding China's poverty alleviation, for both achievements and challenges. Targeting is essential at an early stage to get the targeted poverty alleviation project moving, but it must give way to the organic integration of poverty-vulnerable people into social-economic reproduction if a secure foundation for the alleviation of poverty is to be laid. To solve the problem of poverty, there should be an effective combination of the CPC's leadership in rural governance and the inherited autonomy of farmers, the true and dominant driving force of China's rural development.
Circuit-Wide Gene Network Analysis Reveals Sex-Specific Roles for Phosphodiesterase 1b in Cocaine Addiction
Authors: Teague Collin D. , Markovic Tamara , Zhou Xianxiao , Martinez-Rivera Freddyson J. , Minier-Toribio Angelica , Zinsmaier Alexander , Pulido Nathalia V. , Schmidt Kyra H. , Lucerne Kelsey E. , Godino Arthur , van der Zee Yentl Y. , Ramakrishnan Aarthi , Futamura Rita , Browne Caleb J. , Holt Leanne M. , Yim Yun Young , Azizian Corrine H. , Walker Deena M. , Shen Li , Dong Yan , Zhang Bin , Nestler Eric J.
Published: April 2024

Cocaine use disorder is a significant public health issue without an effective pharmacological treatment. Successful treatments are hindered in part by an incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie long-lasting maladaptive plasticity and addiction-like behaviors. Here, we leverage a large RNA sequencing dataset to generate gene coexpression networks across six interconnected regions of the brain's reward circuitry from mice that underwent saline or cocaine self-administration. We identify phosphodiesterase 1b (
Pde1b
), a Ca
2+
/calmodulin-dependent enzyme that increases cAMP and cGMP hydrolysis, as a central hub gene within a nucleus accumbens (NAc) gene module that was bioinformatically associated with addiction-like behavior. Chronic cocaine exposure increases
Pde1b
expression in NAc D2 medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in male but not female mice. Viral-mediated
Pde1b
overexpression in NAc reduces cocaine self-administration in female rats but increases seeking in both sexes. In female mice, overexpressing
Pde1b
in D1 MSNs attenuates the locomotor response to cocaine, with the opposite effect in D2 MSNs. Overexpressing
Pde1b
in D1/D2 MSNs had no effect on the locomotor response to cocaine in male mice. At the electrophysiological level,
Pde1b
overexpression reduces sEPSC frequency in D1 MSNs and regulates the excitability of NAc MSNs. Lastly,
Pde1b
overexpression significantly reduced the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in NAc following chronic cocaine, with discordant effects on gene transcription between sexes. Together, we identify novel gene modules across the brain's reward circuitry associated with addiction-like behavior and explore the role of
Pde1b
in regulating the molecular, cellular, and behavioral responses to cocaine.
Synthesis of carbon quantum dots based on quinoa straw and their application in alkali metal ions detection
Authors: Xing Ye , Wang Ya-nan , Li Haichao
Published: April 2024

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with good water solubility and fluorescence properties were successfully synthesized from Chenopodium quinoa Willd. straw, a biomass by-product, by a one-step carbonization method. Structural characterization of the fabricated carbon quantum dots by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) demonstrated the presence of a large number of functional groups on the surface of the carbon quantum dots, which gives them good water solubility. The synthesized carbon quantum dots were characterized optically by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and other analytical tools. Results indicate the addition of alkali metal ions gave a different degree of promotion of fluorescence intensity (Li+＞Cs+＞K+＞Na+＞Rb+), and according to this feature carbon quantum dots can be used as a new means of alkali metal ion detection.
A double-blinded, randomized, parallel grouped, phase III comparative study of Japanese White Turmeric extract and placebo in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee and or hip
Authors: Winther Kaj , Pedersen Frank H , Hansen Peter Winther , Tofte Joan Campbell- , Jalili Mahsa , Christensen Sine H
Published: April 2024

Background: Osteoarthritis is a common disease among middle aged and elderly people and paracetamol and NSAIDs, which can both cause side effects, are often used to manage symptoms like pain. This study aimed to test if Japanese White Turmeric (JWT), a new variant of turmeric, containing labdane terpenoid and hardly any curcumin, would lessen symptoms from osteoarthritis and reduce the consumption of rescue medication, without causing side effects. Methods: Volunteers (n=120) with osteoarthritis of the knee and/or hip were randomly allocated to either daily treatment with JWT (12.8 mg) or placebo for 6 months. Primary effect variables, pain and physical function and secondary effect variables, stiffness and global severity of the disease (PGAD) were scored on WOMAC questionnaires initially and after 1, 2, 3 and 6 months of treatment. Rescue medication taken by participants were self-registered in a diary. Results: JWT treatment showed a statistically significant reduction in WOMAC pain after 1, 2 and 3 months (p<0.0003). After 6 months this decline was still statistically significant and superior to placebo (p<0.041). Effect size was 4.961±2.366 (n=40) for treatment group vs (n=27) for placebo), 95% confidence interval was 9.686 to -0.2359, p< 0.039. An identical pattern was observed when testing physical function, joint stiffness and PGAD. The consumption of paracetamol was significantly lowered after 3 and 6 months of active treatment (p<0.014 and p<0.050) respectively vs placebo. A similar pattern was observed for NSAIDs. No serious side effects were reported and minor side effects were equally represented in both groups. Conclusion: Our data suggests that the herbal remedy, Japanese White Turmeric significantly alleviates symptoms of osteoarthritis, including pain and lower the consumption of rescue medication.
The interaction of normal body temperature with eye blinking
Authors: Imran Qadir Muhammad , Tanveer Muhammad
Published: April 2024

The intention of ongoing study was to link normal body temperature with eye blinking. We conducted the answers of 123 subjects. Temperature can be measured by several places but we often use mouth and armpit for measuring temperature. Procedure for temperature measuring from mouth, first of all we placed the thermometer under the tongue of every subject. We left the device for 2-3 minutes. Device also gives us the alarm and we remove the device and check temperature. A questionnaire was constructed to check the connection between body temperature and eye blinking. We asked question to the subjects and got their answers for checking relation. It was clinched that there was no significant relation between normal body temperatures an eye blinking.
Sustainable Development Reporting in Emergency Situations
Authors: IEFYMENKO T. , LOVINSKA L. , KUCHERIAVA M.
Published: April 2024

Introduction. The realities of the martial law in Ukraine, the threat of emergency events, in particular pandemicslike COVID-19, catastrophic consequences of terrorist acts, post-war reconstruction plans with involvement ofexternal and internal funding from economic agents of all forms of ownership have determined the need for thefurther promotion of the sustainability concept.Problem Statement. The lack of unifi ed approach to the content of sustainability reporting leads to asymmetry, low level of reliability and impossibility of aggregating statistical information for making management decisions, including those related to resource provision.Purpose. The purpose of this research is to determine methodological approaches in terms of appropriateness,materiality of disclosure in non-fi nancial reporting of companies; disclosure of ways of compliance with principlesof transparency and accountability regarding sustainability by leaders of the corporate sector selected for analysis; to substantiate directions for the use of best global practice of reporting within domestic institutional environment during the martial law and post-war recovery.Materials and Methods. The methods are induction, deduction, analysis, synthesis, methods of statistical samp-ling, comparison, expert evaluations, associations, and analogies.Results. The study of non-fi nancial reporting of 11 foreign metallurgical companies has made it possible to estab lish the problematic aspects of sustainability data regarding relevance and materiality. Variety of methodolo gical approaches of non-fi nancial reporting leads to increased risks for decision-making as regards developmentstrategies and attraction of resources.
Conclusions. The research results have proven the hypothesis (H1): unifying the methodology for the formation of indicators and standardizing approaches to the preparation of sustainability reports are the main way to enhance the eff ectiveness of state regulation and corporate management both in stable situations and in critical conditions of emergency events.
An overview of the red-fleshed apple: History and its importance for horticulturists, gardeners, nurserymen, and consumers
Authors: Mezhenskyj V. M. , Pyshcholka D. V. , Mezhenska L. O. , Havryliuk O. S.
Published: April 2024

The present review summarizes the information on the botany, breeding, genetic features, cultivation, and nutraceutical values of red-fleshed apples. Malus sieversii var. niedzwetzkyana or Niedzwetzky’s apple became widely known after the publication of Georg Dieck in the last XIX century. It is characterized by anthocyanin coloration of all organs. Another source of red flesh is the ancient variety ‘Surprise’, which differs from the Niedzwetzky’s apple by a mutation in another gene. These two mutated genes, MYB10 and MYB110a, are located on chromosomes 9 and 17, respectively. Their expression correlated with the anthocyanin accumulation. In type 1 red-fleshed apples, which belong to the Niedzwetzky’s apple progeny, the transcription factor MYB10 confers extensive anthocyanin accumulation in fruit flesh and skin, flowers, leaves, and stems. In type 2 red-fleshed apples, the ‘Surprise’ progeny, only the flesh is red, determined by the transcription factor MYB110а. A new combination Malus domestica f. niedzwetzkyana comb. nov. has been proposed for orchard apples, originated from Niedzwetzky’s apple. The apple cultivars which are progeny of Niedzwetzky’s apple and ‘Surprise’ apple can be placed to Malus Niedzwetzkyana Group and Malus Surprise Group, respectively. All red-fleshed cultivars of orchard apple can be grouped together into Malus domestica Red Flesh Group. Many dozens of new ornamental apple trees have been developed for of European and North American conditions, including the most famous red-flowered centennial apple varieties such ‘Aldenhamensis’, ‘Lemoinei’, ‘Makamik’, and ‘Oekonomierat Echtermeyer’. Rootstocks ‘MB’, ‘PB9’, ‘54-118’, ‘62-396’ and others have become popular in nurseries for the propagation of dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees thanks to their red leaves, which are useful when removing scion shoots from budded plants. In the F3-F4 and next generation, the new high-quality red-fleshed cultivars have been developed by crossing both Niedzwetzky’s apple and ‘Surprise’ apple with the best orchard apple varieties. Marker-assisted breeding shows great promise for accelerating the development of new red-fleshed cultivars with outstanding traits. The use of the Redlove®, Red Moon®, Kissabel®, and Lucy™ apples brands will ensure the red-fleshed apples’ best path to the consumer as well as the fruit quality and production volume of these novelties. Increasing the consumption of red-fleshed apples is essential for a healthy diet.
Third Special Infantry Brigade of the Russian Expeditionary Force: A Social and Demographic Portrait
Authors:   Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local History, Ekaterinburg, Emelyanov Alexander V. , Silchenko Ivan S. ,   UMMC Technical University, Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Sverdlovsk Region Russian Federation
Published: April 2024

This article is devoted to the personnel of the 3rd Special Infantry Brigade, a unit that was part of the Russian Expeditionary Corps in France. Despite the presence of works dealing with general issues of the formation and combat path of Russian troops in France, the personnel composition of the units has not been fully studied. Examining cases presented in central archives, the authors analyze over eight thousand records, which allows them to get an idea of the personnel characteristics of a specified military unit. Based on socio-demographic and professional characteristics, they compile a generalized portrait of soldiers and officers of the 3rd Special Infantry Brigade. The personnel information presented in the work is grouped into tables and concerns the ranks called up from the territory of Perm Province, whose share was 25 % of the total number of the brigade. The authors conclude that officers who had combat experience were assigned to regiments, and those who did not take part in the battles received positions in the marching battalion. Most lower ranks belonged to the peasant class and had restrictions for military service for health reasons. Data on combat experience, education, and categories of conscription of military personnel make it possible for the authors to make assumptions about the combat effectiveness of the 3rd Special Infantry Brigade. Finally, the authors make conclusions about the features of the personnel, which are compared with the all-Russian trends of 1916–1917. At the same time, special attention is paid to the fact that the collective portrait of the personnel is typical of military units formed during the final period of the First World War.
Reconstruction of the Biography of G. K. Ozhigov in the Context of the Revolutionary Events of 1905–1917 in Russia
Authors:   Udmurt State University, Izhevsk, Bekhterev Sergei L. , Bekhtereva Lyudmila N. ,   Udmurt Federal Research Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Izhevsk
Published: April 2024

Referring to regional material, this article actualizes the tradition of studying the biographies of historical figures in the context of an institutional concept, which makes it possible to describe and explain the controversial facts of political history of the new time in the era of mass social movements. The authors aim to reconstruct the later imperial period (until October 1917) of the life of Grigorii Kondratyevich Ozhigov, a representative of the national revolutionary cohort, who took an active part in the events that occurred in the Urals, Ukraine, the Baltics, Finland, and other areas of the former Russian Empire in the late twentieth century. Methodologically, the work relies on the modernization paradigm, the “new social history”, and related everyday discourse, including the anthropological approach, historical, and biographical methods. Since G. K. Ozhigov’s biography studied by a few Ural historians is replete with inaccuracies, the study is based on sources which have never been referred to previously, including official documents, periodicals, sources of personal origin, autobiographies, and memoirs by Ozhigov himself. The documents kept in the fund of the Ozhigov family of the Central State Archive of the Udmurt Republic are characterized by a complex nature. The study demonstrates that Ozhigov, who came from a peasant family, a worker of Izhevsk factories, managed to rise first to the interregional, and in 1917, to the all-Russian level, reaching the status of a member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the first convocation. In the political sphere, he passed a difficult path of evolution from a militant of the Ural Lbovtsy partisans during the First Russian Revolution of 1905–1907, to a member of the RCP(b) and an active participant in the implementation of the project of the proletarian state.
Demilitarization of the Russian Front after World War I
Authors:   Samara National Research University, Samara, Zherdeva Yulia A.
Published: April 2024

This article examines the demilitarization of the Russian Front after World War I. Demilitarization is understood as complex processes associated with the physical transformation of the war landscape and overcoming the toxic legacy of war: freeing the space from the presence of regular armies, military property, and military installations, as well as from the impact of specific war practices such as soil intoxication, water pollution, waterlogging of forests and fields, and deforestation. The aim of this study is to examine the institutions and mechanisms of demilitarization and demobilization of the Russian army in 1917–1918. The theoretical framework of this study draws on environmental history and postcolonial studies that allow the author to consider demilitarization through the prism of interaction with the environment and to understand its features in the former imperial boundaries. The paper works with materials of the Russian military archives, which help reconstruct the mechanisms of demobilization and the practices of demilitarization of the Russian Front. The author concludes that demobilization institutions were created in three stages, from May 1917 to May 1918: the first ones were established by the Stavka in May and supplemented in November 1917, but relatively “functional” demobilization institutions emerged in December and were associated with the Bolshevik administrative transformations. Whereas during the war demilitarization (clearing trenches and their surroundings of the effects of suffocating gases, sanitation, soil reclamation, and collecting weapons from battlefields) was practiced to preserve the army’s fighting ability, chaotic demobilization obscured these environmental issues with trivial problems of transportation and preservation of military property. The continental nature of the demilitarization of the former Russian Front makes it possible to speak of its remilitarisation as early as the summer of 1918.
Development of Firearms Manufacturing Technologies in Muslim Countries According to Handwritten Sources
Authors:   Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Zaitseva Dina V.
Published: April 2024

This article discusses the scientific and practical conditions for the discovery and development of the gunpowder technology and appearance of firearms in the Middle East. The analysis of numerous studies on alchemy, Greek fire, the discovery of gunpowder, and the invention of firearms in Muslim and European countries and in China makes it possible to draw several important conclusions. First, the appearance of gunpowder and firearms occurs during the flourishing of medieval science in the Middle East. One can judge its achievements only by the extant treatises, finding a chronological gap between the sources that describe the compositions of gunpowder and their use in missiles and torpedoes and the information of chronicles mentioning the use of cannons. It is obvious that despite the borrowings made from the Chinese, alchemy and pyrotechnics developed independently in the Middle East, as indicated by numerous recipes for gunpowder and naphtha. The invention of primitive firearms is a natural stage in the development of alchemical science and military art of Muslims. The absence of written evidence concerning the manufacture and use of this new weapon, except for the only manuscript from the collection of the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, RAS (MS C 686), is perhaps the only essential ground that makes researchers doubt that Muslims had their own firearms on a par with Europeans. Finally, the author concludes that simultaneously with the translations of Arabic scientific works into Latin, the Europeans, of course, actively adopted all the military inventions of the East, outdoing their “teachers” in this. The Iberian Peninsula became a buffer zone of these intellectual and practical exchanges.