bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds of lychee pulp by different dehydration methods
Authors: Oliveira João Paulo Lima de , Santos Ingrid Alves , Souza Lorrane Ribeiro de , Cândido Geraldo de Sousa , Franco Marcelo , Vilas Boas Eduardo Valério de Barros , Nunes Elisângela Elena Carvalho
Published: April 2023

Fruits and vegetables are major sources of bioactive compounds included in human diet. The objective of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and total phenolic compound content of lychee pulp. Hydroalcoholic extracts were obtained from the pulp (fresh, dried and freeze-dried), and analyzed by in vitro Folin-Ciocalteu, Fast Blue, ABTS+, Beta Carotene and Phosphomolybdenum Complex assays. The color and water activity of the pulp submitted to each dehydration treatment were also evaluated. The results obtained in the determination of total phenolic content did not differ statistically (p>0.05) between dried and freeze-dried pulp. The values obtained for the antioxidant activity by the ABTS+ method and by the phosphomolybdenum complex had a statistically significant difference. The data regarding the percentage of protection by the ?-Carotene/Linoleic Acid method showed that the dried pulp did not differ statistically from the fresh and freeze-dried pulp. However, the freeze-dried pulp presented higher antioxidant activity by the ABTS+ and Phosphomolybdenum Complex assays when compared to the other treatments (fresh and dried pulps).
Clinical and Radiological Outcome of Thoracolumbar Fractures Treated by Transpedicular Fixation
Authors: Surapaneni Suresh Babu , Tummala Venkata Suresh Babu , Makkena Ravikanth
Published: April 2023

Background: The injuries involving the spinal cord are generally challenging to manage. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the clinical including neurological and radiological outcome of thoracolumbar burst fractures treated by short segment and long segment transpedicular instrumentation and posterolateral fusion. Methods: 34 patients with or without neurological deficit were studied. Gaines scoring, American Spinal Cord Injury Association impairment scale was used for study. Results: The mean intra-operative correction of K-angle in the short segment group was 14.68° and the loss of correction observed at the last follow-up evaluation was 6.62° with a final gain of 8.06°. The mean intra-operative correction in the long segment group was 19.76° and the loss of correction observed at the last follow-up evaluation was 6.61°. Final gain was 13.15°. On radiological evaluation of wedge angle, mean correction loss of 3.87 degrees and 3.4% implant failure was noted in the short segment group while the long segment group had 1.53 degrees of mean correction loss and no implant failure. There was no positive correlation found between Gaines score with progression of deformity. Neurological Outcome in the short segment group four grades of improvement was found in 1 patient, three grades in 1 patient, two grades in 2 patients and one grade in 6 patients. In the long segment group, three grades of improvement were found in 3 patients, two grades in 2 patients and one grade in 2 patients. 1 of the grade D patient showed improvement within the grade and 3 patients did not show any improvement. Average ASIA motor score improved with treatment from 28.31 to 39.56 points (11.25 points) in short segment group and from 19.91 to 28.46 points (8.55 points) in long segment group. Conclusion: Transpedicular fixation is a stable, reliable and less surgically extensive construct for addressing thoracolumbar burst fractures. About 6-8° loss of correction was observed with both short and long segment stabilizations in our study. Long segment has better results in terms of maintenance of reduction and final gain. The length of instrumentation does not seem to have any effect on the neurological outcome. Key Words: Thoracolumbar fractures, Clinical, Radiological outcome.
A Comparison of Capital and Labor Incomes in Finance and Manufacturing Sectors in OECD Countries: 1995–2019
Authors: Koç Abdilcelil
Published: April 2023

Using data from 31 OECD countries, this study analyzes labor and capital incomes in the international manufacturing and finance sectors during the years 1995 to 2019. The study examines three periods: the years between 1995 and 2007, before the global crisis; between 2008 and 2019, during and after the global crisis; and the 1995–2019 period overall. In addition, the variables were subjected to general trend analysis, to analysis of the relative change between the beginnings and ends of the various periods, and to analysis of the annual average percentage changes. The results show that in both the manufacturing and financial sectors, the incomes of capital increased more than those of labor. Comparing the two sectors, it can be stated that between 1995 and 2019 the degree of class inequality in favor of capital saw a greater increase in the sector of manufacturing industry.
Analysis of the Imperial Rent of Reserve Currency
Authors: Osman Omar
Published: April 2023

This article provides an analysis of the economic cost incurred by the world through the use of the fiat international reserve currency since the end of the 1971 gold standard system. The article uses the Quantity Theory of Money to provide an empirical manifestation of how reserve currency yields income to its issuing country through the provision of an inflation buffer, which is equivalent to what the article frames as an imperial rent of reserve currency. The article then provides a method to estimate the cumulative quantity of this rent by using data on the broad money supply, nominal GDP, and world total official foreign exchange holdings of the currency of the country in question. The article estimates that the quantity of the imperial rent of reserve currency that accrued to the four major reserve currency-issuing states (US, Euro area, UK, Japan) from the end of the gold standard until the end of 2021, which was accumulated through the official channel only, is of a value equivalent to 11.1 trillion USD, 71 % of this amount went to the US singly.
High-efficiency Ge-based waveguide photodetector integrated with a grating coupler on silicon-on-insulator
Authors: Zhang Junming , Jing Wenlong , Yuan Xixi , Miao Tian , Zhang Ningning , Wang Liming , Hu Huiyong
Published: April 2023

We propose the design of a composite device structure with germanium-based (Ge-based) waveguide photodetectors integrated with grating couplers on a silicon-on-insulator platform. The finite-difference time-domain method is used to establish simulation models and optimize the design of the waveguide detector and grating coupler. For the grating coupler, by adjusting the size parameters to the optimal value and combining the advantages of the nonuniform grating and the Bragg reflector structure, the peak coupling efficiency reaches 85% at 1550 nm and 75.5% at 2000 nm, which is, respectively, 31.3% and 14.6% higher than that of uniform grating. For the waveguide detector, a germanium–tin (GeSn) alloy was introduced to replace Ge as the active absorption layer at 1550 and 2000 nm, which not only broadened the detection range and significantly improved the light absorption of the detector but also realized the near-complete light absorption of the GeSn alloy when the device length was 10 µm. These results make it possible to miniaturize the device structure of Ge-based waveguide photodetectors.
Synaptic boutons are smaller in chandelier cell cartridges in autism
Authors: Hong Tiffany , McBride Erin , Dufour Brett D. , Falcone Carmen , Doan Mai , Noctor Stephen G. , Martínez-Cerdeño Verónica
Published: April 2023

Chandelier (Ch) cells are cortical interneurons with axon terminal structures known as cartridges that synapse on the axon initial segment of excitatory pyramidal neurons. Previous studies indicate that the number of Ch cells is decreased in autism, and that GABA receptors are decreased in the Ch cell synaptic target in the prefrontal cortex. To further identify Ch cell alterations, we examined whether the length of cartridges, and the number, density, and size of Ch cell synaptic boutons, differed in the prefrontal cortex of cases with autism versus control cases. We collected samples of postmortem human prefrontal cortex (Brodmann Area (BA) 9, 46, and 47) from 20 cases with autism and 20 age- and sex-matched control cases. Ch cells were labeled using an antibody against parvalbumin, a marker that labeles soma, cartridges, and synaptic boutons. We found no significant difference in the average length of cartridges, or in the total number or density of boutons in control subjects vs. subjects with autism. However, we found a significant decrease in the size of Ch cell boutons in those with autism. The reduced size of Ch cell boutons may result in reduced inhibitory signal transmission and impact the balance of excitation to inhibition in the prefrontal cortex in autism.
Preliminary results of absorbable magnesium stent for treating eustachian tube dysfunction in a porcine model
Authors: Kang Jeon Min , Kim Song Hee , Ryu Dae Sung , Park Yubeen , Won Dong-Sung , Kim Ji Won , Zeng Chu Hui , Park Jung-Hoon , Park Hong Ju
Published: April 2023

Absorbable magnesium (Mg) stents have an attractive biocompatibility and rapid degradation rate, but their degradable behavior and efficacy in the Eustachian tube (ET) have not yet been investigated. In this study, the degradable behavior of the Mg stent in artificial nasal mucus was evaluated. The Mg stents in the porcine ET model were also investigated to evaluate their safety and efficacy. Four Mg stents were placed into the four ETs of two pigs. The mass loss rate of the Mg stents gradually decreased over time. The decrease rates were 30.96% at one week, 49.00% at two weeks, and 71.80% at four weeks. On the basis of histological findings, the thickness of submucosal tissue hyperplasia and the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration significantly decreased at four weeks compared with two weeks. Biodegradation of the Mg stent occurred before tissue proliferative reactions, and the ET patency was successfully maintained without stent-induced tissue hyperplasia at four weeks. The Mg stent that biodegrades rapidly seems to be effective and safe in porcine ET. Further investigation is required to verify the optimal stent shape and indwell period in the ET.
Reliability of radiologists’ first impression when interpreting a screening mammogram
Authors: Gandomkar Ziba , Siviengphanom Somphone , Suleiman Mo’ayyad , Wong Dennis , Reed Warren , Ekpo Ernest U. , Xu Dong , Lewis Sarah J. , Evans Karla K. , Wolfe Jeremy M. , Brennan Patrick C.
Published: April 2023

Previous studies showed that radiologists can detect the gist of an abnormality in a mammogram based on a half-second image presentation through global processing of screening mammograms. This study investigated the intra- and inter-observer reliability of the radiologists’ initial impressions about the abnormality (or "gist signal"). It also examined if a subset of radiologists produced more reliable and accurate gist signals. Thirty-nine radiologists provided their initial impressions on two separate occasions, viewing each mammogram for half a second each time. The intra-class correlation (ICC) values showed poor to moderate intra-reader reliability. Only 13 radiologists had an ICC of 0.6 or above, which is considered the minimum standard for reliability, and only three radiologists had an ICC exceeding 0.7. The median value for the weighted Cohen’s Kappa was 0.478 (interquartile range = 0.419–0.555). The Mann-Whitney U-test showed that the "Gist Experts", defined as those who outperformed others, had significantly higher ICC values (p = 0.002) and weighted Cohen’s Kappa scores (p = 0.026). However, even for these experts, the intra-radiologist agreements were not strong, as an ICC of at least 0.75 indicates good reliability and the signal from none of the readers reached this level of reliability as determined by ICC values. The inter-reader reliability of the gist signal was poor, with an ICC score of 0.31 (CI = 0.26–0.37). The Fleiss Kappa score of 0.106 (CI = 0.105–0.106), indicating only slight inter-reader agreement, confirms the findings from the ICC analysis. The intra- and inter-reader reliability analysis showed that the radiologists’ initial impressions are not reliable signals. In particular, the absence of an abnormal gist does not reliably signal a normal case, so radiologists should keep searching. This highlights the importance of "discovery scanning," or coarse screening to detect potential targets before ending the visual search.
Effect of dietary branched chain amino acids on liver related mortality: Results from a large cohort of North American patients with advanced HCV infection
Authors: Yu Lei , Paski Shirley C. , Dodge Jennifer , Bambha Kiran , Biggins Scott W. , Ioannou George N.
Published: April 2023

Branched chain amino acids (BCAA) supplementation may reduce the incidence of liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis. We aimed to determine whether long-term dietary intake of BCAA is associated with liver-related mortality in a well-characterized cohort of North American patients with advanced fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis. We performed a retrospective cohort study using extended follow-up data from the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-term Treatment against Cirrhosis (HALT–C) Trial. The analysis included 656 patients who completed two Food Frequency Questionnaires. The primary exposure was BCAA intake measured in grams (g) per 1000 kilocalories (kcal) of energy intake (range 3.0–34.8 g/1000 kcal). During a median follow-up of 5.0 years, the incidence of liver-related death or transplantation was not significantly different among the four quartiles of BCAA intake before and after adjustment of confounders (AHR 1.02, 95% CI 0.81–1.27, P-value for trend = 0.89). There remains no association when BCAA was modeled as a ratio of BCAA to total protein intake or as absolute BCAA intake. Finally, BCAA intake was not associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, encephalopathy or clinical hepatic decompensation. We concluded that dietary BCAA intake was not associated with liver-related outcomes in HCV-infected patients with advanced fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis. The precise effect of BCAA in patients with liver disease warrants further study.
An item sorting heuristic to derive equivalent parallel test versions from multivariate items
Authors: Göbel Nicole , Cazzoli Dario , Gutbrod Clemens , Müri René M. , Eberhard-Moscicka Aleksandra K.
Published: April 2023

Parallel test versions require a comparable degree of difficulty and must capture the same characteristics using different items. This can become challenging when dealing with multivariate items, which are for example very common in language or image data. Here, we propose a heuristic to identify and select similar multivariate items for the generation of equivalent parallel test versions. This heuristic includes: 1. inspection of correlations between variables; 2. identification of outlying items; 3. application of a dimension-reduction method, such as for example principal component analysis (PCA); 4. generation of a biplot, in case of PCA of the first two principal components (PC), and grouping the displayed items; 5. assigning of the items to parallel test versions; and 6. checking the resulting test versions for multivariate equivalence, parallelism, reliability, and internal consistency. To illustrate the proposed heuristic, we applied it exemplarily on the items of a picture naming task. From a pool of 116 items, four parallel test versions were derived, each containing 20 items. We found that our heuristic can help to generate parallel test versions that meet requirements of the classical test theory, while simultaneously taking several variables into account.
A novel hybrid system for automatic detection of fish quality from eye and gill color characteristics using transfer learning technique
Authors: Akgül İsmail , Kaya Volkan , Zencir Tanır Özge
Published: April 2023

Fish remains popular among the body’s most essential nutrients, as it contains protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is extremely important to choose the fish consumption according to the season and the freshness of the fish to be purchased. It is very difficult to distinguish between non-fresh fish and fresh fish mixed in the fish stalls. In addition to traditional methods used to determine meat freshness, significant success has been achieved in studies on fresh fish detection with artificial intelligence techniques. In this study, two different types of fish (anchovy and horse mackerel) used to determine fish freshness with convolutional neural networks, one of the artificial intelligence techniques. The images of fresh fish were taken, images of non-fresh fish were taken and two new datasets (Dataset1: Anchovy, Dataset2: Horse mackerel) were created. A novel hybrid model structure has been proposed to determine fish freshness using fish eye and gill regions on these two datasets. In the proposed model, Yolo-v5 and Inception-ResNet-v2 and Xception model structures are used through transfer learning. Whether the fish is fresh in both of the Yolo-v5 + Inception-ResNet-v2 (Dataset1: 97.67%, Dataset2: 96.0%) and Yolo-v5 + Xception (Dataset1: 88.00%, Dataset2: 94.67%) hybrid models created using these model structures has been successfully detected. Thanks to the model we have proposed, it will make an important contribution to the studies that will be conducted in the freshness studies of fish using different storage days and the estimation of fish size.
Graphene surface plasmon sensor for ultra-low-level SARS-CoV-2 detection
Authors: Hossain Md. Mahbub , Talukder Muhammad Anisuzzaman
Published: April 2023

Precisely detecting the ultra-low-level severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is crucial. The detection mechanism must be sensitive, low-cost, portable, fast, and easy to operate to tackle coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). This work proposes a sensor exploiting graphene surface plasmon resonance to detect SARS-CoV-2. The graphene layer functionalized with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) antibodies will help efficient adsorption of the SARS-CoV-2. In addition to the graphene layer, ultra-thin layers of novel two-dimensional materials tungsten disulfide (WS2), potassium niobate (KNbO3), and black phosphorus (BP) or blue phosphorus (BlueP) used in the proposed sensor will increase the light absorption to detect an ultra-low SARS-CoV-2 concentration. The analysis presented in this work shows that the proposed sensor will detect SARS-CoV-2 as small as ∼1 fM. The proposed sensor also offers a minimum sensitivity of 201 degrees/RIU, a figure-of-merit of 140 RIU−1, and enhanced binding kinetics of the SARS-CoV-2 to the sensor surface.
Does cognitive function impairment affect the duration of hospitalization and in-hospital mortality in geriatric patients hospitalized for COVID-19?
Authors: Janc Jarosław , Woźniak Anna , Leśnik Patrycja , Łysenko Lidia
Published: April 2023

Aims

To assess the effect of cognitive function, performance of activities of daily living (ADLs), degree of depression, and fear of infection among geriatric patients hospitalized in internal medicine wards for COVID-19 on the duration of hospitalization and in-hospital mortality.

Methods

This observational survey study was conducted during the second, third, and fourth waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included elderly patients of both sexes, aged ≥ 65 years, hospitalized for COVID-19 in internal medicine wards. The following survey tools were used: AMTS, FCV-19S, Lawton IADL, Katz ADL, and GDS15. The duration of hospitalization and in-hospital mortality were also assessed.

Results

A total of 219 patients were included in the study. The results showed that impaired cognitive function in geriatric patients (AMTS) was associated with higher in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients. There was no statistical significance between fear of infection (FCV-19S) and risk of death. The impaired ability to perform complex ADLs (Lawton IADL) before the onset of the disease was not associated with higher in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients. The diminished ability to perform basic ADLs (Katz ADL) before the onset of the disease was not associated with higher in-hospital mortality in COVID-19. The degree of depression (GDS15) was not associated with higher in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. Statistically, significantly better survival was observed for patients with normal cognitive function (p = 0.005). No statistically significant differences in survival were observed in relation to the degree of depression or independence in performing ADLs. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed a statistically significant effect of age on mortality (p = 0.004, HR 1.07).

Conclusion

In this study, we observe that cognitive function impairments and the older age of patients treated for COVID-19 in the medical ward increase the in-hospital risk of death.
Sustainable fashion and textiles: A case for degrowth
Authors: Moorhouse Debbie
Published: April 2023

This third issue of the International Journal of Sustainable Fashion & Textiles (SFT 2.1) presents a varied collection of academic research and scholarship, an industry interview, and an exhibition review which we feel gives some insight into the diverse and innovative design thinking already taking place within the global fashion arena. To combat catastrophic climate-related risks of global warming by zero-emissions would require urgent global changes in policy and investment across all sectors of society, and commitment to change from governments, industry and consumers. The trajectory of ever-increasing production and consumption is not sustainable in a world where resources are finite. A paradigm shift is needed to redefine what is meant by prosperity, which has long been classified as economic growth. A shift from economic growth and prosperity towards sustaining the planets ecosystems and improving well-being needs to happen – the two concepts cannot happen simultaneously.
Constructive disruption: A proposal for a planet-centred curriculum to enable circular systems thinking in fashion and textiles education
Authors: Lettmann Sabine , Hillyard Zoë , White Beth
Published: April 2023

Traditional fashion and textiles education is predominantly based on processes that inform a linear fashion industry which contributes to global, significant environmental and societal challenges. Thus, universities share governments’ accountability for sustaining a flawed system. As a response, this study proposes a planet-centred and community-focused fashion and textile curriculum, equipping students with competencies required for cultural change that enables a prosperous future for all. This curriculum proposal explores how an environment at Birmingham City University to observe nature (Growth Garden) and to explore materials (MAT_er.LAB) can be a place where artistic, scientific and technical perspectives thrive through collaborative and reflective practice. As a STEAM approach, it embeds art within the STEM agenda through a four-layered pedagogical structure that feeds into a curriculum framework mimicking the seasonal calendar to allow several entry points and lifelong learning. Designed to form an inclusive and equal learning system for ‘constructive disruption’, strategies aim to dismantle the existing knowledge-accruing focused learning structures that currently prevail. Seeking change beyond education, this proposal also questions dominating point-based application systems as irrelevant for cultural change. By embedding community-driven assessment forms, it shifts evaluation from grades to impact providing real change that serves nature and society.
The circular economy and mining workwear waste management in Australia: A case study
Authors: Zaman Atiq , Marinova Dora , Farren Anne
Published: April 2023

End-of-life uniforms and workwear account for around 11,000 tonnes of textile waste in Australia and only 1 per cent is recycled, with the rest discarded in landfills. Australia’s large mining industry operations do not currently engage in responsible employee uniforms and workwear management contributing to the problem of waste. In 2021, the Commonwealth Government of Australia supported the development of a product stewardship scheme to recycle uniforms and workwear to be launched in 2022 and awarded A$1 million in funding to the Australian Fashion Council to implement a National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme. These initiatives aim to improve the design, recovery, reuse and recycling of textiles, providing a roadmap to achieve clothing circularity in Australia by 2030 in line with the National Waste Policy Action Plan targets. The mining industry is the engine of the Australian economy, contributing to economic performance, employment, exports and tax revenues. With the country having some of the largest reserves of iron ore (#1 worldwide), gold (#2 worldwide), silver (#3 worldwide) and lithium (#2 worldwide), the importance of mining and the employment options it provides will continue to grow, particularly in transitioning to a net-zero economy. Urgent solutions are needed to address the issues surrounding uniform and workwear use to eliminate the substantial amounts of textile waste currently generated by the mining industry. This article presents a case study in Western Australia, where half of Australia’s mining operations are located, examining the potential for reducing the mining industry’s garment waste by applying the circular economy principles. The findings from the case study will assist in better understanding the current practices, key challenges and potential opportunities in upcycling and recycling mining workwear in Western Australia.
NEGLECTING WOMEN'S RIGHTS: Indonesian YouTube Preachers' Legal Opinion on Polygamy
Authors: Yazid Mhd
Published: April 2023

The internet has contributed to the rise of various authorities over religion and law, as a result of the widespread use of digital instruments by religious elites to transmit their knowledge of virtue. Therefore, religious-based legal opinions are easily disseminated through social media. This article discusses video content related to polygamy that is delivered by preachers on YouTube channels. The discussion revolves around the legal aspects of polygamy described by the YouTube preachers to see the extent to which the polygamous content provides an understanding to the Indonesian public about polygamy law and its relation to the protection of women's rights. Data was collected through content analysis of either monologue or dialogue from popular preachers. This article argues that classical fiqh narratives of polygamy remain the tenet of the content about the polygamy landscape on YouTube. It does not significantly represent Indonesia's marriage law and arguably has not provided progressive protection for women’s rights. Most of the principles and arguments used lead to the nobility of polygamy, women's patience, maintaining the integrity of the household, and prohibiting breaking the Sharia.[Internet telah berkontribusi pada munculnya berbagai otoritas atas agama dan hukum, sebagai akibat dari maraknya penggunaan instrumen digital oleh para elit agama untuk mentransmisikan pengetahuan mereka tentang kebajikan. Oleh karena itu, opini hukum berbasis agama mudah disebarluaskan melalui media sosial. Artikel ini membahas tentang konten video terkait poligami yang dibawakan oleh para da'i di kanal YouTube. Pembahasan mencakup aspek hukum poligami yang dipaparkan oleh para da'i YouTube untuk melihat sejauh mana konten poligami memberikan pemahaman kepada masyarakat Indonesia tentang hukum poligami dan kaitannya dengan perlindungan hak-hak perempuan. Data dikumpulkan melalui analisis isi baik monolog maupun dialog dari da’i populer. Artikel ini berpendapat bahwa narasi fikih klasik tentang poligami tetap menjadi inti konten tentang poligami di YouTube. Itu sama sekali tidak merepresentasikan hukum perkawinan menurut negara dan bisa disimpulkan belum memberikan perlindungan yang progresif bagi hak-hak perempuan. Sebagian besar prinsip dan dalil yang digunakan antara lain kesabaran perempuan, menjaga keutuhan rumah tangga, dan melarang melanggar syariat—yang pada akhirnya, semua opini itu diarahkan untuk meluhurkan poligami itu sendiri.]
A seat at the table: Lessons from Tennessee’s rapid achievement and equity gains
Authors: Matheny Kaylee T.
Published: April 2023

This study complements literature on state policymaking by exploring one state’s achievement trends and policymaking during a period of remarkable achievement gains. I use mixed methods, drawing on hierarchical linear modeling and semi-structured interviews with policy actors, to explore the case of Tennessee in the post-recession period. Results indicate that Tennessee’s school districts improved faster than districts in other states during this period without doing so at the expense of historically disadvantaged student groups. I argue that Tennessee’s trends are a result of strong policies and a robust approach to the policymaking process.
Novel Compound Heterozygous Mutations in the SYNE1 Gene in a Taiwanese Family: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Kuo Chia-Yan , Yu Pei Shan , Chao Chih-Ying , Wang Chun-Chieh , Fan Wen-Lang , Wu Yih-Ru
Published: April 2023

Mutations in the synaptic nuclear envelope protein 1 (SYNE1) gene are associated with substantial clinical heterogeneity. Here, we report the first case of SYNE1 ataxia in Taiwan due to two novel truncating mutations. Our patient, a 53-year-old female, exhibited pure cerebellar ataxia with c.1922del in exon 18 and c. C3883T mutations in exon 31. Previous studies have indicated that the prevalence of SYNE1 ataxia among East Asian populations is low. In this study, we identified 27 cases of SYNE1 ataxia from 22 families in East Asia. Of the 28 patients recruited in this study (including our patient), 10 exhibited pure cerebellar ataxia, and 18 exhibited ataxia plus syndromes. We could not find an exact correlation between genotypes and phenotypes. Additionally, we established a precise molecular diagnosis in our patient’s family and extended the findings on the ethnic, phenotypic, and genotypic diversity of the SYNE1 mutational spectrum.
Efficient novel penultimate joint detector for shrimps selection employing convolutional pose machine
Authors: Zhang Haodong , Ren Tao , Dong Puqing , Dimirovski Georgi Marko
Published: April 2023

Manual labor involved in shrimp extraction selection accounts for an extremely high proportion of processing time and also entails reduced accuracy and efficiency moreover even it could induce potential safety hazards. The key to substitute the manual process with automation lies in the identification and pinpointing of the penultimate joint in shrimps. Therefore, a cascaded neural network is proposed in this study to implement the detection of key points in a multi-shrimp scenario processing. More specifically, our model includes two stages: a shrimp detector based on YOLOv3 and followed by a pose estimator based on Convolutional Pose Machine (CPM). With the combination of attention mechanism and improved NMS strategy, our detector is equipped to resist noise interference in dense case, ubiquitous on the production line. Experimental results indicate that both the detection rate and the speed information extraction have achieved the standard of industry applications.
Fetal brain activity and the free energy principle
Authors: Miyagi Yasunari , Hata Toshiyuki , Miyake Takahito
Published: April 2023

Objectives

To study whether the free energy principle can explain fetal brain activity and the existence of fetal consciousness via a chaotic dimension derived using artificial intelligence.

Methods

In this observational study, we used a four-dimensional ultrasound technique obtained to collect images of fetal faces from pregnancies at 27–37 weeks of gestation, between February and December 2021. We developed an artificial intelligence classifier that recognizes fetal facial expressions, which are thought to relate to fetal brain activity. We then applied the classifier to video files of facial images to generate each expression category’s probabilities. We calculated the chaotic dimensions from the probability lists, and we created and investigated the free energy principle’s mathematical model that was assumed to be linked to the chaotic dimension. We used a Mann–Whitney test, linear regression test, and one-way analysis of variance for statistical analysis.

Results

The chaotic dimension revealed that the fetus had dense and sparse states of brain activity, which fluctuated at a statistically significant level. The chaotic dimension and free energy were larger in the sparse state than in the dense state.

Conclusions

The fluctuating free energy suggests consciousness seemed to exist in the fetus after 27 weeks.
Advanced optical nanolithography by enhanced transmission through bull’s eye nanostructured meta-mask
Authors: Kim Taeyeon , Ahn Heesang , Kim Soojung , Song Hyerin , Choi Jong-ryul , Kim Kyujung
Published: April 2023

Plasmonic optical nanolithography using extraordinary optical transmission through a metallic nanohole mask has been actively applied to the high-resolution fabrication of nanostructures over a large area. Although there have been studies on improving the nanostructure fabrication performance in optical nanolithography, such as on adjustable external gap spacing, additional performance enhancement is required for practical applications and commercialization of large-area and high-resolution nanostructure array fabrication techniques. In this study, we design and apply a plasmonic bull’s eye nanostructured meta-mask to enhance the performance of optical nanolithography. Through simulation results and experimental verification, it is confirmed that advanced optical nanolithography using the bull’s eye nanostructured meta-mask has several merits compared to conventional Talbot lithography using nanoholes: (1) Optical nanolithography using the bull’s eye nanostructured meta-mask effectively fabricates nanopillar arrays even at a shorter exposure time than conventional optical lithography using nanoholes. (2) It is possible to create a large-area nanopillar array with various nanopillar diameters by exposure time control in optical nanolithography using the bull’s eye meta-mask. (3) Using water or objective immersion oil to increase the refractive index of the contact medium, light can be focused on smaller sizes, and large-area nanopillar arrays with smaller nanopillar diameters are established. With the upgradation of hardware for large-area fabrication, application of immersion media supplying techniques, and additional studies to establish complex nanostructures, optical nanolithography using the bull’s eye nanostructured meta-mask is an efficient modality to produce various nanostructure-based devices.
Anaplastic extramedullary plasmacytoma resistant to novel therapies: a case report
Authors: Jacevičiūtė Emilija , Rudžianskienė Milda , Dambrauskienė Rūta , Vajauskas Donatas , Gerbutavičius Rolandas
Published: April 2023

Objectives

The treatment of choice for extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is radiotherapy (RT). It is under discussion whether the management of an anaplastic form of EMP requires the addition of systemic therapy.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 66-year-old male who was diagnosed with anaplastic plasmacytoma of the maxillary sinus. After the exclusion of multiple myeloma, Dara-VMP (daratumumab, bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisolone) regimen was initiated. During the third cycle of Dara-VMP, a progression of the tumor was observed. RT and BRd (bendamustine, dexamethasone, and lenalidomide) regimen were initiated. After 4 cycles of BRd, disease progression was established. KRd (carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone) regimen was initiated. The first cycle of KRd was not completed, as the patient was diagnosed with COVID-19. After the infection, the progression of EMP was observed.

Conclusions

In this case, the anaplastic EMP was resistant to RT and chemotherapy regimens with novel agents, including a monoclonal antibody, an immunomodulatory drug, and proteasome inhibitors.
Optimization of extraction using surface response methodology and quantification of cannabinoids in female inflorescences of marijuana (Cannabis sativa L.) at three altitudinal floors of Peru
Authors: Espinoza-Silva Clara , Pascual Erika , Delgadillo Yacnehs , Flores Omar R. , Artica Luis M. , Marmolejo Doris , Baños-Medina Lilian
Published: April 2023

The aim of this study was to extract and quantify cannabinoids from female inflorescences of Cannabis sativa L. from three altitudinal floors of Peru, by optimizing the amplitude, time, and methanol concentration in the ultrasound-assisted extraction required to maximize cannabidiol (CBD), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) content, and yields. Optimal extraction conditions were determined by response surface and the central composite design was used. The quadratic model was adequate for yield, Δ9-THC, and CBD with R
2 values of 0.998, 0.985, and 0.991 respectively. Optimal conditions were 99% radiation amplitude, 20 min extraction time, and 96% ethanol concentration. The optimized extract of C. sativa L. inflorescences had a yield of 24.12%, 0.62% CBD, and 5.973% THC. The content of cannabinoids studied in the Junín Region at altitudes between 2,070 and 3,274 m above sea level (m asl) had a CBD content between 0.1 and 0.4%, THC between 2.2 and 6%, and yield of 10–24%; in the Ayacucho region at an altitude of 2,627 m asl the CBD content was between 0.62 and 0.65%, THC was 6.21–6.72%, and yield of 23.8–24%; and in the Huánuco region at altitude of 660–711 m asl it had a CBD content between 0.55 and 0.65%, THC from 8.11 to 8.92%, and yield from 24.3 to 29.7%. It was concluded from the present work that the parameters such as amplitude, time, and solvent directly influence the extraction yield, in the same way the altitude influences the content of cannabinoids, being lower yields at higher planting altitude.
Small-scale coffee farmers’ perception of climate-adapted attributes in participatory coffee breeding: A case study of Gayo Highland, Aceh, Indonesia
Authors: Hasibuan Abdul Muis , Randriani Enny , Dani Dani , Santoso Tri Joko , Sayekti Apri Laila , Izzah Nur Kholilatul , Martono Budi , Ibrahim Meynarti Sari Dewi , Tresniawati Cici , Harni Rita , Syafaruddin Syafaruddin , Wahyudi Agus
Published: April 2023

Small-scale coffee farming in Indonesia faces low productivity due to poor farming practices and low-quality planting materials. It highlights the need for improved coffee varieties that meet farmers’ preferences. Given the vulnerability of coffee farming to climate change, participatory breeding programs that involve collaboration between researchers and farmers to develop a climate-adapted variety are essential. This study used survey data from Gayo Highland, Aceh, Indonesia, to investigate farmers’ perception of the importance of climate-related attributes in a coffee variety, including those developed through a participatory breeding program, and the determinant factors. The result shows that farmers rated climate-related attributes as the least important (average score 0.36) compared to others, such as coffee productivity (1.57) and quality (1.22), resistance to pests and diseases (0.96), and input-use efficiency (0.57). This finding suggests a lack of awareness among farmers about the importance of climate issues in coffee farming. The estimation results also indicate that coffee extension activities have a negative association with farmers’ perceptions of the importance of climate attributes. This study recommends inclusive and targeted climate campaigns to increase farmers’ concern, awareness, and knowledge about the threats of climate change to coffee farming through strengthening advisory services.
Introduction to bio-based packaging materials
Authors: Nazrin Asmawi , Sapuan Salit Mohd , Ilyas R. A. , Hawanis H. S. N. , Khalina A. , Jumaidin Ridhwan , Asyraf M. R. M. , Nurazzi N. Mohd , Norrrahim M. N. F. , Rajeshkumar L. , Atikah M. S. N.
Published: April 2023

Bio-based materials must be studied to replace polymers from petrochemical sources in packaging applications. However, using polymers from petrochemical sources has caused consumer and environmental concerns. Therefore, synthetic and non-synthetic materials that can be used for packaging applications, scale-up methods, industrial uses, sustainability assessments, and end-of-life alternatives will all be included in this study. Synthetic polymers, e.g., polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene furanoate (PEF), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and non-synthetic polymers, including waxes, lipids, proteins, starch, cellulose, and polyhydrodialkanoate (PHAs), are some of the bio-based compounds that will be covered in this work. Besides that, more attention is paid to surface modification techniques and coatings, multilayers, biocomposites, and additives used to modify material characteristics, particularly gas and moisture barriers and biodegradability. In sum, this research offers a comprehensive analysis of bio-based packaging materials, including processing, and an assessment of sustainability and available alternatives.
Micro-damage analysis and numerical simulation of composite solid propellant based on in situ tensile test
Authors: Li Yongqiang , Li Gaochun
Published: April 2023

In order to quantitatively analyze the mesoscopic damage process of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene composite solid propellant under external load, periodic boundary conditions were applied to the representative volume element model based on sample composition and morphology, the mixed matrix containing aluminum powder was homogenized, and the hyperelastic matrix damage and bilinear/exponential particle–matrix interface cohesive model with initial damage were compiled through the secondary development of Abaqus. At the same time, a data interaction platform was constructed by means of Python and MATLAB, matrix and cohesion parameters were inverted according to the optimization algorithm and experimental data, and the whole process of propellant damage and fracture was simulated from the mesoscopic perspective. The results show that combining the adaptive particle swarm optimization algorithm and the Hooke–Jeeves algorithm can achieve the global optimal parameter inversion in 102 calculations, compared with the single local search algorithm, which can cut about 11% of the objective function values. Considering the matrix damage and the exponential cohesion model with initial damage, the optimal objective function value is 0.01635, which can more accurately simulate the propellant damage and fracture process compared with 0.02136 of a bilinear cohesion model.
Künstliche Intelligenz und die Algorithmen des Antisemitismus
Authors: Schröder Christoph
Published: April 2023

Künstliche Intelligenz im Zusammenhang mit Antisemitismus ist ein vergleichsweiser junger Forschungsbereich. KI-basierte Ansätze sollen vor allem in der Untersuchung des Antisemitismus im WEB 2.0 zum Einsatz kommen. Der Beitrag möchte insgesamt in den Zusammenhang von Künstlicher Intelligenz, Antisemitismus und WEB 2.0 einführen. Dabei sollen auch Missverständnisse bezüglich dieses Zusammenhangs aufgedeckt werden.
DE(S)COLONIZAR O PENSAMENTO EM TEMPOS DE PANDEMIA
Authors: De Carvalho Hudson
Published: April 2023

O primeiro número da D`GENERUS: Revista de Estudos Feministas e de Gênero tem por meta criar um espaço de difusão e defesa de saberes científicos, artísticos e filosóficos socialmente referenciados, produzidos a partir de investigações sobre a diversidade humana, enfaticamente sobre questões de gênero e de sexualidade, sob as perspectivas dos feminismos críticos, de(s)coloniais e interseccional. Neste primeiro número (edição especial de abertura), são apresentados os artigos que sistematizaram as apresentações que ocorreram no III Simpósio de Gênero e Diversidade da Universidade Federal de Pelotas, realizado pelo D`GENERUS: Núcleo de Estudos Feministas e de Gênero entre os dias 10 e 12 de novembro de 2021 de forma remota. O evento teve como tema “de(s)colonizar o pensamento em tempos de pandemia” e foi organizado em seis grupos de trabalho que articularam questões de gênero e diversidade com as áreas de Educação, Direitos Humanos, Raça, Saúde, Mídias e Artes e, Pensamento Filosófico. Em nome da equipe editorial gostaria de agradecer a todes que contribuíram para que esse número fosse possível: que felicidade existir com vocês!
Sonic Decency: Music in the Aftermath of Guatemala’s 1773 Santa Marta Earthquake
Authors: Oliva Diane
Published: April 2023

For several decades, the topic of natural disaster has featured significantly across the humanities; in musicology, however, the severity of such events has been marked primarily in the footnotes to our histories. Often leaving a substantial and insurmountable lacuna in the historical record, natural disasters are rarely considered for their generative potential. This article demonstrates the value of a disaster-studies approach to musicology, showing how natural events can have long-term impacts on the development and evolution of musical practices. It centers on the Santa Marta earthquake of 1773 and its effects on music and musicians in the colonial capital of Santiago de Guatemala. Colonial disasters, in particular, generated a flurry of written documentation, requiring correspondence at the local, regional, and imperial level to negotiate the process of restoring order to urban centers. I argue that it is precisely the disruptive nature of disaster that allows us to observe new details of both the extraordinary and ordinary musical practices of a colonial city. Embedded in an extensive archival record is evidence of the ways ecclesiastical notions of decencia (decency) in the post-disaster landscape were enacted through musical performance, which contributed to the political process of reinstating colonial power over a destroyed Guatemala. The article expands the relationship between music and nature, placing colonial musical practices in dialogue with the sociopolitical impacts of disaster, weaving together a history of music that intersects with environmental history.
Songs of the New World and the Breath of the Planet at the Orbis Spike, 1610: Toward a Decolonial Musicology of the Anthropocene
Authors: Chung Andrew J.
Published: April 2023

This article considers musicological consequences of recent proposals by climate researchers to date the beginning of the Anthropocene—the geological epoch in which human activities define the Earth system—to the period immediately following New World colonization. Colonial decimation of Indigenous communities in Central and South America led to land abandonment and a reforestation event. In 1610, this reforestation triggered carbon dioxide sequestration and a planetary low point of CO2, a climatic signal that geologists call the “Orbis Spike.” I explore how colonization’s Orbis Spike alters the historiographical horizons for approaching musical and aural documents of the early modern to nineteenth-century Atlantic. The Orbis Spike proposal challenges musicological inquiry into the Anthropocene to be not only ecologically and musicologically sensitive, but also decolonial, antiracist, and critical of global capitalism. Accordingly, I develop Anthropocenic recontextualizations of Purcell’s Indian Queen (1695), eighteenth- and nineteenth-century musical and ethnographic representations of Native American “death songs,” and two practices of Indigenous resurgence via song: psalmody and Ghost Dance ceremonies. Recognizing how the lethality of colonization shaped the Anthropocene confronts the time of musical history with geological time, centering Anthropocene climate change as a background analytical framework for music seemingly far-removed from familiar ecomusicological themes. Ultimately, this article demonstrates Anthropocene stakes for early modern music studies and foregrounds the colonial underpinnings and contemporary racial asymmetries of ecological precarity as urgent questions for musicology’s emerging engagement with the Anthropocene.