bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robotic Arm-assisted versus Manual (ROAM) total knee arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Clement Nick D. , Galloway Steven , Baron Y. Jenny , Smith Karen , Weir David J. , Deehan David J.
Published: September 2023

Aims

The primary aim was to assess whether robotic total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) had a greater early knee-specific outcome when compared to manual TKA (mTKA). Secondary aims were to assess whether rTKA was associated with improved expectation fulfilment, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and patient satisfaction when compared to mTKA.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was undertaken, and patients were randomized to either mTKA or rTKA. The primary objective was functional improvement at six months. Overall, 100 patients were randomized, 50 to each group, of whom 46 rTKA and 41 mTKA patients were available for review at six months following surgery. There were no differences between the two groups.

Results

There was no difference between rTKA and mTKA groups at six months according to the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) functional score (mean difference (MD) 3.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) -5.6 to 13.1); p = 0.425). There was a greater improvement in the WOMAC pain score at two months (MD 9.5 (95% CI 0.6 to 18.3); p = 0.037) in the rTKA group, although by six months no significant difference was observed (MD 6.7 (95% CI -3.6 to 17.1); p = 0.198). The rTKA group were more likely to achieve a minimal important change in their WOMAC pain score when compared to the mTKA group at two months (n = 36 (78.3%) vs n = 24 (58.5%); p = 0.047) and at six months (n = 40 (87.0%) vs n = 29 (68.3%); p = 0.036). There was no difference in satisfaction between the rTKA group (97.8%; n = 45/46) and the mTKA group (87.8%; n = 36/41) at six months (p = 0.096). There were no differences in EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D) utility gain (p ≥ 0.389) or fulfilment of patient expectation (p ≥ 0.054) between the groups.

Conclusion

There were no statistically significant or clinically meaningful differences in the change in WOMAC function between mTKA and rTKA at six months. rTKA was associated with a higher likelihood of achieving a clinically important change in knee pain at two and six months, but no differences in knee-specific function, patient satisfaction, health-related quality of life, or expectation fulfilment were observed.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(9):961–970.
Effect of Irrigation Scheduling Methods on Maize Grain Yield and Nitrate Leaching in Central Minnesota
Authors: Singh Gurparteet , Sharma Vasudha , Mulla David , Tahir Muhammad , Fernandez Fabian G.
Published: September 2023

Highlights

Four irrigation scheduling methods were compared for maize yield vs nitrate-N losses.

Yield was similar with SM, CB, and EPIC, and lower for IMA irrigation scheduling.

Nitrate-N leaching losses were highly dependent on precipitation as well as on the rate and frequency of irrigation.

IMA and EPIC methods should be adopted with further calibration.

ABSTRACT. Coarse-textured soils in the Great Lakes states have limited water holding capacity, which makes irrigation essential to obtain optimum yields for maize; however, excess irrigation has the potential to contaminate ground and surface water resources through deep seepage of applied fertilizers, making irrigation management critical. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different strategies for agricultural irrigation water management on maize grain yield and nitrate leaching losses. In this three-year study (2019-2021), the following four irrigation scheduling strategies were compared under continuous maize cropping systems at two sites in Central Minnesota, Becker and Westport: (1) soil moisture monitoring using soil moisture sensors (SM), (2) checkbook method of irrigation scheduling (CB), (3) irrigation management assistant tool (IMA), and (4) EPIC model auto-irrigation (EPIC). Overall, in comparison to the CB method (highest irrigation method), the SM, IMA, and EPIC methods recommended 2.58%, 51.05%, and 9.27% less water in irrigation, respectively. In terms of grain yield, no significant differences were observed between irrigation treatments at the Becker site. The average maize grain yield at the Becker site was 12.02, 11.97, 11.76, and 10.62 Mg/ha, for SM, CB, EPIC, and IMA treatments, respectively. However, in the drier 2021 season, a grain yield loss of 30%, 27%, and 21% was observed under IMA when compared to SM, CB, and EPIC methods, respectively, at the Becker site. At the Westport site, on average, no significant difference in yield was obtained between SM, CB, and EPIC, however, yield under IMA treatment was significantly lower (12%) than CB. The results suggest that nitrate leaching losses can be significantly reduced by altering the rate and frequency of irrigation. IMA treatment resulted in significantly lower nitrate leaching (62%) than the CB method, reducing nitrate leaching from 35.86 kg/ha to 13.71 kg/ha at the Westport site. No significant differences in nitrate leaching were observed at the Becker site because the impact of precipitation superseded the impact of irrigation. Results from this study can aid in the adoption and further development of less labor-intensive and more accurate methods of irrigation scheduling in coarse-textured soils of Great Lakes states. Keywords: Coarse textured soils, Crop evapotranspiration, Irrigation scheduling methods, Maize grain yield, Nitrate-N leaching, Water quality, Water quantity.
Beyond Impasse: Affect and Language Community in Select Contemporary Afrikaans Lyric Poetry
Authors: van der Vlies Andrew
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Stasis and impasse register as conditions of interrupted development in many examples of postapartheid South African writing, works that engage the affective discontents of the transition from white minority rule to a future that has not quite materialised as promised. Much extant scholarship on this body of work attends to prose and to texts written in English. This essay takes two collections of poetry published in South Africa in Afrikaans in 2016—Ronelda Kamfer's Hammie and Bibi Slippers' Fotostaatmasjien —as case-study examples of how lyric poetry in this contested language might model a way out of postcolonial (and postapartheid) malaise. These poets' lyrics are performances in a language whose ongoing, creolizing nature is exploited and advanced by their refusal of conventions that historically linked Afrikaans to white nationalist politics. Kamfer's and Slippers' work evokes—and provokes—an excess of continuity whose multiple affective resonances are testimony to the possibilities that lie beyond stasis.
A Qualitative Inquiry into the Factors that Influence Deaf Children's Early Sign Language Acquisition among Deaf Children in Ghana
Authors: Obosu Gideon Kwesi , Vanderpuye Irene , Opoku-Asare Nana Afia , Adigun Timothy Olufemi
Published: September 2023

Abstract: The linguistic and cognitive importance of early language exposure for deaf children is well reported in the literature. However, most of such studies have been conducted in industrialized countries with less of such studies conducted in developing and nonindustrialized countries such as Ghana. Therefore, hinged on the social interactionist theory of language development, this study explored the factors that influence early acquisition of sign language among deaf children from a low-resource setting in Ghana. Ten mothers of deaf children from these communities were purposively selected for the study. Data was gathered through observation, focus group discussion, and a face-to-face interview using a semistructured interview guide. The data were subsequently analyzed thematically. Parents' knowledge about their children's deafness, sociocultural beliefs, and the parents' interactions with their deaf children at home were found as core potential factors influencing early acquisition of sign language among deaf children in these low-resourced communities. Based on these findings, appropriate recommendations are made for policy and practice.
Spatial multiplexing for robust optical vortex transmission with optical nonlinearity
Authors: Fan Weiru , Chen Tianrun , Tang Xiaobin , Xu Xingqi , Yuan Luqi , Yakovlev Vladislav V. , Zhu Shi-Yao , Wang Da-Wei , Zhang Delong
Published: September 2023

Optical vortex beams, with phase singularity characterized by a topological charge (TC), introduces a new dimension for optical communication, quantum information, and optical light manipulation. However, the evaluation of TCs after beam propagation remains a substantial challenge, impeding practical applications. Here, we introduce vortices in lateral arrays (VOILA), a novel spatial multiplexing approach that enables simultaneous transmission of a lateral array of multiple vortices. Leveraging advanced learning techniques, VOILA effectively decodes TCs, even in the presence of strong optical nonlinearities simulated experimentally. Notably, our approach achieves substantial improvements in single-shot bandwidth, surpassing single-vortex scheme by several orders of magnitude. Furthermore, our system exhibits precise fractional TC recognition in both linear and nonlinear regimes, providing possibilities for high-bandwidth communication. The capabilities of VOILA promise transformative contributions to optical information processing and structured light research, with significant potential for advancements in diverse fields.
Delocalization of light in photonic lattices with unbounded potentials
Authors: Longhi Stefano
Published: September 2023

In classical mechanics, a particle cannot escape from an unbounded potential well. Naively, one would expect a similar result to hold in wave mechanics, since high barriers make tunneling difficult. However, this is not always the case, and it is known that wave delocalization can arise in certain models with incommensurate unbounded potentials sustaining critical states, i.e., states neither fully extended nor fully localized. Here we introduce a different and broader class of unbounded potentials, which are not quasiperiodic and do not require any specially tailored shape, where wave delocalization is observed. The results are illustrated by considering light dynamics in synthetic photonic lattices, which should provide a feasible platform for the experimental observation of wave delocalization in unbounded potentials.
Middle output regularized end-to-end optimization for computational imaging
Authors: Jacome Roman , Gomez Pablo , Arguello Henry
Published: September 2023

Optical coding is an essential technique in computational imaging (CI) that allows high-dimensional signal sensing through post-processed coded projections to decode the underlying signal. Currently, optical coding elements (OCEs) are optimized in an end-to-end (E2E) manner where a set of layers (encoder) of a deep neural network models the OCE while the rest of the network (decoder) performs a given computational task. However, while the training performance of the whole network is acceptable, the encoder layers can be flawed, leading to deficient OCE designs. This flawed performance of the encoder is originated from factors such as the loss function of the network not considering the intermedium layers separately, as the output at those layers is unknown. Second, the encoder suffers from a vanishing gradient since the encoder takes place in the first layers. Third, the proper estimation of the gradient in these layers is constrained to satisfy physical limitations. In this work, we propose a middle output regularized E2E optimization, where a set of regularization functions is used to overcome the flawed optimization of the encoder. The significant advantage of our regularization is that it does not require additional knowledge of the encoder and can be applied to most optical sensing instruments in CI. Instead, the regularization exploits some prior knowledge about the computational task, the statistical properties of the output of the encoder (measurements), and the sensing model. Specifically, we propose three types of regularizers: the first one is based on statistical divergences of the measurements, the second depends only on the variance of the measurements, and the last one is a structural regularizer promoting low rankness and sparsity of the set of measurements. We validated the proposed training procedure in two representative CI systems, a single-pixel camera and a coded aperture snapshot spectral imager, showing significant improvement with respect to non-regularized designs.
The roles of liquidity and delay in financial markets based on an optimal forecasting model
Authors: Yang Guo-Hui , Ma Si-Qi , Bian Xiao-Dong , Li Jiang-Cheng
Published: September 2023

We investigate the roles of liquidity and delay in financial markets through our proposed optimal forecasting model. The efficiency and liquidity of the financial market are examined using stochastic models that incorporate information delay. Based on machine learning, we estimate the in-sample and out-of-sample forecasting price performances of the six proposed methods using the likelihood function and Bayesian methods, and the out-of-sample prediction performance is compared with the benchmark model ARIMA-GARCH. We discover that the forecasting price performance of the proposed simplified delay stochastic model is superior to that of the benchmark methods by the test methods of a variety of loss function, superior predictive ability test (SPA), Akaike information criterion (AIC), and Bayesian information criterion (BIC). Using data from the Chinese stock market, the best forecasting model assesses the efficiency and liquidity of the financial market while accounting for information delay and trade probability. The rise in trade probability and delay time affects the stability of the return distribution and raises the risk, according to stochastic simulation. The empirical findings show that empirical and best forecasting approaches are compatible, that company size and liquidity (delay time) have an inverse relationship, and that delay time and liquidity have a nonlinear relationship. The most efficient have optimal liquidity.
Evaluation of China-ASEAN trade status and trade potential: An empirical study based on a gravity model
Authors: Zhai Huafeng
Published: September 2023

Objective

The objective of this study was to identify factors influencing the development of China-ASEAN trade- from the total economic volume of both sides, distance, the population size of ASEAN countries, the construction of a free trade area, and the signing of the Belt and Road initiative, resource endowment per capita, the exchange rate between RMB and ASEAN countries, and the land area of ASEAN countries—to develop a conceptual framework for China-ASEAN trade potential.

Study design

This study uses panel data from 2001 to 2021 that is evenly distributed among 10 ASEAN countries to serve as the dataset. Firstly, the unit roots are checked and the cointegration relationships are examined, focusing on the heterogeneity test. Based on the classical trade gravity model, the innovative trade gravity model with key influencing factors is constructed. On the basis of the classical trade gravity model, an innovative trade gravity model of key influencing factors is constructed. The trade potential model is used to calculate the direct trade potential coefficient between China and ASEAN countries, which points out the direction for the sustainability of bilateral trade.

Results

This study finds that among the factors affecting China-ASEAN bilateral trade, the total economic output of both sides, distance, population size of ASEAN countries, the construction of the FTA, and the signing of the Belt and Road Initiative all have a positive impact on bilateral trade. Three influencing factors, namely per capita resource endowment, exchange rate between RMB and ASEAN countries, and the size of ASEAN countries, have a negative impact on bilateral trade, but to a lesser extent. The trade potential between China and Vietnam falls into the category of potential re-modelling, indicating that both sides are currently utilizing their trade potential to the greatest extent possible, that trade growth space is limited, and that new trade opportunities must be discovered. The trade potential index between China and nine ASEAN countries, excluding Vietnam, is in the potential-exploiting category, indicating that the potential has not been fully utilized by both sides and that there is still room for growth in the scale of trade between the two countries.

Conclusion

With the shift of the world’s economic center of gravity in the direction of Asia following COVID-19, China and ASEAN countries should seize the opportunity to strengthen their comprehensive strength and economic aggregates and further develop China’s constructive role in the regional organization. The signing of the Belt and Road Initiative and the construction of a free trade zone has had a positive effect on the development of bilateral trade. Propose that: positive trade factors should continue to be strengthened, trade barriers should be removed, and new dynamics of bilateral trade growth should be enhanced.
Complex network-based classification of radiographic images for COVID-19 diagnosis
Authors: Liu Weiguang , Delalibera Rodrigues Rafael , Yan Jianglong , Zhu Yu-tao , de Freitas Pereira Everson José , Li Gen , Zheng Qiusheng , Zhao Liang
Published: September 2023

In this work, we present a network-based technique for chest X-ray image classification to help the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with COVID-19. From visual inspection, we perceive that healthy and COVID-19 chest radiographic images present different levels of geometric complexity. Therefore, we apply fractal dimension and quadtree as feature extractors to characterize such differences. Moreover, real-world datasets often present complex patterns, which are hardly handled by only the physical features of the data (such as similarity, distance, or distribution). This issue is addressed by complex networks, which are suitable tools for characterizing data patterns and capturing spatial, topological, and functional relationships in data. Specifically, we propose a new approach combining complexity measures and complex networks to provide a modified high-level classification technique to be applied to COVID-19 chest radiographic image classification. The computational results on the Kaggle COVID-19 Radiography Database show that the proposed method can obtain high classification accuracy on X-ray images, being competitive with state-of-the-art classification techniques. Lastly, a set of network measures is evaluated according to their potential in distinguishing the network classes, which resulted in the choice of communicability measure. We expect that the present work will make significant contributions to machine learning at the semantic level and to combat COVID-19.
The Children, Caregivers, and Community (C3) study of together growing strong: A protocol for an observational, place-based initiative in Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Authors: Miller Elizabeth B. , Canfield Caitlin F. , Barajas-Gonzalez R. Gabriela , Chung Alicia , Katter Julie , Kerker Bonnie D.
Published: September 2023

Reaching population-level impact for families in poverty requires moving beyond a sole focus on individuals, to a wider focus on interactions between individuals and their broader environmental contexts. Place-based initiatives have emerged as a policy response to promote community-level change around these broader interactions between individuals and their local communities through addressing long-standing disparities in housing, employment, education, and health. Together Growing Strong (TGS) is one such place-based initiative focused on transforming the health, wellbeing, and development of young children and their families in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The Children, Caregivers, and Community (C3) Study is an outcomes-based study designed to assess the trajectories of children and families in Sunset Park along indicators such as family health and wellbeing and child development in relation to TGS program participation. The aims, scope, and protocol of the C3 Study are the subjects of this paper.
Irisin ameliorates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by modulating gut microbiota and intestinal permeability in rats
Authors: Liu Qingqing , Zhu Yu , Li Guangyao , Guo Tiantian , Jin Mengtong , Xi Duan , Wang Shuai , Liu Xuezhi , Guo Shuming , Liu Hui , Fan Jiamao , Liu Ronghua
Published: September 2023

Recently, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury was suggested associated with intestinal flora. However, irisin has demonstrated beneficial effects on myocardial I/R injury, thus increasing interest in exploring its mechanism. Therefore, whether irisin interferes in gut microbiota and gut mucosal barrier during myocardial I/R injury was investigated in the present study. Irisin was found to reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells and fracture in myocardial tissue, myocardial enzyme levels, and the myocardial infarction (MI) area. In addition, the data showed that irisin reverses I/R-induced gut dysbiosis as indicated by the decreased abundance of Actinobacteriota and the increased abundance of Firmicutes, and maintains intestinal barrier integrity, reduces metabolic endotoxemia, and inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Based on the results, irisin could be a good candidate for ameliorating myocardial I/R injury and associated diseases by alleviating gut dysbiosis, endothelial dysfunction and anti-inflammatory properties.
Listening for the ‘I’ in infrastructure (and community) repair
Authors: Piantella Benedetta , Nathanson Alex , Brain Tega , DesPortes Kayla
Published: September 2023

Infrastructure work and maintenance are forms of care work as they involve the upkeep and repair of systems that sustain communities. We explore a global experiment of digital infrastructure stewardship and collective imagination called Solar Protocol: a network of solar-powered servers distributed around the globe. Through Sam, a dedicated maintenance worker in the Kalinago Territory in Dominica, we examine a journey through renewable energy technologies and community infrastructure in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The Solar Protocol network was created as a provocation and social invitation into collective stewardship and into rethinking planetary limits and environmental rhythms as creative opportunities rather than constraints. By using the Listening Guide (LG), a qualitative and relational research method focused on uncovering how people navigate human experiences, we explore the emotional aspects, challenges and motivations associated with caring for and with infrastructure. We demonstrate how the LG sheds light on the nuanced and complex emotional landscape of individuals and communities involved in digital stewardship work.
Effect of climate and habitat on morphological characteristics and fruit production of Picralima nitida (Stapf) in West Africa
Authors: Akabassi Ghislain Comlan , Padonou Elie Antoine , Gbesso Gbodja Houéhanou François , Assogbadjo Achille Ephrem , Guede Noël Zirihi
Published: September 2023

Picralima nitida is an important African medicinal plant species used in pharmaceutical industries and traditional medicine to treat several diseases. Despite its importance, the species faces conservation problem. This study evaluated the effect of climate and habitat on morphological characteristics and fruit production of P. nitida. A total of 132 fruiting trees was randomly sampled from three habitat types (home gardens, botanical garden and natural forest) and three soils (Nitisols, Arenosols and Acrisols) in Dahomey Gap and Guineo-Congolese zone. A total of 5 morphological traits and fruit production were recorded per tree to describe the relationship between morphological determinism of the species and climate. Pearson correlation was performed to identify the suitable habitat type in each climatic zone. Harmonized World Soil Database was used to determine physicochemical characteristics of the soil types on which the species occurred. Results revealed that the climatic zones (p<0.001) and habitat types (p<0.0001) inﬂuenced signiﬁcantly the morphological characteristics and fruit production of P. nitida. High trees with more number of fruits were observed in home gardens on acid soils (Nitisols (pH: 5) and Arenosols (pH: 5.3)) in Dahomey Gap. In Guineo-Congolese zone, the species was more present in natural forest on acid Acrisols (pH: 5).
STRATEGIC DESIGN OF A NEW INFRASTRUCTURAL MODEL THAT LEVERAGES AND SCALES INNOVATION ACROSS TCS GLOBAL NETWORK
Authors: Kayode Oluwatosin
Published: September 2023

For TCS’s project in the Organization Models of Innovation class, our team was presented with a design problem that required the strategic design of a new infrastructure that leverages and scales innovation across the organization. First, the team was tasked with scoping, planning, and modeling an open-innovation ecosystem platform to serve as a sensing mechanism to facilitate cross-organizational group thinking, manage discovery documentation, and prioritize latent value opportunities. Secondly, the team was asked to validate and iterate on the model of the platform by proposing use cases that clearly show the value of scaling innovation for TCS and its clients.

For full researchcontact: okayode2@id.iit.edu
Semantic Segmentation for Pet Detection Using Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Nwadike Chibuzo Valentine
Published: September 2023

This research project encompasses an in-depth exploration of semantic segmentation methods for pet detection using the Oxford Pets Dataset. The primary objective involves the developmentof a convolutional neural network model rooted in deep-learning principles, designed to achieve precise segmentation and detection of pets within images. The approach integrates advanced image processing techniques, leveraging deep learning methodologies, and dataset augmentation strategies to enhance pet detection accuracy substantially. The outcomes underscore the considerable potential of semantic segmentation in elevating the effectiveness of pet detection applications. This study offers promising avenues for practical integration in real-world contexts such as pet care and surveillance systems. The achieved advancements underscore the proposed technique's viability and contribute to the broader discourse on enhancing object detection through sophisticated segmentation strategies.
Optimization of glycemic control with continuous glucose monitoring in a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus undergoing maintenance hemodialysis
Authors: Markova T. N. , Yavorskaya V. O. , Subbotina L. S. , Ushakova A. I.
Published: September 2023

Patients with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) on renal replacement therapy with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) are prone to develop hypoglycemia, as well as high glycemic variability on both dialysis and non-dialysis days. Reliability of glycated hemoglobin in dialysis patients with DM as a marker of carbohydrate metabolism compensation is reduced due to the influence of anemia, uremia, mechanical damage of erythrocytes during diffusion through the dialyzing membrane. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is one of the methods for monitoring and correction glycemic variability in dialysis patients with DM.

This article presents a description of a clinical case of the patient with T1DM on MHD receiving insulin therapy using an insulin pump in combination with CGM (FreeStyle Libre portable system) and highlights the difficulties of correcting insulin therapy on dialysis and non-dialysis days.

The discussion section presents the JBDS-IP 2022 (UK) recommendations for the correction of insulin therapy in patients with DM on dialysis (it is recommended to reduce the insulin dose by 25% on dialysis days, immediately after the start of the HD procedure). Particular attention is focused on the need for a personalized approach to the correction of insulin therapy in dialysis patients with DM due to the comorbidity of this group of patients and the difficulties in extrapolating recommendations into real clinical practice.
Impact of dapagliflozin on life expectancy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in routine practice
Authors: Antsiferov M. B. , Demidov N. A. , Tabakaev N. A.
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND: Value of diabetes mellitus as social and medical issue seems to be growing worldwide. High rates of concomitant cardiovascular disease represent significant problem for prognosis improvement in diabetes mellitus patients. During analysis of CARDIA-MOS study results overall mortality decrease of 38.6% was demonstrated for sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 dapagliflozin.

AIM: To analyze the number of added life years in patients receiving dapagliflozin compared to patients who did not receive hypoglycemic treatment with cardioprotective effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate outcome rates in patients included in CARDIA-MOS register, two samples were formulated according to predetermined criteria: 1) patients who started dapagliflozin treatment in 2017 and received medication for 48 months; 2) control group of patients not receiving cardioprotective hypoglycemic treatment comparable to study group in key characteristics: age, duration of diabetes mellitus, presence of cardiovascular disease, use of insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.

RESULTS: Dapagliflozin increased life expectancy. Earlier prescription of treatment was associated with larger difference compared to standard therapy. For patients aged 60 years old dapagliflozin added 3.7 years of life, while in patients aged 75 years — 1.4 years. Demonstrated trend was consistent in analysis using locally weighted scatterplot smoothing.

CONCLUSION: Therefore, use of dapagliflozin in real clinical practice was associated with increase in life expectancy. Earlier start of treatment led to higher number of life years added.
Nobel prize winners in metabolism history and diabetology
Authors: El-Taravi Y. A. , Erikenova D. K. , Odarchenko A. S. , Magerramova S. T. , Shestakova M. V.
Published: September 2023

The 20th century was the time of large-scale discoveries and their widespread recognition. Metabolism studies and their role in living organisms deserve special attention. The chemical, physical, and biological metabolic reactions are the basis of life. Known details of these reactions are the key to understanding energy processes occurring in living organisms. Many scientists have devoted their scientific careers to the study different metabolic processes, and their most fundamental and landmark discoveries have been awarded with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. This award, the most iconic achievement for any scientist, has been given since the beginning of the 20th century for the most outstanding discoveries for all mankind. This review of the literature highlights the most important metabolic discoveries of the 20th century that have played a key role in understanding how all living organisms work: the catalytic conversion of glycogen (Cori cycle), the tricarboxylic acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and cholesterol and the role of adenohypophysis hormones in glucose metabolism.
Features of the course of diabetes mellitus in IgG4-associated disease
Authors: Panevin T. S. , Torgashina A. V. , Movsesyan A. A.
Published: September 2023

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is characterized by the appearance of tumor-like foci in one or more organs, occurring synchronously or metachronously, due to fibro-inflammatory changes with hypersecretion of immunoglobulin G subclass 4 (IgG4) in tissues and/or blood serum. Diabetes mellitus (DM) develops among 43-68% of patients with IgG4-related pancreatitis. Diabetes against the background of IgG4-RD can be caused both by damage to the endocrine part of the pancreas and the use of glucocorticosteroids, but its course is moderate, with a rare need for insulin therapy. In both cases, the use of genetically engineered biological therapy with rituximab may be accompanied by an improvement in carbohydrate metabolism. This article describes the course of diabetes and the need for hypoglycemic therapy for 1.5 years in a patient treated with IgG4-RD.
Explorando la evidencia de las asimetrías raciales en la feminización del periodismo brasileño
Authors: Nascimento de Sousa Nayara , Quesada Tavares Camilla
Published: September 2023

Esta investigación tiene como principal objetivo relacionar aspectos interseccionales de raza en el fenómeno de la feminización del periodismo, además de contribuir a la producción de datos sobre el perfil femenino en el periodismo brasileño. La literatura señala que las mujeres son mayoría en el periodismo, por lo que proponemos avanzar en las discusiones para observar su perfil y las asimetrías raciales en contrapunto a la homogeneización. De esta forma, la metodología utilizada para la construcción del trabajo es la cuantitativa, teniendo como método la encuesta. El corpus de la investigación está formado por 217 mujeres que trabajan/actúan en el periodismo en Brasil, 135 autodeclaradas blancas, 75 negras, 3 indígenas, 2 amarillas y 2 no identificaron su color/raza. A partir del análisis descriptivo, verificamos que el perfil de los entrevistadas corrobora las investigaciones sobre los profesionales del periodismo brasileño: mujeres cisgénero, blancas, jóvenes y con alto nivel de escolaridad. Por otra parte, los resultados indican que las encuestadas autodeclaradas negras tienen el nivel educativo más bajo, lo que puede repercutir en su posición en el mercado. En cuanto a las situaciones laborales, la mayoría de las informantes de la investigación trabajan fuera de los medios de comunicación, principalmente en asesoría. Considerando los grupos raciales, las mujeres blancas se distribuyen en todas las categorías delimitadas (medios de comunicación, fuera de los medios, docencia, etc.), mientras que las encuestadas de raza negra son las que acumulan más espacios laborales diferentes y las que actualmente están más fuera del periodismo. Los datos interseccionales apuntan a posibles desventajas de las mujeres negras en relación con las blancas en el periodismo en Brasil.
NARRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW: MEDIA EDUKASI KALENDER BERPENGARUH TERHADAP PENINGKATAN PENGETAHUAN DAN PERUBAHAN PERILAKU MENGENAI STUNTING DI INDONESIA
Authors: Habibie Intan Yusuf , Imanti Agni Nur , Dyanti Ghina Putri , Aprilia Rohis Inggrit
Published: September 2023

ABSTRAKLatar belakang: Berdasarkan data terakhir SSGI (Survei Status Gizi Indonesia) pada tahun 2021, stunting masuk dalam kategori sedang dengan prevalensi kejadian stunting di Indonesia sebesar 24,4%. Salah satu upaya intervensi untuk mencegah stunting dapat dilakukan dimulai dari calon pengantin dan ibu balita dengan meningkatkan pengetahuan terkait stunting. Peningkatan pengetahuan dan perubahan perilaku dapat dibantu dengan suatu media seperti kalender. Kalender dapat dijadikan sebagai upaya preventif yang dapat memberikan dampak positif yang dapat meningkatkan pengetahuan dan sikap sehingga dapat merubah perilaku terkait upaya pencegahan kejadian stunting.Tujuan: Mengetahui efektifitas kalender dalam peningkatan pengetahuan dan perubahan perilaku mengenai stunting di Indonesia.Metode: Penelitian ini berupa literature review dengan metode naratif serta mengkaji dua artikel berdasarkan tujuan, metode dan hasil yang disajikan dari artikel tersebut. Pencarian artikel dilakukan dengan menggunakan artikel nasional dan internasional yang ditelusuri dengan database Google Scholar, ScienceDirect dan Academia.edu.Hasil: Hasil kajian literatur menyatakan bahwa edukasi gizi menggunakan media kalender dapat meningkatkan pengetahuan terkait stunting dan upaya pencegahan stunting. Selain itu, penggunaan media kalender dalam edukasi gizi juga dapat meningkatkan sikap terhadap perubahan perilaku, perspektif, dan praktik terhadap upaya peningkatan kesehatan pada ibu dan anak.Simpulan: Pemberian edukasi gizi kalender memiliki pengaruh dalam meningkatkan pengetahuan dan perubahan perilaku mengenai upaya pencegahan stunting di Indonesia.
Virtual undergraduate chemical engineering labs based on density functional theory calculations
Authors: Altarawneh Mohammednoor
Published: September 2023

Offering virtual laboratories to chemical engineering students is likely to extend beyond the COVID-19 era. Thus, there is a need to develop more simulation-based tasks in a wide blend of subjects, spanning thermodynamics, chemical reactions, and unit operations. Molecular and material modeling based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations provides limitless opportunities to train students on how to obtain thermokinetic values that are typically measured experimentally. Through a series of illustrative cases, this contribution provides detailed procedures pertinent to calculating reaction rate constants, standard enthalpies of reactions, redox potentials, equilibrium reaction constants, and surface-assisted mechanisms. We hope that DFT-operated virtual labs will assist students in attaining learning outcomes and promote their self-learning in the above-mentioned subjects. From a broader prospective, the presented case studies are expected to encourage students to appreciate the practical applications of DFT, not only in the academic but also in the industrial domains.
Passive Sentences and Abstract Agents in German School Books
Authors: Olthoff Sarah
Published: September 2023

Although the competent handling with passive is acquired before school entrance, its comprehension is considered to be challenging in school books. According to a corpus linguistic analysis, passive is more frequent in school books than in texts from leisure contexts. Moreover, the agent differs semantically depending on context: Human agents appear predominantly in all contexts, but the proportion of abstract systemic agents are significantly higher in school books for biology and chemistry than in school books for history or in texts from leisure contexts. Furthermore, a survey shows that students do not perceive the general use of passive as challenging, but those sentences with abstract systemic agents are assessed as more challenging than comparable sentences with human agents. This leads to the assumption that challenges in reception of school books arise neither only from grammatical structure nor from global linguistic functions. Semantical and functional differences from specific constructions are fundamental to locate potential language-based challenges in school books. Consequently, the joint reflection of concrete formal and functional aspects should be considered in the development of diagnostic instruments as well as in the operationalisation of the language of schooling. Furthermore, cross-linguistic comparisons can sensitise for conspicuous use of structures and support a language-sensitive teaching in both languages.
FamData: Database for Family Business Companies in Germany Covering Company Key Figures and Survey Data
Authors: Garnitz Johanna , von Maltzan Annette , Wohlrabe Klaus
Published: September 2023

FamData is a database covering family businesses and non-family businesses across various size classes and branches containing structural and financial information. The ifo institute assembled a business panel with executives from almost 4000 companies. In addition to the “hard” business data like turnover and number of employees, the database also includes “soft” survey data. The latter one covers information from regular – at least yearly – surveys treating topics like investment behavior, skilled labor shortage or reaction of firms during the Corona pandemic situation and the rise in energy prices observed in 2022.
Plant mediated-green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles: An insight into biomedical applications
Authors: Hamed Rania , Obeid Ruwa Z. , Abu-Huwaij Rana
Published: September 2023

Green synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) using various plant extracts as reducing and capping agents has gained attention in recent research. The green synthesis of ZnO NPs offers several advantages such as being simple, eco-friendly, safe, cost-effective, and reproducible approach with high stability. Hence, this article provides an overview of zinc metal and ZnO compounds, and traditional chemical and physical synthesis of ZnO NPs with primary focuses on the green synthesis of ZnO NPs. This study discusses various plant extracts used and the proposed mechanisms in the green synthesis of ZnO NPs. Additionally, it explores the cytotoxic mechanisms of the green-synthesized ZnO NPs and addresses the various biomedical applications of ZnO NPs, including antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing. Moreover, the review critically discusses the toxicity of ZnO NPs and emphasizes the need for more toxicological studies to ensure the safety and facilitate the risk assessments and risk management of ZnO NPs. Furthermore, this review underlines the challenges associated with the translation process of ZnO NPs from bench to market, including the complex and time-consuming regulatory approval process for ZnO NPs, which requires a multidisciplinary approach involving scientists, regulators, and manufacturers.
Recent developments in terahertz quantum cascade lasers for practical applications
Authors: Gao Liang , Feng Chao , Zhao Xian
Published: September 2023

Terahertz (THz) quantum cascade laser (QCL) is an electrically pumped unipolar photonic device in which light emission takes place due to electronic transitions between subbands formed by multiple strongly coupled quantum wells. THz QCL is arguably the most promising solid-state source to realize various THz applications, such as high-resolution spectroscopy, real-time imaging, chemical and biological sensing, and high-speed wireless communication. To date, THz QCLs have covered emitting frequency from 1.2 to 5.4 THz when operating without the assistance of an external magnetic field. The highest output power is in hundreds milliwatt and watt levels continuous-mode and pulsed-mode operations, respectively. THz QCL-based local oscillators have been implemented in astronomy for the identification of atoms and ions. However, there are also limitations, including under room-temperature operation, large divergent beam, narrow single-mode frequency tuning range, incomplete polarization control, and narrow-range frequency comb operation that hinder the widespread applications of THz QCLs. Continuous efforts have been made to improve those THz QCL properties in order to satisfy the requirements of different THz applications. This report will review the key output characteristic developments of THz QCLs in the past few years, which aim to speed up THz QCLs toward practical applications.
Connectivity by the Frontal Aslant Tract (FAT) Explains Local Functional Specialization of the Superior and Inferior Frontal Gyri in Humans When Choosing Predictive over Reactive Strategies: A Tractography-Guided TMS Study
Authors: Tagliaferri Marco , Giampiccolo Davide , Parmigiani Sara , Avesani Paolo , Cattaneo Luigi
Published: September 2023

Predictive and reactive behaviors represent two mutually exclusive strategies in a sensorimotor task. Predictive behavior consists in internally estimating timing and features of a target stimulus and relies on a cortical medial frontal system [superior frontal gyrus (SFG)]. Reactive behavior consists in waiting for actual perception of the target stimulus and relies on the lateral frontal cortex [inferior frontal gyrus (IFG)]. We investigated whether SFG-IFG connections by the frontal aslant tract (FAT) can mediate predictive/reactive interactions. In 19 healthy human volunteers, we applied online transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to six spots along the medial and lateral terminations of the FAT, during the set period of a delayed reaction task. Such scenario can be solved using either predictive or reactive strategies. TMS increased the propensity toward reactive behavior if applied to a specific portion of the IFG and increased predictive behavior when applied to a specific SFG spot. The two active spots in the SFG and IFG were directly connected by a sub-bundle of FAT fibers as indicated by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) tractography. Since FAT connectivity identifies two distant cortical nodes with opposite functions, we propose that the FAT mediates mutually inhibitory interactions between SFG and IFG to implement a “winner takes all” decisional process. We hypothesize such role of the FAT to be domain-general, whenever competition occurs between internal predictive and external reactive behaviors. Finally, we also show that anatomic connectivity is a powerful factor to explain and predict the spatial distribution of brain stimulation effects.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTWe interact with sensory cues adopting two main mutually-exclusive strategies: (1) trying to anticipate the occurrence of the cue or (2) waiting for the GO-signal to be manifest and react to it. Here, we showed, by using noninvasive brain stimulation [transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)], that two specific cortical regions in the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) have opposite roles in facilitating a predictive or a reactive strategy. Importantly these two very distant regions but with highly interconnected functions are specifically connected by a small white matter bundle, which mediates the direct competition and exclusiveness between predictive and reactive strategies. More generally, implementing anatomic connectivity in TMS studies strongly reduces spatial noise.
Forecast of Monthly Rainfall Time Series on the Catumbela Watershed With (S)ARIMAX Models
Authors: André Arlon , Palanga Vivaldo
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Time series data often brings about the monitoring of hydrological processes. Most hydrological data are within time, connecting their analysis indirectly with the time component. When analysing time series, it is crucial to consider the fact that it consists of an internal structure (e.g., autocorrelation, trend, or seasonal variation) where data points are considered over time, therefore, forecasting hydrological data is a crucial step regarding the performance of environmental models, engineering, and research applications, and thus, it presents a significant challenge. Due to the substandard quality of precipitation data, poor results are attained then to amend it, accurate planning and management of water resources should be achieved by relying on the presence of accurately consistent precipitation data in meteorology stations. This paper aims to give a brief overview and find optimal parameters to build a Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model using the grid search method, diagnosing time series prediction, validating the predictive rainfall, and performing rainfall forecast for the Biópio hydrological stations in the Catumbela River till 1969.
PENGEMBANGAN MODUL MATEMATIKA DASAR BERBASIS HOTS (HIGHER ORDER THINKING SKILLS) DENGAN KONTEKS KEISLAMAN
Authors: Mutia Mutia , Septiana Anisya
Published: September 2023

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan Modul Matematika Dasar Berbasis HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) dengan konteks keislaman yang baik dan layak digunakan dengan kriteria valid, praktis, dan efektif. Modul ini adalah modul matematika dengan memasukkan ayat-ayat kauniyah yang ada di Alquran ke dalam materi sehingga dapat memperdalam dan memperkuat makna pemahaman tentang sains dan Islam serta tentang kekuasaan Allah. Model penelitian pengembangan yang digunakan adalah model Plomp yang terdiri dari lima tahap yaitu fase investigasi awal, fase desain, fase realisasi atau konstruksi, fase pengujian, evaluasi, dan revisi, dan fase implementasi. Subjek uji coba dilakukan pada sepuluh mahasiswa Program Studi Tadris Matematika angkatan 2017. Instrumen yang digunakan terdiri dari lembar validasi, lembar penilaian dosen dan mahasiswa, dan lembar tes uraian berbasis HOTS dengan konteks keislaman. Berdasarkan penilaian oleh ahli dan pelaksanaan uji coba, diperoleh hasil bahwa modul yang dikembangkan telah memenuhi kriteria valid, praktis, dan efektif.