bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DEVELOPING AN ATTITUDE SCALE TOWARDS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COURSES: A STUDY OF VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Authors: Yalgin Sinem , Batman Kemal Akkan , Bastas Mert
Published: September 2023

Science education in primary school is critical for establishing a comprehensive understanding of the nature of science. Students with positive attitudes towards science courses are more likely to achieve academic success. Measuring and fostering positive attitudes is essential for effective instructional planning. This study aimed to develop a measurable scale to assess the attitudes of fourth-grade elementary school students in Northern Cyprus towards Science and Technology Courses (STC). While developing the Student Science and Technology Attitude Scale (SSTAS), the literature was reviewed, and 168 students were asked to write essays about STC. A pool of attitude items was created by analyzing the literature and essays, and expert opinions were sought. The preliminary scale was prepared based on expert consultation. The study group included 651 randomly selected fourth-grade students during the 2020-2021 academic year. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were conducted to determine SSTAS's construct validity. The results indicated that the scale is valid and reliable, comprising three dimensions. The first dimension measures students' attitudes towards the teaching process, with 13 items. The second dimension assesses students' negative attitudes, including five items. The third dimension evaluates students' attitudes towards experiments, containing five items.
Keywords: science and technology lesson, attitude toward science and technology courses, attitude scale development
Postcolony as a Charade
Authors: Akingbe Niyi
Published: September 2023

The paper will illustrate how A Nation in Labour further constitutes a socio-political site where the meaning of a nation is subverted and contested. Deploying semiotics of disillusionment situated in truculent poetics, Anena in the collection, provides an insight into a nation trapped in unremitting contradictions.
An Application of the “Recursive Flexible Window” Methodology to Test for Financial Bubbles in a Major Stock Market
Authors: Dutt Swarna D. , Ghosh Dipak
Published: September 2023

Identifying and dating financial bubbles in real time is in the forefront of current empirical research. Their accuracy provides real time useful “warning alerts” to central bankers and fiscal regulators. The complexity of their nonlinear structure and the inherent sudden break mechanisms makes the econometric testing challenging. The new recursive flexible window methodology provided by Phillips, Shi, and Yu (2015) gives consistent results and delivers significant power gains when multiple bubbles occur. It successfully identifies well-known historical episodes of exuberance and collapse. In this paper we look at the Indian stock market indices, the SENSEX, and the NIFTY 50, to see if there is any evidence of a bubble there. We use monthly data for each series, with the Sensex data spanning April 1979 to October 2018 and NIFTY 50 data spanning July 1990 to October 2018. The existence of bubbles in this index will give us some indication of where bubbles are more likely to occur, and therefore provide evidence of potential economic (financial) crises.
Trades, Basis, and Price Revisions in the S&P Depositary Receipts
Authors: Zhou Dan
Published: September 2023

Standard and Poor’s Depositary Receipts (SPDRs) are traded like a stock to track the performance of S&P 500 index, and there exists contemporaneous trading of S&P 500 index futures to track the same index portfolio. The basis reveals the instantaneous price difference of the S&P 500 index portfolio observed in index futures and SPDRs. This study finds that the basis conveys more information than trades for the intra-day quote price revisions in the SPDRs, and our findings are consistent with a price revision process that the basis transmits innovative information from futures prices and induces permanent price changes in the SPDRs.
Zbol e Sorvebol: das redes para a escola
Authors: Costa Alisson Vieira , Dias Marcela Fabiani Silva , Farias Carlos Wagner Ferreira , Bosque Ronédia Monteiro
Published: September 2023

O estudo objetivou analisar as percepções docentes sobre o Sorvebol e Zbol. Realizou-se investigação com 10 professores de cinco escolas públicas municipais em Macapá-AP. Aplicou-se um questionário com perguntas abertas. Nos resultados evidenciou-se que estes esportes ainda sofrem dificuldades de aceitação pelos alunos em detrimento da presença hegemônica de outros já conhecidos. Ainda são modalidades pouco conhecidas dos estudantes. Confundem-se estes esportes com o conteúdo jogo. Estes esportes são capazes de suprir necessidades de espaços e materiais, possibilitando realizá-los em diversos espaços, com materiais adaptados e de fácil confecção. A continuidade de pesquisas com estes esportes é importante para conhecimento da comunidade científica, escolar e geral.
Análise do efeito analgésico de antidepressivos na dor crônica em pacientes atendidos no ambulatório de Reumatologia do SAS de Londrina-PR
Authors: Amin Maria Fernanda Guazeli , Amin Ricardo Braga , Ferreira Emilene Dias Fiuza
Published: September 2023

A dor crônica é aquela que persiste por mais de três meses e é um dos motivos mais frequentes de procura por atendimento à saúde, sendo considerada um problema de saúde pública. Estudos apontam que a quantidade de pessoas com dor crônica está aumentando e uma alternativa de tratamento é o uso de antidepressivos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o efeito analgésico de antidepressivos na dor crônica em pacientes atendidos no ambulatório de reumatologia do Sistema de Assistência à Saúde de Londrina-PR. A metodologia utilizada foi a aplicação de um questionário para coleta de dados. Após análise, dos 237 pacientes entrevistados, observou-se que a maioria dos pacientes com dor crônica tinha mais de 60 anos, eram do sexo feminino, casada e católica. A dor crônica foi prevalente em pacientes com duas ou mais comorbidades, com predomínio da hipertensão arterial sistêmica. Mais de 80% dos pacientes sentem dor há 1 ano ou mais e 67,9% referiram estar sentindo dor no momento da entrevista. A dor foi prevalente nos membros inferiores e 76% dos pacientes relataram que a dor impacta negativamente na qualidade de vida. Houve prevalência de osteoartrite como diagnóstico da dor. Dos pacientes entrevistados, 88 usavam antidepressivos e, entre eles, 82,2% faziam uso destes medicamentos há 1 ano ou mais e os mais usados foram Duloxetina e Sertralina. Entre os que usam antidepressivos, 79,5% sentiram melhora da dor. Assim, conclui-se que o uso de antidepressivo ajuda no controle da dor crônica, sendo eficaz em seu tratamento.
High Fat High Sugar Diet Reduces Small Intestinal Secretion by Sex-Dependent Mechanisms
Authors: Miller Kyle
Published: September 2023

Background/Aims: The goal of this study was to determine the influence of high-fat high-sugar diet (Western diet) on intestinal function and subsequently to determine if there were any beneficial effects of exercise, genistein (a naturally occurring phytoestrogen) or both, on the intestine. Methods: We measured transepithelial short circuit current (Isc), across freshly isolated segments of jejunum from male and female C57Bl/6J mice randomly assigned to one of the following groups for the 12-week study duration: high-fat high-sugar diet (HFS), HFS with genistein (Gen), HFS with exercise (Ex), or HFS with both genistein and exercise (Gen+Ex) and compared them to lean controls. Genistein concentration was 600 mg genistein/kg diet. Exercise comprised of moderate intensity treadmill running (150 min per week). At the completion of the study, segments of jejunum were frozen for western blot determination of key proteins involved in secretory and absorptive functions, as well as senescence. Intestinal morphology was assessed. Serum cytokine assays were performed. Results: Basal Isc was significantly decreased (by 70%, P <0.05) in HFS females and males versus leans. This decrease was partially mitigated by exercise in both sexes. In females, the HFS-induced decrease in Isc was attributed to a significant loss of CLC2, NKCC1 and CFTR expression whereas in males this was due to a significant loss of Na/K-ATPase, KCa and NKCC1 expression (indicating sex-dependent mechanisms). Exercise mitigated most of the loss of Isc in both sexes. Our data suggested that A2BR levels were dysregulated in HFS fed mice and that concomitant treatment with Gen or Gen+Ex prevented this disruption in females only. Inflammatory state was associated with body weight changes. Conclusion: Our data suggests that the reduced basal jejunal Isc in HFS mice is attributed to sex-dependent mechanisms and while exercise partially mitigated this, it’s mechanism of action was unclear. Improved understanding of Western diet induced intestinal dysfunctions may allow for the development of novel drug targets to treat gastrointestinal disturbances in diabetic obesity.
Meme-ifying Data: The Rise of Public Health Influencers on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter during Covid-19
Authors: MacDonald Shana , Wiens Brianna I.
Published: September 2023

This article argues for the importance of the memetic tactic of bricolage within contemporary social media science communication for its capacity to curate and distill approachable, accessible, and shareable Covid-19 content. We suggest that the social media communication practices of what we call ‘public health influencers’ (PHIs) on Instagram, Tik Tok, and Twitter make use of memetic bricolage techniques of stop motion, collage, infographics, and placarding, coupled with an ethos of ‘micro-celebrity,’ in order to advance stalled public conversations and to reorient the spread of disinformation back to evidence-based facts. To make this argument, we analyze the cross-platform social media work of three key PHIs during the pediatric vaccination campaigns of late 2021 within our local context of Ontario, Canada to reflect on the effectiveness of social media presence, communication, and advocacy. Through memetic tactics, we argue that PHIs’ efforts to engage the public are driven by a larger impulse to combat health inequities that are exacerbated by the different forms of disinformation circulating on social media. Ultimately, this article illustrates how the concerted effort against disinformation by PHIs on social media via memes contributes to advocacy for more accessible, just, and equitable health care for Ontarians.
Study of fish traders activities in the new normal era at Wowoli Market, Toari District, Kolaka Regency
Authors: Hartati Rani Yovi , Lawelle Sjamsu Alam , Rosmawati  , Nurdiana A  , Siang Roslindah Daeng
Published: September 2023

This study aims to determine the activities of fish traders in the new normal era at Wowoli Market and the profits obtained by fish traders in the new normal era at Wowoli Market, Toari District, Kolaka Regency. This research was conducted in December 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Determination of the sample in this study using the census method amounted to 15 fish traders. This study uses data collection methods, namely through literature study, observation, interviews, and documentation. The data analysis used is descriptive qualitative analysis and profit analysis. The result showed that the activities of fish traders in the normal era at Wowoli Market, Toari Districk, Kolaka Regency included preparation before tranding, activities while at the market, and after tranding the same as activities in the normal era. Overall activities of fish traders in the new normal er were carried out by implementing health protocols. Like wering a mask. When the new normal, traders activities are starting to recover where the implementation of health protocols is no longer significantly implemented, such as washing hands in running water using gloves using a hand sanitaizer, checking body temperature and keeping a safe distance. The average profit level of tranding profits in the normal er ad the normal era is different. In the normal era profits Rp1.342.999/month. These profits are influenced by an increase in the number of visits by community buyers, while in the normal era, profits for fish traders amounted to Rp1.159.999/month with factors affecting the reduction in community visit due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Four-way coupled Second-order moment of kinetic theory of granular flow for gas-particle flow
Authors: Sun Dan
Published: September 2023

Four-way coupled second-order moment method(FW_SOM) of Eulerian-Eulerian two-fluid model was built by coupling the gas phase model of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes method closed by the second-order Reynolds tress turbulence model with the second-order moment method of kinetic theory of granular flow. FW_SOM method is proposed to simulate the particle flow, where exist particle-particle collisions, however, the fluctuation velocity of particles can be far from equilibrium to satisfy the Boussinesq hepothesis, in the Eulerian framework. Using FW_SOM, the particle-laden flow in horizontal channels and vertical pipes were well predicted when particles were at the dilute to median concentration. Therefore, the computational capability of the kinetic theory of granular flow was extended to dilute and median concentration using four-way coupled second-order moment method. Typically, the multiphase flow in fluidized risers can be well predicted when the suspended dilute particles and dense clusters in the risers coexist in the system.
A New Perspective on Geometric Series for Computing Applications
Authors: Annamalai Chinnaraji
Published: September 2023

In today’s world, the growing complexity of mathematical modelling demands the simplicity of mathematical equations for solving the most complex real-life problems. In this article, a new kind of geometric series is formulated for computing applications.
In vitro enzymatic degradation of the PTMC/cross-linked PEGDA blends
Authors: Li Wei , Lin Meina , Wang Chenchao , Lu Yongping , Sui Yu , Ni Xiang , Guo Jing , Jiang Miao , Yang Liqun , Cui Hong
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Poly(1,3-trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) is a flexible amorphous polymer with good degradability and biocompatibility. The degradation of PTMC is critical for its application as a degradable polymer, more convenient and easy-to-control cross-linking strategies for preparing PTMC are required.

Methods: The blends of poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) and cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) were prepared by mixing photoactive PEGDA and PTMC and subsequently photopolymerizing the mixture with uv light. The physical properties and in vitro enzymatic degradation of the resultant PTMC/cross-linked PEGDA blends were investigated.

Results: The results showed that the gel fraction of PTMC/cross-linked PEGDA blends increased while the swelling degree decreased with the content of PEGDA dosage. The results of in vitro enzymatic degradation confirmed that the degradation of PTMC/cross-linked PEGDA blends in the lipase solution occurred under the surface erosion mechanism, and the introduction of the uv cross-linked PEGDA significantly improved the resistance to lipase erosion of PTMC; the higher the cross-linking degree, the lower the mass loss.

Discussion: The results indicated that the blends/cross-linking via PEGDA is a simple and effective strategy to tailor the degradation rate of PTMC.
Medial and lateral knee contact forces during walking, stair ascent and stair descent are more affected by contact locations than tibiofemoral alignment in knee osteoarthritis patients with varus malalignment
Authors: Valente Giordano , Grenno Giulia , Dal Fabbro Giacomo , Zaffagnini Stefano , Taddei Fulvia
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Knee OA progression is related to medial knee contact forces, which can be altered by anatomical parameters of tibiofemoral alignment and contact point locations. There is limited and controversial literature on medial-lateral force distribution and the effect of anatomical parameters, especially in motor activities different from walking. We analyzed the effect of tibiofemoral alignment and contact point locations on knee contact forces, and the medial-lateral force distribution in knee OA subjects with varus malalignment during walking, stair ascending and stair descending.

Methods: Fifty-one knee OA subjects with varus malalignment underwent weight-bearing radiographs and motion capture during walking, stair ascending and stair descending. We created a set of four musculoskeletal models per subject with increasing level of personalization, and calculated medial and lateral knee contact forces. To analyze the effect of the anatomical parameters, statistically-significant differences in knee contact forces among models were evaluated. Then, to analyze the force distribution, the medial-to-total contact force ratios were calculated from the fully-informed models. In addition, a multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate correlations between forces and anatomical parameters.

Results: The anatomical parameters significantly affected the knee contact forces. However, the contact points decreased medial forces and increased lateral forces and led to more marked variations compared to tibiofemoral alignment, which produced an opposite effect. The forces were less medially-distributed during stair negotiation, with medial-to-total ratios below 50% at force peaks. The anatomical parameters explained 30%–67% of the variability in the knee forces, where the medial contact points were the best predictors of medial contact forces.

Discussion: Including personalized locations of contact points is crucial when analyzing knee contact forces in subjects with varus malalignment, and especially the medial contact points have a major effect on the forces rather than tibiofemoral alignment. Remarkably, the medial-lateral force distribution depends on the motor activity, where stair ascending and descending show increased lateral forces that lead to less medially-distributed loads compared to walking.
Examining the efficacy of cooling pad technology to address increasing building cooling demand in Latvia
Authors: Prozuments Aleksejs , Borodinecs Anatolijs , Lebedeva Kristina , Palcikovskis Arturs
Published: September 2023

Over the past decades there has been a strong evidence of a temperature rise across the world that has led to a growing concern of more extreme weather patterns and regular seasonal heat waves globally. As such, building occupants are at a continuously growing risk to overheating exposure inside the premises throughout the warm season of the year. This study investigates the utilization of cooling pad technology as a potential solution to enhance cooling efficiency. Compared to traditional cooling methods, the implementation of cooling pads leads to significant reductions in temperature and enhanced humidity control, while consuming relatively lower amounts of energy. The study contains a comprehensive analysis of the climatic conditions in Latvia, focusing on temperature and humidity variations throughout the year over the last decade in three cities–Riga, Daugavpils and Liepaja, that extensively represent the scope of climatic variations across Latvia, featuring coastal and continental climate patterns. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of cooling pad technology in Nordic climate, focusing on three Latvian cities. The novelty of the study lies in its analysis of cooling pad technology’s effectiveness in Nordic climatic conditions in addressing the increasing cooling demand. The paper examines the fundamental principles behind cooling pad technology, its impact on chiller performance, and its ability to optimize the cooling process. The utilization of cooling pad technology as an effective means to enhance cooling efficiency across the building stock to improve occupant comfort level and IEQ is highlighted. The results demonstrate 5.47% COP increase during average summer temperature conditions, and 17.78% COP increase in peak summer temperature conditions after implementation of cooling pads. This study contributes to the existing knowledge on cooling technologies, offering practical recommendations for the implementation of cooling pad systems use in Latvia and across the wider Nordic region, which is experiencing the gradual rise in summer temperature and humidity level.
Huntingtin CAG-expansion mutation results in a dominant negative effect
Authors: Laundos Tiago L. , Li Shu , Cheang Eric , De Santis Riccardo , Piccolo Francesco M. , Brivanlou Ali H.
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Huntington’s disease (HD) remains an incurable and fatal neurodegenerative disease long after CAG-expansion mutation in the huntingtin gene (HTT) was identified as the cause. The underlying pathological mechanism, whether HTT loss of function or gain of toxicity results from mutation, remains a matter of debate.

Methods: In this study, we genetically modulated wild-type or mutant HTT expression levels in isogenic human embryonic stem cells to systematically investigate their contribution to HD-specific phenotypes.

Results: Using highly reproducible and quantifiable in vitro micropattern-based assays, we observed comparable phenotypes with HD mutation and HTT depletion. However, halving endogenous wild-type HTT levels did not strongly recapitulate the HD phenotypes, arguing against a classical loss of function mechanism. Remarkably, expression of CAG-expanded HTT in non-HD cells induced HD like phenotypes akin to HTT depletion.

Discussion: By corollary, these results indicate a dominant negative effect of mutated HTT on its wild-type counterpart. Complementation with additional copies of wild-type HTT ameliorated the HD-associated phenotypes, strongly supporting a classical dominant negative mechanism. Understanding the molecular basis of this dominant negative effect will guide the development of efficient clinical strategies to counteract the deleterious impact of mutant HTT on the wild-type HTT function.
Valve-in-valve procedures for degenerated surgical and transcatheter aortic valve bioprostheses using a latest-generation self-expanding intra-annular transcatheter heart valve
Authors: Schaefer Andreas , Demal Till Joscha , Bhadra Oliver D. , Grundmann David , Voigtländer Lisa , Waldschmidt Lara , Schirmer Johannes , Pecha Simon , Schneeberger Yvonne , Schofer Niklas , Sörensen Nils , Blankenberg Stefan , Reichenspurner Hermann , Seiffert Moritz , Conradi Lenard
Published: September 2023

Background

Valve-in-valve (ViV) transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for failing aortic surgical bioprostheses or transcatheter heart valves (THV) has demonstrated a reasonable clinical and hemodynamic efficacy. Traditionally, self-expanding (SE) supra-annular THV are considered to result in superior hemodynamics compared with balloon-expandable intra-annular THV after ViV. However, so far no data are found on latest-generation intra-annular SE THV for aortic ViV procedures which might be superior with regard to coronary access or subsequent valve reintervention.

Aim

We herein aim to evaluate a latest-generation SE intra-annular THV for aortic ViV procedures.

Materials and methods

Between May 2022 and November 2022, five consecutive patients (4/5 female with mean age of 76.2 years and mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality score of 2.9%) received ViV TAVI using the Navitor system (Abbott, Chicago, IL, USA) for treatment of failing surgical bioprostheses or THV. Data were retrospectively analyzed according to updated Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 (VARC-3) definitions.

Results

At 30 days, absence of mortality and VARC-3 adjudicated clinical endpoints were documented. Echocardiography at 30 days revealed complete absence of paravalvular leakage and single-digit mean transvalvular gradients (mean of 6.0 mmHg) in all patients.

Conclusion

The investigated intra-annular SE THV results in excellent 30-day outcomes for aortic ViV procedures for failing surgical bioprostheses or THV. Despite the intra-annular design, hemodynamic results were excellent, even in small bioprostheses. Ease of use of this valve platform is reflected by only two cycles of resheathing in five ViV procedures with hemodynamic stability during all steps of valve deployment.
Comparison of analog and digital patient decision aids for the treatment of depression: a scoping review
Authors: Sedlakova Jana , Westermair Anna Lisa , Biller-Andorno Nikola , Meier Christoph A. , Trachsel Manuel
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Patient decision aids (PDAs) are important tools to empower patients and integrate their preferences and values in the decision-making process. Even though patients with mental health problems have a strong interest in being more involved in decision making about their treatment, research has mainly focused on PDAs for somatic conditions. In this scoping review, we focus on patients suffering from depression and the role of PDAs for this patient group. The review offers an overview of digital and analog PDAs, their advantages and disadvantages as well as recommendations for further research and development.

Methods

A systematic search of the existing literature guided by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses - extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was conducted. Three electronic literature databases with the appropriate thematic focus were searched (PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science). The search strategy used controlled and natural language to search for the key concepts decision aids and depression. The articles were selected in a two-step process guided by predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. We narratively synthetized information extracted from 40 research articles.

Results

We included 40 articles in our review. Our review revealed that there is more focus on digital PDAs in research than in clinical practice. Digitalization can enhance the benefits of PDAs by developing tools that are more efficient, interactive, and personalized. The main disadvantages of both types of PDAs for the treatment of depression are related to time, dissemination, and capacity building for the health care providers. Digital PDAs need to be regularly updated, effective strategies for their dissemination and acceptance need to be identified, and clinicians need sufficient training on how to use digital PDAs. There is more research needed to study which forms of PDAs are most appropriate for various patient groups (e.g., older adults, or patients with comorbidities), and to identify the most effective ways of PDAs' integration in the clinical workflow. The findings from our review could be well aligned with the International Patient Decision Aids Standards.

Discussion

More research is needed regarding effective strategies for the implementation of digital PDAs into the clinical workflow, ethical issues raised by the digital format, and opportunities of tailoring PDAs for diverse patient groups.
“Online, the counselor can't see me cry”: a systematic literature review on emotion and computer-mediated care
Authors: De Coninck Sarah , Emmers Elke
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Computer-mediated care is becoming increasingly popular, but little research has been done on it and its effects on emotion-related outcomes. This systematic literature review aims to create an overview that addresses the research question: “Is there a relationship between computer-mediated care and emotional expression, perception, and emotional and (long-term) emotion outcomes?”

Method

This systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and used five eligibility criteria, namely, (1) participants: adults seeking support; (2) intervention: eHealth; (3) diagnostic criteria: transdiagnostic concept of difficulty identifying, expressing, and/or regulating emotions (e.g., alexithymia); (4) comparator: either face-to-face care or no comparator; and (5) study design: quantitative studies or qualitative studies. Quality was assessed using the QualSyst tool.

Results

The analysis includes 25 research papers. Self-paced interventions appear to have a positive effect on emotion regulation. Videoconferencing interventions improved emotion regulation from before to after treatment but worsened emotion regulation compared with face-to-face treatment.

Discussion

The lack of variation in the modalities studied and the emotion measurements used make it difficult to draw responsible conclusions. Future research should examine how different modalities affect the real-time communication of emotions and how non-verbal cues influence this.
Exploring the seasonal relationship between spatial and temporal features of land surface temperature and its potential drivers: the case of Chengdu metropolitan area, China
Authors: Hu Chunguang , Huang Gaoliu , Wang Zhiyong
Published: September 2023

Global climate change and the process of urbanization have had a significant impact on land surface temperature (LST). This study selects the Chengdu metropolitan area in China as a typical research subject. Based on the seasonal heterogeneity and spatial distribution characteristics of LST, different types of potential influencing factors are selected for Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to determine the categories of these factors. Subsequently, a multiple linear regression analysis is conducted to explore the relationship between LST and the identified potential influencing factors during different seasons. The findings of this study suggest that the regions with high temperatures and secondary high temperatures in the Chengdu metropolitan area are primarily concentrated in Chengdu and its adjacent localities, exhibiting noticeable seasonal variations. In the summer, high-temperature zone and second high-temperature zone of the LST show a central aggregation pattern. In the transition season, the high-temperature zone of the LST presents a “large dispersion, small aggregation” pattern. In the winter, it presents a dispersed pattern. In terms of influencing factors, elevation, slope, wind speed, humidity, and surface vegetation cover related to natural geographical conditions have a significant impact on LST, reaching a peak during the transition season. Factors associated with social and economic conditions, such as population size, nighttime light index, and road density, have a pronounced effect on LST during the summer season. During winter, LST is mainly influenced by landscape pattern-related factors such as Shannon Diversity Index, Edge Density, Largest Patch Index, and Patch Density. This study not only assesses the seasonal and spatial characteristics of LST in the Chengdu metropolitan area but also provides valuable insights for formulating phased measures to mitigate the Urban Heat Island (UHI) in other regions.
The influence of basal detachment strength on formation of the southwestern Sichuan fold-thrust belt: insights from discrete-element numerical simulations
Authors: Wang Yanqi , Wang Lining , Ren Rong , Wei Guoqi , Chen Zhuxin , Su Nan , Zhang Yuqing
Published: September 2023

Introduction: The southwestern Sichuan fold-thrust belt (SWSB) is a duplex detachment system and features the basal Precambrian detachment at a depth of approximately 15–17 km and the upper Mid-Triassic detachment. Moreover, the SWSB undergoes forward-breaking propagation during the Cenozoic. To date, the mechanism and kinematic evolution governing the SWSB in this thrusting deformation as well as the way the two detachments control the structural deformation pattern of the SWSB remains unknown.

Methods: In this work, three discrete-element numerical models with the same strong upper detachment but basal detachments with different mechanical strengths and thicknesses were designed to study the deformation of the SWSB.

Results: The results indicate that for the Model I with a strong frictional basal detachment with thickness of 500 m, most deformation and thrust faults concentrate near the mobile backwall. Model I exhibits characteristics such as linearly increasing wedge height and stepwise increasing wedge width and slope angle. For the Model II with a modest frictional basal detachment with thickness of 500 m, the strain and deformation propagate into the foreland quickly and multiple back-thrust and thrust faults form on the upper detachment in the second thrusting period. The first thrusting period in Model II, exhibits similarities with Model I. However, in the second period, the wedge reaches a stable state, and its geometry remains constant. In this stage, the deformation propagates along the shallow detachment into the right side of the model. The geometry and activity of thrust faults in the foreland differ significantly in the model III with a modest frictional basal detachment but a greater thickness. Two additional pop-up structures are generated in the second period in this model. The first half of the first thrusting period is similar to the first two models. In the second half of the first period and the second period, the wedge is in a stable state. In the first stage of the shortening, all models undergo a transition from a subcritical state to entering a supercritical state, which indicates that the deformation is progressing rapidly along the basal detachment towards the right side of the model.

Discussion: The results of Model III are consistent with the deformation pattern of the SWSB. The study of the kinematics and interaction between two detachments could help hydrocarbon exploration beneath the upper detachment.
Effect of tamoxifen in patients with thin endometrium who underwent frozen–thawed embryo transfer cycles: a retrospective study
Authors: Ji Mengxia , Fu Xiaohua , Huang Danni , Wu Ruifang , Jiang Yunqing , Huang Qiongxiao
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Thin endometrium leads to an impaired implantation rate. The aim of the study is to compare the clinical outcomes of tamoxifen (TAM) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used in patients with thin endometrium (<7mm) in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET)cycles.

Methods

A total of 176 FET cycles with thin endometrium were retrospectively analyzed in our center from Jan 2020 to May 2022. According to patients' own will, 112 patients were allocated to the HRT group and 64 patients chose the TAM protocol. Clinical outcomes were compared between two groups.

Result

The duration of treatment was shorter in the TAM group(12.03±2.34d) than the HRT group (16.07±2.52 d), which was statistically different (p<0.05). The endometrial thickness on the transfer day of the TAM group (7.32±1.28 mm) was significantly thicker than that of the HRT group (6.85±0.89mm, p<0.05). The clinical pregnancy rate of the TAM group (50.0%) was higher than that of the HRT group (36.6%), but there was no significant difference (p >0.05). The early miscarriage rate was significantly lower in the TAM group compared with the HRT group (5.9% Vs 26.8%, adjusted OR 0.10, p<0.05), while the live birth rate was higher in the TAM group (46.9% Vs 26.8%, adjusted OR 2.24, p<0.05) compared with the HRT group.

Conclusion

For patients with thin endometrium, TAM effectively improved the endometrial thickness and increased the live birth rate. TAM can be used as an alternative protocol for patients with thin endometrium.
Identification of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related biomarkers of diabetes nephropathy based on bioinformatics and machine learning
Authors: Su Jiaming , Peng Jing , Wang Lin , Xie Huidi , Zhou Ying , Chen Haimin , Shi Yang , Guo Yan , Zheng Yicheng , Guo Yuxin , Dong Zhaoxi , Zhang Xianhui , Liu Hongfang
Published: September 2023

Backgrounds

Diabetes nephropathy (DN) is a growing public health concern worldwide. Renal dysfunction impairment in DN is intimately linked to ER stress and its related signaling pathways. Nonetheless, the underlying mechanism and biomarkers for this function of ER stress in the DN remain unknown.

Methods

Microarray datasets were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and ER stress-related genes (ERSRGs) were downloaded from the MSigDB and GeneCards database. We identified hub ERSRGs for DN progression by intersecting ERSRGs with differentially expressed genes and significant genes in WGCNA, followed by a functional analysis. After analyzing hub ERSRGs with three machine learning techniques and taking the intersection, we did external validation as well as developed a DN diagnostic model based on the characteristic genes. Immune infiltration was performed using CIBERSORT. Moreover, patients with DN were then categorized using a consensus clustering approach. Eventually, the candidate ERSRGs-specific small-molecule compounds were defined by CMap.

Results

Several biological pathways driving pathological injury of DN and disordered levels of immune infiltration were revealed in the DN microarray datasets and strongly related to deregulated ERSRGs by bioinformatics multi-chip integration. Moreover, CDKN1B, EGR1, FKBP5, GDF15, and MARCKS were identified as ER stress signature genes associated with DN by machine learning algorithms, demonstrating their potential as DN biomarkers.

Conclusions

Our research sheds fresh light on the function of ER stress in DN pathophysiology and the development of early diagnostic and ER stress-related treatment targets in patients with DN.
Electroacupuncture alleviates ulcerative colitis by targeting CXCL1: evidence from the transcriptome and validation
Authors: Zhang Rui-Bin , Dong Long-Cong , Shen Yuan , Li Hong-Ying , Huang Qin , Yu Shu-Guang , Wu Qiao-Feng
Published: September 2023

Background

We aimed to use transcriptomics, bioinformatics analysis, and core gene validation to identify the core gene and potential mechanisms for electroacupuncture (EA) treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC).

Materials and methods

EA was performed in mice after induction of UC via dextran sodium sulfate. Body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, and hematoxylin-eosin of the colon tissue were used to evaluate the effects of EA. Mice transcriptome samples were analyzed to identify the core genes, and further verified with human transcriptome database; the ImmuCellAI database was used to analyze the relationship between the core gene and immune infiltrating cells (IICs); and immunofluorescence was used to verify the results.

Results

EA could reduce DAI and histological colitis scores, increase bodyweight and colon length, and improve the expression of local and systemic proinflammatory factors in the serum and colon of UC mice. Eighteen co-differentially expressed genes were identified by joint bioinformatics analyses of mouse and human transcriptional data; Cxcl1 was the core gene. EA affected IICs by inhibiting Cxcl1 expression and regulated the polarization of macrophages by affecting the Th1 cytokine IFN-γ, inhibiting the expression of CXCL1.

Conclusions

CXCL1 is the target of EA, which is associated with the underlying immune mechanism related to Th1 cytokine IFN-γ.
Changes in the autonomic cardiorespiratory activity in parturient women with severe and moderate features of preeclampsia
Authors: Pichardo-Carmona Elias Yojairi , Reyes-Lagos José Javier , Ceballos-Juárez Rosselin Gabriela , Ledesma-Ramírez Claudia Ivette , Mendieta-Zerón Hugo , Peña-Castillo Miguel Ángel , Nsugbe Ejay , Porta-García Miguel Ángel , Mina-Paz Yecid
Published: September 2023

Background

Cardiorespiratory coupling (CRC) is a physiological phenomenon that reflects the mutual interaction between the cardiac and respiratory control systems. It is mainly associated with efferent vagal activity from the central autonomic network. Few studies have explored the autonomic changes of CRC in preeclampsia, a critical obstetric complication related to possible autonomic dysfunctions and inflammatory disturbances. This study examined the autonomic mechanisms of CRC in women with severe and moderate preeclampsia and healthy controls by applying nonlinear methods based on information theory, such as mutual information (MI) and Renyi’s mutual information (RMI) and the linear and nonlinear analysis of the Pulse-Respiration Quotient (PRQ).

Methods

We studied three groups of parturient women in the third trimester of pregnancy with a clinical diagnosis of preeclampsia without severe symptoms (P, 38.5 ± 1.4 weeks of pregnancy, n=19), preeclampsia with severe symptoms (SP, 37.5 ± 0.9 weeks of pregnancy, n=22), and normotensive control women (C, 39.1 ± 1.3 weeks of pregnancy, n=20). 10-minutes of abdominal electrocardiograms (ECG) and respiratory signals (RESP) were recorded in all the participants. Subsequently, we obtained the maternal beat-to-beat (RR) and breath-to-breath (BB) time series from ECG and RESP, respectively. The CRC between RR and BB was quantified by nonlinear methods based on information theory, such as MI and RMI, along with the analysis of the novel index of PRQ. Subsequently, we computed the mean PRQ (mPRQ) and the normalized permutation entropy (nPermEn_PRQ) from the PRQ time series generated from BB and RR. In addition, we examined the vagal activity in the three groups by the logarithm of the median of the distribution of the absolute values of successive RR differences (logRSA).

Results

The MI and RMI values were significantly lower (p<0.05) in the preeclamptic groups compared to the control group. However, no significant differences were found between the preeclamptic groups. The logRSA and nPermEn_PRQ indices were significantly lower (p<0.05) in SP compared to C and P.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that parturient women with severe and mild preeclampsia may manifest an altered cardiorespiratory coupling compared with normotensive control women. Disrupted CRC in severe preeclampsia could be associated with vagal withdrawal and less complex cardiorespiratory dynamics. The difference in vagal activity between the preeclamptic groups may suggest a further reduction in vagal activity associated with the severity of the disease.
Co-infection of mice with SARS-CoV-2 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis limits early viral replication but does not affect mycobacterial loads
Authors: Baker Paul J. , Amaral Eduardo P. , Castro Ehydel , Bohrer Andrea C. , Torres-Juárez Flor , Jordan Cassandra M. , Nelson Christine E. , Barber Daniel L. , Johnson Reed F. , Hilligan Kerry L. , Mayer-Barber Katrin D.
Published: September 2023

Viral co-infections have been implicated in worsening tuberculosis (TB) and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the global rate of TB-related deaths has increased for the first time in over a decade. We and others have previously shown that a resolved prior or concurrent influenza A virus infection in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-infected mice resulted in increased pulmonary bacterial burden, partly through type I interferon (IFN-I)-dependent mechanisms. Here we investigated whether SARS-CoV-2 (SCV2) co-infection could also negatively affect bacterial control of Mtb. Importantly, we found that K18-hACE2 transgenic mice infected with SCV2 one month before, or months after aerosol Mtb exposure did not display exacerbated Mtb infection-associated pathology, weight loss, nor did they have increased pulmonary bacterial loads. However, pre-existing Mtb infection at the time of exposure to the ancestral SCV2 strain in infected K18-hACE2 transgenic mice or the beta variant (B.1.351) in WT C57Bl/6 mice significantly limited early SCV2 replication in the lung. Mtb-driven protection against SCV2 increased with higher bacterial doses and did not require IFN-I, TLR2 or TLR9 signaling. These data suggest that SCV2 co-infection does not exacerbate Mtb infection in mice, but rather the inflammatory response generated by Mtb infection in the lungs at the time of SCV2 exposure restricts viral replication.
Effect of domestic COVID-19 vaccine on the plasma D-dimer levels of early pregnant women in China
Authors: Liang Wenjuan , Fu Xin , Li Rui , Yang Liu , Liu Peng , Guo Xuan , Jia Qinliang , Wang Ziran , Xie Yun
Published: September 2023

Objective

To investigate the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on plasma D-dimer levels in early pregnant women.

Methods

A total of 834 early pregnant women(gestational age ≤ 13 weeks), who visited Northwest Women and Children’s Hospital between December 2020 and April 2022, were selected. There were 696 women in the healthy group (group A) and 138 in the group with a history of adverse pregnancy and childbirth (group B). The plasma D-dimer levels of all participants were tested, and the COVID-19 vaccine history of all participants was collected using a survey questionnaire.

Results

The plasma D-dimer levels did not differ between group A and the group B (p = 0.1327). In the group A, 470 were vaccinated and 226 were unvaccinated. The D-dimer levels of vaccinated individuals were lower than those of unvaccinated individuals (p = 0.0047). In the group B, 84 were vaccinated and 54 were unvaccinated; no difference in D-dimer levels was found between the vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals (p = 0.0542). In the group A, the D-dimer levels of the unvaccinated group were not different from those of women vaccinated with one dose (p = 0.208), but they were higher than those who received two doses (p = 0.019) or three doses (p = 0.003). And, no significant difference in D-dimer levels was found among women who received different vaccine brands and with different vaccination times.

Conclusion

This study preliminarily indicates that COVID-19 vaccination does not increase D-dimer levels in early pregnant women.
Design of a syringe extension device (Chloe SED®) for low-resource settings in sub-Saharan Africa: a circular economy approach
Authors: Samenjo Karlheinz Tondo , Ramanathan Aparna , Gwer Stephen Otieno , Bailey Robert C. , Otieno Fredrick Odhiambo , Koksal Erin , Sprecher Benjamin , Price Rebecca Anne , Bakker Conny , Diehl Jan Carel
Published: September 2023

Underfunded healthcare infrastructures in low-resource settings in sub-Saharan Africa have resulted in a lack of medical devices crucial to provide healthcare for all. A representative example of this scenario is medical devices to administer paracervical blocks during gynaecological procedures. Devices needed for this procedure are usually unavailable or expensive. Without these devices, providing paracervical blocks for women in need is impossible resulting in compromising the quality of care for women requiring gynaecological procedures such as loop electrosurgical excision, treatment of miscarriage, or incomplete abortion. In that perspective, interventions that can be integrated into the healthcare system in low-resource settings to provide women needing paracervical blocks remain urgent. Based on a context-specific approach while leveraging circular economy design principles, this research catalogues the development of a new medical device called Chloe SED® that can be used to support the provision of paracervical blocks. Chloe SED®, priced at US$ 1.5 per device when produced in polypropylene, US$ 10 in polyetheretherketone, and US$ 15 in aluminium, is attached to any 10-cc syringe in low-resource settings to provide paracervical blocks. The device is designed for durability, repairability, maintainability, upgradeability, and recyclability to address environmental sustainability issues in the healthcare domain. Achieving the design of Chloe SED® from a context-specific and circular economy approach revealed correlations between the material choice to manufacture the device, the device's initial cost, product durability and reuse cycle, reprocessing method and cost, and environmental impact. These correlations can be seen as interconnected conflicting or divergent trade-offs that need to be continually assessed to deliver a medical device that provides healthcare for all with limited environmental impact. The study findings are intended to be seen as efforts to make available medical devices to support women's access to reproductive health services.