bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CDF-II W boson mass in the Dirac scotogenic model
Authors: Chuliá Salvador Centelles , Srivastava Rahul , Yadav Sushant
Published: July 2023

The Dirac scotogenic model provides an elegant mechanism which explains small Dirac neutrino masses and neutrino mixing, with a single symmetry simultaneously protecting the “Diracness” of the neutrinos and the stability of the dark matter candidate. Here, we explore the phenomenological implications of the recent CDF-II measurement of the W boson mass in the Dirac scotogenic framework. We show that, in the scenario where the dark matter is mainly a [Formula: see text] scalar doublet, it can satisfy all the theoretical and experimental constraints along with the CDF-II W boson mass for the mass range of 58–86 GeV. However, unlike the Majorana scotogenic model, the Dirac version also has a “dark sector” SU(2)L singlet scalar. We show that if the singlet scalar is the lightest dark sector particle, i.e. the dark matter then all neutrino physics and dark matter constraints along with the constraints from oblique S, T and U parameters can be concurrently satisfied for W boson mass in the CDF-II mass range, where the singlet dark matter mass is constrained up to around 500 GeV.
Message Authentication and Provenance Verification for Industrial Control Systems
Authors: Esiner Ertem , Tefek Utku , Mashima Daisuke , Chen Binbin , Kalbarczyk Zbigniew , Nicol David M.
Published: July 2023

Successful attacks against industrial control systems (ICSs) often exploit insufficient checking mechanisms. While firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and similar appliances introduce essential checks, their efficacy depends on the attackers’ ability to bypass such middleboxes. We propose a provenance solution to enable the verification of an end-to-end message delivery path and the actions performed on a message. Fast and flexible provenance verification (F2-Pro) provides cryptographically verifiable evidence that a message has originated from a legitimate source and gone through the necessary checks before reaching its destination. F2-Prorelies on lightweight cryptographic primitives and flexibly supports various communication settings and protocols encountered in ICS thanks to its transparent, bump-in-the-wire design. We provide formal definitions and cryptographically prove F2-Pro’s security. For human interaction with ICS via a field service device, F2-Profeatures a multi-factor authentication mechanism that starts the provenance chain from a human user issuing commands. We compatibility tested F2-Proon a smart power grid testbed and reported a sub-millisecond latency overhead per communication hop using a modest ARM Cortex-A15 processor.
Peer-supported physical activity intervention for academic probation freshmen in a physiology-related major: a feasibility study
Authors: Leary Miriam , DiDio Lindsay , Bonner Daniel , Bryner Randy , Leary Brian K.
Published: July 2023

Using upperclassmen as success coaches for a physical activity intervention for academic probation freshmen fostered social integration, improved mood and mental well-being, and increased university retention rates.
Student-led exercise testing and prescription has benefits for both students and their community volunteers
Authors: Saunders Travis , McIsaac Travis , Baker Tyler , Beck Katie , Fowles Jonathon R.
Published: July 2023

Undergraduate kinesiology students oversaw exercise testing and 4 wk of supervised exercise for community volunteers. Both students and their community participants reported enjoying the experience, and students stated that it also improved their understanding and confidence. These results suggest that student-led personal training programs provide meaningful benefits to students and their community volunteers.
Changes in Abiotic Drivers of Green Sea Urchin Demographics following the Loss of a Keystone Predator
Authors: Weitzman B. P. , Konar B. , Edwards M. S. , Rasher D. B. , Kenner M. C. , Tinker M. T. , Estes J. A.
Published: July 2023

Sea urchin population demographics can respond to changes in keystone species abundances, with the magnitude of these responses varying depending on environmental influences. In this study, sea urchin populations were surveyed across 15 Aleutian archipelago islands over a 30-year period to understand how patterns of sea urchin demography (density, biomass, and size structure) varied through different ecological regimes that were caused by changes in the abundance of sea otters, a keystone species in this system. To examine long-term changes in sea urchin demographics, four time periods across the recent decline of sea otters were examined: during sea otter presence (1987-1994), nearing absence at the end of the decline (1997-2000), 10 years postdecline (2008-2010), and 15-20 years following the loss of sea otters from the ecosystem (2014-2017). Our results show that when sea otters were broadly present, sea urchin demographics were generally similar across the archipelago, with few urchins that had large-sized bodies. During this time, bottom-up environmental controls were muted relative to top-down forces from keystone predation. However, as sea otters declined and remained absent from the system, abiotic factors became more influential on sea urchin biomass, density, and size structure. In particular, differences among island groups during these periods were correlated with variation in ocean temperature, bathymetric complexity, and habitat availability. Sea urchin recruitment also varied among island groups, corresponding to ecoregions delineated by oceanic passes across the archipelago. The functional extinction of sea otters revealed an increasing influence of abiotic forcing in the absence of top-down control. This study further highlights the importance of understanding how keystone predators regulate herbivore demographics.
An Empirical Study on the Influence of Embedded Option on Interest Rate Risk Based on Fuzzy Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Tang Enlin , Liu Zebin
Published: July 2023

With the gradual progress of interest rate marketization, China’s interest rate fluctuates more and more frequently, and the range is also growing. As a result, more and more implicit options are embedded in commercial banks’ balance sheets, which brings new challenges to commercial banks’ interest rate risk management. On the basis of identifying implicit options and theoretically analyzing the mechanism, fuzzy MCS method is used to calculate

C

e
f
f

and

D

e
f
f

when implicit options exist, and compared with the traditional duration value and traditional convexity value when implicit options do not exist, further analyzing how implicit options affect the interest rate risk.
Clinical Effect of Modified Ultrasound-Guided Subclavian Vein Puncture
Authors: Zhang Yun-Shui , Zhang Shuang-Long , Guo Wen-Min , Liu Tao , Ma Yu-Jie
Published: July 2023

Objective. This study compared the effect of ultrasound-guided subclavian vein puncture with traditional blind puncture and the double-screen control method by evaluating the one-time puncture success and total success rates, the completion time for puncture and catheterization, and short-term complications. Methods. From January 2020 to January 2021, 72 patients with right subclavian venipuncture catheterization were collected, 12 of whom were excluded (including 3 cases of pneumothorax, 2 cases of hemothorax, 1 case of difficult positioning of thoracic deformity, 1 case of severe drug eruption, 3 cases of clavicle fracture, and 1 case of severe coagulation dysfunction). The remaining 60 cases were randomly divided into the traditional group (n = 30) and the improved group (n = 30). We record two sets of ultrasound localization time, puncture time, one-time puncture power, total puncture success rate, and short-term (24-hour) complications. Results. Compared with the traditional group, the ultrasound positioning time and puncture time in the improved group were significantly reduced and the puncture success rate was higher. There were no complications, such as incorrect arterial puncture and the occurrence of pneumothorax, in either group. Conclusion. The improved ultrasound-guided subclavian vein catheterization technique can greatly reduce the catheterization time and improve the success rate of puncture and catheterization. It can also reduce the occurrence of complications and damage to adjacent tissues. The operation is simple, fast, and easy to master, and it has a high popularization clinical value.
Antipenetration Performance of Multilayer Protective Structure by the Coupled SPH-FEM Numerical Method
Authors: Yang Wenlong , Ye Renchuan , Ren Peng , Tian Ali
Published: July 2023

Multilayer composite structures have significant advantages in antipenetration protection. Problems such as element distortion are more likely to occur when the FEM is used to simulate the heterogeneous composite structure against penetration with large deformation. A coupled smoothed particle hydrodynamic (SPH)-FEM is proposed to simulate the antipenetration performance of multilayer protective structures under the penetration of high-speed hemispherical-nosed projectiles. The large deformation and broken areas are calculated by the SPH method, which overcomes the problem of element distortion in FEM. In other areas, the FEM is used to improve the calculation efficiency. The results indicated that simulating multilayer plates using the coupled SPH-FEM can achieve the ballistic limit and deformation that agree with the experiment. Moreover, the deformation of single-layer, in-contact double-layer, spaced double-layer, and sandwich target plates with a core layer of water was studied and discussed. The influence of the faceplate and core layer on the penetration resistance performance was discussed in this paper by applying LSDYNA to establish the model of 3D SPH-FEM and calculate the dynamic process. In addition, the relationship between initial-residual velocity, deformation, and damage failure behavior was obtained.
Research on Electrical Conductivity and Mechanical Properties of Ecological Concrete Prepared from Mine Solid Waste
Authors: Ren Zhenhua , Peng Yifeng , Chen Xi , Zeng Hao , Zeng Xiantao
Published: July 2023

Conductive concrete with nanographite–cupric nickel sulfate ore was prepared in this paper. As a new type of multifunctional multiphase conductive building material with conductive, electrothermal, electromagnetic shielding, piezoresistive properties, etc., nanographite–cupric nickel sulfate ore conductive concrete will have a wide range of applications in snow melting, electromagnetic shielding, cathodic protection and structural health monitoring, and other fields. In this paper, different dosage of nanographite and cupric nickel sulfate ore admixture that the mixture was excited by alkali excitation, ultrasonic vibration and combined alkali excitation and ultrasonic vibration, respectively were used to study the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of conductive concrete, 36 groups of nanographite–cupric nickel sulfate ore conductive concrete specimens and seven groups of comparative specimens were cured for 28 days, and the unconfined compression test, three-point bending test, and electrical conductivity test were carried out. The results show that the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the specimens with 6% nanographite and 60% cupric nickel sulfate ore were the best, with the compressive strength, flexural strength and resistance reaching 40.83 MPa, 6.81 MPa, and 5,850 Ω·cm, respectively. Compared with the comparative specimens, the compressive strength and the flexural strength of the specimens are increased by 38.5% and 20.4%, respectively, and the resistivity is decreased by 55.7%. This shows that the alkali excitation-ultrasonic vibration activation method can not only improve the electrical conductivity of nanographite–cupric nickel sulfate ore conductive concrete pavement but also ensure the stability of its mechanical properties.
Hospitalizations and Cost of Inpatient Care for Physical Diseases in Survivors of Childhood Cancer in Western Australia: A Longitudinal Matched Cohort Study
Authors: Abdalla Tasnim , Walwyn Thomas , White Daniel , Choong Catherine S. , Bulsara Max , Preen David B. , Ohan Jeneva L.
Published: July 2023

Background:

The long-term effects of childhood cancer are unclear in the Australian context. We examined hospitalization trends for physical diseases and estimated the associated inpatient care costs in all 5-year childhood cancer survivors (CCS) diagnosed in Western Australia (WA) from 1982 to 2014.

Methods:

Hospitalization records for 2,938 CCS and 24,792 comparisons were extracted from 1987 to 2019 (median follow-up = 12 years, min = 1, max = 32). The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of hospitalization with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was estimated using the Andersen–Gill model for recurrent events. The cumulative burden of hospitalizations over time was assessed using the mean cumulative count method. The adjusted mean cost of hospitalization was estimated using the generalized linear models.

Results:

We identified a higher risk of hospitalization for all-cause (aHR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.8–2.2) physical disease in CCS than comparisons, with the highest risk for subsequent malignant neoplasms (aHR, 15.0; 95% CI, 11.3–19.8) and blood diseases (aHR, 6.9; 95% CI, 2.6–18.2). Characteristics associated with higher hospitalization rates included female gender, diagnosis with bone tumors, cancer diagnosis age between 5 and 9 years, multiple childhood cancer diagnoses, multiple comorbidities, higher deprivation, increased remoteness, and Indigenous status. The difference in the mean total hospitalization costs for any disease was significantly higher in survivors than comparisons (publicly funded $11,483 United States Dollar, P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

The CCS population faces a significantly higher risk of physical morbidity and higher cost of hospital-based care than the comparisons.

Impact:

Our study highlights the need for long-term follow-up healthcare services to prevent disease progression and mitigate the burden of physical morbidity on CCS and hospital services.
Hierarchical Phosphorylation of HOXB13 by mTOR Dictates Its Activity and Oncogenic Function in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Chen Yonghong , Dufour Catherine R. , Han Lingwei , Li Ting , Xia Hui , Giguère Vincent
Published: July 2023

Dysregulation of mTOR signaling plays a critical role in promoting prostate cancer growth. HOXB13, a homeodomain transcription factor, is known to influence the androgen response and prostate cancer development. Recently, HOXB13 was found to complex with mTOR on chromatin. However, the functional crosstalk between HOXB13 and mTOR remains elusive. We now report that mTOR directly interacts with and hierarchically phosphorylates HOXB13 at threonine 8 and 41 then serine 31 to promote its interaction with the E3 ligase SKP2 while enhancing its oncogenic properties. Expression of HOXB13 harboring phosphomimetic mutations at the mTOR-targeted sites stimulates prostate cancer cellular growth both in vitro and in murine xenografts. Transcriptional profiling studies revealed a phospho-HOXB13–dependent gene signature capable of robustly discriminating between normal prostate tissues, primary and metastatic prostate cancer samples. This work uncovers a previously unanticipated molecular cascade by which mTOR directly phosphorylates HOXB13 to dictate a specific gene program with oncogenic implications in prostate cancer.

Implications:

Control of HOXB13 transcriptional activity via its direct phosphorylation by the mTOR kinase is a potential therapeutic avenue for the management of advanced prostate cancer.
p53 Regulates the Extent of Fibroblast Proliferation and Fibrosis in Left Ventricle Pressure Overload
Authors: Liu Xiaoyi , Burke Ryan M. , Lighthouse Janet K. , Baker Cameron D. , Dirkx Ronald A. , Kang Brian , Chakraborty Yashoswini , Mickelsen Deanne M. , Twardowski Jennifer J. , Mello Stephano S. , Ashton John M. , Small Eric M.
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND:

Cardiomyopathy is characterized by the pathological accumulation of resident cardiac fibroblasts that deposit ECM (extracellular matrix) and generate a fibrotic scar. However, the mechanisms that control the timing and extent of cardiac fibroblast proliferation and ECM production are not known, hampering the development of antifibrotic strategies to prevent heart failure.

METHODS:

We used the Tcf21 (transcription factor 21)
MerCreMer
mouse line for fibroblast-specific lineage tracing and
p53
(tumor protein p53) gene deletion. We characterized cardiac physiology and used single-cell RNA-sequencing and in vitro studies to investigate the p53-dependent mechanisms regulating cardiac fibroblast cell cycle and fibrosis in left ventricular pressure overload induced by transaortic constriction.

RESULTS:

Cardiac fibroblast proliferation occurs primarily between days 7 and 14 following transaortic constriction in mice, correlating with alterations in p53-dependent gene expression. p53 deletion in fibroblasts led to a striking accumulation of Tcf21-lineage cardiac fibroblasts within the normal proliferative window and precipitated a robust fibrotic response to left ventricular pressure overload. However, excessive interstitial and perivascular fibrosis does not develop until after cardiac fibroblasts exit the cell cycle. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed
p53
null fibroblasts unexpectedly express lower levels of genes encoding important ECM proteins while they exhibit an inappropriately proliferative phenotype. in vitro studies establish a role for p53 in suppressing the proliferative fibroblast phenotype, which facilitates the expression and secretion of ECM proteins. Importantly,
Cdkn2a
(cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2a) expression and the p16
Ink4a
-retinoblastoma cell cycle control pathway is induced in
p53
null cardiac fibroblasts, which may eventually contribute to cell cycle exit and fulminant scar formation.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study reveals a mechanism regulating cardiac fibroblast accumulation and ECM secretion, orchestrated in part by p53-dependent cell cycle control that governs the timing and extent of fibrosis in left ventricular pressure overload.
Extracellular Vesicle–Encapsulated Adeno-Associated Viruses for Therapeutic Gene Delivery to the Heart
Authors: Li Xisheng , La Salvia Sabrina , Liang Yaxuan , Adamiak Marta , Kohlbrenner Erik , Jeong Dongtak , Chepurko Elena , Ceholski Delaine , Lopez-Gordo Estrella , Yoon Seonghun , Mathiyalagan Prabhu , Agarwal Neha , Jha Divya , Lodha Shweta , Daaboul George , Phan Anh , Raisinghani Nikhil , Zhang Shihong , Zangi Lior , Gonzalez-Kozlova Edgar , Dubois Nicole , Dogra Navneet , Hajjar Roger J. , Sahoo Susmita
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND:

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has emerged as one of the best tools for cardiac gene delivery due to its cardiotropism, long-term expression, and safety. However, a significant challenge to its successful clinical use is preexisting neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), which bind to free AAVs, prevent efficient gene transduction, and reduce or negate therapeutic effects. Here we describe extracellular vesicle–encapsulated AAVs (EV-AAVs), secreted naturally by AAV-producing cells, as a superior cardiac gene delivery vector that delivers more genes and offers higher NAb resistance.

METHODS:

We developed a 2-step density-gradient ultracentrifugation method to isolate highly purified EV-AAVs. We compared the gene delivery and therapeutic efficacy of EV-AAVs with an equal titer of free AAVs in the presence of NAbs, both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we investigated the mechanism of EV-AAV uptake in human left ventricular and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in vitro and mouse models in vivo using a combination of biochemical techniques, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence imaging.

RESULTS:

Using cardiotropic AAV serotypes 6 and 9 and several reporter constructs, we demonstrated that EV-AAVs deliver significantly higher quantities of genes than AAVs in the presence of NAbs, both to human left ventricular and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in vitro and to mouse hearts in vivo. Intramyocardial delivery of EV-AAV9–sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2a to infarcted hearts in preimmunized mice significantly improved ejection fraction and fractional shortening compared with AAV9–sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2a delivery. These data validated NAb evasion by and therapeutic efficacy of EV-AAV9 vectors. Trafficking studies using human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cells in vitro and mouse hearts in vivo showed significantly higher expression of EV-AAV6/9–delivered genes in cardiomyocytes compared with noncardiomyocytes, even with comparable cellular uptake. Using cellular subfraction analyses and pH-sensitive dyes, we discovered that EV-AAVs were internalized into acidic endosomal compartments of cardiomyocytes for releasing and acidifying AAVs for their nuclear uptake.

CONCLUSIONS:

Together, using 5 different in vitro and in vivo model systems, we demonstrate significantly higher potency and therapeutic efficacy of EV-AAV vectors compared with free AAVs in the presence of NAbs. These results establish the potential of EV-AAV vectors as a gene delivery tool to treat heart failure.
A Promising Break in the “Black Box”: Agency of Competencies and Interpretation in Istanbul Maker Ecologies
Authors: Dilek Özgün , Kaya Cigdem
Published: July 2023

This article reflects an inquiry into the agency in Istanbul maker ecologies by employing phenomenological research through the perspective of Actor-Network Theory. The originally generated onto-phenomenological approach in this article attributes agency to the competencies and the interpretation. Socioeconomic effects that emerged as an outcome of the agency in maker-thing assemblages are reflected as a part of this inquiry. Agency in local maker practices is exposed to show how they are different from the global maker movement through the criticism of it in the discussion.
New curious genus of the subfamily Cladonotinae (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) from Borneo Island with remarks on the classification of this subfamily
Authors: STOROZHENKO SERGEY YU.
Published: July 2023

A new monotypic genus Trusmaditetrix gen. nov. (type species: Trusmaditetrix complanata sp. nov.) is described from Malaysia. New tribe Trusmaditetrigini trib. nov. is established for six genera of Cladonotinae (Trusmaditetrix gen. nov., Devriesetettix Tumbrinck, Eurymorphopus Hancock, Ichikawatettix Tumbrinck, Planotettix Tumbrinck, and Tepperotettix Rehn). A key to genera and an annotated list of the genera and species of the new tribe are also provided. The species Eurymorphopus dubius Günther, 1974 from Mauritius is placed in the genus Morphopoides Rehn, 1930 and a new combination is proposed: M. dubius (Günther, 1974), comb. nov.
Talorchestia buensis sp. nov. (Senticaudata, Talitridae), a new species of amphipod from West Bengal, east coast of India
Authors: BHOI GITANJALI , MYERS ALAN A. , KHATUA ROHIT , PATRO SHESDEV
Published: July 2023

In coastal regions, Talitrids are found among decaying material in the supralittoral zone of sandy beach, mangroves and delta regions. Five genus and five species of the family Talitridae have been reported so far from Indian coastal waters. A new species of the amphipod genus Talorchestia Dana, 1852, Talorchestia buensis sp. nov. was collected from Kadirabad Char, West Bengal, east coast of India. The species was collected from a sandy beach, beneath dead leaves. The new species can be distinguished from other described species of the genus by the presence of a double rows of setae on the endopod of uropod 2, the presence of more than 10 robust setae in each lobe of the telson, antenna 2 reaching more than half the body length, pereopod 7 longer than pereopod 6 and by the absence of a distal protuberance on the palm of male gnathopod 2. The present article increases the total number of world species in the genus to 26.
4. Autonomy-Based Reasons for Limitarianism
Authors: Zwarthoed Danielle
Published: July 2023

This paper aims to provide autonomy-based reasons in favour of limitarianism. Limitarianism affirms it is of primary moral importance that no one gets too much. The paper challenges the standard assumption that having more material resources always increases autonomy. It expounds five mechanisms through which having too much material wealth might undermine autonomy. If these hypotheses are true, a theory of justice guided by a concern for autonomy will support a limitarian distribution of wealth. Finally, the paper discusses two issues autonomy-based limitarianism would raise. First, insofar as coercion invades autonomy, do autonomy-based reasons legitimate coercive measures to secure a limitarian distribution of wealth? Second, is a limitarian ethos consistent with the incentive to produce enough wealth to secure distributive justice?
9. Sufficiency, Limits, and Multi-Threshold Views
Authors: Hickey Colin
Published: July 2023

In this chapter, I intervene on a set of debates in the distributive justice literature to assess the relation between sufficientarianism and limitarianism. In particular, I investigate whether sufficientarians should (or even must) also endorse a limitarian thesis, and similarly whether limitarians should (or even must) also endorse a sufficiency thesis. I argue affirmatively that sufficientarians have very good reasons to also adopt a limitarian thesis, as do limitarians to adopt a sufficientarian thesis. While I entertain some speculative arguments about a necessary conceptual connection between the views, the results are more tentative. So, while it is likely, in principle, possible to affirm one view without the other, doing so is hard to motivate and not advisable. I end the chapter suggesting some reasons why it should actually be less surprising than we might think that our most plausible theories of distributive justice would turn out to be “multi-threshold” views of a certain structure, containing (at least) one sufficientarian threshold and one limitarian threshold.
0. Introduction
Authors: Baillot Anne
Published: July 2023

The introduction delineates the main topic of the book. Starting with archiving, it examines the ways in which text has been handled in north-western cultures since Antiquity. Archiving, editing and publishing are presented as core cultural practices in which text plays a key role and which the following chapters aim to explore. The two main perspectives are a theoretical approach reflecting on their historical institutionalization and an analysis of the impact of the shifts brought on to them at the end of the 20th century with the introduction of digital media and the consequences of the climate crisis.
Pulling through elections by pulling the plug: Internet disruptions and electoral violence in Uganda
Authors: Garbe Lisa
Published: July 2023

Does increasing Internet access and use challenge authoritarian elections? I argue that Internet access provides both opposition supporters and government authorities with new means to shape electoral conduct. Opposition supporters can use the Internet to report on electoral malpractice and mobilize for support. At the same time government authorities can use the Internet to monitor antiregime sentiment prior to the elections and disrupt Internet access to selectively repress regime opponents during the elections. Studying Uganda’s 2016 presidential elections, evidence from election monitoring and survey data suggests that electoral violence is significantly higher in opposition strongholds with greater Internet access prior to the Internet disruption and is targeted specifically at voters. Insights from qualitative interviews with politicians, journalists and activists underline that the disruption of Internet access indeed hindered opposition supporters to effectively challenge electoral malpractice. Overall, the results stress the important role that Internet access can play for opposition actors in authoritarian elections. At the same time, they highlight their susceptibility to manipulation by government authorities.
Content Strategy or Strategic Content? Suggestions for Developing Sustainable Content Strategy in Advocacy Organizations
Authors: Stone Erica M.
Published: July 2023

Using first-hand experience supplemented by an open-access archive, this article examines case examples of civically engaged, public-facing technical communication (e.g., training for community organizers) as well as the value of stories and storytelling for content strategy. By developing 10 best practices for content strategy in advocacy organizations, this article offers suggestions for how to design and sustain content strategy for community organizers and contributes to the field's knowledge of the content strategy of politically engaged nonprofits, particularly those with a strong digital presence.
The mule on the Mount Wilson trail: George Ellery Hale, American scientific cosmology, and cosmologies of American science
Authors: Oliver Kendrick
Published: July 2023

This article explores the relation between two different modes of cosmology: the social and the scientific. Over the twentieth century, scientific understandings of the dimensions and operations of the physical universe changed dramatically, significantly prompted by astronomical and astrophysical research undertaken at the Mount Wilson Observatory in Pasadena, California. Could those understandings be readily translated into social theory? Studies across a range of disciplines have intimated that the scientific cosmos might be less essential to the worlds of meaning and belonging that people and communities compose around themselves than more local and relational models of an ordered whole. The article applies that proposition to the Mount Wilson Observatory itself, arguing that the observatory’s founder, George Ellery Hale, and his acolytes were deeply invested in practices of terrestrial place-making, the politics of belonging, and the cadences of civilizational time as applied to their city and its region. Moreover, they struggled to construct a philosophy integrating the cosmos they were seeking to fix at home with the contortions and careering trajectories of the universal whole.
On the vibration control through mode coupling in a near-uniform chain-like structure using an inerter
Authors: Garrido Hernán , Domizio Martín , Curadelli Oscar , Ambrosini Daniel
Published: July 2023

The tuned mass damper (TMD) is a classical device interesting for reducing deformations between DOFs without physically connecting them. However, it has a practical limit due to the increase in mass required for improving its performance. A building mass damper (BMD) uses mode coupling to make the upper substructure of a chain-like structure behave as a TMD for the lower substructure, which avoids adding mass to the structure. Unfortunately, near-uniform chain-like structures require isolation of the upper substructure for tuning the BMD, making it impractical for retrofitting existing structures since it is an in-series intervention. This paper proposes and evaluates using an inerter, instead of isolating the upper substructure, to control vibrations through mode coupling in a chain-like structure. From an analytical and numerical study, it was found a significant reduction of lower substructure deformations by implementing solely an inerter and a damper in the upper substructure. The inerter-based approach showed similar performance to the classical BMD with the advantage of being an in-parallel intervention. Therefore, this approach constitutes a practical retrofit to improve the dynamic behavior of existing structures with excessive deformations in a lower substructure whose functionality or esthetics would be compromised if control devices were installed in it.
Nonlinear viscoelastic damping in a Poynting oscillator
Authors: Wineman Alan Stuart
Published: July 2023

This work considers a cylindrical rod, acting as a nonlinear viscoelastic spring, with an attached mass that can displace along and rotate about the rod’s axis, thereby inducing an extension and twist in the rod. The coupling between them produces the Poynting effect in the body. The material is modeled by the nonlinear single integral Pipkin–Rogers constitutive equation. The mass has been assumed to be at rest in a long-time equilibrium state and then given a small axial or rotational disturbance and released (plucked). The subsequent motion is governed by a linear Volterra integro-differential equation. For a particular choice of material parameters, analytical expressions for the time-dependent decay of the disturbance are obtained in terms of the extension/torsion coupling, material stiffness, the amount and rate of stress relaxation, and the inertia of the mass. For other choices of material parameters, the results provide insight into how these quantities affect the time-dependent decay. A number of plucking scenarios are treated such as extensional or rotational disturbances from the undeformed state, rotational plucking after a finite axial stretch, and extensional plucking after a finite rotation. Simultaneous rotational and extensional plucking leads to a system of Volterra integro-differential equations whose treatment is deferred to later work.
VEGF Mediates Tumor Growth and Metastasis by Affecting the Expression of E-Cadherin and N-Cadherin Promoting Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Zhang Yue , Wang Yanyan , Zhao Menglin , Li Xinwei , Li Huiyuan , Tang Mingyue , Geng Zhijun , Zuo Lugen , Song Xue , Wang Zishu , Wang Qiang , Su Fang
Published: July 2023

Background:

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth leading cancer in the world, and there is a high mortality rate in China. Exploring the relationship between the prognosis of GC and the expression of related genes is helpful to further understand the common characteristics of the occurrence and development of GC and provide a new method for the identification of early GC, so as to provide the best therapeutic targets.

Methods:

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were investigated immunohistochemically using tumor samples obtained from 196 GC tissues and adjacent tumor tissues. The correlation of the expression level with histopathologic features and survival was investigated.

Results:

Here, we show that VEGF and EMT markers expression were significantly correlated with depth of tumor invasion and GC stage ( P < .05), degree of differentiation and lymph node metastasis ( P < .001). We found that the rate of VEGF positivity in GC tissues was 52.05%, which was significantly higher than that in adjacent cancer tissues (16.84%). In GC, the association between VEGF and E-cadherin was negative ( r = −0.188, P < .05), whereas VEGF and N-cadherin were positively correlated ( r = 0.214, P < .05). Furthermore, the Kaplan-Meier analysis and a Cox regression model were used to analyze the effect of VEGF and EMT marker expression on the survival of the patients. We found that the overall survival of GC patients was correlated with VEGF ( P < .001), N-cadherin ( P < .001), E-cadherin ( P = .002) expression, and some histopathologic features.

Conclusions:

Vascular endothelial growth factor and EMT markers exist side by side and play a part together in the development of GC, which provides new ideas for evaluating the prognosis of GC and researching targeted drugs.
Solitary confinement as state harm: Reimagining sentencing in light of dynamic censure and state blame
Authors: Manikis Marie , Doiron Nicholas
Published: July 2023

The continuous perpetration of unjustified harms by the carceral state through its use of solitary confinement justifies the creation of a novel process of automatic sentence review. This process is necessary to account for such state-perpetrated harms and communicate censure more accurately. This article proposes the use of a communicative theory of punishment developed in sentencing to characterise and account for the state's wrongdoing and harms in the context of a sentence that involves solitary confinement. Specifically, it outlines a justification for an automatic review process of the offender's carceral sentence based on an expanded and relational understanding of censure developed in the literature and proposes a two-step process to implement this review.
Outcomes of Frontal Sinus Stenting With Steroid Impregnated Microsponge Versus Steroid-Eluting Implant
Authors: Brar Tripti , Brown Adam , Miglani Amar , Lal Devyani , Marino Michael J.
Published: July 2023

Background

Mometasone-eluting poly-L-lactide-coglycolide (MPLG) is available commercially for frontal sinus ostium (FSO) stenting. An alternative chitosan polymer-based drug delivery microsponge is also available at a lower cost per unit.

Objective

To compare the outcomes of MPLG stents versus triamcinolone-impregnated chitosan polymer (TICP) microsponge in frontal sinus surgery.

Methods

Patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery from December 2018 to February 2022 were reviewed to identify those with the intraoperative placement of TICP microsponge or MPLG stent in the FSO. FSO patency was evaluated by endoscopy at follow-up. Twenty-two-item sinonasal outcome test (SNOT-22) was also recorded, and complications were noted.

Results

A total of 68 subjects and 96 FSOs were treated. TICP was first used in August 2021 and MPLG in December 2018. MPLG placement in a Draf 3 cavity was excluded since TICP had not been used during Draf 3 procedure. Both cohorts (TICP 20 subjects, 35 FSOs; MPLG 26 subjects, 39 FSOs) had similar clinical characteristics. At a mean total follow-up of 249.2 days for TICP and 490.4 days for MPLG, FSO patency was 82.9% and 87.1%, respectively ( P = .265). At an equivalent follow-up of 130.6 days in TICP and 154.0 days in MPLG, patency was 94.3% and 89.7%, respectively ( P = .475). Both groups showed significant reductions in SNOT-22 ( P < .001). MPLG demonstrated crusting within the FSO at 1 month (none in TICP).

Conclusion

FSO patency for both stents was similar, although TICP had significantly lower costs per unit. Additional comparative trials may be helpful for guiding clinicians on the appropriate clinical situations for the use of these devices.
Spinal Cord Cavernous Malformation: A Case Report
Authors: Izi Zineb , El Haddad Siham , Allali Nazik , Chat Latifa
Published: July 2023

Spinal cord cavernous malformation is a rare and uncommon vascular malformation, it may remain asymptomatic for a long period or manifest as a sudden or gradual change in spinal cord functioning. The diagnosis relies essentially on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Surgery constitutes the majority of management with all the complications that can occur during and after surgery. We report a case of intramedullary cavernoma of a 12-year-old patient admitted for acute paraparesia with bowel and bladder dysfunction. MRI revealed 2 intramedullary cavernomas at T6-T7 and T11-T12. Through this case report, we discuss the clinical and radiological characteristics of this unusual intramedullary malformation.
The Experience of Working Nurses Attending Graduate School During COVID-19: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study
Authors: DeGrande Heather , Seifert Madison , Painter Elizabeth
Published: July 2023

Introduction

There has been unprecedented uncertainty involved in the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for working nurses. Nurses working while attending graduate school faced additional unique challenges including working extended hours while also home-schooling young children, managing a family life while also navigating pandemic-related changes affecting students’ educational paths.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of working nurses attending graduate school during the COVID-19 pandemic. The central research question was: What is the lived experience of working nurses attending graduate school during COVID-19?

Methods

The exploration of the lived experience of working nurses attending graduate school during a pandemic required a research methodology delving into the meaning of lived experience as it has been lived, temporally, and contextually (during a pandemic). Qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology was used to explore the meaning of lived experience from an interpretational stance.

Results

The overall meaning of the experience was a paradigm shift of existence across the three realms of work, home, and school. The themes associated with the shift were rapid change, uncertainty, fear, and support persons. Stress was a resulting overarching theme.

Conclusions

To support working nurses further their education during times of crisis, nurse leaders and educators should put processes in place to mitigate change and stress through strategic communication and supportive work environments.
The Lived Experience of Resilience in the Setting of Chronic Illness and Low-Resource Communities of African Americans That Reside in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi
Authors: Moore Tara Leigh
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Strong links can be made between chronic illness, low-resource communities, and poor health outcomes. One such area is the Mississippi Delta within the United States that has identified its residents rank the lowest in overall health indicators with high rates of chronic illness.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the phenomenon of resilience in the setting of chronic illness and low resourced communities to gain baseline knowledge of the topic to improve protective resilience within the community.

Methods

The descriptive phenomenological psychological reduction method outlined by Giorgi et al. was used based on semistructured and in-depth interviews with eight individuals (ages 33–64) who were recruited by purposive sampling through a humanitarian organization.

Results

Six themes of the lived experience of the participants revealed the eidetic structure and essence of the experience. The results of the study provided important implications related to the meaning of chronic illness to the individual, poor resilient risk factors, antecedents to resilience, and areas to focus on for resilience promotion.

Conclusion

A lifeworld perspective of the individual can help nurses develop a greater understanding in formulating interventions for resilience promotion.
Clinical Pattern and Outcome of Burn Injury in Children in AaBet Trauma Center Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Prospective Study
Authors: Mamo Sosina Tamre , Addisie Asmamaw Abebe , Heye Tigist Bacha , Tegegne Ousman Adal
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Burn injuries are among the most prevalent health conditions worldwide that happen mainly in children, military, and victims of fire accidents. The previous literature had general limitations in that it focused on the retrospective study design, which can be prone to incomplete data or lack the full evidence of the problem, however, this study is a prospective study that gives a clue to the possible determinant factors of burn injury in pediatrics.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical pattern and outcome of burn injury in children at the AaBet trauma center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, between July 2016 and July 2020.

Methods

An institutional-based prospective study was conducted in an AaBet trauma center. The study participants were chosen using a systematic random sampling method and followed for 4 years to determine their clinical outcomes after burn injury. A pretested observational check list was used to collect the data. The collected data were coded, entered Epi-data version 4.6, and exported to SPSS version 26 for descriptive and inferential analysis. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with burn injury on the adjusted odd ratio with a 95% confidence interval at a p-value of  < .05.

Results

A total of 256 patients were recruited for this study. Scald burns accounted for 50.8% of the injury mechanisms, with 93.8% of the incidents occurring in private residences. Second-degree burns were the most common presentation of the victims (83%). Lower limbs were the most frequently burned body part (47%). Over 70% of the victims had 20% of their body surface area burned. Intentional burns accounted for 1.2% of all burn victims. The length of the hospital stay ranged from 1 day to 164 days with a mean stay of 24.73 days. Eight patients (3.1%) died during the study period.

Conclusion and recommendation

Pediatric burn incidences showed no significant discrepancies between males and females. Scald and open flame are the common causes of burn injury. Most incidents occurred in indoor settings, and most of the victims had not received first aid at home. Most patients left the hospital with no or minimal complications. Only 3.1% of the patients died. Patients who had burn-associated injuries were 98.8% less likely to be alive than those who had no associated injuries at all. For all governmental and non-governmental bodies, it is highly recommended to give priority to preventive measures and education on the need for appropriate prehospital care.
Assessment of efficacy and safety of endoscopic lung volume reduction with one-way valves in patients with a very low FEV1
Authors: Sgarbossa Thomas , Lenga Pavlina , Stanzel Franz , Holland Angelique , Grah Christian , Gesierich Wolfgang , Gebhardt Andreas , Ficker Joachim , Eggeling Stephan , Andreas Stefan , Schmidt Bernd , Eisenmann Stephan , Schwick Björn , Franke Karl-Josef , Fertl Andreas , Witzenrath Martin , Hübner Ralf-Harto
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) with one-way valves produces beneficial outcomes in patients with severe emphysema. Evidence on the efficacy remains unclear in patients with a very low forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (≤20% predicted). We aim to compare clinical outcomes of ELVR, in relation to the FEV1restriction.

Methods

All data originated from the German Lung Emphysema Registry (Lungenemphysem Register), which is a prospective multicentric observational study for patients with severe emphysema after lung volume reduction. Two groups were formed at baseline: FEV1≤20% pred and FEV121–45% pred. Pulmonary function tests (FEV1, residual volume, partial pressure of carbon dioxide), training capacity (6-min walk distance (6MWD)), quality of life (modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale (mMRC), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)) and adverse events were assessed and compared at baseline and after 3 and 6 months.

Results

33 patients with FEV1≤20% pred and 265 patients with FEV121–45% pred were analysed. After ELVR, an increase in FEV1was observed in both groups (both p<0.001). The mMRC and CAT scores, and 6MWD improved in both groups (all p<0.05). The SGRQ score improved significantly in the FEV121–45% pred group, and by trend in the FEV1≤20% pred group. Pneumothorax was the most frequent complication within the first 90 days in both groups (FEV1≤20% pred: 7.7%versusFEV121–45% pred: 22.1%; p=0.624). No deaths occurred in the FEV1≤20% pred group up to 6 months.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the potential efficacy of one-way valves, even in patients with very low FEV1, as these patients experienced significant improvements in FEV1, 6MWD and quality of life. No death was reported, suggesting a good safety profile, even in these high-risk patients.