bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mapping factors that may influence attrition and retention of midwives: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Moncrieff Gill , Downe Soo , Maxwell Margaret , Cheyne Helen
Published: October 2023

Introduction

An appropriately staffed midwifery workforce is essential for the provision of safe and high-quality maternity care. However, there is a global and national shortage of midwives. Understaffed maternity services are frequently identified as contributing to unsafe care provision and adverse outcomes for mothers and babies. While there is a need to recruit midwives through pre-registration midwifery programmes, this has significant resource implications, and is counteracted to a large extent by the high number of midwives leaving the workforce. It is increasingly recognised that there is a critical need to attend to retention in midwifery in order to develop and maintain safe staffing levels. The objective of this review is to collate and map factors that have been found to influence attrition and retention in midwifery.

Methods and analysis

Joanna Briggs Institute guidance for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews will be used to guide the review process and reporting of the review. CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus databases will be searched for relevant literature from date of inception to 21 July 2023. Research from high-income countries that explores factors that influence leaving intentions for midwives will be included. Literature from low-income and middle-income countries, and studies where nursing and midwifery data cannot be disaggregated will be excluded. Two reviewers will screen 20% of retrieved citations in duplicate, the first author will screen the remaining results. Data will be extracted using a preformed data extraction tool by the first author. Findings will be presented in narrative, tabular and graphical formats.

Ethics and dissemination

The review will collate data from existing research, therefore ethics approval is not required. Findings will be published in journals, presented at conferences and will be translated into infographics and other formats for online dissemination.
Immunology of THymectomy And childhood CArdiac transplant (ITHACA): protocol for a UK-wide prospective observational cohort study to identify immunological risk factors of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) in thymectomised children
Authors: Offor Ugonna T , Hollis Paolo , Ognjanovic Milos , Parry Gareth , Khushnood Abbas , Long Heather M , Gennery Andrew R , Bacon Chris M , Simmonds Jacob , Reinhardt Zdenka , Bomken Simon
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Paediatric heart transplant patients are disproportionately affected by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) compared with other childhood solid organ recipients. The drivers for this disparity remain poorly understood. A potential risk factor within this cohort is the routine surgical removal of the thymus—a gland critical for the normal development of T-lymphocyte-mediated antiviral immunity—in early life, which does not occur in other solid organ transplant recipients. Our study aims to describe the key immunological differences associated with early thymectomy, its impact on the temporal immune response to EBV infection and subsequent risk of PTLD.

Methods and analysis

Prospective and sequential immune monitoring will be performed for 34 heart transplant recipients and 6 renal transplant patients (aged 0–18 years), stratified into early (<1 year), late (>1 year) and non-thymectomy groups. Peripheral blood samples and clinical data will be taken before transplant and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months post-transplant. Single cell analysis of circulating immune cells and enumeration of EBV-specific T-lymphocytes will be performed using high-dimensional spectral flow cytometry with peptide-Major Histocompatibilty Complex (pMHC) I/II tetramer assay, respectively. The functional status of EBV-specific T-lymphocytes, along with EBV antibodies and viral load will be monitored at each of the predefined study time points.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval for this study has been obtained from the North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee. The results will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at scientific conferences and patient-centred forums, including social media.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN10096625.
Increasing antiretroviral therapy adherence and retention in care among adults living with HIV in Philadelphia: a study protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised type 2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial of managed problem-solving plus (MAPS+) delivered by community health workers
Authors: Van Pelt Amelia E , Bilker Warren B , Nkwihorez Hervette , Ghadimi Fatemeh , Brady Kathleen A , Cidav Zuleyha , Schriger Simone H , Beidas Rinad S , Gross Robert , Momplaisir Florence
Published: October 2023

Introduction

To end the HIV epidemic in Philadelphia, implementation of evidence-based practices (EBP) to increase viral suppression and retention in HIV care is critical. Managed problem solving (MAPS), an EBP for antiretroviral therapy adherence, follows a problem-solving approach to empower people living with HIV (PWH) to manage their health. To overcome barriers to care experienced by PWH in Philadelphia, the EBP was adapted to include a focus on care retention and delivery by community health workers (CHWs). The adapted intervention is MAPS+. To maximise the clinical impact and reach of the intervention, evaluation of the effectiveness and implementation of MAPS+ is necessary.

Methods and analysis

This manuscript describes the protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised type 2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial in 10 clinics in Philadelphia. This research incorporates innovative approaches to accomplish three objectives: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of the CHW-led MAPS+ intervention to improve viral suppression and retention in care 1 year after the individual implementation period (N=390 participants), (2) to examine the effect of the menu of implementation strategies on reach and implementation cost and (3) to examine processes, mechanisms, and sustainment of the implementation strategies for MAPS+ (N=56 participants). Due to various factors (eg, COVID-19), protocol modifications have occurred.

Ethics and dissemination

The institutional review board (IRB) at the city of Philadelphia serves as the primary IRB; initial approval was granted on 21 December 2020. The University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern University executed reliance agreements. A safety monitoring committee comprised experts in implementation science, biostatistics and infectious diseases oversee this study. This research will offer insights into achieving the goals to end the HIV epidemic in Philadelphia as well as implementation efforts of MAPS+ and other behavioural interventions aimed at increasing medication adherence and retention in care. Dissemination will include deliverables (eg, peer-reviewed manuscripts and lay publications) to reach multiple constituents.

Trial registration number

NCT04560621.
Physical activity is for everyone: a call to action for education and knowledge mobilisation to optimise the continuum of services for people with mobility disabilities in Québec, Canada
Authors: Bédard Joanie , Best Krista Lynn , Sweet Shane Norman
Published: October 2023

Approximately 2.7 million Canadians live with mobility disabilities. There is scientific documentation describing the importance of physical activity for maintaining or increasing functional capacity, which can support mobility and enhance social participation for people with mobility disabilities. However, numerous barriers continue to restrict participation in community-based physical activity for people with mobility disabilities. It is critical to address these barriers now. A consensus activity was conducted to identify challenges and solutions to overcome the barriers to physical activity promotion among people with mobility disabilities in Quebec, Canada. Three challenges were identified: (1) better services and communication continuum between research, clinical and community organisations, (2) enhanced knowledge mobilisation between research, clinical and community settings and (3) more education for healthcare professionals and community knowledge users regarding mobility and physical activity. Research priorities should focus on developing, testing and implementing existing interventions and programmes to ensure accessible physical activity and to facilitate participation in community settings for people with mobility disabilities.
Phase II study of durvalumab and tremelimumab with front-line neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer: primary analysis in the original cohort of KGOG3046/TRU-D
Authors: Park Junsik , Lee Jung Bok , Lim Myong Cheol , Kim Byoung-Gie , Kim Jae-Weon , Kim Sunghoon , Choi Chel Hun , Kim Hee Seung , Park Sang Yoon , Lee Jung-Yun
Published: October 2023

Background

This study assessed the antitumor activity and safety of durvalumab plus tremelimumab combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients newly diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. Here, we report the primary endpoint of the original cohort of the KGOG 3046/TRU-D study.

Methods

In this investigator-initiated single-arm, phase II trial, patients with stage IIIC-IVB ovarian cancer were administered three cycles of durvalumab (1500 mg) and tremelimumab (75 mg) with NAC, followed by interval debulking surgery (IDS). After surgery, three cycles of durvalumab (1120 mg) and adjuvant chemotherapy followed by durvalumab maintenance (1120 mg [total 12 cycles]) were administered. The primary endpoint of the study was 12-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate.

Results

Twenty-three patients were enrolled. The median patient age was 60 years (range 44–77 years), and most patients presented with high-grade serous carcinoma (87.0%) and stage IV disease (87.0%). At the time of data cut-off on January 17, 2023, the median follow-up duration was 29.2 months (range 12.0–42.2). The 12-month, 24-month, and 30 month PFS rates were 63.6%, 45.0%, and 40.0%, respectively. All patients underwent IDS, with an R0 resection rate of 73.9%, and 17.4% achieved pathological complete response. Skin rashes were the most common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs, 69.6%). However, all TRAEs completely resolved after steroid use.

Conclusion

This study showed promising activity with a durable clinical response, supporting the potential of NAC with dual immune checkpoint blockade in advanced-stage ovarian cancer.

Trial registration number

NCT03899610.
Determination of the W-boson mass at hadron colliders
Authors: Rottoli Luca , Torrielli Paolo , Vicini Alessandro
Published: October 2023

We introduce an observable relevant for the determination of the W-boson mass $$m_W$$

m
W

at hadron colliders. This observable is defined as an asymmetry around the jacobian peak of the charged-lepton transverse-momentum distribution in the charged-current Drell–Yan process. We discuss the observable’s theoretical prediction, presenting results at different orders in QCD, and showing its perturbative stability. Its definition as a single scalar number and its linear sensitivity to $$m_W$$

m
W

allow a clean extraction of the latter and a straightforward discussion of the associated theoretical systematics: a perturbative QCD uncertainty of $${{{\mathcal {O}}}}(\pm 5)$$

O
(
±
5
)

MeV on $$m_W$$

m
W

can be established by means of this observable, relying solely on charged-current Drell–Yan information. Owing to its relatively inclusive nature, the observable displays desirable properties also from the experimental viewpoint, especially for the unfolding of detector effects. We show that a measurement of this observable can lead to a competitive experimental error on $$m_W$$

m
W

at the LHC.
Entanglement classification via witness operators generated by support vector machine
Authors: Sanavio Claudio , Tignone Edoardo , Ercolessi Elisa
Published: October 2023

Although entanglement is a basic resource for reaching quantum advantage in many computation and information protocols, we lack a universal recipe for detecting it, with analytical results obtained for low-dimensional systems and few special cases of higher-dimensional systems. In this work, we use a machine learning algorithm, the support vector machine with polynomial kernel, to classify separable and entangled states. We apply it to two-qubit and three-qubit systems, and we show that, after training, the support vector machine is able to recognize if a random state is entangled with an accuracy up to $$92\%$$

92
%

for the two-qubit system and up to $$98\%$$

98
%

for the three-qubit system. We also describe why and in what regime the support vector machine algorithm is able to implement the evaluation of an entanglement witness operator applied to many copies of the state, and we describe how we can translate this procedure into a quantum circuit.
QWriter: A Reinforcement Learning-Based Robot for Early Literacy Acquisition
Authors: Sandygulova Anara , Amir Aida , Oralbayeva Nurziya , Telisheva Zhansaule , Zhanatkyzy Aida , Shakerimov Aidar , Sarmonov Shamil , Aimysheva Arna
Published: October 2023

Robot-assisted language learning produces comparable results to human tutors in a long-term study with elementary school children.
Efficient Cross-platform Multiplexing of Hardware Performance Counters via Adaptive Grouping
Authors: Liu Tong-Yu , Guo Jianmei , Huang Bo
Published: October 2023

Collecting sufficient microarchitecture performance data is essential for performance evaluation and workload characterization. There are many events to be monitored in a modern processor while only a few hardware performance monitoring counters (PMCs) can be used, so multiplexing is commonly adopted. However, inefficiency commonly exists in state-of-the-art profiling tools when grouping events for multiplexing PMCs. It has the risk of inaccurate measurement and misleading analysis. Commercial tools can leverage PMCs, but they are closed source and only support their specified platforms. To this end, we propose an approach for efficient cross-platform microarchitecture performance measurement via adaptive grouping, aiming to improve the metrics’ sampling ratios. The approach generates event groups based on the number of available PMCs detected on arbitrary machines while avoiding the scheduling pitfall of Linux perf_event subsystem. We evaluate our approach with SPEC CPU 2017 on four mainstream x86-64 and AArch64 processors and conduct comparative analyses of efficiency with two other state-of-the-art tools, LIKWID and ARM Top-down Tool. The experimental results indicate that our approach gains around 50% improvement in the average sampling ratio of metrics without compromising the correctness and reliability.
Implication of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized using Fruit Peel Extract as Antioxidant Agent and Catalytic Degradation
Authors: Rajput Hitesh , Kedia Abhitosh , Shah Dimple
Published: October 2023

Herein, quasi-spherical iron oxide nanoparticles with characteristic catalytic and antioxidant properties are synthesized using fruit peel extracts as an alternative, effective, affordable, and environmentally friendly way via the green chemistry method. UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Transmission electron microscopy with selected electron area diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) are used to analyse the synthesised iron oxide nanoparticles. Dynamic light scattering and Zeta potential are also used to find the average particle size and their stability. Further iron oxide nanoparticles are used in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate test for antioxidant activity and for the degradation of Methylene Blue dye.
Primary Angiosarcoma of the Breast: A 20-Year Single-Institution Experience in China
Authors: Tian Tian , Li Yun , Yu Yue , Cao Xuchen , Li Ming , Wang Xin
Published: October 2023

Background. Primary angiosarcoma of the breast (PAS) is a rare aggressive tumor with no standardized treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of all primary angiosarcoma of the breast obtained from a single center and the features peculiar to Chinese patients. Methods. The medical records at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital were retrospectively searched to identify all cases of PAS treated in 2000–2019. Results. Sixteen cases of PAS were identified, and most involved the left breast. Forty percent of young patients had a history of progressive tumor enlargement with localized pain and skin color changes. The diagnostic accuracy rate was 66.7% for MRI, 75% for core-needle aspiration, and 58.3% for intraoperative fast frozen pathology. The most common surgery was modified radical mastectomy (n = 9, 56.25%). All positive margins involved the pectoralis major muscle, and these tumors’ mean size was 8.2 cm. All cases were CD34 positive, and the Ki-67 index was ≥30% in 37.5%. Median local or distant recurrence-free survival was 57.6 months for low-to-moderate-grade tumors and 23.5 months for high-grade tumors. Seventy-five percent of the patients were treated with chemotherapy. The average tumor size in patients with relapse-free survival longer than 3 years was 2.2 cm. Conclusion. Young patients may have larger and softer breast tumors with skin color changes. MRI and core-needle biopsy should be performed preoperatively. A positive surgical margin at pectoralis major should be noted. Breast prosthesis may be a better reconstruction option. Adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy should be considered for large tumors with a high Ki-67 index or high-grade tumors.
Cognitive Radio Spectrum Sensing-Based QAM Technique Using Blockchain
Authors: Balakumar D. , Nandakumar S.
Published: October 2023

Cognitive radio (CR) is a novel concept developed to solve concerns such as spectrum underutilization and scarcity. Spectrum detection methods are employed in the blockchain-based CR to make optimum use of the spectrum reserves. In this paper, an attempt is made to evaluate the effectiveness of an energy sensor using collaborative spectrum detection. Wideband is defined as the frequency range between 470 MHz and 790 MHz, and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) is employed. The probability of detection (

P

d

) under different situations is examined using detection in the receiver operational curve (ROC). According to the findings, the

P

d

increases with the number of samples. This form of sensing, which is thought to be the easiest and best, uses energy-detecting spectrum sensing. To address ambiguity, the M-ary QAM technique is provided, which increases aggregate effectiveness in terms of the percentage of false alarm (

P

f

) and probability of missed detection (

P

m

) by 5% at a comparable delay period. When CR encounters shadowing and impacts situations, the client cannot tell the difference between an underutilized zone and fading. In comparison to the existing model, this study increases the likelihood of detecting a 3 dBm SNR for a 64-QAM modulated signal by at least 15%.
The Association of Adipokines and Myokines in the Blood of Obese Children and Adolescents with Lipoprotein Lipase rs328 Gene Variants
Authors: Shestopalov Alexander V. , Davydov Vadim V. , Tumanyan Genrik T. , Teplyakova Elena D. , Shkurat Tatiana P. , Mashkina Elena V. , Shkurat Mikhail A. , Gaponov Andrey M. , Sadova Anastasia A. , Borisenko Olga V. , Roumiantsev Sergey A.
Published: October 2023

Obesity develops largely due to genetic factors, with the genetic polymorphism of lipid metabolism enzymes being of particular importance. However, it is still unclear how the genetic variants of one of the key enzymes in lipid transport, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), are associated with the endocrine function of mesenchymal tissues in obesity. The current study was aimed at the investigation of the LPL rs328 gene variant association with adipokines and myokines levels, as well as lipid metabolism indices in the blood of children and adolescents of both genders with obesity. We found that LPL polymorphism rs328 is not characterized by the differences in the levels of hormones, adipokines, and myokines and in the blood of healthy children and adolescents; however, it significantly affects these indices during obesity in gender-dependent manner. The shifts in hormones, adipokines, and myokines manifest mostly in the obese individuals with Ser447Ser genotype rather than with 447Ter genotype. Obese boys homozygous for Ser447Ser have more elevated leptin levels than girls. They also demonstrate lower adiponectin, apelin, prolactin, and osteocrine levels than those in obese girls with the same genotype. The gender-based differences are less pronounced in individuals with 447Ter genotype than in the homozygotes for 447Ser. Thus, we conclude that the polymorphism rs328 of the lipoprotein lipase gene is accompanied by the changes in hormones, adipokines, and myokines levels in the blood of children and adolescents with obesity in gender-dependent manner.
Prevalence and Predictors Associated to Schistosoma mansoni Infection among Patients Attending the Saint Jean de Malte Hospital, Njombe, Littoral Region, Cameroon
Authors: Ngwa Ambe Fabrice , Tanyi Bobga Pride , Nsongmayi Ekwi Damian , Yememe Yememe Gedeon Schadrack , Ngong Nyeme Judith , Isah Mohamed , Ashu Ebai Christabel , Ebai Calvin Bisong
Published: October 2023

Background. Schistosomiasis remains a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. It has been associated to morbidity and mortality in developing countries including Cameroon, and Njombe-Penja health district is an endemic area. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors of Schistosoma mansoni infection among patients attending the Saint Jean de Malte Hospital, Njombe. Methods. A cross-sectional study design was employed, with the enrolment of 300 participants using convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Stool specimens were collected and examined using direct microscopy, Kato-Katz’s method, and formol ether concentration technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS, and chi-square test was used to assess the association. Risk factors for S. mansoni infection were assessed using multivariable logistic regression, and a

p
<
0.05

was considered significant. Results. The overall prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection was 13%. Schistosoma mansoni infection was mostly frequent among

patients
<
20

years and males. Stream usage (

AOR
=
2.15

, 95% CI. 1.32–3.50), always visiting the stream (

AOR
=
11.35

, 95% CI 2.33-55.33), always swimming and washing clothes in the stream (

AOR
=
7
:
10

, 95% CI 2.31-21.80), age group < 20 years (

AOR
=
3.7

, 95% CI 1.1-12.2), and age group 20-29 years (

AOR
=
2.58

, 95% CI 1.14-18.42) were significantly associated with increased risk of S. mansoni infection. Conclusion. These findings suggest that Schistosoma mansoni infection is of public health concern in Njombe and its environs. Age of <20 years and between 20 and 29 years, stream usage, always visiting the stream, and always swimming and washing clothes in the stream were the main risk factors of S. mansoni infection. Thus, mass drug administration and health education are required.
A comparison of scan and focal sampling in estimating activity budgets, diet composition, and proximity patterns of a wild pair-living primate
Authors: Tesar Katherina , Heymann Eckhard W. , Dolotovskaya Sofya
Published: October 2023

The choice of behavioral sampling method can impact the outcome of data collection, however, few direct comparisons between methods have been made. We compared the performance of instantaneous group scan sampling (scan sampling) and focal continuous sampling with variable session durations (focal sampling) in estimating activity patterns, diet composition, and spatial proximity in seven groups of wild coppery titi monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus) in Peruvian Amazonia. We used a series of paired samples Wilcoxon tests to compare daily proportions of time allocated to each type of activity/food/proximity category in each sampling method. In addition, we compared our results with those of other studies conducted on the same population of titi monkeys at other times. Focal sampling provided significantly lower estimates for moving time and significantly higher estimates for resting time compared to scan sampling, likely because scan sampling tends to give higher estimates of more conspicuous behaviors and lower estimates of less conspicuous behaviors. For diet composition, scan sampling gave similar results to other studies, while focal sampling gave significantly lower estimates for feeding on fruits and higher estimates for feeding on arthropods. The most likely reason is that focal sampling with variable session durations tends to overestimate behaviors during which a focal animal is less likely to go out of view, such as feeding on arthropods in the lower strata of the forest. Our results suggest that a pilot study comparing different methods should be conducted prior to collecting data, as not all methods are interchangeable.
Religion, Religious Climate, and Students’ Sense of Belonging in a South African University
Authors: Owusu-Agyeman Yaw , Pillay Semira
Published: October 2023

Informed by a social constructionist approach, this study examines the relationship between religion, institutional religious climate, and students’ sense of belonging in a university in South Africa. Data were gathered and analysed from a sample of 2026 students who completed a survey that included an open-ended section. The results revealed that students’ perceptions of institutional religious climate are directly associated with their sense of belonging, supportive campus environment, and cross-cultural interaction. Also, while the religious beliefs of students are strengthened by their interaction with colleagues and staff from diverse cultures, they also develop a sense of belonging when they freely practice their religious beliefs in an institution that promotes religious diversity. The study concludes that a positive institutional religious climate could enhance students’ religious experiences, encourage religious freedom, and create students’ sense of belonging.
The Rhetoric of Ghanaian Religious Communication
Authors: Gyekye Daniel Appiah
Published: October 2023

This paper examines the rhetoric of Ghana’s religious communication. Meta-analysis of the rhetorical situation of Ghanaian religious communication was conducted to examine how rhetoric has been used in Ghanaian society. Thus, the paper analyzed the effectiveness of religious rhetoric as a tool for religious propagation. It examined various forms of communication such as preaching, singing, dancing and selling of souvenirs in churches from the perspective of rhetoric. The theoretical framework included popular varieties of rhetoric, religious communication, content analysis of the rhetoric of religious situations in Ghana, and a semiotic analysis of souvenirs sold by some Ghanaian pastors. Suppression, avoidance, adjustment, and accommodation were examined as rhetorical tools of religious control. The study also postulated that religion and communication through the media are interwoven due to the rhetorical aspects that bind the two concepts in shaping the authority, dominance and ideologies of religious identities in Ghana.
Careful What You Wish For
Authors: Pijpers Peter B.M.J.
Published: October 2023

It is commonly acknowledged that international law applies to cyberspace. But “how” it applies is still a matter of dispute; a matter that was hampered by the limited number of legal opinions by States. It was assumed that an increase in opinio iuris and State practice would crystalize how international law applies to cyberspace. However, the recent surge in legal opinions has had a contrary effect, i.e. increasing rather than decreasing the differences – and hence the legal uncertainty. This development could even create legal asymmetry: while some States will comply with international law, others will exploit the ambiguity and cherry-pick the interpretation that supports their strategic goals.
Fighters, Not Victims: On Victimhood Recognition and Gender Representations in the Enslavement Charges in the Ongwen Case
Authors: Sánchez Mera Silvina
Published: October 2023

In the Ongwen case, according to the otp women were abducted to be wives and men to be soldiers, women were forced to work and men forced to fight. The otp brought enslavement charges for some of these crimes. Absent from the charges was the forced fighting of men. This paper discusses the crime of enslavement in the Ongwen case. By combining a doctrinal analysis and a feminist approach, I seek to show how gender representations emerge in the application of the law in detriment of men’s victimhood. I argue that the application of the law responds to gender representations in war. Men are not perceived to be victims once they become ‘soldiers’. Likewise, for women, the effect is their continuous perception as non-fighters and victims of war. This leads to reinforcing those representations, to lack of acknowledgment of victimhood for men and to reducing the experiences of women.
The New Social History of the Malayan Emergency, 1948–60: Locating and Decentring the State in Malaya’s New Villages
Authors: Malhi Amrita
Published: October 2023

Tan Teng Phee’s Behind Barbed Wire is an excellent, meticulously researched book that should transform the way scholars understand both the social history, and the historiography, of the Malayan Emergency (1948-60). In this work, Tan sets out in full detail the British colonial state’s rationale for establishing an expansive network of more than five hundred detention camps – or New Villages – under the Emergency’s Briggs Plan. In addition to this important contribution, Tan also explains the gruelling reality of life inside the camps for the 570,000 or more mostly Chinese Malayans whose social, political, and economic roles – and private, internal lives – the state coercively reconstructed inside them. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s work on governmentality, and James C. Scott’s work on the hidden transcripts and weapons of the weak, Tan’s book also lays the groundwork for a new wave of work on the Emergency. Thanks to Tan, future scholars are now by far better equipped to examine sensitive questions such as how and why Malayans experienced the Emergency in a racially differentiated manner, and the role the Emergency played in constructing Malaya’s “consociational” politics, creating a specific path to Malayan decolonisation.
A Corpus-Based Study of the Reflexive Form Tua-eng ‘Self’ in Thai
Authors: Ratitamkul Theeraporn
Published: October 2023

This paper aims to investigate semantic and syntactic characteristics of the reflexive form tua-eng ‘self’ in Thai and analyze reflexive constructions within the framework of Cognitive Grammar, adopting van Hoek (1995, 1997)’s approach. To observe how the reflexive appears in actual usage, 500 instances of tua-eng were collected from the Thai National Corpus (tnc). The reflexive is examined in relation to its antecedent regarding animacy, structural proximity and grammatical positions. Moreover, frequently encountered reflexive constructions are identified. The study claims that the prototypical reflexive construction in Thai is one in which the antecedent serves as a subject and tua-eng as a direct object. Other constructions are extensions from the prototype and can be accounted for when the antecedent’s point of view and the viewing relation are taken into consideration. The reflexive constructions in Thai are hence a network of related schemas that are prototypically organized.
Effect of Surface Nanomodification of Titanium Implants on Adhesion, Bone Bonding, and Bacterial Aggregation of Gingival Epithelial Cells and Fibroblasts
Authors: Xu Lang , Huang Zhongwei
Published: October 2023

Implant-supported dentures have become a major approach to edentulous/defective repair. Peri-implantitis is a major factor leading to implant failure. The emergence of antibacterial peptides has provided a novel idea for the study of antibacterial coatings on implant surfaces. The antibacterial
peptide GL13K was modified onto the surface of titanium (Ti) by silanization with 3-chloropropyltriethoxysilane, and its physicochemical properties were characterized. After its coculture with Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. g) in vitro, the cell activity was detected, and the antibacterial
properties were analyzed. After its coculture with gingival fibroblasts (GFs) in vitro, CCK-8 was adopted to detect cell proliferation and analyze cytotoxicity. After its coculture with gingival epithelial cells (GECs) and GFs in vitro, the adhesion was demonstrated by acridine
orange staining and DAPI staining. The smooth Ti implant (S/T), the microgroove Ti implant (E/T), and the GL13K-modified microgroove Ti implant (GL13K/E/T) were implanted into the inferolateral aspect of the femoral condyle of the right posterior limb of healthy New Zealand rabbits. Four weeks
after surgery, the levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) in the bone tissue around the implant were detected by immunohistochemistry. The results revealed that relative to the S/T and E/T materials, the surface roughness and contact angle of the GL13K/E/T
material were enhanced, while the metabolic activity and colony count of P. g were decreased. S/T, E/T, and GL13K/E/T materials had no notable effect on the viability of GFs (P > 0.05). Relative to the S/T material, the numbers of GECs and GFs attached to the surfaces of the E/T
and GL13K/E/T materials were drastically increased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, relative to the S/T group, OPG levels in the peri-implant bone tissues of the E/T and GL13K/E/T groups were increased, while the RANKL level was decreased (P < 0.05). In contrast to group E/T, OPG
in the peri-implant bone tissue of rabbits of the GL13K/E/T group was increased, while the RANKL was decreased (P < 0.05). In summary, the Ti implant with a microgroove structure modified by the antibacterial peptide GL13K had an ideal antibacterial effect and promoted the adhesion
and growth of GECs and GFs. In addition, the antibacterial peptide GL13K-modified Ti implant with a microgroove structure could promote early bone bonding.
Explicit Phase-Field Regularized Voronoi-Based Lattice Model for Quasi-Brittle Fracture and Its Finite Element Implementation
Authors: Wang Shijun , Yang Jing , Zhang Zhong , Liang Kui , Yuan Siqi , Tong Teng , Wang Tao
Published: October 2023

In this study, the conventional Voronoi-based irregular lattice model is regularized by the phase-field method, which effectively introduces a characteristic length parameter to overcome the mesh-size dependent solution. To circumvent the local instability (snap-back) which generally
requires sophisticated arc-length control, the so-called phase-field regularized Voronoi-based lattice (PHL) model is realized using an explicit finite element solver. Furthermore, the constitutive law of quasi-brittle materials is embraced when establishing the PHL model, which is
proven length-scale insensitive. We show that the PHL model with an explicit solver is very robust and computationally efficient, provided with proper parameters and parallel computing. Moreover, the necessary fine mesh size in the implicit phase-field method is greatly released in
the explicit PHL model, of which accurate results could be obtained with the coarser mesh size. Several experiments are adopted to demonstrate the model, including the size effect and mix-mode bending of concrete specimens. Cracks’ initiation, propagation, and coalescence could
be automatically captured without any tracking algorithms. In addition, it is noteworthy that the model could easily be extended to coupled mechanical and transportation problems.
Mechanisms of Linggui Zhugan Decoction in the Treatment of Obesity Based on Network Pharmacology
Authors: Liu Chunmei , Zhang Li , Yang Yubin
Published: October 2023

This study employed network pharmacology to investigate how Linggui Zhugan Decoction (LGZGD) may treat obesity. The TCMSP platform was used to select active ingredients and targets of LGZGD based on drug ADME properties, forming a component-target network. Obesity-related targets were
identified from various databases, and a global network was constructed to analyze interactions between components, targets, and disease-related proteins. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using G: profiler. Molecular
docking using AutoDockTools validated the binding of key active components to core targets. The study identified 120 active ingredients and 201 targets for LGZGD, with 84 targets related to obesity. GO analysis revealed various biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions
associated with obesity, including lipid response and cellular response to chemical stimuli. KEGG pathway analysis highlighted signaling pathways such as AGE-RAGE signaling in diabetic complications, cancer pathways, IL-17 signaling, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction signaling. Molecular
docking confirmed that the core active components of LGZGD tightly bind to key targets involved in obesity treatment. This study provides a preliminary understanding of the pharmacological basis and efficacy mechanism of LGZGD in treating obesity, supporting its traditional use and offering
a theoretical foundation for further research.
Green Synthesis of Novel Antimicrobial ZnO Nanorods
Authors: Alshammari Eida M. , Sherwani Subuhi , Alqahtani Fatimah Othman , Khan Mahvish , Khan Wahid Ali , Khan Mohd Wajid Ali , Alsukaibi Abdulmohsen K. D. , Al-Motair Khalid , Alenezi Khalaf M. , Umar Ahmad
Published: October 2023

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly used in the diagnosis and prevention of various human infections and diseases. The multi-functional nature of these nanoparticles together with characteristics such as low toxicity and biodegradability, allow their use in a slew
of products and applications ranging from biomedical, food and supplement industries, therapeutics and biosensors. ZnO exhibits biomimetic properties enabling biomedical applications, including use as alternatives to pre-existing antibiotics. This study discusses a simple, cost-effective and
environmentally sustainable technique for the synthesis of crystalline ZnO nanorods from egg-white or albumin. Single phase nature of the of the engineered nanocrystals was determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) technique. The morphology of the
ZnO nanorods was studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The diameter of synthesized ZnO nanorods was determined to be in the range of 20–30 nm. The crystal structure of wurtzite ZnO was discovered by the use of Raman,
FTIR, while the surface area (12.8 m2/g) was analyzed by using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area study. Both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains were used to test the ZnO nanorods’ antibacterial abilities without the need of artificial UV activation.
Findings showed that different disease-causing bacteria present in community and hospital settings respond differently to ZnO nanorods’ antibacterial activity. When the concentration of nanorods powder increased, the ratio of bacterial survival dropped, showing an increase in antibacterial
activity. The gram-negative strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa was shown to have the maximum antibacterial activity of the ZnO nanorods as compared to other gram-negative and positive bacteria. Eco-friendly and green synthesis of ZnO NPs produce vital multifunctional nanomaterials which
possess promising antibacterial properties with more extensive studies may develop drugs for multidrug resistance bacteria.
Preparation of Lipid Microbubble/Paclitaxel Nanoparticle Complex and Its In Vitro Antigastric Tumor Effect Mediating the STAT3-NF-κB Pathway
Authors: Sun Wenhao , Chen Tianyuan , Yan Yuehua , Chen Heng , Yang Yang , Wang Yulan
Published: October 2023

In this research, lipid microbubbles (MBs) were prepared first, and then Tat peptide, carboxylated heparin, amino biotin, and amino folic acid were successively synthesized. After a certain amount of paclitaxel was added, paclitaxel nanoparticles (NPs) with a double-ligand were obtained
through reaction. The lipid MBs prepared above were added to streptavidin. After washing and purification, the lipid MBs and double-ligand paclitaxel NPs were added. After incubation on ice, the lipid MB-double-ligand paclitaxel NP complex was obtained. In addition to the physical characterization
of the materials, human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 and lung cancer cells A549 were first utilized to test the biological properties of the NP complex In Vitro and then utilized to study the effects of gastric cancer (GC) cells. The results revealed that the lipid MBs were uniformly
distributed and did not aggregate. The concentration of the NP complex reached 7.75±0.93×108 NPs/mL, and the particle size was 2.23±0.68 μm. At various radiation intensities, blue fluorescently stained MDA-MB-231 cells and A549 cells showed greener
fluorescently labeled double-ligand paclitaxel NPs around and inside the nucleus of Hoechst 33342. According to the prepared products and byproducts, they were grouped to compare different prepared products. The fluorescence uptake of the two cells at 4 h was the highest under the condition
of the NP complex combined with ultrasonic radiation, and the destruction of cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and A549) was the strongest under the condition of the NP complex combined with ultrasonic radiation. In GC cells, NP complexes inhibited cell migration and invasion relative to the other
groups (P <0.05), the level of Bax protein increased (P <0.05), while that of Bcl-2, pSTAT3/STAT3, and phosphorylation of NF-kappa B (PNF-κB)/NF-κB protein were markedly decreased (P <0.05).
Effects of Ginkgo biloba Extract on Cognitive Function Recovery and Inflammatory Factors in Rats After Anesthesia
Authors: Luo Kang , Liu Xulin , Liao Peng , Chen Yaqin , Dai Yanyuan
Published: October 2023

This research was aimed to investigated the impacts of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on cognitive function and inflammatory factors in rats after anesthesia. Firstly, the primary cultured cortical neurons of rats were prepared in culture medium, to which different concentrations
of GbE were added, and cell viability was observed. Twenty SD rats were selected, among which 10 rats were made into a model of neurological dysfunction, and the other 10 were used as controls. The correlation between neurological dysfunction and inflammatory factors was analyzed using Spearman
rank correlation (PRC) analysis. Another 40 SD rats were screened and grouped into 4 (a model (M) group, a treatment (T) group, a prevention (P) group, and a blank (B) group). Rats in the P and T treatments were injected intraperitoneally with 10 mg/kg GbE injection before or after anesthesia
induction, while an equal amount of 0.9% NaCl solution was administrated in M and B groups once a day for 3 days. Morris water maze (MWM) and open filed test (OFT) were employed to assess the cognitive function of rats in different groups. Furthermore, the levels of inflammatory factors of
rats in various groups were compared on day 1 and day 7. Results revealed that GbE can enhance neural cell viability, reduce lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and alleviate changes in cell nuclear morphology and DNA fragmentation. In terms of correlation, the NIHSS score was positively
associated with TNF-α and IL-1β, and negatively correlated with IL-10 (all P <0.05). Besides, the escape latency was greatly shortened, memory time was prolonged, and the TNF-α and IL-1β were downshifted in P and T groups to the conditions
in the M group, showing great differences with P <0.05. This study demonstrated that GbE could inhibit neural cell apoptosis (NCA), remarkably improve the cognitive dysfunction in rats after anesthesia, and regulate the inflammatory factors.
Effect of Polyamidoamine-Dendrimer Nanoparticles Combined with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell Microenvironment on the Growth and Immune Infiltration of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cell Line CNE-1
Authors: Zhou Wei , Lan Bin , Liu Qiong , Li Zhaolong
Published: October 2023

In tumor immunotherapy, Treg cells are immune suppressor cells that are difficult to completely eliminate. To address this issue, a nano-delivery system needs to be designed that includes chemotherapeutic agents and multidrug resistance reversal agents to achieve a cascade of immune
chemotherapy enhancement. In this study, polyamidoamine-dendrimer (PAMAM) was utilized as the raw material to prepare a dual-sensitive nano-carrier that is both pH and reduction responsive, and loaded with the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) and the multidrug resistance reversal agent,
elacridar (ELC), to generate YPAMAM nanoparticles. Physicochemical property analysis was performed, and the effect of the nanoparticles on extracellular anti-angiogenesis was examined using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). A culture microenvironment was established using human
nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-1) and YPAMAM-HUVEC, which was rolled into three groups: 100% CNE-1 supernatant (group A), 50% HUVEC-YPAMAM (5:1) supernatant+50% CNE-1 supernatant (group B), and 100% HUVEC-YPAMAM (5:1) supernatant (group C). The effect of each group on the growth and immune
infiltration of CNE-1 cells was analyzed. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that the nano-carrier was successfully synthesized, and the particle size of the nanoparticles with various DOX/ELC ratios ranged between 10–20 nm. The prepared nanoparticles exhibited high
encapsulation efficiency and simultaneous release of both drugs, with a clear reduction and pH sensitivity. Furthermore, nanoparticles applied to HUVEC could promote vascular rupture, and fluorescence staining showed that the microenvironment could reduce VEGF level and inhibit tumor metastasis.
The CNE-1 cell adhesion rate and proliferation rate of groups B and C were dramatically inferior to those of group A (P <0.01). Comparison of the various tumor tissue extract groups indicated that the established microenvironment could inhibit the infiltration of CNE-1 cells in tissue,
thereby demonstrating that the constructed microenvironment can improve the immunosuppressive effect of tumors.