bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Υπολογιστικός σχεδιασμός και ανάλυση μηχανικής συμπεριφοράς και αστοχιών νανοδομών γραφινίου με πεπερασμένα στοιχεία
Authors: Σιαμπάνης Σωτήριος
Published: August 2023

Οι εξαιρετικές ιδιότητες και οι μελλοντικές εφαρμογές των νανοδομών άνθρακα, και συγκεκριμένα του γραφενίου, των νανοσωλήνων άνθρακα, των φουλερενίων και του γραφινίου, αποδεικνύουν την εξαιρετική τεχνολογική και επιστημονική τους αξία. Το γεγονός αυτό επέδρασε καθοριστικά στις εφαρμοσμένες επιστήμες και ιδιαίτερα στον τομέα της υπολογιστικής νανοτεχνολογίας. Με τη χρήση των υπολογιστικών μεθόδων εξασφαλίζεται η μοντελοποίηση και η απεικόνιση των φαινομένων σε ατομικό επίπεδο κατά συνέπεια, η υπολογιστική προσομοίωση συνιστά βασικό στοιχείο για την ανάλυση της συμπεριφοράς των νανοδομών, διασφαλίζοντας ταυτόχρονα μεγάλη ακρίβεια, πράγμα που την καθιστά απαραίτητο εργαλείο μελέτης και ανάλυσης για τις εφαρμογές της νανοτεχνολογίας. Ο επιδιωκόμενος στόχος του παρόντος έργου αποτελεί την δημιουργία και την εφαρμογή ενός ολιστικού υπολογιστικού πλαισίου μοντελοποίησης προκειμένου να υπολογιστεί η μηχανική συμπεριφορά νανοδομών γ-γραφινίου σε συνάρτηση του μεγέθους και των γεωμετρικών ατελειών. Για την δημιουργία και την ανάλυση του συγκεκριμένου μοντέλου εφαρμόζεται η μοριακή μηχανική. Σύμφωνα με την ανωτέρω προσέγγιση, για την προσομοίωση των αλληλεπιδράσεων των δεσμών υιοθετήθηκαν στοιχεία τύπου ελατηρίου, σε αντιδιαστολή με τα στοιχεία τύπου δοκού τα οποία συνήθως αναφέρονται στη επιστημονική βιβλιογραφία. Για την ατομιστική μοντελοποίηση στην γραμμική συμπεριφορά των δομών γ-γραφινίου υιοθετήθηκε το Αρμονικό δυναμικό. Ενώ την ατομιστική μοντελοποίηση μη γραμμικής συμπεριφοράς των δομών γ-γραφινίου και για την επίδραση γεωμετρικών ατελειών στις μηχανικές ιδιότητες, υιοθετήθηκε το δυναμικό Morse. Ακολούθως, προκειμένου να διεξαχθεί η αριθμητική ανάλυση της μοντελοποίησης των νανοδομών εφαρμόστηκε η μέθοδος των πεπερασμένων στοιχείων και μέσω της επίλυσης των εξισώσεων προκύπτουν οι μηχανικές ιδιότητες των νανοδομών για γραμμική και μη γραμμική συμπεριφορά. Τα αποτελέσματα καταδεικνύουν ότι οι δομές γ-γραφινίου παρουσιάζουν ορθοτροπική και εξαρτώμενη από το μέγεθος συμπεριφορά στη νανοκλίμακα, η οποία είναι ισχυρότερη για μικρότερα μεγέθη, καθώς και η γεωμετρία των ατελειών επηρεάζει σημαντικά τη μηχανική μη γραμμική συμπεριφορά των δομών γ-γραφινίου. Τέλος, αξιοποιώντας κατάλληλα τα αποτελέσματα που προκύπτουν από την ανάλυση των πεπερασμένων στοιχείων, εξάγονται εξισώσεις αναλυτικής παλινδρόμησης, ικανές να προβλέψουν την γραμμική ή μη γραμμική μηχανική συμπεριφορά των νανοδομών γ-γραφινίου σε ιδιαίτερα σύντομο χρόνο.
English Past Progressive Aspect in Arabic Translation: Theoretical and Textual Considerations
Authors: Farghal Mohammed
Published: August 2023

This paper deals with the translation of the English past progressive into Arabic by examining both theoretical and textual considerations. First, it shows how the English aspect formally corresponds to the auxiliary verb كان ‘was’ plus the simple present (SP) form or the active particle (AP) form. Second, it is argued that the choice between the SP and the AP is subject to several grammatical and semantic constraints on Arabic verbs: [+/- transitive], [+/- telic], [+/- completed], and [+/- manner of motion]. Third, the textual data (70 examples) drawn from two existing translations indicates that many translation procedures are employed to render the English past progressive, mainly including the past simple (48.57%), present simple (22.85%), formal correspondence (18.57%), and lexicalizing (7.14%). Finally, the qualitative analysis reveals that the progressiveness, emphasis, and dramatization that the English past progressive aspect may communicate are seriously compromised in Arabic translation. While there may be cases where some mismatches between English and Arabic verbs exist in terms of progressiveness which may call for the use of past simple or lexicalizing, the formal correspondence procedure is claimed to be the most valid and appropriate for capturing the functions of the English past progressive.
Everyday problem solving for US court interpreters and the role of research
Authors: Wallace Melissa , Martínez-Gómez Aída
Published: August 2023

This article examines the problem-solving strategies and resources that professional court interpreters in the United States use to address challenges in their daily work, with the goal of investigating the current influence of research on professional practice. The authors report on the first stage of a bipartite study consisting of focus groups conducted in California, New York, and Texas in the spring of 2018, the results of which directly shaped the development of a survey launched at the national level. Participants included a combination of junior and senior interpreters, staff and freelancers, and certified court interpreters with varying degrees of formal interpreter training and education. The anonymized transcripts of these groups were analyzed qualitatively following the principles of thematic analysis and a mixed top-down and bottom-up coding process. The results obtained interrogate the purported divide between theory and practice and reveal valuable information about the areas of professional practice that present challenges for court interpreters, the human and written (scholarly and/or professional) resources that court interpreters use to improve their professional practice and, most germanely, court interpreters’ needs and expectations about scholarly research. Ultimately, the study aims to inform future practice-based research and to improve interpreters’ performance through data-driven suggestions stemming from that research.
Court interpreting practice in Rwanda: Challenges and strategies for fair justice
Authors: Ngarambe Telesphore , Ruvebana Etienne
Published: August 2023

This paper discusses the practice of court interpreting in Rwanda. It examines the existing legal framework for court interpreters, their practical and professional challenges as well as the strategies towards improving court interpreting practice. Using qualitative methods, this study identified a number of challenges including the selection of court interpreters, the equipment used in court interpreting, the language proficiency of court interpreters, misconceptions of the general public towards court interpreters as well as lengthy court proceedings. The paper further shows the consequences of using unprofessional interpreters, which include miscarriage of justice due to inaccurate interpretation or delayed proceedings. The paper argues, therefore, that Rwanda needs professional court interpreters who are not only equipped with the required skills in judicial interpretation through high level training and qualification in relevant fields but who also demonstrate a high command of court working languages. It is also suggested that in order to comply with the legal standards of international human rights law, Rwandan Judiciary should equip its courts with adequate facilities and equipment for interpreters.
Students’ emotional experiences in learning translation memory systems: A narrative-based study
Authors: Hao Yu
Published: August 2023

In recent years, a growing number of translation programs have introduced a technology module into their curriculum. Yet students’ reflections on their interaction with translation technologies remain largely under-researched. This exploratory study examines students’ initial emotional experience in learning and using translation memory (TM) systems after three weeks of direct exposure. Seventy-five postgraduate translation students completed an emotional-narrative task in which they were invited to write either a “love letter” or a “breakup letter” (out of their own choice) to one of the TM systems with which they had experimented. As reflected in the “love letters” (n = 39) and “breakup letters” (n = 36), the students had both positive and negative emotions when learning different TM systems. A thematic analysis shows that the student translators expected the software tools to be learnable, productive, and user-friendly. Based on the emotional patterns and their expectations of TMs, we present a discussion of learning translation technology through discovery and reflection. The emotional-narrative activity in this case was applied as a pedagogical tool to engage students in the discussion of technology, its usage, and the learning experience. It further allowed the teacher to understand the students’ perspectives.
Song translation: Lyrics in context
Authors: Khoshsaligheh Masood , Sarvghadi Fatemeh , Che Lah Salasiah
Published: August 2023

There has been a growing academic interest in the study of song translation in the recent decade. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of such investigation, researching song translation has developed and stemmed from the concepts and notions of various disciplines such as literary studies, music studies, theatre studies, besides translation studies. As a result, the field of song translation seems to be “disparate” and “fragmented” (p. 23). This edited volume of essays in nearly 500 pages is a seminal collection that offers the overview of conceptual theories and the empirical research on song translation from many parts of the world, classifying the studies to systematically offer a clear state of the art as well as to reveal the gaps to be filled by future studies. The editors’ introductory chapter especially provides the theoretical and conceptual framework to study song translation, which is of unprecedented value. As for empirical studies, various chapters are presented under the three categories of Analyses of Popular Songs, Historical Approaches, and Multimodal and Didactic Approaches in English (11 articles) and in German (4 articles). The articles investigate the songs and the translations from the main languages, including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Swedish, Norwegian, Turkish, and Finnish.
Green Pay/Reward Techniques and Corporate Non-Financial Performance: A Case Study of South-West, Nigeria Deposit Money Banks
Authors: Eniola Sule Olatunji , E. O Oshi Joseph
Published: August 2023

This study will be establishing how corporate non-financial performance could be affected by the green pay/reward techniques among banks that concentrate in deposit of money alone in the entire South-West geopolitical area of Nigeria. We adopted quasi-experimental survey research design by looking at the managerial staff of those banks as our population
of which we used 330 for the sample. We tested three hypotheses with SEM-AMOS after retrieving those questionnaire administered through simple random sampling method. The study discovered a link between operational efficiency and innovation as measures of corporate non-financial performance and green pay/reward system while the same link could not be established between employee satisfaction and green pay/reward system in Nigeria South-West deposit money banks
Improving support for social care
Authors: Delap Naomi
Published: August 2023

Naomi Delap, director of Birth Companions, emphasises the need for a better approach to working with women who have contact with social care teams during pregnancy and early motherhood
What makes an excellent labour ward co-ordinator? Insights from the multidisciplinary team
Authors: Bunford Debra , Collier Lesley , Greaves Peta Jane
Published: August 2023

Background/Aims

Poor multidisciplinary teamwork on labour wards may lead to adverse consequences for women and babies. The labour ward co-ordinator is a central role in the multidisciplinary team; however, there has been little research into explore the skills and attributes necessary for this role. This study aimed to explore the labour ward co-ordinator's skills and attributes and their impact on multidisciplinary team working.

Methods

Constructive grounded theory was used to explore the perceptions of 21 labour ward multidisciplinary team members recruited using theoretical sampling from a maternity unit in northern England.

Results

Labour ward co-ordinators play significant roles in ward organisation, team situational awareness and a well-functioning multidisciplinary team. Co-ordinators had situational awareness through a ‘helicopter view’ of the ward, supported decision making and were approachable. Excellent labour ward co-ordinators used situational awareness to pre-empt emergencies and forward plan.

Conclusions

The labour ward co-ordinator role requires a different skillset to that of midwives delivering one-to-one care in labour. To develop midwives into the co-ordinator role, attention to continuing professional development is essential. Recruitment of consultant midwives dedicated to supporting midwives delivering care to women in labour should be considered.
Dynamics of Place: Foucault's Heterotopias in Anne Michaels's The Winter Vault
Authors: Greenstein Michael
Published: August 2023

Abstract: This essay applies Michel Foucault's theory of heterotopia or other place to Anne Michaels's second novel, The Winter Vault , which repeatedly uses "place" as trope and topos . These "counter-sites" in her fiction contest communal and environmental displacements, and help to transform the otherness of her characters from loss to partial belonging.
Fit to Breed: Exercise and Sport in Women's Speculative Fiction
Authors: Yang Karen Ya-Chu
Published: August 2023

Abstract: This essay examines Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and Ursula Le Guin's "The Matter of Seggri" as critiques of the segregative gendering of exercise and sport—especially, with regard to their portrayals of the dystopian ramifications of stringent communities where procreative competence is the sole criterion for determining bodily fitness.
Ten Songs that Came Up in Conversations with Rodney Graham
Authors: Wisdom David
Published: August 2023

Abstract: This discography was created by David Wisdom based on conversations with Rodney Graham. Mosaic is pleased to publish it here.
Who (What) Lies in the Tomb in the Middle English St. Erkenwald ?
Authors: Battles Dominique
Published: August 2023

Abstract: This article makes the case for an Anglo-Saxon cultural identity for the nameless man in the tomb in the Middle English St. Erkenwald on textual, hagiographic, historical, art historical, and literary grounds. The poem’s historical proem, akin to similar prologues in Middle English lives of pre-Conquest saints, evokes the negative stereotype of the primitive Saxon heathen popular in the post-Conquest era, which the remainder of the poem dispels. The incorrupt corpse and garments, in the guise of a king, signal two abiding markers of Anglo-Saxon sanctity that distinguish it from post-Conquest hagiography, while the body’s social role as a judge announces a primary arena of continuing authority of early English culture. The material culture of the tomb and robes bespeaks Anglo-Saxon design and the social and economic networks that facilitated these artforms. When revived, the body expresses an Anglo-Saxon worldview in terms of time, historical orientation, poetic sensibility, codes of reciprocity, spirituality, and life after death. The poem portrays a golden age of early English society and proposes its acceptance in the contemporary world of the poem.
Influence of temperature and humidity on scattering characteristics of aerosol particles in the terahertz band
Authors: Gao Xuan , An Yingzhao , Han Yiping , Wang Jiajie , Cui Zhiwei , Briard Paul
Published: August 2023

The terahertz band is considered to be the next breakthrough point to revolutionize communication technology, attributed to its rich spectrum resources. The study of terahertz atmospheric transmission characteristics is important in guiding the terahertz communication window selection process. In this report, based on the equivalent medium theory, the scattering characteristics of terahertz Gaussian beams by moist media are discussed. Numerical results show that the extinction coefficient of particles is mainly affected by the humidity, and the scattering efficiency is affected by both temperature and humidity. When the temperature is over 273 K and the humidity is 0.5, the extinction efficiency shows a trend of increasing initially and decreasing afterwards. Hence, the appropriate temperature is beneficial to minimizing the attenuation coefficient.
Phonon-assisted upconversion photoluminescence of monolayer MoS2 at elevated temperatures
Authors: Meng Fengkai , Yang Xiaodong , Gao Jie
Published: August 2023

Upconversion photoluminescence (UPL) lies at the heart of optical refrigeration and energy harvesting. Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have been identified as an excellent platform with robust phonon-exciton coupling for studying the phonon-assisted UPL process. Herein, we investigate the multiphonon-assisted UPL emission in monolayer MoS2 at elevated temperatures and the temperature-dependent phonon contributions in the UPL process. When temperature goes up from 295 K to 460 K, the enhancement of the integrated UPL intensity is demonstrated due to the increased phonon population and the reduced phonon numbers involved in the UPL process. Our findings reveal the underlying mechanism of phonon-assisted UPL at high temperatures, and pave the way for the applications of photon upconversion in display, nanoscale thermometry, anti-Stokes energy harvesting, and optical refrigeration.
Removing biases in dual frequency comb spectroscopy due to digitizer nonlinearity
Authors: Malarich Nathan A. , Cossel Kevin C. , Deschenes Jean-Daniel , Giorgetta Fabrizio R. , Washburn Brian R. , Newbury Nathan R. , Genest Jerome , Coddington Ian
Published: August 2023

Operation of any dual-comb spectrometer requires digitization of the interference signal before further processing. Nonlinearities in the analog-to-digital conversion can alter the apparent gas concentration by multiple percent, limiting both precision and accuracy of this technique. This work describes both the measurement of digitizer nonlinearity and the development of a model that quantitatively describes observed concentration bias over a range of conditions. We present hardware methods to suppress digitizer-induced bias of concentration retrievals below 0.1%.
Ultrapure single-band red upconversion luminescence in Er3+ doped sensitizer-rich ytterbium oxide transparent ceramics for solid-state lighting and temperature sensing
Authors: Zhang Cong , Shi Yanli , Lu Kailei , Wang Xiuling , Yuan Haifeng , Chen Ruichong , Qi Jianqi , Lu Tiecheng
Published: August 2023

Achieving single-band upconversion (UC) is a challenging but rewarding approach to attain optimal performance in diverse applications. In this paper, we successfully achieved single-band red UC luminescence in Yb2O3: Er transparent ceramics (TCs) through the utilization of a sensitizer-rich design. The Yb2O3 host, which has a maximum host lattice occupancy by Yb3+ sensitizers, facilitates the utilization of excitation light and enhances energy transfer to activators, resulting in improved UC luminescence. Specifically, by shortening the ionic spacing between sensitizer and activator, the energy back transfer and the cross-relaxation process are promoted, resulting in weakening of green energy level 4S3/2 and 2H11/2 emission and enhancement of red energy level 4F9/2 emission. The prepared Yb2O3: Er TCs exhibited superior optical properties with in-line transmittance over 80% at 600 nm. Notably, in the 980nm-excited UC spectrum, green emission does not appear, thus Yb2O3: Er TCs exhibit ultra-pure single band red emission, with CIE coordinates of (0.72, 0.28) and color purity exceeding 99.9%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of pure red UC luminescence in TCs. Furthermore, the luminescent intensity ratio (LIR) technique was utilized to apply this pure red-emitting TCs for temperature sensing. The absolute sensitivity of Yb2O3: Er TCs was calculated to be 0.319% K-1 at 304 K, which is the highest level of optical thermometry based on 4F9/2 levels splitting of Er3+ known so far. The integration between pure red UC luminescence and temperature sensing performance opens up new possibilities for the development of multi-functional smart windows.
15.26Gb/s Si-substrate GaN high-speed visible light photodetector with super-lattice structure
Authors: Xu Zengyi , Luo Zhiteng , Lin Xianhao , Shen Chao , Wang Xiaolan , Zhang Jianli , Wang Guangxu , Jiang Fengyi , Chi Nan
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we studied a series of high-speed photodetectors (PD) with different super-lattice interlayer periods and the scale of the effective area to examine their communication performance. The mini-PDs are designed with a single 1 mm × 1 mm effective area. The mini-PDs have three different super-lattice (SL) periods in the interlayer: 8, 15, and 32. The micro-PD sample has multiple 50um by 50um photosensitive areas that form a 4 × 4 receiver array, which shares a common N electrode. Its SL period is 26. The experiment shows that mini-PDs have the advantages such as better tolerance to beam spot deviation, larger field of view (FoV), higher responsibility, and wider peak width in spectral response. But micro-LED samples outperform the others in communication capacity and wavelength selectivity. The 8, 15, and 32 SL mini-PD samples achieve 6.6, 7.3, and 8.8 Gb/s data rates, respectively. The micro-PD gains the maximum data rate of 14.38Gb/s without applying waveform level post-equalization, and 15.26Gb/s after using an NN-based post-equalizer. This experiment shows that with proper DSP, GaN-based PD would be suitable for high-speed VLC systems, especially for the short wavelength spectrum in visible light.
NOMA security scheme based on constellation camouflage and selective mapping: publisher’s note
Authors: Ma Yiming , Ren Jianxin , Liu Bo , Ma Yilan , Ullah Rahat , Wu Xiangyu , Mao Yaya , Chen Shuaidong , Wan Yibin , Zhong Qing , Xia Wenchao , Wu Yongfeng , Zhao Lilong
Published: August 2023

This publisher’s note contains corrections to Opt. Lett. 48, 4101 (2023)10.1364/OL.493540.
Analysis of altered level of blood-based biomarkers in prognosis of COVID-19 patients
Authors: Shrestha Mahendra Raj , Basnet Ajaya , Tamang Basanta , Khadka Sudip , Maharjan Rajendra , Maharjan Rupak , Chand Arun Bahadur , Thapa Suresh , Rai Shiba Kumar
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Immune and inflammatory responses developed by the patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) during rapid disease progression result in an altered level of biomarkers. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze levels of blood-based biomarkers that are significantly altered in patients with COVID–19.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among COVID-19 diagnosed patients admitted to the tertiary care hospital. Several biomarkers–biochemical, hematological, inflammatory, cardiac, and coagulatory–were analyzed and subsequently tested for statistical significance at P<0.01 by using SPSS version 17.0.

Results

A total of 1,780 samples were analyzed from 1,232 COVID-19 patients (median age 45 years [IQR 33–57]; 788 [63.96%] male). The COVID-19 patients had significantly (99% Confidence Interval, P<0.01) elevated levels of glucose, urea, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), ferritin, D-Dimer, and creatinine phosphokinase-MB (CPK-MB) compared to the control group. However, the levels of total protein, albumin, and platelets were significantly (P<0.01) lowered in COVID-19 patients compared to the control group. The elevated levels of glucose, urea, WBC, CRP, D-Dimer, and LDH were significantly (P<0.01) associated with in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions

Assessing and monitoring the elevated levels of glucose, urea, ALT, AST, ALP, WBC, CRP, PCT, IL-6, ferritin, LDH, D-Dimer, and CPK-MB and the lowered levels of total protein, albumin, and platelet could provide a basis for evaluation of improved prognosis and effective treatment in patients with COVID-19.
Enterprise resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of business environment
Authors: Fu Lin , Shi Yupeng , Yang Xuze , Zhang Wentao
Published: August 2023

Enterprise resilience captures enterprises’ ability to survive and develop under uncertainties and shocks. Taking the shock of COVID-19 as an example, this paper employs a unique firm-level national survey dataset collected from a sample of nearly 40,000 Chinese private enterprises in 2020 to systematically explore the relation between local business environment and enterprise resilience. Our estimation results using ordered probit model indicate that favorable business environment can significantly enhance enterprise resilience and mitigate the shock of COVID-19 on firm performance. Mechanism analysis further shows that enterprises under better business environment generally have greater resilience as the result of timely and effective government support, reliable supply of production factors and logistics service, and lower levels of financial constraints. Our study deepens the understanding of the economic consequences of business environment and also sheds a new light on enterprise resilience enhancement.
The association between COVID-19 preventive behaviors and mental health conditions
Authors: Wachira Elizabeth , Chavan Bhakti , Nganga-Good Carolyn , Kingori Caroline
Published: August 2023

Background

An unintended consequence of COVID-19 quarantine preventive measures, is the increased prevalence of anxiety and depression. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between COVID-19 preventive behaviors and mental health conditions.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data collected weekly from US adults aged 18 and older nationwide as part of the COVID-19 Household Impact Survey (CIS) from the University of Chicago. Logistic regression examined associations between COVID-19 preventive behaviors (wearing a face mask, washing or sanitizing hands, and keeping six-feet distance from those outside their household), mental health conditions (self-reporting feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge, feeling lonely, and feeling hopeless about the future and a history of a mental health condition) and demographic factors.

Results

Majority of study participants were under 60 years (62.2%), female (55.8%), and non-Hispanic White (72.2%). Overall, participants more likely to have followed all three COVID-19 measures were those who reported high psychological distress compared to those with low distress for feeling anxious (adj. OR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.06–1.28, p = 0.002), lonely (adj. OR 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02–1.23, p = 0.019) or hopeless (adj. OR 1.10, 95% CI: 1.00–1.21, p = 0.043) for more than a day during the past 7 days.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight that individuals with mental health conditions reported more psychological distress. Specifically, feeling depressed, anxious, lonely, and hopeless were triggered and exacerbated as a result of the pandemic and may have long-term effects on general well-being and productivity. Therefore, our findings have important implications on the need to include mental health promotion as part of pandemic response efforts. This includes developing policies and allocating funding so as to ensure sustainable mental health interventions and support, public and provider education on the importance of screening for mental health issues.
Using gamma-band transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to improve sleep quality and cognition in patients with mild neurocognitive disorders due to Alzheimer’s disease: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lu Hanna , Li Jing , Yang Natalie Shu , Lam Linda Chiu Wa , Ma Suk Ling , Wing Yun Kwok , Zhang Li
Published: August 2023

Background

Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in patients with age-related neurodegenerative diseases, which severely affect cognition and even lead to accumulated β-amyloid. Encouraging results from recent studies on transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) showed moderate positive effects on sleep quality in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Compared to tDCS, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) enables the entrainment of neuronal activity with optimized focality through injecting electric current with a specific frequency and has significant enhancement effects on slow wave activities.

Methods and design

This is a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial comparing 40 Hz tACS with tDCS in mild neurocognitive disorders due to AD with sleep disturbances. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data is used to construct personalized realistic head model. Treatment outcomes, including sleep quality, cognitive performance and saliva Aβ levels will be conducted at baseline, 4th week, 8th week, 12th week and 24th week.

Conclusions

It is expected that the repeated gamma-band tACS will show significant improvements in sleep quality and cognitive functions compared to tDCS and sham tDCS. The findings will provide high-level evidence and guide further advanced studies in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and sleep medicine.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05544201.
Hepatitis C virus non-structural proteins modulate cellular kinases for increased cytoplasmic abundance of host factor HuR and facilitate viral replication
Authors: Raheja Harsha , George Biju , Tripathi Sachin Kumar , Saha Sandhini , Maiti Tushar Kanti , Das Saumitra
Published: August 2023

Host protein HuR translocation from nucleus to cytoplasm following infection is crucial for the life cycle of several RNA viruses including hepatitis C virus (HCV), a major causative agent of hepatocellular carcinoma. HuR assists the assembly of replication-complex on the viral-3′UTR, and its depletion hampers viral replication. Although cytoplasmic HuR is crucial for HCV replication, little is known about how the virus orchestrates the mobilization of HuR into the cytoplasm from the nucleus. We show that two viral proteins, NS3 and NS5A, act co-ordinately to alter the equilibrium of the nucleo-cytoplasmic movement of HuR. NS3 activates protein kinase C (PKC)-δ, which in-turn phosphorylates HuR on S318 residue, triggering its export to the cytoplasm. NS5A inactivates AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) resulting in diminished nuclear import of HuR through blockade of AMPK-mediated phosphorylation and acetylation of importin-α1. Cytoplasmic retention or entry of HuR can be reversed by an AMPK activator or a PKC-δ inhibitor. Our findings suggest that efforts should be made to develop inhibitors of PKC-δ and activators of AMPK, either separately or in combination, to inhibit HCV infection.
Bridging generations through collaborative artmaking: From design to art therapy
Authors: Sin Shiu Heng , Lin Xiangting Bernice
Published: August 2023

One problem that plagues an ageing society like Singapore is the generation gap. Such a gap could be precipitated by misconceptions and ageism arising from reduced intergenerational contact. This article explores the use of arts-based interventions to encourage intergenerational interactions. Through the blending of design and art therapy principles, the authors propose a novel design framework for intergenerational practice. Based on the proposed framework, a series of design interventions (i.e. Ageless Dreams, Memory Catcher and Rippling Conversations) was developed. These interactive prototypes were designed to facilitate the sharing of narratives and memories among intergenerational audiences through interactive play and collaborative artmaking. Case studies with families and art therapy groups were conducted to explore the potentialities of the framework and prototypes. The co-creation processes resulted in an array of unique artefacts of expression (structures, drawings and marble art prints), each embodying different meanings and stories. Documented findings suggest that the activities facilitated positive emotions, meaning-making and inclusivity. The process of collaborative artmaking allowed the groups to create a shared language of their own, establishing an effective line of communication to foster greater intergenerational understanding.
Materials as participants for social and ecological justice: An artistic hundred-word writing experiment
Authors: Peñaloza-Caicedo Andreia , Carrizo Yanina , Chan Kelly Ka Lai
Published: August 2023

The pandemic and youth-led activism worldwide have disrupted the order of education systems and exposed existing social and ecological inequalities of all Earthly beings. Under radical uncertainty, as transdisciplinary researchers, we created an artistic hundred-word writing piece with materials as participants. We framed this experiment within posthuman thought, which criticizes anthropocentric practices. We recognize the agency and the mutual relationality of humans and other-than-humans in our pedagogical practices and research. We are education researchers at various stages of our Ph.D. studies. In this artistic writing practice, we share our diverse projects: a speculative creation of space, a multispecies ethnography of becoming-with dust and a visual ethnography of urban artistic activism. Following The Hundreds, we partake in each other’s research journeys through hundred-word units. The collaboration engages our rethinking of art and environmental education to answer the call for social and ecological justice.
Fluid Grounds: A design inquiry into pluralistic landscapes
Authors: Ringers Derk
Published: August 2023

Fluid Grounds is a practice-based research project which investigates existing water management strategies in London, as well as exploring alternatives. It brings together immersive research, regenerative design and contemporary modes of production. This results in a strategic analysis and critical positioning for creative practices within climate change adaptation practices. Additionally, two speculative provocations: Higher Grounds, a configuration of water and land product archetypes, and Extended Foliage, a series of 3D ceramics printed form studies, demonstrate the possibilities of regenerative design in uncertain conditions.
A puppet’s monologue on the possibility of a playful materiality
Authors: Borroni Roberta
Published: August 2023

This article, written as a puppet show, presents playfulness as a tool that can be used to formulate a new understanding of matter, following the elaboration of this concept by the philosophical movement ‘new materialism’. The relation between human and non-human, together with the boundaries that separate them, is explored through examples of contemporary art practices. The text is shaped in a theatrical and playful manner to test these concepts, considering both their potentialities and risks.
Cambio del gasto en alimentos ultraprocesados en agricultores familiares del área rural del Perú, comparación entre el año 2009 y 2019
Authors: Aparco Juan Pablo , Cárdenas-Quintana Haydee , Fuentes Eduardo , Gómez Carlos Alfredo
Published: August 2023

Objetivo. Determinar el cambio del gasto en alimentos ultraprocesados (AUP) en agricultores familiares del área rural del Perú, en los años 2009 y 2019.
Metodología. Estudio de análisis secundario de la Encuesta Nacional de Hogares (ENAHO) del año 2009 y 2019. La población de estudio fueron los agricultores familiares del área rural del Perú. Se determinó el gasto promedio mensual en AUP consumidos dentro del hogar para el año 2009 y 2019 y se estimaron las diferencias en el gasto para el dominio rural total y los dominios geográficos costa norte, centro y sur, sierra norte, centro y sur y selva. Se usó la prueba t de Student y la prueba z de proporciones para evaluar el cambio promedio y porcentuales del gasto total destinado a la compra de AUP.
Resultados. El promedio de gasto en AUP fue de S/82,56 en 2009 y de S/74,18 en 2019, esta reducción resultó significativa para el dominio Rural total y en 5 de 7 dominios (p <0,05), estos resultados fueron similares en el porcentaje del gasto total destinado a la compra de AUP.
Conclusiones. Los resultados del estudio muestran que el promedio de gasto en AUP de agricultores familiares de zona rural del año 2019 tuvo una pequeña pero significativa reducción comparado con el gasto en 2009, esta tendencia se mantuvo en 5 de 7 dominios de estudio.
Uso da lei de newcomb-benford: uma contribuição à auditoria de conformidade contábil na Rede Federal de Educação Profissional e Tecnológica
Authors: Oliveira da Silva Jailson , Rodrigues Boente Diego
Published: August 2023

Objetivo: Analisar o potencial da LNB de utilização como ferramenta de auditoria de conformidade contábil das despesas orçamentárias e patrimoniais da Rede Federal de Educação Profissional e Tecnológica (RFEPT).

Método: Foi realizado um estudo de caráter descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa, por meio dos testes z, qui-quadrado e MDA, utilizando-se de dados secundários das despesas orçamentárias e patrimoniais de 42 instituições que compõem a Rede Federal de Educação Profissional e Tecnológica. Os dados foram extraídos utilizando-se o sistema Tesouro Gerencial, sendo coletados dados do período de 2017 a 2020.

Resultados/Discussão: As hipóteses de que os dados orçamentários e patrimoniais das entidades da RFEPT selecionadas não apresentam discrepâncias com os parâmetros da LNB não foi confirmada para a maioria dos casos selecionados, conforme testes z, qui-quadrado e MDA, sendo possível observar distorções em alguns dígitos dos valores analisados, que podem estar associadas a erros, fraudes ou a características particulares das transações das entidades. Os resultados encontrados apontam para a possibilidade de utilização da LNB como uma importante técnica nos trabalhos de auditoria na RFEPT.

Contribuições: O estudo avança na discussão sobre o uso da LNB como ferramenta de auditoria de conformidade contábil ao apresentar resultados no cenário da Rede Federal de Educação Profissional e Tecnológica.
Aparelhos ortodônticos impressos em metal: técnica Printed Orthodontics
Authors: André Cristiane B.
Published: August 2023

OBJETIVO: O objetivo do presente estudo piloto foi ilustrar a técnica digital Printed Orthodontics para confecção de aparelhos ortodônticos metálicos, pelo método de fusão seletiva a laser (sinterização). Com essa técnica, é possível confeccionar tanto os aparelhos convencionais, como o Hyrax, quanto os com ancoragem esquelética, como o Hyrax Híbrido. Ela utiliza o método CAD/CAM sem moldagens, com escaneamento intrabucal, modelagem 3D, fusão seletiva a laser, soldagem dos acessórios a laser, acabamento e polimento. Em alguns casos, pode-se também digitalizar o parafuso de expansão industrializado e incorporá-lo no design do aparelho. RESULTADOS: Os aparelhos ortodônticos metálicos finalizados comprovam que essa técnica digital é confiável e eficiente para a confecção desses dispositivos, eliminando o fator humano e os possíveis erros em sua manufatura, e dispensando o uso de elásticos separadores e bandas industrializadas de manuseio frágil. CONCLUSÃO: As diferentes possibilidades de design e a resistência do aço inox sinterizado oferecem inúmeras alternativas para a confecção de aparelhos ortodônticos, desde os mais simples até os mais complexos.
Rotações com alinhadores: estratégias advindas da mecânica fixa
Authors: Martins Renato Parsekian
Published: August 2023

OBJETIVO: O presente artigo visa comparar a correção de rotações dentárias usando aparelhos fixos e usando alinhadores, de forma a explicar como essa correção pode ser mais previsível quando feita com alinhadores. MÉTODOS: O ortodontista pode utilizar os passos do estagiamento do seu setup para identificar rotações stand-alone e transformá-las em sinérgicas. CONCLUSÃO: Utilizar o estagiamento visual do setup somente como uma ferramenta de venda do tratamento, e não usá-lo para avaliar, entender e, se possível, modificar as movimentações planejadas, é uma lamentável forma de desperdiçar a tecnologia que temos a nosso favor.
Estabilidade de uma Classe II, divisão 1, tratada com extração de dois pré-molares superiores
Authors: Mota Júnior Sergio Luiz , Hartmann Giovani Ceron , Pacheco Ariel Adriano Reyes , Castilhos Jussimar Scheffer , Tanaka Orlando Motohiro
Published: August 2023

OBJETIVO: O presente relato de caso descreve o tratamento ortodôntico de uma má oclusão Classe II, divisão 1, com 8,0 mm de sobressaliência e sobremordida acentuada, tratada com aparelho fixo e extração dos primeiros pré-molares superiores. CASO CLÍNICO: A distalização dos caninos foi realizada com elásticos em cadeia, seguida pela retração dos incisivos superiores com alça teardrop e com dobras de terceira ordem, reduzindo a sobressaliência, em conjunto com elásticos intermaxilares e barra transpalatina, para controle da perda de ancoragem. RESULTADOS : Essa abordagem, com a colaboração do paciente no uso da barra transpalatina e elásticos, foi eficaz para a correção da sobressaliência e sobremordida, além de alcançar uma relação de Classe I de caninos e intercuspidação satisfatória. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados e o acompanhamento de sete anos mostram o apropriado controle de torque, boa estabilidade oclusal e estética facial.
Bases para o sucesso terapêutico: diagnóstico, planejamento e controle biomecânico. Relato de caso de preparo ortodôntico para cirurgia ortognática
Authors: Meireles José Kleber Soares de
Published: August 2023

INTRODUÇÃO: A simplificação do planejamento ortodônticos tem sido a regra nos últimos anos, chegando ao extremo de os ortodontistas delegarem a empresas essa responsabilidade que, em última análise, é o que justifica a existência da nossa própria especialidade. A adoção de rigorosos protocolos de diagnóstico e planejamento, bem como o conhecimento e a aplicação da correta biomecânica, são diferenciais que permitem ao clínico dominar todos os passos do tratamento, com obtenção de resultados de melhor qualidade. OBJETIVO: A finalidade do presente artigo é apresentar Bases para o sucesso terapêutico: diagnóstico, planejamento e controle biomecânico. Relato de caso de preparo ortodôntico para cirurgia ortognática JOSÉ KLEBER SOARES DE MEIRELES1 um protocolo de diagnóstico ortodôntico que começa pela análise facial, passando pelas análises do sorriso, cefalométrica e oclusal, gerando meios de identificação dos problemas que direcionam os passos clínicos necessários para efetuar um planejamento assertivo. Para isso, será apresentado (no corpo do artigo e em vídeos de suporte) um caso ortodôntico-cirúrgico que seguiu esse protocolo. Adicionalmente, será discutida a biomecânica usada para alcançar os objetivos terapêuticos.
ChatGPT e a Ortodontia
Authors: Almeida Marcio
Published: August 2023

Se há uma tendência tecnológica que está dominando as conversas em 2023, é a inteligência artificial (IA). Todo mundo está falando sobre o ChatGPT, uma ferramenta de IA gratuita e de código aberto que permite usar o bate-papo em linguagem natural com um robô amigável que encontrará informações para você, escreverá conteúdos e muito mais. Alguns o chamam de “Google killer” (matador da plataforma de buscas Google). De fato, o recém-lançado ChatGPT acabou por abrir as comportas para essa nova tecnologia. Sua interface fácil de usar e suas respostas rápidas lembram a citação do escritor de ficção científica britânico Arthur C. Clarke: “Qualquer tecnologia suficientemente avançada é indistinguível da magia”.
Diagnóstico 3D e ancoragem esquelética com miniplaca no preparo ortodôntico cirúrgico da Classe II esquelética: relato de caso
Authors: Sousa Raniere Luiz dos Santos , Véras Filho Ruy de Oliveira , Barretto Matheus Dantas de Araújo , Silva Ertty , Cardoso Mauricio de
Published: August 2023

IINTRODUÇÃO: A discrepância maxilomandibular presente na má oclusão de Classe II tem etiologia multifatorial. Além do fator genético, na maioria das vezes está associada a outros fatores ambientais, como respiração bucal, hábitos deletérios e aspectos funcionais, como postura e tonicidade dos músculos da língua, lábios, bochechas e articulações. OBJETIVO: O objetivo do presente artigo é apresentar o tratamento ortodôntico-cirúrgico de um paciente adulto, já submetido a um tratamento ortodôntico compensatório anteriormente, Classe II esquelética, com simetria facial, tratado ortodonticamente com quatro miniplacas e cirurgia ortognática de avanço de maxila, mandíbula e mento. DESCRIÇÃO: Após uma avaliação morfofuncional tridimensional, por meio da tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (TCFC), observou-se padrão de crescimento dolicofacial, Classe II esquelética cirúrgica e simetria facial. Estabelecido o diagnóstico, o plano de tratamento foi o preparo ortodôntico para a cirurgia ortognática, assistido pela ancoragem esquelética por meio da instalação de quatro miniplacas — duas na região posterior da maxila e duas na região posterior da mandíbula. RESULTADOS: O tratamento ortodôntico-cirúrgico corrigiu o posicionamento dentário superior e inferior em suas respectivas bases ósseas, a discrepância esquelética maxilomandibular, a Classe II dentária bilateral, os torques dos dentes posteriores superiores e inferiores, e melhorou o perfil facial e estética do sorriso. CONCLUSÕES: A integração entre a Ortodontia e a Cirurgia Ortognática evoluiu muito nos últimos tempos e foi essencial para o sucesso do tratamento ortodôntico- -cirúrgico, nos aspectos estéticos e funcionais. A TCFC e a ancoragem esquelética ampliada com as miniplacas têm papel de destaque nesse cenário de evolução.
O uso da criatividade para o tratamento da erupção ectópica de primeiros molares permanentes superiores
Authors: Machado Andre Wilson
Published: August 2023

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar três casos clínicos, destacando a importância da criatividade para o tratamento da erupção ectópica de primeiros molares permanentes superiores. No Caso 1, foi utilizado um arco palatino fixo com um gancho soldado distalmente ao molar impactado. O Caso 2 foi tratado com grade palatina fixa, tubos e mola de NiTi. E o Caso 3 foi tratado com aparelho removível com mola digital. Nos três casos, o objetivo foi produzir movimento distal para desimpactar o molar ou recuperar espaço. No Caso 1, a força distal foi aplicada em um botão colado na superfície oclusal do molar, e no Caso 2 foi utilizado um segmento de fio 0,018" x 0,025" de aço com mola NiTi, com a mesma finalidade. No Caso 3, a força foi gerada pela ativação de uma mola digital conectada ao acrílico do palato. Em todos os casos, após 3-4 meses, o molar permanente estava em uma posição fisiológica, e o espaço foi totalmente recuperado. CONCLUSÕES: Os casos demonstram que, com criatividade, é possível aplicar soluções simples para o tratamento da erupção ectópica de primeiros molares permanentes superiores.
Tratamento da Classe II subdivisão, utilizando miniparafusos extra-alveolares na buccal-shelf e na crista infrazigomática, associados a aparelhos autoligáveis com prescrição individualizada: relato de caso
Authors: Villela Henrique Mascarenhas
Published: August 2023

INTRODUÇÃO: As más oclusões de Classe II de Angle subdivisão, de natureza dentoalveolar ou com assimetria esquelética moderada, podem ser tratadas com diversos tipos de abordagem, desde a exodontia de pré-molares até métodos mais conservadores, como elásticos intermaxilares. Com a introdução dos miniparafusos extra-alveolares na Ortodontia contemporânea, o tratamento dessa má oclusão tornou-se mais simples e eficiente, pois permitiu efetuar maiores movimentações de mesialização ou de distalização, anulando os efeitos colaterais indesejados, por meio de um procedimento minimamente invasivo, e reduzindo a dependência da colaboração do paciente. A associação desse recurso de ancoragem com os aparelhos autoligáveis passivos com prescrições individualizadas reduz a necessidade de dobras no arco, tornando a mecânica ortodôntica menos laboriosa. OBJETIVO: Relatar um caso clínico de Classe II subdivisão direita, no qual foram utilizados miniparafusos extra-alveolares, nas regiões da crista infrazigomática (IZC) e da buccal-shelf (BS) dos dois lados, como recurso de ancoragem, para efetuar a mesialização da hemiarcada inferior direita e retração da arcada superior, associados a aparelhos autoligáveis passivos com prescrição individualizada. CONCLUSÃO: A associação dos miniparafusos extra-alveolares na BS e na IZC com o sistema de aparelhos autoligáveis passivos com prescrições individualizadas se mostrou eficiente na correção da má oclusão de Classe II subdivisão direita.