bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Escritos sobre improvisar na vidança (de uma não-binária em permanente transição espiralar)
Authors: Marinelli Princesa Ricardo
Published: January 2024

Viver as complexidades de existir desobedecendo o binário cisnormativo de gênero é mesmo sempre. É sempre, é espiralar, é improvisar. Como forma de reconhecer e celebrar o fato de continuar bem viva, tenho me colocado em movimento para lembrar dos futuros que nos foram ceifados. Criado chances para que o corpo lembre de alguns dos futuros possíveis antes das incontáveis feridas coloniais. Mas também lembre de como a carne foi ferida, e assim possa performar “com costas cheias de futuro”. Improvisação em dança como prática para lembrar, fraturar e futurar. Como agenciamento da espiralidade do tempo, como a possibilidade de presentificar futuros transancestrais.
Música e imagem
Authors: Campos Machado André
Published: January 2024

Este artigo tem por objetivos compartilhar, refletir e relatar o percurso metodológico adotado para a criação de uma improvisação musical coletiva, inspirada na pintura “O Pescador” de Tarsila do Amaral e nos conceitos de improvisação livre de Machado (2014 e 2018). O processo criativo foi conduzido remotamente pelo autor durante a pandemia de COVID-19, em colaboração com o Grupo de Referência “Camerata de Violões de Araçatuba” do Projeto Guri, por meio de três encontros realizados através da plataforma de webconferência Zoom. A obra resultante foi incorporada à “Suíte Tarsila do Amaral”, uma peça inédita em 5 movimentos, criada pelo grupo em comemoração ao centenário da Semana de Arte Moderna de 1922. A improvisação livre foi registrada em vídeo pelos participantes e editada no software DaVinci Resolve, enquanto a edição e mixagem das faixas de áudio foram realizadas no software Reaper, com duas faixas especializadas no domínio Ambisonic através dos plug-ins StereoEncoder Ambisonic e BinauralDecoder do Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics (IEM Plug-in Suite).
From drugs to biomaterials: a review of emerging therapeutic strategies for intervertebral disc inflammation
Authors: Yang Shuhan , Jing Shaoze , Wang Shanxi , Jia Fajing
Published: January 2024

Chronic low back pain (LBP) is an increasingly prevalent issue, especially among aging populations. A major underlying cause of LBP is intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), often triggered by intervertebral disc (IVD) inflammation. Inflammation of the IVD is divided into Septic and Aseptic inflammation. Conservative therapy and surgical treatment often fail to address the root cause of IDD. Recent advances in the treatment of IVD infection and inflammation range from antibiotics and small-molecule drugs to cellular therapies, biological agents, and innovative biomaterials. This review sheds light on the complex mechanisms of IVD inflammation and physiological and biochemical processes of IDD. Furthermore, it provides an overview of recent research developments in this area, intending to identify novel therapeutic targets and guide future clinical strategies for effectively treating IVD-related conditions.
Nanopore sequencing of infectious fluid is a promising supplement for gold-standard culture in real-world clinical scenario
Authors: Zhao Manna , Zhang Yongyang , Chen Li , Yan Xuebing , Xu Tianmin , Fu Maoying , Han Yangguang , Zhang Ying , Zhang Bin , Cao Juan , Lin Jing , Shen Dan , Li Shuo , Zhu Chuanlong , Zhao Weifeng
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Infectious diseases are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, necessitating the rapid identification and accurate diagnosis of pathogens. While unbiased metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been extensively utilized in clinical pathogen identification and scientific microbiome detection, there is limited research about the application of nanopore platform-based mNGS in the diagnostic performance of various infectious fluid samples.

Methods

In this study, we collected 297 suspected infectious fluids from 10 clinical centers and detected them with conventional microbiology culture and nanopore platform–based mNGS. The objective was to assess detective and diagnostic performance of nanopore-sequencing technology (NST) in real-world scenarios.

Results

Combined with gold-standard culture and clinical adjudication, nanopore sequencing demonstrated nearly 100% positive predictive agreements in microbial-colonized sites, such as the respiratory and urinary tracts. For samples collected from initially sterile body sites, the detected microorganisms were highly suspected pathogens, and the negative predictive agreements were relatively higher than those in the microbial-colonized sites, particularly with 100% in abscess and 95.7% in cerebrospinal fluid. Furthermore, consistent performance was also observed in the identification of antimicrobial resistance genes and drug susceptibility testing of pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter baumannii.

Discussion

Rapid NST is a promising clinical tool to supplement gold-standard culture, and it has the potential improve patient prognosis and facilitate clinical treatment of infectious diseases.
Challenges and opportunities in mobile e-coaching
Authors: van 't Klooster Jan-Willem J. R. , Rabago Mayer Lucia M. , Klaassen Bart , Kelders Saskia M.
Published: January 2024

Background

Mobile e-health technologies have proven to provide tailored assessment, intervention, and coaching capabilities for various usage scenarios. Thanks to their spread and adoption, smartphones are one of the most important carriers for such applications.

Problem

However, the process of design, realization, evaluation, and implementation of these e-health solutions is wicked and challenging, requiring multiple stakeholders and expertise.

Method

Here, we present a tailorable intervention and interaction e-health solution that allows rapid prototyping, development, and evaluation of e-health interventions at scale. This platform allows researchers and clinicians to develop ecological momentary assessment, just-in-time adaptive interventions, ecological momentary intervention, cohort studies, and e-coaching and personalized interventions quickly, with no-code, and in a scalable way.

Result

The Twente Intervention and Interaction Instrument (TIIM) has been used by over 320 researchers in the last decade. We present the ecosystem and synthesize the main scientific output from clinical and research studies in different fields.

Discussion

The importance of mobile e-coaching for prediction, management, and prevention of adverse health outcomes is increasing. A profound e-health development strategyand strategic, technical, and operational investments are needed to prototype, develop, implement, and evaluate e-health solutions. TIIM ecosystem has proven to support these processes. This paper ends with the main research opportunities in mobile coaching, including intervention mechanisms, fine-grained monitoring, and inclusion of objective biomarker data.
Disruption of the thyroid hormone system and patterns of altered thyroid hormones after gestational chemical exposures in rodents – a systematic review
Authors: Forner-Piquer Isabel , Baig Asma H. , Kortenkamp Andreas
Published: January 2024

We present a comprehensive overview of changes in thyroxine (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) serum concentrations after pre-gestational, gestational and/or lactation exposures of rodents to various chemicals that affect the thyroid hormone system. We show that T4 and TSH changes consistent with the idealized view of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) feedback loop (T4 decrements accompanied by TSH increases) are observed with only a relatively small set of chemicals. Most substances affect concentrations of various thyroid hormones without increasing TSH. Studies of altered T4 concentrations after gestational exposures are limited to a relatively small set of chemicals in which pesticides, pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals are under-represented. Our risk-of-bias analysis exposed deficits in T4/TSH analytics as a problem area. By relating patterns of T4 – TSH changes to mode-of-action (MOA) information, we found that chemicals capable of disrupting the HPT feedback frequently affected thyroid hormone synthesis, while substances that produced T4 serum decrements without accompanying TSH increases lacked this ability, but often induced liver enzyme systems responsible for the elimination of TH by glucuronidation. Importantly, a multitude of MOA leads to decrements of serum T4. The current EU approaches for identifying thyroid hormone system-disrupting chemicals, with their reliance on altered TH serum levels as indicators of a hormonal mode of action and thyroid histopathological changes as indicators of adversity, will miss chemicals that produce T4/T3 serum decreases without accompanying TSH increases. This is of concern as it may lead to a disregard for chemicals that produce developmental neurotoxicity by disrupting adequate T4/T3 supply to the brain, but without increasing TSH.
A comprehensive review on endocrine toxicity of gaseous components and particulate matter in smog
Authors: Saleem Ammara , Awan Tanzeela , Akhtar Muhammad Furqan
Published: January 2024

Smog is a form of extreme air pollution which comprises of gases such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen and carbon oxides, and solid particles including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10). Different types of smog include acidic, photochemical, and Polish. Smog and its constituents are hazardaous to human, animals, and plants. Smog leads to plethora of morbidities such as cancer, endocrine disruption, and respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. Smog components alter the activity of various hormones including thyroid, pituitary, gonads and adrenal hormones by altering regulatory genes, oxidation status and the hypothalamus-pituitary axis. Furthermore, these toxicants are responsible for the development of metabolic disorders, teratogenicity, insulin resistance, infertility, and carcinogenicity of endocrine glands. Avoiding fossil fuel, using renewable sources of energy, and limiting gaseous discharge from industries can be helpful to avoid endocrine disruption and other toxicities of smog. This review focuses on the toxic implications of smog and its constituents on endocrine system, their toxicodynamics and preventive measures to avoid hazardous health effects.
Genetic diversity of Hapalogenys analis in the northwest Pacific assessed using dd-RAD sequencing
Authors: Zhang Qun , Sun Cheng-He , Huang Jin-Long , Lao Ye-Ling , Chang Xi-Yue , Cao Jia-Ning
Published: January 2024

The broad-banded velvetchin Hapalogenys analis is an economically and scientifically important global temperate and tropical nearshore marine fish. To understand the genetic evolution mechanism of H. analis, simplified genome sequencing analysis was conducted on 82 samples of H. analis from three populations (Akashi, Zhoushan, and Shantou) in the northwestern Pacific Ocean using double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing. Genetic characteristics were identified using single-nucleotide polymorphism loci, and a small fragment library (250–450 bp long) was constructed for double-end sequencing. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected using Stacks software and analyzed. The phylogenetic tree was constructed to analyze the population structure characteristics and the genetic evolutionary relationships between individuals in different regions at the genetic level. The sequencing library constructed for 82 samples of H. analis using double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing possessed an average of 7,931,195 sequencing sequences and an average of 1,141,560,806 bases in the 82 samples. A total of 3,204,106 SNP loci were obtained from the three populations of H. analis, indicating rich genetic diversity. The transition to transversion ratio of SNPs was >1.5, indicating transformational reversal bias in H. analis. The observed heterozygosity of the various populations was 0.186–0.199, with an expected heterozygosity of 0.253–0.268. High diversity in all three populations was detected using nucleotide diversity analysis. AS and ZS had the highest degree of differentiation. The H. analis samples shared two gene libraries; some populations were closely related, whereas others had a distant genetic relationship. The results of genetic statistics, genetic differentiation, population structure, principal component, phylogenetic, and genetic relationship analyses supported independent clustering of the AS population, which can be used as a new genetic resource for conserving H. analis. These results provide a reference basis for comparative genomics studies of H. analis and rational utilization of Hapalogenys resources.
Human PD-L1 overexpression decreases xenogeneic human T-cell immune responses towards porcine kidneys
Authors: Schmalkuche Katharina , Rother Tamina , Besli Sevval , Schwinzer Reinhard , Blasczyk Rainer , Petersen Björn , Figueiredo Constanca
Published: January 2024

Xenotransplantation offers a promising alternative to circumvent the lack of donated human organs available for transplantation. Different attempts to improve the survival of xenografts led to the generation of transgenic pigs expressing various combinations of human protective genes or knocked out for specific antigens. Currently, testing the efficiency of porcine organs carrying different genetic modifications in preventing xenogeneic immune responses completely relies on in vitro assays, humanized mouse models, or non-human primate transplantation models. However, these tests are often associated with major concerns due to reproducibility and generation of insufficient data as well as they raise ethical, logistical, and economic issues. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of specifically assessing the strength of human T-cell responses towards the kidneys of wild-type (WT) or transgenic pigs overexpressing human programmed death-1 ligand 1 (hPD-L1) during ex vivo kidney perfusion (EVKP). Human T cells were shown to adhere to the endothelium and transmigrate into WT and hPD-L1 kidneys. However, transcript levels of TNF-a and IFN-y as well as cytotoxic molecules such as granzyme B and perforin secreted by human T cells were significantly decreased in the tissue of hPD-L1 kidneys in comparison to WT kidneys. These results were confirmed via in vitro assays using renal endothelial cells (ECs) isolated from WT and hPD-L1 transgenic pigs. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells showed significantly lower proliferation rates after exposure to hPD-L1 porcine renal ECs in comparison to WT ECs. In addition, the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines was significantly reduced in cultures using hPD-L1 ECs in comparison to WT ECs. Remarkably, hPD-L1 EC survival was significantly increased in cytotoxic assays. This study demonstrates the feasibility of evaluating the human response of specific immune subsets such as human T cells towards the whole xenograft during EVKP. This may represent a robust strategy to assess the potency of different genetic modifications to prevent xenogeneic immune responses and thereby predict the risk of immune rejection of new genetically engineered xenografts.
RETRACTED: Tlr5 deficiency exacerbates lupus-like disease in the MRL/lpr mouse model
Authors: Alajoleen Razan M. , Oakland David N. , Estaleen Rana , Shakeri Aida , Lu Ran , Appiah Michael , Sun Sha , Neumann Jonathan , Kawauchi Shimako , Cecere Thomas E. , McMillan Ryan P. , Reilly Christopher M. , Luo Xin M.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Leaky gut has been linked to autoimmune disorders including lupus. We previously reported upregulation of anti-flagellin antibodies in the blood of lupus patients and lupus-prone mice, which led to our hypothesis that a leaky gut drives lupus through bacterial flagellin-mediated activation of toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5).

Methods

We created MRL/lpr mice with global Tlr5 deletion through CRISPR/Cas9 and investigated lupus-like disease in these mice.

Result

Contrary to our hypothesis that the deletion of Tlr5 would attenuate lupus, our results showed exacerbation of lupus with Tlr5 deficiency in female MRL/lpr mice. Remarkably higher levels of proteinuria were observed in Tlr5-/- MRL/lpr mice suggesting aggravated glomerulonephritis. Histopathological analysis confirmed this result, and Tlr5 deletion significantly increased the deposition of IgG and complement C3 in the glomeruli. In addition, Tlr5 deficiency significantly increased renal infiltration of Th17 and activated cDC1 cells. Splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy were also aggravated in Tlr5-/- MRL/lpr mice suggesting impact on lymphoproliferation. In the spleen, significant decreased frequencies of regulatory lymphocytes and increased germinal centers were observed with Tlr5 deletion. Notably, Tlr5 deficiency did not change host metabolism or the existing leaky gut; however, it significantly reshaped the fecal microbiota.

Conclusion

Global deletion of Tlr5 exacerbates lupus-like disease in MRL/lpr mice. Future studies will elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which Tlr5 deficiency modulates host-microbiota interactions to exacerbate lupus.
Multimodal robotic music performance art based on GRU-GoogLeNet model fusing audiovisual perception
Authors: Wang Lu
Published: January 2024

The field of multimodal robotic musical performing arts has garnered significant interest due to its innovative potential. Conventional robots face limitations in understanding emotions and artistic expression in musical performances. Therefore, this paper explores the application of multimodal robots that integrate visual and auditory perception to enhance the quality and artistic expression in music performance. Our approach involves integrating GRU (Gated Recurrent Unit) and GoogLeNet models for sentiment analysis. The GRU model processes audio data and captures the temporal dynamics of musical elements, including long-term dependencies, to extract emotional information. The GoogLeNet model excels in image processing, extracting complex visual details and aesthetic features. This synergy deepens the understanding of musical and visual elements, aiming to produce more emotionally resonant and interactive robot performances. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, showing significant improvements in music performance by multimodal robots. These robots, equipped with our method, deliver high-quality, artistic performances that effectively evoke emotional engagement from the audience. Multimodal robots that merge audio-visual perception in music performance enrich the art form and offer diverse human-machine interactions. This research demonstrates the potential of multimodal robots in music performance, promoting the integration of technology and art. It opens new realms in performing arts and human-robot interactions, offering a unique and innovative experience. Our findings provide valuable insights for the development of multimodal robots in the performing arts sector.
Multiple diffusion metrics in differentiating solid glioma from brain inflammation
Authors: Zhao Kai , Gao Ankang , Gao Eryuan , Qi Jinbo , Chen Ting , Zhao Guohua , Zhao Gaoyang , Wang Peipei , Wang Weijian , Bai Jie , Zhang Yong , Zhang Huiting , Yang Guang , Ma Xiaoyue , Cheng Jingliang
Published: January 2024

Background and purpose

The differential diagnosis between solid glioma and brain inflammation is necessary but sometimes difficult. We assessed the effectiveness of multiple diffusion metrics of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating solid glioma from brain inflammation and compared the diagnostic performance of different DWI models.

Materials and methods

Participants diagnosed with either glioma or brain inflammation with a solid lesion on MRI were enrolled in this prospective study from May 2016 to April 2023. Diffusion-weighted imaging was performed using a spin-echo echo-planar imaging sequence with five b values (500, 1,000, 1,500, 2000, and 2,500 s/mm2) in 30 directions for each b value, and one b value of 0 was included. The mean values of multiple diffusion metrics based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), mean apparent propagator (MAP), and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) in the abnormal signal area were calculated. Comparisons between glioma and inflammation were performed. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of diffusion metrics were calculated.

Results

57 patients (39 patients with glioma and 18 patients with inflammation) were finally included. MAP model, with its metric non-Gaussianity (NG), shows the greatest diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.879) for differentiation of inflammation and glioma with atypical MRI manifestation. The AUC of DKI model, with its metric mean kurtosis (MK) are comparable to NG (AUC = 0.855), followed by NODDI model with intracellular volume fraction (ICVF) (AUC = 0.825). The lowest value was obtained in DTI with mean diffusivity (MD) (AUC = 0.758).

Conclusion

Multiple diffusion metrics can be used in differentiation of inflammation and solid glioma. Non-Gaussianity (NG) from mean apparent propagator (MAP) model shows the greatest diagnostic performance for differentiation of inflammation and glioma.
Lithium: effects in animal models of vanishing white matter are not promising
Authors: Witkamp Diede , Oudejans Ellen , Hoogterp Leoni , Hu-A-Ng Gino V. , Glaittli Kathryn A. , Stevenson Tamara J. , Huijsmans Marleen , Abbink Truus E. M. , van der Knaap Marjo S. , Bonkowsky Joshua L.
Published: January 2024

Vanishing white matter (VWM) is a devastating autosomal recessive leukodystrophy, resulting in neurological deterioration and premature death, and without curative treatment. Pathogenic hypomorphic variants in subunits of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (eIF2B) cause VWM. eIF2B is required for regulating the integrated stress response (ISR), a physiological response to cellular stress. In patients’ central nervous system, reduced eIF2B activity causes deregulation of the ISR. In VWM mouse models, the extent of ISR deregulation correlates with disease severity. One approach to restoring eIF2B activity is by inhibition of GSK3β, a kinase that phosphorylates eIF2B and reduces its activity. Lithium, an inhibitor of GSK3β, is thus expected to stimulate eIF2B activity and ameliorate VWM symptoms. The effects of lithium were tested in zebrafish and mouse VWM models. Lithium improved motor behavior in homozygous eif2b5 mutant zebrafish. In lithium-treated 2b4he2b5ho mutant mice, a paradoxical increase in some ISR transcripts was found. Furthermore, at the dosage tested, lithium induced significant polydipsia in both healthy controls and 2b4he2b5ho mutant mice and did not increase the expression of other markers of lithium efficacy. In conclusion, lithium is not a drug of choice for further development in VWM based on the limited or lack of efficacy and significant side-effect profile.
A novel non-segmented inverted water outline rendering method can improve the tracking of responsible blood vessels for hemifacial spasm
Authors: Zhenzhu Li , Jingfeng Zhang , Wei Zhou , Jianjun Zheng , Yinshui Xia
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to explore a novel, non-segmented based on inverted water outline, and rapid 3D rendering method for identifying the responsible blood vessels for hemifacial spasm. First, the software was developed using the free and open-source 3D Slicer to process magnetic resonance images. Outlines of the water region were extracted and rendered in a three-dimensional space. The traditional image re-slicing technique (IMRT) was used for the control group, while non-segmented inverted water outline rendering (NSIWR) was used to observe the relevant blood vessels in the root entry/exit zone (REZ) of patients with hemifacial spasm. The intraoperative exploration results were considered the gold standard for comparing the differences in identifying relevant blood vessels between the two methods. Twenty-five patients were included, and the reconstruction effect evaluation suggested that NSIWR could effectively reconstruct the responsible blood vessels of the cochlea, facial nerve, and REZ. Compared with IMRT, NSIWR effectively improved the diagnosis of the responsible blood vessels in the REZ, clarified their sources and directions, and was consistent with intraoperative results. This study introduced a novel rapid rendering method based on NSIWR, which was successfully applied for hemifacial spasm. The method enhances accuracy in identifying responsible blood vessels in the REZ without needing multi-modal techniques. It has the potential to improve surgical effectiveness and reduce exploration time in treating hemifacial spasm.
The effect of Sumac on cardiometabolic parameters in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Jafarpour Amirhosein , Jalali Saeedeh , Akhlaghi Masoumeh , Amlashi Manoochehr Amin
Published: January 2024

Background

The current evidence on the effect of Sumac consumption on cardiovascular parameters has produced controversial findings.

Methods

We systematically searched several databases, including PubMed-Medline, SCOPUS, and ISI Web of Science, to find eligible studies until January 2023. Meta-analysis to calculated the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95 %CI, Sub-group meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis were conducted throughout the study.

Results

16 randomized controlled trials comprising a total number of 1,225 participants were included. The results of meta-analysis revealed that Sumac significantly affected low-density lipoprotein (WMD: −8.66 mg/dL; 95% CI: −14.2, −3.12), high-density lipoprotein (WMD: 3.15 mg/dL; 1.99,4.31), triglycerides (WMD: −11.96 mg/dL; −19.44, −4.48), fasting blood glucose (WMD: −4.15 mg/dL; −7.31, −0.98), insulin (WMD: −1.72; −3.18, −0.25), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; WMD: −0.61; −1.22, −0.01), and anthropometric indices (p < 0.05). Moreover, the results significantly reduced total cholesterol when the intervention duration was ≥12 weeks (WMD: −8.58 mg/dL; −16.8, −0.37).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that Sumac is potentially an effective complementary intervention to improve cardiometabolic parameters. Thus, patients could utilize Sumac as part of their diet to improve their overall cardiometabolic status.
Relationships among supervisor support, autonomy, job satisfaction and emotional labor on nurses within the Turkey context of healthcare services
Authors: Altaş Sabiha Sevinç , Gündüz Çekmecelioğlu Hülya , Konakay Gönül , Günsel Murat
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Healthcare professionals face the challenging task of regulating their emotions within the workplace, which can lead to significant pressure and stress. For nurses, who work in particularly demanding environments, fulfilling the expectations of emotional labor can be challenging.

Methods

This study explores how nurses’ perceptions of supervisor support and job autonomy can positively influence emotional labor and job satisfaction via Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique.

Results and discussion

Job autonomy is found to negatively affect emotional labor but positively impact job satisfaction. Additionally, job satisfaction is a significant precursor to both surface and deep-acting dimensions of emotional labor. Furthermore, job satisfaction mediates the relationship between supervisor support and deep-acting emotional labor, as well as between job autonomy and both surface and deep-acting emotional labor. These findings shed light on the complex dynamics of emotional labor and job satisfaction in healthcare settings.
A comparison of the parental values of children’s extracurricular music learning in Guilin, China and in Tampa, United States
Authors: Cui Cancan , Xie Xin
Published: January 2024

Many parents enroll their children in extracurricular music activities. However, cultural differences may contribute to parents’ different values that ultimately influence their behaviors and attitudes. This cross-cultural study aimed to compare the value parents have on their children’s private music education by examining four cases in Guilin, Guangxi (China) and Tampa, Florida (United States). Two main research questions guided this study: (1) How do parents in Guilin and Tampa perceive and value their children’s music learning? (2) Does the value parents hold for their children’s extracurricular music activities differ across different cultural contexts? If so, how do parents’ values and perceptions of their children’s involvement in extracurricular music activities differ between the contexts of Guilin and Tampa? We purposefully selected participants from two regions based on these criteria: (a) the participants included a single-child family and a two-child family in each of the two regions; (b) children’s age ranged from 5 to 12 years and lived with their biological parents (c) children were currently taking music lessons after school. We interviewed both children and parents during the data collection. The key findings reveal that parental values transcend two cultural contexts, specifically in (1) motivations for music learning, (2) expectations of music learning, (3) utilizing personal background, and (4) strategies for success. The findings suggest that several factors, such as children’s autonomy, musical joy, pursuit of musical career, “beauty development” and achievements, may have contributed to parents’ values. The implication for parents, psychologists, and policymakers is to understand the diverse needs and values within different cultural backgrounds, to promote the children’s development, to design curricula, and to use effective teaching methods in music education. In conclusion, both Guilin’s and Tampa’s parents’ values varied due to cultural differences, which further influenced their behaviors, attitudes and perceptions toward their children’s musical experiences.
The effect of parental psychological control on children’s peer interactions in China: the moderating role of teachers’ emotional support
Authors: Chen Ronghui , Li Shujuan , He Siying , Yan Jin
Published: January 2024

Background

Peer interactions are critical to young children’s social development, and proximal-system has a direct influence on personal growth. The study aims to analyze the relationship between parental psychological control and young children’s peer interactions, as well as the moderating role of teachers’ emotional support in this association.

Methods

A total of 241 children aged 3–6 years, alongside their parents, and 27 teachers, participated in the study. Teachers reported children’s peer interactions whilst parents reported their psychological control. The level of teachers’ emotional support was co-coded by two researchers.

Results

The results of the study indicated that parental psychological control was significantly and negatively related to young children’s peer interactions; teachers’ emotional support was significantly and positively related to young children’s peer interactions; the cross-level moderating effect validates our hypothesis that teachers’ emotional support has a moderating effect between parental psychological control and young children’s peer interactions, buffering the impact of parental psychological control on young children’s peer interactions.

Conclusion

These findings expand our comprehension of the association between parental psychological control, teachers’ emotional support, and young children’s peer interactions, and provide guidance for integrating the components of the proximal system and devising interventions to establish a home-school harmony environment that fosters children’s social development.
Assessing the usefulness of the Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire-Chinese in Chinese preschoolers: a sex-and age-specific analysis
Authors: Hua Jing , Rihtman Tanya , Peng Yongmei , Wang Tianjing , Su Yuantao , Du Wenchong
Published: January 2024

Aim

This study evaluated the sex-and age-specific usefulness of the Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire-Chinese (LDCDQ-CH) in Chinese preschoolers.

Method

A population-based sample of 51,110 children aged 3–5 years was recruited. Internal reliability, construct validity, concurrent validity with the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-third edition (ASQ-3), and discriminant validity with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-second edition (MABC-2) were assessed. Age and sex effects on LDCDQ-CH scores were analyzed using ANOVA and t-tests.

Results

The LDCDQ-CH exhibited excellent internal consistency and reliability across ages and genders. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the 15-item model’s satisfactory fit. Positive and significant correlations were observed between LDCDQ-CH and ASQ-3 scores, indicating robust concurrent validity. Significant associations were found between LDCDQ-CH and MABC-2 scores. Higher scores were observed in older children and girls, indicating age- and sex-related differences in motor functional performance.

Conclusion

The LDCDQ-CH is a reliable and valid tool to support early identification of motor coordination difficulty in Chinese preschoolers, and guiding interventions. Findings support its use across ages and genders, highlighting its potential in the Chinese context. Age- and sex-specific norms are needed for enhanced clinical applicability.
Manifold alteration between major depressive disorder and healthy control subjects using dynamic mode decomposition in resting-state fMRI data
Authors: Endo Hidenori , Ikeda Shigeyuki , Harada Kenichiro , Yamagata Hirotaka , Matsubara Toshio , Matsuo Koji , Kawahara Yoshinobu , Yamashita Okito
Published: January 2024

Background

The World Health Organization has reported that approximately 300 million individuals suffer from the mood disorder known as MDD. Non-invasive measurement techniques have been utilized to reveal the mechanism of MDD, with rsfMRI being the predominant method. The previous functional connectivity and energy landscape studies have shown the difference in the coactivation patterns between MDD and HCs. However, these studies did not consider oscillatory temporal dynamics.

Methods

In this study, the dynamic mode decomposition, a method to compute a set of coherent spatial patterns associated with the oscillation frequency and temporal decay rate, was employed to investigate the alteration of the occurrence of dynamic modes between MDD and HCs. Specifically, The BOLD signals of each subject were transformed into dynamic modes representing coherent spatial patterns and discrete-time eigenvalues to capture temporal variations using dynamic mode decomposition. All the dynamic modes were disentangled into a two-dimensional manifold using t-SNE. Density estimation and density ratio estimation were applied to the two-dimensional manifolds after the two-dimensional manifold was split based on HCs and MDD.

Results

The dynamic modes that uniquely emerged in the MDD were not observed. Instead, we have found some dynamic modes that have shown increased or reduced occurrence in MDD compared with HCs. The reduced dynamic modes were associated with the visual and saliency networks while the increased dynamic modes were associated with the default mode and sensory-motor networks.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this study showed initial evidence of the alteration of occurrence of the dynamic modes between MDD and HCs. To deepen understanding of how the alteration of the dynamic modes emerges from the structure, it is vital to investigate the relationship between the dynamic modes, cortical thickness, and surface areas.
Fast field echo resembling a CT using restricted echo-spacing (FRACTURE) sequence for shoulder joint in normal dogs
Authors: Ryu Sanghwa , Park Soomin , Kim Eunjee , Woo Hyeonjae , Jeon Chang-yeop , Yoon Junghee , Choi Jihye
Published: January 2024

Shoulder disease is a common cause of forelimb lameness in dogs. Determining the precise underlying cause of shoulder lameness can be challenging, especially in veterinary practice. Computerized tomography (CT) is often the preferred imaging modality for bone evaluation; however, it uses ionizing radiation and provides limited soft tissue contrast. Conversely, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers excellent soft tissue contrast but has limitations in bone imaging. This study aimed to introduce a new technical innovation that enhances cortical and trabecular bone contrast on MRI, which we refer to as Fast Field Echo Resembling a CT Using Restricted Echo-Spacing (FRACTURE). In this prospective pilot study, we aimed to evaluate the use of FRACTURE, CT, and conventional MRI sequences in assessing the normal canine shoulder using a 3.0 Tesla MRI scanner. Five research beagle dogs were included, and the following pulse sequences were acquired for each dog (1): three-dimensional (3D) FRACTURE, (2) T2-weighted (T2W) images using 3D turbo spin echo (TSE), (3) T1-weighted (T1W) images using 3D TSE, (4) PD-weighted (PDW) images using 3D TSE, and (5) CT. Various parameters, including the delineation of cortical bone (intertubercular groove, greater tubercle, and lesser tubercle), conspicuity of the trabecular bone, shoulder joint visualization, and image quality, were measured for each dog and sequence. In all sequences, the shoulder joint was successfully visualized in all planes with mild motion artifacts. The intertubercular groove was best visualized on CT and FRACTURE. Both the greater and lesser tubercles were easily identified on the CT, FRACTURE, and PDW images. The trabecular pattern scored significantly higher in the CT and FRACTURE images compared to the T1W, T2W, and PDW images. Overall, the visualization of the shoulder joint was excellent in all sequences except for T1W. The use of FRACTURE in combination with conventional MRI sequences holds promise for facilitating not only soft tissue evaluation but also cortical and trabecular bone assessment. The findings from this study in normal dogs can serve as a foundation for further FRACTURE studies in dogs with shoulder diseases.
Indirect Adaptive Control Using Neural Network and Discrete Extended Kalman Filter for Wheeled Mobile Robot
Authors: Silaa Mohammed Yousri , Bencherif Aissa , Barambones Oscar
Published: January 2024

This paper presents a novel approach to address the challenges associated with the trajectory tracking control of wheeled mobile robots (WMRs). The proposed control approach is based on an indirect adaptive control PID using a neural network and discrete extended Kalman filter (IAPIDNN-DEKF). The proposed IAPIDNN-DEKF scheme uses the NN to identify the system Jacobian, which is used for tuning the PID gains using the stochastic gradient descent algorithm (SGD). The DEKF is proposed for state estimation (localization), and the NN adaptation improves the tracking error performance. By augmenting the state vector, the NN captures higher-order dynamics, enabling more accurate estimations, which improves trajectory tracking. Simulation studies in which a WMR is used in different scenarios are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the IAPIDNN-DEKF control. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the IAPIDNN-DEKF control, its performance is compared with direct adaptive NN (DA-NN) control, backstepping control (BSC) and an adaptive PID. On lemniscate, IAPIDNN-DEKF achieves RMSE values of 0.078769, 0.12086 and 0.1672. On sinusoidal trajectories, the method yields RMSE values of 0.01233, 0.015138 and 0.088707, and on sinusoidal with perturbation, RMSE values are 0.021495, 0.016504 and 0.090142 in x, y and θ, respectively. These results demonstrate the superior performance of IAPIDNN-DEKF for achieving accurate control and state estimation. The proposed IAPIDNN-DEKF offers advantages in terms of accurate estimation, adaptability to dynamic environments and computational efficiency. This research contributes to the advancement of robust control techniques for WMRs and showcases the potential of IAPIDNN-DEKF to enhance trajectory tracking and state estimation capabilities in real-world applications.
Effects of Different Planting Years on Soil Physicochemical Indexes, Microbial Functional Diversity and Fruit Quality of Pear Trees
Authors: Pang Xiaomin , Chen Meihui , Miao Pengyao , Cheng Weiting , Zhou Zewei , Zhang Ying , Zhang Qi , Ye Jianghua , Jia Xiaoli , Wang Haibin
Published: January 2024

This study explores the interaction between pear fruit quality and the soil environment over four different planting years (5, 20, 30, and 40 years), focusing on the fruit’s chemical properties, rhizosphere soil properties, microbial communities, and both microbiomass and functional diversity. The results found that reducing sugar, sucrose, and vitamin C contents in pears initially increased with planting years before declining, while total acidity showed an inverse trend. Analysis of the soil physicochemical index revealed that rhizosphere soil physicochemical indexes were significantly different between different planting years, but there was no obvious regularity. Correlation analysis found that total phosphorus, total potassium, organic matter, and available nitrogen were significantly and positively correlated with pear quality indexes. Soil microbiomass carbon decreased before increasing with increasing planting year, while soil microbial nitrogen was irregular. Results of functional diversity of rhizosphere soil bacterial communities showed that the relationship of carbon source utilization among the six groups was 20 years > 5 years > 30 years > 40 years. Interestingly, the 20-year group had the most core differences in microbial communities. The study suggests that as pear trees age, adequate plant nutrition during peak fruiting periods can improve soil fertility, microbial functional diversity, and ultimately enhance fruit quality.
Managing Macadamia Decline: A Review and Proposed Biological Control Strategies
Authors: Yao Xiaofang , Liu Qiumei , Liu Yongxin , Li Dejun
Published: January 2024

Macadamia decline poses a serious economic threat to the macadamia industry. It exhibits either a slow decline due to infection by Kretzschmaria clavus or Ganoderma lucidum, or a quick decline caused by pathogens like Phytophthora spp., Lasiodiplodia spp., Neofusiccocum spp., Nectria rugulosa, Xylaria arbuscula, Phellinus gilvus, Acremonium recifei, and Rosellinia spp. Chemical strategies, resistant cultivars, and agronomic measures have been widely adopted to control macadamia decline, but effective biological control measures have rarely been applied. This paper proposes two key steps for implementing biological control strategies, i.e., the isolation and selection of biological control agents from healthy plants, or from the disease-suppressive soil for the construction of synthetic microbial communities, and the integration of synthetic microbial communities with various strategies, including seed coating, root dipping, seedling substrate, soil drenching, foliar spraying, and application as a bio-organic fertilizer. By adopting these strategies, we aim to provide proactive and efficient approaches for combating macadamia decline and safeguarding the health of macadamia orchards.
Exploring Synergistic Effect on the Stability of Ni-, Pd-, Ir-Doped TiN (N = 1–15) Nanoparticles
Authors: Phaahla Tshegofatso , Ngoepe Phuti , Chauke Hasani
Published: January 2024

Bimetallic nanoclusters have attracted great interest due to their ability to enhance the catalytic properties of nanoclusters through synergetic effects that emerge from the combination of the metal nanocluster with different transition metal (TM) species. However, their indefinite composition and broad distribution hinder the insightful understanding of the interaction between these invasive metals in bimetallic doped nanoalloys. In this study, we report a density functional theory calculation with the PBEsol exchange-correlation functional for 16-atom TiN−1TM (TM = Ni, Ir, Pd) nanoalloys, which provides new insights into the synergetic effect of these invasive metals. The probe into the effect of these metal impurities revealed that the replacement of a Ti atom with Ni, Ir and Pd enhances the relative stability of the nanoalloys, and the maximum stability for a lower bimetallic composition is reached for Ti4Ir, Ti5Pd and Ti7Ni. The most stable nanoalloy is reached for the Ti12Ir cluster in comparison with the Ti12Pd and Ti12Ni clusters and pure Ti13 monoatomic nanocluster. This stability trend is as revealed well by both the binding energy and the dissociation energy. The average HOMO-LUMO gap for the bigger clusters revealed that the valence electrons in the HOMO can absorb lower energy, which is indicatory of a higher reactivity and lower stability. The quantum confinement is higher for the smaller clusters, which illustrates a higher stability and lower reactivity for those systems.
Supplementation with Eupatilin during In Vitro Maturation Improves Porcine Oocyte Developmental Competence by Regulating Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Authors: Wang Jing , Li Ying-Hua , Liu Rong-Ping , Wang Xin-Qin , Zhu Mao-Bi , Cui Xiang-Shun , Dai Zhen , Kim Nam-Hyung , Xu Yong-Nan
Published: January 2024

Eupatilin (5,7-dihydroxy-3′,4′,6-trimethoxyflavone) is a flavonoid derived from Artemisia plants that has beneficial biological activities, such as anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the protective effects of eupatilin against oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in porcine oocyte maturation are still unclear. To investigate the effect of eupatilin on the development of porcine oocytes after in vitro maturation and parthenogenetic activation, we added different concentrations of eupatilin in the process of porcine oocyte maturation in vitro, and finally selected the optimal concentration following multiple comparisons and analysis of test results using SPSS (version 17.0; IBM, Chicago, IL, USA) software. The results showed that 0.1 μM eupatilin supplementation did not affect the expansion of porcine cumulus cells, but significantly increased the extrusion rate of porcine oocyte polar bodies, the subsequent blastocyst formation rate, and the quality of parthenogenetically activated porcine embryos. Additionally, it reduced the level of reactive oxygen species in cells and increased glutathione production. Further analysis revealed that eupatilin supplementation could reduce apoptosis, DNA double-strand breaks, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. In conclusion, supplementation with 0.1 μM eupatilin during in vitro maturation improved oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development by reducing oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress.