bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aggressive Primary Pericardial Mesothelioma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Yan Yibo , Li Xiangguang , Hu Lizhi , Zhang Fengxiao , Ye Yinsong
Published: September 2023

Pericardial mesothelioma is a rare malignant tumor with atypical and nonspecific clinical manifestations. Therefore, the diagnosis of pericardial tumors is usually made in advanced stages, and there is currently no satisfactory treatment method, resulting in a low average survival period. In this case analysis, we report a case of a giant primary pericardial mesothelioma, describe its diagnosis and treatment, and discuss treatment methods for pericardial mesothelioma through a literature review.
Factors Affecting Nursing Students Knowledge Regarding Preoperative Nursing Care
Authors: Alnjadat Rafi Mahmoud , Etoom Mohammad Ahmad
Published: September 2023

Background: Preoperative competence is a crucial aspect of nursing student’s education to improve the quality of care and patient safety. It assists nursing students in maintaining and enhancing their practice by determining strength and areas that should be developed.
Purpose: This study aims to assess the level of nursing students’ knowledge regarding preoperative nursing care and determine the most influencing demographic variables.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design using an online self-administered questionnaire was utilised among 202 nursing students selected by simple random sampling. The Perceived Preoperative Nursing Care Competence Scale for Nursing Students (PPreCC-NS) was used to assess the perceived preoperative nursing care competence of nursing students. Descriptive statistics were obtained, and multiple regression was used for data analysis.
Results: The overall level of perceived preoperative nursing care competence was adequate 99.09 (SD = 10.81). The highest mean score was recorded for ability to fulfil legal responsibilities and adherence to ethical principles (M = 23.6, SD = 2.53). The lowest mean score was obtained for research and professional development (M = 17.6, SD = 2.60). The regression analysis showed that place of residency explained significantly about 4.53% of the variance in the nursing students’ knowledge regarding preoperative nursing care, and it was the strongest predictor (B = 0.218, p = 0.002).
Conclusion: The perceived level of preoperative nursing care among nursing students was found to be adequate and associated with place of residence. Future research should be conducted to explore factors affecting nursing students’ preoperative competence in different cultures and contexts.
A Time Series Driven Model for Early Sepsis Prediction Based on Transformer Module
Authors: Tang Yan , Zhang Yu , Li Jiaxi
Published: September 2023

Sepsis remains a critical concern in intensive care units due to its high mortality rate. Early identification and intervention are paramount to improving patient outcomes. In this study, we have proposed predictive models for early sepsis prediction based on time-series data, utilizing both CNN-Transformer and LSTM-Transformer architectures. By collecting time-series data from patients at 4, 8, and 12 hours prior to sepsis diagnosis and subjecting it to various network models for analysis and comparison. In contrast to traditional recurrent neural networks, our model exhibited a substantial improvement of approximately 20%. On average, our model demonstrated an accuracy of 0.964 (± 0.018), a precision of 0.956 (± 0.012), a recall of 0.967 (± 0.012), and an F1 score of 0.959 (± 0.014). Furthermore, by adjusting the time window, it was observed that the Transformer-based model demonstrated exceptional predictive capabilities, particularly within the earlier time window (i.e., 12 hours before onset), thus holding significant promise for early clinical diagnosis and intervention. Besides, we employed the SHAP algorithm to visualize the weight distribution of different features, enhancing the interpretability of our model and facilitating early clinical diagnosis and intervention.
A Bayesian Bernoulli-Exponential Joint Model for Binary Longitudinal Outcomes and Informative Time with Applications to Bladder Cancer Recurrence Data
Authors: Oduro Michael Safo
Published: September 2023

Background: A variety of methods exist for the analysis of longitudinal data, many of which are characterized with the assumption of fixed visit time points for study individuals. This, however is not always a tenable assumption. Phenomenon that alter subject visit patterns such as adverse events due to investigative treatment administered, travel or any other emergencies may result in unbalanced data and varying individual visit time points. Visit times can be considered informative, because subsequent or current subject outcomes can change or be adapted due to previous subject outcomes.
Methods: In this paper, a Bayesian Bernoulli-Exponential model for analyzing joint binary outcomes and exponentially distributed informative visit times is developed. Via statistical simulations, the influence of controlled variations in visit patterns, prior and sample size schemes on model performance is assessed. As an application example, the proposed model is applied to a Bladder Cancer Recurrence data.
Results and Conclusions: Results from the simulation analysis indicated that the Bayesian Bernoulli-Exponential joint model converged in stationarity, and performed relatively better for small to medium sample size scenarios with less varying time sequences regardless of the choice of prior. In larger samples, the model performed better for less varying time sequences. This model's application to the bladder cancer data showed a statistically significant effect of prior tumor recurrence on the probability of subsequent recurrences.
Pseudomonas aquigelida sp. nov., an Antarctic bacterium isolated from seawater of Fildes Bay, King George Island
Authors: Higuera-Llantén Sebastián , Pavlov María S. , Sousa Leandro P. , Vásquez-Ponce Felipe , Parás-Silva Juan , Martínez José R.W. , Munita José M. , Wozniak Aniela , García Patricia C. , Ugalde Juan A. , Lira Felipe , Alcalde-Rico Manuel , Olivares-Pacheco Jorge , Martínez José Luis
Published: September 2023

The isolate Pseudomonas sp. IB20T was obtained from Fildes Bay seawater, King George Island, Antarctica. To characterize this novel species, a polyphasic approach was addressed, and phenotypic, phylogenetic, phylogenomic, and chemotaxonomic analyses were performed. IB20T is a rod-shaped and motile bacterium because of multiple polar flagella and shows an optimal growth temperature of 25°C. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) demonstrated that this strain belongs to the Pseudomonas fluorescens group presenting the highest similarity of multilocus sequence with Pseudomonas antarctica LMG22709T. To further characterize this strain, genomic analyses were made. The average nucleotide identity (ANIb) and average amino acid identity (AAI) scores of all species phylogenetically closest to IB20T were less than 95–96%, values currently accepted to describe a novel species. P. antarctica CMS 35T shows the highest ANIb and AAI scores (92,67%, and 95,98%, respectively). A remarkable feature in the IB20T genome is the presence of the type III secretion system (T3SS), one of the most important virulence elements in pathogenic members of the Pseudomonas genus. This T3SS was not found in any of the genomes of the strains phylogenetically closest to IB20T. Finally, chemotaxonomic analyses demonstrated that the primary fatty acids making up their cells include summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c/C15:0iso 2−OH), C16:0, and C18:1ω7c. After conducting comprehensive phenotypic and genotypic analyses, we can propose the IB20T strain as a novel species within the Pseudomonas genus. Consequently, we designate it as Pseudomonas aquigelida, with the type strain being IB20.
Evaluation of binding affinities of anacardic acid and D-12 molecules in the active site of p300 HAT enzyme from Molecular docking and Molecular dynamics simulation analysis
Authors: Magudeeswaran Sivanandam , Poomani Kumaradhas
Published: September 2023

The p300 is a HAT family enzyme it regulates the transcription process in the eukaryotic cell nucleus. The irregular function of this enzyme is leads to cancer, cardiovascular and neurological disorders; needs a potential drug molecule for inhibition. The anacardic acid and D-12 molecules are potential inhibitor of p300 HAT enzyme with long tail in the structure. Even though, the detailed intermolecular interactions and stability of the molecules with p300 HAT enzyme are not explained in detail. The molecular docking analysis confirms D-12 [-14.1 kcal/mol] molecule gives the high docking score compared than the anacardic acid [-12.5 kcal/mol]. Both the molecules form an intermolecular interaction with catalytic site amino acid residues (Trp1436 and Tyr1467) of p300 HAT enzyme; in which, D-12 forms strong intermolecular interactions and it is stable during the MD simulation. During the MD simulation, the interaction between anacardic acid and catalytic site residues (Trp1436 and Tyr1467) are becoming weak; indicates that the molecule slightly moved away from the active site compared with the D-12 molecule. The intermolecular interaction between D-12 and Cys1438 is maintained during the entire simulation and the distances are 3.2 and 3.5 Å. This confirms that D-12 molecule is more stable than the anacardic acid in the active site of p300 HAT enzyme.
SGLT2 inhibitors decrease overhydration and proteasuria in patients with chronic kidney disease: a longitudinal observational study
Authors: Schork Anja , Eberbach Marie-Luise , Bohnert Bernhard N. , Wörn Matthias , Heister David J. , Eisinger Felix , Vogel Elisabeth , Heyne Nils , Birkenfeld Andreas L. , Artunc Ferruh
Published: September 2023

Background
SGLT2 inhibitors are used to reduce the risk of progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In patients with type 2 diabetes, they have been found to reduce extracellular volume. Given the high prevalence of extracellular volume expansion and overhydration in CKD, we investigated whether SGLT2 inhibitors might correct these disturbances in CKD patients.
Methods
CKD patients who started treatment with an SGLT2 inhibitor were investigated in this prospective observational study for 6 months. Body composition and fluid status were measured by bioimpedance spectroscopy. In addition, spot urine samples were analyzed for albuminuria, glucosuria and urinary aprotinin-sensitive serine protease activity.
Results
42 patients (29% with diabetic/hypertensive CKD, 31% with IgA nephropathy; 88% dapagliflozin 10 mg, 10% dapagliflozin 5 mg, 2% empagliflozin 20 mg; median eGFR 46 mL/min/1.73m² and albuminuria 1911 mg/g creatinine) participated in the study. Median glucosuria increased to 14 (10–19) g/g creatinine. At baseline, patients displayed overhydration (OH) with + 0.4 (-0.2–2.2) L/1.73m² which decreased by 0.5 (0.1–1.2) L/1.73m² after 6 months. Decrease of OH correlated with higher OH at BL, decrease of albuminuria, glucosuria and urinary aprotinin-sensitive protease activity. Adipose tissue mass was not significantly reduced after 6 months.
Conclusions
SGLT2 inhibitors reduce overhydration in patients with CKD, which is pronounced in the presence of high albuminuria, glucosuria and urinary aprotinin-sensitive protease activity.
Trial Registration
The study was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00028560).
The Role of Mass Media on Malaria Care-Seeking Behavior: Insights from the Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey 2021
Authors: Atwijukiire Humphrey , Ikwara Asher Emmanuel , Angut Mary Madalen
Published: September 2023

Background
Malaria remains a global health crisis, and ending this crisis demands support and action of all people around the world. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the heaviest brunt, with children under five being the most affected. Mass media campaigns play a pivotal role in increasing awareness, promoting malaria care-seeking behavior, and advancing prevention efforts.
Methods
Secondary data analysis of the 2021 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS) scrutinized malaria care-seeking behavior among women aged 15–49 who had children with a fever in the previous two weeks. Employing a two-stage sampling strategy, data were collected from 568 clusters spanning both urban and rural areas. Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and logistic regression tests were utilized to assess the role of mass media on malaria care-seeking behavior.
Results
The majority of participants resided in rural areas (74.5%), were aged 25–29 (29.2%), lacked formal education (47.5%), and adhered to the Islamic faith (63.9%). Many households lacked basic media tools, with 62% lacking radios, 66.7% lacking TVs, and 86.4% not having access to newspapers or magazines. Only 57.9% of participants reported not having seen or heard any malaria-related messages. 38.5% did not seek malaria treatment when their children had a fever, and 68.1% delayed seeking care for two or more days. Respondents who used the internet before the last 12 months were 1.7 times more likely to seek malaria care (AOR = 1.717, 95%CI:1.020–2.889).
Conclusion
This study delves into the intricate interplay between mass media exposure, and malaria care-seeking behaviors in Nigeria. The stark limitations in access to mass media hinder access to malaria information and malaria care-seeking behaviors. These findings indicate a gap in the roles of mass media on malaria care seeking. To better understand the factors limiting the availability of information on malaria through the media, more research is required.
The risk of breast cancer is associated with rs1800872 genetic variation. A cohort study
Authors: Bahmani Banafsheh , Behjati Mohaddeseh , Iravani Maliheh Sadat , Masoomi Mona , Haddadi Azadeh , Matini Amir Hasan , Nejati Majid
Published: September 2023

Many women across the globe are afflicted with breast cancer, making it one of the most prevalent forms of the disease. Changes to single nucleotides in crucial genes may affect one's likelihood of contracting the illness. This study was intended to see if alterations in the nucleotide sequence of one particular interleukin 10 gene, called rs1800872, could have an effect on the probability of getting breast cancer. A study was performed to look at the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms in the interleukin 10 gene and the occurrence of breast cancer by comparing two hundred women composed of 150 with the disease and 150 healthy controls. Genomic DNA was isolated from the study participants to identify the genotype of the samples at the rs1800872 polymorphism site. The analysis found that having one copy of the rs1800872 CA genotype and its related allele, A, increased the likelihood of breast cancer when compared against being in the heterozygous or allelic models. Furthermore, categorized analysis revealed a strong association with the size of the tumor but not with lymph node metastasis. From these results, rs1800872 polymorphism can be regarded as a potential genetic risk factor for breast cancer.
Monthly runoff prediction of the lower Yellow River based on the VMD-SSA-KELM model
Authors: Zhang Xianqi , Liu Jiawen , Ren He
Published: September 2023

Guiding the efficient utilization of water resources relies on a high-precision prediction of monthly runoff in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. disaster prevention and mitigation, water environmental protection, and ecological restoration. Based on the superior performance of VMD in processing non-stationary monthly runoff sequences, the multimodal optimization ability of SSA in the direction of data sequences, and the advantageous features of KELM model KELM model efficiency, tuning free, and memory friendliness, a monthly runoff prediction model for the lower Yellow River was established using the VMD-SSA-KELM coupling method, and apply the coupled model to predict the monthly runoff at Lijin Hydrological Station in Downstream Areas. The results indicate that the model has a reasonable predictive effect on the monthly runoff data of this hydrological station; it has high accuracy compared with the traditional prediction model, and the R2 of the prediction model for Lijin Hydrological Station reaches 0.97, with an average absolute error of 8.02, an average absolute percentage error of 0.44, and a root mean square error of 37.25; at the same time, the model can effectively extract the inherent feature information of the corresponding time series, improving the prediction performance of runoff data, it can make the monthly runoff forecast more accurate.
Efficacy of 14-day vonoprazan-amoxicillin dual therapy compared to esomeprazole-amoxicillin dual therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori in treatment-naïve patients
Authors: Wang Rui , Xian Feng , Zhu Jian-ru , Peng Jian , Wu Ding-jian , Zhang Feng , Bi Xian-jin , Liu Heng-qi , Liu Hao , Hu Jie , Lan Chun-hui
Published: September 2023

Objective: This study was a multicenter, randomized controlled trial that compared the therapeutic efficacies of vonoprazan-amoxicillin (VA) and esomeprazole-amoxicillin (EA) dual therapies for Helicobacter pyloriinfection in China.
Methods: A total of 236 patients were randomized to receive either VA dual therapy (vonoprazan 20 mg bid, amoxicillin 1 g tid, 14 days) or EA dual therapy (esomeprazole 20 mg qid, amoxicillin 750 mg qid, 14 days). The success of eradication was assessed using a 13C urea breath test after 4-6 weeks. The study assessed H. pylori eradication rates, incidence of adverse reactions, patient compliance, antibiotic resistance rates, and CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms.
Results: Both the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis and the per-protocol (PP) analysis demonstrated that the eradication rate by the VA group (ITT:96.61%, 95%CI 93.34–99.88%; PP:98.26%, 95% CI 95.87–100.00%)was not inferior to that of the EA group (ITT:93.22%,88.68-97.76%; PP:93.10%, 95% CI 90.80-98.86%) with the one-sided P < 0.0001 for both. The incidence of adverse reactions was 11.30% and 13.79% for the two groups (P=0.568), and compliance rates were 97.46% and 98.3% for the VA and EA groups, respectively, with both exceeding 95% (P = 1.000). Compliance was identified as an independent risk factor for H. pylori eradication (P= 0.002).
Conclusions: The 14-day VA and EA dual therapies have comparable efficacies and safeties, and both are recommended as first-line treatment for an H. pylori infection.
Sensommatic: An efficient pipeline to mine and predict sensory receptor genes in the era of reference-quality genomes.
Authors: Ryan Louise , Lawless Colleen , Hughes Graham M.
Published: September 2023

Sensory receptor gene families have undergone extensive expansion and loss across vertebrate evolution, leading to significant variation in receptor counts between species. However, due to their species-specific nature, conventional reference-based annotation tools often underestimate the true number of sensory receptors in a given species. While there has been an exponential increase in the taxonomic diversity of publicly available genome assemblies in recent years, only ~30% of vertebrate species on the NCBI database are currently annotated. To overcome these limitations, we developed ‘Sensommatic’, an automated and accessible sensory receptor annotation pipeline. Sensommatic implements BLAST and AUGUSTUS to mine and predict sensory receptor genes from whole genome assemblies, adopting a one-to-many gene mapping approach. While designed for vertebrates, Sensommatic can be extended to run on non-vertebrate species by generating customised reference files, making it a scalable and generalizable tool.
Early identification of postoperative remission for thyrotropin-secreting adenomas
Authors: Fan Linling , Wang Zhihong , Sun Wanwan , Cui Qiaoli , Wu Wei , Xiang Boni , Ma Zengyi , Wu Yue , Wang Yongfei , Zhao Yao , Zhang Zhaoyun , Li Yiming , He Min , Ye Hongying
Published: September 2023

Purpose
Thyrotropin-secreting adenoma (TSHoma) is a rare type of pituitary adenoma, occurring in one per million people. Little is known about TSHoma. We summarized the demographic, clinical and hormonal characteristics of TSHoma based on a single-center experience. Moreover, we explored the predictive value of postoperative thyroid function for long-term remission.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 63 patients who were diagnosed as TSHoma and surgically treated at our hospital from January 2015 to June 2021. The preoperative clinical characteristics were analyzed and compared between remission and nonremission groups. Thyroid function was measured at 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and over 12 months after surgery to determine whether they could predict long-term remission.
Results
The male to female ratio for TSHoma was 1.25. The mean age at diagnosis was 45 ± 12 years. Clinical presentation was varied, presenting with hyperthyroidism (68.25%), space-occupying effect (15.87%), amenorrhea (7.14% of female patients) and nonsymptoms (22.22%). 88.14% of patients achieved postoperative endocrinological remission. Larger tumor size and tumor invasion into cavernous sinus and suprasellar with chiasmal compression were strong predictors of lower rates of endocrinological remission. Postoperative thyroid function at 3 months was a viable diagnostic predictor for postoperative remission, especially for FT4 level with a 20.65pmol/L cutoff.
Conclusions
Tumor size and extent are major prognostic factors for remission. Postoperative thyroid function at 3 months could be used as a clinical prediction tool for long-term endocrinological remission
Computercode in seinen Dimensionen ethnografisch begegnen
Authors: Vepřek Libuše Hannah , Thanner Sarah , Franken Lina , Code Ethnography Collective (CECO)
Published: September 2023

Alltage sind zunehmend durch programmierte Algorithmen und Computercode strukturiert, während Alltage und Menschen diese wiederum gestalten. Doch wo genau lässt sich Computercode ethnografisch in seinen Wirkungsweisen begegnen? Er ist niemals eines, sondern immer vieles. In diesem Beitrag beleuchten wir unterschiedliche methodische Herangehensweisen an Computercode in seinen verschiedenen Dimensionen und veranschaulichen diese anhand von Fallbeispielen. Dabei unterscheiden wir die folgenden fünf Dimensionen: a) Code als Text und seine Einschreibungen b) Computercode in seiner Performanz und Ausführung, c) Programmieren als Praxis: Entwickeln, Basteln, Debuggen und Hacken, d) Infrastrukturieren mit und durch Computercode, und e) Gouvernance und Gouvernementalität: Regieren mit und durch Computercode. Die Perspektivierungen sind nicht exklusiv und überschneidungsfrei, vielmehr erlaubt das Zusammendenken verschiedener Dimensionen von Code als soziotechnische Assemblage ein tiefergehendes Verständnis. Wir diskutieren, welche Dimensionen bei welchem Forschungsinteresse hilfreich sein kann und betonen gleichermaßen die Notwendigkeit einer Reflexion jener perspektivischen Entscheidungen, die wir im Forschungsprozess treffen.
Melhoria da qualidade de vida em indivíduos vegetarianos por meio da educação alimentar e nutricional
Authors: CAMPOS Tatiana do Nascimento , SILVA Rafael Junio Rombardi da , MILAGRES Regina Célia Rodrigues de Miranda , BONIFACIO Dandara Baia , ANGONESI Priscila Santos , MARTINS Marina César Lisboa , RODRIGUES Frederico Baeta Gurgel , FARIAS Vanessa de Oliveira , CONCEIÇÃO Lisiane Lopes da , DUARTE Maria Sônia Lopes
Published: September 2023

A dieta vegetariana tem efeitos benéficos à saúde, embora haja risco de deficiências nutricionais caso não seja bem planejada. Diante disso, este trabalho teve por objetivo promover a saúde, a qualidade de vida e a prevenção da deficiência nutricional em vegetarianos e desenvolver habilidades práticas nos discentes e nos profissionais de saúde. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com vegetarianos, adultos, de ambos os sexos. Dados antropométricos, sociodemográficos e de estilo de vida foram coletados nos 476 atendimentos nutricionais realizados em 239 vegetarianos. Foram criados protocolos e realizados simpósios e oficinas. Após diagnóstico nutricional, elaboraram-se orientações para cada indivíduo. A deficiência de vitamina B12, ferritina e hemoglobina ocorreram em 93%, 37% e 11% dos indivíduos no 1º atendimento. Após as intervenções, a maioria reduziu a deficiência, demonstrando a importância do acompanhamento aos indivíduos vegetarianos.
Agronomic performance of maize under nitrogen fertilization and inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense
Authors: Ferreira Lucas da Rocha , Albrecht Leandro Paiola , Albrecht Alfredo Junior Paiola , Silva André Felipe Moreira , Silva Bruno Antônio Azevedo , Pellizaro Enoir Cristiano
Published: September 2023

Given the potential of Azospirillum brasilense as an alternative to improve availability and use of N by maize, it is critical to conduct research in different regions to assess the results of inoculation under several different conditions. The study aimed to analyse the influence of Azospirillum brasilense on the growth and maize yield, as well as its interaction with nitrogen (N) fertilization. The experiment was conducted in two trials (Palotina, PR – trial 1; Ariquemes, RO – trial 2) in Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a factorial 2x4 arrangement. First factor was application of N fertilization (with or without application), while the second factor consisted of A. brasilense inoculation such as: no inoculation (control), via seed treatment (ST), via leaf application (LA) and ST + LA. The N contents of leaf and the agronomic performance were assessed. Analysis of variance was conducted with the F test (p<0.01). The mean levels of the inoculation factor with A. brasilense were compared via Tukey’s test (p<0.01). The F-test was conclusive in comparing the means of the levels of N application factor. The analysis was conducted by means of orthogonal contrasts to compare the treatment of A. brasilense with those treated with N fertilization. In trial 1, the applying N fertilization associated to A. brasilense via ST and LA may contribute to increase yield. In trial 2, inoculation with A. brasilense seems to be a technology with good prospects for application, contributing to improve production conditions and increase maize yield. Inoculation with A. brasilense is important to supply N to plants, with an increase in agronomic performance of maize. However, inoculation with A. brasilense was not sufficient to meet the demand for N fertilization
Quantitative and qualitative investments in internal control personnel and firm operational efficiency: Evidence from Korea
Authors: Yoon Inkyung , Lee Hansol , Choi Dongjoon , Jee Eunsang
Published: September 2023

Although internal control systems in firms aim to provide reasonable assurance regarding objectives related to operations, reporting, and compliance, research focusing on operational efficiency is limited. This study investigates the impact of both quantitative and qualitative investments in internal control personnel on a firm’s operational efficiency. Utilizing a fixed-effect regression model, the Heckman (1979) two-stage model, and a two-stage least squares procedure, this study analyzes 4,471 firm-year observations from Korean listed firms from 2018 to 2020. The findings indicate a positive association between investment in internal control personnel and operational efficiency. This relationship remains robust even under sensitivity tests and concerns of potential endogeneity, as confirmed by the Heckman and two-stage least squares models. Specifically, the Heckman model shows that the ratio of the number of employees (coef = 0.023, t-value = 5.20) and certified public accountants (coef = 0.256, t-value = 5.43) responsible for internal control is positively associated with operational efficiency. Average work experience (coef = 0.002, t-value = 1.84) of internal control personnel is also positively related to operational efficiency. This study provides empirical evidence for the significance of investing in internal control personnel to boost operational efficiency and suggests that firms should consider both quantitative and qualitative aspects of internal control.
An incidental danger: Left ventricular thrombus in takotsubo syndrome
Authors: Beckmann Taylor , Afify Hesham , Mattumpuram Jisanth
Published: September 2023

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a potentially lethal condition characterized by transient regional systolic dysfunction in the absence of coronary artery ischemia. This syndrome predominantly affects postmenopausal women and is often preceded by physical or emotional stress and often presents with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Although the effects can be transient, takotsubo cardiomyopathy still results in an 8-12% rate of in-hospital mortality, with cardiogenic shock being the most common cause of death. There are known risk factors that increase the likelihood of a patient developing a left ventricular thrombus during the clinical course. The management of these cases is discussed in this report.
Mondrian’s rendition of Schopenhauer’s metaphysics of will and disinterested aesthetic experience
Authors:   Department of Research of Art, Faculty of Art, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran., Fallahzadeh Ali , Rahbarnia Zahra
Published: September 2023

Despite the pivotal role of German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) in the sophistication of Modern aesthetics and art theories in the 20th century and his special attention to aesthetic experience, considerably little is known about the impacts of his aesthetic theory, particularly pertaining his account on conception disinterested aesthetic experience formed based on his metaphysics of will, on some of the most enriched Modern art theories like Piet Mondrian’s Neo-Plasticism. On the other side of the spectrum, Mondrian’s Neo-Plastic paintings, his universal pure abstract style, have been well examined through historical approaches and Modernist theories, especially about the Greenbergian account and Modern styles like De Stijl art movement in the last few decades. Moreover, his quasi-philosophical writings have been vastly scrutinized in the light of their impacts on Theosophic, Platonic, and Hegelian doctrines. Interestingly, Mondrian, in his theoretical writings, explicitly refers to the Schopenhauerian conception of disinterested contemplation and the requirements for having a universal aesthetic experience. Yet, Mondrian’s account of Schopenhauer’s notion of disinterested contemplation, namely for notions like individual will, Will, intellect, cessation of subserviency of intellect to the will, and so on, has not been scrutinized through an aesthetic lens. Hence, this article first aims to investigate Mondrian’s rendition of Schopenhauer’s metaphysics of will and his account of disinterested aesthetic experience. Indeed, this article proposes this hypothesis that Mondrian, who always sought to unveil the Platonic Idea of an objective manifestation of a universal equilibrium (harmony) or pure beauty as truth through his universal Neo-Plastic art, was heavily influenced by Schopenhauer’s metaphysics of will and his attitude toward aesthetic contemplation which is disinterested and objective. At the end of this article, it becomes clear that Mondrian’s conception of pure intuition and his contemplative approach to aesthetic experience intimately conform to Schopenhauer’s view on the notion of disinterested aesthetic attention or contemplation narrated within his metaphysics of will.
The Historical Revolution of Vatican II and the Vision of a Post-Western Christianity in India
Authors:   Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont, California, USA, Beltramini Enrico
Published: September 2023

The vision of a post-western Christianity in India is traditionally linked to a distinct theological interpretation of Vatican II. According to such an interpretation, Vatican II was a theological revolution that favoured the openness of the Church to the world. In this article, I explore that vision through a historical, rather than a theological, interpretation of Vatican II. In Europe, Vatican II was a historical revolution that promoted the exit of Catholicism from Christendom and the establishment of a new Christian order with no links with Christendom. In India, this post-Christendom order has taken the form of a post-western order.
Drought forecasting using W-ARIMA model with standardized precipitation index
Authors: Rezaiy Reza , Shabri Ani
Published: September 2023

Climate change and water supply shortages are paramount global concerns. Drought, a complex and often underestimated phenomenon, profoundly affects various aspects of human life. Thus, early drought forecasting is crucial for strategic planning and water resource management. This study introduces a novel hybrid model, combining wavelet transform with the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model, known as Wavelet ARIMA (W-ARIMA), to enhance drought prediction accuracy. We meticulously analyze monthly precipitation data from January 1970 to December 2019 in Kabul, Afghanistan, focusing on multiple time scales (SPI 3, SPI 6, SPI 9, SPI 12). Comparative assessment against the conventional ARIMA approach reveals the superior performance of our W-ARIMA model. Key statistical indicators, including Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), underscore the improvements achieved by the W-ARIMA model, notably in SPI 12 forecasting. Additionally, we evaluate performance using metrics like R-square, NSE, PBIAS, and KGE, consistently demonstrating the W-ARIMA model's superiority. This substantial enhancement highlights the innovative model's clear superiority in drought forecasting for Kabul, Afghanistan. Our research underscores the critical significance of this hybrid model in addressing the challenges posed by drought within the broader context of climate change and water resource management.
Household level wastewater management and disposal data collection in the U.S.: the history, shortcomings, and future policy implications
Authors: Maxcy-Brown Jillian , Elliott Mark A. , Bearden Bennett
Published: September 2023

Country-level sanitation access is monitored globally by the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP). However, recent reports on sanitation access in high-income countries indicate that the JMP data may underestimate the prevalence of unsafely managed sanitation in these settings. This study explains the surveys that collect household-level wastewater management data in the U.S. and analyzes the accuracy and reliability of these data sets. From 1940 to 1990, sewage disposal data were collected comprehensively through the U.S. Decennial Census. These data are currently collected through the American Housing Survey (AHS) which appears to greatly underestimate the usage of onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). In addition to these surveys, we highlight current efforts to introduce a sewage disposal question to the American Community Survey (ACS), localized efforts to collect wastewater data, and the Point-in-Time count of people experiencing homelessness. Using estimates of OWTS usage in new housing, this study provides the first defensible national estimate of OWTS usage since 1990. We estimate that 25.03% of U.S. households use OWTS which exceeds the AHS estimate (15.7%) by over 12 million households. This study discusses the potential for better wastewater data collection to inform future wastewater policy and improve the quality of life for U.S. residents.
Translanguaging in Brazilian bilingual education: analyzing attitudes and perceptions of translanguaging practices in fifth-grade students and their teachers
Authors: Cunha de Morais Maryvone , Cristine Hübner Lilian , Welp Anamaria
Published: September 2023

Grounded in the translanguaging theory, which as a decolonial theory and pedagogy frames languages as a unified semiotic repertoire, this study explores participants’ attitudes and perceptions toward their translanguaging practices. The investigation examines the answers to Questionnaires for Linguistic Characterization and Use completed by fourteen students and three of their teachers at a bilingual school in Southern Brazil. The teachers also answered a written interview. Results showed a solid stance for language separation in formal contexts, contrasting with a positive attitude toward multilingual behavior. Despite students and teachers prioritize the use of the target language, translanguaging practices are clearly manifested in class. Considering these results, translanguaging pedagogy seems to be valid for minority language development contexts, in which educators are committed to promoting the translanguaging corriente to promote biliteracy by valuing bilinguals’ repertoire to create fluid and dynamic spaces allowing learners to critically convey their thinking.
Dois modos de rememorar/narrar o crime em "Angústia", de Graciliano Ramos, e "Coivara da Memória", de Francisco Dantas
Authors: Ribeiro Silva Auda , Souto Silva Susana
Published: September 2023

Será analisado, neste artigo, o estado de angústia em que vivem os narradores-protagonistas, das obras Angústia (1936) e Coivara da memória (1991), após terem supostamente cometido um assassinato. O crime nas duas obras configura-se como fator preponderante para o desenlace das tramas: na obra de Francisco J. C. Dantas, o delito aparece em tom enigmático e em Graciliano Ramos em tom confesso. Enquanto em Coivara da memória, o crime é o responsável pelo rememorar da vida do protagonista, em Angústia, o crime é fator causante de toda narrativa, visto que a aflição do protagonista, descrita no início da obra, tem relação direta com o ato extremo que cometeu. Nesse sentido, o narrador-protagonista de Coivara da memória vive um conflito interno semelhante ao do também narrador-protagonista de Angústia. Nos relatos, os protagonistas se encontram presos, ora preso em suas visões, no caso de Luís da Silva, ora em prisão domiciliar, no caso do serventuário do cartório, ambos estão em estado de agonia, visto não saber o que poderá lhes acontecer. O dito estado aqui é pensado numa perspectiva psicanalítica, a partir do que Freud teoriza sobre a angústia, entendida como “estado afetivo”, ou seja, a angústia a serviço da autoconservação, a ideia de que a angústia seria o retorno a uma série de ameaças que levam ao desamparo, tendo o nascimento como princípio de tudo. Para tanto, tomaremos como norte as obras de Freud, que tratam diretamente da temática abordada, como também, o estudo se fará em diálogo com a fortuna crítica das obras que compõem o corpus dessa análise.
“A senhora tá totalmente descontrolada”: as avaliações da impolidez no caso de machismo na CPI da Pandemia no Brasil
Authors: Rios Barreto Filho Ricardo , Pinheiro Pedrosa Fernandes Otávia
Published: September 2023

Este trabalho objetiva analisar a variação das avaliações da impolidez no caso de uma interação na Comissão Parlamentar de Inquérito (CPI) da Pandemia e apontar que fatores influenciam reações diferentes de um mesmo caso. Como fundamentação teórica, utilizamos os estudos discursivos da impolidez para compreender como diferentes interactantes avaliam uma situação de machismo. Para tanto, empreendemos uma análise discursiva da sessão da CPI e dos comentários dos internautas sobre o caso em uma postagem no YouTube. Os resultados revelaram que as diferentes avaliações são fruto de processos de compreensão ativa que ora enfatizam, ora silenciam o histórico discurso de deslegitimação das mulheres em espaços de poder.
Effects of Caraway and (S)-(+)-carvone Extract on the Expression of Genes Coding Key Glycolytic Enzymes in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Zakeri Ramin , Noroozi-Karimabad Mojgan , Hajizadeh Mohammadreza , Wong Alexei , Zarei Sadegh , Hosseiniara Reza , Mahmoodi Mehdi
Published: September 2023

Background:

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder causing dysfunctional regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and contributing to multiple serious health challenges worldwide.

Aims:

This research explores the effect of caraway hydroalcoholic extract and (S)-(+)-carvone on the transcription of genes coding for key glycolytic enzymes in the liver of the diabetic rat treated with streptozotocin (STZ).

Methods:

In this experimental study, diabetes was established in four groups of rats by injecting 45 mg/kg of STZ intraperitoneally. Further normal rats that were not injected formed the control group. Over four weeks, the effects of caraway hydroalcoholic extract (150 and 250 mg/kg) and carvone (100 mg/kg) were evaluated using PCR and histopathological evaluation, specifically in the form of effects on the transcription process of genes coding key glycolytic enzymes in the liver of the diabetic rats.

Results:

Over the four-week assessment period, rats’ food intake, and therefore blood glucose levels, were decreased through the daily oral administration of carvone and caraway extract (150 mg/kg) when compared to those administered with further STZ. The expression of key glycolytic enzymes, including glucokinase, pyruvate kinase, and phosphofructokinase 1 in the liver of diabetic rats was restored to near-normal levels by carvone and caraway extract, especially at the 150 mg/kg dose. Histopathological evaluation of diabetic rat liver demonstrated that administration of caraway extract and carvone decreased the STZ-induced damage to liver tissue.

Conclusion:

150 mg/kg of caraway extract strongly regulates glycolysis by regulating the gene expression of key glycolytic enzymes in diabetic rats.
Post-COVID-19 Sydenham Chorea: A Case Report
Authors: Camargo José Augusto , Morcillo Stéfani Augustoli
Published: September 2023

Background:

Sydenham chorea, or rheumatic chorea, is a movement disorder that is more prevalent among young people, with a mean age at symptom onset between 8 and 9 years. The condition is more common in females. Sydenham chorea is associated with rheumatic fever and is considered the most common cause of acute chorea in children. We believe that the present case is worth reporting since the occurrence of Sydenham chorea as a post-COVID-19 sequela has not been described in Brazil.

Case Presentation:

We report here the case of a 14-year-old girl with symptoms of acute chorea that emerged 15 days after treatment resolution of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). Brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging scans showed no changes, and the laboratory tests revealed no signs of an active infectious process. In contrast, neurological positron-emission tomography/CT showed mild glycolytic hypometabolism in the bilateral mesial frontal region. Administration of an oral anticonvulsant resulted in a marked improvement in her symptoms.

Conclusion:

Despite major efforts of the scientific community for discovering treatments, preventive methods, mechanisms of action, and possible sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, there is still a long way to go to better understand this devastating pathological agent that has affected the global population.
Cancer Risk in Elderly Korean Patients with Neurodegenerative Disease and its relation to Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Kim Hee-Cheol , Kim Ji-Hun , Lee Ho-Jun , Kim Yang-Tae , Jang Byeong-Churl
Published: September 2023

Introduction:

Some studies suggest that neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), cancer, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are all related to protein misfolding and may be linked. This study aimed to determine whether these diseases are associated with each other.

Objective:

The aim of the study was to investigate the difference in cancer incidence according to the presence or absence of T2D in the ND group and the control group during the 10-year follow-up period.

Methods:

A population-based 10-year follow-up study was conducted using the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database between 2002 and 2015. The study population included the ND group (n = 9,292) and the control group (n = 46,742), who were aged 60 to 84 years. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for cancer.

Results:

ND and/or T2D were newly diagnosed in both groups during the follow-up period. The newly diagnosed ND cases before cancer onset were 2,412 (26.0%) and 15,435 (33.0%) in the ND and control groups, respectively (p < 0.01). The newly diagnosed T2D cases were 4,691 (50.5%) and 25,695 (55.0%) in the ND and control groups, respectively (p < 0.01). At the end of the observation period, the number of cancer patients was 2,040 (22.0%) and 8,628 (18.5%) in the ND and control groups, respectively (p < 0.01). The ND group was associated with an increased risk of cancer (HR = 1.25). In both groups, newly diagnosed ND and T2D showed an additive effect on cancer incidence during the follow-up period.

Conclusion:

This study showed that cancer incidence was positively associated with ND and T2D. These results show that ND, cancer, and T2D are related. More replication studies are needed to address the association between ND, cancer, and T2D.
Flow Cytometry Analysis of In Vitro Induced Polyploidy in Plants
Authors: Sudheer Wudali Narasimha , Banadka Akshatha , Nagella Praveen , Al-Khayri Jameel M.
Published: September 2023

Polyploidy is the condition of having more than two sets of chromosomes.
The mechanism of polyploidy helps in deriving special traits like an increase in
biomass, an increase in the size of various organ systems, and secondary metabolite
content for the progeny. Various chemical compounds (colchicine, trifluralin, and
oryzalin) that have the capacity to alter the mitotic cycle were used for the purpose of
inducing polyploidy. Various techniques, such as counting of chromosome number,
chloroplast number, determination of pollen diameter, and estimation of leaf stomatal
density and size, were developed to analyze the polyploidy of the plants. However,
these methods are not reliable for their regular use. Thus, of all the above-mentioned
approaches, the estimation of ploidy level by flow cytometry (FCM) has been the most
popular over the last few decades. Flow cytometry is now extensively used for the
verification of haploidy, aneuploidy, and polyploidy. The ease of sample preparation,
fast acquisition, and accurate measurements have made the method popular in the
domains of plant cell biology, systematics, evolution, genetics, and biotechnology. The
current chapter discusses the induction of polyploidy and its importance in plant
breeding. It also emphasizes the importance of FCM in the analysis of polyploidy and
enumerates the various polyploidy studies involving the application of FCM.
Application of Flow Cytometry in Biological Sciences
Authors: Jatt Tahira , Maitlo Majid Ali , Hussain Shaikh Sadam , Patricia Zerpa-Catanho Dessireé
Published: September 2023

Flow cytometry is one of the sophisticated tools with its applications in
different biological disciplines. It is potentially efficient in the characterization of
mixed populations of cells present in biological samples, including blood cells,
lymphocytes, microorganisms, sperms, cancer cells, metabolites, antibodies,
DNA/RNA content, proteins, toxins, plant spores, etc. Flow cytometry is widely
applied in the determination of cellular characteristics and cellular components
profiling like cell size, intracellular pH, DNA, RNA, proteins, surface receptors,
membrane potential, calcium, and others. Currently, flow cytometry is pragmatic in
basic as well as applied plant research and plant industrial applications like plant
breeding. Flow cytometry has been considered a reliable, rapid, efficient, and accurate
tool for analysis of ploidy level and nuclear genome size estimation. It is also subjected
to taxonomy to study population/subpopulation dynamics. Gender determination from
pollen grain is also possible due to flow cytometry.