bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revolutionizing Supercapacitors with Next-Level Performance: Developing an Innovative MXene-Based Cobalt Oxide Composite Electrode for Enhanced Supercapacitive Energy Storage Applications
Authors: Batool Kiran , Rani Malika , Shafique Rubia , Rasool Faisal , Albaqami Munirah D. , Ouladsmane Mohamed , Sillanpää Mika , Arshad Mariam
Published: October 2023

Novel Co3O4/MXene nanocomposite electrode has been synthesized through an innovative co-precipitation method. Nanocomposite has a structure similar to a layered framework, with the cobalt-cobalt (Co3O4) nanosheets exhibiting dangling lattice fringe-spacing. From XRD, average crystallite size of Co3O4/MXene nanocomposite about 4.64 nm obtained. SEM reveals average grain size of 1.98 nm whereas EDS confirms presence of all constituent elements within nanocomposite. Reduced bandgap comparable to MXene evident of semiconducting nature whereas electrostatics of Co3O4 nanosheet onto MXene surfaces demonstrated by EIS resulting electron transfer rate constant value about 7.098 × 10−10
cms−1 in 0.1 M H2SO4 acidic electrolyte supporting maximum capacitance of 948.9 F g−1 in 0.1 M H2SO4 at 10 mV s−1 scan rate. These all findings suggested that this research not only advances electrode engineering but also empowers various energy storage applications from portable electronics to renewable energy systems.
Single-cell reconstruction and mutation enrichment analysis identifies dysregulated cardiomyocyte and endothelial cells in congenital heart disease
Authors: Tambi Richa , Zehra Binte , Nandkishore Sharon , Sharafat Shermin , Kader Faiza , Nassir Nasna , Mohamed Nesrin , Ahmed Awab , Abdel Hameid Reem , Alasrawi Samah , Brueckner Martina , Kuebler Wolfgang M. , Chung Wendy K. , Alsheikh-Ali Alawi , Di Donato Roberto M. , Uddin Mohammed , Berdiev Bakhrom K.
Published: October 2023

Congential heart disease (CHD) is one of the most prevalent neonatal congenital anomalies. We present a comprehensive analysis combining genomics and CHD single-cell transcriptome. Our study identifies 90 potential candidate CHD risk genes of which 6 are novel. The risk genes have heterogenous expression suggestive of multiple genes contributing to the phenotypic heterogeneity of CHD. Cardiomyocytes and endocardial cells are identified as major CHD-related cell types.
ERC-BiP Functional Protein Pathway for Assessing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Induced by SARS-CoV-2 Replication after Cell Invasion
Authors: Xue Mingshan , Lin Zhiwei , Zhang Teng , Cheng Zhangkai J. , Lin Runpei , Guo Baojun , Zeng Yifeng , Hu Fengyu , Li Feng , Zheng Peiyan , Huang Huimin , Li Ning , Zhao Qi , Sun Baoqing , Tang Xiaoping
Published: October 2023

Background. SARS-CoV-2 induces apoptosis and amplifies the immune response by continuously stressing the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) after invading cells. This study aimed to establish a protein-metabolic pathway associated with ER dysfunction based on the invasion mechanism of SARS-CoV-2. Methods. This study included 17 healthy people and 46 COVID-19 patients, including 38 mild patients and 8 severe patients. Proteomics and metabolomics were measured in the patient plasma collected at admission and one week after admission. The patients were further divided into the aggravation and remission groups based on disease progression within one week of admission. Results. Cross-sectional comparison showed that endoplasmic reticulum molecular chaperone-binding immunoglobulin protein (ERC-BiP), angiotensinogen (AGT), ceramide acid (Cer), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly increased in COVID-19 patients, while the sphingomyelin (SM) level was significantly decreased

P
 
<
 
0.05

. In addition, longitudinal comparative analysis found that the temporal fold changes of ERC-BiP, AGT, Cer, CRP, and SM were significantly different between the patients in the aggravation and remission groups

P
 
<
 
0.05

. ERC-BiP, AGT, and Cer levels were significantly increased in aggravation patients, while SM was significantly decreased

P
 
<
 
0.05

. Meanwhile, ERC-BiP was significantly correlated with AGT (r = 0.439;

P

 

<

 

0.001

). Conclusions. ERC-BiP can be used as a core index to reflect the degree of ER stress in COVID-19 patients, which is of great value for evaluating the functional state of cells. A functional pathway for AGT/ERC-BiP/glycolysis can directly assess the activation of unfolded protein reactions. The ERC-BiP pathway is closer to the intracellular replication pathway of SARS-CoV-2 and may help in the development of predictive protocols for COVID-19 exacerbation.
Haematinic and Hepatoprotective Properties of Telfairia occidentalis Fruit Mesocarp on Phenylhydrazine-Induced Anaemia in Experimental Rats
Authors: Nneoyi-Egbe Ada Francesca , Onyenweaku Eridiong , Akpanukoh Andyno , Ebai Patricia
Published: October 2023

The level and potential of iron contained in fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) has been exploited as a blood tonic; however, the potentials of some other parts of the plant are unknown. The effect of T. occidentalis fruit mesocarp (aqueous extract) on phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced anaemia in experimental rats was investigated in a bid to determine its curative properties and potential in reversing haemolytic anaemia and protection of liver health. The LD50 of the fruit extract was determined using Lorke’s method for the determination of acute toxicity. The study involved oral administration of varying doses of the extract to different groups of rats which were monitored for 24 hours. The test sample did not show any signs of toxicity at doses of 5000 mg/kg b.wt, which is the highest possible recommended dose for toxicity testing. For the evaluation of the effects of the fruit extract on haematological indices and biochemical enzyme markers in anaemic rats, 30 matured albino Wistar rats were used. The rats were divided into five groups of six rats each. Group 1 consisted of normal rats (control group), Group 2 consisted of anaemic untreated rats, and Group 3 consisted of anaemic rats treated with the standard drug Astymin, while Groups 4 and 5 were made up of anaemic rats given the extract at doses of 600 mg/kg b.wt and 1000 mg/kg b.wt, respectively. The fruit extract failed to show any significant effect in improving the haemoglobin (Hb), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphate (ALP) levels in anaemic rats but rather may have contributed to a reduction in Hb levels and an unhealthy increase in serum enzyme levels. This is indicative of the apparent inability of the aqueous extract of the T. occidentalis fruit mesocarp to reverse PHZ-induced haemolytic anaemia and may suggest a possible detrimental effect of high doses of the extract over a prolonged period.
Rare Case of Bilateral Orbital Cellulitis in an Adult, Caused by Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Balchev Georgi , Ivancheva Vesela , Gey Zehra Bahar
Published: October 2023

Orbital cellulitis is a serious, life-threatening infection, typically in paediatric patients, and its bilateral presentation in adults is atypic. We present an unusual bilateral manifestation of orbital cellulitis and abscess, caused by Enterococci in an adult patient. E. faecalis is an extremely rare cause of orbital inflammation and we found three published case reports only, all of which are unilateral and seen in children. A 51-year-old male presented with 1-week history of pyrexia, painful proptosis, periorbital swelling, and low vision of both eyes. He was diagnosed with bilateral orbital cellulitis and was treated with empiric antibiotic medication for 8 days, but symptoms persisted. MRI showed bilateral intra- and extraconal fluid-intensity collections. Microbiology was taken from the orbit and revealed Enterococcus faecalis invasion. Pus collections were drained for 1 week. Systemic and intraorbital antibiotics were administered. The patient recovered and vision returned to normal. This is a rare case of bilateral orbital cellulitis and abscesses with invasive E. faecalis infection. E. faecalis infection of the orbit is unusual and should be considered, especially if patient does not respond to empiric antibiotic therapies.
Racial Disparities in End-Stage Kidney Disease Outcomes among Asians and Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders across Geographic Residence
Authors: You Amy S. , Norris Keith C. , Kataoka-Yahiro Merle , Davis James , Page Victoria , Hayashida Glen , Narasaki Yoko , Cheng Shiuh Feng , Ng Roland , Wong Linda L. , Lee Lung-Yi , Kalantar-Zadeh Kamyar , Rhee Connie M.
Published: October 2023

Introduction: While Asian and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) patients have a high prevalence of kidney disease risk factors, there are sparse data examining their end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) outcomes. As Hawaii has high representation of Asian and NHOPI individuals, we compared their ESKD outcomes based on residence in the mainland USA versus Hawaii/Pacific Islands (PIs). Materials and Methods: Using United States Renal Data System data, we examined the impact of geographic residence in the mainland versus Hawaii/PIs on race-mortality associations among incident ESKD patients transitioning to dialysis over January 1, 2000–December 31, 2016 using Cox regression. We examined likelihood of post-dialysis kidney transplantation using Cox models and cumulative incidence curves. Results: Compared with White patients in the mainland, Asian and NHOPI patients in the mainland had lower mortality: adjusted HRs (95% CIs) 0.67 (0.66–0.67) and 0.72 (0.70–0.73), respectively. When examining Asian and NHOPI patients in Hawaii/PIs, survival benefit was attenuated in Asian and diminished to the null in NHOPI patients (ref: mainland White patients). Cumulative incidence curves comparing Asian, NHOPI, and White patients showed Asian and NHOPI patients in the mainland had the highest likelihood of transplantation, whereas NHOPI and Asian patients in Hawaii/PIs had the lowest likelihood. Conclusion: In the mainland, Asian and NHOPI patients had lower mortality versus White patients, whereas in Hawaii/PIs, this survival benefit was diminished in Asian and mitigated in NHOPI patients. NHOPI and Asian patients in Hawaii/PIs had less transplantation versus those in the mainland. Further research is needed to uncover factors contributing to differential ESKD outcomes among Asian and NHOPI patients across geographic residence.
IMPLEMENTASI PEMBIAYAAN KPR MURAHABAH DITINJAU DENGAN PSAK 102 PADA BANK MUAMALAT KCU GORONTALO
Authors: Ali Nismawati , Niswatin Niswatin , Panigoro Nurhayati
Published: October 2023

This research aims to understand the implementation of home ownership credit (KPR) using murabahah contract in accoradance with PSAK 102 (Accounting Standars) at Bank Muamalat Main Branch Office (KCU) Gorontalo. This research subject is Bank Muamalat Main Branch Office (KCU) Gorontalo, and the research with data collection techniques, including observation, interviews, and documentation. This research employs qualitativbe research analysis. In conclusion, the implementation of home ownership credit (KPR) using murabahah at Bank Muamalat Main Branch Office (KCU) Gorontalo is in accordance with PSAK 102 (Accounting Standars), but there are still some differences compared to the provisions stated in PSAK 102. The implementation at Bank Muamalat Main Branch Office (KCU) Gorontalo allows discount to be given only based on the bank’s regulations, and these discounts are not explicitly stipulated in the contract. Additionaly, providing a down payment for murabahah financing is not obligatory, as the nature of the contract changes to musyarakah if a down payment is used
PENGARUH LINGKUNGAN SOSIAL DAN POTENSI DIRI TERHADAP MINAT MELANJUTKAN PENDIDIKAN AKUNTANSI DI PERGURUAN TINGGI
Authors: Natsir Muhammad
Published: October 2023

This This study aims to examine and analyze the Social Environment and Self Potential for Interest in Continuing Accounting Education in Higher Education. This type of research is a survey, using the sampling technique of saturated sampling method. The sample in this study was 119 students of class XII, majoring in accounting at the 2nd State Vocational High School, Palu. Data collection technique by distributing questionnaires directly to respondents while the method of analysis used is multiple linear regression. The results of this study indicate that the social environment and self-potential simultaneously have a positive and significant effect on interest in continuing education of accounting in higher universities. The social environment partially has a positive and significant effect on interest in continuing education of accounting in higher universities. Self Potential partially has a positive and significant effect on interest in continuing education of accounting in higher universities.
Rediscovery and redescription of Oxycheila buestani Wiesner with the first female record and new methodology for observation of Oxycheila Dejean and Oxygonia Mannerheim (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae)
Authors: ŠAFRÁNEK ONDŘEJ , SERRANO VERÓNICA LUCÍA CABALLERO , CARRASCO JUAN CARLOS
Published: October 2023

Biodiversity within the family Cicindelidae (Coleoptera) was studied with respect to ecology in two neighbouring localities on the western slopes of the Andes in central Ecuador. Four different methods were used along two neighbouring streams. One of them, a night vision camera, was successfully used for the first time during the night observation of adults of Oxycheila Dejean, 1825 and Oxygonia Mannerheim, 1837 to record their natural behaviour. The following six species of Cicindelidae were observed together: Oxycheila affinis W. Horn, 1900, Oxycheila pearsoni Wiesner, 1999, Oxycheila brzoskai Wiesner, 1999, Oxycheila buestani Wiesner, 1999, Pseudoxycheila chaudoiri Dokhtouroff, 1882 and Oxygonia oberthueri W. Horn, 1896. The female of the rare Oxycheila buestani is described for the first time here, and the complete redescription of this species, including colour photographs of habitus, habitat and diagnostic characters, is presented.
Emigration, Social Remittances and Fiscal Policy Preferences: Experimental Evidence From Mexico
Authors: López García Ana Isabel , Berens Sarah , Maydom Barry
Published: October 2023

How does emigration affect tax preferences in migrant-sending countries? Experiencing public services in a high tax-capacity destination may reduce support for tax increases by throwing fiscal failure at home into stark relief (the socialization hypothesis). Alternatively, migrants’ exclusion from certain public services may increase desire to fund these services in migrant origin countries (the exclusion hypothesis). We test these competing hypotheses with an online survey experiment in Mexico and explore variation in US healthcare access on fiscal policy preferences of migrant households. Migrant households, especially those with returned migrant members, are more supportive of taxation when tax revenue is earmarked for healthcare, a service to which many Mexican immigrants in the US lack access. It is migrants’ exclusion from, rather than their socialization into, the fiscal contract in destination countries that influences fiscal policy preferences in their countries of origin.
Condition monitoring for fault diagnosis of railway wheels using recurrence plots and convolutional neural networks (RP-CNN) models
Authors: Chung Kuan-Jung , Lin Chia-Wei
Published: October 2023

RPThe wheel condition monitoring when the train in operation is significant task to prevent the occurrence of unexpected event. In this study, the piezoelectric sensors were installed on the railway track to collect the dynamic voltage-and-strain signals when the train wheels pressed them. These one-dimensional time series signals were transformed to the two-dimensional Recurrence Plots (RP) images as an input data sets for two deep learning models, Xception and EfficientNet-B7. The binary classification, Normal or Faulty as the diagnostical output to indicate the health state of the train wheels in that time. Five metrics were selected to evaluate the performance of two models, namely Accuracy, Precision, Recall, Miss Rate, and AUC. The results show that both models perform the high accuracy of 91.1% to the wheel condition classification. Furthermore, EfficientNet-B7 shows better performance in Recall, Miss-rate, and AUC metrics than those of Xception to express the premium ability in defective wheel identification, which is crucial for this application. Therefore, the efficientNet-B7 is selected as a favorable machine learning classifier for the fault diagnosis of rolling stock wheels. It is significant contribution to train wheel condition monitoring and health management since it provides the effective diagnostic information for maintenance decision to decrease the occurrence of unexpected event.
A mixed-methods approach to examine farmers’ willingness to adopt protein crops
Authors: Degieter Margo , Gellynck Xavier , Goyal Shashank , Mattelin Matis , De Wulf Jana , Ott Denise , De Steur Hans
Published: October 2023

To achieve a more sustainable food system, it is necessary to shift toward more plant-based protein sources. Europe currently imports huge amounts of protein crops each year, mainly soy, which has adverse environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Therefore, there is a need to increase local production. Despite the numerous advantages associated with the cultivation of protein crops, the farmer adoption rate in Europe remains very low. This study aims to investigate farmers’ willingness to grow protein crops and the determinants of the willingness to adopt protein crops, using a standardized survey. In addition, selected protein crop farmers are interviewed to gain a deeper understanding of their motivations to grow these crops. Results indicate that risk aversion has a negative and environmental farming goals have a positive significant impact on the intention to adopt protein crops for food. Additionally, farmers with a larger farm size are more likely to adopt protein crops. The importance of these factors is also supported by the interviewed farmers. However, the latter further highlighted the importance of knowledge, profitability, consumer perceptions, and supportive policies. This study is one of the first studies exploring farmers’ perspectives on protein crop cultivation in Europe and can therefore serve as a foundation for future research and policy recommendations.
Superfood consumers’ exposure to selected heavy metals
Authors: Skrzypiec Monika , Osmala-Kurpiewska Weronika
Published: October 2023

Background: Superfood products are important components of the human diet, which may contain toxic heavy metals that have no beneficial function in the human body (e.g., cadmium, arsenic, mercury). Therefore, due to the high demand for these foods, maintaining their safety is a significant public health concern, resulting in an increasing number of studies in the field of health risk assessment due to population exposure to heavy metals. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of selected heavy metals in individual superfood products. Methods: The research material consisted of 48 samples of selected superfood products such as flaxseed, chia seed, black cumin, goji berries, buckwheat, millet, almonds, quinoa and green tea. The collected samples were subjected to the mineralization process. In addition, an exposure assessment was performed by calculating the hazard quotient (HQ). Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica software for cadmium and arsenic. Results: The highest level of cadmium was observed in a sample of flaxseed (ground)—0.35 mg/kg. Again, the highest concentration of arsenic was found in green tea bags (21.94 mg/kg). The exposure assessment showed that the risk of adverse health effects is likely to occur with the consumption of flaxseed, almonds, quinoa and green tea at both the assumed average and maximum arsenic concentrations (HQ > 1). Conclusions: There are many foods on the market that contain heavy metals. The accumulation of various heavy metals in agricultural soils and edible crops should be regularly assessed to minimize public health problems.
Dopamine in major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of in vivo imaging studies
Authors: Mizuno Yuya , Ashok Abhishekh Hulegar , Bhat Bhagyashree Bhaskar , Jauhar Sameer , Howes Oliver D
Published: October 2023

Background:

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of global disability. Several lines of evidence implicate the dopamine system in its pathophysiology. However, the magnitude and consistency of the findings are unknown. We address this by systematically reviewing in vivo imaging evidence for dopamine measures in MDD and meta-analysing these where there are sufficient studies.

Methods:

Studies investigating the dopaminergic system using positron emission tomography or single photon emission computed tomography in MDD and a control group were included. Demographic, clinical and imaging measures were extracted from each study, and meta-analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted.

Results:

We identified 43 studies including 662 patients and 801 controls. Meta-analysis of 38 studies showed no difference in mean or mean variability of striatal D2/3 receptor availability ( g = 0.06, p = 0.620), or combined dopamine synthesis and release capacity ( g = 0.19, p = 0.309). Dopamine transporter (DAT) availability was lower in the MDD group in studies using DAT selective tracers ( g = −0.56, p = 0.006), but not when tracers with an affinity for serotonin transporters were included ( g = −0.21, p = 0.420). Subgroup analysis showed greater dopamine release ( g = 0.49, p = 0.030), but no difference in dopamine synthesis capacity ( g = −0.21, p = 0.434) in the MDD group. Striatal D1 receptor availability was lower in patients with MDD in two studies.

Conclusions:

The meta-analysis indicates striatal DAT availability is lower, but D2/3 receptor availability is not altered in people with MDD compared to healthy controls. There may be greater dopamine release and lower striatal D1 receptors in MDD, although further studies are warranted. We discuss factors associated with these findings, discrepancies with preclinical literature and implications for future research.
Assessment of functional and structural brain abnormalities with resting-state functional MRI in patients with vestibular neuronitis
Authors: Cheng QiChao , Ren AnLi , Han JingYang , Jin XinJuan , Pylypenko Dmytro , Yu DeXin , Wang XiZhen
Published: October 2023

Background

Vestibular neuritis (VN) is a disorder manifesting as acute, isolated, spontaneous vertigo. There are few comprehensive studies on the changes in related functional and structural brain regions.

Purpose

To evaluate alterations in spontaneous neural activity, functional connectivity (FC), and gray matter volume (GMV) in patients with VN.

Material and Methods

A total of 24 patients with VN and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and three-dimensional T1-weighted anatomical imaging. We calculated the amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and degree centrality (DC) to discern local brain abnormalities. The most abnormal brain region was selected as the region of interest (ROI) for FC analysis based on ALFF and ReHo values after Bonferroni correction. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to assess differences in GMV.

Results

Patients with VN, compared to healthy controls, showed increased ALFF ( P < 0.001), ReHo values ( P = 0.002, <0.001), and DC ( P = 0.013) in the left lingual gyrus and right postcentral gyrus. FC analysis demonstrated enhanced connectivity between the left lingual gyrus and the left superior frontal gyrus, and decreased connectivity with the right insula gyrus, right and left supramarginal gyrus ( P = 0.012, 0.004, <0.001, 0.014). In addition, GMV was reduced in the bilateral caudate ( P = 0.022, 0.014).

Conclusions

Patients with VN exhibit abnormal spontaneous neural activity and changes in ALFF, ReHo, DC, GMV, and FC. Understanding these functional and structural brain abnormalities may elucidate the underlying mechanisms of VN.
Atypical chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy with ophthalmoplegia and anti-sulfatide IgM positivity
Authors: Chen Li , Zhang Yanjun , Qin Nan , Han Ranran , Li Yuwang
Published: October 2023

Background

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a heterogeneous group of chronic immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathies. The clinical presentation of CIDP is mainly characterized by a classic peripheral demyelinating sensory-motor type and persists for a minimum of 2 months. However, CIDP may also present with atypical symptoms. Case presentation: This report presents the case of a patient with CIDP with ophthalmoplegia and anti-sulfatide IgM antibodies. Maintenance intravenous immunoglobulin and glucocorticoid therapies were administered to the patient in accordance with the clinical, laboratory, and electrophysiological findings, which were indicative of CIDP. The treatment partially improved the symptoms, and no recurrence was detected throughout the 3-month monitoring phase.

Conclusions

This study combines a retrospective analysis and a literature review to explore the possible mechanism of CIDP.
Low-velocity impact and compression after impact behaviour of nanoparticles modified polymer composites
Authors: Elamvazhudi B , Gopalakannan S
Published: October 2023

Optimizing the impact properties of polymer composites is essential in aircraft industries. Hybridization of fibres is one of the efficient methods to enhance the impact properties of polymer composites. Dispersion of nanoparticles into epoxy resin improves the toughness of composites. This study examines the low-velocity impact (LVI) behaviour of hybrid epoxy-based carbon/glass fibre-reinforced laminates. Initially, the epoxy resin was modified with 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 wt% of nanoclay and TiO2 nanoparticles using mechanical stirring followed by an ultrasonication method. To investigate the influence of stacking sequences, laminates were fabricated with (90 G/0 G/90 C)S, (90 G/0 C/90 G)S, and (90 C/0 G/90 G)S. The samples used for this study are six-ply symmetric laminates. Laminates were impacted with different impact energies between 30 and 80 J with an impact velocity of 7 m/s to generate damages. The residual strength of damaged specimens is determined using compression after the impact test. The order of stacking, fibre orientation, and the presence of nanoparticles all have a significant impact on the residual strength of laminates. By using C-scan images, layer-wise damage mechanisms were identified. The specimen with (90 C/0 G/90 G)S sequence has very high damage resistance compared to other laminates.
Internet Use in Very Old Age: The Role of the Social Context and Individual Characteristics
Authors: Rennoch Gerlind , Schlomann Anna , Zank Susanne
Published: October 2023

The social context plays an important role in very old age. However, little is known about its relationship with internet use, whereas individual characteristics (e.g., sociodemographic variables, and health status) are better studied. Still, representative studies for the oldest old are missing. Therefore, this study analyzes the relationship between social context variables and individual characteristics with internet use in a representative sample of oldest old from North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany ( N = 1,862; Mage = 85.43, SDage = 4.15). Descriptive statistics reveal differences between oldest old onliners and offliners regarding their social context and individual characteristics. Logistic regression analyses show that the significant role of the social context (family and living situation, social contacts and activities) diminishes after adding individual characteristics to the model, which appear to be significantly related to internet use. The results indicate an association of social context variables and individual characteristics with internet use in very old age.
Design for Storm Surge Flooding Adaptation: Facilitating Emergency Evacuation with Adaptive Landscape Form-Based Codes
Authors: Rising Hope Hui , Newman Galen
Published: October 2023

Lack of consensus and funding led to a focus on building retrofits after storm surge flooding and collective inaction for undertaking cross-jurisdictional adaptation pathways planning. Using Seabrook, TX, United States, as a test case, this paper demonstrates the feasibility of using design games (participatory community visioning and design processes) to develop consensus-based, performance-driven, form-based codes from an adaptive landscape framework to facilitate emergency evacuation during storm surge flooding. The framework provides bottom-up mechanisms to enhance the sizes, coverages, quantities, and connectivity of multi-scalar engineered structural and nature-based solutions as a complex adaptive system to increase evacuation time and decrease flood-prone population.
SUV39H1 Inhibits Angiogenesis in Limb Ischemia of Mice
Authors: Niu Wenhao , Cao Wenyue , Wu Feng , Liang Chun
Published: October 2023

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), characterized by atherosclerosis of the peripheral arteries or even amputation, has threatened public life and health. However, the underlying mechanism remains largely obscure. SUV39H1, a histone methyltransferase, could specifically methylate lysine 9 of histone H3 and act as a repressor in transcriptional activity. The study aimed to investigate the role of SUV39H1 in limb ischemia. C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into Sham or Model groups to investigate the expression of SUV39H1 in the ischemic limbs. Then, pharmaceutical inhibition or genetic deletion of SUV39H1 in the limb ischemia mice model was performed to confirm its effect on limb ischemia. The blood perfusion was quantified by laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI). Capillary density and muscle edema were measured by CD31 immunohistochemical staining and HE staining. The expressions of SUV39H1 and Catalase were confirmed by western blot. Transcriptome sequencing of siSUV39H1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was used to explore the regulation mechanism of SUV39H1 on angiogenesis. The results showed that SUV39H1 was highly expressed in the ischemic muscle tissue of the mice. Pharmaceutical inhibition or genetic deletion of SUV39H1 significantly improved blood perfusion, capillary density, and angiogenesis in ischemic muscle tissue. Cell experiments showed that SUV39H1 knockdown promoted cell migration, tube formation, and mitochondrial membrane potential in endothelial cells under oxidative stress. The transcriptome sequencing results unmasked mechanisms of the regulation of angiogenesis induced by SUV39H1. Finally, Salvianolic acid B and Astragaloside IV were identified as potential drug candidates for the improvement of endothelial function by repressing SUV39H1. Our study reveals a new mechanism in limb ischemia. Targeting SUV39H1 could improve endothelial dysfunction and thus prevent limb ischemia.
Dalit Middle Class in Contemporary India: Various Discourses
Authors: Mallick Pratick
Published: October 2023

Dalits are the people oppressed by the Brahmins since the Vedic Age. A portion of them now belongs to the Scheduled Castes since independence. Reservation has been introduced for them in education, public employments and different tiers of elections. A tiny section of the Dalits availing these opportunities ultimately entered the middle class. But globalization diluted this opportunity for them. Moreover, Hindutva politics has been able to convince the educated young Dalits in favour of globalization as against Marxist narratives and efforts. This article addresses various discourses of Dalit middle class like its identity formation, emancipation-empowerment debates, bargains among different doctrines, rise of Hindutva politics mobilizing the Dalit middle class, a reverse caste politics mobilizing Brahmins under the authority of the Dalits with special reference to the politics of Bahujan Samaj Party and, finally, the Dalits’ demands for reservation in private sector while that in public sector is on the wane with the surge of globalization. This article is a qualitative one employing, at first, historical methodology based on secondary sources; then to authenticate and substantiate with the reality, the ethnographic surveys and interviews became necessary.
The combination of environmental, social and corporate governance factors has an important place in business today
Authors: Peari Sagi
Published: October 2023

The combination of environmental, social and corporate governance (‘ESG’) factors has an important place in business today. These factors require businesses, among other things, to protect workers, incorporate environmental considerations, ensure consumer safety, increase health benefits for employees and perhaps reduce executive bonuses to help avoid layoffs. The ESG considerations have become relevant to business models, services and products of businesses and have become inherent in investment analysis and investment decisions. Corporate boards should take them on board in their decision-making process.
Sexual Harassment Beliefs and Myth Acceptance Among Hispanic and Indigenous Farmworkers in California (USA) and Michoacán (Mexico)
Authors: Prado Kimberly Y. , Rivera-Heredia Maria Elena , McCurdy Stephen A.
Published: October 2023

We explore workplace sexual harassment (WSH) myth acceptance, bystander discomfort, and beliefs among farmworkers in California, USA, and Michoacán, Mexico. Surveys were conducted with the guidance of community advisory boards among 197 farmworkers (38 men and 59 women in California; 40 men and 60 women in Michoacán). Men and women in Michoacán had similar discomfort and myth acceptance. California women reported more discomfort than men but were similar in myth acceptance. The highest levels of myth acceptance ranged from 66 to 88%. The majority (85–90%) believed that something must be done to prevent WSH in agriculture.
Remarks on bifurcation of an inflated and extended swellable isotropic tube
Authors: Moradalizadeh Soheil , Topol Heiko , Demirkoparan Hasan , Melnikov Andrey , Markert Bernd , Merodio José
Published: October 2023

We consider a tubular membrane whose mechanical behavior is defined by a strain energy density function that combines the neo-Hookean model with the Demiray model. Both, the neo-Hookean and the Demiray models are isotropic material models, which found their application in the modeling of the mechanical behavior of biological soft tissue. This tubular membrane is subjected to an inner pressure, an axial stretch, and a change in the material volume due to swelling or deswelling. The interplay between the cylinder geometry and the loading conditions and different instability modes, namely, bulging bifurcation, bending bifurcation, and prismatic bifurcation, are studied. It is shown that a change in the material volume has a strong effect on the occurrence of these bifurcation modes because a change in the material volume may stabilize the cylinder against a particular bifurcation mode and may trigger another bifurcation mode at the same time. Despite the restriction to isotropic material behavior, this article shows that the material response to pressure, axial stretch, and material volume change is quite complex.
CHILDSTAR: CHIldren Living With Diabetes See and Thrive with AI Review
Authors: Curran Katie , Whitestone Noelle , Zabeen Bedowra , Ahmed Munir , Husain Lutful , Alauddin Mohammed , Hossain Mohammad Awlad , Patnaik Jennifer L , Lanouette Gabriella , Cherwek David Hunter , Congdon Nathan , Peto Tunde , Jaccard Nicolas
Published: October 2023

Background:

Artificial intelligence (AI) appears capable of detecting diabetic retinopathy (DR) with a high degree of accuracy in adults; however, there are few studies in children and young adults.

Methods:

Children and young adults (3-26 years) with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were screened at the Dhaka BIRDEM-2 hospital, Bangladesh. All gradable fundus images were uploaded to Cybersight AI for interpretation. Two main outcomes were considered at a patient level: 1) Any DR, defined as mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR or more severe; and 2) Referable DR, defined as moderate NPDR or more severe. Diagnostic test performance comparing Orbis International’s Cybersight AI with the reference standard, a fully qualified optometrist certified in DR grading, was assessed using the Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC), area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC), area under the precision-recall curve (AUC-PR), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values.

Results:

Among 1274 participants (53.1% female, mean age 16.7 years), 19.4% (n = 247) had any DR according to AI. For referable DR, 2.35% (n = 30) were detected by AI. The sensitivity and specificity of AI for any DR were 75.5% (CI 69.7-81.3%) and 91.8% (CI 90.2-93.5%) respectively, and for referable DR, these values were 84.2% (CI 67.8-100%) and 98.9% (CI 98.3%-99.5%). The MCC, AUC-ROC and the AUC-PR for referable DR were 63.4, 91.2 and 76.2% respectively. AI was most successful in accurately classifying younger children with shorter duration of diabetes.

Conclusions:

Cybersight AI accurately detected any DR and referable DR among children and young adults, despite its algorithms having been trained on adults. The observed high specificity is particularly important to avoid over-referral in low-resource settings. AI may be an effective tool to reduce demands on scarce physician resources for the care of children with diabetes in low-resource settings.
The use of music therapy techniques as an educational tool: A systematic review
Authors: Marcos Treceño Gonzalo , Arias Gago Ana Rosa
Published: October 2023

The use of music therapy techniques has recently extended into the educational realm to help overcome learning difficulties, support emotional management, and assist students to develop necessary social skills. This is known as educational music therapy (EMT). Current educational policies give ever greater importance to the fostering and development of core social skills and competencies as decisive factors in overall educational success. Thus, teachers are being encouraged to explore interdisciplinary and creative collaboration and to innovate and incorporate new, more active, teaching methods to enable students to meet these educational objectives. This article comprises a systematic review of 34 research studies from 13 countries concerning the use of EMT over the last 15 years. The authors have identified uses of EMT in general teaching and in music education. The PICO(C) framework was used to develop the research question and the PRISMA diagram was used to determine the criteria for exclusion or inclusion of studies for review. The results from all studies considered agree that music therapy has benefits at all contexts and levels of education. The studies examined are diverse in terms of design, application, and procedures, and music therapy and music education techniques largely coincide in their educational objectives: improving inclusion, learning outcomes, and well-being among students. In conclusion, there is a two-way process of transfer between music education and EMT, and the addition of EMT techniques as another innovative method within teachers’ repertoires could have many benefits in education. The added value can be found in the way this review relates different studies, revealing those dimensions that would benefit from further study as well as exploring the decision-making process around their potential applications.
It’s not her fault: Trust through anthropomorphism among young adult Amazon Alexa users
Authors: Fetterolf Elizabeth , Hertog Ekaterina
Published: October 2023

Voice assistants (VAs) like Alexa have been integrated into hundreds of millions of homes, despite persistent public distrust of Amazon. The current literature explains this trend by examining users’ limited knowledge of, concern about, or even resignation to surveillance. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews ( n = 16), we explore how young adult Alexa users make sense of continuing to use the VA while generally distrusting Amazon. We identify three strategies that participants use to manage distrust: separating the VA from the company through anthropomorphism, expressing digital resignation, and occasionally taking action, like moving Alexa or even unplugging it. We argue that these individual-level strategies allow users to manage their concerns about Alexa and integrate the VA into domestic life. We conclude by discussing the implications these individual choices have for personal privacy and the rapid expansion of surveillance technologies into intimate life.
When support seekers encounter unsettling responses: A dual-factor approach
Authors: Cheng Shih-Ying , Taylor Elizabeth , Hamby Sherry
Published: October 2023

Accumulating evidence indicates the multifaceted nature of social support. Although support seekers may receive help, they may also encounter upsetting responses. It remains unclear how seeking and receiving social support, when differentiated, are associated with individuals’ strengths and well-being. This study collected survey data from 357 adults recruited from the southeastern United States. We classified participants using the factors of support seeking and support received into four groups: Interconnected (high on support seeking and receiving), Tended (low on support seeking, high on support receiving), Rebuffed (high on support seeking, low on support receiving), and Isolated (low on support seeking and receiving). We then examined the differences among groups.

Findings

The study found significant differences among the four groups in measures of regulatory strengths, meaning-making strengths, interpersonal strengths, and perceived well-being. In general, the Interconnected group scored highest among the four groups, followed by the Tended group, the Rebuffed group, and lastly, the Isolated group.

Applications

The finding that the Rebuffed group did not score significantly lower than the Isolated group underscores the importance of support seeking. Individuals may benefit from the support seeking process even though they do not obtain the support needed. Social work practitioners should facilitate and optimize their clients’ support seeking, including removing clients’ barriers to support seeking and addressing clients’ negative experiences in the support seeking process. Social work researchers should measure multiple aspects of social support, including support received and support seeking.
Populism Analytical Tools to Unearth the Roots of Euroscepticism
Authors: Osuna José Javier Olivas
Published: October 2023

Populist leaders around the globe magnify pre-existing frustrations and dramatise crises to erode confidence in elites and institutions. They adapt their othering and blame attribution discourses to specific geographical realities to take advantage of local problems and prejudices. Most Eurosceptic parties apply a similar populist logic of articulation simplifying political problems, morally delegitimising their political adversaries and supranational institutions, appealing to an idealised and somewhat homogeneous notion of society as well as presenting popular sovereignty as threatened by Brussels and mainstream parties. Populism literature has developed theories and measurement tools that are very useful to explain the emergence of Eurosceptic movements and to what extent their narratives resonate with citizen’s pre-existing attitudes and/or contribute to shaping them. This article shows the value of using populism as an epistemic framework to analyse Euroscepticism and understand how parties tailor their messages (supply-side) to trigger specific beliefs and behaviours (demand-side) in the inhabitants of different geographic contexts.
Fabrication, Properties, and Stability of Oregano Essential Oil and Sodium Alginate-Based Wound-Healing Hydrogels
Authors: Iqbal Dure Najaf , Ashraf Asia , Nazir Arif , Alshawwa Samar Z. , Iqbal Munawar , Ahmad Naveed
Published: October 2023

The wound dressings fabricated by polymers and oregano essential oil (OEO) can be very effective as a hydrogel. The current study has been focused on fabricating the hydrogel membranes of oregano oil encapsulated as an antibacterial agent into sodium alginate (SA) solution by solvent casting method and then evaluated the antibacterial, antioxidant activity, and physicochemical performance of SA/OEO-based polymeric membranes. The polymeric interactions, surface morphology, water absorption capability, thermal stability, and encapsulation efficiency were investigated by FT-IR, SEM, swelling ratio, DSC, and encapsulation efficiency. The percentage encapsulation efficiency of essential oil was 40.5%. FTIR validated the presence of molecular interaction between individual components. SEM images showed a rough and porous appearance for hydrogel membranes. Moreover, DSC showed that the fabricated membranes were thermally stable. The inclusion of more content OEO decreased swelling ratios. The antioxidant test was carried out by DPPH assay and antibacterial test through disc diffusion method against microbes. The results revealed that membranes containing the highest content of OEO had more excellent antioxidant and antibacterial efficacy. Therefore, the polymeric membranes of sodium alginate loaded with oregano essential oil can be employed as an effective wound-healing candidate.
Intracranial stenting versus aggressive medical therapy for symptomatic intracranial stenosis: A meta-analysis of multicenter randomized controlled trials and an expert assessment of the current data
Authors: Doheim Mohamed F , Al-Bayati Alhamza R , Bhatt Nirav R , Lang Michael , Starr Matthew , Rocha Marcelo , Gross Bradley A. , Nogueira Raul G
Published: October 2023

Background

Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is associated with high risk of recurrent strokes despite best medical management (MM). We aimed to synthesize the evidence from randomized studies comparing intracranial stenting plus MM versus MM alone.

Methods

Comprehensive search of MEDLINE database was performed until May 2023. The data were extracted and pooled as risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

Results

We included three multicenter RCTs totaling 919 patients. As compared to MM alone, intracranial stenting was associated with statistically significant higher risks of any stroke or death (RR = 2.93, 95%CI [1.80–4.78], p < 0.0001), stroke in the same territory of qualifying artery (RR = 3.56, 95%CI [1.97–6.44], p < 0.0001), any ischemic stroke (RR = 2.22, 95%CI [1.27–3.87], p = 0.005), hemorrhagic stroke (RR = 13.49, 95%CI [2.59–70.15], p = 0.0002), and death (RR = 5.43, 95%CI [1.21–24.40], p = 0.003) within 30 days of randomization. There was a persistent lack of benefit and signals of harm at the last follow up within 1–3 years: any stroke or death (RR = 1.57, 95%CI [0.92–2.67], p =  0.1), stroke in the same territory of qualifying artery (RR = 1.84, 95%CI [0.97–3.50], p =  0.06), any ischemic stroke (RR = 1.56, 95%CI [1.11–2.20], p =  0.01), death (RR = 1.61, 95%CI [0.77–3.38], p =  0.2). The cumulative rate of stroke in the same territory of qualified artery with MM alone within the 1–3-year follow up was lower than expected, with only 47 out of the 450 (10.4%) MM alone patients suffering such events.

Conclusion

The findings from this meta-analysis do not recommend stenting as a routine care option for the broader symptomatic ICAS patient population. The rates of recurrent strokes in ICAS patients managed with aggressive MM do not seem to be as high as anticipated. Additional multicenter RCTs including safer devices, larger sample sizes, and patients at higher risk of recurrent events are warranted.