bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SIMULATION OF MIXED-MODE I/II DEBOND USING VCCT AND COHESIVE ELEMENTS
Authors: LI GANG , RENAUD GUILLAUME , LI CHUN
Published: November 2023

This paper presents a modelling strategy for the simulation of quasi-static mixedmode I/II debond propagation in a bonded unidirectional composite specimen configuration. The previous test data sets were re-examined to validate the modelling, i.e., measured debond lengths were assessed and updated based on a correlation between the stiffness and the debond length. The correlation was obtained via a series of two-dimensional (2D) finite element (FE) analyses with different debond lengths. With the resulting “effective” initial debond lengths, finite element (FE) analyses of mixed-mode debonding was carried out with the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) and cohesive zone modelling (CZM). The performance of VCCT and cohesive elements in the debonding simulation was assessed for a mode mixity of 0.2. Good agreement in the load-displacement relationship was obtained between experimental and numerical results. Discussion on the test data evaluation and the modelling strategy over a wide range of mode mixities is presented.
HIGH BUCKLING STRENGTH OF AUXETIC CARBON FIBER COMPOSITE LAMINATES
Authors: TRICARICO ANTHONY , LIN WENHUA , WANG YEQING
Published: November 2023

This research focused on testing the effect of the negative Poisson’s ratio of a carbon fiber composite on its critical buckling load. A secondary goal was to determine the accuracy of simulation compared to the experimental results for carbon fiber composites. In order to accomplish these two goals, both simulation and experimental testing were employed. For the simulation, ABAQUS software was used to determine predicted values for the critical buckling loads of auxetic and nonauxetic composites as well as the respective nonlinear force behavior of these composites. These results were then compared to experimental results of four auxetic and four non-auxetic specimens each experiencing uniaxial compressive tests. The results of simulation and experimentation showed that the critical buckling loads, and force sustained in general, of the auxetic composites were about three times higher than those of non-auxetic composites. While it appears that the negative Poisson’s ratio has a significant impact on the buckling strength of composite materials, further testing is required to determine the effects of other factors on the critical buckling loads. Along with this, the simulation was more accurate for the auxetic composites than for the non-auxetic composites. Therefore, further testing and simulation are required to determine the limits of simulation accuracy for composite structures.
EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF WELDED THERMOPLASTIC JOINTS
Authors: RAVI ASWINI KONA , BHASIN AKHIL , GOMEZ LUIS , OLIVARES GERARDO , KAWAMURA NOBUYA
Published: November 2023

High-rate manufacturing technologies and processes are essential to meet the increasing global demand for lightweight, sustainable commercial aircraft. Thermoplastic materials play a key role in achieving this goal. Joining methods such as thermoplastic welding enable rapid part assembly and reduce the total weight of the structure due to minimal to no fasteners. As the aviation industry is exploring the potential to increasingly use welded thermoplastic structures, it is necessary to understand their structural performance under different loading conditions. Additionally, the industry’s need could also be addressed through well-established numerical modeling methodologies. Developing numerical methods validated with experimental data at the lower-mid building block level could help in predicting higher building block level experiments and eventually reduce the cost of the test matrix. In this research, welded thermoplastic joints are tested under single-lap shear loading conditions, and medium-fidelity modeling methodologies are developed to predict strength and weld failure mechanisms. These methods would eventually be used to validate welded thermoplastic structures under complex loading conditions at sub-component and component levels.
Latynizmy czasownikowe w staropolszczyźnie
Authors: German Jan
Published: November 2023

VERBAL BORROWINGS FROM LATIN IN OLD POLISH The paper focuses on direct verbal borrowings from Latin into Old Polish. It attempts to determine the exact number of these borrowings and to describe the possible reasons for it being rather small in comparison with nominal borrowings. In the initial parts, some introductory remarks are made on verbal borrowings in general and Polish–Latin language contact in Middle Ages. The main part of the paper discusses the etymology of four Old Polish verbs: koronować ~ korunować, obligować się, ufundować and sylabizować. The final part contains general remarks and conclusions.
A productivity indicator for adaptation to climate change
Authors: Barnhart Bradley L. , Bostian Moriah , Färe Rolf , Grosskopf Shawna , Lochner Sophia M.
Published: November 2023

This study draws on economic index theory to construct a new indicator for adaptation to changing environmental conditions, most notably climate change, which may shift the production technology over time. Such environmental shifts are largely exogenous to firm decision making, for instance investments in research and development, which may also lead to technology change. Few existing measures of total factor productivity (TFP) make this distinction, between exogenous environmental shifts and shifts due to firm decision making or innovation. We introduce a nonparametric Luenberger productivity indicator for adaptation, which allows for decomposition of standard technology and efficiency change measures into both environmental and production components. We apply this framework to agricultural production in the US Mississippi River Basin for recent decades, working with USDA Census of Agriculture data at the county level and key climate conditions. We also match the production and climate data to estimates of Nitrogen loading over time, to incorporate water quality into the adaptation indicator. Our results indicate sustained overall productivity growth, for both agricultural production and nitrogen loading reductions, driven by technology gains outweighing efficiency losses. Decomposing further to the adaptation component, our results indicate modest overall adaptation gains, driven by both adaptation efficiency and technology gains.
Pregnancy and pregnancy intention after experiencing infertility: A longitudinal study of women in Malawi
Authors: Bornstein Marta , Gemmill Alison , Norris Alison H. , Huber-Krum Sarah , Gipson Jessica D.
Published: November 2023

Background

Infertility is a common experience among individuals and couples. Infertility may resolve without intervention, but little is known about pregnancy intentions and incidence of pregnancy following infertility, particularly in low-resource settings.

Methods

Data come from UTHA, a longitudinal cohort study in Central Malawi, with baseline and follow up surveys conducted from 2014–2019 (N = 1,030 reproductive-aged women). We assessed bivariable and multivariable relationships between reported infertility at baseline and subsequent pregnancy and retrospective pregnancy intentions. Pregnancy intention was measured with the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP), a scale validated in Malawi (Range = 0–12).

Results

Approximately 20% of the sample reported that they had ever experienced infertility (tried to become pregnant for at least two years without conceiving in that time) at baseline. The proportion of women who reported a new pregnancy during the follow up period (mean = 4.3 years) was the same (65%) for women who had and had not experienced infertility. Among women who became pregnant, levels of pregnancy intendedness were similar between women who had and had not experienced infertility. Prospective desire for a/another child at baseline was associated with subsequent pregnancy (AOR: 1.59; 95%CI: 1.06–2.39) and was also associated with higher levels of pregnancy intendedness measured retrospectively (LMUP of 9.4 vs. 8.4).

Conclusions

Experienced infertility was not associated with differential odds of having a subsequent pregnancy or the intendedness of a subsequent pregnancy. Thus, women who have experienced infertility should be included in family planning programs and research to support all women in achieving their reproductive goals.
The impact of confirmed cases of COVID-19 on residents’ traditional Chinese medicine health literacy: A survey from Gansu Province of China
Authors: Zhu Ge , Wang Xiulan , Zhang Tengyue , Zhao Wangping , Ma Li
Published: November 2023

Since the outbreak of the new crown epidemic in China in early 2020, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has continued to increase, and the Chinese government’s policy of "static management" in the first round of the epidemic may affect the health behavior adjustment of Chinese residents. Using survey data on the TCM health literacy of 4016 residents in China (Gansu Province), a causal inference approach was used to explore the impact of the emergence of confirmed cases of COVID-19 on residents’ TCM health literacy. We found that the emergence of confirmed cases can increase by 3.5%-7.0% in residents’ TCM health literacy. Among them, the TCM health literacy of uneducated residents has not improved significantly, and the residents with secondary education have increased significantly by 8%. For those with higher education, the number of residents increased significantly by 6%. At the same time, the emergence of confirmed cases will increase the residents’ practical TCM health literacy and decrease theoretical TCM health literacy. Through heterogeneity analysis, we explored the impact mechanism of confirmed cases on residents’ TCM health literacy. We believe that the emergence of confirmed cases will make residents more inclined to participate in TCM-free clinics, theme activities, and other ways to acquire TCM knowledge.
Modular tipping points: How local network structure impacts critical transitions in networked spin systems
Authors: Reisinger Daniel , Adam Raven , Tschofenig Fabian , Füllsack Manfred , Jäger Georg
Published: November 2023

Critical transitions describe a phenomenon where a system abruptly shifts from one stable state to an alternative, often detrimental, stable state. Understanding and possibly preventing the occurrence of a critical transition is thus highly relevant to many ecological, sociological, and physical systems. In this context, it has been shown that the underlying network structure of a system heavily impacts the transition behavior of that system. In this paper, we study a crucial but often overlooked aspect in critical transitions: the modularity of the system’s underlying network topology. In particular, we investigate how the transition behavior of a networked system changes as we alter the local network structure of the system through controlled changes of the degree assortativity. We observe that systems with high modularity undergo cascading transitions, while systems with low modularity undergo more unified transitions. We also observe that networked systems that consist of nodes with varying degrees of connectivity tend to transition earlier in response to changes in a control parameter than one would anticipate based solely on the average degree of that network. However, in rare cases, such as when there is both low modularity and high degree disassortativity, the transition behavior aligns with what we would expected given the network’s average degree. Results are confirmed for a diverse set of degree distributions including stylized two-degree networks, uniform, Poisson, and power-law degree distributions. On the basis of these results, we argue that to understand critical transitions in networked systems, they must be understood in terms of individual system components and their roles within the network structure.
Bacterial adaptation to rhizosphere soil is independent of the selective pressure exerted by the herbicide saflufenacil, through the modulation of catalase and glutathione S-transferase
Authors: Silva Caroline Rosa , Flávia da Silva Rovida Amanda , Gabriele Martins Juliane , Nathane Nunes de Freitas Paloma , Ricardo Olchanheski Luiz , Grange Luciana , Alvim Veiga Pileggi Sônia , Pileggi Marcos
Published: November 2023

Herbicides cause oxidative stress in nontarget microorganisms, which may exhibit adaptive responses to substances they have not previously encountered. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether these characteristics occur in bacteria isolated from agricultural soil. Two possible adaptation strategies of Stenotrophomonas sp. CMA26 was evaluated in agricultural soil in Brazil, which is considered stressful due to the intense use of pesticides. The study focused on degradation and antioxidant enzymes in response to the herbicide Heat, which was absent at the isolation site. The results indicated that higher concentrations of herbicide led to more intense stress conditions during the initial periods of growth. This was evidenced by elevated levels of malondialdehyde and peroxide, as well as a significant reduction in growth. Our data show that herbicide degradation is a selection-dependent process, as none of the 35 isolates from the same environment in our collection were able to degrade the herbicide. The stress was controlled by changes in the enzymatic modulation of catalase activity in response to peroxide and glutathione S-transferase activity in response to malondialdehyde, especially at higher herbicide concentrations. This modulation pattern is related to the bacterial growth phases and herbicide concentration, with a specific recovery response observed during the mid phase for higher herbicide concentrations. The metabolic systems that contributed to tolerance did not depend on the specific prior selection of saflufenacil. Instead, they were related to general stress responses, regardless of the stress-generating substance. This system may have evolved in response to reactive oxygen species, regardless of the substance that caused oxidative stress, by modulating of the activities of various antioxidant enzymes. Bacterial communities possessing these plastic tolerance mechanisms can survive without necessarily degrading herbicides. However, their presence can lead to changes in biodiversity, compromise the functionality of agricultural soils, and contribute to environmental contamination through drift.
Accuracy of HemoCue301 portable hemoglobin analyzer for anemia screening in capillary blood from women of reproductive age in a deprived region of Northern Peru: An on-field study
Authors: Alarcón-Yaquetto Dulce E. , Rueda-Torres Lenin , Bailon Nataly , Barreto Percy Vílchez , Málaga Germán
Published: November 2023

Objective

We aim to assess the accuracy and effectiveness of the HemoCue 301, a point-of-care (POC) device for measuring hemoglobin levels, and detecting anemia among individuals living in Tumbes, a rural, underserved area in Northern Peru.

Methods

Baseline analysis of a clinical trial aimed at assessing the effect of multi-fortified bread (NCT05103709). Adult women with capillary blood HemoCue 301 readings below 12 g/dL were recruited in coastal city of Tumbes, Peru. A total of 306 women took part of the study, venous blood samples were taken and analyzed with an automated hematology analyzer. Serum samples were used to measure ferritin, serum iron and C reactive protein.

Results

Capillary blood measured by the Hemocue 301 has a bias of 0.36 ± 0.93 g/dL respect to the automated Hb. More than 50% of women with normal ferritin values were classified as anemics according to the HemoCue 301. Automated Hb cut-off of 10.8 g/dL [AUC 0.82 (0.77–0.88)] had a specificity of 0.817 and a sensitivity 0.711 while with the HemoCue 301 cut-off of 11.1 g/dL [AUC 0.71 (0.62–0.79)] had a specificity of 0.697 and a sensitivity 0.688. The performance of the automated Hb cut-off was significantly better than the HemoCue (p<0.001).

Conclusion

Caution must be taken when using POC devices, especially with values around the threshold. Cut-off values found in our study could be used as surrogate means when no confirmatory tests are available. Clinical outcomes should be prioritized when diagnosing iron deficiency anemia in women of reproductive age to ensure proper diagnosis.
Diaphorin, a polyketide produced by a bacterial endosymbiont of the Asian citrus psyllid, adversely affects the in vitro gene expression with ribosomes from Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Takasu Rena , Yasuda Yuka , Izu Takashi , Nakabachi Atsushi
Published: November 2023

Diaphorin is a polyketide produced by “Candidatus Profftella armatura” (Gammaproteobacteria), an obligate mutualist of an important agricultural pest, the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera). Our previous study demonstrated that diaphorin, at physiological concentrations in D. citri, inhibits the growth and cell division of Bacillus subtilis (Firmicutes) but promotes the growth and metabolic activity of Escherichia coli (Gammaproteobacteria). This unique property of diaphorin may aid microbial mutualism in D. citri, potentially affecting the transmission of “Candidatus Liberibacter spp.” (Alphaproteobacteria), the pathogens of the most destructive citrus disease Huanglongbing. Moreover, this property may be exploited to promote microbes’ efficiency in producing industrial materials. However, the mechanism underlying this activity is unknown. Diaphorin belongs to the family of pederin-type compounds, which inhibit protein synthesis in eukaryotes by binding to eukaryotic ribosomes. Therefore, as a first step to assess diaphorin’s direct influence on bacterial gene expression, this study examined the effect of diaphorin on the in vitro translation using ribosomes of B. subtilis and E. coli, quantifying the production of the green fluorescent protein. The results showed that the gene expression involving B. subtilis and E. coli ribosomes along with five millimolar diaphorin was 29.6% and 13.1%, respectively, less active than the control. This suggests that the diaphorin’s adverse effects on B. subtilis are attributed to, at least partly, its inhibitory effects on gene expression. Moreover, as ingredients of the translation system were common other than ribosomes, the greater inhibitory effects observed with the B. subtilis ribosome imply that the ribosome is among the potential targets of diaphorin. On the other hand, the results also imply that diaphorin’s positive effects on E. coli are due to targets other than the core machinery of transcription and translation. This study demonstrated for the first time that a pederin congener affects bacterial gene expression.
Exploring Arab communication research: A systematic review from 2000 to 2021
Authors: Abu Arqoub Omar , Dwikat Hanadi , Abualrob Mohammed , Hamdan Samar Sameer
Published: November 2023

This exploratory meta-analysis aims to investigate the current trends in Arab communication research by studying a sample of media and communication articles published in Arab academic journals between 2000 and 2021. The results reveal an increase in the number of published articles after 2011, with a more significant surge after 2016. Egyptian journals exhibited the highest publication rate among all journals. Arab researchers predominantly focused on journalism, followed by mass communication and media studies. Most of the articles analysed lacked a theoretical foundation, and quantitative methods and surveys were frequently employed for data analysis while qualitative methods, particularly personal interviews, were less common. Traditional media, such as television and newspapers, were the most discussed media platforms, followed by social media networks such as Facebook. Geographically, African Arab countries, notably Egypt and Algeria, dominated in terms of published articles and discussions related to these countries, surpassing Asian Arabic countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Enhancing prosocial behaviour and donation intentions through neuroscientific techniques (EEG and eye tracker): Exploring the influence of charitable advertisement appeals
Authors: Mahrous Abeer A. , Mohsen Yomna
Published: November 2023

This study investigates the impact of charitable advertisement appeals on prosocial behaviour and intentions to donate, employing cutting-edge neuroscientific techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) and eye tracker. It also seeks to analyse the moderating effect of altruism, social norms and moral intensity on the relationship between advertising appeal and prosocial behaviour and intention to donate. Findings indicate that negative appeal is more effective than positive appeal in influencing prosocial behaviour and intent to donate. Furthermore, using an eye tracker showed that individuals try to avoid painful scenes in charitable advertisements. This study provides valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms that drive prosocial behaviour and donation intentions by delving into the influence of various charitable advertisement appeals (both positive and negative) on individuals’ neural and ocular responses. We therefore, argue that findings from this research hold significant implications for marketers and advertisers seeking to create more effective and persuasive charitable advertisements, ultimately promoting greater engagement and support for philanthropic causes.
Film symbiosis: Embodied spectatorship and sensory (auto)ethnography in Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Ilisa Barbash’s Sweetgrass
Authors: Waldron Dara
Published: November 2023

This article explores the 2009 observational-ethnographic documentary film Sweetgrass by Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Ilisa Barbash. Focusing on visual cues within the observational form (a film that documents the herding of sheep across the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains for the last time), the article draws on ethnographic and autoethnographic strains to explore the relationship between the embodied spectator and on-screen animal. Sweetgrass, in addition to several moving image works, is explored as sensory ethnography that incorporates a form of spectator address based on the idea of symbiosis. The article situates ‘the nonhuman stare’ as fundamental to this, drawing on the film phenomenology of Vivian Sobchak to consolidate this view. Sweetgrass, the article maintains, aestheticizes the non-human for specific reasons. It adds an ethical purpose to the observational documentation of herding sheep across the mountains – a salvage operation of type – and a sensory experience of ‘living with’ associated with the farming culture represented on-screen. In addition to exploring the film as a sensory object in this way, the article devises a methodology bringing autoethnographic research concerning symbiotic human–non-human animal relationships, in line with explorations of the embodied film spectator.
Patriarchs, Nira Pereg, curated by James Clegg and Show Me the World Mister, Ayo Akingbade, curated by Carmen Juliá and Olivia Aherne
Authors: Harris Laura
Published: November 2023

Review of: Patriarchs, Nira Pereg, curated by James Clegg and Show Me the World Mister, Ayo Akingbade, curated by Carmen Juliá and Olivia Aherne

Reviewed by Laura Harris, University of Southampton

Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh, 29 October

2022-18 February 2023

Chisenhale Gallery, London, 10 November 2022-5

February 2023
Defiant Muses: Delphine Seyrig and the Feminist Video Collectives of 1970s and 1980s France, curated by Nataša Petrešin-Bachelez and Giovanna Zapperi
Authors: Ackerl Denise
Published: November 2023

Review of: Defiant Muses: Delphine Seyrig and the Feminist Video Collectives of 1970s and 1980s France, curated by Nataša Petrešin-Bachelez and Giovanna Zapperi

Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna, Austria, 7 April–4

September 2022
Landscape and the Moving Image, Catherine Elwes (2022)
Authors: fitzPatrick Edwina
Published: November 2023

Review of: Landscape and the Moving Image, Catherine Elwes (2022)

Reviewed by Edwina fitzPatrick,

University of the Arts London

Bristol and Chicago, IL: Intellect, 261 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-78938-568-7, p/bk, £28
Salvia officinalis flowers extract ameliorates liver and kidney injuries induced by simultaneous intoxication with ethanol/castor oil
Authors: Jedidi Saber , Rtibi Kais , Selmi Houcine , Aloui Foued , Sebai Hichem
Published: November 2023

The current study investigated the possible mechanisms of aqueous extract Salvia officinalis flowers (SF‐AE) and its protective effects against hepatorenal toxicities produced by simultaneous acute administration of ethanol (EtOH)/castor oil (CO). Healthy male rats (N = 50) were separated into five equal groups: control, Ethanol (EtOH) + Castor oil (CO), doses of increasing orders of SF‐AE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.) during 15 days. Liver and kidney injuries were induced by EtOH (4 g/kg, b.w., p.o.) combined with CO (5 mL/kg, b.w., p.o.). Compared to the control group, SF‐AE pretreatment protected against simultaneous administration of EtOH and CO‐caused serious histological alterations in liver and kidney tissues. SF‐AE also reversed liver and kidney biochemical parameters and lipid profile alterations. More importantly, SF‐AE significantly reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and counteracted the depletion of both enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidants. SF‐AE also prevents against inflammation induced by EtOH combined with CO, expressed by the rise of inflammation biomarkers (C‐reactive protein: CRP and alkaline phosphatase: ALP). Additionally, combined EtOH intoxication and CO poisoning exerted an increase in H2O2, free iron and calcium levels. Impressively, SF‐AE treatment regulated levels of these studied intracellular mediators in a dose‐dependent manner. In conclusion, SF‐AE can potentially improve liver and kidney injuries associated with biochemical parameter deregulations, possibly by controlling oxidative stress and inflammation.
Exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction assessed by a ratio of surface diaphragm EMG to tidal volume
Authors: Wang Lishuang , Wu Senrui , He Baiting , Liu Simin , Liang Shanfeng , Luo Yuanming
Published: November 2023

Exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is usually assessed by changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) which is effort dependent. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the diaphragm electromyogram (EMGdi) recorded from chest wall surface electrodes could be used to reflect changes in airway resistance during an exercise challenge test and to distinguish patients with EIB from those without EIB. Ninety participants with or without asthma history were included in the study. FEV1 was recorded before and 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after exercise. EIB was defined as an FEV1 decline greater than 10% after exercise. A ratio of root mean square of EMGdi to tidal volume (EMGdi/VT) was used to assess changes in airway resistance. Based on changes in FEV1, 25 of 90 participants exhibited EIB; the remainder were defined as non‐EIB participants. EMGdi/VT in EIB increased by 124% (19%–478%) which was significantly higher than that of 21% (−39% to 134%) in non‐EIB participants (p < 0.001). At the optimal cutoff point (54% in EMGdi/VT), the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for detection of a positive test was 0.92 (p < 0.001) with sensitivity 92% and specificity 88%. EMGdi/VT can be used to assess changes in airway resistance after exercise and could be used to distinguish participants with EIB from those without EIB.
The effects of treadmill exercise on brain angiogenesis in ovariectomized rats
Authors: Yoon Eun‐Jung , Jeong Jiwon , Yoon Eunji , Park Dongsun
Published: November 2023

Menopause is associated with vascular dysfunction attributed to reduced estrogen levels. Exercise has been proposed to promote angiogenesis and vascular dysfunction. However, studies of brain angiogenesis during menopause are limited. We analyzed the effects of exercise on angiogenesis‐related factors in menopausal rat model. Twenty‐week‐old female Sprague–Dawley rats (N = 18) were randomly divided into a normal control group (N, n = 6), an ovariectomized control group (OVX, n = 6), and an ovariectomy + exercise group (OVX‐EX, n = 6). Treadmill exercises were conducted in the OVX‐EX group for 8 weeks (15–60 m/min, 1 h/day, and 5 days/week). The current study showed that the expression of angiogenesis‐related factors (platelet‐derived growth factor subunit A, B, vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin 1, and angiopoietin 2) significantly decreased in the cortex of the OVX group. However, these factors were significantly restored in the cortex of the OVX‐EX group after 8 weeks of treadmill exercise. In summary, estrogen deficiency causes vascular dysfunction by inhibiting the expression of angiogenesis‐related factors. However, exercise can restore angiogenesis‐related factors in OVX rats. Exercise eventually prevents vascular dysfunction in the brain and may help prevent cognitive dysfunction in menopausal women.
Oral intake of collagen hydrolysate from mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus) attenuates skin photoaging by suppressing the UVB-induced expression of MMP-1 and IL-6
Authors: Titisari Rizki Sandhi , Herawati Elisa , Astirin Okid Parama
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Excessive skin exposure to UVB radiation can induce photoaging caused by an imbalance in oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, damaging the skin’s structure and surface layer. A previous study revealed that collagen hydrolisate extracted from the skin of mackarel scads (Decapterus macarellus) had antiaging properties that were tested in vitro, which serves as a foundation for a subsequent study of its use in vivo. This study aimed at investigating the repair effect of the mackerel scad’s skin collagen hydrolysate (MSS-CH) in photoaging conditions in a mouse model.

Methods

MSS-CH was given orally in mice model of skin photoaging under chronic exposure to UVB irradiation for 12 weeks. Morphological and histological changes on the skin were evaluated using SEM and HE staining, along with the measurement of the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1) and cytokine pro-inflammatory interleukin 6 (IL-6) using ELISA.

Results

MSS-CH inhibits the occurrence of epidermal thickening and damage to the dermal layer of the skin. As a result, it restores the epidermis’ barrier function and reduces surface damage caused by photoaging. The skin of the MSS-CH treated group exhibited improved physical appearance with reduced fine lines, wrinkles, and enhanced smoothness. Additionally, administering MSS-CH to the mice groups reduced the expression of MMP-1 and IL-6 in UVB-exposed skin.

Conclusions

Altogether, this in vivo study demonstrates the photoaging-protective properties of CH-MSS, aligning with previous in vitro data. Thus, MSS-CH emerges as a strong candidate for use as an ingredient in nutraceuticals and biocosmetics.
Crystal structure of poly[diaqua-(μ4-3,3′-di(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-dicarboxylate-N:N′:O:O′)cadmium(II)], C18H14N6O6Cd
Authors: Guo Jin-Bo , Zhang Long
Published: November 2023

C18H14N6O6Cd, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 27.000(3) Å, b = 7.0750(8) Å, c = 10.5576(11) Å, β = 110.080(2)°, Z = 4, V = 1894.2(4) Å3, R

gt
(F) = 0.0370, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.0584, T = 296 K.
The crystal structure of 5-amino-5-oxo-4-(1-oxo-4-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)isoindolin-2-yl)pentanoic acid, C17H19N3O5
Authors: Wang Qing , Gao Yanrong , Tong Hongjuan , Tang Wenqiang
Published: November 2023

C17H19N3O5, triclinic, P

1
‾

$\overline{1}$

(no. 2), a = 8.3683(3) Å, b = 9.1873(3) Å, c = 11.3782(4) Å, α = 96.553(1)°, β = 108.368(1)°, γ = 92.429(1)°, V = 821.94(5) Å3, Z = 2, R

gt
(F) = 0.0450, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.1175, T = 170 K.
Dei monasteri e di altre chiese
Authors: Massa Paola
Published: November 2023

This paper stems from the research for my PhD thesis to identify, survey and classify the surviving documentary sources, published and unpublished, on Irpinia and the Sannio Beneventano: almost 1600 documents, both public and private, produced in the Lombard and Norman period. More specifically, this study investigates the conservation methods adopted within the archives of religious institutions whose existence and functioning depended on their titula and munimina. While the sources are very reluctant to provide information on the archival practices adopted in major churches and monasteries, the analysis of the diplomatic-archival notes affixed to the verso of the charters nevertheless provides some additional information. Adopting an approach combining palaeography, diplomatics and archive science thus allows us to paint a less generic picture than that hitherto known. The survey and examination of the verso annotations, usually given little attention in editions of the documents, proved highly significant for the identification of historic ecclesiastical archives, for the practices of archiving and preserving the papers, as well as for the identification of specific and recurrent methods of managing and conserving the documentary heritage of the old churches and monasteries, urban or rural, which represented significant gathering and reference places for the territory under their control. For some of these foundations, moreover, the study of unpublished documents has made it possible to add new evidence to what is already historically known.
„Rote“ Städtepartnerschaften als die besseren kommunistischen Beziehungen im geteilten Europa?
Authors: Palma Francesco Di
Published: November 2023

This article uses the example of a trilateral network of relationships to offer a critical and much-needed contribution to the history of town twinning across the Iron Curtain through the late 1970s and 1980s. The chosen case studies are Italy and France on the one hand, the two countries with the most influential communist parties in Western Europe – the PCI (Partito Comunista Italiano) and the PCF (Parti Communiste Français) –, and the SED (Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands, Socialist Unity Party of Germany) on the other, the state party of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Exploration of such transnational relationships is essential for a better understanding of the Cold War on a regional and local level, as ideological disputes arose regularly despite the supposedly neutral character of municipal ties. What characterized the networking between the French and Italian cities, mostly governed by the PCF and the PCI respectively, and the „real socialist“ Eastern German municipalities, and why or to what extent did they constitute an exception within relations among the three communist parties? The essay critically examines this issue and shows that the translocal scope of the connections potentially enabled the relevant actors to maintain and secure the transsocietal and sociocultural focus of exchange even amidst the most serious tensions of the late Cold War. Nevertheless, countering the assumption that such connections thrived almost automatically thanks to the allegedly shared ideological roots of the participants, it shows that communal ties were virtually always torn between utopian visions of the future and the interests of „Realpolitik“.
Recent German Research on Good and Bad Deaths in Medieval Narrative Sources
Authors: Kamenzin Manuel
Published: November 2023

This research report presents recent German scholarship on good and bad deaths in medieval narrative sources to an English-speaking audience. Current publications are thus concisely illustrated in their design and with their results.
‚Rossini renaissance(s)‘ e discorsi identitari italiani
Authors: Vernazza Ruben
Published: November 2023

Following thematic and theoretical lines set out in two recent ground-breaking studies by Emanuele Senici on Rossini’s music, this article questions Italian discourse on the Rossini renaissance. It thus highlights the identity-related meanings for Italians of three crucial moments in the history of this renaissance: in 1925, with the ‚cycle Rossini‘ at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris; in 1952, with the „Armida“ at the Maggio musicale fiorentino with Maria Callas in the title role; in 1969, with the Italian debut of the critical edition of the „Barber of Seville“ at the Scala in Milan.
Dante 2021
Authors: Branelli Eneo , Forlani Filippo , Murru Chiara , Vaccaro Giulio
Published: November 2023

The year 2021 witnessed the commemoration of the seven hundredth anniversary of Dante Alighieri’s passing. Across the globe, particularly in Italy, a plethora of undertakings were orchestrated to honor this significant milestone. This paper undertakes an examination of the primary events that transpired in homage to Dante. In particular, in juxtaposition to prior centenaries, the authors center their analysis on initiatives that highlighted the rekindling of interest in Dante within Italy as the progenitor of the Italian language, his pivotal role in the establishment of an Italian collective identity, and the broader proliferation of his literary oeuvre. Concurrently, the authors delve into the dissemination and reception of the Dante anniversary on the international stage.
On positive Cohen weakly nuclear multilinear operators
Authors: Bougoutaia A. , Belacel A. , Macedo R. , Hamdi H.
Published: November 2023

In this article, we establish new relationships involving the class of Cohen positive strongly $p$-summing multilinear operators. Furthermore, we introduce a new class of multilinear operators on Banach lattices, called positive Cohen weakly nuclear multilinear operators. We establish a Pietsch domination-type theorem for this new class of multilinear operators. As an application, we show that every positive Cohen weakly $p$-nuclear multilinear operator is positive Dimant strongly $p$-summing and Cohen positive strongly $p$-summing. We conclude with a tensor representation of our class.
Yield and traits of leaves assimilation surface of winter wheat
Authors: Priadkina G. O. , Makharynska N. M. , Konovalov D. V.
Published: November 2023

Aim. To determine markers of drought tolerance based on the analysis of the traits leaves assimilation surface in 6 va-
rieties of winter wheat with near drought tolerance under conditions of field drought in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.
Methods. Traits of leaves assimilation surface was determined used field, morphometric, phenological and spectrophotometric
methods. Results. Under conditions of field drought during the grain filling period the dry weight of flag
leaf and of all green leaves of the main shoot of 2 high-yielding varieties (Kyivska 17 and Horodnytsia) at anthesis
and milk ripeness were higher, than that of 4 others on average over 3 years. The specific weight of the flag leaves of
the main shoot and chlorophyll content slightly differed in the studied varieties. The variability of the dry weight of
flag leaf and of all green leaves of the main shoot of winter wheat varieties at anthesis and at milk ripeness was greater
than the variability of their chlorophyll content it was found. A close correlation between the dry weight of flag leaf
at anthesis and at milk ripeness, as well as all green leaves, with the yield (r = 0.658–0.837) was established. Conclutions.
The higher yield of winter wheat varieties with a higher leaf dry weight under drought conditions may be due to
the formation of a more amount of photoassimilates, which can be used both for root growth (water deficit avoidance
strategy) and for the storage of reserved assimilates in the stem (strategy of create reserves for further filling of grain).
The dry weight of flag leaf of the main shoot at anthesis can be used as a morphometric marker of drought tolerance,
given the close correlation with the yield and the simplicity and convenience of determinations in the field.
Public Library and Librarian Stereotypes in The Indonesian Film Kambodja
Authors: Mayesti Nina
Published: November 2023

PurposeThis study aimed to describe the portrayals of a library and librarian in the Indonesian film Kam-bodja based on the suitability of historical facts and cultural aspects and to find out public per-ceptions and stereotypes about the image of librarians.MethodThis qualitative research study used a critical discourse analysis and the dispositive method to-wards the unit of analysis in the form of dialogues and film scene cuts. Data were obtained by watching, selecting dialogues and scenes, and making notes.Results/FindingsIt finds a portrayal of the public library, its operational activities, and worker according to the period 1955-1965 in the film. There are three representations of public libraries found in the film: a library as an information centre, a social place, and a quiet place. There are also three portray-als of librarian in the film: librarian is a female profession, has dominating power over library users, and is quiet and unapproachable.ConclusionThe representations of libraries and librarians in the film show consistency and sustainability in how the media represents libraries and the librarianship profession, which influences public per-ception. Such knowledge continuously reinforced through the media shows that the public still needs to familiarize themselves with libraries and librarianship. The negative image in various media is a challenge that must be faced for the sustainability of this field and is expected to reflect how the public views libraries and their profession.
Safely Shifting MRIs for Seizure Evaluation to the Outpatient Setting
Authors: Shuster Brooke , Switzer Barbara E. , Krishnasamy Meenu , Garimella Rijutha , Vu Thuy , Tierney Daniel , Port Courtney
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

When a patient is admitted for seizure-like activity, in addition to obtaining a thorough history and physical exam, the evaluation may include a neurology consultation, EEG, and brain MRI. The cost of an inpatient MRI is significant and only 2% of MRIs yield clinically significant findings. At our institution, there was a 20% increase in patients undergoing inpatient MRI from 2018 to 2020. Our aim: Decrease the percentage of patient encounters receiving inpatient brain MRIs for seizure evaluation from 50% to 40% in 6 months by safely shifting MRIs to the outpatient setting.

METHODS

Initially, provider variability in ordering practices of MRIs was analyzed. Stakeholders were gathered and a local guideline was developed to standardize MRI utilization. A process map was created and highlighted barriers to obtaining an outpatient MRI. A new standard process was developed that streamlined and automated processes, and reduced delays and reliance on patients’ families.

RESULTS

Since implementation of the new clinical guideline, the percentage of inpatient MRIs ordered for patient encounters presenting with seizures and seizure-like episodes decreased from a mean of 50% to 26%. Significant reductions occurred for patients with complex febrile seizures, provoked but afebrile seizures, and unprovoked seizures. The MRI guideline recommendations were followed in 93% of encounters in the final 12 months. None of the patients who underwent outpatient MRI required readmission for acute findings.

CONCLUSIONS

In this project, the percentage of inpatient MRIs was safely decreased with the implementation of a clinical guideline and standardized process.
Medical school dean´s scientific production of the main universities by continent
Authors: Aquino Canchari Christian Renzo , Arancel Rodriguez Crissia Janedyth , Tejada Salvador F.
Published: November 2023

Introduction: promoting scientific research is one of the main functions of universities. Medical schools should not be an exception; deans should also have appropriate research experience that allows them to have a different perspective on the importance of research in undergraduate medicine.Aim: to determine the medical school dean´s scientific production of the main universities by continent.Methods: an observational, analytical, and transversal study. We identify the medical school dean´s scientific production of the 20 universities with the best position from South America, Central America, North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, according to the Ranking Webometrics 2022, in the Scopus database.Results: 140 directors or deans of medicine were evaluated, of which 136 (97.1%) had published an article at least once in their life, 128 (91.4%) in the last five years, 103 (73.6%) in the previous year, and 93 (66.4%) in the current year. The total number of published articles was 24.5 (Me=98), receiving a total of 1,251,766 citations (range 0 to 101,868), an H-index 24 (range 0 to 140), and in collaboration with 154,711 coauthors.Conclusions: the medical school dean´s scientific production from the main universities by continent was high, with notable differences between those who came from universities in Asia, North America, and Europe compared to Oceania, Africa, South America, and Central America.
Determination of monocrotaline and usaramine in rat plasma by UPLC-MS/MS and their pharmacokinetics
Authors: Chen Fan , Wang Ziyue , Xia Xiaoyun , Wang Wanhang , Ma Yizhe , Shen Xiuwei , Zhou Xuzhao , Wen Congcong
Published: November 2023

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of monocrotaline and usaramine in rat plasma, to study the plasma drug concentration and pharmacokinetics, and to calculate the absolute bioavailability. The plasma was treated with acetonitrile and methanol (9:1, v/v) protein precipitation method. The chromatographic column was UPLC HSS T3 (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm), the mobile phase was methanol-water (containing 0.1% formic acid with 10 mM ammonium acetate in water), and the elution time was 4 min at a flow rate of 0.4 mL min−1. Electrospray ionization (ESI) positive ion mode was used for detection and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was used for quantitative analysis. Monocrotaline and usaramine were administered sublingual intravenously (iv) 1 mg kg−1 and orally (po) 5 mg kg−1, respectively, with 6 rats in each group, for a total of 24 rats. Then the pharmacokinetic differences in rats were evaluated. For the UPLC-MS/MS method, the calibration curve showed good linearity in the range of 2–2,000 ng mL−1, where r was greater than 0.99. The precision, accuracy, recovery, matrix effect and stability results were all consistent with the requirements of biological sample detection methods. to provide scientific experimental basis for the basic research The bioavailability of monocrotaline and usaramine in rat plasma was calculated, which was 43.5 and 19.5%, respectively.
COMPUTATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR PREDICTION OF CARDIAC DISORDERS BY ANALYZING ECG SIGNALS USING MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUE
Authors: Ramesh K. , Duraivel A. N. , Lekashri S. , Manikandan S. P. , Ashokkumar M.
Published: November 2023

The clinical diagnosis of heart disorders relies heavily on electrocardiograms (ECGs). Numerous abnormalities in heart
are being identified with a record of heart signal throughout intervals. Monitoring and diagnosing ECGs signals in daily life are appearing recently due to an increase in healthcare equipment. This paper presents a novel computational framework for detecting heart disorders by analyzing the ECG signals using machine learning technology. The manual interpretation of ECGs by medical experts is time-consuming and subject to human error. This study presents a
comprehensive review and implementation of an automated ECG classification system utilizing artificial neural networks
(ANNs) for efficient and accurate cardiac condition identification. The proposed ECG classifier employs a multilayered
ANN architecture, trained and validated using a diverse dataset of annotated ECG recordings. Preprocessing
techniques, including signal denoising, feature extraction, and data augmentation, enhance the quality and relevance
of input data for the ANN. The selected features encompass morphological and temporal attributes, essential for distinguishing normal and abnormal ECG patterns. In this paper, noise removal from input ECG dataset is performed by
adaptive filter technique and baseline wander is also removed. Machine learning in ECG classification is done by ANN that allows to use less energy while still providing accurate classification. MATLAB software is employed to carry out this work and corresponding outputs are obtained for ECG classification.