bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study on Caregivers’ Care Experience Who Underwent Death of Elderly with Dementia in Nursing Facilities
Authors:   Korean Academy of Integrated Care Management, Kang Youngmi
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to explore the essential meaning of caregivers’ care experience who underwent death of elderly with dementia in nursing facilities. A phenomenological study was carried out with Colaizzi's analytical method. Participants were selected by using reputational case selection, and the study was carried out by supplementing the snowball sampling method of five caregivers who had experience of caring for elderly with dementia in a nursing home.
As a result of this study, there were four categories with a group of 30 themes and 10 groups derived from common statements of participants. They felt sorry for the death and painful time of elderly with dementia in ‘unfamiliar institutional life’. On the other hand, when they encountered sudden symptoms of dementia, they suffered double pain as ‘victims and sometimes secret abusers’.
However, they did not stop at the perception of ‘perpetrator and victim’ in the crisis of care and discovered that the frail and fragile elderly with dementia were ‘dignified beings who stayed there’.
Operational theater generation by a descriptive language
Authors:   Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS LIS, Marseille, France, Ghiotto Matis , Desbenoit Brett ,   Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS LIS, Marseille, France, Raffin Romain ,   Université de Bourgogne, LIB EA 7534, Dijon, France
Published: July 2023

3D landscapes generation is an interdisciplinary field that requires expertise in both computer graphics and geographic informations systems (GIS). It is a complex and time-consuming process. In this paper, we present a new approach to simplify 3D environment generation process, by creating a go-between data-model containing a list of available source data and steps to use them. To feed the data-model, we introduce a formal language that describes the process"s sequence. We propose an adapted format, designed to be human-readable and machine-readable, allowing for easy creation and modification of the scenery. We demonstrate the utility of our approach by implementing a prototype system to generate 3D landscapes with a use-case fit for multipurpose simulation. Our system takes a description as input and outputs a complete 3D environment, including terrain and feature elements such as buildings created by chosen geometrical process. Experiments show that our approach reduces the time and effort required to generate a 3D environment, making it accessible to a wider range of users without extensive knowledge of GIS. In conclusion, our custom language and implementation provide a simple and effective solution to the complexity of 3D terrain generation, making it a valuable tool for users in the area.
The ammonite genera Dipoloceras, Diplasioceras, Euspectroceras, and Rhytidoceras from the Upper Albian of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Kennedy William James , Klinger Herbert Christian
Published: July 2023

The lower Upper Albian ammonite genus Dipoloceras Hyatt, 1900 (subfamily Mojsisovicsiinae Hyatt, 1903) is represented in KwaZulu-Natal by the type species, D. cristatum (Brongniart, 1822), marker species for the base of the Upper Albian Substage. Rhytidoceras van Hoepen, 1931 (of which Drepanoceras van Hoepen, 1931, non Stein 1878 and Ricnoceras van Hoepen, 1941, are synonyms), previously regarded as subgenera of Dipoloceras, are afforded generic status as are its supposed synonyms Diplasioceras van Hoepen, 1946a, and Euspectroceras van Hoepen, 1946a. The type species of these genera are revised, and assigned to the subfamily Pervinquierinae Spath, 1926.
Completing and balancing database excerpted chemical reactions with a hybrid mechanistic - machine learning approach
Authors: Zhang Chonghuan , Arun Adarsh , Lapkin Alexei
Published: July 2023

Computer Aided Synthesis Planning (CASP) development of reaction routes requires understanding of complete reaction structures. However, most reactions in the current databases are missing reaction co-participants. Although reaction prediction and atom mapping tools can predict major reaction participants and trace atom rearrangements in reactions, they fail to identify the missing molecules to complete reactions. This is because these approaches are data-driven models trained on the current reaction databases which comprise of incomplete reactions. In this work, a workflow was developed to tackle the reaction completion challenge. This includes a heuristic-based method to identify the balanced reactions from reaction databases and complete some imbalanced reactions by adding candidate molecules. A machine learning masked language model (MLM) was trained to learn from reaction SMILES sentences of these completed reactions. The model predicted missing molecules for the incomplete reactions; a workflow analogous to predicting missing words in sentences. The model is promising for prediction of small and middle size missing molecules in incomplete reaction records. The workflow combining both the heuristic and the machine learning methods completed more than half of the entire reaction space.
Liderazgo Creativo en Empresas de Diseño Gráfico
Authors: Delgado Cantú Verónica Lizett
Published: July 2023

El diseño se está convirtiendo en un factor estratégico del desarrollo empresarial, lo cual ha propiciado un mayor crecimiento en la industria creativa. El incremento en este tipo de negocios contribuyó al planteamiento del objetivo general de este artículo, que es ayudar a apreciar las tendencias en el tipo de liderazgo que ejercen actualmente las empresas de diseño y así proporcionar un punto de partida para futuras investigaciones. El trabajo explora las conductas del líder en el campo de la industria creativa en Monterrey y pretende ayudar a los directores creativos a tomar mejores decisiones cuando se trabaja en equipo, respondiendo de una manera más eficiente ante los retos que se presentan actualmente en el área de la creatividad. Finalmente, el estudio concluye que, aunque la conducta orientada a las tareas sea la dominante, es un hecho que el líder también debe ser entusiasta frente a la creatividad y la innovación.
Hablemos de Blog
Authors: Ramírez Saldívar Rosa Isabel
Published: July 2023

¿Son las emociones importantes para que el aprendizaje sea más efectivo? Desde la antigua Grecia y hasta la actualidad, se ha llegado a encontrar que, en efecto, las emociones forman parte importante en la educación. Es claro que a nivel elemental es de alta importancia, pero ¿y a nivel licenciatura es algo que aún debe considerarse? ¿Los catedráticos, aparte de su especialidad, deben encargarse de un área que en teoría ya debería encontrarse responsabilizada por el estudiante? A veces solemos excusarnos que al no correspondernos no debemos involucrarnos, además, presionados por un tiempo limitado, la prioridad son los estudios especializados. ¡Y no olvidemos las herramientas! En su mayoría desconocidas, se espera dar uso a las más tecnológicas pudiendo así facilitar una tarea no solicitada. Pero… ¿qué pasaría si se pudieran encontrar herramientas al acceso de todos y que, su mayor complicación de especialidad, sea ceder un poco de tu tiempo?
Construcción de género desde la filmografía animada de Disney
Authors: Villanueva Chavarría Eréndira Rebeca
Published: July 2023

De acuerdo con Joel Brée y Giorgio Agamben (1995, 2006) los medios de comunicación son dispositivos de poder que configuran el pensamiento y por ende las formas imaginarias colectivas de ver al mundo. Estos dispositivos se han empleado para señalar en las sociedades patriarcales la subordinación de las mujeres e imponerles en el espacio privado para preservar supuestamente el orden social. En este caso se analizan los estereotipos y algunos atisbos de cambios en la producción fílmica de “Brave” (Andrews & Chapman, 2012), como un acercamiento a la construcción del imaginario femenino que enfrenta una pugna entre lo que socialmente se ha establecido como el deber ser, al tiempo que se busca delimitar estas estructuras en pro de un actuar regido desde las necesidades individuales, aunque eso implique romper los paradigmas que se comercializa a los niños a través de los estudios Disney. Como primer elemento se aborda el concepto de ideología (Reboul & van Dijk, 2006), para posteriormente desarrollar la visión sexo-género desde la performatividad (Butler, 2007) con el fin de sustentar la idea de patrones impuestos por la sociedad, que se han escenificado sin enfrentar un cuestionamiento concreto sobre su perpetuación. Asimismo, se discurrirá sobre la violencia simbólica (Bordieu, 2000) exhibida en el filme. En conclusión, se ofrece un primer acercamiento a la construcción de lo femenino para discurrir en la existencia de un posible cambio en los esquemas establecidos y reforzados a través de la historia.
Harpagophytum procumbens Ekstraktının Klinik Kullanımı
Authors: Akşit Dilek , Erkek Mustafa
Published: July 2023

Günümüzde tedavide kullanılan ilaçların bazılarının yan etkileri ve toksisiteleri nedeniyle fitoterapi ve doğal tedavilere yönelim artmıştır. Tıbbi ve aromatik bitkiler içerisinde yer alan Harpagophytum procumbens (HP), meyvesi dış görünümü nedeniyle Şeytan pençesi olarak da isimlendirilmiştir. Şeytan pençesi bitkisi genellikle Güney Afrika’nın Kalahari Çölü, Namibya, Botswana, Zambiya, Zimbabwe ve Mozambik’te yetişen otsu bir bitkidir. Geleneksel tıpta, şeytan pençesi uzun yıllardır infüzyon, kaynatma, tentür, toz ve özüt formlarında kullanılmaktadır. Bitkinin köklerinde bulunan ana kimyasal bileşikler; iridoid glikozitler, triterpenoitler (oleanolik ve ursolik asit), şekerler (tetrasakkarit, stakioz), aromatik asitler (kafeik, sinnamik ve klorojenik asitler), fitosteroller (beta-sitosterol) ve flavonoitlerdir (luteolin ve kemferol). Son yıllarda yapılan araştırmalarda harpagosid ve harpagid gibi biyoaktif bileşenlerin, antienflamatuar, analjezik ve antioksidan etkilerinin olduğu bildirilmiştir. HP ekstraktlarındaki antioksidan aktiviteden sorumlu bileşenler, serbest radikal süpürücüsü olarak bilinen flavonoidler, hidrojen donörleri ve oksijen radikal nötürleştiricileri olarak işlev gören bitki fenolleridir. Klinik olarak şeytan pençesi sedatif, ateş düşürücü, öksürük kesici, yara iyileştirici, ülser ve çıbanlar gibi deri lezyonları ve hazımsızlık tedavisinde ayrıca osteoartrit, romatoid artrit, tip 2 diyabet, obezite, kan hastalıkları, kanser, kardiyovasküler ve pulmoner hastalıklar gibi çeşitli hastalıkların tedavisinde kullanılmaktadır. Bu makalede HP’nin genel özellikleri ve klinik kullanımı mevcut literatürlerden yararlanılarak derlenmiştir.
The Task-Switch Cost is Still Absent After Selectively Stopping a Response in Cued Task Switching
Authors: Yamaguchi Motonori , Swainson Rachel
Published: July 2023

The task-switch cost is one of the most robust phenomena in human task performance, but it can disappear after nogo trials where the actors decide not to respond to the target. According to the response-selection account, it is the occurrence of response selection that generates a task-switch cost on the subsequent trial, and the absence of a switch cost after nogo trials has been attributed to a non-occurrence of response selection on nogo trials. However, an alternative account is that a task-switch cost is generated but is abolished on nogo trials because of the interference from the nogo signal with the activated task-set, suggesting that the absence of a task-switch cost does not necessarily imply non-occurrence of response selection. The present study tested these competing accounts by using selective go/nogo procedures for which withholding a response would require selecting a response and inhibiting the selected response. Bayes factors in five experiments provided evidence for the absence of a task-switch cost after selective nogo trials, indicating that the occurrence of response selection does not necessarily result in a task-switch cost on the subsequent trial. The present results are consistent with the task-set interference account that a task-switch cost could be generated on nogo trials but is abolished because a nogo signal interferes with the activated task-set.
Perancangan User Experience Aplikasi Website Computer Assisted Test (CAT) Menggunakan Five Planes Framework
Authors: Widyaningrum Destriana
Published: July 2023

Ujian di beberapa sekolah masih dilaksanakan secara konvensional, dengan cara tertulis menggunakan lembar jawaban komputer. Pengembangan website aplikasi Computer Assisted Test (CAT) untuk menggantikan proses pelaksanaan ujian saat ini, menjadi permasalahan bagi pengguna yang belum mahir dalam menggunakan komputer.  Pengguna harus memahami fitur-fitur baru dan melalui proses tahapan persiapan ujian yang panjang. Penelitian ini bertujuan merancang user experience, untuk tampilan website aplikasi Computer Assisted Test (CAT), dengan menggunakan five planes framework. Metode ini terdapat elemen yang dikerjakan secara bertahap dari level paling bawah ke atas, mulai dari strategy plane, scope plane, structure plane, skeleton plane, dan surface plane. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah sebuah prototipe desain user interface untuk diimplementasikan pada website aplikasi CAT di lain waktu. Pemilihan five Planes framework dengan tahapan yang sistematis tepat untuk merancang user experience, mulai dari identifikasi analisis kebutuhan dan tujuan bisnis stakeholder, mengarahkan perencanaan alur fungsi sistem yang terstruktur untuk membuat menu website, hingga rancangan interface dengan memperhatikan usability dan estetika yang berpedoman pada design guidelines dalam menentukan dan menempatkan setiap elemen visual.
The criminal case of bishop Ivan Lyatyshevskyi as a source of studying the everyday life of the Greek Catholic clergy
Authors: Yehreshii Oleh
Published: July 2023

The materials of the criminal case instituted by the Soviet special services against the assistant bishop of the Stanislaviv Diocese of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, teacher, doctor of theology Ivan Lyatyshevskyi are analyzed. The author believes that nowadays the evidence about this religious figure is insignificant, there are only short encyclopedic-type reports, articles of a popular nature, or individual local history publications.
The possibilities of using criminal cases as a source of studying the daily life of the Greek Catholic clergy are clarified. As an example, the author uses the potential of a criminal case, which in 1945 Soviet special services introduced against Bishop Ivan Lyatyshevskyi. Attributive components of all criminal cases are considered – the arrested person’s questionnaire, the biography of the clergyman, the circumstances of his arrest, details of the search of his residence, the nuances of the interrogations, extracts from the verdict report, etc.
It is proven that the materials of the criminal case contain a lot of informative facts not only about the pastoral but also about the public and social activities of the Greek Catholic clergy in the interwar period, during the Second World War, significantly supplementing the informative and informative material of this historical period. The socio-political views, ideological convictions, interests, inclinations of Bishop Ivan Lyatyshevskyi are highlighted.
The intimate communicative environment of I. Lyatyshevskyi is characterized, the names of specific, unremarkable, “small” often little-known people (mainly clergymen), whose fates are usually overlooked in traditional research, are included.
It is noted that the study of criminal cases provides an opportunity to better understand the historical era, which unfolded under the conditions of total supervision of priests, standardized their behavior, formed the mentality of persecuted, persecuted, often doomed persons.
Keywords: Bishop Ivan Lyatyshevskyi, criminal case, Soviet special services, everyday life, primary source, Greek Catholic clergy
“Christian Animism” as a theoretical construct and religious practice
Authors: Shchepanskyi Vitalii
Published: July 2023

The formation of “Christian Animism” as a theoretical construct given the context of the updated academic interest in the archaic forms of religion is described. It is noted, that over the past two decades, the old concept of animism revived and obtained a new meaning. The scientific literature used to project animism as a simple primitive form of religion and unsuccessful ontology, yet recently, the term has been reconsidered in terms of modern science. In the “New Animism” project, scholars have deprived this term of outdated evolutionary shades. The new theory of animism understanding advocates for a new ontology, an alternative to naturalism that has dominated Western European science since positivism. The concept of animism has gone beyond disciplinary ideas about anthropology or the form of religion. It is now widely used as an ontological model and a critical concept in the humanities and social sciences.
An overview of an adapted understanding of animism in the context of Christian theology that fundamentally differs from the classical sense of animism in Christian teaching is made. The critical view of theoreticians of “Christian Animism”, which implies a fundamental incontinence between objective nature and subjective culture is considered. It is stated that according to the work of those theorists, the concept of “Christian Animism” denotes the intersubjective and personalized universe that dissolves the distinction between man and nature. In the animistic realm, everything, including animals and plants, creatures and things, can become a conscious entity and be called a person having their own desires, intentions, and freedom of will. Additionally, the relationship between the development and practical implementation of the idea of “Christian Animism” within the framework of concepts related to the study of religion and nature interaction and spirituality of the indigenous peoples of North America is traced.
Keywords: Christian Animism, New Animism, ecology, nature, indigenous peoples
Egyptian cults in the Northern Black Sea Coast and the Ukrainian Steppe according to epigraphic and archeological monuments (6th century BCE – 4th century CE)
Authors: Korchak Andriy
Published: July 2023

A number of source‑scientific and historiographical studies have been analyzed. They provide information on finds of objects related to the cults of deities of Egyptian origin in the territory of the Northern Black Sea Coast and the Ukrainian Steppe. A description of the relevant epigraphic inscriptions, sgraffito, bronze, marble, terracotta and bone statuettes, reliefs on clay candelabrums and dishes, gems carved from precious stones, golden, silver, bronze and iron rings, bone tessarae, amulet-beads, made of Egyptian faiense and bronze coins is given.
It is established that faience beads first began to enter these regions in the 6th – 5th centuries BCE, they performed the role of apotropaeus among the ancient Greek, Scythian, and later Sarmation population and gained great popularity there. It is determined that on the territory of the Ukrainian Steppe up to the 4th century CE only such beads belonging to Egyptian cult material occur, on the other hand, the rest of the material is characteristic only for the Northern Black Sea Coast. It is found that the discovered sacred objects testify to the existence of Egyptian beliefs in their Hellenized version in the Greek colonies of the specified region starting from the 3rd century BCE and until the end of the ancient era.
The opinion is substantiated that despite the possible official nature of the studied cults, that can be evidenced by the minting of copper coins with the image of Zeus Amon and Serapis in the Bosporus by Queen Dynamia (12/11 BCE - 7/8 CE) or the presence of temples of Serapis, Isis, Asclepius, Hygeia and Poseidon in the first half of the 3rd century CE in Olbia, the worship of the Egyptian gods was rather private. In particular, they were addressed in healing magical practices, and these deities acted as patrons of the dead. Isis was considered the patroness of sailors.
Keywords: Egyptian deities, cult objects, monuments of epigraphy and archaeology, Northern Black Sea Coast, Ukrainian Steppe
Gods of healing as a symbol of the independence of the Greek cities of the Roman province of Asia
Authors: Baukova Anastasiya
Published: July 2023

The spiritual life of the Greeks and Romans is an interesting and important area of study. At the same time, such research usually encounters misunderstanding or prejudice regarding the “labels” of ancient deities. Moreover, the late antique written tradition, under the influence of the crisis of the religious worldview, sometimes contains very confusing interpretations of the functions of deities. The use of the entire possible range of sources allows us to trace not only the peculiarities of the cult but also the non-religious functions of a particular divine figure. Asclepius is extremely interesting in this regard. Even Pseudo-Cornutus suggested that Asclepius was originally a hero, and only later was he endowed with divine functions, relatives, and attributes. Plato drew attention to the fact that medicine and the attention of Asclepius should be focused only on those people who benefit the state. There was also a controversial attitude to the meaning of the term “Asklepiades”, which mostly included physicians as heirs of Asclepius, not his direct mythical children. The situation was also complicated with regard to the figure of Hygeia, who, in our understanding, along with Panacea, is the daughter of Asclepius, but the Orphic Hymns call her the wife of the god of healing. The situation is even more complicated with Telesphorus, a minor deity associated with the medical profession. At the same time, Asclepius of Pergamum was called Telesphorus, as reported by Pausanias. However, coins, finds of terracotta or stone figurines confirm the existence of a deity in the form of a hooded boy associated with Asclepius and Hygieia.
On the other hand, the traditional centres of worship of Asclepius in the province were the island of Kos and Pergamum, where Asclepius were present, but this fact is hardly represented in coinage. Instead, the figure of Asclepius was actively used by the magistrates of the relatively small Lydian cities of Akrasus, Hyrcanis, Hypaipa, Saitta, and others. During the Severus dynasty, Asclepius became extremely popular in the minting of coins with the emperor’s bust and various medallions on the occasion of city alliances or confirmation of the right of neocorat. From this point of view, this topic was not the subject of special research. This is its scientific novelty.
Keywords: Asclepius, Hygieia, Telesphorus, Pergamum, Severus, Antoninus, coins, Roman province of Asia
TFRC–RNA interactions show the regulation of gene expression and alternative splicing associated with IgAN in human renal tubule mesangial cells
Authors: Li Jian-Si , Chen Xiao , Luo Ailing , Chen Dong
Published: July 2023

Introduction: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerular disease (PGD) which could progress to renal failure and is characterized by aberrant IgA immune complex deposition. Transferrin receptor1 (TFRC), an IgA receptor, is a potential RNA binding protein (RBP) which regulates expression of genes positively associated with the cell cycle and proliferation and is involved in IgAN. Molecular mechanisms by which TFRC affects IgAN development remain unclear.

Methods: In this study, TFRC was overexpressed in human renal tubular mesangial cells (HRMCs) and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and improved RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (iRIP-seq) were performed. The aim was to identify potential RNA targets of TFRC at transcriptional and alternative splicing (AS) levels.

Results: TFRC-regulated AS genes were enriched in mRNA splicing and DNA repair, consistent with global changes due to TFRC overexpression (TFRC-OE). Expression of TFRC-regulated genes potentially associated with IgAN, including CENPH, FOXM1, KIFC1, TOP2A, FABP4, ID1, KIF20A, ATF3, H19, IRF7, and H1-2, and with AS, CYGB, MCM7 and HNRNPH1, were investigated by RT-qPCR and iRIP-seq data analyzed to identify TFRC-bound RNA targets. RCC1 and RPPH1 were found to be TFRC-bound RNA targets involved in cell proliferation.

Discussion: In conclusion, molecular TFRC targets were identified in HRMCs and TFRC found to regulate gene transcription and AS. TFRC is considered to have potential as a clinical therapeutic target.
SARS-CoV-2 infection risk is higher in vaccinated patients with inflammatory autoimmune diseases or liver transplantation treated with mycophenolate due to an impaired antiviral immune response: results of the extended follow up of the RIVALSA prospective cohort
Authors: Rizzi Manuela , Tonello Stelvio , Brinno Cristiana , Zecca Erika , Matino Erica , Cittone Micol , Rizzi Eleonora , Casciaro Giuseppe Francesco , D’Onghia Davide , Colangelo Donato , Minisini Rosalba , Bellan Mattia , Castello Luigi Mario , Chiocchetti Annalisa , Pirisi Mario , Rigamonti Cristina , Lilleri Daniele , Zavaglio Federica , Bergami Federica , Sola Daniele , Sainaghi Pier Paolo
Published: July 2023

Background

A relevant proportion of immunocompromised patients did not reach a detectable seroconversion after a full primary vaccination cycle against SARS-CoV-2. The effect of different immunosuppressants and the potential risks for SARS-CoV-2 infection in these subjects is largely unknown.

Methods

Patients from the Rivalsa prospective, observational cohort study with planned anti SARS-CoV-2 third dose mRNA vaccination between October and December 2021 were asked to participate to this follow-up study. Patients were asked about eventual confirmed positivity to SARS-CoV-2 infection within 6 months from the third dose and to undergo a blood draw to evaluate seroconversion status after the additional vaccine shot.

Results

19 out of 114 patients taking part in the survey developed a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection; we identified mycophenolate treatment as an independent predictor of an increased risk of infection even after the third vaccine dose (OR: 5.20, 95% CI: 1.70-20.00, p=0.0053). This result is in agreement with the in vitro evidence that MMF impairs both B and T lymphocytes driven immune responses (reduction both in memory B cells producing anti-spike antibodies and in proliferating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells).

Conclusions

Immunocompromised patients need an additional vaccine administration to reach a detectable seroconversion, thus fostering a more personalized approach to their clinical management. Moreover, patients undergoing mycophenolate treatment show a specific increased infection risk, with respect to other immunosuppressants thus supporting a closer monitoring of their health status.
The critical role of Rap1-GAPs Rasa3 and Sipa1 in T cells for pulmonary transit and egress from the lymph nodes
Authors: Horitani Shunsuke , Ueda Yoshihiro , Kamioka Yuji , Kondo Naoyuki , Ikeda Yoshiki , Naganuma Makoto , Kinashi Tatsuo
Published: July 2023

Rap1-GTPase activates integrins and plays an indispensable role in lymphocyte trafficking, but the importance of Rap1 inactivation in this process remains unknown. Here we identified the Rap1-inactivating proteins Rasa3 and Sipa1 as critical regulators of lymphocyte trafficking. The loss of Rasa3 and Sipa1 in T cells induced spontaneous Rap1 activation and adhesion. As a consequence, T cells deficient in Rasa3 and Sipa1 were trapped in the lung due to firm attachment to capillary beds, while administration of LFA1 antibodies or loss of talin1 or Rap1 rescued lung sequestration. Unexpectedly, mutant T cells exhibited normal extravasation into lymph nodes, fast interstitial migration, even greater chemotactic responses to chemokines and sphingosine-1-phosphate, and entrance into lymphatic sinuses but severely delayed exit: mutant T cells retained high motility in lymphatic sinuses and frequently returned to the lymph node parenchyma, resulting in defective egress. These results reveal the critical trafficking processes that require Rap1 inactivation.
Case report: A novel pathogenic FRMD7 variant in a Turner syndrome patient with familial idiopathic infantile nystagmus
Authors: Hafdaoui Sara , Ciaccio Claudia , Castellotti Barbara , Sciacca Francesca L. , Pantaleoni Chiara , D'Arrigo Stefano
Published: July 2023

Infantile idiopathic nystagmus (IIN) is an oculomotor disorder characterized by involuntary bilateral, periodic ocular oscillations, predominantly on the horizontal axis. X-linked IIN (XLIIN) is the most common form of congenital nystagmus, and the FERM domain-containing gene (FRMD7) is the most common cause of pathogenesis, followed by mutations in GPR143. To date, more than 60 pathogenic FRMD7 variants have been identified, and the physiopathological pathways leading to the disease are not yet completely understood. FRMD7-associated nystagmus usually affects male patients, while it shows incomplete penetrance in female patients, who are mostly asymptomatic but sometimes present with mild ocular oscillations or, occasionally, with clear nystagmus. Here we report the first case of a patient with Turner syndrome and INN in an XLIIN pedigree, in which we identified a novel frameshift mutation (c.1492dupT) in the FRMD7 gene: the absence of one X chromosome in the patient unmasked the presence of the familial genetic nystagmus.
Is hysterectomy associated with kidney cancer risk? A meta-analysis of cohort studies
Authors: Yu Ling , Yu Pengkui , Lu Yi
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Emerging evidence have suggested a potential relationship between hysterectomy and risk of kidney cancer with inconsistent results. We aimed to investigate the association of hysterectomy with kidney cancer risk based on a meta-analysis of all available cohort studies.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was performed in the PubMed and Embase database, covering all the papers published by September 2022. The pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a DerSimonian and Laird random effects model.

Results

Overall, our meta-analysis included 10 cohorts from 9 studies with approximately 240 million participants. The pooled RR with its 95% CI showed a significantly positive association between hysterectomy and risk of kidney cancer (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.19-1.41). No obvious heterogeneity was observed across the studies (P = 0.206 for heterogeneity; I2 = 25.9%).

Conclusion

Findings from this meta-analysis of cohort studies indicated that hysterectomy was positively associated with subsequent kidney cancer risk. Further large prospective studies with long-term follow-up are warranted to verify these findings.
A sustained-release phospholipid-based phase separation gel loaded with berberine for treating rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Peng Xiong , Yang Yuping , Guo Chenqi , He Qin , Li Yan , Gong Tao , Li Jia
Published: July 2023

Berberine (BBR) has a long history of use in the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is considered one of the most promising natural product for the treatment of RA. However, oral administration of berberine has low bioavailability and requires frequent administration, resulting in poor patient compliance. In this study, we developed a BBR-loaded phospholipid-based phase separation gel (BBR-PPSG) to achieve sustained drug release and long-term therapeutic effect. The stability of BBR-PPSG was verified and it was found that it can be stored for a long time. The pharmacokinetic study on rats and rabbits showed that BBR-PPSG not only achieved 1-month of sustained release, but also significantly increased the area under the curve (AUC) by nearly 9-fold and prolonged the half-life (t1/2) by 10-fold. By constructing rat and rabbit models of RA, we also proved that BBR-PPSG administration once a month effectively alleviated joint swelling, and significantly reduce TNF-α levels in AIA rats and OIA rabbits. Histopathological analysis of rabbit joint sections revealed that after intra-articular injection of BBR-PPSG, the synovial cell layer remained intact, while in the model group, the synovial cells were significantly reduced and exhibited necrosis. MicroCT data analysis showed that the values of Tb.N and Tb. Sp in the BBR-PPSG group were significantly better than those in the model group (p < 0.05). This study addressed the limitations of frequent administration of BBR by developing a phospholipid-based phase separation gel system for berberine delivery, achieving long-term sustained release. The BBR-PPSG demonstrated good biocompatibility, simple preparation and excellent stability, thus holding potential as a novel pharmaceutical formulation for RA treatment.
Generalizing across moral sub-domains: infants bidirectionally link fairness and unfairness to helping and hindering
Authors: Gill Inderpreet K. , Sommerville Jessica A.
Published: July 2023

Across two experiments, we investigated whether infants use prior behavior to form expectations about future behavior within the moral domain, focusing on the sub-domains of fairness and help/harm. In Experiment 1, 14- to 27-month-old infants were familiarized to an agent who either helped or hindered another agent to obtain her goal. At test, infants saw the helper or hinderer perform either a fair or unfair distribution of resources to two recipients. Infants familiarized to helping looked longer to the unfair distribution than the fair distribution at test, whereas infants familiarized to hindering looked equally at both test events, suggesting that hindering led infants to suspend baseline expectations of fairness. In Experiment 2, infants saw these events in reverse. Following familiarization to fair behavior, infants looked equally to helping and hindering; in contrast, following familiarization to unfair behavior, infants looked significantly longer to helping than hindering on test, suggesting that prior unfair behavior led infants to expect the agent to hinder another agent’s goals. These results suggest that infants utilize prior information from one moral sub-domain to form expectations of how an individual will behave in another sub-domain, and that this tendency seems to manifest more strongly when infants initially see hindering and unfair distributions than when they see helping and fair distributions. Together, these findings provide evidence for consilience within the moral domain, starting by at least the second year of life.
Similarity Measurement and Classification of Temporal Data Based on Double Mean Representation
Authors: He Zhenwen , Zhang Chi , Cheng Yunhui
Published: July 2023

Time series data typically exhibit high dimensionality and complexity, necessitating the use of specific approximation methods to perform computations on the data. The currently employed compression methods suffer from varying degrees of feature loss, leading to potential distortions in similarity measurement results. Considering the aforementioned challenges and concerns, this paper proposes a double mean representation method, SAX-DM (Symbolic Aggregate Approximation Based on Double Mean Representation), for time series data, along with a similarity measurement approach based on SAX-DM. Addressing the trade-off between compression ratio and accuracy in the improved SAX representation, SAX-DM utilizes the segment mean and the segment trend distance to represent corresponding segments of time series data. This method reduces the dimensionality of the original sequences while preserving the original features and trend information of the time series data, resulting in a unified representation of time series segments. Experimental results demonstrate that, under the same compression ratio, SAX-DM combined with its similarity measurement method achieves higher expression accuracy, balanced compression rate, and accuracy, compared to SAX-TD and SAX-BD, in over 80% of the UCR Time Series dataset. This approach improves the efficiency and precision of similarity calculation.
Electromagnetic Design and Analysis of Inertial Mass Linear Actuator for Active Vibration Isolation System
Authors: Hong Do-Kwan , Park Jang-Hyun
Published: July 2023

Underwater radiated noise from anthropogenic structures must be reduced to protect the marine environment. Active vibration isolation that can reduce noise generated from vibration sources by providing counteracting forces can solve this issue. This paper presents a 120 N class electromagnetic inertial mass linear actuator for an active vibration control system in a large ship. The proposed actuator is operated based on the Lorentz force, also known as electromagnetic force. To achieve a high thrust force to weight ratio, a permanent magnet with outer radial magnetization is used. In order to design and analyze the proposed model, a simple magnetic equivalent circuit analysis was first conducted to achieve an appropriate force, and its value was compared and verified with the magnetostatic finite element method. The dynamic characteristics of the actuator were then evaluated, and the performance was analyzed at various operating frequency points. The bobbin housing supporting the coil causes an eddy current loss due to materials with electrical conductivity. As a result, the damping force is generated by the reduction in magnetic flux, and the control force tends to decrease.
Creating Ex Situ Protected Bioreservoirs as a Powerful Strategy for the Reproductive Biotechnology-Mediated Rescue of Threatened Polish Livestock Breeds
Authors: Trzcińska Monika , Samiec Marcin , Duda Małgorzata
Published: July 2023

The current article presents the state of the art of the creation of bioreservoirs of cryopreserved somatic and stem cell lines and cryopreserved or lyophilized germplasm-based resources of selected farm animal species. It also presents the agricultural, biological and biotechnological determinants, and showcases the importance of the National Research Institute of Animal Production (NRIAP) in Poland in this process. The aforementioned bioreservoirs serve as an innovative research tool used for cryogenically or lyophilizogenically assisted and species-specific ex situ conservation. The latter ensures, in the long term, not only restitution, but also perpetuation of sustainable biodiversity that underlies genotypic and phenotypic, intra- and inter-population variability within pure-breeding herds of the national conserved livestock breeds.
A Computer Vision-Based Automatic System for Egg Grading and Defect Detection
Authors: Yang Xiao , Bist Ramesh Bahadur , Subedi Sachin , Chai Lilong
Published: July 2023

Defective eggs diminish the value of laying hen production, particularly in cage-free systems with a higher incidence of floor eggs. To enhance quality, machine vision and image processing have facilitated the development of automated grading and defect detection systems. Additionally, egg measurement systems utilize weight-sorting for optimal market value. However, few studies have integrated deep learning and machine vision techniques for combined egg classification and weighting. To address this gap, a two-stage model was developed based on real-time multitask detection (RTMDet) and random forest networks to predict egg category and weight. The model uses convolutional neural network (CNN) and regression techniques were used to perform joint egg classification and weighing. RTMDet was used to sort and extract egg features for classification, and a Random Forest algorithm was used to predict egg weight based on the extracted features (major axis and minor axis). The results of the study showed that the best achieved accuracy was 94.8% and best R2 was 96.0%. In addition, the model can be used to automatically exclude non-standard-size eggs and eggs with exterior issues (e.g., calcium deposit, stains, and cracks). This detector is among the first models that perform the joint function of egg-sorting and weighing eggs, and is capable of classifying them into five categories (intact, crack, bloody, floor, and non-standard) and measuring them up to jumbo size. By implementing the findings of this study, the poultry industry can reduce costs and increase productivity, ultimately leading to better-quality products for consumers.
Cryopreservation and Transfer of Sheep Embryos Recovered at Different Stages of Development and Cryopreserved Using Different Techniques
Authors: Selionova Marina I. , Aibazov Magomet M. , Zharkova Ekaterina K.
Published: July 2023

This article presents data from experiments to determine the cryoresistance of Charollais sheep embryos, depending on the stage of embryo development and the method of freezing, as well as the results of embryo transfer. The study design consisted of a study on the cryopreservation of ewe embryos at different developmental stages (early, 2–8 blastomeric and late, at the morula/blastocyst stage), two cryopreservation protocols (slow freezing and ultra-fast vitrification), and embryo transfer of cryo- and fresh embryos. Embryos from Charollais sheep donors (n = 12) were recovered after induction of superovulation. The embryos were recovered surgically (laparotomy) on days 2 and 6 after insemination. Before there was transfer to recipients, part of embryos was cryopreserved using standard slow freezing and ultra-fast vitrification methods. The average ovarian response was 7.54 ovulations per donor, and 5.83 embryos per donor were collected. No effect of the cryopreservation method and embryo development stage on the preservation of the morphological structure of embryos was found. There were no significant differences in the survival rate of cryoembryos at different development stages, frozen using different techniques, and after transfer to recipients. Differences in cryoresistance between embryonic developmental stages in favor of the morula/blastocyst stage were found (survival after thawing 86.4% vs. 75.0% in early embryos). At different stages of development, the survival rate of fresh embryos (45.8%) compared to cryopreserved ones (30.2%) was significantly higher (p < 0.05), while among fresh ones, the best survival rate (50.0%) was observed after the transfer of morules and blastocysts.
Surveys on Pet-Reptile-Associated Multi-Drug-Resistant Salmonella spp. in the Timișoara Metropolitan Region—Western Romania
Authors: Dégi János , Herman Viorel , Radulov Isidora , Morariu Florica , Florea Tiana , Imre Kálmán
Published: July 2023

The number of reptiles owned as pets has risen worldwide. Additionally, urban expansion has resulted in more significant human encroachment and interactions with the habitats of captive reptiles. Between May and October 2022, 48 reptiles from pet shops and 69 from households were sampled in the Timișoara metropolitan area (western Romania). Three different sample types were collected from each reptile: oral cavity, skin, and cloacal swabs. Salmonella identification was based on ISO 6579-1:2017 (Annex D), a molecular testing method (invA gene target), and strains were serotyped in accordance with the Kauffman–White–Le-Minor technique; the antibiotic susceptibility was assessed according to Decision 2013/652. This study showed that 43.28% of the pet reptiles examined from households and pet shops carried Salmonella spp. All of the strains isolated presented resistance to at least one antibiotic, and 79.32% (23/29) were multi-drug-resistant strains, with the most frequently observed resistances being to gentamicin, nitrofurantion, tobramycin, and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole. The findings of the study undertaken by our team reveal that reptile multi-drug-resistant Salmonella is present. Considering this aspect, the most effective way of preventing multi-drug-resistant Salmonella infections requires stringent hygiene control in reptile pet shops as well as ensuring proper animal handling once the animals leave the pet shop and are introduced into households.
Incidence and Genomic Background of Antibiotic Resistance in Food-Borne and Clinical Isolates of Salmonella enterica Serovar Derby from Spain
Authors: Vázquez Xenia , García-Fierro Raquel , Fernández Javier , Bances Margarita , Herrero-Fresno Ana , Olsen John E. , Rodicio Rosaura , Ladero Víctor , García Vanesa , Rodicio M. Rosario
Published: July 2023

Salmonella enterica serovar Derby (S. Derby) ranks fifth among nontyphoidal Salmonella serovars causing human infections in the European Union. S. Derby isolates (36) collected between 2006 and 2018 in a Spanish region (Asturias) from human clinical samples (20) as well as from pig carcasses, pork- or pork and beef-derived products, or wild boar (16) were phenotypically characterized with regard to resistance, and 22 (12 derived from humans and 10 from food-related samples) were also subjected to whole genome sequence analysis. The sequenced isolates belonged to ST40, a common S. Derby sequence type, and were positive for SPI-23, a Salmonella pathogenicity island involved in adherence and invasion of the porcine jejune enterocytes. Isolates were either susceptible (30.6%), or resistant to one or more of the 19 antibiotics tested for (69.4%). Resistances to tetracycline [tet(A), tet(B) and tet(C)], streptomycin (aadA2), sulfonamides (sul1), nalidixic acid [gyrA (Asp87 to Asn)] and ampicillin (blaTEM-1-like) were detected, with frequencies ranging from 8.3% to 66.7%, and were higher in clinical than in food-borne isolates. The fosA7.3 gene was present in all sequenced isolates. The most common phenotype was that conferred by the tet(A), aadA2 and sul1 genes, located within identical or closely related variants of Salmonella Genomic Island 1 (SGI1), where mercury resistance genes were also present. Diverse IncI1-I(α) plasmids belonging to distinct STs provided antibiotic [blaTEM-1, tet(A) and/or tet(B)] and heavy metal resistance genes (copper and silver), while small pSC101-like plasmids carried tet(C). Regardless of their location, most resistance genes were associated with genetic elements involved in DNA mobility, including a class one integron, multiple insertion sequences and several intact or truncated transposons. By phylogenetic analysis, the isolates were distributed into two distinct clades, both including food-borne and clinical isolates. One of these clades included all SGI1-like positive isolates, which were found in both kinds of samples throughout the entire period of study. Although the frequency of S. Derby in Asturias was very low (0.5% and 3.1% of the total clinical and food isolates of S. enterica recovered along the period of study), it still represents a burden to human health linked to transmission across the food chain. The information generated in the present study can support further epidemiological surveillance aimed to control this zoonotic pathogen.