bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling the micro- and macro- environment of pancreatic cancer: from patients to pre-clinical models and back
Authors: Lloyd Eloise G. , Henríquez Joaquín Araos , Biffi Giulia
Published: April 2024

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy with very low survival rates. Over the past 50 years, improvements in PDAC survival have significantly lagged behind the progress made in other cancers. PDAC’s dismal prognosis is due to typical late-stage diagnosis combined with lack of effective treatments and complex mechanisms of disease. We propose that improvements in survival are partly hindered by the current focus on largely modelling and targeting PDAC as one disease, despite it being heterogeneous. Implementing new disease-representative pre-clinical mouse models that capture this complexity could enable the development of transformative therapies. Specifically, these models should recapitulate human PDAC late-stage biology, heterogeneous genetics, extensive non-malignant stroma, and associated risk factors and comorbidities. In this Perspective, we focus on how pre-clinical mouse models could be improved to exemplify key features of PDAC micro- and macro- environments, which would drive clinically relevant patient stratification, tailored treatments and improved survival.
Tbl1 promotes Wnt–β-catenin signaling-induced degradation of the Tcf7l1 protein in mouse embryonic stem cells
Authors: Yu Yang , Liu Liwei , Cao Jianjian , Huang Ru , Duan Quanchao , Ye Shou-Dong
Published: April 2024

Activation of the Wnt–β-catenin signaling pathway by CHIR99021, a specific inhibitor of GSK3β, induces Tcf7l1 protein degradation, which facilitates the maintenance of an undifferentiated state in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs); however, the precise mechanism is still unclear. Here, we showed that the overexpression of transducin-β-like protein 1 (Tbl1, also known as Tbl1x) or its family member Tblr1 (also known as Tbl1xr1) can decrease Tcf7l1 protein levels, whereas knockdown of each gene increases Tcf7l1 levels without affecting Tcf7l1 transcription. Interestingly, only Tbl1, and not Tblr1, interacts with Tcf7l1. Mechanistically, Tbl1 translocates from the cytoplasm into the nucleus in association with β-catenin (CTNNB1) after the addition of CHIR99021 and functions as an adaptor to promote ubiquitylation of the Tcf7l1 protein. Functional assays further revealed that enforced expression of Tbl1 is capable of delaying mESC differentiation. In contrast, knockdown of Tbl1 attenuates the effect of CHIR99021 on Tcf7l1 protein stability and mESC self-renewal. Our results provide insight into the regulatory network of the Wnt–β-catenin signaling pathway involved in promoting the maintenance of naïve pluripotency.
YAP and TAZ differentially regulate postnatal cortical progenitor proliferation and astrocyte differentiation
Authors: Chen Jessie , Tsai Yung-Hsu , Linden Anne K. , Kessler John A. , Peng Chian-Yu
Published: April 2024

WW domain-containing transcription regulator 1 (WWTR1, referred to here as TAZ) and Yes-associated protein (YAP, also known as YAP1) are transcriptional co-activators traditionally studied together as a part of the Hippo pathway, and are best known for their roles in stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Despite their similarities, TAZ and YAP can exert divergent cellular effects by differentially interacting with other signaling pathways that regulate stem cell maintenance or differentiation. In this study, we show in mouse neural stem and progenitor cells (NPCs) that TAZ regulates astrocytic differentiation and maturation, and that TAZ mediates some, but not all, of the effects of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling on astrocytic development. By contrast, both TAZ and YAP mediate the effects on NPC fate of β1-integrin (ITGB1) and integrin-linked kinase signaling, and these effects are dependent on extracellular matrix cues. These findings demonstrate that TAZ and YAP perform divergent functions in the regulation of astrocyte differentiation, where YAP regulates cell cycle states of astrocytic progenitors and TAZ regulates differentiation and maturation from astrocytic progenitors into astrocytes.
A translational and multidisciplinary approach to studying the Garcia effect, a higher form of learning with deep evolutionary roots
Authors: Rivi Veronica , Batabyal Anuradha , Benatti Cristina , Sarti Pierfrancesco , Blom Johanna Maria Catharina , Tascedda Fabio , Lukowiak Ken
Published: April 2024

Animals, including humans, learn and remember to avoid a novel food when its ingestion is followed, hours later, by sickness – a phenomenon initially identified during World War II as a potential means of pest control. In the 1960s, John Garcia (for whom the effect is now named) demonstrated that this form of conditioned taste aversion had broader implications, showing that it is a rapid but long-lasting taste-specific food aversion with a fundamental role in the evolution of behaviour. From the mid-1970s onward, the principles of the Garcia effect were translated to humans, showing its role in different clinical conditions (e.g. side-effects linked to chemotherapy). However, in the last two decades, the number of studies on the Garcia effect has undergone a considerable decline. Since its discovery in rodents, this form of learning was thought to be exclusive to mammals; however, we recently provided the first demonstration that a Garcia effect can be formed in an invertebrate model organism, the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. Thus, in this Commentary, after reviewing the experiments that led to the first characterization of the Garcia effect in rodents, we describe the recent evidence for the Garcia effect in L. stagnalis, which may pave the way for future studies in other invertebrates and mammals. This article aims to inspire future translational and ecological studies that characterize the conserved mechanisms underlying this form of learning with deep evolutionary roots, which can be used to address a range of different biological questions.
Exercise for Clients Taking an Anti-Obesity Medication
Authors: Rogers Renee J.
Published: April 2024

Apply It!

This article will inform and help readers:

• Gain an understanding of how contemporary anti-obesity medications work and how they are indicated, prescribed, and managed for the treatment of obesity.

• Reframe exercise prescriptions for clients taking an anti-obesity medication to focus on health and well-being, rather than on caloric expenditure to further enhance weight loss.

• Recognize key targets for developing exercise programs based on the current state of the research and perspectives from clients taking anti-obesity medications.
The Menstrual Cycle and Exercise
Authors: Prado Raul Cosme Ramos , Takito Monica Yuri , Asano Ricardo Yukio , Kilpatrick Marcus W.
Published: April 2024

Apply It!

By reading this article, practitioners will

• Learn about menstrual cycle aspects and their impact on psychological responses.

• Be able to identify the individual's psychological profile, allowing for better real-time adjustments to manage menstrual cycle-related symptoms and improve exercise experiences.

• Promote a more humanized/individualized exercise prescription based on the client's symptoms.
Crescimento e estagnação do Brasil: Contribuições do professor Bresser-Pereira
Authors: Borghi Roberto Alexandre Zanchetta
Published: April 2024

Este artigo busca discutir a problemática do baixo crescimento brasileiro à luz das contribuições do professor Luiz Carlos Bresser-Pereira. Essa preocupação sobre trajetórias sustentadas de crescimento e a armadilha da renda média tem sido fonte de importantes e originais reflexões do autor para o debate econômico, ampliando o alcance das ideias heterodoxas e desenvolvimentistas nos cenários doméstico e internacional. As reflexões, que combinam aspectos teóricos e normativos, estão assentadas, em grandemedida, na coordenação entre fomento à indústria e políticas macroeconômicas para promoção do crescimento.
Από τον εθνικοσοσιαλισμό στον ‘λαϊκό εθνικισμό’
Authors: Κολοβός Ιωάννης
Published: April 2024

Η διατριβή εντοπίζει τα βασικά ιδεολογικά χαρακτηριστικά του εθνικοσοσιαλισμού όπως αυτά παρουσιάζονται στο βιβλίο «Ο Αγών μου» του Αδόλφου Χίτλερ. Κατόπιν ιχνηλατεί την παρουσία τους ή την απουσία τους τόσο στο «εσωστρεφές» όσο και στο «εξωστρεφές» υλικό της «Χρυσής Αυγής», η οποία πρωτοεμφανίσθηκε στα τέλη του 1980 ως εθνικοσοσιαλιστική κίνηση. Το υλικό που αναλύεται αποτελείται από το σύνολο των τευχών των περιοδικών «Χρυσή Αυγή» και «Μαίανδρος», από το σύνολο των τευχών του περιοδικού «Αντεπίθεση» το οποίο εκδιδόταν από το Μέτωπο Νεολαίας της ΧΑ, και από τις ιδεολογικές διακηρύξεις και τα πολιτικά της προγράμματα. Το αναλυθέν υλικό καλύπτει όλη την 40ετη ιδεολογική και πολιτική πορεία της ΧΑ από το 1980 μέχρι και το 2019, και καταδεικνύει ότι, παρά την αλλαγή συμβόλων (από την ‘λυκοπαγίδα’ στον μαίανδρο) και ονομασίας της ιδεολογίας της (από ‘εθνικοσοσιαλισμό’ σε ‘λαϊκό εθνικισμό’), η ΧΑ διατήρησε έναν βασικό ιδεολογικό πυρήνα φυλετισμού, αντισημιτισμού και αντικοινοβουλευτισμού. Κατά την ανάλυση του υλικού και την αποτίμηση των ευρημάτων της διατριβής συζητείται το περιεχόμενο και η χρήση του όρου «άκρα δεξιά», η ανεπάρκεια του όρου «γενικός φασισμός» για μελέτες κινημάτων που εδράζονται ιδεολογικά στον εθνικοσοσιαλισμό, και η ιδεολογική διαφοροποίηση του εθνικισμού από τον φυλετισμό και τον εθνικοσοσιαλισμό.
Multi-modal data integration using machine and deep learning techniques for predicting high level clinical outcomes of non small cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Τριβιζάκης Ελευθέριος
Published: April 2024

Η σύγχρονη έρευνα σχετικά με την απεικονιστική γονιδιωματική (imagenomics) αναμένεται να διαδραματίσει σημαντικό ρόλο στη συσχέτιση “ακτινοφαινοτύπων” (imaging phenotypes) με γονοτύπους ή μοριακή πληροφορία, προωθώντας το ρόλο της ανάλυσης ιατρικής απεικόνισης και της ενσωμάτωσης πολυτροπικών δεδομένων στην ογκολογία και την ιατρική ακριβείας. Η συσχέτιση των ιατρικών δεδομένων με μοριακά ή γενετικά χαρακτηριστικά της νεοπλασίας μπορεί να οδηγήσει σε ακριβέστερη διάγνωση, ενίσχυση της πρόβλεψης για απόκριση εξατομικευμένης θεραπείας σε ασθενείς με καρκίνο του πνεύμονα και ενδυνάμει μπορεί να συμβάλει στον προσδιορισμό των μοριακών μηχανισμών που προκαλούν την παθογένεση της νόσου. Η χρήση της πολυτροπικής ενσωμάτωσης που βασίζεται στη μηχανική μάθηση για την πρόβλεψη ανταπόκρισης συγκεκριμένων θεραπειών μπορεί να αποτρέψει περιττές επεμβατικές διαδικασίες. Επιπλέον, αυτό μπορεί να οδηγήσει στη βελτιστοποίηση της σχέσης κόστους-οφέλους, ειδικά σε νέες και ακριβές θεραπείες υγειονομικής περίθαλψης. Η κοόρτη που θα μελετηθεί αποτελείται από ασθενείς με πρωτογενή μη μικροκυτταρικό καρκίνου του πνεύμονα με διαθέσιμες: απεικονιστικές εξετάσεις, μεταγραφικά δεδομένα και κλινικά/παθολογικά δεδομένα όπως ιστορικό καπνίσματος, γενικό δείκτη κατάστασης ασθενούς και μοριακό υπόβαθρο της βλάβης. Συγκεκριμένα, η γενετική έκφραση διαφόρων ογκογονιδίων έχει συσχετιστεί με την ανταπόκριση σε στοχευμένες θεραπείες για ασθενείς με καρκίνο του πνεύμονα. Σε αυτήν την διατριβή, έχουν αναπτυχθεί προηγμένα συστήματα απόφασης που βασίζονται στη βαθιά μάθηση και την τεχνητή νοημοσύνη για την πρόβλεψη των κλινικών αποτελεσμάτων ασθενών με μη μικροκυτταρικό καρκίνου του πνεύμονα.
First confirmed record of the spearfish remora Remora brachyptera (Lowe, 1839) in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: PAVIČIĆ MISO , DRAGIČEVIĆ BRANKO , UGARKOVIĆ PERO , ŽUŽUL IVA
Published: April 2024

One specimen of spearfish remora Remora brachyptera (Lowe, 1839) was caught in a bottom trawl in the eastern Adriatic Sea (Croatia) in June 2021. Morphological analysis and genetic barcoding were used for species identification. Despite references to the species inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea, no documented records have been available to substantiate its presence in the basin. This finding represents the first documented record of this species from the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas.
Complications after polydioxanone threads (PDO) for facial lifting - a literature review
Authors: Lewandowska Karina , Staniszewska Izabela , Baran Milena , Turczynowicz Magda , Retman Patrycja
Published: April 2024

Introduction: The popularity of cosmetic treatments is increasing, including treatments using polydioxanone (PDO) threads. Among the various complications that PDO threads can cause are swelling, skin dimpling, paresthesia, thread visibility/palpability, infection, and thread extrusion. On the other hand, it is an alternative to surgical facelift.

Purpose of work: To collect information on the complications after PDO threads for facial lifting.

Summary: In the literature review, there were reported complications after PDO threads for facial lifting as edema, allergy, inflammation, infection, skin dimpling, contour irregularity, visible threads, hematoma, thread extrusion, and incomplete facial paralysis. Knowledge of complications after face lifting with PDO threads allows us to prepare for these side effects and act appropriately in the event of their occurrence, thus avoiding the long-term effects of the cosmetic procedure.
Accesibilidad a los centros de empleo en Cali
Authors: Rodríguez-Mariaca Diego , Restrepo-Osorio Valentina , Vivas Pacheco Harvy , Jaramillo Molina Ciro
Published: April 2024

De acuerdo con lo anterior, este capítulo es un aporte al estado actual de los estudios urbanos en América Latina y, principalmente, al estudio de las dinámicas de la ciudad, por medio de la estimación de diferenciales de accesibilidad a los clústeres de empleo y su relación con la segregación residencial, económica y étnica en Cali, desde la perspectiva de la hipótesis de desemparejamiento espacial.
Spillovers de capital humano en la población de menor calificación
Authors: Banguera Obregón Alexander , Vivas Pacheco Harvy
Published: April 2024

Este capítulo está organizado como sigue. En la sección dos se presenta la literatura relacionada con los efectos spillover de capital humano y sus impactos en el ingreso laboral, en especial de la población menos calificada, al mismo tiempo que se examinan las principales explicaciones del impacto de un incremento de la población calificada ocupada sobre el ingreso de la población menos calificada. En la sección tres se realiza una breve discusión sobre los datos empleados y el procedimiento para estimar los efectos spillover sobre la población menos calificada a lo largo de toda la distribución. Las estimaciones del modelo a través de los métodos mínimos cuadrados ordinarios (mco) y mínimos cuadrados en dos etapas (mc2e) que registran las externalidades del capital humano calificado sobre la población menos calificada se consideran en la sección cuatro. Finalmente, en la sección cinco, se realiza una breve discusión junto con las conclusiones.
Kinesferas expandidas: danza y performance en tiempos de confinamiento
Authors: Mangieri Rocco
Published: April 2024

Durante la pandemia no se interrumpió de manera significativa la creación coreográfica y, más bien, se incrementó con respecto a las fases anteriores. Aunque muchos coreógrafos y artistas de la danza estaban involucrados antes en la videodanza y la screendance, a través de la perfomance multimedial e intermedial, el confinamiento introdujo un nuevo elemento no ensayado plenamente con anterioridad a nivel de los artistas jóvenes: la necesidad de experimentar, de crear y de expresarse en espacios de confinamiento haciendo un uso intensivo de los medios tecnológicos y las plataformas digitales. Este trabajo de investigación explora los procesos semióticos de corporeidad encarnada y recorporización. Partimos del modelo de la kinesfera de Rudolf von Laban como espacio personal, como envoltura y con sus transformaciones.
Las artes del cuerpo después de la covid-19: prácticas semióticas y desocultación del sentido
Authors: Latorre Romero Amparo
Published: April 2024

Este trabajo de investigación apunta al proceso de reconocimiento semiótico de las estrategias comunicativas de análisis que pueden aplicarse a las creaciones artísticas generadas en procesos de aislamiento individual y colectivo. En cierta forma, se intenta demostrar o explorar cómo el arte se utiliza como una suerte de expiación de un trauma colectivo articulado profundamente con las diversas tipologías de práctica semiótica planteadas por Julia Kristeva.1 Nuestra hipótesis central es que, en circunstancias consideradas socialmente como trágicas, el cuerpo es reconstruido o reconfigurado a través de procesos de sublimación que generan y desocultan nuevas entidades e identidades corpóreas; en el caso de la pandemia, a través de la imaginación, se trata de confrontar a un “enemigo global”. En este tiempo y espacio de pandemia, aún no concluida, se hace necesario, mediante el análisis, el reconocimiento semiótico de una intensa presencia de imágenes abyectas.
Tener un cuerpo es estar presente. Una reflexión sobre el trabajo fotográfico de Paola Rojas y Santiago Forero
Authors: Ocampo Ramírez Gloria , Isaza Rojas Carolina
Published: April 2024

Paola Rojas y Santiago Forero, artistas colombianos, son algunos de los principales fotógrafos contemporáneos del país. Sus obras son una manifestación del cuerpo: desde la mirada particular y propia de cada uno, desde sus experiencias de vida, desde sus particularidades en cuanto a lo femenino, la sexualidad, lo erótico, el estar en el mundo como mujer (Rojas), asícomo desde el habitar un cuerpo no hegemónico (Forero), en una sociedad que tiende, históricamente, a normatizarlo todo. Su arte es, debido a ello, consecuencia de su vida. Sus obras son una exploración intencionada del color, del autorretrato, del desarrollo de un proceso creativo sólido que desemboca en la imagen: contundente, irrebatible. Este texto explora la cambiante percepción del cuerpo a lo largo de distintos periodos históricos, la mirada de lo fotográfico sobre la identidad y las distintas corporalidades en la obra de los fotógrafos colombianos mencionados.
Development of Dextran Coated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with Antimicrobial Properties
Authors: Ghegoiu Liliana , Predoi Daniela , Iconaru Simona Liliana , Ciobanu Steluta Carmen , Trusca Roxana , Motelica-Heino Mikael , Badea Monica Luminita , Stefanescu Teodora-France
Published: April 2024

Dextran coated zinc oxide nanoparticles with various zinc concentration have been developed in this study. Various characterization techniques were used in order to study the physical-chemical properties of the obtained samples. The structure of the samples was investigated using X-Ray diffraction (XRD), while the morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Information regarding the porosity of the samples were obtained with the aid of Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. The results of the physico-chemical characterization depicted the obtaining of a nanocomposite with homogenous and uniform morphology. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the samples was also investigated against Gram-positive bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus 0364, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and Bacillus subtilis), Gram-negative bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1397, Escherichia Coli ATCC 259220 and against fungal strain Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The results of the antimicrobial assay showed that the nanocomposites exhibited good inhibitory effects against all the tested microorganisms making them suitable candidates for the further development of antimicrobial agents for biomedical applications.
Revisiting the inferior supports of Chopart joint complex
Authors: Athavale Sunita A. , Kotgirwar Sheetal , Lalwani Rekha
Published: April 2024

Aims

The Chopart joint complex is a joint between the midfoot and hindfoot. The static and dynamic support system of the joint is critical for maintaining the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. Any dysfunction leads to progressive collapsing flatfoot deformity (PCFD). Often, the tibialis posterior is the primary cause; however, contrary views have also been expressed. The present investigation intends to explore the comprehensive anatomy of the support system of the Chopart joint complex to gain insight into the cause of PCFD.

Methods

The study was conducted on 40 adult embalmed cadaveric lower limbs. Chopart joint complexes were dissected, and the structures supporting the joint inferiorly were observed and noted.

Results

The articulating bones exhibit features like a cuboid shelf and navicular beak, which appear to offer inferior support to the joint. The expanse of the spring ligament complex is more medial than inferior, while the superomedial part is more extensive than the intermediate and inferoplantar parts. The spring ligament is reinforced by the tendons in the superomedial part (the main tendon of tibialis posterior), the inferomedial part (the plantar slip of tibialis posterior), and the master knot of Henry positioned just inferior to the gap between the inferomedial and inferoplantar bundles.

Conclusion

This study highlights that the medial aspect of the talonavicular articulation has more extensive reinforcement in the form of superomedial part of spring ligament and tibialis posterior tendon. The findings are expected to prompt further research in weightbearing settings on the pathogenesis of flatfoot.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(4):335–342.
Cage Augmentation of the Retained Acetabular Shell with a Dual Mobility Cup using the Double Socket Technique
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, P.D. Hinduja National Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Agarwala Sanjay , Shah Tej ,   Department of Orthopaedics, P.D. Hinduja National Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Vijayvargiya Mayank ,   Department of Orthopaedics, P.D. Hinduja National Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Prevention of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains a topic of debate. There are various surgical options to manage hip instability such as large femoral heads, and constrained liners, although the best option to tackle this is still controversial. In revision scenarios with previous well-fixed acetabulum shells, the cementation of polyethylene liners or the cementation of dual mobility (DM) into a well-fixed acetabulum shell (Double Socket Technique) has been documented before. Here, we report a case of re-revision THA, where we have used the Double Socket Technique of retaining the previous well-fixed acetabular shell with the cementation of the DM cup along with an anti-protrusio cage inside the socket. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such a case to be reported worldwide. Case Report: A 54-year-old male who underwent THA in 1990 and an acetabulum cup revision in 2003 presented to us with right hip pain. Radiographs showed Paprosky Type 3A femoral bone loss and polyethylene wear. Intraoperatively after removing the polyethylene liner, the acetabulum shell was found to be well fixed and therefore retained. To increase stability, an anti-protrusio cage was inserted over it and a DM cup was cemented onto it (double socket). The femoral stem was revised using Wagner stem and encerclage wires and a hook plate was used to stabilize the osteotomy site. Conclusion: This technique is a reliable option and helps shorten the surgical time and reduce the bone loss that can occur in extracting a well-fixed acetabulum shell. The use of a DM cup decreases the chances of instability compared to the cementation of polyethylene liners and decreases the high failure rate associated with the use of cementation of constrained liners. The addition of an anti-protrusio cage in addition to the Double Socket Technique increases the stability of the construct. Keywords: Anti-protrusio cage, Dual mobility, Double socket, Revision total hip arthroplasty, Well-fixed acetabulum
ACL Reconstruction using Achilles Allograft in a Case of Genu Recurvatum with Supracondylar Osteotomy
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, Murup Hospital, Changwon, Gyeongnam, South Korea., Jung Woon Hwa , Tandel Jignesh Y ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Murup Hospital, Changwon, Gyeongnam, South Korea.
Published: April 2024

Introduction: People with post-polio syndrome usually have some residual deformities. Genu recurvatum is very commonly seen in such cases which are a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury due to the altered biomechanics. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in literature presenting ACL reconstruction in a limb with genu recurvatum deformity treated with supracondylar osteotomy. Case Report: A 49-year-old female with genu recurvatum and history of polio presented with pain and instability. Staged procedure of supracondylar osteotomy and ACL reconstruction Achilles allograft was done. Conclusion: ACL tears in a poliotic limb with genu recurvatum deformity can be a challenging case. Precise pre-operative preparation can aid in managing the case successfully. Keywords: ACL injury, polio, ACL reconstruction, Achilles allograft, genu recurvatum deformity.
Neutrality as a Contested Concept in International Humanitarian Law: Red Cross Men in the South African War, 1899–1902
Authors: Brazil Lia
Published: April 2024

Abstract: This article explores contestations over what constituted medical personnel, hospitals, and ambulances during the South African War (1899 – 1902). It shows that Boer fighters and British soldiers held differing conceptions of what constituted medical 'neutrality' and the meaning of the 1864 Geneva Convention. Analysing their contests over 'neutrality', it shows their diverse legal understandings were influenced by pre-existing medical cultures, the nature of guerrilla conflict, and British portrayals of the Boers as 'uncivilised' and so outside the realm of international law. These contests shaped the provision of medical relief on the ground in South Africa and generated international legal changes which echoed through later warfare.
"Like a Yam Between Two Stones": Remembering Healthcare at War in Nepal (1996–2006)
Authors: Taithe Bertrand , Devkota Bhimsen , Lillywhite Louis
Published: April 2024

Abstract: The Nepal civil war (1996-2006) opposed a rural Maoist insurrection and a succession of monarchical regimes and governments. Despite a shift in perception of the conflict post 9/11, the conflict remained largely internal to Nepal with limited international involvement. Over that same period, health indicators in most domains recorded significant improvements including in the areas most affected by the conflict. Building on human rights datasets of violent incidents and systematic oral history in three regions affected to varying degrees by the conflict, this article argues that the health care facilities were instrumentalized by both sides of the conflict as one element of their political and military strategy, while medical practitioners had to juggle the demands of insurgents and security forces. Through 80 interviews conducted in 2020-2021 in situ, this article engages with the apparent paradox of a conflict which did not have detrimental effects on health care overall despite its violence. It then considers how the war, violence and mental health consequences of a decade of terror are now recalled and made sense of some fifteen years after the end of the war. With the former insurgents now running the new republic, grassroots militants remember the war in sometimes nostalgic ways when it comes to their centrality in the Maoist objectives and vision. The healthcare provisions arising from the war sometimes do not match some of the wartime resources deployed by insurgents and counterinsurgents keen to demonstrate their commitment to health provisions as a common good that needed to be made more accessible. Finally, this article reflects on the absence of the concept of attacks on healthcare in contemporary analyses, at a time when the concept was gathering support internationally. In this sense this article charters a paradox of violence and resourcing of health care as well as a pre-paradigm shift analysis of a seemingly outmoded political insurgency.
Ebola's Inferno: The Limits of Community Engagement and Neutrality During Politicized Health Emergencies
Authors: Sauter Melanie
Published: April 2024

Abstract: The surge in violence against healthcare during the 2018–2020 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo was attributed to distrust from insufficient community engagement. This article challenges the widespread view and argues that the response failed to acknowledge the politicized nature of the outbreak stemming from the government's election interference. The humanitarians' desire to remain neutral prevented them from speaking out against the government, leading to the paradoxical outcome that they were perceived as supporting the government's oppressive agenda. This article highlights the importance of recognizing political dynamics to improve community acceptance.
Research on the Digitization of Yunnan Pu'er Tea Processing Technology
Authors: Zhao Yimin , Wang Xiaofei , Shi Xiao , Li Xuelian
Published: April 2024

Abstract: Yunnan Pu'er tea making technology is a major part of China's national intangible cultural heritage. At present, there is a lack of digital research on the production technology involved in making Pu'er tea. Through literature research and field investigation, this study collected relevant and empirical data, which were then sorted to present the complete production process of Pu'er tea and create the metadata standard set of Pu'er tea making skills. These research results will upgrade the intangible cultural heritage information management system, break through traditional display modes, and innovate cultural communication modes.
Construction of a Knowledge-Based Database for the Intangible Cultural Heritage Shui Script: A Perspective from Oral Histories with Shui Script Masters
Authors: Song Xueyan , Zhang Weimin , Zhang Xiangqing , Meng YaoYuan , Liu Jia
Published: April 2024

Abstract: Shui folk traditions and cultural activities cannot exist independently of Shui script masters. Script masters are like the living treasure houses, the inheritors, and the disseminators of the traditional culture of the Shui people. Oral history is one of the most effective carriers for the inheritance of the Shui people's traditional culture as it is composed of the Shui script masters' personal memories and tacit knowledge. Script masters play an indispensable role in the protection, inheritance, and development of the Shui script's intangible cultural heritage. Due to the small number and high age of the Shui script master community and the limitations of the preservation method of the script, the Shui script is facing a crisis. It is urgent to explore new methods and approaches for passing the Shui script down to the next generation. This research explores the construction of a knowledge base of the Shui script, using script masters' oral histories as the main source, to integrate it with related cultural heritage resources and adopt a more optimized method of organization. The platform and utility of the knowledge base builds a digital Shui script resource system and promotes the open use and protection of the Shui script.
Non-invasive accelerated imaging through a scattering medium via multi-stage complexity guidance
Authors: Xiang Qinlei , Cui Guangmang , Liao Fu , Shi Shigong , Cui Weize , Zhao Jufeng
Published: April 2024

The research of scattering imaging is of great significance to the development of
various fields, but the existing scattering imaging methods are
difficult to combine for the advantages of non-invasiveness, real-time
imaging, and high quality. In this paper, a new, to our knowledge,
scattering imaging technique is proposed that optimizes the
traditional autocorrelation imaging technique by multi-stage
complexity guidance and the initial acceleration module. We introduce
the complexity difference index into the phase iterative recovery step
for effective complexity guidance, and add the initial module based on
error-reduction iteration to realize a fast startup. A series of
experiments is carried out to test the performance of the new
technique. The results show that the proposed technique significantly
improves the scattering reconstruction speed. Meanwhile, the accuracy
and clarity of the reconstructed image are significantly higher than
the traditional method in terms of fast imaging. Moreover, this
technique has better robustness to noise compared to the traditional
autocorrelation imaging technique. The experimental code for this
paper is available on GitHub.
Highly intrinsic carrier mobility in tin diselenide crystal accessed with ultrafast terahertz spectroscopy
Authors: Sun Kaiwen , Xia Wei , Wang Chen , Suo Peng , Zou Yuqing , Peng Jun , Wang Wei , Lin Xian , Jin Zuanming , Guo Yanfeng , Ma Guohong
Published: April 2024

Tin diselenide (SnSe2), a layered transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC), stands out among other TMDCs for its extraordinary photoactive ability and low thermal conductivity. Consequently, it has stimulated many influential researches on photodetectors, ultrafast pulse shaping, thermoelectric devices, etc. However, the carrier mobility in SnSe2, as determined experimentally, remains limited to tens of cm2V-1s-1. This limitation poses a challenge for achieving high-performance SnSe2-based devices. Theoretical calculations, on the other hand, predict that the carrier mobility in SnSe2 can reach hundreds of cm2V-1s-1, approximately one order of magnitude higher than experimental value. Interestingly, the carrier mobility could be underestimated significantly in long-range transportation measurements due to the presence of defects and boundary scattering effects. To address this discrepancy, we employ optic pump terahertz probe spectroscopy to access the photoinduced dynamical THz photoconductivity of SnSe2. Our findings reveal that the intrinsic carrier mobility in conventional SnSe2 single crystal is remarkably high, reaching 353.2 ± 37.7 cm2V-1s-1, consistent with the theoretical prediction. Additionally, dynamical THz photoconductivity measurements reveal that the SnSe2 crystal containing rich defects efficiently capture photoinduced conduction-band electrons and valence-band holes with time constants of ∼20 and ∼200 ps, respectively. Meanwhile, we observe an impulsively stimulated Raman scattering at 0.60 THz. Our study not only demonstrates ultrafast THz spectroscopy as a reliable method for determining intrinsic carrier mobility and detection of low frequency coherent Raman mode in materials but also provides valuable reference for the future application of high-performance SnSe2-based devices.
Compensated DOE in a VHG-based waveguide display to improve uniformity
Authors: Guo Min , Guo Yusong , Cai Jiahao , Wang Zi , Lv Guoqiang , Feng Qibin
Published: April 2024

Augmented reality head-mounted displays (AR-HMDs) utilizing diffractive waveguides have emerged as a popular research focus. However, the illuminance uniformity over the fields of view (FOV) is often unsatisfactory in volume holographic grating (VHG) based waveguide displays. This paper proposes a high uniformity AR waveguide display system. Firstly, the angular uniformity of the VHG-based waveguide displays is analyzed. Subsequently, diffractive optical elements (DOEs) are seamlessly integrated onto the outer coupling surface of the waveguide substrate to improve the angular uniformity through phase compensation. To design the DOE phase, the multi-objective stochastic gradient descent (MO-SGD) algorithm is proposed. A single DOE is used to compensating various images form the image source. A hybrid loss, which includes the learned perceptual image patch similarity (LPIPS) metric, is applied to enhance the algorithm performance. Simulation results show that the proposed method effectively suppresses illumination degradation at the edge FOV in exit pupil images of the waveguide display system. In the results, the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) is improved by 5.54 dB. Optical experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The measured nonuniformity (NU) against FOVs is improved by 53.05% from 0.3749 to 0.1760.
What does the mean mean? A simple test for neuroscience
Authors: Tlaie Alejandro , Shapcott Katharine , van der Plas Thijs L. , Rowland James , Lees Robert , Keeling Joshua , Packer Adam , Tiesinga Paul , Schölvinck Marieke L. , Havenith Martha N.
Published: April 2024

Trial-averaged metrics, e.g. tuning curves or population response vectors, are a ubiquitous way of characterizing neuronal activity. But how relevant are such trial-averaged responses to neuronal computation itself? Here we present a simple test to estimate whether average responses reflect aspects of neuronal activity that contribute to neuronal processing. The test probes two assumptions implicitly made whenever average metrics are treated as meaningful representations of neuronal activity:

Reliability: Neuronal responses repeat consistently enough across trials that they convey a recognizable reflection of the average response to downstream regions.

Behavioural relevance: If a single-trial response is more similar to the average template, it is more likely to evoke correct behavioural responses.

We apply this test to two data sets: (1) Two-photon recordings in primary somatosensory cortices (S1 and S2) of mice trained to detect optogenetic stimulation in S1; and (2) Electrophysiological recordings from 71 brain areas in mice performing a contrast discrimination task. Under the highly controlled settings of Data set 1, both assumptions were largely fulfilled. In contrast, the less restrictive paradigm of Data set 2 met neither assumption. Simulations predict that the larger diversity of neuronal response preferences, rather than higher cross-trial reliability, drives the better performance of Data set 1. We conclude that when behaviour is less tightly restricted, average responses do not seem particularly relevant to neuronal computation, potentially because information is encoded more dynamically. Most importantly, we encourage researchers to apply this simple test of computational relevance whenever using trial-averaged neuronal metrics, in order to gauge how representative cross-trial averages are in a given context.
Leishmania blood parasite dynamics during and after treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in Eastern Africa: A pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model
Authors: Verrest Luka , Monnerat Séverine , Musa Ahmed M. , Mbui Jane , Khalil Eltahir A. G. , Olobo Joseph , Wasunna Monique , Chu Wan-Yu , Huitema Alwin D. R. , Schallig Henk D. F. H. , Alves Fabiana , Dorlo Thomas P. C.
Published: April 2024

Background

With the current treatment options for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), recrudescence of the parasite is seen in a proportion of patients. Understanding parasite dynamics is crucial to improving treatment efficacy and predicting patient relapse in cases of VL. This study aimed to characterize the kinetics of circulatingLeishmaniaparasites in the blood, during and after different antileishmanial therapies, and to find predictors for clinical relapse of disease.

Methods

Data from three clinical trials, in which Eastern African VL patients received various antileishmanial regimens, were combined in this study.Leishmaniakinetoplast DNA was quantified in whole blood with real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) before, during, and up to six months after treatment. An integrated population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model was developed using non-linear mixed effects modelling.

Results

Parasite proliferation was best described by an exponential growth model, with anin vivoparasite doubling time of 7.8 days (RSE 12%). Parasite killing by fexinidazole, liposomal amphotericin B, sodium stibogluconate, and miltefosine was best described by linear models directly relating drug concentrations to the parasite elimination rate. After treatment, parasite growth was assumed to be suppressed by the host immune system, described by an Emaxmodel driven by the time after treatment. No predictors for the high variability in onset and magnitude of the immune response could be identified. Model-based individual predictions of blood parasite load on Day 28 and Day 56 after start of treatment were predictive for clinical relapse of disease.

Conclusion

This semi-mechanistic pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model adequately captured the blood parasite dynamics during and after treatment, and revealed that high blood parasite loads on Day 28 and Day 56 after start of treatment are an early indication for VL relapse, which could be a useful biomarker to assess treatment efficacy of a treatment regimen in a clinical trial setting.
Using a combination of quantitative culture, molecular, and infrastructure data to rank potential sources of fecal contamination in Town Creek Estuary, North Carolina
Authors: Hynes Jenna M. , Beattie Rachelle E. , Blackwood A. Denene , Clerkin Thomas , Gallard-Góngora Javier , Noble Rachel T.
Published: April 2024

Estuarine water quality is declining worldwide due to increased tourism, coastal development, and a changing climate. Although well-established methods are in place to monitor water quality, municipalities struggle to use the data to prioritize infrastructure for monitoring and repair and to determine sources of contamination when they occur. The objective of this study was to assess water quality and prioritize sources of contamination within Town Creek Estuary (TCE), Beaufort, North Carolina, by combining culture, molecular, and geographic information systems (GIS) data into a novel contamination source ranking system. Water samples were collected from TCE at ten locations on eight sampling dates in Fall 2021 (n = 80). Microbiological water quality was assessed using US Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) approved culture-based methods for fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), including analysis of total coliforms (TC), Escherichia coli (EC), and Enterococcus spp. (ENT). The quantitative microbial source tracking (qMST) human-associated fecal marker, HF183, was quantified using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). This information was combined with environmental data and GIS information detailing proximal sewer, septic, and stormwater infrastructure to determine potential sources of fecal contamination in the estuary. Results indicated FIB concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with precipitation and increased throughout the estuary following rainfall events (p < 0.01). Sampling sites with FIB concentrations above the U.S. EPA threshold also had the highest percentages of aged, less durable piping materials. Using a novel ranking system combining concentrations of FIB, HF183, and sewer infrastructure data at each site, we found that the two sites nearest the most aged sewage infrastructure and stormwater outflows were found to have the highest levels of measurable fecal contamination. This case study supports the inclusion of both traditional water quality measurements and local infrastructure data to support the current need for municipalities to identify, prioritize, and remediate failing infrastructure.
Xinnaotongluo liquid protects H9c2 cells from H/R-induced damage by regulating MDM2/STEAP3
Authors: Cui Jiankun , Wang Qinwen , Li Minghao
Published: April 2024

Xinnaotongluo liquid has been used to improve the clinical symptoms of patients with myocardial infarction. However, the molecular mechanism of Xinnaotongluo liquid is not completely understood. H9c2 cells exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) was used to simulate damage to cardiomyocytes in myocardial infarction in vitro. The biological indicators of H9c2 cells were measured by cell counting kit-8, enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay, and western blot assay. In H/R-induced H9c2 cells, a markedly reduced murine double minute 2 (MDM2) was observed. However, the addition of Xinnaotongluo liquid increased MDM2 expression in H/R-induced H9c2 cells. And MDM2 overexpression strengthened the beneficial effects of Xinnaotongluo liquid on H9c2 cells from the perspective of alleviating oxidative damage, cellular inflammation, apoptosis and ferroptosis of H/R-induced H9c2 cells. Moreover, MDM2 overexpression reduced the protein expression of p53 and Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of Prostate 3 (STEAP3). Whereas, STEAP3 overexpression hindered the function of MDM2-overexpression in H/R-induced H9c2 cells. Our results insinuated that Xinnaotongluo liquid could protect H9c2 cells from H/R-induced damage by regulating MDM2/STEAP3, which provide a potential theoretical basis for further explaining the working mechanism of Xinnaotongluo liquid.
Serological investigation of Coxiella burnetii infection (Query fever) in livestock in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alkenani Naser A. , Baroom Hassan M. , Almohimeed Adi A. , Hassan Salaheldin O. , Mohammed Mohammed S. , Alshehri Layla A. , Abu Sulayman Sulaiman M. , Al-Maaqar Saleh M. , Alshaeri Majed A.
Published: April 2024

Background and Aim: Query fever (Q fever) is an endemic zoonotic disease and ruminants are considered to be the primary source of infection in humans. It is caused by Coxiella burnetii which is an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen with a worldwide distribution. This study estimated the prevalence of Q fever in livestock with a history of abortion in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia.

Materials and Methods: Sera from 341 camels, 326 sheep, and 121 goats of either sex from various locations (Makkah, Jeddah, AL-Taif, AL-Qunfudah, AL-Laith, and AL-Kamil) were examined using a Q fever indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Among the 788 serum samples, 356 animals had anti-Coxiella burnetii immunoglobulin G antibodies with an overall seroprevalence of 45.4%. Significant differences were observed in seroprevalence between species and locations. Camels had the highest percentage of Q fever-positive sera, with a prevalence of 50.4%, followed by goats (44.6%) and sheep (36.8%), with a high significant difference between animals (p = 0.000). The prevalence was significantly higher in Makkah (65.4%) than in Jeddah (28.8%).

Conclusion: C. burnetii infection is prevalent in agricultural animals, especially camels maintained at livestock farms in Makkah province. Therefore, these animals considered as the main source of Q fever infections in Saudi Arabia, which is also a reason for the abortion in these animals. Therefore, there is an urgent need for further studies on Q fever infection with interventional approaches for prevention and control.

Keywords: Coxiella burnetii, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, livestock, Saudi Arabia, serology.
Valores pessoais, estilo de vida e comportamento sustentável: um estudo com turistas em Jericoacoara, Ceará, Brasil
Authors: Oliveira Laís Vieira Castro , Romero Cláudia Buhamra Abreu , Silva Clayton Robson Moreira da
Published: April 2024

No âmbito da sustentabilidade, os valores pessoais e o estilo de vida parecem ser fatores relevantes para prever os comportamentos individuais. Analisar o comportamento sustentável do turista é um indicador importante para compreender a dinâmica indivíduo-sociedade-ambiente e seus impactos de curto, médio e longo prazos. Ademais, essas informações são relevantes para que as partes interessadas e os formuladores de políticas públicas gerenciem de maneira sustentável as paisagens naturais, bem como, os produtos e serviços envolvidos nessa atividade. Nesse contexto, este estudo analisa o papel dos valores pessoais e do estilo de vida na formação do comportamento sustentável do turista. Para tanto, realizou-se uma survey com 118 turistas em Jericoacoara, Ceará, Brasil. Para analisar os dados, foram utilizadas técnicas de análise descritiva, análise fatorial confirmatória e modelagem de equações estruturais. Os resultados mostram que a atitude favorável a uma experiência mais sustentável no turismo é influenciada pelo valor pessoal de universalismo e pelo estilo de vida ecológico. Ainda, verificou-se a consistência da Teoria da Ação Racional para predizer o comportamento sustentável do turista, uma vez que o comportamento de pagamento da taxa de turismo sustentável foi sugestionado pela intenção comportamental que, por sua vez, foi influenciada pela atitude e pela norma subjetiva. De forma geral, o estudo possibilita uma melhor compreensão sobre o comportamento do turista em relação ao pagamento da Taxa de Turismo Sustentável, bem como sobre os elementos associados a esse comportamento, auxiliando os gestores públicos na formulação de políticas fiscais eficazes e mais transparentes