bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety, efficacy and health impact of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS): an umbrella review protocol
Authors: Goel Sonu , Shabil Muhammed , Kaur Jagdish , Chauhan Anil , Rinkoo Arvind Vashishta
Published: January 2024

Background

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), commonly known as e-cigarettes or vapes, have witnessed a rise in popularity, particularly among the youth. Although they were initially introduced as an alternative to traditional smoking, the design and function of ENDS vary. The potential health effects of ENDS, especially in comparison to traditional cigarettes, are a matter of ongoing debate. Given the increasing number of clinical studies and systematic reviews on this topic, there exists a demand for an umbrella review that offers a comprehensive assessment. The goal of this study is to perform an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to assess the safety, efficacy, health implications and potential gateway effect associated with ENDS.

Methods and analysis

This umbrella review will adhere to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. A planned literature search will be executed across databases such as OVID, PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. The inclusion criteria are systematic reviews that discuss ENDS and e-liquids in the context of safety, efficacy and health outcomes. The exclusion criteria include narrative reviews, non-systematic reviews and studies not in English. Quality of the selected studies will be evaluated using the AMSTAR V.2 Scale. An overlap assessment will be done using the Corrected Covered Area, and data synthesis will be presented both narratively and in tabulated forms

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required for this study, as it does not involve the collection of original data. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication. The findings will offer crucial insights for stakeholders, policy-makers and the general public, underlining the health implications and the role of ENDS in tobacco cessation.
Effectiveness of trauma-focused art therapy (TFAT) for psychological trauma: study protocol of a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design
Authors: Heijman Jackie , Wouters Hans , Schouten Karin Alice , Haeyen Suzanne
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Treatments such as eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing and (narrative) exposure therapies are commonly used in psychological trauma. In everyday practice, art therapy is also often used, although rigorous research on its efficacy is lacking. Patients seem to benefit from the indirect, non-verbal experiential approach of art therapy. This protocol paper describes a study to examine the effectiveness of a 10-week individual trauma-focused art therapy (TFAT) intervention.

Methods and analysis

A mixed-methods multiple-baseline single-case experimental design will be conducted with 25–30 participants with psychological trauma. Participants will be randomly assigned to a baseline period lasting 3–5 weeks, followed by the TFAT intervention (10 weeks) and follow-up (3 weeks). Quantitative measures will be completed weekly: the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Mental Health Continuum Short Form, the Resilience Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Self-expression and Emotion Regulation in Art Therapy Scale. The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-5 will be completed at week 1 and week 10. Qualitative instruments comprise a semistructured interview with each individual patient and therapist, and a short evaluation for the referrer. Artwork will be used to illustrate the narrative findings. Quantitative outcomes will be analysed with linear mixed models using the MultiSCED web application. Qualitative analyses will be performed using thematic analysis with ATLAS.ti.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the ethics committee of the HAN University of Applied Sciences (ECO 394.0922). All participants will sign an informed consent form and data will be treated confidentially. Findings will be published open access in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

NCT05593302.
Psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy: population co-occurrence, genetic correlations and causal effects
Authors: Ahlqvist Viktor H , Dardani Christina , Madley-Dowd Paul , Forbes Harriet , Rast Jessica , Zhong Caichen , Gardner Renee M , Dalman Christina , Lyall Kristen , Newschaffer Craig , Tomson Torbjörn , Lundberg Michael , Berglind Daniel , Davies Neil M , Lee Brian K , Magnusson Cecilia , Rai Dheeraj
Published: January 2024

Background

Psychiatric comorbidities are common in patients with epilepsy. Reasons for the co-occurrence of psychiatric conditions and epilepsy remain poorly understood.

Aim

We aimed to triangulate the relationship between epilepsy and psychiatric conditions to determine the extent and possible origins of these conditions.

Methods

Using nationwide Swedish health registries, we quantified the lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with epilepsy. We then used summary data from genome-wide association studies to investigate whether the identified observational associations could be attributed to a shared underlying genetic aetiology using cross-trait linkage disequilibrium score regression. Finally, we assessed the potential bidirectional relationships using two-sample Mendelian randomisation.

Results

In a cohort of 7 628 495 individuals, we found that almost half of the 94 435 individuals diagnosed with epilepsy were also diagnosed with a psychiatric condition in their lifetime (adjusted lifetime prevalence, 44.09%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 43.78% to 44.39%). We found evidence for a genetic correlation between epilepsy and some neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions. For example, we observed a genetic correlation between epilepsy and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (rg=0.18, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.27, p<0.001)—a correlation that was more pronounced in focal epilepsy (rg=0.23, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.36, p<0.001). Findings from Mendelian randomisation using common genetic variants did not support bidirectional effects between epilepsy and neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions.

Conclusions

Psychiatric comorbidities are common in patients with epilepsy. Genetic correlations may partially explain some comorbidities; however, there is little evidence of a bidirectional relationship between the genetic liability of epilepsy and psychiatric conditions. These findings highlight the need to understand the role of environmental factors or rare genetic variations in the origins of psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy.
Characteristics and trends of pediatric firepit burns: insights for prevention and safety
Authors: Fazal Maria , Chidiac Charbel , Ahmad Raheel , Issa Oussama , Hodgman Erica , Garcia Alejandro V
Published: January 2024

Introduction

As fire pits grow in popularity, so do the associated burn injuries. Our study examines pediatric fire pit burns characteristics to raise awareness and promote safety precautions.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of pediatric patients (≤21 years) with firepit burns at a tertiary care hospital from 2016 to 2021.

Results

Eighty-four patients were identified, of whom 70.2% were male, with a median age of 62 months. The median percent total body surface area burned was 2% (interquartile range (IQR)=1–4). Thirty-five (41.7%) patients were admitted and 7 (8.3%) underwent grafting. Neck and trunk burns had the highest grafting rates (66% and 33%, respectively). The hands (41.7%) and the lower extremities (27.4%) were the most frequently burned body areas. The leading causes of burns were ashes/hot coals (34.5%), flames (31.0%), and direct contact (25.0%), often resulting from falling into the fire (59.5%) or running or playing in activities near it (26.2%). Thirty-five (41.7%) were admitted for inpatient management, while 49 (58.3%) were treated as outpatient. Eleven (13.2%) underwent at least one reconstructive surgery, 7 (8.4%) had at least one rehabilitation visit, and 65 (77.4%) had follow-up clinic visits. The median length of stay was 2 days (IQR=1.0–3.5). The peak months for burns were from August through October (n=40, 46.0%), with an increase observed from 10 cases in 2016 to 20 cases in 2020.

Conclusions

Given the significant proportion of firepit burns resulting from unsafe fire behaviors, it is crucial that caretakers are aware of proper firepit safety precautions.

Level of evidence

III.
Local nets of unbounded operator algebras
Authors: Weigt Martin
Published: January 2024

Two rigorous mathematical foundations for relativistic quantum field theory are local nets of von Neumann algebras and Wightman field theory. We recall that local nets of von Neumann algebras are local nets of bounded operator algebras, whereas Wightman field theory makes use of unbounded linear operators. In this paper, we introduce local nets of unbounded operator algebras and show how these can be connected with Wightman field theory. This is motivated by the fact that observables in quantum mechanics are unbounded operators in general.
Nonrelativistic quantum particles interacting with pseudoharmonic-type potential under flux field in a topological defect geometry
Authors: Rudra Prabir , Ahmed Faizuddin , Aounallah Houcine
Published: January 2024

In this work, we investigate the quantum motions of nonrelativistic particles interacting with a potential in the presence of the Aharonov–Bohm (AB) flux field within a topological defect geometry, for example space–time with a distortion of a vertical line into a vertical spiral. We begin by deriving the radial Schrödinger wave equation, incorporating an anharmonic oscillator potential, which is a superposition of a harmonic oscillator and an inverse square potential, along with a constant term. The eigenvalue solution is obtained through the confluent Heun equation focusing on the ground state energy level and the radial wave function for the radial mode [Formula: see text] as an example and analyze the results. Subsequently, we use these results to molecular potential models, considering pseudoharmonic and shifted pseudoharmonic potentials. The derived eigenvalue solutions provide insights into the behavior of particles within these potentials. Expanding our exploration, we study the quantum system featuring only an inverse square potential in the presence of the quantum flux field in the same geometry background. Employing the same procedure, we determine the ground state energy level and the radial wave function. Notably, our findings reveal that the eigenvalue solutions are significantly influenced by the topological defect characterized by the parameter [Formula: see text], and the quantum flux field [Formula: see text]. This influence manifests as a shift in the energy spectrum, drawing parallels to the gravitational analog of the AB effect.
Some fixed point results for relatively nonexpansive mappings in hyperbolic spaces using Thakur iteration
Authors: Valappil Sreya Valiya , Pulickakunnel Shaini
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we prove some fixed point results for relatively nonexpansive mappings using Thakur iteration in uniformly convex [Formula: see text] Hyperbolic spaces. Our results generalize some of the existing results in the literature. We illustrate our results with an example and shown the convergence of Thakur iteration to the fixed points of relatively nonexpansive mappings using Matlab code.
On the polyconvolution operator related to Hartley integral transforms H1,H2,H2 and its applications
Authors: Khoa Nguyen Minh
Published: January 2024

This research is focused to introduce the new polyconvolution operator related to Hartley integral transforms [Formula: see text] study the algebraic fundamental properties, and at the same time, we apply this polyconvolution operator to solve an integral equation of polyconvolutions type, integro-differential equation of Barbashin type and a system of two integral equations of polyconvolution type. On the other hand, we study the Wastson-type integral for this polyconvolution operator. We establish necessary and sufficient conditions for these operators to be unitary in the space [Formula: see text] and get their inverse represented in the conjugate symmetric form. Furthermore, we also formulate the Placherel-type theorem for the aforementioned operators, proved a sequence of function that convergence to the original function in the norm of [Formula: see text] and further show the boundedness of these operators.
The microscale behaviours and damage evolutions of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)/epoxy nanocomposites
Authors: Aluko O. , Gowtham S. , Odegard G. M.
Published: January 2024

This study investigated the microscale behaviours and damage evolutions of graphene/epoxy nanocomposites under uniaxial tensile loadings. Computational molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was applied to model the microstructural constituents of graphene/epoxy composites and the evaluation of their mechanical and the damage responses at different temperatures. The computed results revealed the influence of the proportions of graphene and temperatures on the mechanical properties, the damage evolution and the change in strain energy associated with failure of the nanocomposites. The study has added to the understanding of the damage development and failure of the graphene nanoplatelets (GNP)/epoxy composites.
#192 : Comparison of Cytokine Profiles and Th1/Th2 Ratios in the Peri-Implantation Endometrium in Recurrent Reproductive Failure Women with and Without Chronic Endometritis
Authors: Liu Yingyu , Chen Xiaoyan , Li Ruiman , Li Tin Chiu , Zhu Yuanfang
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims: Aberrant local endometrial microenvironment in chronic endometritis (CE) may be involved in reduced endometrial receptivity and recurrent reproductive failure. Previous studies have observed some discrepancies between different types of cytokines, without showing the predominance of a specific immune response between women with miscarriage and normal pregnancy. However, exactly how CE alters the endometrial function and interferes with the process of implantation is still uncertain.

Method: It was an observational retrospective study. A total of 39 women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage (RM) participated in this study. Endometrial specimens were obtained precisely 7 days after luteinization hormone surge and chronic endometritis was diagnosed by plasma cell density. In total, 24 different cytokines were examined by the Luminex technique after protein extraction and Th1/Th2 ratios are measured.

Results: No significant differences in all the endometrial specimens between 14 women who found to have CE and 25 women who did not have CE. However, in the RM group, we found a significantly increased expression of IFN-[Formula: see text] (2.89 pg/mL vs. 0.75 pg/mL, [Formula: see text] = 0.027) in women with CE. In addition, an elevated Th1/Th2 ratio (IFN-[Formula: see text] /IL-4: 288.83 vs. 75.29, [Formula: see text] = 0.027) and a decreased ratio of TNF-[Formula: see text] /IL-6 (1.25 vs. 3.11, [Formula: see text] = 0.006) were observed in RM women with CE than those without CE. Moreover, the levels of VEGF-D (14.63 pg/mL vs. 9.16 pg/mL, [Formula: see text] = 0.041) and EGF (25.13 pg/mL vs. 11.98 pg/mL, [Formula: see text] = 0.023) were higher in women with live births than those women without live births in RM group and infertility group, respectively.

Conclusion: In this study, altered cytokine profiles and Th1/Th2 ratios in peri-implantation endometrium is of predictive value for subsequent pregnancy outcome in women with recurrent miscarriage.
Digital Transformation of Tax Administration and Compliance: A Systematic Literature Review on E-Invoicing and Prefilled Returns
Authors: Hesami Siamand , Jenkins Hatice , Jenkins Glenn P.
Published: January 2024

This article systematically reviews the impact of electronic invoicing and prefilling tax returns on tax administration and compliance, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines. Our comprehensive literature search and analysis reveal that these technologies are crucial in reducing tax compliance and administration costs. The results indicate significant benefits, including reduced financial stress for firms, especially during development phases, and enhanced efficiency in tax administration processes. The study highlights how e-invoicing and prefilling systems simplify and improve the tracking of taxation, leading to increased efficiency in tax practices globally. This research contributes to understanding the transformative effects of digital technologies in taxation, demonstrating their potential in streamlining tax compliance and administrative procedures.
An Analysis of the Ingredients for Learning Interpretable Symbolic Regression Models with Human-in-the-loop and Genetic Programming
Authors: Nadizar Giorgia , Rovito Luigi , De Lorenzo Andrea , Medvet Eric , Virgolin Marco
Published: January 2024

Interpretability is a critical aspect to ensure a fair and responsible use of machine learning (ML) in high-stakes applications. Genetic programming (GP) has been used to obtain interpretable ML models because it operates at the level of functional building blocks: if these building blocks are interpretable, there is a chance that their composition (i.e., the entire ML model) is also interpretable. However, the degree to which a model is interpretable depends on the observer. Motivated by this, we study a recently-introduced human-in-the-loop system that allows the user to steer GP’s generation process to their preferences, which shall be online-learned by an artificial neural network (ANN). We focus on the generation of ML models as analytical functions (i.e., symbolic regression) as this is a key problem in interpretable ML, and propose a two-fold contribution. First, we devise more general representations for the ML models for the ANN to learn upon, to enable the application of the system to a wider range of problems. Second, we delve into a deeper analysis of the system’s components. To this end, we propose an incremental experimental evaluation, aimed at (1) studying the effectiveness by which an ANN can capture the perceived interpretability for simulated users, (2) investigating how the GP’s outcome is affected across different simulated user feedback profiles, and (3) determining whether humans participants would prefer models that were generated with or without their involvement. Our results pose clarity on pros and cons of using a human-in-the-loop approach to discover interpretable ML models with GP.
GPU Acceleration of a Conjugate Exponential Model for Cancer Tissue Heterogeneity
Authors: Chaudhuri Anik , Mohanty Anwoy Kumar , Satpathy Manoranjan
Published: January 2024

Heterogeneity in the cell population of cancer tissues poses many challenges in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Studying the heterogeneity in cell populations from gene expression measurement data in the context of cancer research is a problem of paramount importance. In addition, reducing the computation time of the algorithms that deal with high volumes of data has its obvious merits. Parallelizable models using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods are typically slow. This article presents a novel, computationally efficient, and parallelizable model to analyze heterogeneity in cancer tissues using GPUs. Because our model is parallelizable, the input data size does not affect the computation time much, provided the hardware resources are not exhausted. Our model uses qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) gene expression measurements to study heterogeneity in cancer tissue. We compute the cell proportion breakup by accelerating variational methods on a GPU. We test this model on synthetic and real-world gene expression data collected from fibroblasts and compare the performance of our algorithm with those of Markov chain Monte Carlo and expectation maximization. Our new model is computationally less complex and faster than existing Bayesian models for estimating cancer tissue heterogeneity.
ITiCSE 2024: Call for Submissions
Authors: Sheard Judithe
Published: January 2024

We are delighted to call for submissions to ITiCSE 2024, which will be held in Milan, Italy, from 5 July to 10 July 2024. ITiCSE is a computing education conference held annually in Europe, sponsored by ACM SIGCSE and supported by the ACM Europe Council and Informatics Europe. ITiCSE 2024 will be an in-person conference.
Member Spotlight: Ismaila Sanusi
Authors: Smith Julie M. , Wallace Charles , Sanusi Ismaila
Published: January 2024

Ismaila Sanusi is a Doctoral Researcher, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, School of Computing, at the University of Eastern Finland.
Field Testing of a Mixed Potential IoT Sensor Platform for Methane Quantification
Authors: Halley Sleight , Ramaiyan Kannan , Smith James , Ian Robert , Agi Kamil , Garzon Fernando , Tsui Lok-kun
Published: January 2024

Emissions of CH4 from natural gas infrastructure must urgently be addressed to mitigate its effect on global climate. With hundreds of thousands of miles of pipeline in the US used to transport natural gas, current methods of surveying for leaks are inadequate. Mixed potential sensors are a low cost, field deployable technology for remote and continuous monitoring of natural gas infrastructure. We demonstrate for the first time a field trial of a mixed potential sensor device coupled with machine learning and internet-of-things platform at Colorado State University’s Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Center (METEC). Emissions were detected from a simulated buried underground pipeline source. Sensor data was acquired and transmitted from the field test site to a remote cloud server. Quantification of concentration as a function of vertical distance is consistent with previously reported transport modelling efforts and experimental surveys of methane emissions by more sophisticated CH4 analyzers.
Abnormal Amygdala Subregion Functional Connectivity in Patients with Crohn’s Disease with or without Anxiety and Depression
Authors: Sun Jingwen , Sun Wei , Yue Kecen , Zhang Yin , Wu Xintong , Liu Wenjia , Zou Ling , Shi Haifeng
Published: January 2024

Objective. The aim of this study was to explore the resting‐state functional connectivity (rsFC) of amygdala subregions in healthy controls (HCs) and in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) both with and without anxiety or depression. Materials and Methods. A total of 33 patients with CD and with anxiety or depression (CDad group), 31 patients with CD but without anxiety or depression (CDnad group), and 29 age‐, sex‐, and education level‐matched HCs underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging. rsFC analysis was used to analyze the FC between the amygdala subregions and other areas of the brain. Results. Compared with the HC group, the CDad group demonstrated decreased rsFC between the right laterobasal subregion and the left hippocampus (P < .001) and right middle frontal gyrus (P < .001) and between the left superficial subregion and the left insula (P < .001). Compared with the HC group, the CDnad group demonstrated decreased rsFC between the left centromedial subregion and the left insula (P < .001). Compared with the CDnad group, the CDad group demonstrated decreased rsFC between the left centromedial subregion and the right precuneus (P < .001) and postcentral gyrus (P < .001), between the right laterobasal subregion and the left hippocampus (P < .001), and between the left superficial subregion and the right middle frontal gyrus (P < .001). Conclusions. There are significant FC changes in the amygdala subregions in patients with CD. These changes may be related to the disease itself or to the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Exploring Anti-Breast Cancer Effects of Live Pediococcus acidilactici and Its Cell-Free Supernatant Isolated from Human Breast Milk
Authors: Adumuah Naa N. , Quarshie Jude T. , Danwonno Harry , Aikins Anastasia R. , Ametefe Elmer N.
Published: January 2024

Current breast cancer treatment options are limited by drug resistance and adverse side effects, which calls for the need for alternatives or complementary remedies. Probiotic bacteria isolated from human breast milk have been shown to possess proapoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties against breast mastitis in breastfeeding mothers and are being studied as possible anticancer regimens. Thus, this study aimed at exploring the effect of lactic acid bacteria isolated from human breast milk on MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells. A total of twenty-two bacteria were isolated from four human breast milk samples. The isolates were characterized and identified using biochemical tests and Sanger sequencing, respectively. For in vitro experiments, we used isolated P. acidilactici to treat MDA-MB-231 cells, and an MTT assay was used to detect proliferation. RT-qPCR and wound healing assays were performed to determine the effect of the isolated P. acidilactici on breast cancer cytokine expression and migration. Exposure of MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells to live P. acidilactici and its cell-free supernatant (CFS) for 24 h resulted in a reduction in cancer cell viability. Also, the expression of the cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in the breast cancer cells increased following exposure to P. acidilactici and its CFS for 24 and 72 h. Additionally, the levels of the SLUG gene remained unchanged while the TWIST1 gene was upregulated following exposure of the cancer cells to bacteria, indicating that P. acidilactici may promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer. Finally, the CFS significantly inhibited cancer cell mobility. These findings serve as a foundation to further investigate the usefulness of P. acidilactici as a potential therapeutic agent in breast cancer therapy.
Feasibility of Spectral Analysis as a Tool in Nursing Research to Quantify Patterns of Respiration in Premature Infants
Authors: Bubshait Khlood , Dizon Olivia , Krueger Charlene
Published: January 2024

Background. Respiratory difficulties are a common concern in preterm infants, and they can lead to long-term health problems. Few studies have investigated the use of spectral analysis as a biomarker to quantify respiration patterns in preterm infants. Objective. To evaluate the feasibility of using spectral analysis of heart rate variability as a biomarker for the quantification of respiratory patterns in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants compared to direct observation. Methods. In a comparative, small-scale feasibility study, 18 preterm infants born during their 27th to 28th gestational week (weighing <1500 grams) participated by convenience. Respiratory patterns (regular or irregular; shallow or deep) were directly observed on the 28th week during playback of speech recording. Heart rate variability was simultaneously measured using spectral analysis of heart periods, from which the mean values influenced by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (frequencies of 0.30–1.0 Hz) were compared to each observed respiratory pattern. The magnitudes of respiratory sinus arrhythmia and the area under the curve were determined. Results. The magnitude of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (frequencies of 0.30–1.0 Hz) in infants observed to be displaying irregular shallow respiration was greater than that in infants with regular deep respiration. Further, there was a shift from lower frequencies (frequency peak=0.30 Hz) to higher frequencies (peak=0.70 Hz). Conclusion. In contrast with direct observation, spectral analysis allowed for the quantification of respiratory patterns in a vulnerable population of preterm infants of interest to the nursing scientific and practice community. Future directions include applying this biomarker to evaluate both developmental and pathological trends in the respiratory patterns of preterm infants.
Evaluating Impacts of Biosynthetic Silver Nanoparticles on Morphophysiological Responses in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
Authors: Shaikhaldein Hassan O. , Al-Qurainy Fahad , Babiker Khalid A. , Nadeem Mohammad , Khan Salim , Tarroum Mohamed , Salih Abdalrhaman M.
Published: January 2024

In recent years, nanotechnology has shown promising potential to enhance sustainable agriculture. Besides their use as antifungal and antimicrobial agents, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most widespread nanomaterials and are found in a capacious range of agrocommercial products. This study was designed to investigate the responses of morphophysiological characteristics in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles. Spherical shapes with 8–20 nm size AgNPs at different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mg/L) were applied to barley plants in a hydroponic system. Following 7 days of sowing, the growth performance, chlorophyll contents, oxidative damage, and the activity level of antioxidant enzymes were quantified in different parts of the plant. The results indicated a remarkable boost in the growth performance and chlorophyll contents of barley plants up to a concentration of 150 mg/L. Interestingly, the levels of proline, lipid peroxidation, enzymes; superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), (APX), and (GR) activities were enhanced significantly in response to all AgNPs treatments. In general, the application of AgNPs substantially improved the growth and related morphophysiological attributes in barley. Our results provide new insights with respect to the effects of AgNPs on barley growth and their potential applications in increasing the performance of other crop species.
Ecological Study of the Vegetation in the Loka Abaya National Park, Ethiopia
Authors: Assefa Assegid , Bekele Tamrat , Demissew Sebsebe , Abebe Tesfaye
Published: January 2024

An ecological study of the vegetation in the Loka Abaya National Park, in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia, was conducted. Vegetation data and some environmental variables including physical and chemical properties of the soil, altitude, slope, and ecological disturbance were collected and subjected to the agglomerative hierarchical classification and ordination with the canonical correspondence analysis. For each of the community groups, the mean and standard errors were calculated from the environmental parameters to characterize the community types and quantitative relationships between environmental variables were analyzed by calculating Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient using the SAS computer software programme. A total of 198 plant species representing 79 families and 139 genera were collected and documented. Seven plant community types, namely, Vachellia brevispica Harms–Rhus natalensis Krauss, Ficus sur Forssk.–Vachellia albida (Del.) A. Chev., Panicum subalbidum Kunth–Cyperus latifolius Poir, Dodonaea angustifolia L. f.–Ximenia americana L., Combretum molle R.Br ex. G.Don–Combretum collinum Fresen., Ilex mitis (L.) Radlk–Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata, and Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn, were identified. Ilex mitis–Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata community had the highest species richness, whereas the least species richness was recorded for the Panicum subalbidum–Cyperus latifolius community. The results of vegetation-environment relationships indicated that the measured environmental variables explained 74.99% of the total variation in floristic data. The results of the canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of community-environment relationships indicated that among measured environmental variables, altitude (r2 0.0548, P<0.01), slope (r2 = 0.0241, P<0.01), pH (r2 = 0.01855, P<0.01), sodium (r2 = 0.01316, P<0.04), CEC (r2 = 0.01424, P<0.03), magnesium (r2 = 0.01282, P<0.04), potassium (r2 = 0.0152, P<0.02), and soil moisture content (SMC) (r2 = 0.01537, P<0.05) significantly explained the variation in species composition of the communities and their distribution. Therefore, ecosystem-oriented biodiversity conservation and restoration strategies will be implemented by considering these significant environmental variables.
Commuter Travel Behavior Modeling in Metropolitan Areas Based on Cumulative Prospect Theory: A Case Study of Xi’an, China
Authors: Xin Dai , Ma Tianshan
Published: January 2024

A metropolitan area is a new form of urban development under the agglomeration effect and scale economy. The renewal and upgrading of urban spatial structures have brought new pressure to urban commuting. Under the new form of the metropolitan area, the process of regional integration has accelerated, and long-distance extreme commuting has increased. New changes have taken place in the travel structure. This paper constructs a travel behavior selection model for office workers based on the cumulative prospect theory, introduces the value of commuting travel time into the generalized travel cost function, uses the weight function and the improved generalized travel cost function as the basis of the transportation mode selection model, defines the reference point of the generalized travel cost in the model, and selects the prospect with the largest cumulative prospect value as the optimal decision for travelers. Based on the “expected utility maximization theory” and the “cumulative prospect theory,” the commuter is simulated under four different travel scenarios to study the optimal traffic mode selection behavior. The results show that under the framework of expected utility theory, the travel mode choice behavior of commuters is not affected by travel scenarios, and the cumulative prospect theory is more suitable for the study of travel mode choice behavior. The construction of a transportation mode selection model with the value of commuting travel time as the core variable can help commuters to choose a reasonable transportation mode and provide a basis for the government and relevant departments to formulate traffic management plans and implement traffic congestion mitigation policies.
Predicting Students’ Academic Achievement through Teaching and Parenting Styles: Self-Concept as a Mediator
Authors: Alrajhi Marwa Nasser , Aldhafri Said Suliman
Published: January 2024

Understanding how individual, school, and social factors interact to shape students’ academic achievement gives a better insight into the relative effects of these factors in the presence of other variables. The current study (N = 604) utilized a mediation model to examine the mediation role of two dimensions of students’ self-concept (academic and social) in the relationships between teaching and parenting styles and students’ Mathematics achievement. The researchers used a non-Western sample of middle school Omani students. Direct significant effects were found for permissive mothers, permissive teachers, and Mathematics self-concept on students’ Mathematics achievement. Mothers’ parenting styles’ effects were more pronounced than fathers’ styles on children’s self-concept and Mathematics achievement. All three teaching styles significantly predicted Mathematics achievement directly or indirectly through self-concept. Mathematics self-concept acted as a mediator in this model while social self-concept did not. The findings are discussed within a cultural context.
FIGURE 1 from The ncBAF Complex Regulates Transcription in AML Through H3K27ac Sensing by BRD9
Authors: Klein David C. , Lardo Santana M. , Hainer Sarah J.
Published: January 2024

Inhibition of the BRD9 bromodomain selectively kills AML cells but not HEK293T cells. A, Growth assays depicting difference in ratio of cells remaining after indicated hours of growth in medium containing 1% DMSO (vehicle), 10 µmol/L I-BRD9, 2 µmol/L cytarabine (AraC), or a combination. n = 4 replicates per drug condition and cell line (HEK293T, n = 3). Y-axis indicates ratio of cells counted to those originally plated, compared with vehicle. Points are shown ± SEM. B, Averaged results of growth assays across all cell lines (left) and HEK293T cells (right). Error bars indicate SEM. (n = 20 per drug condition, analyzed via two-way ANOVA. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; ****, P < 0.0001; ns, P > 0.05).
Mechanisms of RBM20 Cardiomyopathy: Insights From Model Systems
Authors: Gregorich Zachery R. , Zhang Yanghai , Kamp Timothy J. , Granzier Henk L. , Guo Wei
Published: January 2024

RBM20 (RNA-binding motif protein 20) is a vertebrate- and muscle-specific RNA-binding protein that belongs to the serine-arginine-rich family of splicing factors. The
RBM20
gene was first identified as a dilated cardiomyopathy–linked gene over a decade ago. Early studies in
Rbm20
knockout rodents implicated disrupted splicing of RBM20 target genes as a causative mechanism. Clinical studies show that pathogenic variants in
RBM20
are linked to aggressive dilated cardiomyopathy with early onset heart failure and high mortality. Subsequent studies employing pathogenic variant knock-in animal models revealed that variants in a specific portion of the arginine-serine-rich domain in RBM20 not only disrupt splicing but also hinder nucleocytoplasmic transport and lead to the formation of RBM20 biomolecular condensates in the sarcoplasm. Conversely, mice harboring a disease-associated variant in the RRM (RNA recognition motif) do not show evidence of adverse remodeling or exhibit sudden death despite disrupted splicing of RBM20 target genes. Thus, whether disrupted splicing, biomolecular condensates, or both contribute to dilated cardiomyopathy is under debate. Beyond this, additional questions remain, such as whether there is sexual dimorphism in the presentation of RBM20 cardiomyopathy. What are the clinical features of RBM20 cardiomyopathy and why do some individuals develop more severe disease than others? In this review, we summarize the reported observations and discuss potential mechanisms of RBM20 cardiomyopathy derived from studies employing in vivo animal models and in vitro human-induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes. Potential therapeutic strategies to treat RBM20 cardiomyopathy are also discussed.
Epidemiology of Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissection: Population-Based Study
Authors: Griffin Kim J. , Harmsen William S. , Mandrekar Jay , Brown Robert D. , Keser Zafer
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

Cervical artery dissection (CeAD) represents up to 15% to 25% of ischemic strokes in people under the age of 50 years. Noninvasive vessel imaging is increasingly used in clinical practice, but the impact on the frequency of detection of CeAD is unknown. In 2006, the yearly incidence rate of CeAD was estimated at 2.6 per 100 000 person-years, but the current incidence is unknown.

METHODS:

In this population-based retrospective observational cohort study, we utilized the resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project to ascertain all adult residents of Olmsted County, MN, diagnosed with internal carotid artery dissection and common carotid artery dissection or vertebral artery dissection from 2002 to 2020. Patients with only intracranial involvement or CeAD following major trauma were excluded. Age-adjusted sex-specific and age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates were estimated using the US White 2010 decennial census, with rates expressed per 100 000 person-years. We assessed longitudinal trends by dividing the data into 5-year time intervals, with the last being a 4-year interval.

RESULTS:

We identified 123 patients with a diagnosis of CeAD. There were 63 patients with internal carotid artery dissection, 54 with vertebral artery dissection, 2 with concurrent internal carotid artery dissection and vertebral artery dissection, and 4 with common carotid artery dissection. There were 63 (51.2%) female patients and 60 (48.8%) male patients. The average age at diagnosis was 50.2 years (SD, 15.1 [95% CI, 20.1–90.5] years). The incidence rate of spontaneous CeAD encompassing all locations was 4.69 per 100 000 person-years (2.43 for internal carotid artery dissection and 2.01 for vertebral artery dissection). The incidence rate increased from 2.30 per 100 000 person-years from 2002 to 2006 to 8.93 per 100 000 person-years from 2017 to 2020 (
P
<0.0001). The incidence rate for female patients rose from 0.81 per 100 000 person-years from 2002 to 2006 to 10.17 per 100 000 person-years from 2017 to 2020.

CONCLUSIONS:

The incidence rate of spontaneous CeAD increased nearly 4-fold over a 19-year period from 2002 to 2020. The incidence rate in women rose over 12-fold. The increase in incidence rates likely reflects the increased use of noninvasive vascular imaging.
Anchoring Genealogy
Authors: Zehner Joseph
Published: January 2024

The writings of both Hecataeus and Pherecydes focus on genealogies, but scholars have characterized their styles differently: Hecataeus is anti-traditional and idiosyncratic, while Pherecydes is an impartial recorder of myths. This contribution argues for a neglected side of each author: Hecataeus follows Homeric genealogical traditions, while Pherecydes constructed novel genealogies of his own. Both authors, then, used tradition to accommodate, or ‘anchor,’ their innovations in genealogical writing, a strategy which Herodotus, in turn, improves upon in his own use of genealogies.
Female mate choice for male size in a freshwater goby under experimental conditions eliminating inter-male interference
Authors: Ito Sayaka , Iguchi Kei’ichiro
Published: January 2024

The preference of females for male body size was examined in an experimental environment where direct interference between males was eliminated. In this environment, females preferred to spawn with larger males. To understand the preference of females for larger males, paternal care and egg defence abilities and paternal cannibalism intensity were further tested with respect to the body size of males. The dead egg rate for an egg mass during the paternal care period was not related to the body size of the paternal males. However, larger males could defend their egg masses more successfully against nest intruders than smaller ones. During the paternal egg care period, paternal males often consumed eggs in their nests. In particular, smaller males compared to females caused paternal brood cannibalism. High egg defence ability and low paternal cannibalism intensity are the most plausible reasons for females to choose larger males.
East Greek Pottery from the Excavations of the Settlement Balan in Abkhazia
Authors: Stoyanov Roman
Published: January 2024

The article presents a preliminary publication of the collection of Eastern Greek pottery found during the excavations at the ancient settlement Balan, the Ochamchira region of Abkhazia in 2017–2022. The published material is a part of the finds from a complex of ashy soil and a platform with a fireplace discovered at the site. The collection consists of fragments of vessels for storing and drinking wine, produced in the period from ca. 620 to ca. 550 BC. At present, this is the earliest known archaic pottery assemblage discovered in the Eastern Black Sea region.
Roman Amphorae from Gonio (Apsaros), 1st–3rd Centuries AD
Authors: Komar Paulina
Published: January 2024

This paper presents the first study of the Roman period amphorae which were discovered by the Gonio-Apsaros Polish-Georgian Expedition at the Roman fort of Apsaros (modern Gonio, Georgia) between 2014 and 2019. Six excavation seasons provided over a thousand diagnostic fragments of both locally produced and imported transport containers, with a considerable number of these dating to between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD. Most of the imports come from the southern Black Sea and the Aegean regions, whereas northern Black Sea containers appear only occasionally.
Persepolis West: Evidence for a Pigment Production Site and Its Connections with Achaemenid Royal-Official Buildings
Authors: Matin Emad
Published: January 2024

This paper aims at elaborating the potential existence of craft production site(s) for manufacturing the colouring materials in the Persepolis area. In doing so, the paper discusses the colour pigments and elements used for decorating the Achaemenid royal-official buildings, the ancient contexts in which raw materials for colouring have been discovered and the parts of the Persepolis area in which the indication of possible craft production sites have been reported. Particular attention is paid to recently published archaeometric analyses which dealt with the scientific characterization of certain pigments unearthed in Persepolis West. By gathering all the aforementioned information, the author confirms the production of raw materials for colouring in the Persepolis West craft zone. Furthermore, the paper includes a detailed discussion on the exact functions of this craft production site and shows that Persia, together with Egypt, Greece, southern Italy, and eastern Anatolia, was one of the few places in which the production of Egyptian blue is evidenced.
“Just as You Quenched the Fiery Furnace of Nebuchadnezzar, Also Quench Every Fever.” The Three Holy Children in Coptic Magic
Authors: Sarrazin Roxanne Bélanger
Published: January 2024

This article offers editions of four amulets with Coptic healing charms invoking the Three Holy Children from the third chapter of the book of Daniel. As an introduction, it discusses the importance of the Three Children in Christian traditions and their role as healing saints, and provides an overview of their occurrences in Coptic magic.
Exporting Gunpowder to Eurasia
Authors: Lorge Peter
Published: January 2024

Gunpowder and gun technology originated in China and their spread throughout Eurasia from the 13th to the 16th century was an example of the spread of Chinese culture. All of the basic forms of that military technology were fully developed in China before being transmitted outside of China, including the knowledge of how to acquire saltpeter, and that gunpowder only required sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal. The disassociation of gunpowder and gun technology from its Chinese origins and as a material part of Chinese culture is due to the centrality of Western military technological superiority in the Western narrative explaining Western cultural superiority. That narrative is fundamental to the Western justification of imperialism, colonialism and Western global exploitation.
On Brébisson’s Considérations sur les Diatomées et essai d’une classification des genres et des espèces appartenant à cette famille (1838)
Authors: WILLIAMS DAVID M. , VAN DE VIJVER BART , KUSBER WOLF-HENNING
Published: January 2024

Currently the phycologist, naturalist and photographer Louis Alphonse de Brébisson (1798–1872, see Malbranche 1872; abbreviation: Bréb.) is known by a few canonical publications, available as modern reprints or as digital representations on the Internet. However, the history of his early publications on diatoms is much more complicated than expected.
Lopesiodinia alvarengai Prado, 1973 (Odiniidae: Traginopinae) with the first description of the male and the neotype designation
Authors: TÔRRES ALICE , RAFAEL JOSÉ A. , GAIMARI STEPHEN D. , LIMEIRA-DE-OLIVEIRA FRANCISCO
Published: January 2024

The type specimen of Lopesiodinia alvarengai Prado is lost. It is being redescribed and illustrated based on specimens from the type locality (Jacareacanga, Pará, Brazil) and the neotype is here designated with the purpose of clarifying the taxonomic status and objectively securing stability of nomenclature.
10. Is It Time for Brahms, Again?
Authors: Toelle Jutta
Published: January 2024

The essay focuses on classical music practices in the German-speaking world. Several big questions are addressed, such as the age group of audiences and the seemingly old-fashioned canonic repertory. These two issues, coupled with the high subsidies that classical music receives, makes the classical music practices vulnerable. In addition, pressure is increasing as many concert halls and theatres are awaiting overdue renovation work which turns out to be extremely costly. Within this setting, non-institutionalised classical music performers are having an easy game, as they address diverse audiences, perform diverse musics, and are not subsidized. While the challenge for the traditional institutions is immense, the knowledge that classical music practices can play many different roles in a society makes the discussions exciting and future-proof.