bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Political inclusion without social justice: South Africa and the pitfalls of partial decolonisation
Authors: Ngqulunga Bongani
Published: September 2023

The increasing social and political instability in South Africa and an emergent view that links it to the negotiated political settlement invite for a critical review of the ‘South African political miracle’. A central question such a review should attempt to address is whether the political settlement dealt fundamentally with the legacy of colonialism and apartheid, which came to define so much of social, economic and political life in South Africa. This article attempts such a review. Unlike critics of the negotiated settlement who tend to dismiss it totally, I contend, following on Mamdani's Neither Settler nor Native ( 2021 ), that its major achievement was establishing an inclusive political order in which civil and political rights were extended to all South Africans. The article begins by providing a broad outline of the colonial and apartheid orders in South Africa. While Mamdani (2021) details the political dimensions of these two exclusionary political orders, especially the divisive political identities they fostered and enforced, this article summarises the social and economic dimensions, focusing in particular on land and cattle dispossession. By highlighting these two dimensions, the article seeks to demonstrate the limitations of the negotiated settlement and the risk these limitations pose to the sustainability of inclusive democracy in South Africa. The article then examines what Mamdani calls the ‘South African moment’, which was marked by a challenge to the logic of apartheid and colonialism and the transformation of the political identities those orders had imposed. The third section of the article discusses the promise and limitations of the negotiated settlement. Overall, the article questions the desirability of the ‘South African model’ where social justice is compromised to achieve political inclusion.
It’s the talk that counts: a review of how the extra-textual talk of caregivers during shared book reading with young children has been categorized and measured
Authors: Read Kirsten , Rabinowitz Sara , Harrison Hayley
Published: September 2023

Extra-textual talk (ETT), the spontaneous conversation that occurs alongside the text read aloud during book reading is a common but also critically important feature of shared reading that cultivates interactions and supports the language development of young children. This exploratory review of 45 papers describing observations and measures of spontaneous ETT in parent-and-child dyadic shared reading from 1977 to 2022 illustrates the varying methods of categorization and measurement of the ETT have been used. The purpose of this review was to organize and consolidate this large collection of previous research to address two research questions. First, how can current researchers and practitioners organize this array of systems for measuring and categorizing ETT proposed by past researchers? Across the studies reviewed, three primary approaches for measuring or categorizing parents’ spontaneous ETT were found based on (1) content, (2) overall reader style, or (3) quantity-based measures of volume and complexity. Secondly, this review addressed what specific factors researchers have tested for their impact on extra-textual talk during shared reading. The three major influences on ETT come from variability among (1) readers, (2) children, and (3) the books being shared in support of a triangular model of shared book reading. The specific subcategories used in typing and measuring ETT, as well as the subfactors of those variables that may affect it are discussed.
Multivariate variational mode decomposition and generalized composite multiscale permutation entropy for multichannel fault diagnosis of hoisting machinery system
Authors: Li Yang , Meng Xiangyin , Xiao Shide , Xu Feiyun , Lee Chi-Guhn
Published: September 2023

Due to the harsh working environment of hoisting machinery system, the fault information of the important components is significantly complex, which leads to the fault signals not being collected completely by using only single channel. To alleviate this problem, acoustic emission (AE) experiments are applied to collect multichannel AE signal of hoisting machinery system. Additionally, a new intelligent fault diagnosis method based on multivariate variational mode decomposition (MVMD) and generalized composite multiscale permutation entropy (GCMPE) is proposed to extract multichannel AE fault features and implement multichannel fault diagnosis of hoisting machinery system. Firstly, based on variational mode decomposition (VMD) and the idea of multichannel AE data processing, MVMD is proposed to process the original multichannel AE signals collected from hoisting machinery system, which can obtain adaptively several multichannel modal components containing discriminative information. Meanwhile, GCMPE is presented to extract the fault information of multichannel modal components obtained by MVMD, which can improve the feature extraction performance of the original multiscale permutation entropy. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method in multichannel fault diagnosis of hoisting machinery system compared with some traditional single-channel analysis and other multichannel analysis methods.
Stent Graft vs Drug-Coated Balloon in Endovascular Treatment of Complex Femoropopliteal Artery Lesions: A 2-Center Experience
Authors: Ye Meng , Ni Qihong , Zhu Youpeng , Du Ye , Wang Yuli , Guo Xiangjiang , Zhang Lan , Feng Zibo
Published: September 2023

Objective:

Both stent grafts (SG) and drug-coated balloons (DCBs) have shown to be effective treatments for long and complex femoropopliteal (FP) lesions. However, there has not been a clinical trial comparing the 2 treatments directly. This study aims to compare the primary patency (PP) and clinical outcomes of SG and DCB for endovascular treatment of complex FP Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) C/D lesions in patients.

Methods:

From July 2013 to May 2019, a retrospective study was conducted at 2 medical centers to compare the clinical outcomes of Viabahn SG and DCB angioplasty in patients with TASC C/D FP lesions. The study used overlap weighting to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics and to reduce the impact of confounding factors and selection bias between the 2 groups. The primary endpoint was PP through 24 months, and the secondary endpoints included freedom from clinical-driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR), all-cause of death rate, and major amputation rate.

Results:

A total of 161 limbs in 150 patients with TASC C/D FP lesions were treated either with Viabahn SGs (67 limbs, 65 patients) or DCBs (94 limbs, 85 patients). In the DCB group, 22 target vessels (23.4%) underwent directional atherectomy before DCB angioplasty and 37 target vessels (39.4%) underwent bail-out bare-metal stent implantation for early recoil or severe dissection. The SG group had significantly higher PP rates at both the 12 and 24 months than in the DCB group (75.8% vs 39.2%, p=0.02; 64.1% vs 31.9%, p=0.02), respectively. However, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of CD-TLR, death rate, and major amputation rate. According to the results of multivariate analysis, DCB angioplasty was the only independent predictor associated with restenosis (hazard ratio [HR]=0.264, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.100-0.696, p=0.007).

Conclusions:

This study showed that SG was associated with a significantly higher PP rate in complex long FP lesions compared with DCB angioplasty. However, there was no significant difference in the freedom from CD-TLR and major amputation rate. It is important to follow the criteria for using SG strictly to avoid early restenosis, which can lead to acute thrombosis and severe limb ischemia. Closer monitoring is recommended for patients who undergo SG implantation.

Clinical Impact

There has no head-to-head clinical trial that compares DCB and SG in complex long FP lesions. This study showed that SG following the criteria was associated with a significantly higher PP rate compared with DCB angioplasty. Closer monitoring is recommended for patients with SG to avoid acute thrombosis. Randomized controlled trials comparing SG and DCB are necessary.
miRNAs and Multiple Myeloma: Focus on the Pathogenesis, Prognosis, and Drug Resistance
Authors: Tavakoli Pirzaman Ali , Ebrahimi Pouyan , Hasanpour Amir Hossein , Shakeri Mahdi , Babajani Bahareh , Pourali Ganji Zahra , Babaei Hedye , Rahmati Amirhossein , Hosseinzadeh Rezvan , Doostmohamadian Shahrbanoo , Kazemi Sohrab
Published: September 2023

Multiple myeloma (MM) produces clonal plasma cells and aberrant monoclonal antibody accumulation in patients’ bone marrow (BM). Around 1% of all cancers and 13% of hematological malignancies are caused by MM, making it one of the most common types of cancer. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods for managing MM are currently undergoing extensive research. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that reduce or inhibit the translation of their target mRNA after transcription. Because miRNAs play an influential role in how myeloma develops, resources, and becomes resistant to drugs, miRNA signatures may be used to diagnose, do prognosis, and treat the myeloma response. Consequently, researchers have investigated the levels of miRNA in plasma cells from MM patients and developed tools to test whether they directly impacted tumor growth. This review discusses the latest discoveries in miRNA science and their role in the development of MM. We also emphasize the potential applications of miRNAs to diagnose, prognosticate, and treat MM in the future.
The Problem of Memory in the Assassin's Creed Series (2007–2020)
Authors: Scarassati Bello Robson
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this paper is to examine how History and Memory are depicted in the video game series Assassin's Creed from 2007 to 2020. These games aim to recreate various historical periods by immersing the player's character from the present into the memories of their ancestors’ using technology. Assassin's Creed portrays the past through specific means: a narrative conveyed through events, spatially explorable environments, and, most importantly, the ability to interact with these elements. The series presents a supposedly multicultural perspective by offering its own interpretations of “historical truth” and collective memory. I argue contend that cultural products, when reinterpreted in the context of contemporary discussions and their own unique format, significantly influence the perception of certain historical moments in the collective imagination.
Condiment Recipes Lead to Reduced Generation of Carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Duck Variety Meat During Charcoal Grilling
Authors: Shahid Gulshan , Yousaf Muhammad , Anwar Haseeb , Mukhtar Imran , Basit Abdul
Published: September 2023

The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of charcoal grilling in the generation of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the tissues of 5 different organs (leg, chest, wings, liver, and heart) of falcated ducks ( Mareca falcata) before and after pasting them with different condiment recipes (R1, R2, R3, and R4). All condiment-pasted and control samples before/after charcoal grilling were pursued in RP-HPLC for quantification of unknown PAHs. Tissues from grilled raw leg meat of the control sample showed significantly higher ( P ≤ .05) concentration (42.40 ng/g) of overall PAHs as compared to all other grilled samples. However, overall PAHs concentration (9.99 ng/g) in charcoal grilled tissues of leg meat pasted with R4 condiment recipe was decreased 76.43% significantly ( P ≤ .05) as compared to all other recipes of pasted charcoal grilled samples. All PAHs, particularly naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and acenaphthalene were decreased significantly ( P ≤ .05) to none detectable level in all tissue samples when grilled after treating with R4 condiment recipe. All condiment recipes reduced total PAHs level below MRL’s set by the international guidelines. Recipe R4, a rich source of antioxidants, significantly neutralized and reduced the generation of PAHs in duck leg meat tissue sample during wood charcoal grilling.
The Responses of Muslims in Weimar Germany to the Abolition of the Caliphate
Authors: Sherstyukov Sergey
Published: September 2023

The abolition of the Caliphate in 1924 had profound global repercussions that were felt far beyond the territorial boundaries of the former Ottoman Empire. This event provoked intense and ambivalent responses among the community of Muslims in Weimar Germany. To date, this reaction has received little attention. Defeat in the war deprived Germany of its colonies, but Berlin became an important point on the map of emerging transnational anti-colonial networks and the centre of the intellectual and political life of Muslims in Europe. In the Islamic space of Berlin, there was an active search for new normative values and a vocabulary that would correspond to the realities of the post-Ottoman Muslim world. A more detailed and nuanced picture of Muslim reactions in Germany to the abolition of the Caliphate can shed more light on the history of Muslim émigré activism and the creation of a Muslim space in Europe during this period.
Position design of the trailing arm bushing on torsion beam suspension accounting for vehicle transient handling performance and uncertainties
Authors: Gao Jin , Qi Xiaoping
Published: September 2023

The bushing of the trailing arm on torsion beam suspension plays a pivotal role in vehicle dynamic behavior. In this paper, the connection between bushing position and vehicle dynamic response is elucidated. According to the simulation results, the impact of the bushing position on the transient performance of vehicle is more pronounced at low handling frequencies, and different index under the same bushing position are not always optimal. To design the bushing position that is better for evaluation indexes, this paper formulates the design problem of the bushing position as a multi-objective optimization problem. Due to the influence of actual production and processing, inevitable errors in bushing position may result in vehicle performance not meeting design requirements. Therefore, this paper takes into consideration the uncertainties and conducts robust multi-objective optimization to design the bushing position. To address the computational burden associated with robust optimization, the RBF approximation model is developed in this paper. Finally, the optimization problem is solved with the NSGA-II intelligent algorithm. The optimization results show that the bushing position designed by robust multi-objective optimization results in vehicle with stronger anti-roll performance and better robustness for each evaluation index. It is more suitable for practical applications.
Pneumatic rotary nozzle structure optimization design and airflow characteristics analysis
Authors: Wang Pengyu , Yang Wenlong
Published: September 2023

In this paper, the impact jet field between the pneumatic nozzle and the workpiece surface is simulated by the computational fluid dynamics method, and the influence law of the nozzle structure parameters on the jet performance is obtained by combining the response surface method (RSM), so as to improve the dust removal effect of the pneumatic nozzle. Firstly, the nozzle impact jet field calculation model was established, and the experimental platform of wind speed and volume measurement was built to verify the accuracy of the numerical calculation model and to simulate and analyze the jet field distribution characteristics of the nozzle under rotating working conditions. Then combined with the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) method, a response surface regression model with nozzle inlet radius ( R1), cylindrical section length ( L), and cone angle ( A) as design variables and nozzle jet fixed point (20 mm) flow rate as the target variable was established to find the optimal combination of nozzle characteristics parameters. The results show that the optimized nozzle characteristics parameters using RSM can effectively improve the nozzle jet performance, the optimized jet flow rate increased by 8.38%, and can be more effective in dust removal; jet pressure on the workpiece surface decreases as the nozzle incidence angle increases; in the speed range of 400–1200 r/min, the pressure change caused by the jet on the wall surface is small, and the flow rate is relatively stable.
Numerical investigation and artificial brain structure-based modeling to predict the heat transfer of hybrid Ag/Au nanofluid in a helical tube heat exchanger
Authors: Abazari Bahnemiri Hossein , Oloomi Seyed Amir Abbas , Mirjalily Seyed Ali Agha , Zare-Shahabadi Abolfazl
Published: September 2023

In recent years, due to the low thermal coefficients of common fluids and the increase in size and cost of heat exchangers, technologies for improving heat transfer and reducing dimensions have been developed and widely used in industries such as refrigeration, cooling of processing cells, chemical industries, and more. Previously, increasing heat exchange capacity in heat exchangers was achieved by altering parameters such as boundary conditions, flow geometry, heat exchanger geometry, or changing the type of fluid. Additionally, apart from the use of nanofluids, various other operational methods can be employed to improve the thermal performance of heat exchangers. Accordingly, considering the combination of the aforementioned innovative techniques, this study presents the modeling of flow and heat transfer inside helically coiled tube heat exchangers under the flow of nanofluids containing nickel, gold, silver, and gold/silver hybrid nanoparticles using numerical and artificial intelligence methods. In this study, the effect of variations in the inner diameter of the coiled tube and the volume fraction of nanoparticles was examined. The results showed that increasing the inner diameter and volume fraction of nanoparticles leads to an increase in heat transfer coefficient and Nusselt number, while the friction factor decreases with an increase in Reynolds number and increases with an increase in diameter and volume fraction. Finally, the accuracy and validity of the model were evaluated using statistical parameters and experimental results, which showed a 99.9% level of agreement between the predicted and experimental outcomes.
The architecture evolution of intelligent factory logistics digital twin from planning, implement to operation
Authors: Qiu Fusheng , Chen Ming , Wang Liang , Ying Yu , Tang Tang
Published: September 2023

Digital twin is widely studied in the context of industry 4.0. It is expected that the application of digital twin in intelligent factory logistics can enrich connectivity, proactivity, and agility of the logistics. Architecture is one of the significant factors impacting on the selection of appropriate enabling technologies for constructing the intelligent logistics. This paper proposes a digital twin architecture for intelligent factory logistics. It mainly includes a physical layer, two cyber layers, and an interface layer. The architecture is in compliance with the architecture of the Human-Cyber-Physical System (HCPS). Moreover, the evolution of the architecture is elaborated during the planning, implement, and operation stages when construction of the digital twin. At the initial stage, human should participate in the decision-making process frequently to determine whether the results given by digital twin need to be changed. However, the data-driven model based digital twin will continually learn the human’s changing behaviors, thus constantly updating itself. It can evolution from digital model, digital shadow to digital twin with the continuous construction process. The ultimate digital twin should be able to assess operational key performance indicators (KPIs) and handle dynamic events.
Our voices, our lives: Unforeseen stories after the violence and opening the door to becoming whole again
Authors: Mendez Ernestina , Munguia Leticia , Ramirez Molina Rosalba , Herrera Cristina , Regino Lidia , Tellez Maria , Sandoval Virginia , Perez Jackie , Medina Dulce , Vasquez Camille , Page-Reeves Janet
Published: September 2023

We are a group of 11 women in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Nine of us are immigrants from Mexico. One of us is from an immigrant household. One of us is neither. We have been working collaboratively on a research study called Tertulias (Spanish for “ a social gathering”), which is an innovative women’s peer support group approach we created to reduce social isolation, depression, and stress among women immigrants from Mexico, and to increase their resilience and sense of empowerment. In the process of implementing the Tertulias study, we are revealing the profound power of peer support, friendship, and small, quotidian kindnesses. But we are also exposing the immensity and scope of trauma, fear, loneliness, depression, and self-blame that exist in the Mexican immigrant community because of domestic violence. Our experience with domestic violence and with the consciousness-raising and support we found in Tertulias has made us want to be involved in a positive manner to do something about this issue in our community. We want our experience to mean something—to be used to make a difference. We are opening our hearts and sharing our stories and ideas. We wanted to be included as co-authors of this article because we want our stories to be received and heard by other women. We want to plant seeds to help other women find their inner strength to be able to escape from their chains. We have to return for others. It is a commitment—to understand how we were able to do it and share that with others. Through our experience participating in Tertulias, we learned that we could overcome what felt overwhelming and impenetrable. We could leave the violence and rediscover and recreate ourselves and our lives.
History of peripheral nerve injuries
Authors: Irisarri Carlos
Published: September 2023

This article reviews the history of peripheral nerve (PN) injuries and successive advances in their management by notable pioneers, an interesting topic that I chose for my Doctoral Thesis in 1990 in Madrid. Mentioning all their names and contributions is an obligatory tribute, and I offer my sincere apologies for inevitably leaving a few out. For half a century I have witnessed microsurgery advances, and also experienced frequent failures in my practice with the use of new techniques; a testimony that we are very far from achieving the ‘Holy Grail’ of complete PN recovery for these injuries. Our experience is often like a pendulum, from nihilism to optimism and vice versa. Many factors influence the results of PN repair. Fortunately, microsurgery has been a breakthrough but, too often, emergency surgery is carried out by surgeons without enough tools and experience, both very important factors in this field.
Statistics for the hand surgeon. Part 1: principles and application to hand surgery research
Authors: Harvey Mary Rose , Rodrigues Jeremy , Lane Jennifer C. E. , Wade Ryckie George , Teunissen Joris Sebastiaan , Broekstra Dieuwke C. , Harrison Conrad
Published: September 2023

Hand surgeons have the potential to improve patient care, both with their own research and by using evidenced-based practice. In this first part of a two-part article, we describe key steps for the analysis of clinical data using quantitative methodology. We aim to describe the principles of medical statistics and their relevance and use in hand surgery, with contemporaneous examples. Hand surgeons seek expertise and guidance in the clinical domain to improve their practice and patient care. Part of this process involves the critical analysis and appraisal of the research of others.
Functional and clinical outcomes in the Krukenberg amputation
Authors: Luo Weisang , Kim Yongjune , Tan Vichet , Ek Picheata , Hunt Sophie , Howells Harriet
Published: September 2023

We evaluated the outcomes of the Krukenberg procedure conducted for the loss of a hand secondary to an electrical burn injury in six patients (10 hands). Patient demographics, indications for surgery, surgical strategy, complications, clinical measurements and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score were recorded, in addition to subjective outcome measures, including self-perception of social acceptance and employment status. The median DASH score at follow-up was 22 (range 4–50, interquartile range 25). Patients reported recovery of useful function in operated limbs. We recommend this procedure in low-resource settings when other reconstruction is impossible.

Level evidence: IV
Patient-specific mini-open subpectoral long head of the biceps tenodesis with anatomic tensioning: A surgical technique
Authors: Boubekri Amir M , Scheidt Michael , Anderson Joshua , G Garbis Nickolas , H Salazar Dane
Published: September 2023

Long head of the biceps tendon pathology is a well-described proximal shoulder pain generator. While optimal treatment strategy remains controversial, popular operative management includes biceps tenodesis. However, appropriate restoration of the anatomic length–tension relationship of the biceps with tenodesis remains a challenge. We aim to describe a patient-specific technique utilizing a mini-open subpectoral approach to mark the long head of the biceps myotendinous junction location within the intertubercular groove prior to arthroscopic origin tenotomy. This technique offers the ability to restore anatomic tensioning of the long head of the biceps without relying on variable anatomic relationships, additional portals, tools, or technical challenges.
Combination of titanium dioxide and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanofillers to boost mechanical and rheological properties of polyolefins: Recycling possibility
Authors: Hormozinezhad Farnoosh , Ehsani Morteza , Esmaeili Amin , Hejna Aleksander
Published: September 2023

Recycling of polyolefins has become a on-demand route to avoid its environmental threats. Nevertheless, drop of properties after re-extrusion necessitates use of reinforcing agents to compensate for poor mechanical properties. The incorporation of nanoparticles into plastics can boost their mechanical and rheological properties due to the hard nanocrystalline phases. This study aims to promote and identify a polyolefin-based nanocomposite by combination of TiO2 and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) at concentration of 1, 3, and 6 wt% in a twin-screw extruder. The nanocomposites were characterized for mechanical and rheological properties. Overall, the results showed that the mechanical properties were improved by adding particles up to 6 wt% loadings. The magnitude of this effect was dependent on the nanofiller weight fraction and particle size. Well-dispersion and, as a result, enhancing the viscosity, modulus, and hardness in the sample containing 3 wt% TiO2 and 3 wt%. POSS was due to the presence of hydroxyl functional groups on its surface. Glass transition temperature and crystallinity of the samples did not show a significant change due to the neutral role of nanoparticle nucleation in the matrix.
Occupational Grade, Mental Distress, and the Use of Psychotherapy
Authors: Kokkinen Lauri , Gluschkoff Kia , Kausto Johanna , Selinheimo Sanna , Appelqvist-Schmidlechner Kaija , Koponen Päivikki , Väänänen Ari
Published: September 2023

Introduction:

Previous studies have shown that manual workers use less psychotherapy than non-manual workers. However, little is known about the match between the use and the need of psychotherapy in different occupational grades. Our study investigates how the prevalence of mental distress corresponds to psychotherapy use rate in different occupational grades by gender.

Methods:

The data were collected from the Rise of Mental Vulnerability Study (use of psychotherapy) and the FinHealth 2017 Study (prevalence of mental distress). Adjusting for age, we calculated General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) caseness (a measure for mental distress), a 3-year psychotherapy use rate, and the ratio between GHQ caseness and the psychotherapy use rate in 3 occupational grades (upper non-manual employees, lower non-manual employees, and manual workers) for men and women separately.

Results:

In men, for 1 person having used psychotherapy there were 10 persons experiencing mental distress in upper non-manual workers, 14 in lower non-manual workers, and 31 in manual workers. In women, for 1 person having used psychotherapy, there were 6 persons experiencing mental distress in upper non-manual workers, 9 in lower non-manual workers, and 18 in manual workers.

Conclusions:

At the population level, manual employees use considerably less long-term psychotherapy than upper non-manual workers although their level of mental distress is high. This indicates a mismatch between symptoms and therapy, which was higher for men in all occupational grades.
Sonographic Findings of Pheochromocytoma in an Adolescent Female During an Evaluation for Possible Renal Artery Stenosis
Authors: Riemann Monique , Dana Lydia
Published: September 2023

A 16-year-old female initially presented to urgent care, with a 2-day history of nausea, vomiting, headache, and abdominal pain. After falling and having a tonic/clonic seizure at urgent care, the patient was transferred to an emergency room and subsequently admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit within the hospital for monitoring. Due to persistent tachycardia and hypertension, a renal Doppler examination was performed to evaluate for possible renal artery stenosis. Instead, a 4.0-cm right adrenal mass was discovered, prompting catecholamines and metanephrines testing, and subsequent endocrinology assessment. The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was made, and a full diagnostic evaluation was completed to exclude extra-adrenal tumor growth and genetic association. Surgical resection of the tumor was successfully accomplished, and the patient was scheduled for annual metanephrine monitoring. This case highlights the significance of a thorough evaluation of the adrenal glands in pediatric patients presenting with atypical hypertension, where renal artery stenosis is suspected.
Mechanism and Method of Testing Fracture Toughness and Impact Absorbed Energy of Ductile Metals by Spherical Indentation Tests
Authors: Li Jianxun , Zhang Tairui , Wang Shang , Cheng Jirui , Wang Weiqiang
Published: September 2023

To address the problem of conventional approaches for mechanical property determination requiring destructive sampling, which may be unsuitable for in-service structures, the authors proposed a method for determining the quasi-static fracture toughness and impact absorbed energy of ductile metals from spherical indentation tests (SITs). The stress status and damage mechanism of SIT, mode I fracture, Charpy impact tests, and related tests were first investigated through finite element (FE) calculations and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, respectively. It was found that the damage mechanism of SITs is different from that of mode I fractures, while mode I fractures and Charpy impact tests share the same damage mechanism. Considering the difference between SIT and mode I fractures, uniaxial tension and pure shear were introduced to correlate SIT with mode I fractures. Based on this, the widely used critical indentation energy (CIE) model for fracture toughness determination using SITs was modified. The quasi-static fracture toughness determined from the modified CIE model was used to evaluate the impact absorbed energy using the dynamic fracture toughness and energy for crack initiation. The effectiveness of the newly proposed method was verified through experiments on four types of steels: Q345R, SA508-3, 18MnMoNbR, and S30408.
Epigenetics, cryptorchidism, and infertility
Authors: Hadziselimovic Faruk , Verkauskas Gilvydas , Stadler Michael B.
Published: September 2023

Background

Cryptorchid boys with defective mini-puberty and impaired differentiation of Ad spermatogonia (high infertility risk) have altered expression of several genes encoding histone methyltransferases compared to patients with intact differentiation of gonocytes into Ad spermatogonia (low infertility risk).

Results

High infertility risk cryptorchid boys display hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, which, together with the diminished expression of histone deacetylases and increased expression of HDAC8 decrotonylase, indicates altered histone marks and, thus, a perturbed histone code. Curative GnRHa treatment induces normalization of histone methyltransferase, chromatin remodeling, and histone deacetylase gene expression. As a result, histone changes induce differentiation of Ad spermatogonia from their precursors and, thus, fertility. In this short report, we describe key functions of histone lysine methyltransferases, chromatin remodeling proteins, and long-noncoding RNAs, and discuss their potential roles in processes leading to infertility.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that epigenetic mechanisms are critical to better understanding the root causes underlying male infertility related to cryptorchidism and its possible transgenerational transmission.
Genetic parameters for automatically-measured vaginal temperature, respiration efficiency, and other thermotolerance indicators measured on lactating sows under heat stress conditions
Authors: Freitas Pedro H. F. , Johnson Jay S. , Wen Hui , Maskal Jacob M. , Tiezzi Francesco , Maltecca Christian , Huang Yijian , DeDecker Ashley E. , Schinckel Allan P. , Brito Luiz F.
Published: September 2023

Background

Genetic selection based on direct indicators of heat stress could capture additional mechanisms that are involved in heat stress response and enable more accurate selection for more heat-tolerant individuals. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters for various heat stress indicators in a commercial population of Landrace × Large White lactating sows measured under heat stress conditions. The main indicators evaluated were: skin surface temperatures (SST), automatically-recorded vaginal temperature (TV), respiration rate (RR), panting score (PS), body condition score (BCS), hair density (HD), body size (BS), ear size, and respiration efficiency (Reff).

Results

Traits based on TV presented moderate heritability estimates, ranging from 0.15 ± 0.02 to 0.29 ± 0.05. Low heritability estimates were found for SST traits (from 0.04 ± 0.01 to 0.06 ± 0.01), RR (0.06 ± 0.01), PS (0.05 0.01), and Reff (0.03 ± 0.01). Moderate to high heritability values were estimated for BCS (0.29 ± 0.04 for caliper measurements and 0.25 ± 0.04 for visual assessments), HD (0.25 ± 0.05), BS (0.33 ± 0.05), ear area (EA; 0.40 ± 0.09), and ear length (EL; 0.32 ± 0.07). High genetic correlations were estimated among SST traits (> 0.78) and among TV traits (> 0.75). Similarly, high genetic correlations were also estimated for RR with PS (0.87 ± 0.02), with BCS measures (0.92 ± 0.04), and with ear measures (0.95 ± 0.03). Low to moderate positive genetic correlations were estimated between SST and TV (from 0.25 ± 0.04 to 0.76 ± 0.07). Low genetic correlations were estimated between TV and BCS (from − 0.01 ± 0.08 to 0.06 ± 0.07). Respiration efficiency was estimated to be positively and moderately correlated with RR (0.36 ± 0.04), PS (0.56 ± 0.03), and BCS (0.56 ± 0.05 for caliper measurements and 0.50 ± 0.05 for the visual assessments). All other trait combinations were lowly genetically correlated.

Conclusions

A comprehensive landscape of heritabilities and genetic correlations for various thermotolerance indicators in lactating sows were estimated. All traits evaluated are under genetic control and heritable, with different magnitudes, indicating that genetic progress is possible for all of them. The genetic correlation estimates provide evidence for the complex relationships between these traits and confirm the importance of a sub-index of thermotolerance traits to improve heat tolerance in pigs.
Gastric insufflation and surgical view according to mask ventilation method for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled study
Authors: Jung Yun Kyung , Kim Cho Long , Jeong Mi Ae , Sung Jeong Min , Lee Kyeong Geun , Kim Na Yeon , Kang Leekyeong , Lim Hyunyoung
Published: September 2023

Background

Proper mask ventilation is important to prevent air inflow into the stomach during induction of general anesthesia, and it is difficult to send airflow only through the trachea without gastric inflation. Changes in gastric insufflation according to mask ventilation during anesthesia induction were compared.

Methods

In this prospective, randomized, single-blind study, 230 patients were analyzed to a facemask-ventilated group (Ventilation group) or no-ventilation group (Apnea group) during anesthesia induction. After loss of consciousness, pressure-controlled ventilation at an inspiratory pressure of 15 cmH2O was performed for two minutes with a two-handed mask-hold technique for Ventilation group. For Apnea group, only the facemask was fitted to the face for one minute with no ventilation. Next, endotracheal intubation was performed. The gastric cross-sectional area (CSA, cm2) was measured using ultrasound before and after induction. After pneumoperitoneum with carbon dioxide, gastric insufflation of the surgical view was graded by the surgeon for each group.

Results

Increase of postinduction antral CSA on ultrasound were not significantly different between Ventilation group and Apnea group (0.04 ± 0.3 and 0.02 ± 0.28, p-value = 0.225). Additionally, there were no significant differences between the two groups in surgical grade according to surgeon’s judgement.

Conclusions

Pressure-controlled ventilation at an inspiratory pressure of 15 cmH2O for two minutes did not increase gastric antral CSA and insufflation of stomach by laparoscopic view.

Trial Registration

http://cris.nih.go.kr (KCT0003620) on 13/3/2019.
Association between diversity levels of member composition in group activities of older adults and the occurrence of need for care: the JAGES 2013–2019 longitudinal study
Authors: Shimizu Nao , Ide Kazushige , Kondo Katsunori
Published: September 2023

Background

Participating in groups with diverse members is associated with improved health among older adults. The study examined the relationship between diversity of group members and needed support or long-term care.

Methods

We conducted a longitudinal study for the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study with 61,281 participants aged ≥ 65 years who were surveyed in 2013 and followed-up for six years. We assessed three dimensions of the diversity of the participating members (sex, age, and region of residence). We then graded the diversity level into four categories: level 0 (not in any group), level 1 (in a group without diversity or in a group with diversity in one of the three factors), level 2 (in a group with diversity in two of the three factors), or level 3 (in a group with diversity across all factors). We adjusted for 12 covariates using Cox hazard survival analysis models with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimated for the association between group members’ diversity levels and needed support or long-term care. The same study was conducted when stratified by employment status at baseline.

Results

Participants in social participation groups with more diverse group members had a lower incidence of needed support or long-term care as compared to their counterparts. Compared to those with no participation group, HR decreased by 14% to 24% with increasing levels of diversity. The HR for the level of care needed for participants in the social participation group with high residential diversity was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.84–0.94). For participants who were currently unemployed, HR reductions ranged from 16%–28% with increasing levels of diversity compared to the non-participating group. No association was found for employed participants.

Conclusions

The reason the HRs of Japanese elderly people certified as needing support or care are lower when the diversity of participating groups is higher could be owing to the presence of a variety of people and the diversification of social networks, which facilitates the building of bridging social relational capital. Public health policies that encourage participation in diverse organizations will be important in the future.
A retrospective study comprising 228 cases of pediatric scalp and skull lesions
Authors: Yang Lei , Yang Meng-Cheng , Qu Pei-Ran , Zhang Di , Ge Ming , Li Da-Peng
Published: September 2023

Background

Most neurosurgery presentations in children present with a mass that may be scalp and skull lesions, including neoplastic and congenital malformed structural lesions, respectively. Clinicians should make early diagnoses and identify cases requiring surgical intervention promptly to help achieve a better prognosis.

Method

This study retrospectively reviewed studies on children’s scalp and skull lesions within a pediatric medical center’s department of neurosurgery. The detailed clinical information and pathological types of these cases were scrutinized.

Result

A total of 228 children’s scalp and skull lesions with clinical information and identified histopathology types were summarized. The most common scalp and skull lesions were benign dermoid cysts; malignant types were rare but can occur in children.

Conclusion

Based on the combined clinical symptoms and image information, children’s scalp and skull lesions should be diagnosed early. Malignant scalp and skull lesions/other special cases should be treated seriously.
Protocol for a randomised controlled trial evaluating the effect of a CBT-I smartphone application (Sleep Ninja®) on insomnia symptoms in children
Authors: Subotic-Kerry M. , Werner-Seidler A. , Corkish B. , Batterham P. J. , Sicouri G. , Hudson J. , Christensen H. , O’Dea B. , Li S. H.
Published: September 2023

Background

Sleep is necessary for healthy development and mental wellbeing. Despite this, many children do not get the recommended duration of sleep each night, and many experience sleep problems. Although treatable, existing interventions for sleep disturbance are time-consuming, burdensome for families, and focus on providing behavioural strategies to parents rather than upskilling children directly. To address this gap, we modified Sleep Ninja®, an evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) smartphone app for adolescent sleep disturbance, to be appropriate for 10 to 12 year olds. Here, we describe the protocol for a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect of Sleep Ninja on insomnia and other outcomes, including depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness, and explore effects on the emergence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), compared to an active control group.

Methods

We aim to recruit 214 children aged 10 to 12 years old experiencing disturbed sleep. Participants will be screened for inclusion, complete the baseline assessment, and then be randomly allocated to receive Sleep Ninja, or digital psychoeducation flyers (active control) for 6-weeks. The primary outcome, insomnia symptoms, along with depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness will be assessed at 6-weeks (primary endpoint), 3-months, and 9-months post-baseline (secondary and tertiary endpoints, respectively). A mixed model repeated measures analytic approach will be used to conduct intention-to-treat analyses to determine whether reductions in insomnia and secondary outcomes are greater for those receiving Sleep Ninja relative to the control condition at the primary and secondary endpoints. The difference in relative risk for MDD onset will be explored at 9-months and compared between conditions.

Discussion

This is the first clinical trial examining the effects of a CBT-I smartphone app in children experiencing sleep disturbance. Results will provide empirical evidence about the effects of Sleep Ninja on insomnia and other mental health outcomes.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12623000587606).

Universal Trial Number

U1111-1294-4167.
Efficacy of artesunate combined with Atractylodes lancea or Prabchompoothaweep remedy extracts as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of cerebral malaria
Authors: Plirat Walaiporn , Chaniad Prapaporn , Phuwajaroanpong Arisara , Konyanee Atthaphon , Viriyavejakul Parnpen , Septama Abdi Wira , Punsawad Chuchard
Published: September 2023

Background

Cerebral malaria is one of the most serious complications of Plasmodium infection and causes behavioral changes. However, current antimalarial drugs have shown poor outcomes. Therefore, new antimalarials with neuroprotective effects are urgently needed. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of selected extracts as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy with artesunate on antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties in experimental cerebral malaria (ECM).

Methods

ECM was induced in male C57BL/6 mice by infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA). Ethanolic extracts of Atractylodes lancea (a dose of 400 mg/kg) and Prabchompoothaweep remedy (a dose of 600 mg/kg) were evaluated as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy combined with artesunate at the onset of signs of cerebral malaria and continued for 7 consecutive days. Parasitemia, clinical scores, and body weight were recorded throughout the study. At day 13 post-infection, mouse brains were dissected and processed for the study of the inflammatory response, oxidative stress, blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, histopathological changes, and neurocognitive impairments.

Results

Ethanolic extracts of A. lancea and Prabchompoothaweep remedy alone improved cerebral malaria outcome in ECM, whereas artesunate combined with extracts of A. lancea or Prabchompoothaweep remedy significantly improved the outcome of artesunate and crude extracts alone. Using real-time PCR, PbA-infected mice that had received the combination treatment showed significantly reduced gene expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10), chemokines (CXCL4 and CXCL10), and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM1, and CD36). The PbA-infected mice that received the combination treatment showed a significantly decreased malondialdehyde level compared to the untreated group. Similarly, the Evans blue dye assay revealed significantly less dye extravasation in the brains of infected mice administered the combination treatment, indicating improved BBB integrity. Combination treatment improved survival and reduced pathology in the PbA-infected group. Additionally, combination treatment resulted in a significantly reduced level of cognitive impairment, which was analyzed using a novel object recognition test.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that artesunate combined with A. lancea or Prabchompoothaweep remedy extracts as adjunctive therapy reduced mortality, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, BBB integrity protection, and neurocognitive impairment in the ECM.
Web-based standardized patient simulation for taking anamnesis: an approach in nursing education during the pandemic
Authors: Demiray Ayse , Ilaslan Nagihan , Kızıltepe Selin Keskin , Acıl Aysegül
Published: September 2023

Background

To address the challenges in nursing education brought about by the pandemic, this study aimed to evaluate the use of a web-based standardized patient practice in the development of nursing students’ anamnesis taking skills and their views about its application.

Method

We conducted a descriptive intervention study with 39 s-year nursing students. The students completed anamnesis using the standardized patient practice in line with a scenario with real standardized patients in a web-based environment with audio and video.

Results

The total scores of students’ anamnesis skills were low. The agreement between the total scores, scores obtained from the health patterns, and each item in the control list was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Web-based standardized patient practice is an alternative for clinical practice facilitating the gaining of competencies in making holistic nursing diagnoses under conditions that limit face-to-face interactions, such as pandemics.