bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structure characteristics of mutation sites in two waxy alleles from Yunnan waxy maize (Zea mays L. var. certaina Kulesh) landraces
Authors: Sun Tingting , Wu Xiaoyang
Published: September 2023

A large number of waxy maize landraces are distributed in Yunnan and surrounding areas, and abundant waxy alleles of different types are distributed in these landraces. The identification of waxy alleles is helpful to the protection and utilization of these waxy landraces. This study introduced structure characteristics of waxy genes from two specific landraces of Yunnan, Zinuoyumi and Myanmar Four-Row Wax. Zinuoyumi has two waxy alleles wx-Cin4 and wx-Cin4-2; Myanmar Four-Row Wax has three waxy alleles wx-D10, wx-Reina and wx-D11. The wx-Cin4-2 and wx-D11 are two types of waxy alleles first reported in this study. The wx-Cin4-2 has two mutation sites, deletion of 30 bp in exon 10, insertion of a 1,267 bp non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposon Cin4 in intron 10, and 13 bp extra sequence were found at 5’ end of the Cin4; the mutation site of wx-D11 is a 1,082 bp deletion from exons 11 to 14 of the waxy gene and is replaced with a 72 bp filler sequence. This study enriched the type of waxy allele from Yunnan waxy maize landraces and further discussed the molecular basis for the formation of mutation sites of wx-Cin4-2 and wx-D11.
Examining the meaning and methodological characteristics of the systematized review label: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Premji Zahra , Cabugos Leyla
Published: September 2023

Introduction

A large portion of published evidence syntheses (ES) do not conform to established standards. There is a growing number of reviews labeled as a “systematized review”, but authors do not always identify specific methodological adaptations or specify the biases these may introduce.

Objective

The objective of this scoping review is to identify which methodological attributes common to evidence syntheses (ES) are implemented or referenced in published systematized reviews. It also aims to 1) identify and collate, where available, the reasons authors characterize their study as a systematized review 2) determine whether any justifications provided were based on resource constraints or research goals, and 3) describe common characteristics of systematized reviews.

Inclusion criteria

All articles that are titled as a systematized review, attempt a collocation and synthesis of existing literature, and include some methodology for their review process, will be included.

Materials and methods

A title search will be conducted for the terms “systematized” or “systematised” in proximity to the term “review” in a selection of scholarly sources that offer broad coverage of literature in many disciplines: Google Scholar, Lens, Web of Science Core Collection (Web of Science platform), Scopus (Elsevier platform), MEDLINE (Ovid platform). Screening and data extraction will be done in duplicate. Screening will be conducted in Covidence. Data extraction will be done in Google sheets. Data extraction elements will include common methodological characteristics relating to various steps of the evidence synthesis process. Descriptive, aggregate statistics, and categorization of reasons for selecting the systematized review type are the primary planned analysis for this review.

Data availability

This is a registered report protocol. The data collected in this research project will be made available in the Borealis repository (https://borealisdata.ca/) upon finalization of the study.
Pre-pandemic activity on a myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome support forum is highly associated with later activity on a long COVID support forum for a variety of reasons: A mixed methods study
Authors: Meyerson William U. , Hoyle Rick H.
Published: September 2023

Encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID share some clinical and social characteristics. We predicted that this would lead to an increased interaction between pre-pandemic members of an ME/CFS online support community and a long COVID community. We performed a mixed-methods retrospective observational study of the Reddit activity of 7,544 users active on Reddit’s long COVID forum. From among 1600 forums, pre-pandemic activity specifically on a ME/CFS forum is the top predictor of later participation on the long COVID forum versus an acute COVID support forum. In the qualitative portion, motives for this co-participation included seeking mutual support and dual identification with both conditions. Some of this effect may be explained by pre-existing ME/CFS possibly being a risk factor for long COVID and/or SARS-CoV-2 infection being a cause of ME/CFS relapse. The high rate of ME/CFS patients seeking mutual support on a long COVID forum speaks to the long-suffering experience of these patients not feeling heard or respected, and the hope of some ME/CFS patients to gain legitimacy through the public’s growing recognition of long COVID.
Asian-white disparities in obstetric anal sphincter injury: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Park Meejin , Wanigaratne Susitha , D’Souza Rohan , Geoffrion Roxana , Williams Sarah A. , Muraca Giulia M.
Published: September 2023

Background

Obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) describes severe injury to the perineum and perineum and perianal muscles following birth and occurs in 4.4% to 6.0% of vaginal births in Canada. Studies from high-income countries have identified an increased risk of OASI in individuals who identify as Asian race versus those who identify as white. This protocol outlines a systematic review and meta-analysis which aims to determine the incidence of OASI in individuals living in high-income countries who identify as Asian versus those of white race/ethnicity. We hypothesize that the pooled incidence of OASI will be higher in Asian versus white birthing individuals.

Methods

We will search MEDLINE, OVID, Embase, Emcare and Cochrane databases from inception to 2022 for observational studies using keywords and controlled vocabulary terms related to race, ethnicity and OASI. Two reviewers will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies (MOOSE) recommendations. Meta-analysis will be performed using RevMan for dichotomous data using the random effects model and the odds ratio (OR) as effect measure with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analysis will be performed based on Asian subgroups (e.g., South Asian, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese individuals). Study quality assessment will be performed using The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools.

Discussion

The systematic review and meta-analysis that this protocol outlines will synthesize the extant literature to better estimate the rates of OASI in Asian and white populations in non-Asian, high-income settings and the relative risk of OASI between these two groups. This systematic summary of the evidence will inform the discrepancy in health outcomes experienced by Asian and white birthing individuals. If these findings suggest a disproportionate burden among Asians, they will be used to advocate for future studies to explore the causal mechanisms underlying this relationship, such as differential care provision, barriers to accessing care, and social and institutional racism. Ultimately, the findings of this review can be used to frame obstetric care guidelines and inform healthcare practices to ensure care that is equitable and accessible to diverse populations.
Selenium inhibits ferroptosis in hyperglycemic cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by stimulating the Hippo pathway
Authors: Li Lu , Wang Meng , Ma Yan-Mei , Yang Lan , Zhang Deng-Hai , Guo Feng-Ying , Jing Li , Zhang Jian-Zhong
Published: September 2023

Hyperglycemia can exacerbate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, and the mechanism involves oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy and mitochondrial function. Our previous research showed that selenium (Se) could alleviate this injury. The aim of this study was to examine how selenium alleviates hyperglycemia-mediated exacerbation of cerebral I/R injury by regulating ferroptosis. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion models were established in rats under hyperglycemic conditions. An in vitro model of hyperglycemic cerebral I/R injury was created with oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) and high glucose was employed. The results showed that hyperglycemia exacerbated cerebral I/R injury, and sodium selenite pretreatment decreased infarct volume, edema and neuronal damage in the cortical penumbra. Moreover, sodium selenite pretreatment increased the survival rate of HT22 cells under OGD/R and high glucose conditions. Pretreatment with sodium selenite reduced the hyperglycemia mediated enhancement of ferroptosis. Furthermore, we observed that pretreatment with sodium selenite increased YAP and TAZ levels in the cytoplasm while decreasing YAP and TAZ levels in the nucleus. The Hippo pathway inhibitor XMU-MP-1 eliminated the inhibitory effect of sodium selenite on ferroptosis. The findings suggest that pretreatment with sodium selenite can regulate ferroptosis by activating the Hippo pathway, and minimize hyperglycemia-mediated exacerbation of cerebral I/R injury.
Quantifying the escalating impact of paramedic transported emergency department visits for opioid-related conditions in Ontario, Canada: A population-based cohort study
Authors: Strum Ryan P. , Mondoux Shawn , Mowbray Fabrice I. , Miller Paul , Worster Andrew , Ferron Richard , Costa Andrew P.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

While overdoses comprise the majority of opioid research, the comprehensive impact of the opioid crisis on emergency departments (EDs) and paramedic services has not been reported. We examined temporal changes in population-adjusted incidence rates of ED visits and paramedic transports due to opioid-related conditions.

Materials and methods

We conducted a population-based cohort study of all ED visits in the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2019 in Ontario, Canada. We included all patients with a primary diagnosis naming opioids as the underlying cause for the visit, without any other drugs or substances. We clustered geographic regions using Local Health Integration Network boundaries. Descriptive statistics, incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to analyze population-adjusted temporal changes.

Results

Overall, 86,403 ED visits were included in our study. Incidence of opioid-related ED visits increased by 165% in the study timeframe, with paramedic transported patients increasing by 429%. Per 100,000 residents, annual ED visits increased from 40.4 to 97.2, and paramedic transported patients from 12.1 to 67.9. The proportion of opioid-related ED visits transported by paramedics increased from 35.0% to 69.9%. The medical acuity of opioid-related ED visits increased throughout the years (IRR 6.8. 95% CI 5.9–7.7), though the proportion of discharges remained constant (~75%). The largest increases in ED visits and paramedic transports were concentrated to urbanized regions.

Discussion

Opioid-related ED visits and paramedic transports increased substantially between 2009 and 2019. The proportion of ED visits transported by paramedics doubled. Our findings could provide valuable support to health stakeholders in implementing timely strategies aimed at safely reducing opioid-related ED visits. The increased use of paramedics followed by high rates of ED discharge calls for exploration of alternative care models within paramedic systems, such as direct transport to specialized substance abuse centres.
Herbivory induced methylation changes in the Lombardy poplar: A comparison of results obtained by epiGBS and WGBS
Authors: Troyee A. Niloya , Peña-Ponton Cristian , Medrano Mónica , Verhoeven Koen J. F. , Alonso Conchita
Published: September 2023

DNA cytosine methylation is an epigenetic mechanism involved in regulation of plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress and its ability to change can vary with the sequence context in which a cytosine appears (CpG, CHG, CHH, where H = Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine). Quantification of DNA methylation in model plant species is frequently addressed by Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS), which requires a good-quality reference genome. Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS) is a cost-effective potential alternative for ecological research with limited genomic resources and large experimental designs. In this study, we provide for the first time a comprehensive comparison between the outputs of RRBS and WGBS to characterize DNA methylation changes in response to a given environmental factor. In particular, we used epiGBS (recently optimized RRBS) and WGBS to assess global and sequence-specific differential methylation after insect and artificial herbivory in clones ofPopulus nigracv. ’italica’. We found that, after any of the two herbivory treatments, global methylation percentage increased in CHH, and the shift was detected as statistically significant only by epiGBS. As regards to loci-specific differential methylation induced by herbivory (cytosines in epiGBS and regions in WGBS), both techniques indicated the specificity of the response elicited by insect and artificial herbivory, together with higher frequency of hypo-methylation in CpG and hyper-methylation in CHH. Methylation changes were mainly found in gene bodies and intergenic regions when present at CpG and CHG and in transposable elements and intergenic regions at CHH context. Thus, epiGBS succeeded to characterize global, genome-wide methylation changes in response to herbivory in the Lombardy poplar. Our results support that epiGBS could be particularly useful in large experimental designs aimed to explore epigenetic changes of non-model plant species in response to multiple environmental factors.
Different aspects in explaining how mutations could affect the binding mechanism of receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in interaction with ACE2
Authors: Jafary Farzaneh , Joozdani Farzane Abasi , Shahzamani Kiana , Jafari Sepideh , Mirhendi Hossein , Ganjalikhany Mohamad Reza
Published: September 2023

During replication, some mutations occur in SARS-CoV-2, the causal agent of COVID-19, leading to the emergence of different variants of the virus. The mutations that accrue in different variants of the virus, influence the virus’ ability to bind to human cell receptors and ability to evade the human immune system, the rate of viral transmission, and effectiveness of vaccines. Some of these mutations occur in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein that may change the affinity of the virus for the ACE2 receptor. In this study, severalin silicotechniques, such as MD and SMD simulations, were used to perform comparative studies to deeply understand the effect of mutation on structural and functional details of the interaction of the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2, with the ACE2 receptor. According to our results, the mutation in the RBD associated with the Omicron variant increase binding affinity of the virus to ACE2 when compared to wild type and Delta variants. We also observed that the flexibility of the spike protein of the Omicron variant was lower than in comparison to other variants. In summary, different mutations in variants of the virus can have an effect on the binding mechanism of the receptor binding domain of the virus with ACE2.
Daily disease severity in patients with COVID-19 admitted to the hospital: The SCODA (severity of coronavirus disease assessment) score
Authors: Joosten Simone A. , Smeets Mark J. R. , Arbous M. Sesmu , Manniën Judith , Laverman Sander , Driessen Merijn M. G. , Cannegieter Suzanne C. , Roukens Anna H. E. ,   on behalf of the Leiden University Medical Center BEAT-COVID group
Published: September 2023

Background

A multitude of diagnostic and predictive algorithms have been designed for COVID-19. However, currently no score can accurately quantify and track day-to-day disease severity in hospitalised patients with COVID-19. We aimed to design such a score to improve pathophysiological insight in COVID-19.

Methods

Development of the Severity of COronavirus Disease Assessment (SCODA) score was based on the 4C Mortality score but patient demographic variables that remain constant during admission were excluded. Instead, parameters associated with breathing and oxygenation were added to reflect the daily condition. The SCODA score was subsequently applied to the BEAT-COVID cohort to describe COVID-19 severity over time and to determine the timing of clinical recovery for each patient, an important marker in pathophysiological studies. The BEAT-COVID study included patients with PCR confirmed COVID-19 who were hospitalized between April 2020 and March 2021 in the Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.

Results

The SCODA score consists of 6 clinical and 2 routine lab parameters. 191 patients participated in the BEAT-COVID study. Median age was 66, and 74.4% was male. The modal timepoint at which recovery was clinically initiated occurred on days 8 and 24 since symptom onset for non-ICU and ICU-patients, respectively.

Conclusions

We developed a daily score which can be used to track disease severity of patients admitted due to COVID-19. This score is useful for improving insight in COVID-19 pathophysiology, its clinical course and to evaluate interventions. In a future stage this score can also be used in other (emerging) infectious respiratory diseases.
Antibody designing against IIIabc junction (JIIIabc) of HCV IRES through affinity maturation; RNA-Antibody docking and interaction analysis
Authors: Ejaz Saima , Paracha Rehan Zafar , Ejaz Sadaf , Jamal Zunera
Published: September 2023

Hepatitis C virus is a single-stranded RNA based virus which can cause chronic HCV and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV genotype 3a has relatively higher rate of fibrosis progression, prevalence of steatosis and incidence of HCC. Despite HCVs variation in genomic sequence, the 5’ untranslated region containing internal ribosome entry site (IRES) is highly conserved among all genotypes. It is responsible for translation and initiation of the viral protein. In present study, IRES was targeted by designing variants of reported antigen binding fragment (Fab) through affinity maturation approach. Affinity maturation strategy allowed the rational antibody designing with better biophysical properties and antibody-antigen binding interactions. Complementarity determining regions of reported Fab (wild type) were assessed and docked with IRES. Best generated model of Fab was selected and subjected to alanine scanning Three sets of insilico mutations for variants (V) designing were selected; single (1-71), double (a-j) and triple (I-X). Redocking of IRES-Fab variants consequently enabled the discovery of three variants exhibiting better docking score as compared to the wild type Fab. V1, V39 and V4 exhibited docking scores of -446.51, -446.52 and-446.29 kcal/mol respectively which is better as compared to the wild type Fab that exhibited the docking score of -351.23 kcal/mol. Variants exhibiting better docking score were screened for aggregation propensity by assessing the aggregation prone regions in Fab structure. Total A3D scores of wild type Fab, V1, V4 and V39 were predicted as -315.325, -312.727, -316.967 and -317.545 respectively. It is manifested that solubility of V4 and V39 is comparable to wild type Fab. In future, development and invitro assessment of these promising Fab HCV3 variants is aimed.
Human cardiovascular disease model predicts xanthine oxidase inhibitor cardiovascular risk
Authors: Feaver Ryan E. , Bowers M. Scott , Cole Banumathi K. , Hoang Steve , Lawson Mark J. , Taylor Justin , LaMoreaux Brian D. , Zhao Lin , Henke Brad R. , Johns Brian A. , Nyborg Andrew C. , Wamhoff Brian R. , Figler Robert A.
Published: September 2023

Some health concerns are often not identified until late into clinical development of drugs, which can place participants and patients at significant risk. For example, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeled the xanthine oxidase inhibitor febuxostat with a”boxed” warning regarding an increased risk of cardiovascular death, and this safety risk was only identified during Phase 3b clinical trials after its approval. Thus, better preclinical assessment of drug efficacy and safety are needed to accurately evaluate candidate drug risk earlier in discovery and development. This study explored whether an in vitro vascular model incorporating human vascular cells and hemodynamics could be used to differentiate the potential cardiovascular risk associated with molecules that have similar on-target mechanisms of action. We compared the transcriptomic responses induced by febuxostat and other xanthine oxidase inhibitors to a database of 111 different compounds profiled in the human vascular model. Of the 111 compounds in the database, 107 are clinical-stage and 33 are FDA-labelled for increased cardiovascular risk. Febuxostat induces pathway-level regulation that has high similarity to the set of drugs FDA-labelled for increased cardiovascular risk. These results were replicated with a febuxostat analog, but not another structurally distinct xanthine oxidase inhibitor that does not confer cardiovascular risk. Together, these data suggest that the FDA warning for febuxostat stems from the chemical structure of the medication itself, rather than the target, xanthine oxidase. Importantly, these data indicate that cardiovascular risk can be evaluated in this in vitro human vascular model, which may facilitate understanding the drug candidate safety profile earlier in discovery and development.
Association of age-related hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic low back pain in middle-aged and older Korean adults
Authors: Noh Hye-Mi , Choi Yi Hwa , Wee Jee Hye , Song Hong Ji , An Hye-Ji , Kim Keum Ji , Lee Soo Kyung , Jang Min Soo , Yeon Nayoung
Published: September 2023

This was a cross-sectional study conducted to evaluate the association between hearing impairment and low back pain (LBP) using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 5,504 middle-aged and older Korean adults (aged ≥50 years old) who underwent plain radiography of the lumbar spine and pure tone audiometry were included. The presence of LBP was evaluated using a questionnaire, which included a question on whether the patient had experienced LBP that lasted for more than 30 days during the past three months. Patients with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) were defined as those with bilateral hearing impairment who met the following criteria: 1) normal otologic examination results, 2) average pure-tone hearing thresholds of ≤15 dB in both ears, and 3) no occupational noise exposure. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that ARHL was not associated with LBP (odds ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.94–1.89) after adjusting for potential confounders in the final model. However, when participants without both ARHL and tinnitus were defined as the reference group, the results showed that the participants with both ARHL and tinnitus were more likely to have LBP (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.11–3.11). These results indicate that ARHL with tinnitus is significantly associated with LBP. We recommend that elderly patients with ARHL and tinnitus increase their daily physical activities and engage in more muscle-strengthening exercises to prevent LBP.
Cross-sectional study on public health knowledge among first-year university students in Japan: Implications for educators and educational institutions
Authors: Sekine Miwa , Aune David , Nojiri Shuko , Watanabe Makino , Nakanishi Yuko , Sakurai Shinobu , Iwashimizu Tomomi , Sakano Yasuaki , Takahashi Tetsuya , Nishizaki Yuji
Published: September 2023

In recent years, there have been increasing knowledge gaps and biases in public health information. This has become especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic and has contributed to the spread of misinformation. With constant exposure to disinformation and misinformation through television, the internet, and social media, even university students studying healthcare-related subjects lack accurate public health knowledge. This study aimed to assess university students’ knowledge levels of basic public health topics before they started their specialized education. Participants in this cross-sectional study were first-year students from medical schools, health-related colleges, and liberal arts colleges. A self-administered electronic survey was conducted from April to May 2021 at a private university in Japan, comprising six colleges with seven programs. Data analysis, conducted from June to December 2022, included students’ self-reported public health knowledge, sources of information, and self-assessment of knowledge levels. Among the 1,562 students who received the questionnaire, 549 (192 male [35%], 353 female [64.3%], and 4 undisclosed [0.7%]) responded to one question (participants’ response rate for each question; 59.6%–100%). The results showed that students had limited public health knowledge, especially in sexual health topics, and 10% of students reported not learning in class before university admission the following 11 topics: two on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs; eight on Growth, Development, and Sexual Health; and one on Personal and Community Health. These results indicate significant knowledge gaps and biases, as well as gender gaps, in public health education, especially in the area of sexual health, which may help educators and educational institutions to better understand and prepare for further specialized education. The findings also suggest a need to supplement and reinforce the foundation of public health knowledge for healthcare majors at the time of university admission.
Global bifurcation of positive solutions for a class of superlinear elliptic systems
Authors: Ma Ruyun , Zhu Yan , Zhang Yali
Published: September 2023

We are concerned with the global bifurcation of positive solutions for semilinear elliptic systems of the form

{

−
Δ
u
=
λ
f
(
u
,
v
)

in
 
Ω
,

−
Δ
v
=
λ
g
(
u
,
v
)

in
 
Ω
,

u
=
v
=
0

on
 
∂
Ω
,

where
λ
∈

R

is the bifurcation parameter,
Ω
⊂

R

N

,
N
≥
2
is a bounded domain with smooth boundary
∂
Ω
. We establish the existence of an unbounded branch of positive solutions, emanating from the origin, which is bounded in positive
λ
-direction. The nonlinearities
f
,
 
g
∈

C

1

(

R

×

R

,
(
0
,
∞
)
)
are nondecreasing for each variable and have superlinear growth at infinity. The proof of our main result is based upon bifurcation theory. In addition, as an application for our main result, when
f
and
g
subject to the upper growth bound, by a technique of taking superior limit for components, then we may show that the branch must bifurcate from infinity at
λ
=
0
.
The Situation of Innovative Entrepreneurship Courses Promoted by Technological Colleges and Universities in Taiwan and Recommendations
Authors: Chang Jen-Chia , Chen Xing-Yu
Published: September 2023

Babson College has become a model for the advancement of entrepreneurship education in the United States. Its personalized entrepreneurship education programs foster entrepreneurial elites, making it a model for Taiwan’s entrepreneurship education development. Its personalized entrepreneurship education programs foster entrepreneurial elites, making it a model for Taiwan’s entrepreneurship education development.Additionally, Taiwan has incorporated and adapted a series of entrepreneurship education courses. In recent years, the government has promoted practical projects and simulation entrepreneurial competitions aggressively. The entrepreneurial theories and practical experiences are combined to provide more comprehensive and structured learning courses for entrepreneurial students. In the contemporary social environment, innovation and entrepreneurship have become vital economic engines. Consequently, it is crucial to cultivate entrepreneurialism and entrepreneurial skills in students. Students and faculty in Taiwan’s higher education system have access to a plethora of excellent learning platforms where they can acquire a vast array of practical knowledge and skills. In entrepreneurship education, schools therefore adopt Babson College’s methodology and planning. In Taiwanese courses, the current situation is reviewed and related feedback opinions are collected in order to strengthen the prior knowledge of students and increase their employment competitiveness, thereby serving as the link between the self-awareness of students and their understanding of themselves.
Quantum chemical analysis of amino acids as anti-corrosion agents
Authors: Mamad Dyari Mustafa , Omer Rebaz Anwar , Othman Khdir Ahmed
Published: September 2023

Anti-corrosion properties of L-lysine (Lys), S-methyl (S-Met), L-cysteine (Cys), L-glycine (Gly), valinin (Val), and L-glutamine (Glu), all of which are amino acids, were evaluated on the surfaces of iron, copper, and aluminum in both the protonated and non-protonated states in both the gas and aqueous phases at their optimal symmetry. Analysis was performed based on density functional theory (DFT) calculation at 6-311++G(d,p) and B3LYP level. Monte Carlo simulation generated top and side views of the most energetically stable configuration for the adsorption of all selected amino acids on Al (110), Fe (110), and Cu (110). This suggests that the Monte Carlo simulation was able to accurately predict the adsorption properties of the amino acids on the selected metal surfaces. Glu was found to be the strongest inhibitor amongst the six molecules tested, as it had the lowest energy difference and the highest reactivity, according to the decreasing sequence of ∆E values. Electronegativity difference of the compounds investigated from highest to lowest is Lys, S-Met, Cyst, Gly, Val, and Glu. This order is also reflected in the polarizability of the compounds, with Lys having the highest polarizability and Glu having the lowest, suggesting that Glu may have the highest inhibitory efficacy.
Sollte die

Kritik der reinen Vernunft

die Vollständigkeit der Urteilstafel tatsächlich (nur) „vor Augen stellen“?

Allgemeine reine Logik

und Transzendentalphilosophie in Kants Deduktion der reinen Verstandesbegriffe
Authors: Ludwig Bernd
Published: September 2023

As Kant shows in A 71–76 of the First Critique, his table of the twelve “logical functions of understanding” (in A 70) is an indispensable extension of a table of four well-known logical functions that we find in a section of the Logic that was “already finished” in Aristotle’s times: The Square of Oppositions. The undisputed completeness of this special table thus warrants the completeness of Kant’s general table as well. Any further philosophical proof of completeness for Kant’s table of judgements as a whole is therefore not necessary at all. And due to the contingency of “kind and number” of human forms of intuition and functions of judgment, such a ‘proof’ would not even be possible according to Kant – and thus it is not a subject (or even a part) of his Transcendental Deduction of the Categories. A concluding evaluation of Kant’s own statements about the proof-structure of the B-Deduction as a whole supports this claim.
Majestic Christology and the Human Agency of Jesus
Authors: Luy David
Published: September 2023

Do “majestic Christologies” violate the principle of non-competitive relationship? Majestic Christologies are diverse according to conceptual delineation, but share the common affirmation that Jesus’ humanity participates in the divine majesty in a transformative manner. This notion seems to transgress the principle of non-competitive relationship by behaving as if the fullness of Christ’s deity requires a displacement or transmogrification of his creatureliness. This paper argues that majestic Christology does not necessarily contradict the non-competitive principle by emphasizing the elasticity of theological anthropology from an eschatological point of view.
Wallmapu in Contemporary Chilean Cinema
Authors: Pinto Iván , Urrutia Carolina
Published: September 2023

Chilean cinema has developed alongside the political changes of the past decade. Its aesthetic is one of discordance or disjuncture (desajuste), in which political and social issues seep into the country’s films through a variety of formal practices. Films made between 2010 and 2020 oscillate between an adherence to realism and the principle of “processualism” (procesualidad) as a way of revealing the mechanisms of representation and thus highlighting their own mediation. This article examines such an aesthetic of disjuncture by studying the cinematic representation of the conflict between the state and the Indigenous Mapuche people through the films El verano de los peces voladores (The Summer of Flying Fish, Marcela Said, 2013), Mala junta (Bad Influence, Claudia Huaiquimilla, 2016), Rey (King, Niles Atallah, 2017), and Notas para una película (Notes for a Film, Ignacio Agüero, 2022).
The Video Revolution, according to the Museum of Modern Art
Authors: Ouellette Laurie
Published: September 2023

The recent exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Signals: How Video Transformed the World offers a critical look at the medium, spanning from the 1960s to the present. Featuring works from guerilla television collectives like Raindance to contemporary artists like Martine Syms and Tiffany Sia, MoMA’s exhibit employs a more expansive definition of video to include television broadcasting, CCTV, and moving images captured and shared on cell phones. Film Quarterly contributing editor Laurie Ouellette argues that while MoMA frames the exhibit in terms of video’s critical potential to speak against television and media infrastructures, the exhibit is limited by the lack of historical context given to the ideological and material uses of video. The exhibition points to the contradictions inherent in the media landscape, which for Ouellette, demands greater critical attention for video in television and new-media studies.
Looking for Laura & Meaning in Laura Citarella’s Trenque Lauquen
Authors: Betancourt Manuel
Published: September 2023

FQ contributing editor Manuel Betancourt examines duration in contemporary cinema and the playful innovations of Laura Citarella’s Trenque Lauquen (2022). The 260 minute film is another production by El Pampero Cine, the group that produced the thirteen hour La Flor (Mariano Llinás, 2018), on which Citarella served as producer. Following the disappearance of a woman named Laura, Trenque Lauquen is a recursive mystery both in narrative and form that resists traditional narrative expectations that would elucidate the events of Laura’s disappearance and make her knowable. Betancourt writes that Trenque Lauquen maintains El Pampero Cine’s DIY spirit through creative practices that challenge the linear progression of pre-production, shooting, and editing and in doing so, facilitate Citarella’s reimagining of cinema as an experiential event.
Aislamiento, identificación y caracterización de cepas bacterianas con potencial de degradación de los plaguicidas clorotalonil y clorpirifos
Authors: Estrada-Gamboa Joyce , Umaña-Castro Rodolfo , Sancho-Blanco Carolina , Orozco-Aceves Martha
Published: September 2023

El uso indiscriminado de plaguicidas altamente tóxicos en la agricultura ha producido contaminación de los suelos y deterioro de los ecosistemas. Una solución prometedora para este problema ambiental es la biorremediación, que incluye el uso de bacterias para degradar estas sustancias contaminantes. [Objetivo] El presente trabajo tuvo por objetivo el aislamiento, identificación y caracterización de cepas bacterianas con capacidad de degradar los plaguicidas clorotalonil y clorpirifos, para su potencial uso en la biorremediación de suelos contaminados. [Metodología] Las cepas fueron aisladas de suelos agrícolas mediante cultivos de enriquecimiento, que contenían clorotalonil o clorpirifos (20 mg/L) como única fuente de carbono. Las cepas aisladas se caracterizaron por su morfología, fisiológicamente por su respuesta a 48 pruebas bioquímicas y frente a 15 antibióticos, cinética de crecimiento, y molecularmente (amplificación del gen ADNr 16S). [Resultados] Se aisló una cepa bacteriana capaz de utilizar (y degradar) clorpirifos como fuente de carbono, identificada como Stenotrophomonas maltophilia y dos cepas bacterianas con capacidad parcial de utilizar clorotalonil como fuente de carbono, identificadas como Enterobacter cloacae y Ochrobactrum anthropi. Las tres especies bacterianas son bacilos Gram negativo y presentaron características fisiológicas diversas, incluyendo resistencia variable a ciertos antibióticos. [Conclusión] Se concluye que las bacterias aisladas tienen potencial biotecnológico para ser incorporadas en una estrategia de biorremediación de suelos contaminados, especialmente para eliminación de clorpirifos. Finalmente, se plantean perspectivas de investigación a futuro para dilucidar procesos más eficientes de degradación de clorotalonil mediante cometabolismo.
Mathematical Models and Methods on Higher Dimensional Bulk Viscous String Cosmology with the Framework of Lyra Geometry
Authors: Mollah M.R. , Singh K.P. , Meitei A.J. , Singh P.R. , Yadav A.K. , Devi S.R.
Published: September 2023

We investigate a cosmological scenario generated by a cloud of strings containing particles in the framework of the Lyra geometry by considering five-dimensional Bianchi type-III line element. We assume two physically plausible conditions (i) shear scalar (σ) proportional to the expansion factor (θ), which leads to P = Qn; n ≠ 0 is a constant, P and Q being scale factors and (ii) ξ = ξ0 = constant, ξ being the coefficient of bulk viscosity, deterministic models of our Universe are obtained. We have solved the modified Einstein’s field equations of a homogeneous Bianchi type-III metric. The bihaviors of cosmographic parameters for the different values of time (t) and redshift (z) are presented in detail to study the proposed model. It has been found that the displacement vector (β) behaves itself like the cosmological term, and the solution is consistent with the recent observations of SNeIa. The physical and geometrical properties of the model are premeditated, and it has been discussed in detail regarding the possibilities and prospects that can be happen throughout the evolution of the Universe. It is found that the bulk viscosity plays a crucial role in the evolution of the Universe, and the strings dominate in the early Universe and eventually disappear from the Universe during a sufficiently large time. So, our model can be treated as a realistic one.
Effect of Sheared Magnetic Field on E × B Drift Instability in Plasma
Authors: Nasrin S. , Das S. , Bose M.
Published: September 2023

The influence of the magnetic shear on ion drift waves has been investigated for plasmas in the plane slab geometry with a density gradient. A differential equation is derived to describe the mode structure along the density gradient. The magnetic shear localizes the mode around a mode-rational surface, which is perpendicular to the magnetic field. The non-local growth rate turned out to be smaller as compared to the shearless one. The magnetic shear stabilizes long wavelength modes (kρi < 1 ), whereas it destabilizes, as the mode tends toward the short wavelength region, where the density gradient provides a destabilizing effect for the magnetic shear-driven resistive drift mode. However, the effect due to the collision frequency is significantly low in our analysis. The combined effects of E×B flows and the magnetic shear enhance the confinement over a narrow radial region with an internal transport barrier, where stability is attained.
Функція чутливості хемотаксису для системи зі сферичною геометрією
Authors: Vasyliev O.M. , Slobodianiuk A.O.
Published: September 2023

У статтi розв’язується задача визначення функцiї чутливостi хемотаксису для системи, що має геометрiю сфери. Функцiя чутливостi хемотаксису використовується як характеристика неоднорiдностi розподiлу бактерiй в системi, де є атрактант. За наявностi атрактанту бактерiї розподiляються в системi вiдповiдно до розподiлу атрактанту. При цьому важливу роль вiдiграє геометрiя системи, межовi умови, режим пiдведення атрактанту та регулювання кiлькостi бактерiй в системi. Нами розглядається система, в якiй бактерiї розподiленi по поверхнi сфери. Концентрацiя атрактанту в системi регулюється шляхом фiксацiї концентрацiї атрактанту на полюсах сфери з використанням тонкого капiляру. Кiлькiсть бактерiй в системi вважається фiксованою. Для такої системи отримується аналiтичний вираз для функцiї чутливостi хемотаксису. Отриманi результати можуть бути корисними при поясненнi поведiнки бактерiй в реальних системах зi складною геометрiєю та при обробленнi експериментальних даних.
Physical Aspects of 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: 2. The First Principle and Universality Class for Grid Cells in the Brain
Authors: Chalyi A.V. , Chalyi K.A. , Zaitseva E.V. , Chaika E.N. , Kryvenko I.P.
Published: September 2023

The main purpose of this review article is to use the fluctuation theory of phase transitions for studying the process of the emergence of hexagonal grid cells in the brain (2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine). Particular attention is paid to the application of the Feynman’s classification of three stages of the study of natural phenomena for: 1) a brief description of the experimental stage of the discovery of the hexagonal structures of grid cells in human and animal brains; 2) the theoretical stage of research on the hexagon formation in the physical system of Benard cells, as well as the neurophysiological system of grid cells, discovered by Edward Mozer and May-Britt Mozer; 3) the most important stage, which allows one to formulate the first principle of the emergence of grid cells in the brain and, generally speaking, the first principle for the hexagon formation in different objects of inanimate and living nature. Our original theoretical findings are the following: (a) Polyakov’s conformal invariance hypothesis is violated for a system of grid cells in the brain; (b) the system of grid cells in the brain belongs to the universality class including the 3D Ising model in a magnetic field, as well as a real classical liquid-vapor system;(c) to formulate the first principle for a reliable theoretical justification of the emergence of hexagonal grid cells in the brain, it is necessary to use the fluctuating part of Gibbs thermodynamic potential (the Ginzburg–Landau Hamiltonian) for a system with chemical (biochemical) reactions.
Керування інтенсивністю лазерного випромінювання у рідкокристалічних вентилях при записі об’ємної динамічної ґратки
Authors: Mystetskyi V. , Bugaychuk S.
Published: September 2023

Експериментальнi дослiдження номiнально чистих нематичних рiдких кристалiв (НРК) пiдтверджують запис динамiчних голографiчних ґраток у комiрках як з гомеотропною орiєнтацiєю, так i з планарною. Пояснення можна знайти, виходячи iз фоторефрактивного механiзму запису ґратки, особливiстю якого являється формування нерiвноважного заряду на поверхнi пiдкладинки комiрки пiд дiєю просторово неоднорiдного свiтлового поля. Поява внутрiшнього тангенцiального електричного поля (вздовж пiдкладинок комiрки), разом iз зовнiшнiм електричним полем, що прикладається нормально до пiдкладинок комiрки, вiдкриває додатковi можливостi у керуваннi напрямку вектора результуючого електричного поля. В данiй роботi розроблена i аналiзується модель змiни iнтенсивностей лазерних променiв при їх самодифракцiї i дифракцiї на динамiчнiй ґратцi, створенiй в НРК. Динамiчна фазова ґратка формується завдяки орiєнтацiйному механiзму двозаломлення в НРК при двопучковiй взаємодiї лазерних променiв, що утворюють просторово перiодичну iнтерференцiйну картину дiючого свiтлового поля. Результати проведених розрахункiв вихiдних iнтенсивностей лазерних променiв в перших порядках самодифракцiї i дифракцiї добре узгоджуються з експериментальними вимiрюваннями. Зокрема, вони пояснюють залежнiсть дифракцiйної ефективностi вiд величини зовнiшньої прикладеної напруги, що має добре виражений максимум.
Магнетокалоричний ефект у спін-1/2 одновимірній XX моделі з двома регулярнозмінними g-факторами
Authors: Baran O.R.
Published: September 2023

Дослiджено вплив неоднорiдностi g-факторiв, коли вони є регулярнозмiнними з перiодом два, на магнетокалоричний ефект у спiн-1/2 XX ланцюжку в поперечному магнiтному полi. За допомогою перетворення Йордана–Вiґнера задача зводиться до гамiльтонiана невзаємодiючих безспiнових фермiонiв i розв’язується точно. Проаналiзовано, як змiнюються iзоентропи та польовi залежностi параметра Грюнайзена зi змiною g2/g1. Основна увага придiляється низько-температурнiй областi. Показано вiдмiнностi магнетокалоричного ефекту у випадках, коли g-фактори мають однаковi та рiзнi знаки, а також коли один iз g-факторiв дорiвнює нулю.
Distinguishing Incomplete Kawasaki and Nonsevere Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children
Authors: Fan Lucie K. , Bai Shasha , Du Chenxi , Bass Marissa , Jones Kaitlin , Sherry Whitney , Morris Claudia R. , Oster Matthew E. , Shane Andi L. , Jaggi Preeti
Published: September 2023

OBJECTIVES

Characterizing inflammatory syndromes during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic was complicated by recognition of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), contemporaneous with episodes of Kawasaki disease. We hypothesized a substantial overlap between the 2 and assessed the performance of an MIS-C likelihood score in differentiating inpatients with nonsevere MIS-C from prepandemic incomplete Kawasaki disease (iKD) without coronary involvement.

METHODS

A retrospective review of inpatient records was conducted; the nonsevere MIS-C cohort (March 2020–February 2021) met the 2023 definition for MIS-C; the iKD cohort (January 2018–January 2019) met the American Heart Association criteria for iKD without coronary involvement. We applied the likelihood score to both cohorts. We estimated the percent of children with iKD who could have met the clinical criteria of the MIS-C, had they presented in 2023.

RESULTS

The 68 children in the nonsevere MIS-C cohort were older (8 vs 4 years, P < .001) than the 28 children in the iKD cohort. Those in the nonsevere MIS-C cohort had higher rates of thrombocytopenia (P < .001) and lymphopenia (P = .021); those in the iKD cohort had higher rates of pyuria (P < .001). Twenty-four (86%) children in the iKD cohort met the 2023 MIS-C definition. The scoring system correctly predicted 71% to 74% children with their respective clinical diagnoses.

CONCLUSIONS

Though there was considerable clinical overlap, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, and the absence of pyuria were the most helpful parameters to distinguish children with nonsevere MIS-C from those with iKD.