bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indisulam synergizes with melphalan to inhibit Multiple Myeloma malignancy via targeting TOP2A
Authors: Wu Chengyu , Wu Chao , Liu Jia , Jia Mingyuan , Zeng Xinyi , Fu Ze , He Ziqi , Xu Wenbin , Yan Hua
Published: April 2024

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most prevalent hematologic malignancy which remains uncurable. Numerous drugs have been discovered to inhibit MM cells. Indisulam, an aryl sulfonamide, has a potent anti-myeloma activity in vitro and in vivo. This study aims to explore the new mechanism of indisulam and investigate its potential use in combination with melphalan. We examined DNA damage in MM cells through various methods such as western blotting (WB), immunofluorescence, and comet assay. We also identified the role of topoisomerase IIα (TOP2A) using bioinformatic analyses. The impact of indisulam on the RNA and protein levels of TOP2A was investigated through qPCR and WB. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using CCK-8 assays, Annexin V/PI assays and WB. We predicted the synergistic effect of the combination treatment based on calculations performed on a website, and further explored the effect of indisulam in combination with melphalan on MM cell lines and xenografts. RNA sequencing data and basic experiments indicated that indisulam caused DNA damage and inhibited TOP2A expression by decreasing transcription and promoting degradation via the proteasome pathway. Functional experiments revealed that silencing TOP2A inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis and DNA damage. Finally, Indisulam/melphalan combination treatment demonstrated a strong synergistic anti-tumor effect compared to single-agent treatments in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest that combination therapies incorporating indisulam and melphalan have the potential to enhance treatment outcomes for MM.
Study protocol for a mixed methods approach to optimize colorectal cancer screening in Malaysia: Integrating stakeholders insights and knowledge-to-action framework
Authors: Chong Diane Woei-Quan , Jayaraj Vivek Jason , Ab Rahim Fathullah Iqbal , Syed Soffian Sharifah Saffinas , Azmi Muhammad Fikri , Mohd Yusri Mohd Yusaini , Mohamed Sidek Ahmad Shanwani , Azmi Norfarizan , Md Said Rosaida , Md Salleh Muhammad Firdaus , Abu Bakar Norasiah , Shahar Hamiza , Abdul Rashid Rima Marhayu , Samad Shazimah Abdul , Ahmad Zanita , Ismail Mohd Safiee , A. Bakar Adilah , Hj Jobli Nor Mashitah , Sararaks Sondi
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Colorectal cancer is a growing global health concern and the number of reported cases has increased over the years. Early detection through screening is critical to improve outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer. In Malaysia, there is an urgent need to optimize the colorectal cancer screening program as uptake is limited by multiple challenges. This study aims to systematically identify and address gaps in screening service delivery to optimize the Malaysian colorectal cancer screening program.

Methods

This study uses a mixed methods design. It focuses primarily on qualitative data to understand processes and strategies and to identify specific areas that can be improved through stakeholder engagement in the screening program. Quantitative data play a dual role in supporting the selection of participants for the qualitative study based on program monitoring data and assessing inequalities in screening and program implementation in healthcare facilities in Malaysia. Meanwhile, literature review identifies existing strategies to improve colorectal cancer screening. Additionally, the knowledge-to-action framework is integrated to ensure that the research findings lead to practical improvements to the colorectal cancer screening program.

Discussion

Through this complex mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, this study will explore the complex interplay of population- and systems-level factors that influence screening rates. It involves identifying barriers to effective colorectal cancer screening in Malaysia, comparing current strategies with international best practices, and providing evidence-based recommendations to improve the local screening program.
Expression of Toll-like receptors in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Rusanen Peter , Marttila Emilia , Amatya Sajeen Bahadur , Hagström Jaana , Uittamo Johanna , Reunanen Justus , Rautemaa-Richardson Riina , Salo Tuula
Published: April 2024

Almost 380,000 new cases of oral cancer were reported worldwide in 2020. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for 90% of all types of oral cancers. Emerging studies have shown association of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in carcinogenesis. The present study aimed to investigate the expression levels and tissue localization of TRL1 to TRL10 and NF-κB between OSCC and healthy oral mucosa, as well as effect of Candida colonization in TRL expression in OSCC. Full thickness biopsies and microbial samples from 30 newly diagnosed primary OSCC patients and 26 health controls were collected. The expression of TLR1 to TLR10 and NF-κB was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Microbial samples were collected from oral mucosa to detect Candida. OSCC epithelium showed lower staining intensity of TRL1, TRL2 TRL5, and TRL8 as compared to healthy controls. Similarly, staining intensity of TRL3, TRL4, TRL7, and TRL8 were significantly decreased in basement membrane (BM) zone. Likewise, OSCC endothelium showed lower staining intensity of TLR4, TLR7 and TLR8. Expression of NF-κB was significantly stronger in normal healthy tissue compared to OSCC sample. Positive correlation was found between the expression of NF-κB, TRL9 and TRL10 in basal layer of the infiltrative zone OSCC samples (P = 0.04 and P = 0.002, respectively). Significant increase in TRL4 was seen in BM zone of sample colonized with Candida (P = 0.01). According to the limited number of samples, our data indicates downregulation of TLRs and NF-κB in OSCC, and upregulation of TLR4 expression with presence of Candida.
Improving traffic accident severity prediction using MobileNet transfer learning model and SHAP XAI technique
Authors: Aboulola Omar Ibrahim
Published: April 2024

Traffic accidents remain a leading cause of fatalities, injuries, and significant disruptions on highways. Comprehending the contributing factors to these occurrences is paramount in enhancing safety on road networks. Recent studies have demonstrated the utility of predictive modeling in gaining insights into the factors that precipitate accidents. However, there has been a dearth of focus on explaining the inner workings of complex machine learning and deep learning models and the manner in which various features influence accident prediction models. As a result, there is a risk that these models may be seen as black boxes, and their findings may not be fully trusted by stakeholders. The main objective of this study is to create predictive models using various transfer learning techniques and to provide insights into the most impactful factors using Shapley values. To predict the severity of injuries in accidents, Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Residual Networks (ResNet), EfficientNetB4, InceptionV3, Extreme Inception (Xception), and MobileNet are employed. Among the models, the MobileNet showed the highest results with 98.17% accuracy. Additionally, by understanding how different features affect accident prediction models, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the factors that contribute to accidents and develop more effective interventions to prevent them.
Moxibustion for declined cardiorespiratory fitness of apparently healthy older adults: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sun Zheng , Xu Zhihong , Yu Kuang , Sun Haitian , Lin Yiren , Zhu Zilong , Zhu Yimin , Zhang Jianbin
Published: April 2024

Background

Aging and age-related declines lead to varying degrees of decreased cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in apparently healthy older adults. Exercise training, the primary approach for enhancing CRF, encounters several constraints when used with elderly individuals. Existing evidence implies that moxibustion might enhance the CRF of older adults. However, clinical research in this area still needs to be improved.

Methods

This study will employ a randomized, assessor-blinded, controlled trial design involving 126 eligible participants. These participants will be stratified and randomly assigned to one moxibustion group, one sham moxibustion group, and one blank control group. Acupoints of bilateral Zusanli (ST36), Shenque (CV8), and Guanyuan (CV4) are selected for both real and sham moxibustion groups. The treatment will last 60 min per session, 5 sessions a week for 12 weeks. The blank control group will not receive any intervention for CRF improvement. Primary outcomes will be the mean change in peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), anaerobic threshold (AT), and serum central carbon metabolites (CCB) from the baseline to observation points. Secondary outcome measures involve the six-minute walk distance (6MWD), the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), and the Qi and Blood Status Questionnaire (QBSQ). Outcome assessments will be conducted at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 24 as part of the follow-up. Adverse events will be assessed at each visit.

Discussion

This trial can potentially ascertain moxibustion’s effectiveness and safety in enhancing CRF among apparently healthy older adults.

Trail registration

ChiCTR, ChiCTR2300070303. Registered on April 08, 2023.
Is there any association between fluoride exposure and thyroid function modulation? A systematic review
Authors: Ferreira Maria Karolina Martins , Nascimento Priscila Cunha , Bittencourt Leonardo Oliveira , Miranda Giza Hellen Nonato , Fagundes Nathalia Carolina Fernandes , Zahoori Fatemeh Vida , Martinez-Mier E. Angeles , Buzalaf Marília Afonso Rabelo , Lima Rafael Rodrigues
Published: April 2024

Numerous pre-clinical and observational studies have explored the potential effects of fluoride (F) at varying concentrations on diverse systems and organs. While some have assessed the endocrinological conditions of children and adults, a consensus regarding the interaction between F and the thyroid remains elusive. This systematic review aimed to gather primary evidence on the association between F and changes in the thyroid at optimal and high levels in water supply as stipulated by the World Health Organization. A search strategy, incorporating terms pertinent to the studies, was employed across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Lilacs, and Google Scholar. Following the review of studies, data were extracted and analyzed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations to assess the quality of the evidence. Our results yielded 3,568 studies, of which seven met the inclusion criteria for this review. Five of the seven studies identified an association between high F exposure and thyroid function. In the analysis of methodological quality, every study was found to have major or minor methodological issues and significant risk of bias. The overall confidence in the evidence was deemed low for all outcomes in the seven studies. The evidence compiled in this review suggests a potential association between chronic high levels of F exposure and thyroid damage. Nonetheless, further studies with robust design and high methodological quality are required to provide evidence for policy makers and health care practitioners.
Diet modulates strongyle infection and microbiota in the large intestine of horses
Authors: Laroche Noémie , Grimm Pauline , Julliand Samy , Sorci Gabriele
Published: April 2024

The use of anthelminthic drugs has several drawbacks, including the selection of resistant parasite strains. Alternative avenues to mitigate the negative effects of helminth infection involve dietary interventions that might affect resistance and/or tolerance by improving host immunity, modulating the microbiota, or exerting direct anthelmintic effects. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of diet on strongyle infection in horses, specifically through immune-mediated, microbiota-mediated, or direct anthelmintic effects. Horses that were naturally infected with strongyles were fed either a high-fiber or high-starch diet, supplemented with either polyphenol-rich pellets (dehydrated sainfoin) or control pellets (sunflower and hay). When horses were fed a high-starch diet, they excreted more strongyle eggs. Adding sainfoin in the high-starch diet reduced egg excretion. Additionally, sainfoin decreased larval motility whatever the diet. Moreover, the high-starch diet led to a lower fecal bacterial diversity, structural differences in fecal microbiota, lower fecal pH, lower blood acetate, and lower hematocrit compared to the high-fiber diet. Circulating levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, lipopolysaccharides, procalcitonin, and white blood cells proportions did not differ between diets. Overall, this study highlights the role of dietary manipulations as an alternative strategy to mitigate the effect of helminth infection and suggests that, in addition to the direct effects, changes in the intestinal ecosystem are the possible underlying mechanism.
Interleukin-23 levels in umbilical cord blood are associated with neurodevelopmental trajectories in infancy
Authors: Asaka Machiko K. , Nishimura Tomoko , Kuwabara Hitoshi , Itoh Hiroaki , Takahashi Nagahide , Tsuchiya Kenji J.
Published: April 2024

Our previous study, which aimed to understand the early neurodevelopmental trajectories of children with and without neurodevelopmental disorders, identified five classes of early neurodevelopmental trajectories, categorized as high normal, normal, low normal, delayed, and markedly delayed. This investigation involved measurement using the Mullen Scale of Early Learning in a representative sample of Japanese infants followed up from the age of 0 to 2 years (Nishimura et al., 2016). In the present study, we investigated the potential association between cytokine concentrations in umbilical cord serum with any of the five classes of neurodevelopmental trajectories previously assigned, as follows: high normal (N = 85, 13.0%), normal (N = 322, 49.1%), low normal (N = 137, 20.9%), delayed (N = 87, 13.3%), and markedly delayed (N = 25, 3.8%) in infancy. Decreased interleukin (IL)-23 levels in the cord blood were associated with the markedly delayed class, independent of potential confounders (odds ratio, 0.44; 95%confidence interval: 0.26–0.73). Furthermore, IL-23 levels decreased as the developmental trajectory became more delayed, demonstrating that IL-23 plays an important role in development, and is useful for predicting the developmental trajectory at birth.
Recognising Cartulary Studies Thirty Years after Les cartularies
Authors: Tucker Joanna
Published: April 2024

This article begins by considering the achievement of the Les cartulaires volume of essays (1993), particularly in launching a field of inquiry. It reflects on how this field has developed since the early 1990s, especially what has characterised the research and the kinds of themes and questions historians have explored. It situates the latest work on cartularies within the broader development of the field, such as long established interests in cartulary function, typologies, codicology and scribes, and the influences of editorial practices, as well as emerging ideas about reading cartularies. The article highlights how varied and multi-dimensional all of this work has been, and addresses some questions that arise from this. As a result, it offers fresh ways to understand and conceptualise the field.
High Concordance Between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in the TARGET-NASH Real-World Cohort
Authors: Barritt A. Sidney , Yu Feng , Mospan Andrea R. , Newsome Phillip N. , Roden Michael , Morris Heather L. , Loomba Rohit , Neuschwander-Tetri Brent A. ,   on behalf of the TARGET-NASH investigators
Published: April 2024

INTRODUCTION:

This study investigates the applicability of the new metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) nomenclature to the real-world TARGET-NASH US adult cohort.

METHODS:

The new MASLD/metabolic steatohepatitis nomenclature was applied to patients enrolled with pragmatic diagnoses of nonalcoholic fatty liver and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and NASH cirrhosis and concordance were determined between the definitions.

RESULTS:

Approximately 99% of TARGET-NASH participants met the new MASLD diagnostic criteria. Approximately 1,484/1,541 (96.3%, kappa 0.974) nonalcoholic fatty liver patients (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver), 2,195/2,201 (99.7%, kappa 0.998) NASH patients (metabolic steatohepatitis), and 1,999/2,003 (99.8%, kappa 0.999) NASH cirrhosis patients met the new criteria.

DISCUSSION:

The new MASLD nomenclature is highly concordant with the previous TARGET-NASH pragmatic definitions.
Extractivism in the Anthropocene
Authors: Foster John Bellamy
Published: April 2024

This month's Review of the Month by John Bellamy Foster illuminates the idea of extractivism, a key concept in understanding our current planetary crisis. The accelerated extraction of Earth's resources since the mid-twentieth century, Foster notes, threatens not only the natural world, but the means of life for the entire planet.
On the Misery of Left Nietzscheanism, or Philosophy as Irrationalist Ideology
Authors: Sharpe Matthew
Published: April 2024

Matthew Sharpe discusses Aymeric Monville's Misère du nietzschéisme de gauche (The Misery of Left Nietzscheanism), an exploration of how Nietzsche's popularity on the left co-opts truly radical energy in favor of authoritarianism and elitism. "If Monville is right," Sharpe concludes, "Nietzcheanism has acted as a kind of ideological 'useful idiot.'"
The Ecological Crisis of Capitalism and Human Survival
Authors: Magdoff Harry , Sweezy Paul M.
Published: April 2024

In this remarkable reprise reprinted from Monthly Review's October 1992 issue, Harry Magdoff and Paul Sweezy look ahead to the ecological crisis that has continued to unfold into the twenty-first century. Presaging the critical juncture at which we find ourselves today, they write that "only a change in the in the nature of power structures on a global scale could bring a realistic hope for the long-term continuation of human civilization…. If you think that is true, what do you think are the implications?"
The Political Economy of Migration
Authors: Lauesen Torkil
Published: April 2024

In this review of Immanuel Ness's Migration as Economic Imperialism, Torkil Lauesen illuminates the links between the migration of labor to theories of equal exchange, which have traditionally focused on international trade. These connections, Lauesen writes, relate to transfer of labor power from the periphery to the core, and the concomitant exploitation of vulnerable workers from the Global South.
Impacto de actividades de desarrollo profesional en las practicas docentes de matemáticas en colombia. Un estudio cuantitativo.
Authors: Sánchez Robayo Brigitte Johana
Published: April 2024

Asumiendo la importancia que tienen las actividades de desarrollo profesional para el mejoramiento de la enseñanza de las matemáticas y la falta de estudios correlaciones entre estos dos aspectos, se realizó un estudio cuantitativo en el que se tomaron respuestas de 835 profesores de matemáticas en ejercicio para identificar qué tanto es el impacto de diferentes tipos de actividades de desarrollo profesional en sus prácticas docentes. Inicialmente, se presenta una breve discusión acerca del término desarrollo profesional para luego esclarecer a qué hace referencia la expresión actividades de desarrollo profesional -ADP- y concluir la sección con la pregunta de investigación: ¿Qué tanto influyen los diferentes tipos de actividades de desarrollo profesional en las prácticas docentes de matemáticas en Colombia? Posteriormente se presentan aspectos metodológicos en los que, usando la regresión logística como método de análisis, se identificó que la participación en cursos o seminarios virtuales tienen mayor posibilidad de impactar las prácticas docentes. Seguido de este tipo de actividad, la participación en conferencias educativas, la participación en programas de educación formal y la lectura de literatura profesional también tienen mayores posibilidades de impactar las prácticas docentes en matemáticas. Aunque estos son los resultados principales, en las conclusiones se interpretan otras relaciones identificadas y se dan algunas sugerencias utilizando también diferentes hallazgos reportados en la literatura. Por ejemplo, se recomienda el apostarle a la creación de cursos o seminarios virtuales como un mecanismo para tener un mayor impacto positivo en las prácticas docentes de profesores de matemáticas en ejercicio; también se recalca la importancia de fortalecer los eventos académicos en educación matemática y de crear, en el marco de los programas de desarrollo profesional, redes de profesores de manera intencionada para que el impacto positivo en las prácticas docentes de matemáticas sea aún mayor.
Aprendendo sobre o corpo humano por meio de entrevistas: quando grupos focais aproximam escola e universidade
Authors: De Souza Silva dos Santos Rodrigo , Petitinga Silva Patricia , Ribeiro Gabriel
Published: April 2024

Um dos principais problemas enfrentados na formação inicial de professores é a limitada integração/articulação entre teoria e prática, ou seja, o eterno desafio de aproximar a escola e a academia. Assim, este estudo tem como objetivo refletir sobre uma experiência pedagógica com grupos focais para o ensino e a aprendizagem sobre o corpo humano, com o propósito de formação de professores de Biologia e de escolares do Ensino Médio. Para isto, foram realizadas entrevistas com escolares distribuídos em oito grupos focais, conduzidas por licenciandos de segundo semestre, do componente curricular Anatomia Humana, do Curso de Licenciatura em Biologia de uma universidade pública federal, situada na região Nordeste do Brasil. As entrevistas, gravadas em áudio e vídeo, tiveram duração mínima de 30 minutos. Em momento posterior, estas entrevistas foram transcritas e discutidas em aulas do componente curricular Anatomia Humana, tendo em vista não somente os aspectos relacionados à dimensão morfofuncional do corpo humano, mas também perspectivas pedagógicas adotadas na Educação Básica e processos de ensino e aprendizagem, de acordo com os relatos das entrevistas. Análises qualitativas das entrevistas evidenciaram que a atividade com grupos focais possibilitou aos licenciandos a vivência da docência, ao atuarem como facilitadores das entrevistas, e a aprendizagem dos escolares, ao compartilharem seus conhecimentos sobre o corpo humano com colegas. A partilha de experiências entre licenciandos e escolares favoreceu a construção coletiva de novas aprendizagens, a aproximação entre universidade e escola e a articulação entre teoria e prática na formação docente. A pesquisa indica que grupos focais, quando operacionalizados no cenário do componente curricular Anatomia Humana, podem constituir-se como uma Prática como Componente Curricular, ampliando-se, assim, o leque de possibilidades mobilizadas para a articulação entre teoria e prática na formação de professores de Biologia.
Entrevista a Mario Humberto Ramírez Díaz
Authors: Molina Córdoba Johan Nicolás
Published: April 2024

Mario Ramírez Díaz (MR) - Actualmente es profesor titular en el Departamento de Posgrado del Centro de Investigación en Ciencia Aplicada y Tecnología Avanzada del Instituto Politécnico Nacional de México. Es Doctor en Física Educativa, Maestro en Ciencias con Especialidad en Física y Licenciado en Física y Matemáticas, todos por el Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Ha sido profesor en varias Universidades de México e invitado de Universidades en Chile y Colombia. Sus trabajos de Investigación y publicaciones incluyen los estilos de aprendizaje, el modelo de educación por competencias, formación docente y la enseñanza de la física.
Breve biografía del Entrevistador.
Nicolás Molina (NM) – Actualmente es Licenciado en Física de la Universidad Pedagógica Nacional de Colombia. Magíster en Astronomía de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, es coeditor de la revista especializada del Observatorio Astronómico Nacional (OAN), eSPECTRA, y miembro del Grupo de Enseñanza y Aprendizaje de la Física (GEAF) de la Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas y del Group of Solar Astrophysics (GoSA) del OAN. Trabaja actualmente como docente de la Institución Educativa Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria en Ráquira, Boyacá. Además es cofundador de Orbitamautas, un semillero dedicado a la difusión, divulgación y enseñanza de la Astronomía.
Sesgos, IA y biomedicina: un comentario desde la ética y el Derecho
Authors: Miguel Beriain Iñigo de , Mursuli Yanes Yenifer
Published: April 2024

La cuestión de los sesgos en la IA constituye un reto importante en los sistemas de IA. Estos sesgos no surgen únicamente de los datos existentes, sino que también los introducen las personas que utilizan sistemas, que son intrínsecamente parciales, como todos los seres humanos. No obstante, esto constituye una realidad preocupante porque los algoritmos tienen la capacidad de influir significativamente en el diagnóstico de un médico. Análisis recientes indican que este fenómeno puede reproducirse incluso en situaciones en las que los médicos ya no reciben orientación del sistema. Esto implica no sólo una incapacidad para percibir el sesgo, sino también una propensión a propagarlo. Las consecuencias potenciales de este fenómeno pueden conducir a un ciclo que se autoperpetúa y que tiene la capacidad de infligir un daño significativo a las personas, especialmente cuando los sistemas de inteligencia artificial (IA) se emplean en contextos que implican asuntos delicados, como el ámbito de la asistencia sanitaria. En respuesta a esta circunstancia, los ordenamientos jurídicos han ideado mecanismos de gobernanza que, a primera vista, parecen suficientes, especialmente en la Unión Europea. Los reglamentos de reciente aparición relativos a los datos y los que ahora se enfocarán a la inteligencia artificial (IA)*** sirven como ilustración por excelencia de cómo lograr potencialmente una supervisión suficiente de los sistemas de IA. En su aplicación práctica, no obstante, es probable que numerosos mecanismos muestren ineficacia a la hora de identificar los sesgos que surgen tras la integración de estos sistemas en el mercado. Es importante considerar que, en esa coyuntura, puede haber múltiples agentes implicados, en los que se ha delegado predominantemente la responsabilidad. De ahí que sea imperativo insistir en la necesidad de persuadir a los desarrolladores de inteligencia artificial (IA) para que apliquen medidas estrictas con el fin de regular los sesgos inherentes a sus sistemas. Si no se logra la detección de estas entidades, ello supondrá un reto importante para que otras personas alcancen lo mismo, sobre todo hasta que su presencia sea muy notoria. Otra posibilidad es que las repercusiones a largo plazo se experimenten de forma colectiva.
Bioterrorismo y armas biológicas: caracterización y respuesta frente a las amenazas actuales
Authors: Navarro Jaro Ana , Bernardo-Álvarez María Ángela
Published: April 2024

El uso de agentes biológicos con fines terroristas constituye una amenaza singular. Aunque poco probable, su materialización puede ser difícilmente evitable en el futuro. Este artículo revisa el fenómeno del bioterrorismo, examinando los posibles riesgos y vulnerabilidades, los mecanismos de respuesta y las nuevas amenazas para la bioseguridad.
Current Diagnosis and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Strategy for General Practitioners in Emergency Department
Authors: Lasanudin Joshua Eldad Frederich , Laksono Sidhi , Kusharsamita Hillary
Published: April 2024

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a disease with a relatively good prognosis when diagnosed and treated properly. This review aims to analyse available data and combine them into algorithms that physicians can use in the emergency department for quick decision-making in diagnosing and treating PE. The available data show that PE can be excluded through highly sensitive clinical decision rules, i.e. Pulmonary Embolism Rule-Out Criteria (PERC), Wells criteria, and Revised Geneva criteria, combined with D-dimer assessment. In cases where PE could not be excluded through the mentioned strategies, imaging modalities, such as compression ultrasonography (CUS), computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA), and planar ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan, are indicated for a definite diagnosis. Once a diagnosis has been made, treatment of PE depends on its mortality risk as patients are divided into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk cases. High-risk cases are treated for their hemodynamic instability, given parenteral or oral anticoagulant therapy, and are indicated for reperfusion therapy. Intermediate-risk PE is only given parenteral or oral anticoagulants and reperfusion is indicated when anticoagulants fail. Low-risk cases are given oral anticoagulants and based on the Hestia criteria, patients may be discharged and treated as outpatients.
Ein alternatives, datenbasiertes FDI-Framework basierend auf SPD-Matrizen
Authors: Zhu Caroline Charlotte , Kasten Kristian , Birk Joachim , Ding Steven X.
Published: April 2024

In diesem Beitrag wird ein alternatives, datenbasiertes Framework für die Fehlerdiagnose (FDI) basierend auf symmetrischen, positiv-definiten (SPD) Matrizen eingeführt. In der Fehlerdiagnose und Regelungstheorie enthalten SPD-Matrizen abhängig von der Analyse und Interpretation wichtige Informationen über das betrachtete System. Zur Berücksichtigung ihrer besonderen Eigenschaften wird die Riemann’sche Geometrie als mathematische Grundlage genutzt. Das grundlegende SPD-Matrix-basierte FD-Schema erlaubt eine flexible Umsetzung ohne Annahmen der statistischen Verteilung der Daten. Außerdem wird ein Überblick über mögliche Realisierungen des Frameworks für die modell- und datenbasierte FDI sowie im Bereich des Maschinellen Lernens (ML) gegeben. Es wird eine neuartige Modellierung stabiler, linearer zeitinvarianter Systeme vorgestellt und zu einem FD-Schema erweitert.
5G QoS model for Time-Sensitive Networking
Authors: Ambrosy Niklas , Markwart Christian , Halfmann Rüdiger , Underberg Lisa
Published: April 2024

Flexible production processes and applications for Industry 4.0 expect a seamless, deterministic communication over scalable infrastructure networks that rely on a combination of wired and wireless technologies. Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) and 5G are considered key technologies to meet the communication requirements of Industry 4.0. To integrate 5G into TSN, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specified the 5G system (5GS) as Ethernet bridge, to exchange time synchronization and Quality of Service (QoS) requirement information between wired TSN entities and 5GS. QoS mapping between TSN and 5G is non-trivial and requires a deeper analysis of relevant parameters and QoS processing. In this paper, different solution approaches for QoS mapping between TSN and 5G are presented and discussed. The contribution covers fundamentals and prerequisites on the way to a 5G QoS model for TSN, which has not yet been addressed in 3GPP nor IEEE.
A DSGE Model with Government-owned Banks
Authors: Galindo Gil Hamilton , Montecinos Alexis
Published: April 2024

How relevant are government-owned banks in the economy, especially during recessions? We study the role of government-owned banks in a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model with heterogeneous financial intermediaries, heterogeneous households, and minimum capital requirement constraints. We show that the capitalization of government-owned banks during recessions smooths the effects of a negative shock and helps the economy recover more quickly. However, these stabilizing effects could be partially offset by banks’ inefficiency in transforming one unit of capital into loans. Therefore, ignoring the heterogeneity between private and government-owned banks may lead to misleading assessments and conclusions regarding the effects of economic policies on the macroeconomic and banking variables. This is particularly important for evaluating the effectiveness of macroprudential policies.
Biochemical dynamics during postharvest: Highlighting the interplay of stress during storage and maturation of fresh produce
Authors: Lagarda-Clark Ernesto Alonso , Goulet Charles , Duarte-Sierra Arturo
Published: April 2024

The lifecycle of fresh produce involves a sequence of biochemical events during their ontology, and these events are particularly significant for climacteric fruits. A high demand during ripening is observed in these plant products, which is reflected in a high rate of respiration and ethylene production. Increased respiratory demand triggers the activation of secondary pathways such as alternate oxidase, which do not experience critical increases in energy consumption in non-climacteric fruit. In addition, biochemical events produced by external factors lead to compensatory responses in fresh produce to counteract the oxidative stress caused by the former. The dynamics of these responses are accompanied by signaling, where reactive oxygen species play a pivotal role in fresh product cell perception. This review aims to describe the protection mechanisms of fresh produce against environmental challenges and how controlled doses of abiotic stressors can be used to improve quality and prolong their shelf-life through the interaction of stress and defense mechanisms.
Effective Tax Rates and Firm Size under Turnover Tax: Evidence from a Natural Experiment on SMEs
Authors: Lazar Sebastian
Published: April 2024

Taking advantage of Romania’s compulsory and unique presumptive tax system (turnover tax) for the smallest of the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which unequivocally allows grouping the companies into two subsamples according to their tax status (the smallest of the SMEs, i.e. micro-companies for tax purposes, subject to alternative turnover tax vs larger SMEs subject to regular profit tax), the papers compute and compare three versions of firm-specific effective tax rates and brings first-time empirical evidence on the effects of turnover taxation on corporate tax burden. The results show not only that in Romania, the turnover tax is now the prevailing tax system, massively displacing the profit tax, but also it is more burdensome in terms of taxes actually paid relative to the firm size. Moreover, turnover taxation means that taxes are due irrespective of the profitability of a company, making the share of companies who paid taxes despite having losses much higher for micro-companies than for larger SMEs, which translates into higher public finance receipts, at the cost of lower tax equity. Since the corporate tax burden triggered by turnover taxation remains under the radar of even the most qualified policy reports, the results offer relevant lessons for other jurisdictions and have valuable policy implications.
Numerical investigation of the effect of longitudinal steel reinforcement ratio on the ductility of concrete beams
Authors: Mohammed Ahlam Sader , Al-Ghabawi Humam Hussein Mohammed , Mansor Ahmed A. , Yassin Layla Ali Ghalib
Published: April 2024

This research aims to use numerical methods to analyze concrete beams with different reinforcement ratios. Two software packages – ABAQUS and OpenSeesPy – were employed to achieve this task. Empirical stress–strain relationships were utilized to forecast the concrete’s stress–strain behavior. The numerical analysis results were compared with previously published experimental results, and the findings showed a reasonable similarity. The results were consistent with the published laboratory results, particularly for ultimate and yield loads, with no more than 10% differences. However, the ultimate deflection variation was higher. For the first control beam, denoted as B
2−12, ABAQUS predicted a 24.64% difference in ultimate deflection, while OpenSeesPy predicted a 35.83% difference for the second beam, sampled as B
2–16. However, the ultimate deflection for the remaining beams differed by less than 10%. Meanwhile, the difference in yield deflection was greater than in ultimate deflection, with OpenSeesPy showing a maximum difference of 18.51%. The maximum ductility was found to occur at a reinforcement ratio equal to 0.0016. Additionally, OpenSeesPy was faster than ABAQUS in computation while still producing satisfactory agreement with experimental results.
Thackeray-type narrator revisited: portrayal of characters’ minds as narratorial performance in Vanity Fair
Authors: Nakao Masayuki
Published: April 2024

The traditional authoritative, obtrusive narrator, also known as the Thackeray-type narrator, has been excluded from the narratological study of consciousness representations, partly because scholars have a stereotypical view that such a narrator avoids descriptions of a character’s inside view, and partly because they dislike narratorial presence in the representations of figural consciousness. Taking Thackeray’s Vanity Fair as a typical example, this paper revisits these views and reconsiders the presentation of consciousness in terms of narratorial performance of narrative authority. With attention to the degrees of the reader’s involvement, it investigates how the narrator modulates various narrative techniques (psycho-narration, free indirect thought, narrated perception) to present the minds of the worldly male characters, how each technique functions in different narrative contexts through the interaction between the narratorial voice and figural consciousness, and how the narrator’s internal evaluation is subtly embedded in the immediate representations of consciousness to create intentional ambiguity.
On the accuracy of shock-capturing schemes when calculating Cauchy problems with periodic discontinuous initial data
Authors: Kovyrkina Olyana A. , Ostapenko Vladimir V.
Published: April 2024

We study the accuracy of shock-capturing schemes for the shallow water Cauchy problems with piecewise smooth discontinuous initial data. We consider the second order balance-characteristic (CABARETM) scheme, the third order finite-difference Rusanov–Burstein–Mirin (RBM) scheme and the fifth order in space, the third order in time weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO5) scheme. We have shown that the maximum loss of accuracy occurs in the centered rarefaction waves of the exact solutions, where all these schemes have the first order of convergence and fairly close values of the numerical disbalances (errors), regardless of their formal approximation order on the smooth solutions. In the same time, inside the shock influence areas the considered schemes can have different convergence orders and, as a result, significantly different accuracy. In particular, when solving the Cauchy problem with periodic initial data, when the exact solution has no centered rarefaction waves, the RBM scheme has a significantly higher accuracy inside the shock influence areas, compared to the CABARETM and WENO5 schemes. It means that the combined scheme, in which the RBM scheme is a basic scheme and the CABARETM scheme is an internal one, can be effectively used to compute weak solutions of such type Cauchy problems.
Renoprotective effect of diacerein in rats with partial unilateral ureteral obstruction model
Authors: Kölükçü Engin , Unsal Velid , Fırat Fatih , Gevrek Fikret , Katar Muzaffer
Published: April 2024

Objectives

We aimed to analyze the effects of diacerein in a rat model of partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (PUUO).

Methods

We randomly divided 24 female rats into three groups. Control group, PUUO group and PUUO + diacerein group. The PUUO group was subjected to the PUUO model for seven days. The PUUO + diacerein group received oral diacerein (80 mg/kg) for seven days. Spectrophotometric methods were employed to measure oxidative stress parameters, including malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC) and antioxidant enzyme levels, including glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), while indicators of renal function, such as kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinous-associated lipocalin (NGAL), along with inflammatory parameters interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were assessed using the ELISA method. Inflammatory parameters were measured in blood samples, and other parameters were analyzed in kidney tissue. Hematoxylin-eosin method examinations were used for histological analyses.

Results

IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 levels were found to be significantly decreased in the PUUO + diacerein group compared to the PUUO group (p=0.006, p=0.002 and p=0.001, respectively). In the PUUO + diacerein group, GSH-Px and SOD activities increased compared with the PUUO group (p=0.031 and p=0.037, respectively). We also observed a significant improvement in renal function parameters, such as KIM-1 and NGAL levels in the PUUO + diacerein group compared to PUUO (p=0.002 and p=0.012, respectively). The PC and MDA levels were highest in the PUUO group (p<0.001). Similarly, the histopathologic tissue damage was the most prominent PUUO group (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Our study found that diacerein is a highly effective pharmacologic agent in alleviating oxidative damage in PUUO model rats.
Translating Aphrodite: The Sandal-Binder in Two Roman Contexts
Authors: Valladares Hérica
Published: April 2024

The Sandal-Binder Aphrodite, a witty variation on Praxiteles’ Aphrodite of Knidos, is one of the most frequently reproduced sculptural types in Greco-Roman art. Created in a variety of materials throughout the Mediterranean, extant versions of this iconography show the goddess in the act of tying (or possibly untying) her sandal. Although a large number of these works of art date between the first and fourth century CE, most studies on the Sandal-Binder have approached it primarily as an expression of Hellenistic Greek artistic trends. The present study shifts our attention away from the cultural milieu of the Sandal-Binder’s creation to that of its reception. Two well-preserved examples—one from a house in Pompeii and the other from London—attest to the process of translating or adapting this sensual image of Aphrodite to a Roman ideological framework. In both cases, it is through the language of body adornment that this transformation is achieved: while the example from Pompeii (a marble statuette adorned with gold paint) shows the goddess wearing contemporary jewelry and clothing, the diminutive silver figurine from London is part of a fashionable hairpin that points to the dissemination of imperial hairstyles in Rome’s remotest province. By calling attention to their design and function, this essay highlights the complex polysemy of Roman Sandal-Binders and the powerful messages they communicated to a diverse audience of viewers both at the heart of the empire and in the provinces.
Frozen Bodies
Authors: Case Elizabeth
Published: April 2024

This essay presents a visual journal that I created for a field season on Thwaites Glacier, Antarctica, as a way both to record states of dissociation/depersonalization and track my gender identity. Drawing on autoethnography as a method of inquiry, I created a pocket-sized journal of body outlines and used oil pastels to document my embodied and emotional responses to conducting fieldwork. I reflect on how my visual journal helped me understand how my body responded to living and working in extreme conditions, how my work and body relate to one another, and how the creation and completion of this journal gave me agency over my experiences of dissociation and queerness. Through this account, I aim to contribute to the growing literature on the personal and political dimensions of polar research—critical glaciology—as well as to demonstrate the potential of autoethnographic methods to facilitate embodied ways of knowing in deep field contexts.
Synthesis, Spectroscopic and Biological Activities Of Complexes Of 2-[(3-Chlorobenzylidene) Hydrazinylidene]-1,2-Diphenylethanimine
Authors: Sankhe Sharad , Shah Krupali
Published: April 2024

This study provides the synthesis of the mononuclear complexes of 2-[(3-Chlorobenzylidene)hydrazinylidene]-1,2-diphenylethanimine ligand (HBMHmCB). We have used elemental, spectral, X-ray, and magnetic moment investigations to characterize all of the compounds. Oximino ions have monodentate coordinated with the metal ions, according to the infrared spectra. This coordination takes place at the O2N2Cl2 donor sites of deprotonated oximino single bond OH, as well as at the imine N atoms of hydrazone and aromatic chloro group. Octahedral geometry is shown by spectroscopic and magnetic investigations of the Ni(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Mn(II), and Cu(II) complexes. While complexes with Zn(II), Hg(II), and Cd(II) exhibit tetrahedral geometry, Pd(II) possesses square planar geometry. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of freshly synthesized compounds were studied. The complexes are effective against a wide variety of bacteria and yeasts, including C. albicans, S. cerevisiae, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli. The HBMHmCB ligand and its complexes exhibited a wide range of cytotoxic properties.
Frecuencia de trastornos mentales y sus características sociodemográficas en pacientes con COVID-19 ingresados en un hospital psiquiátrico de Lima Metropolitana
Authors: Villanueva Daphne , Young Leslie
Published: April 2024

Introduction. The description of the characteristics and diagnoses of psychiatric patients with COVID-19 during the pandemic has been poorly described in Peru. Objective. To describe the frequency of mental disorders and the associated sociodemographic characteristics of patients with a positive antigen test for COVID-19 in a peruvian psychiatric hospital from July 2020 to July 2021. Methods. For this descriptive study we analyzed 100 medical records of patients between 18 and 70 years old. The variables studied were the diagnosis according to ICD-10 and sociodemographic features such as age, gender, educational status, employment, days of admission. Results. The most common diagnoses were “Schizophrenia, schizotypal disorders and delusional disorders” (49%) and “mood disorders” (37%), 66% belonged to the lowest socioeconomic levels and 60% were recurrent patients. The month of April 2021 presented the highest number of admissions (n=15). Conclusion. In a year of observation during the COVID-19 outbreak, 100 patients with psychiatric diagnosis who also had SARS-CoV-2 infection were admitted to a reference psychiatric hospital, most of these patients had psychotic disorders.
Características clínicas y laboratoriales de los diez primeros pacientes con diagnóstico de Guillain-Barré en Piura, 2023
Authors: Pampa-Espinoza Luis , Mendoza Farro Nathali , Flores-León Diana , Espinoza Venegas Luis , Quino Willi , Gavilán Ronnie G. , Cruz Lachira Deysi , García Mendoza María , Holguín Mauricci Carlos , Donaires Toscano Fernando , Cabezas-Sánchez César , Araujo Castillo Roger
Published: April 2024

El síndrome de Guillain Barré es una enfermedad derivada del compromiso en las neuronas del sistema nervioso periférico por una respuesta descontrolada del sistema inmune que conduce daño axonal y/o desmielinización. El objetivo de este reporte fue describir los 10 primeros casos sospechosos de Síndrome de Guillain Barré en Piura. Se logró identificar la presencia de Campylobacter jejuni en las muestras de heces del 80% de los pacientes reportados. Es muy importante reconocer rápida y oportunamente al paciente con diagnóstico sospechoso de Guillain Barré, y realizar los estudios necesarios en un brote para identificar los agentes desencadenantes del cuadro.