bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Death Denial in Bengali Cinema: A Terror Management Analysis of Srijit Mukherji’s Baishe Srabon and Hemlock Society
Authors: Ferdous Reffat , Kareem Saiyeed Shahjada Al
Published: March 2023

Everything that human beings do from the time of their birth, is a way for them to deny the inevitability of their death. A person adopts a myriad of ways to transcend the fear of death from their life and consciousness. This paper examines how the artistic medium of Bengali cinema provides insights into this existential issue and offers ways to overcome anxieties associated with human decay. Employing the Terror Management Theory (TMT) and film narratology, the study analyses two of Srijit Mukherji’s films, Baishe Srabon (2011) and Hemlock Society (2012), that involve plots where the characters explicitly encounter the fear of death. Both films substantiate TMT’s stance that humans seek immortality by establishing a “cultural worldview” and “self-esteem”, which provide individuals with an illusion of symbolic existence that will last even after their death.
Social Science Review, Vol. 38(2), December 2021 Page 159-174
Importance of Addressing Structural Break While Estimating Fisher Effect Hypothesis: A Time Series Analysis of Bangladesh
Authors: Siddiqua Salina , Sultana Nazneen
Published: March 2023

Fisher Equation, asserted by Irving Fisher in his celebrated book ‘The Theory of Interest’, reveals that nominal interest rate adjusts with the inflation rate at the same rate in order to keep real interest rate constant. Using yearly time series data from Bangladesh for the period 1987 – 2020, this paper tested the validity of the Fisher effect considering the variables- Nominal Interest Rate (Advance Rate), Real Interest Rate and Inflation Rate. With a view to rationalizing the existence of structural break, Clemente - Montanes – Reyes (1998) unit root test was performed to identify the integration order of the variables of interest. After controlling structural break, Gregory- Hansen (1996) cointegration test applied for detecting the long run relationship by adopting ARDL framework. As the results revealed, Partial Fisher effect prevails for Bangladesh in short run. More specifically, keeping the real interest constant the impact of inflation rate on nominal interest rate is 0.16 percent with a lag effect in both ARDL model but parameters are stable only when we address structural break in the model. Thus, establishing that empirical identification of short run relationship among variables and existence of Fisher effect is subject to proper consideration of structural break.
Social Science Review, Vol. 38(2), December 2021 Page 175-196
Analysing the Impact of Foreign Exchange Rate on Macroeconomic Variables in India
Authors: Rao Varun
Published: March 2023

This paper analyses the impact of foreign exchange rates on the foreign exchange reserves and the real Gross Domestic Product in India. These variables are essential for India’s external sector policy. Some basic definitions of the different kinds of exchange rates are covered in light of India’s economic context. This is followed by a literature review on the dilemma of adopting a strong or a weak exchange rate policy and its implications on the economy. Presented after this is a model of the cyclical nature of currency fluctuations in an economy. Empirical evidence shows that currency depreciation causes an increase in foreign exchange reserves and economic growth. Data from the International Financial Statistics of the International Monetary Fund and World Development Indicators of the World Bank has been utilised using econometric tests and software to verify the hypothesis. Results are ascertained and concluding remarks are made thereafter. Certain limitations to the research have been described as well.
Lipschütz Ulcers: A Literature Review Based on 79 Cases
Authors: Govindan Balaji
Published: March 2023

Lipschütz ulcers (LU) are acute genital ulcers that occur in women. These ulcers are painful and cause enormous emotional stress to the affected person. It is also of the utmost important for the treating physician to differentiate LU from sexually transmitted ulcers like syphilis, herpes genitalis, and chancroid. The aetiology of LU is not known but recent studies have proposed that it is associated with viral infections, such as the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and the cytomegalovirus (CMV), as well as other bacterial infections, such as mycoplasma. Using the PubMed database, articles published between the years of 2003 and 2015 were collected. A total of 20 studies (N=79) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were selected for analysis. All the published articles were reviewed and relevant data extracted. The age range of patients included in these studies was 17 months to 79 years old. The causative organism was unknown in 50 patients (63%), EBV in 13 patients (16%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae in 4 patients (5%), CMV infections in 4 patients (5%), Mycoplasma fermentans in 3 patients (3.7%), mumps in 1 patient (1.2%), paratyphoid fever in

1 patient (1.2%), parvovirus B19 in 1 patient (1.2%), co-infection of influenza B and adenovirus in 1 patient (1.2%), and co-infection of EBV and CMV in 1 patient (1.2%). Even though viral and bacterial infections had been linked with LU in many of the patients included in these studies, the aetiology remains unknown. Hence, more research is warranted to ascertain the aetiological factors of LU.
Varicocele: A Review
Authors: Can Sener Nevzat , Nalbant Ismail , Ozturk Ufuk
Published: March 2023

The link between varicocele and infertility was first reported by Celsius in the first century AD, but it was not widely acknowledged until Tulloch and colleagues reported the improvement of sperm parameters in 26 of 30 patients undergoing varicocelectomy. The World Health Organization also reported that varicocele was present in 25% of patients with abnormal sperm parameters and 12% of patients with normal sperm parameters. Varicocele is the most frequently encountered surgical disease causing male infertility.
Analogues of Eve: Imagining a Sublime Gothic Heroine in Charlotte Dacre’s Zofloya, or the Moor
Authors: Capstick Alice , Burridge Rowan
Published: March 2023

In Zofloya, or the Moor (1806), Charlotte Dacre subverts gothic traditions by representing her heroine, Victoria, as the first sublime gothic heroine: a female protagonist who embodies and uses the sublime to empower herself without sacrificing her female identity or sexuality. Dacre challenges the gendered roles of the satanic seduction narrative which, by the nineteenth-century, had become commonplace in the Gothic and had been influenced by the version of the Fall portrayed in John Milton's Paradise Lost (1667). Although Victoria becomes victim to Satan, Dacre radically reimagines the Fall. Victoria does not Fall as a result of being overwhelmed by masculine tyranny, but because she is exposed to a more powerful sublimity than her own. Through comparison of the female characters in the novel – who each represent the existing options for characterising women in the Gothic – Dacre's critique of gothic gender roles is apparent, as she presents sublimity as the only means of achieving independence.
Augmenting Venetoclax Activity Through Signal Transduction in AML
Authors: Bouligny Ian Michael , Maher Keri Renee , Grant Steven
Published: March 2023

Venetoclax, a small-molecule B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) inhibitor, selectively eradicates leukemic stem cells (LSCs). While venetoclax has revolutionized the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), treatment failure and disease relapse are common. Mechanisms underlying venetoclax resistance are surprisingly heterogeneous. Venetoclax resistance encompasses a spectrum of genetic and epigenetic changes, with numerous pathways contributing to the upregulation of additional anti-apoptotic proteins. In this review, we address the mechanisms of venetoclax resistance in the context of signal transduction. We emphasize how aberrant cell signaling impairs apoptosis and predisposes to venetoclax failure.

Commonly activated pathways, such as FLT3, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and RAS, contribute to upregulated anti-apoptotic mediators and are frequently responsible for refractory disease or disease relapse. We highlight novel combination strategies aimed at disabling constitutively active signal transduction to augment response and overcome venetoclax resistance.
Radiation-induced Bystander Effect and Its Possible Countermeasures
Authors: Ghosh Goutam
Published: March 2023

Ionizing radiation has been indispensable to medical diagnosis. In cancer, radiation therapy or radiotherapy (RT) offers patients a better chance of survival. It destroys cancer by depositing high-energy radiation on the cancer tissues, though it may directly damage a few normal cells. Therefore, the total radiation dose is administered in fractionated modalities over weeks or months. However, experimental evidence indicates that the irradiated cancer cells subsequently release cytokines in the blood that enter into nearby unirradiated nuclei/cells through several signaling pathways and cause radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBEs) such as DNA damage, chromosomal instability, mutation, and apoptosis in them as side effects of RT. Recently, many combined therapeutic protocols consisting of a few natural and synthetic products have been proposed to minimize RIBEs. This article reviews the present understanding of RIBEs and their possible countermeasures. Besides, a new protocol of combined therapy of nanoparticle-based ion treatment (NIT) and RT to minimize RIBEs has been proposed.
UJI AKTIVITAS ANTIBAKTERI NANOPARTIKEL EKSTRAK ETANOL DAUN MATOA (Pometia pinnata J.R. Forst & G. Forst) TERHADAP BAKTERI Escherichia coli
Authors: Siregar Huzeila Nisa , Rahayu Yayuk Putri , Nasution Haris Munandar , Nasution M Pandapotan
Published: March 2023

Escherichia coli was one of the bacteria that causes diarrhea. Matoa leaves (Pometia pinnata J.R. Forst & G. Forst) ) is a plant from the Sapindaceae family and is known to have antibacterial compounds. This study aims to make ethanol extract of matoa leaves into extract nanoparticles and to determine the antibacterial activity of ethanol extract nanoparticles better than ethanol extract of matoa leaves against E. coli bacteria.

This research was conducted experimentally with free variables, namely the concentration of matoa leaf ethanol extract (KEDM 25%; KEDM 50%; and KEDM 75%), and the nanoparticle concentration of matoa leaf ethanol extract (KNDM 2.5%; KNDM 5%; and KNDM 7.5%). The bound variable was the antibacterial activity of ethanol extract and nanoparticles of ethanol extract of matoa leaves against E. coli bacteria. Nanoparticle manufacturing uses the ionic glassing method with chitosan 0.1% and Na-TPP 0.1% (1:1). The nanoparticle size characterization of the extract used a Particle Size Analyzer (PSA). Antibacterial activity test using the diffusion method of Kirby Bauer's agar.

The result of the characterization of the extract nanoparticles obtained a size of 324.97 nm. The value of the antibacterial Zone Of Inhibition (ZOI) of matoa leaf ethanol extract was 13.9 mm (KEDM 25%); 14.6 mm (KEDM 50%); and 18 mm (KEDM 75%). The antibacterial ZOI value of the ethanol extract nanoparticles was 6.6 mm (KNDM 2.5%); 7.2 mm (KNDM 5%); and 7.7 mm (KNDM 7.5%). The conclusion of this research was that matoa leaf ethanol extract can be used as an extract nanoparticle, where with a concentration of 2.5% extract nanoparticles already has antibacterial activity capability which is equivalent to half the dose of 25% ethanol extract concentration of matoa leaves, so it can be said that the extract nanoparticle preparation can reduce the dose of a drug by up to half the dose, even though it is in the resistant category compared to Tetracycline 30 μg.
Faktor yang Berhubungan Dengan Pernikahan Dini pada Remaja Putri di Desa Nanow Kecamatan Telukdalam Tahun 2020
Authors: Mouliza Nurul , Ramini Novi , Duha Sriwulandari
Published: March 2023

Early marriage is a marriage carried out by someone who is still at an early age or at an age that is still in their teens. The custom of arranged marriages still exists in Nias, North Sumatra. Many bridal couples do not know each other. Facts show that 36.7% of early marriages were asked by their parents and 0.9% were forced by their parents. The biggest impact of early marriage and forced marriage is exploitation and violence against women as wives in the household. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with early marriage for young women in Nanowa Village, Teluk District. The research design uses a quantitative method with a correlational survey approach. The population in this study were 110 young women with a sample of 52 people. Data analysis used univariate and bivariate analysis. The results of the chi-square test at a = 0.05 showed that knowledge variable was p-value 0.031 (p <0.05), economics p-value 0.000 (p <0.05), association p-value 0.005 (p<0.05), and culture-value 0.010 (p<0.05) thus showing that there is a relationship between knowledge, economy, association and culture with early marriage in adolescents. The conclusion that there is a relationship between knowledge, economy, association, and culture with marriage early childhood in young women in Nanowa Village, Telukdalam District.
Alternatif Penanganan Losses Akibat Ketidakseimbangan Beban Pada Trafo Distribusi
Authors: Novfowan Anang Dasa , Mieftah Mochammad , Kusuma Wijaya
Published: March 2023

The unbalanced load on distribution transformers is mostly caused of connecting new customers and changing patterns of electricity usage in the community. The impact of the unbalanced load is the emergence of a current flowing on the transformer neutral conductor that causes energy losses. Load balancing of distribution transformers is commonly done by technicians, but the implementation takes quite a long time and is repeated, sometimes up to 4-5 times to get the appropriate results. This is more due to less valid customer phase data. Customer phase verification is needed to accelerate the load balancing process in an effort to reduce losses in distribution transformers. With valid customer phase data, just one stage of load balancing can reduce losses by 1.06%..
Upaya Peningkatan Keandalan Penyulang dengan Manuver Jaringan
Authors: Slamet Nurhadi  , Muhammad Fahmi Hakim  , Ruwah Joto
Published: March 2023

The Tlogosari feeder was disturbed 20 times so that the reliability of system wasn’t said to be good. The purpose of this research was to make efforts to increase reliability and reduce ENS by maneuvering the network and adding CO Branch. Hoped that after these efforts the reliability level of Tlogosari Feeder will be better and ENS will be as minimal as possible. The network maneuver is carried out by delegating part of Tlogosari Feeder load when it experiences a disturbance to the nearest feeders on the condition that the total load current after the maneuver doesn’t exceed the current setting and conductor ampacity. The addition of CO Branch is based on fault data to localize fault points to reduce transformer outages. After performing network maneuvers and adding CO Branch in the sub-networks, it was found that the SAIDI and SAIFI values were improved and the ENS was reduced. Network maneuvering and addition of CO Branch are quite effective in implementing the Tlogosari Feeder.
Analisa Proteksi Gangguan Petir Pada SUTT 70 KV Antara GI Kebonagung - Polehan
Authors: Harijanto Priya Surya , Prasetyo Budi Eko
Published: March 2023

In maintaining the continuity of its distribution, routine maintenance and a good security system are needed to anticipate abnormal conditions. This study analyzes lightning disturbances along the 70 kV transmission line from the Kebonagung substation to the Polehan substation with different strike point conditions, as well as studies the condition of the equipment when a direct strike occurs in the 70 kV transmission. From the results of the analysis when a direct strike on the phase wire of 1098 kV goes to the Kebonagung Substation, the arrester will work to throw the overvoltage to the ground, so the lightning voltage that reaches the Kebonagung Substation equipment is less than 60 kV so that the equipment at the Kebonagung Substation is protected from disturbance lightning. However, if the arrester does not work when there is a direct strike, then the damaged equipment is CVT (739.26 kV), Ds Line (545.56 kV) and CT (378.274 kV), because the BIL of the equipment is smaller than the lightning voltage that reaches and causing the system to shut down. When an indirect strike of 97.068 kV goes to the Kebonagung substation, the arrester will work and the equipment at the Kebonagung substation is protected. However, if the arrester does not work, the equipment is still protected because the CVT (65.347 kV), DS Line (16.95 kV) and CT (4.230 kV), the BIL of each equipment is higher than the incoming lightning voltage.
Sustainability of dairy systems through the lenses of the sustainable development goals
Authors: Wattiaux Michel A.
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we propose to view the sustainability of dairy farming as nested within the sustainability of agriculture, a subset of the sustainability of food systems, which in turn could be construed as a subset of the national commitments of a country to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Disciplinary, multidisciplinary, and interdisciplinary research are essential to study bio-physical system components and their interactions. However, when dairy farming is viewed as nested within broader societal systems, the inclusion of human elements calls for transdisciplinary research. Few of the 17 SDGs are left untouched by the livestock sector. Research should aim at identifying relevant farm-level metrics that are in alignment with any of the 231 indicators supporting the SDGs. We used two examples to illustrate the approach. In the first, SDG 13 (Climate Action) is used as a reminder that despite the current emphasis on reducing milk carbon footprint (kg CO2-e/kg milk), the contribution of the sector to Climate Action depends on reducing its annual emission (kg CO2-e/year; indicator 13.2.2). In the second example, indicator 2.4.1 (land use for sustainable agriculture) of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) is used to illustrate the potential tradeoffs between Milk N/Intake N as a metric of nitrogen use efficiency at the cow level and metrics such as the input:output ratio of human-edible protein (Milk N/Intake of human-edible N) that prioritize the use of human-inedible feed in dairy rations as a way to enhance efficiency and circularity at the food system level.
Positive rate and risk factors of latent tuberculosis infection among persons living with HIV in Jiangsu Province, China
Authors: Zhang Yu , Lu Peng , Wu Kai , Zhou Hongxi , Yu Haibing , Yuan Ju , Dong Lang , Liu Qiao , Lu Wei , Yang Haitao , Cao Dianyi , Zhu Limei
Published: March 2023

Objective

To analyze the latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among persons living with HIV(PLWH) in Jiangsu Province, to explore the factors affecting the positive rate of LTBI, and to take appropriate measures to control tuberculosis (TB) infection.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among PLWH in Jiangsu Province from June to July 2021. All PLWH in Jiangsu Province were used as the study population. Currently, the diagnosis of LTBI lacks a “gold standard” and can only be assisted by the immunological method. In this study, Tuberculin skin test (TST), ESAT6-CFP10 test (EC), and QuantiFERON-TB gold in-tube (QFT) were used to detect the positive rate of LTBI among PLWH and to analyze their risk factors.

Results

A total of 340 prisoners were included, 89.7% were male, the median age was 38 years [Interquartile Range (IQR):32-46 years], these patients were on Antiviral Therapy (ART), and median CD4 counts was 376 (IQR: 261-496), 103 (30.3%) were positive in at least one test, LTBI by TST was 16.5%, LTBI by EC was 15.9%, LTBI by QFT was 26.2%. Univariate analysis showed the results for TST, EC, and QFT were not affected by CD4 counts (p>0.05), and multivariate analysis showed that a history of incarceration was associated with an increased risk of positive TST (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.98;95% CI,1.03-3.82), EC (aOR=2.65;95% CI,1.37-5.12) and QFT (aOR=2.01;95%CI,1.12-3.57), in addition, female gender was associated with increased risk of positive TST (aOR=3.66;95%CI,1.60-8.37) and EC (aOR=3.43;95%CI,1.46-8.07), and contact history of TB patients was associated with increased risk of TST (aOR= 2.54;95%CI,1.23-5.22) and QFT (aOR=2.03;95%CI,1.03-3.99), and ethnic minorities (aOR=0.26;95%CI,0.12-0.57), longer duration of incarceration was associated with an increased risk of positive QFT (aOR=1.12;95%CI,1.02-1.24). Conclusions Female gender, and ethnic minorities, history of incarceration, longer duration of incarceration, and contact history of TB patients are risk factors for LTBI among PLWH in Jiangsu Province, and attention should be paid to TB control in this population.
A pseudo-outbreak of Cyberlindnera fabianii funguria: Implication from whole genome sequencing assay
Authors: Fan Xin , Dai Rong-Chen , Kudinha Timothy , Gu Li
Published: March 2023

Background

Although the yeast Cyberlindnera fabianii (C. fabianii) has been rarely reported in human infections, nosocomial outbreaks caused by this organism have been documented. Here we report a pseudo-outbreak of C. fabianii in a urology department of a Chinese hospital over a two-week period.

Methods

Three patients were admitted to the urology department of a tertiary teaching hospital in Beijing, China, from Nov to Dec 2018, for different medical intervention demands. During the period Nov 28 to Dec 5, funguria occurred in these three patients, and two of them had positive urine cultures multiple times. Sequencing of rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and MALDI-TOF MS were applied for strain identification. Further, sequencing of rDNA non-transcribed spacer (NTS) region and whole genome sequencing approaches were used for outbreak investigation purpose.

Results

All the cultured yeast strains were identified as C. fabianii by sequencing of ITS region, and were 100% identical to the C. fabianii type strain CBS 5640T. However, the MALDI-TOF MS system failed to correctly identify this yeast pathogen. Moreover, isolates from these three clustered cases shared 99.91%-100% identical NTS region sequences, which could not rule out the possibility of an outbreak. However, whole genome sequencing results revealed that only two of the C. fabianii cases were genetically-related with a pairwise SNP of 192 nt, whilst the third case had over 26,000 SNPs on its genome, suggesting a different origin. Furthermore, the genomes of the first three case strains were phylogenetically even more diverged when compared to a C. fabianii strain identified from another patient, who was admitted to a general surgical department of the same hospital 7 months later. One of the first three patients eventually passed away due to poor general conditions, one was asymptomatic, and other clinically improved.

Conclusion

In conclusion, nosocomial outbreaks caused by emerging and uncommon fungal species are increasingly being reported, hence awareness must be raised. Genotyping with commonly used universal gene targets may have limited discriminatory power in tracing the sources of infection for these organisms, requiring use of whole genome sequencing to confirm outbreak events.
Causal effects for genetic variants of osteoprotegerin on the risk of acute myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Chao Peng , Zhang Xueqin , Zhang Lei , Cui Xinyue , Wang Shanshan , Yang Yining
Published: March 2023

Although since the 1980s, the mortality of coronary heart disease(CHD) has obviously decreased due to the rise of coronary intervention, the mortality and disability of CHD were still high in some countries. Etiological studies of acute myocardial infarction(AMI) and CHD were extremely important. In this study, we used two-sample Mendelian randomization(TSMR) method to collect GWAS statistics of osteoprotegerin (OPG), AMI and CHD to reveal the causal relationship between OPG and these two diseases. In total, we identified 7 genetic variants associated with AMI and 7 genetic variants associated with CHD that were not found to be in linkage disequilibrium(LD; r2 < 0.001). Evidence of a positive effect of an OPG genetic susceptibility on AMI was discovered(IVW OR = 0.877; 95% CI = 0.787–0.977; p = 0.017; 7 SNPs) and CHD (IVW OR = 0.892; 95% CI = 0.803–0.991; p = 0.033; 7 SNPs). After removing the influence of rs1385492, we found that there was a correlation between OPG and AMI/CHD (AMI: weighted median OR = 0.818;95% CI = 0.724–0.950; p = 0.001; 6SNPs;CHD: weighted median OR = 0.842; 95% CI = 0.755–0.938; p = 1.893 × 10−3; 6SNPs). The findings of our study indicated that OPG had a tight genetic causation association with MI or CHD. This genetic causal relationship presented us with fresh ideas for the etiology of AMI and CHD, which is an area of research that will continue in the future.
His-Purkinje system pacing reduced tricuspid regurgitation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation after left-sided valve surgery
Authors: Wang Ning , Zhu Tianyu , Li Yan , Cheng Guanliang , Chen Yu , Fu Yuwei , Chen Xuezhi , Liu Xiaohui
Published: March 2023

Background & objective

Tricuspid regurgitation after left-sided valve surgery was a common and difficult problem. Atrial fibrillation was considered to be an important etiology of tricuspid regurgitation. His-Purkinje system pacing (HPSP) was a physiological pacing method, which could prevent and treat heart failure and might reduce tricuspid regurgitation. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of HPSP on tricuspid regurgitation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation after left-sided valve surgery.

Methods

This study was a retrospective study. The 3-year patient review focused on those who underwent permanent cardiac pacemaker implantation of HPSP after mitral valve and/or aortic valve replacement from Jan 1st, 2019 to Jan 1st, 2022. HPSP included His bundle pacing (HBP) or left bundle branch pacing (LBBP). Clinical data collected included electrocardiogram, pacing parameters, ultrasonic cardiogram parameters and chest x-ray at implantation and 3-month follow up. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis of tricuspid regurgitation velocity were performed.

Results

A total of 44 patients was retrospectively reviewed. Eight patients who had undergone implantation of HPSP after left-sided heart valve replacement were enrolled in the study. All patients had persistent atrial fibrillation. Three of them received HBP and five underwent LBBP. At 3-month follow-up, the tricuspid regurgitation grade was significantly lower than that before implantation (P = 0.007). The tricuspid regurgitation velocity significantly decreased (317 ± 74 cm/s vs. 261 ± 52 cm/s, P = 0.022) and tricuspid valve pressure gradient (PG) reduced (42 ± 21 mmHg vs. 28 ± 10 mmHg, P = 0.040). The cardiothoracic ratio of patients was significantly lower than that before implantation (0.61 ± 0.08 vs. 0.64 ± 0.09, P = 0.017). The NYHA classification of patients also improved (P = 0.013). In multivariate liner regression analysis, the pacing ratio (β = 0.736, P = 0.037) was an independent determinant of tricuspid regurgitation velocity variation.

Conclusion

HPSP might reduce tricuspid regurgitation and improve cardiac function in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation after left-sided valve surgery.
Supporting mental health self-care discovery through a chatbot
Authors: Moilanen Joonas , van Berkel Niels , Visuri Aku , Gadiraju Ujwal , van der Maden Willem , Hosio Simo
Published: March 2023

Good mental health is imperative for one’s wellbeing. While clinical mental disorder treatments exist, self-care is an essential aspect of mental health. This paper explores the use and perceived trust of conversational agents, chatbots, in the context of crowdsourced self-care through a between-subjects study (N = 80). One group used a standalone system with a conventional web interface to discover self-care methods. The other group used the same system wrapped in a chatbot interface, facilitating utterances and turn-taking between the user and a chatbot. We identify the security and integrity of the systems as critical factors that affect users’ trust. The chatbot interface scored lower on both these factors, and we contemplate the potential underlying reasons for this. We complement the quantitative data with qualitative analysis and synthesize our findings to identify suggestions for using chatbots in mental health contexts.
Light-curing dental resin-based composites: How it works and how you can make it work
Authors: Watts David C.
Published: March 2023

Aim

Clinicians may become quite familiar with the rapid transformation of composite pastes to rigid solids as a routine phenomenon in operative dentistry. But they may still lack scientific understanding of how and why this happens. Efforts to learn scientifically about the interaction between light beams and resin-composites can significantly promote effective clinical placement of restorations. Neglect of such study can result in practical procedures of light curing that are inadequate or even seriously defective.

Method

This review addresses the underlying science and technology to elucidate how light curing works for dental resin-based composites, including—but not limited to—bulk fill types. This involves questions concerning: (a) the particle-wave understanding of light; (b) how photons can penetrate sufficiently deeply into bulk fill composites; (c) the necessary technology of LED light-curing units (LCUs); (d) the criteria for absorption of photons by photoinitiators to initiate free-radical addition polymerisation.

Conclusions

The implications for clinical practice are surveyed. These include design variables and selection criteria for LED-LCUs and guidelines on their use. This is to guide practitioners towards safe and effective light-curing procedures so that they can achieve optimal result for their patients.
Periodontal regeneration: Lessons from the periodontal ligament-cementum junction in diverse animal models
Authors: Sone Eli D. , McCulloch Christopher A.
Published: March 2023

The attachment of the roots of mammalian teeth of limited eruption to the jawbone is reliant in part on the mineralization of collagen fibrils of the periodontal ligament (PDL) at their entry into bone and cementum as Sharpey's fibers. In periodontitis, a high prevalence infection of periodontal tissues, the attachment apparatus of PDL to the tooth root is progressively destroyed. Despite the pervasiveness of periodontitis and its attendant healthcare costs, and regardless of decades of research into various possible treatments, reliable restoration of periodontal attachment after surgery is not achievable. Notably, treatment outcomes in animal studies have often demonstrated more positive regenerative outcomes than in human clinical studies. Conceivably, defining how species diversity affects cementogenesis and cementum/PDL regeneration could be instructive for informing novel and more efficacious treatment strategies. Here we briefly review differences in cementum and PDL attachment in commonly used animal models to consider how species differences may lead to enhanced regenerative outcomes.
Determination of hydraulic parameters of non-linear consolidation clay layers by type curve method
Authors: Wang Ruizhe , Li Zhaofeng , Xu Mo , Zhang Qiang , Illman Walter A. , Li Hao
Published: March 2023

The consolidation of clay layers is of great significance for groundwater environmental protection, groundwater storage utilization, and land subsidence. In this study, the governing equation for the excess pore water pressure during the non-linear consolidation process of clay layers under load conditions is obtained based on the one-dimensional non-linear consolidation theory. Analytical solutions are then derived for clay layers with single or double drainage caused by the dissipation of the excess pore water pressure. With these analytical solutions, the groundwater dynamics and deformation of the clay layer are analyzed. Correspondingly, a type curve method is proposed to calculate the hydraulic parameters of the clay layer through laboratory experiments, which verifies the reliability of the analytical solutions. The study results show that the deformation of the clay layer predicted by the non-linear consolidation theory is smaller than that predicted by the linear consolidation theory. The deformation of the clay layer increases with the increase in the thickness of the clay layer, the compressive index, and the overburden load, while it decreases with the increase in the initial void ratio and the initial effective stress. The stable time, at which the consolidation of the clay layer is completed, increases with the increase in the compression index and the thickness of the clay layer, while it decreases with the increase in the initial void ratio, the initial effective stress, and the initial hydraulic conductivity. It does not vary with the load pressure. Conclusively, the deformation prediction based on the non-linear consolidation theory is more accurate and applicable to further load pressures.
Migrant families and Children’s inclusion in culturally diverse educational contexts in Spain
Authors: Onsès-Segarra Judit , Carrasco-Segovia Sara , Sancho-Gil Juana M.
Published: March 2023

This paper builds on the European project MiCREATE, which aimed to explore and stimulate migrant children and youth reception and inclusion in educational and social systems by adopting a child-centred approach at educational practice and policy levels. We focus on the role of the students’ local and immigrant families in this often-challenging process. We have evidence of the vital role of families in children and youth education. However, research mainly focuses on teachers when discussing issues related to the reception and inclusion of migrant students in schools, often forgetting that families and children/youth are also critical elements in these processes. In this project, we have explored the roles expected and developed by local and foreign families in facilitating and accompanying schools and students on these not-always-easy paths using various methods and activities. This paper focuses on aspects of the MiCREATE project related to the crucial role of families in their children’s social and educational experiences in the host country. It is based on fieldwork carried out in 16 schools in Spain, including teachers, families, students, educational community members and policymakers. Art-based research methods, open-ended interviews and focus groups provided a broad picture of the different views and expectations of all those involved in formal education. From the thematic analysis of the participants’ contributions, results emerge around two main focuses: (1) difficulties migrant families face in getting involved in school life, such as cultural clashes, school segregation, migrant families’ environment and the difference between primary school and secondary schools; (2) more general and specific initiatives that facilitate migrant family involvement in school life.
Complex clinical manifestations and new insights in RNA sequencing of children with diabetes and WFS1 variants
Authors: Ding Yu , Li Zhe , Zhang Qianwen , Li Niu , Chang Guoying , Wang Yirou , Li Xin , Li Juan , Li Qun , Yao Ru-en , Li Xin , Wang Xiumin
Published: March 2023

Background

WFS1-related disorders involve a wide range of clinical phenotypes, including diabetes mellitus and neurodegeneration. Inheritance patterns of pathogenic variants of this gene can be autosomal recessive or dominant, and differences in penetrance present challenges for accurate diagnosis and genetic counselling.

Methods

Three probands and one elder brother from three families were systematically evaluated and the clinical data of other family members were collected from the medical history. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on the probands, and RNA sequencing was performed on four patients, their parents with WFS1 variants, and four gender- and age-matched children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Results

There were six patients with diabetes. Dilated cardiomyopathy, a rare manifestation of WFS1-related disease, was identified in one patient, along with MRI findings of brain atrophy at age 7 years and 3 months, the earliest age of discovery we know of. Whole-exome sequencing revealed five pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in the WFS1 gene, including c.1348dupC (p.His450Profs*93), c.1381A>C (p.Thr461pro), c.1329C>G (p.Ser443Arg), c.2081delA (p.Glu694Glyfs*16), c.1350-1356delinsGCA (p.His450Glnfs*26), of which 3 variants (c.1348dupC, c.2081delA, c.1350-1356delinsGCA) were novel that have not been previously reported. The differentially expressed genes were mainly associated with immune-related pathways according to the Gene Ontology enrichment analysis of the RNA sequencing data. The exon 1 region of HLA-DRB1 in two patients was not transcribed, while the transcription of the region in their parents was normal.

Conclusion

This study emphasizes the clinical and genetic heterogeneity in patients, even in the same family with WFS1 variants. MRI evaluation of the brain should be considered when WFS1-related disorder is first diagnosed.
Identification of diagnostic markers related to oxidative stress and inflammatory response in diabetic kidney disease by machine learning algorithms: Evidence from human transcriptomic data and mouse experiments
Authors: Zhong Ming , Zhu Enyi , Li Na , Gong Lian , Xu Hai , Zhong Yong , Gong Kai , Jiang Shan , Wang Xiaohua , Fei Lingyan , Tang Chun , Lei Yan , Wang Zhongli , Zheng Zhihua
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a long-term complication of diabetes and causes renal microvascular disease. It is also one of the main causes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which has a complex pathophysiological process. Timely prevention and treatment are of great significance for delaying DKD. This study aimed to use bioinformatics analysis to find key diagnostic markers that could be possible therapeutic targets for DKD.

Methods

We downloaded DKD datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Overexpression enrichment analysis (ORA) was used to explore the underlying biological processes in DKD. Algorithms such as WGCNA, LASSO, RF, and SVM_RFE were used to screen DKD diagnostic markers. The reliability and practicability of the the diagnostic model were evaluated by the calibration curve, ROC curve, and DCA curve. GSEA analysis and correlation analysis were used to explore the biological processes and significance of candidate markers. Finally, we constructed a mouse model of DKD and diabetes mellitus (DM), and we further verified the reliability of the markers through experiments such as PCR, immunohistochemistry, renal pathological staining, and ELISA.

Results

Biological processes, such as immune activation, T-cell activation, and cell adhesion were found to be enriched in DKD. Based on differentially expressed oxidative stress and inflammatory response-related genes (DEOIGs), we divided DKD patients into C1 and C2 subtypes. Four potential diagnostic markers for DKD, including tenascin C, peroxidasin, tissue inhibitor metalloproteinases 1, and tropomyosin (TNC, PXDN, TIMP1, and TPM1, respectively) were identified using multiple bioinformatics analyses. Further enrichment analysis found that four diagnostic markers were closely related to various immune cells and played an important role in the immune microenvironment of DKD. In addition, the results of the mouse experiment were consistent with the bioinformatics analysis, further confirming the reliability of the four markers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we identified four reliable and potential diagnostic markers through a comprehensive and systematic bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation, which could serve as potential therapeutic targets for DKD. We performed a preliminary examination of the biological processes involved in DKD pathogenesis and provide a novel idea for DKD diagnosis and treatment.
A state-of-the-art review of N self-doped biochar development in supercapacitor applications
Authors: Xiaorui Liu , Haiping Yang
Published: March 2023

Due to its renewability, eco-friendliness, and cost-effectiveness, biochar is a promising alternative to fossil fuel-based carbon for electrode material application in supercapacitors. However, pristine biochar often exhibits poor structure and low activity, which strongly inhibit its commercial utilization. N-doping is an efficient way to improve the electrochemical performance of biochar by enhancing the conductivity and surface wettability that further induce a pseudo-capacitance effect. Compared with external doping, the synthesis of N self-doped biochar from natural N-rich biomass without using external N precursors, which are harmful and costly, has attracted increasing attention. Few reviews of N-doped biochar applications in supercapacitors are available, and studies of N self-doped biochar are still scarce. This paper reviews the developments over the past 10 years on the preparation, activation, and application of N self-doped biochar in supercapacitors. Notably, the evolution of N-functionalities during N self-doped biochar production with or without activating agents was analyzed. The relationships between N content and the specific capacitance and the contribution of N self-doping-induced pseudo-capacitance to the total specific capacitance are also discussed. Finally, the challenges and the prospects of N self-doped biochar applications in supercapacitors are proposed.
Evaluation of the surface air temperature over the Tibetan Plateau among different reanalysis datasets
Authors: Peng Yuzhuo , Duan Anmin , Zhang Chao , Tang Bin , Zhao Xuejie
Published: March 2023

The surface air temperature (SAT) over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) not only affects the physical processes such as local evaporation, snow melting, and glacier ablation, but also has a great impact on the downstream regions and even the global climate change. The development of reanalysis data has gradually overcome the problem of sparse stations over the TP, but there are still some deficiencies. Therefore, the distance between indices of simulation and observation (DISO) method is used to calculate the distance between five reanalysis datasets (ERA5, JRA-55, ERA-Interim, MERRA2, NCEP2) and the CMFD to evaluate the abilities of different reanalysis datasets to capture the SAT over the TP in different seasons. The results indicate that ERA-Interim has a higher ability to reproduce the SAT over the TP in spring and summer, while it is ERA5 in autumn and winter. It should be noted that although the optimal reanalysis has a better performance in capturing the SAT of the TP, there are still a certain degree of deviations in their spatial fields. We further show the spatial deviation fields of SAT over the TP corresponding to the optimal reanalysis data in different seasons, and analyze the possible reasons. The result implies that the SAT deviation field is mainly related to the snow in winter and spring, while the summer SAT deviation field is mainly related to the water vapor, and the autumn is related to both the snow and the water vapor fields. Overall, the quality of reanalysis data needs to be further improved in the future.
Spatially prioritizing mitigation for amphibian roadkills based on fatality estimation and landscape conversion
Authors: Gonçalves Larissa Oliveira , Brack Ismael Verrastro , Zank Caroline , Beduschi Júlia , Kindel Andreas
Published: March 2023

Roads cause biodiversity loss and the effects of wildlife-vehicle collisions may ripple from individuals and populations to ecosystem functioning. Amphibians are threatened worldwide and, despite being particularly prone to roadkill impacts, they are often neglected in assessments. Here, we develop a sampling and analytical framework for spatially prioritizing mitigation actions for anuran amphibian roadkills based on fatality estimation and landscape conversion. The framework is composed of the six following steps: (1) pre-selection of segments to survey using the wetland coverage in the surroundings and the presence of roadkills of aquatic reptiles as a proxy for wet areas; (2) spatiotemporally replicated counts with a dependent double-observer protocol, that is, each segment is sampled multiple times by two pairs of people on foot; (3) extraction of covariates hypothesized to affect spatial and temporal variation in roadkill rates and persistence; (4) hierarchical open-population N-mixture modelling to estimate population dynamics parameters, which accounts for imperfect detection and spatiotemporal heterogeneity in removal, detection, and roadkill rates, and explicitly estimates carcass entries per time interval. (5) Assessment of land cover transition to infer landscape stability; and (6) prioritization of segments based on higher fatality rates and lower landscape conversion rates. We estimated a mean of 136 (95%CrI = 130–142) anurans roadkill per km per day in the 50 sample sites selected. The initial number of carcasses had a positive relationship with the percentage occupied by wetlands and a negative association with the percentage occupied by urban areas. The number of entrant carcass per interval was higher in the presence of rainfall and had a positive association with the wetlands cover. Carcass persistence probability was higher at night and lower in sites with high traffic volume. Ten segments (~1% of road extension) were prioritized using the median as threshold for fatality estimates and landscape conversion. It is urgent to appropriately evaluate the number of amphibians roadkilled aiming to plan and implement mitigation measures specifically designed for these small animals. Our approach accounts for feasibility (focused on sites with greater relevance), robustness (considering imperfect detection), and steadiness (less prone to loss of effectiveness due to landscape dynamics).