bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
KETENTUAN PERNIKAHAN WANITA HAMIL DILUAR NIKAH (Studi Komparatif Antara Pasal 53 Kompilasi Hukum Islam Dengan Pasal 32 Kitab Undang – Undang Hukum Perdata)
Authors: Afkarina Iza , Romadhan Muhammad Lubsi Tuqo
Published: September 2023

currently there are many marriages carried out where the woman is pregnant out of wedlock as a result of the adultery they committed, this attracts the attention of the author to examine how the provisions of positive law in force in Indonesia currently provide provisions in the practice of marriages carried out by women who are pregnant out of wedlock? In order to provide additional knowledge to teenagers in particular and to be able to create a society that is aware of obedience to the law. This research is qualitative in nature, namely carried out by analyzing data without calculating numbers, so that the results show that there are similarities and differences in determining the law in the practice of marriage for pregnant women out of wedlock and its legal consequences. The Compilation of Islamic Law legalizes if it is carried out by the man who got her pregnant while the Civil Code legalizes if it is not with the man who got her pregnant.

Keywords: Marriage, Pregnant Women Out of Wedlock, Compilation of Islamic Law, Civil Code
The European Green Deal in Terms of Impacts on International Trade
Authors: Odaman Köse Senem
Published: September 2023

Environment and climate change in the world gained importance at the end of the 20th century and the cooperation of countries in this area gradually increased. Especially the framework protocols signed under the umbrella of the United Nations (UN) made the subject a remarkable area in the international arena. The European Union (EU) became the first actor in the world to take concrete steps in this field with the European Green Deal. The Green Deal has introduced new regulations in a wide range of policy areas. The behaviors adopted by the EU, which maintains its role as a normative power in the international arena, draws paths that include behavioral patterns as implemented. The field of environment and climate change is also an area where the EU is active at the global level, and the effects of the determined rules expected to be seen at the global level. At this point, the trade relations will be a significant channel in the dissemination of the understanding
and rules adopted by the EU. The fact that the EU has put provisions on the subject in the preferential trade agreements it has signed is the most substantial indicator of this situation
Una nueva fase de ocupación en la ciudad de Baelo Claudia (Tarifa, Cádiz). El descubrimiento de una cabaña prerromana
Authors: Borau Laetitia , Castañeda Fernández Vicente , García Jiménez Iván , Trémeaud Caroline
Published: September 2023

Este trabajo presenta el descubrimiento de una cabaña con zócalo de piedra prerromana localizada en la ciudad de Baelo Claudia (Tarifa, Cádiz) a raíz de unas excavaciones arqueológicas realizadas en 2019, circunstancia que ha permitido establecer una nueva fase de ocupación de la misma. Se realiza un estudio arquitectónico de la estructura de habitación y su comparación con otras similares en el Suroeste de la península ibérica, lo que nos permite asociarla a un momento histórico protohistórico y aumentar nuestro conocimiento sobre el poblamiento durante esta época en el ámbito del estrecho de Gibraltar.
El santuario fenicio de la Algaida (Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz)
Authors: Martín Ruiz Juan Antonio
Published: September 2023

Planteamos un estudio de las estructuras y materiales hallados en el santuario fenicio de La Algaida en Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cádiz), antaño situado en una isla en la desembocadura del río Guadalquivir en lo que fue el Lago Ligustino. Proponemos que los dos sectores conocidos formarían parte de un mismo conjunto sacro, por lo que habría perdurado hasta la época alto imperial corroborando así lo expuesto por Estrabón.
Towards a Discourse Grammar in Language Teaching
Authors: Fareh Shehdeh
Published: September 2023

Language is often simply defined as a means of communication. However, communication is a highly complex and intricate process that involves an adequate mastery of a number of linguistic and non-linguistic components. Knowing a language that can effectively be used for successful communication includes, among other things, attaining a functional knowledge of the various language systems including the syntactic system, or the grammar of the language in the narrow sense of the term. The scope of traditional grammar has been confined to sentence structure. That is probably why this approach to grammar has been referred to as sentence-based grammar. However, teaching this form of grammar contributes to the development of learners’ grammatical competence rather than to their communicative ability. This paper argues for integrating discourse grammar in language teaching, and provides evidence to support the role that discourse grammar plays in developing foreign language learners’ communicative competence. Specifically, this paper attempts to answer the following questions: (1) What does it mean to know a language? (2) What are the differences between sentence-based grammar and discourse grammar? (3) Why do foreign language teachers, curriculum designers and textbook writers accord more prominence to sentence-based grammar than to discourse grammar in teaching foreign languages? (4) What extra linguistic aspects does discourse grammar offer to language teaching that sentence-based grammar does not? In other words, what are the justifications for incorporating discourse grammar in foreign language teaching?.
Literary Studies between Theory and Fallacy
Authors: Al-Dabbagh Abdulla
Published: September 2023

While theory has long become almost indispensable to modern literary studies, fallacy is not a word that is as often heard in this context. Yet, the two are closely linked and almost all recent theory in literary studies has contained the implication that all other approaches are somehow fallacious. One of the main purposes of this study is to show that modern theoretical approaches to literature, in their different forms, and fallacies, in their variety of ways, are inextricably linked. .
Bed Rest' Challenged: A Liberating Treatment in 'The Yellow Wallpaper'
Authors: Ammari Deema
Published: September 2023

This article explores a feminist approach to the nineteenth century psychoanalytical treatment of 'Bed Rest'. The treatment, as the article demonstrates, is practiced on women who according to standards of patriarchal society project abnormal brain activity, and should be reduced to docility in order for them to resume their domestic societal roles. However, the cure in this research does indeed prove to be beneficial for women by giving the opposite of the intended outcome, by allowing women enough space to question their place in society and allocate a subjective Self that goes beyond the fixed patriarchal image of maleness and femaleness onto a fluid 'in-between'. This newly formed individuality will be discussed through the analysis of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story 'The Yellow Wallpaper'..
Translating Qur’anic Past Tense Structures Which Speak about the Hereafter
Authors: Anwar Shafiq Al-Taher Mohammad
Published: September 2023

The study investigates the translation of past verbs in the Noble Qur'an which report Hereafter future events into English. It may be needless to say that the question of viewing time varies among languages. However, it is to be borne in mind that the holy script, believed to be the revelation of God, differs from humans in this matter. For instance, the use of the past tense to convey the future is one of its exclusive features. The purpose is to emphasize the certainty of such incidents and, therefore, push the receivers for more commitment to good deeds and further avoidance of bad deeds.The question raised is whether prominent translators of the Noble Qur’an employ the suitable equivalent techniques which relay the above function by bridging the gap between the past and future.The paper chooses examples of such constructions in the Noble Qur'an. Then, their renditions by Thomas Irving, Mohammed Habib Shakir and Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall are cited and investigated. A number of techniques are chosen by the translators, mainly the present simple, future simple and the modal ‘shall..
Valuing cultural diversity? A plea for a receptive cultural policy
Authors: Canyürek Özlem
Published: September 2023

The promotion of immigration-generated diversity has been on the agenda of the cultural policy in Germany for an extended period. Integration-oriented objectives primarily determine the policy discourse on cultural diversity, often supported through intercultural funding programmes. Parallel to this, the long-standing debate on improving access conditions to publicly funded cultural institutions for immigrants compels cultural policy to introduce measures to accommodate cultural diversity in the cultural sphere. In this article, I explore the interplay between the values, reflexes and habits of cultural policymaking on the lack of immigration-related diversity in the cultural landscape. Through dispositive strategy as a methodical tool of discourse analysis, I first examine the conduct, motives and concepts of cultural policy shaping the discourse on immigration-generated diversity. Then, I introduce a constructive policy approach for reducing access imbalances to the cultural scene, and, lastly, I propose an equality-based cultural policy framework.
Contents and Aims of Management Plans for World Heritage Sites: A Managerial Analysis with a Special Focus on the Italian Scenario
Authors: Badia Francesco
Published: September 2023

This paper aims to discuss the use of management tools for the unesco World Heritage sites. In particular, it focuses on the specific tool of the “management plan”. We have carried out a three dimension research project:

1) Analysis and development of a strong theoretical background, in order to consider the economic and managerial dimension of the management plans, even from the perspective of cultural tourism;

2) Deep study of Italian state of the art about use and application of management plans by the organizations managing World Heritage sites;

3) Comparison among some national and international case studies, in order to get empirical evidences which could be useful for theoretical considerations, regarding the general management system of the World Heritage sites.

These first phases of research highlight the necessity for further studies in the next years. Notwithstanding, we are able to evidence some elements that can lead the next steps of drafting and monitoring the management plans. The final goal of these processes should be the realization of effective management systems for cultural and natural heritage.

The most important points to be considered are:

- The awareness of the absence of a unique “model” for every kind of unesco site; as far as this aspect is concerned, the aim should be the study and application of general guidelines that could be applied to different situations;

- The necessity to realize a real sharing among all the stakeholders of the site with regard to vision, mission and strategies that should be implemented;

- the introduction of performance measurement systems, to get both support to the management and accountability to the community.
The construction of cultural leadership
Authors: Price Jonathan
Published: September 2023

Cultural leadership became a key concept in cultural policy and training in the UK during the early 2000s. It attracted significant public and private investment and remains a major focus for development programmes, now internationally, despite significant changes in sectoral needs and context. This paper reviews the evolution of cultural leadership as a discursive construct, drawing on a decade’s research. It pays attention to key inclusions and exclusions, employing Arendt’s theory of action to critique fundamental assumptions. A tendency to privilege organisational leadership is challenged by considering the social and aesthetic dimensions of cultural practice alongside corresponding influences from other spheres of action which complicate the notion of autonomy in cultural production. To define cultural leadership is therefore to engage with culture’s place in civil society. Distinctions between entrepreneurial, generous and public dimensions of cultural leadership are identified in the analysis with implications for practitioners, training providers and policy makers.
Associations between immune competence phenotype and stress response in sheep
Authors: Schiller Kaleiah , Monk Jessica E. , Lee Caroline , Horback Kristina
Published: September 2023

Immune competence in domestic sheep is gaining more attention in genetic selection programs that seek to enhance flock immunity and animal welfare. A goal of many programs is to identify behavioral phenotypes that indicate stress-coping strength, as well as disease resilience. The current study set out to explore the relationship between immune responsiveness, physiological stress, and behavioral response among sheep that had been selected for ‘low’ (LR) or ‘high’ (HR) response to cell-mediated and antibody-mediate reactivity to a clostridial vaccine. Multiparous ewes were placed in four experiments which exposed the animals to various threats including, dog presence, human proximity, visual isolation from flock, and physical restraint. To evaluate the consistency of behavioral phenotypes, all ewes were placed in the test circuit one year later. Basal body temperature (via iButton) and serum cortisol concentrations were collected prior to and after the circuit each year. Immune group (HR vs. LR) was not found to be related to behavioral performance during the dog, human, isolation, or restraint challenge. Immune group categorization was also unrelated to pre- and post-cortisol concentrations, and the change in cortisol concentrations during testing. There was a negative relationship identified between response to visual isolation and change in cortisol response during testing, indicating that sheep which were more active or agitated during visual isolation from the flock experienced less of an increase in serum cortisol levels and were perhaps experiencing a negative, high arousal state compared to less reactive sheep (e.g., freeze behavior) (χ2(4, N=99) = 42.72, P <0.0001). There was also a post hoc, positive relationship identified between weight measurements and immune group, such that individuals with greater body weight were more likely to be in the high immune responsiveness group (P= 0.01). Specifically, for every unit increase in weight, there was a ~49% chance of being categorized in the HR group. This is relevant for selection programs because producers that seek to enhance immune responsiveness and performance may be able to select sheep that carry a greater body mass, and while not found in the present study, could lead to greater flock immunity.
Functionalization of breast implants by cyclodextrin in-situ polymerization: a local drug delivery system for augmentation mammaplasty
Authors: Escobar Karen , Carrera Ignacio , Naveas Nelson , Pulido Ruth , Manso Miguel , Guarnieri João Paulo de Oliveira , Lancellotti Marcelo , Cotta Monica A. , Corrales-Ureña Yendry Regina , Rischka Klaus , Hernandez-Montelongo Jacobo
Published: September 2023

Mammaplasty is a widely performed surgical procedure worldwide, utilized for breast reconstruction, in the context of breast cancer treatment, and aesthetic purposes. To enhance post-operative outcomes and reduce risks (hematoma with required evacuation, capsular contracture, implant-associated infection and others), the controlled release of medicaments can be achieved using drug delivery systems based on cyclodextrins (CDs). In this study, our objective was to functionalize commercially available silicone breast implants with smooth and textured surfaces through in-situ polymerization of two CDs: β-CD/citric acid and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD/citric acid. This functionalization serves as a local drug delivery system for the controlled release of therapeutic molecules that potentially can be a preventive treatment for post-operative complications in mammaplasty interventions. Initially, we evaluated the pre-treatment of sample surfaces with O2 plasma, followed by chitosan grafting. Subsequently, in-situ polymerization using both types of CDs was performed on implants. The results demonstrated that the proposed pre-treatment significantly increased the polymerization yield. The functionalized samples were characterized using microscopic and physicochemical techniques. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed system for controlled drug delivery in augmentation mammaplasty, three different molecules were utilized: pirfenidone (PFD) for capsular contracture prevention, Rose Bengal (RB) as anticancer agent, and KR-12 peptide (KR-12) to prevent bacterial infection. The release kinetics of PFD, RB, and KR-12 were analyzed using the Korsmeyer-Peppas and monolithic solution mathematical models to identify the respective delivery mechanisms. The antibacterial effect of KR-12 was assessed against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, revealing that the antibacterial rate of functionalized samples loaded with KR-12 was dependent on the diffusion coefficients. Finally, due to the immunomodulatory properties of KR-12 peptide on epithelial cells, this type of cells was employed to investigate the cytotoxicity of the functionalized samples. These assays confirmed the superior properties of functionalized samples compared to unprotected implants.
Exploring the leishmanicidal potential of terpenoids: a comprehensive review on mechanisms of cell death
Authors: Rodrigues Ana Carolina Jacob , Carloto Amanda Cristina Machado , Gonçalves Manoela Daiele , Concato Virgínia Márcia , Detoni Mariana Barbosa , Santos Yasmin Munhoz dos , Cruz Ellen Mayara Souza , Madureira Maria Beatriz , Nunes Angélica Paulina , Pires Maria Fernanda Maya Kuriki , Santos Natália Concimo , Marques Rafaela Evangelista dos Santos , Bidoia Danielle Lazarin , Borges Figueiredo Fabiano , Pavanelli Wander Rogério
Published: September 2023

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from visceral to cutaneous, with millions of new cases and thousands of deaths reported each year. The species of Leishmania and the immune response of the host determine the severity of the disease. Leishmaniasis remains challenging to diagnose and treat, and there is no vaccine available. Several studies have been conducted on the use of herbal medicines for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Natural products can provide an inexhaustible source of chemical diversity with therapeutic potential. Terpenes are a class of natural products derived from a single isoprene unit, a five-carbon compound that forms the basic structure of isoprenoids. This review focuses on the most important and recent advances in the treatment of parasites of the genus Leishmania with different subclasses of terpenes. Several mechanisms have been proposed in the literature, including increased oxidative stress, immunomodulatory role, and induction of different types of parasite cell death. However, this information needs to be brought together to provide an overview of how these compounds can be used as therapeutic tools for drug development and as a successful adjuvant strategy against Leishmania sp.
The type of suture material affects transverse aortic constriction-induced heart failure development in mice: a repeated measures correlation analysis
Authors: Hackl Benjamin , Zabrodska Eva , Gewessler Stefanie , Lilliu Elena , Putz Eva Maria , Kiss Attila , Podesser Bruno , Todt Hannes , Ristl Robin , Hilber Karlheinz , Koenig Xaver
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Transverse-aortic constriction (TAC) operation is a widely used animal model to induce hypertrophy and heart failure through left-ventricular pressure overload. In mice, the cardiac response to TAC exhibits considerable variability influenced by factors such as strain, sub-strain, age, sex and vendor.

Methods

To investigate the impact of suture material (silk versus prolene) and size (6-0 versus 7-0) on the TAC-induced phenotype, we performed surgeries on male C57BL6/N mice at 9 weeks of age defining the aortic constriction by a 27G needle, thereby employing most frequently used methodological settings. The mice were randomly assigned into four separate groups, 6-0 silk, 7-0 silk, 6-0 prolene and 7-0 prolene (10 mice per group). Echocardiography was conducted before TAC and every 4 weeks thereafter to monitor the development of heart failure. Repeated measures correlation analysis was employed to compare disease progression among the different groups.

Results

Our findings reveal a significant influence of the chosen suture material on TAC outcomes. Mice operated with prolene showed increased mortality, slower body weight gain, faster left-ventricular mass increase, and a faster decline in left-ventricular ejection fraction, fractional shortening and aortic pressure gradient compared to silk-operated mice. Moreover, despite non significant, using thinner suture threads (7-0) tended to result in a more severe phenotype compared to thicker threads (6-0) across all tested parameters.

Discussion

Collectively, our results highlight the importance of suture material selection in determining the cardiac phenotype induced by TAC and emphasize the need to consider this factor when comparing data across different research laboratories.
A comprehensive assessment of RCP4.5 projections and bias-correction techniques in a complex coastal karstic aquifer in the Mediterranean
Authors: Alfio Maria Rosaria , Pisinaras Vassilios , Panagopoulos Andreas , Balacco Gabriella
Published: September 2023

This study aims to assess the projected precipitation and temperature changes at the coastal karstic aquifer of Salento (Apulia, Southern Italy) under the Representative Concentration Pathway RCP4.5. For this purpose, an ensemble of twelve Regional Climate Models (RCMs) driven by several General Circulation Models (GCMs) were collected. Eight bias-correction (BC) methods were applied at daily time steps, and their results were assessed on monthly and annual time steps, using daily records from 19 and 11 precipitation and temperature (minimum and maximum) stations, respectively, for the period 1960–2005. Missing data in the observed dataset were filled-in applying the best performing techniques out of the 5 that were employed and tested. The Linear Scaling and the Power Transformation were found to be the most effective methods for precipitation BC at the case study, while all methods performed equally well in correcting air temperature datasets. Results of future climate projections show a decrease in precipitation of about 6% and an increase in temperature of 2°C until the end of this century, compared to the historical period (1971–2005). This study forms the first comprehensive attempt to test the scientific literature’s most widely used bias-correction methods over the study area. The case study may be considered a benchmark for circum-Mediterranean regions because of its high geomorphological and structural complexity, regional size, surface water scarcity, and significant water withdrawals for human activities.
Extracting hydrothermally altered information using WorldView-3 data: a case study of Huitongshan, NW Gansu, China
Authors: Chen Chuan , Gao Lingling , Xie Fuyuan , Xia Fang , Li Shunda
Published: September 2023

Introduction: The Huitongshan skarn-type deposits, in which ore bodies primarily occur in the outer contact zone between K-feldspar granite and marble in the Beishan area, are evidently related to hydrothermal alteration of the surrounding rock. Key mineral alteration processes include serpentinization, epidotization, chloritization, carbonatization, jarosite, ferritization, and hematitization.

Methods: WorldView-3 (WV-3), a satellite-recorded high-spatial resolution multispectral image, has been widely used in the exploration and prediction of different types of deposits around the world. In this study, WV-3 multispectral images were used to extract the spatial distribution data of the main altered minerals in the Huitongshan area. Dedicated radiometric calibration, atmospheric correction, and image fusion were used to pre-process the extracted spectral information related to hydrothermal alteration. In addition, directed principal component analysis (PCA) and a unique mineral index were designed based on the effective use of the WV-3 data band corresponding to the spectral absorption characteristics of altered minerals.

Results: The findings of this study show that the PCA model and mineral index pro-posed herein are reliable both in theory and for practically obtaining extraction information. Additionally, the WV-3 data are well suited for identifying hydroxy-bearing alterations with rich short-wave infrared bands that distinguish Fe-OH–bearing alterations from Mg-OH–bearing alterations. The results obtained were applied to identify potential targets for skarn-type copper deposits and the implementation of prospecting practices.

Discussion: This study provides a basis for the application of WV-3 data as an important and effective tool for alteration information extraction and determination of prospecting practice, thereby proving the validity of multispectral remote sensing images in mineral resource exploration.
The usefulness and utilization of Gold-finger retractor for endoscopic thyroid surgery
Authors: Ruan Jian , Dai Bin , Zhao Jian Guo , Tao Long , He Fan
Published: September 2023

Aims

In endoscopic surgery, the visual field is frequently obstructed by muscles, blood, and even smoke. To overcome this problem, we have developed a new detachable Gold-finger retractor for narrow-space surgery.

Methods

Gold-finger retractor was used in 30 patients to facilitate surgical field exposure and smoke discharge, while in 27 patients, percutaneous silk thread suspension was employed for the same purpose. Both groups underwent endoscopic unilateral thyroidectomy and unilateral central lymph node dissection via oral vestibular microincision combined with the axillary-assisted approach. A comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the Gold-finger retractor and silk thread suspension in relation to intraoperative exposure effect, surgical fluency, surgeon’s comfort, operation time, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay. This analysis was based on surgical video recordings and postoperative indicators.

Results

With Gold-finger retractor support, surgeons were able to perform meticulous operations. Complication rates were similar between the two groups, and no serious complications occurred. The number of lymph nodes dissected in the Gold-finger group was significantly greater than that in the routine group (12.43 ± 6.18 and 5.7 ± 2.95, respectively). Further analysis of surgeons’ comfort (visibility and convenience in peeling) revealed that the Gold-finger group was significantly better. Electrosurgery smoke was removed effectively with Gold-finger, and the operation time was significantly reduced.

Conclusion

In thyroid surgery, Gold-fingers enhance visual field resolution, avoid muscle cutting, save time, and improve the surgical experience.
Trabecular structural difference between the superior and inferior regions of the vertebral body: a cadaveric and clinical study
Authors: Shin Dong Eun , Lee Younghun , An Hyun-Ju , Hwang Tae-Sun , Cho Jin-Woo , Oh Jongbeom , Ahn Wooyeol , Lee Jaemin , Hong Chul Gie , Lee Yeonju , Lee Soonchul
Published: September 2023

Background

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures commonly involve the superior vertebral body; however, their associated causes have not yet been clearly established. This study aimed to determine the trabecular structural differences between the superior and inferior regions of the vertebral body using cadaveric and clinical studies.

Materials and methods

First, five vertebrae were collected from three human cadavers. The trabecular structures of the superior and inferior regions of each vertebral body were analyzed using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), finite element analysis (FEA), and biomechanical test. Based on the results of the ex vivo study, we conducted a clinical study. Second, spine CT images were retrospectively collected. Bone volume and Hounsfield unit were analyzed for 192 vertebral bodies. Finally, after sample size calculation based on the pilot study, prospectively, 200 participants underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the lateral spine. The bone mineral densities (BMDs) of the superior and inferior regions of each lumbar vertebral body were measured. The paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for the statistical analyses, and p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Cadaver studies revealed differences between the superior and inferior trabecular bone structures. The bone volume ratio, BMD, and various other trabecular parameters advocated for decreased strength of the superior region. Throughout the biomechanical study, the limitations of the compression force were 3.44 and 4.63 N/m2 for the superior and inferior regions, respectively. In the FEA study, the inferior region had a lower average displacement and higher von Mises stress than the superior region. In the clinical spine CT-based bone volume and BMD study, the bone volume was significantly higher in the inferior region than in the superior region. In the lateral spine DXA, the mean BMD of the superior region of vertebral bodies was significantly lower compared with that of the inferior region.

Conclusion

The superior trabecular structure of the lumbar vertebral bodies possesses more biomechanical susceptibility compared with the inferior trabecular structure, confirming its dominant role in causing osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Physicians should also focus on the BMD values of the superior region of the vertebral body using lateral spine DXA to evaluate osteoporosis.
Influence of age on static postural control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhuang Yujun , Hong Zhenzhen , Wu Lijuan , Zou Chunyan , Zheng Yan , Chen Liming , Yin Lianhua , Qin Jiawei
Published: September 2023

Aim

It was the aim of this study to assess static postural control characteristics in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) of different ages using a force platform. A relationship was also established between static postural control parameters and age in this study.

Methods

A total of 706 participants with T2D were included in this study. The participants were stratified into three age groups: Group 1 (<60 years old), Group 2 (60–70 years old), and Group 3 (>70 years old). Static postural control assessment during two-leg stance was performed on a force platform by all participants. The center of pressure (CoP)-related parameters were measured under two stance conditions (eyes open and closed). Kruskal–Wallis tests were applied to explore the difference among the different age groups. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the relation between age and static postural control parameters.

Results

Group 1 (<60 years old) had significantly less CoP total tracking length (TTL), sway area (SA), and CoP velocity along the Y direction (V-Y) under both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions compared with Group 2 (60–70 years old) and Group 3 (>70 years old). Group 1 (<60 years old) had significantly less CoP maximum sway length along the X direction (MSL_X) and longer tracking length each area unit (TTL/SA) under the eyes-open condition compared with Group 2 (60–70 years old) and Group 3 (>70 years old). There was a significantly positive correlation between age and the most static postural parameters such as CoP TTL, SA, MSL-X, MSL-Y, and V-Y. There was a significantly negative correlation between age and TTL/SA.

Conclusion

This study suggested that older T2D participants had worse static postural control ability than younger ones. Most static postural parameters presented a significant correlation with age; the higher the age, the worse the static postural control.
Global research landscape and trends of papillary thyroid cancer therapy: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Song Bo , Lin Zheyu , Feng Chuyao , Zhao Xu , Teng Weiping
Published: September 2023

Background

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy worldwide. The treatment of PTC has attracted extensive attention and discussion from the public and scholars. However, no article has systematically assessed the related literature. Therefore, we conducted a bibliometric and knowledge map analysis to reveal the dynamic scientific developments in the PTC therapy field.

Methods

We retrieved publications related to PTC therapy from the Web of Scientific Core Collection (WoSCC) on May 1, 2023. The bibliometric package in R software, VOSviewer and CiteSpace software were used to analyze countries/regions, institutions, journals, authors, references, and keywords. Then, we systematized and summarized the research landscape, global trends and hot topics of research.

Results

This bibliometric analysis spanned from 2012 to 2022 and involved 18,501 authors affiliated with 3,426 institutions across 87 countries/regions, resulting in the publication of 3,954 papers in 860 academic journals. Notably, the number of publications and citations related to PTC therapy research has exhibited a steady increase over the past decade. China and the United States have emerged as leading contributors in terms of publication count, with the United States also being the most cited country. Furthermore, among the top 10 institutions with the highest number of published papers, half were located in China. Among the journals, Thyroid is ranked first in terms of total publications and citations. The most productive individual author was Miyauchi Akira. While previous research primarily focused on surgery and radioactive iodine therapy, the increasing emphasis on health awareness and advancements in medical technology have led to the emergence of active surveillance, thermal ablation, and genomic analysis as prominent areas of research.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this comprehensive and quantitative bibliometric analysis elucidates the research trends and hotspots within PTC therapy, drawing from a substantial body of publications. This study provides valuable insights into the historical and current landscape of PTC therapy research while also offering guidance for future research directions. This study serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners seeking new avenues of exploration in the field.
How the rural infrastructure construction drives rural economic development through rural living environment governance—case study of 285 cities in China
Authors: Du Xuan , Jiao Fangyi
Published: September 2023

With deepening of rural revitalization strategy, rural infrastructure construction plays an important role in local economic development and living environment governance. Based on the mediation model, this paper takes case study of 285 cities in China from 2017 to 2022 as samples, constructs the explanatory variable, the explained variable and the mediator variable by entropy method, empirically analyzes the impact of rural infrastructure construction on rural living environment governance and rural economic development, as well as the mediation role played by rural living environment governance. It is found that there is a significant positive impact between rural infrastructure construction and rural economic development, and rural infrastructure construction can promote economic development through rural living environment governance. Further analysis show that the impact of rural infrastructure construction on rural economic development presents heterogeneity, and the impacts of rural infrastructure construction on local economic development and on local economic development through living environment governance in the eastern and central China is stronger than that in the western China. After controlling a series of variables related to rural infrastructure construction, and performing endogeneity tests and robustness tests such as tail-shrinkage regression and principal component analysis, the regression results are still robust. This paper firstly provides scientific empirical evidence for the hypothesis that rural infrastructure construction promotes local economic development through rural living environment governance, and secondly confirms the necessity of strengthening rural infrastructure construction in China to promote rural revitalization, providing a policy basis for scientific decision-making, and finally finds an important way out to solve the problem of unbalanced economic development in rural areas to some extent.
Monitoring marine pollution for carbon neutrality through a deep learning method with multi-source data fusion
Authors: Wang Bin , Hua Lijuan , Mei Huan , Kang Yanyan , Zhao Ning
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Marine pollution can have a significant impact on the blue carbon, which finally affect the ocean’s ability to sequester carbon and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality. Marine pollution is a complex problem that requires a great deal of time and effort to measure. Existing machine learning algorithms cannot effectively solve the detection time problem and provide limited accuracy. Moreover, marine pollution can come from a variety of sources. However, most of the existing research focused on a single ocean indicator to analyze marine pollution. In this study, two indicators, marine organisms and debris, are used to create a more complete picture of the extent and impact of pollution in the ocean.

Methods

To effectively recognize different marine objects in the complex marine environment, we propose an integrated data fusion approach where deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are combined to conduct underwater object recognition. Through this multi-source data fusion approach, the accuracy of object recognition is significantly improved. After feature extraction, four machine and deep learning classifiers’ performances are used to train on features extracted with deep CNNs.

Results

The results show that VGG-16 achieves better performance than other feature extractors when detecting marine organisms. When detecting marine debris, AlexNet outperforms other deep CNNs. The results also show that the LSTM classifier with VGG-16 for detecting marine organisms outperforms other deep learning models.

Discussion

For detecting marine debris, the best performance was observed with the AlexNet extractor, which obtained the best classification result with an LSTM. This information can be used to develop policies and practices aimed at reducing pollution and protecting marine environments for future generations.
Divergent proinflammatory immune responses associated with the differential susceptibility of cattle breeds to tuberculosis
Authors: Kumar Rishi , Gandham Sripratyusha , Rana Avi , Maity Hemanta Kumar , Sarkar Uttam , Dey Bappaditya
Published: September 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) in the bovine is one of the most predominant chronic debilitating infectious diseases primarily caused by Mycobacterium bovis. Besides, the incidence of TB in humans due to M. bovis, and that in bovines (bovine TB, bTB) due to M. tuberculosis- indicates cattle as a major reservoir of zoonotic TB. While India accounts for the highest global burden of both TB and multidrug-resistant TB in humans, systematic evaluation of bTB prevalence in India is largely lacking. Recent reports emphasized markedly greater bTB prevalence in exotic and crossbred cattle compared to indigenous cattle breeds that represent more than one-third of the total cattle population in India, which is the largest globally. This study aimed at elucidating the immune responses underlying the differential bTB incidence in prominent indigenous (Sahiwal), and crossbred (Sahiwal x Holstein Friesian) cattle reared in India. Employing the standard Single Intradermal Tuberculin Test (SITT), and mycobacterial gene-targeting single as well as multiplex-PCR-based screening revealed higher incidences of bovine tuberculin reactors as well as Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex specific PCR positivity amongst the crossbred cattle. Further, ex vivo mycobacterial infection in cultures of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from SITT, and myco-PCR negative healthy cattle exhibited significantly higher intracellular growth of M. bovis BCG, and M. tuberculosis H37Ra in the crossbred cattle PBMCs compared to native cattle. In addition, native cattle PBMCs induced higher pro-inflammatory cytokines and signaling pathways, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-17 (IL-17), tank binding kinase-1 (TBK-1), and nitric oxide (NO) upon exposure to live mycobacterial infection in comparison to PBMCs from crossbred cattle that exhibited higher expression of IL-1β transcripts. Together, these findings highlight that differences in the innate immune responses of these cattle breeds might be contributing to the differential susceptibility to bTB infection, and the resultant disparity in bTB incidence amongst indigenous, and crossbred cattle.
Multivariate Mendelian randomization provides no evidence for causal associations among both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and skin cancer
Authors: Yu Nianzhou , Wang Jiayi , Liu Yuancheng , Guo Yeye
Published: September 2023

Background

Some retrospective studies reported that psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) may have been associated with an elevated risk of skin cancer. The causal associations among them remain unclear.

Objectives

To evaluate the causal association of among both PsO and PsA, and skin cancer.

Methods

We performed large-scale two-sample and Multivariate Mendelian randomization analyses to examine whether there is a causal relationship between PsO and PsA, and skin cancer, encompassing basal cell carcinoma (BCC), cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), and cutaneous melanoma (CM).

Results

Genetically predicted PsO, per log-odds ratio increase, showed no significant association with the risk of BCC, cSCC, and CM. The odds ratios (with corresponding 95% confidence intervals) for BCC, cSCC, and CM were 1.00 (0.99,1.01) (PIvw = 0.990), 0.94(0.89, 1.00) (PIvw = 0.065), and 0.99 (0.98, 1.01) (PIvw = 0.239), respectively. PsA showed a significant association with a decreased risk of BCC, with odds ratios (with corresponding 95% confidence intervals) of 1.00 (1.00, 1.00) (PIvw = 0.214) and 1.00 (1.00, 1.00) (PIvw = 0.477), respectively. Univariate analysis of the FinnGen database demonstrated PsA did exhibit a significant association with the decrease risk of BCC, with an odds ratio of 0.94(0.90,0.99) (PIvw = 0.016). However, this association disappeared after other risk factors were adjusted.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest no causal association between PsO and PsA and the genetic risk of skin cancer. Further observational studies are required to elucidate the relationship among PsO, PsA, and skin cancer.
Probiotics mitigate thermal stress- and pathogen-driven impacts on coral skeleton
Authors: Moradi Mahdi , Magalhaes Phillipe R. , Peixoto Raquel S. , Jonck Cassia C.A.C. , François Daniel , Bellot Anna Clara F. , Teixeira Jonatã B. , Silveira Carla S. , Duarte Gustavo , Evangelista Heitor , Barbosa Catia F.
Published: September 2023

Threats leading to a reduction in coral populations are apparent worldwide. Several different approaches have been tested to accelerate the adaptation of corals to a changing climate. Here, we evaluated the skeleton structure, crystal habit, and chemical changes of the coral Pocillopora damicornis in response to the pathogen (Vibrio coralliilyticus) and probiotic (Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals, BMCs) inoculation under ambient conditions (26 °C) and thermal stress (30 °C) during a 50-day mesocosm experiment. The skeletons were analyzed using microtomography, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX/SEM), and densitometry to investigate the skeleto-physico-chemical micro-morphological changes in porosity, median pore-size diameter, crystal habit, Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, the skeleton mineral density (g/cm2) and skeleton mineral content (g–2). The results indicate considerable changes in the coral skeleton caused by both temperature and microbial inoculation. Most importantly, lower density (to ∼ x̄ 0.5 g/cm2) and higher porosity (up to ∼ x̄ 47%) were correlated with inoculation of V. coralliilyticus and mitigated by probiotics. BMCs also substantially increased calcification, as evidenced by Mg/Ca in the skeleton of thermally stressed corals. At the micron scale, aragonite crystal fibbers precipitated during the experiments showed an acicular habit in thermally stressed and pathogen-inoculated corals kept at 30 °C. In contrast, a spherulitic habit, characteristic of high growth rates, was observed in corals inoculated with both BMCs and V. coralliilyticus. Our findings reveal that pathogen inoculation and thermal stress had notable impacts on coral skeleton properties, including porosity, density, and crystal morphology, in a short period of time, which highlights the potential impacts of shifts in climate warming and environmental quality. Interestingly, BMCs played a role in maintaining the properties of skeleton calcification.
The significance of ternary hybrid cross bio-nanofluid model in expanding/contracting cylinder with inclined magnetic field
Authors: Alraddadi Ibrahim , Ayub Assad , Hussain Syed Modassir , Khan Umair , Hussain Shah Syed Zahir , Hassan Ahmed M.
Published: September 2023

Significance: Bio-nanofluids have achieved rapid attention due to their potential and vital role in various fields like biotechnology and energy, as well as in medicine such as in drug delivery, imaging, providing scaffolds for tissue engineering, and providing suitable environments for cell growth, as well as being used as coolants in various energy systems, wastewater treatment, and delivery of nutrients to plants.

Objective: The present study proposes a novel mathematical model for the ternary hybrid cross bio-nanofluid model to analyse the behaviour of blood that passes through a stenosed artery under the influence of an inclined magnetic field. The model considers the effect of expanding/contracting cylinder, infinite shear rate viscosity, and bio-nanofluids.

Methodology: The considered model of the problem is bounded in the form of governing equations such as PDEs. These PDEs are transformed into ODEs with the help of similarity transformations and then solved numerically with the help of the bvp4c method.

Findings: The results show that the flow rate and velocity decrease as the inclination angle of the magnetic field increases. Additionally, research has found that the presence of nanoparticles in the bio-nanofluid has a significant impact on the velocity and flow rate. Therefore, the flow rate decreases, in general, as the stenosis becomes more severe.

Advantages of the study: The results obtained from this study may provide insights into the behaviour of blood flow in stenosed arteries and may be useful in the design of medical devices and therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.