bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A review of the psychometric properties and implications for the use of the fertility quality of life tool
Authors: Woods Brittany M. , Bray Leigh Ann , Campbell Sukhkamal , Holland Aimee , Mrug Sylvie , Ladores Sigrid
Published: May 2023

Objectives

To analyze and synthesize the reported psychometric properties of the Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) instrument and describe its implications for use in practice and research in men and women with infertility.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed to identify all articles using the FertiQoL tool. PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched from September 2006 through May 2022. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported psychometric data on the original FertiQoL tool using a sample population of individuals with infertility. Sample size, country of origin, and psychometric data were documented for each study.

Results

The initial search revealed 153 articles that had utilized the FertiQoL. Following abstract, title, and full-text screenings, 53 articles reported psychometric data and met criteria for inclusion. The FertiQoL is a sound measurement with satisfactory reliability and validity. Studies indicated adequate reliability in the overall scale ($$\alpha=0.43-0.92$$α=0.43-0.92), as well as the core Emotional, Mind/Body, Social, and Relational scales ($$\alpha=0.43-0.92$$α=0.43-0.92) and two optional Tolerability and Environment fertility treatment subscales ($$\alpha=0.67-0.91$$α=0.67-0.91). Although the Relational subscale exhibited slightly lower reliability in several studies, the internal consistency for the measurement as a whole was satisfactory. Results also indicate adequate: 1) face and content validity with extensive professional and patient feedback during development; 2) convergent validity with general quality of life, depression, and anxiety measurements; and 3) structural validity using both confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses.

Conclusion

The FertiQoL tool is the most commonly used instrument to measure the impact of fertility issues on quality of life in men and women with infertility. Understanding the impact of infertility on quality of life provides valuable insight into the areas of infertility-related care that need to be prioritized, such as mental health or relational stressors. While the instrument has been used in different patient populations with infertility and available in multiple translations, it is necessary to understand the updated psychometric properties and the implications for its use. This review shows that the FertiQoL is reliable and valid for cross-cultural use among individuals with various etiologies of infertility.
Age-related neuroimmune signatures in dorsal root ganglia of a Fabry disease mouse model
Authors: Choconta Jeiny Luna , Labi Verena , Dumbraveanu Cristiana , Kalpachidou Theodora , Kummer Kai K. , Kress Michaela
Published: May 2023

Pain in Fabry disease (FD) is generally accepted to result from neuronal damage in the peripheral nervous system as a consequence of excess lipid storage caused by alpha-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) deficiency. Signatures of pain arising from nerve injuries are generally associated with changes of number, location and phenotypes of immune cells within dorsal root ganglia (DRG). However, the neuroimmune processes in the DRG linked to accumulating glycosphingolipids in Fabry disease are insufficiently understood.

Therefore, using indirect immune fluorescence microscopy, transmigration assays and FACS together with transcriptomic signatures associated with immune processes, we assessed age-dependent neuroimmune alterations in DRG obtained from mice with a global depletion of α-Gal A as a valid mouse model for FD. Macrophage numbers in the DRG of FD mice were unaltered, and BV-2 cells as a model for monocytic cells did not show augmented migratory reactions to glycosphingolipids exposure suggesting that these do not act as chemoattractants in FD. However, we found pronounced alterations of lysosomal signatures in sensory neurons and of macrophage morphology and phenotypes in FD DRG. Macrophages exhibited reduced morphological complexity indicated by a smaller number of ramifications and more rounded shape, which were age dependent and indicative of premature monocytic aging together with upregulated expression of markers CD68 and CD163.

In our FD mouse model, the observed phenotypic changes in myeloid cell populations of the DRG suggest enhanced phagocytic and unaltered proliferative capacity of macrophages as compared to wildtype control mice. We suggest that macrophages may participate in FD pathogenesis and targeting macrophages at an early stage of FD may offer new treatment options other than enzyme replacement therapy.
Ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants used by Cashinahua (Huni Kuin) herbalists in Purus Province, Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Horackova Jana , Chuspe Zans Maria Elena , Kokoska Ladislav , Sulaiman Naji , Clavo Peralta Zoyla Mirella , Bortl Ludvik , Polesny Zbynek
Published: May 2023

This study aims to document the diversity of medicinal plants used by the Cashinahua people (also known as Huni Kuin) of the Curanja River, as well as describe and compare their uses with pharmacological and phytochemical records from previously published studies. The ethnic has been studied to a limited extent from an ethnobotanical perspective. The study area is located in the Ucayali region, eastern Central Amazon, where ancestral knowledge is preserved due to the limited accessibility of the region. Between November 2010 and June 2015, a total of 11 months were spent on the survey, which included a short-term visit to complete voucher specimen collection and taxonomic identification. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 Cashinahua traditional healers and 10 midwives. Vernacular names, ethnomedicinal uses, plant parts used and forms of preparation and administration were recorded. Ethnopharmacological, pharmacological and phytochemical uses were checked through survey of the previously published papers indexed on Web of Science databases between 2018 and 2022. We obtained data on 467 plant taxa, among which we highlighted 79 species unreported or rarely cited for medicinal use or phytochemical analysis. These species were spread over 60 genera and 42 botanical families, with Acanthaceae being the most represented. Leaves were used the most frequently (93.56%). Among the 79 species, the most reported therapeutic activities involved pregnancy and birth disorders (13.84%), followed by poisonings, infections and infestations. The predominant application form was external (87%). Our study indicates that there are locally valuable species that have not yet been studied for their medical potential.
Chronic quadriceps tendon rupture: quadriceps tendon reconstruction using ipsilateral semitendinosus tendon graft
Authors: Oliva Francesco , Marsilio Emanuela , Migliorini Filippo , Maffulli Nicola
Published: May 2023

Ruptures of the quadriceps tendon (QTRs) are uncommon. If the rupture is not diagnosed, chronic ruptures may develop. Re-ruptures of the quadriceps tendon are rare. Surgery is challenging because of tendon retraction, atrophy and poor quality of the remaining tissue. Multiple surgical techniques have been described. We propose a novel technique in which the quadriceps tendon is reconstructed using the ipsilateral semitendinosus tendon.
Novel agents and evolving strategies in myelofibrotive neoplasm: an update from 2022 ASH annual conference
Authors: Wang Andrew , Liu James , Pu Jeffrey J.
Published: May 2023

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a disorder characterized by the proliferation of myeloid precursors, commonly due to overactive JAK signaling. The discovery of the JAK2V617Fmutation and subsequent development of JAK inhibitors (JAKi) results in reduced spleen size, improved symptom, and enhanced survival in MF patients. However, there are unmet needs of additional novel targeted therapies for this incurable disease due to the limited utility of first-generation JAKis, which are associated with dose-limiting cytopenia and disease recurrence. New targeted treatment strategies for MF are on the horizon. We are here to discuss the latest clinical research findings presented in the 2022 ASH Annual Meeting.
Neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight preterms in preschool childhood: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Battajon Nadia , Bechini Chiara , De Osti Federica , Galletti Anna , Frigo Anna Chiara , Lago Paola
Published: May 2023

Background

Preterm birth is a risk factor for a child’s neurological development. Preterm children have unusual neurodevelopmental profiles with executive, visual-motor functions, fine and gross motor skills, language and behavior that affect learning. In this study, we analyzed the neurodevelopmental outcomes of a cohort of very low birth weight infants admitted to the Treviso Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between 2014 and 2016 and followed up to preschool childhood.

Method

This is a prospective cohort study. Infants were followed at birth and after NICU discharge at two- and four-year follow-ups. The two-year assessment was conducted with Bayley III, and at four years with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - III scales and Movement Assessment Battery for Children − 2.

Results

The cohort consisted of 207 subjects with a mean gestational age of 28.9 weeks, and a mean birth weight of 1097.2 g. At two years of age, children without disabilities were 90 (59.6%), those with minor disabilities 47 (31.1%), and those with major disabilities 14 (9.3%); at four years, 58.4% of children without previous disabilities, presented problems with verbal tests and manual dexterity: aiming, grasping and balance at movement assessment. There was significant alteration in processing speed (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between processing speed and manual dexterity (p < 0.001) and between processing speed and aiming and grasping (p = 0.0059).

Conclusions

We found that more than half the children free of disability at two years, at four years had deficit often involving the oculo-motor coordination and processing speed. These motor profile alterations limit the expression of cognitive abilities and the achievement of expected school performance, thus resulting in behavioral disorders, typical of preterm children. Early professional follow-up could improve the expected educational outcomes.
Cross-phyla protein annotation by structural prediction and alignment
Authors: Ruperti Fabian , Papadopoulos Nikolaos , Musser Jacob M. , Mirdita Milot , Steinegger Martin , Arendt Detlev
Published: May 2023

Background

Protein annotation is a major goal in molecular biology, yet experimentally determined knowledge is typically limited to a few model organisms. In non-model species, the sequence-based prediction of gene orthology can be used to infer protein identity; however, this approach loses predictive power at longer evolutionary distances. Here we propose a workflow for protein annotation using structural similarity, exploiting the fact that similar protein structures often reflect homology and are more conserved than protein sequences.

Results

We propose a workflow of openly available tools for the functional annotation of proteins via structural similarity (MorF: MorphologFinder) and use it to annotate the complete proteome of a sponge. Sponges are highly relevant for inferring the early history of animals, yet their proteomes remain sparsely annotated. MorF accurately predicts the functions of proteins with known homology in $${>}90\%$$

>
90
%

cases and annotates an additional $$50\%$$

50
%

of the proteome beyond standard sequence-based methods. We uncover new functions for sponge cell types, including extensive FGF, TGF, and Ephrin signaling in sponge epithelia, and redox metabolism and control in myopeptidocytes. Notably, we also annotate genes specific to the enigmatic sponge mesocytes, proposing they function to digest cell walls.

Conclusions

Our work demonstrates that structural similarity is a powerful approach that complements and extends sequence similarity searches to identify homologous proteins over long evolutionary distances. We anticipate this will be a powerful approach that boosts discovery in numerous -omics datasets, especially for non-model organisms.
The VGNC: expanding standardized vertebrate gene nomenclature
Authors: Jones Tamsin E. M. , Yates Bethan , Braschi Bryony , Gray Kristian , Tweedie Susan , Seal Ruth L. , Bruford Elspeth A.
Published: May 2023

The Vertebrate Gene Nomenclature Committee (VGNC) was established in 2016 as a sister project to the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee, to approve gene nomenclature in vertebrate species without an existing dedicated nomenclature committee. The VGNC aims to harmonize gene nomenclature across selected vertebrate species in line with human gene nomenclature, with orthologs assigned the same nomenclature where possible. This article presents an overview of the VGNC project and discussion of key findings resulting from this work to date. VGNC-approved nomenclature is accessible at https://vertebrate.genenames.org and is additionally displayed by the NCBI, Ensembl, and UniProt databases.
β-sitosterol attenuates high- fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis in rats by modulating lipid metabolism, inflammation and ER stress pathway
Authors: Abo-Zaid Omayma AR , Moawed Fatma SM , Ismail Effet Soliman , Farrag Mostafa A.
Published: May 2023

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic hepatic disorder. The naturally occurring phytosterol; β-sitosterol has antiobesogenic and anti-diabetic properties. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of β-sitosterol in preventing hepatic steatosis induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in rats. In the current study, to induce NAFLD in the female Wister rats, an HFD was administered to them for 8 weeks. The pathogenic severity of steatosis in rats receiving an HFD diet was dramatically decreased by oral administration of β-sitosterol. After administering β-sitosterol to HFD-induced steatosis for three weeks, several oxidative stress-related markers were then assessed. We showed that β-sitosterol reduced steatosis and the serum levels of triglycerides, transaminases (ALT and AST) and inflammatory markers (IL-1β and iNOS) compared to HFD-fed rats. Additionally, β-sitosterol reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress by preventing the overexpression of inositol-requiring enzyme-1 (IRE-1α), X-box binding protein 1(sXBP1) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) genes which, showing a function in the homeostatic regulation of protein folding. Also, it was found that the expression of the lipogenic factors; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-α), sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP-1c) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1(CPT-1), which are involved in the regulation of the fatty acid oxidation process, may be regulated by β-sitosterol. It can be concluded that β-sitosterol may prevent NAFLD by reducing oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammatory responses, which supports the possibility of using β-sitosterol as an alternative therapy for NAFLD. Together, β-sitosterol may be an option for NAFLD prevention.
Repeated intestinal perforations in vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a case report of a novel mutation in the COL3A1 gene
Authors: Horino Taichi , Miyamoto Yuji , Ohuchi Mayuko , Ogawa Katsuhiro , Yoshida Naoya , Ishiko Takatoshi , Kukinaka Chieko , Sasaki Rumi , Ohba Takashi , Baba Hideo
Published: May 2023

Background

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is an inherited connective-tissue disorder characterized by skin hyperextensibility, joint hypermobility, and tissue fragility. Intestinal perforation is one of the fatal manifestations of this syndrome, and its management is complicated.

Case presentation

A 58-year-old woman with a familial history of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome visited the emergency department due to a sudden onset of lower abdominal pain. Plain abdominal computed tomography showed abdominal free air. We found a perforated descending colon and subsequently resected this lesion and performed ileostomy. Fifty-one days after this first operation, the patient had transverse colon perforation and thus underwent the Hartmann procedure as the second operation. In addition, she was diagnosed with small bowel perforation 53 days after the first operation and consequently underwent a third operation—partial resection of the jejunum with functional end-to-end anastomosis. Fifty-eight days after the first operation, she complained of acute abdominal pain. Plain abdominal computed tomography showed fluid collection near the jejunojejunal anastomosis. We detected dehiscence at the entry hole of the linear stapler during the operation and thus performed partial resection of the affected jejunum, followed by jejunostomy. The postoperative course of the fourth operation was uneventful. Genetic testing revealed a novel missense mutation (c.2095G>T, p.Gly699Cys) in the COL3A1 gene, which is presumed to be a pathogenic variant of vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Conclusion

Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome should be considered in the case of repeated intestinal perforation. The identified missense mutation in the COL3A1 gene (c.2095G>T, p.Gly699Cys) might be a novel pathogenic variation causing vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Careful postoperative screening and multidisciplinary management are required.
Challenges in managing upper gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to primary squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas: a case report and literature review
Authors: Choi Colin Chan-Min , Arafat Yasser , Shamassi Maryam , Choi Julian
Published: May 2023

Background

Primary pancreatic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare type of pancreatic cancer, with an incidence of 5% of all pancreatic cancers. This condition is associated with a poor prognosis, and no optimal treatment has been established (Zhang et al. in Medicine (Baltim). 97:e12253, 2018).

Case presentation

A 56-year-old man presented to our hospital with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and new-onset diabetes mellitus. He had no other medical comorbidities, episodes of pancreatitis and symptoms secondary to pancreatic insufficiency. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a 94 × 72 × 83 mm necrotic pancreatic body mass with gastric invasion and multiple liver metastases. Gastroscopy revealed deep ulcerations at the posterior wall of the stomach with an active slow ooze. Endoscopic ultrasound was performed with EUS guided biopsy, which confirmed poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma of the pancreas. The patient underwent palliative radiotherapy for recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding followed by palliative chemotherapy with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. He was referred to dietitians and diabetes educators for the management of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine insufficiency before being referred to community palliative care upon discharge.

Conclusions

This is the first reported Australian case of pancreatic SCC presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and new-onset diabetes mellitus. Patients with unresectable disease require a multidisciplinary approach to manage complications and improve symptom control. However, there are no standard treatment guidelines and future research is needed in this regard.
Imported severe Plasmodium falciparum infection in the first trimester of pregnancy complicated by post-artemisinin delayed hemolysis and intrauterine fetal death, a case report
Authors: Kamegai Kohei , Hayakawa Kayoko , Yamamoto Kei , Nomoto Hidetoshi , Komaki-Yasuda Kanako , Kano Shigeyuki , Ohmagari Norio
Published: May 2023

Background

Post-artemisinin delayed hemolysis (PADH) is a serious complication in patients who recover from severe malaria after receiving artemisinin-based combined therapy (ACT), including artemether-lumefantrine. In Japan, among the antimalarial drugs recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline for severe malaria, intravenous quinine gluconate is available only in 29 designated hospitals, and intravenous artesunate is unavailable. Therefore, oral artemether-lumefantrine is occasionally administered as an alternative, even though it may be a suboptimal treatment. In non-endemic settings like Japan, a lack of knowledge of malaria and the side effects, such as post-artemisinin delayed hemolysis caused by the ACT, can have critical consequences. Like our patient, being a primigravida in the early stages of pregnancy is a serious risk factor for severe malaria and must be carefully monitored.

Case presentation

This report describes a severe case of imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria complicated by fetal loss and prolonged anemia, requiring frequent blood transfusions. The patient was a previously healthy pregnant Japanese female in her 30 s. She developed a high fever 2 days after returning from Nigeria. The patient fulfilled the severe malaria criteria by WHO. On arrival, an abdominal ultrasound incidentally revealed a fetus of 5 week gestational age with a heartbeat in the uterus. Given her pregnancy and the severity of the disease, she was administered intravenous quinine 16 mg/kg as a loading dose. However, the second dose of quinine was not administered due to frequent vomiting and QTc prolongation. We initiated treatment with oral artemether-lumefantrine, and clearance of parasitemia was confirmed by microscopic observation on day 4. Miscarriage was noted on day 6 after admission. Moreover, the patient became feverish again up to 39 °C, and from days 14 to 22, the patient required multiple blood transfusions due to PADH. On day 40, follow-up was discontinued as the hemoglobin level exceeded 10 g/dL.

Conclusions

In patients who recover from severe malaria after ACT treatment, monitoring the hemoglobin level for at least a month is strongly recommended for prompt identification of PADH. Travelers to malaria-endemic countries, especially primigravida women, should be provided with adequate information on the risk and prevention of infection.
Public relations strategies employed by the Ghana Health Service to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: a qualitative inquiry
Authors: McCarthy Ruth Nana Efua , Donkoh Emmanuel Timmy , Arthur Dominic DeGraft , Dassah Edward Tieru , Boadu Kwame Ofori , Otoo John Ekow , Boadu Ivy Wina Ofori , Gyasi Samuel Fosu
Published: May 2023

Background

Strategies for developing and advancing good public relations can be recognized in nearly all fields of life without making an exception for the healthcare industry. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, matters of public health have gathered more force. The importance of effective public relations for improving healthcare is highlighted by the position that immediate access to reliable health information should be the hallmark of a just society. However, the strategies available for addressing major threats to the uptake of public health services such as mass vaccination campaigns are not properly studied and documented in the Ghanaian context. This organizational case study explored strategies used by healthcare professionals working with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to address COVID-19-related vaccine hesitancy in the country.

Methods

We performed a qualitative inquiry with semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with 25 public health officials of the GHS. The interviews were timed to coincide with the mass deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in four Regions. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling. Data collected included demographic characteristics, perspectives on public relations strategies used in the past year to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake as well as successes and pitfalls. Thematic analysis was performed with NVIVO software to generate themes from interview transcripts.

Results

Four main themes emerged from the data analysis and these are presented. Healthcare workers perceived vaccine hesitancy to be a threat with the potential to undermine an important strategic organizational goal related to COVID-19 illness. In terms of PR strategies, we determined that a combination of informative, motivational, persuasive and coercive public relations strategies was employed by the Ghana Health Service to address the challenge of vaccine hesitancy. We further found that PR strategies were deployed across both traditional (print, radio, TV) and emerging/social media networks. Officials were optimistic that the strategies would produce results, but were uncertain whether they could attribute current successes or failures to the PR strategies used.

Conclusion

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, public relations strategies which have been employed by the Ghana Health Service to address vaccine hesitancy are characterized and catalogued. The nature of the audience and PR strategies employed suggests that the effect of these strategies may be short-lived unless they are constantly reinforced by the GHS. These findings show that effective PR strategies exist for addressing vaccine hesitancy in public health practice.
Darifenacin Self-assembled Liquid Crystal Cubic Nanoparticles: a Sustained Release Approach for an Overnight Control of Overactive Bladder
Authors: Farag Michael M. , El-Sebaie Wessam , Basalious Emad B. , El-Gazayerly Omaima N.
Published: May 2023

The current study is regarding the development and characterization of Darifenacin-loaded self-assembled liquid crystal cubic nanoparticles (LCCN). An anhydrous approach was used for the preparation of these cubic nanoparticles using a hydrotropic agent (propylene glycol), with minimal energy input. Upon dispersion in aqueous medium, the system was successfully transformed to cubosomal nanoparticles counterpart as depicted by transmission electron micrographs. A Box-Behnken design was used to optimize formulation variables, namely A: amount of GMO, B: amount of Pluronic F127, C: amount of PG, and D: amount of HPMC. The design has generated 29 formulae which were tested regarding drug content uniformity, dispersibility in water, particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, and in vitro release behavior. The numerical optimization algorithms have generated an optimized formula with high desirability ≈ 1. The optimized formula displayed small particle size, good homogeneity, and zeta potential along with controlled in vitro release profile and ex vivo permeation through rabbit intestine. Thus, self-assembled LCCN might offer an alternative anhydrous approach for the preparation of cubosomal nanoparticles with controlled release profile for a possibly better control of overactive bladder syndrome which tremendously affect the overall life quality.

Graphical Abstract
In the Time of the Law
Authors: Werder Valerie
Published: May 2023

In 1850 Harvard University commissioned daguerreotypes of seven enslaved people — Delia, Renty, Jem, Alfred, Fassena, Drana, and Jack — as part of its effort to popularize the racist theory of polygenesis. Today the same university retains possession of the photographs but now reframes them as evidence of a liberal idea of shared humanity. This article argues that such reframings are a form of harm made possible by Harvard's proprietary and discursive capture of the photographs, which is currently being contested in a reparations lawsuit brought by Tamara Lanier, a descendent of Renty and Delia. Focusing on this lawsuit and its historical precedents, this article claims that the spectral forms of Renty and Delia recur in Harvard's institutional mediascape not only because they are routinely instrumentalized by the university but also because the ongoing harms of slavery and anti-Blackness have not yet been acknowledged, much less repaired, within or beyond the US legal system.
Trust Land
Authors: Easterling Keller
Published: May 2023

In the wake of civil rights struggles, a rural area in Southwest Georgia became a global stage for rehearsing some of the world's most provocative experiments with community and land tenure. An interracial intentional community, a Nation of Islam farm, the first community land trust, and a wave of cooperative experiments moving through the South in the late 1960s and 1970s found fertile ground around Albany, Georgia. Reflecting solidarity between the civil rights, Pan-African, Nonaligned, and Tricontinental movements, associations with prominent international activists also linked this area in the US South to decolonizing efforts in the Global South just prior to a neoliberal turn. Within these networks, victims of white supremacy modeled approaches to survival that are now broadly relevant to today's social and climate justice work. The story offers spatial tools and surprising histories to ground and energize a fresh wave of activism that looks to collective forms of urban and rural landholding to address racism, whiteness, inequality, reparations, and climate change.
The Buddhavanam Replica Stupa in Telangana
Authors: Becker Catherine
Published: May 2023

The Sri Parvata Arama, or the Buddhavanam, is a Buddhist theme park near the banks of the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir in Telangana. Sponsored by the state government, this park features at its center a full-scale replica of the Amaravati stupa. While this replica stupa might seem to revivify the largely destroyed stupa at Amaravati, this article also examines how the Buddhavanam engages with a wide-ranging visual archive in order to create a home at which every imaginable visitor—foreign and local—will encounter familiar imagery. The stupa's sculptural adornment primarily takes inspiration from limestone sculptures that once adorned ancient Buddhist sites along the Krishna River Valley. However, additional scenes on the stupa are drawn from disparate sources: reliefs carved from photographs of M. K. Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, and the current chief minister of Telangana appear alongside stone versions of paintings from the Mogao Caves at Dunhuang and Alchi in Ladakh. This article examines how this replica stupa and the surrounding theme park allow the new state of Telangana not only to articulate its claim to the Buddhist heritage that is now shared with the state of Andhra Pradesh but also to participate in a boom in state-sponsored religious monuments across India.
Mesodermal FGF and BMP govern the sequential stages of zebrafish thyroid specification
Authors: Haerlingen Benoit , Opitz Robert , Vandernoot Isabelle , Molinaro Angelo , Shankar Meghna Parakkal , Gillotay Pierre , Trubiroha Achim , Costagliola Sabine
Published: May 2023

Thyroid tissue, the site of de novo thyroid hormone biosynthesis, is derived from ventral pharyngeal endoderm and defects in morphogenesis are a predominant cause of congenital thyroid diseases. The first molecularly recognizable step of thyroid development is the specification of thyroid precursors in anterior foregut endoderm. Recent studies have identified crucial roles of FGF and BMP signaling in thyroid specification, but the interplay between signaling cues and thyroid transcription factors remained elusive. By analyzing Pax2a and Nkx2.4b expression dynamics in relation to endodermal FGF and BMP signaling activities in zebrafish embryos, we identified a Pax2a-expressing thyroid progenitor population that shows enhanced FGF signaling but lacks Nkx2.4b expression and BMP signaling. Concurrent with upregulated BMP signaling, a subpopulation of these progenitors subsequently differentiates into lineage-committed thyroid precursors co-expressing Pax2a and Nkx2.4b. Timed manipulation of FGF/BMP activities suggests a model in which FGF signaling primarily regulates Pax2a expression, whereas BMP signaling regulates both Pax2a and Nkx2.4b expression. Our observation of similar expression dynamics of Pax8 and Nkx2-1 in mouse embryos suggests that this refined model of thyroid cell specification is evolutionarily conserved in mammals.
Genotype-Phenotype Models Predicting V̇O2max Response to High-Intensity Interval Training in Physically Inactive Chinese
Authors: YANG XIAOLIN , LI YANCHUN , BAO DAPENG , MEI TAO , WUYUN GERILE , ZHOU DUOQI , NIE JING , XIA XIAOHUI , LIU XIAOXI , HE ZIHONG
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to analyze the interindividual differences of the maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) response to 12 wk of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and the genotype–phenotype models were constructed to predict the effect of HIIT on V̇O2max.

Methods

A total of 228 physically inactive adults who completed a 12-wk HIIT were analyzed. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to identify genetic variants associated with the V̇O2max response. Nonresponders, responders, and the highest training responders were defined as the effect sizes (ES) <0.2, ≥0.2, and ≥0.8, respectively. We generated polygenic predictor score (PPS) using lead variants and constructed a predictive model for V̇O2max response based on a linear stepwise regression analysis.

Results

The V̇O2max increased significantly after HIIT (~14%, P < 0.001), but with interindividual differences (−7.8 to 17.9 mL·kg−1·min−1). In 27% of participants, the V̇O2max showed no improvement. We identified one genetic locus near the γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit beta 3 gene (GABRB3, rs17116985) associated with V̇O2max response at the genome-wide significance level (P < 5 × 10−8), and an additional nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the suggestive significance level (P < 1 × 10−5). The SNPs rs474377, rs9365605, and rs17116985, respectively, explained 11%, 9%, and 6.2% of variance in V̇O2max response. The 13 SNPs (P < 1 × 10−5) were found on chromosome 6 (position: 148209316–148223568). Individuals with a PPS greater than 1.757 had the highest response, and those with a PPS lower than −3.712 were nonresponders. The PPS, baseline V̇O2max, sex, and body mass explained 56.4% of the variance in the V̇O2max response; the major predictor was the PPS, which explained 39.4% of the variance.

Conclusions

The PPS, baseline V̇O2max, sex, and body mass could explain the variance in V̇O2max response. Individuals who had a PPS greater than 1.757 had the highest training response after 12 wk of HIIT. Genetic variants in a region on chromosome 6, especially the sterile alpha motif domain containing 5 gene (SAMD5), which had been explored influencing angiogenesis, might have a potential role in the V̇O2max response.
The application of fluoroscopic criteria to define leadless pacemakers implant position and the effect of location on device performance
Authors: ElRefai Mohamed , Menexi Christina , Abouelasaad Mohamed , Roberts Paul
Published: May 2023

Objective:

Leadless pacemakers (LPs) were designed to avoid complications associated with transvenous pacing. To minimise risk of perforations, there is preference towards implanting LPs into the septum rather than the apex or free wall.

An objective yet feasible way of characterising the LP location is currently lacking. We report a simple radiological method of defining LP position and our analysis of the impact of implantation site on performance of LPs.

Methods:

The first 100 LPs implanted at our UK centre were reviewed and the devices’ positions in fluoroscopy images and X-rays based on conventional criteria for lead positions and conventional practice for LPs positioning were assessed. The devices’ electrical parameters at implant and at the latest device follow-up were used to compare performance between implantation sites.

Results:

35.6% of implants were in the apex. 31.1% in mid-septum, 16.7% in apical septum, 15.5% on the septal right ventricular inflow and 1.1% in the septal RV outflow tract. We had no major complications.

Thresholds, R-wave amplitudes, and impedance averaged at 0.67 ± 0.41 V, 10.64 ± 5.30 mV, and 777.67 ± 201.67 Ohms, respectively, at the time of implantation, and 0.66 ± 0.39 V, 14.08 ± 6.14 mV, and 564.29 ± 96.76 Ohms at the last device check. There was no difference in the pacing thresholds or impedance between implant sites.

Conclusions:

We propose a simple, reproducible way of defining the LP location which can help standardise the assessment of the device location sites across LP implantation centres.

Advances in knowledge:

Emphasis on the safety and reliability of the leadless pacemakers in a real-world setting.

Establishing the variation in the implantation sites for leadless pacemakers and reporting the effect of the implantation sites on the devices’ performance.

We propose a simple, reproducible way of defining the LP location which can help standardise the assessment of the device location sites across LP implantation centres.
Variability in soil properties influencing pigeonpea (Cajanus cajana L.) yield: a multivariate statistical analysis
Authors: N L Rajesh , K Narayana Rao , U Sathishkumar , V B Wali , K Basavaraj , H V Rudramurthy , B K Desai
Published: May 2023

Aims: The aim of the study was to reveal the variability in soil properties influencing pigeonpea (Cajanus cajana L.) seed yield under semi-arid rainfed condition.

Methods: Soils were initially classified into series level and further these series were divided into soil-phase units. For two site years viz., 2018-19 and 2019-20, surface soil samples from each soil-phase unit were collected before sowing of pigeonpea and subsequently crop growth parameters at critical stages were recorded.

Results: The principal component analysis with varimax rotation resulted in seven components for both the site years, having eigenvalues greater than one, explained more than 80% of the variability. The step wise linear regression analysis showed that the pigeonpea seed yield was linearly correlated with PC3 (p<0.01), PC4 (p<0.01) and PC7 (p<0.05) of soil properties with R2 = 0.679, during 2018-19. Whereas, during 2019-20, the seed yield was linearly correlated with PC1 (p<0.01), PC3 (p<0.01) and PC6 (p<0.05) with R2 = 0.677. In site year 1, the available P2O5, Fe, Zn, S, Cu, number of pods, surface soil moisture determined the yield. In site year 2, the available K2O, P2O5, Fe, Zn, S, clay, CEC and available water content determined the yield. All these variables together explain variability in yield.
Practical tips for starting a successful national postgraduate course
Authors: Sundbom Magnus
Published: May 2023

Background: Few start national courses, and those that do usually do it once. The aim of this paper is to outline an approach to conduct a successful national postgraduate course.

Methods: The practical tips were derived from personal experience.

Results: The 12 tips identified are: define learning needs and curriculum, create a functioning structure, recruit a committed faculty, obtain legitimacy, promote your course, try out the concept, establish administrative support, use modern techniques and accessories, create course-related social activities, keep all on board, collect ongoing evaluation, and stay in control.

Conclusion: It is hoped that these tips will make it easier for others to take the decisive first step in the exciting task of starting a national course; that is: ‘to know the road ahead - ask those coming back’.
A Converging Benders’ Decomposition Algorithm for Two-Stage Mixed-Integer Recourse Models
Authors: van der Laan Niels , Romeijnders Ward
Published: May 2023

Novel Optimality Cuts for Two-Stage Stochastic Mixed-Integer Programs

The applicability and use of two-stage stochastic mixed-integer programs is well-established, thus calling for efficient decomposition algorithms to solve them. Such algorithms typically rely on optimality cuts to approximate the expected second stage cost function from below. In “A Converging Benders’ Decomposition Algorithm for Mixed-Integer Recourse Models,” van der Laan and Romeijnders derive a new family of optimality cuts that is sufficiently rich to identify the optimal solution of two-stage stochastic mixed-integer programs in general. That is, general mixed-integer decision variables are allowed in both stages, and all data elements are allowed to be random. Moreover, these new optimality cuts require computations that decompose by scenario, and thus, they can be computed efficiently. Van der Laan and Romeijnders demonstrate the potential of their approach on a range of problem instances, including the DCAP instances from SIPLIB.
Facial cellulitis caused by Candida guilliermondi in an immunocompetent patient: a rare case report
Authors: Tolaj Ilir , Gashi Visar , Bunjaku Gramoz , Mehmeti Murat , Fejza Hajrullah
Published: May 2023

Background: Candida cellulitis is a rare disease, primarily reported in immunocompromised patients. Atypical Candida spp. infections are increasing, largely due to the growing number of immunocompromised patients. This case report describes a 52-year-old immunocompetent patient with facial cellulitis caused by Candida guilliermondi. Candida guilliermondi has not previously been reported as a cause of facial cellulitis in either immunocompromised or immunocompetent patients. Case presentation: A 52-year-old, otherwise healthy, male patient presented with facial cellulitis that did not respond to intravenous antibiotics. Culture of the drained pus revealed Candida guilliermondi. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous fluconazole. Conclusion: This case highlights the possibility of atypical Candida spp. causing deep facial infections in immunocompetent patients. Candida guilliermondi has not been previously reported as a cause of facial cellulitis in either immunocompromised or immunocompetent patients. Healthcare providers should consider atypical Candida spp. infections in the differential diagnosis of deep facial infections in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients.
INVISIBILIZAÇÃO DOS ESTUDANTES NEGROS DA EJA NO LIVRO DIDÁTICO DE INGLÊS
Authors: Santos Filho Agnaldo Pedro , De Jesus Couto Leda Regina , Mascarenhas Paes Maria Neuma
Published: May 2023

Dada a relevância do livro didático no contexto das escolas brasileiras, objetiva-se, neste artigo, analisar como as identidades sociais de raça estão representadas nas seções de texto do livro didático de Língua Inglesa da Coleção “Viver, Aprender” – Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA), como este livro pode colaborar para ratificar ou desconstruir as questões acerca do racismo na sociedade brasileira. Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, de caráter bibliográfico, com foco na investigação sobre representações sociais (MOSOVICI, 2007; SILVA, 2011; HOOKS, 2019) e nas discussões acerca das identidades dos jovens e adultos da EJA (FREIRE, 2011; ARROYO, 2017) sobre o ensino de Língua Inglesa (ANJOS, 2016) com base no livro didático. A partir do estudo, observa-se que há uma preponderância de personagens brancas em detrimento de negras no livro didático analisado, bem como, não são abordadas discussões étnico-raciais acerca da vida dos jovens e adultos da EJA. Portanto, o livro-texto universaliza a condição do branco como representante da espécie humana em uma perspectiva colonialista e racista.Palavras-chave: EJA; Livro didático; Língua Inglesa; Racismo.
Analysis of Current Status in Service Level in Hotel Business in Azerbaijan
Authors:   Azerbaijan Tourism and Management University, Musaeva N. , Guliyeva B. ,   Azerbaijan Tourism and Management University
Published: May 2023

The most important details of hotel service quality standards are the legal document approved for standardization by the state authority and the application and mandatory use of standard methods in the hotel. Standard is an example, benchmark, model, and standard-technical document reflecting the principles, requirements and rules of standard hotels. Quality in tourism is a powerful weapon for competition in international tourism market and tourists who are satisfied with the service in hotels, restaurants, service bureaus and tourist facilities of certain countries become their active promoters. The complex and complicated character of tourist service is pre-determined due to the fact that most service production is directly related to consumption, services are provided directly to tourists, tourists are offered a wide range of services and goods with different production and service technologies, service to tourists is carried out during the operation of various elements of logistics infrastructure, and servicesand goods offered to tourists are formed as a result of various types of activities. The hotel's reputation depends on the human factor and must be prepared for each hotel. Standards for reception, accommodation and services, restaurant, bar and other departments of the hotel should be developed. The staff must have clean uniforms and neat hairdos, be professional and experienced, and demonstrate good behavior and honesty. International service standards include providing quick and flexible service to guests, accurate execution of orders, and kindness and politeness. The most important details of hotel management standards include being attentive to guests, external appearance standards, confidentiality of information, having information about the work, being patient and considerate, responsibility, and having enough staff to provide efficient and consistent service. These standards are essential for a successful hotel business, as they ensure that the quality of management is maintained in an unstable competitive environment.
Theoretical and Applied Principles of Supply Chain Management under Crisis Economic Conditions: Strategic Aspect
Authors:   Lviv Polytechnic National University, Zaverbnyj A. , Pushak H. ,   Lviv Polytechnic National University
Published: May 2023

The article highlights the main methodological and strategic aspects of supply chain management under crisis economic conditions. The authors defined the essence of the concept of «supply chain». In the supply chain structure, it is possible to distinguish complete logistics chains, which, in turn, contain all key links and stages of the reproduction process, starting from raw material sources and ending with final consumers. New tasks related to the formation of rational logistics chains, supply chains and the construction of effective systems of their management have been analyzed. Comparative characteristic of supply chain management models is given. The key characteristic features include structural and conceptual, the level of interconnection with the enterprise strategy, the breadth of the set of activities, intra-organizational connections, inter-organizational connections, value forming factors, information support, etc. A new vision of economic transformation is established in logistics practice. Integration into global production networks will allow countries (especially Ukraine) to reveal their comparative advantages by focusing on specific tasks and industries. Modern production systems, which have become the end result of the dynamism of production factors, distribution and production networks, have been studied. The critical problems regarding the choice of existing corporate strategies by enterprises for their further effective expansion have been highlighted. The strategies available in the global economy have been analyzed, their advantages and disadvantages have been highlighted. In general, to establish the cumulative impact of all business processes on the level of performance of the supply chain, which will allow us to approach the measurement of the level of their synergistic effect, it is necessary to ensure constant monitoring of indicators in two areas: process and system. Under crisis economic conditions (in particular, instability of markets, destruction of well-established supply chains, in particular, due to military actions), there is a need for a quick response, complete modernization, and adaptation of the proposed logistics services throughout the supply chain. It has been proposed to form and offer a market of the latest, perfect, adaptive services to clients, which will allow balancing the unpredictability of the market with the need to obtain a stable, growing level of profitability.