bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A bioassay method validation framework for laboratory and semi-field tests used to evaluate vector control tools
Authors: Matope Agnes , Lees Rosemary S. , Spiers Angus , Foster Geraldine M.
Published: September 2023

Vector control interventions play a fundamental role in the control and elimination of vector-borne diseases. The evaluation of vector control products relies on bioassays, laboratory and semi-field tests using live insects to assess the product’s effectiveness. Bioassay method development requires a rigorous validation process to ensure that relevant methods are used to capture appropriate entomological endpoints which accurately and precisely describe likely efficacy against disease vectors as well as product characteristics within the manufacturing tolerance ranges for insecticide content specified by the World Health Organization. Currently, there are no standardized guidelines for bioassay method validation in vector control. This report presents a framework for bioassay validation that draws on accepted validation processes from the chemical and healthcare fields and which can be applied for evaluating bioassays and semi-field tests in vector control. The validation process has been categorized into four stages: preliminary development; feasibility experiments; internal validation, and external validation. A properly validated method combined with an appropriate experimental design and data analyses that account for both the variability of the method and the product is needed to generate reliable estimates of product efficacy to ensure that at-risk communities have timely access to safe and reliable vector control products.
Social inequalities and COVID-19 mortality between neighborhoods of Bariloche city, Argentina
Authors: Perner Mónica Serena , Trotta Andrés , Bilal Usama , Acharya Binod , Quick Harrison , Pacífico Natalia , Berazategui Romina , Alazraqui Marcio , Diez Roux Ana V.
Published: September 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how intraurban inequalities are likely to reinforce health and social inequalities. Studies at small area level help to visualize social inequialities hidden in large areas as cities or regions.

Aim

To describe the spatial patterning of COVID-19 death rates in neighborhoods of the medium-sized city of Bariloche, Argentina, and to explore its relationship with the socioeconomic characteristics of neighborhoods.

Methods

We conducted an ecological study in Bariloche, Argentina. The outcome was counts of COVID-19 deaths between June 2020 and May 2022 obtained from the surveillance system and georeferenced to neighborhoods. We estimated crude- and age-adjusted death rates by neighborhood using a Bayesian approach through a Poisson regression that accounts for spatial-autocorrelation via Conditional Autoregressive (CAR) structure. We also analyzed associations of age-adjusted death rates with area-level socioeconomic indicators.

Results

Median COVID-19 death rate across neighborhoods was 17.9 (10th/90th percentile of 6.3/35.2) per 10,000 inhabitants. We found lower age-adjusted rates in the city core and western part of the city. The age-adjusted death rate in the most deprived areas was almost double than in the least deprived areas, with an education-related relative index of inequality (RII) of 2.14 (95% CI 1.55 to 2.96).

Conclusion

We found spatial heterogeneity and intraurban variability in age-adjusted COVID-19 death rates, with a clear social gradient, and a higher burden in already deprived areas. This highlights the importance of studying inequalities in health outcomes across small areas to inform placed-based interventions.
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet as a possible additional tool to be used for screening the metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) phenotype
Authors: Barrea Luigi , Verde Ludovica , Simancas-Racines Daniel , Zambrano Ana Karina , Frias-Toral Evelyn , Colao Annamaria , Savastano Silvia , Muscogiuri Giovanna
Published: September 2023

Background

The terms metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) categorize subjects with obesity based on the presence or absence of cardio-metabolic risk factors. Detecting MUO phenotype is crucial due to the high risk of cardio-metabolic complications, requiring tailored and intensive follow-up. However, diagnosing MUO is time-consuming and costly. Thus, we aimed to investigate the role of Mediterranean diet (MD) in determining MHO/MUO phenotypes and whether adherence to MD could serve as an additional screening tool for MUO phenotype.

Methods

The study population of this cross-sectional observational study consisted of 275 subjects with obesity. We assessed their lifestyle habits (physical activity and smoking habits), anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference, body mass index), blood pressure, metabolic parameters, inflammatory marker (high sensitivity C reactive protein levels), adherence to MD (by PREvención con DIetaMEDiterránea (PREDIMED) questionnaire), and MHO/MUO phenotypes.

Results

The study included 275 individuals with obesity (256F/19M; 34.0 ± 10.5 years; BMI 38.3 ± 5.95 kg/m2). Among them, 114 (41.5%) exhibited MHO phenotype, while 161 (58.5%) had MUO phenotype. MHO phenotype exhibited favorable anthropometric and cardio-metabolic profiles, characterized by lower waist circumference (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001), insulin resistance (p < 0.001), blood pressure (p < 0.001), inflammation (p < 0.001), and lipid levels (p < 0.001) compared to MUO phenotype. Notably, we found that MHO phenotype had higher adherence to MD (p < 0.001) and consumed more extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) (p < 0.001), vegetables (p < 0.001), fruits (p < 0.001), legumes (p = 0.001), fish (p < 0.001), wine (p = 0.008), and nuts (p = 0.001), while reporting lower intake of red/processed meats (p < 0.001), butter, cream, margarine (p = 0.008), soda drinks (p = 0.006), and commercial sweets (p = 0.002) compared to MUO phenotype. Adherence to MD (p < 0.001) and EVOO (p = 0.015) intake were identified as influential factors in determining the presence of MUO/MHO phenotypes. Furthermore, a PREDIMED score < 5 proved to be the most sensitive and specific cut-point value for predicting the presence of MUO phenotype (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

High adherence to MD was associated with MHO phenotype. Moreover, we suggest that a specific cut-off of the PREDIMED score could be an indicator to discriminate patients with MUO/MHO phenotypes and therefore help in identifying patients at higher cardiovascular risk who will require specific dietary intervention.
A high-throughput phenotyping method for sugarcane rind penetrometer resistance and breaking force characterization by near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Shen Yinjuan , Adnan Muhammad , Ma Fumin , Kong Liyuan , Wang Maoyao , Jiang Fuhong , Hu Qian , Yao Wei , Zhou Yongfang , Zhang Muqing , Huang Jiangfeng
Published: September 2023

Background

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is the core crop for sugar and bioethanol production over the world. A major problem in sugarcane production is stalk lodging due to weak mechanical strength. Rind penetrometer resistance (RPR) and breaking force are two kinds of regular parameters for mechanical strength characterization. However, due to the lack of efficient methods for determining RPR and breaking force in sugarcane, genetic approaches for improving these traits are generally limited. This study was designed to use near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration assay to accurately assess mechanical strength on a high-throughput basis for the first time.

Results

Based on well-established laboratory measurements of sugarcane stalk internodes collected in the years 2019 and 2020, considerable variations in RPR and breaking force were observed in the stalk internodes. Following a standard NIRS calibration process, two online models were obtained with a high coefficient of determination (R2) and the ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) values during calibration, internal cross-validation, and external validation. Remarkably, the equation for RPR exhibited R2 and RPD values as high as 0.997 and 17.70, as well as showing relatively low root mean square error values at 0.44 N mm−2 during global modeling, demonstrating excellent predictive performance.

Conclusions

This study delivered a successful attempt for rapid and precise prediction of rind penetrometer resistance and breaking force in sugarcane stalk by NIRS assay. These established models can be used to improve phenotyping jobs for sugarcane germplasm on a large scale.
Comparison of the two surgery methods combined with accelerated rehabilitation in the treatment of lateral compression type 1 pelvic fractures in the elderly
Authors: Zou Min , Duan Xin , Li Mufan , Ma Liangyu , Fang Miao , Sun Jiachen
Published: September 2023

Background

Treating lateral compression type 1 (LC1) pelvic ring injuries in older patients is controversial. This study evaluated surgical treatments combined with ERAS for treating LC1 pelvic fractures in the elderly.

Methods

In this retrospective study, patients who underwent surgery with INFIX (supra-acetabular spinal pedicle screws, and a subcutaneous connecting rod; the experimental group) or superior pubic ramus cannulated screw (the control group) fixation of LC1 pelvic fracture from January 2019 to January 2022 were reviewed. Injury radiography and computed tomography were performed to determine the Young–Burgess classification. All patients performed standardized early rehabilitation exercises after surgery and were followed up for > 12 months. After surgery, the Matta score and the visual analog scale (VAS) were evaluated, and the postoperative weight-bearing time and the length of stay (LOS) were recorded. The Barthel index and the Majeed score were evaluated at 4 months after surgery and at the last follow-up.

Results

Fifty-three patients were included. Thirty-two patients included in the experimental group had a mean age of 75.0 ± 6.2 (range, 66–86) years, and the other 21 patients in the control group had a mean age of 74.6 ± 4.6 (range, 68–83) years. The mean follow-up time was 13.1 ± 1.6 (range, 12–18) months in the experimental group and 13.4 ± 1.3 (range, 12–16) months in the control group. There were no significant differences in follow-up time between the groups (P > 0.05). The mean VAS score, time to weight-bearing, and LOS were 2.0 ± 0.7 (range, 1–3), 1.1 ± 0.3 (range, 1–2) d, and 5.8 ± 0.9 (range, 4–7) d in the experimental group and 2.3 ± 1.2 (range, 1–5), 2.5 ± 1.6 (range, 1–7) d, and 6.1 ± 1.6 (range, 5–11) d in the control group, respectively. Between the two groups, there was a significant difference in the postoperative time to weight-bearing (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in the LOS (P > 0.05). No bedrest-related complications occurred in either group. The Matta score was 90.6% in the experimental group and 90.4% in the control group (P > 0.05). At the 4-months follow-up, the experimental group had a better Barthel index and Majeed score compared with the control group, which were 86.1 ± 6.2 (range, 70–95) vs. 81.2 ± 4.1 (range, 75–90) and 86.3 ± 3.3 (range, 78–91) vs. 80.3 ± 3.9 (range, 76–86), respectively. The experimental group had better early rehabilitation effect than the control group. There was no significant difference in Barthel index and Majeed score between the two groups at the last follow-up (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Both INFIX and intramedullary superior pubic ramus cannulated screws can successfully treat LC1 pelvic fractures and reduce bed rest complications among older patients.
Late-onset cblC defect: clinical, biochemical and molecular analysis
Authors: Ding Si , Ling Shiying , Liang Lili , Qiu Wenjuan , Zhang Huiwen , Chen Ting , Zhan Xia , Xu Feng , Gu Xuefan , Han Lianshu
Published: September 2023

Background

cblC defect is the most common type of methylmalonic acidemia in China. Patients with late-onset form (>1 year) are often misdiagnosed due to heterogeneous symptoms. This study aimed to describe clinical characteristics and evaluate long-term outcomes of Chinese patients with late-onset cblC defect.

Methods

A total of 85 patients with late-onset cblC defect were enrolled. Clinical data, including manifestations, metabolites, molecular diagnosis, treatment and outcome, were summarized and analyzed.

Results

The age of onset ranged from 2 to 32.8 years old (median age 8.6 years, mean age 9.4 years). The time between first symptoms and diagnosis ranged from a few days to 20 years (median time 2 months, mean time 20.7 months). Neuropsychiatric symptoms were presented as first symptoms in 68.2% of cases, which were observed frequently in schoolchildren or adolescents. Renal involvement and cardiovascular disease were observed in 20% and 8.2% of cases, respectively, which occurred with the highest prevalence in preschool children. Besides the initial symptoms, the disease progressed in most patients and cognitive decline became the most frequent symptom overall. The levels of propionylcarnitine, propionylcarnitine / acetylcarnitine ratio, methylmalonic acid, methylcitric acid and homocysteine, were decreased remarkably after treatment (P<0.001). Twenty-four different mutations of MMACHC were identified in 78 patients, two of which were novel. The c.482G>A variant was the most frequent mutated allele in this cohort (25%). Except for 16 patients who recovered completely, the remaining patients were still left with varying degrees of sequelae in a long-term follow-up. The available data from 76 cases were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the results showed that the time from onset to diagnosis (OR = 1.025, P = 0. 024) was independent risk factors for poor outcomes.

Conclusions

The diagnosis of late-onset cblC defect is often delayed due to poor awareness of its various and nonspecific symptoms, thus having an adverse effect on the prognosis. It should be considered in patients with unexplained neuropsychiatric and other conditions such as renal involvement, cardiovascular diseases or even multiple organ damage. The c.482G>A variant shows the highest frequency in these patients. Prompt treatment appears to be beneficial.
Long non-coding RNA MIDEAS-AS1 inhibits growth and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer via transcriptionally activating NCALD
Authors: Luo Dan , Liang Yiran , Wang Yajie , Ye Fangzhou , Jin Yuhan , Li Yaming , Han Dianwen , Wang Zekun , Chen Bing , Zhao Wenjing , Wang Lijuan , Chen Xi , Jiang Liyu , Yang Qifeng
Published: September 2023

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with higher aggressiveness and poorer outcomes. Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have become the crucial gene regulators in the progression of human cancers. However, the function and underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs in TNBC remains unclear.

Methods

Based on public databases and bioinformatics analyses, the low expression of lncRNA MIDEAS-AS1 in breast cancer tissues was detected and further validated in a cohort of TNBC tissues. The effects of MIDEAS-AS1 on proliferation, migration, invasion were determined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. RNA pull-down assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were carried out to reveal the interaction between MIDEAS-AS1 and MATR3. Luciferase reporter assay, Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and qRT-PCR were used to evaluate the regulatory effect of MIDEAS-AS1/MATR3 complex on NCALD.

Results

LncRNA MIDEAS-AS1 was significantly downregulated in TNBC, which was correlated with poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in TNBC patients. MIDEAS-AS1 overexpression remarkably inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, MIDEAS-AS1 mainly located in the nucleus and interacted with the nuclear protein MATR3. Meanwhile, NCALD was selected as the downstream target, which was transcriptionally regulated by MIDEAS-AS1/MATR3 complex and further inactivated NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, rescue experiment showed that the suppression of cell malignant phenotype caused by MIDEAS-AS1 overexpression could be reversed by inhibition of NCALD.

Conclusions

Collectively, our results demonstrate that MIDEAS-AS1 serves as a tumor-suppressor in TNBC through modulating MATR3/NCALD axis, and MIDEAS-AS1 may function as a prognostic biomarker for TNBC.
Knowledge and practice of the physical activity prescription by generalists and specialist physicians of the city of Kinshasa: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Christian-Khalifa Emeka Bowamou , Aliocha Nkodila Natuhoyila , Constant Nkiama Ekisawa , Jean-Paul Divengi Nzambi , Eleuthère Kintoki Vita , Benjamin Longo-Mbenza , Jean-Réné M’buyamba-Kabangu , Bernard Kianu Phanzu
Published: September 2023

Background

The health benefits of regular physical activity (PA) are well documented. However, several people in both developed and developing countries do not meet PA recommendations. Health professionals are believed to be potential PA promoters. The purpose of this study is to gain insight into general and specialist practitioners’ knowledge, practices and PA prescription-related factors in private and public hospitals in Kinshasa.

Methods

A multicenter cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among general and specialist practitioners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s capital using a declarative and anonymous questionnaire.

Results

Overall, 40.2% of the participants were interested in their patient’s PA, 2.3% prescribed PA, and 0.9% did it correctly. Specialist physicians (SPs) prescribed PA more frequently than general practitioners (GP), and private hospital physicians prescribed PA more frequently than public hospital physicians. Five factors were independently associated with participants in prescribing PA: being in a private hospital increased the likelihood of prescribing PA by twofold (aOR, 1.83; 95% CI, 0.99–3.39; p = 0.055), being an SP increased the likelihood by sixfold (aOR, 6.22; 95% CI, 3.78–10.51; p = 0.000), being an internist increase the likelihood by sixfold (aOR, 5.81; 95% CI, 3.45–9.78; p = 0.000), being cardiologist by a factor of 12 (aOR, 12.91; 95% CI, 4.37–38.15; p = 0.000) and knowing the benefits of PA by a factor of 2 (aOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.29–4.08; p = 0.006). The most common reason given for a lack of interest in patients’ PA, followed by a lack of knowledge about current PA prescribing recommendations and a lack of time.

Conclusions

SPs and professionals in the private health sector were the most interested in their patients’ PA. A small portion of them actually prescribed it, and only a tiny proportion did it correctly. This bleak picture highlights a need to rethink the undergraduate medical curricula, especially about teachings on the importance and use of PA as a medicine in its own right in disease prevention and treatment.
Efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer with performance status 4: a case series and review of the literature
Authors: Sasaki Akinori , Fujimoto Yutaro , Inada Takashi , Ishizuka Azusa , Ehara Jun , Ogita Shin , Norisue Yasuhiro
Published: September 2023

Background

Current guidelines for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) recommend that each tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) is indicated even for driver mutation-positive patients with a poor performance status (PS). In previous studies, most patients had a PS of 2–3, but those with a PS of 4 were very few. Therefore, the efficacy of TKIs in patients with NSCLC with a PS of 4 remains unclear.

Case presentation

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of four patients with NSCLC with PS 4 treated with TKIs: an 89-year-old Japanese woman (Case 1), a 80-year-old Japanese woman (Case 2), an 50-year-old Japanese man (Case 3), and a 81-year-old Japanese woman (Case 4). Genetic alterations were epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), MET exon 14 skipping, BRAFV600E, and ROS1 proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (ROS1). One case with ROS1 fusion showed a significant response with the recovery of PS. However, in the remaining three cases (i.e., EGFR, MET exon 14 skipping, and BRAFV600E mutations), patients died despite the administration of TKIs. These three patients had to be hospitalized at the end of their life to receive treatment.

Conclusions

This is the first case series to summarize the efficacy of TKIs in patients with NSCLC with a PS of 4. Additionally, this case series poses a question concerning the indication of TKIs for older patients with a PS of 4.
Research on the development and innovation of online education based on digital knowledge sharing community
Authors: Huang Xi , Li Hongwei , Huang Lirong , Jiang Tao
Published: September 2023

Background

Digital knowledge sharing (DKS) communities have emerged as a promising approach to support learning and innovation in online higher education. These communities facilitate the exchange of knowledge, resources, and ideas among educators, students, and experts, creating opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and lifelong learning. However, the impact and role of DKS communities in online education are not well understood, and further research is needed to explore their potential benefits and challenges.

Purpose

This multi-objective qualitative study aims to investigate the impact and role of DKS communities in online higher education, identifying the factors that promote student success and the implications for the development of online education. The study collected data from 20 informants who have experienced teaching online during and after the pandemic. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The informants were selected through theoretical sampling.

Methodology

To explore the impact and role of DKS communities in online higher education, this study employed a multi-objective qualitative research method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews conducted with 20 informants who possessed experience in teaching online during and after the pandemic. The informants were selected through theoretical sampling to ensure diverse perspectives and insights. The collected data were subsequently analyzed using thematic analysis, allowing for the identification of key themes and patterns.

Findings

The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the impact and role of DKS communities in online higher education. These insights encompass various aspects, including the benefits and challenges of DKS in online education, the factors that contribute to student success, and the implications for the ongoing development and innovation of online education.

Conclusions

In conclusion, this multi-objective qualitative study sheds light on the significance of DKS communities in online higher education. It underscores their potential to enhance collaboration, innovation, and lifelong learning. The findings also emphasize the importance of addressing challenges and fostering an inclusive and supportive online learning environment. These insights inform best practices and contribute to the continuous development and innovation of online education, particularly in the post-pandemic educational landscape.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Metabolomic Pattern of Different Pituitary Stalk Lesions
Authors: Wang Linjie , Chen Xiaoxue , Liu Xiaoyan , Miao Hui , Gong Fengying , Yang Hongbo , Duan Lian , Zhu Huijuan , Sun Wei
Published: September 2023

Objective

To describe the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metabolomic pattern of pituitary stalk lesions.

Methods

CSF was collected from patients with different pituitary stalk lesions treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital: germ cell tumor (GCT, n = 27); hypophysitis (n = 10); and Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) or Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) (LCH + ECD, n = 10). The CSF metabolome profiles were characterized by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Results

There were 44 metabolites that significantly differed between patients with GCT and those with hypophysitis (P < .05). Between patients with GCT with CSF level of beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) < 5 mIU/mL and those with hypophysitis, there were 15 differential metabolites (P < .05, fold change > 1.5 or < 1/1.5). All of the metabolites had an area under the curve (AUC) above 0.7. There were 9 metabolites that significantly differed between patients with GCT and those with LCH + ECD (P < .05) and 7 metabolites had significant differences between GCT (CSF β-hCG < 5 mIU/mL) and LCH + ECD (P < .05, fold change > 1.5 or < 1/1.5). We found 6 metabolites that were significantly different between patients with hypophysitis and those with LCH + ECD (P < .05) and 5 of these had fold change more than 1.5 or less than 1/1.5. Three metabolites, 5-deoxydiplosporin, cloversaponin I, and phytosphingosine, showed excellent capabilities to differentiate the 3 disease categories. Furthermore, we identified 67 metabolites associated with clinical test results (ρ > 0.2, P < .05) and 29 metabolites showed strong correlation (ρ > 0.4, P < .05).

Conclusion

Our study is the first to systematically investigate the metabolomics of CSF in different pituitary stalk lesions. CSF metabolomics is a useful strategy for biomarker discovery.
Salivary Cortisol Response to ACTH Stimulation Is a Reliable Alternative to Serum Cortisol in Evaluating Hypoadrenalism
Authors: El-Farhan Nadia , Tennant Sarah , Rees Seren E , Evans Carol , Rees D Aled
Published: September 2023

Context

The serum total cortisol response to the ACTH stimulation test is widely used to assess adrenocortical function but is affected by changes in cortisol-binding globulin (CBG) concentration. Salivary cortisol reflects free cortisol concentrations and may offer a reliable alternative.

Objectives

(1) To establish the salivary cortisol response to ACTH stimulation in healthy volunteers and patients with altered CBG concentrations; (2) to evaluate the performance of a lower reference limit (LRL) determined in healthy volunteers in patients with suspected hypoadrenalism (SH-patients).

Design

A 250 µg ACTH stimulation test was undertaken in 139 healthy volunteers, 24 women taking an estradiol-containing oral contraceptive pill (OCP-females), 10 patients with low serum protein concentration (LP-patients), and 30 SH-patients. Salivary cortisol was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Mean and LRL of the 30-minute salivary cortisol response (mean—1.96 standard deviation) were derived from log-transformed concentrations. The LRL was applied as a diagnostic cut-off in SH-patients, with comparison to the serum response.

Results

Mean CBG concentrations (range) were 58 (42-81) mg/L, 64 (43-95) mg/L, 41 (28-60) mg/L, and 116 (84-159) mg/L in males, females, LP-patients, and OCP-females, respectively. The mean 30-minute salivary cortisol concentration was 19.3 (2.5th-97.5th percentile 10.3-36.2) nmol/L in healthy volunteers. Corresponding values were not different in OCP-females [19.7 (9.5-41.2) nmol/L; P = .59] or LP-patients [19.0 (7.7-46.9) nmol/L; P = .97]. Overall diagnostic agreement between salivary and serum responses in SH-patients was 79%.

Conclusion

Salivary cortisol response to ACTH stimulation offers a reliable alternative to serum and may be especially useful in conditions of altered CBG concentration.
The Miracle, the Awakening, and the Celebration
Authors: Medel Juan Carlos , Ortiz Pedro Hurtado
Published: September 2023

This essay reflects critically on the neoliberal Chile of the last forty years. Taking Byung-Chul Han's The Burnout Society as a frame of reference, the essay offers an analysis of the recent Chilean uprising. It argues that the revolt of October 2019 expressed a deep rejection of the existing economic model, emphasizing its cultural concomitants and questioning the practices of self-exploitation imposed by neoliberal work culture. The first part of the essay develops a critical picture of the figure of the entrepreneur, an embodiment of meritocratic ideology and cornerstone of the Chilean neoliberal project. After this, the essay proposes an argument to explain the historical forces behind the uprising and the different forms of resistance expressed since. It concludes with an invitation to rethink work as such and its role in a future postneoliberal Chile.
Paradise Lost?
Authors: Misri Deepti
Published: September 2023

This article examines the memorial aesthetics of loss in Madhulika Jalali's documentary film Ghar ka Pata (Home Address, 2021). The article examines the documentary as a memory project made by a Kashmiri Pandit filmmaker of the “1.5 generation”—a woman who left Kashmir with her family at the age of six in the wave of Kashmiri Pandit migrations that followed the beginning of armed rebellion in Kashmir. The article examines the film's memorial aesthetics and politics by attending to the archival features of the film, and shows how the film, in a conventional diasporic mode, reconstructs idealized memories of Kashmir as a “lost paradise,” animating a fading sense of home for the filmmaker and future generations of her family (and, by extension, for future generations of Kashmiri Pandits). But while Ghar ka Pata mobilizes the family's visual archive to document familial loss with great emotional and pedagogical impact, its fixation on vertical genealogical descent at the level of both blood and memory leads it to enshrine a bordered and vulnerable Kashmiri Pandit family, obscuring the violence of the family itself, ruling out a horizontal examination of Kashmiri Pandits' historical relationship to Kashmiri society at large. This in turn curtails other modes of affiliation outside the family that could be much more generative for a future of coexistence in Kashmir.
Noise-induced damage in the zebrafish inner ear endorgans: evidence for higher acoustic sensitivity of saccular and lagenar hair cells
Authors: Lau Ieng Hou , Vasconcelos Raquel O.
Published: September 2023

The three otolithic endorgans of the inner ear are known to be involved in sound detection in different teleost fishes, yet their relative roles for auditory–vestibular functions within the same species remain uncertain. In zebrafish (Danio rerio), the saccule and utricle are thought to play key functions in encoding auditory and vestibular information, respectively, but the biological function of the lagena is not clear. We hypothesized that the zebrafish saccule serves as a primary auditory endorgan, making it more vulnerable to noise exposure, and that the lagena might have an auditory function given its connectivity to the saccule and the dominant vestibular function of the utricle. We compared the impact of acoustic trauma (continuous white noise at 168 dB for 24 h) between the sensory epithelia of the three otolithic endorgans. Noise treatment caused hair cell loss in both the saccule and lagena but not in the utricle. This effect was identified immediately after acoustic treatment and did not increase 24 h post-trauma. Furthermore, hair cell loss was accompanied by a reduction in presynaptic activity measured based on ribeye b presence, but mainly in the saccule, supporting its main contribution for noise-induced hearing loss. Our findings support the hypothesis that the saccule plays a major role in sound detection and that the lagena is also acoustically affected, extending the species hearing dynamic range.
A key evolutionary step determining osmoregulatory ability for freshwater colonisation in early life stages of fish
Authors: Oto Yumeki , Kuroki Mari , Iida Midori , Ito Ryosuke , Nomura Shota , Watanabe Katsutoshi
Published: September 2023

Colonisation of freshwater habitats by marine animals is a remarkable evolutionary event that has enriched biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems. The acquisition of tolerance to hypotonic stress during early life stages is presumed to be essential for their successful freshwater colonisation, but very little empirical evidence has been obtained to support this idea. This study aimed to comprehend the evolutionary changes in osmoregulatory mechanisms that enhance larval freshwater tolerance in amphidromous fishes, which typically spend their larval period in marine (ancestral) habitats and the rest of their life history stages in freshwater (derived) habitats. We compared the life history patterns and changes in larval survivorship and gene expression depending on salinity among three congeneric marine-originated amphidromous goby species (Gymnogobius), which had been suggested to differ in their larval dependence on freshwater habitats. An otolith microchemical analysis and laboratory-rearing experiment confirmed the presence of freshwater residents only in G. urotaenia and higher larval survivorship of this species in the freshwater condition than in the obligate amphidromous G. petschiliensis and G. opperiens. Larval whole-body transcriptome analysis revealed that G. urotaenia from both amphidromous and freshwater-resident populations exhibited the greatest differences in expression levels of several osmoregulatory genes, including aqp3, which is critical for water discharge from their body during early fish development. The present results consistently support the importance of enhanced freshwater tolerance and osmoregulatory plasticity in larval fish to establish freshwater forms, and further identified key candidate genes for larval freshwater adaptation and colonisation in the goby group.
It's cool to be stressed: body surface temperatures track sympathetic nervous system activation during acute stress
Authors: Jerem Paul , Romero L. Michael
Published: September 2023

The acute stress response can be considered the primary evolutionary adaptation to maximise fitness in the face of unpredictable environmental challenges. However, the difficulties of assessing physiology in natural environments mean that comparatively little is known about how response variation influences fitness in free-living animals. Currently, determining acute stress physiology typically involves blood sampling or cardiac monitoring. Both require trapping and handling, interrupting natural behaviour, and potentially biasing our understanding toward trappable species/individuals. Importantly, limits on repeated sampling also restrict response phenotype characterisation, vital for linking stress with fitness. Surface temperature dynamics resulting from peripheral vasomotor activity during acute stress are increasingly promoted as alternative physiological stress indicators, which can be measured non-invasively using infrared thermal imaging, overcoming many limitations of current methods. Nonetheless, which aspects of stress physiology they represent remains unclear, as the underlying mechanisms are unknown. To date, validations have primarily targeted the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, when the sympathetic–adrenal–medullary (SAM) system is likely the primary driver of vasomotor activity during acute stress. To address this deficit, we compared eye and bill region surface temperatures (measured using thermal imaging) with SAM system activity (measured as heart rate variability via electrocardiogram telemetry) in wild-caught captive house sparrows (Passer domesticus) during capture and handling. We found that lower body surface temperatures were associated with increased sympathetic nervous system activation. Consequently, our data confirm that body surface temperatures can act as a proxy for sympathetic activation during acute stress, providing potentially transformative opportunities for linking the acute stress response with fitness in the wild.
Pyocyanin Biomarker Imprinted Polydopamine for Rapid and Simple Indirect Detection of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Authors: Cerezo Ethel Jarine P , Lapitan Lorico DS , Garcia Jonyl L
Published: September 2023

This paper reports the first successful preparation of pyocyanin (PYO)-imprinted polydopamine-modified glassy carbon electrodes (PDA-GCE) using potentiodynamic electropolymerization. The molecularly imprinted PDA films showed an enhanced current response to pyocyanin compared to non-imprinted polydopamine (NIP) on GCE. The MIP-GCE sensor exhibited improved sensitivity, offering a linear range of 10 µM to 100 µM (r2 = 0.993), with a low limit of detection (6.45 µM) and limit of quantitation (21.5 µM). The MIP-PDA/GCE is a sensitive, selective electrochemical sensor for PYO.
Coming Apart? Cultural Distances in the United States over Time
Authors: Bertrand Marianne , Kamenica Emir
Published: September 2023

We analyze trends in cultural distances between groups in the United States defined by income, education, gender, race, and political ideology. We measure cultural distance as the ability to infer an individual's group based on media diet, consumer behavior, time use, social attitudes, or newborn's name. Gender difference in time-use decreased between 1965 and 1995 and has remained constant since. Differences in social attitudes by political ideology, and somewhat by income, have increased over the last four decades. Whites and non-Whites have diverged in consumer behavior. For all other demographic divisions and cultural dimensions, cultural distance has been broadly constant over time. (JEL D12, D91, J15, J16, L82, Z13)
Temporal Instability of Risk Preference among the Poor: Evidence from Payday Cycles
Authors: Akesaka Mika , Eibich Peter , Hanaoka Chie , Shigeoka Hitoshi
Published: September 2023

The poor live paycheck to paycheck and are repeatedly exposed to strong cyclical income fluctuations. We investigate whether such income fluctuations affect their risk preference. If risk preference temporarily changes around payday, optimal decisions made before payday may no longer be optimal afterward, which could reinforce poverty. By exploiting social security payday cycles in the United States, we find that the poor relying heavily on social security become more risk tolerant before payday. More than cognitive decline before payday, the deterioration of mental health and relative deprivation are likely to play a role. We find similar evidence among the Japanese elderly. (JEL D81, D91, G51, I12, I32, J14, J31)
Διογκώνοντας το Ψηφιακό «Εγώ»
Authors: Αντωνοπούλου Κατερίνα
Published: September 2023

Η έλευση του Παγκόσμιου Ιστού 2.0 και η ακόλουθη εκτόξευση της δημοτικότητας των μέσων κοινωνικής δικτύωσης, ανήγαγε τη συγκρότηση της ψηφιακής ταυτότητας του υποκειμένου σε αναπόσπαστο κομμάτι της κοινωνικής ζωής. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, παρατηρούνται τάσεις υπερ-προβολής μιας επιμελημένης εκδοχής του εαυτού και μιας πλαστής εικονικής ευτυχίας, που ενίοτε τροφοδοτούν ναρκισσιστικές συμπεριφορές. Ερευνητές μελετούν την αμφίδρομη σχέση μεταξύ ναρκισσισμού και δραστηριότητας στα μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης, ενώ καλλιτέχνες της ψηφιακής τέχνης προσεγγίζουν κριτικά τις τεχνολογικά διαμεσολαβημένες κοινωνικές αλληλεπιδράσεις και τις ασυμμετρίες εξουσίας που παράγονται στο κοινωνικό διαδίκτυο. Στο παρόν άρθρο παρουσιάζεται το καλλιτεχνικό έργο inflated_ego, που εξετάζει κριτικά τα παραπάνω ζητήματα, εστιάζοντας στην υπέρμετρη προβολή μιας εξιδανικευμένης εικόνας του εαυτού στα κοινωνικά δίκτυα και τη συνεχή προσπάθεια απόσπασης θετικών αντιδράσεων από τα άλλα μέλη του δικτύου. Το έργο αποτελείται από μια οδηγούμενη-από-δεδομένα διαδραστική εγκατάσταση που αλλάζει δυναμικά, σύμφωνα με δεδομένα που ανακτά από την πλατφόρμα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης «Facebook». Στο άρθρο μελετάται η σχέση μεταξύ ναρκισσισμού και κοινωνικών δικτύων, καθώς και η σχέση μεταξύ της υπερ-προβολής του ποσοτικοποιημένου εαυτού και των στρατηγικών επιτήρησης. Στη συνέχεια παρουσιάζεται το έργο inflated_ego και γίνεται αναφορά στην εν δυνάμει συμβολή της ψηφιακής τέχνης στην ανάπτυξη κριτικής σκέψης γύρω από τα προαναφερθέντα ζητήματα.
Does the corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) reproduce in hosts other than maize?
Authors: Istchuk Ademar Novais , Da Silva Paulo Roberto , Borges Adomiro Roberto Pereira , Neves Taline Campos Nunes das , Ramos Pereira Renata , Schwertner Matheus Henrique , Ishizuka Tamylin Kaori , Pietrowski Vanda
Published: September 2023

The corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is a specialist insect vector of the corn stunting disease complex. This leafhopper has been reported from different overwintering plants, and more information is required regarding other potential Brazilian plants that may serve as reproductive hosts for this specie. The present study aimed to evaluate possible plants for leafhopper reproduction usually found near the maize fields and the D. maidis reproductive differences among maize genotypes. Three trials were conducted to assess D. maidis survival and oviposition on different maize genotypes and other potential host plants. Survival, nymph presence, oviposition, and nymph eclosion rates were observed. No nymphs were observed in plants other than maize. The number of D. maidis adults was influenced by the different maize inbreds, and the mean number of laid eggs varied across the tested maize materials. Oviposition and nymph emergence was observed in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., Poaceae] when D. maidis adults were offered only this plant as substrate, although significantly lower than those recorded on maize. Our results suggest that eliminating maize plants in the off-season could be used as a tool to reduce D. maidis reproduction, thereby minimizing the vector population size in the following season.
Proces uzgadniania pamięci w kontekście „wojny pomników” na Ukrainie w latach 2014-2022
Authors: Jędraszczyk Katarzyna
Published: September 2023

THE PROCESS OF MEMORIAL RECONCILIATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE “WAR OF MONUMENTS” IN UKRAINE IN 2014-2022

The years 2014-2022 witnessed dynamic changes in Ukraine’s social, political and symbolic landscape. In its conflict against Ukraine, the Russian Federation employed methods of hybrid warfare that extended into the realms of communication, ideology, and historical discourse. In response, Ukraine sought to emphasize the distinctiveness and divergence of its symbolic sphere. Decommunization efforts included renaming streets and systematic removal of monuments associated with the communist era. The full-scale war that commenced after February 24, 2022, added deeper meaning to this process. The removal of monuments now extends beyond those commemorating figures and events from the communist period (decommunization), and extends to the tsarist and post-1991 Russian periods (deimperalization and derussification). The current article examines the dynamics of the monument removal process and the government’s endeavors to organize and institutionalize spontaneous public action. Prior to February 2022, decommunization in Ukraine focused on the Ukrainian collective memory, but now the “war of monuments” is directed against Russia. The analysis draws upon Michael Rothberg’s concept of multidirectional memory.
Pamięć o ofiarach zagłady Romów i Sinti a współczesny stosunek do zmarłych w społecznościach polskich Romów – podobieństwa i różnice
Authors: Caban Agnieszka M.
Published: September 2023

REMEMBRANCE OF THE ROMA AND SINTI HOLOCAUST VICTIMS IN COMPARISON TO CONTEMPORARY ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE DECEASED IN POLISH ROMA COMMUNITIES – SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Many contemporary scholars of Roma communities consider the extermination of the Roma during World War II as foundational to their contemporary collective identity. The commemoration of the Holocaust, which claimed the lives of over half a million European Roma and Sinti individuals, accounting for approximately 70% of their population, has now evolved into a transnational tradition that involves culturally diverse Roma communities around the world. This article aims to compare the commemoration of Holocaust victims with contemporary rituals associated with honoring the deceased in Polish Roma communities. By examining the similarities and differences between these practices, the article seeks to explore their underlying origins. In doing so, it contrasts the experience of postmemory, inherited from previous generations, with the current remembrance of the deceased in present-day contexts.
Drugie życie Ksawerego Pruszyńskiego: wokół hiszpańskiej recepcji W czerwonej Hiszpanii
Authors: Gaszyńska-Magiera Małgorzata
Published: September 2023

THE SECOND LIFE OF KSAWERY PRUSZYŃSKI: SPANISH RECEPTION OF EN LA ESPAÑA ROJA

The article presents the context of the Spanish edition of the Ksawery Pruszyński’s collection of reportages, En la España roja, written during the writer’s trip to Spain as a press correspondent in 1936, in the early months of the civil war. Despite the passage of time, Pruszyński’s observations still hold interest and offer insight to the Spanish reading public. The aim of the article is to examine how the ongoing debates surrounding the Spanish Civil War, intertwined with postmemorial discourses, influence both the publisher’s presentation of the book and its reception by critics. To accomplish this, the paratexts of the Spanish edition of Pruszyński’s work will be discussed.
Mój ból jest większy niż twój
Authors: Śmietana Marta
Published: September 2023

MY PAIN IS GREATER THAN YOURS: THE PROCESS OF COMMEMORATING KL PLASZOW

This article presents an accompanying description of the process involved in commemorating the former labor and concentration camp, Plaszow. The actors involved primarily differ in the function they desire to attribute to the memorial, while the strong emotions accompanying them are primarily a consequence of the process’s underlying cause – death ingrained in the post-camp landscape. Engagement in the process evokes suffering, which limits the possibilities for dialogue surrounding commemoration. Recently, the appointment of a caretaker for the site of memory, the KL Plaszow Museum, has proven to be the most influential factor in the dynamics of the process. Given that the museum is an enduring institution, there is now a strong need to explore new forms of mediation that facilitate understanding. In the author’s view, specialists in culture studies, with their expert competencies, can serve as neutral intermediaries bridging the diverse expectations of the actors.
¿Abandonar la revolución o tejer la paz? Migración sur-sur, socialismo y geopolítica decolonial feminista en Suramérica
Authors: Courtheyn Christopher
Published: September 2023

El presente artículo presenta una geopolítica feminista de la migración venezolana a Colombia sobre venezolanas y venezolanos que, huyendo de la Revolución Bolivariana, se enfrentan a la discriminación y la violencia al buscar establecerse en la Colombia capitalista, sumida en el contexto de un proceso de paz fallido hasta ahora. Los conflictos de migración y nacionalidad permean nuestro orden global de Estados nación soberanos, tanto en las migraciones Norte-Sur como en el sur global, mientras que la feminización y la racialización de los migrantes dividen a las clases subalternas y facilitan la explotación capitalista. Sin embargo, este artículo busca dilucidar las solidaridades internacionales y las luchas por la paz en las organizaciones comunitarias de los migrantes. Iniciativas sociales en la frontera colombo-venezolana —la organización Tejedores de Paz y la Fundación Horizonte de Juventud— unen a inmigrantes de Venezuela con poblaciones colombianas desplazadas internamente o empobrecidas para generar territorios de resistencia contra la xenofobia, el patriarcado y la pobreza. Al demostrar la utilidad de la metodología de la geopolítica decolonial feminista, sigo la reconfiguración del espíritu de la revolución sociopolítica en Suramérica a través de la naciente forma de socialismo feminista no estatal.