bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary cutaneous mucormycosis due to Rhizopus arrhizus in an immunosuppressed patient with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
Authors: Osorio‐Aragón Ilse Yolanda , Toussaint‐Caire Sonia , Guzmán‐Bucio Simón , Barbosa‐Ramírez Bibiana Monserrat , Vázquez‐Aceituno Víctor A. , Xicohtencatl‐Cortes Juan , Hernández‐Castro Rigoberto
Published: May 2023

Objective

We present a case of primary cutaneous mucormycosis in a patient with bone marrow failure secondary to paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH).

Clinical case

A 60‐year‐old male patient with a history of PNH, complicated to a severe aplastic anaemia, presented to the emergency department complaining of papules on the lower limbs that rapidly turned into necrotic plaques within 2 months. Histopathological examination showed granulomatous and suppurative dermatitis with tissue necrosis and the presence of non‐septate hyphae. Molecular identification was achieved by amplification and sequencing of the 18S‐ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2‐28S rRNA region using the polymerase chain reaction. The sequence showed 100% identity with Rhizopus arrhizus. The patient received treatment with liposomal amphotericin B and surgical debridement. Nonetheless, the patient suffered from severe low red blood cells and platelets and also underwent septic shock; he died 6 days after admission to the hospital.

Conclusion

Mucormycosis in the setting of immunosuppression is challenging. Upon suspicion of a diagnosis, immediate treatment is required. Adjunctive therapies may be considered; however, the case fatality rate remains high.
PIN2/3/4 auxin carriers mediate root growth inhibition under conditions of boron deprivation in Arabidopsis
Authors: Tao Lin , Zhu Hu , Huang Qiuyu , Xiao Xiaoyi , Luo Ying , Wang Hui , Li Yalin , Li Xuewen , Liu Jiayou , Jásik Ján , Chen Yinglong , Shabala Sergey , Baluška František , Shi Weiming , Shi Lei , Yu Min
Published: May 2023

The mechanistic basis by which boron (B) deprivation inhibits root growth via the mediation of root apical auxin transport and distribution remains elusive. This study showed that B deprivation repressed root growth of wild‐type Arabidopsis seedlings, which was related to higher auxin accumulation (observed with DII‐VENUS and DR5‐GFP lines) in B‐deprived roots. Boron deprivation elevated the auxin content in the root apex, coinciding with upregulation of the expression levels of auxin biosynthesis‐related genes (TAA1, YUC3, YUC9, and NIT1) in shoots, but not in root apices. Phenotyping experiments using auxin transport‐related mutants revealed that the PIN2/3/4 carriers are involved in root growth inhibition caused by B deprivation. B deprivation not only upregulated the transcriptional levels of PIN2/3/4, but also restrained the endocytosis of PIN2/3/4 carriers (observed with PIN‐Dendra2 lines), resulting in elevated protein levels of PIN2/3/4 in the plasma membrane. Overall, these results suggest that B deprivation not only enhances auxin biosynthesis in shoots by elevating the expression levels of auxin biosynthesis‐related genes but also promotes the polar auxin transport from shoots to roots by upregulating the gene expression levels of PIN2/3/4, as well as restraining the endocytosis of PIN2/3/4 carriers, ultimately resulting in auxin accumulation in root apices and root growth inhibition.
Melanoma Skin Cancer Classification based on CNN Deep Learning Algorithms
Authors: Waheed Safa Riyadh , Saadi Saadi Mohammed , Mohd Rahim Mohd Shafry , Mohd Suaib Norhaida , H Najjar Fallah , Adnan Myasar Mundher , Salim Ali Aqeel
Published: May 2023

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is on the rise. The goal of this study is to present a deep learning system implementation for the detection of melanoma lesions on a server equipped with a graphics processing unit (GPU). When applied by a dermatologist, the recommended method might aid in the early detection of this kind of skin cancer. Evidence shows that deep learning may be used in a variety of settings to successfully extract patterns from data such as signals and images. This research presents a convolution neural network–based strategy for identifying early-stage melanoma skin cancer. Images are input into a deep learning model known as a convolutional neural network (CNN) that has already been pre-trained. The CNN classifier, which is trained with large amounts of data, can discriminate between malignant and nonmalignant melanoma. The method's success in the lab bodes well for its potential to aid dermatologists in the early detection of melanoma. However, the experimental results show that the proposed technique excels beyond the state-of-the-art methods in terms of diagnostic accuracy.
Plasma in Dentistry
Authors: Hammudi Riyam Adnan , Hammudi Yamam Adnan , Salim Ali Aqeel , Alsadoon Zeid , Radh Rusul Saeed , Abbas Ihab Majeed , Ali Hammad Aboo-Thar
Published: May 2023

Plasma technologies are mostly used in dentistry; our work focuses on Plasma scopes and plasma applications in dentistry. We will directly deliberate about liquid, solid, and gas only without sophisticated about the fourth state (Plasma), which is the most abundant and the most important state and is considered the new technology in dentistry that may create a revolution in this field as a painless free technology in all dental fields. The study results showed that cold atmospheric Plasma could be a new and painless method before the preparation of the cavities. Also, it is very effective in bacterial inactivation, sterilization, oral diseases, root canal treatment, and disordered tissues; therefore, Plasma is used mostly for treating tooth diseases and tooth whitening.
Post-quantum Techniques in Wireless Network Security: An Overview
Authors: Fakhruldeen Hassan Falah , Al-Kaabi Rana Abbas , Jabbar Feryal Ibrahim , Al-Kharsan Ibrahim H. , Shoja Sarah Jawad
Published: May 2023

Post quantum is a general name to all the techniques which are safe against the quantum computer attack. The wireless network is one of the most important means of communication. Wireless network security is a top priority. Wireless networks use conventional cryptography, which has various flaws, whereas quantum cryptography claims to be completely secure. It wasn't long after quantum computers became operational that people began to think about new ways to secure electronic communications. After considering all of the weaknesses in conventional cryptosystems, individuals began to look for new ways to secure electronic communications. Traditional cryptography has many problems, but quantum cryptography addresses nearly all of them.
Random Color Image Encryption Using the Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Salman Hanan Abbas , Mahdi Duha Amer
Published: May 2023

This paper implements a combined pseudo-random sequence generator based on neural networks and chaotic, random variable color images based on an algorithm for chaotic encryption, secure image storage, and transmission. The generator that controls the operation of the encryption algorithm: the arrangement of pixel positions, the use of random color images of the AES algorithm to achieve encryption, creation algorithms, and neural networks by dynamically updating control parameters and numbers to increase the generated chaotic sequence randomness by using simulation MATLAB for getting output. The chaotic function's iteration of the neural networks. The experimental results are presented in the form of a pixel correlation coefficient and security analysis to prove the security and effectiveness of the proposed chaos-based ANN encryption.
Positioning Optimization of UAV (Drones) Base Station in Communication Networks
Authors: Alsudani Mustafa Qahtan , Tally Mushtaq Talb , Yousif Israa Fayez , Waad Ali Abdullhussein , Waheeda Safa Riyadh , Adnan Myasar Mundher
Published: May 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and cellular networks are growing closer to being integrated in the realm of wireless communications, which will improve service quality even further. In this study, we investigate a wireless communication system in which two types of base stations—in the air and on the ground—serve separate groups of users. We analyze the effect of the aerial base station (ABS) height and transmit power on the system's downlink and uplink data rates while accounting for the reciprocal interference between the Aerial and terrestrial communication lines. The findings demonstrate that in many cases the best ABS altitude and transmit Power are either the highest or lowest values attainable. The distance between the ABS, the ABS user (AU), and the terrestrial base station user, among other factors, may affect how well they all communicate (TU). In this article we will discuss the following topics: unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), terrestrial base station (BTS), transmit power optimization (TPO), interference (I), downlink (DL), and uplink (UL).
One Time Password based Mutual Text Authentication
Authors: Abbdal Refish Salah H
Published: May 2023

Many applications in the internet using Password for identify users.  So, this password must be strong and safe to avoid unauthorized users. The critical issue in many applications such as web-sites and data base systems is password authentication code (PAC). In this paper, PAC between two parties to confirm password authentication between them based mutual text authentication has presented. Two factors is the best solution in this field. But to be more secure and to be more efficient a legitimate user needs to make sure about his partner to ensure their communications should use another method without need more costs and avoid plurality of algorithms.  So, this solution uses mutual text authentication as new solution which the text is predetermined by users. This method is considered new in this field, as this method tries to make the password highly secure in front of unauthorized users and to make the process of accessing information specific only to the actual authorized users. When analysing this method, we find that it has many characteristics such as the confidentiality of the session key and privacy, in addition to the exchange of authentication between the two parties to ensure that others do not interfere.
Mechanical Characterization of Porcine Tricuspid Valve Anterior Leaflets Over Time: Applications to Ex Vivo Studies
Authors: Clarin Julia , Dang Dominique , Santos Lucas , Amini Rouzbeh
Published: May 2023

Mechanical characterization of the ex vivo tricuspid valve (TV) continues to provide key insights into native valve function and the development of valvular diseases. However, experimental methods to characterize TV biomechanical behavior ex vivo often fail to account for potential changes in the tissue’s mechanical responses that may occur during experiment preparation. Therefore, we assessed the mechanical responses of the anterior tricuspid leaflet (ATL) via biaxial mechanical testing over the course of 5 h to validate the accuracy of our fresh tissue experiments. We hypothesized that ATL mechanical responses would remain consistent for the proposed time scale. We found that ATL stiffness, represented by the upper tangent modulus (UTM), did not significantly change in either the radial or circumferential directions for the 5-h test period. Similarly, no significant change was observed in radial or circumferential strains corresponding to an estimated mean systolic stress value of 85 kPa. Overall mean UTM (±standard error of the mean (SEM)) showed that ATL samples were significantly stiffer in the circumferential direction (11.3 ± 0.98 MPa) compared to the radial direction (2.29 ± 0.20 MPa) across all time points. Thus, our results indicate that the outcomes of ex vivo tricuspid valve studies requiring sample preparation up to 5 h remain reliable.
Oral polyphenol-armored nanomedicine for targeted modulation of gut microbiota–brain interactions in colitis
Authors: He Huan , Qin Qiaozhen , Xu Fang , Chen Yitong , Rao Shuquan , Wang Chao , Jiang Xiaoxia , Lu Xiong , Xie Chaoming
Published: May 2023

Developing oral nanomedicines that suppress intestinal inflammation while modulating gut microbiota and brain interactions is essential for effectively treating inflammatory bowel disease. Here, we report an oral polyphenol-armored nanomedicine based on tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α)–small interfering RNA and gallic acid–mediated graphene quantum dot (GAGQD)–encapsulated bovine serum albumin nanoparticle, with a chitosan and tannin acid (CHI/TA) multilayer. Referred to “armor,” the CHI/TA multilayer resists the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract and adheres to inflamed colon sites in a targeted manner. TA provides antioxidative stress and prebiotic activities that modulate the diverse gut microbiota. Moreover, GAGQD protected TNF-α–siRNA delivery. Unexpectedly, the armored nanomedicine suppressed hyperactive immune responses and modulated bacterial gut microbiota homeostasis in a mouse model of acute colitis. Notably, the armored nanomedicine alleviated anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and cognitive impairment in mice with colitis. This armor strategy sheds light on the effect of oral nanomedicines on bacterial gut microbiome-brain interactions.
Miniature color camera via flat hybrid meta-optics
Authors: Pinilla Samuel , Fröch Johannes E. , Miri Rostami Seyyed Reza , Katkovnik Vladimir , Shevkunov Igor , Majumdar Arka , Egiazarian Karen
Published: May 2023

The race for miniature color cameras using flat meta-optics has rapidly developed the end-to-end design framework using neural networks. Although a large body of work has shown the potential of this methodology, the reported performance is still limited due to fundamental limitations coming from meta-optics, mismatch between simulated and resultant experimental point spread functions, and calibration errors. Here, we use a HIL optics design methodology to solve these limitations and demonstrate a miniature color camera via flat hybrid meta-optics (refractive + meta-mask). The resulting camera achieves high-quality full-color imaging for a 5-mm aperture optics with a focal length of 5 mm. We observed a superior quality of the images captured by the hybrid meta-optical camera compared to a compound multi-lens optics of a mirrorless commercial camera.
On the Nash problem for terminal threefolds of type cA/r
Authors: Chen Hsin-Ku
Published: May 2023

We study the Nash and essential valuations of terminal threefolds with type [Formula: see text]. If [Formula: see text] or the given threefold is [Formula: see text]-factorial, we can provide a complete description of all Nash and essential valuations. We also constructed counterexamples to the Nash problem for non-Gorenstein or non-[Formula: see text]-factorial threefolds.
EFFECT OF SHOT PEENING DURATION ON FATIGUE LIFE OF GALVANIZED AND NON-GALVANIZED PEARLITIC HIGH STRENGTH HELICAL COMPRESSION SPRINGS
Authors: ÖZEN FATİH , DAM UFUK , İLHAN AHMET , TANER SEZAN HAKKI , ASLANLAR SALİM
Published: May 2023

In this study, the effect of shot peening duration on the fatigue life of galvanized and non-galvanized springs was investigated. As the shot peening duration increased, the fatigue life of the compression springs decreased due to several embrittlement mechanisms on the spring surface. The surface roughness almost linearly increased with increasing shot peening durations. The best fatigue life was obtained with shot peening durations of 10 and 20 min for non-galvanized and galvanized springs, respectively. The non-galvanized specimens exhibited better fatigue performance than galvanized springs. The main reason for the decrease in the fatigue performance of galvanized springs is hydrogen embrittlement behavior. Free hydrogen generated in the acid bath during the galvanizing process is entrapped between the surface and the zinc layer. As a result, the compression strain that reflects crack onset and propagation was adversely affected by hydrogen embrittlement behavior.
Development and Experimental Study of Electrochemical Diamond Drilling Process on Ti6Al4V
Authors: Shekhar Mayank , Singh Yadav Sanjeev Kumar
Published: May 2023

Electrochemical diamond drilling (ECDD) process is a chemical energy-based hybrid machining technique where the removal of material from the workpiece occurs with the help of both anodic dissolution and mechanical abrasion. Titanium alloys have remarkable mechanical as well as chemical properties, however, excellent properties enhance the difficulty in machining of titanium. Ti6Al4V, alloy of titanium contains [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] phase which have different dissolution potentials and produces poor surface when electrochemically machined. Here electrochemical diamond drilling of Ti6Al4V is done with a diamond abrasive tool which helps in mechanical abrasion and further by electrochemical dissolution hence this increases the rate of material removal and minimizes surface roughness. From the experiments, the suitable machining range was found to be, voltage 13–17[Formula: see text]V, tool feed rate 0.09–0.15[Formula: see text]mm/min, and electrolyte concentration of electrolyte from 225[Formula: see text]g/l to– 275[Formula: see text]g/l, with tool rotation ranging between 800[Formula: see text]RPM and 1200[Formula: see text]RPM. The MRR range found was between 30.57[Formula: see text]mg/min and 53.11[Formula: see text]mg/min with Ra values ranging between 2.66[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m and –5.76[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m. The variation of machining with ECDD tool and bare ECD tool has also been graphically represented which highlights the benefits of diamond abrasive-based ECDD tool.
Feature selection based on the self-calibration of binocular camera extrinsic parameters
Authors: Chen Siyu , Ma Chao , Liu Chao , Long Qian , Zhu Haitao
Published: May 2023

The accuracy of feature-based vision algorithms, including the self-calibration of binocular camera extrinsic parameters used in autonomous driving environment perception techniques relies heavily on the quality of the features extracted from the images. This study investigates the influence of the depth distance between objects and the camera, the feature points in different object regions, and the feature points in dynamic object regions on the self-calibration of binocular camera extrinsic parameters. To achieve this, the study first filters out different types of objects in the image through semantic segmentation. Then, it identifies the areas of dynamic objects and extracts the feature points in the static object region for the self-calibration of binocular camera extrinsic parameters. By calculating the baseline error of the binocular camera and the row alignment error of the matching feature points, this study evaluates the influence of feature points in dynamic object regions, feature points in different object regions, and feature points at different distances on the self-calibration algorithm. The experimental results demonstrate that feature points at static objects close to the camera are beneficial for the self-calibration of extrinsic parameters of binocular camera.
PARADE: Passage Representation Aggregation forDocument Reranking
Authors: Li Canjia , Yates Andrew , MacAvaney Sean , He Ben , Sun Yingfei
Published: May 2023

Pre-trained transformer models, such as BERT and T5, have shown to be highly effective at ad hoc passage and document ranking. Due to the inherent sequence length limits of these models, they need to process document passages one at a time rather than processing the entire document sequence at once. Although several approaches for aggregating passage-level signals into a document-level relevance score have been proposed, there has yet to be an extensive comparison of these techniques. In this work, we explore strategies for aggregating relevance signals from a document’s passages into a final ranking score. We find that passage representation aggregation techniques can significantly improve over score aggregation techniques proposed in prior work, such as taking the maximum passage score. We call this new approach PARADE. In particular, PARADE can significantly improve results on collections with broad information needs where relevance signals can be spread throughout the document (such as TREC Robust04 and GOV2). Meanwhile, less complex aggregation techniques may work better on collections with an information need that can often be pinpointed to a single passage (such as TREC DL and TREC Genomics). We also conduct efficiency analyses and highlight several strategies for improving transformer-based aggregation.
Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Pathogens Isolated from Traditionally Fermented Foods, In Relation to Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance in Tribal Hill Areas of Northeast India
Authors: Dey Tushar Kumar , Lindahl Johanna F. , Sanjukta Rajkumari , Arun Prince Milton A. , Das Samir , Kannan Porteen , Lundkvist Åke , Sen Arnab , Ghatak Sandeep
Published: May 2023

Traditional fermented food products are often connected to various indigenous tribes and thus vary due to ethnicity, geography, and natural resource availability. The indigenous tribes from India greatly rely on fermentation processes for food preservation, flavor, and nutrition. Fermented foods can provide health benefits but also pose risks from harmful microbes and contaminants that grow in the food due to poor hygiene. In this study, we identified lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in fermented food collected from Northeast India, assessed their beneficial properties, and highlighted the risk from food pathogens that have antimicrobial resistance traits. A total of 113 different samples of fermented food products were collected from the local markets of five Northeastern Indian states (Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim). Standard laboratory methods were used to isolate LAB and determine their probiotic properties, conduct coliform counts, and isolate presumptive staphylococci from the fermented food samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by using the BD-Phoenix 100 automated system. We isolated 30 LAB with probiotic potential. The average aerobic colony count in different fermented food was 4.4–7.7 log·cfu/g, while coliforms were present in 43% (49/113, 95% (CI 34–53)) of the food samples, indicating low-hygiene levels. Additionally, some food samples contained staphylococci with phenotypic antibiotic-resistance markers (MRS, HLMUP, BLACT, and STAMLS). This study indicates that probiotic bacteria could be present in traditional fermented food products of Northeast India, but contamination with staphylococci and other bacterial pathogens with antibiotic resistance traits could put the health of consumers at risk.
GATA6-AS1 via Sponging miR-543 to Regulate PTEN/AKT Signaling Axis Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Migration in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Jin Yi , Jiang Daqing
Published: May 2023

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common and lethal cancers worldwide. In view of the prominent roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancers, we investigated the specific role and underlying mechanism of GATA binding protein 6 antisense RNA 1 (GATA6-AS1) in GC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) detected GATA6-AS1 expression in GC cell lines. Functional assays were conducted to explore the role of GATA6-AS1 in GC. Furthermore, mechanism investigations were implemented to uncover the interaction among GATA6-AS1, microRNA-543 (miR-543), and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). In the present study, it was found that GATA6-AS1 expression is significantly downregulated in GC cell lines. Functionally, GATA6-AS1 markedly suppresses GC cell growth and migration in vitro and in vivo tumorigenesis. Besides tumor suppressor, GATA6-AS1 serves as a miR-543 sponge. Specifically speaking, GATA6-AS1 acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-543 to upregulate the expression of PTEN, thus inactivating AKT signaling pathway to inhibit GC progression. In conclusion, this study has manifested that GATA6-AS1 inhibits GC cell proliferation and migration as a sponge of miR-543 by regulating PTEN/AKT signaling axis, offering new perspective into developing novel GC therapies.
Effect of Cadherin-11 on the Proliferation, Migration, and ECM Synthesis of Chondrocyte
Authors: Li Jia , Shi Hang , Liu Xia , Jiang Haiyue
Published: May 2023

Nonsyndromic microtia is a kind of congenital ear malformation with unclear pathogenic genes. Cadherin-11 (CDH11, OB-cadherin) is a member of the cadherin family, which has been demonstrated to play important roles in controlling morphogenesis and cell biological characteristics during multiple developmental processes. In the present study, we found low expression of CDH11 in microtia cartilage compared with the normal one for the first time. For a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of CDH11 in microtia development, we performed both gain- and loss-of-function experiments to detect the effect of CDH11 on chondrocytes. CDH11 promoted chondrocyte proliferation by increasing S-phase cell numbers and increasing cell migration, which is important for tissue morphogenesis. Additionally, knockdown of CDH11 in chondrocytes reduced the quality of engineered cartilage by decreasing the key transcription factors of chondrogenesis, SOX9 expression, and cartilage ECM production, including collagen type II (COL2A) and elastin (ELN), compared to the control group. Furthermore, RNA-Seq on CDH11 knockdown chondrocytes showed that it was highly related to HOX family genes, which have been reported to be important regulatory genes patterning craniofacial tissue formation. This study identified CDH11 as a candidate pathogenic gene of microtia and supported the potential key role of CDH11 in craniofacial malformations.
Phase II Study of Docetaxel and Trametinib in Patients with KRAS Mutation Positive Recurrent Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC; SWOG S1507, NCT-02642042)
Authors: Gadgeel Shirish M. , Miao Jieling , Riess Jonathan W. , Moon James , Mack Philip C. , Gerstner Gregory J. , Burns Timothy F. , Taj Asma , Akerley Wallace L. , Dragnev Konstantin H. , Laudi Noel , Redman Mary W. , Gray Jhanelle E. , Gandara David R. , Kelly Karen
Published: May 2023

Purpose:

Efficacy of MEK inhibitors in KRAS+ NSCLC may differ based on specific KRAS mutations and comutations. Our hypothesis was that docetaxel and trametinib would improve activity in KRAS+ NSCLC and specifically in KRAS G12C NSCLC.

Patients and Methods:

S1507 is a single-arm phase II study assessing the response rate (RR) with docetaxel plus trametinib in recurrent KRAS+ NSCLC and secondarily in the G12C subset. The accrual goal was 45 eligible patients, with at least 25 with G12C mutation. The design was two-stage design to rule out a 17% RR, within the overall population at the one-sided 3% level and within the G12C subset at the 5% level.

Results:

Between July 18, 2016, and March 15, 2018, 60 patients were enrolled with 53 eligible and 18 eligible in the G12C cohort. The RR was 34% [95% confidence interval (CI), 22–48] overall and 28% (95% CI, 10–53) in G12C. Median PFS and OS were 4.1 and 3.3 months and 10.9 and 8.8 months, overall and in the subset, respectively. Common toxicities were fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, rash, anemia, mucositis, and neutropenia. Among 26 patients with known status for TP53 (10+ve) and STK11 (5+ve), OS (HR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.16–7.01), and RR (0% vs. 56%, P = 0.004) were worse in patients with TP53 mutated versus wild-type cancers.

Conclusions:

RRs were significantly improved in the overall population. Contrary to preclinical studies, the combination showed no improvement in efficacy in G12C patients. Comutations may influence therapeutic efficacy of KRAS directed therapies and are worthy of further evaluation.

See related commentary by Cantor and Aggarwal, p. 3563
Three new records of odonates (Insecta: Odonata) from Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India
Authors: Akshay Dalvi  , Koli Yogesh , Rahul Thakur
Published: May 2023

Genus Indolestes Fraser, 1922 and Dysphaea Selys, 1853 were previously known from Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, parts of Gujarat, and eastern India. In this paper, we report the first confirmed records of Indolestes gracilis davenporti Fraser, 1930 and Dysphaea ethela Fraser, 1924 based on a specimen collected from Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India. We have also provided additional records of Macrodiplax cora (Brauer, 1867) from Maharashtra based on photographic evidence from Sindhudurg District.
Sex-Associated Differences in the Clinical Outcomes of Left Ventricular Assist Device Recipients: Insights From Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support
Authors: Shetty Naman S. , Parcha Vibhu , Abdelmessih Peter , Patel Nirav , Hasnie Ammar A. , Kalra Rajat , Pandey Ambarish , Breathett Khadijah , Morris Alanna A. , Arora Garima , Arora Pankaj
Published: May 2023

Background:

Sex-associated differences in clinical outcomes among left ventricular assist device recipients in the United States have been recognized. However, an investigation of the social and clinical determinants of sex-associated differences is lacking.

Methods:

Left ventricular assist device receiving patients enrolled in Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support between 2005 and 2017 were included. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included heart transplantation and postimplantation adverse event rates. The cohort was stratified by the social subgroup of race and ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic), and clinical subgroups of device strategy (destination therapy, bridge to transplant, and bridge to candidacy), and implantation center volume (low [≤20 implants/y], medium [21–30 implants/y], and high [>30 implants/y]). A multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the risk of death and heart transplantation with prespecified interaction testing. Poisson regression was used to estimate adverse events by sex across the various subgroups.

Results:

Among 18 525 patients, there were 3968 (21.4%) females. Compared with their male counterparts, Hispanic (adjusted hazard ratio [HR
adj
], 1.75 [1.23–2.47]) females had the highest risk of death followed by non-Hispanic White females (HR
adj
, 1.15 [1.07–1.25];
P
interaction
=0.02). Hispanic (HR
adj
, 0.60 [0.40–0.89]) females had the lowest cumulative incidence of heart transplantation followed by non-Hispanic Black females (HR
adj
, 0.76 [0.67–0.86]), and non-Hispanic White females (HR
adj
, 0.88 [0.80–0.96]) compared with their male counterparts (
P
interaction
<0.001). Compared with their male counterparts, females on the bridge to candidacy strategy (HR
adj
, 1.32 [1.18–1.48]) had the highest risk of death (
P
interaction
=0.01). The risk of death (
P
interaction
=0.44) and cumulative incidence of heart transplantation (
P
interaction
=0.40) did not vary by sex in the center volume subgroup. A higher incidence rate of adverse events after left ventricular assist device implantation was also seen in females compared with the males, overall, and across all subgroups.

Conclusions:

Among left ventricular assist device recipients, the risk of death, the cumulative incidence of heart transplantation, and adverse events differ by sex across the social and clinical subgroups.
Heart Rate Variability Parameter Changes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Undergoing Intravenous Thrombolysis
Authors: Qu Yang , Sun Ying‐Ying , Abuduxukuer Reziya , Si Xiang‐Kun , Zhang Peng , Ren Jia‐Xin , Fu Yu‐Li , Zhang Ke‐Jia , Liu Jia , Zhang Pan‐Deng , Jin Hang , Yang Yi , Guo Zhen‐Ni
Published: May 2023

Background

Autonomic dysfunction has been revealed in patients with acute ischemic stroke and is associated with poor prognosis. However, autonomic nervous system function assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) and its relationship with clinical outcomes in patients undergoing intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) remain unknown.

Methods and Results

Patients who did and did not undergo IVT between September 2016 and August 2021 were prospectively and consecutively recruited. HRV values were measured at 1 to 3 and 7 to 10 days after stroke to assess autonomic nervous system function. A modified Rankin scale score ≥2 at 90 days was defined as an unfavorable outcome. Finally, the analysis included 466 patients; 224 underwent IVT (48.1%), and 242 did not (51.9%). Linear regression showed a positive correlation of IVT with parasympathetic activation‐related HRV parameters at 1 to 3 days (high frequency:
β
=0.213,
P
=0.002) and with both sympathetic (low frequency:
β
=0.152,
P
=0.015) and parasympathetic activation‐related HRV parameters (high frequency:
β
=0.153,
P
=0.036) at 7 to 10 days after stroke. Logistic regression showed HRV values and autonomic function within 1 to 3 and 7 to 10 days after stroke were independently associated with 3‐month unfavorable outcomes after adjusting for confounders in patients who underwent IVT (all
P
<0.05). Furthermore, addition of HRV parameters to conventional risk factors significantly improved risk‐predictive ability of 3‐month outcome (the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve significantly improved from 0.784 [0.723–0.846] to 0.855 [0.805–0.906],
P
=0.002).

Conclusions

IVT positively affected HRV and autonomic nervous system activity, and autonomic function assessed by HRV in acute stroke phase was independently associated with unfavorable outcomes in patients undergoing IVT.
Agglomeration and Radiation: Central Cities and China's Spatial Economy
Authors: Li Jiewei , Zhao Wenyue , Liang Qianqian
Published: May 2023

This paper summarizes stylized facts of three dimensions of population agglomeration and the radiation effects of central cities relating to the evolutionary laws of China's population distribution. We test with decennial census data from 2000 to 2020 to identify determinants of population agglomeration and radiation effects. The results show that the distance to the major ports, central cities, and city centers of central cities determines China's population concentration. Moreover, central cities have apparent radiation effects. The closer to the central cities or the larger the population and economic scale of the central cities, the more the population is concentrated in peripheral cities or counties.
Becoming Marduk: A New Look at a Commentary on Marduk’s Address to the Demons from Assur
Authors: Gabbay Uri
Published: May 2023

The article deals with a commentary on the Akkadian composition Marduk’s Address to the Demons from the city of Assur. The first part of the article discusses the unique religious view found in Marduk’s Address and its commentary, in which the āšipu priest is identified with the god Marduk. The second part presents a new philological edition of the commentary.
Korean Judicial Decision
Authors: Lee Seokwoo
Published: May 2023

The Judgment Debtor shall submit a property catalog stating the status of the property on the date for specification of property due to the Ex officio Judgment on the Legality of the Application for Compulsory Execution.
Korean Judicial Decisions
Authors: Baek Buhm-Suk , Ahn Hosung
Published: May 2023

This paper reviews three selected major decisions by domestic courts of Korea in 2022 by taking a closer look at the changing legal practices and attitudes of the Korean judiciary in applying international law in domestic cases.
Russia–Ukraine War and the Indo-Pacific: A Perspective from Pakistan
Authors: Qazi Afsah , Shoaib Muhammad , Faisal Muhammad
Published: May 2023

Pakistan’s relevance to the immediate theater of the Russia–Ukraine war was the presence of its prime minister in Moscow on the eve of the Russian invasion. Pakistan proclaimed neutrality but later revisited its position in the face of compelling domestic and external constraints. The trajectory of Pakistan’s response to the war and its perception of the consequences of war for itself and the Indo-Pacific region reflected its historical interaction pattern with the United States, China, Russia, and India. External strategic challenges (as the Indo-Pacific gets more competitive) along with economic predicaments constrained the military leadership and the new government to change their stance on the war and consider it an opportunity to realign with the West (its familiar historical preference).
Collectively Building Bridges for First-Generation Working-Class Students: Pláticas Centering the Pedagogical Practices of Convivencia in El Puente Research Fellowship
Authors: Castillo Florence Emilia , García Gustavo , Rivera Alejandro Mendiaz , Hinostroza Ana Paula Milán , Toscano Natalia M.
Published: May 2023

El Puente Research Fellowship is a transformative program that uses culturally relevant and reflective pedagogies, curriculum, and praxis for first-generation, working-class college students beyond the traditional classroom. Drawing on the Chicana/Latina feminist epistemologies of plática and convivencia, we argue that the practice of convivencia facilitates a relational and collective learning environment that allows students to learn from one another, build relationships of authentic caring, and support one another academically and holistically. Through our plática, we illuminate the ways convivencia manifests in our pedagogical and curricular approaches. As a teaching framework, the implementation of convivencia in classes, research programs, and learning environments paves the way for new forms of teaching and learning that value and center collective and cultural learning practices from the home. We conclude with practical tools, strategies, and reformulations of classroom environments that can be applied in sociology classrooms and beyond.
Facial Granular Lesions in a Patient With Kimura Disease Associated With Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
Authors: Ghabra Yasser A.L. , Kammasha Ahmad , Ashreefa Reem , Hamdi Mohammad
Published: May 2023

Kimura disease is a benign subcutaneous chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that is usually seen in young males. A 26-year-old Syrian adult, has suffered from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis for 10 years with no history of renal transplantation, complained of swellings in his preauricular area which was diagnosed as Kimura disease. There is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment for Kimura disease and the chosen treatment was surgery in the young patient with localized lesions. During 9 months of following up after surgical removing of the lesions, no recurrence was noticed.
Regularization-Based 2D Strain Tensor Imaging in Quasi-Static Ultrasound Elastography SAGE Publications
Authors: Duroy Anne-Lise , Detti Valérie , Coulon Agnès , Basset Olivier , Brusseau Elisabeth
Published: May 2023

Accurately estimating all strain components in quasi-static ultrasound elastography is crucial for the full analysis of biological media. In this study, 2D strain tensor imaging was investigated, focusing on the use of a regularization method to improve strain images. This method enforces the tissue property of (quasi-) incompressibility, while penalizing strong field variations, to smooth the displacement fields and reduce the noise in the strain components. The performance of the method was assessed with numerical simulations, phantoms, and in vivo breast tissues. For all the media examined, the results showed a significant improvement in both lateral displacement and strain, while axial fields were only slightly modified by the regularization. The introduction of penalty terms allowed us to obtain shear strain and rotation elastograms where the patterns around the inclusions/lesions were clearly visible. In phantom cases, the findings were consistent with the results obtained from the modeling of the experiments. Finally, the easier detectability of the inclusions/lesions in the final lateral strain images was associated with higher elastographic contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs), with values in the range of [0.54–9.57] versus [0.08–0.38] before regularization.
The perils of utopia: Between ‘ethical static’ and moral perfectionism in Iran
Authors: Theobald Simon
Published: May 2023

Following the Iranian Revolution, ideologues within the Republican system promised the possibility of ethical perfection so long as Iranians adhered to guidelines promulgated by the state. Drawing on a case study of both critics and supporters of the government living in Mashhad, I argue that one of the inadvertent outcomes of this commitment to perfectionism has been its instrumentalization by government critics as a tool to condemn the behaviour of state supporters. Inconsistencies of behaviour demonstrated by state supporters were interpreted by these government critics as gross indecencies and major evils, rather than as part of a modality of ‘ethical static’ that has been advocated for as an understanding of everyday morality. The ethnographic tension in this article illuminates both the impacts of state-led projects of moral utopianism, and their ramifications for anthropology.
Policing sounds
Authors: Lally Nick
Published: May 2023

Sound is always present in exercises of police power, whether produced through sonic weaponry, routinized interventions into social life, or contributions to everyday soundscapes. The use of sound is productive of how police produce, govern, and intervene in space. Scholars in geography and adjacent fields have grappled with sound in ways that engage with or have the potential to inform the study of police within the discipline. Attention to sound adds texture to understandings of state power as expressed through the contested sonic politics of policing. This article explores sound and policing through their territorial, affective, atmospheric, and political effects.
Down-regulation of S1PR2 is correlated with poor prognosis and immune infiltrates in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhang Yu , Wang Haichuan , Lu Jie , Lv Qiang , Yun Bei , Ge Zhiru , Yan Li
Published: May 2023

Objectives: Cervical squamous cell carcinoma and cervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) are the second leading cause of deaths from malignant tumors in women, while their therapeutic and diagnostic aims are still finited. A growing body of evidence indicated that sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2) plays essential roles in the occurrence and development about several human cancers. Nevertheless, the key mechanism and role mechanism of S1PR2 in CESC are still unclear.

Methods: We first used Tissue Expression (GTEx) and Genotypic Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data to perform pan-cancer analysis on the expression and prognosis of S1PR2, and found that S1PR2 may have a potential impact on CESC. To generate a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using the STRING database. The clusterProfiler package is used for feature-rich analysis. The Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource was used to determine the connection between S1PR2 mRNA expression and immune infiltrates.

Results: S1PR2 expression in CESC tissues was down-regulated compared with adjacent normal tissues. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that compared with patients with high expression of S1PR2, CESC patients with low S1PR2 expression had a worse prognosis. Reduced S1PR2 expression is associated with patients with high clinical stage, more histological types of squamous cell carcinoma, and poor primary treatment outcomes. The receiver operating characteristic curve of S1PR2 was 0.870. Correlation analysis showed that the mRNA expression of S1PR2 was related to immune infiltrates and tumor purity.

Conclusion: Down-regulated S1PR2 expression is related to poor survival and immune infiltration in CESC. S1PR2 is a potential biomarker for poor prognosis and as a potential target for CESC immune therapy.
ISPD Catheter-related Infection Recommendations: 2023 Update
Authors: Chow Kai Ming , Li Philip Kam-Tao , Cho Yeoungjee , Abu-Alfa Ali , Bavanandan Sunita , Brown Edwina A , Cullis Brett , Edwards Dawn , Ethier Isabelle , Hurst Helen , Ito Yasuhiko , de Moraes Thyago Proença , Morelle Johann , Runnegar Naomi , Saxena Anjali , So Simon Wai-Yin , Tian Na , Johnson David W
Published: May 2023

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter-related infections are important risk factors for catheter loss and peritonitis. The 2023 updated recommendations have revised and clarified definitions and classifications of exit site infection and tunnel infection. A new target for the overall exit site infection rate should be no more than 0.40 episodes per year at risk. The recommendation about topical antibiotic cream or ointment to catheter exit site has been downgraded. New recommendations include clarified suggestion of exit site dressing cover and updated antibiotic treatment duration with emphasis on early clinical monitoring to ascertain duration of therapy. In addition to catheter removal and reinsertion, other catheter interventions including external cuff removal or shaving, and exit site relocation are suggested.
Enhancing performance of permanent magnet motor for electric vehicle drives using model predictive control
Authors: Ubare Pramod , Patne Vaishali , Sonawane Dayaram
Published: May 2023

In the electric three-wheeler vehicular segment, permanent magnet (PM) motors are strong competitors for traction applications. The vehicular environment faces sudden load variations, where traditional control like field-oriented control (FOC) over-excites the machine. It also degrades the machine’s overall performance due to dynamic changes in the motor states with limited bandwidth of the cascaded proportional-integral (PI) controllers; this makes the overall motor operation inefficient. The paper proposes a model predictive control (MPC) based on torque ripple and over-current excitation minimization for permanent magnet motors to overcome these challenges. The proposed controller is tailored to improve the overall electrical efficiency of permanent magnet motors while considering the real back EMF. The performance of the proposed controller is tested in simulation, considering an electric three-wheeler as a load along with a European driving cycle. The feasibility of the proposed method is tested by deployment on (1) STM32F546ZG micro-controller and (2) Xilinx’s ZYNQ-7000 SoC ZC706 FPGA and validated the implementation results with hardware-in-the-loop(HIL) co-simulation. The implementation results show that the proposed MPC outperforms the conventionally used FOC in energy consumption, torque ripples minimization, and torque disturbance handling while tracking the desired speed accurately with load variations.
Academic libraries and the actualisation of Sustainable Development Goals two, three and thirteen
Authors: Bangani Siviwe , Dube Luyanda
Published: May 2023

This paper reports on academic libraries’ Community Engagement (CE) initiatives in South Africa and outline their potential to contribute to the actualisation of three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 3 and 13). The research approach adopted was qualitative using online interviews with 20 heads of libraries in South Africa and eight online focus group discussions with library staff as data collection methods. It was found that South African academic libraries’ CE initiatives can be successfully mapped out against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results showed that through CE, academic libraries in South Africa play a role in addressing hunger, improving health and well-being and contributing to climate action, among other SDGs. CE, therefore, can play a role in SDGs that fall outside of academic libraries’ traditional teaching, learning and research support role. These results will serve as a call for academic libraries to consider participating in CE in order to contribute to development areas that they do not normally contribute to directly. This study provides unique insights on the contribution of academic libraries to SDGs. As a recommendation, academic libraries should consider mapping their CE initiatives against the SDGs.