bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kolmogorov bounds in the CLT of the LSE for Gaussian Ornstein Uhlenbeck processes
Authors: Balde Maoudo Faramba , Belfadli Rachid , Es-Sebaiy Khalifa
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we consider the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU) process defined as solution to the equation [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a Gaussian process with stationary increments, whereas [Formula: see text] is unknown parameter to be estimated. We provide an upper bound in Kolmogorov distance for normal approximation of the least squares estimator [Formula: see text] of the drift parameter [Formula: see text] on the basis of the continuous observation [Formula: see text], as [Formula: see text]. Our approach is based on some novel estimates involving a combination of Malliavin calculus and Stein’s method for normal approximation. We apply our result to fractional OU processes of the first kind, and improved the upper bound of the Kolmogorov distance for the LSE [Formula: see text] provided by [Y. Chen, N. Kuang and Y. Li, Berry–Esseen bound for the parameter estimation of fractional Ornstein–Uhlenbeck processes, Stoch. Dyn. 20(4) (2020) 2050023; Y. Chen and Y. Li, Berry–Esseen bound for the parameter estimation of fractional Ornstein–Uhlenbeck processes with the hurst parameter [Formula: see text], Commun. Stat. Theory Methods 50(13) (2021) 2996–3013], respectively, in the cases [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We also apply our approach to fractional OU processes of the second kind.
Photophysical characterization of a ruthenium-based tetrameric pentacene complex
Authors: Hou Yuxuan , Papadopoulos Ilias , Ferguson Michael J. , Jux Norbert , Tykwinski Rik R. , Guldi Dirk M.
Published: March 2023

The synthesis of a ruthenium(II) tetramer (Ru(L[Formula: see text])[Formula: see text]Cl[Formula: see text] bearing pyridyl pentacene-based ligands and its corresponding model complex lacking pentacene moieties (Ru(L[Formula: see text])[Formula: see text]Cl[Formula: see text] is presented. The formation of these tetramers is corroborated by 1H, [Formula: see text]C NMR, and IR spectroscopies, as well as X-ray crystallography and mass spectrometry. Photophysical properties of the tetramers are probed by steady-state and time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. Steady-state absorption and fluorescence assays suggest weak ground-state interactions between the pentacene moieties of Ru(L[Formula: see text])[Formula: see text]Cl[Formula: see text] and sizeable metal-to-ligand interactions, which are ruthenium-to-pentacene based. Time-resolved transient absorption measurements reveal an ultrafast singlet-to-triplet transition that occurs on the femtosecond timescale and that yields vibrationally hot and solvent unrelaxed triplet excited states. After relaxation, these triplet excited states deactivate back to the ground state in less than 3 [Formula: see text]s. These observations lead us to conclude that intersystem crossing outperforms photophysical processes such as singlet fission.
Crystal structure, stability, spectroscopy, electronic structure, and ultrafast excited-state dynamics of the elusive iron(II) phthalocyanine axially coordinated with DABCO ligands
Authors: Nevonen Dustin E. , Schaffner Jacob , Hanrahan Paul , Shepit Michael , van Lierop Johan , Blank David A. , Nemykin Victor N.
Published: March 2023

The elusive PcFe(DABCO)2 (Pc = phthalocyaninato(2-) ligand; DABCO = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) complex was prepared and characterized by UV-Vis, MCD, 1H NMR, and Mössbauer spectroscopies. The X-ray crystal structure of this complex indicates the longest Fe-N(DABCO) bond distance among all known PcFeL2 complexes with nitrogen donors as the axial ligands. The target compound is only stable in the presence of large access of the axial ligand and rapidly converts into the (PcFe)2O [Formula: see text]-oxo dimer even at a modest temperature. The electronic structure of the PcFe(DABCO)2 complex was elucidated by DFT and TDDFT methods. The DFT calculations predicted a very small singlet-triplet gap in this compound. The femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy is indicative of extremely fast ([Formula: see text]200 fs) deactivation of the first excited state in PcFe(DABCO)2 with a lack of formation of the long-lived low-energy triplet state.
Hazard Assessment of Drought Using PNPI and GIS in Fars Province, Iran
Authors: Taheri Zahra , Masoudi Masoud
Published: March 2023

Drought is among the natural disasters that seriously impact the environment and human life. This study aims to explore the spatial pattern of drought using the percent of normal precipitation index (PNPI) in Fars Province, located in the Southern part of Iran. To this end, a drought risk model based on data from 42 stations in Fars province from 1990 to 2019 was evaluated. The model includes three criteria of maximum drought intensity in the period, drought trend, and a maximum number of consecutive dry years. The final drought risk map was obtained with an arithmetic mean of three indicators of intensity, continuity, and trend. The final hazard map and the 3-criteria map were interpolated by the inverse distance weighting (IDW) method and were classified into five risk classes: none, mild, moderate, severe, and very severe. The final vulnerability map shows that moderate hazard areas (5% of the region), which are observed in the Sothern parts of the region, are less widespread than areas under severe hazard (83% of the region), which are observed in almost all parts of the region. According to the final vulnerability map, about 94% of the area of Fars province is under severe and very severe conditions. Overall, this study, regarding its simplicity and considering different dimensions of drought, may be utilised as a basic framework to evaluate drought hazards for other locations worldwide. In this respect, it is necessary to study the multiple sights of this phenomenon for land use planning, resource management, and prevention of water and food crises. Therefore, this model can help users and administrations with executive initiatives.
Li[Ni0.6Mn0.2Co0.2]O2 Made From Crystalline Rock Salt Oxide Precursors
Authors: Tahmasebi Mohammad H. , Zheng Lituo , Hatchard T. D. , Obrovac M. N.
Published: March 2023

Layered lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide or NMC type cathode materials dominate the lithium-ion battery market. However, the production of their precursor involves the use of large amounts of water and can create waste. All-dry synthesis methods are attractive as they are potentially cheaper and greener. However, it remains a challenge to achieve atomic scale mixing of the precursor elements by dry methods. Here, we report an alternative route to achieve atomic scale mixing by employing thermal interdiffusion to produce a phase pure rock salt structure precursor for NMC cathode materials, which can significantly shorten the preparation time and may further reduce cost. The complications and applicability of using a thermally synthesized precursor to make layered cathode material are presented in detail.
Editors’ Choice—Thin Film Transistor Response in the THz Range
Authors: Shur M. S. , Liu X. , Ytterdal T.
Published: March 2023

Novel metal oxide materials such as InGaZnO (IGZO), ZnO, SnO, and In2O3 and improved fabrication processes dramatically enhanced the achieved and projected thin film transistor (TFT) performance. The record values of the effective field-effect mobility of Metal Oxide TFT (MOTFT) materials have approached 150 cm2/Vs. We report on an improved compact TFT model based on three models: the RPI TFT model, the unified charge control model (UCCM), and the multi-segment TFT compact model. This improved model accounts for a non-exponential slope in the subthreshold regime by introducing a varying subthreshold slope and accounts for non-trivial capacitance dependence on the gate bias, and parasitic impedances. The analysis of the TFT response using this model and the analytical calculations showed that TFTs could have a significant response to impinging THz and sub-THz radiation. Using a complementary inverter and the phase-matched THz signal feeding significantly improves the detection sensitivity.
Synthesis and Room Temperature Structural, Optical, Electrical Properties of Holmium Doped GdMn2O5 Multiferroics
Authors: Swathi D. , Yadav Nand Kishor , Praveen P. , Swamy N. Kumar , Kumar N. Pavan
Published: March 2023

Multiferroic materials with the compositional formulae Gd1-xHoxMn2O5 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4) were prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method. The structural analysis has been carried out by X-ray diffraction technique which confirms the orthorhombic structure with the Pbam space group. The optical properties have been studied by UV Visible, FTIR, and Raman spectra. The energy gap that was calculated using UV visible absorption spectra shows that the material is semiconducting in nature. The observed 14 Raman and 17 IR active modes are attributed to the relative motions of corresponding atoms and by increasing the doping concentration of Ho, the emergence of phonon shifting was observed which suggests the possible multiferroic coupling behaviour. The electrical properties including dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and ac conductivity at room temperature indicate the spin-lattice coupling.
Cancer-associated fibroblasts suppressed ferroptosis in glioblastoma via upregulating lncRNA DLEU1
Authors: Zhao Jie , Yang Shaobo , Lv Caihong , Liu Ying
Published: March 2023

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults. It is crucial to elucidate the mechanism underlying ferroptosis resistance in GBM. We used qRT-PCR to detect the level of DLEU1 and mRNAs of indicated genes, whereas protein levels were determined by Western blots. Fluorescence in situ hybridization assay (FISH) was applied to validate the sublocation of DLEU1 in GBM cells. Gene knockdown or overexpression was achieved by transient transfection. Ferroptosis markers were detected by indicated kits and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP)-qPCR, and dual-luciferase assay were used to validate the direct interaction between indicated key molecules in the current study. We validated that the expression of DLEU1 was upregulated in GBM samples. DLEU1 knockdown exacerbated erastin-induced ferroptosis in LN229 and U251MG cells, as well as in the xenograft model. Mechanistically, we found that DLEU1 bound with ZFP36 and facilitated ZFP36 to degrade ATF3 mRNA, thus upregulating the expression of SLC7A11 to attenuate erastin-induced ferroptosis. Importantly, our results confirmed that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) conferred ferroptosis resistance in GBM. The stimulation of CAF-conditioned medium enhanced the activation of HSF1, and HSF1 transcriptionally increased the level of DLEU1 to regulate erastin-induced ferroptosis. This study identified DLEU1 as an oncogenic lncRNA that epigenetically downregulates ATF3 expression via binding with ZFP36 to facilitate ferroptosis resistance in GBM. The upregulation of DLEU1 in GBM might be attributed to CAF-induced HSF1 activation. Our study might provide a research basis for understanding CAF-induced ferroptosis resistance in GBM.
A Rare Case of Acute Pancreatitis as Dengue Complication
Authors: Nguyen Tuy Hong Thi , Nguyen Hien Quang
Published: March 2023

A 31-year-old male was admitted to the hospital because of fever for 2 days. He also had chills, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, and diarrhea. His vital signs were stable. Dengue virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) antigen was positive. Laboratory tests were significant for thrombocytopenia of 67.000/mm3 and high hematocrit of 45%. On the fifth day of the onset of fever, he experienced sudden epigastric pain. Laboratory results showed elevated serum amylase and lipase. Noncontrast abdominal CT findings were consistent with acute pancreatitis, Balthazar grade D. The patient was managed with supportive care and bowel rest. Two days later, his condition became stable, and he was discharged without complications.
Measurement-Based Analysis on Vehicle-to-Vehicle Connectivity in Tunnel Environment
Authors: Jiang Suying , Wang Wei , Rashdan Ibrahim , Unterhuber Paul , Peng Peng
Published: March 2023

Vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) brings an excellent solution to ensure road safety and transportation efficiency in critical environment like tunnel. Particularly, radio link connectivity of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) significantly influences the performance of VANETs. The communication range of the radio systems is a random variable in reality due to the channel fading effect. Therefore, the connectivity model between vehicles in realistic environment is a key for accurate evaluation of system performances. In this paper, we study the V2V connectivity performance in the presence of channel randomness for tunnel environment. Firstly, based on channel measurement campaign, empirical path loss (PL) and small-scale fading channel models are established. Secondly, we study the influence of large-scale fading parameters on V2V connectivity. Thirdly, based on real small-scale fading characteristics, we derive the V2V connectivity probability between any two vehicles under Nakagami fading channel for one-dimensional VANET, and give the closed-form of V2V connectivity probability. Finally, we study the influences of various parameters (i.e., Nakagami fading factor, vehicle density, and neighbor order) on V2V connectivity performance. Results show that with the Nakagami fading shape factor increases, the connectivity probability increases. The shadowing fading can improve connectivity in the VANET; the path loss exponent, transmission distance, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) threshold have a negative impact on connectivity probability. The transmit power, vehicle density, and path loss threshold value have a positive impact on connectivity.
Changes in Retinal Thickness and Brain Volume during 6.8-Year Escalating Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Borgström Max , Fredrikson Mats , Vrethem Magnus , Mirabelli Pierfrancesco , Link Hans , Huang-Link Yumin
Published: March 2023

Background. Different disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for multiple sclerosis (MS) have disparate effects on disability outcomes. Sweden has a leading position globally in initiating high-efficacy DMT instead of escalating DMT from 1st-line to high-efficacy DMT. With optical coherence tomography (OCT), retinal changes can be measured at a few micrometer level. OCT has been increasingly applied in diagnosing MS and monitoring disease course and therapeutic effect. Objective. We investigate the effects of 1st-line versus high-efficacy DMT for MS on retinal and brain atrophy and on functional outcomes during 6.8 years of escalating DMT. Materials and Methods. In this prospective longitudinal observational study, 18 MS patients were followed up for 6.8 years. Twelve of the patients were untreated at baseline. All patients underwent 1st-line DMT for median duration of 2.4 years and then switched to high-efficacy DMT for a median duration of 2.9 years. Findings from neurological examinations, MRI, and OCT measures were registered 2-4 times per year. Results. Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness was significantly reduced during 1st-line DMT (73.75 μm,

p
<
0.01

) compared to baseline (76.38 μm). During high-efficacy DMT, thickness reduction was slower (73.27 μm,

p
<
0.05

), and MRI contrast-loading lesions vanished (

p
<
0.01

). However, brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) decreased during high-efficacy DMT compared to 1st-line DMT. Estimated models showed similar results. Conclusion. GCIPL decline was most profound during 1st-line DMT and diminished during high-efficacy DMT. MRI contrast lesions vanished during high-efficacy DMT. However, brain atrophy continued regardless of high-efficacy DMT.
Higher Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) Is a Preoperative Inflammation Biomarker of Poor Prognosis in HIV-Infected Patients with Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Deng Li , Si Yanhui , Wu Qian , Cao Ye , Lian Shixian , Li Lei
Published: March 2023

Background. The serum systemic inflammation biomarkers are known predictors of colorectal cancer (CRC) patient prognosis. However, their significance in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with CRC has not been studied. To address this gap, we conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the prognostic value of preoperative systemic inflammation biomarkers in HIV-infected patients with CRC. Methods. The study enrolled 57 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and HIV who underwent surgery at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center between January 2015 and December 2021. Preoperative tests were conducted, and systemic inflammation biomarkers were measured. The patients were categorized into two groups using the optimal cut-off value. The Kaplan–Meier method and the log-rank test were used to determine overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional regression model. A time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (t-ROC) was used to compare the prognostic abilities of the biomarkers. Results. The study included 57 HIV-infected CRC patients, with a median age of 60 and a follow-up time ranging from 3 to 86 months. Of the patients, 49 were male and 8 were female. The cumulative three-year OS and PFS rates were 55.0% and 45.0%, respectively. The optimal cut-off value for preoperative NLR was found to be 2.8, which was significantly correlated with lower CD8+ T and CD3+ T lymphocyte counts. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that a low NLR was an independent predictor of better OS and PFS (OS: HR = 0.094, 95% CI: 0.02–0.45,

P
=
0.003

; PFS: HR = 0.265, 95% CI: 0.088–0.8,

P
=
0.019

). The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (t-ROC) analysis showed that NLR was a superior systemic inflammation biomarker for predicting the prognosis of HIV-infected CRC patients throughout the observation period. Conclusion. The preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an easily measurable immune biomarker, may provide useful prognostic information in HIV-infected colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.
Confluent and Reticulated Papillomatosis Successfully Treated with Topical Vitamin A Derivative
Authors: Alsulami Manal , Alharbi Bader , Alotaibi Yaser , Alghamdi Fadi , Alsantali Adel
Published: March 2023

Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis (CARP) is a rare dermatosis that typically develops in adolescents and young adults. Clinical characteristics include hyperkeratotic papules that coalesce centrally with a reticulated pattern peripherally on the central and upper trunk, neck, and axilla. Its etiology is not precisely known, and disordered keratinization has been postulated as one of the etiologies. Treatment options of the disease include systemic (such as antibiotics, antifungals, and retinoids) and topical treatments (such as lactic acid, antifungals, retinoids, salicylic acid, urea, tacrolimus, and vitamin D analogs). We report a case of a 17-year-old boy, otherwise healthy, presented with a new onset of asymptomatic, persistent, and slowly progressing brownish skin lesions over the trunk for 6 months. The diagnosis was revised to CARP based on clinical and histopathological examination. Treatment with topical tretinoin 0.025% cream once daily was begun. There was complete resolution of his lesions at the end of 8 weeks of therapy. There has been no relapse at 2 months follow-up. The effectiveness of tretinoin in this patient supports the theory that CARP is a keratinization disorder. Initiating treatment with topical tretinoin when no limitations for its use would be reasonable as it can provide a safer alternative to systemic therapy.
Modeling Dockless Shared E-Scooter Demand by Time of Day: A Case Study of Austin
Authors: Alsulami Nami , Tirtha Sudipta Dey , Yasmin Shamsunnahar , Eluru Naveen
Published: March 2023

The goal of the current study is to identify and quantify the influence of various contributing factors on dockless e-scooter demand. Drawing on high-resolution e-scooter trip level data for 2019 from Austin, Texas, we develop census tract (CT) level demand data for four time periods of the day. The time-period specific data is partitioned for weekdays and weekends. Using the prepared datasets, we develop a joint panel linear regression (JPLR) model framework that accommodates for the influence of unobserved factors at multiple levels-CT, month, day, and time period levels. The analysis results indicate that the proposed JPLR models outperform the independent linear regression models for both weekdays and weekends. The results also manifest a significant association between e-scooter demand and several independent variables including sociodemographic attributes, transportation infrastructure variables, land use and built environment variables, meteorological attributes, and situational attributes. Further, several panel-specific correlation effects are found to be significant across four dimensions highlighting the importance of accommodating the influence of common unobserved factors on e-scooter demand across different time-of-day dimensions. The model validation exercise results revealed that the proposed models performed well compared to the independent models. Finally, the estimated models are employed to conduct a policy exercise illustrating the value of the estimated models for understanding CT level e-scooter demand on weekdays and weekends. The results indicate that land use mix, proportion of commuters, and season are some of the most influential factors for e-scooter demand.
Ablation of p57+ Quiescent Cancer Stem Cells Suppresses Recurrence after Chemotherapy of Intestinal Tumors
Authors: Oka Takeru , Higa Tsunaki , Sugahara Osamu , Koga Daisuke , Nakayama Shogo , Nakayama Keiichi I.
Published: March 2023

Quiescent cancer stem cells (CSC) are resistant to conventional anticancer treatments and have been shown to contribute to disease relapse after therapy in some cancer types. The identification and characterization of quiescent CSCs could facilitate the development of strategies to target this cell population and block recurrence. Here, we established a syngeneic orthotopic transplantation model in mice based on intestinal cancer organoids to profile quiescent CSCs. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the primary tumors formed in vivo revealed that conventional Lgr5high intestinal CSCs comprise both actively and slowly cycling subpopulations, the latter of which specifically expresses the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p57. Tumorigenicity assays and lineage tracing experiments showed that the quiescent p57+ CSCs contribute in only a limited manner to steady-state tumor growth but they are chemotherapy resistant and drive posttherapeutic cancer recurrence. Ablation of p57+ CSCs suppressed intestinal tumor regrowth after chemotherapy. Together, these results shed light on the heterogeneity of intestinal CSCs and reveal p57+ CSCs as a promising therapeutic target for malignant intestinal cancer.

Significance:

A quiescent p57+ subpopulation of intestinal CSCs is resistant to chemotherapy and can be targeted to effectively suppress the recurrence of intestinal cancer.
The GPER Agonist LNS8801 Induces Mitotic Arrest and Apoptosis in Uveal Melanoma Cells
Authors: Ambrosini Grazia , Natale Christopher A. , Musi Elgilda , Garyantes Tina , Schwartz Gary K.
Published: March 2023

Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults and has a high incidence of metastatic disease. Current treatments have shown limited clinical activity in patients with uveal melanoma with metastasis and there is an urgent need for new effective therapies. Recent findings have shown that women with uveal melanoma have better survival rates than men. The G protein–coupled estrogen receptor-1 (GPER) has distinct functions from those of the classic estrogen receptors ERα/β and its activation by specific agonists has tumor-suppressive roles in several cancers. However, the role of GPER had not previously been investigated in uveal melanoma. We demonstrated that downregulation of GPER in uveal melanoma cells decreased expression of p53 and stimulated cell growth. In contrast, the clinical GPER agonist, LNS8801, upregulated p53 and p21, induced melanocytic differentiation markers, inhibited cell proliferation and cell migration, and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, LNS8801 treatment arrested the cells in G2–M-phase of the cell cycle with concomitant activation of mitotic markers and disruption of the mitotic spindle apparatus. LNS8801 significantly inhibited tumor growth of uveal melanoma xenografts in vivo, suggesting that GPER agonists may be a novel treatment for uveal melanoma.

Significance:

Current treatments against metastatic uveal melanoma have shown limited clinical activity and there is an urgent need for effective therapies. Here, we demonstrate that the GPER agonist LNS8801 induced both GPER-dependent and GPER-independent effects and elicited potent anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo. Our results complement and support the ongoing clinical trial of LNS8801 in advanced uveal melanoma.
The Benefit of Telemonitoring in the Prevention of Septic Shock in a Patient with Aggressive Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Authors: Dudová Lucie , Hradská Katarína , Popková Tereza , Skořupová Michaela , Hájek Roman
Published: March 2023

Telemonitoring is a great tool for vital signs monitoring in patients at high risk of severe life-threatening infections, such as haemato-oncological patients. As it can detect early symptoms of an infection, it allows early reaction and, therefore, can help prevent the progression of the infection into severe sepsis. We present a case report of a 69-year-old patient with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma undergoing intensive immunochemotherapy. The treatment was complicated by two episodes of Gram-negative bacterial (G−) infection. During the first episode, the patient was admitted to the hospital only after developing septic shock with multiorgan dysfunction syndrome, which required vasopressor support and multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics and other antimicrobial therapy. Following this episode, the patient was enrolled in our telemonitoring project focusing on early detection of infections in high-risk haemato-oncological patients. The patient later developed another infection with G− bacteremia; however, thanks to the telemonitoring, he was admitted to the hospital within a few hours after developing (and detecting) fever. The therapy was initiated immediately, and the infection was successfully managed with first-choice antibiotics without any further complications. This case illustrates the importance of early detection of infection in high-risk patients, as well as the benefits of telemonitoring. Moreover, avoidance of septic shock and the consequent need for intensive care can significantly reduce healthcare costs.
Impacto de la exposición ocupacional en el curso clínico de la EPOC: factores poco identificados
Authors: Barragán-Pola Gloria
Published: March 2023

Background: Occupational exposures have been regarded as a risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there is little knowledge regarding the effect of occupational exposure on the treatment outcomes of COPD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the question of whether occupational exposure can have a potential impact on COPD outcomes. Methods: Information regarding self-reported occupational exposure for 312 patients with COPD from the Korean Obstructive Lung Disease (KOLD) Cohort were included. A comparison of the rate of acute exacerbation, annual lung function change, and quality of life according to the presence or absence of occupational exposure was performed. Results: Seventy-six patients (24.4%) had experienced occupational exposure; chemical materials were most common. At enrollment, a higher COPD-specific version of the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire total score (39.7 ± 18.8 vs. 33.1 ± 17.6, p = 0.005) and a higher exacerbation history in the past year (30.3% vs. 17.5%, p = 0.017) were observed for patients with occupational exposure compared to those without occupational exposure. Furthermore, in the follow-up period, after adjusting for potential confounders, a higher frequency of acute exacerbation (odd ratio, 1.418; 95% confidence interval, 1.027–1.956; p = 0.033) and a more rapid decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (p = 0.009) was observed for COPD patients with occupational exposure compared to those without occupational exposure. Conclusions: In the KOLD cohort, worse outcomes in terms of exacerbation rate and change in lung function were observed for COPD patients with occupational exposure compared to those without occupational exposure. These findings suggest that occupational exposure not only is a risk factor for COPD but also might have a prognostic impact on COPD.
Genetic and Environmental Factors Underlying Parallel Changes in Body Mass Index and Alcohol Consumption: A 36-Year Longitudinal Study of Adult Twins
Authors: Drouard Gabin , Silventoinen Karri , Latvala Antti , Kaprio Jaakko
Published: March 2023

Introduction: While the genetic and environmental underpinnings of body weight and alcohol use are fairly well-known, determinants of simultaneous changes in these traits are still poorly known. We sought to quantify the environmental and genetic components underlying parallel changes in weight and alcohol consumption and to investigate potential covariation between them. Methods: The analysis comprised 4,461 adult participants (58% women) from the Finnish Twin Cohort with four measures of alcohol consumption and body mass index (BMI) over a 36-year follow-up. Trajectories of each trait were described by growth factors, defined as intercepts (i.e., baseline) and slopes (i.e., change over follow-up), using latent growth curve modeling. Growth values were used for male (190 monozygotic pairs, 293 dizygotic pairs) and female (316 monozygotic pairs, 487 dizygotic pairs) same-sex complete twin pairs in multivariate twin modeling. The variances and covariances of growth factors were then decomposed into genetic and environmental components. Results: The baseline heritabilities were similar in men (BMI: h2 = 79% [95% confidence interval: 74, 83]; alcohol consumption: h2 = 49% [32, 67]) and women (h2 = 77% [73, 81]; h2 = 45% [29, 61]). Heritabilities of BMI change were similar in men (h2 = 52% [42, 61]) and women (h2 = 57% [50, 63]), but the heritability of change in alcohol consumption was significantly higher (p = 0.03) in men (h2 = 45% [34, 54]) than in women (h2 = 31% [22, 38]). Significant additive genetic correlations between BMI at baseline and change in alcohol consumption were observed in both men (rA = −0.17 [−0.29, −0.04]) and women (rA = −0.18 [−0.31, −0.06]). Non-shared environmental factors affecting changes in alcohol consumption and BMI were correlated in men (rE = 0.18 [0.06, 0.30]). Among women, non-shared environmental factors affecting baseline alcohol consumption and the change in BMI were inversely correlated (rE = −0.11 [−0.20, −0.01]). Conclusions: Based on genetic correlations, genetic variation underlying BMI may affect changes in alcohol consumption. Independent of genetic effects, change in BMI correlates with change in alcohol consumption in men, suggesting direct effects between them.
The Evolution of Educational Events during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experience of G.Re.T.A. Foundation
Authors: Rocco Nicola , Catanuto Giuseppe , Masannat Yazan , Nava Maurizio Bruno
Published: March 2023

Introduction: The educational and professional lives of everyone have significantly been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many courses and meetings traditionally structured and organized as face-to-face events have been transformed into virtual events. Methods: We report on the experience of G.Re.T.A. Fondazione in organizing international conferences, webinars, and masterclasses on oncoplastic and aesthetic breast surgery before, during, and after the pandemic. Results: The organization of the meetings as online or hybrid events allowed to maintain a high number of participants with numbers being in line with those achieved in the traditional face-to-face events or even showing an increased number of participants, in particular from countries not traditionally involved such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, India, and Russian Federation. Discussion: We think that the hybrid modality is likely to become a gold standard, even though purely online meetings will still survive in the post-pandemic era. Webinars are frugal and highly efficient events that can easily reach a worldwide audience with acceptable interaction.
Construindo pífanos: processos educativos emergentes da musicalização no contexto de um projeto de lazer
Authors: Arruda Murilo Ferreira Velho de , Gonçalves Junior Luiz
Published: March 2023

O objetivo central deste artigo foi identificar e compreender os processos educativos emergentes da construção e aprendizado do instrumento musical pífano no contexto de um projeto de lazer destinado a crianças e adolescentes de periferia urbana de São Carlos, São Paulo. Trata-se da parceria entre o projeto de extensão Vivências em Atividades Diversificadas de Lazer da Universidade Federal de São Carlos com projeto social Mais Que Futebol da Associação Desportiva, Educacional e Social dos Metalúrgicos de São Carlos, que contava com apoio financeiro da terre des hommes, Alemanha (tdhA). Esta parceria previa entre suas práticas centrais o ciclismo, jogos de lutas, fútbol callejero e musicalização, sendo que neste estudo, focamos na musicalização. Como procedimento de coleta de dados utilizamos diários de campo, coletados entre os dias 9 de Maio e 13 de Junho de 2017, cuja seleção representava um período de transição: aulas com flauta doce, gestação e proposta para construção do pífano, coleta dos materiais, construção e início do aprendizado do instrumento, discutidas à luz de conceitos-mapa como musicar, educação, pedagogia dialógica, educação musical humanizadora e lazer. A análise dos dados de campo contou com inspiração na fenomenologia e resultou na construção das seguintes categorias: A) "Você vai cortar?". "Nós vamos" - Educação, experiência e ludicidade; B) "Vai demorar?" - Educação musical humanizadora: compromisso, frequência e rigor; C) "Aí a gente era mais animado lá. Só que aqui também é animado, é gostoso, é silêncio" - Compartilhando e convivendo. Como resultados identificamos processos educativos de fortalecimento da autoconfiança e da confiança em outrem, cooperação e convivência entre educadores/as e participantes e entre si, autonomia em relação às escolhas e responsabilidade individual e coletiva.
Arquivos literários — a vanguarda ativando os meios de conservação
Authors: Barbosa Aline Leal , Cardoso Marília Rothier
Published: March 2023

Na esteira das reflexões sobre o centenário da Semana de Arte Moderna, observam-se algumas das principais instituições de guarda de arquivos da literatura brasileira e aponta-se, na iniciativa de sistematizar a conservação de documentos literários, o papel destacado dos líderes do movimento de 1922. Considerando que a noção de patrimônio histórico e artístico tanto quanto a gestão dos bens preservados resultam de ações de modernização material e intelectual das sociedades, traçou-se um percurso pelo IEB-USP, AMLB-FCRB, CEDAE-UNICAMP e AEM-CEL-UFMG[1], cujo momento de abertura correspondeu à recepção de acervos de modernistas, tendo contado com o apoio indispensável dos herdeiros do legado da Semana. Esta visita panorâmica à história da preservação de acervos literários, realizada predominantemente em universidades públicas, tem o propósito de contribuir para a revisão crítica da memória recente como reforço à articulação entre as tarefas de conservar, transformar e inventar.
 
[1] Essas siglas, indicadoras de instituições de guarda e conservação de arquivos literários, serão referidas, na introdução do artigo, aos nomes, por extenso, das respectivas instituições. Entre as mesmas, apenas o AMLB integra uma fundação do governo federal ligada ao Ministério da Cultura, as demais fazem parte de universidades públicas.
Entre o pó de cimento e o sopro de esperança: experiências com curadoria e fotografia na escola
Authors: Pinheiro Adriano José
Published: March 2023

O presente texto relata uma experiência com fotografia, realizada no Projeto Caminhos do Concreto em uma escola da rede municipal de São Paulo, em 2018, e entrelaça a mesma com saberes sobre o dispositivo da curadoria com base em Cinara Barbosa de Sousa (2013). O Projeto Caminhos do Concreto surgiu a partir do interesse dos(as) estudantes por fotografia e teve como metodologia as ações propostas pela Abordagem Triangular, de Ana Mae Barbosa — portanto, ações como contextualização, leitura e criação em artes visuais foram contempladas no percurso do trabalho —, e como produto final a Exposição Caminhos do Concreto. Essas ações possibilitaram refletir sobre dispositivos curatoriais, tais como: curadoria como jogo, neutralidade, mediação, fruição, estudos sobre o espaço expositivo, planejamento e abertura. Esses dispositivos serão revisitados nestes escritos, referenciados em Sônia Fernandes (2021); Cinara Barbosa de Sousa (2013) e Rosely Nakagawa (2020).
Aortic Valve Calcium in Relation to Subclinical Cardiac Dysfunction and Risk of Heart Failure
Authors: Zhu Fang , Kaiser Yannick , Boersma Eric , Bos Daniel , Kavousi Maryam
Published: March 2023

Background:

The link between (mild) aortic valve calcium (AVC) with subclinical cardiac dysfunction and with risk of heart failure (HF) remains unclear. This research aims to determine the association of computed tomography-assessed AVC with echocardiographic measurements of cardiac dysfunction, and with HF in the general population.

Methods:

We included 2348 participants of the Rotterdam Study cohort (mean age 68.5 years, 52% women), who had AVC measurement between 2003 and 2006, and without history of HF at baseline. Linear regression models were used to explore relationship between AVC and echocardiographic measures at baseline. Participants were followed until December 2016. Fine and Gray subdistribution hazard models were used to assess the association of AVC with incident HF, accounting for death as a competing risk.

Results:

The presence of AVC or greater AVC were associated with larger mean left ventricular mass and larger mean left atrial size. In particular, AVC ≥800 showed a strong association (body surface area indexed left ventricular mass, β coefficient: 22.01; left atrium diameter, β coefficient: 0.17). During a median of 9.8 years follow-up, 182 incident HF cases were identified. After accounting for death events and adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, one-unit larger log (AVC+1) was associated with a 10% increase in the subdistribution hazard of HF (subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.03–1.18]), but the presence of AVC was not significantly associated with HF risk in fully adjusted models. Compared with the AVC=0, AVC between 300 and 799 (subdistribution hazard ratio, 2.36 [95% CI, 1.32–4.19]) and AVC ≥800 (subdistribution hazard ratio, 2.54 [95% CI, 1.31–4.90]) were associated with a high risk of HF.

Conclusions:

Presence and high levels of AVC were associated with markers of left ventricular structure, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Larger computed tomography-assessed AVC is an indicative of increased risk for the development of HF.
Roles of Hydrogen Sulfide in Hypertension Development and Its Complications: What, So What, Now What
Authors: Wang Rui
Published: March 2023

Hypertension is a multicause health challenge, and hydrogen sulfide (H
2
S) is a multifunctional gasotransmitter. A critical pathologic role of endogenous H
2
S deficiency in the development of hypertension was established 15 years ago based on animal studies, setting the stage for examining the wide spectrum of cardiovascular effects and the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of H
2
S. We are also starting to gain a better understanding of the role of altered H
2
S metabolism in human hypertension. The purpose of this article is to examine our current understanding of the roles played by H
2
S in the development of hypertension in both animals and humans. Additionally, H
2
S-based antihypertension therapeutic strategies are reviewed. Is H
2
S at the root of hypertension and one of the solutions for the same? The probability is very high.
Hypertension in Primary Aldosteronism Is Initiated by Salt-Induced Increases in Vascular Resistance With Reductions in Cardiac Output
Authors: Kurtz Theodore W. , Morris R. Curtis , Pravenec Michal , Lujan Heidi L. , DiCarlo Stephen E.
Published: March 2023

Background:

Few studies have investigated the hemodynamic mechanism whereby primary aldosteronism causes hypertension. The traditional view holds that hyperaldosteronism initiates hypertension by amplifying salt-dependent increases in cardiac output (CO) by promoting increases in sodium retention and blood volume. Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) is said to increase only as a secondary consequence of the increased CO and blood pressure. However, mounting evidence indicates that aldosterone can influence multiple pathways regulating vascular tone. We investigated the primary hemodynamic mechanism whereby hyperaldosteronism promotes salt sensitivity and initiation of salt-dependent hypertension.

Methods:

In unilaterally nephrectomized male Sprague-Dawley rats given infusions of aldosterone or vehicle, we used chronically implanted arterial pressure probes and Doppler ultrasonic flow probes to continuously monitor changes in mean arterial pressure, CO, and SVR 24 hours/day, 7 days/week in response to increases in salt intake.

Results:

In vehicle-treated control rats, switching from a low-salt diet to a high-salt diet initiated modest increases in mean arterial pressure by increasing SVR while simultaneously decreasing heart rate and CO. In aldosterone-treated rats compared with control rats, switching from a low-salt diet to a high-salt diet initiated significantly greater increases in mean arterial pressure and SVR and significantly greater decreases in heart rate and CO.

Conclusions:

Aldosterone promoted salt sensitivity and initiation of salt-dependent hypertension by amplifying salt-induced increases in SVR while decreasing CO. Increases in CO are not required for the initiation or maintenance of hypertension. These findings challenge the traditional view of the hemodynamic mechanisms that cause hypertension in primary aldosteronism.
Science and research landscapes across D-8 organization member countries from a historical perspective: The policy context and collective agendas
Authors: Hayatdavoudi Javad , Kaltenbrunner Wolfgang , Costas Rodrigo
Published: March 2023

Intergovernmental Economic Organizations usually leverage the scientific capacity of their member countries to ensure economic prosperity through consensual science policies. The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation is an intergovernmental economic forum constituting eight developing Muslim-majority countries with a host of recent initiatives toward encouraging interstate scientific and technological collaborations. This study presents an overview of the forum’s overarching science policies and the research performance in the member countries in the past two decades. The individual D-8 countries’ performance over a set of STI indicators is analyzed to examine the driving forces of the STI system in the member countries. The findings revealed marked disparities among the countries in economic prosperity, R&D expenditure, and the stock of researchers in their STI systems. Although the aggregate research volume of the D-8 countries almost quadrupled over the 2010s compared with the previous decade, there are salient differences in the research capacity and scientific impact among these countries. GDP, R&D expenditure, human development index, GNI per capita, and the number of researchers (FTE per million inhabitants) contribute to explain the growth of publications in some of the D-8 countries. Knowledge sharing, transfer of technology, research collaboration, and investment in R&D infrastructure among the member countries underline the recent overarching scientific policy initiatives of the D-8 organization.
Malaysian Early Childhood Educators’ Use of Web 2.0 for Informal Learning in Professional Development
Authors: Mui Pei Ern Rebekah
Published: March 2023

Early childhood educators’ professional knowledge and skills are often underappreciated (Moloney, 2015; Moss, 2006) even though they significantly impact children’s outcomes (Ackerman, 2004; Bellm and Whitebrook, 2004; Sylva, et al., 2004). In Malaysia, many early childhood educators lack qualifications and the resources to pursue them (Foong, et al., 2018). This study explored the experiences of seven early childhood educators in Malaysia with web-based informal professional development through interviews and media go-alongs, examining participants’ use of and perception towards Web 2.0, particularly for self-directed and interactive learning. Results showed a burgeoning integration of Web 2.0 platforms in participants’ professional learning. Participants emphasised the significant role of personal attitudes and workplace culture in encouraging learning and technology adoption and expressed interest in the development of Web 2.0 communities of practice that support professional discourse and knowledge creation. These have the potential to strengthen professional identities and foster society-wide recognition of early childhood education as a profession.
Assessing the Effects of Exercise, Cognitive Demand, and Rest on Audiovisual Multisensory Processing in Older Adults: A Pilot Study
Authors: Basharat Aysha , Barnett-Cowan Michael
Published: March 2023

A single bout of aerobic exercise is related to positive changes in higher-order cognitive function among older adults; however, the impact of aerobic exercise on multisensory processing remains unclear. Here we assessed the effects of a single bout of aerobic exercise on commonly utilized tasks that measure audiovisual multisensory processing: response time (RT), simultaneity judgements (SJ), and temporal-order judgements (TOJ), in a pilot study. To our knowledge this is the first effort to investigate the effects of three well-controlled intervention conditions on multisensory processing: resting, completing a cognitively demanding task, and performing aerobic exercise for 20 minutes. Our results indicate that the window of time within which stimuli from different modalities are integrated and perceived as simultaneous (temporal binding window; TBW) is malleable and changes after each intervention condition for both the SJ and TOJ tasks. Specifically, the TBW consistently became narrower post exercise while consistently increasing in width post rest, suggesting that aerobic exercise may improve temporal perception precision via broad neural change rather than targeting the specific networks that subserve either the SJ or TOJ tasks individually. The results from the RT task further support our findings of malleability of the multisensory processing system, as changes in performance, as assessed through cumulative probability models, were observed after each intervention condition. An increase in integration (i.e., greater magnitude of multisensory effect) however, was only found after a single bout of aerobic exercise. Overall, our results indicate that exercise uniquely affects the central nervous system and may broadly affect multisensory processing.