bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enzymatic Approaches for Structuring Starch to Improve Functionality
Authors: Miao Ming , BeMiller James N.
Published: December 2022

Starch is one of the most abundant renewable biopolymers in nature and is the main constituent in the human diet and a raw material for the food industry. Native starches are limited in most industrial applications and often tailored by structural modification to enhance desirable attributes, minimize undesirable attributes, or create new attributes. Enzymatic approaches for structuring starch have become of interest to the food industry precisely because the reactions minimize the formation of undesirable by-products and coproducts and are therefore considered environmentally friendly methods for producing clean-label starches with better behavioral characteristics. Starches with improved functionalities for various applications are produced via enzyme hydrolysis and transfer reactions. Use of novel, multifunctional, starch-active enzymes to alter the structures of amylose and/or amylopectin molecules, and thus alter the starch's physiochemical attributes in a predictable and controllable manner, has been explored. This review provides state-of-the-art information on exploiting glycosyl transferases and glycosyl hydrolases for structuring starch to improve its functionalities. The characteristics of starch-active enzymes (including branching enzymes, amylomaltases, GH70 α-transglycosylases, amylosucrases, maltogenic amylases, cyclomaltodextrinases, neopullulanases, and maltooligosaccharide-forming amylases), structure–functionality-driven processing strategies, novel conversion products, and potential industrial applications are discussed.
Reconciling Mouse and Human Immunology at the Altar of Genetics
Authors: Gros Philippe , Casanova Jean-Laurent
Published: December 2022

Immunity to infection has been extensively studied in humans and mice bearing naturally occurring or experimentally introduced germline mutations. Mouse studies are sometimes neglected by human immunologists, on the basis that mice are not humans and the infections studied are experimental and not natural. Conversely, human studies are sometimes neglected by mouse immunologists, on the basis of the uncontrolled conditions of study and small numbers of patients. However, both sides would agree that the infectious phenotypes of patients with inborn errors of immunity often differ from those of the corresponding mutant mice. Why is that? We argue that this important question is best addressed by revisiting and reinterpreting the findings of both mouse and human studies from a genetic perspective. Greater caution is required for reverse-genetics studies than for forward-genetics studies, but genetic analysis is sufficiently strong to define the studies likely to stand the test of time. Genetically robust mouse and human studies can provide invaluable complementary insights into the mechanisms of immunity to infection common and specific to these two species.
Cardiac myosin motor deficits are associated with left ventricular dysfunction in human ischemic heart failure
Authors: Rasicci D. V. , Ge J. , Milburn G. N. , Wood N. B. , Pruznak A. M. , Lang C. H. , Previs M. J. , Campbell K. S. , Yengo C. M.
Published: December 2022

Ischemic heart failure is associated with impairments in contractile performance of the heart. This study revealed that cardiac myosin isolated from patients with ischemic heart failure had reduced mechanical activity, which correlated with the impaired clinical phenotype of the patients. The results suggest that restoring myosin function with pharmacological intervention may be a viable method for therapeutic intervention.
Thickness of the Deltoid Muscle and Location of the Anterior Branch of the Axillary Nerve and the Posterior Circumflex Humeral Artery for Deltoid Injections
Authors: Kim Ye-Gyung , Chung Yoon-Hee , Ahn Hee-Jun , Jeon Anna , Kim Yi-Suk , Hwang Kun , Han Seung-Ho
Published: December 2022

This study investigated the thickness of the deltoid muscle and the location of the anterior branch of the axillary nerve (AAN) and posterior circumflex humeral artery (PCHA), with the goal of maximizing the effectiveness of deltoid injections. Forty specimens from 22 adult Korean cadavers were used. A reference line was identified, connecting the anterior point of the deltoid muscle (AP) and the posterior point of the deltoid muscle (PP) on the surface. The midpoint between the AP and PP was used as the origin point (OP). The line connecting the OP and the lowest point of the deltoid tuberosity (DP) was used as the y‐axis. The mean distance of the reference line from the AP to PP was 4.7 ± 0.7 cm. The vertical mean length of the deltoid muscle from the OP and DP was 16.1 ± 1.0 cm. At the 3, 5, and 7 cm sites, the thickness of the deltoid muscle was 0.62 ± 0.9, 0.73 ± 0.7, and 1.3 ± 1.1 cm, respectively. Most of the branches of the axillary nerve were concentrated in the third section (4‐6 cm, 51%), while the branches of the PCHA were predominantly found in the fourth section (6‐8 cm, 69%). The peripheral branches of the AAN entering the muscle were distributed between 2.2 and 9.8 cm from the acromion. The mean number of the peripheral branches of the AAN was 9.6 ± 3.4. In the deltoid muscle, the mean number of peripheral branches of the PCHA was 8.2 ± 2.8. Administering deltoid injections 5‐6 cm below the OP is recommended to avoid axillary nerve injury.
One Kind New Hybrid Power Mean and Its Computational Formulae
Authors: Wang Li , Wang Xuexia
Published: December 2022

The main purpose of this study is to use the elementary and analytic methods and the properties of the classical Gauss sums to study the calculation problems of one kind of hybrid power mean involving the quadratic character sums and the two‐term exponential sums and give an exact computational formula for it.
Systematic Analysis of Molecular Subtypes Based on the Expression Profile of Immune-Related Genes in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Ke Mujing
Published: December 2022

Immunotherapy has a good therapeutic effect and provides a new approach for cancer treatment. However, only limited studies have focused on the use of molecular typing to construct an immune characteristic index for gene expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) and to assess the effectiveness of immunotherapy in patients with PAAD. Clinical follow-up data and gene expression profile of PAAD patients were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Based on 184 immune features, molecular subtypes of pancreatic cancer were found by the “ConsensusClusterPlus” package, and the association between clinical features and immune cell subtype distribution was analysed. In addition, the relationship between the proportion of immune subtypes and the expression of immune checkpoints was analysed. The CIBERSORT algorithm was introduced to evaluate the immune scores of different molecular subtypes. We used the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) algorithm to assess the potential clinical effect of immunotherapy interventions on single-molecule subtypes. In addition, the oxidative stress index was constructed by linear discriminant analysis DNA (LDA), and weighted correlation network analysis was performed to identify the core module of the index and its characteristic genes. Expression of hub genes was verified by immunohistochemical analysis in an independent PAAD cohort. Pancreatic cancer is divided into three molecular subtypes (IS1, IS2, and IS3), with significant differences in prognosis between multiple cohorts. Expression of immune checkpoint-associated genes was significantly reduced in IS3 and higher in IS1 and IS2, suggesting that the three subgroups have different responsiveness to immunotherapy interventions. The results of the CIBERSORT analysis showed that IS1 exhibited the highest levels of immune infiltration, whereas the results of the TIDE analysis showed that the T-cell dysfunction score of IS1 was higher than that of IS2 and IS3. Furthermore, IS3 was found to be more sensitive to 5-FU and to have a higher immune signature index than IS1 and IS2. Based on WGCNA analysis, 10 potential gene markers were identified, and their expression at the protein level was verified by immunohistochemical analysis. Specific molecular expression patterns in pancreatic cancer can predict the efficacy of immunotherapy and influence the prognosis of patients.
An Improved Measurement Error Model for Analyzing Unreplicated Method Comparison Data under Asymmetric Heavy-Tailed Distributions
Authors: Duwarahan Jeevana , Nawarathna Lakshika S.
Published: December 2022

Method comparison studies mainly focus on determining if the two methods of measuring a continuous variable are agreeable enough to be used interchangeably. Typically, a standard mixed-effects model uses to model the method comparison data that assume normality for both random effects and errors. However, these assumptions are frequently violated in practice due to the skewness and heavy tails. In particular, the biases of the methods may vary with the extent of measurement. Thus, we propose a methodology for method comparison data to deal with these issues in the context of the measurement error model (MEM) that assumes a skew-

t

(ST) distribution for the true covariates and centered Student’s

t

(cT) distribution for the errors with known error variances, named STcT-MEM. An expectation conditional maximization (ECM) algorithm is used to compute the maximum likelihood (ML) estimates. The simulation study is performed to validate the proposed methodology. This methodology is illustrated by analyzing gold particle data and then compared with the standard measurement error model (SMEM). The likelihood ratio (LR) test is used to identify the most appropriate model among the above models. In addition, the total deviation index (TDI) and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) were used to check the agreement between the methods. The findings suggest that our proposed framework for analyzing unreplicated method comparison data with asymmetry and heavy tails works effectively for modest and large samples.
Study of Synthesis, Characterization, DFT, and In Vitro Biological Activity of Cu(II), Co(II), and Fe(II) Metal Complexes Based on Heterocyclic Azo Pyrazole Dye Ligand
Authors: Alkurdi Albandari , AlJahdali Mutlaq , Alshehri Abdulmohsen
Published: December 2022

A new azo dye ligand was synthesized by coupling 5-amino-3-methyl-1-phenylpyrazole with a diazonium ion of 2-amino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid. Its Co(II), Fe(II), and Cu(II) complexes were also synthesized. This ligand and its complexes were characterized based on elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, UV-vis spectra, and thermogravimetric analysis. The data showed that the proposed complexes have an octahedral geometry around the central metal ion. The nonelectrolytic nature of the complexes was confirmed by molar conductance measurement. X-ray powder diffraction indicates that Co(II) and Fe(II) complexes are amorphous in nature, whereas the Cu(II) complex has crystalline and amorphous phases. The bond strength and molecular stability between the interaction of metal ions and the ligand were investigated by density functional theory (DFT). The in vitro antibacterial activity of the ligand and complexes was tested against two Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and a fungus (Candida albicans). The Cu(II) complex exhibited a high antimicrobial effect against all tested microorganisms. The DNA fragmentation percentage and cytotoxic activity against human liver cancer cells (HepG2) were evaluated. All tested compounds showed potential anticancer activity, and the Co(II) complex showed better activity results than the other tested compounds, with IC50 = 19.55 μg/mL.
Five Traditional Chinese Medicine External Treatment Methods Combined with Mecobalamin for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Xu Lijuan , Zang Deng , Li Hui , Sulitang Amanguli , Li Yinhui , Ma Jing , Wang Kai , Ma Li
Published: December 2022

Background. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) external treatment has been widely used in China as adjunctive treatment, and some small sample clinical studies have proved its effectiveness. However, due to the limited number of studies, we used network meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of 5 commonly used external treatment methods of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, WanFang Knowledge Service Platform, and VIP databases and collected and screened randomised controlled trials on the external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine combined with mecobalamin in the treatment of DPN according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The search period was from 2011 to May 2021. The quality of included studies was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. The outcome indicators are Toronto score, median nerve sensory conduction velocity, and median nerve motor conduction velocity. Results. A total of 22 publications were included in the study. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that acupuncture combined with mecobalamin was superior to other TCM external treatments combined with mecobalamin in terms of decreasing the Toronto score (MD = −2.8, 95% CI: −5.2∼−0.49), improving median nerve sensory conduction velocity (MD = 3.6, 95% CI: 2.4∼4.9), and median nerve motor conduction velocity (MD = 4.5, 95% CI: 2.6∼6.5). The SUCRA value and probability ranking chart showed that among the three outcome indicators, acupuncture combined with mecobalamin was the best, followed by acupoint injection combined with mecobalamin. Conclusion. In this network meta-analysis, acupuncture combined with mecobalamin shows the best results in the treatment of DPN, followed by acupoint injection combined with mecobalamin.
The Passengers’ Motion Behaviours during the Gate Transfer Process: Models and Analysis
Authors: Yang Shao-Peng , Tang Tie-Qiao , Wang Tao , Chen Liang
Published: December 2022

Once the gate of one departure flight needs to be reassigned, the passengers of this flight should move from the original gate to an alternative gate, which will affect the passengers’ motions near the boarding gates involved in the gate transfer process (e.g., the motion trajectory, the motion time, and so on). Therefore, it is necessary to study the impacts of gate reassignment on passengers’ motions and provide some reasonable suggestions for gate reassignment. However, it is not easy to describe large-scale passengers’ complex dynamic nonlinear interactions, especially involving passengers carrying luggage. Thus, we propose an extended social force (SF) model to describe each passenger’s motion when the flight’s gate is temporarily transferred to one alternative gate, where the proposed model has explicitly considered the interactions among the adjacent passengers and between the passengers and their luggage. The simulation results illustrate that the passengers’ motion directions, the number of passengers with carried luggage, and the passengers’ contact distances will affect the passengers’ motion efficiency during the gate transfer process. In addition, based on the simulation results, we propose some suggestions for gate reassignment from the perspective of the passengers’ motion efficiency, where the suggestions can help administrators better reassign boarding gates.
Influence of Alpha‐Actinin‐3 R577X Polymorphism on Muscle Damage and the Inflammatory Response after an Acute Strength Training Session
Authors: Pereira Milton Amaral , Rosse Izinara Cruz , Silva Ana Carolina , Coelho Pedro José Fernandes Nunes , de Castro Bruno Magalhães , Becker Lenice Kappes , Júnior João Batista Ferreira , de Oliveira Emerson Cruz , de Castro Pinto Kelerson Mauro , Talvani André , de Queiroz Karina Barbosa , Coelho Daniel Barbosa
Published: December 2022

The objective of this study was to verify the influence of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism on muscle damage and the inflammatory response after an acute strength training (ST) session. Twenty‐seven healthy male individuals (age: 25 ± 4.3 years) participated in the study, including 18 RR/RX and 9 XX individuals. The participants were divided into two groups (RR/RX and XX groups) and subjected to an acute ST session, which consisted of a series of leg press, leg extension machine, and seated leg curl machine. The volunteers were instructed to perform the greatest volume of work until concentric muscle failure. Each volunteer’s performance was analyzed as the load and total volume of training, and the blood concentrations of C‐C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), myoglobin, testosterone, and cortisol were measured before the ST session and 30 min and 24 h postsession. The ACTN3 R577X polymorphism effect was observed, with increased concentrations of CCL2 (p < 0.01), IL‐8 (p < 0.01), and LDH (p < 0.001) in XX individuals. There was an increase in the concentration of CK in the RR/RX group compared to XX at 24 h after training (p > 0.01). The testosterone/cortisol ratio increased more markedly in the XX group (p < 0.001). Regarding performance, the RR/RX group presented higher load and total volume values in the training exercises when compared to the XX group (p < 0.05). However, the XX group presented higher values of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) than the RR/RX group (p < 0.05). The influence of ACTN3 R577X polymorphism on muscle damage and the inflammatory response was observed after an acute ST session, indicating that the RR/RX genotype shows more muscle damage and a catabolic profile due to a better performance in this activity, while the XX genotype shows more DOMS.
Rössler-like Neuronal Firing with Local Amplitude Control
Authors: Li Zhinan , Li Chunbiao , Akgul Akif , Bi Lvqing , Jiang Yicheng
Published: December 2022

Chaotic neuronal oscillation is fired up when a locally active memristor is introduced into the Rössler system. Such a memristive Rössler system has two independent parameters providing local amplitude control, one of which even adjusts the amplitude and frequency of variables in a specific intermittent mode. Different neuronal firing modes are modified by the system parameter. The coexistence of periodic oscillation and chaos is also captured along with basin of attraction. STM32-based experiment verified the numerical and theoretical results.
Mechanism of Action of a Chinese Herbal Compound Containing Quercetin, Luteolin, and Kaempferol in the Treatment of Vitiligo Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification
Authors: Xu Ziqian , Xie Yihui , Song Jun , Huang Juntao , Shi Weimin
Published: December 2022

Objective. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms of Baishi tablets (BSTs) in the treatment of vitiligo through network pharmacology-based identification and experimental validation. Methods. In brief, the compounds and related targets of BST were extracted from the TCMSP database, and disease information was obtained from the OMIM, GeneCards, PharmGkb, TTD, and DrugBank databases. A Venn diagram was generated to visualize the common targets of BST and vitiligo. GO and KEGG analyses were performed to explore the potential biological processes and signaling pathways. The PPI network and core gene subnetwork were constructed using STRING and Cytoscape software. In addition, the measurement of apoptosis in PIG1 cells and intracellular reactive oxygen species were measured using quercetin (QU), luteolin (LU), and kaempferol (KA) to protect melanocytes from oxidative stress. Results. A total of 55 compounds with 236 targets and 1205 vitiligo-related genes were obtained from the TCMSP database. GO and KEGG analyses were performed to explore the potential biological processes and signaling pathways, revealing that BST may cure vitiligo by influencing the biological processes of cellular oxidative stress and related signaling pathways. A critical subnetwork was obtained with 13 core genes by analyzing the PPI network, which includes HMOX1, CXCL8, CCL2, IL6, MAPK8, CASP3, PTGS2, AKT1, IL1B, MYC, TP53, IFNG, and IL2. Furthermore, a molecular docking analysis was conducted to simulate the combination of compounds and gene proteins, reflecting that QU, LU, and KA can strongly bind the core genes. Through a series of experimental validations, we found that QU, LU, and KA could attenuate H2O2-induced apoptosis in melanocytes. Further evidence revealed that QU, LU, and KA could enhance the scavenging of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Conclusion. Based on the results of network pharmacology analysis and experimental verification, QA, LU, and KA can be utilized to protect PIG1 cells by inhibiting oxidative stress and reducing the intracellular level of ROS. This may explain the underlying mechanism of BST therapy and provide a novel strategy for the treatment of vitiligo.
A Novel Defined Pyroptosis-Related Gene Signature for Predicting the Prognosis of Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Liu Shuguang , Zeng Chao , Lv Huaisheng , Zhang Yan , Xiong Hong , Tang Hongping
Published: December 2022

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is the second major female genital malignancy. Genetic signatures may be an improved choice to predict the prognosis of EC patients. The relationship between pyroptosis and tumours has attracted much attention in recent years. Here, we constructed a new pyroptosis-related gene (PRG) signature for predicting the prognosis of EC. In this study, gene data and clinical information of EC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Following the identification of PRGs correlated with EC prognosis, we further investigate the bioinformatics functions of these PRGs by univariate Cox regression analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Then, we used the least absolute contraction and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multiple Cox regression analysis to construct a new PRG signature that contains seven PRGs (NFKB1, EEF2K, CTSV, MDM2, GZMB, PANX1, and PTEN) and performed the Kaplan-Meier (K-M) analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) to evaluate the prognostic value of our novel PRG signature. Finally, we assessed the correlations between pyroptosis and immune cells/checkpoints through the CIBERSORT tool and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). The result suggested that our signature was powerful in predicting EC prognosis and may play a part in assessing response to immunotherapy in EC patients. In conclusion, our study established a novel PRG signature for EC, which can be used as an effective prognostic marker in clinical practice in the future.
Effects of Explicit Reading Strategy Instruction on Grade 9 Students’ Achievement in Reading Comprehension
Authors: Dugasa Geleta , Olana Tamiru , Ali Sherif
Published: December 2022

The main objective of the study is to investigate the effects of explicit reading strategy instruction on students’ achievement in reading comprehension. In two intact classes, the treatment group received reading lessons accompanied by the three basic reading instructions, i.e., the pre-, the while, and the post-reading instructions through explicit reading strategy instruction, but the nontreatment group received reading lessons in the usual way of learning/teaching reading. The study employed an embedded design since data were collected using quantitative data-gathering instruments through reading comprehension tests before and after the intervention, and an interview was also employed to gather data about the treatment from the randomly selected participants from the treatment group. Statistical results were analyzed with an independent sample t-test and paired sample t-test from nontreatment (33) and treatment (35). The findings emphasized the importance of employing explicit reading strategy instruction in enabling readers to comprehend reading comprehension questions, especially it lets students properly handle reading comprehension questions that seek higher level thinking. On the top priority, to be good readers at comprehending reading comprehension questions that seek higher level thinking, classroom reading teachers are required to create opportunities for the readers while delivering reading lessons by presenting activities that go with the pre-, while, and post-reading instructions. Being one of the most important instructions in reading lesson presentations, secondary school language teachers are expected to present reading lessons through explicit reading strategy instruction.
Potential Use of Volcanic Ash as Filler Material in Hot Mix Asphalt
Authors: Fayissa Basha , Kebede Achalu , Fufa Fekadu
Published: December 2022

Road construction often focuses on the use of conventional materials. Due to the depletion of these conventional materials, this cannot be always true. To overcome such problems, several alternative construction materials have been proposed as sustainable solutions. Thus, this study has investigated the potential use of volcanic ash (VA) as an alternative filler material in hot mix asphalt. The investigation has used laboratory scale and purposive sampling method for sample collection. The plastic index and specific gravity of volcano ash are 0.92% and 2.44, respectively. The chemical composition analysis indicated that VA is a class‐N pozzolana material. Maximum stability of 11.38 kN was obtained at full replacement of volcano ash. The tensile strength ratio of the mix at full replacement of CSD and volcanic ash is 82% and 98%, respectively. From the fatigue resistance analysis, the probable failure of pavement constructed with the mixture containing VA could be improved from 16600 to 14400. Due to its rough surface, VA has better bonding ability with bitumen compared to CSD. The mix prepared from VA has less deformation tendency than that prepared from CSD.
The Incidental Resolution of Severe Alcohol Use Disorder during Esketamine Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Case Report
Authors: Faruqui Zeeshan , Kim Christopher
Published: December 2022

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is especially prevalent among individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) and is associated with higher morbidity, mortality, disability, and risk for suicide. Intranasal esketamine has been documented to be a safe and effective option for treatment resistant MDD and received US FDA approval in 2019. However, the availability of esketamine is limited due to requirements for a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program for its administration as well as concerns over substance use disorders (SUD) as a potential contraindication or adverse effect. This case presents a 61-year-old female with a history of severe recurrent treatment resistant MDD and severe AUD who has expressed interest in esketamine. To date, she has completed 20 sessions of 56 mg intranasal esketamine twice a week before increasing to 5 weekly sessions and then 14 weekly sessions of 84 mg. Although there was immediate subjective improvement in mood as well as reductions in PHQ-9 and HAM-D scores, the dosage was increased to extend the therapeutic benefit throughout the entire intertreatment interval. She was able to complete these sessions without complication. Incidentally, she also reported decreased desire to use alcohol, decreased impulsivity, and the complete cessation of alcohol use by the second week. While on 56 mg, she had a single relapse of binging which was addressed with motivational therapy and has remained alcohol-free since. This case presents the first documented example of the safe and effective use of intranasal esketamine in patient with treatment resistant MDD in which there was incidental resolution of their comorbid severe AUD. This suggests that esketamine can be used without risk of SUD onset or exacerbation. Thus, esketamine should not be discounted in patients with SUD and continued research is needed to further elucidate its role in treating SUD.
Robot Path Planning of Improved Adaptive Ant Colony System Algorithm Based on Dijkstra
Authors: Gu Chonglin , Feng Ansong , Wang Guozhan , Liu Xiqing
Published: December 2022

Path planning is one of the key technologies of robot. Aiming at the problems of slow convergence speed and inefficient search of traditional Ant Colony System Algorithm, an adaptive Ant Colony System Algorithm based on Dijkstra is proposed in the paper. Firstly, Dijkstra algorithm is applied to searching the initial path in the grid environment, constructing the initial path, optimizing the initial pheromone in the region, therefore, the Ant Colony System Algorithm avoid falling into blind search in the initial stage; In the transition probability, the disguised angle probability function and parameter adaptive pseudo-random proportion rule are introduced to improve the search efficiency and convergence speed of the algorithm, and eliminate the inferior ant path; Finally, B-spline interpolation curve is used to smooth the path. Compared with the traditional Ant Colony System Algorithm, the simulation results in the grid environment demonstrating its effectiveness to improve convergence speed and to enhance search efficiency are provided. The characteristics of the improved Ant Colony System Algorithm are faster convergence speed and better planning.
Auditory Attention Ability under Dichotic Dual-Task Situation in Adults with Listening Difficulties
Authors: Obuchi Chie , Kawase Tetsuaki , Kaga Kimitaka , Noguchi Yoshihiro
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Recent studies have reported poor cognition, such as attention and working memory, in adults with listening difficulties (LiD). However, they do not adequately describe the actual state of poor attention ability in adults with LiD. We examined the state of auditory attention in adults with and without LiD in tasks requiring multiple attention controls. Methods: Twenty-one adults who had normal hearing but complained about LiD encountered during everyday life and 22 healthy controls were included. We presented a target detection task using an odd-ball format for one ear and a sentence repetition task for the other ear. In the target detection task, participants listened to the 1,000-Hz tone served as the standard stimulus, while they had to accept a 2,000-Hz tone presented as the deviant stimulus. In the sentence repetition task, short sentences were presented. The stimuli presented to them were played on a personal computer at the most comfortable level. The participants heard these stimuli through headphones. They were required to press a key for standard stimuli in the target detection task and repeat what they heard immediately in the repetition task. We compared the response accuracy for each ear task between adults with and without LiD. Results: Our results showed that there were significant differences between the participant groups in the auditory dual-task under the dichotic listening situation. When examined individually, four adults with LiD had decreased scores in both the sentence repetition and target detection task, while the other nine participants showed a bias toward either task. Furthermore, the analysis of reaction time for pressing button revealed that the standard deviation of reaction time was extended in participants who scored poorly in either of the ear tasks. On the other hand, all adults without LiD were able to conduct the auditory dual-task exactly and promptly. Conclusion: The results suggest that adults with LiD have difficulties in appropriately allocating various cognitive abilities required for each task. We concluded that auditory attention is an important ability to conduct the auditory dual-task, and this is applicable for adults with LiD. Therefore, we believe that it is necessary to use auditory tests that require complex attentional abilities in listening, such as those required in daily life, to assess adults with LiD.
Clinical Impact of Structured Post-Operative Surveillance in Resected Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Results from a Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zhang Danmei , Kruger Stephan , Schirle Karoline , Heinemann Volker , Dorman Klara , Westphalen Christoph Benedikt , Weiss Lena , Gebauer Leonie , Günther Michael , Ormanns Steffen , Werner Jens , von Bergwelt-Baildon Michael , Boeck Stefan , Haas Michael
Published: December 2022

Introduction: To this date, surgery remains the only potentially curative approach in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. To analyse the clinical impact of a structured post-operative follow-up programme, we retrospectively analysed a cohort of resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients treated at LMU Munich. Methods: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients who underwent resection and presented for regular follow-up visits at our centre between 2002 and 2017 were identified from two existing study cohorts. Diagnosis of recurrences was categorised by timing (within or outside a scheduled follow-up visit) and detection modality (imaging, CA 19-9 increase, or clinical deterioration) and correlated with disease-free survival and overall survival (OS). Results: One hundred and twenty-five patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma were included in this analysis. Median OS in the whole cohort was 21.1 months. Of these 125 patients, 103 (82.4%) patients had a documented relapse. Tumour recurrences detected within a scheduled follow-up visit (n = 86, 83.5%) compared to recurrences becoming apparent at an unplanned visit (n = 17, 16.5%) were associated with a significantly improved OS (median 25.5 vs. 20.2 months, p = 0.019). Compared to patients with recurrence detected by clinical deterioration (n = 4, 3.9%), patients with recurrences detected by imaging or laboratory abnormalities (n = 99, 96.0%) had a longer median OS (24.8 vs. 15.1 months, p = 0.007). Discussion: A structured follow-up after pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma resection may have an impact on patient outcome. Prospective trials are needed to evaluate the clinical impact of post-operative follow-up programmes.
Camponesas na luta em defesa da terra e da vida
Authors: Aguiar Regina Clara de
Published: December 2022

Este artigo apresenta aspectos de um estudo realizado com dez mulheres inseridas na luta pela terra no estado de Rondônia que foram eleitas a partir de três movimentos sociais do campo. Nesse sentido, relata a experiência com o método etnográfico, utilizando o recurso audiovisual em uma pesquisa no campo da Psicologia Social, e trata da elaboração e utilização do documentário etnográfico como ferramenta importante para a abordagem dessas dinâmicas envolvendo grupos sociais, com o firme objetivo de fazer frente a Homo sapiens sapiens determinados segmentos em benefício comum. A ideia que guiou o texto teve como fio condutor a cotidianidade e a educação não formal, além do conjunto de memórias relacionadas à participação feminina no trabalho, na luta e permanência na terra, assim como o papel da comunicação – com especificidade na produção e realização de um audiovisual editado no formato de um documentário etnográfico – com embasamento teórico na psicologia social e nas reflexões em torno das ruralidades e das lutas sociais na Amazônia. A proposta inicial que conduziu a imersão no campo etnográfico foi a realização do vídeo Camponesas na luta em defesa da terra e da vida, que conta a trajetória dessas militantes da luta pela terra no estado de Rondônia, tendo em vista que a produção e realização desse vídeo se encontra na perspectiva de se mostrar uma etapa importante, com o audiovisual enquanto metodologia para a pesquisa etnográfica na psicologia social. E, como o documentário pode ser utilizado de forma dinâmica, pode ser um importante suporte de abordagem em pesquisas dessa disciplina
A conduta subjetiva do trabalhador em Lenin: proximidades ou divergências com a concepção de Taylor?
Authors: Guimarães Cássia Regina Furtado , Rossler João Henrique
Published: December 2022

Este artigo resulta de um estudo sobre a concepção de V. I. Lenin acerca da conduta subjetiva do trabalhador, buscando identificar proximidades ou divergências com a concepção presente em F. W. Taylor. Em 1918, após o processo revolucionário de caráter socialista na Rússia, Lenin defendeu a aplicação do taylorismo como método de organização do trabalho nas indústrias soviéticas, defesa que tem sido criticada politicamente e por teóricos do campo da teoria social marxista. Constatamos que Lenin identifica positividades no taylorismo no que se refere à possibilidade de uma melhor organização do trabalho, visando à sua simplificação e ao aumento da sua produtividade. Contudo, concluímos que a sua concepção no tocante à conduta subjetiva do trabalhador não é a mesma de Taylor. O taylorismo pressupõe um sujeito indolente por natureza e somente passível de adaptação. De forma distinta, em Lenin, a consciência e a conduta do trabalhador são resultado das relações sociais de produção e, muito embora contraditórias, suscetíveis de transformação. Mais do que isso, é o proletariado, a partir de um aprendizado, quem deve dirigir o processo de trabalho e a sociedade.
Between familiarity and strangeness: Russian Jews in Josep Sabah’s letters from the coast of Entre Ríos
Authors: Kanzepolsky Adriana
Published: December 2022

This article analyzes the correspondence exchanged between Josep Sabah, a teacher originally from the Ottoman Empire, and the leaders of the Alliance Israélite Universelle and the Jewish Colonization Association, institutions that had sent him to Argentina to found a network of Jewish schools in several towns in the province of Entre Ríos, from 1894 to 1922.

In the first place, we focus on the contradictory ways through which this cultured Jew, educated in French and Sephardic schools, represents the new settlers sent from Russia to Argentina by the Jewish Colonization Association. Second, we focus on the self-rendering of this teacher in his letters, and on the tensions between the expectations of his employers, the demands of the settlers and the gradual disenchantment with the conditions of life in his adopted country.
Autonomia e agência: modos de pensar a pluralidade na arte
Authors: Cipriano Lara Carvalho , Oliveira Rachel Cecília de
Published: December 2022

Partindo da comparação entre o conceito de autonomia e o de agência, este texto objetiva pensar nas manifestações artísticas marginalizadas pelos processos de colonização que estabeleceram a narrativa europeia como universal e única. Para tanto, recorremos aos estudos descoloniais. Como resultado, refletimos sobre a importância da pluralização das narrativas.
Baumgarten e o problema da beleza: Aisthesis, educação estética, inspiração
Authors: Nannini Alessandro
Published: December 2022

Neste ensaio pretendo brevemente apresentar o projeto estético de Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten. Em primeiro lugar, observo o modo como a estética de Baumgarten foi recebida na historiografia estética clássica e na mais recente. Em seguida, exploro o problema da beleza na maneira como foi discutida em suas três obras principais que tratam do assunto: Meditações filosóficas sobre a poesia (1735); Metafísica (1739) e Estética (2 volumes, 1750-1758). Em particular, foco na diferença entre a concepção fenomênica de beleza em sua Metafísica e a apresentação do tema na Estética. Ao final do texto, investigo o problema da inspiração estética como a inalação da presença externa ao eu, assim como enfatizo a relação entre estética e a alteridade.
Transcriptional Dysregulation Underlies Both Monogenic Arrhythmia Syndrome and Common Modifiers of Cardiac Repolarization
Authors: Bersell Kevin R. , Yang Tao , Mosley Jonathan D. , Glazer Andrew M. , Hale Andrew T. , Kryshtal Dmytro O. , Kim Kyungsoo , Steimle Jeffrey D. , Brown Jonathan D. , Salem Joe-Elie , Campbell Courtney C. , Hong Charles C. , Wells Quinn S. , Johnson Amanda N. , Short Laura , Blair Marcia A. , Behr Elijah R. , Petropoulou Evmorfia , Jamshidi Yalda , Benson Mark D. , Keyes Michelle J. , Ngo Debby , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Yang Qiong , Gerszten Robert E. , Shaffer Christian , Parikh Shan , Sheng Quanhu , Kannankeril Prince J. , Moskowitz Ivan P. , York John D. , Wang Thomas J. , Knollmann Bjorn C. , Roden Dan M.
Published: December 2022

Background:

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited arrhythmia syndrome caused by loss-of-function variants in the cardiac sodium channel gene
SCN5A
(sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 5) in ≈20% of subjects. We identified a family with 4 individuals diagnosed with BrS harboring the rare G145R missense variant in the cardiac transcription factor
TBX5
(T-box transcription factor 5) and no
SCN5A
variant.

Methods:

We generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from 2 members of a family carrying TBX5-G145R and diagnosed with Brugada syndrome. After differentiation to iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs), electrophysiologic characteristics were assessed by voltage- and current-clamp experiments (n=9 to 21 cells per group) and transcriptional differences by RNA sequencing (n=3 samples per group), and compared with iPSC-CMs in which G145R was corrected by CRISPR/Cas9 approaches. The role of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway was elucidated by small molecule perturbation. The rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval association with serum PDGF was tested in the Framingham Heart Study cohort (n=1893 individuals).

Results:

TBX5-G145R reduced transcriptional activity and caused multiple electrophysiologic abnormalities, including decreased peak and enhanced “late” cardiac sodium current (I
Na
), which were entirely corrected by editing G145R to wild-type. Transcriptional profiling and functional assays in genome-unedited and -edited iPSC-CMs showed direct
SCN5A
down-regulation caused decreased peak I
Na
, and that reduced PDGF receptor (
PDGFRA
[platelet-derived growth factor receptor α]) expression and blunted signal transduction to PI3K was implicated in enhanced late I
Na
. Tbx5 regulation of the PDGF axis increased arrhythmia risk due to disruption of PDGF signaling and was conserved in murine model systems. PDGF receptor blockade markedly prolonged normal iPSC-CM action potentials and plasma levels of PDGF in the Framingham Heart Study were inversely correlated with the QTc interval (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions:

These results not only establish decreased
SCN5A
transcription by the
TBX5
variant as a cause of BrS, but also reveal a new general transcriptional mechanism of arrhythmogenesis of enhanced late sodium current caused by reduced PDGF receptor–mediated PI3K signaling.
Containing Technology and Allies Alike: The Cold War, Intra-NATO Relations, and the U.S. Centrifuge Classification Initiative, 1958–1962
Authors: Hellendoorn Elmar
Published: December 2022

This article discusses how West European governments reacted to U.S. efforts to control the emergence and spread of gaseous diffusion and ultracentrifuge technology for uranium enrichment. The article focuses on Dutch, British, and West German Cold War perspectives on nuclear technological cooperation with the United States. U.S. insistence on maintaining secrecy around the ultracentrifuge was driven not only by technological and nuclear nonproliferation concerns but also by overarching Cold War dynamics at the time of the 1961 Berlin crisis and NATO's nuclear modernization. The Dutch–West German exploration of bilateral nuclear cooperation on gas centrifuges and the subsequent U.S. classification efforts also reveal a story of transatlantic competition over technological ambitions, commercial interests, and Western Europe's strategic potential. The article thus highlights the intersection of the history of science and technology and Cold War diplomatic and nuclear history, combining fresh material from Dutch archives with U.S. and British primary sources.
The Many Faces of SALT
Authors: Jervis Robert
Published: December 2022

This interpretive essay explores the multiple, changing faces of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. When SALT I was being negotiated in the early 1970s, it was generally viewed as the product of contemporary arms control theory that stressed the value of crisis stability. The U.S. national security adviser at the time, Henry Kissinger, justified the talks in those terms while also positioning them as part of a broader attempt to forge a détente with the Soviet Union. But after the Cold War ended, Kissinger claimed that he had really been engaging in a holding operation to buy time for the U.S. government to rebuild support for a more assertive policy. Declassified documents reveal that he and President Richard Nixon hoped that technological innovations would yield military and political advantages. The two of them believed that previous administrations had failed to overcome dangerous military vulnerabilities and that the United States could get a better deal because the USSR was more anxious for an agreement than Nixon and Kissinger were. In the end, however, this did not prove to be the case, and SALT was little different from the sorts of policies Nixon and Kissinger had scorned. But SALT I was a centerpiece of détente and a symbol of U.S. and Soviet leaders’ recognition that each side had a legitimate interest in the other's military posture.
Early Femoral Access by Acute Care Surgeons: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Prevent Maternal Exsanguination in Placenta Accreta Spectrum
Authors: Maiga Amelia W. , Zuckerwise Lisa C. , Crispens Marta A. , Sorabella Laura L. , Prescott Lauren S. , Brown Alaina J. , Gunter Oliver L. , Dennis Bradley M.
Published: December 2022

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) use has expanded to the obstetric condition of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). Early reports of REBOA for PAS describe prophylactic catheter deployment. We developed a multidisciplinary approach to PAS, with early femoral artery access and selective REBOA deployment. We compared morbidity, mortality, and blood loss before and after implementation of our multidisciplinary protocol for PAS. Prior to, femoral access was obtained only emergently, and maternal death occurred in 2/3 cases (66%). Following protocol implementation, there was one maternal death (6%). There were no access-related complications. We have not yet needed to deploy the REBOA during PAS cases. In contrast to urgent hemorrhage control or prophylactic REBOA deployment, routine early femoral arterial access and selective REBOA deployment as part of a multidisciplinary team approach is a novel strategy for managing PAS. Our experience suggests most PAS cases do not require prophylactic REBOA deployment.
Patterns of Compliance and Noncompliance During Probation: Identifying Pathways to Probation Revocation
Authors: Lowder Evan M. , Northcutt Bohmert Miriam , Diaz Carmen L. , Ying Michelle , Grommon Eric , Hatfield Troy
Published: December 2022

Prior research has explored factors associated with probation outcomes, but few studies have examined pathways of noncompliance leading to probation failure. We conducted social sequence analysis to identify trajectories of compliance and noncompliance in a sample of 4,389 probationers in Monroe County, Indiana. Our findings showed full compliance was the most common probation trajectory and a single failure to appear (FTA) the most common pattern of noncompliance. In addition to a new offense during probation, repeated patterns of FTA and substance use noncompliance were associated with higher revocation rates. Recurrent patterns of technical violations, particularly for substance use, may function as an important pathway to revocation. Supervision strategies that intervene to address recurrent noncompliance may help agencies reduce revocation rates.