bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EARLY-STAGE IMPAIRED SYNOVIAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE FUNCTION IN A NONINVASIVE ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE MICE MODEL
Authors: Cao M. , Zhu X. , Ong M.T.. , Yung P.S.. , Jiang Y.
Published: July 2023

To investigate temporal changes in synovial lymphatic system (SLS) drainage function after Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, a non-invasive ACL rupture model was used to induce the PTOA phenotype without altering the SLS structure.

We have created a non-invasive ACL rupture model in the right knee (single overload impact) of 12- week-old C57bl/6 male mice to mimic the ACL rupture-induced PTOA development. 70 kDa-TxRedDextran were injected into the right knee of the mice at 0, 1, 2, and 4 wks post modeling (n=5/group), and the fluorescence signal distribution and intensity were measured by the IVIS system at 1 and 6 hrs post-injection. After 24 hrs, the drainage lymph nodes and whole knee joint were harvested and subjected to ex vivo IVIS imaging and immunofluorescence detection respectively.

Manual ACL rupture was induced by 12N overloaded force and validated by a front drawer test. Intraarticular clearance of TxRed-Dextran detected by the IVIS was significantly reduced at 1, and 2 wks at a level of 43% and 55% respectively but was not significantly different from baseline levels at 4 wks (89%). TxRed-Dextran signal in draining lymph nodes was significantly reduced at 1 week at the level of but not for 2 and 4 wks compared to baseline levels (week 1–29%, week 2–50%, week 4–94%). TxRed-Dextran particle was significantly enriched in the synovium at 1, 2 wks but was not significantly different from baseline levels at 4 wks rupture-post ACL rupture (Particle numbers: Sham Ctrl-34 ±14, week 1, 113 ± 17; week 2, 89 ± 13; week 4, 46 ± 18; mean ± SD).

We observed the drainage function of SLS significantly decreased at 1 and 2 wks after the ACL rupture, and was slowly restored at 4 wks post-injury in a non-invasive ACL rupture model. Early impairment of SLS drainage function may lead to accumulation of inflammatory factors and promote PTOA progression.
DETERMINATION OF HINGE POSITIONS ON THE TIBIAL WEDGE IN BIPLANE OPEN-WEDGE HIGH TIBIAL OSTEOTOMY AS VARUS DEFORMITY ANGLE
Authors: Bae T.S. , Baek H.H. , Kwak D-S.
Published: July 2023

It is still difficult to determine an appropriate hinge position to prevent fracture in the lateral cortex of tibia in the process of making an open wedge during biplane open wedge high tibial osteotomy. The objective of this study was to present a biomechanical basis for determining the hinge position as varus deformity.

T Three-dimensional lower extremity models were constructed using Mimics. The tibial wedge started at 40 mm distal to the medial tibial plateau, and osteotomy for three hinge positions was performed toward the head of the fibula, 5 mm proximal from the head of the fibula, and 5 mm distal from the head of the fibula. The three tibial models were made with varus deformity of 5, 10, 15 degrees with heterogeneous material properties. These properties were set to heterogeneous material properties which converted from Hounsfield's unit to Young's modulus by applying empirical equation in existing studies. For a loading condition, displacement at the posterior cut plane was applied referring to Hernigou's table considering varus deformity angle. All computational analyses were performed to calculate von-mises stresses on the tibial wedges.

The maximum stress increased to an average of 213±9% when the varus angle was 10 degrees compared to 5 degrees and increased to an average of 154±8.9% when the varus angle was 15 degrees compared to 10 degrees. In addition, the maximum stress of the distal position was 19 times higher than that of the mid position and 5 times higher than that of the proximal position on average.

Conclusion:

For varus deformity angles, the maximum stress of the tibial wedge tended to increase as the varus deformity angle increased. For hinge position of tibial wedge, maximum stress was the lowest in the mid position, while the highest in the distal position.

*This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (NRF-2022R1A2C1009995)
CHANGES TO LEVELS OF CHONDROCYTE-ASSOCIATED ADAMTS-4 IN EARLY HUMAN OSTEOARTHRITIS
Authors: Herren A. , Luczak A. , Amin A. , Hall A.
Published: July 2023

Early changes within articular cartilage during human idiopathic osteoarthritis are poorly understood. However alterations to chondrocyte morphology occur with the development of fine cytoplasmic processes and cell clusters, potentially playing a role in cartilage degeneration. The aggrecanase ADAMTS-4 (A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-4) has been implicated as an important factor in cartilage degradation, so we investigated the relationship between chondrocyte morphology and levels of ADAMTS-4 in both non-degenerate and mildly osteoarthritic human cartilage.

Human femoral heads were obtained following consent from patients undergoing hip arthroplasty following femoral neck fracture. Cartilage explants of normal (grade 0; G0) and mildly osteoarthritic (grade 1; G1) cartilage were labelled with the cytoplasmic dye CMFDA (5-chloromethylfluorescein-diacetate). Explants were cryosectioned (30μm sections), and labelled for ADAMTS-4 by fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Sections were imaged with confocal microscopy, allowing the semi-quantitative analysis of ADAMTS-4 and 3D visualisation of in situ cell morphology.

With cartilage degeneration from G0 to G1, there was a decrease in the proportion of chondrocytes with normal rounded morphology (P<0.001) but an increase in the proportion of cells with processes (P<0.01) and those in clusters (P<0.001;[4(1653)]; femoral heads:cells). Although average levels of ADAMTS-4 for all cells was the same between G0 and G1 (P>0.05), a change was evident in the distribution curves for cell-specific ADAMTS-4 labelling. Cell-by-cell analysis showed that ADAMTS-4 levels were higher in chondrocytes with cytoplasmic processes compared to normal cells (P=0.044) however cells in clusters had lower levels than normal cells (P=0.003;[3(436)]). Preliminary data suggested that ADAMTS-4 levels increased with larger chondrocyte clusters.

These results suggest complex heterogeneous changes to levels of cell-associated ADAMTS-4 with early cartilage degeneration – increasing in cells with processes and initially decreasing in clusters. Increased levels of ADAMTS-4 are likely to produce focal areas of matrix weakness potentially leading to early cartilage degeneration.
A MECHANICAL APPROACH FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF COMPARTMENT SYNDROME
Authors: Tacchella C. , Lombardero S. M. , Clutton E. , Chen Y. , Crichton M.
Published: July 2023

In this work, we propose a new quantitative way of evaluating acute compartment syndrome (ACS) by dynamic mechanical assessment of soft tissue changes. First, we have developed an animal model of ACS to replicate the physiological changes during the condition. Secondly, we have developed a mechanical assessment tool for quantitative pre-clinical assessment of ACS. Our hand-held indentation device provides an accurate method for investigations into the local dynamic mechanical properties of soft tissue and for in-situ non-invasive assessment and monitoring of ACS.

Our compartment syndrome model was developed on the cranial tibial and the peroneus tertius muscles of a pig's leg (postmortem). The compartment syndrome pressure values were obtained by injecting blood from the bone through the muscle.

To enable ACS assessment by a hand-held indentation device we combined three main components: a load cell, a linear actuator and a 3-axis accelerometer. Dynamic tests were performed at a frequency of 0.5 Hz and by applying an amplitude of 0.5 mm.

Another method used to observe the differences in the mechanical properties inside the leg was a 3D Digital Image Correlation (3D-DIC). Videos were taken from two different positions of the pig's leg at different pressure values: 0 mmHg, 15 mmHg and 40 mmHg. Two strains along the x axis (Exx) and y axis (Eyy) were measured.

Between the two pressure cases (15 mmHg and 40 mmHg) a clear deformation of the model is visible. In fact, the bigger the pressure, the more visible the increase in strain is.

In our animal model, local muscle pressures reached values higher than 40 mmHg, which correlate with observed human physiology in ACS. In our presentation we will share our dynamic indentation results on this model to demonstrate the sensitivity of our measurement techniques.

Compartment syndrome is recognised as needing improved clinical management tools. Our approach provides both a model that reflects physiological behaviour of ACS, and a method for in-situ non-invasive assessment and monitoring.
CHANGES IN VIMENTIN LEVELS AND ITS DISTRIBUTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF CYTOPLASMIC PROCESSES OF IN SITU HUMAN CHONDROCYTES
Authors: Luczak A. , Battle I. , Amin A. , Hall A.
Published: July 2023

The development of cytoplasmic processes from in situ chondrocytes is a characteristic feature of early osteoarthritis in human cartilage. The processes involve cytoskeletal elements and are distinct from the short primary cilia described in human chondrocytes. Vimentin is an intermediate filament playing an essential structural and signal-transduction role. We determined cellular levels and distribution of vimentin in chondrocytes of different morphologies in non-degenerate and mildly osteoarthritic cartilage.

Femoral heads were obtained after consent from patients undergoing hip arthroplasty following femoral neck fracture. Cartilage explants were graded as non-degenerate (grade 0;G0) or mildly osteoarthritic (grade 1;G1) and labelled with the cytoplasmic dye CMFDA (5-chloromethylfluorescein-diacetate) for cell shape. Explants were cryosectioned and labelled for vimentin by fluorescence immunohistochemistry. In situ chondrocyte morphology was identified by confocal microscopy as either normal (rounded/elliptical) or abnormal (with one or more cytoplasmic process of ≥2µm) and vimentin levels and distribution determined semi-quantitatively and related to chondrocyte morphology.

When all cells in G0 and G1 cartilage were compared, there was no difference between average levels of vimentin per cell (P=0.144)[6(261)];femoral heads:cells). When cells were separated on the basis of morphology, there was no difference between vimentin levels in cells with one or more cytoplasmic process compared to those of normal morphology (P>0.05;[6(261)]). However vimentin levels were much greater at the base of cytoplasmic processes compared to distant areas of the same cells (P=0.021)[5(29)]).

Although overall levels of chondrocyte vimentin do not change in these early stages of osteoarthritis, the formation and structure of these substantial chondrocyte cytoplasmic processes involves changes to its distribution. These morphological changes are similar to those occurring during chondrocyte de-differentiation to fibroblasts reported in osteoarthritis which results in the formation of mechanically-inferior fibro-cartilage. Alterations to chondrocyte vimentin distribution either directly or indirectly may play a role in cartilage degeneration.
ARTHROSCOPIC MENISCUS REPAIR AND AUGMENTATION WITH AUTOLOGOUS FIBRIN CLOT IN AN INDIAN POPULATION: A TWO-YEAR PROSPECTIVE STUDY
Authors: Kale S. , Deore S. , Singh S. , Gunjotikar A. , Agrawal P. , Ghodke R.
Published: July 2023

This study was proposed to evaluate the efficacy of fibrin clot augmentation in meniscal tear using inside-out meniscal repair.

A total of 35 patients with meniscus tears were operated on with inside-out meniscus repair and fibrin clot augmentation. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively with clinical criteria, Lysholm knee scoring system, and MRI.

Out of the total 35 cases, 5 cases were lost to follow up. Clinical improvement was observed in 29 out of 30 patients (96.6%). The mean Lysholm score improved significantly from 67.63 ± 6.55 points preoperatively to 92.0 ± 2.9 points postoperatively (P < 0.05) in 2 years follow-up. Follow-up MRI in all patients revealed complete healing except in 1 case where the patient presented with recurrence of symptoms such as pain and locking which resolved with partial meniscectomy. Paraesthesia in the anterior part of the knee was observed in 2 cases. (6.6%).

We conclude that fibrin clot augmentation is a good cost-effective modality of treatment for repairable meniscus tears to preserve the meniscus and decrease the point contact pressure on the condyles which may prevent the early occurrence of osteoarthritis.
Minimizing immersions of a hyperbolic surface in a hyperbolic 3-manifold
Authors: Bonsante Francesco , Mondello Gabriele , Schlenker Jean-Marc
Published: July 2023

abstract: Let $(S,h)$ be a closed hyperbolic surface and $M$ be a quasi-Fuchsian $3$-manifold. We consider incompressible maps from $S$ to $M$ that are critical points of an energy functional $F$ which is homogeneous of degree $1$. These ``minimizing'' maps are solutions of a non-linear elliptic equation, and reminiscent of harmonic maps---but when the target is Fuchsian, minimizing maps are minimal Lagrangian diffeomorphisms to the totally geodesic surface in $M$. We prove the uniqueness of smooth minimizing maps from $(S,h)$ to $M$ in a given homotopy class. When $(S,h)$ is fixed, smooth minimizing maps from $(S,h)$ are described by a simple holomorphic data on $S$: a complex self-adjoint Codazzi tensor of determinant $1$. The space of admissible data is smooth and naturally equipped with a complex structure, for which the monodromy map taking a data to the monodromy representation of the image is holomorphic. Minimizing maps are in this way reminiscent of shear-bend coordinates, with the complexification of $F$ analoguous to the complex length.
Filasṭīn /Palestine and Filasṭīniyyīn /Palestinians in Early Modern Arabic Sources
Authors: Alrawadieh Almahdi , Matar Nabil
Published: July 2023

Abstract: This paper examines the use of the terms Filasṭīn and Filasṭīniyyīn in Arabic sources, between 1517 and 1798. Contrary to the general view, Arab writers, both Muslim and Christian, always used the terms in their travelogues, religious texts, and government records. This paper situates the discussion of the use of those two terms in the Arabic tradition of geographical writings with its emphasis on deriving nomenclature from the urban context/ Ḥaḍarī , the family lineage, and synecdoche.
The British in Arabia: the Genealogy of a Romantic Discourse and the Colonial (De)construction of Palestine
Authors: Alsader Sarah Copsey
Published: July 2023

Abstract: The Romanticization of Arabia and of the noble Arab in the British imagination has long been apparent, exemplified by figures such as Richard Burton and T. E. Lawrence. However, the Romantic origins of British discourses on Arabia have never been fully explored. Tracing the evolution of the Romantic symbols of the ‘Arab’ and ‘Arabia’ in Wordsworth, Byron, and Shelley and their entanglement in racial discourses of the later nineteenth century, this paper describes the mechanics of the discursive construction of the region, arguing that the morphology of the British colonization of the Arabian Peninsula is grounded in Romantic symbolism.
Hidden Intimacies: Food, Colonialism, and Culinary Authenticities in Filipino American Cookbooks
Authors: Sevillano GJ
Published: July 2023

Abstract: Food writing is a critical arena in which embodied, gendered, and racialized knowledges are being negotiated by cultural tastemakers. Through close readings of Nicole Ponseca’s I Am a Filipino: And This is How We Cook (2018), Alvin Cailan’s Amboy: Recipes from the Filipino-American Dream (2020), and Yana Gilbuena’s No Forks Given: Recipes and Memories of a Traveling Chef (2018), this essay begins to trace the hidden intimacies of food, colonialism, and family migration that structures differing definitions of culinary authenticity. Using a family recipe, this article, also analyzes how culinary authenticity is navigated, unsettled, and reformulated on a quotidian level. Overall, these hidden intimacies written in cookbooks, recipes, and alimentary narratives formulate the arena of authenticity that structure the overall nature of Filipino American foodways.
Sputter-deposited PZT on patterned silicon optimization for C-band electro-optic modulation
Authors: Suraj  , Selvaraja Shankar Kumar
Published: July 2023

We report the optimization methodology of sputter-deposited lead zirconium titanate (PZT) on a silicon-on-insulator platform for photonic applications. A crack-free PZT film is obtained for a 3.6°C/min ramp rate, 550°C annealing temperature, and a surface roughness of ≈2nm, ≈5nm, and ≈10nm for PZT grown on MgO, Pt, and TiO2 buffers, respectively. The coercive field for PZT/MgO and PZT/Pt film is 50 kV/cm and 30 kV/cm, respectively. A waveguide loss of 6.5 dB/mm is obtained for PZT-on-silicon (Si) waveguides. An electro-optic device using an Si microring resonator with optimized PZT/MgO is demonstrated with electro-optic response and coercive field of 14 pm/V and 50 kV/cm, respectively.
Deriving particulate backscattering coefficient at 400 nm from small-scale optically shallow waters using Landsat-8 data: a case study at Luhuitou Peninsula, Sanya
Authors: Liu Yongming , Xu Zhantang , Tang Shilin , Zeng Kai , Wu Jie , Wang Sufen
Published: July 2023

The particulate backscattering coefficient (b
bp
) plays an important role in the growth of coral reefs by influencing the light field conditions. Small-scale optically shallow waters are commonly found in coastal fringing reefs, making it challenging to monitor the spatial and temporal patterns accurately using Aqua satellites with a low spatial resolution. In this study, six existing optimization-based algorithms for deriving b
bp
at 400 nm (b
bp
(400)) were evaluated with three simulated Landsat-8 (spatial resolution = 30 m) data sets and in situ data from the Luhuitou Peninsula, Sanya. The comparison results indicated that the HOPE (hyperspectral optimization process exemplar) (Fix-H-error or Fix-H-error-free) algorithm which sets an input value of the water depth alone outperformed other algorithms. However, the estimated b
bp
(400) from all the algorithms tended to be either overestimated and underestimated due to the improper the spectral shape value of the backscattering coefficient. The HOPE (Fix-H-error) algorithm estimated-b
bp
(400) from in situ reflectance also had a good correlation with the in situ total suspended particle concentrations data derived-b
bp
(400), with a correlation coefficient of 0.83. Therefore, the HOPE (Fix-H-error) algorithm was selected to estimate the b
bp
(400) from satellite-based Landsat-8 data of the Luhuitou Peninsula, Sanya. Time-series (2014-2021) results from these Landsat-8 images reveal the seasonal variation of b
bp
(400). The b
bp
(400) was low from May to September every year. From October to December or January, b
bp
(400) had an increasing trend, and then it decreased until May. Spatial analysis indicated that b
bp
(400) decreased with increasing water depth. The spatial and temporal patterns of b
bp
(400) were consistent with in situ observations reported in the literature. This study preliminarily showed the efficiency of an optimization-based algorithm in deriving b
bp
(400) in small-scale optically shallow water region using Landsat-8 data.
Arbitrary-ratio 1 × 2 optical power splitter based on thin-film lithium niobate
Authors: Lin Yanmei , Ke Wei , Ma Rui , Huang Fujin , Tan Heyun , Xu Jian , Lin Zhongjin , Cai Xinlun
Published: July 2023

Optical power splitters (OPSs) have been widely used in photonic integrated circuits, but an OPS with a large fabrication tolerance and free choice of power splitting ratio (PSR) is still highly desired for thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) platform. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate several 1 × 2 OPSs with PSRs from 50:50 to 5:95 using TFLN platform. The proposed devices are built by multimode interference structure to achieve a broad bandwidth and large fabrication tolerance. Various PSRs can be obtained by adjusting the geometry structure of the multimode interference region. All of our fabricated devices feature an insertion loss lower than 0.3 dB at the wavelength of 1550 nm, and a PSR variation less than 3% in the range of 1520 nm to 1590 nm.
Polarization-insensitive EDG demultiplexer combined with a polarization beam splitter
Authors: Li Chenguang , Liu Xiaoyan , Xiong Bo , Chu Tao
Published: July 2023

Polarization dependence is an inherent challenge for wavelength-division multiplexing transceivers on silicon photonic platforms, causing severe problems with polarization-dependent losses and hindering the implementation of monolithic integrated receivers. In this study, we developed a polarization-insensitive demultiplexer on a silicon nitride (Si3N4) platform, which provides a promising solution to the polarization challenge. Comprising an etched diffraction grating (EDG) and a polarization beam splitter (PBS), the demultiplexer can achieve polarization insensitivity by introducing an additional optical path difference for polarization compensation. The fabricated demultiplexers were experimentally measured to have minimum insertion losses of 1.5 dB, cross talks of better than −25 dB, and polarization-dependent losses of better than 0.7 dB. This is the first, to the best of our knowledge, proposed solution for a polarization-insensitive EDG demultiplexer combined with a PBS on a Si3N4 platform.
Wigner function tomography via optical parametric amplification
Authors: Kalash Mahmoud , Chekhova Maria V.
Published: July 2023

Wigner function tomography is indispensable for characterizing quantum states, but its commonly used version, balanced homodyne detection, suffers from several weaknesses. First, it requires efficient detection, which is critical for measuring fragile non-Gaussian states, especially bright ones. Second, it needs a local oscillator, tailored to match the spatiotemporal properties of the state under test, and fails for multimode and broadband states. Here we propose Wigner function tomography based on optical parametric amplification followed by direct detection. The method is immune to detection inefficiency and loss, and suitable for broadband, spatially and temporally multimode quantum states. To prove the principle, we experimentally reconstruct the Wigner function of squeezed vacuum occupying a single mode of a strongly multimode state. We obtain a squeezing of −7.5±0.4dB and purity of 0.91−0.08+0.09 despite more than 97% loss caused mainly by filtering. Theoretically, we also consider the reconstruction of a squeezed single photon—a bright non-Gaussian state. Due to multimode parametric amplification, the method allows for simultaneous tomography of multiple modes. This makes it a powerful tool for optical quantum information processing.
Geostatistical analysis of active human cysticercosis: Results of a large-scale study in 60 villages in Burkina Faso
Authors: Dermauw Veronique , Van De Vijver Ellen , Dorny Pierre , Giorgi Emanuele , Ganaba Rasmané , Millogo Athanase , Tarnagda Zékiba , Cissé Assana Kone , Carabin Hélène
Published: July 2023

Cysticercosis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the larval stage of the zoonotic tapeworm (Taenia solium). While there is a clear spatial component in the occurrence of the parasite, no geostatistical analysis of active human cysticercosis has been conducted yet, nor has such an analysis been conducted for Sub-Saharan Africa, albeit relevant for guiding prevention and control strategies. The goal of this study was to conduct a geostatistical analysis of active human cysticercosis, using data from the baseline cross-sectional component of a large-scale study in 60 villages in Burkina Faso. The outcome was the prevalence of active human cysticercosis (hCC), determined using the B158/B60 Ag-ELISA, while various environmental variables linked with the transmission and spread of the disease were explored as potential explanatory variables for the spatial distribution of T. solium. A generalized linear geostatistical model (GLGM) was run, and prediction maps were generated. Analyses were conducted using data generated at two levels: individual participant data and grouped village data. The best model was selected using a backward variable selection procedure and models were compared using likelihood ratio testing. The best individual-level GLGM included precipitation (increasing values were associated with an increased odds of positive test result), distance to the nearest river (decreased odds) and night land temperature (decreased odds) as predictors for active hCC, whereas the village-level GLGM only retained precipitation and distance to the nearest river. The range of spatial correlation was estimated at 45.0 [95%CI: 34.3; 57.8] meters and 28.2 [95%CI: 14.0; 56.2] km for the individual- and village-level datasets, respectively. Individual- and village-level GLGM unravelled large areas with active hCC predicted prevalence estimates of at least 4% in the south-east, the extreme south, and north-west of the study area, while patches of prevalence estimates below 2% were seen in the north and west. More research designed to analyse the spatial characteristics of hCC is needed with sampling strategies ensuring appropriate characterisation of spatial variability, and incorporating the uncertainty linked to the measurement of outcome and environmental variables in the geostatistical analysis.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT0309339.
Spontaneous urinary bladder regeneration after subtotal cystectomy increases YAP/WWTR1 signaling and downstream BDNF expression: Implications for smooth muscle injury responses
Authors: Aitken Karen J. , Yadav Priyank , Sidler Martin , Thanabalasingam Thenuka , Ahmed Tabina , Aggarwal Prateek , Yip Shing Tai , Jeffrey Nefateri , Jiang Jia-Xin , Siebenaller Aliza , Sotiropoulos Chris , Huang Ryan , Le David Minh Quynh , Delgado-Olguin Paul , Bagli Darius
Published: July 2023

Rodents have the capacity for spontaneous bladder regeneration and bladder smooth muscle cell (BSMC) migration following a subtotal cystectomy (STC). YAP/WWTR1 and BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor) play crucial roles in development and regeneration. During partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBO), excessive YAP/WWTR1 signaling and BDNF expression increases BSMC hypertrophy and dysfunction. YAP/WWTR1 and expression of BDNF and CYR61 were examined in models of regeneration and wound repair. Live cell microscopy was utilized in an ex vivo model of STC to visualize cell movement and division. In Sprague-Dawley female rats, STC was performed by resection of the bladder dome sparing the trigone, followed by closure of the bladder. Smooth muscle migration and downstream effects on signaling and expression were also examined after scratch wound of BSMC with inhibitors of YAP and BDNF signaling. Sham, PBO and incision (cystotomy) were comparators for the STC model. Scratch wound in vitro increased SMC migration and expression of BDNF, CTGF and CYR61 in a YAP/WWTR1-dependent manner. Inhibition of YAP/WWTR1 and BDNF signaling reduced scratch-induced migration. BDNF and CYR61 expression was elevated during STC and PBO. STC induces discrete genes associated with endogenous de novo cell regeneration downstream of YAP/WWTR1 activation.
A qualitative analysis of women’s postnatal experiences of breastfeeding supports during the perinatal period in Ireland
Authors: Lawlor Niamh , Prihodova Lucia , Byrne Deborah , Etherton Megan , Rahill Felicienne , Wilson Catie , O’Sullivan Elizabeth J.
Published: July 2023

Ireland has among the lowest rates of breastfeeding worldwide. Despite policies to support breastfeeding, breastfeeding initiation and exclusivity remain low in Ireland. Greater knowledge about support received in the maternity unit may—in part—shed light on why this is so. Our aim was to analyse women’s experiences of the breastfeeding supports available in the early postnatal period in Ireland. We conducted an analysis of an open-ended question on a cross-sectional survey about breastfeeding support conducted in the Republic of Ireland in 2022. Participants were asked to provide comments about the breastfeeding support they received in the maternity unit or during your home birth. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step Thematic Analysis Framework. There were 5,412 unique responses to the survey and 2,264 responses to the question of interest. Two themes were generated from the data: (i) ‘Breastfeeding support in theory but not in practice.’ Although breastfeeding was promoted by healthcare professionals antenatally, breastfeeding challenges were rarely mentioned. Participants then felt unsupported in overcoming challenges postnatally. (ii) ‘Support was either inaccessible due to lack of staff/time, inadequate; i.e., unhelpful or non-specific, and/or physically inappropriate.’ Most participants described receiving supports that were less than optimal in aiding them to establish breastfeeding. While many described difficulties in accessing supports, others found support to be ‘non-specific,’ ‘rushed’ and sometimes ‘rough.’ A lack of knowledge, time and support from healthcare professionals was frequently described, which was often recognised as a failing of the healthcare system. Women require practical, informative, and specific breastfeeding support. Barriers such as lack of time and trained staff in the maternity unit need to be addressed.
An early warning model of type 2 diabetes risk based on POI visit history and food access management
Authors: Xie Huaze , Li Da , Wang Yuanyuan , Kawai Yukiko
Published: July 2023

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a long-term, highly prevalent disease that provides extensive data support in spatial-temporal user case data mining studies. In this paper, we present a novel T2D food access early risk warning model that aims to emphasize health management awareness among susceptible populations. This model incorporates the representation of T2D-related food categories with graph convolutional networks (GCN), enabling the diet risk visualization from the geotagged Twitter visit records on a map. A long short-term memory (LSTM) module is used to enhance the performance of the case temporal feature extraction and location approximate predictive approach. Through an analysis of the resulting data set, we highlight the food effect category has on T2D early risk visualization and user food access management on the map. Moreover, our proposed method can provide suggestions to T2D susceptible patients on diet management.
Prefabricated concrete components combination schemes selection based on comprehensive benefits analysis
Authors: Wang Shuqiang , Wang Zengjiayu , Ruan Yuke
Published: July 2023

In prefabricated buildings, there are numerous types of prefabricated components, forming a complex combination of schemes that are difficult to select. Therefore, this article takes prefabricated components combination schemes as the object. By constructing the evaluation index system through four aspects of assembly rate, cost, duration, and carbon footprint, then using the fuzzy gray correlation projection method to evaluate and select. A residential in Wuhan, China, was enlisted to conduct a case study to show the application of the proposed method. Results indicate that among the six choices, the L scheme is optimal, and the selection order of the prefabricated components in different scenarios is ranked. The results reveal that the method has good applicability, simultaneously provides a reasonable and effective reference for each participant of the assembled building when making scheme comparison, and also provides a new method for the evaluation study of prefabricated component combination schemes.
Cost-effectiveness of repeat delayed imaging for spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Shang Wenru , Jin Huajie , Vastani Amisha , Mirza Asfand Baig , Fisher Benjamin , Kalra Neeraj , Anderson Ian , Kailaya-Vasan Ahilan
Published: July 2023

Background

In patients with intracranial aneurysm presenting with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), 15% of them could be missed by the initial diagnostic imaging. Repeat delayed imaging can help to identify previously undetected aneurysms, however, the cost-effectiveness of this strategy remains uncertain.

Objective

The aim of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of repeat delayed imaging in patients with SAH who had a negative result during their initial imaging.

Methods

A Markov model was developed to estimate the lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) for patients who received or not received repeat delayed imaging. The analyses were conducted from a healthcare perspective, with costs reported in UK pounds and expressed in 2020 values. Extensive sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results.

Results

The base case incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of repeat delayed imaging is £9,314 per QALY compared to no-repeat delayed imaging. This ICER is below the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) £20,000 per QALY willingness-to-pay threshold. At the NICE willingness-to-pay threshold of £20,000 per QALY, the probability that repeat delayed imaging is most cost-effective is 0.81. The results are sensitive to age, the utility of survived patients with a favorable outcome, the sensitivity of repeat delayed imaging, and the prevalence of aneurysm.

Conclusions

This study showed that, in the UK, it is cost-effective to provide repeat delayed imaging using computed tomographic angiography (CTA) for patients with SAH who had a negative result in their initial imaging.
‘Our pain prioritized for once’: Survivor-centred Black podcasts reckoning with Surviving R. Kelly
Authors: Barner Briana
Published: July 2023

Calls to cancel singer R. Kelly have been around for decades, but they intensified with the twin debuts of the #MeToo and #MuteRKelly movements in 2017. The Surviving R. Kelly documentary, which premiered in 2019, chronicled the decades of abuse at the hands of Kelly, with appearances from survivors, their supporters and those closest to Kelly. Although what was presented in Surviving R. Kelly is not necessarily new information, the cultural shift that stemmed from #MuteRKelly and #MeToo helped to catapult the experiences of the primarily Black women and girls into mainstream media and ultimately led to Kelly being convicted of the crimes. Days after the documentary initially premiered in 2019, several Black podcasts reviewed the series – Tea with Queen and J, The Clubhouse with Mouse Jones and Marsha’s Plate. This article will provide a textual analysis of these episodes, as the episodes present a reflection on Black media, community and accountability. This article will explore how podcasts grappled with Black media’s complicity in the tangled web of abuse, while also providing survivor-centred content. Why are podcasts important spaces to grapple with difficult conversations among Black communities? What can podcast episodes show us about survivor-centred content and accountability?
The Power of Podcasting: Telling Stories through Sound, Siobhan Mchugh (2022)
Authors: Aujla-Sidhu Gurvinder
Published: July 2023

Review of: The Power of Podcasting: Telling Stories through Sound, Siobhan Mchugh (2022)

New York: Columbia University Press, 300 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-74223-702-2, p/bk, £28
Synthesis, properties and selected applications of some sulfur containing organic compounds
Authors: Truong Ngoc Hung
Published: July 2023

This work involves sulfur-containing compounds and consists of three studies: 1) Preparation of a sulfur-containing compound, 2-cyano-2-(hydroxyimino)-dithioacetic acid, by a thionation reaction; 2) The secondary interactions (hydrogen bonding) of three imidazole-2-thione derivatives and their aggregation behaviour in solution, the solid state and over polycrystalline gold surface; 3) Synthesis of L-cysteinate-intercalated CaAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) and study on the interlamellar selective oxidation process of the intercalated L-cysteinate. Chapter 1 contains a few personal reflections as well as a brief statement of the research and aims of the thesis. Chapter 2 of the thesis deals with an entire overview on organosulfur compounds from basic concepts, properties, applications to synthetic methodologies. Contents on thiocarbonyl compounds are also specially emphasized. Next, a brief introduction on imidazole-2-thione derivatives as well as the secondary interactions between these molecules and their self-assembly capacities is described. A concise description on LDHs is also found at the end of chapter. Results of the work including synthesis of 2-cyano-2-(hydroxyimino)-dithioacetic acid; analysis of the secondary interactions (hydrogen bonding) as well as the aggregation behavior of three imidazole-2-thione derivatives in solution, the solid state and over polycrystalline gold surface are reported and discussed in chapter 3. Chapter 3 also includes results on preparation of L-cysteinate-intercalated LDH and examination of selective oxidation of the intercalated cysteinate anions. The first work is an attempt to develop a convenient three-step process for preparation of a ligand in which a thionation reaction is the key step. In the next step, complexation of the resultant ligand with Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) ions is scouted. Structural characterization of the intermediates and the ligand were accomplished. In addition, an independent study on the secondary interactions (hydrogen bonding) and self-assembly capacities of three imidazole-2-thione derivatives is also carried out and reported. The work is proceded with results on the synthesis of L-cysteinate-intercalated CaAl-LDH, its structural elucidation and evaluation of selectivity of interlamellar oxidation of the intercalated cysteinate anion to cystinate in aqueous and cysteinate sulfenic acid in acetone. In chapter 4, concluding remarks of the research are summarized. Finally, entire details about experimental work of the thesis including materials, instruments and analytical techniques employed, recipes for preparation of intermediates, ligand and complexes, procedures for synthesis of LDH, the intercalation and oxidation reactions are represented in chapter 5.
Foszforeszcens stroncium-aluminátok előállítása és fejlesztése
Authors: Havasi Viktor
Published: July 2023

A fény az emberiség életében a központi szerepet betöltő tényezők közé tartozik, éppen ezért a különböző természetes fényjelenségek és a fényjelenségeket mutató anyagok a történelmi idők kezdete óta foglalkoztatják az emberiséget. Ezen jelenségek és anyagok megértésére és leutánzására számtalan kísérlet történt és történik napjainkban is. Ma már lehetőségünk van szinte bármely természetben előforduló jelenség vagy anyag utánzására, vizsgálatára és a jelenségek modellezésére, így a fényjelenségekkel és a fényjelenségeket mutató anyagokkal kapcsolatos ismereteink bővítésére is. Ennek ellenére egyes jelenségek működése a mai napig is csak részben ismeretes, megértésük folyamatosan zajlik. A folyamatosan fejlesztett új anyagok új tulajdonságai fokozatosan analógiákra világítanak rá, így segítve a tapasztalt jelenségek mélyebb megértését is. A különböző lumineszcencia típusok között a foszforeszcencia az egyik legkomplexebb módon lejátszódó jelenség, amelyben az egyes részfolyamatok és azok szerepei még mindig csak részben tisztázottak. Mai tudásunkkal így is már előre tervezhetünk is olyan lumineszcens anyagokat, amelyek az igényeinknek leginkább megfelelnek. Ezek az igények széleskörűen változhatnak a felhasználás módjától függően, így szükséges lehet szélsőségesen hosszú, vagy éppen rövid utánvilágítási idővel rendelkező anyagokra, a kibocsájtott és elnyelt hullámhosszak manipulációja. A zöld szemlélet előretörésével, a lumineszcens anyagokkal szemben olyan új igények fogalmazódtak meg, mint a hosszú élettartam, az újrafelhasználhatóság, extrém kémiai és fizikai stabilitás, biztonságosabb felhasználhatóság vagy egyszerűen csak az olcsó és nagy volumenű előállíthatóság. Ezek biztosítása érdekében az új igényekhez új anyagok fejleszthetők, vagy régi anyagok továbbfejleszthetőek, az ismert anyagokhoz pedig új alkalmazásmódok társíthatóak. Napjainkban számos aktivált fotolumineszcens szervetlen oxidot ismerünk, melyek közül csak néhány példa: MAl2O4, M4Al14O25 M2ZnSiO7, MAlSiN3, MBPO5, M3PO4 (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba). A szennyező (aktiváló/ko-aktiváló) ionok jelenléte általában szükséges; ezek a befogadó kristályszerkezettől függően egy vagy többféle ritkaföldfém, de átmeneti fém is lehetnek. Ezen anyagok egyik legnagyobb előnye a tartósságuk mellett az, hogy nem tartalmaznak radioaktív összetevőt. Azonban, a több száz ismert foszforeszcens anyagból csupán néhány képes napfényen is feltöltődni, majd órákig fényt kibocsájtani, ezért az erre együttesen képes anyagok különleges figyelmet élveznek.
Development and application of functional composite surfaces with tunable wettability and photoreactivity
Authors: Mérai László
Published: July 2023

A fotoreaktív-, valamint az extrém és/vagy szabályozható nedvesedésű felületeket napjainkban fokozódó érdeklődés övezi. Doktori munkám során látható fényben aktív, plazmonikus Ag-TiO2 fotokatalizátor nanorészecskékből, poliakrilátokból és PDMS-ből kiindulva hoztam létre egyszerre mindkét említett funkcióval rendelkező kompozit felületeket. Ehhez kapcsolódóan bemutattam, hogy a vizsgált perfluorozott poliakrilátból (FP) készült hidrofób filmek nedvesedési karaktere Ag-TiO2 fotokatalizátor részecskékkel történő érdesítéssel fokozható. A kapott bevonatok Ag-TiO2/FP-arány az első említésnél függvényében változó felületi érdességgel és az érdességtől függő nedvesedéssel (és fotoreaktivitással) rendelkeztek a szuperhidrofiltől a szuperhidrofób karakterig terjedő tartományban. A szuperhidrofób nedvesedési karakter eléréséhez szükséges 80 m/m% fotokatalizátor-tartalom megtartása mellett a kompozitok nedvesedésére a mátrix összetétele is hatással volt: poli(2-hidroxietil-akrilát), mint hidrofil mátrixalkotó felhasználásával szuperhidrofil kompozit bevonatokat állítottam elő. Mivel a mikrofluidika és a folyadékmanipuláció térnyerésének köszönhetően egyre nagyobb igény mutatkozik új, stimulus-reszponzív nedvesedésű funkcionális felületek kialakítása iránt, ezért ennek fényében magneto-, illetve termoreszponzív nedvesedéssel és fotoreaktivitással rendelkező, PDMS-alapú kompozitokat is létrehoztam, karbonil vas mikrorészecskék és poli(N-izopropil-akrilamid) felhasználásával. Az extrém nedvesedésű, hierarchikus érdességel rendelkező felületek gyakorlati alkalmazásának egyik legnagyobb korlátja a felületi képletek sérülékenysége: ennek lehetséges kiküszöbölésére előállításra került egy PDMS-oleogél alapú öngyógyuló fotoreaktív kompozit is, mellyel tartós szuperhidrofób karakter érhető el. A disszertációmban bemutatott kompozit felületek a jövőben multifunkciós jellegükből fakadóan alkalmasak lehetnek például különböző polaritású szennyezők hatékony fotooxidációs eliminálására, vagy akár összetett folyadékmanipulációs feladatok elvégzésére is.
„Ethical business practices and a fair level playing field is an universal value”
Authors: Szabó Dorottya , Trautmann László , Lightfoot Jeffrey
Published: July 2023

The World Politics and Economics made an interview with Jeff Lightfoot, the program director for Europe at the Center for International Private Enterprises (https://www.cipe.org/) about the role of the ethics in the business life in all over the world and the several tools used to strengthen it.
Magyarország lemaradása vállalkozásoktatásban, vállalkozásindítási hajlandóságban – Corvinus Kutatási Hét
Authors: Huszák Loretta
Published: July 2023

2023. június 12-én a Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem Kutatási Hete keretén belül került megrendezésre a „Entrepreneurship in research - Vállalkozásindítás a kutatásokban” című esemény. A tudásmegosztó szakmai fórumon egyetemi kutatók, gazdasági szakemberek és kamarai vezetők osztották meg tudásukat és tapasztalataikat a magyarországi vállalkozási szektor aktuális helyzetével, kilátásaival kapcsolatban.
A munkaerőpiac szükségszerűen partikuláris az élettel szemben
Authors: Lits Levente
Published: July 2023

A Still Alice című film ötlött gondolataim sokaságában leginkább elő, amikor Szabó Dorottya Kimozdulni a céltalanságból című (2023) cikkét (https://fejlodesgazdasagtan.hu/2023/04/12/kimozdulni-a-celtalansagbol/) olvastam a fiatalok munkaerőpiaci jelenléte kapcsán. Azért is volt izgalmas számomra a film, melyben egy nyelvész professzor Alzheimer-kórral történő küzdelmeit kísérhetjük végig, mert emlékeztetett arra, hogy egészen az „enyém” kategória, mely zártságában és teljességében sajátos mélyét kell megvizsgálnunk minden alkalommal, amikor a jelenlétben és az életben előforduló fejlődés viszontagságait vizsgáljuk. Esetünkben tehát, hogy mit is jelent igazán termelni, mit is jelent részvételi műalkotást létrehozni, és, hogy mit jelent mindezekre nézve a piac. (Egyik kávézásom alkalmával kiáltott fel egy 20-as éveiben járó kortársam, hogy „Én termelni akarok!”)
Influence of thioctic acid in patients with diabetes mellitus or newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus in combination with diabetic polyneuropathy after anterior septal Q wave myocardial infarction on the prevention of hypertrophy and structural myocardial remodeling
Authors: Yanovky K. G. , Ivanova L. A.
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus, one of the most common chronic diseases in the world, has a significant aggravating effect on the course of myocardial infarction. Thioctic acid affects the cardiovascular risks of diabetes mellitus and has a protective effect on ischemic myocardium. Human studies to support this effect have not been widely conducted.

AIM: To confirm the possibility of using thioctic acid in patients with diabetes mellitus or newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus in combination with diabetic polyneuropathy who have had anterior septal Q wave myocardial infarction to prevent hypertrophy and myocardial remodeling.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved patients with myocardial infarction and type 2 diabetes mellitus, newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus and diabetic polyneuropathy. From the obtained groups, by randomization, subgroups were allocated to which thioctic acid was prescribed at a dosage of 600 mg / day orally for 3 months. To determine the comparability of the groups, a standard set of stationary studies was carried out. At the initial stage and 12 months after the start of the study, the echocardiographic parameters of myocardial hypertrophy and remodeling were monitored.

RESULTS: The study involved 125 people, 5 people were excluded due to the development of unwanted adverse reactions. The formed groups were comparable in terms of initial parameters. In the main subgroups, statistically significant dynamics of LV wall hypertrophy and myocardial remodeling were not revealed. In the control subgroup of patients with diabetes mellitus, an increase in the thickness of the IVS was noted by 0.67 mm [95% CI: 0.4–0.94, p = 0.021], LVTZ by 0.8 mm [95% CI: 0.43–1 , 27, p = 0.043], LVMI at 9.2 g / m2 [95% CI: 6.15–12.24, p = 0.05], LVMI at 17.8 g. [95% CI: 11.3–24.3, p = 0.011], an increase in the prevalence of concentric myocardial remodeling by 16.7% (p = 0.026). In the control subgroup of patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus, an increase in the thickness of the IVS was noted by 0.83 mm 95% [CI: 0.43–1.23, p = 0.047], LVMI by 7.9 g / m2 [95% CI: 4 , 47–11.43, p = 0.033], LVM at 16.7 gr. [95% CI: 9.75–23.65, p = 0.023], an increase in the prevalence of concentric myocardial remodeling by 16.7% (p = 0.026). In the main subgroup of patients with diabetes mellitus, a decrease in LVMM by 3.33 g was noted. [95% CI: 1.94–4.72, p = 0.024], LVMI at 4.19 g / m2 [95% CI: 2.18–6.2, p = 0.047].

CONCLUSION: The use of thioctic acid on the 3rd day from antero-septal Q wave myocardial infarction in patients with type 2 diabetes, newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus, in combination with diabetic polyneuropathy, at a dosage of 600 mg / day orally, prevents hypertrophy and myocardial remodeling, and also contributes to the positive dynamics of the structure of the ejection fraction.