bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strategic Teambuilding Game: Intentional Diversity and Inclusion for Maximum Team Performance
Authors: Eagle Karen A. , McNees Mark R.
Published: December 2022

Inclusivity and diversity are critical to maximizing team performance. This activity incorporates a popular party game that connects students with the learning objectives, demonstrating the vital roles inclusion and diversity play in the success of a business and the importance of building skills for maximizing teamwork. With little instruction to expose cultural assumptions later in the game, students form groups and learn that it takes intentionality to avoid prejudice and establish a high-performance team. Participants work to build team member skills and experience loss when problems cause members to switch teams. Appropriate for graduate, undergraduate students, and professionals, the Strategic Teambuilding Game requires team members to communicate and network, reveals judgment in teambuilding, exposes students to risk and recovery from failure, and demonstrates the power of teamwork to build a high-functioning organization. Results are used to form teams for group projects.
Universal Design Principles for Multimodal Representation in Literacy Activities for Preschoolers
Authors: Fundelius Erika , Wade Taryn , Robbins Audrey , Wang Sen , McConomy M. Addie , Fumero Keisey
Published: December 2022

The article demonstrates how to use the multimodal and multisensory representation principle of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to increase access to storybook reading for diverse groups of preschoolers with extensive support needs (ESN). Storybook reading is an essential part of instruction in early childhood education. Utilizing UDL-inspired book boxes, children of all ability levels can partake in the activity in a meaningful manner. Multimodal representation, such as use of tangible or abstract items (e.g.: photos, miniatures, real items) or sensory experiences (e.g.: essential oils, food items, braille, physical movement) allow children to engage with stories in an enhanced manner. Book boxes can assist in developing concepts related to social emotional growth, social skills, functional living skills, environmental concepts, and vocabulary presented in books.
Inhibition of MRTF activation as a clinically achievable anti-fibrotic mechanism for pirfenidone
Authors: Ma Hsiao-Yen , Vander Heiden Jason A. , Uttarwar Salil , Xi Ying , N'Diaye Elsa-Noah , LaCanna Ryan , Caplazi Patrick , Gierke Sarah , Moffat John , Wolters Paul J. , Ding Ning
Published: December 2022

Background

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic disease characterised by aberrant fibroblast/myofibroblast accumulation and excessive collagen matrix deposition in the alveolar areas of lungs. As the first approved IPF medication, pirfenidone (PFD) significantly decelerates lung function decline while its underlying anti-fibrotic mechanism remains elusive.

Methods

We performed transcriptomic and immunofluorescence analyses of primary human IPF tissues.

Results

We showed that myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF) signalling is activated in myofibroblasts accumulated in IPF lungs. Furthermore, we showed that PFD inhibits MRTF activation in primary human lung fibroblasts at clinically achievable concentrations (half-maximal inhibitory concentration 50–150 µM, maximal inhibition >90%, maximal concentration of PFD in patients <100 µM). Mechanistically, PFD appears to exert its inhibitory effects by promoting the interaction between MRTF and actin indirectly. Finally, PFD-treated IPF lungs exhibit significantly less MRTF activation in fibroblast foci areas than naïve IPF lungs.

Conclusions

Our results suggest MRTF signalling as a direct target for PFD and implicate that some of the anti-fibrotic effects of PFD may be due to MRTF inhibition in lung fibroblasts.
Bowel obstruction secondary to internal hernia in a hereditary angioedema patient: a case report
Authors: Tanaka Atsuhito , Huh Ji Young , Yamamoto Takamasa , Washio Ken , Ariyoshi Koichi
Published: December 2022

Background

Gastrointestinal attacks are frequent symptoms in patients diagnosed with hereditary angioedema (HAE). Cases of self-limited bowel intussusception and unneeded exploratory laparotomy due to lack of knowledge about HAE have been reported. Furthermore, after the introduction of C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) concentrate, the recommended medication for HAE attacks, treatment has become typically medical in nature. We share a rare case where operative exploration was indicated to resolve a mechanical small bowel obstruction secondary to an HAE attack.

Case report

An 80-year-old woman with HAE presented with lower left abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea. Computed tomography (CT) showed edema of the small bowel and stomach as well as possible signs of mechanical small bowel obstruction. The patient was treated with C1-INH concentrate but showed only mild signs of relief, warranting diagnostic laparoscopy. Intraoperative findings showed internal herniation and strangulation of the small bowel caused by adhesions forming a band. After surgical intervention, no bowel resection was needed.

Conclusion

Although C1-INH concentrate remains the principal treatment for HAE, gastrointestinal attacks may potentially cause surgical emergencies.
Left atrial myxoma: an unusual cause of pre-syncope and symptomatic bradycardia
Authors: Vongbunyong Kenny , Sinfield Steven , Premyodhin Ned , Chen Kevin , Zargarian Emin , Ng Angie , Kern Morton
Published: December 2022

Background

Atrial myxomas account for approximately 50% of all primary cardiac tumors. The size, location, risk of embolic event, and involvement of other cardiac structures, are all factors that contribute to the wide range of presentation for cardiac myxomas. Patients with myxomas may remain asymptomatic, while others may report symptoms such as fatigue and fever, dyspnea, and syncope. It is important to recognize arrhythmias as an uncommon symptom of myxomas.

Case presentation

We report a rare case of a 67-year-old man who presented with pre-syncopal episodes, symptomatic bradycardia, and night sweats found to have a 5.5 × 5.1 × 3 cm myxoma in the left atrium. During diastole the mass caused dynamic flow obstruction across the mitral valve. The patient underwent surgical resection of the mass given his symptomatology and risk of embolic events. Removal of the myxoma resulted in resolution of both pre-syncopal episodes and the patient’s sinus bradycardia.

Conclusion

Atrial myxomas are a rare cause of pre-syncope and symptomatic bradycardia. It is important to have a clinical suspicion for atrial myxomas given early diagnosis and surgical intervention are key in improving the prognosis of these patients. This case also highlights the importance of taking into account the source of the myxoma’s blood supply in relationship to other cardiac structures, and further correlating these findings with clinical symptoms.
Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome associated with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor: a case report
Authors: Reinecke Raphael , Reiländer Annemarie , Seiler Alexander , Koch Christine , Voss Martin
Published: December 2022

Background

Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is a rare, immune-mediated neurological disorder. In adults, the pathogenesis can be idiopathic, post-infectious or paraneoplastic, the latter etiology belonging to the ever-expanding group of defined paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS). In contrast to other phenotypes of PNS, OMS cannot be ascribed to a single pathogenic autoantibody. Here, we report the first detailed case of paraneoplastic, antibody-negative OMS occurring in association with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET).

Case presentation

A 33-year-old female presented with a two-week history of severe ataxia of stance and gait, dysarthria, head tremor, myoclonus of the extremities and opsoclonus. Her past medical history was notable for a metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, and she was subsequently diagnosed with paraneoplastic opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome. Further workup did not reveal a paraneoplastic autoantibody. She responded well to plasmapheresis, as she was refractory to the first-line therapy with corticosteroids.

Conclusions

This case expands current knowledge on tumors associated with paraneoplastic opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome and the age group in which it can occur. It further adds evidence to the effectiveness of plasmapheresis in severe cases of opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome with a lack of response to first-line therapy.
Mendelian randomization study of causal link from gut microbiota to colorectal cancer
Authors: Ni Jing-Jing , Li Xiao-Song , Zhang Hong , Xu Qian , Wei Xin-Tong , Feng Gui-Juan , Zhao Min , Zhang Zi-Jia , Zhang Lei , Shen Gen-Hai , Li Bin
Published: December 2022

Recent studies have shown the relevance of gut microbiota in the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer (CRC), but the causal relationship remains unclear in the human population. The present study aims to assess the causal relationship from the gut microbiota to CRC and to identify specific causal microbe taxa via genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics based two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Microbiome GWAS (MGWAS) in the TwinsUK 1,126 twin pairs was used as discovery exposure sample, and MGWAS in 1,812 northern German participants was used as replication exposure sample. GWAS of CRC in 387,156 participants from the UK Biobank (UKB) was used as the outcome sample. Bacteria were grouped into taxa features at both family and genus levels. In the discovery sample, a total of 30 bacteria features including 15 families and 15 genera were analyzed. Five features, including 2 families (Verrucomicrobiaceae and Enterobacteriaceae) and 3 genera (Akkermansia, Blautia, and Ruminococcus), were nominally significant. In the replication sample, the genus Blautia (discovery beta=-0.01, P = 0.04) was successfully replicated (replication beta=-0.18, P = 0.01) with consistent effect direction. Our findings identified genus Blautia that was causally associated with CRC, thus offering novel insights into the microbiota-mediated CRC development mechanism.
The protective effect of URP20 on ocular Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli infection in rats
Authors: Li Meng , Xin Danli , Gao Jian , Yi Quanyong , Yuan Jianshu , Bao Yongbo , Gong Yan
Published: December 2022

Background

Infectious keratitis, a medical emergency with acute and rapid disease progression may lead to severe visual impairment and even blindness. Herein, an antimicrobial polypeptide from Crassostrea hongkongensis, named URP20, was evaluated for its therapeutic efficacy against keratitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection in rats, respectively.

Methods

A needle was used to scratch the surface of the eyeballs of rats and infect them with S. aureus and E.coli to construct a keratitis model. The two models were treated by giving 100 μL 100 μM URP20 drops. Positive drugs for S. aureus and E. coli infection were cefazolin eye drops and tobramycin eye drops, respectively. For the curative effect, the formation of blood vessels in the fundus was observed by a slit lamp (the third day). At the end of the experiment, the condition of the injured eye was photographed by cobalt blue light using 5 μL of 1% sodium fluorescein. The pathological damage to corneal tissues was assessed using hematoxylin–eosin staining, and the expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was detected by immunohistochemistry.

Results

URP20 alleviated the symptoms of corneal neovascularization as observed by slit lamp and cobalt blue lamp. The activity of S. aureus and E.coli is inhibited by URP20 to protect corneal epithelial cells and reduce corneal stromal bacterial invasion. It also prevented corneal thickening and inhibited neovascularization by reducing VEGF expression at the cornea.

Conclusion

URP20 can effectively inhibit keratitis caused by E.coli as well as S. aureus in rats, as reflected by the inhibition of corneal neovascularization and the reduction in bacterial damage to the cornea.
Massive foreign body reaction and osteolysis following primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the ligament augmentation and reconstruction system (LARS): a case report with histopathological and physicochemical analysis
Authors: Ambrosio Luca , Vadalà Gianluca , Castaldo Rachele , Gentile Gennaro , Nibid Lorenzo , Rabitti Carla , Ambrosio Luigi , Franceschetti Edoardo , Samuelsson Kristian , Senorski Eric Hamrin , Papalia Rocco , Denaro Vincenzo
Published: December 2022

Background

Autologous hamstrings and patellar tendon have historically been considered the gold standard grafts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). In the last decades, the utilization of synthetic grafts has re-emerged due to advantageous lack of donor site morbidity and more rapid return to sport. The Ligament Augmentation and Reconstruction System (LARS) has demonstrated to be a valid and safe option for ACLR in the short term. However, recent studies have pointed out the notable frequency of associated complications, including synovitis, mechanical failure, and even chondrolysis requiring joint replacement.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 23-year-old male who developed a serious foreign body reaction with wide osteolysis of both femoral and tibial tunnels following ACLR with LARS. During first-stage arthroscopy, we performed a debridement of the pseudocystic mass incorporating the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and extending towards the tunnels, which were filled with autologous anterior iliac crest bone graft chips. Histological analysis revealed the presence of chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and foreign body giant cells with synthetic fiber inclusions. Furthermore, physicochemical analysis showed signs of fiber depolymerization, increased crystallinity and formation of lipid peroxidation-derived aldehydes, which indicate mechanical aging and instability of the graft. After 8 months, revision surgery was performed and ACL revision surgery with autologous hamstrings was successfully carried out.

Conclusions

The use of the LARS grafts for ACLR should be cautiously contemplated considering the high risk of complications and early failure.
Effect of self-etch primer application on the bond failure rate of a mandibular bonded lingual retainer
Authors: Cakmak Ozlu Fethiye , Yazıcıoğlu Sabahat
Published: December 2022

Background

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of self-etch primer (SEP) application on the bond failure rate of a mandibular bonded lingual retainer over 24 months.

Methods

The average age of the 86 individuals included in this study was 17 years 4 months. After the removal of the orthodontic appliances, the lingual retainers, which were made of six-stranded stainless steel wire, were bent and bonded onto the lingual surface of all mandibular anterior teeth. The study was performed using a split-mouth design. In the study group, the SEP was administered to the teeth’s lingual surfaces. In the control group, they were etched using 37% phosphoric etchant liquid gel. After etching, the primer was applied. The adhesive resin was applied and the retainer was fitted. The patients were re-evaluated over 24 months. The first bond failures and the amount of adhesive remaining on the tooth were recorded as the adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores. The chi-square test was used to compare the bond failure rates (P = 0.231) and ARI scores between the groups (P = 0.162). The survival rates of the retainers were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier test (P = 0.237). The significance level was P < 0.05.

Results

The bond failure rates, ARI scores, and survival rates did not differ significantly between the groups.

Conclusions

The results of this study demonstrated that an SEP can be used successfully in mandibular lingual retainer bonding. In situations where saliva isolation is difficult, bonding a fixed lingual retainer with SEP is recommended.
m6A regulator-mediated methylation modification patterns and immune microenvironment infiltration characterization in osteoarthritis
Authors: Hu Shidong , Shen Chen , Yao Xudong , Zou Yulong , Wang Ting , Sun Xianding , Nie Mao
Published: December 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disease in orthopedics. RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) exerts an essential effect in a variety of biological processes in the eukaryotes. In this study, we determined the effect of m6A regulators in the OA along with performing the subtype classification. Differential analysis of OA and normal samples in the database of Gene Expression Omnibus identified 9 significantly differentially expressed m6A regulators. These regulators were monitored by a random forest algorithm so as to evaluate the risk of developing OA disease. On the basis of these 9 moderators, a nomogram was established. The results of decision curve analysis suggested that the patients could benefit from a nomogram model. The OA sample was classified as 2 m6A models through a consensus clustering algorithm in accordance with these 9 regulators. These 2 m6A patterns were then assessed with principal component analysis. We also determined the m6A scores for the 2 m6A patterns and their correlation with immune infiltration. The results indicated that type A had a higher m6A score than type B. Thus, we suggest that the m6A pattern may provide a new approach for diagnose and provide novel ideas for molecular targeted therapy of OA.
Safety and efficacy of paclitaxel plus carboplatin versus paclitaxel plus cisplatin in neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma: a retrospective study
Authors: Jiang Li , Zhu Jie , Chen Xue , Wang Yi , Wu Lei , Wan Gang , Han Yongtao , Leng Xuefeng , Peng Lin , Wang Qifeng
Published: December 2022

Background and purpose

We evaluated and compared the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy with paclitaxel plus cisplatin (TP) or carboplatin (TC) in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESCC) who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT).

Materials and methods

This single-center retrospective study assessed patients with LA-ESCC (cT2N + M0, cT3-4aNanyM0) receiving NCRT plus curative-intent esophagectomy with TP or TC regimen. The primary endpoints were grade ≥ 3 adverse events (AEs) and overall survival (OS). AEs were compared using a t-test according to CTCAE 4.0. The Kaplan–Meier survival curves were compared using the log-rank test; the treatment effect was measured using hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results

We included 151 and 50 patients in the TC and TP groups, respectively. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were well balanced between groups. The TP group exhibited significantly higher hematologic and non-hematologic AEs than the TC group, and the noticeable difference was the incidence of febrile neutropenia of grade 3 or higher (P = 0.011). No significant intergroup differences were noted considering postoperative complications, resection margins, or pathological complete remission rate (all P > 0.05). OS and progression-free survival (PFS) did not significantly differ between groups. The estimated 3-year OS and PFS rates were 65.1% versus 69.4% and 58.4% versus 53.5% for TP and TC groups, respectively.

Conclusion

In patients with LA-ESCC, we recommend TC, not TP, as an optimal chemotherapy regimen for NCRT, given its superiorsafety profile and comparable efficacy.
Aonchotheca (Nematoda: Capillariidae) is validated as a separated genus from Capillaria by both mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA
Authors: Deng Yuan-Ping , Suleman  , Zhang Xue-Ling , Li Rong , Li Le-Yan , Fu Yi-Tian , Liu Guo-Hua , Yao Chaoqun
Published: December 2022

Background

The family Capillariidae is a group of thread-like nematodes of 27 genera and over 300 species that infect a great variety of hosts including humans. Among these, some taxa such as the genus Aonchotheca have remained controversial regarding their systematic status for decades. The aim of the current study was to verify Aonchotheca’s systemic status and to further determine whether it is a distinct genus from Capillaria using molecular and phylogenetic analyses.

Results

We sequenced the mitochondrial (mt) genome and nuclear small subunit (18S) rRNA gene of Aonchotheca putorii, a representative species of the genus, and investigated its systematic status in Trichinellida using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The differences in amino acid sequences of 13 protein-coding genes were 12.69–67.35% among Aonchotheca, Capillaria, Eucoleus, and Pseudocapillaria with cox1 (12.69%) and atp8 (67.35%) as the most and the least conserved gene, respectively, and the difference of two mt rRNAs was 18.61–34.15%. Phylogenetic analyses of the complete mt genome and 18S rRNAs unequivocally showed that Aonchotheca was a distinct genus from Capillaria.

Conclusions

Large difference exists among Aonchotheca, Capillaria, Eucoleus, and Pseudocapillarias. Aonchotheca putorii is the first species in the genus Aonchotheca for which a complete mitogenome has been sequenced. These data are useful for phylogenetics, systematics and the evolution of Capillariidae.

Graphical Abstract
A sex difference in mouse dopaminergic projections from the midbrain to basolateral amygdala
Authors: Manion Matthew T. C. , Glasper Erica R. , Wang Kuan Hong
Published: December 2022

Background

Dopaminergic circuits play important roles in the motivational control of behavior and dysfunction in dopaminergic circuits have been implicated in several psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression. While these disorders exhibit different incidence rates in men and women, the potential sex differences in the underlying neural circuits are not well-understood. Previous anatomical tracing studies in mammalian species have revealed a prominent circuit projection connecting the dopaminergic midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the basolateral amygdala (BLA), which is involved in emotional processing and associative learning. However, whether there is any sex difference in this anatomical circuit remains unknown.

Methods

To study the potential sex differences in the VTA-to-BLA dopaminergic circuit, we injected two viral vectors encoding fluorescent reporters of axons and synaptic boutons (AAV–FLEX–tdTomato and AAV–FLEX–SynaptophysinGFP, respectively) into the VTA of a mouse transgenic driver line (tyrosine hydroxylase promoter-driven Cre, or TH-Cre), which restricts the reporter expression to dopaminergic neurons. We then used confocal fluorescent microscopy to image the distribution and density of dopaminergic axons and synaptic boutons in serial sections of both male and female mouse brain.

Results

We found that the overall labeling intensity of VTA-to-BLA dopaminergic projections is intermediate among forebrain dopaminergic pathways, significantly higher than the projections to the prefrontal cortex, but lower than the projections to the nucleus accumbens. Within the amygdala areas, dopaminergic axons are concentrated in BLA. Although the size of BLA and the density of dopaminergic axons within BLA are similar between male and female mice, the density of dopaminergic synaptic boutons in BLA is significantly higher in male brain than female brain.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate an anatomical sex difference in mouse dopaminergic innervations from the VTA to BLA. This finding may provide a structural foundation to study neural circuit mechanisms underlying sex differences in motivational and emotional behaviors and related psychiatric dysfunctions.
Background-foreground segmentation for interior sensing in automotive industry
Authors: Drygala Claudia , Rottmann Matthias , Gottschalk Hanno , Friedrichs Klaus , Kurbiel Thomas
Published: December 2022

To ensure safety in automated driving, the correct perception of the situation inside the car is as important as its environment. Thus, seat occupancy detection and classification of detected instances play an important role in interior sensing. By the knowledge of the seat occupancy status, it is possible to, e.g., automate the airbag deployment control. Furthermore, the presence of a driver, which is necessary for partially automated driving cars at the automation levels two to four can be verified. In this work, we compare different statistical methods from the field of image segmentation to approach the problem of background-foreground segmentation in camera based interior sensing. In the recent years, several methods based on different techniques have been developed and applied to images or videos from different applications. The peculiarity of the given scenarios of interior sensing is, that the foreground instances and the background both contain static as well as dynamic elements. In data considered in this work, even the camera position is not completely fixed. We review and benchmark three different methods ranging, i.e., Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM), Morphological Snakes and a deep neural network, namely a Mask R-CNN. In particular, the limitations of the classical methods, GMM and Morphological Snakes, for interior sensing are shown. Furthermore, it turns, that it is possible to overcome these limitations by deep learning, e.g. using a Mask R-CNN. Although only a small amount of ground truth data was available for training, we enabled the Mask R-CNN to produce high quality background-foreground masks via transfer learning. Moreover, we demonstrate that certain augmentation as well as pre- and post-processing methods further enhance the performance of the investigated methods.
Did US Politicians Expect the China Shock?
Authors: Bombardini Matilde , Li Bingjing , Trebbi Francesco
Published: December 2022

Information sets, expectations, and preferences of politicians are fundamental, but unobserved determinants of their policy choices. Employing repeated votes in the US House of Representatives on China’s normal trade relations (NTR) status during the two decades straddling China’s World Trade Organization (WTO) accession, we apply a moment inequality approach designed to deliver consistent estimates under weak informational assumptions on the information sets of members of Congress. This methodology offers a robust way to test hypotheses about what information politicians have at the time of their decision and to estimate the weight that constituents, ideology, and other factors have in policy making and voting. (JEL D72, D78, D83, D84, F14, P33)
Phaedrus' Exam
Authors: Clements Estelle
Published: December 2022

Explored through a pedagogical lens, Plato’s Theuth and Thamus anecdote reveals an educational intervention designed to examine and apply the teachings of Socrates through a ‘real-world’ philosophical conundrum: how to wisely contend with the introduction of new technology. This work suggests that Theuth and Thamus can be viewed as the black and white horses of Plato’s chariot metaphor, and that this chariot driving lesson helps student-philosophers understand the role of wisdom in governing both their personal lives and the state. Serving as an examination, the anecdote draws together the ideas student philosophers have explored throughout the earlier portions of the dialogue.
Jerome's Epistula Prima
Authors: Osobik Kaja
Published: December 2022

Jerome wrote Epistula prima probably during the decade of 366–376. Little is known about this stage in his life, but it was apparently then that as a young man he became interested in asceticism and at the end of this period of time finally decided to become a monk. However, the ascetic ideas are not the main theme of Ep. 1. The letter tells the story of a falsely accused woman who was subjected to torture and survived seven strokes of the executioner’s sword. The way in which Jerome interprets and presents these events reflects his spiritual profile and aesthetic preferences. The text can be interpreted both as a letter (a ‘real’ or a ‘fictional’ one) with an embedded narrative and as a non-epistolary work with a dedicatory preface. This affects the way in which the reader responds to the introduction (where Jerome’s anxiety concerning the imperfection of his style is expressed) as well as his or her right to assess the subsequent narrative. None of these approaches eliminates the duality in the text’s structure. Therefore, it should be interpreted on the two following levels: as an epistolary speculum animi, which shows Jerome in the situation of undertaking the task of writing the narrative, and as another, literary speculum, which reflects the author’s soul by means of artistic expression.
Evaluation of the Evacuation of People with Disabilities, Using an Evacuation Chair. Research Report
Authors: Karolina Szulc  , Marcin Cisek  , Małgorzata Król
Published: December 2022

Cel: The article presents the results of research on the evacuation process of people from the building of the Faculty of Environmental and Power Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology, including the evacuation of people with a temporary limitation of independent movement, who are evacuated using an evacuation chair. The travel times and the time needed to prepare an evacuation chair were examined. Based on the research, the average speeds of movement of the studied populations were determined. Projekt i metody: Twelve evacuation experiments were carried out in three different user populations of the building. The experiments included the analysis of the times of movement of people without disabilities; people with temporary disabilities who move independently on crutches and a population in which there was one person with temporary reduced mobility, who was evacuated using an evacuation chair. Six of the experiments concerned the evacuation from the fourth floor of the building, three of which were proceeded through the main staircase and the remaining three through the side staircase. The next six experiments were carried out from the second floor, also split into two different staircases. Each experiment ended when all people reached the meeting point near the building. Wyniki: The lowest values of the average total travel time were recorded for the population without disabilities. The shortest average travel time was 83 seconds and concerned the evacuation of the population without disabilities from the second floor, evacuating through a side staircase (K1). In all the experiments, the person on crutches was the slowest to move, for whom the evacuation times were the longest. The maximum average time for a person on crutches was 342 seconds to evacuate from the fourth floor via the main staircase. Evacuation with an emergency chair improved the process by 10.47% for the evacuation from the second floor using K1 staircase, and for the evacuation with this staircase from the 4th floor by 28.71%. For the main staircase (K2), the experiments conducted from the second floor using an evacuation chair took 40.02% less time than an independent evacuation of a person with crutches and 47.07% less time when evacuating from the fourth floor. Wnioski: Interpreting the results obtained in the experiments, it can be stated that the evacuation using an evacuation chair improved the evacuation process compared to the experiments in which a person temporarily disabled was walking independently on crutches. People without disabilities evacuate the fastest. The analysis of the time of travel made it possible to determine the average speed of movement of the analyzed populations, which can be used as a model value to perform an evacuation simulation. Słowa kluczowe: evacuation, evacuation time, people with disabilities, evacuation chair
Emergency Voice Communication Systems – Analysis of Normative and Legal Documents
Authors: Tomasz Popielarczyk  , Mariusz Sobecki  , Jan Pacuk  , Tyberiusz Frymus
Published: December 2022

Cel: The purpose of this article is to present the results of ongoing theoretical research – the evaluation of normative and legal documents in the area of emergency voice communication. The research was aimed at analysing and comparing the operation of emergency communication systems (SKA) in selected countries and the possibility of their wider use in construction objects in Poland. The utilitarian purpose of the publication is a discussion that should contribute to the development of appropriate standards for ensuring the proper level of reliability of such installations and the safety of those who use them. Wprowadzenie: Emergency communication systems enable communication between locations in a building that are critical for conducting evacuation and rescue, as well as firefighting operations and a central location in the building object (e.g. the fire equipment service room) that provides control and support for these processes. They can be used to communicate with people with different types and degrees of disabilities, who are in survival areas, firefighters/rescuers in the fire vestibules of lifts for rescue teams or stairwells, and stewards at sporting events. Their use in Poland is not common, but increasingly required by the investors. Metodologia: The authors used theoretical research, such as analysis of literature and legal documents, synthesis, generalization, inference, comparison and analogy. Documents from Poland, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States were analysed. The selection of individual countries was guided by the level of development of these systems in the given country and the availability of source documents. Wnioski: Up until now SKA installations are not widespread in our country. However, an increasing demand for such installations is to be expected, especially given changes in the attitudes toward ensuring the safety of people with various disabilities, as well as, perhaps to a somewhat lesser extent, the emerging need to support the communication of the rescue teams, especially in buildings with very high heights. So far, emergency communication systems have been used mainly for utility purposes under normal operating conditions of a construction object. Thus there are no national regulations or standards on the requirements for such installations to function under fire conditions. Słowa kluczowe: evacuation of buildings, safety of evacuation, fire intercoms, emergency communication systems
Developing problem-based learning electronic student worksheet for number pattern topic
Authors: Prasetyo Puguh Wahyu , Atsila Khasna Salma
Published: December 2022

The background of this research is the lack of technology-based learning materials, teachers, and students' need for the variety of new learning materials in SMP Negeri 1 Bantarkawung. This study aimed (1) to produce problem-based learning electronic student worksheets for number patterns and (2) to know the usefulness of problem-based learning electronic student worksheet for number patterns in terms of validity and practicality. It was the R&D (Research and Development) using ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) model. This research was conducted in class VIII A SMP Negeri 1 Bantarkawung involving six students in a small class trial and twenty-eight students in a big class trial. The research instruments were interview guidelines and questionnaires to material experts, media experts, and students' responses. The results showed that students' electronic worksheets were valid and practical. The evaluation by students' electronic worksheet material expert got 70,50, categorized as very valid. The review from media experts showed that Students' Electronic Worksheet got 68,50, which was classified as very valid. Meanwhile, the small class trial got 62,84, categorized as practical. Moreover, the big class trial got 65,39, and was classified as practical.
The plants in my street
Authors: Mountain Julie
Published: December 2022

Plants are local to everyone and fertile ground for activity ideas. This year, outdoors specialist Julie Mountain will be pointing out some commonly found flora and what you can do with it
Training: All in hand
Authors: Russell Meredith Jones
Published: December 2022

Early Years Library was developed with practitioners so it meets staff and children's needs. By Meredith Jones Russell
Therapeutic Efficacy of Selenium in Management of Hyperhomocytenemia in Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity
Authors: Hussein Jihan , Farouk Hanan , El-khayat Zakaria
Published: December 2022

Nephrotoxicity is a prominent cause of global of injury and mortality. The aim here is to investigate the therapeutic role of selenium in treatment of cisplatin-induced experimental nephropathy. Animals were classified into four groups including cisplatin group in which animals were injected (intraperitoneal) with a single dose of cisplatin, while treated group in which rats injected with cisplatin and then received selenium (0.5 mg /k.g.b.w. / day) orally for ten days , control group , and selenium group in which healthy rats received selenium in a dose of 0.5 mg /k.g.b.w. / day , orally for ten days .After the experimental period, samples (blood and kidney tissues) were collected from each rat to estimate different biochemical and histological parameters using different techniques. Cisplatin significantly increased serum creatinine and urea comparing to control. However, reduction in catalase antioxidant enzyme was recorded in nephrotoxic rats, while marked increase in lipid peroxide (MDA), Advanced Oxidant Protein Product (AOPP), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), ceramide, tumor necrosis factor –α (TNF–α), metalloproteinase -9 (MMP-9)and homocysteine (Hcy) levels was detected as compared to control. Histopathological investigation revealed necrobiotic changes and deterioration in the lining tubular epithelium and tubular cystic dilatation at the cortex and inflammatory cells between the degenerated tubules. Treatment with selenium showed improvement in histopathological picture and corrective effects in all biomarkers under investigation. Nephrotoxicity induced by csplatin in rats is associated with remarkable elevation of oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, and renal histopathological lesions. While, the therapeutic effect of selenium (Se) may be attributed to` the alleviation of ROS-mediated apoptosis. These current results indicated that Se may be offer a promising dietary supplement against nephrotoxicity.
Multi-Layer Perception model with Elastic Grey Wolf Optimization to predict student achievement
Authors: Song Yinqiu , Meng Xianqiu , Jiang Jianhua
Published: December 2022

This study proposes a Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) variant named Elastic Grey Wolf Optimization algorithm (EGWO) with shrinking, resilient surrounding, and weighted candidate mechanisms. Then, the proposed EGWO is used to optimize the weights and biases of Multi-Layer Perception (MLP), and the EGWO-MLP model for predicting student achievement is thus obtained. The training and verification of the EGWO-MLP prediction model are conducted based on the thirty attributes from the University of California (UCI) Machine Learning Repository dataset’s student performance dataset, including family features and personal characteristics. For the Mathematics (Mat.) subject achievement prediction, the EGWO-MLP model outperforms one model’s prediction accuracy, and the standard deviation possesses the stable ability to predict student achievement. And for the Portuguese (Por.) subject, the EGWO-MLP outperforms three models’ Mathematics (Mat.) subject achievement prediction through the training process and takes first place through the testing process. The results show that the EGWO-MLP model has made fewer test errors, indicating that EGWO can effectively feedback weights and biases due to the strong exploration and local stagnation avoidance. And the EGWO-MLP model is feasible for predicting student achievement. The study can provide reference for improving school teaching programs and enhancing teachers’ teaching quality and students’ learning effect.
Spatio-temporal evolution and influencing factors of culture and tourism integration efficiency in Shandong Province, China under high-quality development
Authors: Lu Fei , Ren Huaiguo , Zhai Xinglong
Published: December 2022

Improving culture and tourism integration efficiency is an important way to promote the high-quality development of cultural tourism. According to the inherent requirements of high-quality development, this paper constructed an evaluation indicator system for culture and tourism integration efficiency. Then, the culture and tourism integration efficiency of 16 cities in Shandong Province, China during the period from 2010 to 2019 was measured with the benevolent DEA cross-efficiency model. On the basis of exploratory spatial data analysis and dynamic spatial Durbin model, we explored the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of culture and tourism integration efficiency in Shandong Province. The results show that from 2010 to 2019, the culture and tourism integration efficiency in Shandong Province has experienced three stages of "rapid growth-rapid decline-stable rise period". The spatial pattern has changed from "high in the east and low in the west" to "high in the central and low in the north and south", and regions with high integration efficiency are mainly concentrated in Jiaodong Peninsula. The level of economic development significantly promotes the culture and tourism integration efficiency in local and neighboring cities in the short and long term, while policy environment has a significant negative impact. Traffic conditions and human capital only promote the culture and tourism integration efficiency in local cities. The level of information development and openness degree only have a long-term effect on the culture and tourism integration efficiency, without short-term effect. The research results are of great significance to improve the growth quality and sustainable development of cultural tourism in Shandong Province. Our work could provide a scientific basis for maximizing the allocation benefits of cultural and tourism resources in similar regions in the world.
Prevalence and determinants of self-medication consumption of antibiotics in children in Iran: A population-based cross-sectional study, 2018–19
Authors: Nazari Javad , Chezani-Sharahi Nahid , Eshrati Babak , Yadegari Ali , Naghshbandi Mobin , Movahedi Hamidreza , Moradzadeh Rahmatollah
Published: December 2022

Introduction

The prevalence of self-medication of antibiotics has been revealed in various studies. The main aim of this work is to investigate the frequency of self-medication in children under 6 years and the factors affecting it.

Methods

This is a population-based cross-sectional study conducted in the Arak metropolitan in the center of Iran from January 2019 to January 2020. We used stratified random sampling to determine recruitment criteria. As 1754 households were invited to the study that 1483 were approved to participate. Children’s data were obtained by the interview with their mothers. In order to define self-medication consumption of antibiotics, it was adapted between annually maternal self-reported consumption of antibiotics among their children and history of received antibiotics registered in insurance services during the same time period. Logistic regression models were exploited to obtain odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Mean age of mothers was 31.8 years (SD = 5.4), 52.1% of the children were boys. Annually self-medication of antibiotic consumption was estimated 61.6% (n = 914). Based on the logistic regression analysis, in the adjusted analysis, girls were associated with self-medication consumption of antibiotics lower than boys’ children (p = 0.016). Older mothers were lower self-medication consumption of antibiotics than youngers (p = 0.001). Moreover, the permanent job of fathers was associated with lower self-medication consumption of antibiotics than temporarily and unemployment (p = .001). The odds of self-medication consumption of antibiotics were increasing with the increase in age of children (OR: 1.21, CI95%: 1.12, 1.31 and p = 0.001). The increase in parity has been a significant association with the self-medication consumption of antibiotics (OR: 1.64, CI95%: 1.38, 1.95and p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Results of this study show that some factors such as children’s age, gender, mother’s age, father’s occupational status, and parity are the determinants that significantly impact the self-medication prevalence.
Clinical value of AKR1B10 in hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Zixiang , Pei Yinxuan , Li Weiwei , Zhang Jingxiao , Liu Jinlong
Published: December 2022

Background

To evaluate the clinical value of Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) in the diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

A search of the PubMed, China Biology Medicine, Cochrane, and Embase databases was performed to conduct meta-analyses to evaluate the accuracy of AKR1B10 in diagnosing HCC and to assess the impact on prognosis of patients after curative resection of HCC.

Results

A total of 12 different cohorts from 11 studies including 2747 HCC patients and 2053 controls showed that the pooled specificity and the pooled sensitivity of AKR1B10 for the diagnosis of HCC were 0.78 (95% CI: 0.69–0.85) and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.77–0.90), respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of serum AKR1B10 for the diagnosis of HCC were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.70–0.86) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.77–0.93), respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of AKR1B10 in malignant tumor tissue for the diagnosis of HCC were 0.78 (95% CI: 0.61–0.89) and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.69–0.90), respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of AKR1B10 to distinguish HCC from benign liver disease were 0.71 (95% CI: 0.62–0.78) and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.77–0.89), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of AKR1B10 combined with alpha fetoprotein (AFP) in the diagnosis of HCC were 0.84 (95% CI: 0.79–0.88) and 0.88 (95% CI: 0.73–0.95), respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of AKR1B10 in malignant tumor tissue for the diagnosis of early-stage HCC were 0.85 (95% CI: 0.62–0.95) and 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81–0.93), respectively. A meta-analysis of five studies including 798 patients demonstrated that high AKR1B10 expression in liver malignant tumor was associated with better overall survival in patients with HCC after hepatectomy (HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.41–0.72, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

AKR1B10 exhibits a great clinical value in the diagnosis of HCC, especially for early-stage HCC, with excellent diagnostic accuracy. Furthermore, AKR1B10 expression can predict the prognosis of HCC patients after hepatic resection.