bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An approach for analyzing urban carbon emissions using machine learning models
Authors: Gao Peidao , Zhu Chaoyong , Zhang Yang , Chen Bo
Published: March 2023

Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals have posed great challenges to transforming local economies into low-carbon economies. Hence, establishing an effective carbon management system is urgent. However, the development of the urban carbon management system is hampered by the immaturity of the carbon emission accounting system at the city level. To compensate for the insufficiency of the existing urban carbon emission accounting system and to find the city government in constructing a perfect carbon emission management system as soon as possible, this study used the data science method based on the statistical data of 285 cities in China from 2005 to 2017 to explore the influencing factors of urban carbon emissions, that is, using light gradient boosting machine and the accumulated local effects interpretable models to screen potential influencing factors of urban carbon emissions. Then, an index system for urban carbon management was evaluated and proposed, and a case analysis was conducted with urban industrial electricity consumption as a background. This method can be easily integrated with the existing urban management system, which could reduce the cost of building a carbon management system.
Light exposure in home-based work: Can a simple lighting system increase alertness?
Authors: Rolf H , Udovicic L , Völker S
Published: March 2023

Since the proportion of digital and more flexible work in the western labour market increases, more and more employees are working at least partly from home. This development was even enhanced by the COVID-19-pandemic. In contrast to office workplaces, lighting at home-based workplaces is less studied and regulated. Lighting has been shown to not only ensure vision but also evoke non-image forming effects such as changes in alertness. In this study, light exposure of nine office employees at their home-based workplaces was investigated. Illuminance at home-based workplaces was found to be low, compared to office standards. In addition, melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance (MEDI) did not reach recommendations for healthy daytime light exposure. Furthermore, an additional lighting was installed at participants’ desks in order to examine possible effects on alertness. Mean illuminance and MEDI during work were increased by the additional lighting. A decrease in subjective sleepiness could be shown after 6 hours, although differences were not significant. Improvements of response time in a psychomotor vigilance task were already achieved at the beginning of work and after 3 hours. This study shows that lighting conditions at home-based workplaces often do not meet the criteria for health-promoting lighting in terms of non-image forming effects.
Committed, Healthy, and Engaged? Linking Servant Leadership and Adaptive Performance Through Sequential Mediation by Job Embeddedness and Burnout
Authors: Zia Muhammad Qamar , Decius Julian , Naveed Muhammad , Ahmed Shiraz , Ghauri Shagufta
Published: March 2023

Research assumes an effect of servant leadership on adaptive performance but has neglected the psychological processes underlying this link. Based on Social Exchange Theory and Job Demands–Resources Theory, this study sheds light on how servant leadership triggers job embeddedness, adaptive performance, and mitigates burnout. It also examines the mediating roles of job embeddedness and burnout between servant leadership and adaptive performance. We used three-wave data of 318 employees and their supervisors in the hospitality industry of Pakistan, applying structural equation modeling to examine six main effect hypotheses and three mediation hypotheses. Our findings suggest that servant leadership practices foster employees’ job embeddedness and adaptive performance, and mitigate burnout. Job embeddedness and burnout sequentially mediate the relationship between servant leadership and adaptive performance. Further unraveling the mechanisms between servant leadership and adaptive performance, this study implies that managers should recognize employee-perceived servant leadership as an influential factor that enhances engagement and well-being and ultimately the adaptive performance of their followers.
It's Not a Game! Rules of Notice and Hermeneutics of Suspicion in Contemporary FMV Games
Authors: van de Ven Inge
Published: March 2023

This article reflects on the resurgence of Full Motion Video (FMV) games, focusing on Her Story (2015), The Infectious Madness of Dr Dekker (2017), Telling Lies (2019), Contradiction (2015), and The Shapeshifting Detective (2018). Such titles have been derided for their lack of interactivity, and indeed afford the player limited agency in terms of concrete actions. They rely on the player's imagination in suturing the images together and in forming an empathetic understanding of the main characters’ actions and motivations. By virtue of this lack, FMV games challenges players’ analytical and hermeneutic abilities and further cognitive patience. An absence of “rules of notice” by which the details in a narrative are hierarchically organized, including editing and other attention-guiding devices, is part of these games’ procedural rhetoric. Priming the player to obtain a vigilant player attitude, such games foreground the mechanics dis/trust in our reception of fictional narrative.
Animating a Plausible Past: Perceived Realism and Sense of Place Influence Entertainment of and Tourism Intentions From Historical Video Games
Authors: Bowman Nicholas David , Vandewalle Alexander , Daneels Rowan , Lee Yoon , Chen Siyang
Published: March 2023

Historical video games set in famous places in the world history have grown in popularity. The current study extends prior work in analyzing how social realism (a dimension of perceived realism focused on regarding game characters and events as authentic) is related to entertainment outcomes, assessing the extent to which sense of place further contributes to these outcomes, and examining how these experiences encourage tourism. As an internal replication, we surveyed international fans of the Assassin's Creed franchise about their experiences with one of four different games set in modern history (Unity, Syndicate) or antiquity ( Origins, Odyssey). For modern historical games, increased social realism was correlated with enjoyment and increased sense of place was correlated with appreciation. For all games, sense of place was positively associated with tourism intentions. These findings are discussed in relation to the role of perceived realism in the experience and influence of playing historical video games.
Physiatrists as Leaders in Lifestyle Medicine: A Survey of PM&R Residents
Authors: Sandefur Kelsea J. , Frates Elizabeth P. , Phillips Edward
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Lifestyle is the root cause of most chronic disease, disability, and death. Lifestyle Medicine (LM) is an established, board certifiable field of medicine. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) is a multidisciplinary field which focuses on function and quality of life. The symbiosis of PM&R and LM is increasingly being recognized. Objective: To gauge the awareness of, use of, and interest in LM of PM&R residents and ask if they think PM&R physicians should be leaders in LM. Methods: Cross sectional survey of PM&R residents across PM&R programs in the USA. Results: Fifty-three percent of PM&R residents were familiar with LM. 85 and 84% of their medical schools and residencies had no LM education. PM&R residents “sometimes” included LM principles in their patient encounters. 88 and 89% of PM&R residents thought that medical schools and residencies should have LM education and 78% thought that PM&R physicians should be leaders of LM. Conclusions: This is the first study assessing the views on LM of PM&R residents. Despite the fact that PM&R residents lacked LM education, over half knew about LM. The vast majority felt that there should be more LM education in medical school and residency, and that PM&R physicians should be leaders of LM.
Evaluation of pure subarachnoid hemorrhage after mechanical thrombectomy in a series of 781 consecutive patients
Authors: Benalia Victor HC , Aghaebrahim Amin , Cortez Gustavo M , Sauvageau Eric , Hanel Ricardo A
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Subarachnoid hyperdensity is commonly seen on postoperative computed tomography scans within 24 h after mechanical thrombectomy. The impact on patients’ outcomes remains uncertain. We present a real-world experience evaluating periprocedural factors associated with the development of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and its impact on outcomes of patients with acute stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy.

Methods

A single-center, retrospective analysis was performed between January 2016 and August 2021, including all consecutive patients who underwent thrombectomy. Our study aimed to evaluate periprocedural factors associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage within 24 h of the intervention, and the potential impact on patients' outcome.

Results

Of 781 patients, 44 patients (5.63%) demonstrated pure SAH within 24 h of the intervention. Patients from the SAH group were more likely to have tandem occlusion (15.9% vs. 5.2%, p = .003), aspiration using reperfusion pump system (81.4% vs. 66.8%, p = .047), intraoperative complications (9.1% vs. 0.9%; p < .001), longer puncture-to-recanalization times (45 min vs 29 min, p = .042) and a higher median number of passes to achieve recanalization (1 vs. 3, p = .002). There was no statistically significant difference in the long-term functional outcome between the groups.

Conclusion

We suggest that dual-energy computed tomography could better distinguish between blood and pure contrast stagnation. Still, SAH was not associated with an unfavorable outcome in stroke patients undergoing thrombectomy.
Subclavian to carotid artery bypass for a case of ocular ischemic syndrome
Authors: Sadri Babak S , Low David W , Jackson Oksana A , Jackson Benjamin M , Belkin Nathan
Published: March 2023

Background

Ocular Ischemic Syndrome (OIS) is a rare, vision threatening condition associated with severe carotid artery disease. There are few cases of OIS reported in the literature.

Methods

We present the case of a 54-year-old male with history of multiple previous carotid interventions including a right carotid stent, who presented with right-sided OIS.

Results

CTA and angiogram showed a severe calcific plaque causing restenosis of the right carotid stent, with a patent right internal carotid artery (ICA) in the very distal neck. The right common carotid artery (CCA) was patent but diseased with ulcerated plaque extending proximally to below the level of the clavicle. The left CCA was chronically occluded from its origin all the way to the bifurcation. Given our patient’s surgical history, the imperative to revascularize the ipsilateral carotid, and a diffusely diseased ipsilateral CCA, he was successfully treated with an ipsilateral subclavian to internal carotid bypass.

Conclusion

There is paucity of data regarding the best approach for carotid revascularization in OIS. This case report discusses our unique perioperative decision making as well as relevant literature.
The effects of UPGRADE your performance on employment soft skills of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A pilot study of generalization
Authors: Clark Kelly A , Konrad Moira , Test David W
Published: March 2023

Previous research has identified UPGRADE Your Performance as a method for teaching employment soft skills to students with disabilities. UPGRADE Your Performance instruction is a multicomponent intervention including self-evaluation, self-graphing, goal setting, and technology-aided instruction. This pilot study investigated the generalized effects of UPGRADE Your Performance on soft skills of secondary students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities participating in an 18-21 transition program located on a university campus. Results indicated that when students improved in two targeted soft skill areas, generalization occurred to three non-targeted soft skill areas. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are included.
Adolescent self-harm
Authors: Tyler Benjamin
Published: March 2023

Self-harm (SH) is not a diagnosis, but rather a way a young person can try to manage previous trauma, express difficult feelings or respond to an overwhelming situation. SH can involve an overdose, cutting, burning, punching, or any activity that deliberately harms the young person. It is complex, multifactorial, becoming increasingly prevalent and a major risk factor for suicide and mortality in young people. In April 2022, the charity Young Minds reported that the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service faced an unprecedented crisis, and that the system was at breaking point. Due to these secondary care capacity issues, primary care is managing more cases of SH in young people. A survey of over 500 GPs from Pulse magazine found that 70% provided mental health support for children beyond their level of competence. This article will explore how SH presents, discuss a structured approach to the assessment of SH and help readers develop skills to promote the effective and safe management of SH.
‘You just need to work harder’: Misalignments between the rhetoric of social mobility and education for social justice
Authors: Wood Margaret , Su Feng , Pennington Andrew
Published: March 2023

Examining the entanglement of democracy and social justice in education and the relationship to social mobility, this paper critiques the individualising nature of social mobility in policy discourse as inimical to human flourishing and education as a public good. The rhetoric of social mobility which responsibilises individuals for their success, without due regard to the systemic changes needed to enable this and the societal barriers to social mobility experienced disproportionately by some groups in society, is detrimental to social justice. A conception of education as a pathway to social mobility must be located in a wider vision of civic engagement in a more inclusive and fairer society. Yet civic engagement in education at the local level has been eroded, as illustrated in this paper by the example of an evolving model of school governance in England. As a corporatist, market driven reform, this model exemplifies how local democratic ties between schools and engagement with their communities can be undermined. Social mobility to enable opportunities, access and participation in democratic civic society becomes a fantasy when society is riven with systemic inequalities, lacks the necessary conditions to enable human flourishing and links to community engagement in education for democratic renewal are downplayed.
Practicing conjunctural methodologies: Engaging Chinese capitalism
Authors: Peck Jamie
Published: March 2023

Conjunctural analysis is a rather enigmatic practice, observed mostly after the fact and in feats of exemplary execution, apparently somewhat resistant to codification, and maybe too modish for methodological rules. Predicated on the analysis of politically salient ‘situations’, conjunctural approaches combine reflexive theorizing with socially engaged inquiry and context-rich, historicized modes of analysis. Exploring the potential of conjunctural analysis in economic geography, the article moves first to tease out the methodological implications of this rather elusive approach, including: attention to complex states of causal codetermination, ‘in articulation’; an orientation to relational and ‘unbounded’ modes of inquiry; an emphasis on the stress-testing of received theory claims and conceptual categories, often in anomalous (as opposed to ‘typical’) situations; and a commitment to reflexivity, context-engaged analysis, and ‘thick’ theorization. Second, the article interrogates these methodological dispositions and propositions by placing them in dialogue, indicatively, with the case of Chinese capitalism. This is a case that routinely frustrates and confounds extant theoretical frameworks and conceptual categories, sometimes prompting theoretical defeatism. Although conjunctural analysis is not methodologically prescriptive, it implies distinctive criteria for problem formulation and research design; for ‘casing’, case selection, and specification; and for the exposition and (re)construction of contextualized theory claims.
An emerging Bangladeshi Tiger goes global: innovation, going green, and sustainability in Walton
Authors: Huda SSM Sadrul , Sayem Wasekul H , Rahat Niamul H , Nazmul Shahriar B , Islam Tazin
Published: March 2023

Walton group, which has its global headquarters in Bangladesh, is a relatively new entity in the electrical, electronic, automotive, and other appliance sectors. Since their inception, Walton has expanded their product categories that are vital for a contemporary lifestyle. The case highlights Walton’s dedication towards cutting-edge technology, innovation, and strategic plans to take prudent risks while meeting customer needs in the technologically sophisticated generation. Furthermore, in addition to aggressive innovation, Walton is conscious of its environmental impact. The organization handled modern environmental concerns by embracing the notion of reduce, reuse, and recycle. Moreover, the case emphasized on the prospects that other local firms may explore in accordance with the essentials of innovation mentioned in the case and Walton’s strategies, as the company sets an exemplary benchmark in the industry.
Endodontic management strategies for permanent teeth with immature apices
Authors: Ayub Khawer , Darcey James
Published: March 2023

This article will provide a summary of causes of incomplete root end closure and the implications of this on endodontic treatment. The limitations and benefits of traditional and more contemporary materials including the use of bioceramic cements are considered. The apical barrier technique is described in detail for teeth with immature apices utilising a variety of bioceramic cements and regenerative endodontic procedures with an overview of appropriate instruments to successfully complete the procedure.
Based and confused: Tracing the political connotations of a memetic phrase across the web
Authors: Hagen Sal , de Zeeuw Daniël
Published: March 2023

Current research on the weaponisation of far-right discourse online has mostly focused on the dangers of normalising hate speech. However, this often operates on questionable assumptions about how far-right terms retain problematic meanings over time and across different platforms. Yet contextual meaning-change, we argue, is key to assessing the normalisation of problematic but fuzzy terms as they spread across the Web. To redress this, our article traces the changing meaning of the term based, a word that was appropriated from Black Twitter to become a staple of online far-right slang in the mid-2010s. Through a quali-quantitative cross-platform approach, we analyse the evolution of the term between 2010 and 2021 on Twitter, Reddit and 4chan. We find that while the far right meaning of based partially survived, its meaning changed and was rendered diffuse as it was adopted by other communities, afforded by a repurposable kernel of meaning to based as ‘not caring about what other people think’ and ‘being true to yourself’ to which different (political) connotations were attached. This challenges the understanding of far-right memes and hate speech as carrying a single and persistent problematic message, and instead emphasises their varied meanings and subcultural functions within specific online communities.
COVID-19: Exacerbating Pakistan's economic problems – a critical analysis using the dependency paradigm
Authors: Saad Zaidi Syed Muhammad
Published: March 2023

Pandemics have been a recurrent phenomenon throughout the course of history. However, the levels of fear and hysteria brought by the COVID-19 outbreak, forcing regimes across the globe to impose stringent lockdowns, had never been witnessed before. While these lockdowns proved beneficial in reducing both the infection and mortality rate, they created an impossible environment for governments across the globe to effectively and efficiently govern, which in turn gave birth to numerous economic challenges, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. In Pakistan, where the common person was already finding it very difficult to makes ends meet, the pandemic incurred tremendous economic hardships like unemployment, poverty and decline in per capita income. Consequently, Pakistan's economy struggled as it experienced a negative economic growth rate, inflation and a significant reduction in exports. As a by-product of the economic crunch, the flawed Pakistani governance system came under the spotlight, as it found itself struggling to tackle the day-by-day worsening situation. Strikingly, due to the infamous longstanding province–centre rift, Pakistan was neither able to promulgate an effective unified lockdown strategy nor to provide basic necessities to its citizens. This article analyses the governance and economic problems faced by Pakistan due to the COVID-19 outbreak from the prism of the dependency paradigm, which highlights the exploitative nature of developed–developing/underdeveloped states. Also, it provides policy prescriptions to strengthen Pakistan's economic system to deter future pandemics.
The Role of Positive and Negative Aspects of Life Events in Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms
Authors: Yarrington Julia S. , Metts Allison V. , Zinbarg Richard E. , Nusslock Robin , Wolitzky-Taylor Kate , Hammen Constance L. , Kelley Nicholas J. , Bookheimer Susan , Craske Michelle G.
Published: March 2023

Negative or stressful life events are robust risk factors for depression and anxiety. Less attention has been paid to the positive aspects of events and whether positivity buffers the impact of the negative aspects of events. In this study, we examined the positivity and negativity of interpersonal and noninterpersonal episodic life events in predicting anxiety and depressive symptoms in a sample of 373 young adults. Regressions tested the main and interactive effects of positivity and negativity ratings of events in predicting symptom factors (fears, anhedonia-apprehension, general distress) relevant to anxiety and depression. A significant interaction demonstrated that positivity protected against high levels of negativity of noninterpersonal events in predicting general distress. A main effect of interpersonal negativity predicting higher anhedonia-apprehension was observed. Results for fears were nonsignificant. Findings suggest that the positivity of life events may buffer against negativity in predicting symptoms shared between anxiety and depression.
Megadose Vitamin C Prescription Through Alternative Medicine Leading to End-Stage Renal Disease: Case Study and Literature Review
Authors: Roy Sasmit , Chourasia Prabal , Sangani Vikram , Errabelli Praveen Kumar , Patel Sumit S. , Adapa Sreedhar
Published: March 2023

Modern medicine has made tremendous advancements and succeeded in increasing longevity through adequate screening and diagnosis and various new therapeutic approaches. However, alternative medicine is a branch of health care practicing different traditional and unconventional, potentially hazardous therapies to treat commonly known ailments. Standard low-dose vitamin C, ie, 500-1000 mg, is approved in medical conditions like methemoglobinemia, scurvy, burns and also helps iron absorption in anemia. However, toxic doses carry high nephrotoxicity potential like in our case. We present a 74-year-old Caucasian female falling victim to one such alternative therapy leading to acute kidney injury requiring lifelong hemodialysis. She had endometrial cancer and received 100 gm of intravenous vitamin C weekly through a provider for the last 6 weeks as part of this alternate approach to cure her cancer. Upon admission, the serum creatinine level was elevated at 8.2 mg/dl, which subsequently did not improve with conservative management. Renal biopsy revealed diffuse acute tubular injury with polarized microscopy demonstrating calcium oxalate crystals. While her blood vitamin C levels were high, the serum oxalate level was normal. She ended up requiring renal replacement therapy permanently. Alternative medicine continues to be a significant health care hazard with the potential to cause unwanted irreversible nephrotoxicity. Public attention is necessary at various social levels to counter the detrimental outcomes of alternative medicine.
Sudden Onset Iron Overload Cardiomyopathy After Liver Transplantation
Authors: Habib Alma , Shaaban Adnan , Thompson Julie , Chinnakotla Srinath , Martin Cindy M. , Vercellotti Gregory M.
Published: March 2023

Iron overload cardiomyopathy has been described in patients who develop acute heart failure after liver transplantation but few reports of this are available. We present a case of a patient with end-stage liver disease who underwent a deceased donor liver transplantation and developed acute onset systolic heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. A cardiac magnetic resonance image demonstrated late gadolinium enhancement with diffuse enhancement globally and T1 mapping with severely decreased pre-contrast T1 values suggesting iron overload cardiomyopathy. The patient was treated with iron chelating therapy as well as heart failure guideline-directed medical therapy with subsequent improvement in cardiac function on follow-up magnetic resonance images. Despite our patient’s diagnosis of iron overload cardiomyopathy, her iron studies showed normal serum iron and ferritin levels and no evidence of hepatic iron deposition in the transplanted liver.
English Language Medical Schools in China: An Analysis of International Medical Graduates Practicing in the UK
Authors: Rashid Mohammed Ahmed , Smith Victoria , Mayberry John Francis
Published: March 2023

OBJECTIVES

From 2006, the Ministry of Education in China has approved universities to provide undergraduate medical training in English, targeting fee-paying international students. Students on these courses can face challenges in their clinical training, particularly in the domains of communication and professionalism. This study examines the proportion of doctors qualified from such medical schools who are currently listed on the UK medical register.

METHODS

The UK General Medical Council register of medical practitioners was searched to identify doctors qualified from 33 Chinese medical schools who provide education in the English language.

RESULTS

As of February 2022, 502 doctors whose primary medical qualification is from a university offering English language education in China were registered on the UK medical register. Four hundred twenty-five (84.7%) of these doctors were aged 39 and under, approximately double the proportion of doctors in this age bracket overall. Three hundred forty nine (69.5%) were staff grade and associate specialist doctors, 109 (21.7%) were doctors in training, 36 (7.2%) were on the General Practitioner (GP) register, and 20 (4.0%) were on the specialist register. Among doctors in training, the most common specialty areas were in general practice and psychiatry that are both facing recruitment shortages in the UK at present.

CONCLUSION

A small but significant number of graduates whose medical training was in the English language in China are practicing medicine in the UK. These doctors are in younger age groups than the overall medical workforce, and are less likely to be in training, and specialist or GP posts. Among those in training, a high proportion are in GP and psychiatry training and could contribute to alleviating UK medical workforce shortages. Policymakers and educators should be mindful of the growing numbers of doctors qualified from these schools, and the additional support they may require considering the unique training environments they have encountered.
3D Printed Patient-Specific Cutting Guides for Bone Grafting in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Novel Technique
Authors: Karpyshyn Jillian N , Bois Aaron J , Logan Heather , Harding Graeme T , Bouliane Martin J
Published: March 2023

Glenoid bone loss remains a challenge in shoulder arthroplasty. Addressing substantial bone loss is essential to ensure proper function and stability of the shoulder prosthesis and to prevent baseplate loosening and subsequent revision surgery. Current options for creating and shaping glenoid bone grafts include free-hand techniques and simple reusable cutting guides that cut the graft at a standard angle. There is currently no patient-specific device available that enables surgeons to accurately prepare the bone graft and correct glenoid deformity. We present a novel surgical technique using three-dimensional (3D)-printed cutting guides to create a patient-specific bone graft to address glenoid deformity in the setting of reverse shoulder arthroplasty.
The emotional life of rupture at Cambodia's Lower Sesan 2 hydropower dam
Authors: Mahanty Sango , Chann Sopheak , Suong Soksophea
Published: March 2023

This article aims to extend and deepen our understanding of how emotions figure in experiences of major nature-society disruptions or “rupture.” Cambodia's Lower Sesan 2 hydropower dam is an example of rupture, which refers to dramatic, adverse, and disruptive episodes that ripple across scale. Against a historical backdrop of land enclosures and dispossession, the dam sparked significant community and civil society resistance. This emotionally charged campaign emphasized that the dam and associated resettlement would erase the impacted communities’ deep customary relationships to the area. Although some community members ultimately refused the resettlement package and moved to customary lands near their flooded village, the majority accepted resettlement. We explore the emotional dimensions of these communities’ experiences, finding that rupture is an inherently emotional process, within layered historical processes of change and violence. The intense emotions that such processes evoke can spark action within the “open moment” (Lund, 2016) that episodes of rupture create; yet the outcomes are highly unpredictable within the asymmetrical political and economic settings that underpin nature-society rupture.
IgM Deficiency Associated With Connexin Mutation in an 18-Year-old Male
Authors: Sarkaria Sandeep , Callahan Meghan , Hostoffer Zachary , Venglarcik John , Hostoffer Robert
Published: March 2023

IgM deficiency is characterized by remarkably low serum levels of IgM with normal IgG and IgA levels. These patients clinically present with recurrent infections, autoimmune disorders, and malignancies. While unknown, the proposed mechanisms explain the pathophysiology as an issue due to impaired IgG antibody response. The connexin genes encode for gap junctional proteins where mutations can cause hearing deficits and immune dysregulation. We present a unique case of an 18-year-old patient with recurrent sinusitis, diagnosed connexin-26 mutation and an IgM deficiency. An 18-year-old male with chronic sinusitis, Marfanoid joint hypermobility syndrome, and sensorineural hearing loss due to connexin-26 deficiency with bilateral cochlear implants. This patient's mutation is a GJB2 deletion located on chromosome 13 which encodes for the connexin-26 protein. The patient experienced recurrent infections, and serum immunoglobulins showed a normal IgA (84 mg/dL; normal: 70-400 mg/dL), IgG (922 mg/dL; normal: 700–1600 mg/dL) and reduced IgM (26 mg/dL; normal: 40–230 mg/dL) levels. The patient was responsive to Mumps, Measles, Rubella, and Diphtheria vaccinations among others, consistent with SIGMD diagnoses. Antibody responses to polysaccharide antigens were absent. The leukocyte counts were within normal limits. His parents are connexin-26 deficient carriers, and his older brother was diagnosed with SIGMD. Connexin-26 has been identified with multiple immunological mechanisms. Although mutations of this gene have no direct tie to antibody formation in relation to IgM, the presence of these 2 pathologies in 1 patient is intriguing and may suggest a pathophysiologic connection. We describe the first case of connexin mutation with an IgM deficiency in an 18-year-old male.
Parametric study on the collapse probability of modern reinforced concrete frames with infills
Authors: Sharma Mayank , Singh Yogendra , Burton Henry V
Published: March 2023

This study aims to compare the collapse probability of reinforced concrete infilled frames designed in accordance with modern Indian seismic codes. Multiple versions of bare and infilled (both fully and partially) frames are considered. A total of 33 frames are divided into eight sets based on the parameter being varied, namely, the quality and thickness of infills, design code, aspect ratio, and number of stories. The collapse probability is evaluated through multiple stripe analysis with eight stripes corresponding to different return periods. A set of 40 ground motions, consistent with the site-specific uniform hazard spectra corresponding to each return period, is selected. Results suggest that the frames designed for pre-2016 Indian codes perform considerably worse than those designed for post-2016 Indian codes, which are on par with other national codes. The effect of collapse probability of addition of infills to bare frames is found to be negligible to significantly negative depending on factors such as adopted design code, relative strength of infill strut to columns, aspect ratio, and number of stories. Four-story frames perform worse than 8-story frames. Interestingly, the 8-story open first story frames, designed for modern codes, are not found to be significantly more vulnerable than their fully infilled counterparts.
LncRNA GAS5 suppresses TGF-β1-induced transformation of pulmonary pericytes into myofibroblasts by recruiting KDM5B and promoting H3K4me2/3 demethylation of the PDGFRα/β promoter
Authors: Wang Yichun , Chen Diyu , Xie Han , Zhou Shuhua , Jia Mingwang , He Xiaobo , Guo Feifei , Lai Yihuan , Tang Xiao Xiao
Published: March 2023

Background

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition that may cause persistent pulmonary damage. The transformation of pericytes into myofibroblasts has been recognized as a key player during IPF progression. This study aimed to investigate the functions of lncRNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) in myofibroblast transformation during IPF progression.

Methods

We created a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) via intratracheal administration of bleomycin. Pericytes were challenged with exogenous transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). To determine the expression of target molecules, we employed quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining. The pathological changes in the lungs were evaluated via H&E and Masson staining. Furthermore, the subcellular distribution of GAS5 was examined using FISH. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, ChIP, RNA pull-down, and RIP experiments were conducted to determine the molecular interaction.

Results

GAS5 expression decreased whereas PDGFRα/β expression increased in the lungs of IPF patients and mice with bleomycin-induced PF. The in vitro overexpression of GAS5 or silencing of PDGFRα/β inhibited the TGF-β1-induced differentiation of pericytes to myofibroblasts, as evidenced by the upregulation of pericyte markers NG2 and desmin as well as downregulation of myofibroblast markers α-SMA and collagen I. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that GAS5 recruited KDM5B to promote H3K4me2/3 demethylation, thereby suppressing PDGFRα/β expression. In addition, KDM5B overexpression inhibited pericyte–myofibroblast transformation and counteracted the promotional effect of GAS5 knockdown on pericyte–myofibroblast transformation. Lung fibrosis in mice was attenuated by GAS5 overexpression but promoted by GAS5 deficiency.

Conclusion

GAS5 represses pericyte–myofibroblast transformation by inhibiting PDGFRα/β expression via KDM5B-mediated H3K4me2/3 demethylation in IPF, identifying GAS5 as an intervention target for IPF.
Resistive random access memory: introduction to device mechanism, materials and application to neuromorphic computing
Authors: Zahoor Furqan , Hussin Fawnizu Azmadi , Isyaku Usman Bature , Gupta Shagun , Khanday Farooq Ahmad , Chattopadhyay Anupam , Abbas Haider
Published: March 2023

The modern-day computing technologies are continuously undergoing a rapid changing landscape; thus, the demands of new memory types are growing that will be fast, energy efficient and durable. The limited scaling capabilities of the conventional memory technologies are pushing the limits of data-intense applications beyond the scope of silicon-based complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS). Resistive random access memory (RRAM) is one of the most suitable emerging memory technologies candidates that have demonstrated potential to replace state-of-the-art integrated electronic devices for advanced computing and digital and analog circuit applications including neuromorphic networks. RRAM has grown in prominence in the recent years due to its simple structure, long retention, high operating speed, ultra-low-power operation capabilities, ability to scale to lower dimensions without affecting the device performance and the possibility of three-dimensional integration for high-density applications. Over the past few years, research has shown RRAM as one of the most suitable candidates for designing efficient, intelligent and secure computing system in the post-CMOS era. In this manuscript, the journey and the device engineering of RRAM with a special focus on the resistive switching mechanism are detailed. This review also focuses on the RRAM based on two-dimensional (2D) materials, as 2D materials offer unique electrical, chemical, mechanical and physical properties owing to their ultrathin, flexible and multilayer structure. Finally, the applications of RRAM in the field of neuromorphic computing are presented.
Macrophage-Derived MMP-9 and MMP-2 are Closely Related to the Rupture of the Fibrous Capsule of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Leading to Tumor Invasion
Authors: Cui Quanwei , Wang Xuben , Zhang Yongwei , Shen Yiqing , Qian Yeben
Published: March 2023

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive tumor with a poor clinical prognosis. Rupture of the fibrous capsule (FC) is a very important clinical phenomenon in the invasion and metastasis of HCC. FC is mainly composed of type I collagen (COL1A1). However, it is not clear what caused the FC rupture. In this study, we aimed to determine whether the rupture of FC in HCC patients was related to macrophage-derived MMP-9 and MMP-2, and their clinical diagnostic value for FC rupture.

Results

By performing immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining of ruptured FC and intact FC, the results showed that the ruptured area of FC aggregated a large number of macrophages with MMP-9 and MMP-2. Western blot analysis and Quantitative real-time PCR were used to assess the expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2 in the ruptured and relatively intact area of FC in ruptured FC patients, and the results revealed a significantly different expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2. ELISA experiments show that we could discriminate effectively between ruptured FC and intact FC by MMP-9 and MMP-2.

Conclusions

Taken together, macrophage-derived MMP-9 and MMP-2 were closely related to the rupture of the FC of HCC and subsequently led to the migration and invasion of the tumor cells through the ruptured area of FC to the para cancer. It is suggested that when performing surgical resection, it is necessary to expand the range of tumor resection for patients with ruptured FC and hence reduce the possibility of recurrence and metastasis in HCC patients.
Testicular impairment in Primary Adrenal Insufficiency caused by Nicotinamide Nucleotide Transhydrogenase (NNT) deficiency - a case report: implication of oxidative stress and importance of fertility preservation
Authors: Ferreux Lucile , Boumerdassi Yasmine , Dulioust Emmanuel , Bertagna Xavier , Roucher-Boulez Florence , Bourdon Mathilde , Thiounn Nicolas , Patrat Catherine
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) gene deficiency has recently been shown to be involved in Primary Adrenal Insufficiency (PAI). NNT encodes an inner mitochondrial membrane protein that produces large amounts of NADPH. NADPH is used in several biosynthesis pathways and the oxidoreduction of free radicals by the glutathione and thioredoxin systems in mitochondria. Patients with PAI due to NNT deficiency may also exhibit extra-adrenal manifestations, usually including gonadal impairment.

Case report

We present the case of a 35-year-old patient referred to our center for primary infertility with non-obstructive azoospermia, in a context of PAI and obesity. PAI genetic exploration carried out at the age of thirty revealed NNT deficiency due to the presence of two deleterious mutations (one on each allele) in the NNT gene. Scrotal ultrasound revealed a right Testicular Adrenal Rest Tumor (TART). Intensification of glucocorticoid therapy over the course of 8 months failed to reduce the TART volume or improve sperm production and endocrine function. No spermatozoa were found after surgical exploration of both testes, and subsequent histopathological analysis revealed bilateral Sertoli cell-only syndrome. A retrospective review of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadic axis hormonal assessment over 20 years showed progressive impairment of testicular function, accelerated during adulthood, leading to hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and non-obstructive azoospermia when the patient reached his thirties, while the PAI remained controlled over the same period.

Conclusion

This case report provides, for the first time, direct evidence of complete germ line loss in an azoospermic man with NNT deficiency. Additional data further support the hypothesis of a determinant role of oxidative cellular damage due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) imbalance in the severe gonadal impairment observed in this NNT-deficient patient. Early and regular evaluation of gonadal function should be performed in patients with PAI, especially with NNT deficiency, as soon as the patients reach puberty. Fertility preservation options should then be provided in early adulthood for these patients.
Avoiding background knowledge: literature based discovery from important information
Authors: Preiss Judita
Published: March 2023

Background

Automatic literature based discovery attempts to uncover new knowledge by connecting existing facts: information extracted from existing publications in the form of$$A \rightarrow B$$A→Band$$B \rightarrow C$$B→Crelations can be simply connected to deduce$$A \rightarrow C$$A→C. However, using this approach, the quantity of proposed connections is often too vast to be useful. It can be reduced by using subject$$\rightarrow$$→(predicate)$$\rightarrow$$→object triples as the$$A \rightarrow B$$A→Brelations, but too many proposed connections remain for manual verification.

Results

Based on the hypothesis that only a small number of subject–predicate–object triples extracted from a publication represent the paper’s novel contribution(s), we explore using BERT embeddings to identify these before literature based discovery is performed utilizing only these, important, triples. While the method exploits the availability of full texts of publications in the CORD-19 dataset—making use of the fact that a novel contribution is likely to be mentioned in both an abstract and the body of a paper—to build a training set, the resulting tool can be applied to papers with only abstracts available. Candidate hidden knowledge pairs generated from unfiltered triples and those built from important triples only are compared using a variety of timeslicing gold standards.

Conclusions

The quantity of proposed knowledge pairs is reduced by a factor of$$10^3$$103, and we show that when the gold standard is designed to avoid rewarding background knowledge, the precision obtained increases up to a factor of 10. We argue that the gold standard needs to be carefully considered, and release as yet undiscovered candidate knowledge pairs based on important triples alongside this work.
Analysis of the chloroplast genome and phylogenetic evolution of Bidens pilosa
Authors: Zhang Danchun , Tu Jiajun , Ding Xiaoxia , Guan Wan , Gong Lu , Qiu Xiaohui , Huang Zhihai , Su He
Published: March 2023

Chloroplast genomes for 3Bidensplants endemic to China (Bidens bipinnataLinn.,Bidens pilosaLinn., andBidens albavar.radiata) have been sequenced, assembled and annotated in this study to distinguish their molecular characterization and phylogenetic relationships. The chloroplast genomes are in typical quadripartite structure with two inverted repeat regions separating a large single copy region and a small single copy region, and ranged from 151,599 to 154,478 bp in length. Similar number of SSRs and long repeats were found inBidens, wherein mononucleotide repeats (A/T), forward and palindromic repeats were the most in abundance. Gene loss ofclpPandpsbD, IR expansion and contraction were detected in theseBidensplants. It seems thatndhE,ndhF,ndhG, andrpl32from theBidensplants were under positive selection while the majority of chloroplast genes were under purifying selection. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 3Bidensplants clustered together and further formed molophyletic clade with otherBidensspecies, indicatingBidensplants might be under radiation adaptive selection to the changing environment world-widely. Moreover, mutation hotspot analysis and in silico PCR analysis indicated that inter-genic regions ofndhD-ccsA,ndhI-ndhG, ndhF-rpl32, trnL_UAG-rpl32, ndhE-psaC, matK-rps16, rps2-atpI, cemA-petA,petN-psbMwere candidate markers of molecular identification forBidensplants. This study may provide useful information for genetic diversity analysis and molecular identification forBidensspecies.