bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blackness and Petronius's Satyrica
Authors: Freas Debra
Published: April 2024

summary: This article argues that modern theories of racialization can inform a philological reading of Satyrica 102.14–15 to challenge the prevailing view that Giton's comments about Aethiopians betray no color prejudice. It proves that Giton attaches negative meanings to racialized traits of Aethiopians and expresses anti-black prejudice. In addition, it explains the racecraft of previous readings that have discounted the anti-black tenor of Giton's remarks.
Saprophytic: Decomposition and Tropical Environmental Time in Caribbean Literature
Authors: Boswell Suzanne F.
Published: April 2024

Abstract: During the period of Caribbean decolonization (1950–65), a subset of Caribbean authors reimagined the temporal role of the continental Caribbean's tropical interior: rather than a space outside history that colonists or residents could use as a resource to construct historical progress, the tropical hinterlands became a historical agent that possessed and assimilated people into an alternative temporal order through a saprophytic process. This essay focuses on three novels—Wilson Harris' The Palace of the Peacock (1960), Edgar Mittelholzer's My Bones and My Flute (1955), and Alejo Carpentier's The Lost Steps (1953)—that enact what I term a "saprophytic temporality": a form of time in which the past is constantly recycled, decomposed, and transformed into new forms. This process of continual regeneration also causes Caribbean residents to realize their involvement in ongoing imperial violence against the interior and its Indigenous inhabitants. In effect, this key subset of Caribbean novels of the 1950s and 1960s imply that the alternative to colonial development is not the independent Caribbean nation but a stranger and more unfathomable form of existence defined by the temporality of the Caribbean environment.
Camptown Dwelling: Environment and Survival in Memories of My Ghost Brother
Authors: Liu Ling
Published: April 2024

Abstract: The representation of environmental injustice in Heinz Insu Fenkl's novel Memories of My Ghost Brother (1996) has yet to be examined. This neglect suggests a need to open up the dialogue between Fenkl's work, which is relatively invisible beyond Asian American and postcolonial studies, and ecocriticism. Memories of My Ghost Brother shows that the impoverished, noxious, and dangerous conditions and pervasive diseases in Korean camptowns are socially engineered by the United States-Republic of Korea neocolonial system that on the one hand disregards camptowns' infrastructural needs and on the other hand allows the US military to wreak environmental damage with impunity. Specifically, the novel portrays pervasive dust, flooding sewage, the noise from US military activities, and the dangerous live ammunition left by the US military after their training. Without reducing camptown residents to mere victims, the novel also depicts the survival strategies they have adopted. The novel further situates camptowns within the context of the ongoing environmental atrocities committed by the US military across Asia. Fenkl's depictions of the dire situation in camptowns and the toxic legacies from the atomic bomb and Agent Orange challenge the narrative of American benevolence in Korea.
Renormalizing the high-harmonic interference via double-slit and grating
Authors: Ishida Yukiaki , Kuwata-Gonokami Makoto
Published: April 2024

A method to utilize high-harmonic interference in Young’s double-slit followed by a grating holds promise for precisely measuring the refractive-index spectrum in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) region. The measurement is currently bottlenecked by the time it takes to fit the Fresnel interference patterns. The conventional fitting procedure, involving multiple numerical integrals for evaluating the EUV propagation through the slit and grating, takes ≳30min on a standard laptop computer, while the data acquisition time is ∼200s. Here, we apply an analytic Gaussian integral and bypass one of the numerical integrals associated with the grating. The analysis reduces to evaluating a renormalized EUV propagation in a simple double-slit interferometer, and the estimated fitting time on a laptop becomes as short as 112 s. Our study enables real-time analysis during measurements, facilitating mass optical-data collection of EUV lithography materials.
Partial hard occluded target reconstruction of Fourier single pixel imaging guided through range slice
Authors: Yang Xu , Zhang Hui , Zhang Hancui , Wu Long , Xu Lu , Zhang Yong , Yang Zhen
Published: April 2024

Fourier single pixel imaging utilizes pre-programmed patterns for laser spatial distribution modulation to reconstruct intensity image of the target through reconstruction algorithms. The approach features non-locality and high anti-interference performance. However, Poor image quality is induced when the target of interest is occluded in Fourier single pixel imaging. To address the problem, a deep learning-based image inpainting algorithm is employed within Fourier single pixel imaging to reconstruct partially obscured targets with high quality. It applies a distance-based segmentation method to segment obscured regions and the target of interest. Additionally, it utilizes an image inpainting network that combines multi-scale sparse convolution and transformer architecture, along with a reconstruction network that integrates Channel Attention Mechanism and Attention Gate modules to reconstruct complete and clear intensity images of the target of interest. The proposed method significantly expands the application scenarios and improves the imaging quality of Fourier single pixel imaging. Simulation and real-world experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits the high inpainting and reconstruction capacity in the conditions of hard occlusion and down-sampling.
Spatial transcriptome-guided multi-scale framework connects P. aeruginosa metabolic states to oxidative stress biofilm microenvironment
Authors: Kuper Tracy J. , Islam Mohammad Mazharul , Peirce-Cottler Shayn M. , Papin Jason A. , Ford Roseanne M
Published: April 2024

With the generation of spatially resolved transcriptomics of microbial biofilms, computational tools can be used to integrate this data to elucidate the multi-scale mechanisms controlling heterogeneous biofilm metabolism. This work presents a Multi-scale model of Metabolism In Cellular Systems (MiMICS) which is a computational framework that couples a genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction (GENRE) with Hybrid Automata Library (HAL), an existing agent-based model and reaction-diffusion model platform. A key feature of MiMICS is the ability to incorporate multiple -omics-guided metabolic models, which can represent unique metabolic states that yield different metabolic parameter values passed to the extracellular models. We used MiMICS to simulate Pseudomonas aeruginosa regulation of denitrification and oxidative stress metabolism in hypoxic and nitric oxide (NO) biofilm microenvironments. Integration of P. aeruginosa PA14 biofilm spatial transcriptomic data into a P. aeruginosa PA14 GENRE generated four PA14 metabolic model states that were input into MiMICS. Characteristic of aerobic, denitrification, and oxidative stress metabolism, the four metabolic model states predicted different oxygen, nitrate, and NO exchange fluxes that were passed as inputs to update the agent’s local metabolite concentrations in the extracellular reaction-diffusion model. Individual bacterial agents chose a PA14 metabolic model state based on a combination of stochastic rules, and agents sensing local oxygen and NO. Transcriptome-guided MiMICS predictions suggested microscale denitrification and oxidative stress metabolic heterogeneity emerged due to local variability in the NO biofilm microenvironment. MiMICS accurately predicted the biofilm’s spatial relationships between denitrification, oxidative stress, and central carbon metabolism. As simulated cells responded to extracellular NO, MiMICS revealed dynamics of cell populations heterogeneously upregulating reactions in the denitrification pathway, which may function to maintain NO levels within non-toxic ranges. We demonstrated that MiMICS is a valuable computational tool to incorporate multiple -omics-guided metabolic models to mechanistically map heterogeneous microbial metabolic states to the biofilm microenvironment.
Hypoxia delays steroid-induced developmental maturation in Drosophila by suppressing EGF signaling
Authors: Turingan Michael J. , Li Tan , Wright Jenna , Sharma Abhishek , Ding Kate , Khan Shahoon , Lee Byoungchun , Grewal Savraj S.
Published: April 2024

Animals often grow and develop in unpredictable environments where factors like food availability, temperature, and oxygen levels can fluctuate dramatically. To ensure proper sexual maturation into adulthood, juvenile animals need to adapt their growth and developmental rates to these fluctuating environmental conditions. Failure to do so can result in impaired maturation and incorrect body size. Here we describe a mechanism by whichDrosophilalarvae adapt their development in low oxygen (hypoxia). During normal development, larvae grow and increase in mass until they reach critical weight (CW), after which point a neuroendocrine circuit triggers the production of the steroid hormone ecdysone from the prothoracic gland (PG), which promotes maturation to the pupal stage. However, when raised in hypoxia (5% oxygen), larvae slow their growth and delay their maturation to the pupal stage. We find that, although hypoxia delays the attainment of CW, the maturation delay occurs mainly because of hypoxia acting late in development to suppress ecdysone production. This suppression operates through a distinct mechanism from nutrient deprivation, occurs independently of HIF-1 alpha and does not involve dilp8 or modulation of Ptth, the main neuropeptide that initiates ecdysone production in the PG. Instead, we find that hypoxia lowers the expression of the EGF ligand, spitz, and that the delay in maturation occurs due to reduced EGFR/ERK signaling in the PG. Our study sheds light on how animals can adjust their development rate in response to changing oxygen levels in their environment. Given that hypoxia is a feature of both normal physiology and many diseases, our findings have important implications for understanding how low oxygen levels may impact animal development in both normal and pathological situations.
The effect of common paralytic agents used for fluorescence imaging on redox tone and ATP levels in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Morton Katherine S. , Wahl Ashlyn K. , Meyer Joel N.
Published: April 2024

One aspect of Caenorhabditis elegans that makes it a highly valuable model organism is the ease of use of in vivo genetic reporters, facilitated by its transparent cuticle and highly tractable genetics. Despite the rapid advancement of these technologies, worms must be paralyzed for most imaging applications, and few investigations have characterized the impacts of common chemical anesthetic methods on the parameters measured, in particular biochemical measurements such as cellular energetics and redox tone. Using two dynamic reporters, QUEEN-2m for relative ATP levels and reduction-oxidation sensitive GFP (roGFP) for redox tone, we assess the impact of commonly used chemical paralytics. We report that no chemical anesthetic is entirely effective at doses required for full paralysis without altering redox tone or ATP levels, and that anesthetic use alters the detected outcome of rotenone exposure on relative ATP levels and redox tone. We also assess the use of cold shock, commonly used in combination with physical restraint methods, and find that cold shock does not alter either ATP levels or redox tone. In addition to informing which paralytics are most appropriate for research in these topics, we highlight the need for tailoring the use of anesthetics to different endpoints and experimental questions. Further, we reinforce the need for developing less disruptive paralytic methods for optimal imaging of dynamic in vivo reporters.
Poverty proofing healthcare: A qualitative study of barriers to accessing healthcare for low-income families with children in northern England
Authors: Bidmead Elaine , Hayes Louise , Mazzoli-Smith Laura , Wildman Josephine , Rankin Judith , Leggott Emma , Todd Liz , Bramhall Luke
Published: April 2024

Poverty impacts negatively on children’s health and future life chances. Access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is based on clinical need rather than the ability to pay but horizontal inequities in access exist. Children North East, a charity supporting children experiencing poverty, are working with partners to reduce the impacts of poverty on NHS access. This collaborative study aimed to understand barriers to healthcare access faced by families living on low incomes to validate and support further development of a Poverty Proofing© healthcare tool. Twenty-four parents and eight Voluntary Community Social Enterprise sector staff participated in qualitative interviews or focus groups. Data were analysed thematically, and three main themes were identified as impacting access to healthcare: hidden costs, securing appointments and developing relationships with healthcare providers. We conclude that low-income families experience both financial and other barriers to accessing NHS healthcare and that these barriers are exacerbated for low-income families living in remote/rural areas.
White-nose syndrome, winter duration, and pre-hibernation climate impact abundance of reproductive female bats
Authors: Krueger Sarah K. , Williams Sarah C. , O’Keefe Joy M. , Zirkle Gene A. , Haase Catherine G.
Published: April 2024

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an infectious disease that disrupts hibernation in bats, leading to premature exhaustion of fat stores. Though we know WNS does impact reproduction in hibernating female bats, we are unsure how these impacts are exacerbated by local climate factors. We compiled data from four southeastern U.S. states and used generalized linear mixed effects models to compare effects of WNS, pre-hibernation climate variables, and winter duration on the number of reproductive females in species across the range of WNS susceptibility. We predicted we would see a decline in the number of reproductive females in WNS-susceptible species, with the effect exaggerated by longer winter durations and pre-hibernation climate variables that lead to reductions in foraging. We found that the number of reproductive females in WNS-susceptible species was positively correlated with pre-hibernation local climate conditions conducive to foraging; however, WNS-susceptible species experienced an overall decline with the presence of WNS and as winter duration increased. Our long-term dataset provides evidence that pre-hibernation climate, specifically favorable summer weather conditions for foraging, greatly influences the reproduction, regardless of WNS status.
Fluid balance versus weighing: A comparison in ICU patients: A single center observational study
Authors: Mensink R. S. M. , Paans W. , Renes M. H. , Dieperink W. , Blokzijl F.
Published: April 2024

Background

The fluid balance is a critical parameter in intensive care units (ICU) as it provides information about the patient’s volume status. However, the accuracy of fluid balance measurements is often compromised due to the complexity and repetition of actions involved. Additionally, the fluid balance could be recalculated for insensible fluid loss. Weighing is an alternative method to estimate the patient’s volume status. Built-in scales in beds make patient weighing easier and less time-consuming, allowing clinicians to intervene more quickly on existing treatments.

Aim

This study compares fluid balance, and body weight changes over time in ICU patients. Furthermore, it seeks to determine the degree of congruence between the fluid balance corrected for insensible fluid loss and daily body weight in ICU patients.

Methods

A single-center observational study was conducted in an ICU of a university hospital. All consecutive patients admitted to a bed with an integrated weighing scale were eligible. Exclusion criteria were (1) body weight ≥254,4 kilograms; (2) oral nutrition; (3) a flush catheter or balance; (4) only a single weight measurement; (5) delta body weight change of ≥5kg in 12 hours. Weights and fluid balances were obtained every 12 hours.

Results

We obtained 2282 measurements (n = 187 patients). The correlation between weight and fluid balance was weak (r = 0.274). After adjusting the fluid balance for insensible fluid loss, the correlation remained weak (r = 0,268). Bland Altman analysis revealed a wide confidence interval for both the fluid balance and corrected fluid balance versus weight.

Conclusion and implications of key findings

This study shows a weak correlation between weight and fluid balance. Therefore, when monitoring the volume status in the ICU, fluid balance and weight should both be taken into account. This two-pronged approach is crucial because it provides more control over erroneous fluid balance or weighing measurements.
Overexpression of the flagellar motor protein MotB sensitizes Bacillus subtilis to aminoglycosides in a motility-independent manner
Authors: Uneme Mio , Ishikawa Kazuya , Furuta Kazuyuki , Yamashita Atsuko , Kaito Chikara
Published: April 2024

The flagellar motor proteins, MotA and MotB, form a complex that rotates the flagella by utilizing the proton motive force (PMF) at the bacterial cell membrane. Although PMF affects the susceptibility to aminoglycosides, the effect of flagellar motor proteins on the susceptibility to aminoglycosides has not been investigated. Here, we found that MotB overexpression increased susceptibility to aminoglycosides, such as kanamycin and gentamicin, in Bacillus subtilis without affecting swimming motility. MotB overexpression did not affect susceptibility to ribosome-targeting antibiotics other than aminoglycosides, cell wall-targeting antibiotics, DNA synthesis-inhibiting antibiotics, or antibiotics inhibiting RNA synthesis. Meanwhile, MotB overexpression increased the susceptibility to aminoglycosides even in the motA-deletion mutant, which lacks swimming motility. Overexpression of the MotB mutant protein carrying an amino acid substitution at the proton-binding site (D24A) resulted in the loss of the enhanced aminoglycoside-sensitive phenotype. These results suggested that MotB overexpression sensitizes B. subtilis to aminoglycosides in a motility-independent manner. Notably, the aminoglycoside-sensitive phenotype induced by MotB requires the proton-binding site but not the MotA/MotB complex formation.
A hepatitis B virus (HBV) sequence variation graph improves alignment and sample-specific consensus sequence construction
Authors: Duchen Dylan , Clipman Steven J. , Vergara Candelaria , Thio Chloe L. , Thomas David L. , Duggal Priya , Wojcik Genevieve L.
Published: April 2024

Nearly 300 million individuals live with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (CHB), for which no curative therapy is available. As viral diversity is associated with pathogenesis and immunological control of infection, improved methods to characterize this diversity could aid drug development efforts. Conventionally, viral sequencing data are mapped/aligned to a reference genome, and only the aligned sequences are retained for analysis. Thus, reference selection is critical, yet selecting the most representative reference a priori remains difficult. We investigate an alternative pangenome approach which can combine multiple reference sequences into a graph which can be used during alignment. Using simulated short-read sequencing data generated from publicly available HBV genomes and real sequencing data from an individual living with CHB, we demonstrate alignment to a phylogenetically representative ‘genome graph’ can improve alignment, avoid issues of reference ambiguity, and facilitate the construction of sample-specific consensus sequences more genetically similar to the individual’s infection. Graph-based methods can, therefore, improve efforts to characterize the genetics of viral pathogens, including HBV, and have broader implications in host-pathogen research.
Mechanisms of the effect of fertility policies on the labor-capital income gap
Authors: Cui Wei , Wan An-Wei , Zheng Yuan
Published: April 2024

This paper investigates the impact mechanism by which an incentive-based fertility policy may reduce the labor income share. First, the specific paths through which this impact mechanism is realized are analyzed using the production function. It is found that an incentive-based fertility policy triggers high savings, which implies more, cheaper, and more readily available capital to be invested in production. A distribution system that earns income based on factor contributions results in more gains for capital than labor, i.e., a lower share of labor income and a wider income gap between labor and capital. Second, the impact mechanism includes three theoretical hypotheses. They are that an encouraging fertility policy is negatively related to labor income share; this relationship is valid provided that the study subject is in a closed economy; and that capital intensification is a mediator variable of fertility policy affecting labor income share. Finally, to further corroborate the impact mechanism in this paper, a Hansen threshold panel model is applied to verify that the effect of fertility policy on labor income share has a threshold effect. This indicates that the effect of the former on the latter changes significantly before and after the change in fertility policy, confirming the existence of an impact mechanism. The established literature has paid little attention to the impact of incentivised fertility policies on the labour income gap. Using capital intensification as the mediating variable, this paper demonstrates the existence of the former effect on the latter. In view of this, under the encouraged fertility policy, this paper proposes specific measures to enhance the labor income share in order to narrow the income gap between labor and capital.
Feasibility and acceptability of integrating a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion intervention into routine health services in private health facilities in Lagos State, Nigeria: A mixed methods process evaluation
Authors: Allotey Diana , Flax Valerie L. , Ipadeola Abiodun F. , Adeola Olatoun , Grimes Katie , Adair Linda S. , Valle Carmina G. , Bentley Margaret E. , Bose Sujata , Martin Stephanie L.
Published: April 2024

Most health care providers in Lagos State, Nigeria are private and are not required to offer breastfeeding counseling to women. From May 2019-April 2020, Alive & Thrive implemented a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion intervention in private health facilities in Lagos that included training and support to implement the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and provide breastfeeding counseling and support to pregnant women and lactating mothers in person and on WhatsApp. We conducted a mixed methods process evaluation in 10 intervention and 10 comparison private health facilities to examine the feasibility and acceptability of integrating the intervention into routine health services. We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 health facility owners/managers and providers, 179 structured observations of health providers during service provision to pregnant and lactating women and 179 exit interviews with pregnant and lactating women. The in-depth interviews were transcribed and analyzed thematically. The structured observations and exit interviews were summarized using descriptive and inferential statistics. The in-depth interviews indicated that almost all health facility owners/managers and providers at the intervention health facilities had generally positive experiences with the intervention. However, the health providers reported implementation barriers including increased workload, use of personal time for counseling on WhatsApp, and some mothers’ lack of access to WhatsApp support groups. Observations suggested that more breastfeeding counseling occurred at intervention compared with comparison health facilities. Third trimester exit interviews showed that 86% of women in the intervention health facilities were very confident they could carry out the breastfeeding advice they received, compared to 47% in the comparison health facilities. Our research suggests that provision of breastfeeding counseling and support through private health facilities is feasible and acceptable, but service delivery challenges must be considered for successful scale-up.
Spatial distribution and determinants of HIV high burden in the Southern African sub-region
Authors: Adetokunboh Olatunji O. , Are Elisha B.
Published: April 2024

Background

Spatial analysis at different levels can help understand spatial variation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, disease drivers, and targeted interventions. Combining spatial analysis and the evaluation of the determinants of the HIV burden in Southern African countries is essential for a better understanding of the disease dynamics in high-burden settings.

Methods

The study countries were selected based on the availability of demographic and health surveys (DHS) and corresponding geographic coordinates. We used multivariable regression to evaluate the determinants of HIV burden and assessed the presence and nature of HIV spatial autocorrelation in six Southern African countries.

Results

The overall prevalence of HIV for each country varied between 11.3% in Zambia and 22.4% in South Africa. The HIV prevalence rate was higher among female respondents in all six countries. There were reductions in prevalence estimates in most countries yearly from 2011 to 2020. The hotspot cluster findings show that the major cities in each country are the key sites of high HIV burden. Compared with female respondents, the odds of being HIV positive were lesser among the male respondents. The probability of HIV infection was higher among those who had sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the last 12 months, divorced and widowed individuals, and women aged 25 years and older.

Conclusions

Our research findings show that analysis of survey data could provide reasonable estimates of the wide-ranging spatial structure of the HIV epidemic in Southern African countries. Key determinants such as individuals who are divorced, middle-aged women, and people who recently treated STIs, should be the focus of HIV prevention and control interventions. The spatial distribution of high-burden areas for HIV in the selected countries was more pronounced in the major cities. Interventions should also be focused on locations identified as hotspot clusters.
Estimation of the number of motor units in the human extensor digitorum brevis using MScanFit
Authors: Klein Cliff S. , Liu Hui , Xiong Yuan
Published: April 2024

Objective

Our aim was to determine the number and size parameters of EDB motor units in healthy young adults using MScanFit, a novel approach to motor unit number estimation (MUNE). Since variability in MUNE is related to compound muscle action potential (CMAP) size, we employed a procedure to document the optimal EDB electromyographic (EMG) electrode position prior to recording MUNE, a neglected practice in MUNE.

Methods

Subjects were 21 adults 21–44 y. Maximum CMAPs were recorded from 9 sites in a 4 cm2 region centered over the EDB and the site with the largest amplitude was used in the MUNE experiment. For MUNE, the peroneal nerve was stimulated at the fibular head to produce a detailed EDB stimulus-response curve or “MScan”. Motor unit number and size parameters underlying the MScan were simulated using the MScanFit mathematical model.

Results

In 19 persons, the optimal recording site was superior, superior and proximal, or superior and distal to the EDB mid-belly, whereas in 3 persons it was proximal to the mid-belly. Ranges of key MScanFit parameters were as follows: maximum CMAP amplitude (3.1–8.5 mV), mean SMUP amplitude (34.4–106.7 μV), mean normalized SMUP amplitude (%CMAP max, 0.95–2.3%), largest SMUP amplitude (82.7–348 μV), and MUNE (43–103). MUNE was not related to maximum CMAP amplitude (R2 = 0.09), but was related to mean SMUP amplitude (R2 = -0.19, P = 0.05).

Conclusion

The EDB CMAP was highly sensitive to electrode position, and the optimal position differed between subjects. Individual differences in EDB MUNE were not related to CMAP amplitude. Inter-subject variability of EDB MUNE (coefficient of variation) was much less than previously reported, possibly explained by better optimization of the EMG electrode and the unique approach of MScanFit MUNE.
Reducing risk behaviours after stroke: An overview of reviews interrogating primary study data using the Theoretical Domains Framework
Authors: Hall Patricia , Lawrence Maggie , Kroll Thilo , Blake Catherine , Matthews James , Lennon Olive
Published: April 2024

Background

Lifestyle changes, in addition to preventive medications, optimise stroke secondary prevention. Evidence from systematic reviews support behaviour-change interventions post-stroke to address lifestyle-related risk. However, understanding of the theory-driven mediators that affect behaviour-change post-stroke is lacking.

Methods

Electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, Epistemonikos and Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews were searched to March 2023 for systematic reviews addressing behaviour-change after stroke. Primary studies from identified systematic reviews were interrogated for evidence supporting theoretically-grounded interventions. Data were synthesized in new meta-analyses examining behaviour-change domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and secondary prevention outcomes.

Results

From 71 identified SRs, 246 primary studies were screened. Only 19 trials (N = 2530 participants) were identified that employed theoretically-grounded interventions and measured associated mediators for behaviour-change. Identified mediators mapped to 5 of 14 possible TDF domains. Trial follow-up ranged between 1–12 months and no studies addressed primary outcomes of recurrent stroke or cardiovascular mortality and/or morbidity. Lifestyle interventions targeting mediators mapped to the TDF Knowledge domain may improve the likelihood of medication adherence (OR 6.08 [2.79, 13.26], I2 = 0%); physical activity participation (OR 2.97 [1.73, 5.12], I2 = 0%) and smoking cessation (OR 10.37 [3.22, 33.39], I2 = 20%) post-stroke, supported by low certainty evidence; Lifestyle interventions targeting mediators mapping to both TDF domains of Knowledge and Beliefs about Consequences may improve medication adherence post-stroke (SMD 0.36 [0.07, 0.64], I2 = 13%, very low certainty evidence); Lifestyle interventions targeting mediators mapped to Beliefs about Capabilities and Emotions domains may modulate low mood post-stroke (SMD -0.70 [-1.28, -0.12], I2 = 81%, low certainty evidence).

Conclusion

Limited theory-based research and use of behaviour-change mediators exists within stroke secondary prevention trials. Knowledge, Beliefs about Consequences, and Emotions are the domains which positively influence risk-reducing behaviours post-stroke. Behaviour-change interventions should include these evidence-based constructs known to be effective. Future trials should address cardiovascular outcomes and ensure adequate follow-up time.
Scoping review of hearing loss attributed to congenital syphilis
Authors: Amjad Hafeeez Aleena , Cavalcanti Bezerra Karina , Jimoh Zaharadeen , Seal Francesca B. , Robinson Joan L. , Gomaa Nahla A.
Published: April 2024

Background

There are no narrative or systematic reviews of hearing loss in patients with congenital syphilis.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to perform a scoping review to determine what is known about the incidence, characteristics, prognosis, and therapy of hearing loss in children or adults with presumed congenital syphilis.

Eligibility criteria

PROSPERO, OVID Medline, OVID EMBASE, Cochrane Library (CDSR and Central), Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global, and SCOPUS were searched from inception to March 31, 2023. Articles were included if patients with hearing loss were screened for CS, ii) patients with CS were screened for hearing loss, iii) they were case reports or case series that describe the characteristics of hearing loss, or iv) an intervention for hearing loss attributed to CS was studied.

Sources of evidence

Thirty-six articles met the inclusion criteria.

Results

Five studies reported an incidence of CS in 0.3% to 8% of children with hearing loss, but all had a high risk of bias. Seven reported that 0 to 19% of children with CS had hearing loss, but the only one with a control group showed comparable rates in cases and controls. There were 18 case reports/ case series (one of which also reported screening children with hearing loss for CS), reporting that the onset of hearing loss was usually first recognized during adolescence or adulthood. The 7 intervention studies were all uncontrolled and published in 1983 or earlier and reported variable results following treatment with penicillin, prednisone, and/or ACTH.

Conclusions

The current literature is not informative with regard to the incidence, characteristics, prognosis, and therapy of hearing loss in children or adults with presumed congenital syphilis.
Pseudorabies virus gM and its homologous proteins in herpesviruses induce mitochondria-related apoptosis involved in viral pathogenicity
Authors: Zhou Qiongqiong , Shi Deshi , Tang Yan-Dong , Zhang Longfeng , Hu Boli , Zheng Chunfu , Huang Li , Weng Changjiang
Published: April 2024

Apoptosis is a critical host antiviral defense mechanism. But many viruses have evolved multiple strategies to manipulate apoptosis and escape host antiviral immune responses. Herpesvirus infection regulated apoptosis; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. Hence, the present study aimed to study the relationship between herpesvirus infection and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo using the pseudorabies virus (PRV) as the model virus. We found that mitochondria-dependent apoptosis was induced by PRV gM, a late protein encoded by PRV UL10, a virulence-related gene involved in enhancing PRV pathogenicity. Mechanistically, gM competitively combines with BCL-XL to disrupt the BCL-XL-BAK complex, resulting in BCL-2-antagonistic killer (BAK) oligomerization and BCL-2-associated X (BAX) activation, which destroys the mitochondrial membrane potential and activates caspase-3/7 to trigger apoptosis. Interestingly, similar apoptotic mechanisms were observed in other herpesviruses (Herpes Simplex Virus-1 [HSV-1], human cytomegalovirus [HCMV], Equine herpesvirus-1 [EHV-1], and varicella-zoster virus [VZV]) driven by PRV gM homologs. Compared with their parental viruses, the pathogenicity of PRV-ΔUL10 or HSV-1-ΔUL10 in mice was reduced with lower apoptosis and viral replication, illustrating that UL10 is a key virulence-related gene in PRV and HSV-1. Consistently, caspase-3 deletion also diminished the replication and pathogenicity of PRV and HSV-1 in vitro and in mice, suggesting that caspase-3-mediated apoptosis is closely related to the replication and pathogenicity of PRV and HSV-1. Overall, our findings firstly reveal the mechanism by which PRV gM and its homologs in several herpesviruses regulate apoptosis to enhance the viral replication and pathogenicity, and the relationship between gM-mediated apoptosis and herpesvirus pathogenicity suggests a promising approach for developing attenuated live vaccines and therapy for herpesvirus-related diseases.
Analysis of the Mediating Effect of Micro Business Growth on Productive Zakat Utilization, Information Technology, and Mustahiq’s Welfare
Authors: Simbolon Siti Ena Aisyah , Afdawaiza
Published: April 2024

This study aims to analyze the impact of productive zakat and information technology on the welfare of Mustahiq through the growth of micro-businesses at BAZNAS DIY, LAZISMU DIY, and LAZISNU DIY. Quantitative analysis was employed in this study with a sample size of 39. The data analysis technique utilized was Structural Equation Modeling and Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS), facilitated by the Smart-PLS 3.0 application. The findings of this research indicate that both productive zakat and information technology exert a significant positive influence on the growth of micro-businesses. However, productive zakat alone does not significantly affect the welfare of Mustahiq. On the other hand, micro-business growth demonstrates a significant positive effect on Mustahiq’s welfare. Furthermore, productive zakat and information technology significantly contribute to the welfare of Mustahiq through the mediation of micro-business growth.
Originality/Value: This study seeks to explore the relationships between productive zakat, micro-business growth, information technology, and mustahiq welfare. Additionally, it aims to assess the impact of productive zakat provision and information technology utilization on mustahiq welfare, contributing to the discourse on effective poverty alleviation strategies in Indonesia.
Inteligencia cordial
Authors: Villar Ezcurra Alicia , Serrano Villar María
Published: April 2024

El artículo aborda las características de la inteligencia cordial, centrándose en la importancia de los conocimientos del corazón y del sentimiento de compasión desde el punto de vista moral. Después de una introducción en la que se hace referencia a la inteligencia emocional y su enfoque psicológico, se aborda la perspectiva filosófico moral de la inteligencia cordial y las principales significaciones del término “corazón”. Se analizan los antecedentes del concepto en la modernidad de Blaise Pascal y Jean-Jacques Rousseau y se termina con las referencias de Adela Cortina a la justicia cordial y de Leonardo Boff sobre los derechos del corazón.
El impacto plural de la Inteligencia Artificial en la teología
Authors: Oviedo Torró Lluís
Published: April 2024

El fuerte desarrollo de la inteligencia artificial, con sus numerosas aplicaciones, ha sorprendido a muchos sectores sociales, también al religioso, y parece que la teología debería tomar nota y responder ante los posibles retos que se plantean. Para ello una primera misión es la de intentar comprender los términos del problema o los retos que se dan, para poder responder y adaptar el mensaje cristiano en este nuevo contexto, que requiere un ejercicio continuo de inculturación o de adecuación de la fe a nuevos ambientes. El artículo se propone repasar los temas más urgentes en los que la teología está llamada en causa, es decir, las cuestiones que pueden ser objeto de elaboración teológica. En ese sentido conviene ir más allá de las cuestiones éticas para centrar el debate en temas antropológicos y soteriológicos. En particular, la teología está en condiciones de abordar de forma especial el llamado “problema del alineamiento”, que para muchos es la gran cuestión que surge con el inusitado progreso de la IA.
Inteligencia/s humanas y artificiales: para repensar al ser humano desde la teología
Authors: Oio Pablo Damián
Published: April 2024

La inteligencia distingue a los seres humanos y es expresión de la dignidad que Dios da a cada persona. En la psicología se han planteado diversas teorías acerca de la inteligencia. El progreso de las tecnologías y de la inteligencia artificial (IA) abre nuevos interrogantes, no sólo para las ciencias sino también para la teología. En tiempos del transhumanismo, el desarrollo de la inteligencia artificial y sus consecuencias nos dan oportunidad para repensar al ser humano desde la antropología teológica, con un diálogo fecundo entre fe y ciencia.
Teilhard de Chardin y la teología de la creación actual. Algunos elementos estructurales y conceptos vigentes
Authors: Florio Lucio
Published: April 2024

La obra de Pierre Teilhard de Chardin conoce una segunda ola de interés, después de la experimentada con posterioridad a la publicación de sus escritos. Varios de sus temas han sido recogidos por pensadores y teólogos. A la luz de esta recepción, interesa detectar los elementos estructurales y conceptos que pueden ayudar a renovar el tratado sistemático del Dios creador y las exposiciones catequísticas y pastorales relacionadas con la creación divina. La estructura científico-filosófica expresada en conceptos como cosmogénesis, biogénesis, noogénesis, cristogénesis, Punto Omega y otros parecen ser útiles para repensar la teología de la creación en un tiempo de predominio de las ciencias.
La gestión de la demanda de las pruebas: un reto en el nuevo modelo de medicina de laboratorio
Authors: Salinas María , Torreblanca Ruth , Sanchez Eduardo , Blasco Álvaro , Flores Emilio , López-Garrigós Maite
Published: April 2024

Introducción

En las últimas décadas está evolucionando el posicionamiento de la Medicina de Laboratorio en el proceso médico asistencial de atención al paciente y también el modelo de laboratorio; de un modelo tradicional, con solo intervención, a un modelo líder, que además de intervenir condiciona la decisión clínica. La mejora en tecnología y automatización ha permitido también al profesional de laboratorio centrarse en la primera y última fase del ciclo de laboratorio, la solicitud de pruebas, y la acción tras su resultado, las etapas con más errores, y donde principalmente se debe actuar para conseguir una mejora en la calidad asistencial del paciente.

Contenido

Se muestra el diseño y la implantación de intervenciones de gestión de la demanda de pruebas de laboratorio, logrando el diagnóstico de la enfermedad oculta, y mejorando la adherencia a las guías clínicas y la seguridad del paciente.

Se expondrán los puntos clave en el proceso de gestión de la demanda, tanto de exceso como de defecto.

Perspectivas

El objetivo de la revisión es lograr que el profesional del laboratorio se involucre en el diseño e implantación de intervenciones de gestión de la demanda y en la creación de ese nuevo modelo de Laboratorio Líder.
Parallel observations process of Tianwen-1 orbit determination
Authors: Huyan Zongbo , Zhang Dapeng , Ma Pengbin , Li Hengnian , Min Zhai
Published: April 2024

To meet various requirements of the future deep space missions of China, State Key Laboratory of Astronautic Dynamics constructs a new orbit determinatin software with parallel observations process. By using 32 threads, the computational efficiency per iteration (including spacecraft’s integration) could be promoted to 10 times as that of single-threaded orbit determination. Suppose the number of observations is

p

p

, the number of estimated parameters (including spacecraft’s state) is

q

q

, the amount of computation of one observation is

x

x

, the amount of computation of one Givens transformation is

y

y

and the best number of threads is proved to be

[

p
⋅

(

x
+
y

)

/

(

q
⋅
y

)

]

1

/

2

{\left[p\cdot \left(x+y)\text{/}\left(q\cdot y)]}^{1\text{/}2}

for one-step threads combination. The root mean square of the postfit residuals of China’s deep space monitoring network (CDSMN) and China’s Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) network (CVN) observations in the Earth-Mars transfer phase and the Mars-orbiting phase are almost the same: about 0.3 m for Ranging, about 0.3 mm/s for Doppler, about 3 cm for VLBI delay and about 0.5 mm/s for VLBI delay rate. It is also found that all the four types of observations of CDSMN and CVN are needed in orbit determination for deep space maneuver and braking at periareion calculation. In the Mars-orbiting phase, the position accuracy after orbit determination under CDSMN-only tracking mode can reach about 1 km.
Impact of novel herbicide based on synthetic auxins and ALS inhibitor on weed control
Authors: Grzanka Monika , Joniec Andrzej , Rogulski Janusz , Sobiech Łukasz , Idziak Robert , Loryś Barbara
Published: April 2024

Delayed sowing of winter cereals or unfavorable weather conditions in autumn may make it impossible to carry out herbicide treatment in autumn. In such cases, weed control should be started in the spring. During this time, the plantation should be protected as effectively as possible because the weeds are at an advanced stage of growth. Therefore, they are less sensitive to applied herbicides. In the treatment, it is worth using a mixture of different mechanisms of action. Studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a band of tribenuron-methyl, and MCPA applied as soluble granules in spring control of dicotyledonous in winter cereals. The biological efficacy of herbicides was estimated in the 25 field experiments on winter cereals in Poland. Postemergence, a spring application of tribenuron-methyl + MCPA, effectively controls the majority of weed species present in spring: Anthemis arvensis, Brassica napus, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Centaurea cyanus, Lamium purpureum, Matricaria chamomilla, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Stellaria media and Thlaspi arvense. Satisfactory control was confirmed for Veronica persica, Viola arvensis, and Galium aparine. Tribenuron-methyl with MCPA is recommended for application to winter cereals in spring. To prevent the development of resistance in weeds, it is advantageous to combine two active substances.
Investigations on the performance of bottle blade overshot water wheel in very low head resources for pico hydropower
Authors: Basar Mohd Farriz , Zulkarnain Izzatie Akmal , Sopian Kamaruzzaman , Mohd Rais Nurul Ashikin
Published: April 2024

An overshot water wheel is considered as a low-cost and simple alternative for rural electrification. Hence, the aim of this study is to develop a noncomplex geometrical design of an overshot water wheel, namely, bottle blade overshot water wheel (BOWW), yet effectively operated for pico hydropower generation. The BOWW and hydro system were assessed at very low water head conditions, namely, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 m water head using a water test rig. According to the experimental results, the BOWW equipped with eight blades when operated at 0.5 m head produced significant mechanical power and electrical power up to 48.58 and 15.55 W. Analytically, the turbine with eight blades has 26.8–49.1% efficiency. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of four blades is between 5.66 and 28.96%. The results showed that eight blades performed well. Finally, it proves that, with a very low water head and low flow rate, the proposed system can perform and produce a significant power output for power generation.
Crystal structure of 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl 2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)propanoate, C23H24O5
Authors: Jiang Dong-li , Liu Yang , Cui Ying , Li Rui
Published: April 2024

C23H24O5, monoclinic, C2 (no. 4), a = 23.958(2) Å, b = 5.8145(5) Å, c = 17.839(3) Å, β = 129.974(3)°, V = 1904.3(4) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt
(F) = 0.0435, wRref
(F
2) = 0.1140, T = 153(2) K.
Nietzsche’s Portrayal of Pyrrho
Authors: Hurrell David
Published: April 2024

Nietzsche’s portrayal of Pyrrho is predominately contained in two of his notebooks from 1888, and they present a somewhat ambivalent attitude toward him. In this article, I offer an explanation for Nietzsche’s variegated observations, and contend that his interest in Pyrrho is not really founded upon his radical scepticism as one might expect. Rather, it is Nietzsche’s preoccupation with decadence in general – and its ancient Greek philosophical incarnations in particular – that drives his scrutiny of Pyrrho. I describe Nietzsche’s evolving depiction of Pyrrho as one that ultimately develops into a critique, whereby Pyrrho is associated with a number of types of decadence, as well as exhibiting the characteristic traits of a decadent. I close by examining the cogency and soundness of Nietzsche’s interpretation of Pyrrho as a specific exemplar of decadence.