bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration of Systems and Services at Centro Universitário Senac - Santo Amaro Campus Aimed at Rationalizing Water Use and Minimizing Effluent Generation
Authors: Rogati Ivan Augusto Furini , Athiê Alessandro Augusto Rogick , Guimarães Debora Fernanda , Da Mota Lima César Augusto Silveira , Pinheiro Eduardo , Patricio Talita Thomaz
Published: November 2023

At Centro Universitário Senac - Santo Amaro Campus, several systems and services have been developed, whose integration, respecting sustainability and industrial ecology premises, promote the rationalization of water use, minimization of effluent generation, and reduction of the institution's socio-environmental impacts. With a total area of 154,000 m2, the campus's occupancy rate can reach 9,594 people/day. By installing faucets and showers with a timer and flow reducer, aiming to reduce water consumption and waste, a 30% reduction in monthly consumption was achieved. An Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with an anaerobic UASB type stage, associated with an aerobic microbiological treatment system, processes more than 300 m3/day of effluent, treating practically 100% of the wastewater generated by the campus activities, which is converted into reuse water, subsequently used for garden irrigation, facade and floor cleaning, toilet flushing, water recharge for the air conditioning system's heat exchangers, and increasing the volume of treated water returned to the groundwater through a contaminated water treatment plant. A solar water heating system with recirculation provides hot water for kitchens and locker rooms without increasing energy and water consumption on the campus. The pool water is treated with ozone gas, more effective than chlorine and less aggressive to the environment. Education for Sustainability regularly carried out with campus users complements the integration of the systems and services offered.
Separate Collection of Bio-Waste in General Areas of University Centers
Authors: Torrijos Verónica , Dono Martina , Soto Manuel
Published: November 2023

Traditionally, the separate collection of different fractions of waste in university centers was limited to the collection of paper/cardboard and packaging waste, while the collection of bio-waste was introduced only for dining and cafeteria services. It was based on the consideration that in general areas of the centers, such as classrooms, corridors, administrative areas, or offices, organic waste was not generated. However, eating habits and lifestyles have been changing and food remains becoming more frequent in these areas. The inspections carried out in the UDC in 2015 showed that 25% of the waste belonged to the bio-waste category, and subsequent inspections indicated that in some cases it may constitute the main waste fraction. Having verified this fact, the conclusion was that the intra-center waste segregation model should be revised, introducing a specific collector for bio-waste in all areas of the university centers. This communication describes the separate collection model and presents the results achieved in five centers of the UDC. The results achieved were very positive, approaching or exceeding in most cases the threshold of 85% correct content in the bins, a value that is considered minimum to classify it as a separate collection for quality recycling. The capture of materials for recycling exceeded 70% of the waste generated.
Water Resources Management at Raden Intan Islamic State University, Indonesia
Authors: Jamaluddin Wan , Pawhestri Suci Wulan , Supriadi Nanang , Budiwiranto Bambang
Published: November 2023

UIN Raden Intan Lampung is an Islamic university located at the southernmost tip of Sumatra. The area receives a rainfall ranging between 77-317 mm3 in 2022, and this rainfall must be harnessed and conserved as water reserves for daily needs. The university has a total area of 45 hectares, and it is home to a population of 34,482 individuals. The soil texture in the UIN Raden Intan Lampung campus area is predominantly clay, and the dense soil particles make it challenging to absorb water. Consequently, measures are required to regulate soil moisture levels to facilitate optimal water absorption. One strategy to preserve the water supply on campus is the construction of artificial ponds that capture rainwater. Ten such ponds have been built, covering 21.54% of the total green open space owned. Furthermore, around 8,000 biopore infiltration holes have been installed to maintain groundwater availability and improve soil fertility. The campus also conducts campaigns to promote water conservation and uses water-saving equipment technology. Treated wastewater from ablution activities in mosques is employed for secondary needs such as fish farming activities and irrigation. Ultimately, the preservation of water resources on campus must be sustainable, given the large population of people who depend on water for their daily needs, and ensuring water availability for the future is critical.
Sustainable Transportation: The Constraints of An Italian Public University
Authors: D’Innocenzo Massimiliano , Tozzi Anna
Published: November 2023

In Italy most Universities are located in the City Centre, often in ancient buildings that are part of the architectural heritage. During the years they developed campuses in peripheral areas, or even in other cities of the region, thus the concept of “shuttle” takes on a special meaning. The sustainable transportation concerns two main issues: the commuting and the connection between the campuses. In both cases Universities in urban or city centre setting must rely on the services offered by the Municipality to all residents for mobility, and to their sustainable policies, that anyway are required by law. Even though the main problems and solutions do not depend directly on the Universities’ policies, the study highlighted some good practices have been produced.
Direct synthesis based sliding mode controller design for unstable second order with dead-time processes with its application on continuous stirred tank reactor
Authors: Ali Mohammed Hasmat , Anwar Md Nishat
Published: November 2023

Unstable processes are challenging to control because they have one or more positive poles that produce unrestrained dynamic activity. Controlling such unstable plants becomes more challenging with the occurrence of the delay. This article presents a novel direct synthesis based sliding mode controller design for unstable second order plus dead-time processes. A sliding surface with three parameters has been considered. The continuous control law, which is responsible for maintaining the system mode to the desired sliding surface mode, has been obtained using the direct synthesis approach. The discontinuous control law parameters have been obtained using the differential evolution optimization technique. A desired reference model is considered for the direct synthesis method, and an objective function is constituted in terms of performance measure (integral absolute error) and control effort measure (total variation of controller output) for the optimization approach. Illustrative examples show the superiority of the proposed controller design method over recently reported literature, especially in terms of load rejection. The proposed controller approach is further extended to control the temperature of a nonlinear chemical reactor. Furthermore, the robustness of the proposed controller is also investigated for plant parametric uncertainty.
Loess and geotourism potential of the Braničevo District (NE Serbia): From overexploitation to paleoclimate interpretation
Authors: Antić Aleksandar , Radaković Milica G. , Marjanović Miloš , Marković Slobodan B. , Perić Zoran M. , Spalević Velibor , Momčilović Oliver , Kostadinović Milica , Marković Rastko , Tomić Nemanja
Published: November 2023

The use of loess as a resource for paleoclimatic research is quite well established. In Serbia, a significant number of loess sequences have been preserved in old brickyards. The results of the previously conducted research indicate extremely valuable data that enable a better understanding of the mid- to late Pleistocene climatic evolution in this part of Europe, as well as human dispersal from Africa to Europe via the so-called Danubian migration corridor. The aim of this study is to evaluate the geotourism potentials of the loess profiles in Požarevac (northeastern Serbia). The goal is to determine their geotourism potential for paleoclimate interpretation. The Modified Geoheritage Assessment Model method has identified exceptional geotourism potentials that can be implemented in the tourism market. Paleoclimatic data can serve as indicators for the development of scientific visitor centers for the promotion and popularization of paleoclimate science and museums, which will affirm sustainable socio-economic development through multidisciplinary interpretation. By combining geological, paleoclimatic, archaeological, biological, and other values that reveal natural and anthropogenic events from the distant past, it is possible to create a very competitive geotourism destination, whose sustainability can be passed on to future generations.
The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 induces inflammation and EMT of lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts through the upregulation of GADD45A
Authors: Cai Jiehao , Ma Wenjie , Wang Xiangshi , Chang Hailing , Wei Zhongqiu , Li Jingjing , Zeng Mei
Published: November 2023

Lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts poorly express angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, and the study aimed to investigate the role of the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on inflammation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in two lung cell lines and to understand the potential mechanism. Lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and fibroblasts (MRC-5) were treated with the spike protein, then inflammatory and EMT phenotypes were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Transwell, and western blot assays. RNA-sequence and bioinformatic analyses were performed to identify dysregulated genes. The roles of the candidate genes were further investigated. The results showed that treatment with 1,000 ng/mL of spike protein in two lung cell lines caused increased levels of IL-6, TNF-α, CXCL1, and CXCL3, and the occurrence of EMT. RNA-sequence identified 4,238 dysregulated genes in the spike group, and 18 candidate genes were involved in both inflammation- and EMT-related processes. GADD45A had the highest verified fold change (abs), and overexpression of GADD45A promoted the secretion of cytokines and EMT in the two lung cell lines. In conclusion, the spike protein induces inflammation and EMT in lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts by upregulating GADD45A, providing a new target to inhibit inflammation and EMT.
Photonic advantage of optical encoders
Authors: Huang Luocheng , Tanguy Quentin A. A. , Fröch Johannes E. , Mukherjee Saswata , Böhringer Karl F. , Majumdar Arka
Published: November 2023

Light’s ability to perform massive linear operations in parallel has recently inspired numerous demonstrations of optics-assisted artificial neural networks (ANN). However, a clear system-level advantage of optics over purely digital ANN has not yet been established. While linear operations can indeed be optically performed very efficiently, the lack of nonlinearity and signal regeneration require high-power, low-latency signal transduction between optics and electronics. Additionally, a large power is needed for lasers and photodetectors, which are often neglected in the calculation of the total energy consumption. Here, instead of mapping traditional digital operations to optics, we co-designed a hybrid optical-digital ANN, that operates on incoherent light, and is thus amenable to operations under ambient light. Keeping the latency and power constant between a purely digital ANN and a hybrid optical-digital ANN, we identified a low-power/latency regime, where an optical encoder provides higher classification accuracy than a purely digital ANN. We estimate our optical encoder enables ∼10 kHz rate operation of a hybrid ANN with a power of only 23 mW. However, in that regime, the overall classification accuracy is lower than what is achievable with higher power and latency. Our results indicate that optics can be advantageous over digital ANN in applications, where the overall performance of the ANN can be relaxed to prioritize lower power and latency.
Women in chemistry: remarkable progress, but are we there yet?
Authors: Wu Marinda Li
Published: November 2023

The chemistry enterprise continues to evolve, becoming increasingly more diverse and inclusive. Likewise, opportunities and roles for women in the chemistry enterprise have evolved. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, women faced tremendous obstacles pursuing a career in chemistry. Through determination, hard work – and with some good fortune – a few pioneering role models were able to overcome challenges. Countless women have followed in their footsteps. For example, the percentage of PhDs in science awarded to women in the United States has quadrupled over the past 50 years to over 30 %. In addition, the frequency of women elected to professional chemical society leadership or awarded a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry has increased significantly over the past 25 years, even accelerating in the last 5–10 years. Yet, the progress is uneven and much remains to be done to reach gender parity. There are major differences across countries in representation by women researchers in science and technology. In addition, there are significant gender gaps in faculty at top global universities in chemistry departments, as well as in governance at the largest publicly traded U.S. chemical companies. Moreover, progress is needed to reach gender equity in U.S. chemist compensation. However, I am optimistic that women will continue to progress and move towards parity. Like previous women leaders of the global chemistry enterprise, tomorrow’s successful women will have the passion, courage, and determination to overcome challenges and achieve the equity and opportunities they deserve.
A Comparative Study of the Performance of Handmade Papers Used for Mounting in China, Korea, and Japan
Authors: Yoo Dongyoung , Qiao Chengquan , Gong Decai
Published: November 2023

The properties of handmade paper used for mounting and conservation of paintings and calligraphy on paper is crucial to the quality and lifespan of such objects. Mounting papers from China, Korea, and Japan vary greatly in performance due to different papermaking methods and fibre materials. In this study, eight types of handmade paper widely used in China, Korea, and Japan were selected for comprehensive comparative analysis investigating their pH as well as optical, mechanical, and ageing properties. The study showed that traditional hanji, improved hanji, and thin Mino paper made of pure kozo fibres performed best in terms of mechanical properties. Among the additives mixed with kozo fibres, clam shell powder was identified as a substance that improves pH and stability of optical properties. Xuan paper Mianliao was found to be a suitable material for mounting hand scrolls and hanging scrolls due to its softness and ageing properties. Traditional hanji, improved hanji, and thin Mino paper are less flexible than xuan paper Mianliao and are considered more suitable for uses other than for mounting scrolls. This study will provide a reference for improving the quality of handmade paper and a theoretical basis for the selection of such papers for the conservation of paintings and calligraphy on paper.
Accuracy of Intraset Repetitions-in-Reserve Predictions During the Bench Press Exercise in Resistance-Trained Male and Female Subjects
Authors: Refalo Martin C. , Remmert Jacob F. , Pelland Joshua C. , Robinson Zac P. , Zourdos Michael C. , Hamilton D. Lee , Fyfe Jackson J. , Helms Eric R.
Published: November 2023

Refalo, MC, Remmert, JF, Pelland, JC, Robinson, ZP, Zourdos, MC, Hamilton, DL, Fyfe, JJ, and Helms, ER. Accuracy of intraset repetitions-in-reserve predictions during the bench press exercise in resistance-trained male and female subjects. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2023—This study assessed the accuracy of intraset repetitions-in-reserve (RIR) predictions to provide evidence for the efficacy of RIR prescription as a set termination method to inform proximity to failure during resistance training (RT). Twenty-four resistance trained male (n = 12) and female (n = 12) subjects completed 2 experimental sessions involving 2 sets performed to momentary muscular failure (barbell bench press exercise) with 75% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM), whereby subjects verbally indicated when they perceived to had reached either 1 RIR or 3 RIR. The difference between the predicted RIR and the actual RIR was defined as the “RIR accuracy” and was quantified as both raw (i.e., direction of error) and absolute (i.e., magnitude of error) values. High raw and absolute mean RIR accuracy (−0.17 ± 1.00 and 0.65 ± 0.78 repetitions, respectively) for 1-RIR and 3-RIR predictions were observed (including all sets and sessions completed). We identified statistical equivalence (equivalence range of ±1 repetition, thus no level of statistical significance was set) in raw and absolute RIR accuracy between (a) 1-RIR and 3-RIR predictions, (b) set 1 and set 2, and (c) session 1 and session 2. No evidence of a relationship was found between RIR accuracy and biological sex, years of RT experience, or relative bench press strength. Overall, resistance-trained individuals are capable of high absolute RIR accuracy when predicting 1 and 3 RIR on the barbell bench press exercise, with a minor tendency for underprediction. Thus, RIR prescriptions may be used in research and practice to inform the proximity to failure achieved upon set termination.
Calcium-Sensitive Subthreshold Oscillations and Electrical Coupling in Principal Cells of Mouse Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus
Authors: Hong (洪卉) Hui , Moore Lucille A. , Apostolides Pierre F. , Trussell Laurence O.
Published: November 2023

In higher sensory brain regions, slow oscillations (0.5–5 Hz) associated with quiet wakefulness and attention modulate multisensory integration, predictive coding, and perception. Although often assumed to originate via thalamocortical mechanisms, the extent to which subcortical sensory pathways are independently capable of slow oscillatory activity is unclear. We find that in the first station for auditory processing, the cochlear nucleus, fusiform cells from juvenile mice (of either sex) generate robust 1–2 Hz oscillations in membrane potential and exhibit electrical resonance. Such oscillations were absent prior to the onset of hearing, intrinsically generated by hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) and persistent Na+conductances (NaP) interacting with passive membrane properties, and reflected the intrinsic resonance properties of fusiform cells. Cx36-containing gap junctions facilitated oscillation strength and promoted pairwise synchrony of oscillations between neighboring neurons. The strength of oscillations were strikingly sensitive to external Ca2+, disappearing at concentrations >1.7 mM, due in part to the shunting effect of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels. This effect explains their apparent absence in previous in vitro studies of cochlear nucleus which routinely employed high-Ca2+extracellular solution. In contrast, oscillations were amplified in reduced Ca2+solutions, due to relief of suppression by Ca2+of Na+channel gating. Our results thus reveal mechanisms for synchronous oscillatory activity in auditory brainstem, suggesting that slow oscillations, and by extension their perceptual effects, may originate at the earliest stages of sensory processing.
EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DRYING TECHNIQUES ON THE BIOACTIVE, COLOR, ANTIBACTERIAL AND SENSORY FEATURES OF DATE PLUM FRUITS (DIOSPYROS LOTUS L.)
Authors: GOKTAS Hamza
Published: November 2023

In this study, the effects of hot air drying (HD), vacuum drying (VD) and freeze drying (FD) processes on total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC), antioxidant capacity (AC), color and antibacterial properties and sensory evaluation of date plum (DP) fruit were determined. Total phenolic, total flavonoid and antioxidant capacity values of dried and fresh samples were determined as 13.86-7.45 mg GAE/g, 7.17-4.09 mg CE/g and 86.60-54.98%, respectively. The highest inhibition levels against Bacillus cereus (24.50 mm) and Salmonella Typhimurium (24.67 mm), Yersinia enterocolitica (25.75 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (25.17 mm) were determined for HD and VD, respectively. In terms of sensory evaluation, FD drying was scored similarly to fresh samples (P>0.05). Overall, FD drying could be applied for longer preservation of DP fruits in terms of bioactive properties, color and sensory evaluation.
Still Arctic?—The changing Barents Sea
Authors: Gerland Sebastian , Ingvaldsen Randi B. , Reigstad Marit , Sundfjord Arild , Bogstad Bjarte , Chierici Melissa , Hop Haakon , Renaud Paul E. , Smedsrud Lars Henrik , Stige Leif Christian , Årthun Marius , Berge Jørgen , Bluhm Bodil A. , Borgå Katrine , Bratbak Gunnar , Divine Dmitry V. , Eldevik Tor , Eriksen Elena , Fer Ilker , Fransson Agneta , Gradinger Rolf , Granskog Mats A. , Haug Tore , Husum Katrine , Johnsen Geir , Jonassen Marius O. , Jørgensen Lis Lindal , Kristiansen Svein , Larsen Aud , Lien Vidar S. , Lind Sigrid , Lindstrøm Ulf , Mauritzen Cecilie , Melsom Arne , Mernild Sebastian H. , Müller Malte , Nilsen Frank , Primicerio Raul , Søreide Janne E. , van der Meeren Gro I. , Wassmann Paul
Published: November 2023

The Barents Sea is one of the Polar regions where current climate and ecosystem change is most pronounced. Here we review the current state of knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological systems in the Barents Sea. Physical conditions in this area are characterized by large seasonal contrasts between partial sea-ice cover in winter and spring versus predominantly open water in summer and autumn. Observations over recent decades show that surface air and ocean temperatures have increased, sea-ice extent has decreased, ocean stratification has weakened, and water chemistry and ecosystem components have changed, the latter in a direction often described as “Atlantification” or “borealisation,” with a less “Arctic” appearance. Temporal and spatial changes in the Barents Sea have a wider relevance, both in the context of large-scale climatic (air, water mass and sea-ice) transport processes and in comparison to other Arctic regions. These observed changes also have socioeconomic consequences, including for fisheries and other human activities. While several of the ongoing changes are monitored and quantified, observation and knowledge gaps remain, especially for winter months when field observations and sample collections are still sparse. Knowledge of the interplay of physical and biogeochemical drivers and ecosystem responses, including complex feedback processes, needs further development.
LKB1‐SIK2 loss drives uveal melanoma proliferation and hypersensitivity to SLC8A1 and ROS inhibition
Authors: Proteau Sarah , Krossa Imène , Husser Chrystel , Guéguinou Maxime , Sella Federica , Bille Karine , Irondelle Marie , Dalmasso Mélanie , Barouillet Thibault , Cheli Yann , Pisibon Céline , Arrighi Nicole , Nahon‐Estève Sacha , Martel Arnaud , Gastaud Lauris , Lassalle Sandra , Mignen Olivier , Brest Patrick , Mazure Nathalie M , Bost Frédéric , Baillif Stéphanie , Landreville Solange , Turcotte Simon , Hasson Dan , Carcamo Saul , Vandier Christophe , Bernstein Emily , Yvan‐Charvet Laurent , Levesque Mitchell P , Ballotti Robert , Bertolotto Corine , Strub Thomas
Published: November 2023

Metastatic uveal melanomas are highly resistant to all existing treatments. To address this critical issue, we performed a kinome‐wide CRISPR‐Cas9 knockout screen, which revealed the LKB1‐SIK2 module in restraining uveal melanoma tumorigenesis. Functionally, LKB1 loss enhances proliferation and survival through SIK2 inhibition and upregulation of the sodium/calcium (Na+/Ca2+) exchanger SLC8A1. This signaling cascade promotes increased levels of intracellular calcium and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, two hallmarks of cancer. We further demonstrate that combination of an SLC8A1 inhibitor and a mitochondria‐targeted antioxidant promotes enhanced cell death efficacy in LKB1‐ and SIK2‐negative uveal melanoma cells compared to control cells. Our study also identified an LKB1‐loss gene signature for the survival prognostic of patients with uveal melanoma that may be also predictive of response to the therapy combination. Our data thus identify not only metabolic vulnerabilities but also new prognostic markers, thereby providing a therapeutic strategy for particular subtypes of metastatic uveal melanoma.
Downregulation of PGRMC1 accelerates differentiation and fusion of a human trophoblast cell line
Authors: Tsuru Atsuya , Yoshie Mikihiro , Suzuki Mei , Mochizuki Hiroki , Kametaka Satoshi , Ohmaru-Nakanishi Takako , Azumi Mana , Kusama Kazuya , Kato Kiyoko , Tamura Kazuhiro
Published: November 2023

Mononuclear cytotrophoblasts (CTs) differentiate and fuse to form multinuclear syncytiotrophoblasts (STs), which produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone to maintain pregnancy. Impaired differentiation and fusion of CTs to form STs are associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and fetal growth restriction. Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) is a multifunctional single transmembrane heme-binding protein. We previously demonstrated that downregulation of PGRMC1 promotes endometrial stromal cell differentiation (decidualization). Here, we explored the role of PGRMC1 in trophoblast differentiation and fusion. PGRMC1 expression was lower in STs than in CTs of first-trimester placental tissues. PGRMC1 expression in BeWo cells (a trophoblast-derived choriocarcinoma cell line) decreased upon dibutyryl-cAMP (db-cAMP)-induced differentiation. Both inhibition and knockdown of PGRMC1 stimulated hCG production in the presence of db-cAMP. Furthermore, a quantitative cell fusion assay we developed revealed that inhibition and knockdown of PGRMC1 enhanced db-cAMP-stimulated cell fusion. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonists decreased PGRMC1 expression and stimulated the cell fusion in BeWo cells. These findings suggest that downregulation of PGRMC1 expression in part through activation of PPARγ during trophoblast differentiation promotes hCG production and cell fusion for formation and maintenance of placental villi during pregnancy.
Caregiver Language Preference and Health Care Utilization Among Children With Asthma
Authors: Emmanuel Mickey , Margolis Rachel , Badh Ranjodh , Kachroo Nikita , Teach Stephen J. , Parikh Kavita
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Asthma is a leading cause of health care utilization in children and disproportionately affects historically marginalized populations. Yet, limited data exist on the role of caregiver language preference on asthma morbidity. The study aim was to determine whether caregiver non-English language preference (NELP) is associated with unscheduled asthma-related health care utilization in pediatric patients.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study using data from a population-level, disease-specific registry of pediatric patients with asthma living in the District of Columbia (DC). Patients aged 2 to 17 years were included and the study period was 2019. The primary exposure variable was language preference: English preferred (EP) or NELP by self-identified language preference. The primary outcome was unscheduled asthma-related health care utilization including emergency department visits, hospitalizations (ICU and non-ICU), and ICU visits alone. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs).

RESULTS

Of the 14 431 patients included, 8.1% had NELP (1172 patients). In analyses adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, insurance status, diagnosis of persistent asthma, controller prescription, and encounter with a primary care provider, caregiver NELP was associated with an increased odds of having an asthma-related emergency department visit (aOR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.08–1.74), hospitalization (aOR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.18–2.72), and ICU visit (aOR, 4.37; 95% CI, 1.93–9.92). In the Hispanic subgroup (n = 1555), caregiver NELP was associated with an increased odds of having an asthma-related hospitalization (aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.02–2.93).

CONCLUSIONS

In the population of children in the District of Columbia with asthma, caregiver NELP was associated with increased odds of asthma-related health care utilization, suggesting that caregiver language preference is a significant determinant of asthma outcomes.
Comparative evaluation of low-level laser therapy and multi-wave locked system laser therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome: a retrospective study
Authors: ÜŞEN Ahmet , AKYOL Ahmet , TOPAL İlknur
Published: November 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and Multi-Wave Locked System (MLS) Laser Therapy on clinical and functional parameters in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Methods: In the study, 60 patients with mild-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome were evaluated retrospectively in 3 groups. Group I; LLLT, Group II; MLS Laser therapy, Group III; It consisted of patients who did not receive any laser application and were given splints, a home exercise program and patient education. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Hand Grip Strength measurement and BOSTON Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire measurements were evaluated from the patients' files at baseline, 4th week and 12th week.

Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in all parameters in Group I and Group II at 4 weeks and 12 weeks compared to baseline. Group III showed no significant differences in grip strength measurements and the BOSTON Functional Status Scale at 4 weeks compared to baseline. The changes between baseline and 4 weeks were statistically significantly better in Group I and Group II compared to Group III for all parameters. No significant difference was found between Group I and Group II in VAS and grip strength improvements, but the improvement in Boston Symptom Severity Scale was significantly more prominent in Group II than in Group I.

Conclusion: Both LLLT and MLS Laser Therapy can be considered as conservative treatment options along with splinting and exercise to control the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. MLS Laser Therapy may be superior to LLLT in reducing symptom severity.
Five-week of solution-focused group counseling successfully reduces internet addiction among college students: A pilot study
Authors: Pu Yu , Liu Yuting , Qi Yawei , Yan Ziyou , Zhang Xinhe , He Qinghua
Published: November 2023

Background and Aims

In the digital age, Internet addiction (IA) was deemed an epidemic and few treatments had been effectively developed for it. Here, we proposed a solution-focused group counseling (SFGC) as a potentially solution to reduce Internet addiction among college students. The present study examined the short- and long-term effect of a five-week solution-focused group counseling intervention on Internet addiction.

Methods

Thirty-two participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group, and twenty-six participants completed the whole intervention. The experimental group (n = 14) received the intervention, while control group (n = 12) did not. The revised version of the Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R), the Future Time Perspective, and resting-state EEG were administered pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at two follow-up tests (one month and six months after intervention).

Results

The results showed that the scores of the CIAS-R in the experimental group were significantly decreased after intervention, and these effects could be sustained for one month and six months follow-ups. Additionally, the intervention conducted an increase in future time perspective. EEG results further suggested that the alpha, beta, and gamma absolute power decreased after the intervention.

Conclusion

These results from the pilot-study primarily suggested that solution-focused group counseling could be an effective intervention for Internet addiction.
Enseñanza de esquemas narrativos en alumnado de Educación Infantil: trastorno del desarrollo del lenguaje y desarrollo típico
Authors: Delgado-Cruz Atteneri , Acosta-Rodríguez Víctor-M. , Ramírez-Santana Gustavo-M.
Published: November 2023

La presente investigación se ha diseñado con el propósito de analizar el desarrollo narrativo en alumnado con desarrollo típico (DT) y con Trastorno del Desarrollo del Lenguaje (TDL) y formular una propuesta educativa para su estimulación. La muestra final estuvo compuesta por 128 estudiantes de 5 años, divididos en cuatro grupos, cada uno con 32 sujetos: un grupo de tratamiento de alumnado con TDL, un grupo sin tratamiento de alumnado con TDL, un grupo de tratamiento de alumnado con DT del lenguaje y un grupo sin tratamiento de alumnado con DT del lenguaje. El programa de intervención se organizó siguiendo un Sistema de Apoyo de Múltiples Niveles. Hay una mejora clara en el esquema narrativo tanto en el alumnado con TDL como con DT. Además, el grupo de TDL con tratamiento mostró mayores ganancias respecto a los tres grupos, mientras que el grupo de DT con tratamiento mostró mayores ganancias respecto a los dos grupos sin tratamiento. Se sugiere la incorporación de las competencias en habilidades narrativas dentro del currículum de Educación Infantil.
Effect the pre-exposure prophylactic of hydroxychloroquine on severe COVID-19 disease: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Valizadeh Mahnaz , Tarjoman Termeh , Farhoudi Behnam , Chouhdari Arezoo , Mesgarian Masoumeh , SeyedAlinaghi SeyedAhmad , Zangeneh Mehrangiz , Hanifezadeh Zahra , Adain Atashi Hesam , Massumi-Naini Hamidreza , Abolghasemi Shahla , Dezfulinejad Manije , Haghani Shima
Published: November 2023

Background. In vitro studies have shown some effects for Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) against SARS-CoV-2 virus. Despite effective vaccination program, relatively large proportion of population remains unvaccinated. So, there still remains a need for other prophylactic measures. The present study aims to evaluate whether HCQ can prevent severe COVID-19 outcomes among health-care workers. Materials and methods. In this randomized, double blind placebo-controlled clinical trial 334 healthcare workers aged 18–65 years old were included of whom 278 individuals completed the study. Participants were randomly assigned to the HCQ group (800 mg at day one, followed by 400 mg weekly for the next 7 weeks); or the placebo group. Participants were followed three weeks after the last dose of drug or placebo (10 weeks from the first dose of drug or placebo). The primary outcome was hospitalization or death from COVID-19. Results. Of 148 people who received HCQ, none were hospitalized or died from COIVD-19, while of 130 people who received the placebo, 2 (1.5%) were hospitalized for COIVD-19 (p-value: 0.26). And, 22 (14.9%) people in the HCQ group and 15 (11.6%) people in the placebo group contracted COVID-19 (p-value: 0.99). Adverse reactions were reported by 5 (3.4%) of participants in the HCQ group and 5 (3.9%) of participants in the placebo group (p-value: 0.99).

Conclusion. We found that HCQ has no significant prevention effect on the incidence of mild COVID-19. However, the low rate of hospitalization (the primary outcome) in this trial like most of the other clinical trials with HCQ would have required increasing the sample size considerably to be able to comment on the effectiveness of HCQ in prevention of severe forms including death rate. This justifies systematic reviews to include similar studies to further investigate the issue.
From coronaviruses to coronaviruses
Authors: Kiseleva Irina V. , Musaeva Tamila D.
Published: November 2023

The official history of the discovery of human coronaviruses dates back to 1965, when the first coronavirus B814, which has now been lost, was isolated on the human embryonic tracheal organ culture from the nasal swabs of a patient with acute respiratory disease. However, this time point can only be an intermediate stage on its long evolutionary path. Paleovirological studies have shown that coronaviruses could have appeared as early as in the Stone Age — in the Upper Paleolithic era, and East Asia is considered as their place of origin — a region that is well known to virologists as the source of many highly pathogenic influenza viruses and new coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. This makes us take a different look at the seeming “innocence” of seasonal coronaviruses that circulated before 2002, when a human pathogenic virus appeared that caused SARS. This also fits well into the assumption about the coronavirus nature of the 1889 Russian flu pandemic. Today, four seasonal and three new, pathogenic for human coronaviruses are known. Two seasonal coronaviruses (229E and NL63) belong to the genus Alphacoronavirus, 2 others (OC43 and HKU1) and three new coronaviruses (SARS, MERS and SARS-CoV-2) belong to the genus Betacoronavirus. In this review, we have focused on the “extreme points” — seasonal coronaviruses and pandemic SARS-CoV-2. We attempted to draw an analogy between them and identify their main distinguishing features. From the viewpoint of epidemiology and clinic, common what they have is only the airborne transmission route, characteristic of all respiratory viruses, and the ubiquitous distribution, the nature and intensity of which were not markedly affected by the influenza epidemics/pandemics. Seasonal coronaviruses continued to circulate even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the majority of other respiratory viruses had largely disappeared. Significant differences between seasonal coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 can be traced in the symptoms, severity and pathogenesis of the diseases they cause. At the structural level, they have a lot common features including taxonomic proximity, morphology, structure, physicochemical properties of virions, genome organization, the main stages of virus replication, etc. What made SARS-CoV-2 such aggressive? The few differences in the size of viral particles and viral genome that have been identified to date, the use or not of hemagglutinin esterase to penetrate into a sensitive cell, attachment to different cell receptors cannot underlie a prominent difference in severity of the infection caused by seasonal or pandemic coronavirus. Most likely, that these differences are based on delicate molecular mechanisms that have yet to be discovered.
Influence of long-term antibiotic therapy on gut microbiome composition and metabolic profile in pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Yunusbaeva M. M. , Terentyeva D. R. , Borodina L. Ya. , Zakirova A. M. , Bulatov S. E. , Bilalov F. S. , Yunusbayev B. B.
Published: November 2023

The use of long-term multicomponent antibiotic therapy is the most effective way to treat tuberculosis (TB). However, little is known about the effect of this chemotherapy on the human intestinal microflora. The purpose of this study was to analyze an effect of long-term antibiotic therapy on gut microbiome composition and metabolic profile in TB patients. We used deep sequencing of fecal samples from 23 treatment-naive TB patients to reconstruct the metabolic capacity and strain/species-level abundance in the gut microbiome. Two fecal samples were obtained from each patient: before and after treatment. We showed that TB treatment regimen does not disrupt the overall diversity of the gut microbiome but does have an impact on gut bacterial microbiome composition and metabolic profile. While taking first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide), TB patients showed an apparent increase in Actinobacteria abundance. Pairwise comparison of metagenomic data revealed 28 differentially represented bacterial taxa, of which three species Bacteroides cellulosilyticus, Enterocloster aldensis, Clostridium spiroforme were strongly enriched in TB patients post-chemotherapy, whereas 25 species were enriched in TB patients before treatment (Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Enterococcus faecium, Bacteroides salyersiae, Bacteroides xylanisolvens, Bacteroides eggerthii, Lachnospira eligens, Akkermansia muciniphila, Ruminococcus lactaris, etc.) (p 0.05). The metabolic profile of the gut microbiome was characterized by increased metabolic processes aimed at the growth and division of microbial cells. Iron is the main limiting factor for growth and reproduction. In addition, it is important to note the prevalence of glycolysis and lactate fermentation as the major means for energy production by intestinal microbiota.
Nanoparticle therapy for antibiotic-resistant bacteria: current methods and prospects
Authors: Bekele Tigabu M , Alamnie Getachew A , Girma Abayneh , Mebratie Gedefaw B
Published: November 2023

Emerging diseases due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause severe health concerns while increasing their negative effects on human health. The overuse or misuse of antimicrobial agents has contributed to the evolution of bacterial resistance to current medications. Bacteria can develop resistance by altering drugs, changing their target sites, forming biofilms and spending more time in the intracellular environment. Due to this, efforts are being made to create novel, alternative nanoantibiotics as a promising strategy to treat bacteria that cause disease and have developed resistance to a variety of drugs. Utilizing their biocidal properties, nanoparticles can be directed for medication delivery to particular tissues and employed as antibacterial agents against a range of illnesses. Targeted medication delivery-related toxicity problems may be solved with the aid of nanoencapsulation technology. This review paper generally provides a conceptual foundation for understanding the complexity of the problem of the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, particularly for brand-new synthetic antibiotics. This information will allow researchers to explore the use of nanoparticles in the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Investigation of the pore structure performance of dune sand mortar with ceramic waste
Authors: Ghrieb Abderrahmane , Abadou Yacine , Bustamante Rosa , Sánchez de Rojas María Isabel
Published: November 2023

The use of construction waste in creating concrete and mortar is an important process that not only offers economic benefits but also helps protect the environment by reducing waste in rural and urban areas. This experimental study aims to investigate the effect of adding crushed ceramic waste (CCW) and crushed brick waste (CBW) on the bulk density, workability, compressive and flexural strengths, water absorption and microstructural properties of dune sand mortar. To determine changes in porosity, the study uses the mercury intrusion porosimetry technique to measure porosity and pore size distribution. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses are conducted to examine the microstructure and size of the voids using an electron microscope, and photographs of voids in the mortar matrix are taken. By replacing 15% of the sand with CCW and CBW, the compactness and mechanical strength of the dune sand mortar are enhanced, increasing the dynamic modulus of elasticity by around 29 and 26%, respectively. This is due to the pozzolanic activity of these residues, which mainly occur in the form of medium and small capillaries in all the mortars studied, reducing the diameter of the pores.
Semi-analytical model for axisymmetric transport of contaminant through flawed geomembrane
Authors: Li T. , Sun D. , Ni P. , Chen Z. , Wang L.
Published: November 2023

Geomembrane (GM) is a kind of cost-efficient material for pollutant barriers in landfills, while defects can occur during the installation or service periods, resulting in a mixed-type boundary condition (MTBC) at the top surface of the underlying soil layer (SL). In this study, a novel boundary transform method is employed to handle the MTBC problem of axisymmetric transport of organic contaminant through defected GM, and a semi-analytical solution is derived to evaluate the concentration profiles in the spatiotemporal domain. The proposed solution is in the cylindrical coordinates that can incorporate the diffusion and dispersion processes, as well as the concentration condition in the GM defect. The discretization method, integral transforms and corresponding inverse transforms are applied to obtain the semi-analytical solution, which is demonstrated to be effective compared to the numerical results. The model is applied to predict the migration characteristics of organic contaminant in several cases, followed by discussions to evaluate the influencing roles of defect rate, anisotropic coefficient, and segment number. Results indicate that the existence of defects substantially reduces the barrier capacity of the GM layer, and the contaminant migration time varies in several orders of magnitude for different MTBCs.
Revisiting the Impact of Fragility on Economic Growth: New Insights From Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: SEKUNMADE John Oludamılola , ÖZARSLAN DOĞAN Başak
Published: November 2023

This research examines fragility impact on Sub-Saharan Africa's economic growth from 2006 to 2019. The variables of interest for this study include economic decline, economic inequality, human flight, brain drain, external intervention, and economic growth. The research objectives are to empirically investigate the connection between fragility indices and economic growth and determine the impact of fragility indices on economic growth. The existence of cointegration was ascertained in our variable using the Westerlund cointegration test. A fully modified ordinary least squares estimation technique was adopted for the first objective, and the findings showed that only external intervention indices positively impacted economic growth. In achieving our second objective, we adopted mean group, augmented mean group, and common correlated effect mean group estimation technique and found that the coefficients of economic decline, economic inequality, and human flight and brain drain had negative impacts on economic growth. In contrast, the external intervention had a positive impact. The research study recommends that fragile countries' governments develop corrective measures to remove these indicators to ensure progressive growth. Also, state administrations must ensure that suitable policies are implemented to encourage research and development. This will limit the problem of human flight and brain drain, which are significant problems in fragile countries.