bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanomicellar TGX221 Inhibits N-Myc to Suppress Malignant Biological Behavior of Prostate Cancer Cells by Regulating MYC/Myc-Associated Factor X (MAX)
Authors: Li Hongwei , Xu Lei , Li Ming , Gao Zhan
Published: May 2023

Considering free amino N-terminal-myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (N-Myc) as an important gene in prostate cancer (PC), we herein detected the impact of TGX-221 nanomicelles on N-Myc expression in PC cells. PC cells (LNCaP) were divided into blank group, empty vector group,
N-Myc group and vector+N-Myc group, followed by analysis of myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (MYC) and myc-associated factor (XMAX) expressions, cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration by CCK-8 method, flow cytometry and transwell experiment. Compared with blank group (4.95±0.67),
N-Myc expression in the N-Myc group increased (6.25±0.78) but expressions in the empty vector (1.03±0.23) and vector+N-Myc groups (3.46±0.37) decreased significantly (P <0.05), with lowest expression in the empty vector group (P <0.05). Cell proliferation
and migration in the N-Myc group increased within 96 h of transfection, but decreased in the empty vector and vector+N-Myc groups (P <0.05), and TGX-221-loaded N-Myc obtained the lowest proliferation and migration (P <0.05). N-Myc transfection decreased apoptosis, and nanomicellar
TGX221 or N-Myc-loaded vector resulted in increased apoptotic cells (P < 0.05), with highest apoptosis in the vector+N-Myc group. Moreover, the presence of nanomicellar TGX221 reversed their expression with lowest expression in the vector+N-Myc group, as transfection with N-Myc increased
MYC/MAX mRNA expression. TGX-221 nanomicelles inhibited N-Myc and MYC/MAX expression, thereby suppressing proliferation and migration of PC cells, and inducing cell apoptosis.
Bioinformatics Analysis Based on Iron Death-Related LncRNAs: Construction of a Clinical Prognostic Model for Lung Adenocarcinoma and Correlation Analysis of Immune Infiltration
Authors: Liu Shaoyong , Zhai Changming , Jiang Qiuyue , Wang Wei , You Lu
Published: May 2023

Objective: A prognostic model for iron death-related LncRNA in lung adenocarcinoma was constructed through the TCGA cancer database, and immune correlation was analyzed for patients in the high-low risk group in the model. This study has certain guiding significance for the diagnosis
and treatment of lung adenocarcinoma, and has the necessity of research. Methods: Get gene expression data and clinical data of lung adenocarcinoma tumor tissue and normal lung tissue in TCGA database, select LncRNA, adopt single and multivariate Cox risk regression model and establish
the LncRNA prognosis risk prediction model, score patients according to the model, and compare high risk and low risk groups to obtain immune related differences between high and low risk groups. Results: A total of 55 differential LncRNAs related to the prognosis of iron death were
obtained. Based on univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, a multivariate prognostic risk prediction model was established for 16 LncRNAs. A high patient risk score suggests a poor prognosis. Immunocorrelation analysis showed that in the high and low risk groups: Dendritic cells,
B cells, mast cells and other immune cells (P < 0.001), APC co-inhibition, APC co-stimulation, chemotactic factor receptor, immune checkpoint and other immune functions (P < 0.01), IDO2, HHLA2, CD276, BTLA and other immune checkpoint related genes (P < 0.001)
had significant statistical difference. Conclusion: The prognostic model based on 16 iron death-related LncRNA can well predict the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients, and the iron death-related LncRNA involved in the model construction obtained in the study may be related to
immune infiltration levels, and may even be a novel target for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
Bioinformatics Data Analysis of Hippocampal CA1 Region in Alzheimer’s Disease Reversing GSEA Using Construction of Protein Interaction Network of Key Genes
Authors: Gao Wei , Hu Baibo , Zhang Fuyue
Published: May 2023

We aimed to conduct bioinformatics analysis of genes differentially expressed in the cornu ammonis (CA1) region of the hippocampus of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) at differents tages and to explore AD and Molecular mechanisms of occurrence. Prepared from gene expression omnibus (GEO) database to obtain data from the gene chip of early, middle, and late AD, screened genes with significantly different expressions, and constructed protein–protein interaction (PPI). The network uses cyto NCA software to acquire key genes. The results were screened out from the gene chip of different stages of AD (GSE28146) and 412 genes with differential expression at different stages were screened, using STRING The PPI network relationship was constructed, cyto NCA was constructed and combined with the network topology analysis, and a total of 12 key genes were screened out; GO and Pathway enrichment analysis showed that it is closely related to the regulation of nitric oxide synthase activity, apoptosis, hypoxia response, neuroinflammation and other biological processes, and the main signaling pathways involved are Rap1, Ras and NF-KB, TNF, and PI3K-Akt. This study found that the imbalance of genes EGFR, CD44, CDH1, MMP2, VIM, PTPRC, CAV1 and SOCS3 were lowly expression in the occurrence of AD, while IL1B, BCL2L, KITLG and NOS1 was highly expression in AD. And they may be potential biological markers or drug targets to prevent and treat AD. Totally, the imbalance of genes and signaling pathways associated with neuro-inflammation may be an significant factor in the occurrence of AD, and they may be potential biological markers or drug targets for the prevention and treatment of AD.
Multiclass Gastrointestinal Diseases Classification Based on Hybrid Features and Duo Feature Selection
Authors: Sharmila Joseph J. , Vidyarthi Abhay
Published: May 2023

Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) infections are quite common nowadays. If these abnormalities are left untreated at early stages, they may develop into stomach cancers. Wireless Capsule Endoscopy (WCE) is a method that enables medical professionals to view the internal parts of the GIT
and take pictures using a pill camera. Manual detection of abnormalities from the taken images is time-consuming and may lead to misdiagnosis. Several Computer-based methods were developed in this domain, but improving prediction accuracy is still challenging due to the complex textures, colours,
irregularities of tissues and quality of images. To address this issue, a novel technique has been introduced in this research based on color, texture, statistical, shape and deep pretrained Densenet features from contrast-enhanced GI images. The extracted features are fused to form a powerful
features subset. From the fused features, the minimal-optimal feature subset is selected using the two-stage ReliefF-minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance (R-mRMR) method and fed to One Against All Support Vector Machine (OAA-SVM) for classification. The proposed work is validated using 8000
images with eight classes of KVASIR V2 and attained the maximum classification accuracy of 99.2% and precision of 99.1%.
Land–Atmosphere Interactions Partially Offset the Accelerated Tibetan Plateau Water Cycle through Dynamical Processes
Authors: Sun Jing , Yang Kun , Yu Yan , Lu Hui , Lin Yanluan
Published: May 2023

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) has become wetter and warmer during the past four decades, which leads to an adjustment in the surface energy budget, characterized by enhanced surface latent heat and weakened surface sensible heat. However, the impacts of these surface energy changes on climate are unclear. In this study, we investigate the atmospheric response to the altered surface energy budget in the monsoon season over the TP using regional climate simulations. The inhibited surface sensible heating weakens the thermal effect of the TP, which further suppresses low-level convergence and upper-level divergence, thereby weakening the water vapor flux convergence over the plateau. The weakening of low-level air humidity by this dynamical response exceeds the supply from the enhanced surface evaporation, causing decreased precipitation (decreasing more in the wet eastern plateau and less in the dry west). Further analyses show that the precipitation frequency increases mainly for light precipitation while decreasing for heavy precipitation. It is thus demonstrated that on the TP, land surface energy–atmosphere interactions can mitigate the rate of precipitation increase, suppress the increase in frequency of heavy precipitation, and weaken the east–west contrast in precipitation amount, through a dynamical mechanism. Overall, land–atmosphere interactions on the TP exert negative feedback to partially offset the accelerated plateau water cycle under a changing climate.
Determination of in vitro stability of routine haematinics tests using EFLM standards and the CRESS checklist
Authors: Williams Robert D , Duff Christopher J , Yates Alexandra
Published: May 2023

Background

Laboratories should be aware of the stability of the analytes they are testing in order to avoid incorrect reporting and patient management. Stability studies are difficult to interpret and reproduce, with little guidance on how to determine appropriate clinical cut off values. Here we describe a standardised approach to determining stability for routine haematinics tests using published EFLM guidelines.

Methods

The haematinics panel at UHNM contains vitamin B12, folate, ferritin, iron and transferrin. Blood tubes included were serum separator tubes, gel-free serum and lithium-heparin plasma. Conditions tested were room temperature, 2–8°C and −20°C. For each condition and tube, three samples were analysed in duplicate at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h using the Siemens Atellica platform.

Results

The percentage difference was calculated for each respective blood tube and storage condition, in addition to individual analyte maximum permissible instability scores. The majority of analytes for all blood tubes were stable for 5 days or more when stored at 4–8°C and −20°C. Ferritin (excluding gel-free), iron and transferrin further showed stability >5 days when stored at room temperature. However, vitamin B12 and folate demonstrated poor stability data for all tube types tested.

Conclusions

Here we describe a stability study for the haematinics panel on the Siemens Atellica platform using the standardised EFLM Checklist for Reporting Stability Studies (CRESS). The checklist was used in order to promote a standardised and transferable scientific approach to what has previously been lacking in the literature when performing stability experiments.
Discharge destinations for young people with a first episode of psychosis after attending an early intervention for psychosis service
Authors: O’Donoghue Brian , Thompson Andrew , McGorry Patrick , Brown Ellie
Published: May 2023

Objective:

Early intervention for psychosis services result in superior outcomes in the domains of symptomatic and functional recovery, hospitalisation and employment compared to standard services; however, the optimal duration of care with these services is unknown. Knowledge on the discharge destinations, specifically the proportion discharged to high- and low-intensity services, could provide insights into the proportion of who may require a longer tenure of care. This study aimed to determine (1) the discharge destinations from early intervention for psychosis services and (2) baseline and intra-episode factors associated with discharge to the secondary care/adult mental health service.

Methodology:

This study was conducted at the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre in Melbourne and included all young people treated by the service with a first episode of psychosis over a 6-year period. Discharge destinations were categorised according to high-intensity services, namely, secondary mental health care, or lower intensity services, such as private practitioners or primary care.

Results:

A total of 1101 young people with a first episode of psychosis were included in the study, of whom 58.8% were male and the median age was 20.0 years (interquartile range: 17–22). After a median of 95.4 weeks (interquartile range: 66.7–105.7), 36.6% were discharged to the adult mental health services, which was associated with being not in employment, education or training at presentation (odds ratio = 1.71, 95% confidence interval [1.23, 2.37]); experiencing a relapse (odds ratio = 1.76, 95% confidence interval [1.24, 2.49]); and being admitted to a mental health unit (odds ratio = 3.98, 95% confidence interval [2.61, 6.09]). Young people who lived with their parents were less likely to be discharged to secondary care services (odds ratio = 0.52, 95% confidence interval [0.37, 0.73]), as were those who were achieving symptomatic remission within 12 weeks (odds ratio = 0.60, 95% confidence interval [0.43, 0.83]). Migrant status and the duration of untreated psychosis were not associated with discharge destination.

Conclusion:

These findings indicate that there is a sizable, identifiable minority who may benefit from a longer episode of care with early intervention for psychosis services.
Drug transfer during intimate moments: A key issue in doping control that can be documented by hair tests of the athlete and the partner
Authors: Kintz Pascal
Published: May 2023

The presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or its markers in an athlete's sample constitutes the more frequent anti-doping rules violation. In the world anti-doping code, it is indicated (point 10.5) that if someone establishes in an individual case that the athlete bears no fault or negligence, then the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility shall be eliminated. The conditions that have to be met to fix the no fault or negligence evidence are described in several other points of the code. The following two points are of paramount importance: 1. the athlete or his/her legal representative must present verified circumstances of contamination and the source of contamination must be identified; and  2. there must be verified claims by the athlete about the fact that he/she did not knowingly take the prohibited substance, i.e., that the violation was not intentional.

In recent years, several cases of contamination involving drug transfer during intimate moments have been reported. This later situation was first reported in 2009 with the Richard Gasquet case. Since that time, several athletes have been allowed to return to competition with no charge based on strong evidence that the source of contamination was drug transfer during intimate moments. As some of these cases are public and because the author performed hair tests for the majority of the international athletes involved in such procedures, the strategy of the defence and the scientific bases of discussion are reviewed in this article.
Commemoration and Emotional Sustenance: A Text Analysis of Students’ Motivations Behind Online Mourning of Dr Li Wenliang
Authors: Yang Ling , Fang Bing , Ou Xiwen , Zhang Wenjing , Cai Yuyang
Published: May 2023

As one of the first doctors issued a protective warning to the public, Dr. Li Wenliang was known as “whistleblower” of COVID-19 pandemic. After his death of COVID-19, students entered to his Sina Weibo to display their condolences and sorrow. We conduct text analysis and sentiment classification to investigate the motivation behind online mourning for Dr. Li among students on Sina Weibo. Our results indicate that, a) there always more than one motivation behind online mourning exists in each time period. b) continuing connection and semi-interaction with the deceased is the main motivation when students mourn online. c) there exists positive correlation between the influence of the deceased and the motivation--sharing information with the community of fans and creating social support in a time of loss and social support. d) the motivation--honoring the dead and expressing sadness and resentment can gradually lose over time.
Automatic assembly with dual robotic arms based on mutual visual tracking and positioning
Authors: Wen Bor-Jiunn , Liu Ti-Wen
Published: May 2023

The replacement of humans by machines has gradually become a technological trend. In this study, a dual robotic arm was used in the belt conveyor operation system to track the screw and nut assembly using mutual visual tracking and positioning technology. Moreover, this study simulated the automatic assembly process using a dual robotic arm in a smart factory. An inverse kinematics operation was constructed using a geometric method to control the dual robotic arm to track the screw and nut assembly on the conveyor belt in real time using mutual visual tracking and positioning technology based on a single-lens charge-coupled device of a robotic arm. This study utilized a dual robotic arm to grab the screw and nut using fuzzy visual tracking control. After completing the grabbing of the screw and nut with tracking and positioning errors of 8%, the dual robotic arms continued to complete the assembly of the screw and nut. Therefore, through the establishment technology of mutual visual tracking and positioning of the dual robotic arm in this study, assembly tasks can be efficiently completed in related fields in the future.
A Cross-Sectional Study on Attitude and Barriers to Interprofessional Collaboration in Hospitals Among Health Care Professionals
Authors: Jabbar Sana , Noor Hafiza Shabnum , Butt Ghazal Awais , Zahra Syeda Mariyam , Irum Aleena , Manzoor Saadia , Mukhtar Tahreem , Aslam Muhammad Rahil
Published: May 2023

The need for an effective health personnel team is important due to the increasing complexity of patient care and increasing co-morbidities. Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) among healthcare professionals offers appropriate collaborative management for humans. This study aimed to assess the attitude and barriers to IPC in hospitals among healthcare professionals in Lahore, Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sampling technique. Healthcare professionals (speech-language pathologists, audiologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, ENT specialists, pediatricians, dentists, and nursing staff) working at Children Hospital, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Pakistan Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (PSRD), Lahore, Pakistan were included. The paper and online survey questionnaire composed in the google form and attitudes toward healthcare teams scale (ATHCT) and barriers scale toward interprofessional collaboration were used. Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 21 was used to analyze the survey data through frequency analyses and percentage distributions. Most of the respondents (response rate = 88.1%) had positive attitudes toward IPC and strongly agreed on 9 positive statements in ATHCT. Statistically, Major barriers were role and leadership ambiguity 68.6%, different goals of individual team members 68.1%, and 53.3% strongly agreed on the difference in levels of authority, power, expertise, and income. Although healthcare professionals have an optimistic attitude toward IPC, several healthcare professionals come across challenges during the practice of IPC. To overcome the analyzed barriers, the higher healthcare authorities must encourage interprofessional collaborative strategies and models.
Focusing on Governance for a Real Client in a Content Strategy Course
Authors: Howard Tharon
Published: May 2023

This article describes a graduate seminar on Content Strategy taught in the Fall of 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic. Students worked totally online with a real client to develop a content strategy plan. This class was noteworthy because, unlike most classes that end up designing a logo, identity package, and look-n-feel approach to content strategy, this course ended up focusing on the much-overlooked emphasis on governance in an already well-established content strategy plan. Students conducted a persona research study (using Redish's approach) and built a UX journey map (using Kalbach's approach). They conducted a content audit (using Halverson's approach) and then used the data to determine what problems in content development really needed to be solved. These analyses showed that the client's principal needs actually dealt with governance issues rather than logos, branding, and content, so students researched and recommended suitable governance systems (primarily following Welchman's approach). Finally, they produced templates, sample content, and a content development plan for PCLS based on the new governance model provided.
Performance optimization of electromagnetic levitation system based on gradient estimator
Authors: Zhou Xu , Wen Tao , Hu Yongpan , Long Zhiqiang
Published: May 2023

Aiming at the problem of optimal design of the controller of electromagnetic levitation system, this paper proposes a gradient estimator-based controller design and optimization structure suitable for electromagnetic levitation system. The structure consists of a nominal controller, a residual generator, and a dynamic compensator. The controller structure can further improve the anti-disturbance and robustness of the electromagnetic levitation system on the premise of ensuring the stability and reliability. Considering the generality of electromagnetic levitation system, the proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller is selected as the nominal controller, and the robustness of the system is improved by the dynamic compensator based on the residual generator. The parameter design and update strategy of dynamic compensator based on gradient estimator are proposed, and the expression of gradient estimator is designed and deduced. Taking the single-degree-freedom electromagnetic levitation experimental platform as an example, the simulation and experimental results show that the structure has strong robustness to shock disturbances. Compared with the PID controller, the range of the gap fluctuation is smaller after the instantaneous impact interference, and the anti-interference capability of the electromagnetic levitation system is improved.
Disturbance observer-based fixed-time control for nonlinear systems with multiple disturbances
Authors: Gao Fei , Wei Xinjiang , Zhang Huifeng , Hu Xin
Published: May 2023

The fixed-time control is researched for the nonlinear system subject to multiple disturbances, which contain an external disturbance with unknown frequency and an unknown bounded disturbance. An adaptive nonlinear disturbance observer is devised to estimate the unknown frequency disturbance generated by an exogenous system. On this foundation, a composite fixed-time control scheme is proposed by combining the [Formula: see text] control and the fixed-time theory. It guarantees that the expected control performances of system can be achieved under the existence of multiple disturbances. Eventually, the validity of the control scheme is proved via simulation examples.
I just don’t agree with my parents: Why Chinese adolescents keep secrets
Authors: Liu Jianjin , Midgette Allegra J , Li Yuejiao
Published: May 2023

The present study investigated 195 Chinese adolescents’ ( Mage = 15.9, SD = 1.46, 56% female) everyday secret-keeping behaviors and their rationale for their behaviors as reported in a two-week daily diary. A total of 860 secrets were reported. Chinese adolescents primarily kept secrets involving personal activities, followed by academic events and events concerning interpersonal relationships and electronic use. Justifications for their secretive behaviors mainly included reports of fear of parental disapproval in all types of events, particularly in personal events. Adolescents’ fear of parental disapproval was often referenced in the context of adolescents’ belief that their parents differed when it came to the value of doing activities outside of academics and attitudes towards adolescents’ academic successes and failures. Our findings highlighted the significance of academic events and achievement in Chinese adolescents’ secret-keeping behaviors and the central role of avoiding parental punishment or criticism in their justifications across all types of events. Girls reported a greater proportion of secrets concerning personal activity and a smaller proportion concerning electronic use than boys. Developmental differences were also found in the reporting of keeping secrets in personal activity and electronic use, i.e., adolescents reported more secrets in personal activity but fewer secrets concerning electronic use when they grew older. The findings highlight the importance of balancing adolescents’ needs for autonomy development and academic achievement in adolescent-parent relationships.
A systematic review of infopreneurship’s opportunities and challenges
Authors: Mubofu Christian , Malekani Andrew
Published: May 2023

In this study, the literature on the opportunities and challenges for infopreneurship was compiled using the systematic literature review (SLR) method. The study's specific goal was to look at the infopreneurship opportunities that are available and the obstacles that LIS graduates must overcome in order to take use of them. In a methodical manner, relevant research publications from journals were downloaded, reviewed, and interpreted. The researchers used numerous research strategies, such as keyword and phrase searches, to assure the precision of the study papers collected. Because basic phrase and key word searches produced substantial results, advanced search tactics like truncation and Boolean operators were not employed in this investigation. The researchers employed multiple databases, including emerald, research4life, Ebsco host, FullfreePDF, and Google scholar, with base search serving as the primary search engine. The study found out several opportunities that existed on infopreneurship, some of which include Internet blogging, software and hardware installation, graphic design, using information, customized information, facilitating access to information, repackaging information, increasing the flow of information, digitization and internetworking. The study further found a number of challenges that make it less likely for infopreneurs to seize and exploit these opportunities such as financial constraints, the price of necessary equipment, a lack of infrastructure, the legal registration process, graduates' lack of skills, and poor planning. The study concludes that information entrepreneurship is essential to any nation's economic sector. The study suggests that by reviewing LIS curricula we can increase student understanding of infopreneurship practice.
Case report of extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma that induced secondary hemophagocytic syndrome-related histiocytic glomerulopathy
Authors: Xiao Fei , Hou Shihui , Kui Kaizhen , Wang Xiaoyue , Bai Lihua , Dai Huanzi
Published: May 2023

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a proliferative disease of the mononuclear macrophage system involving multiple organs and systems. We report a 50-year-old Asian woman who presented with unexplained fever and proteinuria. Laboratory tests showed cytopenia, considerably elevated serum ferritin and IL-2 receptor concentrations, and evidence of hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow. A renal biopsy showed macrophage infiltration into the glomerulus, resulting in podocyte and endothelial cell damage. We finally diagnosed the patient with extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type that induced HPS-related histiocytic glomerulopathy. Proteinuria and inflammation responded to treatment with high-dose pulsed methylprednisolone combined with VP-16 and cyclosporine. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of HPS-related histiocytic glomerulopathy triggered by a malignant tumor.
A Firm Level Database of Irish Creameries, 1897–1921
Authors: McLaughlin Eoin , Sharp Paul , Tsoukli Xanthi , Vedel Christian
Published: May 2023

We present a microlevel database of Irish cooperative creameries covering the period 1897–1921. The data were hand collected from the annual reports of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society (IAOS) and contain information from 531 creameries and covering 49 variables. We perform some initial analysis of the data, finding considerable heterogeneity in the productivity of creameries as measured by the milk/butter ratio. We focus on differences between the four historical provinces of Ireland, finding that the south of Ireland (the historical centre of butter production) was on average less productive than the north at the start of the period, although this changes after 1913, when Ulster becomes the least productive province. These results present interesting avenues for future work, given the IAOS’ focus on founding creameries in the north of the island.
Perceptions of Service Climate in a Canadian healthcare system
Authors: Steinke Claudia , Kelley Helen , Awosoga Olu , Rebutoc Ruth Ann
Published: May 2023

Perceptions of Service Climate in healthcare organizations are important because of their linkages to patient and organizational outcomes. This article presents findings from survey data collected from frontline nurses (n = 275) in Canada who were working in a provincial healthcare system that had recently undergone significant structural changes. The findings indicate that frontline nurses held a neutral view of the Service Climate overall but a strong and negative perception of Managerial Service Practices. The results suggest that some service practices existed in nurses’ working environments; however, improvements could be made in the areas of recognizing and rewarding those who consistently provide high levels of quality service. This has implications for not only continuous quality improvement but also for the patient and staff experience in healthcare.
Facial Expression Recognition of Emotional Situations in Mild and Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Brandt Michelle , de Oliveira Silva Felipe , Simões Neto José Pedro , Tourinho Baptista Maria Alice , Belfort Tatiana , Lacerda Isabel Barbeito , Nascimento Dourado Marcia Cristina
Published: May 2023

Background: Recognizing emotional situations may be impaired in people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Purpose: We examined differences in the comprehension of an emotional situation in healthy older controls (HOC) and individuals with mild and moderate AD. Research Design: cross-sectional study. Study Sample: We assessed a convenience sample of 115 participants in 3 contexts: understanding the situation, ability to name the congruent emotion, and choice of the correct face in 4 emotional situations (sadness, surprise, anger, happiness). Data Colection: Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for comparison between groups separated by CDR 1 and 2. Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests were also used for comparison between groups separated by CDR 0, 1, and 2, with a pairwise comparisons analysis. Results: We found that the ability to understand, name, and choose the proper emotion is not linked and depends on the portrayed emotion. Conclusions: The findings suggest an interaction between emotional processing and cognitive functioning. Therefore, knowledge of an emotional condition and the connection to a specific facial choice most likely involve 2 degraded areas of knowledge, resulting in even higher odds of inaccuracy.
Alienation, Racial Capitalism, and the Racialization of Palestinians
Authors: Embrick David G. , Williams Johnny Eric
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we outline the contours of the history of oppression toward Palestinians to discern how the settler colonial racial capitalist state of Israel generates alienation in Palestinians. To accomplish this, we explore how the Global North disregards and/or participates in propping up Israel’s oppressive structural processes for stripping Palestinians of their land, resources, and identity. This includes the Palestinian healthcare system that has suffered decades of deliberate neglect, under-development, and strategic fragmentation, which hindered its coronavirus disease response. We conclude with implications and suggestions for rethinking not only how Palestinians are racialized and alienated as ‘others’ in a settler colonial racial capitalist system of oppression, but how the slow process of identity erosion (and perversion) works to dehumanize and justify the dispossession of Palestinians.
The moral economy of diversity: How the epistemic value of diversity transforms late modern knowledge cultures
Authors: Langlitz Nicolas , de Althaus Clemente
Published: May 2023

We may well be witnessing a decisive event in the history of knowledge as diversity is becoming one of the premier values of late modern societies. We seek to preserve and foster biodiversity, neurodiversity, racial diversity, ethnic diversity, gender diversity, linguistic diversity, cultural diversity, and perspectival diversity. Perspectival diversity has become the passage point through which other forms of diversity must pass to become epistemically consequential. This article examines how two of its varieties, viewpoint diversity and educational diversity, have come to transform the moral economy of science. Both aim at multiplying perspectives on a given subject, but their political subtexts differ markedly. The valorization of educational diversity followed a US Supreme Court decision in 1978 that enabled universities to advance social justice, if they justified race-conscious admissions in terms of the pedagogic benefits of a more diverse student body for all. By contrast, the proponents of viewpoint diversity aim at the reform of scientific knowledge production and distribution rather than the reallocation of status and power among different social groups. We examine the political epistemology of viewpoint diversity by analyzing a controversy between social psychologists who, amid the American culture wars of the 2010s, debated how to rein in their political biases in a scientific field supposedly lacking political diversity. Out of this scientific controversy grew Heterodox Academy, an activist organization promoting viewpoint diversity in higher education. By relating and comparing viewpoint and educational diversity, we clarify what is at stake epistemically in the US-centric moral economy of diversity.
Parametric optimization and ranking analysis of basalt fiber–marble dust particulates–polyamide 66 polymer composites under dry sliding wear investigation
Authors: Sharma Ravi Prakash , Sharma Ankit , Jeganmohan Sudhanraj , Kumar Mukesh , Kumar Ashiwani
Published: May 2023

In this research work, hybrid polyamide 66–basalt fiber (10 wt%)–marble dust particulates (0–20 wt% with a variation of 5%) polymeric composites were designed and prepared through the injection molding method. Each composition sample was analyzed for its physical, mechanical, and thermal behavior. The Taguchi methodology was adopted to design experimental runs of dry sliding wear and for input operating parameter optimization, along with analysis of variance. Using a scanning electron microscope, worn-out surface micrograph examinations were carried out to comprehend wear mechanisms across the surface. Furthermore, a decision-making tool such as a hybrid Analytic Hierarchy Process – R method (hybrid AHP-R method) was applied to determine the ranking of the composites based on performance measures. The composition having polyamide 66 supplemented with 15 wt% marble dust particulate and 10 wt% basalt fiber tends to optimize overall performance measures. It shows voids content of 5.80%, water absorption of 2.54%, tensile strength of 117 MPa, flexural strength of 154 MPa, impact strength of 2.8 J, Rockwell hardness of 64 HRM, thermal conductivity of 1.11 W/mK, fracture toughness of 4.7 MPa√m, and specific wear rate of 7.05 × 10−4 mm3/Nm, respectively. Thus, it optimizes overall performance measures along with steady-state dry sliding wear behavior, which is in tune with the ranking results obtained by the hybrid AHP-R method.
Characterizing the semantic features of climate change misinformation on Chinese social media
Authors: Chu Jianxun , Zhu Yuqi , Ji Jiaojiao
Published: May 2023

Climate change misinformation leads to significant adverse impacts and has become a global concern. Identifying misinformation and investigating its characteristics are of great importance to counteract misinformation. Therefore, this study aims to characterize the semantic features (frames and authority references) of climate change misinformation in the context of Chinese social media. Posts concerning climate change were collected from Weibo between January 2010 and December 2020. First, veracity, frames, and authority references were manually labeled. Then, we applied logistic regression to examine the relationship between information veracity and semantic features. The results revealed that posts concerning environmental and health impact and science and technology were more likely to be misinformation. Moreover, posts referencing non-specific authority sources are more likely to be misinformed than posts making no references to any authority references. This study provides a theoretical understanding of the semantic characteristics of climate change misinformation and practical suggestions for combating them.
Treatment with Neridronic Acid in a Newborn with Severe and Refractory Hypercalcemia Associated with Subcutaneous Fat Necrosis
Authors: Borrelli Angela Carla , Capozzi Laura , De Vivo Massimiliano , Ferrante Lorenza , Fioretti Maria , Magri Daniela , Orbinato Francesco , Rojo Silvana , Rosso Roberto , Spena Giovanna Russo , Santantonio Alfredo , Chello Giovanni
Published: May 2023

Neonatal subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCFN) is a transient, generally benign panniculitis that presents within several weeks of life and occurs mostly in term or post-term newborns who have a history of intrauterine or perinatal distress. It is usually a self-limited condition. Hypercalcemia is a rare but serious complication of SCFN and needs prolonged follow-up. The etiopathogenesis of both subcutaneous fat necrosis in newborn and the resultant hypercalcemia is poorly understood. We describe a classic presentation of SCFN that led to a severe hypercalcemia refractory to standard treatment. This case shows how a single dose of neridronic acid was safe and effective in managing severe hypercalcemia unresponsive to conventional therapy without hypocalcemic rebounds.
India’s Role in the Indian Ocean Region and Its Links to the Indo-Pacific
Authors: Sen Anirban
Published: May 2023

The main goal of this article will be to show how India’s role in the Indian Ocean region has changed over time and how it is linked to the wider Indo-Pacific region. In the beginning, the importance of the Indian Ocean to India’s overall naval security on a historical basis is pointed out. It is shown that Indian Ocean was the main conduit for carrying out trade with the subcontinent and also for the creation of the British Raj even though it did not receive the same attention from the land-based Indian states. Following this, the article moves on to how following its independence in 1947 India slowly started to realize the importance of the Indian Ocean and later on the wider Indo-Pacific to its national security. Step by step it is shown how India’s maritime policy has evolved over the years. In this respect, the importance of the decade of the 1990s is highlighted when India began to open up not only economically but in all other ways as well. The role of the United States in India’s naval expansion is also explained in detail during both the Obama and the Trump administrations. Here specifically the article focuses on the ‘pivot to Asia’ strategy of the Obama administration and how it impacted India. After this it is described how President Trump further pushed India to take a more active stance in the Indo-Pacific region. Next, the Indo-Pacific policy of the present Modi government is studied along with a detailed analysis of the ‘extended neighborhood’ concept in India’s Indo-Pacific policy. India’s relation with the island nations of the Indo-Pacific is scrutinized in a separate section. India’s role in the QUAD forum is also properly discussed. Finally, India’s involvement in the three main multilateral initiatives in the Indo-Pacific is laid out before coming to the concluding section.
Use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of patients with cancer and preexisting autoimmune disease: An integrative review
Authors: Freitas Julia de Almeida Santos , Bendicho Maria Teresita , Júnior Aníbal de Freitas Santos
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Checkpoint inhibitors (PCI) have reached an important place in the pharmaceutical market in the treatment of various types of cancer. However, due to immune-related adverse events (IRAE) to the treatment, patients with preexisting autoimmune diseases (PAD) are excluded from clinical studies, leading to a large gap in knowledge on this topic. This study aims to discuss the use of PCI in the patients with cancer and PAD by an integrative review.

Methods

For this integrative review we carried out research from 2013 to 2022 using database platforms for observational studies reporting data from safety and efficacy of PCI in patients with cancer and PAD.

Results

The search resulted in 161 articles and after applying the exclusion criteria, 15 clinical studies that adopted a retrospective observational design were selected and analyzed. The age range of patients was 54–71 years, with 19–68% male. The proportion of patients clinically active or receiving immunosuppressants who were initiated on PCI ranged from 0% to 57% and 14% to 73%, respectively. The mean reported follow-up time ranged from 8.0 to 16.8 months. The occurrence of an outbreak or the new IRAE had an average of 32.6%.

Conclusion

IRAE are frequent in patients who use PCI and have cancer and PAD, carrying discontinuation of therapy. However, the multidisciplinary team needs to be aligned to manage these situations in the best way.
Test method for determining the scuffing capacity of oils with reduced oil volume
Authors: Gerges Wassem , Heipl Oliver , Pfeifer Bernd , Bartel Dirk , Wettlaufer Marc
Published: May 2023

Previous studies by several researchers have shown that the aging of the transmission fluid in dual clutch transmissions has a major impact on the wear protection of the highly loaded tribological contacts. Depending on the transmission design, oil sump temperature, transmitted torque, rotational speed and oil volume, the scuffing ability decreases significantly. Since typically only limited quantities of oil from gearbox tests are available to evaluate oil condition with respect to wear protection properties, available analytical standards are currently limited to methods such as viscometry, TAN, elemental analysis, and IR. A test method is presented that can be used to determine the gear scuffing load capacity of transmission fluids with a reduced oil volume. For this purpose, a standard test rig is modified to reduce the test oil volume from 1.25 liters, as specified in the public standards, to 0.5 liters. The applicability of the reduced test oil volume is demonstrated and the remaining scuffing wear protection of several used oil samples from durability testing is presented. A comparison of the tribological results with the chemical oil analysis results shows the advantage of direct testing of the oil's service properties.
The “digital village” revisited, or the re-ruralization of the public and private spheres in contemporary digitality
Authors: Fiedler Anke
Published: May 2023

This article aims to make a theoretical contribution to clarify the societal impact of the reorganization of public and private in the digital age. Drawing on the spatial-sociological approach of German sociologist HP Bahrdt, the discussion is guided by the thesis that the specific dynamics of privacy risk attributed to the digital revolution pre-date the digitized age, specifically in rural environments. The analogy between rurality and digitality is used to illustrate why the increasing blurring of public and private through transparency potentials—along with the accompanying convergence of social contacts (characteristic of both rural and digital space)—threatens not only individual privacy but also democratization by violating forms of individual freedom that are constitutive of a critical public realm. Therefore, this article serves as a call to understand digital privacy protection as one of the pressing challenges of our time.
On blind deference in Open Democracy
Authors: Bech-Pedersen Palle
Published: May 2023

In this article, I critically assess Hélène Landemore's new model of Open Democracy, asking whether it requires of citizens to blindly defer to the decisions of the mini-public. To address this question, I, first, discuss three institutional mechanisms in Open Democracy, all of which can be read to grant citizens democratic control. I argue that neither the capacity to authorize the selection mechanism (random sortition), nor the lottocratic conception of political equality, nor the self-selection mechanisms of Landemore's model deliver the form of control that would insulate Open Democracy from the charge of blind deference. I then discuss the direct democracy mechanisms that Landemore incorporates into her model. Although these devices grant citizens control and, by extension, offer the resources for repudiating the charge of blind deference, they also, I argue, subvert the logic of Landemore's lottocratic model, rendering Open Democracy predictably unstable. Given the deliberative asymmetries between the mini-public and the citizenry, a high frequency of bottom-up challenges is to be expected that would throw the whole system into jeopardy. Thus, the challenge for lottocrats is to show how democratic control can be achieved in a lottocratic system without undermining the benefits of the legislature by lot.
Recycling high impact polystyrene: Material properties and reprocessing in a circular economy business model
Authors: Belblidia Fawzi , Gabr Mohamed H , Pittman John FT , Rajkumar Abisheera
Published: May 2023

An account is presented of successfully implemented Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) with recycling to high value products, to help overcome barriers and generate confidence in moving towards Circular Economy (CE) business models. A template for organisations proposing to recycle a thermoplastic is provided by describing appropriate tests and considerations in implementing the recovery and re-use of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) based on a practical, industry case. Simulating the repeated 100% closed loop reprocessing of production scrap, original HIPS has been injection molded to produce tensile and impact test pieces, reground and reprocessed eight times. Assessing the present results together with literature, repeated recycling of production scrap is possible without the need for a remedial compounding step, or changes to processing parameters. Integral to the EPR model is recovery of plastic from returned end-of-life (EoL) products, and in relation to the in-use environment, studies of the effects of UV exposure on virgin material show that significant property degradation can occur. However, with indoor use, as in the present case, this is not seen. Within the CE business model it is desirable to use blends of recovered HIPS originating from different original resin manufacturers. Feeding dry blend regrind directly to the molding machine proved satisfactory, avoiding the need for a compounding/pelletizing step. As an outcome of this study, products are being successfully manufactured from 100% HIPS recovered from EoL products in an environmentally and economically positive CE plan.