bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Proposed Technique Using Machine Learning for the Prediction of Diabetes Disease through a Mobile App
Authors: El-Sofany Hosam , El-Seoud Samir A. , Karam Omar H. , Abd El-Latif Yasser M. , Taj-Eddin Islam A. T. F.
Published: January 2024

With the increasing prevalence of diabetes in Saudi Arabia, there is a critical need for early detection and prediction of the disease to prevent long-term health complications. This study addresses this need by using machine learning (ML) techniques applied to the Pima Indians dataset and private diabetes datasets through the implementation of a computerized system for predicting diabetes. In contrast to prior research, this study employs a semisupervised model combined with strong gradient boosting, effectively predicting diabetes-related features of the dataset. Additionally, the researchers employ the SMOTE technique to deal with the problem of imbalanced classes. Ten ML classification techniques, including logistic regression, random forest, KNN, decision tree, bagging, AdaBoost, XGBoost, voting, SVM, and Naive Bayes, are evaluated to determine the algorithm that produces the most accurate diabetes prediction. The proposed approach has achieved impressive performance. For the private dataset, the XGBoost algorithm with SMOTE achieved an accuracy of 97.4%, an F1 coefficient of 0.95, and an AUC of 0.87. For the combined datasets, it achieved an accuracy of 83.1%, an F1 coefficient of 0.76, and an AUC of 0.85. To understand how the model predicts the final results, an explainable AI technique using SHAP methods is implemented. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the adaptability of the proposed system by applying a domain adaptation method. To further enhance accessibility, a mobile app has been developed for instant diabetes prediction based on user-entered features. This study contributes novel insights and techniques to the field of ML-based diabetic prediction, potentially aiding in the early detection and management of diabetes in Saudi Arabia.
Simultaneous Content Determination of Mono-, Di-, and Fructo-oligosaccharides in Citrus Fruit Juices Using an FTIR-PLS Method Based on Selected Absorption Bands
Authors: Yajima Yurika , Wakabayashi Hideyuki , Suehara Ken-ichiro , Kameoka Takaharu , Hashimoto Atsushi
Published: January 2024

A quantification method was developed to determine the sugar components, either following addition or enzymatic treatment, in citrus fruit juices containing additional fructo-oligosaccharides using midinfrared spectroscopy. For the quantification, we compared the results obtained by applying the simultaneous equation method, which uses very little wavenumber information, and the partial least squares (PLS) regression method, which requires a lot of wavenumber information. In order to prevent overfitting in the PLS method, we concentrated on reducing the amount of spectral data used in the analysis. The corresponding FTIR-PLS method led to an accurate quantification of the sugar contents, even in enzymatically treated orange juices with complicated compositions. The spectral data used for model calibration were significantly reduced by focusing on the absorption and assignment information of the sugar components. The RMSEs of Glc, Fru, Suc, GF2, and GF3 in enzyme-treated orange juice before and after spectral data reduction were 0.50, 0.46, 0.61, 0.74, and 0.61 g/L and 0.51, 0.49, 0.73, 0.86, and 0.61 g/L, respectively. The developed method could be easily implemented for practical applications, using a simple measuring instrument since only absorption information at the limited absorption bands is required.
DNA-PK–Mediated Cytoplasmic DNA Sensing Stimulates Glycolysis to Promote Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Malignancy and Chemoresistance
Authors: Wang Hui , Zhang Yanyang , Tian Yu , Yang Wanlin , Wang Yan , Hou Hui , Pan Hanbo , Pei Siyu , Zhu Hongda , Gu Zenan , Zhang Yanyun , Dai Dongfang , Chen Wei , Zheng Mingyue , Luo Qingquan , Xiao Yichuan , Huang Jia
Published: January 2024

Detection of cytoplasmic DNA is an essential biological mechanism that elicits IFN-dependent and immune-related responses. A better understanding of the mechanisms regulating cytoplasmic DNA sensing in tumor cells could help identify immunotherapeutic strategies to improve cancer treatment. Here we identified abundant cytoplasmic DNA accumulated in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) cells. DNA-PK, but not cGAS, functioned as a specific cytoplasmic DNA sensor to activate downstream ZAK/AKT/mTOR signaling, thereby enhancing the viability, motility, and chemoresistance of LUSC cells. DNA-PK–mediated cytoplasmic DNA sensing boosted glycolysis in LUSC cells, and blocking glycolysis abolished the tumor-promoting activity of cytoplasmic DNA. Elevated DNA-PK–mediated cytoplasmic DNA sensing was positively correlated with poor prognosis of human patients with LUSC. Targeting signaling activated by cytoplasmic DNA sensing with the ZAK inhibitor iZAK2 alone or in combination with STING agonist or anti-PD-1 antibody suppressed the tumor growth and improved the survival of mouse lung cancer models and human LUSC patient-derived xenografts model. Overall, these findings established DNA-PK–mediated cytoplasmic DNA sensing as a mechanism that supports LUSC malignancy and highlight the potential of targeting this pathway for treating LUSC.

Significance:

DNA-PK is a cytoplasmic DNA sensor that activates ZAK/AKT/mTOR signaling and boosts glycolysis to enhance malignancy and chemoresistance of lung squamous cell carcinoma.
A New Twist on a Classic: Enhancing Radioiodine Uptake in Advanced Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Lechner Melissa G. , Brent Gregory A.
Published: January 2024

Advanced differentiated thyroid cancer that is resistant to radioactive iodine therapy may become responsive with a unique treatment combination of chloroquine and vorinostat. This treatment was demonstrated in cellular and animal models of thyroid cancer to inhibit endocytosis of the plasma membrane–bound iodine transporter, NIS, and restore iodine uptake.

See related article by Read et al., p. 1352
Micronuclei and Cancer
Authors: Di Bona Melody , Bakhoum Samuel F.
Published: January 2024

Chromosome-containing micronuclei are a feature of human cancer. Micronuclei arise from chromosome mis-segregation and characterize tumors with elevated rates of chromosomal instability. Although their association with cancer has been long recognized, only recently have we broadened our understanding of the mechanisms that govern micronuclei formation and their role in tumor progression. In this review, we provide a brief historical account of micronuclei, depict the mechanisms underpinning their creation, and illuminate their capacity to propel tumor evolution through genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptional transformations. We also posit the prospect of leveraging micronuclei as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in chromosomally unstable cancers.

Significance:

Micronuclei in chromosomally unstable cancer cells serve as pivotal catalysts for cancer progression, instigating transformative genomic, epigenetic, and transcriptional alterations. This comprehensive review not only synthesizes our present comprehension but also outlines a framework for translating this knowledge into pioneering biomarkers and therapeutics, thereby illuminating novel paths for personalized cancer management.
Association of Low Birth Weight with the Risk of Childhood Stunting in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Vats Harsh , Walia Gagandeep Kaur , Saxena Ruchi , Sachdeva Mohinder Pal , Gupta Vipin
Published: January 2024

Background: Stunting is an important predictor of growth and development of children under 5 years of age, and it remains the significant problem in LMIC. However, LBW emerges as risk factor, but its association with LMIC needs attention. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association of low birth weight with the risk of childhood stunting among the age group of 0–5 years in LMICs. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched from January 1, 2010 untill December 20, 2021. Cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control study designs were included in the meta-analyses. The pooled odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was reported considering the random-effects and the quality-effects models. The subgroup analysis and meta-regression were conducted for study design, geographical location, and sample size. Results: Low birth weight was associated with >2-fold increased risk of childhood stunting (pooled OR: 2.32; 95% CI, 2.05–2.62). Asian studies have shown relatively higher risk than African studies in stratified analyses. The cohort studies predicted a higher risk of childhood stunting, followed by case-control and cross-sectional study designs, and the sample size stratification showed that studies with sample size <1,000 predicted much higher risk than relatively to the studies with sample size >1,000. The meta-regression was performed in all three subgroups, but none of the models appeared significant. Conclusion: This meta-analysis confirmed the association of low birth weight with the higher risk of childhood stunting among the 0–5 years’ age group and suggests a moderately higher risk in Asia as compared to Africa.
A Phase 3 Study of Pembrolizumab versus Placebo for Previously Treated Patients from Asia with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Health-Related Quality of Life Analysis from KEYNOTE-394
Authors: Qin Shukui , Fang Weijia , Ren Zhenggang , Ou Shuangyan , Lim Ho Yeong , Zhang Feng , Lee Kin Chung , Choi Hye Jin , Tong Jiandong , Tao Min , Xu Aibing , Cheng Ashley , Lu Chang-Hsien , Chiu Chang-Fang , Wahid Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul , Kamble Shital , Norquist Josephine M. , Zhong Wenyan , Li Chen , Chen Zhendong
Published: January 2024

Introduction: KEYNOTE-394 showed pembrolizumab significantly improved overall survival, progression-free survival, and objective response rate with manageable safety versus placebo for patients from Asia with previously treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. We present results on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: HRQoL was evaluated using the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EuroQol-5D-3L (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaires. Key HRQoL endpoints were least squares mean (LSM) score changes from baseline to week 12 and time to deterioration (TTD) for EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status (GHS)/QoL. p values were one-sided and nominal without adjustment for multiplicity. Results: The HRQoL population included patients randomly assigned to pembrolizumab (n = 298) and placebo (n = 152). From baseline to week 12, a greater decline in EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QoL score was observed with placebo (LSM, −8.4; 95% CI: −11.7 to −5.1) versus pembrolizumab (−4.0; 95% CI: −6.4 to −1.6; difference vs. placebo: 4.4; 95% CI: 0.5–8.4; nominal p = 0.0142). Similarly, a greater decline in the EQ-5D-3L visual analog scale score was observed with placebo (−6.9; 95% CI: −9.4 to −4.5) versus pembrolizumab (−2.7; 95% CI: −4.5 to −1.0; difference vs. placebo: 4.2; 95% CI: 1.2–7.2; nominal p = 0.0030). TTD in EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QoL score was similar between arms (hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% CI: 0.58–1.25; nominal p = 0.1993). Conclusion: Patients receiving placebo showed a greater decline in HRQoL than those receiving pembrolizumab. Combined with efficacy and safety data from KEYNOTE-394 and the global KEYNOTE-240 and KEYNOTE-224 trials, our data support the clinically meaningful benefit and manageable tolerability of pembrolizumab as second-line therapy for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Trabectedin and Radiotherapy in Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma: A Case Report
Authors: Carrasco García Irene , Benedetti Pedroza Johana , Miras Rodriguez Isabel , Rincón Inmaculada
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is a rare tumor that remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to physicians worldwide. The metastatic setting implies a poor prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate below 40%. Patients with advanced-stage high-grade ESS (HG-ESS) have limited therapeutic options, often involving various chemotherapy regimens. Case Presentation: This report depicts the case of a 47-year-old female diagnosed with HG-ESS. She underwent several lines of treatment starting with radiotherapy and brachytherapy, followed by multiple lines of treatment including trabectedin over several months. After retreatment with trabectedin and achieving disease stabilization for 10 months, treatment was optimized by trabectedin combined with radiotherapy, leading to stable disease that is still ongoing and lasts for over 17 months. Conclusion: Our case underscores the challenging nature of treating patients with HG-ESS and highlights the safety of long-term retrial with trabectedin, coupled with radiotherapy administration. This approach maintained a durable stable disease response in the metastatic setting.
Management of Patients with Breast Biopsy under Anti-Coagulation or Anti-Platelet Therapy: Results of a Survey of German Experts
Authors: Riedel Fabian , Hahn Markus , Bader Werner , Schäfgen Benedikt , Fastner Sarah , Hennigs André , Gomez Christina , Stieber Anne , Fastner Christian , Wallwiener Markus , Golatta Michael , Heil Jörg , Fallenberg Eva Maria
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Pre-therapeutic histologic diagnosis through image-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) or vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) for suspicious breast findings is a standard procedure. Despite the moderate risk of bleeding, a significant proportion of patients are on temporary or permanent anti-coagulation therapy (ACT) or anti-platelet therapy (APT). Currently, there are no established guidelines for managing biopsies in such patients, leading to varying approaches in clinical practice. Methods: An online survey was conducted among all members of the breast ultrasound working group at the German Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (DEGUM) and the working group for breast diagnostics at the German Radiology Society (DRG). It included n = 51 questions about individual risk perception of biopsy-related bleeding complications and the specific management of biopsies on ACT/APT. Results: A total of 332 experts participated, with 51.8% reporting the absence of a standardized management plan for breast biopsies on ACT/APT. Concerning specific ACT/APT medications, the survey revealed discrepancies in risk perception and management: The majority preferred discontinuing medication with directly acting oral anti-coagulants (DOACs; CNB: 66.9%; VAB: 91.1%), phenprocoumon (CNB: 74.9%; VAB: 96.7%), or therapeutic heparin (CNB: 46.1%; VAB: 72.7%). However, there was a lower inclination to discontinue acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; CNB: 15.2%; VAB: 50.3%) or prophylactic heparin (CNB: 11.9%, VAB: 36.3%). Conclusion: Breast biopsies for patients on ASA or prophylactic heparin are deemed safe and part of standard clinical practice. However, despite available feasibility studies, conducting breast biopsies on ACT medications such as DOACs or phenprocoumon appears feasible only for a minority of experts.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Olfactory Dysfunction in Individuals with COVID-19 in Brazil: A Study of 20,669 Cases from 2020 to 2021
Authors: Souza Carlos Dornels Freire de , Magalhães Amanda Júlia de Arruda , Silva Nobre Yasmin Vitória , Souza Carlos Alberto , Nascimento André Luis Oliveira do , Faria Luísa Robalinho de , Bezerra-Santos Márcio , Armstrong Anderson da Costa , Nicácio Jandir Mendonça , Gomes Orlando Vieira , Carmo Rodrigo Feliciano do
Published: January 2024

Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence and factors associated with olfactory dysfunction in individuals with COVID-19 in the first 2 years of the pandemic in Brazil. Materials and Methods: This is a prevalent study involving the confirmed cases of COVID-19 recorded in the municipality between the years 2020 and 2021. Individuals symptomatic for COVID-19, with a positive laboratory result and aged 12 or older were included in this study. Measures of central tendency and dispersion were used in the description of continuous variables and frequency was used for categorical variables. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to evaluate data distribution. Results: Data from 20,669 individuals were analyzed. The prevalence of olfactory disorders was 17.9% and increased from 11.5% to 21.9% between 2020 and 2021. A female gender predominance was observed among individuals who reported anosmia, with 61.1% (n = 564) in 2020 and 61.7% (n = 1,713) in 2021. On the other hand, the median age of individuals with olfactory disorders was lower than that of the group without disorders (35 [IQR 27–46] vs. 39 [IQR 29–50]; p < 0.001). Smell disturbances were present in 18.2% (n = 3,634) of patients who recovered and in 7.1% (n = 38) of those who died. Furthermore, in 2021, a prevalence rate of 30.6% for olfactory disorders was linked to obesity as a comorbidity. Conclusion: The prevalence of olfactory disorders was lower compared to other studies, with cough and fever being negatively related to olfactory dysfunction and headache, coryza, and taste disorders being positively related. Obesity was the only associated comorbidity.
CAR-T Cell Therapy: Advances in Kidney-Related Diseases
Authors: Wu Longyuan , Feng Youqin , Huang Yue , Feng Jingjing , Hu Yongxian , Huang He
Published: January 2024

Background: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy represents a significant advancement in the field of immunotherapy, providing targeted eradication of abnormal cells through the recognition between CAR and target antigens. This approach has garnered considerable attention due to its promising results in the clinical treatment of hematological malignancies and autoimmune diseases. As the focus shifts toward exploring novel targets and expanding the application of CAR-T cell therapy to solid tumors, including renal malignancies, researchers are pushing the boundaries of this innovative treatment. However, it is crucial to address the observed comorbidities associated with CAR-T cell therapy, particularly nephrotoxicity, due to the superseding release of cytokines and impairment of normal tissue. Summary: Our review discusses the research strategies and nephrotoxicity related to CAR-T cell therapy in various kidney-related diseases and provides insights into enhancing investigation and optimization. Key Messages: CAR-T cell therapy has captured the attention of researchers and clinicians in the treatment of renal malignancies, multiple myeloma, systemic lupus erythematosus, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which may lead to potential nephrotoxicity as they involve primary or secondary kidney complications. Understanding and summarizing the current research progress of CAR-T cell therapies can provide valuable insights into novel targets and combinations to optimize research models and enhance their clinical value.
Hemoglobin Protects Enamel against Intrinsic Enamel Erosive Demineralization
Authors: Carvalho Thamyris Souza , Araújo Tamara Teodoro , Ventura Talita Mendes Oliveira , Dionizio Aline , Câmara João Victor Frazão , Moraes Samanta Mascarenhas , Leme Júlia Chaparro , Grizzo Larissa Tercilia , Crusca Edson , Shibao Priscila Yumi Tanaka , Marchetto Reinaldo , Henrique-Silva Flavio , Pessan Juliano Pelim , Buzalaf Marília Afonso Rabelo
Published: January 2024

Introduction: This study investigated the changes in the acquired enamel pellicle (AEP) proteome when this integument is formed in vivo after treatment with sugarcane-derived cystatin (CaneCPI-5), hemoglobin (HB), and a statherin-derived peptide (StN15), or their combination and then exposed to an intrinsic acid challenge. The effectiveness of these treatments in preventing intrinsic erosion was also evaluated. Methods: Ten volunteers, after prophylaxis, in 5 crossover phases, rinsed with the following solutions (10 mL, 1 min): control (deionized water-H2O) – group 1, 0.1 mg/mL CaneCPI-5 – group 2, 1.0 mg/mL HB – group 3, 1.88 × 10−5M StN15 – group 4, or a blend of these – group 5. Following this, AEP formation occurred (2 h) and an enamel biopsy (10 µL, 0.01 m HCl, pH 2.0, 10 s) was conducted on one incisor. The biopsy acid was then analyzed for calcium (Arsenazo method). The vestibular surfaces of the other teeth were treated with the same acid. Acid-resistant proteins in the residual AEP were then collected and analyzed quantitatively via proteomics. Results: Compared to control, treatment with the proteins/peptide, mixed or isolated, markedly enhanced acid-resistant proteins in the AEP. Notable increases occurred in pyruvate kinase PKM (11-fold, CaneCPI-5), immunoglobulins and submaxillary gland androgen-regulated protein 3B (4-fold, StN15), Hb, and lysozyme C (2-fold, StN15). Additionally, a range of proteins not commonly identified in the AEP but known to bind calcium or other proteins were identified in groups treated with the tested proteins/peptide either in isolation or as a mixture. The mean (SD, mM) calcium concentrations released from enamel were 3.67 ± 1.48a, 3.11 ± 0.72a, 1.94 ± 0.57b, 2.37 ± 0.90a, and 2.38 ± 0.45a for groups 1–5, respectively (RM-ANOVA/Tukey, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that all treatments, whether using a combination of proteins/peptides or in isolation, enhanced acid-resistant proteins in the AEP. However, only HB showed effectiveness in protecting against intrinsic erosive demineralization. These results pave the way for innovative preventive methods against intrinsic erosion, using “acquired pellicle engineering” techniques.
Entrelaçar de palavras: um mergulho mítico no universo da Literatura Portuguesa
Authors: Santos Elaine Cristina Prado dos
Published: January 2024

Editorial do v. 15, n. 30, relativo ao dossiê "Mito e Literatura: história, memória e identidade".
O mito inesiano e a geração de Orpheu
Authors: Gebra Fernando de Moraes
Published: January 2024

Entendido o mito como uma narrativa exemplar e relacionada a uma tradição cultural que perpassa diferentes épocas e ganha distintas representações artísticas, o presente artigo centra-se na representação do mito da supervivência do amor a partir da história de D. Pedro e D. Inês de Castro, cujo desenlace trágico se tornou ponto de partida para a criação do mito inesiano. Ao contrário de outros mitos de criação popular, este foi fabricado por literatos, nomeadamente Fernão Lopes, que interpretou as arcas tumulares de Alcobaça e recolheu testemunhos dos monges daquele mosteiro, e Luís de Camões, responsável pela criação de um episódio lírico em Os Lusíadas, texto predominantemente épico. Sobretudo o discurso suplicante de Inês diante do então rei D. Afonso IV ganhou muitas representações artísticas e literárias, como a tela de Vieira Portuense, no século XIX. Outros aspectos da história e do mito, como o do cortejo fúnebre de Coimbra a Alcobaça (história) e a coroação de Inês declarada rainha depois de morta (mito), encontram-se, entre tantas representações artísticas, respectivamente, nos poemas de Ângelo de Lima e Alfredo Guisado, minuciosamente analisados neste artigo, que também apresenta um esboço de um drama estático de Fernando Pessoa. A geração de Orpheu, a par dos procedimentos vanguardistas, apresenta um forte diálogo com a tradição historiográfica e mitológica, o que será demonstrado neste artigo.
Questões de identidade e de território em O retorno, de Dulce Maria Cardoso
Authors: Names Patrícia
Published: January 2024

Rui é um adolescente nascido em Luanda que, aos 14 ou 15 anos de idade, em razão da guerra civil angolana, é obrigado a abandonar sua casa e mudar-se para outro país. Portugal para o narrador-personagem é apenas um mapa na parede da sala de aula. Após presenciar o pai sendo levado à força por um grupo de guerrilheiros locais de Luanda, Rui é levado para Portugal somente com a mãe e a irmã. Pretende-se identificar na obra O retorno, de Dulce Maria Cardoso (2012), questões na narrativa que nos convidam a refletir sobre identidade e território, assim como, da mesma forma, quando dizem respeito aos deslocamentos de pessoas e à nostalgia pelos lugares e vínculos deixados. Com isso, argumenta-se que é por meio das memórias afetivas e territoriais do passado em África que a interferência da metrópole portuguesa se processa na descoberta e na formação de uma nova identidade do personagem da obra.
A criminologia das epistemologias do sul: o ser-aqui
Authors: Brancaglion Matheus
Published: January 2024

Resenha de livro.
Poder local e violência: os desafios das cidades e as possibilidades do "comum"
Authors: Silva Carla Mangueira da , Ferrari Giovanna , Sala José Blanes
Published: January 2024

Não é de hoje que o aumento da violência urbana e da criminalidade tem se mostrado presente em nossa sociedade. Para além da insegurança e do medo que assombram a sociedade, muitos são os percalços causados nas cidades pelas interferências do poder paralelo junto às comunidades, uma vez que substituem a atuação da municipalidade na efetivação de políticas públicas. É em oposição a esta lógica que Dardot e Laval ao discorrer sobre a teoria dos comuns, se posicionam criticamente face à “ideologia de Estado” por não promover ações com vistas aos interesses coletivos em detrimento dos interesses individuais. Desta feita, o presente artigo busca refletir sobre os desafios das cidades em meio à crescente violência em seus territórios, principalmente, por colocar em xeque as ações promovidas pelos atores da Segurança Pública pelo Poder Local. Para elucidar tal problemática, utilizaremos como recursos metodológicos, a pesquisa documental e revisão bibliográfica, tendo como base artigos acadêmicos e livros. Vislumbra-se demonstrar a partir dos autores referenciados, como a violência e a desigualdade social seguem interligados, e quão necessário se faz romper com a ideia de que os indivíduos são os responsáveis pela segurança, cabendo ao Estado prover e assegurar este direito.
Poucos que sobrevivem: relatos de violências, galeras e cinema no Piauí
Authors: Oliveira Júnior Francisco Alves de , Costa Marcondes Brito da , Silva Elton Guilherme dos Santos
Published: January 2024

El artículo resulta de una investigación sobre la dinámica de la violencia en la periferia de la ciudad de Teresina, Piauí, a partir de los relatos de 9 habitantes de la periferia de la ciudad, cuyas vidas fueron directamente afectadas por la violencia y el crimen. Los reportajes forman parte del documental titulado Pocos que sobreviven (2021), realizado por investigadores a partir de investigaciones realizadas por el Centro de Investigaciones sobre Niños, Adolescentes y Jóvenes (NUPEC) de la Universidad Federal de Piauí, entre 2019 y 2021. La investigación reúne informes sobre dinámicas criminales en la periferia, representaciones de la prisión, violencia policial, formaciones de pandillas y formas de reinventar la vida. La producción de la investigación y el documental se inscriben en el contexto histórico de la escalada de violencia en el estado de Piauí, y también hace uso del acercamiento entre técnicas audiovisuales y de investigación social. Las técnicas de investigación utilizadas fueron el uso de entrevistas abiertas en la construcción de un documental, basado en un muestreo no probabilístico utilizando el recurso “bola de nieve”, con posterior categorización en torno a los ejes centrales de la investigación: Violencia policial, prisión, pandillas y estrategias de supervivencia. . Los principales resultados obtenidos a través de la investigación son reflexiones sobre los procedimientos metodológicos relacionados con el uso de recursos audiovisuales en la investigación sociológica sobre la violencia, como la relevancia de la recreación de la experiencia vivida como recurso en la investigación social y la posibilidad imaginativa del audiovisual aplicado a investigación.
O Sistema Penitenciário Federal: sobre sujeitos, trânsitos e punição
Authors: Gomes Mayara
Published: January 2024

Taking as a reference the inclusion, exclusion and temporality criteria related to the custody of people in the Federal Penitentiary System, we highlight some important institutional, legal and relational dynamics for the understanding of federal prisons in the set of prisons in the country. The social transformations established with the presence of criminal factions in prisons in the early 2000s, added to the influence of the Federal Government at the time, boosted the creation of these prisons. In this sense, in addition to producing sociability and private networks, federal prisons also provide an important record of the actions taken by the states of the federation and the Union itself regarding the confrontation with criminal factions. In general, the stigmatization and strengthening of more repressive confinement policies in relation to people associated and/or linked to criminal factions are a common feature of these spaces, as well as exemplify some of the effects resulting from the investment in the Federal Penitentiary System. Our analyzes are based on the qualitative analysis of documents, Access to Information Law requests and interviews with people who work or have worked with the Federal Penitentiary System.
"Quem não é visto não é lembrado": (re)produção da linguagem, signos e símbolos no Degase de Campos dos Goytacazes
Authors: Francisco Renata de Souza
Published: January 2024

O presente trabalho é parte uma pesquisa de doutorado em andamento que tem como tema central compreender o processo de faccionalização dos adolescentes que cumprem medida de restrição de liberdade e pertencem a facções criminosas rivais no CENSE Campos (Centro de Socioeducação Professora Marlene Henrique Alves, no município de Campos de Goytacazes). Nesse ensaio se analisa, de forma panorâmica, o uso e a (re)produção da linguagem, signos e símbolos. A partir das inscrições, realizadas pelos adolescentes nas paredes, no mobiliário e no material escolar como forma de comunicação com seus pares, demarcação de território, afronta aos inimigos, isto é, a“instigação” e principalmente como demarcador de “faccionalização”, ou seja, a adesão e pertencimento a uma das três facções que estão presentes no Degase: Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP), Amigo dos Amigos (ADA) e Comando Vermelho (CV). Para a composição do presente ensaio foi realizado uma revisão bibliográfica do assunto, análise de material colido durante trabalho de campo e entrevistas informais realizadas com os adolescentes durante as aulas de Sociologia.
Tomar a favela para Jesus: ethos heróico, juventudes e pentecostalismos em territórios de exceção ordinária
Authors: Pereira Reia Sílvia Gonçalves , Mesquita Wania Amélia Belchior
Published: January 2024

In the article, we present excerpts from the trajectory of Carlos, a young man who, after having his life threatened by members of a drug trafficking faction, joins a pentecostal church located in Campos do Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro. The objective of this work is to analyze an aspect of the relations between drug dealers and Pentecostals in a favela territory.  The study was divided into two parts: we present ethnographic data in the period between 2018 and 2020, of the favela Tira-Gosto, the church Caminhos das Águas and Carlos' trajectory. In the second part, the relationship between Pentecostals and traffickers, in favela territories. We argue that such relationships should also be analyzed from the perspective of the spiritual battle and what we call the heroic trajectory. We also argue that Pentecostal adherence in a context of ordinary exception, such as the daily life of the favela in question, is a possibility of affirming life.
Vocal performance of one affects that of another
Authors: Sockman Keith W. , Lyons Susan M. , Caro Samuel P.
Published: January 2024

The trill elements of many bird species’ songs have been hypothesized as honest signals of performance. However, the breadth of receiver responses to variation in the signaller’s trill performance is unknown. We exposed wild male Lincoln’s sparrows (Melospiza lincolnii) to two song treatments, one with low- and another with high-performance trills. We found no effect of treatment on measures of agonistic behaviour and song length. However, relative to the subjects’ trills following the high-performance treatment, those following the low-performance treatment were elevated in performance due to trill types with high frequency bandwidth in the third trill of songs. Treatment also affected trill duration through its syllable count in a manner that varied by the song’s trill number. Thus, the performance of a signal to which a receiver is exposed drives plasticity in his own performance in sequence-specific manner. Males may showcase their own performance in the presence of lower-performing rivals.
Worship, Culture, and the Contested Past
Authors: Wogu Chigemezi Nnadozie
Published: January 2024

This article is a product of an empirical study that argues that denominational worship praxis is a contested issue among Seventh-day Adventists (SDA s) in Nigeria today. Using analysis from fieldnotes and interviews, this article shows that there are some congregants who prefer to do worship as it was practiced by their denominational pioneers. This group keeps this memory sacred. Another group of Adventists contest the same past by leaning toward the Nigerian Pentecostal ethos. This contestation regarding the past combined with acceptance or rejection of cultural matters in the worship arena shows the diversity of Adventism in Nigeria. It also reveals how cultural and missionary traditions intersect and influence the local contemporary worship praxis of Adventist Christianity. Based on ethnographic findings, the article concludes that the example of conflicting visions of the past in one denomination (Seventh-day Adventists) in Nigeria contributes to a richer perspective in studies in world Christianity.
Xylodon asiaticus (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota), a new species of corticioid fungus from southern China
Authors: ZHANG XUNCHI , LI YUNCHAO , WANG YUYUN , XU ZHAN , ZHAO CHANGLIN , ZHOU HONGMIN
Published: January 2024

The corticioid fungi are a cosmopolitan group and show a rich diversity, growing in the vegetation of boreal, temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions. Xylodon daii sp. nov. was found in the Yunnan Province, China, which suggested here to be new fungal species in light of their morphology and phylogeny. Xylodon daii has a coriaceous basidiomata with a hydnoid hymenophore and a monomitic hyphal system having generative hyphae with clamp connections, and ellipsoid to subcylindrical basidiospores measuring as 4–5.2 × 2.8–3.5 µm.  Sequences of the ITS and nLSU rRNA markers of the studied samples were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed using the maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. After a series of phylogenetic studies, the ITS+nLSU analysis of the order Hymenochaetales indicated that, at the generic level, six genera, (i.e., Fasciodontia, Hastodontia, Hyphodontia, Lyomyces, Kneiffiella and Xylodon) were accommodated the members of Hyphodontia sensu lato, and the genus Xylodon grouped with Lyomyces within the Hymenochaetales. According to a further analysis of the ITS dataset, X. daii was nested into the genus Xylodon, in which it was retrieved as a sister to X. pseudotropicus.
Discovery of a new species of the genus Cephalotilla Bischoff, 1920 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) from India
Authors: TERINE JOSHUA B. , LELEJ ARKADY S. , KUMAR GIRISH P.
Published: January 2024

A new species, Cephalotilla manikandani Terine, Lelej & Girish Kumar, sp. nov., is described based on female specimens from Southern India. A key to the Oriental species of Cephalotilla Bischoff, 1920 is given.
Determination of Alzheimer's disease based on morphology and atrophy using machine learning combined with automated segmentation
Authors: Ikemitsu Natsuki , Kanazawa Yuki , Haga Akihiro , Hayashi Hiroaki , Matsumoto Yuki , Harada Masafumi
Published: January 2024

Background

To evaluate the degree of cerebral atrophy for Alzheimer's disease (AD), voxel-based morphometry has been performed with magnetic resonance imaging. Detailed morphological changes in a specific tissue area having the most evidence of atrophy were not considered by the machine-learning technique.

Purpose

To develop a machine-learning system that can capture morphology features for determination of atrophy of brain tissue in early-stage AD and classification of healthy participants or patients.

Material and Methods

Three-dimensional T1-weighted (3D-T1W) data were obtained from AD Neuroimaging Initiative (200 healthy controls and 200 patients with early-stage AD). Automated segmentation of 3D-T1W data was performed. Deep learning (DL) and support vector machine (SVM) were trained using 66-segmented volume values as input and AD diagnosis as output. DL was performed using 66 volume values or gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volume values. SVM learning was performed using 66 volume values and six regions with high variable importance. 3D convolutional neural network (3D-CNN) was trained using the segmented images. Accuracy and area under curve (AUC) were obtained. Variable importance was evaluated from logistic regression analysis.

Results

DL for GM and WM volume values, accuracy 0.6; SVM for all volume values, accuracy 0.82 and AUC 0.81; DL for all volume values, accuracy 0.82 and AUC 0.8; 3D-CNN using segmental images of the whole brain, accuracy 0.5 and AUC 0.51. SVM using volume values of six regions, accuracy 0.82; image-based 3D-CNN, highest accuracy 0.69.

Conclusion

Our results show that atrophic features are more considerable than morphological features in the early detection of AD.
Revisiting the Case of Ethnography and International Relations
Authors: Rio Anna Eriksen
Published: January 2024

This article revisits the debate on the role of ethnography in International Relations. It primarily does this by elucidating three points of tension in the literature on ethnography in International Relations. Firstly, it tackles the challenges related to ‘getting on’ with ethnography after the reflexive methodological developments that have taken place within anthropology since the 1980s. Secondly, it investigates how to overcome certain matters of scale and how to conceptualise the ‘international’ methodologically, or more specifically, ethnographically. When looking at issues that somehow exist and operate on the international scale, the ethnographic task of immersion in local scenes does sometimes seem like an ill-suited approach. However, I argue, this problematisation is dependent on a certain methodological understanding of what the international is. I attempt to formulate an alternative methodological approach that takes seriously the idea that international relations always can be accessed locally. This paper suggests that one of the main solutions to the obstacle of scale is methodologically abandon the imaginary of totalities as a higher level. In this way, ethnography can enable important understandings of social relations that exist across scales of local and global.

Repenser le rapport entre l’ethnographie et les relations internationales
Ready to Go Home? Nurses’ Perspectives of Prolonged Admission for Patients Undergoing Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in Denmark
Authors: Missel Malene , Donsel Pernille Orloff , Petersen René Horsleben , Beck Malene
Published: January 2024

Enhanced recovery after surgery programs with median postoperative hospitalization of 2 days improve outcomes after lung cancer surgery. This article explores nursing care practices for patients with lung cancer who remain hospitalized despite having recovered somatically. Qualitative focus group interviews were conducted with 16 nurses. Ricoeur’s phenomenological hermeneutics underpins the methodology applied in this study, and we relied on Benner and Wrubel’s theory. The nurses emphasized that the thoughts of patients with a recent lung cancer diagnosis revolve around more than the surgery. Nursing comprises not only practicalities but also attending to patients’ stress and their coping with being struck with lung cancer and having undergone surgery. A counterculture emerged to counteract the logic of productivity, indicating that caring as a worthy end in itself may be underestimated in protocol-driven care. Prolonging hospitalization largely depends on clinical judgment. The nurses’ aim is not to keep patients in the hospital but to avoid any needless suffering, allowing them to reclaim the primacy of caring.
Oral Ingestion of an Iron-Containing Hand Warmer in a Pediatric Patient
Authors: Hardin Jeremy R. , Suzuki Emi , Seltzer Justin A. , Suhandynata Raymond T. , Sivagnanam Mamata , Lasoff Daniel R.
Published: January 2024

Hand warmer packets are common products used to provide a portable, nonflammable heat source via the exothermic oxidation of iron. We present the first reported case of pediatric hand warmer packet ingestion in a three-year-old male who developed an elevated serum iron concentration (peak 335 ug/dL) and gastrointestinal injury after ingesting the contents of a HOTHANDS hand warmer packet. He was treated with endoscopic gastric foreign body removal and lavage, as well as proton-pump inhibitors and whole bowel irrigation. Hand warmer packs contain reduced elemental iron powder, which has been shown to have a more favorable safety profile when compared to iron salts. The mechanism of toxicity for reduced iron is unknown, though it is thought to be due to conversion to more toxic iron ions in an acidic environment. While the current adult literature suggests that ingestion of a single hand warmer packet is without significant risk, our case demonstrates that even a partial ingestion carries a significant risk of both iron toxicity and direct gastrointestinal caustic injury in a young child. This case demonstrates the need for multidisciplinary care and consideration of urgent endoscopic foreign body removal and gastric lavage followed by whole bowel irrigation to mitigate the potential of severe iron toxicity.
“Ready worker two”: Gendered labor regime of platform-based game work in China
Authors: Zhao Mengyang
Published: January 2024

This study delves into the gendered labor regime of platform game work in China, a burgeoning remote platform economy connecting customers with workers for entertainment or gameplay assistance. It reveals that offline gender divisions persistently seep into and solidify the logic of gender discipline in online gaming, channeling women into service-centric roles that face devaluation. Beyond the overt obstacles hindering women from lucrative gaming tasks, their marginalized position is intertwined with diminished gaming capital in team-based competitive gameplay, a factor frequently misinterpreted as “gaming skill.” Even ostensibly neutral policy moves have pronounced gendered implications, as gaming platforms, wary of governmental repercussions, strategically diminish the prominence of feminine-presenting workers. By elucidating the multifaceted ways women are culturally, socially, and algorithmically marginalized within the gaming service supply chain, this study enriches the growing body of literature on the intersectionality within the platform workforce.
Diagnostic evaluation of deep learning accelerated lumbar spine MRI
Authors: Awan Komal M , Goncalves Filho Augusto Lio M , Tabari Azadeh , Applewhite Brooks P , Lang Min , Lo Wei-Ching , Sellers Robert , Kollasch Peter , Clifford Bryan , Nickel Dominik , Husseni Jad , Rapalino Otto , Schaefer Pamela , Cauley Stephen , Huang Susie Y , Conklin John
Published: January 2024

Background and Purpose

Deep learning (DL) accelerated MR techniques have emerged as a promising approach to accelerate routine MR exams. While prior studies explored DL acceleration for specific lumbar MRI sequences, a gap remains in comprehending the impact of a fully DL-based MRI protocol on scan time and diagnostic quality for routine lumbar spine MRI. To address this, we assessed the image quality and diagnostic performance of a DL-accelerated lumbar spine MRI protocol in comparison to a conventional protocol.

Methods

We prospectively evaluated 36 consecutive outpatients undergoing non-contrast enhanced lumbar spine MRIs. Both protocols included sagittal T1, T2, STIR, and axial T2-weighted images. Two blinded neuroradiologists independently reviewed images for foraminal stenosis, spinal canal stenosis, nerve root compression, and facet arthropathy. Grading comparison employed the Wilcoxon signed rank test. For the head-to-head comparison, a 5-point Likert scale to assess image quality, considering artifacts, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), anatomical structure visualization, and overall diagnostic quality. We applied a 15% noninferiority margin to determine whether the DL-accelerated protocol was noninferior.

Results

No significant differences existed between protocols when evaluating foraminal and spinal canal stenosis, nerve compression, or facet arthropathy (all p > .05). The DL-spine protocol was noninferior for overall diagnostic quality and visualization of the cord, CSF, intervertebral disc, and nerve roots. However, it exhibited reduced SNR and increased artifact perception. Interobserver reproducibility ranged from moderate to substantial (κ = 0.50–0.76).

Conclusion

Our study indicates that DL reconstruction in spine imaging effectively reduces acquisition times while maintaining comparable diagnostic quality to conventional MRI.
Stifle arthrodesis in a feline pelvic limb amputee
Authors: Goh Wei Tze , Drew Jarrod
Published: January 2024

Case summary

A domestic shorthair cat presented to the Animal Referral Hospital (Brisbane, Australia) after having the left pelvic limb incorrectly amputated. The cat was unable to ambulate on the remaining right pelvic limb due to a chronically subluxated stifle. A stifle arthrodesis was performed on the right pelvic limb to manage the injury. Follow-up radiographs performed 5 months postoperatively demonstrated stifle arthrodesis with no detectable complications. The owner reported that aside from some difficulties in toileting, the cat had a good quality of life and was capable of performing the majority of daily activities. Stifle arthrodesis in a feline pelvic limb amputee appears to be a viable treatment option. After a period of rehabilitation and adaptation, the cat in the case report has been able to lead a near-normal lifestyle.

Relevance and novel information

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of the outcome and complications associated with stifle arthrodesis in a feline pelvic limb amputee. This is also the first report of stifle arthrodesis in a cat using the bilateral plating technique.
Nutritional Status of the Elderly Residing in a 24-Hour Medical Care Facility After Nutritional Intervention
Authors: Lucyna Ścisło , Elżbieta Walewska , Anna Kliś-Kalinowska , Judyta Pluta
Published: January 2024

Malnutrition is a significant issue among elderly individuals in 24-hour care facilities, leading to increased morbidity. The aim of the study was to compare the nutritional status before and after nutritional intervention based on selected indicators of nutritional status among residents of a 24-hour care institution. The study included a group of 104 people aged 65 to 97 years. Nutritional status was assessed before and after the nutritional intervention based on indicators: levels of prealbumin, albumin, transferrin, total lymphocyte count, BMI, and MNA scale. The nutritional intervention consisted of administering oral nutritional supplements (ONS) to patients, regardless of nutritional status. The method of retrospective analysis of patients' medical records was used. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 24 for Windows. Improvements in nutritional status occurred among patients with malnutrition based on MNA and prealbumin indices, and in groups of patients with moderate or mild malnutrition as determined by transferrin, prealbumin and albumin. The mean levels of nutritional indices significantly increased: MNA ( p = .001), BMI ( p = .001), prealbumin ( p = .001), and albumin ( p < .001). The use of ONS resulted in better nutritional status parameters based on MNA, albumin and prealbumin. These indices may be predictors of reducing the risk of various disorders among the elderly.