bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of the Cardiac Surgery Patient in Pain Management: The Patient Perspective
Authors: Walton Laura L. , Duff Elsie , Arora Rakesh C. , McMillan Diana E.
Published: August 2024

One and a half million cardiac surgeries are completed worldwide each year where undertreated postoperative pain increases the risk of patient morbidity and mortality. Patient-centered pain management is recommended to improve patient outcomes but there is insufficient information regarding how the patient views their role. The objective of this study is to explore cardiac surgery patients’ perspectives on their role in postoperative pain management. This study used an interpretive phenomenological design and convenience sampling. Six participants who had undergone cardiac surgery were recruited from a cardiac rehabilitation program in Western Canada. The first author conducted semi-structured digitally recorded interviews. Sociodemographic characteristics and measures of anxiety and depression were also collected. Emergent thematic analysis of the qualitative data generated three themes: attitude, coping and care, and communication. The findings of this study address a gap in the literature with regard to patients’ perceived roles in pain management. There is a complex relationship between patient attitude, coping and care, and communication which, in turn, influences how patients view their role within the pain management continuum. These themes contribute to the development of the patient role within the pain management continuum and form an integrated feedback loop. The patient’s attitude contributes to their ability to cope with pain and participate in pain assessment and management. Furthermore, their ability to cope and desire to participate influences the development of their attitude. These findings may enhance providers’ understanding of the patient’s perspective and improve pain management outcomes.
Self-management and information needs of adults with seasonal allergic rhinitis in the Netherlands: A focus group study
Authors: Mulder Bob C , Kasteleyn Marise J , Hall Lisbeth , van Vliet Arnold JH , de Weger Letty A
Published: August 2024

This focus group study explored the needs, preferences and beliefs of adults with seasonal allergic rhinitis regarding their self-management practices, and related information use and needs. Four focus groups were held, two online and two on location. The 20 participants (11 women); Mage = 39.0 years (range: 21–56 years) were reluctant to identify themselves as patients, trivializing their complaints while avoiding being confronted too much with their condition. Participants often expressed low trust in the effectiveness of medication and the ability of healthcare to alleviate their complaints. This resulted in relatively low openness to information such as personalized pollen predictions. Findings were synthesized under three interrelated themes: ‘Being ill, but not a patient: it’s bad, but you learn to live with it’, ‘Individual search for what does or doesn’t work’ and ‘Information needs and sources’. Implications for communication supportive of self-management practices for seasonal allergic rhinitis are discussed.
Measuring prime ministerial brands: Exploring Needham’s framework for assessing the UK’s Boris Johnson and the Greek Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Authors: Koliastasis Panos , Lilleker Darren
Published: August 2024

Using political branding as an analytical lens can help explain the emotional connections and evaluative perceptions citizens have regarding political parties and their leaders. Measuring what makes a successful brand is best usually conducted with the benefit of hindsight, we can explain why a brand was a success or a failure based on public opinion data and attribute this to events. However, our research seeks to test the extent that analysis of strategic communication can offer opportunities to predict outcomes. We explore the communication of two prime ministerial brands who, due to their similarities and differences, offer an opportunity to assess the extent that the dimensions of a successful brand are universal. We employ Needham’s framework, developed to demonstrate why the brand of UK prime minister Tony Blair (1997–2008) proved so popular. We find that the dimensions of a successful brand are present in the strategic communication of both premiers. However, we find that the nature of some brands may make them appropriate for campaigning, but not for governance in challenging times. We argue that political brands need to be consistent, but once in government must be adaptable for the changing conditions and develop an appropriate style to accommodate the challenges facing a prime minister in the 21st century.
Comprehensive Management of Thrombosed Lower Extremity Venous Aneurysms: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis and Insights Into Clinical Strategies
Authors: Alagha Sameh , Ekim Meral
Published: August 2024

Objective

Venous aneurysms are rare vascular abnormalities associated with venous thromboembolism. In this study, we presented our experience in managing thrombosed lower extremity venous aneurysms and evaluate the impact of vitamin D deficiency and genetic thrombophilic risk factors on patient management and outcomes.

Methods

A single-center retrospective observational analysis was conducted on ten patients with thrombosed lower limb venous aneurysms who underwent surgical procedures at our hospital from July 2014 to February 2023. Collected data included venous duplex ultrasonographic imaging and laboratory tests including genetic thrombophilic risk factors and assessments of vitamin D levels.

Results

There were 5 males and 5 females. The mean age was 46.6 ± 12.1 years. The aneurysms were located in the popliteal vein in three patients, the great saphenous vein in six, and the small saphenous vein in one. Venous duplex imaging revealed saccular aneurysms in eight patients and fusiform aneurysms in two, with a mean diameter of 37.2 ± 10.6 mm, ranging from 23 to 52 mm. Laboratory tests indicated vitamin D deficiency in all of the patients, and genetic thrombophilic risk factors were identified in two cases. Surgical interventions consisted of tangential excision with lateral venorrhaphy in three patients and total excision and ligation in seven patients. The postoperative period was favorable for all patients.

Conclusions

Surgical treatment of thrombosed venous aneurysms in the lower extremities is essential to prevent complications such as thromboembolism. A comprehensive approach, including knowledge of genetic risk factors and vitamin D levels, may improve patient outcomes.
An Exploratory Study on the Evolution of Hybrid Work
Authors: John Sarah , Amudhan S.
Published: August 2024

This article is an exploratory study into how hybrid work evolved from work from home and remote working and is the way forward for organisations with the advent of Artificial Intelligence. The researchers have studied previously published data and looked at various secondary sources of study especially newspapers and journals to understand the effect of COVID-19 work-from-home mandates and how it was possible as it was already in effect in organisations in a different manner. In this article, the meaning of the three types of work, that is, remote, work from home, and hybrid work, are looked at, with an emphasis on what limitations employers and employees have found in the first two methods that have served as a catalyst to start the modern method of Hybrid work. The article also looked at the origins of the concept of hybrid work and how it was a natural evolution, as a solution to the limitations that exist in remote working and working from home of employees.
The DNA repair pathway as a therapeutic target to synergize with trastuzumab deruxtecan in HER2-targeted antibody–drug conjugate–resistant HER2-overexpressing breast cancer
Authors: Lee Jangsoon , Kida Kumiko , Koh Jiwon , Liu Huey , Manyam Ganiraju C. , Gi Young Jin , Rampa Dileep R. , Multani Asha S. , Wang Jing , Jayachandran Gitanjali , Lee Dae-Won , Reuben James M. , Sahin Aysegul , Huo Lei , Tripathy Debu , Im Seock-Ah , Ueno Naoto T.
Published: August 2024

Background

Anti-HER2 therapies, including the HER2 antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) and trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), have led to improved survival outcomes in patients with HER2-overexpressing (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer. However, intrinsic or acquired resistance to anti-HER2–based therapies remains a clinical challenge in these patients, as there is no standard of care following disease progression. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of resistance to T-DM1 and T-DXd in HER2+ BC patients and preclinical models and identify targets whose inhibition enhances the antitumor activity of T-DXd in HER2-directed ADC-resistant HER2+ breast cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

Targeted DNA and whole transcriptome sequencing were performed in breast cancer patient tissue samples to investigate genetic aberrations that arose after anti-HER2 therapy. We generated T-DM1 and T-DXd–resistant HER2+ breast cancer cell lines. To elucidate their resistance mechanisms and to identify potential synergistic kinase targets for enhancing the efficacy of T-DXd, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization, droplet digital PCR, Western blotting, whole-genome sequencing, cDNA microarray, and synthetic lethal kinome RNA interference screening. In addition, cell viability, colony formation, and xenograft assays were used to determine the synergistic antitumor effect of T-DXd combinations.

Results

We found reduced HER2 expression in patients and amplified DNA repair–related genes in patients after anti-HER2 therapy. Reduced ERBB2 gene amplification in HER2-directed ADC–resistant HER2+ breast cancer cell lines was through DNA damage and epigenetic mechanisms. In HER2-directed ADC–resistant HER2+ breast cancer cell lines, our non-biased RNA interference screening identified the DNA repair pathway as a potential target within the canonical pathways to enhance the efficacy of T-DXd. We validated that the combination of T-DXd with ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related inhibitor, elimusertib, led to significant breast cancer cell death in vitro (P < 0.01) and in vivo (P < 0.01) compared to single agents.

Conclusions

The DNA repair pathways contribute to HER2-directed ADC resistance. Our data justify exploring the combination treatment of T-DXd with DNA repair–targeting drugs to treat HER2-directed ADC–resistant HER2+ breast cancer in clinical trials.
Exploring Homophily in Research Collaboration: A Dynamic Centrality Analysis Approach
Authors: Sahoo Laxminarayan , Guchhait Sanchita
Published: August 2024

Homophily is the phenomenon of individuals seeking others who are similar to themselves. Homophily influences the formation of co-authorship networks. In our study, we measure the homophily of the authors based on their affiliation using the co-authorship network. The main contribution of our study is that we test homophily with a dynamic centrality analysis algorithm and find that homophily exists when we measure the authors’ degree within and outside their network. However, homophily does not exist when we use the dynamic centrality analysis algorithm for the same co-authorship network.
Carboniferous trilobites from Colorado: Systematics, morphology and enrolment
Authors: Hughes Nigel C. , Kolenko Rachel , Myrow Paul M. , Houck Karen J.
Published: August 2024

Abstract: Two enrolled exoskeletons collected near Bond, Colorado, U.S.A, are the first articulated Carboniferous trilobites to be illustrated from the state. One, Ameura bondi sp. nov., is characterised by a narrow, nipple-shaped interval between the adaxial ends of S1; the other specimen is compared with the type species, Ameura missouriensis (Shumard, 1858). Both were recovered from the Minturn Formation in a silty shale interval with early late Atokan (∼310Ma) foraminifera. An isolated Ditomopyge scitula (Meek and Worthen, 1865) pygidium was recovered from middle Desmoinesian strata of the Robinson Member of the Minturn Formation near McCoy, Colorado and is a few million years younger than the Bond specimens. A likely Atokan cranidium and pygidium from the Belden Formation of the Mt. Sherman quadrangle, figured by Girty (1903), are refigured and compared to Sevillia trinucleata (Herrick, 1887). Together these fossils exhibit structural embellishments that evolved among phillipsiid trilobites late in the evolutionary history of Trilobita. The enrolled trunk of Ameura was girded beneath a robust cephalic lateral margin in both specimens, a pose that resisted lateral shearing but that let the trilobite avoid encapsulated enrolment by extending the rear margin of the pygidium beyond the anterior margin of the cephalon.
Dynamic capacity sharing with multi-wavelength integrated transmitters in hybrid datacenter networks
Authors: Zhu Jiawen , Sun Weiqiang , Ye Tong , Hu Weisheng
Published: August 2024

In datacenters, bursty and unevenly distributed traffic may lead to serious network performance degradation. Various methods, including reconfigurable optical circuit switching (OCS), traffic control techniques, valiant load balancing (VLB), and so on, have been proposed to solve this problem. Based on these solutions, our method makes a trade-off between cost and performance. In this paper, we propose to use multi-wavelength tunable transmitters in our previously proposed modular arrayed waveguide grating (AWG)-based interconnection network. We discuss how the multiple wavelengths can be shared in the network and then propose a computational model to study its blocking probability. Closed-form equations for low network load cases are also derived to provide the analytical expression for the blocking probability. We verify the accuracy of our computational model through simulations. Comparing the blocking probability of networks with and without multi-wavelength integrated transmitters, we show that network performance can be considerably improved after replacement. When traffic burstiness is 1.25 and traffic skewness is 0.08, the blocking probability is reduced from 0.14 to 3.60×10−3 after replacing in each sending module one fixed laser with multi-wavelength tunable transmitters with four wavelengths. Furthermore, we also discuss how different factors influence the blocking probability and the maximum load with the given network performance requirement.
Harnessing surface plasmon polaritons from nanogroove plasmonic lenses to enhance the EM fields around plasmonic nanoantennas
Authors: Gupta Nitin , Dhawan Anuj
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we present a device—consisting of a bowtie nanoantenna surrounded by either an asymmetric plasmonic nanogroove or a symmetric plasmonic nanogroove—that allows improved excitation of the bowtie nanoantenna via interaction between the bowtie nanoantenna and the surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) generated from the nanogrooves. We study the effect of both a linear plasmonic nanogroove as well as a circular plasmonic nanogroove (i.e., a circular nanogroove plasmonic lens) on the EM fields around a bowtie nanoantenna placed at a certain distance from the nanogroove. We show that the electric field enhancement of a bowtie nanoantenna can be significantly improved by the interaction between the bowtie nanoantenna and the SPPs generated from the nanogrooves. We employed FDTD simulations to calculate quantities such as the electric field enhancements and power coupling into SPPs as well as a finite difference eigenmode solution to obtain dispersion relation of the nanogrooves. The geometrical parameters of the symmetric nanogroove and asymmetric nanogroove were optimized to couple maximum light into SPPs. We show that the bowtie nanoantenna surrounded by a single asymmetric nanogroove plasmonic lens produces a SERS electromagnetic enhancement factor (EMEF) of 1010—even when the gap between the arms of the bowtie nanoantenna is as large as 10 nm—which is three orders of magnitude higher than SERS EMEF of a stand-alone bowtie nanoantenna and one order of magnitude higher than the SERS EMEF of a bowtie nanoantenna surrounded by a single symmetric nanogroove plasmonic lens. In addition, the effect of the radius of nanogroove plasmonic lenses is studied. The calculation of collection efficiencies of Raman signal from the proposed nanostructures shows that ∼62% Raman signal can be collected from the bowtie nanoantenna surrounded by a symmetric nanogroove plasmonic lens or an asymmetric nanogroove plasmonic lens (PL) compared to 10% Raman signal collected from only a bowtie nanoantenna on a silica substrate.
Balanced air-biased detection of terahertz waveforms
Authors: Holm Ohrt Alexander , Nagy Olivér , Löscher Robin , Saraceno Clara J. , Zhou Binbin , Uhd Jepsen Peter
Published: August 2024

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, balanced air-biased coherent detection scheme for capturing ultrabroadband terahertz (THz) waveforms is implemented. The balanced detection scheme allows for coherent detection at the full repetition rate of the laser system without requiring bias modulation, signal generators, or lock-in amplifiers while doubling the dynamic range and quadrupling the signal-to-noise ratio compared to conventional air-biased coherent detection. These advantages are achieved by rotating the bias electrodes by 90° relative to the conventional scheme. With a 1 kHz driving laser, the scheme enables sub-second, high-fidelity waveform acquisition with a continuously moving delay stage, demonstrated by collecting 200 waveforms in 100 s. The balanced detection scheme paves the way for much faster and higher quality 2D ultrabroadband terahertz spectroscopy.
Photonic Mpemba effect
Authors: Longhi Stefano
Published: August 2024

The Mpemba effect is the counterintuitive phenomenon in statistical physics for which a far-from-equilibrium state can relax toward equilibrium faster than a state closer to equilibrium. This effect has raised a great curiosity since long time and has been studied extensively in many classical and quantum systems. Here it is shown that the Mpemba effect can be observed in optics as well. Specifically, the process of light diffusion in finite-sized photonic lattices under incoherent (dephasing) dynamics is considered. Rather surprisingly, it is shown that certain highly-localized initial light distributions can diffuse faster than initial broadly delocalized distributions. The effect is illustrated by considering random walk of optical pulses in fiber-based temporal mesh lattices, which should provide an experimentally-accessible setup for the demonstration of the Mpemba effect in optics.
Correction of laser sweeping nonlinearities using ultralow-loss on-chip 7  m spiral resonators
Authors: Terra Osama , Jin Warren , Kotb Hussein , Guo Joel , Bowers John E.
Published: August 2024

Swept laser interferometry is an extremely powerful solution embedded in several recent technologies such as absolute distance measurement, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), optical frequency domain reflectometry, optical coherence tomography, microresonator characterization, and gas spectroscopy. Nonlinearity in the optical frequency sweeping of tunable lasers is a fatal drawback in gaining the expected outcome from these technologies. Here, we introduce an on-chip, millimeter-scale, 7 m spiral resonator that is made of ultralow-loss Si3N4 to act as a frequency ruler for correction of the tunable lasers sweeping nonlinearities. The sharp 2 MHz frequency lines of the 8.5×107 high-quality factor resonator and the narrow-spaced 25.566 MHz frequency ticks of the 7 m spiral allow unprecedented precision for an on-chip solution to correct the laser sweeping nonlinearity. Accurate measurements of the ruler’s frequency spacing, linewidth, and temperature and wavelength sensitivities of the frequency ticks are performed here to demonstrate the quality of the frequency ruler. In addition, the spiral resonator is implemented in an frequency-modulated continuous-wave LiDAR experiment to demonstrate a potential application of the proposed on-chip frequency ruler.
How to design equitable digital health tools: A narrative review of design tactics, case studies, and opportunities
Authors: Bucher Amy , Chaudhry Beenish M. , Davis Jean W. , Lawrence Katharine , Panza Emily , Baqer Manal , Feinstein Rebecca T. , Fields Sherecce A. , Huberty Jennifer , Kaplan Deanna M. , Kusters Isabelle S. , Materia Frank T. , Park Susanna Y. , Kepper Maura
Published: August 2024

With a renewed focus on health equity in the United States driven by national crises and legislation to improve digital healthcare innovation, there is a need for the designers of digital health tools to take deliberate steps to design for equity in their work. A concrete toolkit of methods to design for health equity is needed to support digital health practitioners in this aim. This narrative review summarizes several health equity frameworks to help digital health practitioners conceptualize the equity dimensions of importance for their work, and then provides design approaches that accommodate an equity focus. Specifically, the Double Diamond Model, the IDEAS framework and toolkit, and community collaboration techniques such as participatory design are explored as mechanisms for practitioners to solicit input from members of underserved groups and better design digital health tools that serve their needs. Each of these design methods requires a deliberate effort by practitioners to infuse health equity into the approach. A series of case studies that use different methods to build in equity considerations are offered to provide examples of how this can be accomplished and demonstrate the range of applications available depending on resources, budget, product maturity, and other factors. We conclude with a call for shared rigor around designing digital health tools that deliver equitable outcomes for members of underserved populations.
LERCause: Deep learning approaches for causal sentence identification from nuclear safety reports
Authors: Kim Jinmo , Kim Jenna , Lee Aejin , Kim Jinseok , Diesner Jana
Published: August 2024

Identifying causal sentences from nuclear incident reports is essential for advancing nuclear safety research and applications. Nonetheless, accurately locating and labeling causal sentences in text data is challenging, and might benefit from the usage of automated techniques. In this paper, we introduce LERCause, a labeled dataset combined with labeling methods meant to serve as a foundation for the classification of causal sentences in the domain of nuclear safety. We used three BERT models (BERT, BioBERT, and SciBERT) to 10,608 annotated sentences from the Licensee Event Report (LER) corpus for predicting sentence labels (Causal vs. non-Causal). We also used a keyword-based heuristic strategy, three standard machine learning methods (Logistic Regression, Gradient Boosting, and Support Vector Machine), and a deep learning approach (Convolutional Neural Network; CNN) for comparison. We found that the BERT-centric models outperformed all other tested models in terms of all evaluation metrics (accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score). BioBERT resulted in the highest overall F1 score of 94.49% from the ten-fold cross-validation. Our dataset and coding framework can provide a robust baseline for assessing and comparing new causal sentences extraction techniques. As far as we know, our research breaks new ground by leveraging BERT-centric models for causal sentence classification in the nuclear safety domain and by openly distributing labeled data and code to enable reproducibility in subsequent research.
Oxford handbook of evidentiality (A. Aikhenvald)
Authors: Zubeldia Larraitz
Published: August 2024

Hizkuntza guztiek dituzte hiztunak bera ematen ari den informazioaren iturria zein den adierazteko hizkuntza-baliabideak. Denek dituzte era bateko edo besteko bide lexikalak (aditzondoak, izenak, partikulak eta abar) informazioa nondik datorren adierazteko. Munduko hizkuntzen laurdenak, ordea, bide horiez gain, markatzaile gramatikalak ere baditu informazio-iturria markatzeko (Aikhenvald 2004b); hau da, aditzarekin batera nahiz aditzaren gunean agertzen diren elementuak. Ebidentzial esaten zaie gisa horretako baliabideei, eta ebidentzialitatea kategoriari. Hala ere, ez dago erabateko adostasunik ebidentzialitatea definitzean edo zedarritzean. Nolanahi ere, definizio orokor bat emate aldera, ebidentzialitatea esaten zaio hizkuntzan informazio-iturria markatzeko bitartekoak biltzen dituen kategoriari. Kategoria finkatzetik beretik hasten dira desadostasunak, ordea. Mota bateko ikuspegiaren arabera, bide lexikalak eta gramatikalak, denak sartzen dira ebidentzialitatean; beste mota bateko ikuspegiaren arabera, berriz, markatzaile gramatikalak bakarrik. Batez ere liburu honen editore Aikhenvalden —eta beste egile batzuen—
ustez, informazio-iturria gramatikalki adierazteari bakarrik esan behar litzaioke ebidentzialitatea. Bera da ikuspegi horren defendatzaile sutsua; Squartinik (2018), lan honetako bere artikuluan, adierazten duen bezala, bera da ikuspegi horren ordezkaria. Beste batzuen arabera (ikus, besteak beste, Narrog 2005, Cornillie 2007, McCready eta Ogata 2007, Squartini 2007 eta Boye 2010), aldiz, ikuspegi murritzegia da hori, terminoaren definiziotik kanpora uzten baititu hala hainbat hizkuntza, nola hizkuntza horietan hiztunaren informazio-iturria adierazteko erabiltzen diren hainbat bitarteko. Badirudi, dena dela, azken urteetan nolabaiteko adostasuna lortu dela, eta bi multzo nagusitan banatzen dira informazio-iturria adierazteari lotutako hizkuntza-baliabideak: elementu ebidentzialak (gramatikalak) eta estrategia ebidentzialak (bide lexikalak).
Improving Storage Stability and Kinetics of Pasundan Bull Sperm Encapsulation Using Alginate Solid Beads
Authors: Manan Muhammad Abdul , Khan Ayesha , Samsudewa Daud , Pamungkas Fitra Aji , Abbas Faheem , Khan Bushra Nisar , Haideri Kiran , Zulfiqar Hamza , Darussalam Imam , Widaningsih Rita
Published: August 2024

The study aims to develop a pasundan bull sperm encapsulation process and investigate whether alginate solid bead encapsulation improves sperm lifetime and survivability in cold storage. In order to make sperm encapsulation, 0.5% and 0.25% sperm-alginate droplets were added to a solution containing 1.5% dissolved calcium chloride (CaCl2) in physiological saline, and droplets were allowed to settle for one minute, resulting in sperm embedded in solid beads of alginate matrix. Solid beads and unencapsulated sperms in a diluent of tris egg yolk with 0.25% and 0.5% alginate were assessed following 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h of refrigerated storage at 5°C. The observed parameters, in addition to sperm viability and membrane integrity, also include total motility, progressive motility, and sperm kinematics, which were measured using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) systems. To determine if differences amongst data were statistically significant, analysis of variance was used, and the Duncan Multi Range Test was performed. The result showed that although the initial process of encapsulation resulted in a decrease in total motility, progressive motility, and kinematics value, alginate solid bead encapsulation was found to be more stable than unencapsulated sperm during storage at 5 °C for up to 4 days. The movement of spermatozoa is restricted to the viscosity of the alginate medium without disturbing the membrane's viability and integrity. It can be concluded that alginate solid bead encapsulation in pasundan bull semen can improve sperm stabilization during refrigerator storage.
The Effect of Different Ovarian Storage Times and Oocyte Collection Methods on the Quantity, Quality, and Maturation of Buffalo Oocytes In Vitro
Authors: Tahuk Paulus Klau , Nahak Oktovianus R. , Bira Gerson Frans
Published: August 2024

This study aimed to ascertain the impact of oocyte harvest methods and storage times on the amount, quality, and rate of buffalo oocyte maturation in vitro. Ovaries were collected from slaughterhouse at four different time storages (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 h) before processing with three collection techniques slicing, aspiration, and slicing plus the aspiration of oocytes. According to the morphology of cumulus cell layers closely attached to the zona pellucida of the oocytes and the cytoplasmic appearance of the oocytes, the oocytes were divided into 4 groups (A, B, C, and D). Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were transferred into in vitro maturation (IVM) medium of TCM- 199 (Sigma) for 24 h. The stages of nuclear maturation were examined by staining the enlarged COCs from each group.  The result found that the average quantity of oocytes per ovary ranged from 8.08±1.28 to 9.83 ±1.89 and no significant effect (P0.05) on the quantity of oocytes per ovary. The average of oocytes quality per ovary ranges from 0.2 to 5.00 was a highly significant effect of storage time on quality oocytes (P0.01). The maturation rate in the M-II stage ranges from 1.33 to 3.92 per ovary, and storage time is a significant effect (P0.05) on the maturation rate of local buffalo. The collection methods were highly significant (P0.01) on the quantity of oocytes between slicing and aspiration, also between aspiration plus slicing, and no significant (P0.05) between slicing and aspiration plus slicing. The Average oocyte quality ranged from 0.10 to 4.95 per ovary and the highest in slicing plus aspiration methods (P0.05).  The average maturation rate in M-II stage was ranged from 1.00 to 3.85 oocytes per ovary, and the methods of oocytes collection were significant (P0.05) on the maturation rate of local buffalo. In conclusion that the storage time of up to 6 h and aspiration plus slicing is suitable on in vitro maturation of local buffalo.
Evaluation of the efficacy of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid with chondroitin sulfate in post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Bialik E. I. , Makarov M. A. , Nesterenko V. A. , Bialik V. E. , Karateev A. E. , Bialik A. A. , Stadnik V. I.
Published: August 2024

Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of a single or double administration of a preparation of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HLA) with chondroitin sulfate (CS) in post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). Material and methods. The study included 91 patients with stage III post-traumatic knee OA. All patients received intra-articular (i/a) injection of high molecular weight HLA with CS; 36 patients received the drug once (group 1) and 55 twice (group 2) with an average interval of 7±2 days. Before the start of treatment and 2 weeks, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after i/a injection of HLA, pain intensity at rest and during movement was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and function was assessed using KOOS questionnaire (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score). Results and discussion. In general, patients receiving single and double i/a injections of HLA, pain during movement at baseline, and after 2 weeks, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months was 6.7±1.1; 4.0±0.7; 4.3±0.8; 4.6±1.0; 4.5±1.1 and 5.3±0.4 cm; pain at rest – 2.7±0.6; 1.5±0.2; 1.8±0.2; 2.1±0.5; 2.2±0.3 and 2.6±0.2 cm, and KOOS score was 35.9±13.6; 43.5±13.6; 49.2±17.6; 57.0±12.5; 51.5±11.7 and 40.3±10.2, respectively. In group 1, pain during movement at the same time line reached 6.7±1.2; 4.0±0.7; 4.3±1.1; 4.6±.08; 4.5±0.6 and 5.3±1.3 cm; pain at rest – 2.7±0.5; 1.5±0.3; 1.8±0.4; 2.1±0.4; 2.2±0.6 and 2.6±0.6 cm; KOOS score – 37.2±8.7; 39.1±10.1; 43.0±12.3; 47.0±13.6; 49.5±14.7 and 35.7±12.4, respectively.In the 2nd group, pain during movement was 6.1±1.5; 3.3±0.7; 3.6±0.6; 3.4±0.5; 3.7±0.4 and 4.4±0.3 cm; pain at rest was 2.6±0.3; 1.9±0.2; 1.1±0.2; 0.9±0.1; 0.7±0.1 and 1.7±0.3 cm; KOOS score was 34.7±9.4; 47.1±11.1; 59.3±11.5; 61.4±12.7; 57.2±14.3 and 45.7±12.4, respectively. Conclusion. In patients with stage III knee OA, double injections of HLA with HS were more effective. The maximum pain reduction and functional improvement were observed in the first 3 months after local injection therapy.
Muzyka i idee Pawła Szymańskiego. O książce Natalii Szwab
Authors: Nowicka-Ciecierska Magdalena
Published: August 2024

Paweł Szymański’s works stand out as highly original against the background of Polish and world music. They have been performed throughout the world and have been the subject of reviews by music critics much more often than the subject of scholarly monographs. This article is a review of Natalia Szwab’s book Surkonwencjonalizm Pawła Szymańskiego. Idee i muzyka (Kraków 2020) – the first extensive monograph on the works of Szymański. In it the author presents the ideas which influenced these works, as well as detailed analyses of selected compositions (seventeen in total). She also provides a wide perspective on the composer’s self-reflections, while also presenting an objectivised discourse on his music through the use of aptly chosen quotations from the works of Polish musicologists, theorists and music critics. Authorial analyses of specific compositions demonstrate that, while Szymański’s scores contain perceptible rules, their actual effect escapes unambiguous interpretation. The author interprets Szymański’s works through the prism of postmodernist thought, including the techniques of deconstruction, intertextual strategies and surconventionalism. Undoubtedly a valuable attribute of this book is its presentation of Szymański’s music from different perspectives; the author demonstrates that in the same compositions one can observe different aspects of postmodernism which, as she says, “in a sense lead to the conception of surconventionalism formulated by the composer”.
Popnacjonalizm, czyli elementy dyskursu (re)konstrukcji amerykańskiego poczucia tożsamości narodowej w wybranych filmach hollywoodzkich
Authors: Stawska Marta
Published: August 2024

This article is dedicated to the idea of pop-nationalism and the connection between popular culture and how its productions (re)construct the American sense of national identity. The study is divided into subsections that delve into topics such as national identity in the current, fragmented social reality, the role of films in propagating American values during times of major socio-political crises, and the concept of banal nationalism according to Michael Billig. To analyze the elements of discourse, three films were chosen – Rocky IV (dir. Sylvester Stallone, 1985), Top Gun (dir. Tony Scott, 1986), and American Sniper (dir. Clint Eastwood, 2014). The research findings indicate that Hollywood films have a significant impact on building and reinforcing a sense of national pride and belonging in American society. Pop-nationalism is often used for entertainment purposes but also as a propaganda tool, especially during periods of international conflicts and political tensions.
Zintensyfikowane działania rodziców jako cecha współczesnego rodzicielstwa. Rozważania teoretyczne
Authors: Mazurowska Anna
Published: August 2024

The article analyzes selected theoretical categories relating to parenting from a social perspective. The common denominator of these categories are the intensive actions of parents towards children, aimed at ensuring the best conditions for their development. The main axis of the narrative is the category of overparenting and helicopter parents. Moreover, the text provides hypotheses as to why parents choose this model of supporting their children.
Sperm recovery from urine in men with retrograde ejaculation
Authors: Álvarez Ernesto Veiga , García Nuria Zopeque , Gutiérrez Romero Javier M. , Díaz-Fierros Pilar Reimundo , Lozano Arana María D. , Pérez Tamara Rodríguez , Álvarez Javier Sánchez , Rodríguez Guadalupe Bueno , Bernardo Vanesa Castañón , Moyano Gallego María J.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Retrograde ejaculation (RE) consists of the reflux backwards, towards the bladder, of the ejaculate, during the emission phase of ejaculation, causing a total or partial absence of sperm emission, with the consequent diversion of semen into the bladder during the emission phase of ejaculation. Evaluating the ejaculate may not be sufficient for identifying RE in some patients. Hence, the management of infertility may involve the use of invasive methods such as epididymal fluid retrieval or testicular biopsy.

Content

This paper defines RE and methods for its diagnosis. A description is also provided of the techniques used for the detection of sperm in post-ejaculatory urine (PEU), the preparation and retrieval of sperm from urine and their subsequent use in assisted reproductive techniques.

The diagnosis of RE is based on the detection of spermatozoa in PEU in patients with aspermia or oligozoospermia and low or normal seminal volume. Although the presence of sperm in PEU could be sufficient for a diagnosis of RE, there is a lack of consensus regarding the diagnostic criteria for PEU, and the literature available is very limited. A correct diagnosis of RE allows the use of PEU for recovering sperm and its subsequent use in assisted human reproduction techniques, thus avoiding invasive techniques.

Outlook

A significant number of patients with RE may remain undiagnosed. Therefore, it is essential to conduct an RE study in patients with suspicion, through the analysis of PEU, and to properly interpret the results for accurate diagnosis.
Utilizing nano-computed tomography to characterize the structural nature of industrial minerals
Authors: Razavi A. , Stein A. , Quirmbach P.
Published: August 2024

X-ray computed tomography (XRT) is a nondestructive and thus reproducible examination method allowing the three-dimensional (3D) investigation of the internal and external structures of objects regardless of their material and geometry. In the present study, XRT was used to investigate the influence of hydrochloric acid leaching on the composition and constitution of iron-rich bauxite grains.

Reducing the iron content in raw bauxites by acid leaching is a promising method for the beneficiation of iron-rich bauxites for subsequent use in the refractory industry. Not only the effect of the leaching process on the chemical composition of the bauxites, but also aspects such as the acid’s influence on the mineralogical composition and the resulting porosity of the individual grains have hardly been taken into account so far. To address these issues, various bauxites were examined before and after acid leaching using XRT analysis and specifically characterized with regard to their constitution.
Das darf hier keine Rolle spielen
Authors: Guse Juan S. , Hasenbruch Monika , Wagner Gabriele , Weingärtner Simon
Published: August 2024

Der Beitrag knüpft an die aktuelle Debatte um die Transformation moralischer Werte in und durch Organisationen an. Jüngere neoinstitutionalistische Arbeiten modellieren mittlerweile zwar das erwartbare Auseinanderklaffen von Behauptungen und Praxis nuancierter als ältere, werfen allerdings kein konzeptionelles Schlaglicht auf die Interaktionen innerhalb normativ formatierter Organisationsstrukturen. Unsere kommunikationstheoretische Modellerweiterung lenkt den Blick auf genau diese intersubjektiven Aushandlungsprozesse. Sie basiert auf den Ergebnissen einer ethnografischen Studie zu hochselektiven Auswahlverfahren für „talentierte“ Führungskräfte von Konzernen, die neben der klassischen Leistungsbewertung explizit auch normativ aufgeladenen Konzepten wie Diversity und Chancengleichheit Rechnung tragen wollen. Wir gelangen zum Schluss, dass sich die Prozessierung solch konfligierender Werte als Übersetzungskaskaden beschreiben lässt. Diese verdichten wir konzeptionell in der analytischen Unterscheidung zwischen formalen und situativen Übersetzungen von Moral.
FEM Analysis on Isotropic Consolidation of Unsaturated Soils Using Ceramic Disks and Microporous Membrane Filters for Suction Control
Authors: Xiong Xi , Kobayashi Shun-ichi , Izumi Hiroyuki , Zhang Feng
Published: August 2024

Microporous membrane (MM) filters with a significantly thin thickness have recently been used as an alternative to ceramic disks for matric suction control in the axis-translation technique for element tests on unsaturated soils. Although researchers have highlighted some discrepancies in test results when ceramic disks and MM filters are used, the mechanism leading to these discrepancies has not yet been clarified. In this study, suction-controlled triaxial tests were first conducted on unsaturated completely decomposed granite using two filters. Then, it is natural to believe that the different thicknesses of ceramic disk and MM filters may significantly influence the suction equilibrium process of specimens. To clarify this issue, soil-water-air coupled finite element modeling was performed to simulate the consolidation process in triaxial tests as an initial/boundary value problem. In the numerical calculation, the influence of the void ratio on the water retention curve (WRC) of soil was properly considered by adopting a deformation-dependent WRC model. In particular, the ceramic disk and MM filter, along with the specimens, were modeled, and their differences in thickness were considered. The calculated results show that a nonuniform distribution of suction occurred in the ceramic disk, leading to greater drainage discharge of the specimens. In other words, the influence of the thickness difference between the MM filter and ceramic disk cannot be neglected. However, regardless of whether ceramic discs or MM filters are used, the uneven distribution of the state variables in the specimens may occur in the triaxial tests for unsaturated soils, which emphasizes the importance of assessing the soil tests using the present axis-translation technique as initial/boundary value problems.
O discurso sobre os portadores de deficiência em documentos oficiais
Authors: Zonatto Katia Otero , Pacífico Soraya Maria Romano , Romão Lucília Maria Sousa
Published: August 2024

Devido à crescente inclusão de portadores de necessidades especiais, incentivada pelos governos brasileiro e internacional, torna-se importante analisar as principais propostas encontradas em documentos oficiais, visando a pesquisar de que forma tais propostas de inclusão estão sendo tratadas por essas políticas governamentais. Para isso, recorremos aos pressupostos teóricos da Análise do Discurso de matriz francesa, buscando interpretar a maneira como são construídos os sentidos que sustentam as leis e as propostas recentemente implementadas pelos documentos oficiais sobre a questão.
Planejamento sequenciado da aprendizagem
Authors: Gonçalves Adair Vieira , Barros Eliana Merlin Deganutti de
Published: August 2024

Ao tomar os gêneros como objeto de ensino, torna-se imprescindível uma descrição a priori de tais objetos, bem como um trabalho de transformação dos conhecimentos teóricos que os subjazem em instrumentos didáticos cujo foco seja o aprendizado. É nessa perspectiva que este artigo objetiva abordar as noções de modelos didáticos de gêneros, capacidades de linguagem e sequências didáticas (SD), exploradas pelos pesquisadores de Didática das Línguas da Universidade de Genebra, a fim de evidenciar a importância destas como ferramentas potencializadores do ensino da língua materna. A fim de manter um diálogo com as propostas oficiais de ensino, o trabalho apresenta uma breve investigação nos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais dos três níveis de ensino – Fundamental 1, Fundamental 2 e Ensino Médio – tendo como foco a abordagem do planejamento das atividades didáticas para o ensino da língua direcionada ao gêneros textuais. Posteriormente, apresentamos teórico-metodologicamente os princípios norteadores do modelo e da sequência didática e, empiricamente, a análise de três SD e seus respectivos modelos didáticos. As análises possibilitam concluir que tais ferramentas constituem-se instrumentos didáticos da mestria de práticas de linguagem (re)configuradas em gêneros textuais.
Deep Brain Stimulation for Substance Use Disorder: Current Status
Authors: Song Zhihao , Huang Shihao , Yang Chang , Li Haoyu
Published: August 2024

Substance use disorders (SUDs) precipitate a loss of control over substance use, thus compromising daily functioning and social behavior. Current addiction treatment relies primarily on medication. Relapses may occur after extended periods of abstinence upon exposure to substance-associated stimuli or environments. More must be done to prevent relapsing. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is used to treat a spectrum of medical conditions through insertion of electrodes into specific brain regions and administration of impulses that regulate brain activity. Considerable evidence suggests that DBS may be helpful in treating addiction, but the targets and treatment parameters remain ambiguous. This review describes research progress and the associated targets of DBS in managing alcohol, cocaine, opioid, and nicotine addiction, to lay groundwork for future research. It additionally examines the risks and safety aspects of DBS in SUD treatment, to optimize DBS for enhanced clinical efficacy in managing addictive disorders.
COVID-19 Induced Hepatitis, Meta-analysis and Systematic Review
Authors: Gadour Eyad
Published: August 2024

Background The prevalence of elevated liver chemistries and the incidence of acute liver injury have been recently reported in COVID-19. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assessthe prevalence and degree of liver injury and impaired liver biochemistrybetween patients with severe and non-severe COVID-19. Materials and methods Electronicsearch was done for PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, Google scholarly and (Ovid) Embase databases for all the related literature published up toJanuary 30, 2021. The data were analyzed using RavMen 5.3 statistical software. The fixed‐effects model was used for pooling the data. The risk of bias and quality of included studies was assessed using Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias in randomized trials. Results We estimated the overall pooled data of these seventeen studies with 7132 COVID-19 infected patients (severe cases, n=2955; mild cases, n=4178), it was demonstrated that elevated serum levelsof AST (odds ratio (OR): 2.656% confidence interval (CI): 2.30, 2.035), with significantheterogeneity: Chi² = 34.67, df = 16 (p = 0.004); I² = 54%, Z = 13.53 (p = 0.001), ALT(odds ratio (OR): 3.0839% confidence interval (CI): 2.6347, 3.6097), with significant heterogeneity: Chi²= 48.99, df = 16 (p = 0.001); I² = 65%, Z = 14.02 (p = 0.0001), and total bilirubin (odds ratio (OR): 1.8796% confidence interval (CI): 1.427, 2.4597),heterogeneity: Chi²= 22.15, df = 9 (p = 0.0008); I² = 59%, Z = 4.48 (p = 0.0001), were associated with a significantincrease in the severity of COVID-19 infections. Additionally,collective data from the random effects modelpresented that lower serum levels of albumin (odds ratio (OR): 1.4062% confidence interval (CI): 1.0971, 1.8023),with slight heterogeneity: Chi²= 11.58, df = 10 (p = 0.31); I² = 14%, Z = 2.69 (p = 0.007). Conclusion COVID-19 Induced Hepatitis is common in severe COVID-19 patients. Care givers must be responsive of potential development of severe disease in population with COVID- 19-associated liver injury