bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can communities be mobilised to build capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic? A qualitative process evaluation
Authors: Harris Janet , Ramirez Paulina , Arnold Frances , Redgrave Paul
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Government guidance to manage COVID-19 was challenged by low levels of health and digital literacy and lack of information in different languages. ‘Covid Confidence’ sessions (CC-sessions) were evaluated to assess their effectiveness in counteracting misinformation and provide an alternative source of information about the pandemic.

Design

We worked with community anchor organisations to co-ordinate online CC-sessions serving three economically deprived, ethnically mixed, neighbourhoods. We conducted a qualitative, participatory process evaluation, in tandem with the CC-sessions to explore whether a popular opinion leader/local champion model of health promotion could mobilise pandemic responses. Group discussions were supplemented by final interviews to assess changes in community capacity to mobilise.

Setting

Sheffield, England, September 2020 to November 2021.

Participants

Community leaders, workers and volunteers representing a variety of local organisations resulted in 314 attendances at CC-sessions. A group of local health experts helped organisations make sense of government information.

Results

CC-sessions fostered cross-organisational relationships, which enabled rapid community responses. Community champions successfully adapted information to different groups. Listening, identifying individual concerns and providing practical support enabled people to make informed decisions on managing exposure and getting vaccinated. Some people were unable to comply with self-isolation due to overcrowded housing and the need to work. Communities drew on existing resources and networks.

Conclusions

CC-sessions promoted stronger links between community organisations which reduced mistrust of government information. In future, government efforts to manage pandemics should partner with communities to codesign and implement prevention and control measures.
Suspended accounts align with the Internet Research Agency misinformation campaign to influence the 2016 US election
Authors: Serafino Matteo , Zhou Zhenkun , Andrade José S. , Bovet Alexandre , Makse Hernán A.
Published: April 2024

The ongoing debate surrounding the impact of the Internet Research Agency’s (IRA) social media campaign during the 2016 U.S. presidential election has largely overshadowed the involvement of other actors. Our analysis brings to light a substantial group of suspended Twitter users, outnumbering the IRA user group by a factor of 60, who align with the ideologies of the IRA campaign. Our study demonstrates that this group of suspended Twitter accounts significantly influenced individuals categorized as undecided or weak supporters, potentially with the aim of swaying their opinions, as indicated by Granger causality.
First identification of late Mesozoic intraplate magmatism in the Chinese north Tianshan: implications for the orogenic architecture and crustal evolution
Authors: Wang Fujun , He Zhiyuan , Ge Rongfeng , Luo Meng , Zheng Bihai , Zhang Zhiyong , Tian Rongsong , Cao Yuanyuan , Zhu Wenbin
Published: April 2024

The formation and dynamics of granitoids in an intra-continental setting are crucial for understanding the architecture and evolution of continental crust. Here, we report geochronological, geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic data for newly discovered late Mesozoic granitic intrusions in the Tianshan belt, northwestern China. These granitoids are I-type granites derived from an igneous precursor and were emplaced at
c
. 145–132 Ma. They have positive

ε

Nd
(
t
) values and young Nd model ages, together with relatively low Sr/Y ratios, indicating that they might have originated from partial melting of the juvenile lower crust. There is a prominent decoupling between zircon Hf and bulk-rock Nd isotopes, which may have resulted from the early crystallization of Ti-rich minerals. These granitic intrusions also display subduction-related geochemical characteristics, which are probably inherited from Paleozoic crustal sources that were metasomatized by subduction-related fluids. We conclude that these late Mesozoic granitoids were emplaced in an intra-continental setting, and were probably triggered by thermal relaxation owing to crustal shortening and thickening. These data further imply that the Tianshan changed into crustal reworking during the Mesozoic from its prominent crustal growth in the Paleozoic.

Supplementary material:
LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating results, whole-rock major and trace element compositions, whole-rock Sr–Nd isotopic data and zircon Lu–Hf isotopic data are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7167890

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonics, landscape and climate change collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/mesozoic-and-cenozoic-tectonics-landscape-and-climate-change
Viscoelastic–plastic rheological model and its application to tunnels
Authors: Li Hao , Yan Qixiang , Zhang Hong , Wu Lizhou , Zhou Jianting
Published: April 2024

Tunnels exhibit obvious continuous deformation during excavation and operation. This behaviour is closely associated with the time-dependent behaviour of rocks, which is induced by groundwater-level fluctuation and prolonged periodic rainfall infiltration. This paper proposes a rheological model consisting of a Hooke elastomer, Kelvin body and novel plastic element in series (called the HKP model) to describe the creep response of rocks considering the characteristics of dry–wet cycles. First, dry–wet cycle creep tests were carried out to investigate the time-dependent behaviour: that is, the creep behaviour of sandstone. Then the creep equation of the viscoelastic–plastic model was derived, and the damage coefficients under the effect of dry–wet cycles and time were obtained. Finally, the HKP model was established to investigate continuous deformation during tunnel excavation. The results reveal that dry–wet cycles have obvious effects on the physical properties and creep behaviour of sandstone. The creep behaviour of sandstone undergoes three stages – namely, the decaying, steady and accelerated stages – that can be reasonably described by the proposed HKP model. In practice, the proposed model can accurately predict the creep behaviour of rocks in tunnels owing to excavation. Thus, the HKP model can help in establishing tunnel maintenance strategies to ensure long-term safety.
Variations in aridity across the Asia–Australia region during the Neogene and their impact on vegetation
Authors: Clift Peter D.
Published: April 2024

Scientific drilling provides extended records of continental environmental conditions during the Neogene in Asia and northern Australia. Spectral data allow reconstruction of the environment using abundances of hematite and goethite. Hematite formation is favoured by dry or seasonal conditions. Hemipelagic sites show the most regular records. Monsoon strengthening started in the Early Miocene and peaked at 17–20 Ma in the Bay of Bengal and at 10–15 Ma in southern China before weakening after
c.
12 Ma and
c.
10 Ma, respectively. The Indus Basin dried after
c.
8 Ma and again after 3 Ma, while aeolian sediment sources to the Sea of Japan show increased aridity after 5 and 3 Ma. The Mekong Fan indicates increasing aridity after 6 Ma, similar to Eastern Australia. In contrast, NW Australia shows a trend towards wetter conditions after 8 Ma, with a humid period at 4–6 Ma followed by drying. There is a link between drying and vegetation in the Mekong and Pearl River basins, as well as Eastern Australia. Monsoon strengthening is linked to topographic uplift in the Himalaya, together with Tethyan gateway closure. Long-term drying is likely driven by global cooling since the Middle Miocene.
Qualitative Research of Robot-Helping Behaviors in a Field Trial
Authors: Yamada Sachie , Kanda Takayuki , Tomita Kanako
Published: April 2024

During the previous field study with a robot and its interaction with mall visitors, we observed a surprising event during which a leaflet-distributing robot was abused, although it was subsequently helped by one of its previous abusers. After analyzing 72.25 hours of video data, we identified 47 cases where a robot dropped a leaflet and classified them according to following three criteria: 1) interaction between the potential helper or others with the robot
before
it dropped the leaflet, 2) the nature of the interaction (abused or not), and 3) whether it was helped. Using the Trajectory Equifinality Model (TEM), we analyzed 19 cases where the robot was helped. We identified the following interaction process that started with individuals who paid attention to the robot, whether they had abusive or non-abusive interactions with it, whether they noticed its failure, and finally whether they helped it. The presence of others encouraged the person to focus on the robot, and the interactions with it led to helping, regardless whether the interaction was abusive. The absence of others when the robot dropped the leaflet encouraged helping. The findings of this study will motivate interaction designs for social robots that can leverage human help.
A Survey of Multi-modal Knowledge Graphs: Technologies and Trends
Authors: Liang Wanying , Meo Pasquale De , Tang Yong , Zhu Jia
Published: April 2024

In recent years, Knowledge Graphs (KGs) have played a crucial role in the development of advanced knowledge-intensive applications, such as recommender systems and semantic search. However, the human sensory system is inherently multi-modal, as objects around us are often represented by a combination of multiple signals, such as visual and textual. Consequently, Multi-modal Knowledge Graphs (MMKGs), which combine structured knowledge representation with multiple modalities, represent a powerful extension of KGs. Although MMKGs can handle certain types of tasks (e.g., visual query answering) or queries that standard KGs cannot process, and they can effectively tackle some standard problems (e.g., entity alignment), we lack a widely accepted definition of MMKG. In this survey, we provide a rigorous definition of MMKGs along with a classification scheme based on how existing approaches address four fundamental challenges: representation, fusion, alignment, and translation, which are crucial to improving an MMKG. Our classification scheme is flexible and allows for easy incorporation of new approaches, as well as a comparison of two approaches in terms of how they address one of the fundamental challenges mentioned above. As the first comprehensive survey of MMKG, this article aims at inspiring and provide a reference for relevant researchers in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
The Art and Science of Molecular Docking
Authors: Paggi Joseph M. , Pandit Ayush , Dror Ron O.
Published: April 2024

Molecular docking has become an essential part of a structural biologist's and medicinal chemist's toolkits. Given a chemical compound and the three-dimensional structure of a molecular target—for example, a protein—docking methods fit the compound into the target, predicting the compound's bound structure and binding energy. Docking can be used to discover novel ligands for a target by screening large virtual compound libraries. Docking can also provide a useful starting point for structure-based ligand optimization or for investigating a ligand's mechanism of action. Advances in computational methods, including both physics-based and machine learning approaches, as well as in complementary experimental techniques, are making docking an even more powerful tool. We review how docking works and how it can drive drug discovery and biological research. We also describe its current limitations and ongoing efforts to overcome them.
A Cool Look at Positive-Strand RNA Virus Replication Organelles: New Insights from Cryo–Electron Microscopy
Authors: de Beijer Nina L. , Snijder Eric J. , Bárcena Montserrat
Published: April 2024

Positive-strand RNA viruses encompass a variety of established and emerging eukaryotic pathogens. Their genome replication is confined to specialized cytoplasmic membrane compartments known as replication organelles (ROs). These ROs derive from host membranes, transformed into distinct structures such as invaginated spherules or intricate membrane networks including single- and/or double-membrane vesicles. ROs play a vital role in orchestrating viral RNA synthesis and evading detection by innate immune sensors of the host. In recent years, groundbreaking cryo–electron microscopy studies conducted with several prototypic viruses have significantly advanced our understanding of RO structure and function. Notably, these studies unveiled the presence of crown-shaped multimeric viral protein complexes that seem to actively participate in viral RNA synthesis and regulate the release of newly synthesized RNA into the cytosol for translation and packaging. These findings have shed light on novel viral functions and fascinating macromolecular complexes that delineate promising new avenues for future research.
Biomedical Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Ethics: Navigating Challenges in the Face of Explosive Growth
Authors: Federico Carole A. , Trotsyuk Artem A.
Published: April 2024

Advances in biomedical data science and artificial intelligence (AI) are profoundly changing the landscape of healthcare. This article reviews the ethical issues that arise with the development of AI technologies, including threats to privacy, data security, consent, and justice, as they relate to donors of tissue and data. It also considers broader societal obligations, including the importance of assessing the unintended consequences of AI research in biomedicine. In addition, this article highlights the challenge of rapid AI development against the backdrop of disparate regulatory frameworks, calling for a global approach to address concerns around data misuse, unintended surveillance, and the equitable distribution of AI's benefits and burdens. Finally, a number of potential solutions to these ethical quandaries are offered. Namely, the merits of advocating for a collaborative, informed, and flexible regulatory approach that balances innovation with individual rights and public welfare, fostering a trustworthy AI-driven healthcare ecosystem, are discussed.
Design of Coiled-Coil Protein Nanostructures for Therapeutics and Drug Delivery
Authors: Britton Dustin , Sun Jonathan W. , Renfrew P. Douglas , Montclare Jin Kim
Published: April 2024

Coiled-coil protein motifs have become widely employed in the design of biomaterials. Some of these designs have been studied for use in drug delivery due to the unique ability of coiled-coils to impart stability, oligomerization, and supramolecular assembly. To leverage these properties and improve drug delivery, release, and targeting, a variety of nano- to mesoscale architectures have been adopted. Coiled-coil drug delivery and therapeutics have been developed by using the coiled-coil alone, designing for higher-order assemblies such as fibers and hydrogels, and combining coiled-coil proteins with other biocompatible structures such as lipids and polymers. We review the recent development of these structures and the design criteria used to generate functional proteins of varying sizes and morphologies.
Toward Optogenetic Hearing Restoration
Authors: Huet Antoine , Mager Thomas , Gossler Christian , Moser Tobias
Published: April 2024

The cochlear implant (CI) is considered the most successful neuroprosthesis as it enables speech comprehension in the majority of the million otherwise deaf patients. In hearing by electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve, the broad spread of current from each electrode acts as a bottleneck that limits the transfer of sound frequency information. Hence, there remains a major unmet medical need for improving the quality of hearing with CIs. Recently, optogenetic stimulation of the cochlea has been suggested as an alternative approach for hearing restoration. Cochlear optogenetics promises to transfer more sound frequency information, hence improving hearing, as light can conveniently be confined in space to activate the auditory nerve within smaller tonotopic ranges. In this review, we discuss the latest experimental and technological developments of optogenetic hearing restoration and outline remaining challenges en route to clinical translation.
Political Economy of Agriculture and Food Policy in Africa
Authors: Resnick Danielle
Published: April 2024

This article reviews the literature on the political economy of agricultural and food policy in sub-Saharan Africa. In doing so, it first presents a conceptual framework highlighting that agricultural and food policy decisions are contingent on the intersection between governance structures, the preferences and pressures from societal interest groups, and international dynamics. The interrelations among these three factors are then examined across several different sets of policy instruments that have been the focus of traditional political economy research in the region: trade, tax, and marketing policies; public investments and regulations; input and food subsidies; and cross-cutting policies for value chain development. Recognizing several broader demographic, technology, and governance transitions in the region, the article also highlights key areas for future analysis that examine the role of cities in food policy, the possibilities presented by expanded mobile phone and Internet access, and the efficacy of new public administration modalities for policy implementation.
Investigation of Excitation Modes in Al2O3-YAG Phosphor Ceramics for High-Power Laser-Driven Lighting
Authors: Shen Zetao , Zhu Qiang-Qiang , Tian Rundong , Guo Guimin , Xie Rong-Jun , Wang Le
Published: April 2024

The performance of laser-driven white light can vary significantly depending on the excitation mode. To attain desirable application performance of color converters in laser lighting, the excitation mode must be selected carefully. In this work, to understand the effect of the excitation mode on the performance of color converters, a detailed study was conducted on the heat dispersion, luminescence, and color quality of Al2O3-YAG:Ce phosphor ceramics in both transmissive and reflective modes. The relationship between ceramic porosity and scattering performance has also been analyzed by studying the beam expansion ratio. The results demonstrate that the phosphor ceramics in reflective mode exhibit superior heat dissipation capabilities and can withstand higher power laser excitation compared to the transmissive mode, while the light uniformity is relatively poorer due to the specular reflection. Therefore, in situations where a uniform light is not necessary, reflective color converters are more suitable for achieving superior luminance and luminous efficacy. Finally, a laser-driven white light device with a luminous flux of 1206 lm, a luminous efficacy of 241.2 lm W−1, and a CCT of 5749 K has been realized using Al2O3-YAG:Ce phosphor ceramic in reflective mode, which can be applied for automotive headlights.
A Two-Phased Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of the Cognitively Enriched Walking Program “Take a Walk with Your Brain” for Older Adults
Authors: Hotterbeex Pauline , Beeckman Melanie , Marent Pieter-Jan , Latomme Julie , De Block Fien , De Baets Lauren , Chastin Sebastien , Cardon Greet , van Uffelen Jannique G. Z.
Published: April 2024

Given the aging population, finding solutions to retain optimal cognitive capacity is a research priority. The potential of physical activity to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and to enhance cognitive functioning is established. Combining physical with cognitive activity has been put forward as a potentially even more effective way to promote healthy cognitive aging. Most studies on combined interventions have however been conducted in laboratory settings. This paper reports on a two-phased pilot study evaluating the acceptability and feasibility of a newly developed real-life cognitively enriched walking program for adults aged 65+ years. In Phase I, the feasibility and enjoyability of the cognitive tasks was evaluated by conducting walk-along interviews with older adults (n = 163). In Phase II, the cognitively enriched walking program was piloted in two groups of older adults (n = 19), and the feasibility and acceptability of the program and cognitive tasks was evaluated by means of questionnaires and focus groups. The cognitive tasks (i.e., median scores of ≥3 on a total of 4 (Phase I) and ≥6 on a total of 10 (Phase II) for most of the tasks) and the cognitively enriched walking program (i.e., median scores of ≥7 on a total of 10) were considered feasible and acceptable. Based on the input of the participants, key considerations for a feasible and acceptable program were defined: participants should be sufficiently challenged cognitively and physically, social interaction is an important motivator, cognitive tasks should make use of stimuli reflecting daily life and be conducted in group, the rationale for the tasks should be explained to participants, the frequency of the group sessions should be maximum 2 times a week, and the program should be supervised by a trained coach. These results warrant future research to establish the effectiveness of this program.
Mechanical Performance Investigation of a Flat‐Roof and Four‐Slope Folded Plate Structure
Authors: Yang Yan , Zhan Meng , Huang Yanfei
Published: April 2024

The flat‐roof and four‐slope folded plate structure is a space thin‐walled structure composed of four trapezoidal plates and a rectangular plate parallel to the bottom surface, which is widely used in various engineering applications. In order to clarify the force transmission path and stress distribution law under the action of this structural load, the folded plate structures were made by utilizing the plexiglass with the thicknesses of 3 and 4 mm, respectively, and had the simple support on opposite sides and fixed support on another opposite side. Then, the static load tests and ANSYS finite element analysis were implemented, and the results were compared. It shows that the test results are basically consistent with the finite element calculation results, the maximum stress values of the folded plate structure along the X and Y directions appear in the same position, and the maximum stress value of a 3 mm thick folded plate structure is greater than that of 4 mm. The junction position of the roof and the slope plate is the dangerous section, and the special treatment should be made for this section to prevent the damage of folded plate structure in the practical engineering. Moreover, some reasonable measures also should be taken to meet the design requirements of the plate–plate junction position.
Assessment of Acute and Chronic Toxicity in Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus) and New Zealand Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) of an Enriched Polyphenol Extract Obtained from Caesalpinia spinosa
Authors: Ballesteros-Ramírez Ricardo , Lasso Paola , Urueña Claudia , Saturno Jenny , Fiorentino Susana
Published: April 2024

Although herbal drugs are often considered safe for consumption, there is increasing evidence that some can generate undesirable health effects. However, polyphenols found in certain plants have been shown to provide a range of benefits for human health. In previous work, a standardized and quantified extract (P2Et) obtained from Caesalpinia spinosa (Dividivi) plant showed promising antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties in animal models of cancer and COVID-19 patients. The extract has also been subjected to genotoxicity, mutagenicity, and 28-day oral chronic toxicity evaluations, demonstrating a good safety profile. To advance preclinical and clinical development, further acute and chronic toxicity evaluations of the P2Et extract were performed. Acute toxicity tests were performed orally in Wistar rats at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, indicating that the lethal dose 50% (LD50) value exceeded 2000 mg/kg and classifying the P2Et extract as category 5 according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification (GHS). In this work, chronic toxicity tests were conducted for 180 days on Wistar rats and New Zealand rabbits at a dose of 1000 mg/kg under Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) conditions. No weight loss or alterations in biochemical and hematological parameters associated with treatment were observed in the animals, suggesting the absence of toxicity in the assessed parameters. These results indicate that the P2Et extract is safe for oral administration at doses up to 1000 mg/kg body weight over a six-month period.
Acid-Base Balance in Healthy Adults: Beneficial Effects of Bicarbonate and Sodium-Rich Mineral Water in a Randomized Controlled Trial: The BicarboWater Study
Authors: Mansouri Katharina , Greupner Theresa , van de Flierdt Edda , Schneider Inga , Hahn Andreas
Published: April 2024

Background. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a global health challenge. The complex etiology of NCDs involves genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, including dietary habits. Chronic latent metabolic acidosis has been associated with an increased risk of NCDs. Alkalizing diets and mineral water consumption have shown promise in improving acid-base balance and potentially impacting NCDs. Methods. In this randomized controlled intervention study, the effect of drinking 1,500–2,000 mL of mineral water daily on acid-base balance was evaluated. Ninety-four healthy participants were divided into two groups: one consumed mineral water with a high bicarbonate and sodium content (HBS, n = 49) and the other consumed mineral water with a low bicarbonate and sodium content (LBS, n = 45). Changes in venous blood gas and urinary acid-base parameters were measured over a short-term (3 days) and long-term (28 days) intervention period. Potential renal acid load (PRAL) and nutrient intake were calculated at baseline and after 28 days. Results. HBS water consumption led to increased urinary pH (24-hour urine and spontaneous urine, both p<0.001) and bicarbonate levels (p<0.001), accompanied by reduced titratable acids (p<0.001) and ammonium (p<0.001), resulting in a lower renal net acid excretion (p<0.001). These changes occurred in the short term and persisted until the end of the study. LBS consumption showed no significant effects on urinary pH but led to a slight decrease in bicarbonate (p<0.001) and NH4+ (p<0.001), resulting in a slight decrease in NAE (p=0.011). Blood gas changes were modest in both groups. Mineral water consumption in the HBS group altered dietary intake of sodium and chloride, contributing to changes in PRAL values. Conclusion. The study demonstrates that the consumption of mineral water high in bicarbonate and sodium (1,500 mL–2,000 mL/day) can positively influence urinary acid-base parameters and reduce NAE, suggesting potential benefits in maintaining acid-base balance without adverse effects on human health. These findings highlight the importance of mineral water composition in acid-base regulation. This trial is registered with DRKS00025341.
The Causal Relationship between Angina Pectoris and Gout Based on Two Sample Mendelian Randomization
Authors: Xiong Jian , Sun Yuxin , Huang Hui , Liu Yu , Ling Fayang , Wei Yin , Zheng Qianhua , Qi Wenchuan , Liang Fanrong
Published: April 2024

Purpose. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was conducted to assess the causal relationship between angina pectoris and gout. Material and Methods. Based on genome-wide association studies, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were closely associated with gout were selected from the UK Biobank–Neale Lab (ukb-a-107) as genetic instrumental variables. Considering that gout is characterized by elevated blood uric acid levels, SNPs related to blood uric acid levels were screened from BioBank Japan (bbj-a-57) as auxiliary gene instrumental variables. SNPs closely associated with angina pectoris onset were screened from the FINN dataset (finn-b-I9_ANGINA) as outcome variables. Two-sample MR was conducted, with inverse variance weighting (IVW) of the random effects model as the primary result, along with the weighted median method (WME) and the MR-Egger regression method. To further confirm the causal relationship between angina and gout incidence, a meta-analysis was conducted on the IVW results of the ukb-a-107 and bbj-a-57. Results. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of the IVW, WME, and MR-Egger results of ukb-a-107 were (OR = 33.72; 95% CI: 2.07∼550.38), (OR = 57.94; 95% CI: 2.75∼1219.82), and (OR = 96.38; 95% CI: 0.6∼15556.93), respectively. The P values of IVW and WME were 0.014 and 0.014 (both <0.05), respectively, indicating that the development of angina pectoris was significantly associated with the incidence of gout. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of the IVW, WME, and MR-Egger about bbj-a-57 were (OR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07∼1.34), (OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.02∼1.38), and (OR = 1.30; 95% CI; 1.06∼1.60), respectively. The P values of IVW, WME and MR-Egger were 0.001, 0.027 and 0.017 (all <0.05), respectively, indicating a significant correlation between angina and blood uric acid levels. Scatter plots of ukb-a-107 and bbj-a-57 showed that the causal association estimates of the IVW, MR-Egger, and weighted median methods were similar and that the MR results were accurate. Funnel plots and the MR-Egger intercept of ukb-a-107 and bbj-a-57 showed the absence of horizontal pleiotropy. The leave-out sensitivity analysis results of ukb-a-107 and bbj-a-57 are stable. The meta-analysis of IVW results for ukb-a-107 and bbj-a-57 showed (OR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07–1.34, P=0.02), confirming that gout characterized by high blood uric acid levels significantly increases the risk of angina attacks. Conclusions. This MR study found a clear causal relationship between angina pectoris and gout, which increases the risk of angina pectoris.
Relative Uniform Convergence of Sequence of Functions Related to ℓp-Spaces Defined by Orlicz Functions
Authors: Debbarma Diksha , Mohammed Mustafa M. , Tripathy Binod Chandra , Bakery Awad A.
Published: April 2024

The Orlicz function-defined sequence spaces of functions by relative uniform convergence of sequences related to p-absolutely summable spaces are a new concept that is introduced in this article. We look at its various attributes, such as solidity, completeness, and symmetry. We also look at a few insertional connections involving these spaces.
Hint for a Minimal Interaction Length in e+e−⟶γγ Annihilation in Total Cross Section of Center-of-Mass Energies 55-207 GeV
Authors: Chen Yutao , Liu Minghui , Ulbricht Jürgen
Published: April 2024

The measurements of the total cross section of the e+e−⟶γγγ reaction from the VENUS, TOPAS, OPAL, DELPHI, ALEPH, and L3 collaborations, collected between 1989 and 2003, are used to perform a χ2 test to validate the current quantum electrodynamics (QED) theory and search for possible deviations with the direct contact term annihilation. By observing a deviation from the QED predictions on the total cross section of the e+e−⟶γγγ reaction above s=180.0 GeV, a non-QED direct contact term is introduced following the dimension 6 effective theory to explain the deviation. In the non-QED direct contact term, a threshold energy scale Λ is included and explained to the finite interaction length in direct contact term and in consequence the size of the electron involved in the annihilation area. The experimental data of the total cross section is compared to the QED cross section by a χ2 test, which gives a best fit of the Λ to be 1576±202 GeV, corresponding to a finite interaction length of re=1.25±0.16×10−17 (cm). In the direct contact term annihilation, this interaction length is a measure of the size of an electron re. By combining all the data results from the mentioned collaborations, we have at least 2 to 3 times more statistics than every single experiment at high s region. This induces the best precision on re compared to the previous measurements.
The Prostaglandin D2 Receptor CRTH2 Contributes to Airway Hyperresponsiveness during Airway Inflammation Induced by Sensitization without an Adjuvant in Mice
Authors: Hanzawa Satoshi , Sugiura Makiko , Nakae Susumu , Masuo Masahiro , Morita Hideaki , Matsumoto Kenji , Takeda Kazuyoshi , Okumura Ko , Nakamura Masataka , Ohno Tatsukuni , Miyazaki Yasunari
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), which is produced mainly by Th2 cells and mast cells, promotes a type-2 immune response by activating Th2 cells, mast cells, eosinophils, and group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) via its receptor, chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecules on Th2 cells (CRTH2). However, the role of CRTH2 in models of airway inflammation induced by sensitization without adjuvants, in which both IgE and mast cells may play major roles, remain unclear. Methods: Wild-type (WT) and CRTH2-knockout (KO) mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) without an adjuvant and then challenged intranasally with OVA. Airway inflammation was assessed based on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), lung histology, number of leukocytes, and levels of type-2 cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Results: AHR was significantly reduced after OVA challenge in CRTH2 KO mice compared to WT mice. The number of eosinophils, levels of type-2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) in BALF, and IgE concentration in serum were decreased in CRTH2 KO mice compared to WT mice. However, lung histological changes were comparable between WT and CRTH2 KO mice. Conclusion: CRTH2 is responsible for the development of asthma responses in a mouse model of airway inflammation that features prominent involvement of both IgE and mast cells.
Comparison of Cytological Adequacy between 23- and 25-Gauge in Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration of Thyroid Nodules: A Single-Center Prospective Study
Authors: Puga Francisca Marques , Ferreira Inês Poças , Brandão José Ricardo , Fonseca Liliana , Couto de Carvalho André , Freitas Cláudia
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Approximately 15% of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules are considered nondiagnostic. Several factors are potentially involved, including clinical and nodule features but also the gauge (G) of the needle used. However, few studies have compared the cytological adequacy obtained with different gauge needles and the data are controversial. We aimed to evaluate cytological adequacy results using 23- or 25-G needles. Methods: This study is an observational and prospective study of thyroid nodules submitted to ultrasound-guided FNA. The procedure was performed randomly using 23- or 25-G needles. The samples were reported by different cytopathologists who were blinded to the information of the gauge of the needle used. Statistical analysis was performed to compare cytological adequacy of FNA between the two groups. Results: A total of 177 thyroid nodules were included – 98 (55.4%) using 23-G and 79 (44.6%) using 25-G needles. The 23-G group presented a higher rate of cytological adequacy (69.4% [68/98] vs. 46.8% [37/79], p = 0.002). No differences were found between the two groups regarding patient or nodule characteristics. On logistic regression, 23-G needles correlated with better cytological adequacy (unadjusted OR 2.57 [95% CI: 1.39–4.77]), even after adjusting for nodule dimension, location, and type of cytology (slides +/− additional liquid-based cytology) (adjusted OR 2.44 [95% CI: 1.23–4.84]). Conclusion: The gauge of the needle used was found to be an independent predictor of cytological adequacy, with 23-G needles providing more adequate samples. Further investigation is needed to confirm our results in order to stablish the optimal diagnosis technique.
Pseudophakic Pupillary Block due to the Capsular Bag Intraocular Lens Implant Located in the Sulcus: A Case Report
Authors: Bade Yusuf , Dossantos Jason , Hong Alison , Dar Salman , Belyea David
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Pupillary block, a concerning complication of cataract surgery, is heightened when a single-piece acrylic (SPA) intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted in the ciliary sulcus. We report an unusual occurrence of relative pupillary block and chronic angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) identified in the late postoperative period due to unintentional SPA IOL implantation in the sulcus. Case Presentation: An 82-year-old woman presented with a history of chronic ACG 5 years after bilateral cataract extraction. Postoperatively, she experienced anterior chamber shallowing, elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), and two acute angle-closure attacks in the left eye, successfully managed with laser peripheral iridotomies (LPIs). Despite neodymium:YAG capsulotomy, elevated IOP persisted. Maximal medical therapy effectively controlled IOP; however, a shallow anterior chamber remained, prompting referral to our glaucoma service. Slit-lamp examination revealed a shallow peripheral anterior chamber, patent LPIs, and an Alcon SA60WF SPA IOL situated posteriorly with the optic against the pupil margin OS. Gonioscopy indicated a closed angle with peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS). Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) confirmed haptics in the sulcus, with the lens optic and haptics anterior to the bag. These findings suggest relative pupillary block as the cause of her chronic ACG. The SPA IOL’s bulky haptics in the sulcus likely induced iris bowing, leading to prolonged appositional angle-closure and chronic PAS formation. Conclusion: IOLs designed for the capsular bag should not be placed in the sulcus. Therefore, IOLs of varying dimensions should be taken to the operating room in the event of complicated cataract extraction. Finally, UBM proves valuable in identifying causes of pupillary block.
Considering the Cellular Landscape in Marrow Stimulation Techniques for Cartilage Repair
Authors: Hasson Maddie , Fernandes Lorenzo M. , Solomon Hanna , Pepper Tristan , Huffman Nicholas L. , Pucha Saitheja A. , Bariteau Jason T. , Kaiser Jarred M. , Patel Jay M.
Published: April 2024

Background: Marrow stimulation is a common reparative approach to treat injuries to cartilage and other soft tissues (e.g., rotator cuff). It involves the recruitment of bone marrow elements and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the defect, theoretically initiating a regenerative process. However, the resulting repair tissue is often weak and susceptible to deterioration with time. The populations of cells at the marrow stimulation site (beyond MSCs), and their contribution to inflammation, vascularity, and fibrosis, may play a role in quality of the repair tissue. Summary: In this review, we accomplish three goals: (1) systematically review clinical trials on the augmentation of marrow stimulation and evaluate their assumptions on the biological elements recruited; (2) detail the cellular populations in bone marrow and their impact on healing; and (3) highlight emerging technologies and approaches that could better guide these specific cell populations towards enhanced cartilage or soft tissue formation. Key Messages: We found that most clinical trials do not account for cell heterogeneity, nor do they specify the regenerative element recruited, and those that do typically utilize descriptions such as “clots,” “elements,” and “blood.” Furthermore, our review of bone marrow cell populations demonstrates a dramatically heterogenous cell population, including hematopoietic cells, immune cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, and only a small population of MSCs. Finally, the field has developed numerous innovative techniques to enhance the chondrogenic potential (and reduce the anti-regenerative impacts) of these various cell types. We hope this review will guide approaches that account for cellular heterogeneity and improve marrow stimulation techniques to treat chondral defects.
Impact of CYP2A6 Gene Polymorphism on the Efficacy and Safety of S-1 Therapy in Patients with Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Dong Tao , Gu Yuanyuan
Published: April 2024

Introduction: The relationship of CYP2A6 polymorphisms with S-1 therapy outcomes in gastric cancer is unclear. This review aimed to assess the association between CYP2A6 gene polymorphisms (CYP2A6*4, *7, *9, *10) and S-1 therapy outcomes in gastric cancer, aiming to identify predictive markers for S-1 efficacy and adverse reactions. Methods: We searched seven databases, using random or fixed-effect models to calculate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) based on study heterogeneity. Results: A total of 1,143 articles were retrieved from multiple online databases as of March 28, 2023. After screening, seven articles containing seven investigations were included in the meta-analysis. Our results revealed a significant association between the CYP2A6 polymorphism site and the overall survival (OS) of variant/variant group (V/V) patients compared to wild-type/wild-type (W/W) or wild-type/variant (W/V) patients (HR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.45–5.14, p = 0.002). S-1 was more beneficial for W/W or W/V patients than V/V patients in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.47–6.75, p = 0.003). There was no association between CYP2A6 polymorphism and hematological adverse reactions (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.23–1.15, p = 0.104). Conclusion: CYP2A6 polymorphisms correlate with S-1 efficacy (OS and PFS) in gastric cancer, suggesting their potential as predictive markers. However, the generalizability of findings is limited by the small number of studies from Eastern countries and variations in chemotherapy regimens and detection methods. Further, large-scale studies are needed to confirm these associations.
Intervenções em terapia ocupacional com idosos com transtorno neurocognitivo leve: uma revisão integrativa
Authors: Fücher Renata , Batista Marina Picazzio Perez , Almeida Maria Helena Morgani de
Published: April 2024

Introdução: O Terapeuta Ocupacional (TO) é um profissional capacitado para avaliar e intervir junto a idosos com transtorno neurocognitivo leve (TNL) com objetivo de promover a manutenção ou melhora no desempenho cognitivo e funcional, diminuindo o impacto do declínio cognitivo nas atividades cotidianas e participação social Objetivos: Conhecer intervenções em TO junto a idosos com TNL. Método: Revisão bibliográfica integrativa nas bases de dados: PubMed,  Scielo, AgeLine, Cinahl, Scopus e Web of Science e em revistas da TO não indexadas nessas bases, no período de janeiro de 2016 a junho de 2021, nos idiomas inglês e português, utilizando os descritores: occupational therapy, aged e mild cognitive impairment combinados com o operador boleano AND. Resultados: 10 artigos foram selecionados, a maioria publicado em 2020, apenas 1 nacional, metade configurava-se como quase-experimental. Os instrumentos para avaliação de intervenções tinham ênfase no desempenho cognitivo,  funcionalidade e sintomas depressivos. Na maioria dos estudos realizou-se abordagem grupal e focada em estimulação cognitiva. A minoria voltou-se para orientações sobre estratégias funcionais focadas nas atividades de vida diária, vivências artísticas e atividade física. Conclusão: Notou-se que a intervenção terapêutica ocupacional gera benefícios para os idosos. Necessita-se de mais estudos, principalmente nacionais para fomentar esta prática.
Desenho como documento de processo criativo
Authors: Pfützenreuter Edson do Prado
Published: April 2024

Com o intuito de aplicar o conceito de “Documento de Processo”, proposto por Cecilia A.. Salles, aos desenhos preparatórios feitos pelos artistas plásticos, este texto analisa o campo semântico da palavra desenho, os instrumentos e suportes utilizados e as diferentes funções do desenho no processo criativo.
A crítica genética sob o olhar do artista
Authors: Fortuna Marlene
Published: April 2024

Sem resumo.
Crítica Genética In Statu Nascendi
Authors: Salles Cecilia Almeida
Published: April 2024

Conferência proferida no TTEM/CNRS em dezembro de 1995 onde é apresentado o estado em que os estudos genéticos se encontram no Centro de Estados de Crítica Genética da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo. São discutidas questões relativas ã abordagem semiótica dada a manuscritos literários e} também, a manuscrítos de outras manifesta­ções artísticas. Instrumentos teóricos de caráter geral são oferecidos e ilus­trados em alguns estudos de caso.
Do manuscrito ao pensamento pela rasura
Authors: Willemart Philippe
Published: April 2024

O que acontece no momento do silêncio criado pela rasura? O pensa­mento reencontra qual mundo, quais inconscientes, quais invariantes? Em que este momento favorece a criação? O scriptor encontra neleformas novas? Qual é sua relação com a escritura nesse momento? O geneticista pode trabalhar com os cognitivistas?
Objective QC for diffusion MRI data: Artefact detection using normative modelling
Authors: Cirstian Ramona , Forde Natalie J. , Andersson Jesper L. R. , Sotiropoulos Stamatios N. , Beckmann Christian F. , Marquand Andre F.
Published: April 2024

Diffusion MRI is a neuroimaging modality used to evaluate brain structure at a microscopic level and can be exploited to map white matter fibre bundles and microstructure in the brain. One common issue is the presence of artefacts, such as acquisition artefacts, physiological artefacts, distortions, or image processing-related artefacts. These may lead to problems with other downstream processes and can bias subsequent analyses. In this work, we use normative modelling to create a semi-automated pipeline for detecting diffusion imaging artefacts and errors by modelling 24 white matter imaging-derived phenotypes from the UK Biobank dataset. The considered features comprised four microstructural features (from models with different complexity such as fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity from a diffusion tensor model and parameters from neurite orientation, dispersion, and density models), each within six pre-selected white matter tracts of various sizes and geometrical complexity (corpus callosum, bilateral corticospinal tract and uncinate fasciculus and fornix). Our method was compared to two traditional quality control approaches: a visual quality control protocol performed on 500 subjects and quantitative quality control using metrics derived from image pre-processing. The normative modelling framework proves to be comprehensive and efficient in detecting diffusion imaging artefacts arising from various sources (such as susceptibility induced distortions or motion), as well as outliers resulting from inaccurate processing (such as erroneous spatial registrations). This is an important contribution by virtue of this methods’ ability to identify the two problem sources (i) image artefacts and (ii) processing errors, which subsequently allows for a better understanding of our data and informs on inclusion/exclusion criteria of participants.
Is Taiwan a Small Island? Relational and Representational Perceptions
Authors: Pitkänen Ari-Joonas
Published: April 2024

This article examines the popular yet contested notion that Taiwan is a ‘small island’, proposing that this notion reflects a modern representational worldview. In modern discourse, Taiwan is routinely presented as a small island, but a closer review of modern and historical sources reveals that it has been variously seen as anything between ‘tiny’ and ‘huge’ and was frequently considered a large rather than small island prior to its complete mapping and colonisation. This article suggests that the perception of Taiwan’s smallness rests on indirect cartographic-quantitative representations, while a direct, relational, and situated view produces a sense of largeness. It could thus be argued that Taiwan ‘became small’ when relational perception gave way to a modern representational worldview from the seventeenth century onwards. Rekindling a relational perspective could steer the discourse away from essentialist notions of smallness.
New braconid species of the Euphorinae genus Syntretus Foerster and a first report of the Alysiinae genus Heratemis Walker from India
Authors: GUPTA ANKITA , ACHTERBERG CORNELIS VAN , PATTAR ROHIT , AJAYKUMARA K. M. , SUSHIL S. N.
Published: April 2024

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