bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
African ʿAjamī in the Digital Environment: Typographic and Technological Challenges
Authors: Jamra Mark , Patel Neil
Published: November 2023

With Africa poised at the threshold of a typographic renaissance, its writing systems often face unique challenges when entering the digital environment. This chapter offers an overview of the current state of technical support for the digitization and creation of African ʿAjamī texts, the fonts and input methods currently available for that task, and the technical challenges remaining to be resolved to fully accommodate scholars and creators of textual content in African languages written with the Arabic script. The considerations that went into the design and production of the typeface family Kigelia Arabic are also briefly outlined, showing the challenges in creating fonts that address traditional sub-Saharan, Sahelian forms in all their variations and alternatives. This will be accompanied by an overview of the development of ʿAjamī-specific keyboards and methods for expanding features and key layouts for different language communities.
Thinking on Six Feet: The Joy of the Kannada Kuvalayānanda
Authors: Bronner Yigal , Keerthi Naresh
Published: November 2023

Jāyagauḍa’s Kannaḍakuvalayānanda, the name may suggest, is another run-of-the-mill regional adaptation of Appayya Dīkṣita’s bestseller textbook of Sanskrit poetics—The Joy of the Night Lily (Kuvalayānanda). However, a close reading of Jāyagauḍa’s definitions and more importantly, his carefully curated examples, tells a different story. Jāyagauḍa’s text is by no means a slavish translation, nor is his aim to present a brandnew, local theory of poetic figures. Rather, the Kannaḍakuvalayānanda places recent ṣaṭpadi poetry at the center-stage of poetics and creatively shifts the valence of understanding figures from abstract theory to writerly and readerly practice, beginning with Appayya Dīkṣita’s own examples. The interaction of a “Sanskrit” poetic theory with a Kannada poetic memory here produces most unusual results. This experiment also draws our attention to a dazzlingly new (and as it turns out, very traditional) mode of doing literary criticism—in Sanskrit as well as in Kannada.
Genetic diversity and population structure of modern wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars in Henan Province of China based on SNP markers
Authors: Tang Wenjing , Dong Zhongdong , Gao Lifeng , Wang Xicheng , Li Tianbao , Sun Congwei , Chu Zongli , Cui Dangqun
Published: November 2023

Background

Henan is the province with the greatest wheat production in China. Although more than 100 cultivars are used for production, many cultivars are still insufficient in quality, disease resistance, adaptability and yield potential. To overcome these limitations, it is necessary to constantly breed new cultivars to maintain the continuous and stable growth of wheat yield and quality. To improve breeding efficiency, it is important to evaluate the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of its cultivars. However, there are no such reports from Henan Province. Therefore, in this study, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were used to study the population genetic structure and genetic diversity of 243 wheat cultivars included in a comparative test of wheat varieties in Henan Province, aiming to provide a reference for the utilization of backbone parents and the selection of hybrid combinations in the genetic improvement of wheat cultivars.

Results

In this study, 243 wheat cultivars from Henan Province of China were genotyped by the Affymetrix Axiom Wheat660K SNP chip, and 21 characteristics were investigated. The cultivars were divided into ten subgroups; each subgroup had distinct characteristics and unique utilization value. Furthermore, based on principal component analysis, Zhoumai cultivars were the main hybrid parents, followed by Aikang 58, high-quality cultivars, and Shandong cultivars. Genetic diversity analysis showed that 61.3% of SNPs had a high degree of genetic differentiation, whereas 33.4% showed a moderate degree. The nucleotide diversity of subgenome B was relatively high, with an average π value of 3.91E-5; the nucleotide diversity of subgenome D was the lowest, with an average π value of 2.44E-5.

Conclusion

The parents used in wheat cross-breeding in Henan Province are similar, with a relatively homogeneous genetic background and low genetic diversity. These results will not only contribute to the objective evaluation and utilization of the tested cultivars but also provide insights into the current conditions and existing challenges of wheat cultivar breeding in Henan Province, thereby facilitating the scientific formulation of breeding objectives and strategies to improve breeding efficiency.
Efficacy and safety of self-made covered coronary stent in the treatment of coronary artery perforation
Authors: An Wen , Ye Jian , Han Bingyu , Wang Xu , Han Chao , Gao Junqing , Liu Zongjun
Published: November 2023

Objective

To observe the efficacy and safety of self-made covered coronary stent in the treatment of coronary artery perforation.

Methods

Covered coronary stent was prepared by wrapping 3 M film on the surface of coronary stents. The beagle dogs were divided into control group and experimental group. A drug-eluting stent (DES) was implanted in the control group. The covered stent was applied to block the coronary branches of beagle dogs. The CaIMR value after stent placement was calculated by FlashAngio software. The effect of blocking the coronary branches on blood flow was observed by coronary angiography (CAG). The condition of the implanted stent was observed by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and the histopathologic examination of the coronary vessel implanted stent was performed by HE staining.

Results

The best number of layers was 2. Compared with the control group, the CaIMR of the experimental group increased (p < 0.05). A lot of in-stent thrombosis were found in the experimental group and obvious blood flow obstruction during follow-up. HE staining showed that stents implanted in the two groups adhered well to the wall of the blood vessel, but in-stent thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia were founded in the experimental group, while the in-stent restenosis was not founded.

Conclusion

The self-made coronary covered stent can effectively block the leakage caused by coronary perforation, but the stent endothelialization is poor, which easily causes stent thrombosis and restenosis, so it is not recommended as a routine remedy.
Complete loss of E-cadherin expression in a rare case of metastatic malignant meningioma: a case report
Authors: Lisowski Dominik , Hartrampf Philipp E. , Hasenauer Natalie , Nickl Vera , Monoranu Camelia-Maria , Tamihardja Jörg
Published: November 2023

Background

Hematogenous tumor spread of malignant meningiomas occurs very rarely but is associated with very poor prognosis.

Case presentation

We report an unusual case of a patient with a malignant meningioma who developed multiple metastases in bones, lungs and liver after initial complete resection of the primary tumor. After partial hepatic resection, specimens were histologically analyzed, and a complete loss of E-cadherin adhesion molecules was found. No oncogenic target mutations were found. The patient received a combination of conventional radiotherapy and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). Due to aggressive tumor behavior and rapid spread of metastases, the patient deceased after initiation of treatment.

Conclusions

E-cadherin downregulation is associated with a higher probability of tumor invasion and distant metastasis formation in malignant meningioma. Up to now, the efficacy of systemic therapy, including PRRT, is very limited in malignant meningioma patients.
Ultrasound measurements of fetal facial profile markers and their associations with congenital malformations during early pregnancy
Authors: Liao Minyan , Wang Limin , Shang Ning , Hu Xueyi , He Bingjia , Liu Xiangjiao , Xiang Guanghua , Zhong Wei
Published: November 2023

Background

Fetal facial profile could be measured during the early pregnancy. Its abnormalities might be associated with certain congenital malformations. We aimed to study the associations between fetal facial profile measurements with crown-rump length and congenital malformations (cleft lip and palate, micrognathia, and open spina bifida) during early pregnancy.

Methods

We performed a prospective cross-sectional study between June 2019 and April 2022. Pregnant women at a gestational age between 11–13+ 6 weeks were enrolled. Two sonographers performed fetal facial profile measurements independently. The associations between these measurements with crown-rump length and congenital malformations were evaluated.

Results

There were 406 and 25 fetuses without or with congenital malformations, respectively. Two sonographers showed satisfactory inter- and intra-observer agreements and reproducibility. The maxillary gap was only observed in 7.6% of normal fetuses, whereas all cleft lip and palate fetuses had a maxillary gap ≥ 0.8 mm. The crown-rump length was negatively correlated with frontomaxillary facial angle, inferior facial angle, and profile line distance but positively correlated with maxilla-nasion-mandible angle, facial maxillary angle, frontal space distance, and palatine maxillary diameter. These measurements showed various significant changes with different congenital malformations.

Conclusions

Measurements of fetal facial profile in early pregnancy were feasible with satisfactory reproducibility. These measurements correlated with crown-rump length and showed significant differences with certain fetal congenital malformations.
Investigating the impact of London’s ultra low emission zone on children’s health: children’s health in London and Luton (CHILL) protocol for a prospective parallel cohort study
Authors: Tsocheva Ivelina , Scales James , Dove Rosamund , Chavda Jasmine , Kalsi Harpal , Wood Helen E , Colligan Grainne , Cross Louise , Newby Chris , Hall Amy , Keating Mia , Sartori Luke , Moon Jessica , Thomson Ann , Tomini Florian , Murray Aisling , Hamad Wasim , Tijm Sarah , Hirst Alice , Vincent Britzer Paul , Kotala Pavani , Balkwill Frances , Mihaylova Borislava , Grigg Jonathan , Quint Jennifer K , Fletcher Monica , Mon-Williams Mark , Wright John , van Sluijs Esther , Beevers Sean , Randhawa Gurch , Eldridge Sandra , Sheikh Aziz , Gauderman William , Kelly Frank , Mudway Ian S , Griffiths Christopher J
Published: November 2023

Background

Air pollution harms health across the life course. Children are at particular risk of adverse effects during development, which may impact on health in later life. Interventions that improve air quality are urgently needed both to improve public health now, and prevent longer-term increased vulnerability to chronic disease. Low Emission Zones are a public health policy intervention aimed at reducing traffic-derived contributions to urban air pollution, but evidence that they deliver health benefits is lacking. We describe a natural experiment study (CHILL: Children’s Health in London and Luton) to evaluate the impacts of the introduction of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on children’s health.

Methods

CHILL is a prospective two-arm parallel longitudinal cohort study recruiting children at age 6–9 years from primary schools in Central London (the focus of the first phase of the ULEZ) and Luton (a comparator site), with the primary outcome being the impact of changes in annual air pollutant exposures (nitrogen oxides [NOx], nitrogen dioxide [NO2], particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5micrograms [PM2.5], and less than 10 micrograms [PM10]) across the two sites on lung function growth, measured as post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) over five years. Secondary outcomes include physical activity, cognitive development, mental health, quality of life, health inequalities, and a range of respiratory and health economic data.

Discussion

CHILL’s prospective parallel cohort design will enable robust conclusions to be drawn on the effectiveness of the ULEZ at improving air quality and delivering improvements in children’s respiratory health. With increasing proportions of the world’s population now living in large urban areas exceeding World Health Organisation air pollution limit guidelines, our study findings will have important implications for the design and implementation of Low Emission and Clean Air Zones in the UK, and worldwide.

ClinicalTrials.gov

NCT04695093 (05/01/2021).
The transit of oral premedication beyond the stomach in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a retrospective observational multicentre study
Authors: Weinberg Laurence , Scurrah Nick , Neal-Williams Tom , Zhang Wendell , Chen Sharon , Slifirski Hugh , Liu David S. , Armellini Angelica , Aly Ahmad , Clough Anthony , Lee Dong-Kyu
Published: November 2023

Background

Antiemetic and analgesic oral premedications are frequently prescribed preoperatively to enhance recovery after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. However, it is unknown whether these medications transit beyond the stomach or if they remain in the sleeve resection specimen, thereby negating their pharmacological effects.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and receiving oral premedication (slow-release tapentadol and netupitant/palonosetron) as part of enhanced recovery after bariatric surgery program. Patients were stratified into the Transit group (premedication absent in the resection specimen) and Failure-to-Transit group (premedication present in the resection specimen). Age, sex, body mass index, and presence of diabetes were compared amongst the groups. The premedication lead time (time between premedications’ administration and gastric specimen resection), and the premedication presence or absence in the specimen was evaluated.

Results

One hundred consecutive patients were included in the analysis. Ninety-nine patients (99%) were morbidly obese, and 17 patients (17%) had Type 2 diabetes mellitus. One hundred patients (100%) received tapentadol and 89 patients (89%) received netupitant/palonosetron. One or more tablets were discovered in the resected specimens of 38 patients (38%). No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups regarding age, sex, diabetes, or body mass index. The median (Q1‒Q3) premedication lead time was 80 min (57.8‒140.0) in the Failure-to-Transit group and 119.5 min (85.0‒171.3) in the Transit group; P = 0.006. The lead time required to expect complete absorption in 80% of patients was 232 min (95%CI:180‒310).

Conclusions

Preoperative oral analgesia and antiemetics did not transit beyond the stomach in 38% of patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. When given orally in combination, tapentadol and netupitant/palonosetron should be administered at least 4 h before surgery to ensure transition beyond the stomach. Future enhanced recovery after bariatric surgery guidelines may benefit from the standardization of premedication lead times to facilitate increased absorption.

Trial registration

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry; number ACTRN12623000187640; retrospective registered on 22/02/2023.
Thyroid hormones and ovarian reserve: a comprehensive study of women seeking infertility care
Authors: Halici Muge , Seker Mustafa Ege , Gebedek Irem Yagmur , Gokbak Merve Nida , Cetisli Abdurrahman Furkan , Ciftci Ahmet Berkan , Konac Emine , Kopuk Sule Yildirim , Tiras Bulent , Cakiroglu Yigit
Published: November 2023

Background

Ovarian reserve is the number of oocytes remaining in the ovary and is one of the most important aspects of a woman’s reproductive potential. Research on the association between thyroid dysfunction and ovarian reserve has yielded controversial results. In our study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and ovarian reserve markers.

Methods

From 1443 women seeking infertility care, the data of 1396 women aged between 20–45 years old who had a body mass index between 18–30 kg/m2 were recruited for this retrospective study. The anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and TSH relationship was analyzed with generalized linear and polynomial regression.

Results

Median age, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), AMH, and TSH levels were 36.79 years, 9.55 IU/L, 3.57 pmol/L, and 1.80 mIU/L, respectively. Differences between TSH groups were statistically significant in terms of AMH level, antral follicle count (AFC), and age (p = 0.007 and p = 0.038, respectively). A generalized linear regression model could not explain age-matched TSH levels concerning AMH levels (p > 0.05). TSH levels were utilized in polynomial regression models of AMH, and the 2nd degree was found to have the best fit. The inflection point of the model was 2.88 mIU/L.

Conclusions

Our study shows a correlation between TSH and AMH values in a population of infertile women. Our results are as follows: a TSH value of 2.88 mIU/L yields the highest AMH result. It was also found that AMH and AFC were positively correlated, while AMH and FSH were negatively correlated.
The anticancer potential of chemical constituents of Moringa oleifera targeting CDK-2 inhibition in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer using in-silico and in vitro approches
Authors: Sultan Rida , Ahmed Abrar , Wei Li , Saeed Hamid , Islam Muhammad , Ishaq Muhammad
Published: November 2023

Most of the breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive recurring with a steady rate of up to 20 years dysregulating the normal cell cycle. Dinaciclib is still in clinical trials and considered as a research drug against such cancers targeting CDK2.

The major goal of this study was to identify the potential inhibitors of CDK-2 present in Moringa oleifera for treating hormonal receptor positive breast cancers. For this purpose, in silico techniques; molecular docking, MM-GBSA and molecular dynamics simulations were employed to screen Moringa oleifera compounds and their anticancer potential was determined against CDK-2 protein targets. Among 36 compounds of Moringa oleifera reported in literature, chlorogenic acid (1), quercetin (2), ellagic acid (3), niazirin (4), and kaempferol (5) showed good affinity with the target. The interaction of the compounds was visualized using PYMOL software. The profiles of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME) and toxicity were determined using SWISS and ProTox II webservers. The MTT assay was performed in-vitro using MCF-7 cancer cell lines to validate the anticancer potential of Moringa oleifera leaf extract.

MTT assay results revealed no significant change in proliferation of Mcf-7 cells following 24 h treatment with fraction A (petroleum ether). However, significant antiproliferative effect was observed at 200 µg/mL dose of fraction B (ethyl acetate) and cell viability was reduced to 40%.

In conclusion, the data suggested that all the compounds with highest negative docking score than the reference could be the potential candidates for cyclin dependent kinase-2 (CDK-2) inhibition while ellagic acid, chlorogenic acid and quercetin being the most stable and potent inhibitors to treat estrogen receptor positive breast cancer targeting CDK-2. Moreover, the data suggested that further investigation is required to determine the optimum dose for significant antiproliferative effects using in-vivo models to validate our findings of in-silico analysis.
Small RNAs, spermatogenesis, and male infertility: a decade of retrospect
Authors: Joshi Meghali , Sethi Shruti , Mehta Poonam , Kumari Anamika , Rajender Singh
Published: November 2023

Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs), being the top regulators of gene expression, have been thoroughly studied in various biological systems, including the testis. Research over the last decade has generated significant evidence in support of the crucial roles of sncRNAs in male reproduction, particularly in the maintenance of primordial germ cells, meiosis, spermiogenesis, sperm fertility, and early post-fertilization development. The most commonly studied small RNAs in spermatogenesis are microRNAs (miRNAs), PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), and transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (ts-RNAs). Small non-coding RNAs are crucial in regulating the dynamic, spatial, and temporal gene expression profiles in developing germ cells. A number of small RNAs, particularly miRNAs and tsRNAs, are loaded on spermatozoa during their epididymal maturation. With regard to their roles in fertility, miRNAs have been studied most often, followed by piRNAs and tsRNAs. Dysregulation of more than 100 miRNAs has been shown to correlate with infertility. piRNA and tsRNA dysregulations in infertility have been studied in only 3–5 studies. Sperm-borne small RNAs hold great potential to act as biomarkers of sperm quality and fertility. In this article, we review the role of small RNAs in spermatogenesis, their association with infertility, and their potential as biomarkers of sperm quality and fertility.
Molecular mechanisms of AMPK/YAP/NLRP3 signaling pathway affecting the occurrence and development of ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Fu Ruiyang , Guo Xiaoqing , Pan Zhongqiang , Wang Yaling , Xu Jing , Zhang Lei , Li Jinxia
Published: November 2023

Background

Investigate the AMPK (protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha 1)/YAP (Yes1 associated transcriptional regulator)/NLRP3 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 3) signaling pathway's role in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) development using public database analysis, in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Methods

Retrieve AS dataset, analyze differential gene expression in R, conduct functional enrichment analysis, collect 30 AS patient and 30 normal control samples, and construct a mouse model. ELISA, IP, and knockdown experiments were performed to detect expression changes.

Results

NLRP3 was identified as a significant AS-related gene. Caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-17A, IL-18, IL-23, YAP, and NLRP3 were upregulated in AS patients. Overexpressing AMPK inhibited YAP's blockade on NLRP3 ubiquitination, reducing ossification in fibroblasts. Inhibiting AMPK exacerbated AS symptoms in AS mice.

Conclusion

AMPK may suppress YAP expression, leading to NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition and AS alleviation.
Natural language processing diagnosed behavioural disturbance phenotypes in the intensive care unit: characteristics, prevalence, trajectory, treatment, and outcomes
Authors: Young Marcus , Holmes Natasha E. , Kishore Kartik , Amjad Sobia , Gaca Michele , Serpa Neto Ary , Reade Michael C. , Bellomo Rinaldo
Published: November 2023

Background

Natural language processing (NLP) may help evaluate the characteristics, prevalence, trajectory, treatment, and outcomes of behavioural disturbance phenotypes in critically ill patients.

Methods

We obtained electronic clinical notes, demographic information, outcomes, and treatment data from three medical-surgical ICUs. Using NLP, we screened for behavioural disturbance phenotypes based on words suggestive of an agitated state, a non-agitated state, or a combination of both.

Results

We studied 2931 patients. Of these, 225 (7.7%) were NLP-Dx-BD positive for the agitated phenotype, 544 (18.6%) for the non-agitated phenotype and 667 (22.7%) for the combined phenotype. Patients with these phenotypes carried multiple clinical baseline differences. On time-dependent multivariable analysis to compensate for immortal time bias and after adjustment for key outcome predictors, agitated phenotype patients were more likely to receive antipsychotic medications (odds ratio [OR] 1.84, 1.35–2.51, p < 0.001) compared to non-agitated phenotype patients but not compared to combined phenotype patients (OR 1.27, 0.86–1.89, p = 0.229). Moreover, agitated phenotype patients were more likely to die than other phenotypes patients (OR 1.57, 1.10–2.25, p = 0.012 vs non-agitated phenotype; OR 4.61, 2.14–9.90, p < 0.001 vs. combined phenotype). This association was strongest in patients receiving mechanical ventilation when compared with the combined phenotype (OR 7.03, 2.07–23.79, p = 0.002). A similar increased risk was also seen for patients with the non-agitated phenotype compared with the combined phenotype (OR 6.10, 1.80–20.64, p = 0.004).

Conclusions

NLP-Dx-BD screening enabled identification of three behavioural disturbance phenotypes with different characteristics, prevalence, trajectory, treatment, and outcome. Such phenotype identification appears relevant to prognostication and trial design.

Graphical abstract
Adipo-myokine Irisin, a Promising Antioxidant against Nicotine Induced Oxidative Stress in BALB/c mice
Authors: Imran Madiha , Ahsin Sadia , Saeed Gule Naghma , Ashraf Hira
Published: November 2023

Objectives: To determine the role of r-irisin in attenuating nicotine-induced oxidative stress by estimating serum oxidative stress markers and antioxidant enzymes in BALB/c mice.

Method: This 18 month experimental study was carried out at Foundation University Islamabad and National Institute of Health starting in 2020. Thirty healthy BALB/c mice were divided into three groups. Group-I (control group) received normal saline 1ml/kg body weight intra-peritoneally daily for 28 days. Experimental group, Group-II received nicotine 2mg/kg body weight intra-peritoneally, for 28 days to induce oxidative stress. Experimental Group-III was given r-irisin 0.5 μg/g body weight/day via tail vein injection, for the last 14 days in addition to intraperitoneal nicotine for 28 days. On 29th day, intra-cardiac blood samples were taken for estimation of serum antioxidant enzymes [Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Reduced Glutathione (GSH) and Catalases (CAT)], and Thiobarbituric Acid-Reactive Substances (TBARS) levels as lipid peroxidation marker using ELISA. SPSS version 24 was used for statistical analysis. Significant difference in parameters across groups was calculated using one way ANOVA. P-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Group-II showed statistically significant increase in serum lipid peroxidation marker (TBARS) levels (p<0.001) and reduction in serum anti-oxidative enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH) levels (p< 0.001) as compared to Group-I. In Group-III, with co administration of r-irisin, significant improvement in antioxidant enzymes levels and reduction in TBARS levels was observed (p< 0.001) as compared to Group-II.

Conclusion: Irisin ameliorates nicotine induced oxidative stress by improving serum anti-oxidant enzyme levels and reducing serum lipid peroxidation marker.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.8140

How to cite this: Imran M, Ahsin S, Saeed GN, Ashraf H. Adipo-myokine Irisin, a Promising Antioxidant against Nicotine Induced Oxidative Stress in BALB/c mice. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(1):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.8140

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The effect of ruminative thoughts on sexuality in obese women
Authors: Guc Hulya , Karatepe Hasan Turan , Ozdemir Asena Ayca , Bashan Ibrahim
Published: November 2023

Objectives: Ruminative thoughts play a significant role in the pathogenesis of disorders such as anxiety and depression. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of ruminative thoughts on the sexual functions of obese and non-obese women.

Methods: This case-control study included individuals sexually active women aged 18 and above, and under 46 years, who applied to the university hospital’s obesity clinic in 2021 and had not previously been diagnosed with the patient and/or their partner with organic and/or psychiatric diseases that could cause sexual dysfunction and/or being under treatment, as well as pregnancy. The participants consisted of pre-obese and obese individuals (n = 59), as well as non-obese individuals (n = 63). The Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire, Female Sexual Function Index, and Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale were administered to the voluntary participants. Using univariate and multivariate statistical models, the effects of obesity and volatile thought styles on the sexual experiences of obese and non-obese women were evaluated.

Results: The analyses conducted revealed that the scores of ruminative thoughts were not affected by obesity. After adjusting for age, it was observed that Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale scores were higher in pre-obese and obese women (p<0.05). In the multiple models created, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale scores were negatively influenced by obesity, whereas Female Sexual Function Index scores were adversely affected by ruminative thought styles.

Conclusions: In this study, while addressing sexual health for both preobese, obese, and non-obese women, the importance of considering predisposing psychological factors is emphasized. It emphasizes the importance of ruminative thoughts and obesity on sexual functioning in women. Psychological well-being and body image perception emerge as critical elements in this relationship.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.8625

How to cite this: Guc H, Karatepe HT, Ozdemir AA, Bashan I. The effect of ruminative thoughts on sexuality in obese women. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(1):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.8625

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Assessment of the potential of the tourism industry of Ukraine on the basis of sustainability
Authors: Tranchenko L. , Petrenko N. , Yavorska V.
Published: November 2023

It is substantiated that the modern conditions of economic development are characterized by rapid dynamics and unpredictability of changes at the global, national and regional levels. The development of the tourism industry and the resort and recreation sphere of Ukraine and its regions requires research into the existing potential and the implementation of the principles of sustainable balanced development in accordance with the Agenda for the 21st century in the field of travel and tourism industry developed by the World Tourism Organization. The necessity of spreading innovative forms of mutual relations in the form of corporatization, institutionalization and public-private partnership in the context of sustainable development of the tourism industry and the resort and recreation sphere of the regions of Ukraine has been proven. Innovative forms of relationships in the field of balanced regional sustainable development of the tourism and resort-recreational sphere, according to which the mechanisms of functioning of the studied sphere are improved, can be considered as a source of financing for the development of the studied field and the reproduction of natural resource potential. It has been investigated that the main regularities have been formed in Ukraine regarding the regulation of the regional sustainable development of the tourism industry and the resort and recreation sphere. Analysis of such regularities, methods, factors, tools and principles of their regulation allow predicting ways to improve the functioning of the researched area.
From a Conception of Territorial Jurisdiction to an Extraterritorial Jurisdiction: Uncovering a Tannaitic Legal Transition
Authors: Porat Benjamin
Published: November 2023

Abstract: A legal system may limit its jurisdiction, so that its laws apply exclusively within its territorial borders. In an alternate conception, a legal system may opt to apply its laws extraterritorially, so that its subjects are bound to them in any place they find themselves. The theoretical foundations of these two conceptions of law are profoundly distinct. Using this jurisprudential framework, this article explores anew the transition from the biblical (pentateuchal) conception of law to the conception of law found in the writings of the early rabbis. It then examines whether this legal difference corresponds with a parallel theological transition. Revealing the possible relationships between these two transitions makes clear that theology and law are intertwined.
The Porous Boundaries of the Zohar in the Age of Print: A Zoharic Homily on the Sinew of the Thigh as a Signifier of Sexual Threat
Authors: Sachs-Shmueli Leore
Published: November 2023

Abstract: This microtextual analysis of a Zoharic textual unit sheds light on the boundaries and ideologies that guided the editors as they prepared the first print edition of the Zohar (Mantua, 1558), revealing how they adapted and interpolated an external commentary by Joseph of Hamadan, a thirteenth-century Castilian kabbalist. Furthermore, examining the adaptation of this same passage by a fourteenth-century Italian kabbalist, Menaḥem Recanati, provides insights into an important stage in the canonization of the Zohar. This fascinating case study not only contributes to the textual criticism of the Zohar but also brings to the fore the construction of improper sexuality as the most dangerous threat to the male Jew.
Museums, Memory, And The Imaginary: Jewish Homes Of The Past In Contemporary Artworks
Authors: Shandler Jeffrey
Published: November 2023

Abstract: Museums provide prominent encounters with past Jewish domesticity. The most provocative encounters appear in contemporary art installations by Christian Boltanski, Simon Fujiwara, Maira Kalman and Alex Kalman, Elaine Reichek, Ellen Rothenberg, the Sala-Manca Group, and Maya Zack that variously evoke, conjure, or problematize Jewish home life in former times. Unlike historic residences or re-creations staged for historical or ethnographic exhibitions, these artworks are entirely “at home” in the museum, where they simultaneously present and interrogate notions of Jewish domesticity. This attention to artworks looks beyond the primary focus of most historians’ studies of Jewish homes, which examine the social and cultural contexts of actual houses of a bygone era, or the work of scholars in various fields who explore Jewish domestic practices as expressions of a collective identity. The artworks in question scrutinize what it has meant for Jews to feel “at home” and reveal how the imagination figures in representations of bygone Jewish domestic life as memory sites.
In-depth Study on RTT-HC-MTT Relationship for Passenger Demand beyond Elevator Contract Capacity by Simulation
Authors: So Albert Ting Pat , Al-Sharif Lutfi
Published: November 2023

The traditional elevator system design practice is to calculate the round trip time (RTT) and associated parameters of pure incoming traffic during up-peak, followed by real-time computer simulation. Recent studies indicated that the normal traffic is much more complicated, consisting of a mixture of incoming, outgoing and interfloor patterns. The Universal RTT, under such complicated traffic patterns, was analytically developed eight years ago based on the concept of an appropriate origindestination matrix describing the passenger transit probability, and verified by Monte Carlo simulation. That model is based on the assumption that the total number of passengers demanding service within one round trip is limited to the elevator contract capacity, which is in line with the traditional up-peak incoming RTT formula. The idea of extending the consideration to beyond the contract capacity was initiated two years ago. In this article, an in-depth study on such consideration is carried out so that the performance such as RTT, handling capacity (HC) and mean transit time (MTT) etc. under different traffic patterns is evaluated and analyzed with the help of Monte Carlo simulation. This article may help designers optimally size an elevator system during the RTT calculation stage without oversizing it if the prevalent traffic patterns of the building are known.
Isolation and Morphological Characterization of Lead Tolerant Bacteria Associated with Perna viridis
Authors: Sumbodo Yoshua Mario , Dewi Fiona Aqhila , Kristiadi Okti Hajeng , Ayuningtyas Annisa Nur , Raihan Heksa , Zainuri Muhammad , Kusumaningrum Hermin Pancasakti
Published: November 2023

Lead is a heavy metal contamination that is released into sea waters and cannot be decomposed so it accumulation and magnification along the food chain. Efforts to explore bacteria that have tolerance and have the potential to become lead reduction agents are a strategic step in remediating lead contamination. One mechanism for lead bioremediation by bioaccumulation is to utilize metallothionein protein which can potentially be obtained from isolates of green mussel associated bacteria. Bacterial isolates associated with green mussels were obtained by isolating the bacteria and testing the tolerance of the bacterial isolates using Luria Bertani media which was added with Pb(NO3)2 at a concentration of 100 ppm and its multiples to determine their tolerance to lead. The bacterial isolates obtained were characterized based on colony and cell morphology. The results of the lead resistance test carried out showed that 11 bacterial isolates were obtained and 3 bacterial isolates had tolerance to lead with a lead concentration of 400 ppm. Bacterial isolates that are tolerant to lead show changes in cell morphology to reduce the impact of exposure to lead which has a lethal effect, because the resulting decrease in cell surface area can reduce lead absorption.
Zwang zur Internationalisierung – Auf- und Ausbau des Investment Bankings der Commerzbank in den 1980er und 1990er Jahren
Authors: Paul Stephan , Schmitz Fabian
Published: November 2023

In the 1980s, Commerzbank was increasingly forced to become much more international if it wanted to be perceived as a relevant player in the field of investment banking, which was considered particularly attractive. This article focuses on the bank’s initially cautious, then strongly accelerated turn toward this new field of business – especially in the form of asset management – and the opportunities it opened up as well as the resulting burdens.
Iot Data Processing and Scheduling Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Jiang Yuchuan , Wang Zhangjun , Jin ZhiXiong
Published: November 2023

With the continuous integration of IoT technology and information technology, edge computing, as an emerging computing paradigm, makes full use of terminals to process and analyse real-time data. The explosion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has created challenges for traditional cloud-based data processing models due to high latency and availability requirements. This paper proposes a new edge computation-based framework for iot data processing and scheduling using deep reinforcement learning. The system architecture incorporates distributed iot data access, realtime processing, and an intelligent scheduler based on Deep q networks (DQN). A large number of experiments show that compared with traditional scheduling methods, the average task completion time is reduced by 20% and resource utilization is increased by 15%. The unique integration of edge computing and deep reinforcement learning provides a flexible and efficient platform for lowlatency iot applications. Key results obtained from testing the proposed system, such as reduced task completion time and increased resource utilization.
Crowdsourced Clustering via Active Querying: Practical Algorithm with Theoretical Guarantees
Authors: Chen Yi , Vinayak Ramya Korlakai , Hassibi Babak
Published: November 2023

We consider the problem of clustering n items into K disjoint clusters using noisy answers from crowdsourced workers to pairwise queries of the type: “Are items i and j from the same cluster?” We propose a novel, practical, simple, and computationally efficient active querying algorithm for crowdsourced clustering. Furthermore, our algorithm does not require knowledge of unknown problem parameters. We show that our algorithm succeeds in recovering the clusters when the crowdworkers provide answers with an error probability less than 1/2 and provide sample complexity bounds on the number of queries made by our algorithm to guarantee successful clustering. While the bounds depend on the error probabilities, the algorithm itself does not require this knowledge. In addition to the theoretical guarantee, we implement and deploy the proposed algorithm on a real crowdsourcing platform to characterize its performance in real-world settings. Based on both the theoretical and the empirical results, we observe that while the total number of queries made by the active clustering algorithm is order-wise better than random querying, the advantage applies most conspicuously when the datasets have small clusters. For datasets with large enough clusters, passive querying can often be more efficient in practice. Our observations and practically implementable active clustering algorithm can inform and aid the design of real-world crowdsourced clustering systems. We make the dataset collected through this work publicly available (and the code to run such experiments).
A Task-Interdependency Model of Complex Collaboration Towards Human-Centered Crowd Work (Extended Abstract)
Authors: Lee David T. , Makridis Christos A.
Published: November 2023

Mathematical models of crowdsourcing and human computation today largely assume small modular tasks, "computational primitives" such as labels, comparisons, or votes requiring little coordination. However, while these models have successfully shown how crowds can accomplish significant objectives, they can inadvertently advance a less than human view of crowd workers where workers are treated as low skilled, replaceable, and untrustworthy, carrying out simple tasks in online labor markets for low pay under algorithmic management.
They also fail to capture the unique human capacity for complex collaborative work where the main concerns are how to effectively structure, delegate, and collaborate on work that may be large in scope, underdefined, and highly interdependent.

We present a model centered on interdependencies—a phenomenon well understood to be at the core of collaboration—that allows one to formally reason about diverse challenges to complex collaboration. Our model represents tasks as an interdependent collection of subtasks, formalized as a task graph. Each node is a subtask with an arbitrary size parameter. Interdependencies, represented as node and edge weights, impose costs on workers who need to spend time absorbing context of relevant work. Importantly, workers do not have to pay this context cost for work they did themselves.

To illustrate how this simple model can be used to reason about diverse aspects of complex collaboration, we apply the model to diverse aspects of complex collaboration. We examine the limits of scaling complex crowd work, showing how high interdependencies and low task granularity bound work capacity to a constant factor of the contributions of top workers, which is in turn limited when workers are short-term novices. We examine recruitment and upskilling, showing the outsized role top workers play in determining work capacity, and surfacing insights on situated learning through a stylized model of legimitate peripheral participation (LPP). Finally, we turn to the economy as a setting where complex collaborative work already exists, using our model to explore the relationship between coordination intensity and occupational wages. Using occupational data from O*NET and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we introduce a new index of occupational coordination intensity and validate the predicted positive correlation. We find preliminary evidence that higher coordination intensity occupations are more resistant to displacement by AI based on historical growth in automation and OpenAI data on LLM exposure. Our hope is to spur further development of models that emphasize the collaborative capacities of human workers, bridge models of crowd work and traditional work, and promote AI in roles augmenting human collaboration. The full paper can be found at: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2309.00160.
A Taxonomy of Human and ML Strengths in Decision-Making to Investigate Human-ML Complementarity
Authors: Rastogi Charvi , Leqi Liu , Holstein Kenneth , Heidari Hoda
Published: November 2023

Hybrid human-ML systems increasingly make consequential decisions in a wide range of domains. These systems are often introduced with the expectation that the combined human-ML system will achieve complementary performance, that is, the combined decision-making system will be an improvement compared with either decision-making agent in isolation. However, empirical results have been mixed, and existing research rarely articulates the sources and mechanisms by which complementary performance is expected to arise. Our goal in this work is to provide conceptual tools to advance the way researchers reason and communicate about human-ML complementarity. Drawing upon prior literature in human psychology, machine learning, and human-computer interaction, we propose a taxonomy characterizing distinct ways in which human and ML-based decision-making can differ. In doing so, we conceptually map potential mechanisms by which combining human and ML decision-making may yield complementary performance, developing a language for the research community to reason about design of hybrid systems in any decision-making domain. To illustrate how our taxonomy can be used to investigate complementarity, we provide a mathematical aggregation framework to examine enabling
conditions for complementarity. Through synthetic simulations, we demonstrate how this framework can be used to explore specific aspects of our taxonomy and shed light on the optimal mechanisms for combining human-ML judgments.
Actors and Actor Relations in Governance of Subsidized Fertilizer Policy in Indonesia
Authors: Jamil Ali , Ali M. Saleh S. , Fahmid Imam M. , Salman Darmawan
Published: November 2023

The study investigates actor relationships in subsidized fertilizer programs within Indonesian rice production hubs. It aims to comprehend roles and interactions among actors in budget allocation, fertilizer distribution, policy oversight, and farmer involvement. The research employs a descriptive qualitative approach, analyzing how institutional practices and hierarchies impact the subsidized fertilizer market. The study focuses on Indramayu and Karawang Regencies in West Java and Sidenreng Rappang (Sidrap) and Wajo Regencies in South Sulawesi, all significant rice production centers. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews involving central, regional, distributor, store actors, and farmers. Results reveal collaboration and competition as primary relationship modes in the subsidized fertilizer program. Cooperation exists among institutional players at the central level during budget deliberations, while relationships emerge when actors unite to advocate for budget adjustments or specific fertilizer types. Factors like discourse, institutional practices, and capitalist interests shape these inter- actions. Discourse might favor chemical or organic fertilizers. Farmers occupy a relatively marginalized position in actor conflicts, warranting increased policymaker attention. Although the government seeks improvements, farmers still face challenges such as inadequate doses, delays in distribution, and financial constraints