bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research progress on risk factors of postoperative functional defecation disorder in anorectal malformation
Authors: Xiang Chenzhu , Xiang Xiao , Feng Wei , Wang Yi
Published: August 2023

Anorectal malformation (ARM) is a common congenital gastrointestinal malformation in neonates, which has complex pathological changes and unclear etiology. The only treatment modality currently available for ARMs is through surgical treatment to correct the deformity of the anal morphology and restore normal defecation function. In addition, the mortality rates of children with ARMs have significantly decreased as a result of recent advances in medical technology. It is important to note that despite the treatment of perianal anatomical deformities, approximately one‐third of ARM patients continue to experience functional defecation disorder (FDD), which includes fecal incontinence and constipation and negatively impacts the patient's quality of life. There are still numerous questions regarding the exact cause of FDD in ARM patients following surgery. It is generally accepted that the occurrence of FDD may be related to clinical staging, structural changes in the perianal rectal muscles, anomalies of the enteric nervous system, surgical injury, etc. However, some of these factors are still controversial and require additional study to be confirmed. In this paper, we review the risk factors for FDD following surgery in ARMs, which will help us to subsequently develop appropriate interventions to enhance the anal function and improve quality of life of children with ARMs.
Improved synthesis of porous C2N for CO2 conversion
Authors: Liu Bo‐Han , Luo Xian‐Sheng , Deng Han‐Lin , Zhang Zhi‐Hao , Fan Wen‐Hao , Zhang Qi , Huang Mu‐Hua
Published: August 2023

Since the initial introduction of porous C2N‐h2D materials by the Baek group in 2015, these materials have exhibited highly promising applications in fields such as semiconductor devices, heterogeneous catalysis, gas storage and separation, biomedicine, and more. However, much of the existing research on C2N materials has been based on theoretical calculations due to the challenges associated with their synthesis. In this study, an enhanced synthesis method for porous C2N materials has been successfully developed, involving the innovative and nonexplosive synthesis of hexaaminobenzene trihydrochloride (HAB·3HCl) as a crucial intermediate, as well as a time‐efficient synthesis of C2N. Rigorous structural characterizations have been conducted, including solid‐state NMR analysis, among others. The resultant C2N material has been effectively employed to improve the efficiency of CO2 conversion reactions. This straightforward protocol for synthesizing C2N materials is poised to stimulate further exploration and application of this promising 2D material in the near future.
Structural characterization of an intrinsically disordered protein complex using integrated small‐angle neutron scattering and computing
Authors: Chen Serena H. , Weiss Kevin L. , Stanley Christopher , Bhowmik Debsindhu
Published: August 2023

Characterizing structural ensembles of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) of proteins is essential for studying structure–function relationships. Due to the different neutron scattering lengths of hydrogen and deuterium, selective labeling and contrast matching in small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS) becomes an effective tool to study dynamic structures of disordered systems. However, experimental timescales typically capture measurements averaged over multiple conformations, leaving complex SANS data for disentanglement. We hereby demonstrate an integrated method to elucidate the structural ensemble of a complex formed by two IDRs. We use data from both full contrast and contrast matching with residue‐specific deuterium labeling SANS experiments, microsecond all‐atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with four molecular mechanics force fields, and an autoencoder‐based deep learning (DL) algorithm. From our combined approach, we show that selective deuteration provides additional information that helps characterize structural ensembles. We find that among the four force fields, a99SB‐disp and CHARMM36m show the strongest agreement with SANS and NMR experiments. In addition, our DL algorithm not only complements conventional structural analysis methods but also successfully differentiates NMR and MD structures which are indistinguishable on the free energy surface. Lastly, we present an ensemble that describes experimental SANS and NMR data better than MD ensembles generated by one single force field and reveal three clusters of distinct conformations. Our results demonstrate a new integrated approach for characterizing structural ensembles of IDPs.
Hyperoside mediates protection from diabetes kidney disease by regulating ROS‐ERK signaling pathway and pyroptosis
Authors: Zhang Kejia , Li MiaoMiao , Yin Kaiwen , Wang Minjie , Dong Qiuchi , Miao Zilan , Guan Yubo , Wu Qi , Zhou Yao
Published: August 2023

Renal tubular injury is a key factor in the progression of diabetic kidney disease to end‐stage renal disease. Hyperoside, a natural flavonol glycoside in various plants, is a potentially effective drug for the clinical treatment of diabetic kidney disease. However, the specific mechanisms remain unknown. Therefore, this study will explore the effect and mechanism of hyperoside on renal tubulointerstitium in diabetic kidney disease. db/db mouse (C57BL/KsJ) is a model of type 2 diabetes resulting from Leptin receptor point mutations, with the appearance of diabetic kidney disease. Therefore, db/db mice were used for in vivo experimental studies. In vitro, human renal tubular epithelial cells were incubated with bovine serum albumin to simulate the injury of renal tubular epithelial cells caused by excessive albumin in primary urine. The experimental results showed that hyperoside could improve kidney function and reduce kidney tissue damage in mice, and could inhibit oxidative stress, extracellularly regulated protein kinases 1/2 signaling activation, and pyroptosis in human renal tubular epithelial cells. Therefore, hyperoside inhibited oxidative stress by regulating the activation of the extracellularly regulated protein kinases 1/2/mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathway, thereby alleviating proteinuria‐induced pyroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells. This study provides novel evidence that could facilitate the clinical application of hyperoside in diabetic kidney disease treatment.
Synbiotic edible films enriched with probiotics and prebiotics: A novel approach for improving the quality and shelf life of sliced cheese
Authors: Ceylan Huriye Gözde , Atasoy Ahmet Ferit
Published: August 2023

This study investigated the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and inulin (IN) on the properties of sodium caseinate‐based films containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. The optimal formulations were determined and tested for coating sliced cheese during storage. FOS and IN generally increased the thickness and moisture values of the films, while opacity increased with the increase in IN concentration. Tensile strength decreased with FOS and IN, and elongation at break decreased at high prebiotic concentrations. The viability of L. rhamnosus after the drying of the film solution was between 77.67% and 89.91%, and total prebiotic concentration above 2% generally decreased drying stability of L. rhamnosus. The optimal formulations were 0% FOS + 0% IN, 1% FOS + 0% IN and 0% FOS + 1% IN, respectively. These film matrices were found to be suitable carriers for L. rhamnosus. Coating treatments reduced moisture loss, acidity and hardness increase in cheese slices, but decreased luminosity. The probiotic counts in coated cheese were sufficient for therapeutic effect after approximately 20 days.
Associated production of a top-quark pair with two isolated photons at the LHC through NLO in QCD
Authors: Stremmer Daniel , Worek Malgorzata
Published: August 2023

Abstract

We report on the computation of NLO QCD corrections to top-quark pair production in association with two photons at the LHC. Higher-order effects and photon bremsstrahlung are taken into account in the production and decays of the top-quark pair. Top-quark and W-boson decays are treated in the Narrow Width Approximation conserving spin correlations up to NLO in QCD. This is the first time that the complete set of NLO QCD corrections to the $$ pp\to t\overline{t}\gamma \gamma $$
pp
→
t

t
¯

γγ
process including top-quark decays is calculated. We present results at the integrated and differential cross-section level in the di-lepton and lepton + jet channel. In addition, we investigate the effect of photon bremsstrahlung in $$ t\overline{t} $$
t

t
¯

production and top-quark decays, as well as the mixed contribution. The latter contribution, in which two photons occur simultaneously in the production and decay of the $$ t\overline{t} $$
t

t
¯

pair, proved to be significant at both the integrated and differential cross-section level.
Amplitude-like functions from entire functions
Authors: Duhr Claude , Kshirsagar Chandrashekhar
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Recently a function was constructed that satisfies all known properties of a tree-level scattering of four massless scalars via the exchange of an infinite tower of particles with masses given by the non-trivial zeroes of the Riemann zeta function. A key ingredient in the construction is an even entire function whose only zeroes coincide with the non-trivial zeroes of the Riemann zeta function. In this paper we show that exactly the same conclusions can be drawn for an infinite class of even entire functions with only zeroes on the real line. This shows that the previous result does not seem to be connected to specific properties of the Riemann zeta function, but it applies more generally. As an application, we show that exactly the same conclusions can be drawn for L-functions other than the Riemann zeta function.
Uniform $$L^{\infty }$$-Estimates for Quasilinear Elliptic Systems
Authors: Vannella Giuseppina
Published: August 2023

The aim of this work is to provide uniform $$L^{\infty }$$

L
∞

-estimates for the solutions of a quite general class of (p, q)-quasilinear elliptic systems depending on two parameters $$\alpha $$
α
and $$\delta $$
δ
.
Beyond data transactions: a framework for meaningfully informed data donation
Authors: Gomez Ortega Alejandra , Bourgeois Jacky , Hutiri Wiebke Toussaint , Kortuem Gerd
Published: August 2023

As we navigate physical (e.g., supermarket) and digital (e.g., social media) systems, we generate personal data about our behavior. Researchers and designers increasingly rely on this data and appeal to several approaches to collect it. One of these is data donation, which encourages people to voluntarily transfer their (personal) data collected by external parties to a specific cause. One of the central pillars of data donation is informed consent, meaning people should be adequately informed about what and how their data will be used. However, can we be adequately informed when it comes to donating our data when many times we don’t even know it is being collected and, even more so, what exactly is being collected? In this paper, we investigate how to foster (personal) data literacy and increase donors’ understanding of their data. We introduce a Research through Design approach where we define a data donation journey in the context of speech records, data collected by Google Assistant. Based on the data donation experiences of 22 donors, we propose a data donation framework that understands and approaches data donation as an encompassing process with mutual benefit for donors and researchers. Our framework supports a donation process that dynamically and iteratively engages donors in exploring and understanding their data and invites them to (re)evaluate and (re)assess their participation. Through this process, donors increase their data literacy and are empowered to give meaningfully informed consent.
The nature of compact radio sources: the case of FR 0 radio galaxies
Authors: Baldi Ranieri D.
Published: August 2023

Radio-loud compact radio sources (CRSs) are characterised by morphologicalcompactnessof the jet structure centred on the active nucleus of the galaxy. Most of the local elliptical galaxies are found to host a CRS with nuclear luminosities lower than those of typical quasars,$$\lesssim 10^{42}\, \text{erg}\, \text{s}^{-1}$$≲1042ergs-1. Recently, low-luminosity CRSs with a LINER-like optical spectrum have been named Fanaroff–Riley (FR) type 0 to highlight their lack of substantially extended radio emission at kpc scales, in contrast with the other Fanaroff–Riley classes, full-fledged FR Is and FR II radio galaxies. FR 0s are the most abundant class of radio galaxies in the local Universe, and characterised by a higher core dominance, poorer Mpc-scale environment and smaller (sub-kpc scale, if resolved) jets than FR Is. However, FR 0s share similar host and nuclear properties with FR Is. A different accretion–ejection paradigm from that in place in FR Is is invoked to account for the parsec-scale FR 0 jets. This review revises the state-of-the-art knowledge about FR 0s, their nature, and which open issues the next generation of radio telescopes can solve in this context.
Parkinsonism in complex neurogenetic disorders: lessons from hereditary dementias, adult-onset ataxias and spastic paraplegias
Authors: Aloisio Simone , Satolli Sara , Bellini Gabriele , Lopriore Piervito
Published: August 2023

Parkinsonism is a syndrome characterized by bradykinesia in combination with either rest tremor, rigidity, or both. These features are the cardinal manifestations of Parkinson’s disease, the most common cause of parkinsonism, and atypical parkinsonian disorders. However, parkinsonism can be a manifestation of complex neurological and neurodegenerative genetically determined disorders, which have a vast and heterogeneous motor and non-motor phenotypic features. Hereditary dementias, adult-onset ataxias and spastic paraplegias represent only few of this vast group of neurogenetic diseases. This review will provide an overview of parkinsonism’s clinical features within adult-onset neurogenetic diseases which a neurologist could face with. Understanding parkinsonism and its characteristics in the context of the aforementioned neurological conditions may provide insights into pathophysiological mechanisms and have important clinical implications, including diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.
Can direct finance within a servitizing supply chain reduce the moral hazard associated with the servitized user’s care of the product?
Authors: Bian Yaya , Reimann Marc , Zhang Weihua
Published: August 2023

Servitizing business models can provide economic benefits in a supply chain by utilizing products more efficiently. However, the transfer of the burden to keep the product operable from the user to the servitizing provider may cause issues. As a result of no longer owning the product, a user may be less inclined to taking care of it thereby increasing the maintenance effort for the servitizing provider. This may induce additional financial stress on the latter, specifically if it is a small company with lack of budget to begin with. In this study we analyze whether direct finance within a supply chain, where the user lends money to the servitizing provider, can alleviate this problem, when compared with a more traditional bank finance option. We find that improved access to finance indeed enables the servitizing provider to induce high effort by the user through lower servitizing fees. This also makes the servitizing model economically more attractive for both firms involved. Besides those economic implications, direct finance increases consumer demand and surplus, while at the same time resource consumption for satisfying this increased demand increases.
New approach in the reuse of modified ground tire rubber as thermal and acoustic insulation to be used in civil engineering
Authors: Colom X. , Girbau J. , Marin M. , Formela K. , Saeb M. R. , Carrillo F. , Cañavate J.
Published: August 2023

The concern for the amount of end-of-life tires generated each year has arisen from constant research directed to their valorisation. Herein we propose a new material, which is constituted by GTR with a binder, as acoustic and also as a thermal insulator for civil engineering. The insulator can also include the fibre mat present in the tire, seldomly considered as a recyclable sub-product. To provide insight into the insulating behaviour of these materials, four mathematical models have been tested and compared with the experimental results of thermal conductivity. The Lewis-Nielsen modelization presented good accuracy with deviations of less than 3%. A statistical analysis has also been conducted on the experimental data showing that the parameter with more effect on thermal conductivity is thickness (differences up to 43%) being particle size, less important (ca 6%). In acoustic properties, different effects can be observed depending on the frequency range, being the density the most relevant. From the mathematical, statistical and experimental analysis can be deduced that good insulation properties would be achieved in materials with: low density, porous; including mat and thick. The effect of these parameters causes variations of thermal conductivity from 0.189 to 0.117 W/m·K and in sound absorption coefficient from 0.06 to 0.6.
Learning modular language-conditioned robot policies through attention
Authors: Zhou Yifan , Sonawani Shubham , Phielipp Mariano , Ben Amor Heni , Stepputtis Simon
Published: August 2023

Training language-conditioned policies is typically time-consuming and resource-intensive. Additionally, the resulting controllers are tailored to the specific robot they were trained on, making it difficult to transfer them to other robots with different dynamics. To address these challenges, we propose a new approach called Hierarchical Modularity, which enables more efficient training and subsequent transfer of such policies across different types of robots. The approach incorporates Supervised Attention which bridges the gap between modular and end-to-end learning by enabling the re-use of functional building blocks. In this contribution, we build upon our previous work, showcasing the extended utilities and improved performance by expanding the hierarchy to include new tasks and introducing an automated pipeline for synthesizing a large quantity of novel objects. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach through extensive simulated and real-world robot manipulation experiments.
Limited top–down effects of feral cats on rodent dynamics in a seabird colony
Authors: Scomparin Cyril , Geale Caitlan , Johnson Christopher N. , Jones Menna E.
Published: August 2023

Control of invasive predators is a priority to protect island biodiversity. Understanding the responses of other species in multi-species invaded food webs is important to avoid unintended consequences. We use an intensive 2-year cat-trapping program in the vicinity of seabird colonies on Bruny Island, Tasmania, to investigate its effectiveness in reducing feral cat density and whether cat control influenced the behaviour and abundance of native and invasive mammal species. Cat density before control was extremely high around this seasonally rich food resource, much higher than on mainlands. Cat density was reduced 5.4-fold by control showing that trapping is effective in reducing cat density in this focussed landscape context. We found no direct effect of cat reduction on the abundance or behaviour of native or invasive mammalian prey species. Recruitment of invasive black rats and native swamp rats increased on the seabird colonies after the shearwater breeding season, and cats responded by increasing their presence on the colonies relative to surrounding areas. This suggests cascading bottom-up effects from a lagged productivity pulse provided by breeding seabirds which would require nutrient sampling to confirm. Our results highlight the complexity of subsequent effects of an invasive predator control on the broader ecosystem.
Resilience to extreme weather events and local financial structure of prefecture-level cities in China
Authors: Peters Vinzenz , Wang Jingtian , Sanders Mark
Published: August 2023

We study the local economic impacts of extreme weather events and the role of local finance in economic resilience. We use data on the physical intensities of extreme wind and precipitation events for 284 prefecture-level cities in China between 2004 and 2013. We estimate impulse response functions using a bias-corrected method of moments estimator to capture the dynamic responses of affected cities up to 5 years after such events. We find that extreme precipitation events depress the growth of local GDP per capita for multiple years, while the negative effects of storms vanish after the first year. We then use this model to measure the economic resilience of cities to extreme weather events. Regressions of economic resilience on indicators of the local financial structure suggest that cities with higher levels of debt are less resilient. Moreover, the presence of state-owned commercial banks appears to be instrumental to regional economic resilience. As extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent and severe due to climate change, our results inform the emerging debate about regional economic resilience to weather-related shocks.
Prediction of shear behavior of glass FRP bars-reinforced ultra-highperformance concrete I-shaped beams using machine learning
Authors: Ahmed Asif , Uddin Md Nasir , Akbar Muhammad , Salih Rania , Khan Mohammad Arsalan , Bisheh Hossein , Rabczuk Timon
Published: August 2023

This study focuses on using various machine learning (ML) models to evaluate the shear behaviors of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) beams reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. The main objective of the study is to predict the shear strength of UHPC beams reinforced with GFRP bars using ML models. We use four different ML models: support vector machine (SVM), artificial neural network (ANN), random forest (R.F.), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). The experimental database used in the study is acquired from various literature sources and comprises 54 test observations with 11 input features. These input features are likely parameters related to the composition, geometry, and properties of the UHPC beams and GFRP bars. To ensure the ML models' generalizability and scalability, random search methods are utilized to tune the hyperparameters of the algorithms. This tuning process helps improve the performance of the models when predicting the shear strength. The study uses the ACI318M-14 and Eurocode 2 standard building codes to predict the shear capacity behavior of GFRP bars-reinforced UHPC I-shaped beams. The ML models' predictions are compared to the results obtained from these building code standards. According to the findings, the XGBoost model demonstrates the highest predictive test performance among the investigated ML models. The study employs the SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis to assess the significance of each input parameter in the ML models' predictive capabilities. A Taylor diagram is used to statistically compare the accuracy of the ML models. This study concludes that ML models, particularly XGBoost, can effectively predict the shear capacity behavior of GFRP bars-reinforced UHPC I-shaped beams.
Liquefaction Controlling Components and Their Effect on Carbon-Free Mold Powders
Authors: Gruber Nathalie
Published: August 2023

In the continuous casting of ultra-low carbon steels, recarburization from the mold powder negatively affects steel quality. Therefore, to develop mold powders without free carbon, different carbides or nitrides have been proposed and evaluated in laboratory and field studies. Among these, SiC and Si3N4 were selected for the present study. Additionally, thermodynamic calculations were performed to quantitatively describe their effect on the melting behavior of the mold powder. To verify the results under high heating rates, mixtures of raw material components were placed in a steel crucible with a lid, inserted into a furnace preheated to different temperatures, and investigated mineralogically. The results agreed with those of the thermodynamic calculations. Moreover, the results suggested that Si3N4 and SiC were suitable raw material components and alternatives to carbon in the mold powder. They prevented solid–solid reactions between raw material components to form new phases and were still found at the temperature of 1200 °C. Consequently, the CaO/SiO2 ratio was higher before oxidation and affected the liquid-phase formation. The addition of antioxidants reduced the liquefaction-controlling effect of SiC. Additionally, the study shows that the sample preparation impacts the phase formation: granules facilitate phase formation due to a higher contact of reactants, further they show earlier melting close to their surface as sodium content is increased there by the spray drying procedure.
The Molluscicidal Activity of Green Synthesized Copper Oxide–Based Annona squamosa Seed Extract Nanoparticles on the Feeding Behavior, Biochemical, Molecular, and Immunohistochemical Alterations of Biomphalaria alexandrina Snails
Authors: Hussein Ahmed A. A. , Abd El-latif Mona B. , Saad El-Din Marwa I. , El-Shenawy Nahla S. , Hammam Olfat , Ibrahim Amina M.
Published: August 2023

Because of their low ecological impact, plant molluscicides have garnered much attention. The work aimed to find out if Annona squamosa (AS) seed extract has a molluscicidal impact on Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and enhances this extract by adding CuO nanoparticles (NPs). Using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and PANalytical X’Pert PRO X-ray diffractometer (XRD), the presence of the green A. squamosa-based CuO NPs (AS-CuO NPs) was confirmed. After 24 h of exposure, the half-lethal concentration (LC50) of AS-CuO NPs was more toxic to mature B. alexandrina than the aqueous extract of AS seeds (LC50: 119.25 mg/L vs. 169.03 mg/L). The results show that snails exposed to sublethal doses of AS-CuO NPs at LC10 or LC25 (95.4 or 106.7 mg/L, respectively) had much higher glucose levels and alkaline phosphatase activity than those not exposed. Nevertheless, there was no discernible change in the protein content in general or glycogen phosphorylase production. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis showed that snails exposed to A. squamosa-derived CuO NPs LC10 had shrinking digestive tubules and degeneration as well as vacuolation of many digestive, secretory, ova, and sperm cells, with PCNA expressing positively in the hermaphrodite gland and digestive tubule cells. The toxic profile of green CuO NPs produced by A. squamosa may damage the biological activity of B. alexandrina snails; thus, this compound could be used as a molluscicidal base. Furthermore, B. alexandrina proved to be a useful biomarker of nanomaterial contamination.
Early Alterations of PACAP and VIP Expression in the Female Rat Brain Following Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Broome Sarah Thomas , Mandwie Mawj , Gorrie Catherine A. , Musumeci Giuseppe , Marzagalli Rubina , Castorina Alessandro
Published: August 2023

Previous evidence shows that rapid changes occur in the brain following spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, we interrogated the expression of the neuropeptides pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), vasoactive intestinal peptides (VIP), and their binding receptors in the rat brain 24 h following SCI. Female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent thoracic laminectomy; half of the rats received a mild contusion injury at the level of the T10 vertebrate (SCI group); the other half underwent sham surgery (sham group). Twenty-four hours post-surgery, the hypothalamus, thalamus, amygdala, hippocampus (dorsal and ventral), prefrontal cortex, and periaqueductal gray were collected. PACAP, VIP, PAC1, VPAC1, and VPAC2 mRNA and protein levels were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. In SCI rats, PACAP expression was increased in the hypothalamus (104–141% vs sham) and amygdala (138–350%), but downregulated in the thalamus (35–95%) and periaqueductal gray (58–68%). VIP expression was increased only in the thalamus (175–385%), with a reduction in the amygdala (51–68%), hippocampus (40–75%), and periaqueductal gray (74–76%). The expression of the PAC1 receptor was the least disturbed by SCI, with decrease expression in the ventral hippocampus (63–68%) only. The expression levels of VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors were globally reduced, with more prominent reductions of VPAC1 vs VPAC2 in the amygdala (21–70%) and ventral hippocampus (72–75%). In addition, VPAC1 downregulation also extended to the dorsal hippocampus (69–70%). These findings demonstrate that as early as 24 h post-SCI, there are region-specific disruptions of PACAP, VIP, and related receptor transcript and protein levels in supraspinal regions controlling higher cognitive functions.
Fibroblast Growth Factor 11 Inhibits Hepatitis B Virus Gene Expression Through FXRα Suppression
Authors: Seong Mi So , Jang Jeong Ah , Jeong Ye Rim , Kim Ye Bin , Kyaw Yi Yi , Kong Hee Jeong , Lee Jung-Hyun , Cheong JaeHun
Published: August 2023

Fibroblast growth factor 11 (FGF11) is a member of the intracellular FGF family, which shows different signal transmission compared with other FGF superfamily members. The molecular function of FGF11 is not clearly understood. In this study, we identified the inhibitory effect of FGF11 on hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene expression through transcriptional suppression. FGF11 decreased the mRNA and protein expression of HBV genes in liver cells. While the nuclear receptor FXRα1 increased HBV promoter transactivation, FGF11 decreased the FXRα-mediated gene induction of the HBV promoter by the FXRα agonist. Reduced endogenous levels of FXRα by siRNA and the dominant negative mutant protein (aa 1–187 without ligand binding domain) of FXRα expression indicated that HBV gene suppression by FGF11 is dependent on FXRα inhibition. In addition, FGF11 interacts with FXRα protein and reduces FXRα protein stability. These results indicate that FGF11 inhibits HBV replicative expression through the liver cell-specific transcription factor, FXRα, and suppresses HBV promoter activity. Our findings may contribute to the establishment of better regimens for the treatment of chronic HBV infections by including FGF11 to alter the bile acid mediated FXR pathway.
End-of-Life Care Education as Blended Learning Approach for General Practitioners: a Scoping Review
Authors: Atreya Shrikant , Salins Naveen
Published: August 2023

General practitioners (GPs) are critical in providing primary palliative care in the community. Apprehensions about managing a dying person at home, difficulties in goals of care discussion, limited resources and lack of palliative care education often hinder end-of-life care provision in the community. This review focused on the end-of-life care training programs accessed by GPs and sought to understand if the training programs’ content and mode of delivery aligned with their preferred needs. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched to identify articles published in English between 01 January 1990 and 30 September 2022. Additionally, searches were conducted using SCOPUS, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane database using free texts. The reviewers screened the titles, abstracts, and full text to identify eligible studies and extracted textual data to analyse and generate themes. Out of 5532 citations initially accessed, 17 studies were included in the review. Six themes were generated: knowledge translation, skill development, a change in attitude, self-efficacy, satisfaction, and patient outcomes. The GPs’ end-of-life care knowledge, skills, attitude, self-efficacy, and patient outcomes were better when their training had a combination of small-group interactive workshops, trigger case-based reflective learning, mentor-facilitated experiential learning, web-based modules, and peer learning. The synthesis of review findings supports blended learning as a training approach for general the practitioners’ end-of-life care education as it facilitates learning and patient outcomes.
The Geometric Phase in Classical Systems and in the Equivalent Quantum Hermitian and Non-Hermitian PT-Symmetric Systems
Authors: Fanchiotti H. , García Canal C.A. , Mayosky M. , Veiga A. , Vento V.
Published: August 2023

The decomplexification procedure allows one to show mathematically (stricto sensu) the equivalence (isomorphism) between the quantum dynamics of a system with a finite number of basis states and a classical dynamics system. This unique way of connecting different dynamics was used in the past to analyze the relationship between the well-known geometric phase present in the quantum evolution discovered by Berry and its generalizations, with their analogs, the Hannay phases, in the classical domain. In here, this analysis is carried out for several quantum hermitian and non-hermitian PT-symmetric Hamiltonians and compared with the Hannay phase analysis in their classical isomorphic equivalent systems. As the equivalence ends in the classical domain with oscillator dynamics, we exploit the analogy to propose resonant electric circuits coupled with a gyrator, to reproduce the geometric phase coming from the theoretical solutions, in simulated laboratory experiments.
The role of mitochondrial/metabolic axis in development of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer
Authors: Azzam Hany N. , El-Derany Marwa O. , Wahdan Sara A. , Faheim Reham M. , Helal Gouda K. , El-Demerdash Ebtehal
Published: August 2023

Only a few investigations, to our knowledge, have examined the bioenergetics of Tamoxifen (TMX) resistant individuals and reported altered mitochondrial activity and metabolic profile. The primary cause of TMX resistance is firmly suggested to be metabolic changes. Metabolic variations and hypoxia have also been linked in a bidirectional manner. Increased hypoxic levels correlate with early recurrence and proliferation and have a negative therapeutic impact on breast cancer (BC) patients. Hypoxia, carcinogenesis, and patient death are all correlated, resulting in more aggressive traits, a higher chance of metastasis, and TMX resistance. Consequently, we sought to investigate the possible role of the metabolic/hypoxial axis Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) Taurine up-regulated 1 (TUG-1), Micro-RNA 186-5p (miR-186), Sirtuin-3 (SIRT3), Peroxisome Proliferator Activator Receptor alpha (PPAR-α), and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1) in the development of TMX resistance in BC patients and to correlate this axis with tumor progression. Interestingly, this will be the first time to explore epigenetic regulation of this axis in BC.
Assessing the evolution of educational accessibility with self-avoiding random walk: insights from Helsinki
Authors: Aydin Nazli Yonca , Yigitbasi Emre , Casali Ylenia , van Wee Bert
Published: August 2023

Rapid urbanization has posed challenges to accessibility to critical services that require in-depth analysis. Complex networks theory has been used to evaluate the evolution of network topologies or the overall accessibility of transportation systems. However, topological metrics to explain the temporal changes in accessibility levels do not fully capture the dynamics and implications of accessibility to specific critical services. In this study, we address this gap and investigate the opportunities of using a self-avoiding random walk (SARW) algorithm to evaluate and explain the evolution of spatial accessibility to education facilities. We used hotspot analysis to understand the temporal changes and investigated changes in hot and cold spots over time. Furthermore, we explored the relationship between the network indicators and the SARW-based accessibility metric. We illustrated this method in a case study from Helsinki, where large-scale open data spanning from 1991 to 2016 is available. Our findings indicate that the SARW-based metric delivers more detailed node-level results than the traditional isochrone-based metric. The latter generates accessibility zones where accessibility is assumed to be uniform, while the SARW metric captures the dynamic nature of educational facility accessibility more accurately. The developed methodology helps to identify the impacts on the historical development of accessibility and can be applied to investigate accessibility to other critical services.
Normdaten in den Geisteswissenschaften
Authors: Busch Nathanael , Müller Diana
Published: August 2023

Das Konzept der Normdaten bietet den Geisteswissenschaften ein großes Potential und ist in den letzten Jahren ein wichtiges Arbeitsinstrument für sie geworden. Normdaten sind überall dort nützlich, wo eindeutige Identifizierbarkeit erforderlich ist (u. a. bei Editionen, Bibliographien, Wörterbüchern) oder automatischer Datenaustausch zwischen unabhängigen Projekten angestrebt wird. Dieser Beitrag richtet sich aber nicht nur an Mitarbeitende in Datenbank-Projekten, sondern auch an LeserInnen außerhalb der Digital Humanities; er will dafür sensibilisieren, welchen Nutzen es bringt, wenn WissenschaftlerInnen Normdaten in ihre Arbeit einbeziehen. Geboten werden Informationen zum Aufbau und Zweck von Normdaten allgemein sowie zum Umgang mit ihnen; mit der Gemeinsamen Normdatei (GND) wird eine im deutschsprachigen Raum viel genutzte Normdatei vorgestellt. Darüber hinaus wird erklärt, wie die Daten der GND für eigene Forschungsvorhaben nachgenutzt werden können und unter welchen Umständen die Forschung die GND aktiv bearbeiten kann.
Family-centered delirium prevention and treatment using video calls: the FACE Delirium trial
Authors: Trabert Johannes , Schenk Andreas , Golbach Rejane , Püllen Rupert , Schütze Sandra
Published: August 2023

Purpose

In the FACE Delirium trial, we investigated the feasibility of a structured FAmily-CEntered delirium prevention and treatment during the corona pandemic.

Methods

Patients hospitalized in a German geriatric medicine department were included in this single-center, prospective, single-arm feasibility study. Their relatives received a short training on delirium and volunteers or paid staff members facilitated video calls. The primary endpoint was reached when contact between patients and their relatives occurred on ≥ 80% of treatment days, either via video call or visit.

Results

38 patients were included (age 83.0 ± 5.9 years; 73.7% women). 76.3% reached the primary endpoint. Due to the pandemic, 99.3% of the contacts were video calls with a duration of 24.8 ± 16.3 min.

Conclusion

Family-centered delirium prevention and treatment using video calls is feasible among hospitalized geriatric patients. Daily implementation in clinical practice poses challenges and requires motivated and qualified staff.
Psychological precursors of entrepreneurial intentions among higher education students in Ghana
Authors: Mahama Inuusah , Eshun Peter , Amos Patricia Mawusi , Antwi Theresa , Amoako Bernard Mensah , Eggley Veronica Esinam
Published: August 2023

Background

Entrepreneurship is seen as the solution to graduate unemployment in Ghana, and students are required to take a course on entrepreneurship that teaches them how to work for themselves. Therefore, this study investigated the psychological precursors of entrepreneurial intentions among higher education students.

Methods

Using the analytical cross-sectional survey design, 250 participants were sampled from public universities to participate in the survey. Participants were required to respond to three constructs (entrepreneurial scaffolding, psychological capital, and entrepreneurial intentions). The data analyses were performed using multivariate regression.

Results

The study’s findings showed that entrepreneurial scaffolding and psychological capital were significant predictors of entrepreneurial intentions.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that students’ convictions about succeeding or failing and plans to engage in entrepreneurial behaviours depended on proper entrepreneurial guidance and a positive mindset. As a result, higher education institutions and career counsellors in Ghana should be strengthened and include practical guides to entrepreneurial training, thereby reducing graduate unemployment in Ghana.
Severity of COVID-19 Disease Among Unvaccinated Users and Non-users of Tobacco Products
Authors: Alqahtani Mansour Z. , Alkattan Abdullah , Almazrou Aljoharah M. , Radwan Nashwa , Mahmoud Nagla , Elkhobby Ahmed A. , Alshaibani Mohamed , Alabdulkareem Khaled
Published: August 2023

Background

Previous studies have identified several risk factors associated with the severity of COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, studies on the effects of tobacco use on COVID-19 severity have shown contradictory results. This study was aimed at investigating the relationship between COVID-19 and tobacco use.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients previously hospitalized because of COVID-19, none of whom had received any COVID-19 vaccinations. Subjective data, such as medical history of chronic diseases, hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, requirement for mechanical ventilation, and tobacco use history, were gathered through telephone interviews through a pre-designed questionnaire.

Results

Fifty-eight patients with COVID-19 used tobacco products, whereas 114 patients were non-users (tobacco use prevalence of 34%). The most common methods of tobacco use were smoking cigarettes (69%), smoking shisha (50%), using electronic cigarettes (10%), and chewing tobacco (3%). Although most patients developed COVID-19 symptoms, most of the reported symptoms were more frequent among the non-tobacco users. The associations of tobacco use with COVID-19 symptoms, mean LOS, ICU admission, and the need for mechanical ventilation were not significant (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Although no significant association was found between COVID-19 severity and tobacco use, continued comprehensive tobacco cessation strategies remain important to mitigate the overall health consequences associated with tobacco consumption.
Varieties of Structural Transformation
Authors: Sen Kunal
Published: August 2023

One of the key features of modern economic growth is the process of structural transformation, which is the movement of workers from agriculture to manufacturing and services. In this study, the author identifies different routes to structural transformation that we see in the developing world. They address the theoretical, empirical and policy implications of the 'varieties of structural transformation' in low and middle income countries. Firstly, using a comparable high-quality dataset, they set out the stylized facts of structural transformation across the developing world. Secondly, they assess the classical and neoclassical approaches to structural transformation and review the recent theoretical developments in the literature. Thirdly, they undertake descriptive and econometric analysis of the drivers of structural transformation, and the relationship between structural transformation and inequality. Finally, they assess the policy implications of our study for developing countries. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
The Effect of Referendums on Autocratic Survival: Running Alone and Not Finishing Second
Authors: Penadés Alberto , Velasco Sergio
Published: August 2023

Dictatorships that use plebiscites – that is, referendums initiated by the executive – have a longer expected lifespan. A successful plebiscite sends a signal that makes coordination for collective action more difficult and induces the falsification of preferences. It also enhances the status of the dictator within the regime and against potential rivals through the use of agenda power. As a result, plebiscites are followed by decreased mobilization and a reduced risk of palace coups. This, in turn, adds years to the dictator's tenure. We have found evidence to support these propositions by utilizing data from various databases of autocratic regimes that span from 1946 to 2008.
Annual N95 respirator fit-testing: an unnecessary burden on healthcare
Authors: Martin Thomas C. S. , Curtin Genevieve , Martin Natasha K. , Torriani Francesca J.
Published: August 2023

US regulations mandate annual N95 mask fit testing for healthcare workers, but the optimal testing interval is unknown. In our study using data from 12,565 healthcare workers, the probability of survival free from fit-test failure after 3 years was 99.4%, suggesting that less frequent fit testing every 3 years would be safe.
The Lake Mohonk Conferences on International Arbitration (1895–1916): Evoking and Mobilizing an “International Mind”
Authors: HUCKER DANIEL
Published: August 2023

Between 1895 and 1916, a Conference on International Arbitration met annually at Lake Mohonk, New York, seeking to implement arbitration as a substitute for war. This article considers the aims, effects, and limitations of these conferences, including the problematic assumptions underpinning their apparent progressivism. The belief that an enlightened public opinion would play a decisive role in advancing arbitration will be interrogated, as will the conviction that the Mohonk group provided a mouthpiece for an emergent “international mind.” The article shows how these conferences evoked a “global” public opinion that was simultaneously (and paradoxically) expansive, exclusionary, forcible, and manipulable. It reveals too how American conceptions of internationalism took shape, anticipating aspects of Wilsonianism.
Prevalence and characterisation of exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction in patients with exercise-induced dyspnoea
Authors: Jeppesen Karin , Philipsen Bahareh Bakhshaie , Mehlum Camilla Slot
Published: August 2023

Objective

The prevalence of exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction is largely unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of this condition in a selected study population of patients with exercise-induced dyspnoea.

Method

A retrospective analysis was conducted of demographic data, co-morbidities, medication, symptoms, performance level of sporting activities, continuous laryngoscopy exercise test results and subsequent treatment.

Results

Data from 184 patients were analysed. The overall prevalence of exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction in the study population was 40 per cent, and the highest prevalence was among females aged under 18 years (61 per cent). However, a high prevalence among males aged under 18 years (50 per cent) and among adults regardless of gender (34 per cent) was also found.

Conclusion

The prevalence of exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction is clinically relevant regardless of age and gender. Clinicians are encouraged to consider exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction as a possible diagnosis in patients suffering from exercise-induced respiratory symptoms. No single characteristic that can distinguish exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction from other similar conditions was identified.
Using effective psychological techniques to subvert a US sociopolitical context
Authors: Mermelstein Ilana J. , Preston Stephanie D.
Published: August 2023

Chater & Loewenstein argue for a shift in focus from individual- to structural-level approaches to societal ills. This is valid and important but overlooks the barriers inherent in the current US partisan context. Psychology can be applied to help people of mixed allyship join together, to effectively and quickly force institutions and corporations to accept structural change.
Don't throw the individual perspective out while waiting for systemic change
Authors: Collier Elizabeth S. , Harris Kathryn L. , Jecks Michael , Bendtsen Marcus
Published: August 2023

Although it is clear that i-frame approaches cannot stand alone, the impact of s-frame changes can plateau. Combinations of these approaches may best reflect what we know about behavior and how to support behavioral change. Interactions between i-frame and s-frame thinking are explored here using two examples: alcohol consumption and meat consumption.