bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vulnerability analysis of earthquake-driven blast load on a reinforced concrete structure
Authors: Verma Shivani , Goel Manmohan Dass , Sirdesai Nikhil Ninad
Published: April 2023

It is common practice in earthquake-prone areas to design structures with earthquake loading in mind. The severity of the damage to a structure depends on the earthquake's magnitude and the type of structure. Sometimes, a high-intensity earthquake can trigger explosive materials to explode inside structures. This combination of loading scenarios could lead to an overall increase in damage to the structures. So, it is essential to study the vulnerability analysis of the structures subjected to multi-hazard loading scenarios. This study mainly discusses the combined effect of the earthquake followed by the blast loading on the reinforced concrete structure. The results show that damage to the structure increases under combined earthquake and blast loading. Furthermore, the earthquake-induced vibrations in the structure intensify after the blast load. A parametric study of the structure is also performed, taking into account the possible load combinations of earthquake and blast loading. Moreover, this study discusses a numerical solution to the aforementioned problem, which strengthens fundamental knowledge and provides structural engineers with a deeper insight regarding the multi-hazard loading scenario considered in this study.
Shopping behaviour during the early vaccination phase of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Titiloye Ibukun , Jin Xia
Published: April 2023

Given the disruption to and rapid evolution of shopping behaviour due to COVID-19, there is a need to adequately understand shopping behaviour at different stages of the pandemic. Therefore, this study explored the shopping behaviour of Florida residents during the early vaccination phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (January to March 2021). The analysis examined shopping patterns (measured by purchase frequencies, expenditures, and shopping trip distances for different products) and attitudes, as well as how key demographic variables (age, income, and gender) might be associated with the patterns and attitudes. Results showed that online shopping was motivated by finding and comparing products, but concerns about putting personal information online, shipping costs, and the return process may have discouraged it. In-store shopping was not necessarily motivated by the need for social interaction, as people generally preferred shopping without interacting with anyone. Price, safety, and parking availability were the top three factors in choosing stores to shop from. Also, women spent less than men, but had significantly higher purchase frequencies. Thus, urban and transportation planners should promote compact, mixed-use development and parking management strategies to reduce vehicle shopping trips and the need for separate trips for different purposes.
Foucault, the Digital Humanities, the Method
Authors: Ganahl Simon
Published: April 2023

Starting from a review of the book Foucault, digital published by Bernhard J. Dotzler and Henning Schmidgen in 2022, this article deals with the question of how Michel Foucault's theoretical and methodological concepts can be operationalized in digital humanities research. It takes a critical stance on the assumption that discourse analysis is a quantitative, "big data" method and makes the case for translating the concept of the dispositive into qualitative digital projects. Finally, the essay relates Foucault's late works on governmentality and self-care to post-phenomenology and interaction design, advocating theorization by building digital tools and platforms.
An Overview of the Fake News Phenomenon: From Untruth-Driven to Post-Truth-Driven Approaches
Authors: Rodríguez-Ferrándiz Raúl
Published: April 2023

“Fake news” was chosen in 2017 as the word of the year by the Collins Dictionary and the American Dialect Society, due to its extraordinary popularity. However, its relevance has been called into question due to its controversy and ambiguity. We have compiled herein 30 definitions from selected dictionaries, academic papers, news agencies, influential media observatories, and independent, certified fact-checkers over the last six years and have carried out a manual relational content analysis on them. We also collected data from four bibliometric studies from academic literature and five surveys on how the general public perceived fake news. In keeping with this three-level systematic review (lexicography, bibliometrics, and public perception) we detected some trends, including a growing drift towards a post-truth-driven conceptualization of fake news. Results also show that the “viral” and “memetic” quality of a rumor prevail over the demonstrable credibility of a source and even the factuality of a reported event; the element of surprise or outrage in the heat of the moment is more powerful than the ironic detachment elicited by news satire and parody; and sharing motivations are definitely less concerned with perceived accuracy than with partisan support, community sentiment, emotional contagion, and a taste for the sensational or bizarre.
Handwork and Geometry in the Early Years: Curricular Movements (1890-2020)
Authors: Camara Alexsandra , Leme da Silva Maria Célia , Frizzarini Claudia Regina Boen
Published: April 2023

Background: Research in the history of mathematics education makes it possible to identify the links between manual practices and the teaching of geometry in the early years since the insertion of the subject Handwork, at the end of the 19th century, to the present time. Objectives: Analyse the interconnections between manual practices and the teaching of geometry developed by the school culture of primary education in São Paulo, since the early Republic. Design: The curricular regulations of the state of São Paulo and the national guidelines – PCN and BNCC – and school manuals that circulated in each historical moment are mobilised together with the results of research already developed in the area. The documents were collated and analysed to produce an understandable and sustainable historical narrative, based on evidence and controls. Data collection and analysis: The study inventoried research results and analysed teaching programs in the State of São Paulo, national guidelines at the end of the 20th century, and school manuals from different periods. Setting and participants: The research sources are documentary, most of them available in the UFSC Digital Repository. Results: The documental examination indicated that manual practices actively participate in the school culture and cause changes, from time to time. Handwork change its status from a school subject to a geometry teaching methodology, intended for the early school years, which we observe to this day. Conclusions: This research concluded that the understanding of the historical perspective contributes to reflection on the current educational problems, on the debate about how to mobilise tools for geometry teaching, questioning the feasibility or not of handwork acting as an appropriate methodology for the first explorations of geometric properties.
Coseismic Slip Model of the 19 September 2022 Mw 7.6 Michoacán, Mexico, Earthquake: A Quasi-Repeat of the 1973 Mw 7.6 Rupture
Authors: Liu Chengli , Lay Thorne , Bai Yefei , He Ping , Xiong Xiong
Published: April 2023

On 19 September 2022, a major earthquake struck the northwestern Michoacán segment along the Mexican subduction zone. A slip model is obtained that satisfactorily explains geodetic, teleseismic, and tsunami observations of the 2022 event. The preferred model has a compact large-slip patch that extends up-dip and northwestward from the hypocenter and directly overlaps a 1973 Mw 7.6 rupture. Slip is concentrated offshore and below the coast at depths from 10 to 30 km with a peak value of ∼2.9 m, and there is no detected coseismic slip near the trench. The total seismic moment is 3.1×1020  N·m (Mw 7.6), 72% of which is concentrated in the first 30 s. Most aftershocks are distributed in an up-dip area of the mainshock that has small coseismic slip, suggesting near-complete strain release in the large-slip patch. Teleseismic P waveforms of the 2022 and 1973 earthquakes are similar in duration and complexity with high cross-correlation coefficients of 0.68–0.98 for long P to PP signal time windows, indicating that the 2022 earthquake is a quasi-repeat of the 1973 earthquake, possibly indicating persistent frictional properties. Both the events produced more complex P waveforms than comparable size events along Guerrero and Oaxaca, reflecting differences in patchy locking of the Mexican megathrust.
4D label-free proteomic analysis of vitreous from patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
Authors:   Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, Zhejiang Province, China, Huo Qiu-Yi , Yang Wen-Chao ,   Anyang Eye Hospital, Anyang 455000, Henan Province, China, Wang Yi-Peng ,   Anyang Eye Hospital, Anyang 455000, Henan Province, China, Chen Song ,   Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300020, China
Published: April 2023

AIM: To identify metabolites, proteins, and related pathways involved in the etiology of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) for use as biomarkers in diagnosing and treating RRD.
METHODS: Vitreous specimens were collected and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis was performed using the four-dimensional label-free technique. Statistically significant differentially expressed proteins, gene ontology (GO) terms, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway representations, and protein interactions were analyzed.
RESULTS: Nine specimens were subjected to proteomic analysis. In total, 161 proteins were identified as differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), including 53 upregulated proteins and 108 downregulated proteins. GO functional analysis revealed that some DEPs were enriched in neuron-related terms and membrane protein terms. Moreover, KEGG analysis indicated that the cell adhesion molecule metabolic pathway was associated with the greatest number of DEPs. Finally, the evaluation of protein-protein interaction network revealed that DEPs were clustered in neuronal adhesion, apoptosis, inflammation and immune responses, correct protein folding, and glycolysis.
CONCLUSION: Proteomic profiling is useful for the exploration of molecular mechanisms that underlie RRD. This study reveals increased expression levels of proteins related to heat shock protein content, glycolysis, and inflammatory responses in RRD. Knowledge regarding biomarkers of RRD pathogenesis may help to prevent the occurrence of RRD in the future.
Initial medication adherence in newly diagnosed glaucoma patients: three adherence measures
Authors:   Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon 1990-096, Portugal, Menino Joana , Coelho André ,   H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon 1990-096, Portugal
Published: April 2023

AIM: To determine initial medication adherence in newly diagnosed glaucoma patients treated with anti-glaucoma drugs.
METHODS: This retrospective and observational study included all patients diagnosed with glaucoma in the Primary Health Care units in Portugal during the years 2012 and 2013, which in consequence received a first prescription for anti-glaucoma drugs. Data was collected from electronic prescribing records of the primary care units and from pharmacy claims records. Initiation of glaucoma treatment and early discontinuation were measured, and the combination of (non)-initiation and early discontinuation accounted for initial medication (non)-adherence.
RESULTS: A total of 3548 new glaucoma patients (40.1% male; 59.9% female) were included. The 1133 (31.9%) patients were initially classified as non-users, since there was no pharmacy claim found for their first prescription for glaucoma treatment. Additionally, 277 (11.5%) patients early discontinued their treatment, acquiring only their first prescription. Overall, the initial medication non-adherence rate was 39.7% since 1410 patients either didn’t initiate treatment or discontinued it early.
CONCLUSION: This study, reveals a major opportunity to improve glaucoma treatment and its control, since a large proportion of patients fail to engage with their prescribed therapy, which implies that implementation of individual or group strategies that enable patients with glaucoma to correctly perform their treatment is still needed.
The impact of liraglutide treatment on erectile function of the diabetic rats
Authors: GÖNÜLTAŞ Serkan , TÜKEN Murat , ÇULHA Mehmet Gökhan , SULEJMAN Suhejb , TAVUKÇU Hasan Hüseyin , BASTUG Yavuz , SEREFOGLU Ege Can , SEMERCİÖZ Atilla
Published: April 2023

Objectives: Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone released from intestinal L-cells following nutrient consumption. It potentiates secretion of insulin from pancreatic beta-cells thus GLP-1 analogues are used for the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus( T2DM). This study aims to evaluate impact of GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide on erectile function of diabetic rats.
Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 30, 13-weeks old, 240-335 gr) were fed with fatty diet for 2-weeks and divided into 3 groups (n = 10 each). The rats in the first group served as controls (Group C) whereas the rats in the remaining two groups were injected with streptozocin and became T2DM for forming diabetic group (Group D) and treatment group (Group DT). Rats in group D received citrate buffer injections whereas rats in the group DT received liraglutide injections (0.3 mg/kg/12h) subcutaneously. Erectile functions of all rats were evaluated with intracavernosal pressure (ICP)/mean arterial pressure (MAP) measurements. Moreover, plasma sex hormone levels (Testosterone, FSH, LH) were measured and histological assessment of midpenile tissue were performed (Collagen-Type-IV, rat epithelial antigen-1, nNOS).
Results: Maximum ICP/MAP ratios were 0.790 ± 0.164, 0.263 ± 0.139 and 0.652 ± 0.131 in Group C, Group D and Group DT. Although mean ICP/MAP ratios were similar in Group C and Group DT (p = 0.076), mean ICP/MAP ratio was significantly lower in Group D (p < 0.001). Testosterone and FSH results were significantly lower in the Group D as well (p = 0.001). Histological analyses revealed that nNOS (p < 0.001), rat epithelial antigen-1 (p = 0.016) and muscle/collagen ratio (p = 0.015) were also lower in Group D, compared with the other groups.
Conclusions: GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide demonstrated protective effects on the erectile tissues of the diabetic rats. Clinical trials are required to confirm if liraglutide treatment has similar beneficial effects on men who have T2DM.
Dinámica sociolingüística y vitalidad etnolingüística: quechua y aimara peruanos del siglo XXI
Authors: Escobar Anna María
Published: April 2023

En mayo de 2007, la Organización de Naciones Unidas declaró 2008 el año de las lenguas. Como organismo encargado de las celebraciones, UNESCO llamó la atención a la vitalidad etnolingüística de las lenguas en el mundo y presentó un mapa virtual interactivo (2009) con las lenguas consideradas en peligro de desaparición (véase ). Para el Perú, figuran 43 lenguas amazónicas, el aimara, el jaqaru y once variedades del quechua. Es este evento el que me lleva a esta reflexión en honor de quien ha trabajado tanto por las lenguas originarias, especialmente las andinas. La reflexión es sobre el concepto de vitalidad etnolingüística y los nueve criterios que emplea la U NESCO para definirla.
Las innumerables vocales del quechua
Authors: Pérez Silva Jorge Iván
Published: April 2023

Este trabajo pretende ofrecer evidencia empírica a favor de la propuesta de Cerrón-Palomino de que el quechua tiene tres fonemas vocálicos que se realizan de maneras diversas. En la sección 1, presenta evidencia acústica sobre la manera en que se pronuncian las vocales del quechua cuzqueño. La sección 2 presenta evidencia auditiva que muestra de manera indirecta la forma en que se perciben las vocales anteriores del quechua ayacuchano. Por ultimo, la sección 3 ofrece un modelo fonológico del sistema vocálico que pretende dar cuenta de los datos de las secciones previas. El título del trabajo es «Las innumerables vocales del quechua» porque busca reflejar la complejidad del fenómeno que estudia-la manera en que se relacionan las dimensiones acústica, auditiva y fonológica de las unidades vocálicas de esta lengua-, así como la imposibilidad de ofrecer una única respuesta definitiva. Ambas enseñanzas vienen del maestro Cerrón-Palomino. Esta es una pequeña muestra de agradecimiento por todo lo que he recibido y sigo recibiendo de él.
Etnografía visual y colonización cauchera
Authors: Flores Rosario
Published: April 2023

Entre las numerosas ilustraciones de Lima, Apuntes (1867), de Manuel Atanasio Fuentes, se encuentra el grabado reproducido en la figura 1. Aunque su inclusión puede pasar desapercibida o parecer arbitraria dentro del variado repertorio visual de la sociedad peruana que el autor ofrece en su libro, a mi modo de ver esta imagen resulta particular no solo por ser la única que hace referencia al espacio amazónico en ese entonces conocido como «montaña», sino porque le sirve al autor para definir mejor y por contraste las «razas civilizadas» del Perú
Introducción : Formas de cultura expresiva y la etnografía de «lo local»
Authors: Cánepa Koch Gisela
Published: April 2023

Los artículos incluidos en esta edición son estudios etnográficos sobre las manifestaciones rituales, festivas, coreográficas y musicales de los Andes bolivianos, ecuatorianos y peruanos. Estas manifestaciones, usualmente definidas como folclor o cultura tradicional, han sido entendidas por las ciencias sociales como marginales, al menos en dos sentidos
Internalized Heterosexism and Exposed Psychological Intimate Partner Violence: Experiences of Lesbian and Bisexual Women in Turkey and Denmark
Authors: Ummak Esra , Toplu-Demirtaş Ezgi , Aracı-İyiaydın Ayşegül
Published: April 2023

The current study investigates how associations between internalized heterosexism (IH) and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization differ for lesbian vs. bisexual (LB) women in Denmark, where queer people are relatively well accepted, and Turkey, where discrimination is still very high. The first purpose of the current study is to explore differences in the prevalence of psychological IPV victimization as a function of sexual orientation (LB women) and country (Denmark and Turkey). As the second purpose, we look at the moderating role of sexual orientation and moderated moderating role of country on the association between IH and psychological IPV victimization. A sample of 257 LB women aged 18–71 years (M= 33.23,SD= 11.15) from Denmark and 152 LB women aged 18–52 years (M= 28.88,SD= 7.70) from Turkey participated. The results of chi-square analyses indicate that LB women from Turkey reported significantly higher psychological IPV victimization than LB women from Denmark. Lesbian than bisexual women from both countries reported more hostile withdrawal and dominance/intimidation-related psychological IPV victimization. The results of moderated moderation analyses reveal that lesbian women in Turkey and bisexual women in Denmark with higher IH were more likely to report experiencing denigration acts. Mental health professionals working with queer psychological IPV survivors may benefit from understanding that IH is associated with LB women’s victimization of psychological IPV, which might be further associated with mental health challenges.
The Conservation Laws in Quantum Mechanics
Authors: Oldani Richard Joseph
Published: April 2023

When the theoretical foundations of Einstein’s quantum theory of radiation are compared with Heisenberg’s and Feynman’s nonrelativistic theories the equations are found to violate conservation laws. The deficiencies are corrected by introducing Hamilton’s principle S = ∫ Ldt and applying the methods of quantum field theory to derive relativistic equations of motion. The calculus of variations is used to show that the wave function equals twice the allowable action minimum. Einstein’s interpretation of quantum mechanical foundations is thereby determined to be the correct one.
ONSHORE-OFFSHORE TRENDS IN THE TEMPORAL RESOLUTION OF MOLLUSCAN DEATH ASSEMBLAGES: HOW AGE-FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTIONS REVEAL QUATERNARY SEA-LEVEL HISTORY
Authors: DO NASCIMENTO RITTER MATIAS , ERTHAL FERNANDO , KOSNIK MATTHEW A. , KOWALEWSKI MICHAŁ , COIMBRA JOÃO CARLOS , CARON FELIPE , KAUFMAN DARRELL S.
Published: April 2023

Surficial shell accumulations from shallow marine settings are typically averaged over centennial-to-millennial time scales and dominated by specimens that died in the most recent centuries, resulting in strongly right-skewed age-frequency distributions (AFDs). However, AFDs from modern offshore settings (outer shelf and uppermost continental slope) still need to be explored. Using individually dated shells (14C-calibrated amino acid racemization), we compared AFDs along an onshore-offshore gradient across the southern Brazilian shelf, with sites ranging from the inner shelf, shallow-water (< 40 m) to offshore, deep-water (> 100 m) settings. The duration of time averaging is slightly higher in deeper water environments, and the AFD shapes change along the depositional profile. The inner shelf AFDs are strongly right-skewed due to the dominance of shells from the most recent millennia (median age range: 0–3 ka). In contrast, on the outer shelf and the uppermost continental slope, AFDs are symmetrical to left-skewed and dominated by specimens that died following the Last Glacial Maximum (median age range: 15–18 ka). The onshore-offshore changes in the observed properties of AFDs—increased median age and decreased skewness, but only slightly increased temporal mixing—likely reflect changes in sea level and concurrent water depth-related changes in biological productivity. These results suggest that on a passive continental margin subject to post-glacial sea-level changes, the magnitude of time-averaging of shell assemblages is less variable along the depositional profile than shell assemblage ages and the shapes of AFDs.
Evaluation of the Effect of Polishing Methods on Surface Roughness in Primary Molars by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Duman Burcu , doğan Salih
Published: April 2023

Recurrent tooth discoloration due to the increase in roughness after polishing is a concern for patients and dentists. This study evaluated the surface roughness of primary molars after different polishing methods through atomic force microscopy (AFM). A total of 88 primary teeth were randomly assigned to 4 groups, 22 teeth in each group. Before polishing, roughness measurements and visualizations were performed with AFM. The teeth were polished with four different polishing pastes (Imipomza®, Septodent Détartrine®, Kerr Cleanic®, Shofu Mersaage Regular ®) in line with the manufacturer's recommendations. After polishing, average roughness (Ra) values, which express the surface roughness of the re-scanned teeth. The Ra scores were then statistically analysed. In the groups; while there was no significant difference in terms of roughness values ​​(Ra) within the group (p > 0.05), a statistically significant reduction in roughness (Ra) was observed on the sample surfaces after polishing in all groups compared to the baseline (p < 0.05). All polishing methods used in the treatment of primary tooth discoloration can reduce the plaque formation and thus the amount of recoloring by reducing the surface roughness at a similar level.The traditional polishing method (pumice polishing brush), which is more economical and easy to reach, can continue to be used instead of existing polishing pastes in removing discoloration on primary teeth.
Isolated long thoracic nerve palsy following COVID-19 vaccine: a case report.
Authors: Cutsem Gilles Van , Bolyn Serge
Published: April 2023

Introduction: We report an adult man who developed an isolated long thoracic nerve palsy three days following vaccination against COVID-19. To the best of our knowledge this is the first well-documented case of this association.
Case presentation: A 46-year-old white man developed back pain, followed by pain in the right axilla and scapular region, clumsiness of the right arm and unusual position of his shoulder blade, three days after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. When he consulted a neurologist six months later, the pain had subsided, but the other symptoms persisted despite physiotherapy. Main clinical findings were right scapular winging and marked amyotrophy of the serratus anterior, with preservation of the other muscles of the shoulder and scapula. Nerve conduction studies yielded a low amplitude with a slightly prolonged latency of the right long thoracic nerve. Needle electromyography showed decreased compound motor action potentials on the right and was normal on the left.
Main diagnosis and interventions: A diagnosis of post-immunisation long thoracic neuritis was made. The patient was treated with physiotherapy.
Conclusions: Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of neuritis of any nerve after COVID-19 vaccination.
Trauma-informed mental health and/or substance use prevention programs for young people: protocol for a mixed-methods systematic review
Authors: Peters Leslie , Newton Nicola , Perry Yael , Grummitt Lucinda , Baams Laura , Barrett Emma
Published: April 2023

Background: Mental ill-health and substance use bear substantial burden and harms on young people, and often arise from co-occurring and compounding risk factors, such as traumatic stress. Trauma-informed prevention of mental ill-health and substance use demonstrates significant promise in reducing this burden. A systematic literature review is required to identify and summarise the effectiveness, feasibility, acceptability, and design principles underpinning existing trauma-informed mental ill-health and/or substance use prevention programs for young people aged 12-24 years.
Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsychINFO and Cochrane Library will be searched from 2012 through September 2022 as will Informit, Analysis and Policy Observatory (APO), and Google (Advanced Search) for relevant grey/unpublished literature. Reference lists of included articles will be citation chained. Title and abstracts will be screened and two reviewers will review articles full-text. One reviewer will extract data from eligible articles using a piloted data extraction form, and 20% of data will be verified by a second reviewer. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials (RoB 2), Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I), and Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (GRADE CERQual) tool, depending on the study type. Characteristics of existing trauma-informed mental ill-health and/or substance use prevention programs for young people will be summarised narratively. Effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability will be qualitatively described and summarised, with proportions and effect sizes quantitatively synthesised, where possible.
Discussion: Trauma-informed approaches to prevention demonstrate significant promise yet to date no study has systematically summarised and synthesised the available literature. To fill this gap, the present review will systematically identify and summarise the effectiveness, feasibility, acceptability, and design principles underpinning existing trauma-informed mental health and/or substance use prevention programs for young people aged 12-24. This review will inform development, adaptation, evaluation and implementation of future traumainformed mental ill-health and substance use prevention programs for young people. Findings will inform critical efforts to interrupt and prevent already elevated trajectories of mental ill-health, substance use and related harms among those young people exposed to adversity.
Systematic review registration This review protocol has been submitted to PROSPERO (CRD42022353883).
Guided self-help for anxiety among Huntington’s disease gene expansion carriers (GUIDE-HD) compared to treatment as usual: a randomised controlled feasibility trial
Authors: Dale Maria , Eccles Fiona J R , Melvin Katie , Khan Zaynah , Jones Lee , Zarotti Nicolò , Kiani Reza , Johnson Jenny , Wells Robert , Simpson Jane
Published: April 2023

Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is an adult-onset genetic neurodegenerative condition, involving cognitive decline, motor impairments and emotional difficulties. Anxiety affects up to 71% of HD gene expansion carriers (i.e., those with the version of the gene that causes HD) and can negatively affect quality of life, worsen other HD symptoms, and increase suicide risk. Therefore, helping people with their anxiety should be a clinical priority. A significant evidence base now exists for low-cost talking therapies for anxiety, such as guided self-help, and with people with other neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s disease). However, this type of intervention has not been specifically assessed for HD gene expansion carriers.
Methods: This protocol describes an exploratory randomised controlled feasibility study of a psychological intervention for anxiety. The 10 session guided self-help intervention is based on a blend of second and third wave cognitive behavioural models of anxiety and adapted to meet the specific needs of an HD population. This study will compare guided self-help (GSH) with treatment as usual (TAU), with 15 HD gene expansion carriers randomly allocated to each group. Participants will be recruited across the East Midlands region in the UK. Quantitative data will be collected pre intervention, immediately post intervention, three-month post intervention and six-month post intervention; qualitative data will be collected at one month post intervention. The data will be analysed to assess whether the current intervention and study design meets pre-determined criteria that would indicate feasibility to progress to a larger randomised controlled trial. HD carers will also be invited for interview within 1-month post-intervention and these data will be analysed qualitatively.
Discussion
Given the lack of evidenced interventions to date to support the wellbeing of people with the expanded Huntington’s gene, this study will assess the feasibility of progressing this particular intervention to a full trial. To try and increase the acceptability of the intervention, a number of stakeholders, including those affected by HD and in caring roles, have been fundamental to the creation of the intervention (e.g., therapy manual, planned therapy process) to date.
Trial registration
Trial ID: ISRCTN47330596
Date registered: 28/09/2022
Link: https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN47330596
Impact on sexual functioning: total versus subtotal hysterectomy
Authors: Ferhi Mohamed , Abdeljabbar Ameni , Jaballah Fares , Jihenne Mannai , Bouzid Riadh , Nadia Marwen
Published: April 2023

Background
As with any surgical procedure, several complications can arise during the hysterectomy. A complication that has been documented in the literature is a detrimental effect on sexual performance. On the other hand, this surgical procedure resulted in better sexual functioning according to other studies. These findings made the topic a matter of controversy which inspired us to carry out this study.
Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare sexual functioning in women undergoing total (TH) and subtotal hysterectomy (STH).
Methodology A longitudinal, prospective and comparative study in women undergoing hysterectomy for benign diseases (N=60). Sexual dysfunction was evaluated by means of the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) before the hysterectomy and after 6 months. The sociodemographic and clinical parameters were examined using the patient's medical records.
Results Following surgery, significant improvement in sexual functioning according to both scales. In fact, the mean total score of the ASEX scale went from 25.14 to 21.15 and from 11,99 to 19,31 for the FSFI. The average time to resume sexuality postoperatively was 50 days. No significant difference was found in these results between total and subtotal hysterectomy.
Conclusion Hysterectomy, whether total or subtotal, has a positive impact on the overall sexual satisfaction of the patients especially in those with an impaired sexuality before surgery. There were no statistically significant differences in sexual function between the two groups TH versus STH. Therefore, cervix preservation for the purpose of improving overall sexual satisfaction cannot be recommended.
The role of economic freedom in achieving the environmental sustainability for the highest economic freedom countries: testing the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis
Authors: Bektur Cisem
Published: April 2023

In the study, the relationship between ecological footprint, economic freedom, renewable energy consumption and economic growth is analysed under the scope of environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. Here, fifteen countries with the highest economic freedom for the period 1996–2018 are examined i.e., Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, and Switzerland. The long-term relationship between the variables is examined using the panel cointegration test. According to the test results, it has been observed that the variables in the EKC model act together in the long run. According to the long term estimation results, it is seen that economic freedom decreases the ecological footprint, namely environmental degradation, in Canada, while it increases in Estonia. Furthermore, it is concluded that renewable energy reduces the ecological footprint in Australia, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Singapore, and Switzerland. Nevertheless, it has been determined that the EKC hypothesis is valid for Canada, Denmark, and Singapore, but not for other countries.
Mediating effects of DNA methylation on the association of sleep quality with infertility among women of childbearing age
Authors: Tang Ying , Gan Hong , Wang Baolin , Wang Xiaorui , Li Mengdie , Yang Qianhui , Geng Menglong , Zhu Peng , Shao Shanshan , Tao Fangbiao
Published: April 2023

Background
To investigate the association between sleep quality and infertility in Chinese females and to explore the mediating effects of DNA methylation.
Methods
This study was based on the Reproductive Health of Childbearing Couples - Anhui Cohort (RHCC-AC) study in China. We used the Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 850k BeadChip to detect changes in DNA methylation in peripheral blood samples. Here, we compared the relationship between female sleep characteristics and infertility in females with anovulatory infertility (n = 43) and healthy female controls (n = 43). A total of 753 354 CpG sites were included in the final analysis. We identified differentially methylated sites between cases and controls using the R package ChAMP. The R package “mediation” Bayesian estimation method was used to investigate the mediation effect between sleep quality and infertility among women.
Results
Of the 753 354 probes on the EPIC Beadchips analyzed, a total of 763 differentially methylated CpG sites corresponding to 476 genes were identified, including 540 hypermethylated sites and 223 hypomethylated sites. Difficulty falling asleep was a risk factor for infertility in females, and a causal mediation effect of DNA methylation sites was found (cg07675898, cg08298632 and cg15500907).
Conclusions
These results suggest that DNA methylation sites play a significant role between difficulty falling asleep and infertility in women, and a total of three methylation sites (cg07675898, cg08298632 and cg15500907) were found to be mediating variables. With the help of causal mediation analysis, the mediation effect of DNA methylation between difficulty falling asleep and female infertility provided new clues for the prevention and treatment of female infertility.
A time-series analysis of short-term ambient ozone exposure and hospitalizations from acute myocardial infarction in Henan, China
Authors: Wei Yulong , Fei Lin , Wang Yongbin , Zhang Min , Chen Zhigang , Guo Huige , Ge Shiqi , Zhu Sen , Dong Pingshuan , Yang Kan , Xie Na , Zhao Guoan
Published: April 2023

Epidemiological studies in recent years have identified an association between exposure to air pollutants and acute myocardial infarction (AMI); however, the association between short-term ozone (O3) exposure and AMI hospitalization remains unclear, particularly in developing countries. Therefore, this study collected information on 24,489 AMI patients, including daily air pollutant and meteorological data in Henan, China, between 2016 and 2021. A distributed lagged nonlinear model combined with a Poisson regression model was used to estimate the nonlinear lagged effect of O3 on AMI hospitalizations. We also quantified the effects of O3 on the number of AMI hospitalizations, hospitalization days, and hospitalization costs. The results showed that single- and dual-pollution models of O3 at lag0, lag1, and lag (01–07) were risk factors for AMI hospitalizations, with the most significant effect at lag03 (RR=1.132, 95% CI:1.083–1.182). Further studies showed that males, younger people (15–64 years), warm seasons, and long sunshine duration were more susceptible to O3. Hospitalizations attributable to O3 during the study period accounted for 11.66% of the total hospitalizations, corresponding to 2,856 patients, 33,492 hospital days, and 90 million RMB. Maintaining O3 at 10–130 µg/m3 can prevent hundreds of AMI hospitalizations and save millions of RMB per year in Henan, China. In conclusion, we found that short-term exposure to O3 was significantly associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for AMI in Henan, China and that further reductions in ambient O3 levels may have substantial health and economic benefits for patients and local healthcare facilities.
Inflow-Velocity and Rotational Effects on Revolving and Translating Wings
Authors: Paulson James , Jardin Thierry , Buchholz James
Published: April 2023

An aspect ratio 9.5 rectangular wing is articulated in revolving and translating motions at a 45-degree angle of incidence and Reynolds number Re = O(300). The effects of rotational (Coriolis and centripetal) accelerations and relative inflow velocity profile are independently investigated. For the range of displacements studied (180 deg. rotation and corresponding translational displacement) a stably attached leading-edge vortex (LEV) is observed when rotational accelerations and/or a linearly-varying inflow velocity profile is present; however, the inflow velocity profile has a stronger effect on stability of the LEV. LEV vorticity magnitude and lift are significantly augmented when both factors are included (i.e. the full revolving wing case). Vorticity transport analyses are conducted in a planar control region two chords from the axis of rotation, where three-dimensional vorticity transport is shown to be important in mitigating LEV growth, and at an equivalent distance from the wing root in the translating case. The fully revolving wing case exhibits a substantially larger leading-edge shear-layer vorticity flux than the other cases, whereas Coriolis tilting makes little contribution to regulation of LEV strength. A correlation is found between the spanwise convective flux and tilting flux contributions in all cases. Decomposition of the spanwise convective flux term demonstrates that the two phenomena are kinematically linked and yields a significantly simplified vorticity transport equation with a single term consolidating the three-dimensional transport fluxes, thus providing new physical interpretation of vorticity transport in leading-edge vortices.
Exploring available landslide inventories for susceptibility analysis in Gipuzkoa province (Spain)
Authors: Bornaetxea Txomin , Remondo Juan , Bonachea Jaime , Valenzuela Pablo
Published: April 2023

As in many landslide-prone areas of the world, landslides are recurrent in the Gipuzkoa province (northern Spain) and commonly cause damage to communication infrastructure such as roads and railways. This geomorphological process also threatens buildings and human beings, albeit in a lesser level. Despite the individual efforts by different institutions and academic research groups, basic and crucial information about historic and ancient landslides occurred in this territory—i.e., landslide inventories—is incomplete or unevenly distributed throughout the province. The aim of this work is to present the state of the art on landslide information through the description of the existing landslide inventories conducted in Gipuzkoa to date. Among the collected information, 5 landslide inventories are in digital format and 11 on paper maps, spanning the period 1991 to 2018. We have compared the digital databases using different strategies to assess their differences and provide some recommendations, specific for Gipuzkoa, to improve the quality of landslide information currently available, to avoid duplicate efforts in data collection and further the understanding of landslide occurrences at regional scale.
Detection of oxytetracycline in milk using a novel carbon dots-based fluorescence probe via facile pyrolysis synthesis
Authors: Yang Zhenhua , Yang Xintong , Zhang Yuexia , Fan Xiaopeng , Cao Yujuan , Li Zhongping , Dong Chuan
Published: April 2023

Amphiphilic blue-fluorescence carbon dots (B-CDs) were synthesized via pyrolysis method with citric acid and oleamine as precursors. B-CDs are monodispersed in ethanol, toluene and ultrapure water with the average particle sizes of 3.33 nm, 2.05 nm and 4.12 nm, respectively. The maximum excitation and emission wavelengths of these B-CDs are located at 370 and 459 nm, respectively. The B-CDs have good optical properties with excellent photostability. The fluorescence quantum yield (QY) of the as-prepared CDs is as high as 30.17%. The fluorescence of B-CDs is quenched because of static quenching by oxytetracycline. A high selective and sensitive fluorescence probe for detecting oxytetracycline was constructed with a linear range of 1.52-27.60 µg/mL and the detection limit of 0.33 µg/mL. The B-CDs-based fluorescence probe can be applied to analyze oxytetracycline in milk; the recoveries and relative standard are satisfactory. Furthermore, the B-CDs were exploited for imaging of SH-SY5Y cells. The results demonstrated that as-synthesized CDs can serve as a cellular imaging reagent owing to rematkable bioimaging performance. This work provides a new strategy for the detection of oxytetracycline in food.
‘More stressful than cancer’: Treatment Experiences Lived During Hurricane Maria among Breast and Colorectal Cancer Patients in Puerto Rico
Authors: Colón-López Vivian , Sánchez-Cabrera Yara , Soto-Salgado Marievelisse , Ortiz-Ortiz Karen J. , Quast Troy , Fernández María E.
Published: April 2023

Background: This study explored experiences in cancer care and disruption after Hurricanes Irma and Maria’s aftermath in Puerto Rico (PR).
Methods: A total of three focus groups were conducted among breast and colorectal cancer patients diagnosed six months before the disaster.
Results: The most prevalent themes were (a) barriers related to their cancer treatment, (b) facilitators related to their cancer treatment, and (c) treatment experiences during the hurricane. Participants discussed struggles regarding their experience with treatment and access to care during and after Hurricanes Irma and Maria and how household limitations due to lack of electricity and water deter their intention to continue their treatment. Moreover, stressors directly linked with the disaster were the most challenging to cope with.
Conclusions: Our study identifies the hardships experienced by cancer patients living during a disaster. Similarly, our study highlights the impending need to address in future emergency plans the individual and system needs of cancer patients in active treatment to minimize the delay in continuing cancer care.
Tetramethylpyrazine Ameliorates Endotoxin-induced Acute Lung Injury by Relieving Golgi Stress via the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Li Shaona , Xu Yexiang , He Simeng , Li Xiangyun , Shi Jia , Zhang Bing , Zhu Youzhuang , Li Xiangkun , Wang Yanting , Liu Cuicui , Ma Yang , Dong Shuan , YU Jianbo
Published: April 2023

Purpose
Endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe disease caused by an imbalanced host response to infection. It is necessary to explore novel mechanisms for the treatment of endotoxin-induced ALI. In endotoxin-induced ALI, tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) provides protection through anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis, and anti-pyroptosis effects. However, the mechanism of action of TMP in endotoxin-induced ALI remains unclear. Here, we aimed to determine whether TMP can protect the lungs by inhibiting Golgi stress via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.
Methods and results
Using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated C57BL/6J mice and MLE12 alveolar epithelial cells, we observed that TMP pretreatment attenuated endotoxin-induced ALI. The LPS + TMP group showed lesser lung pathological damage and a lower rate of apoptotic lung cells than the LPS group. TMP pretreatment also decreased the levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress damage (P < 0.05). Additionally, TMP pretreatment reduced Golgi stress by increasing the Golgi matrix protein 130 (GM130), Golgi apparatus Ca2+/Mn2+ ATPases (ATP2C1), and Golgin97 expression while decreasing the Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3) expression (P < 0.05). Furthermore, TMP pretreatment promoted Nrf2 and HO-1 expression (P < 0.05). Nrf2-knockout mice or Nrf2 siRNA-transfected MLE12 cells were pretreated with TMP to explore how the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway affected TMP-mediated Golgi stress in endotoxin-induced ALI models. We observed that Nrf2 gene silencing partially reversed the alleviating effect of Golgi stress and the pulmonary protective effect of TMP.
Conclusion
Our findings showed that TMP therapy reduces endotoxin-induced ALI by suppressing Golgi stress via the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro.
Online Video Course Design of Elliptic Partial Differential Equation Based on Image High Resolution Processing
Authors: Huang Hong
Published: April 2023

At present, the quality of online video courses in China is mixed. There are several reasons for the quality of online video courses. 1. the advantages and disadvantages of the front-end video capture equipment itself; 2. The distance of online video transmission; 3. The medium through which the video is transmitted; 4. Watch whether there is relevant interference information in the signal where the video is located and whether the video is compressed during transmission. These reasons lead to that although there is much to learn in the video, the resolution is too low to see from the video. With the development of the current social environment, most of the courses need online teaching. Therefore, in order to improve some problems in video playing caused by the increase of online teaching amount caused by the current environment, this paper provides higher resolution video for online courses by using high-resolution image processing technology based on the elliptic partial differential equation online video course. The high resolution processing technology used in this paper is centered on filtering algorithm. On the basis of the existing online video course of elliptic partial differential equations, the use of high-resolution technology can overcome the resolution limit of the hardware itself and further improve the video quality of online video teaching.