bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids and depression: deep insight into biological mechanisms and potential applications
Authors: Cheng Junzhe , Hu Hongkun , Ju Yumeng , Liu Jin , Wang Mi , Liu Bangshan , Zhang Yan
Published: February 2024

The gut microbiota is a complex and dynamic ecosystem known as the ‘second brain’. Composing the microbiota-gut-brain axis, the gut microbiota and its metabolites regulate the central nervous system through neural, endocrine and immune pathways to ensure the normal functioning of the organism, tuning individuals’ health and disease status. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the main bioactive metabolites of the gut microbiota, are involved in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression. SCFAs have essential effects on each component of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in depression. In the present review, the roles of major SCFAs (acetate, propionate and butyrate) in the pathophysiology of depression are summarised with respect to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, neuroinflammation, host epigenome and neuroendocrine alterations. Concluding remarks on the biological mechanisms related to gut microbiota will hopefully address the clinical value of microbiota-related treatments for depression.
Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (MFGE8) prevents intestinal fibrosis
Authors: Lin Sinan , Wang Jie , Mukherjee Pranab K , Mao Ren , West Gail , Czarnecki Doug , Zhao Shuai , Nguyen Quang Tam , Elias Michael , Massey William J , Liu WeiWei , Wang Yan , Prasad Ankita , Banerjee Suhanti , Goren Idan , Chandra Jyotsna , Le Hongnga T , Dejanovic Dina , Li Jiannan , Chen Minhu , Holubar Stefan , Olman Mitchell , Southern Brian , Hu Shaomin , Gordon Ilyssa O , Atabai Kamran , Fiocchi Claudio , Rieder Florian
Published: February 2024

Objective

Intestinal fibrosis is considered an inevitable consequence of chronic IBD, leading to stricture formation and need for surgery. During the process of fibrogenesis, extracellular matrix (ECM) components critically regulate the function of mesenchymal cells. We characterised the composition and function of ECM in fibrostenosing Crohn’s disease (CD) and control tissues.

Design

Decellularised full-thickness intestinal tissue platforms were tested using three different protocols, and ECM composition in different tissue phenotypes was explored by proteomics and validated by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry. Primary human intestinal myofibroblasts (HIMFs) treated with milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (MFGE8) were evaluated regarding the mechanism of their antifibrotic response, and the action of MFGE8 was tested in two experimental intestinal fibrosis models.

Results

We established and validated an optimal decellularisation protocol for intestinal IBD tissues. Matrisome analysis revealed elevated MFGE8 expression in CD strictured (CDs) tissue, which was confirmed at the mRNA and protein levels. Treatment with MFGE8 inhibited ECM production in normal control HIMF but not CDs HIMF. Next-generation sequencing uncovered functionally relevant integrin-mediated signalling pathways, and blockade of integrin αvβ5 and focal adhesion kinase rendered HIMF non-responsive to MFGE8. MFGE8 prevented and reversed experimental intestinal fibrosis in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

MFGE8 displays antifibrotic effects, and its administration may represent a future approach for prevention of IBD-induced intestinal strictures.
Diagnostic challenges of the idiopathic plasmacytic lymphadenopathy (IPL) subtype of idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD): Factors to differentiate from IgG4-related disease
Authors: Nishikori Asami , Nishimura Midori Filiz , Fajgenbaum David C , Nishimura Yoshito , Maehama Kanna , Haratake Tomoka , Tabata Tetsuya , Kawano Mitsuhiro , Nakamura Naoya , Momose Shuji , Sumiyoshi Remi , Koga Tomohiro , Yamamoto Hidetaka , van Rhee Frits , Kawakami Atsushi , Sato Yasuharu
Published: February 2024

Aims and methods

Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is currently considered to be classified into three clinical subtypes, including idiopathic plasmacytic lymphadenopathy (IPL), thrombocytopaenia, anasarca, fever, reticulin fibrosis/renal dysfunction, organomegaly (TAFRO) and not otherwise specified (NOS). Among the three, iMCD-IPL closely mimics IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). In diagnosing IgG4-RD, it is sometimes challenging to distinguish iMCD-IPL patients that also meet the histological diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD. In this study, we focused on the number of IgG4-positive cells in the lymph nodes and analysed the relationship with laboratory findings to distinguish iMCD-IPL from IgG4-RD. Thirty-nine patients with iMCD-IPL and 22 patients with IgG4-RD were included.

Results

Among the cases considered to be iMCD-IPL, 33.3% (13/39) cases also met the histological diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD and serum IgG4 levels were not different between the two groups. However, the serum IgG4/IgG ratio was significantly higher in IgG4-RD, with a cut-off value of 19.0%. Additionally, a significant positive correlation between serum IgG levels and the number of IgG4-positive cells was observed in iMCD-IPL (p=0.001). The serum IgG cut-off value for distinguishing iMCD-IPL meeting histological criteria for IgG4-RD from other iMCD-IPL was 5381 mg/dL.

Conclusions

iMCD-IPL cases with high serum IgG levels (>5000 mg/dL) were likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD because of the numerous IgG4-positive cells observed. A combination of clinical presentations, laboratory values including the serum IgG4/IgG ratios and histological analysis is crucial for diagnosis of IgG4-RD and iMCD-IPL.
An “on-off-on” fluorescent sensor based on TSPP-gallic acid: Visual detection of S2− in actual samples
Authors: Liu Yuanyuan , Ma Tianfeng , Li Jing , Shi Lin , Xu Xiaohua , Wang Huan
Published: February 2024

A novel “on-off-on” switches fluorescence sensor based on TSPP-gallic acid (GA) for S[Formula: see text]-detecting was designed in this article. 5,10,15,20- (4-sulphonatophenyl) porphyrin (TSPP) was synthesized by a modified “one-pot” method. The synthesized TSPP was used as a fluorescence probe for the construction of a fluorescence sensing system. At room temperature, the maximum fluorescence emission wavelength could be obtained at 642 nm when the excitation wavelength was 515 nm when the fluorescence signal was in the “on” mode. The TSPP solution appeared pink in color at this moment. When GA was introduced into the TSPP solution, the fluorescence signal was turned off (fluorescence intensity was quenched) due to the protonation of TSPP, which was caused by the weak acidity of GA. The color of the TSPP solution changed from pink to green. Following that, an acid-base reaction between S[Formula: see text]and GA was initiated when S[Formula: see text]was introduced into the TSPP-GA system, leading to the liberation of TSPP and restoration of fluorescence intensity. The solution color reverted to red, indicating that the fluorescence sensing system had returned to the “on” mode. The TSPP-GA system had good selectivity and sensitivity to S[Formula: see text], the linear range was 4.52 × 10[Formula: see text] M [Formula: see text] 4.34 × 10[Formula: see text] M, and the detection limit (LOD) was 0.87 [Formula: see text] M. It could be used to detect sulfur ions in actual samples with satisfactory recoveries and RSD values.
Web Studies 4: WS.4 Conference Report
Authors: Reyes Everardo , Bernstein Mark , Ruffo Giancarlo , Saleh Imad
Published: February 2024

WS.4, the Fourth International Conference on Web Studies, was held in Mexico City, from October 30 to 31, 2023. WS is a multidisciplinary conference organized in cooperation with ACM SIGWEB since 2018. It unites scholars, artists, and professionals who consider the web as their object of inquiry.
GraphZeppelin
: How to Find Connected Components (Even When Graphs Are Dense, Dynamic, and Massive)
Authors: Tench David , West Evan , Zhang Victor , Bender Michael A. , Chowdhury Abiyaz , Delayo Daniel , Dellas J. Ahmed , Farach-Colton Martín , Seip Tyler , Zhang Kenny
Published: February 2024

Finding the connected components of a graph is a fundamental problem with uses throughout computer science and engineering. The task of computing connected components becomes more difficult when graphs are very large, or when they are dynamic, meaning the edge set changes over time subject to a stream of edge insertions and deletions. A natural approach to computing the connected components problem on a large, dynamic graph stream is to buy enough RAM to store the entire graph. However, the requirement that the graph fit in RAM is an inherent limitation of this approach and is prohibitive for very large graphs. Thus, there is an unmet need for systems that can process dense dynamic graphs, especially when those graphs are larger than available RAM.

We present a new high-performance streaming graph-processing system for computing the connected components of a graph. This system, which we call
GraphZeppelin
, uses new linear sketching data structures (
CubeSketch
) to solve the streaming connected components problem and as a result requires space asymptotically smaller than the space required for a lossless representation of the graph.
GraphZeppelin
is optimized for massive dense graphs:
GraphZeppelin
can process millions of edge updates (both insertions and deletions) per second, even when the underlying graph is far too large to fit in available RAM. As a result
GraphZeppelin
vastly increases the scale of graphs that can be processed.
RELand: Risk Estimation of Landmines via Interpretable Invariant Risk Minimization
Authors: Dulce Rubio Mateo , Zeng Siqi , Wang Qi , Alvarado Didier , Moreno Rivera Francisco , Heidari Hoda , Fang Fei
Published: February 2024

Landmines remain a threat to war-affected communities for years after conflicts have ended, partly due to the laborious nature of demining tasks. Humanitarian demining operations begin by collecting relevant information from the sites to be cleared, which is then analyzed by human experts to determine the potential risk of remaining landmines. In this article, we propose

RELand

system to support these tasks, which consists of three major components. We (1) provide general feature engineering and label assigning guidelines to enhance datasets for landmine risk modeling, which are widely applicable to global demining routines, (2) formulate landmine presence as a classification problem and design a novel interpretable model based on sparse feature masking and invariant risk minimization, and run extensive evaluation under proper protocols that resemble real-world demining operations to show a significant improvement over the state-of-the-art, and (3) build an interactive web interface to suggest priority areas for demining organizations. We are currently collaborating with a humanitarian demining NGO in Colombia that is using our system as part of their field operations in two areas recently prioritized for demining. The resulting dataset and developed code can be found

here

.
Self-supervised High Dynamic Range Imaging: What Can Be Learned from a Single 8-bit Video?
Authors: Banterle Francesco , Marnerides Demetris , Bashford-rogers Thomas , Debattista Kurt
Published: February 2024

Recently, Deep Learning-based methods for inverse tone mapping standard dynamic range (SDR) images to obtain high dynamic range (HDR) images have become very popular. These methods manage to fill over-exposed areas convincingly both in terms of details and dynamic range. To be effective, deep learning-based methods need to learn from large datasets and transfer this knowledge to the network weights. In this work, we tackle this problem from a completely different perspective. What can we learn from a single SDR 8-bit video? With the presented self-supervised approach, we show that, in many cases, a single SDR video is sufficient to generate an HDR video of the same quality or better than other state-of-the-art methods.
Achieving Symmetry in Synchronous Interaction in Hybrid Work is Impossible
Authors: Bjørn Pernille , Busboom Juliane , Duckert Melanie , Bødker Susanne , Shklovski Irina , Hoggan Eve , Dunn Kellie , Mu Qianqian , Barkhuus Louise , Boulus-Rødje Nina
Published: February 2024

Designing new technologies to support synchronous interaction across distances has for many years focused on creating symmetry for participation between geographically distributed actors. Symmetry in synchronous interaction has, to some extent, been achieved technologically (while multiple social, historical, political, and hierarchical concerns continue to exist) and proven empirically in the increased use of remote-work technologies that were used during the pandemic. However, synchronous interaction in hybrid work is achieved differently, since the asymmetry produced by some participants being collocated while others geographically distributed introduces increased complexities for such interactions. Focusing on this challenge, we ask:
To what extent can symmetry in cooperative work engagements be achieved in hybrid work contexts?
We explore this question by interrogating multiple different empirical examples of synchronous hybrid interaction collected across different organizations, activities, and events. We found that the effort required to accomplish hybrid work includes additional articulation work necessary for bounding multiple intertwined artefacts across sites, devices, and applications. Further, the multiple artefacts setup across sites, combined with asymmetric collocation across participants, produce incongruence in technological frames of reference for each participant. All participants in hybrid work have only partial access to the hybrid setup, and no single person has access to the complete setup. The incongruence in technological frames produces insurmountable gaps in collaboration, causing all hybrid work situations to be characterized fundamentally by asymmetric relationships. We argue that symmetry in hybrid synchronous interaction is impossible to attain in attempts to solve this problem through design. Instead, we propose that designers of cooperative technologies for hybrid work shift towards developing artefact-ecologies supporting hybrid work, focusing on asymmetry as a necessary feature. Fundamentally, the design strategy should explore novel ways of taking advantage of the multiple different artefact-ecologies which serve as the foundation for the hybrid collaboration. Instead of striving for symmetry, we propose to feature asymmetric conditions in future technology designs for hybrid interaction.
Non-invasive Techniques for Muscle Fatigue Monitoring: A Comprehensive Survey
Authors: Li Na , Zhou Rui , Krishna Bharath , Pradhan Ashirbad , Lee Hyowon , He Jiayuan , Jiang Ning
Published: February 2024

Muscle fatigue represents a complex physiological and psychological phenomenon that impairs physical performance and increases the risks of injury. It is important to continuously monitor fatigue levels for early detection and management of fatigue. The detection and classification of muscle fatigue also provide important information in human-computer interactions (HMI), sports injuries and performance, ergonomics, and prosthetic control. With this purpose in mind, this review first provides an overview of the mechanisms of muscle fatigue and its biomarkers and further enumerates various non-invasive techniques commonly used for muscle fatigue monitoring and detection in the literature, including electromyogram (EMG), which records the muscle electrical activity during muscle contractions, mechanomyogram (MMG), which records vibration signals of muscle fibers, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which measures the amount of oxygen in the muscle, ultrasound (US), which records signals of muscle deformation during muscle contractions. This review also introduces the principle and mechanism, parameters used for fatigue detection, application in fatigue detection, and advantages and disadvantages of each technology in detail. To conclude, the limitations/challenges that need to be addressed for future research in this area are presented.
On Integrating eBPF into Pluginized Protocols
Authors: De Coninck Quentin , Navarre Louis , Rybowski Nicolas
Published: February 2024

eBPF is a popular technology originating from the Linux kernel that enables safely running user-provided programs in a kernel-context. This technology opened the door for efficient programming in the operating system, especially in its network stack. However, its applicability is not limited to the Linux kernel. Various efforts leveraged the eBPF Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) as the basis of other networking related use cases outside of the Linux kernel. This paper focuses on the pluginized protocols' use case such as PQUIC and xBGP where the eBPF ISA serves as the basis to execute plugins providing per-session protocol behavior. It first quickly describes how the Linux kernel builds around this eBPF ISA to provide enhanced in-kernel network programmability. Then, the paper considers the case of pluginized protocols. Leveraging eBPF outside of the Linux kernel environment requires complementing the eBPF ISA to meet the pluginized protocols' requirements. This paper details these integration efforts. Based on the lessons learned from these, it finally concludes by an applicability discussion of the eBPF ISA to other use cases.
Microwave Assisted Synthesis of PtxRu1−x-NiTiO3: A Novel Hybrid Nanostructured Electrocatalyst for Direct Methanol Oxidation
Authors: Chellasamy V. , Thangadurai P.
Published: February 2024

In the present investigation, we have explored the preparation of PtxRu1-x-NiTiO3 hybrid electrocatalysts for the application of methanol oxidization. The XRD and Raman analysis of PtxRu1-x-NiTiO3 confirmed the rhombohedral crystal structure of NiTiO3 and cubic-structured Pt(Ru) nanoparticles. TEM analysis signifies that Pt(Ru) nanoparticles is decorated on the surface of the NiTiO3. The mean size of the Pt(Ru) nanoparticles calculated from the TEM profile is around 2 nm which corroborates with the crystallite size estimated from XRD. The XPS analysis confirms the presence of metallic Pt along with its oxidized components (Pt2+ and Pt4+). The cyclic voltammetry analysis evidence that Pt0.5Ru0.5-NiTiO3 has shown better activity in methanol oxidation compared with the other compositions of PtxRu1−x-NiTiO3 along with the maximum current density of 65.41 mA cm−2 with less carbon poisoning. Chronoamperometry and polarization studies represent the stability and electrochemical activity of the Pt0.5Ru0.5-NiTiO3 electrocatalysts towards methanol oxidation. Based on the research carried out in this work, it is concluded that the PtxRu1−x-NiTiO3 would be a promising candidate as an electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells.
Potential Use of Waste in Electrocatalysis Using Foundry Sand as Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Xavier Chubraider , Ramírez Galo , Isaacs Maurício , Ribeiro Caue , Azevedo Eduardo B. , delRio Quero Rodrigo
Published: February 2024

Approximately 13 million tons of foundry sand (FS), a waste from the metallurgic industry, are produced worldwide annually. Although several applications for this waste have been reported, there is a lack of research regarding its application in energy production, such as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Due to several metal oxides commonly present in this waste, like iron oxides, FS may have great potential for HER. Simple carbon-paste electrodes comprised of graphite and FS were prepared and tested for HER. FS, after thermal treatment, showed an onset potential near +0.39 V vs Reversible Hydrogen Electrode and a current density of approximately 16 mA cm‒2 at ‒0.9 V. HER geometric rate, turnover number (TON), and faradaic efficiency were 1.77 μmol h‒1 cm‒2, 3126, and 43.4%, respectively. Those are reasonable values compared to the ones reported in the literature, showing the potential of this waste for the manufacturing of low-cost electrodes.
Effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone on gastric electrical activity and sensorimotor function in healthy volunteers: a double-blinded crossover study
Authors: Huang I-Hsuan , Schol Jolien , Calder Stefan , Gharibans Armen A. , Van den Houte Karen , Verheyden Annelies , Broeders Bert , Carbone Florencia , O'Grady Greg , Tack Jan
Published: February 2024

In healthy volunteers, peripheral corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) infusion accelerates gastric-emptying rate and increases postprandial gastric response, accompanied by a rise in symptoms, but does not alter gastric sensitivity or meal-induced accommodation. These findings underscore a significant link between stress and dyspeptic symptoms, with CRH playing a pivotal role in mediating these effects.
Characterization of a Cournot–Nash Equilibrium for a Fishery Model with Fuzzy Utilities
Authors: Ortega-Gutiérrez R. Israel , Montes-de-Oca Raúl , Cruz-Suárez Hugo
Published: February 2024

The article deals with the extensions of discrete-time games with infinite time horizon and their application in a fuzzy context to fishery models. The criteria for these games are the total discounted utility and the average utility in a fishing problem. However, in the fuzzy case, game theory is not the best way to represent a real fishing problem because players do not always have enough information to accurately estimate their utility in the context of fishing. For this reason, in this paper, trapezoidal-type fuzzy utility values are considered for a fishing model, and the terms of the Nash equilibrium are given in the fuzzy context, i.e., this equilibrium is represented using the partial order of the α-cuts of the fuzzy numbers; to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no work with this type of treatment. To obtain each equilibrium, a suitable fully determined fuzzy game is used in combination with the dynamic programming technique applied to this game in the context of fishing. The main results are (i) the Nash equilibria of the fuzzy games coincide with the Nash equilibria of the nonfuzzy games and are explicitly determined in a fishery model and (ii) the values of the fuzzy games are of trapezoidal type and are also explicitly given in the fishery model.
A Case Report of a Patient with Soaring Clozapine Levels after Developing a Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Kumar Agrawal Adesh , Das Soumitra , Abednego B. Adre Lorenzo , Raghuma Nakka , Kaushik Sharanya , Adhikari Adarsha
Published: February 2024

Clozapine is an antipsychotic medicine used to treat mental illnesses that is resistant to therapy. It can induce dose-dependent adverse effects such as increased susceptibility to infections and hematological irregularities. In this case report, we present a 37-year-old woman with schizoaffective disorder who experienced clozapine side effects following a moderate urinary tract infection (UTI). Her serum clozapine levels and side effects were increased throughout her UTI but resolved once the UTI was managed conservatively. We reviewed clozapine’s pharmacokinetic properties to understand why serum levels rose during infection. While we could not definitely explain the mechanism of elevation, we emphasize the importance of monitoring serum clozapine levels and keeping watchful for adverse effects, as well as heightened scrutiny, evaluation for recent infections, and regular monitoring of patients.
FIGURE 1 from Estrogen Receptor Mutations as Novel Targets for Immunotherapy in Metastatic Estrogen Receptor–positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Goldberg Jonathan , Qiao Na , Guerriero Jennifer L. , Gross Brett , Meneksedag Yagiz , Lu Yoshimi F. , Philips Anne V. , Rahman Tasnim , Meric-Bernstam Funda , Roszik Jason , Chen Ken , Jeselsohn Rinath , Tolaney Sara M. , Peoples George E. , Alatrash Gheath , Mittendorf Elizabeth A.
Published: February 2024

Peptides bind to HLA-A*0201. T2 cells were pulsed with indicated peptide for 4 hours and surface HLA-A*0201 was stained. MFI of pulsed T2 cells were normalized to experimentally matched non-pulsed T2 cells, and data expressed as fold change in MFI. Dashed horizontal line indicates non-pulsed T2 HLA-A*0201. FLU peptide was used as a positive control HLA-A*0201 peptide known to bind with high affinity. Data represent three independent experiments performed in triplicate. Statistical significance was determined via comparison of pulsed MFI versus non-pulsed raw MFI using unpaired Student t test. ***, P < 0.001.
Supplementary Table S7 from Discovery and Preclinical Activity of BMS-986351, an Antibody to SIRPα That Enhances Macrophage-mediated Tumor Phagocytosis When Combined with Opsonizing Antibodies
Authors: Chan Henry , Trout Christina V. , Mikolon David , Adams Preston , Guzman Roberto , Mavrommatis Konstantinos , Abbasian Mahan , Hadjivassiliou Haralambos , Dearth Lawrence , Fox Brian A. , Sivakumar Pallavur , Cho Ho , Hariharan Kandasamy
Published: February 2024

Incidences of CD163-positive macrophages and CD66b-positive neutrophil infiltrates in CRC, SCCHN, and DLBCL (A). Summary incidences of H-score values for SIRPα and EGFR in SCCHN (B) and DLBCL (C).
Supplementary Table S4 from Discovery and Preclinical Activity of BMS-986351, an Antibody to SIRPα That Enhances Macrophage-mediated Tumor Phagocytosis When Combined with Opsonizing Antibodies
Authors: Chan Henry , Trout Christina V. , Mikolon David , Adams Preston , Guzman Roberto , Mavrommatis Konstantinos , Abbasian Mahan , Hadjivassiliou Haralambos , Dearth Lawrence , Fox Brian A. , Sivakumar Pallavur , Cho Ho , Hariharan Kandasamy
Published: February 2024

Summary of FcγR binding EC50 determination of BMS-986351
Supplementary Figure S4 from Discovery and Preclinical Activity of BMS-986351, an Antibody to SIRPα That Enhances Macrophage-mediated Tumor Phagocytosis When Combined with Opsonizing Antibodies
Authors: Chan Henry , Trout Christina V. , Mikolon David , Adams Preston , Guzman Roberto , Mavrommatis Konstantinos , Abbasian Mahan , Hadjivassiliou Haralambos , Dearth Lawrence , Fox Brian A. , Sivakumar Pallavur , Cho Ho , Hariharan Kandasamy
Published: February 2024

Enhanced phagocytosis in OCI-Ly3 cells is achieved when BMS-986351 is combined with rituximab.
Aspects of the ecosystem services threatened by desertification in Algerian steppe rangelands: concepts, status and stakes
Authors: Habib Benbader , Saadaoui Mohamed , Boumakhleb Abdallah , Brahimi Malika , Doghbage Abdelghafour , Djoughlafi Adel , Zemour Hafidh , Belhouadjeb Fathi Abdellatif
Published: February 2024

This study focuses on the imminent threat of desertification within Djelfa's steppe grazing lands, emphasizing its implications for land management and the sustainability of livestock practices. The methodology adopted employs a stringent approach that commences with a precise definition of desertification as a critical risk. It then proceeds to thoroughly assess the susceptibility of the local ecosystem to this phenomenon and delineates its consequential impact on both the human inhabitants and the surrounding environment. This comprehensive analysis effectively contextualizes human activities within the sphere of desertification's influence. Methodologically, the study employs a multidimensional framework to categorize the array of environmental goods and services rendered by these grazing lands. By identifying the beneficiaries associated with each service, the research aims to elucidate the complex threat posed at various levels. Crucially, the findings highlight the severe jeopardy that desertification imposes, not only endangering essential resources vital for extensive livestock production but also triggering a decline in invaluable environmental goods pivotal for the sustainability of the ecosystem and activities supporting human welfare. Statistically substantiated through an integration of diverse methodologies such as field surveys, satellite imagery analysis, and stakeholder consultations, this study validates the correlations between desertification and the degradation of ecosystem services. It provides empirical evidence showcasing the gradual decline of grazing lands, thereby compelling an urgent call for intervention strategies. In summary, this research underscores the urgent need for holistic strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of desertification. Its findings provide critical insights into the complex dynamics between human activities, ecosystem vulnerabilities, and the looming threat of desertification. It emphasizes the necessity for immediate collective action and sustainable resource management practices to safeguard ecosystems, ensure long-term sustainability, and protect the well-being of communities in Djelfa and beyond.
Efeitos do game Kinect Sports sobre a transferência de aprendizagem motora
Authors: Vaghetti César Augusto Otero , Franco Vagner Eduardo Hirschfeld , Monteiro-Junior Renato Sobral
Published: February 2024

Existem evidências na literatura que o treinamento em ambiente virtual pode melhorar a habilidade motora no desempenho de determinadas tarefas. Neste sentido, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar a influência da prática de Exergames por meio do tênis de mesa virtual, Table Tennis no game Kinect Sports, sobre a transferência de aprendizagem para o Tênis de mesa. Participaram da pesquisa 28 sujeitos, idade média de 21,9 ± 1,9 anos. Foi utilizado um console Xbox 360 com sensor Kinect e o game Kinect Sports na modalidade Table Tennis, um projetor, marca Epson, bolas, mesa e raquetes de tênis de mesa, e alvos de EVA. Foi utilizado o teste adaptado de Massigli, a qual exige que o sujeito avaliado execute movimentos de rebatida com a raquete de tênis de mesa tentando acertar alvos pré-selecionados na metade oposta da mesa. Foram realizadas três sessões de treinamento com game, separados por um intervalo de 24 horas, durante uma hora. O teste foi realizado em dois momentos: antes e depois da intervenção em ambos os grupos. Para análise estatística foi realizado o teste t student sobre o delta ∆ (valor do pós-teste subtraído do valor do pré-teste), para identificar possível efeito da intervenção. O delta dos desfechos analisados apresentou diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos com p = 0,006, o grupo que praticou o tênis de mesa em ambiente virtual melhorou a performance no teste em relação ao grupo que não realizou a intervenção. Pode-se concluir que indivíduos adultos jovens podem melhorar as tarefas motoras no jogo tênis de mesa por meio do treinamento em ambiente virtual no game Kinect Sports, do console Xbox 360.
Resgate de Identidades: expressões da Negritude na Comunicação Política
Authors: Freire Tiago Lima
Published: February 2024

Levando em consideração a ascensão contínua da premência da identidade negra na comunicação de candidatos pretos e pardos no Brasil, parece natural a necessidade de verificar com olhar atento de que forma exatamente isso ocorre e quais as influências que levaram a este momento histórico particular. Analisando o que compõe esta “negritude” e quais os caminhos percorridos por essa fatia tão relevante da população, tanto no âmbito das mobilizações sociais de rua quanto na presença da política governamental, o artigo se concluiu verificando que os aspectos presentes em campanhas voltadas para o público negro são complexos e multifacetados, bebendo de inúmeras fontes formais e informais, conduzindo de forma importante à maior visibilidade desta identidade reconstituída nos mais diversos segmentos da sociedade civil.
Soundscape composition: hearing the real and surreal
Authors: Vargas Pablo Rubio , Sefchovich Jorge Rodrigo Sigal
Published: February 2024

Creative and interdisciplinary approaches to soundscape are introduced pointing out diverse compositional designs of aesthetic or scientific outcome. Different and adventurous works reveal the role of technology and its utilization either for artistic or scientific task. This article discusses different compositional approaches related to soundscape and its technological application. It creates an entire body of original works from specialists that connect with multiple disciples that find soundscapes as a useful tool for research like aural fauna identification. As an example, it can be seen the collaboration dealing with fauna census among specialist biologists and artists enhanced by technology. All these have led to redefining different concepts found within the disciple of composition, working with soundscape. Compositions like Verdant by David Dunn, and Shadow by Max Richter help us to define ‘surreal’ soundscape. These compositions combine natural sounds along with synthesized ones. On the other hand, works by Murray Schafer and Bernie Krause exemplify compositional practices while recording ‘natural’ soundscapes, which is described during the work. Nevertheless, we focus on the different possibilities and strategies implemented by practitioners interested in contributing to current environmental issues.
Dossiê Temático: Escutas Futuras
Authors: Chaves Rui Miguel Paiva , Oliveira Pedro
Published: February 2024

Apresentação do Dossiê Temático - Escutas Futuras
BUSTLE: A Versatile Tool for the Evolutionary Learning of STL Specifications from Data
Authors: Pigozzi Federico , Nenzi Laura , Medvet Eric
Published: February 2024

Describing the properties of complex systems that evolve over time is a crucial requirement for monitoring and understanding them. Signal Temporal Logic (STL) is a framework that proved to be effective for this aim because it is expressive and allows state properties as human-readable formulae. Crafting STL formulae that fit a particular system is, however, a difficult task. For this reason, a few approaches have been proposed recently for the automatic learning of STL formulae starting from observations of the system. In this paper, we propose BUSTLE (Bi-level Universal STL Evolver), an approach based on evolutionary computation for learning STL formulae from data. BUSTLE advances the state of the art because it (i) applies to a broader class of problems, in terms of what is known about the state of the system during its observation, and (ii) generates both the structure and the values of the parameters of the formulae employing a bi-level search mechanism (global for the structure, local for the parameters). We consider two cases where (a) observations of the system in both anomalous and regular state are available, or (b) only observations of regular state are available. We experimentally evaluate BUSTLE on problem instances corresponding to the two cases and compare it against previous approaches. We show that the evolved STL formulae are effective and human-readable: the versatility of BUSTLE does not come at the cost of lower effectiveness.
Breaking Disciplinary Boundaries in Studies of Audience Experience of Engagement with Art and Immersive Virtual Stories
Authors: Wlazeł Agnieszka
Published: February 2024

This paper examines the audience experience of engagement with immersive virtual stories and art in general, positioning it within the broader context of audience art engagement studies. The literature review indicates that the audience's experience of engagement is a process in specific artistic and personal contexts. Yet, audience studies lack an approach to empirically study the complexity and dynamics of directed (in narrative stages) engagement. This paper presents an exploratory pilot study of the experience of immersive VR theatre. The comparison of the data of different participants experiencing the same art project demonstrates that even a simple research design integrating bodily data and audience reflection in the context of the specific artwork can bring insights valuable for practitioners and researchers. The paper endorses the use of the mixed-method design in engagement studies.
A revision of Lestidae Calvert, 1901 (Odonata: Zygoptera) from Colombia, with the first record of Lestes dichrostigma Calvert, 1909
Authors: MENDOZA-PENAGOS CRISTIAN CAMILO , PÉREZ-GUTIÉRREZ LEÓN A. , MUZÓN JAVIER
Published: February 2024

The cosmopolitan family Lestidae Calvert, 1901 has two widely distributed genera in the Americas: Archilestes Selys, 1862, and Lestes Leach, 1815. In Colombia, this family is represented by 11 species. In this study, we present a diagnosis of Lestidae species in Colombia based on a thorough review of the country’s main entomological collections. A total of 258 specimens representing ten species were examined. The species L. dichrostigma Calvert, 1909, is recorded for the first time. The presence of L. henshawi Calvert, 1907 is excluded, and the taxonomic status of L. sternalis (Navás, 1930) is discussed. Finally, we present distribution maps, photographs of Lestidae species, taxonomical important structures, and taxonomic keys for both males and females.
Gender-Diverse Patients’ Awareness and Utilization of Gender-Affirming Laryngological Services
Authors: Madzia Jules L. , Stryker Shanna D. , Bamford Leigh M. , Pickle Sarah , McKenna Victoria S.
Published: February 2024

Objective:

Despite gender-affirming laryngological services (GALS; eg, voice therapy or surgery) being available nationwide, there is a discrepancy between the number of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people with vocal incongruence and those who pursue services. Primary care is an important setting for accessing gender-affirming care, including learning about GALS. The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between access to primary care and utilization of GALS.

Methods:

An anonymous cross-sectional online survey was developed in REDCap. Between June-November 2022, 187 TGD respondents answered all questions related to this analysis. We assessed the relationship between having a primary care provider (PCP) and use of GALS via logistic regression.

Results:

Of the 167 individuals who reported having a PCP, 54% reported familiarity with GALS, compared to 45% of individuals without a PCP. Compared to the group without a PCP, a greater proportion of individuals with a PCP had received professional voice therapy (21% vs 5%) and voice surgery (3% vs 0%). Logistic regression models did not demonstrate a significant effect of primary care access on either familiarity with, or use of, GALS.

Conclusion:

Most respondents (89%) were linked to the medical community through a PCP. A greater proportion of respondents with a PCP had accessed professional voice therapy and voice surgery compared with respondents without a PCP, though this difference was not statistically significant. Increased communication between GALS providers and PCPs would raise awareness of available services and may strengthen the referral pipeline to increase access to vocal care.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
Wage Theft, Secrecy, and Derealization of ‘Ideal Workers’ in the Bangladesh Garment Industry
Authors: Ahmed Shoaib
Published: February 2024

This study addresses how violence is mobilized through wage theft in feminized workplaces thriving within the global value chain. Guided by Judith Butler’s concept of derealization, this longitudinal case study on the Bangladesh garment industry advances the current debate on violence in organization studies. First, it re-conceptualizes the notion of an ‘ideal worker’. Empirical evidence reveals that, unlike in Western societies, young and childless women in the Global South and their vulnerabilities woven into poverty, inequality, climate change, patriarchy, social stratification, and limited employment opportunities make them ‘ideal workers’. This status remains valid as long as they remain vulnerable and demonstrate no agency in resisting the discourse on dehumanization, dispossession, and displacement. Second, this study illuminates the practice of wage theft, which has emerged as a dominant form of violence in feminized workplaces. Organizations also deploy secrecy to continue theft, thereby inflicting further physical and psychological violence. This study highlights the fact that socioeconomic vulnerabilities and unresisted violence oppress a docile workforce to become ‘ideal workers’. It is a neoliberal myth that helps powerful actors shore up their power and privileges through derealization.
Characterizing Aging-Related Health in Older Women with a History of Incarceration: Multimorbidity, Polypharmacy, Mortality, Frailty, and Depression
Authors: Emerson Amanda , Li Xinyang , Zaller Nick , Ramaswamy Megha
Published: February 2024

Older women with criminal legal system involvement (CLSI) face aging-related challenges to health earlier and with fewer resources than other women. Few studies focus on their health status and aging-related health needs.

Objective

To characterize aging-related health in women with past CLSI and compare with women with no-CLSI.

Method

Health and Retirement Study Wave 11 and 12 data from women age >50 with CLSI were compared with data from women age >50 with no-CLSI. Generalized linear models were estimated for aging-related health outcomes.

Results

The group with CLSI ( n = 230) was significantly younger than the no-CLSI group ( n = 8035) yet had more physical, functional, and mental health challenges and fewer resources. Incarceration significantly predicted aging-related outcomes of multimorbidity, polypharmacy, mortality, frailty, and depression.

Discussion

Earlier onset of physical and functional health conditions in women with past CLSI has implications for health education and promotion, clinical practice, and intervention design.
How does accounting save lives? An econometric analysis exploring the effectiveness of the Crispi-Pagliani Health Reform (1888) in Italy
Authors: Di Cimbrini Tiziana , Musella Alessio Maria , Fosco Giovanni
Published: February 2024

This study compares the healthcare management systems for cholera epidemics in Italy before and after the Crispi-Pagliani Health Reform of 1888. Specifically, we compare the monitoring, accounting, and reporting systems of deaths and infections during the 1884 and 1893 epidemics. Based on an econometric analysis of data from the Italian National Statistical Institute, we demonstrate that the post-reform system was more effective in reducing deaths by optimising medical personnel allocation in areas with higher epidemic intensity. From a Foucauldian perspective, we provide insights into the role of accounting in supporting noso-politics, bio-politics, and bio-power. Further, this study advances our understanding of reporting systems and the dynamics that governments trigger as part of strategies for preventing or containing contagion during epidemics. Finally, this study supports the use of econometrics in accounting history.
Implementation of a Childcare-Based Obesity Prevention Program for Vulnerable Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for School Nurses
Authors: Park Jiyoung , ten Hoor Gill , Won Seohyun , Hwang Gahui , Hwang Sein , Lau Siew Tiang
Published: February 2024

COVID-19 brought significant changes to the role of school nurses, necessitating the development of remote health education programs. However, there is a lack of evidence and pedagogical lessons for digitally transforming education for socially vulnerable children. This qualitative study analyzes the health educational needs and barriers faced by children and service providers in a childcare-based obesity prevention program during the pandemic in South Korea. Through a thematic content analysis, four core themes emerged: (a) heightened concerns about obesity and the pandemic's impact on facilities, (b) unexpected positive outcomes of the program, (c) digital readiness gaps, and (d) insufficient program satisfaction (better than nothing). When designing a digital-based health education program for vulnerable children, assessing individual readiness and facility suitability is crucial. Additionally, school nurses should incorporate hybrid pedagogy, integrating technology-mediated activities. By leveraging technology effectively and considering individual and environmental factors, educators can provide comprehensive and accessible health education.
Troxerutin improves cognitive function and forkhead box F2 expression in the hippocampus via modulating the microbial composition and the intestinal barrier function in diabetes mellitus mice
Authors: Li Jie , Gao Ming , Wang Pin , Li Hongyan , Liu Jiankun , Yuan Fang , Zhang Xiangjian , Zhang Songyun
Published: February 2024

Recent studies have found that gut microbes may affect blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. This study was to investigate the relationship between gut microbes and forkhead box F2 (FOXF2) and the mechanism of troxerutin improving diabetic cognitive dysfunction (DCD). Diabetic mice were used in this study for the prophylactic application of troxerutin (60 mg/kg/d) for 8 weeks. The cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition (NOR) tasks, and the changes of intestinal microbial composition were observed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in feces was determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and the intestinal barrier function was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blotting. Troxerutin up-regulated FOXF2 expression in the hippocampus of mice, improving DCD. Meanwhile, it reversed the intestinal microbial composition (increased the abundance of the phylum Bacteroidota, as well as fecal propionic acid and butyric acid levels) and improved the intestinal barrier (increased the level of claudin-1 and significantly reduced the circulating lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) levels). When intestinal microorganisms were removed with an antibiotic cocktail, the improvement of hippocampal FOXF2 expression and DCD by troxerutin attenuated accordingly, suggesting that troxerutin improved DCD by up-regulating the expression of hippocampal FOXF2 through the regulation of intestinal microbial composition and the intestinal barrier. In summary, troxerutin improved DCD by up-regulating the expression of hippocampal FOXF2 through the regulation of intestinal microbial composition and the intestinal barrier.
Effects of atropine eyedrops at ten different concentrations for myopia control in children: A systematic review on meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Jin-Da , Liu Mei-Rui , Chen Chang-Xi , Cao Kai , Zhang Yun , Zhu Xiao-Hong , Wan Xiu-Hua
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To estimate the effect of atropine eyedrops at different concentrations for myopia control in children.

Methods

We conducted a Bayesian random-effects network meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials (RCT). Primary outcomes include changes in spherical equivalent error (SER) and changes in axial length (AL), mean difference (MD) together with 95% credible interval (CrI) were used to evaluate the efficacy.

Results

28 RCTs (6608 children) were included in this review. Comparing ten atropine eyedrops (0.0025%, 0.005%, 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1% concentrations) with the placebo, the MDs and 95%CrIs of changes in SER are −0.006 (−0.269, 0.256) D, 0.216 (−0.078, 0.508) D, 0.146 (0.094, 0.199) D, 0.167 (0.039, 0.297) D, 0.201 (0.064, 0.341) D, 0.344 (0.251, 0.440) D, 0.255 (0.114, 0.396) D, 0.296 (0.140, 0.452) D, 0.331 (0.215, 0.447) D, and 0.286 (0.195, 0.337) D, respectively. The MDs and 95%CrIs of changes in AL are −0.048 (−0.182, 0.085) mm, −0.078 (−0.222, 0.066) mm, −0.095 (−0.130, −0.060) mm, −0.096 (−0.183, −0.009) mm, −0.083 (−0.164, −0.004) mm, −0.114 (−0.176, −0.056) mm, −0.134 (−0.198, −0.032) mm, −0.174 (−0.315, −0.061) mm, −0.184 (−0.291, −0.073) mm, and −0.171 (−0.203, −0.097) mm, respectively.Whether evaluated by SER or AL, 1% concentration ranks first in efficacy, but the risk of photophobia is 17 times higher than 0.01% concentration.

Conclusions

0.01% or higher concentration atropine eyedrops are effective for myopia control, while 0.0025% and 0.005% concentrations may not. As the concentration increases, the effect tends to increase, 1% concentration may have the strongest effect.