bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A workshop to showcase the diversity of scientists to middle school students
Authors: Marshall Andrea G. , Neikirk Kit , Stephens Dominique , Garza-Lopez Edgar , Vue Zer , Beasley Heather K. , Doe Yelena Janumyan , Campbell Desmond , Fears Letimicia , Alghanem Ahmad , Spencer Elsie C. , Scudese Estevão , Owens Beverly , Vang Chia , Morton Derrick J. , Conley Zachary , Hinton Antentor
Published: January 2024

We observed positive sentiments from middle school students following a workshop that showcased diversity in science. This workshop uniquely encourages students to recognize that physiologists and scientists today are much more diverse than textbooks typically demonstrate and can be adapted for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college students.
Does perceived caloric and nutrient intake influence the acute effect of beverage consumption on cardiovascular function?
Authors: McGarity-Shipley Ellen C. , Vitez Melanie E. , Curd Evan D. , Etwaroo Raelisa , Ferguson Emily J. , Lew Lindsay A. , McGlory Chris , Pyke Kyra E.
Published: January 2024

This was the first study to investigate how perceived nutritional content influences the impact of a high-sugar/fat beverage on endothelial function. We found that a high-sugar/fat beverage only reduced endothelial function when it was presented to participants as high in calories, fat, and sugar. This suggests that perceived nutritional information contributes to the impact of high sugar and fat intake on endothelial function.
Global Universality of the Two-Layer Neural Network with thek-Rectified Linear Unit
Authors: Hatano Naoya , Ikeda Masahiro , Ishikawa Isao , Sawano Yoshihiro
Published: January 2024

This paper concerns the universality of the two-layer neural network with thek-rectified linear unit activation function withk=1,2,…with a suitable norm without any restriction on the shape of the domain in the real line. This type of result is called global universality, which extends the previous result fork=1by the present authors. This paper coversk-sigmoidal functions as an application of the fundamental result onk-rectified linear unit functions.
Phase II DORA Study of Olaparib with or without Durvalumab as a Chemotherapy-Free Maintenance Strategy in Platinum-Pretreated Advanced Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Tan Tira J. , Sammons Sarah , Im Young-Hyuck , She Lilin , Mundy Kelly , Bigelow Robert , Traina Tiffany A. , Anders Carey , Yeong Joe , Renzulli Ezequiel , Kim Sung-Bae , Dent Rebecca
Published: January 2024

Purpose:

We explored the efficacy of PARP inhibition with or without programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) blockade as chemotherapy-free maintenance therapy for advanced triple-negative breast cancer (aTNBC) sensitive to platinum-based chemotherapy.

Patients and Methods:

In the phase II non-comparative DORA trial (NCT03167619), patients with ongoing stable disease (SD) or complete/partial response (CR/PR) to first- or second-line platinum-based chemotherapy for TNBC (≤10% estrogen/progesterone receptor expression) were randomized 1:1 to receive olaparib 300 mg twice daily with or without durvalumab 1,500 mg on day 1 every 4 weeks. The primary objective was to compare progression-free survival (PFS) versus a historical control of continued platinum-based therapy.

Results:

45 patients were randomized (23 to olaparib alone, 22 to the combination; 3 with estrogen/progesterone receptor expression 1%–10%). At 9.8 months’ median follow-up, median PFS from randomization was 4.0 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.6–6.1] months with olaparib and 6.1 (95% CI, 3.7–10.1) months with the combination, both significantly longer than the historical control (P = 0.0023 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Clinical benefit rates (SD ≥24 weeks or CR/PR) were 44% (95% CI, 23%–66%) and 36% (95% CI, 17%–59%) in the monotherapy and combination arms, respectively. Sustained clinical benefit was seen irrespective of germline BRCA mutation or PD-L1 status, but tended to be associated with CR/PR to prior platinum, particularly in the olaparib-alone arm. No new safety signals were reported.

Conclusions:

PFS was longer than expected with both regimens. A patient subset with wild-type BRCA platinum-sensitive aTNBC had durable disease control with chemotherapy-free maintenance.
AIbZIP/CREB3L4 Promotes Cell Proliferation via the SKP2-p27 Axis in Luminal Androgen Receptor Subtype Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Ito Taichi , Saito Atsushi , Kamikawa Yasunao , Nakazawa Nayuta , Imaizumi Kazunori
Published: January 2024

Breast cancer ranks first in incidence and fifth in cancer-related deaths among all types of cancer globally. Among breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has few known therapeutic targets and a poor prognosis. Therefore, new therapeutic targets and strategies against TNBC are required. We found that androgen-induced basic leucine zipper (AIbZIP), also known as cyclic AMP–responsive element-binding protein 3-like protein 4 (CREB3L4), which is encoded by Creb3l4, is highly upregulated in a particular subtype of TNBC, luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype. We analyzed the function of AIbZIP through depletion of AIbZIP by siRNA knockdown in LAR subtype TNBC cell lines, MFM223 and MDAMB453. In AIbZIP-depleted cells, the proliferation ratios of cells were greatly suppressed. Moreover, G1–S transition was inhibited in AIbZIP-depleted cells. We comprehensively analyzed the expression levels of proteins that regulate G1–S transition and found that p27 was specifically upregulated in AIbZIP-depleted cells. Furthermore, we identified that this p27 downregulation was caused by protein degradation modulated by the ubiquitin–proteasome system via F-box protein S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2) upregulation. Our findings demonstrate that AIbZIP is a novel p27–SKP2 pathway-regulating factor and a potential molecule that contributes to LAR subtype TNBC progression.

Implications:

This research shows a new mechanism for the proliferation of LAR subtype TNBC regulated by AIbZIP, that may provide novel insight into the LAR subtype TNBC progression and the molecular mechanisms involved in cell proliferation.
Regular Mechanical Stimuli Enhanced Tolerance to Salinity Stress in Glycine max L. Seedlings
Authors: Juhika Patel  , Susy Albert  , Ravinayak Patlavath
Published: January 2024

Regular touch treatment leads to plant adaptations that enhances mechanical strength. In many crop plants these adaptations result in cross-tolerance to biotic stress caused by bacterial or fungal infection and abiotic stress conditions like salinity or drought. In present study, we have explored the effect of mechanical stress on the growth of Glycine max (soybean) seedlings and studied its effect on tolerance to salinity stress. Regular mechanical stress given in the form of touch suppressed overall growth of the soybean seedlings. Touch pre-treated seedlings were further treated with sodium chloride to test for its tolerance to salinity. Upon salt treatment, we observed comparatively higher survival rate and more growth in the seedlings that received regular mechanical stress during early growth stages. The adaptations to mechanical stress given at the early-stage of growth may have led to the enhanced tolerance to salinity stress experienced in later growth stage
Prestigiando os nossos talentos no mundo dos quadrinhos
Authors: Vergueiro Waldomiro
Published: January 2024

Resenha das obras Ignacio Justo: pilotando quadrinhos, e Getúlio Delphim: o ourives do traço.
Ambiguidade e polissemia nos quadros silenciosos de O Quinze, de Shiko
Authors: Alves-Costa Lucas Piter , Rodrigues Arthur Schitine Siqueira
Published: January 2024

Tem por objetivo analisar a polissemia e a ambiguidade presentes nos quadros silenciosos (sem balões, onomatopeias ou recordatórios) da obra O Quinze, de autoria de Shiko. A metodologia utilizada tem por base a Análise do Discurso Semiolinguística (Charaudeau, 2008), com incursões teóricas da Semântica, da Semiologia e da Quadrinologia. Também é parte do trabalho a busca por exposição da possibilidade de interpretações propiciadas pelos quadros silenciosos na narrativa de O Quinze em quadrinhos, de acordo com a sonocronografia (Alves-Costa, 2013). Os resultados da análise sugerem que o uso de quadros silenciosos, principalmente em uma obra de tradução intersemiótica, pode ampliar os efeitos de sentido da cena.
Inovação em saúde: telessaúde e teleodontologia: conceitos e aplicações
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Munhoz Luciana , Watanabe Plauto ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Silva Yeda da ,   Faculdade de Medicina Pequeno Príncipe
Published: January 2024

O Brasil é um país geograficamente extenso, com condições precárias de acesso a diversas comunidades e distribuição desigual da renda. Ademais, faltam recursos econômicos destinados à saúde, e a distribuição de recursos humanos e materiais, particularmente na saúde pública, é heterogênea. A maior parte dos médicos e cirurgiões dentistas concentram-se nos grandes centros urbanos. Nesse cenário, a Telessaúde surge como uma solução para aumentar a disponibilidade, o acesso e a qualidade dos serviços de saúde, alcançando regiões mais distantes e evitando o isolamento de profissionais nestas áreas. Neste sentido, esta obra aborda dois conceitos fundamentais sobre saúde na atualidade: a telessaúde e a teleodontologia. A Telessaúde é definida pelo emprego de Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação (TICs) na prestação de serviços de saúde, abrangendo a assistência remota, prevenção de doenças, promoção da saúde, gestão, educação e pesquisa. Esses serviços são disponibilizados sem a necessidade da presença física do paciente ou profissional em um local específico, como consultório, centro de saúde ou hospital. Já a Teleodontologia é definida como o exercício da Odontologia mediado por tecnologias digitais de informação e comunicação (TICs) para fins de atenção, educação, gestão, pesquisa, prevenção de agravos e promoção de saúde bucal. Na abordagem destes dois conceitos, esta obra apresenta os aspectos relacionados a políticas nacionais, prática, ensino-aprendizagem, aspectos legais e éticos, além da importância do combate à desinformação e fake news.
O mal-estar na uberização: reflexões acerca do trabalho na perspectiva da lógica neoliberal
Authors: Ferreira Fabrício Gonçalves , Mendes Elzilaine Domingues , Naves Emilse Terezinha
Published: January 2024

O aumento do desemprego e a ampliação das condições de informalidade podem ser considerados fontes de mal-estar e sofrimento psíquico. A fluidez do vínculo entre empregador e empregado suprime as possibilidades de direitos e garantias trabalhistas. Esse é o caso do trabalho uberizado, em que os profissionais atuam na condição de prestadores de serviço e, em geral, são integralmente responsáveis pelo serviço prestado. Considerando essa situação, este estudo buscou discutir as consequências subjetivas ocasionadas pela uberização a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas, compostas por perguntas disparadoras de conteúdo e amparadas na investigação clínico-interpretativa do método psicanalítico. Para tanto, foram entrevistados quatro entregadores de delivery do município de Catalão (Goiás), que apontaram as condições de informalidade no trabalho, exploração e exaustão. Além disso, as entrevistas evidenciaram a complexidade da lógica neoliberal e o sofrimento psíquico determinado pelos atuais modos de degradação da vida.
Exosomes From IgE-Stimulated Mast Cells Aggravate Asthma-Mediated Atherosclerosis Through circRNA CDR1as-Mediated Endothelial Cell Dysfunction in Mice
Authors: Yang Hongqin , Chen Junye , Liu Siyang , Xue Yunfei , Li Zhiwei , Wang Tao , Jiao Liqun , An Qi , Liu Bao , Wang Jing , Zhao Hongmei
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

IgE has been known for mediating endothelial cell dysfunction and mast cell (MC) activation to fuel asthma-aggravated high-fat diet–induced atherosclerosis. However, it remains unclear for the mechanism of asthma-mediated atherosclerosis, especially the potential involvement of IgE in the exacerbation of asthma-mediated atherosclerosis with a standard laboratory diet, and the cross talk between endothelial cells and MCs.

METHODS:

Asthma-mediated atherosclerosis mice models under a standard laboratory diet and FcεR1 knock-out mice were used to determine the role of IgE-FcεR1 signaling in asthma-mediated atherosclerosis, which was assessed by Oil Red O staining and immunohistochemistry. Various in vitro assays including nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy were used to evaluate exosome characteristics. Immunofluorescence and fluorescent in situ hybridization approaches were used to evaluate the effect and mechanism of MC-secreted exosomes encapsulated circular RNA CDR1as (cerebellar degeneration-related 1 antisense) on endothelial cells in vivo and in vitro. Finally, cohort studies examined the plasma CDR1as levels in patients with atherosclerosis with or without allergies.

RESULTS:

Asthma mice with a standard laboratory diet showed increased atherosclerotic lesions and inflammatory infiltration depending on IgE-FcεR1 signal. FcεR1 knockout mice and blockage of IgE-FcεR1 signaling with IgE monoclonal antibody, omalizumab, all significantly alleviated asthma-mediated atherosclerosis and vascular inflammatory remodeling. Anti-inflammation with dexamethasone and stabilization of MC with cromolyn partially alleviated atherosclerotic lesions and mitigated the inflammatory infiltration in arteries. Mechanistically, IgE stimulation upregulates MC CDR1as expression in exosomes and upregulates the endothelial cell adhesive factors VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) and ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) via the CDR1as-FUS (fused in sarcoma)-phos-p65 axis. Knockdown of CDR1as in vivo significantly decreased the endothelial adhesion function and mitigated asthma-mediated atherosclerosis. Furthermore, a cohort study indicated higher plasma CDR1as levels in patients with atherosclerosis with allergies than in patients with atherosclerosis and healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONS:

Exosomes from IgE-stimulated MCs aggravated atherosclerosis through circular RNA CDR1as-mediated endothelial dysfunction, providing a novel insight into asthma-mediated atherosclerosis and potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
Impact of Sleep Disorders and Disturbed Sleep on Brain Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Gottesman Rebecca F. , Lutsey Pamela L. , Benveniste Helene , Brown Devin L. , Full Kelsie M. , Lee Jin-Moo , Osorio Ricardo S. , Pase Matthew P. , Redeker Nancy S. , Redline Susan , Spira Adam P. ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association Stroke Council; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Council on Hypertension
Published: January 2024

Accumulating evidence supports a link between sleep disorders, disturbed sleep, and adverse brain health, ranging from stroke to subclinical cerebrovascular disease to cognitive outcomes, including the development of Alzheimer disease and Alzheimer disease–related dementias. Sleep disorders such as sleep-disordered breathing (eg, obstructive sleep apnea), and other sleep disturbances, as well, some of which are also considered sleep disorders (eg, insomnia, sleep fragmentation, circadian rhythm disorders, and extreme sleep duration), have been associated with adverse brain health. Understanding the causal role of sleep disorders and disturbances in the development of adverse brain health is complicated by the common development of sleep disorders among individuals with neurodegenerative disease. In addition to the role of sleep disorders in stroke and cerebrovascular injury, mechanistic hypotheses linking sleep with brain health and biomarker data (blood-based, cerebrospinal fluid-based, and imaging) suggest direct links to Alzheimer disease–specific pathology. These potential mechanisms and the increasing understanding of the “glymphatic system,” and the recognition of the importance of sleep in poststroke recovery, as well, support a biological basis for the indirect (through the worsening of vascular disease) and direct (through specific effects on neuropathology) connections between sleep disorders and brain health. Given promising evidence for the benefits of treatment and prevention, sleep disorders and disturbances represent potential targets for early treatment that may improve brain health more broadly. In this scientific statement, we discuss the evidence supporting an association between sleep disorders and disturbances and poor brain health ranging from stroke to dementia and opportunities for prevention and early treatment.
Endovascular Treatment of Medium Vessel Occlusion Stroke
Authors: Ospel Johanna M. , Nguyen Thanh N. , Jadhav Ashutosh P. , Psychogios Marios-Nikos , Clarençon Frédéric , Yan Bernard , Goyal Mayank
Published: January 2024

Approximately one-third of acute ischemic strokes with an identifiable vessel occlusion are caused by medium vessel occlusion (MeVO), that is, nonlarge vessel occlusions that are potentially amenable to endovascular treatment (EVT). Management of patients with MeVO is challenging in many ways: detecting MeVOs can be challenging, particularly for inexperienced physicians, and in busy clinical routine, MeVOs, therefore, remain sometimes undiagnosed. While the clinical course of MeVO stroke with medical management, including intravenous thrombolysis, is by no means, benign, it is more favorable compared with large vessel occlusion. At the same time, EVT complication rates are higher, and thus, the marginal benefit of EVT beyond best medical management is expected to be smaller and more challenging to detect if it were present. Several randomized controlled trials are currently underway to investigate whether and to what degree patients with MeVO may benefit from EVT and will soon provide robust data for evidence-based MeVO EVT decision-making. In this review, we discuss different ways of defining MeVOs, strategies to optimize MeVO detection on imaging, and considerations for EVT decision-making in the setting of MeVO stroke. We discuss the technical challenges related to MeVO EVT and conclude with an overview of currently ongoing MeVO EVT trials.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Trials: Cutting, Sliding, or Keeping mRS Scores and WFNS Grades
Authors: Mistry Akshitkumar M. , Saver Jeffrey , Mack William , Kamel Hooman , Elm Jordan , Beall Jonathan
Published: January 2024

Rigorous evidence generation with randomized controlled trials has lagged for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) compared with other forms of acute stroke. Besides its lower incidence compared with other stroke subtypes, the presentation and outcome of patients with SAH also differ. This must be considered and adjusted for in designing pivotal randomized controlled trials of patients with SAH. Here, we show the effect of the unique expected distribution of the SAH severity at presentation (World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grade) on the outcome most used in pivotal stroke randomized controlled trials (modified Rankin Scale) and, consequently, on the sample size. Furthermore, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different options to analyze the outcome and control the expected distribution of the World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grades in addition to showing their effects on the sample size. Finally, we offer methods that investigators can adapt to more precisely understand the effect of common modified Rankin Scale analysis methods and trial eligibility pertaining to the World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grade in designing their large-scale SAH randomized controlled trials.
Alone and Naked: Reading the Torture of Jesus alongside the Torture of Miriam Leitão
Authors: Tombs David
Published: January 2024

Recent biblical scholarship has called for more careful and detailed attention to the experiences of torture victims to better understand the crucifixion of Jesus (Menéndez- Antuña 2022). To this end, this article examines the torture of Miriam Leitão, one of Brazil’s most prominent journalists. Leitão’s torture in 1972 is attested in the report Brasil: Nunca Mais (1985), compiled by the Archdiocese of Sao Paulo, which records that she was left in a dark room with a boa constrictor. In 2014 Leitão disclosed in an interview that during her time with the snake she was naked. I argue Leitão’s account of being ‘alone and naked’ offers insights into the repeated stripping of Jesus in the praetorium in Matthew 27:26–31, and his forced nudity on the cross. Recognising crucifixion as torture helps towards understanding and naming the mocking of Jesus as sexual abuse.
Secularism under Dispute: Towards Agonistic, Pluralistic, and Democratic Politics. A Latin American Perspective
Authors: Panotto Nicolás
Published: January 2024

This article introduces some discussion on the limitations of the distinction between laicidad and secularization in Latin America (and to a lesser extent, the notion of religious freedom), mainly highlighting the problem of the colonial origin of these conceptions and their relationship with the liberal hegemonic political framework of the field. The paper’s thesis is that the boundaries for achieving a secular context in the region are not only connected to the lack of secular policies but to the application of limited concepts on the separation between church and state, and the impact of this emphasis on a reductionist vision of the religious diversity phenomenon and its link with the socio-political processes of the region. Our propose, finally, is to review these ideas in the light of the concept of radical democracy, and the contribution of this category in the broadening of the processes of institutionalization of religious identity configurations. We will take as an example of application the debates raised by the Pavez vs. Chile case in the Inter-American Court, resolved in the year 2021.
Theology from the Suburbs: The Challenge of Life for the City as a Whole
Authors: van Wyngaard Cobus G.J. , Louw Marius
Published: January 2024

This article seeks to interrogate critically and problematize the silence on the suburb in urban theology: in the process the article seeks to illustrate the importance of the suburb through examining it considering the soteriology underpinning apartheid spatial planning and its persistent quasi-soteriological envisioning of the good life in the ongoing spatial imagination of the South African city. While this proposal does not present a fully developed contextual or public theology in response to the complex place of the suburb in the city, it highlights the persistence of this silence and illustrates key theological questions that could underpin such a focus in the future.
A Problem in Gregory of Nazianzus, Epistle 4
Authors: Panegyres Konstantine
Published: January 2024

This paper reconsiders an alleged textual problem raised by the word ξουφηρία in one of Gregory of Nazianzus’s letters to Basil (Ep. 4). Contrary to what has been argued by a recent scholar, the text does not need emendation. The problem can be resolved by means of lexicographical analysis: ξουφηρία is merely a spelling variant of ζοφερία (“darkness”).
The Neotropical species of Atractodes Gravenhorst (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Phygadeuontinae), III: the A. podocarpus species-group
Authors: Bordera Santiago , Mazón Marina
Published: January 2024

Atractodes is a cosmopolitan genus of Darwin wasps, belonging to the subfamily Phygadeuontinae. We started the revision of the Neotropical species in previous studies, with the stablishment of four species-groups. Here we address the fourth group, the A. podocarpus species-group, with the description of 24 new species: A. antennator sp. nov., A. areolator sp. nov., A. brevibasalis sp. nov., A. mesoamericanus sp. nov. and A. monteverdensis sp. nov. from Central America; A. cabecar sp. nov., A. puntarenae sp. nov., A. taciturnus sp. nov. and A. tapantiensis sp. nov. from Costa Rica; A. aureus sp. nov. from Colombia; A. cuscoensis sp. nov. and A. longitergum sp. nov. from Peru; A. ecuadorensis sp. nov., A. flavescens sp. nov., A. flagellator sp. nov., A. longigena sp. nov., A. napoensis sp. nov., A. paramoensis sp. nov., A. podocarpus sp. nov. and A. thyridiator sp. nov. from Ecuador; A. pubescens sp. nov. from Costa Rica and Ecuador; A. epomiae sp. nov. and A. longibasalis sp. nov. from Venezuela; and A. crassiflagellator sp. nov. from South America. Keys to the species-groups and the species of the A. podocarpus species-group, as well as distribution maps of all Neotropical species are provided. The record of A. altoandinus Bordera, Mazón & Sääksjärvi, 2016, described from “Chile, La Raya, 4300 m”, is revised and attributed to La Raya pass, Peru.
Norm Fixation
Authors: Karlsrud John , Duursma Allard
Published: January 2024

While the normative development of the UN’s focus on protection of civilians is well covered, there is little research on how more than two decades of translating the norm into practice has led to the development of an entire ecosystem of early warning tools across the UN system. Most of these tools have been created at the field level, and UN Member States have neither played a role in pushing for these tools nor in helping to develop them. This article makes two contributions. Empirically, the article maps the ecosystem of early warning tools for protection of civilians in UN peace operations. Second, drawing on practice theory, the article reflects on the origin of these tools and argues that bottom-up norm implementation practices in international organizations amount to norm fixations—collectively describing what a norm is and how it should be implemented in practice.
Paamiut (Frederikshåb) Greenlandic in 1836: a Small Glimpse
Authors: de la Fuente José Andrés Alonso
Published: January 2024

The accounts of the La Recherche expedition (1st voyage, 1835–2nd voyage, 1836) include two Greenlandic wordlists that offer the opportunity to catch a glimpse (one admittedly small) of the local lect of Paamiut. The comparison with contemporary dialectological descriptions allows for interesting conclusions about the linguistic history of this region on the southwest coast of Greenland. Of the four diagnostic features traditionally ascribed to Paamiut Greenlandic, that is, (1) i-effect, (2) retention of the /s/ vs /ʂ/ opposition, (3) shortening of geminates in sequences of the type VVCCV(V), and (4) a kind of “vowel harmony” whereby /ua/ > /awa/ & /ui/ > /iwi/, the wordlists confirm fully (1) and partially (2). There is inconclusive evidence for (3) and no trace of (4) whatsoever.
Redescription of the adults of Culicoides bancrofti Lee and Reye and C. hornsbyensis Lee and Reye (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)
Authors: BELLIS GLENN , DYCE ALAN
Published: January 2024

The Bancrofti species group of the biting midge genus Culicoides Latreille which embraces two species from Australia and Papua New Guinea is revised. A diagnosis for the group along with a first description of adult male C. bancrofti Lee & Reye and redescriptions of female adult C. bancrofti  and male and female adult C. hornsbyensis Lee & Reye are presented together with keys for their specific determination.
Description of the immature stages of Glyphepomis spinosa Campos & Grazia (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae: Carpocorini)
Authors: POLLO PIETRO , GREVE CAROLINE , MATESCO VIVIANA CAUDURO , GRAZIA JOCELIA
Published: January 2024

The study of immature stages is important in phylogeny, as well to the recognition and control of pest species. Glyphe-pomis Berg is included in the tribe Carpocorini. This paper describes the morphology of eggs and nymphs of Glyphepomis spinosa Campos & Grazia. Adult specimens were collected on rice plants in Formoso do Araguaia, Tocantins, Brazil, and they were reared in the laboratory. The immatures obtained were analyzed with a light stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope. Eggs and nymphs were measured and illustrated and/or photographed. Eggs are barrel-shaped, light green; operculum round and convex; chorion translucent, bright and granulated; aero-micropylar processes clubbed, 68 on average. All instars have oval body and obtuse tylus, surpassing jugae. In the 1st instar, head, thorax and abdominal plates are black, and abdomen is reddish brown; punctures are absent. From 2nd instar on, head and thorax are grayish with dark punctures, and the abdomen is whitish with dark-red punctures. In relation to other Carpocorini species that occur on rice, the eggs of G. spinosa resemble those of Oebalus poecilus (Dallas), a major rice pest in South America. However, nymphs of both species can be easily differentiated by their general color: in O. poecilus all instars have a dark head and thorax and red abdomen.
Taxonomic study of Uncobotyodes Kirti & Rose, 1990 (Lepidoptera, Crambidae), with the description of a new species from China
Authors: HUANG SHI-QI , DU XI-CUI
Published: January 2024

The monotypic genus Uncobotyodes Kirti & Rose and its type species U. patulalis (Walker) are redescribed. The female genitalia of U. patulalis are described for the first time. An additional species, Uncobotyodes latizona sp. nov., is described as new to science. The two species of the genus are compared. Images of adults and their genitalia are provided.
Increased Cardio-ankle Vascular Index Values in Migraine Patients With Aura
Authors: Can Yusuf , Uçaroğlu Can Nimet , Akçay Çağla , Ulaş Sena Boncuk , Kocayiğit Ibrahim , Kocayiğit Havva , Ağaç Mustafa Tarık
Published: January 2024

Patients with migraine with aura are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. There are limited data on arterial stiffness in migraine patients with aura. The present study evaluated arterial stiffness in these patients using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). This prospective study included 50 patients with migraine with aura (43 female, mean age 38.9 ± 9.9 years). The patient group was matched for age and gender with 50 healthy individuals with no history of migraine (43 female, mean age 39.3 ± 10.3 years). All patients and control subjects underwent a comprehensive clinical evaluation by an experienced neurologist and were interviewed about their headache histories. There was no significant difference in baseline demographic characteristics and echocardiographic parameters between migraine with aura patients and the control group. Both right and left CAVI values were significantly higher in the patients with migraine with aura (6.5 ± 1.2 vs 6.1 ± 0.7, P = .043 and 6.6 ± 1.2 vs 6.1 ± 0.7, P = .009, respectively). Arterial stiffness is an important mediator of cardiovascular diseases. We found that CAVI, a novel marker of the arterial stiffness, is increased in patients with migraine with aura.
Pth1r in Neural Crest Cells Regulates Nasal Cartilage Differentiation
Authors: Amano K. , Okuzaki D. , Kitaoka Y. , Kato S. , Fujiwara M. , Tanaka S. , Iida S.
Published: January 2024

Neural crest cells (NCC) arise from the dorsal margin of the neural plate border and comprise a unique cell population that migrates to and creates the craniofacial region. Although factors including Shh, Fgf8, and bone morphogenetic proteins have been shown to regulate these biological events, the role of parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (Pth1r) has been less studied. We generated an NCC-specific mouse model for Pth1r and researched gene expression, function, and interaction focusing on nasal cartilage framework and midfacial development. Wnt1-Cre;Pth1r fl/ fl; Tomato fl/+ mice had perinatal lethality, but we observed short snout and jaws, tongue protrusion, reduced NCC-derived cranial length, increased mineralization in nasal septum and hyoid bones, and less bone mineralization at interfrontal suture in mutants at E18.5. Importantly, the mutant nasal septum and turbinate cartilage histologically revealed gradual, premature accelerated hypertrophic differentiation. We then studied the underlying molecular mechanisms by performing RNA seq analysis and unexpectedly found that expression of Ihh and related signaling molecules was enhanced in mutant nasomaxillary tissues. To see if Pth1r and Ihh signaling are associated, we generated a Wnt1-Cre; Ihh fl/ fl; Pth1r fl/ fl; Tomato fl/+ (DKO) mouse and compared the phenotypes to those of each single knockout mouse: Wnt1-Cre; Ihh fl/ fl; Pth1r fl/+; Tomato fl/+ (Ihh-CKO) and Wnt1-Cre;Ihh fl/+; Pth1r fl/ fl; Tomato fl/+ (Pth1r-CKO). Ihh-CKO mice displayed a milder effect. Of note, the excessive hypertrophic conversion of the nasal cartilage framework observed in Pth1r-CKO was somewhat rescued DKO embryos. Further, a half cAMP responsive element and the 4 similar sequences containing 2 mismatches were identified from the promoter to the first intron in Ihh gene. Gli1-Cre ERT2; Pth1r fl/ fl; Tomato fl/+, a Pth1r-deficient model targeted in hedgehog responsive cells, demonstrated the enlarged hypertrophic layer and significantly more Tomato-positive chondrocytes accumulated in the nasal septum and ethmoidal endochondral ossification. Collectively, the data suggest a relevant Pth1r/Ihh interaction. Our findings obtained from novel mouse models for Pth1r signaling illuminate previously unknown aspects in craniofacial biology and development.
Understanding the Work of Professional Learning Communities for English Language Learner Teachers: Possibilities and Limitations From Two Urban High Schools
Authors: Fones Aliza
Published: January 2024

The collaboration and learning of high school English language learner (ELL) teachers is an overlooked aspect of policy and research regarding the opportunities and outcomes of emergent bilingual (EB) students. In order to better understand the work of ELL teachers, this study examined their participation in an important setting: the professional learning community (PLC), a space with potential for promoting more equitable student outcomes. Analysis of ELL teachers’ participation in PLCs at two urban high schools, and the topics addressed in PLC meetings, provides implications for teacher and student learning, and reinforces the significance of ELL teacher expertise.
Skotovoz, pripiski and the “law of labour settlement”: Transportation planning and management in the USSR
Authors: Muleev Egor
Published: January 2024

Transport specialists in the USSR persistently called for mathematical expressions of fundamental laws in urban transportation, to assist the development of efficient transportation systems. However, the specificity of the planned economy meant that these appeals did not receive substantial financial support. In response to challenges such as falsified data and political interference, practitioners developed an “imaginative” approach based on intuition, tradition and experience. Analysis of academic literature written in Russian, archival sources and new data gained from interviews shows that the demand for quantitative methods was a bureaucratic response to the uncertainties of public transport administration, while planning documents functioned as leverage in political bargaining for resources. In practice, urban transport planners and transport company employees relied on their own creativity and innovation to compensate for pervasive resource and methodological deficits.
Theoretic and experimental performance of a grid-connected photovoltaic system: Multiple prediction model of efficiency and annual energy generation
Authors: Rivera-Martínez Mario Arturo , García-López María Adriana , Alanís-Navarro José Andrés , Fuentes-Pérez Marcos , Lavín-Delgado Jorge Enrique
Published: January 2024

In this article, the performance of a 3.36 kWp grid-connected photovoltaic system (GCPVS) under warm and subhumid weather conditions and the development of a predictive mathematical model is presented. Climate data of the 2021 year were used to evaluate energy generation, different types of performance, and efficiency. The average annual yield, corrected yield, array, and final yields were 6.45 h/day, 6.18 h/day, 5.16 h/day, and 4.97 h/day, respectively. The overall annual mean capacity factor and efficiency ratios were 20.73% and 77.22%, correspondingly. Experimental data were analyzed and correlated by multivariate linear regression (MLR) prediction and simulation to validate models. The MLR analysis showed that the efficiency is highly dependent on the temperature of the PV modules and that climatic parameters significantly affect the efficiency and output electric power. The prediction models for PV module efficiency, system efficiency, and direct current energy exhibit an uncertainty of ±1.04%, ±0.57%, and ±35.38 kWh, one-to-one. The monthly generation was compared with results obtained by Energy3D simulation-free software, showing an absolute error of ±2.33 kWh. This information can be used as a methodological tool for predicting efficiency and power generation in direct current.
How individuals perceive their partner’s relationship behaviors when worrying about finances
Authors: Peetz Johanna , Fisher-Skau Odin , Joel Samantha
Published: January 2024

What role do financial worries play in close relationship functioning? In this research, we examine how financial worry – negative thoughts and feelings about finances – is associated with perceived relationship behaviors. Participants recalled how their partner acted during a recent disagreement (Study 1, N = 97 couples) or recalled the frequency of positive and negative behaviors enacted by their partner during the previous week (Study 2, N = 99 couples). Feeling more worried about finances was associated with recalling less supportive behavior from one’s partner at the disagreement (Study 1) and with perceiving more negative behaviors from one’s partner in the last week (Study 2). Truth and Bias Model analyses suggest that part of this link may be attributed to biased perceptions, as the link between financial worry and perceiving more negative behaviors persisted even after controlling for participants’ own reported behaviors (i.e., accounting for similarity) and for their partner’s own reported behaviors (i.e., accounting for accurate perceptions). In sum, financial worry is linked to how partners notice and interpret a loved one’s actions within their relationship.
Efficacy and safety of modified Valsalva maneuver for treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia: a meta-analysis
Authors: Lu Zhao , Zhu Jieyun , Gao Min , Song Qiuyun , Pan Dongzan , Huang Chunli , Zhu Liangfeng , Shen Yin
Published: January 2024

Objective

To compare the efficacy and safety of the modified versus standard Valsalva maneuver in the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT).

Methods

The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP electronic databases were searched to identify studies comparing the modified and standard Valsalva maneuvers in the treatment of PSVT from database inception to 1 May 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias of all included studies.

Results

Nineteen randomized controlled trials involving 2527 patients with PSVT were included. The overall rate of cardioversion was higher in the modified than standard Valsalva group (risk ratio [RR] = 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.61–2.01), as was the success rate of cardioversion after a single Valsalva maneuver (RR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.74–2.41). There was no statistically significant difference in adverse reactions between the two groups (RR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.82–1.38).

Conclusion

Current evidence suggests that the modified Valsalva maneuver can significantly improve the success rate of cardioversion in patients with PSVT without increasing adverse reactions. The modified Valsalva maneuver is therefore worth promoting and should be considered as a routine first treatment. INPLASY registration number: 2023100092
Antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Crocin in high-fat diet plus streptozotocin-induced type-2 diabetic rats
Authors: Asdaq Syed Mohammed Basheeruddin , Mannasaheb Basheerahmed Abdulaziz , Orfali Raha , Shaikh Ibrahim Ahmed , Alshehri Ahmed , Alghamdi Adel , Alrashdi Meshal Mohammed , Almadani Moneer E , Abdalla Faisal Mohammad Ali
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Crocin, the principal water-soluble active constituent of saffron, possesses numerous pharmacological activities. The present investigation examined the potential antidiabetic and antioxidant characteristics of Crocin in rats with type-2 diabetes by administering it orally and intraperitoneally (i.p.).

Methods

After 2 weeks of a high-fat diet, streptozotocin (STZ) (i.p., 40 mg/kg) was administered to male adult rats to induce type-2 diabetes mellitus. Body weight and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were measured on days zero, weeks 1, and 2. At the end of 2 weeks of drug administration in their respective groups, fasting insulin and glucose levels were estimated, and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was determined. Intraperitoneal glucose (IPGTT) and insulin tolerance tests (ITT) were carried out. Histopathological investigation and biochemical parameters were estimated in pancreatic tissues.

Results

The Crocin (100 mg/kg) treatment has significantly improved body weight, abatement of FBG, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR. Likewise, Crocin treatment significantly improved the glucose and insulin challenges. We observed a significantly marked elevation in endogenous antioxidant enzymes in Crocin-treated groups. Similarly, Crocin treatment reversed the histopathological changes and restored the normal integrity and function of the pancreas.

Conclusion

The overall finding indicates that intraperitoneal administration of Crocin demonstrated better control of glycemic level and body weight. Further, it has improved insulin levels in the serum and potentiated antioxidant properties.
Characterization of excavated plastic waste from an Indian dumpsite: Investigating extent of degradation and resource recovery potential
Authors: Mankhair Roshan Vilasrao , Singh Ayush , Chandel Munish K
Published: January 2024

In recent years, the concept of landfill mining has gained a lot of traction in India, and tonnes of plastic waste is being excavated. The present shift towards a circular economy necessitates to explore the use of excavated plastic waste as a source of valuable materials and energy. However, the physicochemical characteristics of plastic waste change due to the degradation and weathering process in landfills, making its valorization difficult. The current study investigates the change in physicochemical characteristics of plastic waste with age from an Indian dumpsite to identify the potential valorization options. In addition, a material and energy flow analysis was performed considering incineration treatment of plastic waste. The plastic waste ranged between 3.6 and 21% in the dumpsite and has almost doubled in recent decades, owing to the increase in plastic waste generation in India. Polyethylene (high- and low-density) accounted for approximately 66% of the excavated plastic waste and had a lot of adhered surface impurities. Mechanical pre-treatment using a shredder was effective in the removal of the adhered impurities with a recovery rate of 50−70% for polyethylene and a higher recovery of 70−90% for other types of plastic. Changes in the surface morphology of plastic waste with aging were observed through Scanning Electron Microscopy. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy results confirmed low degradation levels for aged plastic waste, which is also confirmed through the high level of oxygen detected. The material and energy flow analysis revealed that incinerating one tonne of excavated plastic waste could produce approximately 1410 kWh of electricity.
Neutrophilic dermatoses as a manifestation of a systemic lupus erythematosus flare
Authors: Wang Yingxue , Chen Eugenia , Iyer Priyanka
Published: January 2024

Neutrophilic dermatoses (NDs) refer to a group of cutaneous conditions histologically characterized by the dense accumulation of neutrophils in the skin in the absence of infection. NDs have been associated with underlying autoimmune connective tissue disorders (CTDs) such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren’s syndrome, and dermatomyositis. We describe a case of neutrophilic dermatoses as a manifestation of a SLE flare.
Firefly Rats: Illuminating the Scientific Community in Transplantation Research
Authors: Kobayashi Eiji , Hakamata Yoji , Enosawa Shin , Shang Kuang-Ming , Komatsu Hirotake
Published: January 2024

Fireflies produce light through luciferase-catalyzed reactions involving luciferin, oxygen, and adenosine triphosphate, distinct from other luminescent organisms. This unique feature has revolutionized molecular biology and physiology, serving as a valuable tool for cellular research. Luciferase-based bioluminescent imaging enabled the creation of transgenic animals, such as Firefly Rats. Firefly Rats, created in 2006, ubiquitously express luciferase and have become a critical asset in scientific investigations. These rats have significantly contributed to transplantation and tissue engineering studies. Their low immunogenicity reduces graft rejection risk, making them ideal for long-term tracking of organ/tissue/cellular engraftments. Importantly, in the islet transplantation setting, the ubiquitous luciferase expression in these rats does not alter islet morphology or function, ensuring accurate assessments of engrafted islets. Firefly Rats have illuminated the path of transplantation research worldwide for over a decade and continue accelerating scientific advancements in many fields.
‘I can’t believe I just made history’: A temporal analysis of sports media reporting
Authors: Beaudoin Chloé , Moreau Nicolas , Roy Mélissa
Published: January 2024

Professional sport is a central element of our daily entertainment that contributes to shaping us individually and bonding us collectively: it provides us with shared ‘historic’ moments. This article is interested in these moments, and how the field of sports generates them, by asking the following questions: (1) has the frequency of ‘historic moments’ changed over time, and (2) is the way we make sports history consistent throughout the years? We conducted a temporal analysis of newspaper and magazine articles ( n  =  1062) published in France (Le Monde, l’Équipe) and in the United States (USA Today, Sports Illustrated) during three time periods in the 21st century (2003, 2010, 2019). Our results show that: (1) as time passes, ‘historic’ moments occur more frequently; (2) sporting history is increasingly linked to social dimensions; and (3) statistical performances continue to mark history above all else. Although performance-based achievements are consistently celebrated, sporting history cannot be separated from our collective social existence, and the currents therein. We show that the act of making sports history is also bound to the normative, social, and cultural history of a society.
Introducing a Measure of Hospital Community Orientation
Authors: Stabler Henry S. , Beebe Timothy , White Katie
Published: January 2024

Policymakers have long sought to encourage hospitals to assume a more collaborative role in improving community health. By urging hospitals to interact with community stakeholders, more integrative relationships may result that can better address local health issues. This study establishes a composite measure of hospital community orientation, defined as the extent to which a hospital uses community resources and knowledge in its community benefit (CB) work, based on an expansion of CB regulations that require nonprofit hospitals (NPHs) to develop strategies to address prioritized health issues. We collected data on each proposed intervention from 125 randomly selected NPHs over three reporting periods. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess how well a single-factor model approximated community orientation. We conclude that using hospital community orientation measurement is a useful metric to assess the effects of expanded CB regulations, as well as to determine how NPHs have interacted with communities over time.