bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bilateral axillary web syndrome in a patient with primary lymphoedema of upper limbs and non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Rubiño Jesús Baltasar González , Witt Susan , Martín-Valero Rocío , Viñolo-Gil María Jesús , Dieterle Thomas
Published: April 2024

Primary lymphoedema, axillary web syndrome (AWS) and yellow nail syndrome may be related. Mr B is a 66-year-old gentleman with genital lymphoedema and lymphoedema of all four extremities. In 2023, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and also underwent cardiac surgery. In November 2023, he completed an inpatient rehabilitation at the Földi clinic in Germany, where he received intensive treatment for his lymphoedema and was also diagnosed with bilateral AWS. The presence of AWS in a patient with primary lymphoedema and no history of axillary surgery is unique. Although AWS typically presents after axillary surgery, this case highlights that it can also occur in patients without lymph node surgery. While the precise cause of this presentation of AWS is not known, it may be connected to yellow nail syndrome or potentially the recent chemotherapy treatment. This article will describe the clinical case, highlighting the need for further research on AWS present in primary lymphoedema.
Accurate internal cavities and kissing bond sizing in metal plates by using the time-of-flight of laser-induced ultrasound waves
Authors: Rojas-Romero M. , Medina-Cázares O. , García-Rodríguez F. J. , González-Vega A. , Martínez-Ponce G. , Gutiérrez-Juárez G.
Published: April 2024

This paper presents a nondestructive method for accurately identifying internal flaws in metal plates, which is crucial for ensuring structural integrity in safety-critical applications. The technique relies on analyzing laser-induced ultrasound (LIU) longitudinal wave time-of-flight, as demonstrated through a theoretical five-layer model. Experimental validation was conducted using a piezo-sensor in contact with a slab containing millimetric artificial cavities immersed in air, resulting in a discrepancy of 5.05%. In contrast, experiments performed in a water medium exhibited a lower discrepancy of 2.5%. (Discrepancy refers to differences between measurements obtained through an experimental time-of-flight analysis and caliper measurements.) The results obtained in water-based experiments affirm the accuracy of the proposed model. B-scan measurements and the five-layer model were utilized to generate 2D reconstructed images, enabling precise localization and sizing of cavities and kissing bonds between plates, finding an average size of kissing bond of 30 µm. In conclusion, the proposed five-layer model, based on a longitudinal wave time-of-flight analysis, provides a straightforward framework for an easy cavity and kissing bond measurements in metal plates.
Accuracy enhancement and joint calibration method of multi-station triangulation network based on absolute ranging
Authors: Yang Shuo , Yang Linghui , Wu Tengfei , Shi Shendong , Ma Luyao , Zhu Jigui
Published: April 2024

Precision measurement methods and technologies for large-scale three-dimensional coordinates are in high demand in advanced equipment manufacturing. The multi-station triangulation network represented by the rotary-laser scanning measurement system has the advantages of having high precision, having multitask parallel measurement capability, and having a high degree of automation. It is widely used in the docking of large components, quality control of key points, and collaborative positioning of production equipment. Nevertheless, due to the limitations in the measurement principle, the positioning accuracy along the depth direction is notably lower when compared to other directions. This difference becomes more pronounced with increasing distance. This paper proposes a method to address this issue by integrating a distance measurement station into the network. A novel, to the best of our knowledge, cooperative target, coupled with a high-dynamic beam guidance mechanism, is designed to achieve fast absolute distance measurement to the target. The weighted fusion of the distance and angle observations effectively enhances the measurement accuracy while preserving the advantages of highly automated measurement. Additionally, we introduce a joint calibration method for extrinsic parameters of multi-type stations. High-precision absolute distances are utilized to establish optical scale bars, complemented by the incorporation of physical scale bars, thereby obviating the necessity for using external reference instruments such as laser trackers. Finally, a series of experimental verifications demonstrate the effectiveness of calibration and measurement methods. The root mean square error of all measured points drop to 42.6% of that the triangulation method measures.
Randomness of optical turbulence generated by Rayleigh–Bénard convection using intensity statistics
Authors: Ferlic Nathaniel A. , Avramov-Zamurovic Svetlana , O’Malley Owen , Kelly Thomas , Judd K. Peter
Published: April 2024

The experimental study of optical turbulence proves difficult due to challenges in generating controllable conditions in a laboratory environment. Confined water tanks that produce Rayleigh–Bénard (RB) convection are one method to generate optical turbulence using a controllable temperature gradient. It is of utmost concern to quantify the properties of the optical turbulence generated for characterization of other optical applications such as imaging, sensing, or communications. In this experimental study a Gaussian beam is propagated through a RB water tank where two intensity measurements are made at the receiver’s pupil and focal plane. The pupil and focal plane results include quantification of the intensity fluctuation distribution, scintillation distribution, and refractive index structure constant at various values of the temperature gradient. The angle of arrival fluctuations is also calculated at the focal plane to obtain a second estimate of C
n
2. The pupil plane estimate for C
n
2 using scintillation index and focal plane angle of arrival fluctuations is compared to preliminary predictions of C
n
2 as a function of RB temperature gradient showing C
n
2∼ΔT4/3. The outcomes of the study confirm that the RB process produces intensity fluctuations that follow gamma–gamma and log-normal probability density functions. Estimates of the refractive index structure constant C
n
2 produce the same trends with different magnitudes when measured from the pupil and focal plane.
Sample compensation method for injection electroluminescent display panels
Authors: Ou Peng , Yang Gang , Lin Hui , Chen Peng , Wang Di
Published: April 2024

Aiming at the problem of luminance uniformity for injection electroluminescent display panels, we present a new sample compensation method based on column-control according to successive scans theory. On the basis of our ideas, a small part of pixels of each column are selected as samples, and the column gating time calculated by sample average luminance value of corresponding column is written in hardware program. We adopt the 64 × 32 LEDs display panel as an example to expound the compensation method and obtain good result that the reduction in amplitude of luminance non-uniformity is 65.42% for the sample area, 58.67% for the non-sample area and 60.21% for the entire display panel.
Mesoscopic ultrafast nonlinear optics—the emergence of multimode quantum non-Gaussian physics
Authors: Yanagimoto Ryotatsu , Ng Edwin , Jankowski Marc , Nehra Rajveer , McKenna Timothy P. , Onodera Tatsuhiro , Wright Logan G. , Hamerly Ryan , Marandi Alireza , Fejer M. M. , Mabuchi Hideo
Published: April 2024

Over the last few decades, nonlinear optics has become significantly more nonlinear, traversing nearly a billionfold improvement in energy efficiency, with ultrafast nonlinear nanophotonics in particular emerging as a frontier for combining both spatial and temporal engineering. At present, cutting-edge experiments in nonlinear nanophotonics place us just above the mesoscopic regime, where a few hundred photons suffice to trigger highly nonlinear dynamics. In contrast to classical or deep-quantum optics, the mesoscale is characterized by dynamical interactions between mean-field, Gaussian, and non-Gaussian quantum features, all within a close hierarchy of scales. When combined with the inherent multimode complexity of optical fields, such hybrid quantum-classical dynamics present theoretical, experimental, and engineering challenges to the contemporary framework of quantum optics. In this review, we highlight the unique physics that emerges in multimode nonlinear optics at the mesoscale and outline key principles for exploiting both classical and quantum features to engineer novel functionalities. We briefly survey the experimental landscape and draw attention to outstanding technical challenges in materials, dispersion engineering, and device design for accessing mesoscopic operation. Finally, we speculate on how these capabilities might usher in some new paradigms in quantum photonics, from quantum-augmented information processing to nonclassical-light-driven dynamics and phenomena to all-optical non-Gaussian measurement and sensing. The physics unlocked at the mesoscale present significant challenges and opportunities in theory and experiment alike, and this review is intended to serve as a guide to navigating this new frontier in ultrafast quantum nonlinear optics.
Optical damage thresholds of single-mode fiber-tip spintronic terahertz emitters
Authors: Paries Felix , Selz Felix , Lampin Jean-Francois , Kolejak Pierre , Lezier Geoffrey , Tiercelin Nicolas , Vanwolleghem Mathias , Kampfrath Tobias , Seifert Tom , von Freymann Georg , Molter Daniel
Published: April 2024

Spintronic terahertz emitters (STEs) are gapless, ultrabroadband terahertz sources that can be driven within a wide pump-wavelength and repetition-rate range. While STEs driven by strong pump lasers operating at kilohertz repetition rates excel in generating high electric field strengths for terahertz spectroscopy or ellipsometry, newly advancing technologies such as ultrafast modulation of terahertz polarization, scanning tunneling microscopy, laser terahertz emission nanoscopy, and fully fiber-coupled integrated systems demand an STE pumping at megahertz repetition rates.
In all these applications the available terahertz power is ultimately limited by the STE's optical damage threshold. However, to date, only very few publications have targeted this crucial topic, and investigations beyond the kilohertz repetition-rate regime are missing.

Here, we present a complete study of our single-mode fiber-tip STEs’ optical damage thresholds covering the kilohertz, megahertz, and gigahertz repetition-rate regimes as well as continuous-wave irradiation. As a very important finding, we introduce the necessity of classifying the optical damage threshold into two regimes: a low-repetition-rate regime characterized by a nearly constant fluence threshold, and a high-repetition-rate regime characterized by an antiproportional fluence dependence ("average-power threshold"). For our single-mode fiber-tip STEs, the transition between these regimes occurs around 4 MHz.

Moreover, we present a cohesive theory of the damaging thermodynamical processes at play and identify temperature-driven inter-layer diffusion as the primary cause of the STE failure. These findings are substantiated by atomic force microscopy, infrared scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy, and scanning transmission electron microscopy measurements.

This new level of understanding offers a clear optimization lever and provides valuable support for future advancements in the promising field of spintronic terahertz emission.
Protoplast-mediated transformation of Madurella mycetomatis using hygromycin resistance as a selection marker
Authors: du Pré Saskia , Konings Mickey , Schoorl Dorenda J. A. , Fahal Ahmed H. , Arentshorst Mark , Ram Arthur F. J. , van de Sande Wendy W. J.
Published: April 2024

Madurella mycetomatis is the main cause of mycetoma, a chronic granulomatous infection for which currently no adequate therapy is available. To improve therapy, more knowledge on a molecular level is required to understand how M. mycetomatis is able to cause this disease. However, the genetic toolbox for M. mycetomatis is limited. To date, no method is available to genetically modify M. mycetomatis. In this paper, a protoplast-mediated transformation protocol was successfully developed for this fungal species, using hygromycin as a selection marker. Furthermore, using this method, a cytoplasmic-GFP-expressing M. mycetomatis strain was created. The reported methodology will be invaluable to explore the pathogenicity of M. mycetomatis and to develop reporter strains which can be useful in drug discovery as well as in genetic studies.
Determinants of overweight and obesity among children between 5 to 11 years in Ecuador: A secondary analysis from the National Health Survey 2018
Authors: Tello Betzabé , Ocaña José , García-Zambrano Paúl , Enríque-Moreira Betsabé , Dueñas-Espín Iván
Published: April 2024

Background

During the 1990s, global eating habits changed, affecting poorer and middle-income nations, as well as richer countries. This shift, known as the "obesity transition," led to more people becoming overweight or obese worldwide. In Ecuador, this change is happening, and now, one in three children is affected by overweight or obesity (OW/OB). This study explores the links between social, economic, and demographic factors and childhood obesity in Ecuador, seeking to provide insights for shaping future health policies in response to this intricate shift.

Methods

A cross-sectional study using 2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey data from Ecuador. Weighted percentages were computed, and odds ratios for OW/OB unadjusted and adjusted for each category of explanatory variables were estimated using multilevel multivariate logistic regression models.

Results

Among 10,807 Ecuadorian school children aged 5 to 11, the prevalence of OW/OB was 36.0%. Males exhibited 1.26 times higher odds than females (95% CI: 1.20 to 1.33), and each additional year of age increased the odds by 1.10 times (95% CI: 1.09 to 1.10). Economic quintiles indicated increased odds (1.17 to 1.39) from the 2nd to 5th quintile (the richest) compared with the first quintile (the poorest). Larger household size slightly reduced odds of OW/OB (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.91 to 0.95), while regular physical activity decreased odds ([aOR] = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.75 to 0.82). The consumption of school-provided meals showed a non-significant reduction (aOR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.82 to 1.06). Children from families recognizing and using processed food labels had a higher likelihood of being overweight or obese (aOR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.26).

Conclusion

Age, male gender, and higher economic quintile increase OW/OB in Ecuadorian school children. Larger households and physical activity slightly decrease risks. Ecuador needs policies for healthy schools and homes, focusing on health, protection, and good eating habits.
In silico assessment of 18S rDNA metabarcoding markers for the characterization of nematode communities
Authors: Ficetola Gentile Francesco , Guerrieri Alessia , Cantera Isabel , Bonin Aurelie
Published: April 2024

Nematodes are keystone actors of soil, freshwater and marine ecosystems, but the complexity of morphological identification has limited broad-scale monitoring of nematode biodiversity. DNA metabarcoding is increasingly used to assess nematode diversity but requires universal primers with high taxonomic coverage and high taxonomic resolution. Several primers have been proposed for the metabarcoding of nematode diversity, many of which target the 18S rRNA gene. In silico analyses have a great potential to assess key parameters of primers, including taxonomic coverage, resolution and specificity. Based on a recently-available reference database, we tested in silico the performance of fourteen commonly used and one newly optimized primer for nematode metabarcoding. Most primers showed very good coverage, amplifying most of the sequences in the reference database, while four markers showed limited coverage. All primers showed good taxonomic resolution. Resolution was particularly good if the aim was the identification of higher-level taxa, such as genera or families. Overall, species-level resolution was higher for primers amplifying long fragments. None of the primers was highly specific for nematodes as, despite some variation, they all amplified a large number of other eukaryotes. Differences in performance across primers highlight the complexity of the choice of markers appropriate for the metabarcoding of nematodes, which depends on a trade-off between taxonomic resolution and the length of amplified fragments. Our in silico analyses provide new insights for the identification of the most appropriate primers, depending on the study goals and the origin of DNA samples. This represents an essential step to design and optimize metabarcoding studies assessing nematode diversity.
Modeling and simulating the multi-generation product sales, production and inventory system within the context of quality upgrades
Authors: Bo Tan , Yuan Kenan , Ge Yirui
Published: April 2024

The rapid development of science and technology has led to an increasing number of high-tech enterprises offering new products through successive generations of product upgrades. This trend presents a new challenge for the sustainable operations of enterprises. Based on the Norton-Bass model, this study begins by constructing a multi-generation product diffusion model within a single enterprise in the context of a monopoly under the quality upgrade scenario. Subsequently, a supply model is established based on this foundation, and these two models are seamlessly integrated using product sales volume as an interface, culminating in a comprehensive sales-supply system. This study analyzes the effects of new-product pricing, quality levels, initial stock, and production capacity on the performance of this system. The system dynamics (SD) method was used to simulate and solve the system in the decentralized and centralized decision-making modes, and the two decision-making modes were compared and analyzed. The research reveals several key findings. i) Comprehensive decision optimization yields enhanced profitability through joint optimization calculation of the multi-generation product diffusion system and the supply adjustment system. ii) consumer price sensitivity significantly affects product quality upgrades and profits. A negative correlation exists between consumer price sensitivity and both factors. The upgrades of product quality should be carefully traded off with consideration of pricing and quality costs. iii) Maximizing profits by maintaining a certain order level of backlog or stock shortage is beneficial for overall enterprise profitability. Additionally, optimal production capacity has been identified as a crucial element in efficient operational inventory management. This study expands the multi-generation product diffusion operational theory and provides valuable theoretical support and decision-making foundations for the sustainable management of enterprises.
Semantic segmentation of urban environments: Leveraging U-Net deep learning model for cityscape image analysis
Authors: Arulananth T. S. , Kuppusamy P. G. , Ayyasamy Ramesh Kumar , Alhashmi Saadat M. , Mahalakshmi M. , Vasanth K. , Chinnasamy P.
Published: April 2024

Semantic segmentation of cityscapes via deep learning is an essential and game-changing research topic that offers a more nuanced comprehension of urban landscapes. Deep learning techniques tackle urban complexity and diversity, which unlocks a broad range of applications. These include urban planning, transportation management, autonomous driving, and smart city efforts. Through rich context and insights, semantic segmentation helps decision-makers and stakeholders make educated decisions for sustainable and effective urban development. This study investigates an in-depth exploration of cityscape image segmentation using the U-Net deep learning model. The proposed U-Net architecture comprises an encoder and decoder structure. The encoder uses convolutional layers and down sampling to extract hierarchical information from input images. Each down sample step reduces spatial dimensions, and increases feature depth, aiding context acquisition. Batch normalization and dropout layers stabilize models and prevent overfitting during encoding. The decoder reconstructs higher-resolution feature maps using "UpSampling2D" layers. Through extensive experimentation and evaluation of the Cityscapes dataset, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of the U-Net model in achieving state-of-the-art results in image segmentation. The results clearly shown that, the proposed model has high accuracy, mean IOU and mean DICE compared to existing models.
Epidemiological changes of acute respiratory infections in children: A single-center experience after COVID-19 lockdown
Authors: Stacevičienė Indrė , Ivaškevičienė Inga , Burokienė Sigita , Steponavičienė Aušra , Vaičiūnienė Daiva , Tarutytė Gabrielė , Jankauskienė Augustina
Published: April 2024

Background

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemiology of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) has continually changed, making it difficult to predict. Our study aimed to evaluate epidemiological changes and clinical outcomes of ARIs in pediatric patients in the post-lockdown period.

Methods

A single-center retrospective cross-sectional study was performed in one of the largest pediatric emergency departments in Lithuania during two cold seasons–from October 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022 (Season I) and in the same period in 2022–2023 (Season II). Patients under 18 years of age who had been tested for COVID-19 were enrolled in the study. Additional data about other respiratory pathogens in the study group (specifically influenza A/B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and group A Streptococcus (GAS)), were included.

Results

During both seasons of our study, 19,366 children were screened for COVID-19. Positive tests for COVID-19 decreased from 14.5% in Season I to 5.9% in Season II, while at the same time, the rates of other infections increased significantly: influenza from 17.5% to 27.1%, RSV from 8.8% to 27.6%, and GAS from 8.4% to 44%, respectively. In Season II, COVID-19 infection presented in fewer admissions to pediatric intensive care (0.8% vs. 3.7%, p<0.01) and there were no deaths, while influenza presented in a higher proportion of hospitalizations (10.5% vs. 6.1%, p<0.01) and there was one death. The proportion of RSV hospitalizations also increased in Season II (34.6% vs. 44.0%, p<0.01).

Conclusions

The early post-lockdown period saw a decline of COVID-19 and re-emergence of influenza, RSV and GAS infections in children. In Season II, COVID-19 cases became milder contrary to influenza. RSV infection contributed significantly to hospitalizations for respiratory infections in children in both seasons, particularly in Season II. Coinfections were not associated with a more severe course of the disease.
Does structural social capital lead to proactive green innovation? a three-part serial mediation model
Authors: Gao Xinxiang
Published: April 2024

Enhancing green innovation for business sustainability represents a pressing global challenge. In the context of the manufacturing industry, the relationship between proactive green innovation (PGI) and structural social capital (SSC) remains a profoundly under-researched area. Drawing upon the theories of social capital and dynamic capability (DC), this study investigated the relationship between SSC and PGI within manufacturing enterprises via three individual and sequential mediating factors, namely cognitive social capital (CSC), relational social capital (RSC), and DC. Adopting a cross-sectional quantitative design, this study collected survey data from 485 manufacturing sector employees in China using purposive sampling. Structural equation modeling analysis of the data revealed no significant direct impact of SSC on PGI, but a strong indirect impact through the sequential mediating influences of CSC, RSC, and DC. The findings suggests that PGI within manufacturing enterprises is not wholly shaped by SSC; rather, firm-level dynamic capabilities, characterized by a sequential mechanism, plays a crucial role in achieving PGI within these enterprises. This paper offers both theoretical and practical contributions and provides recommendations for future research based on its limitations.
Genetic diversity and phylogeographic patterns of the peacock jewel-damselfly, Rhinocypha fenestrella (Rambur, 1842)
Authors: Noorhidayah Mamat , Azrizal-Wahid Noor , Low Van Lun , Yusoff Norma-Rashid
Published: April 2024

Despite is known to have widespread distribution and the most active species of the family Chlorocyphidae, the molecular data of Rhinocypha fenestrella (Rambur, 1842) are relatively scarce. The present study is the first that examined the genetic diversity and phylogeographic pattern of the peacock jewel-damselfly R. fenestrella by sequencing the cytochrome C oxidase I (cox1) and 16S rRNA gene regions from 147 individuals representing eight populations in Malaysia. A total of 26 and 10 unique haplotypes were revealed by the cox1 and 16S rRNA genes, respectively, and 32 haplotypes were recovered by the concatenated sequences of cox1+16S. Analyses indicated that haplotype AB2 was the most frequent and the most widespread haplotype in Malaysia while haplotype AB1 was suggested as the common ancestor haplotype of the R. fenestrella that may arose from the Negeri Sembilan as discovered from cox1+16S haplotype network analysis. Overall haplotype and nucleotide diversities of the concatenated sequences were Hd = 0.8937 and Pi = 0.0028, respectively, with great genetic differentiation (FST = 0.6387) and low gene flow (Nm = 0.14). Population from Pahang presented the highest genetic diversity (Hd = 0.8889, Pi = 0.0022, Nh = 9), whereas Kedah population demonstrated the lowest diversity (Hd = 0.2842, Pi = 0.0003, Nh = 4). The concatenated sequences of cox1+16S showed genetic divergence ranging from 0.09% to 0.97%, whereas the genetic divergence for cox1 and 16S rRNA genes were 0.16% to 1.63% and 0.01% to 0.75% respectively. This study provides for the first-time insights on the intraspecific genetic diversity, phylogeographic pattern and ancestral haplotype of Rhinocypha fenestrella. The understanding of molecular data especially phylogeographic pattern can enhance the knowledge about insect origin, their diversity, and capability to disperse in particular environments.
Exploring perceptions of self-stigma of substance use and current alcohol and marijuana use patterns among college students
Authors: Chentsova Victoria O. , Bravo Adrian J. , Hetelekides Eleftherios , Gutierrez Daniel , Prince Mark A. ,   Stimulant Norms and Prevalence (SNAP) Study Team
Published: April 2024

Background

While research has examined the effect of stigma from others towards individuals with substance use disorders, few studies have examined the relationship between perceived self-stigma and engagement in substance use more broadly, especially among non-clinical samples.

Aims

The present study examined the relationships between perceptions of self-stigma if one were to develop a substance use disorder, consisting of negative self-esteem and negative self-efficacy, and alcohol or marijuana use behaviors and outcomes.

Method

Participants (n = 2,243; 71.5% female) were college students within the U.S. recruited to participate in an online survey on substance use with a special focus on alcohol and marijuana.

Results

Results indicated no significant differences in stigma scores across individuals with different lifetime alcohol and marijuana use. Stigma ratings did differ between individuals with different profiles of last 30-day alcohol and marijuana use where, generally, individuals with lifetime use but no use in the last 30-day reported higher levels of self-stigma. Correlation analyses indicated that perceived impact of substance use disorder on sense of self-efficacy and self-esteem related negatively to nearly all observed factors of alcohol and marijuana use.

Conclusions

Though self-stigma, and stigma more broadly, has been shown to have negative implications for people with substance use disorders, the present study suggests that for non-clinical populations there may be some protective association between perceived self-stigma and alcohol or marijuana use engagement. This is not to say that self-stigma is a positive clinical intervention. Rather, we interpret these findings to indicate that negative perceptions of substance use disorder on the sense of self may be associated with distinct alcohol and marijuana use behaviors among young adults.
Online news framing of police and protesters in Europe: Press treatment of street demonstrations in London, Athens and Barcelona (2020–21)
Authors: Yannoulatou Marialena , Tulloch Christopher D.
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the online news framing of police and protesters in Europe by looking at three late 2020/early 2021 protests: the vigil for Sarah Everard, killed by a police officer, the 47th Athens Polytechnic uprising anniversary rally and the protests against the imprisonment of Catalan rapper Pablo Hasél. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to analyse a sample of 114 articles, gathered from six ideologically opposed news outlets in the three countries. The results indicate that police actions are predominantly located within either the ‘police brutality’ or the ‘order-maintenance’ frame depending on the political orientation of the outlet while the framing of the protesters appears to be more fragmented. Results also suggest that it would be inaccurate to claim that only the right-wing press insulates the police. Overall, this study found media framing to be dependent on the perceived level of deviance of the protest.
Differently Chinese, Differently Queer: Queer Chineseness as Heuristic and Transnational Queer Imaginary
Authors: Wong Terrie Siang-Ting , Huang Shuzhen
Published: April 2024

This article uses a duoethnographic approach to trouble the notions of queerness and Chineseness. Writing from two different social locations as transnational queer Chinese women based in the United States—one a Singaporean queer Chinese woman, another a Mainland queer Chinese woman—we critically interrogate and reflect on our life and fieldwork experiences at the intersection of race, gender, sexuality, nationality, age, and class. We focus on transregional differences as well as inter-Asian connectivity to decenter the dominant Euro-American framework of queer theory, which assumes a universal, white queer position. Centering difference, misunderstanding, struggle, and tension in our writing, we reflexively unravel the (un)intelligibility and (im)possibilities of queer Chinese womanhood to complicate the notions of queerness and Chineseness. Joining current conversations on queer Asia, we explore the notion of queer Chineseness as a heuristic tool and a space for queer imaginary.
Investigation on Individual Variation of Organ Doses for Photon External Exposures: A Monte Carlo Simulation Study
Authors: Lee Yumi , Choi Ji Won , Braunstein Lior , Lee Choonsik , Yeom Yeon Soo
Published: April 2024

Background: The reference dose coefficients (DCs) of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) have been widely used to estimate organ doses of individuals for risk assessments. This approach has been well accepted because individual anatomy data are usually unavailable, although dosimetric uncertainty exists due to the anatomical difference between the reference phantoms and the individuals. We attempted to quantify the individual variation of organ doses for photon external exposures by calculating and comparing organ DCs for 30 individuals against the ICRP reference DCs.Materials and Methods: We acquired computed tomography images from 30 patients in which eight organs (brain, breasts, liver, lungs, skeleton, skin, stomach, and urinary bladder) were segmented using the ImageJ software to create voxel phantoms. The phantoms were implemented into the Monte Carlo N-Particle 6 (MCNP6) code and then irradiated by broad parallel photon beams (10 keV to 10 MeV) at four directions (antero-posterior, postero-anterior, left-lateral, right-lateral) to calculate organ DCsResults and Discussion: There was significant variation in organ doses due to the difference in anatomy among the individuals, especially in the kilovoltage region (e.g., <100 keV). For example, the red bone marrow doses at 0.01 MeV varied from 3 to 7 orders of the magnitude depending on the irradiation geometry. In contrast, in the megavoltage region (1–10 MeV), the individual variation of the organ doses was found to be negligibly small (differences <10%). It was also interesting to observe that the organ doses of the ICRP reference phantoms showed good agreement with the mean values of the organ doses among the patients in many casesConclusion: The results of this study would be informative to improve insights in individualspecific dosimetry. It should be extended to further studies in terms of many different aspects (e.g., other particles such as neutrons, other exposures such as internal exposures, and a larger number of individuals/patients) in the future.
Quantifying the influence of supplier relationship management and supply chain performance
Authors: Emon Md Mehedi Hasan , Khan Tahsina , Siam Saleh Ahmed Jalal
Published: April 2024

Purpose: This study explores the impact of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) practices on supply chain performance, with a focus on cost efficiency, within the dynamic context of Bangladesh. The purpose is to elucidate the relationships between SRM practices, specifically Supplier Collaboration, Supplier Development, Supplier Evaluation and Selection, and Long-Term Supplier Relationships, and their influence on cost efficiency within supply chains.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing regression analysis and correlation analysis to analyze data collected through a structured survey from 270 Participants within Bangladesh’s Manufacturing and Service Sectors. The research adopted a cross-sectional time horizon, providing a snapshot view of the relationships between SRM practices and cost efficiency.
Findings: The findings reveal that Supplier Collaboration and Long-Term Supplier Relationships significantly and positively influence cost efficiency within the supply chains of Bangladeshi organizations. These SRM practices collectively contribute to approximately 64.2% of the variance in cost efficiency, emphasizing their critical role in optimizing supply chain performance.
Research Limitations/Implications: Limitations of this study include its cross-sectional nature and the focus on a specific set of SRM practices. Future research can explore additional SRM dimensions and employ longitudinal approaches for deeper insights.
Practical Implications: Practitioners can leverage the study's findings to enhance supply chain performance by implementing holistic SRM strategies, fostering collaborative supplier relationships, and nurturing long-term partnerships with suppliers.
Social Implications: This research contributes to the broader economic landscape of Bangladesh by highlighting the importance of SRM practices in enhancing cost efficiency, which can ultimately lead to economic growth and competitiveness.
Originality/Value: This study extends the understanding of SRM practices by examining their applicability and significance in an emerging market like Bangladesh. It underscores the originality and value of SRM as a strategic imperative for organizations operating in diverse contexts.
Wpływ pandemii COVID-19 na funkcjonowanie sektora organizacji i obsługi ruchu turystycznego w nadmorskiej strefie turystycznej Pobrzeża Bałtyku
Authors: Parzych Krzysztof , Ciupek Arkadiusz
Published: April 2024

W artykule podjęto zagadnienie oceny wpływu pandemii COVID-19 na funkcjonowanie sektora organizacji i obsługi ruchu turystycznego w nadmorskiej strefie turystycznej Pobrzeża Bałtyku. Do realizacji podjętego zadania badawczego wykorzystano dane Banku Danych Lokalnych GUS dotyczące wybranych mierników i wskaźników zagospodarowania i ruchu turystycznego w 36 gminach oraz w 15 powiatach nadmorskich.
Dapagliflozin prevents ERK activation and SGLT2‐dependent endoglin upregulation in a mechanically provoked cardiac injury model
Authors: Yeh Tung‐Chen , Wu Yi‐Chung , Wong Tzyy Yue , Sun Gwo‐Ching , Tseng Ching‐Jiunn , Cheng Pei‐Wen
Published: April 2024

Sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are rapidly gaining ground in the treatment of heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by an unknown mechanism. Upregulation of Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1), SGLT1, and Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in the diseased hearts was found to be attenuated by prolonged SGLT2i treatment. Unfortunately, dapagliflozin is not well understood as to how Na+/Ca2+ homeostasis is affected in cardiomyocytes. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether mechanical stretch in cardiomyocytes upregulate SGLT2, resulted to loss of Na+/Ca2+ homeostasis via ERK and eNOS signaling. AMI (+) and AMI (−) serum levels were estimated using ELISA assays of TGFβ‐1 or endoglin (CD105). Human cardiomyocyte cell line AC16 was subjected to different stresses: 5% mild and 25% aggressive, at 1 Hz for 24 h. Immunofluorescence assays were used to estimate troponin I, CD105, SGLT1/2, eNOSS633, and ERK1/2T202/Y204 levels was performed for 5% (mild), and 25% elongation for 24 h. AMI (+) serum showed increased TGFβ1 and CD105 compared to AMI (−) patients. In consistent, troponin I, CD105, SGLT1/2, eNOSS633 and ERK1/2T202/Y204 were upregulated after 25% of 24 h cyclic stretch. Dapagliflozin addition caused SGLT2 inhibition, which significantly decreased troponin I, CD105, SGLT1/2, eNOSS633, and ERK1/2T202/Y204 under 25% cyclic stretching. In summary, SGLT2 may have sensed mechanical stretch in a way similar to cardiac overloading as in vivo. By blocking SGLT2 in stretched cardiomyocytes, the AMI biomarkers (CD105, troponin I and P‐ERK) were decreased, potentially to rescue eNOS production to maintain normal cellular function. This discovery of CD105 and SGLT2 increase in mechanically stretched cardiomyocytes suggests that SGLT2 may conceive a novel role in direct or indirect sensing of mechanical stretch, prompting the possibility of an in vitro cardiac overloaded cell model, an alternative to animal heart model.
Ein Diskurs über Glaubwürdigkeit im Koran: Propheten und Poeten in

Sūrat aš-Šuʿarāʾ
Authors: Tamer Georges
Published: April 2024

Der Koran und die vorislamisch-arabische Dichtung sind durch diskursive Intertextualität miteinander verbunden. Obwohl der Koran keine Dichtung ist und Muḥammad andere Ziele verfolgte als die Dichter, wurde er von seiner Umgebung als einer von ihnen angesehen. Der Koran weist diesen Vorwurf vehement zurück, zeigt jedoch auffällige philologische Ähnlichkeiten zur Dichtung, übernimmt Motive und invertiert Ideen aus den Gedichten. Eine zentrale Frage in diesem intertextuellen Zusammenhang ist die Glaubwürdigkeit der koranischen Verkündigung. Aus diesem Grund betont der Koran in den mekkanischen Suren auf mehreren Ebenen die Abgrenzung Muḥammads von den Dichtern. Dies wird besonders deutlich in Sure 26, Sūrat aš-Šuʿarāʾ. Hier wird bekräftigt, dass die Verkündigung göttlichen Ursprungs ist und keinesfalls mit satanischer Inspiration verwechselt werden darf. Der Koran führt sieben Episoden an, um die Einordnung von Muḥammads Sendung in die biblische und altarabische Tradition der Prophetie zu untermauern. Das aus diesem Kontext entstandene Prophetenparadigma wird abschließend in Kontrast zur Darstellung der Dichter als Herumirrende und Lügner gesetzt.
Revisiting the Accounts of the Political Assassinations in the Prophet’s Lifetime
Authors: Perlman Yaara
Published: April 2024

The historicity of accounts concerning the political assassinations of several rivals of the Prophet Muḥammad has recently been called into doubt on the basis of a literary analysis of these accounts. This article offers an alternative view of the historical value of these assassination narratives by scrutinizing the accounts of the killings of three Jewish rivals of the Prophet. It argues that certain details of the political assassinations in Medina and Khaybar that are found in rare accounts merit strong trust, and it questions the methodology of applying a literary approach specifically to the accounts of the assassinations, as literary devices are found in reports of nearly every episode pertaining to the Prophet’s lifetime.
A Tale of Two Cities: Jābarṣā/Jābalqā and Their Metamorphoses
Authors: Sariyannis Marinos
Published: April 2024

Although the twin cities at the west and east edges of the world, Jābarṣā (Jābarṣ, Jābalṣā, Jāburṣā) and Jābalqā (Jābalq, Jābarqā), are somehow commonplace in Islamicate cosmographies throughout the medieval period, surprisingly little research exists on them. The main lines of the legend, as formulated by the medieval traditionalists and cosmographers, are as follows: there are two cities at the uttermost east and west parts of the inhabited world, where the sun rises and sets. The inhabitants suffer from the extreme heat and the noise made by the sun in its rising and setting; they have to hide in caves and make their own noise to be protected. In the various versions of the story, some elements lack or differ; the cities are often connected with other legends related to the edge of the world, such as Dhū l-Qarnayn, the Gog and Magog/Yājūj and Mājūj, Muḥammad’s night journey, the remnants of the ʿĀd tribe, and so forth. The paper traces the origins of the legend, its formation and various formulations during the Islamic Middle Ages, the significant change it underwent in the late medieval Illuminationist (ishrāqī) philosophy, and finally its survival and fading away to a status of folktale utopia in Ottoman literature and scholarship.
Unlocking the future of hepatocellular carcinoma treatment: A comprehensive analysis of disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs for prognosis and drug screening
Authors: Wang Haojun , Wang Wei
Published: April 2024

Background

The disulfide stress-induced cell death known as disulfidptosis is characterized by the disintegration of cytoskeletal proteins and F-actin as a result of an excessive buildup of disulfides within the cell. The relationship between disulfidptosis-associated long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression is still not clearly understood. In this article, we aim to explore the crucial role of lncRNA in HCC.

Methods

We initially obtained lncRNA related to HCC and clinical data from TCGA. The genes associated with disulfidptosis were identified through co-expression analysis, Cox regression, and Lasso regression. Additionally, we established a prognostic model for verification.

Results

The risk model constructed with disulfidptosis-related lncRNA has been confirmed to be a good predictor of high and low-risk groups of HCC patients through survival curves, independent prognostic analysis, concordance index (C-index), ROC curves, and Kaplan–Meier plots. We also discovered differences in the response to immune targets and anticancer drugs between the two groups of patients, with GDC0810, Osimertinib, Paclitaxel, and YK-4-279 being more effective for patients in the high-risk group.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have developed a risk model that can guide future efforts to diagnose and treat HCC.
The Prospection and Retrospection of Experiential Purchases as More Meaningful Memories: Social and Affective Implications
Authors: Puente-Diaz Rogelio , Cavazos-Arroyo Judith
Published: April 2024

Consumers can spend their money on material or experiential purchases with important affective and social implications. Consequently, the present study had two objectives, to examine the influence of the type of purchase, experiential versus material, on the construction of meaningful memories prospectively and retrospectively; and to examine the positive influence of this interpretation in terms of anticipated social connection and nostalgia and reliving intentions. Four experiments were conducted. The results of study 1 showed that experiential purchases were interpreted prospectively as more meaningful memories, and were positively related to social connectedness. Experiments 2 and 3 showed that experiential purchases and special experiential purchases were interpreted as more meaningful memories and were positively related to nostalgia. The last experiment showed that special purchases were interpreted as more meaningful memories, leading to greater nostalgia.
Ni2Mo3N: crystal structure, thermal properties, and catalytic activity for ammonia decomposition
Authors: Hund Sophie , Gómez-Cápiro Oscar , Ruland Holger , Heppke Eva M. , Lerch Martin
Published: April 2024

Ni2Mo3N was synthesized by ammonolysis of NiMoO4, prepared by a sol-gel-based modified Pechini route. X-ray powder diffraction measurements confirmed that Ni2Mo3N crystallizes in a filled β-Mn type (cubic space group P4132) with a lattice parameter of a = 6.6338 Å. Group theoretical methods were applied to elucidate the relation between the crystal structure of Ni2Mo3N and that of the rock salt type. The high-temperature behavior was investigated in-situ by X-ray diffraction measurements in flowing ammonia gas at temperatures up to 875 °C. Ni2Mo3N exhibits significant catalytical activity for ammonia decomposition, which is critically discussed in comparison to literature.
Ionic conductivity of nanocrystalline γ-AgI prepared by high-energy ball milling
Authors: Jodlbauer Anna , Gombotz Maria , Gadermaier Bernhard , Heitjans Paul , Wilkening H. Martin R.
Published: April 2024

The compound AgI crystallizes, depending on temperature and pressure, with various crystal structures. While α-AgI is the stable form at elevated temperatures, the β and the γ forms exist at lower temperatures. Variants with stacking sequences different than in pure β-AgI and γ-AgI enrich the complex crystallographic situation for AgI. In the study presented here, we converted a mixture of β-AgI and γ-AgI into nanostructured γ-AgI by mechanical treatment, that is, by high-energy ball milling of such a mixture under ambient conditions. Our work extends an earlier study by Ahmad (Z. Naturforsch. 2015, 70b, 17). We used variable-temperature, potentiostatic conductivity spectroscopy as well as electric modulus measurements to characterize the electric transport parameters. For the case that the sample is heated to temperatures near and above 420 K, preliminary information on the “resistance” of the electric conductivity against healing of defects are also collected. As compared to the unmilled but mixed sample, whose Ag+ ionic transport is dominated by those ions residing in the γ-phase of AgI (0.25 eV vs. 0.46 eV in β-AgI), ball milling only leads to a small increase in overall electric conductivity (by a factor of 3–4) for nanocrystalline γ-AgI (0.25 eV). This observation is perfectly in line with a recent observation for the fast ion conductor Li10GeP2S12 (Hogrefe et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 9597): In materials with already rapid diffusion pathways, nanostructuring and the introduction of defects and distortions do not lead to significantly enhanced ion transport. Here, a careful analysis of data from conductivity and modulus spectroscopy helps identify which dynamic parameters are mainly responsible for the change in the overall conductivity upon mechanical treatment of coarse-grained γ-AgI.