bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A construção social de um sistema de governança territorial
Authors: Paludo Giombelli Giovana , Tecchio Andréia , Boni Valdete
Published: August 2022

Na região Oeste de Santa Catarina, a presença de agricultores familiares garantiu a base produtiva que viabilizou a criação de grandes agroindústrias do setor agroalimentar. Nesse processo, conhecido como “modernização”, grande parcela destes agricultores familiares foi excluída e, para resistir no campo, iniciaram uma reorganização sociopolítica, que resultou na formação de lideranças que organizaram movimentos sociais e sindicais, instituições de assessoria técnica e cooperativas de crédito rural para auxiliar à produção de base familiar e agroecológica. Nesse contexto, foi criada a Cooperativa de Crédito Rural Seara (Crediseara) para viabilizar o acesso a recursos e serviços financeiros e dinamizar novas experiências produtivas e comerciais. A Cooperativa criou o Fórum das Entidades da Agricultura Familiar, que é uma estrutura de governança de estratégias produtivas de agricultores familiares. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar como a Crediseara, ao assumir a condição de agente de desenvolvimento, favorece a promoção de sistemas alimentares territorializados. A pesquisa ocorreu entre 2019 e 2021 e a metodologia utilizada contempla pesquisa documental e de campo, com entrevistas e observação participante. A governança de sistemas agroalimentares empreendida pela Cooperativa e pelo Fórum resulta do percurso histórico dos atores mobilizados, tendo em conta as institucionalidades próprias do território. Está em curso a construção de um sistema de governança que articula organizações sociais, negocia políticas públicas e fomenta o debate com setores urbanos sobre a qualidade da alimentação e o desenvolvimento territorial sustentável.
Território Quarta Colônia sob o enfoque da Cesta de Bens e Serviços Territoriais
Authors: Froehlich José Marcos , Roque Aline Prestes
Published: August 2022

Este artigo apresenta uma releitura histórica das iniciativas de desenvolvimento no território Quarta Colônia, a partir das noções teórico-metodológicas aportadas pelo enfoque da Cesta de Bens e Serviços Territoriais (CBST).  O Território Quarta Colônia está localizado na região central do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil) e se compõe de 9 municípios associados no Consórcio de Desenvolvimento Sustentável da Quarta Colônia (CONDESUS). O estudo recorreu à revisão de literatura como procedimento metodológico de base. O enfoque da CBST permitiu identificar dificuldades na governança territorial mais recente, com a tendência de que a renda de qualidade territorial seja apropriada cada vez mais por um conjunto restrito de atores.
Predicting student outcomes using digital logs of learning behaviors: Review, current standards, and suggestions for future work
Authors: Arizmendi Cara J. , Bernacki Matthew L. , Raković Mladen , Plumley Robert D. , Urban Christopher J. , Panter A. T. , Greene Jeffrey A. , Gates Kathleen M.
Published: August 2022

Using traces of behaviors to predict outcomes is useful in varied contexts ranging from buyer behaviors to behaviors collected from smart-home devices. Increasingly, higher education systems have been using Learning Management System (LMS) digital data to capture and understand students’ learning and well-being. Researchers in the social sciences are increasingly interested in the potential of using digital log data to predict outcomes and design interventions. Using LMS data for predicting the likelihood of students’ success in for-credit college courses provides a useful example of how social scientists can use these techniques on a variety of data types. Here, we provide a primer on how LMS data can be feature-mapped and analyzed to accomplish these goals. We begin with a literature review summarizing current approaches to analyzing LMS data, then discuss ethical issues of privacy when using demographic data and equitable model building. In the second part of the paper, we provide an overview of popular machine learning algorithms and review analytic considerations such as feature generation, assessment of model performance, and sampling techniques. Finally, we conclude with an empirical example demonstrating the ability of LMS data to predict student success, summarizing important features and assessing model performance across different model specifications.
Influence of Professional Career Development and Teamwork on Employee Job Satisfaction: Evidence From Private Universities in Nigeria
Authors: Ifechi Adani Nnenne , Okoli Ifeanyi E. Nuel , Nwosu Kanayo Chike
Published: August 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of professional career development and teamwork on job satisfaction among lecturers in selected private universities in Nigeria. Social exchange theory was used to establish the theoretical framework of this study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design to establish the relationship between professional career development, teamwork and job satisfaction. Structured questionnaire was distributed to 428 respondents in six selected private universities in Nigeria. The reliability of the measuring instrument was tested using Cronbach Alpha. Hypothesis one was tested using correlation analysis and regression analysis were employed for testing of hypotheses two, three and four. The result of the analysis showed that there is a statistical influence between the three constructs professional career development, teamwork and job satisfaction of private university lecturers in Nigeria. The research concludes that professional career development and teamwork exert different levels of influence on private university lecturers’ job satisfaction and that teamwork exerts greater level of influence on lecturers’ job satisfaction. Hence it was suggested that management of private universities should promote the establishment of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research teams and centres in order to blend the experience of academics. Also, private universities should make annual plans to sponsor or subsidize conferences, seminars and workshop expenses of lecturers in order to encourage frequent participation in academic events so as to sustain the lecturer’s satisfaction and commitment on the job.
A Comprehensive Comparison of Different Control Strategies to Adjust the Length of the Soft Contractor Pneumatic Muscle Actuator
Authors: Al-Mosawi Heba , Al-Ibadi Alaa , Abdalla Turki
Published: August 2022

According to the growing interest in the soft robotics research field, where various industrial and medical applications have been developed by employing soft robots. Our focus in this paper will be the Pneumatic Muscle Actuator (PMA), which is the heart of the soft robot. Achieving an accurate control method to adjust the actuator length to a predefined set point is a very difficult problem because of the hysteresis and nonlinearity behaviors of the PMA. So the construction and control of a 30 cm soft contractor pneumatic muscle actuator (SCPMA) were done here, and by using different strategies such as the PID controller, Bang-Bang controller, Neural network controller, and Fuzzy controller, to adjust the length of the (SCPMA) between 30 cm and 24 cm by utilizing the amount of air coming from the air compressor. All of these strategies will be theoretically implemented using the MATLAB/Simulink package. Also, the performance of these control systems will be compared with respect to the time-domain characteristics and the root mean square error (RMSE). As a result, the controller performance accuracy and robustness ranged from one controller to another, and we found that the fuzzy logic controller was one of the best strategies used here according to the simplicity of the implementation and the very accurate response obtained from this method.
Simulating the Legacy Survey of Space and Time Stellar Content with TRILEGAL
Authors: Dal Tio Piero , Pastorelli Giada , Mazzi Alessandro , Trabucchi Michele , Costa Guglielmo , Jacques Alice , Pieres Adriano , Girardi Léo , Chen Yang , Olsen Knut A. G. , Juric Mario , Ivezić Željko , Yoachim Peter , Clarkson William I. , Marigo Paola , Rodrigues Thaise S. , Zaggia Simone , Barbieri Mauro , Momany Yazan , Bressan Alessandro , Nikutta Robert , da Costa Luiz Nicolaci
Published: August 2022

We describe a large simulation of the stars to be observed by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). The simulation is based on the TRILEGAL code, which resorts to large databases of stellar evolutionary tracks, synthetic spectra, and pulsation models, added to simple prescriptions for the stellar density and star formation histories of the main structures of the Galaxy, to generate mock stellar samples through a population synthesis approach. The main bodies of the Magellanic Clouds are also included. A complete simulation is provided for single stars, down to the r = 27.5 mag depth of the coadded Wide–Fast–Deep survey images. A second simulation is provided for a fraction of the binaries, including the interacting ones, as derived with the BinaPSE module of TRILEGAL. We illustrate the main properties and numbers derived from these simulations, including: comparisons with real star counts; the expected numbers of Cepheids, long-period variables, and eclipsing binaries; the crowding limits as a function of seeing and filter; the star-to-galaxy ratios. Complete catalogs are accessible through the NOIRLab Astro Data Lab, while the stellar density maps are incorporated in the LSST metrics analysis framework.
Breynia hiemalis (Phyllanthaceae, Phyllantheae), a new species from Yunnan, south-west China
Authors: Yang Feng , Chen Chao , Ye Jing-Yi , Wu Jian-Yong , Wang Huan-Chong
Published: August 2022

Breynia hiemalis Huan C. Wang & Feng Yang (Phyllanthaceae), of sect. Cryptogynium (Müll.Arg.) Welzen & Pruesapan in subg. Breynia, is described from Yunnan, south-west China. It is known from only a single locality in the valley of the Yuanjiang River, and usually occurs in the understory of the savanna vegetation. It is characterized by its broadly elliptic to orbicular leaf blades, shallowly plate-like calyces of the staminate flowers, ovaries with clearly erose rim and urceolate capsules. Morphological comparisons with similar species are also presented.
L’approche géographique du terrorisme : questions de méthode
Authors: Dory Daniel , Théry Hervé
Published: August 2022

L’analyse géographique de la territorialisation du fait terroriste constitue un champ de recherche assez récent et en plein développement. Le propos de cet article est de présenter la démarche innovante que les auteurs ont mis en œuvre au cours des dernières années. Sur la base d’exemples à différents niveaux (mondial, régional et national), et d’approches mettant en œuvre plusieurs dispositifs méthodologiques complémentaires on se propose d’offrir un aperçu sur ce domaine en plein essor de la recherche géographique à l’intersection des terrorism studies .
La logistique et la ville. Questions environnementales et territoriales de la logistique urbaine
Authors: Dablanc Laetitia
Published: August 2022

Les questions énergétiques et de pollution soulevées par les activités logistiques, qui comprennent l’ensemble des activités de transport et d’entreposage des marchandises, sont considérables. La logistique est l’une des activités dont les émissions de gaz à effet de serre ainsi que la consommation nette d’espace foncier augmentent le plus, même dans des scénarios prospectifs volontaristes. La logistique trouve par conséquent une place croissante dans les politiques territoriales et les stratégies environnementales, qu’elles soient publiques ou privées. Les travaux de la Chaire Logistics City, une équipe d’urbanistes, géographes et économistes de l’Université Gustave Eiffel, permettent d’examiner de plus près les mutations de la logistique urbaine, ses impacts territoriaux à plusieurs échelles, notamment dans sa dimension immobilière (les entrepôts, dont les nouveaux entrepôts du e-commerce) ; les innovations de la logistique urbaine ; et la dimension institutionnelle, réglementaire et politique de la mobilité des marchandises à travers les enjeux de pollution qu’elle pose aux villes.
Les sciences sociales sont nécessaires et complémentaires des sciences naturelles pour la recherche sur les changements climatiques
Authors: Fouqueray Timothée
Published: August 2022

Climatologie, écologie, géologie : les sciences naturelles ont démontré l’existence et l’origine anthropique du dérèglement climatique. Pour autant, ce champ d’étude n’est pas l’apanage des seules sciences naturelles. En plus d’étudier la diversité de nos liens au monde vivant, la géographie, la sociologie, l’économie et autres disciplines sœurs permettent d’explorer des pistes complémentaires aux seules approches techniques pour répondre aux enjeux environnementaux. L’article présente les apports des sciences naturelles et des sciences sociales dans la compréhension et le déploiement de solutions d’atténuation et d’adaptation aux changements climatiques. Il décrit aussi une approche interdisciplinaire qui allie un jeu de rôles et des modélisations écologiques et climatiques afin de faciliter la prise de décision, la sensibilisation, et la diffusion de connaissances environnementales. Accessible à un lectorat formé en sciences naturelles ou en sciences sociales, l’article est ponctué d’exemples concrets tirés d’études classiques de la climatologie, de recherches contemporaines en sciences sociales, mais aussi de l’expérience de l’auteur – en particulier à travers Foster Forest, un jeu sérieux sur l’adaptation socio-économique de la foresterie aux changements climatiques.
Further irreducibility criteria for polynomials associated with the complete residue systems in any imaginary quadratic field
Authors: Phetnun Phitthayathon , Kanasri Narakorn R.
Published: August 2022

Let $ K = \mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{m}) $ be an imaginary quadratic field with $ O_K $ its ring of integers. Let $ \pi $ and $ \beta $ be an irreducible element and a nonzero element, respectively, in $ O_K $. In the authors' earlier work, it was proved for the cases, $ m\not\equiv 1\ ({\mathrm{mod}}\ 4) $ and $ m\equiv 1\ ({\mathrm{mod}}\ 4) $ that if $ \pi = \alpha_n\beta^n+\alpha_{n-1}\beta^{n-1}+\cdots+\alpha_1\beta+\alpha_0 = :f(\beta) $, where $ n\geq 1 $, $ \alpha_n\in O_K\setminus\{0\} $, $ \alpha_{0}, \ldots, \alpha_{n-1} $ belong to a complete residue system modulo $ \beta $, and the digits $ \alpha_{n-1} $ and $ \alpha_n $ satisfy certain restrictions, then the polynomial $ f(x) $ is irreducible in $ O_K[x] $. In this paper, we extend these results by establishing further irreducibility criteria for polynomials in $ O_K[x] $. In addition, we provide elements of $ \beta $ that can be applied to the new criteria but not to the previous ones.
A Roman ship scuttled near Salona in the Gulf of Kaštela, Croatia
Authors: Ruff David , Rossi Irena Radić , Pulak Cemal , Liphschitz Nili
Published: August 2022

In 2002, the recovery of a 1000-litre perforated dolium in the Trstenik section of Kaštel Sućurac, near Split, Croatia, attracted the attention of archaeologists to significant Roman remains submerged near the shore. A return visit to the site in 2006 identified the outline of a wooden ship scuttled alongside a submerged wooden wall: in 2015, the ship was uncovered and labelled, recorded via photogrammetry and extensively sampled, then preserved in situ. Reconstruction determined the ship to be a flat-floored, ­mortise-and-tenon constructed ship, dated to approximately the late 1st century AD, suitable for the transport of heavy cargo.
The Fahrdorf wreck: another large 12th-century cargo ship in the Schlei, northern Germany
Authors: Enzmann Jonas , Jürgens Fritz , Wilkes Feiko
Published: August 2022

In 2014 an accidentally raised construction timber turned out to be a part of a medieval shipwreck resting in the murky waters of the Schlei inlet of the Baltic Sea in northern Germany. The Study Group for Maritime and Limnic Archaeology (AMLA) of the Christian-Albrechts University (CAU) at Kiel has examined and documented the remains using computer vision photogrammetry over recent years. Based on these campaigns it has been possible to date the wreck and determine its function as a large cargo sailing vessel, which testifies to the importance of the Schlei as a trading route for the cities of Hedeby and Schleswig.
Bark canoes: sewing, lashing and folding
Authors: Arnold Béat
Published: August 2022

Bark canoes are characterised by their envelope, which consists of a sheet, or sometimes several sheets of bark. The bark used is of different thicknesses depending on the available tree species and its own specific rigidity. These parameters necessitate the insertion of a number of elements to reinforce the shape of the canoe and stabilise the upper opening. The implementation of folds on the sides and ends of the canoe avoids the use of a system for ensuring watertightness, but few canoes are of this type (such canoes are found above all in Mozambique and in the Amazonia/Guyana region). The great majority of bark canoes display ends that are pressed together and sealed by a lashing (short ropes) or sewing (long ropes). The sewing techniques used on Australian canoes demonstrate exceptional diversity, and are sometimes characterised by remarkable complexity. Bark canoes are therefore typically shell-first constructions, resulting from highly developed concepts and fundamentally dependent on the thickness of the bark and its mechanical characteristics.
Ships and boats of late Prehistoric and Roman Nauportus. New evidence and some remarks on the transfer and innovation in the shipbuilding technologies on the northern fringes of the Mediterranean 2nd century BC – 1st century AD
Authors: Gaspari Andrej
Published: August 2022

Abstract: This paper discusses the archaeological evidence regarding the unique navigational environment of the Ljubljansko barje (Ljubljana Marshes) in the 2nd – 1st centuries BC. The evidence consists of the renowned and almost completely preserved flat- bottomed boat of sewn construction from Lipe (1890), the newly discovered sewn boat of a presumably similar size and technology from the Ljubljanica River at Vrhnika (2015), and the very large oak logboat also from Vrhnika featuring complex repairs and other unusual technical solutions. The construction details of all three watercraft originate in Mediterranean shipbuilding practices, but arguably lean on local tradition embedded in the broader socio-cultural environment of the pre-Roman populations of the northern Adriatic and its immediate hinterland.
The 5th-century AD riverine boat of Santa Maria in Padovetere: 3D reconstruction of its shape and context
Authors: Costa Elisa , Beltrame Carlo
Published: August 2022

The digital survey of a 5th century AD riverine boat, together with direct measurements and drawings, has led to a complete 3D model of the boat, with deformations corrected, hull lines reconstructed and missing parts recreated. The different construction solutions of this boat (sewing, mortise-and-tenon joints, clinker planks) have been represented in a detailed 1:1 scale for improved study and display. The discovery of this boat in a tributary of the Po River has allowed for some considerations about the environment in which the boat was built, and about riverine navigation in the Po Valley in late antiquity.
The Bremen-Cog: reconstructed one more time
Authors: Tanner Pat , Belasus Mike
Published: August 2022

Within the three-year project “Between the North Sea to the Norwegian Sea: interdisciplinary research on the Hanse” (2015-2018), established by the Leibniz Association at the German Maritime Museum, questions were raised on the seaworthiness of ships of the Bremen-type1. The main object of the resulting research was the late medieval Bremen-Cog, from 1378-1379, which was found in 1962 in the River Weser close to Bremen and is today on display at the museum in Bremerhaven.The project did not begin with the intention of reconstructing an already reconstructed ship find, but rather to examine the overall hydrodynamic and seakeeping abilities of the ship, in order to see whether ships of this building method were the oceangoing trading vessels of their era, and could sail the North Atlantic all the way to Iceland.In order to evaluate the complex concepts of seakeeping and oceangoing, a reliable hull form as well as accurate construction details are required. Establishing the vessel’s overall hydrostatic characteristics, static and dynamic stability, and overall sailing abilities, requires detailed calculations using the centres of buoyancy, flotation and gravity.
A recently discovered wreck with double planking in the Bay of Puck. Measurements, recording and positioning of the site with the use of a 3D photogrammetry model and a multibeam echosounder
Authors: Bednarz Tomasz
Published: August 2022

The F32.8 wreck was discovered in 2014 at a depth of 4.5 m in the waters of the Bay of Puck, Poland. The wreck consists of a fragment of the port side of a vessel with a characteristic double, clinker and carvel, planking. The site is 9.5 m long and 2.8 m wide. The wreck is composed of pine strakes for the outside carvel planking; levelling pine strakes, triangular in a cross section; oak strakes for the inside clinker planking; oak frames; pine treenails of three different diameters. The vessel was built after 1789 with wood from the region of Norway.
Viking boats in medieval Russia from written and archaeological evidence
Authors: Sorokin Petr
Published: August 2022

Mention of Viking vessels in Russia is rare and brief both in Russian letopis (chronicles) and in ancient Nordic literature. Foreign-language boat names were usually used in medieval Russian documents to designate foreign vessels, while local vessels, as well as their parts and rigging, practically always had local names. Archaeological data of boat finds from the territory of early medieval Russia includes elements of Scandinavian vessels and representations of Viking boats. They have been discovered in medieval layers of Russian towns along the main inland water routes connected with the Baltic from the mid-8th to early 11th centuries, and in boat graves. The Scandinavian boatbuilding tradition existed here in the period of intensive Russian-Scandinavian contacts during the Viking Age.
Innovation, institutions and migration: transfer of technology in Dutch shipbuilding, 500-1700
Authors: Holk André F.L. van
Published: August 2022

This paper focuses on innovation in shipbuilding. The central question is by what mechanisms innovation took place. Was new technology locally invented or was it transferred, from the outside, as exogamous knowledge? How did technology transfer work?Two main strands of reasoning will be followed. The tainted ­concept of migration will be revitalised. In addition, the role of guilds will be analysed. The role of guilds is crucial for understanding the system of the tramping journeyman, implying the sharing of new tacit knowledge. The step-by-step development of shipbuilding technology was stimulated by the guild system of transferring knowledge.
Strategic Communication in the Polish University's External Accreditation Process
Authors: Winiarska-Brodowska Malgorzata , Bugaj Justyna Maria
Published: August 2022

The chapter presents good practices in university management regarding the external accreditation process based on the analysis of national as well as international experiences in this field which were gathered by the Jagiellonian University Quality Assurance Team. Emphasis is placed on the initial phase of this process (i.e., the preparatory phase). The following research questions were posed: What communication strategy related to the accreditation process should be applied? What other activities should be considered in order to increase the quality of the preparations? What kind of communication actions should be taken to make the process of external accreditation at the university run smoothly? Qualitative methodology was applied, and document analysis and expert interviews using MAXQDA 2022 were carried out. The results of the research indicate the necessity to include various stakeholders in the communication strategy and to conduct personalized communication activities.
LNG Transportation Routes Risk Assessment Based on Group Decision Making
Authors: Dong Youran , Ma Shiqun , Gao Jiu
Published: August 2022

The risk assessment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation routes has raised researchers' concerns in recent years, which is a group multi-criteria decision-making (GMCDM) problems that involves experts' opinions from different fields. To improve the effectiveness in evaluating process, this paper proposes a risk assessment method to recognize the potential risks and selects the best LNG transportation route. Firstly, the authors construct the systematic risk evaluation indices, including four first-level indices (political, economic, transportation, and operation and management risks) and nine second-level indices. Then a novel risk assessment method of the LNG transportation route is developed, including opinion representation, consensus measurement and detection, personalized feedback, and selection process. Finally, a scenario analysis is provided to model the risk evaluation process and demonstrate the soundness and applicability of the presented model.
18β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Ameliorates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Inflammation in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Through PERK/eIF2α/NF-κB Signaling
Authors: Wang Jia-Ling , Liu Hui , Jing Zhi-Cheng , Zhao Fang , Zhou Ru
Published: August 2022

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-induced inflammation participates in the occurrence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) by promoting pulmonary vascular remodeling, which involved in the activation of PERK/eIF2α/NF-κB signaling pathway. 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA) has been found efficacious for attenuating PAH through its anti-remodeling effects in our previous research and it remains unclear whether 18β-GA has an effect on the remodeling caused by ERS-induced inflammation. In this study, we made observations in monocrotaline-induced PAH rats and found improvement of hemodynamic and histopathological parameters, decreases in the right ventricular hypertrophy index, and alleviation of pulmonary vascular remodeling after 18β-GA administration in vivo. Moreover, 18β-GA could significantly inhibit the proliferation and DNA synthesis of human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) induced by platelet-derived growth factor BB. At the cellular and molecular levels, we found that 18β-GA could significantly reduce the accumulation of misfolded protein in rat lung tissue, inhibit ERS activation, reduce the expression of GRP78, p-PERK, p-eIF2α, and p-NF-κB p65, and increase IκB protein expression. 18β-GA could inhibit the migration of NF-κB into the nucleus, reduce the contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the culture supernatant of HPASMCs, and reduce GRP78, p-PERK, p-eIF2α, p-NF-κB p65, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 protein expression, increase IκB protein expression in HPASMCs. According to what we observed, this study indicated that 18β-GA could treat PAH, which is related to the inhibition of PERK/eIF2α/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Spectral Analysis of Cardiovascular Oscillations in the 7-Day Regimen of Losartan Administration with and without Cold Stress
Authors: Liu Yia-Ping , Lin Yu-Chieh , Lin Chen-Cheng , Tsai Shi-Hung , Tung Che-Se
Published: August 2022

Spectral analysis of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) variabilities (BPV and HRV) is widely available and utilized in understanding the dynamic cardiovascular autonomic regulation in a variety of pathophysiological conditions. In conscious cold-stressed (CS) rats, we examined the effect of a 7-day regimen administration of losartan, a selective nonpeptide angiotensin AT1 receptor blockade, on BPV and HRV at three frequency components: very-low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), and high frequency (HF). Key findings in changes of systolic BP (SBP), HR, and spectral power densities for cardiopulmonary oscillations (HF), sympathetic oscillations (LF), cardiovascular myogenic oscillations (VLF), and overall autonomic activity total power (TP) showed: (I) In the resting PreCS trial, compared with the saline, losartan increased HFBPV, TPHRV, all three HRV frequency powers, and the occurrence of the dicrotic notch (DN). However, it decreased SBP, HR, and the LFBPV frequency power. (II) In the CS trial, losartan significantly decreased SBP and DN occurrence and HR and LF/HFHRV but significantly increased HFHRV, TPBPV, and all three BPV frequency powers. In addition, similar to the saline, losartan showed positively correlated LFBPV and VLFBPV. Conversely, losartan converted the original inverse correlations between LFHRV and LFBPV of CS to a positive correlation. (III) Compared with saline in PreCS and CS trials, losartan detached the corresponding sympathetic oscillations between LFBPV and LFHRV. The overall result indicates that endogenous angiotensin II, through stimulation of the AT1 receptor, augments sympathetic tone but attenuates sympathetic oscillations in rats, particularly under the stressful cooling impacts.
Effects of Taurine against benzo[α]pyrene-Induced Cell Cycle Arrest and Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Apoptosis via Reduction of Mitochondrial Stress in A549 Cells
Authors: Liu Bi-Yu , Chiou Jia-Zhen , Huang Ken-Meng , Chen Tai-Yuan , Hwang Deng-Fwu
Published: August 2022

Taurine is a free amino acid that prevents reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. ROS production is associated with oxidative stress, cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, and DNA alterations in benzo[α]pyrene (BaP)-induced lung cells. Here, we assessed the effect of adding of 25 mM taurine on human pulmonary alveolar epithelial A549 cells treated with different concentrations of BaP. After culturing for 24 h, the cells were tested for biomarkers including cell viability, cellular morphology, Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide, cell cycle regulation, ROS accumulation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and expression of related signaling genes and proteins. BaP induced cell cycle arrest and decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, 50 μM BaP induced a 52.2% increase in ROS levels and inhibited MMP by up to 80%; however, taurine decreased BaP-induced ROS production by 19.5% and restored MMP. The expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) homologous antagonist killer (Bak), BCL-2-associated X protein (Bax), and cytochrome c at both the mRNA and protein levels were increased, and the expression of BCL-2 and BCL-x1 was decreased by BaP treatment. Furthermore, BaP activated caspase-3/7 expression by up to 25%. However, taurine decreased the expression of NF-κB, Bak, Bax and cytochrome c levels, reduced caspase-3/7 activities, and increased the expression of BCL-2 and BCL-x1. Hence, taurine attenuates BaP-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction by inhibiting the NF-κB-mediated intrinsic apoptosis pathway in A549 cells. Taurine can be considered as a preventive molecule to prevent lung damage.
The Inhibitory Effects of Vanillin on the Growth of Melanoma by Reducing Nuclear Factor-κB Activation
Authors: Pourhadi Marjan , Ghasemi Ahmad , Abediny Reza , Haghjooy Javanmard Shaghayegh , Vaseghi Golnaz
Published: August 2022

Background:

Melanoma is skin cancer, and the treatments are not efficient enough. Therefore, finding new drugs seems to be an essential need. Vanillin, which is extracted from vanilla seed, has anti-cancer effects by reducing nuclear factor-κB (NF). We explored the anti-tumor effects of vanillin in the melanoma model and its possible mechanism.

Materials and Methods:

In the MTT assay, mice melanoma cells (B16F10) were treated with vanillin (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 μg/mL) for 24 and 48 h. In an animal model, B16F10 was subcutaneously injected into C57BL/6 mice. After the development of tumors, the mice were treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg/day of vanillin for 10 days. The tumor size and expression level of NF-κB protein were measured.

Results:

In the MTT assay, vanillin in all concentrations significantly decreased B16F10 cell viability after 24 h incubation. The size of melanoma tumors was reduced in both doses 50 and 100 mg/kg/day in mice. NF-κB protein expression was decreased in the 100 mg/kg/day group in comparison with the control group.

Conclusion:

We found that vanillin by reducing NF-κB expression may have anti-tumor effects and reduced melanoma tumor size and cell viability.
Coinfection of pulmonary tuberculosis with other lower respiratory tract infections
Authors: Aldriwesh Marwh G. , Alaqeel Raghad A. , Mashraqi Aisha M. , Mashraqi Mutaib M. , Albdah Bayan A. , Alharbi Azzah S.
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND:

Little attention has been given to the development of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) during their anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) treatment and how that might affect patients’ health status. Here, the prevalence and etiologies of other LRTIs in a cohort of PTB patients were determined, and the clinical features and outcomes were described.

METHODS:

Adult patients with PTB between 2015 and 2020 were recruited and monitored during their anti-TB treatment for the presence of LRTIs. Clinical data were retrospectively collected from patients’ medical records.

RESULTS:

Data from 76 PTB patients (57 [75%] males) were reviewed. The median age was 61.0 (interquartile range 83.5–35.5) years, and other LRTIs were detected in 45 (59.2%) PTB patients. Of the 126 episodes of LRTIs, 84 (66.7%) were due to bacterial infections, 37 (29.4%) were due to fungal infections, and 5 (3.9%) were due to viral infections. The development of LRTIs was significantly more common in older (P = 0.012) and hypertensive patients with PTB (P = 0.019). Patients with PTB and LRTIs experienced significantly more frequent extrapulmonary infections (P = 0.0004), bloodstream infections (P = 0.001), intensive care unit stays (P = 0.001), and invasive mechanical ventilation use (P = 0.03) than patients who did not develop LRTI.

CONCLUSIONS:

The identification of host-related risk factors for LRTI development among patients with PTB could be used to develop a prediction model for LRTI development. Hence, initiating antimicrobials early, in parallel with appropriate anti-TB treatment, may mitigate PTB-related health and economic consequences.
Alopecic and Aseptic Nodules of the Scalp
Authors: Luu Ngoc-Nhi Catharina , Uribe Natalia Caballero , Gavazzoni Dias Maria Fernanda Reis , Rezende Hudson Dutra , Trüeb Ralph Michel
Published: August 2022

Since the original report in 1992 and revised nomenclature in 2009, pseudocysts of the scalp and alopecic and aseptic nodules of the scalp (AANS), respectively, have been regarded as a new entity that is rare and not understood in its pathogenesis. We observed 26 cases of AANS. Except for the extent and severity of disease, we found no single feature that justifies distinguishing AANS as a nosologic entity in its own right from dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (DCS). The scarring alopecias represent a diverse group of disorders with the potential of permanent destruction of the pilosebaceous unit and hair loss. Within the maze of varied conditions leading to scarring alopecia, the most important is to keep a neat nosologic classification in mind, based both on morphology and a pathogenic understanding. We believe that AANS represents a minor form of DCS, so far predominantly observed in patients of non-African origin, and therefore, is a disease of follicular occlusion with a favorable prognosis.
Cryptogenic Liver Abscess Caused by a K1 Serotype Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolate
Authors: Psonis John J. , Michelen Yamil , Banerjee Kasturi , Fries Bettina C. , Sae-Tia Sutthichai
Published: August 2022

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) is a common cause of pyogenic liver abscesses in Asia but is quite uncommon in North America. Among the cases described in North America, only occasional reports have described molecular strain typing to confirm the K1 strain as the causative agent. We report a 56-year-old Hispanic female with no previous intra-abdominal pathology and no recent travel, who presented with subacute abdominal pain and developed bacteremia and monomicrobial pyogenic liver abscess due to a community-acquired K1 serotype K. pneumoniae isolate. In this case, the infection was recognized early, so the patient was successfully treated with percutaneous drainage and prolonged antibiotic therapy. Hvkp can cause severe invasive disease with high morbidity and mortality, and the recent emergence of multidrug resistance in these strains poses a serious threat to public health. In addition, the isolation of a K1 K. pneumoniae strain from a cryptogenic liver abscess in a Hispanic patient with no epidemiologic risk factors raises concern for a wider spread of the hypervirulent strain beyond Asian populations. Therefore, a high index of suspicion for hvKp infection in the Hispanic population can be crucial as the hypervirulent strain is likely to cause severe metastatic infection with significant morbidity and mortality.
Fertility Desires and its Predictors among Persons Living with HIV in a Secondary Health Facility in Northcentral Nigeria
Authors: Amaike Chikwendu , Afolaranmi Tolulope Olumide , Amaike Blessing Adaku , Agbo Hadiza Abigail , Abiodun Olumide
Published: August 2022

Introduction:

Among people living with HIV (PLHIV), fertility desire which is the desire to have more children is increasing due to the improvement in quality of life and survival resulting from anti-retroviral treatment and also improved sexual and reproductive health services. Fertility desires can result in increased risk of HIV transmission, especially in unprotected heterosexual intercourse. There is limited information regarding the fertility desires and predictors among PLHIV in our environment.

Methods:

This study was aimed at assessing the fertility desires and predictors in PLHIV in Northcentral Nigeria. Study was descriptive cross-sectional. Semi-structured interviewer administered pretested questionnaires was used to get information from 170 PLHIV accessing care in a secondary health-care facility selected by the systematic sampling technique. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 23.0. At 95% confidence interval (CI), a P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Chi-square and logistic regression.

Results:

Fertility desire was found among 64.1% of the respondents. Younger age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.2270; 95% CI = 0.0662–0.7791, P = 0.0184), having no child or a smaller number of children (OR = 0.0432; CI = 0.0046–0.4050; P = 0.0059) and suppressed viral loads (OR = 4.1069; CI = 1.1650–14.4784; P = 0.0280) were the predictors for fertility desire.

Conclusion:

This study showed that PLHIV had high fertility desires but do not know any safe method of conception, hence intensified effort should be made by primary care providers and other health-care workers to include sexual and reproductive health counselling during routine HIV clinic visits to enable PLHIV make informed decision about their fertility desires.
A new era of Nano!!! Comparative evaluation of ganglioside polymeric nanoparticle coated satranidazole gel and 1% metronidazole gel for the treatment of periodontitis
Authors: Kesarwani Shivam , Parihar Sarita , Singh Sanjay , Gautam Anju , Pandey Aishwarya , Anjum Md Meraj
Published: August 2022

Background:

The present study was intended to comparatively assess the efficacy of ganglioside polymeric nanoparticle-coated 0.25% satranidazole-loaded nanoparticles in gel form with that of the commercially available 1% metronidazole gel as a local drug delivery (LDD) agent for the treatment of periodontal pockets.

Materials and Methods:

A split-mouth randomized clinical trial was carried out in 46 chronic periodontitis patients with probing pocket depth (PPD) ≥4 mm or clinical attachment loss greater than 3 mm on both quadrants of the same arch. Full-mouth scaling and root planing (SRP) was performed for all the patients followed by application of 0.25% satranidazole-loaded nanoparticles in gel form on one site (Group 1) and commercially available 1% metronidazole gel on another site (Group 2). Clinical parameters (gingival index, plaque index, PPD, clinical attachment level gain, and bleeding on probing) and microbiological analysis of the subgingival plaque samples were performed and assessed at baseline, after SRP, 21st day, and 90th day post treatment. Unpaired “t”-test and ANOVA tests were used for intergroup and intragroup comparison of recorded parameters.

Results:

The results showed that the satranidazole-loaded nanoparticle group as an adjunct to SRP in chronic periodontitis showed a statistically significant improvement in all the clinical parameters and a fewer relapse of microbial flora in comparison with the metronidazole group as an LDD agent.

Conclusion:

The present study depicted that both the LDD agents showed an effective improvement of clinical as well as microbiological parameters, but the satranidazole group consistently produced better results than the metronidazole group and hence has a promising future as an LDD agent in treating periodontal pockets.
A novel injectable platelet-rich fibrin reinforced papilla reconstruction technique
Authors: Puri Komal , Khatri Manish , Bansal Mansi , Kumar Ashish , Rehan Mohd , Gupta Aneesha
Published: August 2022

Formation of black triangles due to the loss of interdental papilla is one of the utmost perplexing esthetic problems of the periodontium. Many surgical and nonsurgical treatment options have been researched upon to obtain complete papillary fill, but minimally invasive procedures have always been the choice of treatment both for the operator as well as the patient. This article describes the use of injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) as a novel nonsurgical technique for the reconstruction of deficient interdental papilla. This is probably the first article that describes the use of i-PRF for the nonsurgical treatment of black triangles. Six sites with the presence of deficient interdental papilla in four patients were selected for this case series. After completion and reevaluation of scaling and root planing, autologous i-PRF was injected at the base of the interdental papilla using the insulin syringe. Photographs obtained before the treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the intervention were assessed by Image J software along with clinical measurements. The use of novel nonsurgical injectable PRF technique allows clinician to successfully treat deficient interdental papilla.
Assessment of anterior loop of mandibular canal and its implication in implant therapy
Authors: Khetal Namrata Madan , Ansari Salman Tarique , Malik Rajvir , Lanjekar Ashish Babanrao , Jirafe Sanjana Jayant , Gajghate Apeksha Sanjay
Published: August 2022

Context:

Precise identification of anatomic structures is imperative for presurgical planning for implant installation to ensure effectiveness of procedures, especially in the region of mental foramen, and to prevent iatrogenic complications.

Aims:

This study aimed to assess the presence of anterior loop of mandibular canal and its approximation to the alveolar crest using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Materials and Methods:

CBCT scans of the patients scheduled for implant therapy in the region of mental foramen were retrospectively analyzed for the presence of anterior loop of mandibular canal. Findings were compared based upon gender and side of the mandible. Distance between the most prominent part of anterior loop of mandibular canal and the alveolar crest was measured.

Results:

Anterior loop of the mandibular canal was identified 66.8% of hemimandibles analyzed with the highest prevalence in the fourth decade of life. Males and females exhibited predilection toward the right and left side, respectively. The presence of anterior loop of mandibular canal is associated with reduced distance between the neurovascular bundle and alveolar crest jeopardizing the placement of standard length dental implant.

Conclusion:

The current study emphasizes an increased need for precise identification and preservation of anterior loop of mandibular canal in the third and fourth decades of life, especially in females.
Evaluation of Lateral Column Lengthening Using Autogenous Fibular Graft in the Treatment of Supple Flat Foot
Authors: Elattar Ayman Ali , Hosny Gamal A. , Essawy Osama Mohamed , Kandeel Mohmoud , Meselhy Mohammed Anter
Published: August 2022

Background:

Treatment options of flat foot vary from using orthosis to arthrodesis and the surgical procedure varies from soft-tissue operations till bony osteotomies. We hypothesized that the clinical, functional, and radiological outcomes of lateral calcaneal lengthening osteotomy using fibular graft in the treatment of symptomatic flatfoot are satisfactory.

Materials and Methods:

A prospective study was conducted involving 25 feet of 25 patients who underwent lateral calcaneal lengthening due to symptomatic flexible flat foot. All patients underwent clinical and radiological evaluation preoperatively and postoperatively, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot/ankle scoring preoperatively and postoperatively. All patients underwent osteotomy of the calcaneus using a saw, after a satisfactory correction of the deformity obtained, autogenous fibular graft was inserted in the osteotomy site, and tendon Achilles lengthening was performed.

Results:

In our study, we had 25 patients, the average age was 11.48 years. There were 15 girls and 10 boys. The average AOFAS preoperative score was 68.56 ± 5. A 3-month postoperative. The average score was 86.40 ± 3.65. A final AOFAS hindfoot/ankle score at the time of maximal follow-up (average 21 months; range, 6–36 months) had an average score of 95.19 ± 1. A final AOFAS hindfoot/ankle score at the time of maximal follow-up (average 21 months; range, 6–36 months).

Conclusion:

Isolated lateral column lengthening using autogenous fibular graft was found to provide significant correction of all components of the supple pes planovalgus and forefoot abduction deformity.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV.
Universal Long Bone Defect Classification
Authors: Solomin L. , Komarov Artem , Semenistyy Anton , Sheridan Gerard A. , Rozbruch S. Robert
Published: August 2022

Introduction:

Treatment of long bone defects is a challenging problem in orthopedics that requires a robust and comprehensive classification system to guide diagnosis and management. The Universal Long Bone Defect Classification (ULBDC) is an alphanumeric system detailing the size and location of the defect. It is designed to describe the bone defect and indicate the appropriate treatment for both diaphyseal and articular long bones defects.

Methods:

The location, size, and morphology of the bone defect are the main criteria used in the treatment of both extra-articular and intra-articular bone defects. The proposed classification system utilizes the following nomenclature for both periarticular defects and diaphyseal defects: location (bone and segment) and morphology (type, group, and subgroup).

Discussion:

The ULBDC is based the same principles of coding as the “gold standard” AO/OTA Fractures Classification system with alpha-numeric coding “from simple to complex.” The choice of treatment method depends on the type, group, and subgroup of the defect as described. The principles of treatment of diaphyseal defects, as well as the principles of treatment of extra-articular fractures, are based on the restoration of the alignment, length, and rotation of the segment. Bone shortening and deformity are considered bone defects because their treatment requires the use of the same principles (osteotomies, bone grafting, bone transport, or combination of these methods) as treating real bone defects.

Conclusion:

The proposed classification is an attempt to classify all types of long bone defects and its use in clinical practice and research will allow for optimal and standardized treatments for the various types of bone defects to improve the treatment outcomes.