bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review—Quantum Biosensors: Principles and Applications in Medical Diagnostics
Authors: Das Suparna , Mazumdar Hirak , Khondakar Kamil Reza , Mishra Yogendra Kumar , Kaushik Ajeet
Published: May 2024

Originating at the intersection of physics and biosensing, quantum biosensors (QB) are transforming medical diagnostics and personalized medicine by exploiting quantum phenomena to amplify sensitivity, specificity, and detection speed compared to traditional biosensors. Their foundation lies in the fusion of biological entities like DNA, proteins, or enzymes with quantum sensors, which elicits discernible alterations in light emissions when interacting with sample molecules. Their prowess in identifying disease-linked biomarkers presents an avenue for early diagnoses of conditions like Alzheimer’s and cancer. Beyond this, they enable real-time monitoring of treatment responses by capturing the dynamism of biomarkers, but QB still faces challenges, such as issues of stability, reproducibility, and intricate quantum interactions. Moreover, seamless integration into prevailing diagnostic frameworks necessitates careful consideration. Looking ahead, the evolution of QB navigates uncharted territories. Innovations in fabrication techniques, interdisciplinary collaborations, and standardization protocols emerge as pivotal areas of exploration. This comprehensive discourse encapsulates QB’s principles, diverse iterations, and burgeoning medical utilities. It delves into inherent challenges and limitations, shedding light on the potential trajectories of future research. As QB continues to evolve, its potential to redefine medical diagnostics becomes increasingly tangible. The saga of QB resonates with possibilities, poised to reshape the diagnostic landscape profoundly.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Genomic Characterization of Salmonella Isolated from Pigeons in China
Authors: Zhang Yuhua , Lu Zheng , Zhao Haoyu , Li Shuangyu , Zhuang Hong , Wang Juan , Li Ruichao , Zheng Weibo , Zhu Hongwei , Xie Peng , Hu Yibin , Zhou Caiyuan , Mao Qian , Sun Leilei , Li Shanshan , Wang Wenhui , Wang Fang , Pan Wei , Wang Chengbao
Published: May 2024

Salmonellosis is one of the important bacterial infectious diseases affecting the health of pigeons. Heretofore, the epidemiological characteristics of Salmonella in pigeon populations in China remain largely unclear. The present study investigated the antimicrobial resistance and genomic characteristics of Salmonella isolates in pigeons in different regions of China from 2022 to 2023. Thirty‐two Salmonella isolates were collected and subjected to 24 different antimicrobial agents, representing nine categories. The results showed that these isolates were highly resistant to cefazolin (100%), gentamicin (100%), tobramycin (100%), and amikacin (100%). Three or more types of antimicrobial resistance were present in 90.62% of the isolates, indicating multidrug resistance. Furthermore, using whole genome sequencing technology, we analyzed the profiles of serotypes, multilocus sequence typing, virulence genes, antimicrobial resistance genes, and plasmid replicons and constructed phylogenetic genomics to determine the epidemiological correlation among these isolates. All strains belonged to Salmonella Typhimurium var. Copenhagen and exhibited five antimicrobial resistance genes and more than 150 Salmonella virulence genes. Moreover, each isolate contained both the IncFIB(S) and IncFII(S) plasmids. In addition, phylogenetic analysis showed that all isolates were very close to each other, and isolates from the same region clustered in the same branch. Overall, our findings provide the first evidence for the epidemiological characteristics of Salmonella in pigeons of China, highlighting the importance of preventing salmonellosis in pigeons.
The Optimal Doping Ratio of Fe2O3 for Enhancing the Electrochemical Stability of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 for Energy Storage Devices
Authors: Alsaba Sadem , M. Aljohani Meshari , Al-Ghamdi S. A. , M. Alsharari Abdulrhman , Sadque M. , A. Hamdalla Taymour
Published: May 2024

This paper aims to discover a novel composite material that has great potential for manufacturing high-performance supercapacitors suitable for diverse applications, such as electric vehicles, portable electronics, and stationary energy storage systems. Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) doped by different concentrations up to 5 wt.% of nanosized Fe2O3 have been prepared (ZIF-8/Fe2O3). The effect of doping ratio 1, 3, and 5 wt.% on the structural and electrochemical properties of ZIF-8/Fe2O3 has been investigated. The structural characterization has been carried out using TGA, BET, XRD, and FTIR. The XRD analysis revealed that the crystalline size of our sample increased by approximately 16% as a result of doping ZIF-8 with 5 wt.% of Fe2O3. The structural analysis of the doped samples revealed that the material exhibited enhanced thermal stability and porosity, with an increase of approximately 105 m2/g. The introduction of doped nanometal oxides improved the capacitance value of ZIF-8 by significantly increasing its surface area. Additionally, the electron transport efficiency within ZIF-8/5 wt.% Fe2O3/electrode is increased. The Nyquist plot decreases as the doping of Fe2O3 increases. This indicates a decrease in the charge transfer resistance at the electrode–electrolyte interface, which is desired in applications such as batteries, fuel cells, or electrochemical sensors where faster electron transfer is needed for improved performance.
Practice and Predictors of Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders in a Tertiary-Care Intensive Care Unit in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Asiri Abdulrahman , Alenezi Farhan Zayed , Tamim Hani , Sadat Musharaf , Bin Humaid Felwa , AlWehaibi Wedyan , Al-Dorzi Hasan M. , Alzoubi Yasir Adnan , Alanazi Samiyah Alrawey , Naidu Brintha , Arabi Yaseen M.
Published: May 2024

Introduction. The objective of this study was to describe Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) practices in a tertiary-care intensive care unit (ICU) in Saudi Arabia, and determine the predictors and outcomes of patients who had DNR orders. Methods. This retrospective cohort study was based on a prospectively collected database for a medical-surgicalIntensive CareDepartment in a tertiary-care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (1999–2017). We compared patients who had DNR orders during the ICU stay with those with “full code.” The primary outcome was hospital mortality. The secondary outcomes included ICU mortality, tracheostomy, duration of mechanical ventilation, and length of stay in the ICU and hospital. Results. Among 24790 patients admitted to the ICU over the 19-year study period, 3217 (13%) had DNR orders during the ICU stay. Compared to patients with “full code,” patients with DNR orders were older (median 67 years [Q1, Q3: 55, 76] versus 57 years [Q1, Q3: 33, 71], p<0.0001), were more likely to be females (43% versus 38%, p<0.0001), had worse premorbid functional status (WHO performance status scores 4-5: 606[18.9%] versus 1894[8.8%], p<0.0001), higher prevalence of comorbid conditions, and higher APACHE II score (median 28 [Q1, Q3: 23, 34] versus 19 [Q1, Q3: 13, 25], p<0.0001) and were more likely to be mechanically ventilated (83% versus 55%, p<0.0001). Patients had DNR orders were more likely to die in the ICU (67.8% versus 8.5%, p<0.0001) and hospital (82.4% versus 18.1%, p<0.0001). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, the following were associated with an increased likelihood of DNR status: increasing age (odds ratio (OR) 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.02), higher APACHE II score (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.08–1.10), and worse WHO performance status score. Patients admitted in recent years (2012–2017 versus 2002–2005) were less likely to have DNR orders (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.32–0.39, p<0.0001). Patients with DNR orders had higher ICU mortality, more tracheostomies, longer duration of mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay compared to patients with with “full code” but they had shorter length of hospital stay. Conclusion. In a tertiary-care hospital in Saudi Arabia, 13% of critically ill patients had DNR orders during ICU stay. This study identified several predictors of DNR orders, including the severity of illness and poor premorbid functional status.
Women’s Economic Empowerment and Mental Health in the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Moon Monira Parvin , Kabir Md. Shajahan , Islam Md. Monjurul , Mila Farhana Arefeen , Sarker Md. Sazzadur Rahman
Published: May 2024

COVID‐19 is a serious worldwide health emergency that is affecting many nations. The financial standing and mental health of women are negatively impacted by such widespread epidemics. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate, among married women in Bangladesh during the COVID‐19 pandemic, the level of women’s economic empowerment and mental health and related determinants. The author used secondary research from numerous published research articles, review articles, and published international and national reports like the World Health Organization (WHO), UNDP, and United Nations (UN) to examine women’s economic empowerment and mental health during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The COVID‐19 condition made it more common for women to experience loneliness, melancholy, anxiety, and sleep disruption. Women face the greatest risk because they make up 70% of the healthcare workforce and work in caregiving facilities. According to COVID‐19, the primary causes of poor mental health in Bangladesh were being unemployed, being obese, lack of concealing, and having no family. Bangladesh’s patriarchal family system and physical weakness of women leads to increased mental disorders, workplace dangers, abuse, exploitation, harassment, and physical harm during crises and quarantine. This will promote women’s economic empowerment and improve mental health conditions. For this reason, more research about these vulnerable populations is required.
Trajectory Tracking Nonlinear Hybrid Control of Automated Guided Vehicles
Authors: Sánchez-Rodríguez Antonio , Bayona Eduardo , Sierra-García J. Enrique , Santos Matilde
Published: May 2024

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs), so necessary in industrial environments, require precise control of trajectory tracking to make accurate stops at logistics stations, such as loading stations, or to pick up or drop off trolleys, pallets, or racks. This paper proposes a hybrid control architecture for trajectory tracking of a hybrid tricycle-differential AGV. The control strategy combines conventional proportional integral derivative (PID) control with advanced nonlinear Lyapunov control (LPC). The LPC is used for trajectory tracking while the PID is used for speed control of the robot. The stability of the controller is demonstrated for any differentiable trajectory. When a PID optimized with genetic algorithms is compared with the proposed controller for several trajectories, the LPC outperforms it in all cases.
Desde el 'Comportamiento Organizacional' al 'Mal Comportamiento Organizacional': Hacia nuevas perspectivas en la docencia de Gestión de Personas
Authors: Atzeni Maurizio
Published: May 2024

Con esta nota quiero poner en evidencia la necesidad de orientar la docencia en el área de 'Gestión de Personas' hacia perspectivas teóricas, derivadas de la sociología del trabajo y de los estudios sobre el proceso de trabajo (labour process theory). que hagan las y los estudiantes sobre las características del contexto econ&nico social capitalista, o sea propio de las economías de mercado, en el cual se enmarca el comportamiento de las personas las organizaciones. En este sentido. se puede considerar como un aporte para un acercamiento critico al campo de estudio y docencia del área, hoy muy fuerternente vinculado con perspectivas propias de la psicología cornportamental y centradas en una selección de experiencias exitosas de empresas de Estados Unidos.
Long-Term Risks of Cardiovascular Death among Older Patients with Major Hematological Malignancies: A Population-Based Cohort Study from SEER Database
Authors: Zhang Hanqing , He Minghao , Zhang Peng , Gao Yang , Ouyang Ling , He Xianjun , Han Na , Zhang Jinfeng , Guan Mengshan , Feng Yueqi , Li Yonghua
Published: May 2024

Background:

The objective of this study was to identify the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related death in older patients with major hematological malignancies (HM).

Methods:

This study included 103,102 older patients diagnosed with seven major types of HM between 1975 and 2018 (median follow-up: 2.7 years) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result database. The proportion of deaths, Fine-Gray subdistribution hazards regression model, standardized mortality ratios (SMR), and absolute excess risk (AER) were used to evaluate the risk of CVD-related death.

Results:

For older patients with HM, CVD-related death ranked as the second leading cause of death, surpassed only by primary malignancy. Compared to the general older population, older patients with HM had higher SMR and AER of CVD-related deaths (SMR: 1.16–1.81; AER: 41.24–308.99), heart disease–related deaths (SMR: 1.19–1.90; AER: 39.23–274.69), and cerebrovascular disease–related deaths (SMR: 0.99–1.66; AER: −0.35 to 24.15). The proportion of deaths and cumulative mortality increased with the passage of survival time, especially in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma with stage I/II and those aged ≥85 years with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, surpassing primary malignancy. The risk of CVD-related death varied among different HM types.

Conclusions:

For older patients with HM, long-term cardiovascular risk management needs to be focused on while addressing the primary malignancy.

Impact:

Our results emphasize the need to manage long-term cardiovascular risk in older patients with hematological malignancies, especially in those identified as high-risk cases.
CAR T-cell Resistance to Oncogenic Transformation
Authors: Ruella Marco , June Carl H.
Published: May 2024

In this commentary, we discuss the investigation into reports of T-cell malignancies following chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. We argue that although these cases should be thoroughly examined, current data suggest that such risks with autologous chimeric antigen receptor T cells are remarkably low compared with other cancer treatments. We also emphasize the importance of continued research, transparent reporting, and participation in postauthorization safety studies.
Supplemental Tables 1-3 from Stay on Track: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial on the Feasibility of a Diet and Exercise Intervention in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Radiotherapy
Authors: SenthilKumar Gopika , Schottstaedt Aronne M. , Peterson Lindsay L. , Pedersen Lauren N. , Chitambar Christopher R. , Vistocky Alexis , Banerjee Anjishnu , Longo John M. , Kelly Tracy , Currey Adam , Stolley Melinda R. , Bergom Carmen
Published: May 2024

Supplementary Tables 1-3
FIGURE 2 from Stay on Track: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial on the Feasibility of a Diet and Exercise Intervention in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Radiotherapy
Authors: SenthilKumar Gopika , Schottstaedt Aronne M. , Peterson Lindsay L. , Pedersen Lauren N. , Chitambar Christopher R. , Vistocky Alexis , Banerjee Anjishnu , Longo John M. , Kelly Tracy , Currey Adam , Stolley Melinda R. , Bergom Carmen
Published: May 2024

FitBit activity levels. Percent change in average total steps per day (A), average total active minutes per day (B), and average active minutes per day (C) in the intervention group compared with their baselines. Total steps per day (D), total active minutes per day (E), and total very active minutes per day (F) during the baseline week in the intervention and control groups. Graphs show mean ± SE. *, P < 0.05.
FIGURE 1 from Stay on Track: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial on the Feasibility of a Diet and Exercise Intervention in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Radiotherapy
Authors: SenthilKumar Gopika , Schottstaedt Aronne M. , Peterson Lindsay L. , Pedersen Lauren N. , Chitambar Christopher R. , Vistocky Alexis , Banerjee Anjishnu , Longo John M. , Kelly Tracy , Currey Adam , Stolley Melinda R. , Bergom Carmen
Published: May 2024

Study timeline.
Data from Stay on Track: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial on the Feasibility of a Diet and Exercise Intervention in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Radiotherapy
Authors: SenthilKumar Gopika , Schottstaedt Aronne M. , Peterson Lindsay L. , Pedersen Lauren N. , Chitambar Christopher R. , Vistocky Alexis , Banerjee Anjishnu , Longo John M. , Kelly Tracy , Currey Adam , Stolley Melinda R. , Bergom Carmen
Published: May 2024

AbstractPurpose:
Among patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy, posttreatment cardiovascular disease and worsened quality of life (QoL) are leading causes of morbidity and mortality. To overcome these negative radiotherapy effects, this prospective, randomized clinical trial pilots a 12-week Stay on Track exercise and diet intervention for overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy.
Experimental Design:
The intervention group (n = 22) participated in three personal exercise and dietary counseling sessions, and received three text reminders/week to adhere to recommendations. The control group (n = 22) was administered a diet/exercise information binder. All patients received a Fitbit, and at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, measurements of biomarkers, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans, QoL and physical activity surveys, and food frequency questionnaires were obtained. A satisfaction survey was administered at 3 months.
Results:
Stay on Track was well received, with high rates of adherence and satisfaction. The intervention group showed an increase in self-reported physical activity and preserved QoL, a decrease in body mass index and visceral fat, and higher American Cancer Society/American Institute of Cancer Research dietary adherence. The control participants had reduced QoL, anti-inflammatory markers, and increased metabolic syndrome markers. Both groups had decreased overall body mass. These changes were within group effects. When comparing the intervention and control groups over time, there were notable improvements in dietary adherence in the intervention group.
Conclusions:
Targeted lifestyle interventions during radiotherapy are feasible and could decrease cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with breast cancer. Larger-scale implementation with longer follow-up can better determine interventions that influence cardiometabolic health and QoL.
Significance:
This pilot study examines cardiometabolic benefits of a combined diet and exercise intervention for patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy. The intervention included an activity tracker (FitBit) and text message reminders to promote adherence to lifestyle interventions. Large-scale implementation of such programs may improve cardiometabolic outcomes and overall QoL among patients with breast cancer.
Neck Circumference in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Bootstrapped Meta-Analysis with GRADE Approach
Authors: Lisa Mona , Varikasuvu Seshadri Reddy , Kumar Subodh , Varshney Saurabh , Gupta Pratima , Grover Ashoo , Pérez-López Faustino R. , Lal Vanita , Singh Harminder , Mudgal Shiv Kumar
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Our aim was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis for the association of neck circumference (NC) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients as compared to non-PCOS controls. Methods: Primarily the PubMed/MEDLINE database and others such as SCOPUS, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, were searched up to November 15, 2023 for observational studies comparing NC in PCOS versus non-PCOS women. The mean and SD values of NC and other covariates in PCOS and control groups were extracted by two independent reviewers, and the quality and risk of bias assessment was done using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The meta-analysis employed combined standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to compare NC between PCOS patients and controls. The heterogeneity and validity were addressed by subgroup, meta-regression, and sensitivity analyses. We conducted a Bootstrapped meta-analysis using 1,000 and 10,000 simulations to test the accuracy of the obtained results. The certainty of evidence was assessed by the GRADE approach. Results: Our meta-analysis included 9 observational studies. The PCOS patients showed significantly higher NC values than the non-PCOS controls (SMD: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.41–0.91, p < 0.0001). In the bootstrap meta-analysis, the accuracy of the observed findings was proved (SMD = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.42–0.91) for the NC outcome. No publication bias was detected in the funnel plot analysis using Begg’s and Egger’s tests. The 95% prediction interval of 0.036–1.28 suggests that the true outcomes of the studies are generally in the same direction as the estimated average outcome. The sensitivity analysis provided the robustness of the outcome, and no single study was overly influential on the pooled estimate. Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides accurate evidence for significantly higher NC values in PCOS as compared to non-PCOS controls. There is no sufficient evidence on the diagnostic accuracy measures for NC in PCOS. Hence, further research on its diagnostic utility in PCOS is needed.
Treat hard and early in SSc-ILD: milde ILD ist immer noch ILD
Authors: Xanthouli Panagiota
Published: May 2024

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the leading cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc). According to expert statements, not all SSc-ILD patients require pharmacological therapy. Objectives: To describe disease characteristics and disease course in untreated SSc-ILD patients in two well characterised SSc-ILD cohorts. Methods: Patients were classified as treated if they had received a potential ILD-modifying drug. ILD progression in untreated patients was defined as (1) decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) from baseline of ≥ 10% or (2) decline in FVC of 5%–9% associated with a decline in diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) ≥ 15% over 12 ± 3 months or (3) start of any ILD-modifying treatment or (4) increase in the ILD extent during follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with non-prescription of ILD-modifying treatment at baseline. Prognostic factors for progression in untreated patients were tested by multivariate Cox regression. Results: Of 386 SSc-ILD included patients, 287 (74%) were untreated at baseline. Anticentromere antibodies (OR: 6.75 (2.16–21.14), p = 0.001), limited extent of ILD (OR: 2.39 (1.19–4.82), p = 0.015), longer disease duration (OR: 1.04 (1.00–1.08), p = 0.038) and a higher DLCO (OR: 1.02 (1.01–1.04), p = 0.005) were independently associated with no ILD-modifying treatment at baseline. Among 234 untreated patients, the 3 year cumulative incidence of progression was 39.9% (32.9–46.2). Diffuse cutaneous SSc and extensive lung fibrosis independently predicted ILD progression in untreated patients.
The Predictive Value of Plasma Sodium and Other Laboratory Parameters in Determining Complicating Appendicitis in Children
Authors: Zvizdic Zlatan , Jonuzi Asmir , Glamoclija Una , Vranic Semir
Published: May 2024

Objective: Finding a reliable preoperative predictor of complicated acute appendicitis (AA) has been a challenging diagnostic problem. The present study aimed to identify potential factors that may predict complicated AA in the pediatric emergency department (ED) based on routine, widely available laboratory tests on admission to the ED, including plasma sodium concentration. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical and laboratory data of pediatric patients with AA who underwent emergency surgery at our department between January 2020 and December 2022. The patients were divided into two groups: histopathologically proven complicated AA (n = 80) and noncomplicated AA (n = 155). Results: Complicated AA was associated with reduced plasma sodium and chloride concentrations (p < 0.001, both), decreased values of lymphocytes (p = 0.002), elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) (p < 0.001), and elevated values of white blood cells (WBC) and neutrophils (p = 0.012 and 0.001, respectively). In binomial logistic regression, increased levels of CRP and WBC and decreased levels of sodium were predictors of complicated AA. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.825 (95% confidence interval: 0.764, 0.886). Conclusion: We identified mild hyponatremia and elevated CRP and WBC values as potential markers for distinguishing complicated from uncomplicated pediatric AA with implications for surgical approaches for treating complicated AA and conservative approaches for treating uncomplicated AA.
Association between Waist-Hip Ratio and Female Infertility in the United States: Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–2020
Authors: Lai Jun , Li Xinqing , Liu Zongyan , Liao Yuanyue , Xiao Zuomiao , Wei Yufeng , Cao Yongxiao
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Obesity has previously been correlated with an elevated risk of reproductive system diseases in women. The waist-hip ratio (WHR) has been shown to be correlated with visceral fat, making it one of the most commonly used indicators of abdominal obesity. However, little is known about the relationship between WHR and infertility. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the WHR on infertility in women of childbearing age. Methods: The study used cross-sectional data from women aged 20–45 who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which was conducted between 2017 and 2020. We collected details of their waist circumference, hip circumference, fertility status, and several other essential variables. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis and subgroup analyses to assess the association between WHR and infertility. Results: There were 976 participants, with 12.0% (117/976) who experienced infertility. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, our multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that every 0.1 unit increase in WHR resulted in a more than 35% higher risk of infertility (odds ratio [OR; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35 [1.01∼1.81], p = 0.043). Compared to the group with WHR <0.85, the risk of infertility increased in the group with WHR ≥0.85, with an adjusted OR of 1.74 (95% CI: 1.06∼2.85). When WHR was treated as a continuous variable, it was observed that each 0.1 unit increase in WHR was associated with a relatively high risk in the secondary infertility population after adjusting all covariates, with an OR of 1.66 (95% CI: 1.14∼2.40, p = 0.01). When WHR was analyzed as a categorical variable, the group with WHR ≥0.85 exhibited a significantly higher risk of secondary infertility than the group with WHR <0.85, with the OR of 2.75 (95% CI: 1.35–5.59, p = 0.01) after adjusting for all covariates. Furthermore, the interaction analysis indicated that there was a significant interaction between age status on WHR and the risk of infertility. Conclusion: WHR showed a positive correlation with the risk of infertility. This study highlights the importance of effectively managing abdominal fat and promoting the maintenance of optimal WHR levels to mitigate the progression of infertility, particularly for younger women.
Iron Indices Mediate but Not Modify Association of Parathyroid Hormone with Erythropoietin Resistance in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Li Xu , Zhu Li , Wang Yan , Wang Yina , Wu Bei , Gan Liangying , Zuo Li
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Disordered iron balance and abnormal parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations, both prevalent in hemodialysis patients, are risk factors of erythropoietin (EPO) resistance. Few studies have evaluated the correlation between iron indices and PTH and the potential role of iron markers on the association of PTH with EPO resistance in hemodialysis population. Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 71 maintenance hemodialysis patients, iron indices including hepcidin, ferritin, reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr), and transferrin saturation (TSAT) were examined. EPO responsiveness was measured as EPO resistance index (ERI). Lowess regression curves were performed to explore the correlations of iron indices, PTH, and ERI. The association between PTH and ERI was modeled using linear regressions. Potential role of iron indices on this association was examined using stratified analyses and mediation analyses. Results: The average ERI value was 10.3 ± 5.3 IU w−1 kg−1 (g/dL) −1. ERI was correlated to PTH, hepcidin, CHr, and TSAT (all p < 0.05). Hepcidin and PTH were closely correlated with each other (r = 0.28, p = 0.020). Analysis by PTH categories yielded a total association effect of 2.53 (95% CI: 0.27–4.85, p = 0.027) for high PTH subgroup versus the reference low subgroup. No clinically significant interaction between iron indexes and PTH was identified. Hepcidin appeared to mediate about one-third of the total association between PTH and ERI in hemodialysis population (33.6%, p = 0.025). Conclusion: Iron indices and PTH levels were related to ERI values. Hepcidin appeared to be closely correlated to PTH and partly mediate the association between PTH and ERI in hemodialysis population.
Triple-negativer Brustkrebs: Mit Pembrolizumab die Lebensqualität im metastasierten Stadium verbessern
Authors: Winkler Brigitte Sophia
Published: May 2024

Background: In KEYNOTE-119 (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02555657), overall survival (primary end-point) was similar between pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in patients with previously treated metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), although the pembrolizumab treatment effect increased with tumour PD-L1 expression. We report results of prespecified health-related quality of life (HRQoL) analyses from KEYNOTE-119. Methods: Eligible patients were randomised 1:1 to pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W intravenously for up to 35 cycles or treatment of physician's choice per local/country guidelines. Prespecified exploratory end-points were the change from baseline in HRQoL (EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-BR23) and to characterise utilities (EQ-5D-3L). Time to deterioration (TTD) was the time from start of treatment to first onset of a ≥10-point worsening from baseline. Results: HRQoL analyses included 187 patients with tumour PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥10. Changes from baseline at 6 weeks (primary analysis time point) were directionally better with pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy for QLQ-C30 GHS/QoL (between-group difference in least-squares mean scores of 4.21 [95% CI, -1.38 to 9.80]), QLQ-C30 functional scales (physical, role, cognitive, social), QLQ-C30 symptom scales/items (fatigue, nausea/vomiting, dyspnoea, appetite loss), and QLQ-BR23 symptom scales/items (systemic therapy side-effects, upset by hair loss). Median TTD was directionally longer for pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy for QLQ-C30 QHS/QoL (4.3 versus 1.7 months), QLQ-C30 nausea/vomiting (7.7 versus 4.8 months), and QLQ-BR23 systemic therapy side-effects (6.1 versus 3.4 months). Minimal treatment differences were observed for other HRQoL end-points.
Preconceitos coloniais e complexos da descolonização segundo Sartre
Authors: Barroso Paulo
Published: May 2024

For Jean-Paul Sartre, the oppressor breaks intersubjective solidarity and transforms the oppressed into an Other, fearing him and making him strange. It’s paradoxical since the colonizer is the one who “creates” the Other based on prejudice. This proposal follows a textual analysis focused on the essence of the colonial prejudice of the oppressor and on the complexes of liberation and independence of the oppressed peoples in the decolonization process. The objectives are: a) to highlight Sartre’s contribution to understanding colonial prejudices and decolonization complexes, as well as the position taken by the author against the war in Algeria and in favour of the colonial liberation movements in Africa; b) substantiate the position of respect for the Other as a fundamental question of an ethics of alterity.
“Índia portuguesa”: omissão e tensões em “Fantasias” luso-tropicais filmadas
Authors: Piçarra Maria do Carmo
Published: May 2024

A filmografia portuguesa relativa ao Oriente durante o Estado Novo português é escassa, tardia e projecta uma retórica luso-tropicalista que contribuiu para a actualização do mito da importância, perdida, de um território que, durante a Ditadura, se impõe quase só simbolicamente. Proponho que a escassez de filmes resulta do valor simbólico da comunidade imaginada se projecta melhor por omissão do que o faria pela representação imagética. Caracterizarei o caso da “Índia portuguesa”, onde a exibição cinematográfica era vibrante, mas não deixou espaço para o cinema concanim se afirmar, enquanto a filmografia portuguesa afirmou o suposto lusitanismo local, privilegiando temas religiosos, enaltecendo o multiculturalismo e a miscigenação. Noto como, mesmo a filmografia propagandista, sobretudo a militar, evidencia tensões questionadoras do idílio luso-tropical.
A preliminary study of the morphological variation of rhizomes in Zingiber Mill. and its role in taxonomy
Authors: BAI LIN , XIA NIAN‑HE
Published: May 2024

The rhizomes of Zingiber are highly diverse and have potential in taxonomy, but their fundamental structure has never been properly understood in connection with an understanding of the sympodial growth form of the whole plant. This study is based on a literature review and on observations of fresh materials of 32 Zingiber species mainly from China, representing all four sections of the genus. An analysis of the sympodial modular growth habit of these plants has recognised that both isomodular and heteromodular growth exist within the genus. The study shows that rhizomes of Zingiber are highly-organised, compound, sympodial structures. By introducing the term rhizome unit, Zingiber rhizomes can be meaningfully described by depicting the morphology of the rhizome units and the relative arrangement of these units to one another. Six morphological attributes of rhizome units (shape, size, direction of growth, colour and number of nodes per rhizome, and length of internodes) and two attributes of their relative arrangement to one another (dorsiventral vs lateral position of rhizome units and the ramification position along the length of rhizome unit) are discussed. A preliminary assessment of variation patterns and the taxonomic value of these characters are presented. Together, these attributes contribute to the overall morphology of rhizomes. The relationship between rhizome structure and the above-ground clumping habit is discussed. The term pseudo-neck is coined to refer to the narrowed basal part that occurs in the rhizome units of some Zingiber species while the thick apical part of rhizome units where the internodes are often shorter than those on the pseudo-neck is called head. Problems with existing terminology for rhizome and plant habit descriptions in Zingiber are highlighted. This study suggests that whether the plane of distichy of leaves is parallel or perpendicular to the rhizome unit, a key character that many previous studies used for subdivision of Zingiberaceae, needs re-assessment, because in Zingiber both states of the character exist. Characters of rhizome morphology of the four sections in Zingiber are discussed, but studies of a larger number of species are needed to better-assess the relevance of these characters to the infrageneric classification of the genus. Schematic illustrations and colour plates of rhizomes from representative species are provided to assist the descriptions and discussions. It is hoped that this preliminary study will facilitate and encourage more comprehensive studies of rhizomes of Zingiber and of other genera within Zingiberaceae. Such work will lead to a better understanding of these structures and help establish a more comprehensive and accurate terminology for them, which in turn will facilitate the taxonomy and identification of the family.
New records of Pestalotioid species associated with leaf spot disease on Camellia sinensis from northern Thailand
Authors: KOODALUGODAARACHCHI VIDYAMALI , CHETHANA K. W. THILINI , JAYAWARDENA RUVISHIKA S. , BUNDHUN DIGVIJAYINI , ALUTHMUHANDIRAM JANITH V. S. , SUWANNARACH NAKARIN , MANAWASINGHE ISHARA S. , LUMYONG SAISAMORN
Published: May 2024

Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze var. assamica (Miang tea) is widely distributed in northern Thailand due to its traditional and industrial attributes, including black tea and Miang production. In this study, two Pestalotioid taxa associated with C. sinensis leaf spots were collected in Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Species delineation was based on the evidence from morphological and multi-locus phylogenies using ITS, tub2 and tef1-α. Neopestalotiopsis saprophytica is herein reported as a new record on Camellia sinensis, while Pseudopestalotiopsis chinensis is recorded as a new geographical record from Thailand. The findings of this research have the potential to offer fresh insights into the two previously documented species within the existing fungal community associated with C. sinensis in Thailand. This, in turn, could enhance our comprehension of their interactions with the host plant in the times ahead.
Aspidistra yangchunensis (Asparagaceae), a new species from Guangdong, China
Authors: DONG SHU-PENG , HUANG YI , NING ZU-LIN
Published: May 2024

Aspidistra yangchunensis, a new species of Asparagaceae from Guangdong, southern China, is described and illustrated. Aspidistra yangchunensis resembles A. subrotata, but can be distinguished by the syntepalous part of perigone almost flat, 4 alternate perigone lobes folded at base in full bloom, pure white pistil, lower surface of stigma folds inward to form a circular inner space.
A new species and a newly record species of Amphinemurinae from Yunnan, China (Plecoptera, Nemouridae)
Authors: QIAN YU-HAN , XIANG JIN-HONG , BAI XUE
Published: May 2024

A new stonefly species of the genus Protonemura Kempny, 1898 of the subfamily Amphinemurinae, namely Protonemura potatsoensis Qian & Bai sp. nov., is described from Yunnan, southwestern China. Sphaeronemoura poda Sivec & Stark, 2010 is newly recorded for China. Detailed descriptions, photographs of genital characters and cervical gills features are presented.
On the microphthalmous Lathrobium Gravenhorst species of Turkey V. A new species from Çorum province and an updated key for the microphthalmous Lathrobium species of Turkey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)
Authors: ANLAŞ SİNAN
Published: May 2024

In the study, a new microphthalmous species of the genus Lathrobium s. str. from Çorum province in central northern Anatolia is described and illustrated: Lathrobium corumense sp. n. An updated key to the microphthalmous Lathrobium species of Turkey is provided. The species number of the microphthalmous Lathrobium now reached 12 in Turkey. A distributional checklist of the microphthalmous Lathrobium species in Turkey is presented. In addition, faunistic notes on five microphthalmous species of the genus Lathrobium are reported.
3. The Development of the Jesus Cult
Authors: Clossey Luke
Published: May 2024

This chapter introduces Jesus from multiple perspectives. First it tells a minimalist version of his story using only those details broadly accepted by both Christians and Muslims. Then it turns to facets of Jesus particular to one tradition, looking first at Christianity, then Islam, and finally Manichaeism. The chapter concludes surveying christological controversies in Christianity and Islam before the fifteenth century.
8. Jesus Objects
Authors: Clossey Luke
Published: May 2024

This chapter presents some examples of the vast variety of Jesus-related objects, discusses their functions, and considers contemporary attitudes towards them. The ubiquity of Jesus makes the catalogue of Jesus-related objects extensive, including automated clocks, bells, liturgical garments, and funeral shrouds. In particular, relics from Jesus's body (including his blood, his foreskin, his beard) and relics once in contact with his body (wood from the manger, clothing he wore, his sword) had complex histories, often crossing between the Muslim and Christian worlds, especially in their use as gifts or in their accumulation by enthusiastic collectors. Beyond relics, some more ordinary objects in the Jesus cult served as amulets infused with power through their design and application. Underlying the technology behind all these objects were numbers, oriented either to the deep ken (round in beautiful ways) or the plain (precisely measuring some aspect of the human Jesus). Doubts often clustered around plain-ken criticisms: The cross cult developed chronologically in time, and “True Cross” fragments combined far exceeded the size of the cross itself—an impossibility given the plain-ken rules of spacetime. The plain ken prevented the multiplication of relics, and demoted circumcision and crucifixion from powerful symbols to everyday first-century customs.
10. Making Canon
Authors: Clossey Luke
Published: May 2024

The first half of this chapter looks at how deep-ken value was added to Bibles and Qur'ans with calligraphy, decoration, and sacred language. The second half shows how there developed a more plain-ken attitude, which manifested in an acceptance of messy vernacular translations and two efficiency revolutions—(1) automation in Bible production through the printing press and (2) miniaturization in Qur'an production with the shift from the “perfect” muhaqqaq script to the workhorse naskh. In the plain ken, all meaning is constructed in history, by humans for humans, independent of other factors. In the deep ken, meaning is deeply contextualized, independent of historical time, but dependent on consonance. The deep ken found value in reading a high-quality edition of scripture with a serious and purposeful mindset, while the plain ken held scripture's meaning to be constant, regardless of where or how one read it.
11. Interpreting Canon
Authors: Clossey Luke
Published: May 2024

This chapter shifts from the controversies in making canon to focus on the content itself. What determines meaning and truth? The deep ken seeks the meaning intended by the divine author, mediated by the guarantees of tradition, and received by a pious reader. The plain ken considers the intentions of scripture's human scribes (or “co-authors”), as well as the historical circumstances of both those original scribes as well as generations of copyists. A comparative history of Biblical and Qur'anic interpretation contrasts the Christian deep-ken quest for depth (meaning buried in the text by God) with the Muslim plain-ken quest for flatness (a simple meaning revealed through the historical circumstances of revelation). In the fifteenth century, Muslims (especially al-Biqa'i and al-Suyuti) continued to build on these early plain-ken foundations. The Christians held the deep ken close, but (especially Valla and Erasmus) inched towards the plain ken, in particular by revising their understanding of literal meaning and by historicizing manuscript production.
12. Ways of Knowing
Authors: Clossey Luke
Published: May 2024

Telling the story of how Christians learned to stop worrying and embrace the probable, this chapter considers how thinkers evaluated the certainty and truth of Jesus revelations, both canonical and contemporary. The latter included revelations made to women, with gender rendering their accounts especially unreliable, or, in the plain ken, especially trustworthy. Some writers used Jesus as a tool to demolish the claims of reason; others found in Jesus the compelling certainty they sought. Throughout the East, from Greece to Russia, hesychasts combined the Jesus prayer with breathing techniques to compensate for the instability of knowledge. Jean Gerson raised a difficult question: Should a priest celebrate the eucharist—that is, affect the presence of the body and blood of Jesus—after a nocturnal emission? His investigations led to the development of a plain-ken approach that celebrated a messy probabilism as an acceptable answer to uncertainty, first in ethics, and later more generally. In these ways a plain-ken vision of history, a messy world of contingency, arose between what was necessarily true and what was impossible.
13. Nicholas of Cusa’s Jesus
Authors: Clossey Luke
Published: May 2024

Ever since his own time, Nicholas of Cusa has been seen as a thinker caught between medieval and modern. Unsurprisingly, he was also caught between the deep and plain kens, and in Jesus found an escape. The chapter begins with two concrete examples: Cusa's invention of a “new and fun game” of curling based on Jesus's life, which contrasted an irregular ball thrown at concentric perfect circles, and an optical illusion of Jesus which contrasted God's perfect vision with human vision in spacetime. The chapter then follows Cusa into greater abstraction. Jesus embodies plain-ken multiplicity with deep-ken oneness, and becomes himself the limit of the human intellect. Cusa argued for that Jesus-centred oneness while working to unify Christianity internally, as well as with Islam, based on his new reading of the Qur'an, which—for all his skepticism—he believed he understood better than the Muslims.
15. Art and the Plain Ken
Authors: Clossey Luke
Published: May 2024

The second of three art chapters considers the western Renaissance of the visual arts in terms of the development of plain-ken attitudes towards depiction. These artists took a series of conventions rooted in an instant of time and deemed them as normative. They appreciated that the immediately sensible world was experienced first one moment, then the next, and was full of ugly imperfections. Beyond linear perspective, their techniques included conspicuous imperfections, illusionistic shadows, dramatic compositions, historicist renderings of setting, and the quotation of images. We consider the self-identity of artists, as well as their models and techniques, and informal post-production work, such as image owners blacking or cutting out undesired details.
17. Language and Power
Authors: Clossey Luke
Published: May 2024

The deep ken saw power and meaning in the word “Jesus” itself, as that word consonated with Jesus himself. Where the plain ken understood the meaning of a word as accidental, the deep ken perceived its meaning hardwired into the fabric of the universe. The best way to fathom the deep-ken power of “Jesus” is to watch the cult develop around the name itself, most successfully promoted by Bernardino of Siena. More broadly, the name “Jesus” was applied to a variety of people, places, and things: A number of “Jesuses” governed the Ottoman empire; the largest “Jesus” had two masts and shot iron darts. Sometimes Jesus language not only harmonized with the universe, but was understood to have the power to manipulate it. Studying the ways cultists used “Jesus,” often in conjunction with relics and mathematics, to maximize their spiritual and material well-being illustrates the deep ken's logic of language.
Arabic Documents from Medieval Nubia
Authors: Khan Geoffrey
Published: May 2024

This volume presents an edition of a corpus of Arabic documents datable to the 11th and 12th centuries AD that were discovered by the Egypt Exploration Society at the site of the Nubian fortress Qaṣr Ibrīm (situated in the south of modern Egypt). The edition of the documents is accompanied by English translations and a detailed analysis of their contents and historical background.

The documents throw new light on relations between Egypt and Nubia in the High Middle Ages, especially in the Fatimid period. They are of particular importance since previous historical studies from the perspective of Arabic sources have been almost entirely based on historiographical sources, often written a long time after the events described and distorted by tendentious points of view.
4. Other Correspondence and Accounts
Authors: Khan Geoffrey
Published: May 2024

Letters 28–40 are not sent to the eparch or his office, but rather constitute miscellaneous pieces of correspondence. Most of these are within the Muslim community. Item 41 of the corpus is a poem, which was apparently written by a travelling merchant. Documents 42 and 43 are accounts of merchants. The content and structure of the documents are described.