bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unlocking the genomes of formalin-fixed freshwater fish specimens: An assessment of factors influencing DNA extraction quantity and quality
Authors: Brino Erin E. , Schumann David A. , Rezac Calvin R. , Ellwanger Robbie J. , Osmundson Todd W.
Published: July 2023

Objective

Recent technological developments may facilitate the description of evolutionary relationships and population genetic structure as well as other information relevant to fisheries management by using readily available natural history collections. Contemporary sequence capture and short-read sequencing methods offer opportunities to analyze highly fragmented DNA from formalin-fixed specimens so long as enough DNA of sufficient quality is recovered.

Methods

We compared two protocols developed to extract DNA from formalin-fixed tissues using specimens of three freshwater fishes: the Southern Brook Lamprey Ichthyomyzon gagei, Slimy Sculpin Cottus cognatus, and Brown Trout Salmo trutta. Extractions were attempted using hot alkali digestion with and without buffer wash pretreatments to compare the DNA concentration, purity, and fragment length of DNA recovered between extraction protocols, tissue types (muscle and caudal fin tissue for Brown Trout and Slimy Sculpin), and preservation periods (5 or 7 years for Southern Brook Lamprey).

Result

Likelihood models generally did not detect DNA quantity differences between extraction protocols nor tissue types; however, 6.0–8.7× more DNA was recovered from Slimy Sculpin caudal fins than from muscle tissue. Extraction protocol had mixed effects on DNA purity; the wash protocol outperformed the no-wash protocol for Slimy Sculpin and Brown Trout, but the reverse was true for the lamprey. Purer DNA was recovered from the caudal fins; however, fragment lengths were generally greater from muscle tissue for both ray-finned species.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the best tissue for sampling may depend on the quality metric considered most important for a study's objectives and that omitting time-consuming tissue wash steps can yield DNA of quantity and quality comparable to DNA from more complex methods. Regardless of species, the DNA extracted from most samples using both protocols met quantity and quality thresholds that are likely to result in short-read sequencing success. These results provide optimism for unlocking the wealth of genetic information in natural history collections for use in fisheries management and conservation genomics.
Genitourinary infections in Australian servicewomen
Authors: O'Shea Simone D. , Pope Rod , Freire Katharine , Orr Robin , Maj Naomi Gallagher
Published: July 2023

Background

Genitourinary infections, including those associated with the urinary tract (urinary tract infection [UTI]) and vulvovaginal region, are common in women, affecting approximately one‐third of biological females. A growing female military workforce necessitates consideration of their genitourinary health risks and needs to support and enhance their occupational health, safety, and performance.

Method

The pelvic health of active‐duty servicewomen in the Australian Defense Force (ADF) was explored using an online cross‐sectional survey. For the purposes of this study, only data related to genitourinary infections were extracted. The data were descriptively analysed to provide estimates of period prevalence rates. Risk factors and prevention and management strategies utilized were identified and described.

Results

Of the 491 servicewomen who provided survey responses, 41% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 37%–46%) reported experiencing at least one UTI and 32% (95% CI: 28%–36%) reported experiencing regular symptoms of vulvovaginal irritation during their last period of active‐duty service. Service arm, length of service, and history of participation in field activities or deployment were not substantially associated with prevalence estimates. Medical assessment was the most common diagnostic strategy for UTI and antibiotics were the most common management strategy.

Conclusion

Genitourinary infections are common in female ADF personnel and may impact on occupational health and performance. Therefore, organization‐wide prevention and management approaches may be an important strategy for reducing the impact on personnel, their units and mission objectives, by reducing working days lost, utilization of health services and minimizing risks in more austere military environments.
Efficacy of KPR‐5714, a selective transient receptor potential melastatin 8 antagonist, on chronic psychological stress‐induced bladder overactivity in male rats
Authors: Watanabe Shinjiro , Miyazaki Shingo , Yumoto Yu , Kobayashi Jun‐ichi , Fujimori Yoshikazu
Published: July 2023

Aims

Chronic psychological stress aggravates lower urinary tract symptoms. Among others, water avoidance stress is a chronic psychological stressor that plays a causal role in the exacerbation and development of bladder dysfunction in rats. In this report, the effects of KPR‐5714, which is a selective transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) antagonist, on bladder overactivity induced by water avoidance stress were examined.

Methods

Male rats were subjected to water avoidance stress for 2 h per day for 10 consecutive days. The effects of water avoidance stress on voiding behavior using metabolic cages and histological bladder changes were investigated in rats. The involvement of bladder C‐fiber afferent on voiding frequency in rats exposed to water avoidance stress was assessed using capsaicin. The effects of KPR‐5714 on storage dysfunction in rats subjected to water avoidance stress were examined.

Results

In voiding behavior measurements, water avoidance stress‐induced storage dysfunction, causing a decrease in the mean voided volume and increasing voiding frequency. A comparison of bladders from normal rats and rats exposed to water avoidance stress showed no histological differences. Water avoidance stress‐induced bladder overactivity was completely inhibited by pretreatment with capsaicin. KPR‐5714 showed a tendency to increase the mean voided volume and significantly decreased the voiding frequency without affecting the total voided volume in these rats.

Conclusion

The results suggest that KPR‐5714 is a promising option for treating chronic psychological stress‐induced bladder overactivity.
Mitochondrial sourcing of interferogenic ligands and an autoantigen in human obesity‐associated metaflammation
Authors: Ghosh Amrit Raj , Bandopadhyay Purbita , Sarkar Jit , Khanna Shashi , Chaudhuri Tamonas , Tantia Om , Chakrabarti Partha , Ganguly Dipyaman
Published: July 2023

Objective

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) inflammation contributes to metabolic dysregulation in obesity. VAT recruitment and activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) through toll‐like receptor 9 (TLR9) recognition of self‐DNA, leading to induction of type I interferons, are crucial innate triggers for this VAT inflammation. It was hypothesized that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can contribute to TLR9 activation in VAT‐recruited pDCs in obesity, and this study aimed to identify the carrier protein for ligand access to TLR9 and to explore whether this also provides for a source of autoantigens in this context.

Methods

VAT samples, used for gene expression studies as well as adipose explant cultures, were collected from patients with obesity (n = 54) and lean patients (n = 10). Supernatants from human pDC cultures, treated with adipose explant culture supernatants, were used for interferon α ELISA. Venous plasma, from patients with (n = 114) and without (n = 45) obesity, was used for an ELISA for autoantibodies.

Results

MtDNA from VAT in obesity, in complex with mitochondrial transcription factor A protein (TFAM), acts as interferogenic ligands for pDCs. Humoral autoreactivity against TFAM is also induced in obesity.

Conclusions

Interferogenic ligands and an autoantigen can be sourced from dysfunctional mitochondria in VAT of humans with obesity. Further therapeutic and prognostic potential for this immune mechanism in obesity warrants exploration.
Stabilization of the chemostat system with mutations and application to microbial production
Authors: Bayen Térence , Coville Jérôme , Mairet Francis
Published: July 2023

In this article, we consider the chemostat system with species, one limiting substrate, and mutations between species. Our objective is to globally stabilize the corresponding dynamical system around a desired equilibrium point. Doing so, we introduce auxostat feedback controls which are controllers allowing the regulation of the substrate concentration. We prove that such feedback controls globally stabilize the resulting closed‐loop system near the desired equilibrium point. This result is obtained by combining the theory of asymptotically autonomous systems and an explicit computation of solutions to the limit system. The performance of such controllers is illustrated on an optimal control problem of Lagrange type which consists in maximizing the production of species over a given time period w.r.t. the dilution rate chosen as control variable.
Biomimetic construction of 3D needle‐punched CF/PEEK composites based on ladybug forewing structure for directional reinforcement
Authors: Zhou Xingyu , Dong Wenying , Zhao Shanshan , Zhang Jiacheng , Wang Shengdao , Yang Yanchao , Luan Jiashuang , Wang Guibin , Zhang Mei
Published: July 2023

3D needle‐punched CF/PEEK composites are a kind of composites with promising applications in multiple fields, such as implant materials, but their mechanical properties in the Z‐axis and interlaminar are still weak at present. In this study, a bio‐inspired reinforcement structure based on ladybug forewing was developed to achieve directed reinforcement of 3D needle‐punched CF/PEEK composites. Carbon fiber yarns were stitched into the 3D needle‐punched CF/PEEK preforms according to the set structure, and the bio‐inspired CF/PEEK composites were obtained after hot pressing. The interlaminar and in‐plane mechanical properties of the composites were investigated at different stitch lengths. The results showed that the addition of the bio‐inspired structure greatly improved the interlaminar shear strength of the composites, reaching 111.30 MPa, an enhancement of 95.06%. The in‐plane mechanical properties, including tensile, flexural, and compression, were also significantly improved to different degrees. The “structure‐effect” relationship in the bio‐inspired CF/PEEK composites was investigated, and the effectiveness of such a bio‐inspired reinforcement structure was demonstrated. This new reinforcement strategy provides a new idea for the improvement of the mechanical properties of multi‐stage carbon fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic resin matrix composites.

Highlights

The in‐plane and interlaminar mechanical properties of composites were simultaneously improved.

Up to 95.06% improvement in interlaminar shear strength.

A novel bionic strategy of directional reinforcement was developed.

The “structure‐effect” relationship in the composites was investigated.
Physiology of trans‐translation deficiency in Bacillus subtilis – a comparative proteomics study
Authors: Vázquez‐Hernández Melissa , Leedom Stephanie L. , Keiler Kenneth C. , Bandow Julia Elisabeth
Published: July 2023

trans‐Translation is the most effective ribosome rescue system known in bacteria. While it is essential in some bacteria, Bacillus subtilis possesses two additional alternative ribosome rescue mechanisms that require the proteins BrfA or RqcH. To investigate the physiology of trans‐translation deficiency in the model organism B. subtilis, we compared the proteomes of B. subtilis 168 and a ΔssrA mutant in the mid‐log phase using gel‐free label‐free quantitative proteomics. In chemically defined medium, the growth rate of the ssrA deletion mutant was 20% lower than that of B. subtilis 168. An 35S‐methionine incorporation assay demonstrated that protein synthesis rates were also lower in the ΔssrA strain. Alternative rescue factors were not detected. Among the 34 proteins overrepresented in the mutant strain were eight chemotaxis proteins. Indeed, both on LB agar and minimal medium the ΔssrA strain showed an altered motility and chemotaxis phenotype. Despite the lower growth rate, in the mutant proteome ribosomal proteins were more abundant while proteins related to amino acid biosynthesis were less abundant than in the parental strain. This overrepresentation of ribosomal proteins coupled with a lower protein synthesis rate and down‐regulation of precursor supply reflects the slow ribosome recycling in the trans‐translation‐deficient mutant.
Medical assistance in dying in Canada: A scoping review on the concept of suffering
Authors: Henry Melissa , Alias Ali , Bisson‐Gervais Vanessa , Liu Jun Yang , Dargis Luc , Gauthier Lynn , Tapp Diane , Greenfield Brian , Mishara Brian
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) has been legal in Canada since June 2016. A person can receive MAiD if their suffering cannot be relieved under conditions that they consider acceptable. Informed consent requires that the person requesting MAiD has received all the information needed to make their decision; that is, medical diagnosis and prognosis, available treatments including palliative care. The evaluation of unbearable suffering is known to be challenging as suffering is often psychological, existential, and social in nature. While interventions to relieve suffering exist, it is unclear how suffering is assessed and addressed in the literature on MAiD practice. No scoping review exists on the topic in Canada. The aim of this study was to understand how the concept of suffering was approached within the Canadian MAiD grey (GL) and scientific (peer‐reviewed) literature (SL), specifically: 1‐ How suffering is defined and assessed in the context of MAiD in Canada and 2‐ Which interventions in response to suffering are recommended within the process of obtaining informed consent for MAiD and throughout the process of MAiD itself.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted based on PRISMA‐SR guidelines. SL articles (N = 1027) were identified from a review of 6 databases and GL documents (N = 537) were obtained from the provinces of Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. Documents were analyzed using NVivo with coding by two‐raters and continuous team discussions.

Results

A multidimensional definition of suffering, akin to the concept of total pain, is used. The assessment of suffering is based upon patients' reports. Tools to aid in the assessment are not comprehensively covered. Specific interventions to address suffering were often focused on active listening and the management of physical symptoms. No specific interventions were mentioned and there was no reference to clinical practice guidelines in the grey literature to address other components of suffering. The use of a multidisciplinary approach is suggested without specifying the nature of involvement.

Conclusions

Our review indicates that published guidelines of MAID assessments could include clearer structure around the assessment and management of suffering, with suggestions of tools that may help clarify types of suffering and reference to clinical practice guidelines and interventions to holistically attend to patient suffering with an attention on non‐physical symptoms. Guidelines would benefit from clearer explanations of how members of an interdisciplinary teams could be coherently coordinated.
Ring-Shaped Plaque on the Face
Authors: Riemann Stella , Langan Ewan A. , Terheyden Patrick , Boch Katharina
Published: July 2023

Granulomatosis Miescher is a very rare, chronic, granulomatous (non-necrobiotic) disease. Clinical characteristics are a slowly centrifugally growing brownish plaques with partly yellowish parts and telangiectasias. Histology shows perivascular epithelioid cell granulomas with few giant cells and only isolated necrobiosis lesions.
Stacking Arrangement and Orientation of Aromatic Cations Tune Bandgap and Charge Transport of 2D Organic‐Inorganic Hybrid Perovskites
Authors: Lai Jing , Zhu Renlong , Tan Junjun , Yang Zhe , Ye Shuji
Published: July 2023

Chemical modifications on aromatic spacers of 2D perovskites have been demonstrated to be an effective strategy to simultaneously improve optoelectronic properties and stability. However, its underlying mechanism is poorly understood. By using 2D phenyl‐based perovskites ([C6H5(CH2)mNH3]2PbI4) as models, the authors have revealed how the chemical nature of aromatic cations tunes the bandgap and charge transport of 2D perovskites by utilizing sum‐frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy to determine the stacking arrangement and orientation of aromatic cations. It is found that the antiparallel slip‐stack arrangement of phenyl rings between adjacent layers induces an indirect band gap, resulting in anomalous carrier dynamics. Incorporation of the CH2 moiety causes stacking rearrangement of the phenyl ring and thus promotes an indirect to direct bandgap transition. In direct‐bandgap perovskites, higher carrier mobility correlates with a larger orientation angle of the phenyl ring. Further optimizing the orientation angle by introducing a para‐substituted element in a phenyl ring, higher carrier mobility is obtained. This work highlights the importance of leveraging stacking arrangement and orientation of the aromatic cations to tune the photophysical properties, which opens up an avenue for advancing high‐performance 2D perovskites optoelectronics via molecular engineering.
Film Dramaturgy: A Practice and a Tool for the Researcher
Authors: Stutterheim Kerstin
Published: July 2023

This chapter gives an overview of dramaturgy as practice and discipline. Dramaturgy has its origins in Antiquity and established itself as a theoretical and analytical approach to understand and support narrative-performative arts in the eighteenth century. After comparing the most influential roots and tradition, from its European origins to its equivalents in India and in the Arabic world, as well as considering interpretations and receptions of Aristotle’s Poetics, the chapter looks at key influential figures such as G. E. Lessing, Max Reinhardt, Max Herrmann and Bertolt Brecht. It discusses dramaturgy as a subject for higher education and its correspondence to professional practice. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of dramaturgy for the screenwriting process and, consequently, how dramaturgy can support academic analyses of time-based and narrative-performative artworks.
The MENA Region: An Economic, Energy, and Historical Context
Authors: Hafner Manfred , Raimondi Pier Paolo , Bonometti Benedetta
Published: July 2023

The chapter provides an economic, energy and historical context of the Middle East and North Africa region. Outlining the key demographic, economic and energy trends, it seeks to give a sense of the common features of the region while highlighting the great heterogeneity from an economic and energy perspective. By doing so, the chapter sets the scene on the need, capability and challenges as well as opportunities of the energy transformation in the region and its geopolitical consequences.
Low-Carbon Energy Strategies in MENA Countries
Authors: Hafner Manfred , Raimondi Pier Paolo , Bonometti Benedetta
Published: July 2023

The chapter provides an analysis of the different strategies envisaged by each MENA country regarding the low-carbon energy transformation, mainly in the field of renewable energy sources. By examining the different national strategies, the chapter outlines how they depend on different level of commitments, ambitions and preferences regarding renewable energy sources and project size. Given their high potential, all MENA countries are considering solar projects, and to some extent wind projects (for example in Morocco and Egypt). The transformation of the global energy system and the internal challenges in MENA countries are the driving engines in the energy sector of these countries, though at varying speed depending also on their hydrocarbon endowment (or lack thereof).
Data Protection Law in Germany, the United States, and China
Authors: Hornuf Lars , Mangold Sonja , Yang Yayun
Published: July 2023

This chapter examines data protection laws in Germany, the United States, and China. We describe the most important legal sources and principles of data protection and emphasize the rights of data subjects, with particular attention to personal and sensitive data. The legal frameworks for data protection on crowdsourcing platforms in the three countries show significant differences, but also some similarities. In the United States no federal omnibus regulation on the protection of personal data exists so far. The state of California recently enacted a consumer protection law similar to the GDPR. China started developing its privacy legislation after Germany and the United States, in some parts again similar to the GDPR. A characteristic of the Chinese approach is the different protection regime of personal rights with respect to private actors and to the state government. While privacy rights have expanded in the private sector, threats to privacy posed by state actors have received little attention in Chinese jurisprudence.
Privacy Statements in China, Germany, and the United States
Authors: Hornuf Lars , Mangold Sonja , Yang Yayun
Published: July 2023

This chapter investigates how crowdsourcing platforms handle matters of data protection and analyzes information from 416 privacy statements. We find that German platforms mostly base their data processing solely on the GDPR, while U.S. platforms refer to numerous international, European, and state-level legal sources on data protection. The Chinese crowdsourcing platforms are usually not open to foreigners and do not refer to the GDPR. The privacy statements provide evidence that some U.S. platforms are specific in the sense that they explicitly state which data are not processed. When we compare the privacy practices of crowdsourcing platforms with the German fintech sector, it is noticeable that pseudonymization and anonymization are, at least in Germany, used much more frequently on crowdsourcing platforms. Most privacy statements did not exhaustively clarify what personal data are shared, even though they mentioned the sharing of data with third parties.
Politics of Recognition: Heroes, Victims and the Contest over History in Post-Suharto Indonesia
Authors: O’Shea Paul
Published: July 2023

The concepts of pahlawan (hero) and korban (victim) are central to the contest over history in post-Suharto Indonesia. The first of these concepts, pahlawan, is derived from the Persian term pahlavan meaning ‘champion’. While neither the Indonesian nor the Persian term is exclusively limited to use in the context of military action, the associated connotations of strength and bravery tend to foreground a militaristic conception of heroism at the expense of contributions in other fields. In Indonesia, the state has historically been one of the key promoters of this militaristic conception of heroism. Indeed, by establishing days of commemoration such as Hari Pahlawan (Heroes Day) and official titles such as Pahlawan Nasional (National Hero), the state has ensured that the concept of the hero who defends Indonesia from internal or external threats to its security has remained a conspicuous feature of official discourse about the nation’s past.
Contestation and Coalition: The Role of Botohs in Local Political Dynamics, Tuban District, 1974–2006
Authors: Sodikin Mokhamad , Abdurakhman
Published: July 2023

A surprising, yet important, figure exists in the development of democracy in Indonesia, as it emerges from its authoritarian past. This figure is the botoh, who plays a significant role in democratic transition. Its popularity is inseparable from its expertise in mobilizing the masses in local and national political contestations through a system of cultural support networks. The term botoh comes from the Javanese language and carries the meaning of a “gambler” (Diknas, 2002). In earlier times, the term referred to gamblers in cockfighting rings. Over time, botoh has migrated from these traditional gambling arenas into the overtly political arena of village head elections. It began soon after the issuance of new regulations concerning the direct election of village chiefs (Law No. 5 of 1974).
Indoctrination in Higher Education: Guided Democracy Politics in Campus Environments, 1961–1965
Authors: Pratama Muhamad Trishadi , Iskandar Mohammad
Published: July 2023

After the Reformasi movement in 1998, Indonesia has undergone rapid democratization to replace the New Order centralistic and authoritarian government. Horizontal contestation over national issues, including heated discussion regarding national ideology: pro-Khilafah or Islamic state, and in opposition to that, “NKRI harga mati” (United Indonesia without compromise), emerged due to the widening freedom of expression. Concern regarding national ideology is heated. Thus, the government started to form policies to re-entrench state ideology, which is Pancasila (or the Five Principles), especially for the younger generation, through formal education. However, people often forget that the use of educational institutions as ideological state apparatus is relatively old. The effort of the state to control the student population has previously occurred, and students acted as agents of change considering their Indonesian history. In contrast to current Indonesia, this chapter will examine a period when democracy was no longer in the hands of the people but “under the guidance” of the state, particularly by then-President Soekarno. This phenomenon occurred when the parliamentary system was changed to a presidential system. The discussion will focus on the effect of the aforementioned shift on state policy concerning students.
Youth Visitor’s Meaning-Making During Visit to the National History of Indonesia in The Museum Sejarah Nasional: Study of Constructivist Learning
Authors: Suprayitno  , Soekardi Kresno Yulianto
Published: July 2023

Museum Sejarah Nasional (MSN/National History Museum) in the National Monument (Tugu Monas) is the first modern museum in Indonesia and was initially proposed by the first President of Indonesia, Soekarno. The museum displays its main collections as diorama, a model commonly used in the late nineteenth century because it stimulates visitors’ curiosity (cabinet of curiosity/wunderkammer) through “evocative,” “beautiful,” and “powerful” ways (Schwarzer & Sutton, 2009, pp. 1–9).
Filling the Hollow Narratives in the Presidential Museum of the Republic of Indonesia Balai Kirti
Authors: Haryanti Putri , Marwoto Irmawati
Published: July 2023

The Presidential Museum of the Republic of Indonesia, Balai Kirti (abbreviated as PMRIBK), is located within the Bogor Presidential Palace Compound. It was inaugurated on October 18, 2014, by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who first proposed ideas for the museum in 2012. As he explained, the existing museum and library at the Bogor Presidential Palace did not fulfill the standards for a historical tourism destination. At the time, he designated the Bogor Presidential Compound as the location for the PMRIBK.
Minangkabau Silek Harimau: Evolving Oral Traditions, Performance, and Choreography
Authors: Ismar Madia Patra , Purenti S. S. Pudentia Maria , Syahrial
Published: July 2023

In 2010, an Indonesian movie titledMerantauwon Best Film Award at ACTIONFEST, a festival dedicated to action films from around the world. Directed by the American Gareth Evans, this film presented a storyline based on the travels and conflicts encountered by a Minangkabau youth in his journey away from his home village in West Sumatra. The action scenes in the film used movements fromsilat, the traditional martial arts of West Sumatra, Indonesia. The leading actor, Iko Uwais, then an Indonesian unknown, became a star and went on to earn lead roles inRaid IandRaid II, both films by the same director, that also usedsilatmovements. The action scenes inMerantauthat drew so much attention were the fighting sequences choreographed following the motifs of traditional Minangkabausilat harimau(“tiger-style” fighting) movements. This genre was as yet unknown outside the martial arts scene because most of the choreography of fighting scenes in the film is based on Chinese or Japanese martial arts styles. Breaking away from that convention, the choreographer for the scenes inMerantauwas Edwel Yusri Datuk Rajo Gampo Alam, a master and teacher of traditional tiger-style silat (orsilek harimau) originating in West Sumatra. In the Minangkabau language,harimaumeans “tiger.” The word is also used in Bahasa Indonesia.
Japanese War Memory and Transnational Activism for Indonesian Survivors of Enforced Military Prostitution During World War Two
Authors: McGregor Katharine
Published: July 2023

In this chapter, I analyse activism relating to survivors of the so-called comfort women system, enforced military prostitution, during World War Two. The term ‘comfort women’ is highly problematic and considered offensive by many survivors, yet it continues to be the most commonly used term to describe survivors. The most well-known example of national-based activism from affected countries is the activism of the Korean Council. The second most active national group is probably ASCENT from the Philippines (Medoza, 2003). In recognition, however, of the transnational nature of activism on this issue, scholars have studied cooperation between Japanese and Korean activists and between Japanese and Chinese activists, and the role of the Korean diaspora in activism in the United States and Australia. In these studies, the authors have variously reflected on the bases of these transnational partnerships and the different positions of activists within them in relation to their national affiliations and new potential alliances that transcend the nation.
From Stalin to Khrushchev: The Dynamics of Soviet Union–Indonesia Relations, 1945–1964
Authors: Fahrurodji Ahmad , Zuhdi Susanto
Published: July 2023

Interest in Indonesia on the part of the Soviet Union can be traced back to Joseph Stalin’s government (1924–1953), in particular, to his last decade of leadership (1945–1953). After Indonesia’s proclamation of independence in August 1945, the struggle received a positive response from the Soviet Union. Stalin’s government supported Indonesia’s fight for freedom from the Netherlands, which wanted to regain its control after the Japanese occupation. When the Netherlands finally recognized the Republic of United States of Indonesia (RUSI) in December 1949, the Soviet Union formally recognized Indonesian sovereignty and established diplomatic relations. The first two decades played an important role in Indonesia’s formation as an independent state and in uniting its territories, particularly West Irian.
circACTA2 inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation via interacting with NF-κB in vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Bai Yang , Zhang Long , Zheng Bin , Zhang Xinhua , Zhang Hong , Zhao Anning , Yu Jing , Yang Zhan , Wen Jinkun
Published: July 2023

circACTA2 derived from the smooth muscle α-actin gene plays an important role in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotype. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in VSMC phenotypic switching. However, the mechanistic relationship between circACTA2 and NLRP3 inflammasome during vascular remodeling remains poorly understood. Here, we showed that circACTA2 was down-regulated in human intimal hyperplasia. circACTA2 overexpression in circACTA2 transgenic mice significantly decreased the neointimal hyperplasia induced by vascular injury, which is concomitant with a decrease in IL-18, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels. Gain- and loss-of-function studies revealed that circACTA2 alleviated VSMC inflammation by suppressing the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Mechanistically, circACTA2 inhibited the expression of NF-κB p65 and p50 subunits and interacted with p50, which impedes the formation of the p50/p65 heterodimer and nuclear translocation induced by TNF-α, thus resulting in the suppression of NLRP3 gene transcription and inflammasome activation. Furthermore, circACTA2 overexpression mitigated inflammation via repressing NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated VSMC pyroptosis. Importantly, employing a decoy oligonucleotide to compete with circACTA2 for binding to p50 could attenuate the expression of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1. These findings provide a novel insight into the functional roles of circACTA2 in VSMCs, and targeting the circACTA2–NF-κB–NLRP3 axis represents a promising therapeutic strategy for vascular remodeling.
Diagnosis, management and training in perineal trauma: a UK national survey of obstetricians
Authors: Roper Joanna C. , Thakar Ranee , Hurt K. Joseph , Sultan Abdul H.
Published: July 2023

Introduction and hypothesis

Perineal trauma during vaginal delivery is very common. Training in diagnosis and repair of trauma, including obstetric anal sphincter injuries, varies in the UK. We aimed to investigate the current knowledge and training received by obstetric physicians.

Methods

A national, validated survey was conducted online, using Qualtrics. The National Trainees Committee distributed the survey. It was also sent directly to consultants via email.

Results

A total of 302 physicians completed the survey and were included in the analysis. 3.9% of participants described their training in obstetric perineal trauma as “very poor” or “poor”. 20.5% said they have not received training. 8.6% of physicians practising for more than 10 years had not had training for over 10 years. 70.5% responded “somewhat agree” or “strongly agree” when asked if they would like more training. Identification of first, second, third-, and fourth-degree tears from images and descriptions was very good (more than 80% correct for all categories). Classification of other perineal trauma was less consistent, with many incorrectly using the Sultan Classification. “Manual perineal support” and “Controlled or guided delivery” were the most frequently selected methods for the prevention of obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI).

Conclusions

Training experience for physicians in obstetric perineal trauma varies. Further improvement in training and education in perineal trauma, particularly in OASI, is needed for physicians. Perineal trauma that is not included in the Sultan Classification is often misclassified.
Swelling of beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) during gaseous ammonia treatment as a function of pressure
Authors: Hackenberg Herwig , Zauer Mario , Dietrich Tobias , Wagenführ André
Published: July 2023

This paper deals with the optical observation and evaluation of the swelling of beech wood samples (Fagus sylvatica L.) during gaseous ammonia treatment. The pressure level was varied in several experiments from ambient pressure to almost saturated steam pressure at isothermal conditions at 20 °C. The initial moisture content of the wood was oven dried and also conditioned (65% RH/20 °C). All experiments were carried out in a self-developed experimental setup. It consisted of three parts: a pressure vessel with a glass pane at the top, a camera with additional lighting above it and an algorithm for the semi-automatic evaluation of the data. Parallel investigation of the maximum swelling in water of specimens of the same origin showed that ammonia leads to a higher swelling in tangential direction (up to 23%). The swell-inhibiting influence by the wood rays can be observed on the basis of the comparison to the water swelling in radial direction. Furthermore, the results visualise the change in crystal structure from cellulose I to ammonia-cellulose I.
A general framework for tropical differential equations
Authors: Giansiracusa Jeffrey , Mereta Stefano
Published: July 2023

We construct a general framework for tropical differential equations based on idempotent semirings and an idempotent version of differential algebra. Over a differential ring equipped with a non-archimedean norm enhanced with additional differential information, we define tropicalization of differential equations and tropicalization of their solution sets. This framework includes rings of interest in the theory of p-adic differential equations: rings of convergent power series over a non-archimedean normed field. The tropicalization records the norms of the coefficients. This gives a significant refinement of Grigoriev’s framework for tropical differential equations. We then prove a differential analogue of Payne’s inverse limit theorem: the limit of all tropicalizations of a system of differential equations is isomorphic to a differential variant of the Berkovich analytification.
Peak Demand Minimization via Sliced Strip Packing
Authors: Deppert Max A. , Jansen Klaus , Khan Arindam , Rau Malin , Tutas Malte
Published: July 2023

We study the Non-preemptive Peak Demand Minimization (NPDM) problem, where we are given a set of jobs, specified by their processing times and energy requirements. The goal is to schedule all jobs within a fixed time period such that the peak load (the maximum total energy requirement at any time) is minimized. This problem has recently received significant attention due to its relevance in smart-grids. Theoretically, the problem is related to the classical strip packing problem (SP). In SP, a given set of axis-aligned rectangles must be packed into a fixed-width strip, such that the height of the strip is minimized. NPDM can be modeled as strip packing with slicing and stacking constraint: each rectangle may be cut vertically into multiple slices and the slices may be packed into the strip as individual pieces. The stacking constraint forbids solutions where two slices of the same rectangle are intersected by the same vertical line. Non-preemption enforces the slices to be placed in contiguous horizontal locations (but may be placed at different vertical locations). We obtain a$$(5/3+\varepsilon )$$(5/3+ε)-approximation algorithm for the problem. We also provide an asymptotic efficient polynomial-time approximation scheme (AEPTAS) which generates a schedule for almost all jobs with energy consumption$$(1+\varepsilon ) {\textrm{OPT}}$$(1+ε)OPT. The remaining jobs fit into a thin container of height 1. This AEPTAS is used as a subroutine to acquire the$$(5/3+\varepsilon )$$(5/3+ε)-approximation algorithm. The previous best result for NPDM was a 2.7-approximation based on FFDH (Ranjan et al., in: 2015 IEEE symposium on computers and communication (ISCC), pp 758–763, IEEE, 2015). One of our key ideas is providing several new lower bounds on the optimal solution of a geometric packing, which could be useful in other related problems. These lower bounds help us to obtain approximative solutions based on Steinberg’s algorithm in many cases. In addition, we show how to split schedules generated by the AEPTAS into few segments and to rearrange the corresponding jobs to insert the thin container mentioned above, such that it does not exceed the bound of$$(5/3+\varepsilon ) {\textrm{OPT}}$$(5/3+ε)OPT.
Weak Saturation of Multipartite Hypergraphs
Authors: Bulavka Denys , Tancer Martin , Tyomkyn Mykhaylo
Published: July 2023

Given q-uniform hypergraphs (q-graphs) F, G and H, where G is a spanning subgraph of F, G is called weaklyH-saturated in F if the edges in $$E(F)\setminus E(G)$$

E
(
F
)
\
E
(
G
)

admit an ordering $$e_1,\ldots , e_k$$

e
1

,
…
,

e
k

so that for all $$i\in [k]$$

i
∈
[
k
]

the hypergraph $$G\cup \{e_1,\ldots ,e_i\}$$

G
∪
{

e
1

,
…
,

e
i

}

contains an isomorphic copy of H which in turn contains the edge $$e_i$$

e
i

. The weak saturation number of H in F is the smallest size of an H-weakly saturated subgraph of F. Weak saturation was introduced by Bollobás in 1968, but despite decades of study our understanding of it is still limited. The main difficulty lies in proving lower bounds on weak saturation numbers, which typically withstands combinatorial methods and requires arguments of algebraic or geometrical nature. In our main contribution in this paper we determine exactly the weak saturation number of complete multipartite q-graphs in the directed setting, for any choice of parameters. This generalizes a theorem of Alon from 1985. Our proof combines the exterior algebra approach from the works of Kalai with the use of the colorful exterior algebra motivated by the recent work of Bulavka, Goodarzi and Tancer on the colorful fractional Helly theorem. In our second contribution answering a question of Kronenberg, Martins and Morrison, we establish a link between weak saturation numbers of bipartite graphs in the clique versus in a complete bipartite host graph. In a similar fashion we asymptotically determine the weak saturation number of any complete q-partite q-graph in the clique, generalizing another result of Kronenberg et al.
Enhancing the Harris’ Hawk optimiser for single- and multi-objective optimisation
Authors: Choo Yit Hong , Cai Zheng , Le Vu , Johnstone Michael , Creighton Douglas , Lim Chee Peng
Published: July 2023

This paper proposes an enhancement to the Harris’ Hawks Optimisation (HHO) algorithm. Firstly, an enhanced HHO (EHHO) model is developed to solve single-objective optimisation problems (SOPs). EHHO is then further extended to a multi-objective EHHO (MO-EHHO) model to solve multi-objective optimisation problems (MOPs). In EHHO, a nonlinear exploration factor is formulated to replace the original linear exploration method, which improves the exploration capability and facilitate the transition from exploration to exploitation. In addition, the Differential Evolution (DE) scheme is incorporated into EHHO to generate diverse individuals. To replace the DE mutation factor, a chaos strategy that increases randomness to cover wider search areas is adopted. The non-dominated sorting method with the crowding distance is leveraged in MO-EHHO, while a mutation mechanism is employed to increase the diversity of individuals in the external archive for addressing MOPs. Benchmark SOPs and MOPs are used to evaluate EHHO and MO-EHHO models, respectively. The sign test is employed to ascertain the performance of EHHO and MO-EHHO from the statistical perspective. Based on the average ranking method, EHHO and MO-EHHO indicate their efficacy in tackling SOPs and MOPs, as compared with those from the original HHO algorithm, its variants, and many other established evolutionary algorithms.
Impact of previous lumbar spine surgery on total hip arthroplasty and vice versa: How long should we be concerned about mechanical failure?
Authors: Di Martino Alberto , Bordini Barbara , Geraci Giuseppe , Ancarani Cristina , D’Agostino Claudio , Brunello Matteo , Guidotti Claudio , Viceconti Marco , Faldini Cesare
Published: July 2023

Introduction

This registry study aims to assess the prevalence and demographic characteristics of patients with lumbar spine (LS) surgical procedures who undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA), to compare the long-term survival and causes of failure of THA in patients who previously underwent LS fusion and non-fusion surgical procedures, and to evaluate the risk of undergoing a revision LS surgery after THA.

Materials and methods

Patients who underwent LS surgery followed by THA were identified by cross-referencing data from the Orthopedic Prosthetic Implants Registry and the Regional Hospital Discharge Database. Three groups of THA patients were identified: patients who underwent previous lumbar surgery with fusion (LS fusion-THA), without fusion (LS non-fusion-THA), and a control group with only THA (No LS surgery–THA). Demographic data, THA survival, number and causes of failure, and data on revision procedures on THA and LS were collected.

Results

Of the total of 79,984 THA, 2.2% of patients had a history of LS procedures. THA only patients showed better results, while patients in the LS fusion-THA group had worse implant survival at 5-year follow-up. In the LS fusion-THA and LS non-fusion-THA, mechanical THA failures were more frequent in the first two years after implantation. There were no differences between groups regarding the risk of undergoing LS revision surgery.

Conclusions

LS surgery negatively affects THA survivorship. In patients who previously underwent LS fusion and non-fusion surgical procedures, most THA failure occurs in the first two years after implant. The study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between the hip and the LS and provides useful guidance for clinical practice.
Tools and criteria to select patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease for device-aided therapies: a narrative review
Authors: Moes Harmen R. , Henriksen Tove , Sławek Jarosław , Phokaewvarangkul Onanong , Buskens Erik , van Laar Teus
Published: July 2023

This article provides an overview of the various screening and selection tools which have been developed over the past 25 years to identify patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) possibly eligible for device-aided therapies (DATs). For the available screening tools, we describe the target therapies (subtypes of DAT), development methods, validation data, and their use in clinical practice. In addition, the historical background and potential utility of these screening tools are discussed. The challenges in developing and validating these tools are also addressed, taking into account the differences in population, the local health care organization, and resource availability.
Olfaction preservation in olfactory groove meningiomas: a systematic review
Authors: Candy Nicholas G. , Hinder Dominik , Jukes Alistair K. , Wormald Peter-John , Psaltis Alkis J.
Published: July 2023

Olfactory groove meningiomas (OGM) are a skull base neoplasm that represents between 8 and 13% of all intracranial meningiomas. Approach selection focuses on achieving frontal lobe decompression, gross total resection and vision preservation. Recently, there has been a focus on olfaction and considering its preservation as a quality-of-life outcome measure. An electronic search of the databases Medline, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane library databases was performed and data extracted according 2020 Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Six articles were selected for inclusion mainly based due to reporting quantitative outcomes for olfaction assessed by a smell identification test (e.g. sniffin’ sticks). Objective olfaction preservation can be achieved with a variety of surgical approaches. More research which includes objective assessment of olfactory function and ideally as well QoL outcome measures is needed to further optimize the treatment pathways in OGM patients.