bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robot-assisted resection of choledochal cyst in neonates
Authors: Chen Sai , Gao Zhigang , Chen Qingjiang , Qian Yunzhong
Published: July 2024

Objective

Laparoscopic choledochectomy and hepatojejunostomy have been reported in children since 1995, but this procedure is technically demanding. Robotic surgical systems can simplify complex minimally invasive procedures. Currently, few reports have been made on neonates. We present the experience of 6 cases of neonatal CC(choledochal cysts).

Study design

Between January 2022 and December 2023, 6 neonates underwent robotic resection of choledochal cyst and hepaticojejunostomy using the Da Vinci surgical system at Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, a high-volume hepatobiliary disease center. demographic data of the patients and surgical outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Results

All 6 patients were successfully treated by robotic cystectomy and hepaticojejunostomy. The mean age was 17.3 days (range 4–25) and the mean weight was 3.6 kg (range 2.55–4.4). 5 cysts were type Ia and 1 was type Iva. The mean diameter of the cysts was 3.8 cm (range 1.25-5). The mean time to establish feeding was 4.83 days (range 4–6), and patients were discharged after a median time of 16.83 days (range 7–42) without postoperative complications.

Conclusions

This procedure is safe and effective for neonates. The authors found that the use of robot-assisted surgery has ergonomic advantages in this delicate, minimally invasive procedure.
Learning curve analysis of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery in treating ovarian cysts: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Feng Dan , Liu Tianjiao , Li Xin , Huang Lu , Xiao Li , He Li , Lin Yonghong
Published: July 2024

Background

Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopy (vNOTES) is regarded as a challenging surgical technique to learn but is promising in reducing perioperative pain and significantly improves the cosmetic outcomes. Previous studies on the learning curve analysis of vNOTES mainly focuses on the hysterectomy approach, while the vNOTES ovarian cystectomy’s learning curve was merely reported though more frequently performed than vNOTES hysterectomy. Therefore, this study seeks to analyze the learning curve of three surgeons with varying levels of experience in performing endoscopic surgery and vaginal surgeries for the treatment of ovarian cysts using vNOTES.

Methods

A total of 127 patients with ovarian cysts of a variety of pathological types were treated by ovarian vNOTES performed by three surgeons of different levels of endoscopic and transvaginal surgical experience. Each surgeon’s learning curve was plotted using the Cumulative Sum method and divided into three or four phases of technique learning at the turning point of the learning curve. The sociodemographic and clinical features of patients in each phase were then compared and factors potentially associated with operation time were also screened.

Results

The learning curve was presented in four phases. The operation time (OT) was significantly shorter in phases II (53.66 ± 16.55 min) and IV (54.39 ± 23.45 min) as compared with phases I (68.74 ± 15.85) and III (75.93 ± 30.55) (p < 0.001). More cases of serve pelvic adhesion and endometrioma were assigned in the later phases. The OT of endometriotic cysts had much longer than that of non-endometriotic cysts(62.57 ± 18.64 min vs. 49.88 ± 14.26 min, p = 0.15) The presence of pelvic adhesion [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 7.149 (0.506, 13.792), p = 0.035] and bilateral cyst [adjusted OR 16.996 (2.155, 31.837), p = 0.025], max diameter of cyst[adjusted OR 2.799 (0.174, 5.425), p = 0.037], and individual surgeon [adjusted OR -6.118 (-11.814, -0.423), p = 0.035] were significantly associated with OT.

Conclusion

There learning curve of ovarian vNOTES has four phases. ovarian vNOTES could be mastered after performing seven, nine, and 16 cases by surgeons #1, 2 and 3 respectively, in gynecologic endoscopic surgeries.

Trial registration

ChiCTR2200059282 (Registered on April 28th, 2022).
Distribution of EGFR fusions in 35,023 Chinese patients with solid tumors-the frequency, fusion partners and clinical outcome
Authors: Zhang Haiping , Wang Julei , Li Xiaoxiao , Zhang Dongfeng , Qi Yingxue , Zhang Qin , Luo Ningning , Wang Xiaoou , Wang Tuo
Published: July 2024

Background

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) fusions are rare but potentially actionable oncogenic drivers across multiple solid tumors. However, the distribution and molecular characteristics of EGFR fusions in Chinese patients with solid malignancies have not been explored.

Methods

Panel-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) data of 35,023 patients with various types of solid tumors was collected and analyzed from the Simcere Diagnostics (Nanjing, China) database. A 9563-patient cohort was derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to explore the relationship between EGFR fusion status and overall survival (OS).

Results

In this study, prevalence of functional EGFR fusions was 0.303% (106/35,023) in total across solid tumors, which occur more commonly in gastroesophageal junction cancer (1/61, 1.613%), followed by medulloblastoma (1/66, 1.515%) and glioma (33/2409, 1.370%). Analysis showed a prevalence for fusion partners in different tumor types. The top 3 co-mutant genes with EGFR fusion were TP53 (mutation frequency, MF: 65%), BRCA2 (MF: 43%), and ALK (MF: 41%). Furthermore, patients in the EGFR fusion group had a significantly shorter OS than those in the non-EGFR fusion group (p < 0.0001) in the TCGA cohort, suggesting that EGFR fusion might be a high-risk factor for poor prognosis.

Conclusions

Our study is the first retrospective analysis of EGFR fusions in a large-scale solid tumor population, which may provide a reference for future EGFR-TKI clinical trials with EGFR fusions.
Elevated neutrophil extracellular traps in systemic sclerosis-associated vasculopathy and suppression by a synthetic prostacyclin analog
Authors: Kortam Neda , Liang Wenying , Shiple Claire , Huang Suiyuan , Gedert Rosemary , Clair James St. , Sarosh Cyrus , Foster Caroline , Tsou Pei-Suen , Varga John , Knight Jason S. , Khanna Dinesh , Ali Ramadan A.
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute to the vascular complications of multiple diseases, but their role in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is understudied. We sought to test the hypothesis that NETs are implicated in SSc vasculopathy and that treatment with prostacyclin analogs may ameliorate SSc vasculopathy not only through vasodilation but also by inhibiting NET release.

Methods

Blood from 125 patients with SSc (87 diffuse cutaneous SSc and 38 limited cutaneous SSc) was collected at a single academic medical center. Vascular complications such as digital ulcers, pulmonary artery hypertension, and scleroderma renal crisis were recorded. The association between circulating NETs and vascular complications was determined using in vitro and ex vivo assays. The impact of the synthetic prostacyclin analog epoprostenol on NET release was determined.

Results

Neutrophil activation and NET release were elevated in patients with SSc-associated vascular complications compared to matched patients without vascular complications. Neutrophil activation and NETs positively correlated with soluble E-selectin and VCAM-1, circulating markers of vascular injury. Treatment of patients with digital ischemia with a synthetic prostacyclin analog boosted neutrophil cyclic AMP, which was associated with the blunting of NET release and reduced NETs in circulation.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates an association between NETs and vascular complications in SSc. We also identified the potential for an additional therapeutic benefit of synthetic prostacyclin analogs, namely to reduce neutrophil hyperactivity and NET release in SSc patients.
Reinforced protection of fragile bronze cultural relics based on nano-cuprammonium fiber material
Authors: Tan Jinlong , Chen Jiachang , Cui Xinzhan
Published: July 2024

Bronze artifacts often suffer from “bronze disease” due to the presence of chloride ions, which result from copper chlorides forming on their surfaces during storage. Therefore, reinforced protection is essential for these unearthed cultural artifacts, and new materials for the reinforced protection of fragile bronzes are urgently needed. In this study, cuprammonium solvent and nanocellulose (CNC) were utilized as reinforcement materials to protect fragile bronzes. The chemical and aesthetic properties before and after reinforcement were analyzed using ultra-depth field microscopes, SEM-EDX, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicated that at a nano-cuprammonium reinforcer concentration of 2.5 mol/L, the optimal reinforcement effect on simulated bronze powdery rust samples was achieved.Mechanical strength increased by an average of 77.59%. The mass growth rate reached 84.8%, while the color difference

$$\Delta E$$

Δ
E

remained below 4.0. Additionally, aging resistance significantly improved, aligning with cultural artifact protection standards.Meanwhile, a compact and stable protective membrane formed on the surface of the bronzes, isolating the bronze matrix from direct contact with the external environment, which delayed bronze corrosion and contributed to long-term stable preservation.

Graphical Abstract
A fluorite bead from Bronze Age Tianshanbeilu cemetery, Xinjiang, Northwest China
Authors: Reheman Kuerban , Yan Meiting , Qin Chunlei , Li Xiaoguang , Simayi Mulati , Tang Zihua
Published: July 2024

The Tianshanbeilu cemetery is the largest Bronze Age cemetery in eastern Xinjiang, China, and plays important roles in connecting the Eurasian interior to the Hexi Corridor, and further to the Central Plains region. Utilizing micro-XRF and Raman spectroscopy techniques, we identified a fluorite bead at this cemetery. This barrel bead is the earliest record of such a fluorite bead in China, dating back to approximately 1385–1256 BCE. Comparing the unearthed records of fluorite beads in eastern China spanning from the Neolithic Age to the Western Zhou dynasty, we notice that in the early Western Zhou period, fluorite beads found in élite burials are only in barrel or biconical shapes, both of which first appeared in the eastern region of Xinjiang, such as the Tianshanbeilu cemetery in Hami and the Yanghai cemetery in the Turpan Basin. We proposed that the barrel fluorite bead drilled by metal tubular drill first appearing in the Tianshanbeilu cemetery might have spread eastward to the Central Plains region and finally constituted a component of the ritual revolutions during the Western Zhou dynasty.
Using deep learning for enrichment of heritage BIM: Al Radwan house in historic Jeddah as a case study
Authors: Miky Yehia , Alshawabkeh Yahya , Baik Ahmad
Published: July 2024

Building information modeling (BIM) can greatly improve the management and planning of historic building conservation projects. However, implementing BIM in the heritage has many challenges, including issues with modeling irregular features, surveying data occlusions, and a lack of predefined libraries of parametric objects. Indeed, surface features can be manually distinguished and segmented depending on the level of human involvement during data scanning and BIM processing. This requires a significant amount of time and resources, as well as the risk of making too subjective decisions. To address these bottlenecks and improve BIM digitization of building geometry, a novel deep learning based scan-to-HBIM workflow is used during the recording of the historic building in historic Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The proposed workflow enables access to laser scanner and unmanned aerial vehicle imagery data to create a complete integrated survey using high-resolution imagery acquired independently at the best position and time for proper radiometric information to depict the surface features. By employing deep learning with orthophotos, the method significantly improves the interpretation of spatial weathering forms and façade degradation. Additionally, an HBIM library for Saudi Hijazi architectural elements is created, and the vector data derived from deep learning-based segmentation are accurately mapped onto the HBIM geometry with relevant statistical parameters. The findings give stakeholders an effective tool for identifying the types, nature, and spatial extent of façade degradation to investigate and monitor the structure.
Multi-modal co-learning with attention mechanism for head and neck tumor segmentation on 18FDG PET-CT
Authors: Cho Min Jeong , Hwang Donghwi , Yie Si Young , Lee Jae Sung
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Effective radiation therapy requires accurate segmentation of head and neck cancer, one of the most common types of cancer. With the advancement of deep learning, people have come up with various methods that use positron emission tomography-computed tomography to get complementary information. However, these approaches are computationally expensive because of the separation of feature extraction and fusion functions and do not make use of the high sensitivity of PET. We propose a new deep learning-based approach to alleviate these challenges.

Methods

We proposed a tumor region attention module that fully exploits the high sensitivity of PET and designed a network that learns the correlation between the PET and CT features using squeeze-and-excitation normalization (SE Norm) without separating the feature extraction and fusion functions. In addition, we introduce multi-scale context fusion, which exploits contextual information from different scales.

Results

The HECKTOR challenge 2021 dataset was used for training and testing. The proposed model outperformed the state-of-the-art models for medical image segmentation; in particular, the dice similarity coefficient increased by 8.78% compared to U-net.

Conclusion

The proposed network segmented the complex shape of the tumor better than the state-of-the-art medical image segmentation methods, accurately distinguishing between tumor and non-tumor regions.
Ranking occupations by their proximity to workers’ profiles
Authors: Bächli Mirjam , Benghalem Hélène , Tinello Doriana , Aschwanden Damaris , Zuber Sascha , Kliegel Matthias , Pellizzari Michele , Lalive Rafael
Published: July 2024

Information friction makes it difficult for job seekers to find new employment opportunities. We propose a method for providing individual-specific occupation recommendations by ranking occupations based on their proximity to the worker’s profile. We identify a set of twelve skills, abilities and work styles that capture the worker-oriented requirements of all occupations and discuss how to measure these items using online questions and tasks. We use the Euclidean distance between the measured items pertaining to a worker and the requirements of an occupation to measure the proximity between job seekers and occupations. We show that the proximity between job seekers’ profiles and their preunemployment occupation predicts their intention to change occupations, thus suggesting that our method captures a meaningful conceptualization of mismatch. We also show that our method generates recommendations that differ from the previous occupations of mismatched job seekers, thereby potentially expanding their search scope.
The impact of corporate governance on firm performance: panel data evidence from S&P 500 Information Technology
Authors: Danilov Georgiana
Published: July 2024

This research is important for both the academic and business environments due to the extraordinary results obtained. Additionally, the significance of the study is also attributed to the addressed topic, which is intensively studied in the world of corporate finance. The primary aim of this research is to scrutinize a cohort of 66 information and technology (IT) companies, all of which are constituents of the American Standard and Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500). The study period spans two decades, covering the years 2003–2022. To summarize the outcomes, the analytical framework incorporated linear models with both fixed (fe) and random effects (re), as well as quantile regression models. This study's key outcomes highlight that firm size, sales growth, current ratio, long-term debt to capital, free cash flow, asset turnover and receivable turnover, board meeting frequency, female board representation, chief executive officer age, audit committee independence, and the presence of compensation and nomination committees, alongside a pandemic indicator, positively impact firm performance. Conversely, firm age, dividend payout ratio, effective tax rate, board size, chief executive officer duality, and corporate social responsibility committee presence have negative effects on performance. Also, regarding quantile regressions, CEO duality significantly influences companies with high profitability rates, and companies with low to medium profitability rates are more strongly and negatively influenced by board size. The implications of the core policy in this research focusing on corporate governance will consider certain rules and guidelines regarding financial transparency and protecting shareholders' interests. Additionally, it will take into account the independence of the board of directors and the presence of its committees, as well as ethical leadership practices.
15-Gene Expression Profile and
PRAME
as Integrated Prognostic Test for Uveal Melanoma: First Report of Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group Study No. 2 (COOG2.1)
Authors: Harbour J. William , Correa Zelia M. , Schefler Amy C. , Mruthyunjaya Prithvi , Materin Miguel A. , Aaberg Thomas A. , Skalet Alison H. , Reichstein David A. , Weis Ezekiel , Kim Ivana K. , Fuller Timothy S. , Demirci Hakan , Piggott Kisha D. , Williams Basil K. , Shildkrot Eugene , Capone Antonio , Oliver Scott C. , Walter Scott D. , Mason John , Char Devron H. , Altaweel Michael , Wells Jill R. , Duker Jay S. , Hovland Peter G. , Gombos Dan S. , Tsai Tony , Javid Cameron , Marr Brian P. , Gao Ang , Decatur Christina L. , Dollar James J. , Kurtenbach Stefan , Zhang Song
Published: July 2024

PURPOSE

Validated and accurate prognostic testing is critical for precision medicine in uveal melanoma (UM). Our aims were to (1) prospectively validate an integrated prognostic classifier combining a 15-gene expression profile (15-GEP) and
PRAME
RNA expression and (2) identify clinical variables that enhance the prognostic accuracy of the 15-GEP/
PRAME
classifier.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 1,577 patients with UM of the choroid and/or ciliary body who were enrolled in the Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group Study Number 2 (COOG2) and prospectively monitored across 26 North American centers. Test results for 15-GEP (class 1 or class 2) and
PRAME
expression status (negative or positive) were available for all patients. The primary end point was metastasis-free survival (MFS).

RESULTS

15-GEP was class 1 in 1,082 (68.6%) and class 2 in 495 (31.4%) patients.
PRAME
status was negative in 1,106 (70.1%) and positive in 471 (29.9%) patients. Five-year MFS was 95.6% (95% CI, 93.9 to 97.4) for class 1/
PRAME
(–), 80.6% (95% CI, 73.9 to 87.9) for class 1/
PRAME
(+), 58.3% (95% CI, 51.1 to 66.4) for class 2/
PRAME
(–), and 44.8% (95% CI, 37.9 to 52.8) for class 2/
PRAME
(+). By multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis, 15-GEP was the most important independent predictor of MFS (hazard ratio [HR], 5.95 [95% CI, 4.43 to 7.99];
P <
.001), followed by
PRAME
status (HR, 1.82 [95% CI, 1.42 to 2.33];
P <
.001). The only clinical variable demonstrating additional prognostic value was tumor diameter.

CONCLUSION

In the largest prospective multicenter prognostic biomarker study performed to date in UM to our knowledge, the COOG2 study validated the superior prognostic accuracy of the integrated 15-GEP/
PRAME
classifier over 15-GEP alone and clinical prognostic variables. Tumor diameter was found to be the only clinical variable to provide additional prognostic information. This prognostic classifier provides an advanced resource for risk-adjusted metastatic surveillance and adjuvant trial stratification in patients with UM.
Relevance of Competency Based Education for Architectural Education in India
Authors: Kohale Nikhil , Kini Pradeep , Mohammed Ciraj
Published: July 2024

Background A holistic architectural education is the culmination of learning knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values, which eventually reflects in the quality of graduates. Even though different schools of thought have made various kinds of qualitative contributions towards the evolution of architectural education in India, it has largely been dominated by the quantitative and technical aspects of its regulating framework. Architects engage with the demanding contradictions between responsibilities of an ethical nature, the dynamic challenges of practice, and the intricacies of architectural imagination. The aesthetical and imaginative foundations of the field make it incumbent upon the architects to possess a balance of ecumenical proficiencies for accountability and personalization. The purpose of the study is to identify relevant attributes of Competency Based Education (CBE) that can be adopted for architectural education in India. Methods This research follows a narrative review approach and a descriptive-analytic method to broadly understand the attributes of CBE and its potential relevance to architectural education in India. 313 articles were searched on various search strings based on their relevance to the inquiry. 66 documents written in English language were included and appraised through the Scale of the Assessment for Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) tool to avoid any risk of bias. The PRISMA 2020 checklist and flow diagram has been used to report the findings of this narrative review Result The study identifies eight critical parameters of CBE with respect to its definitions, origins, transitions, regulatory environment, characteristics, approaches and implications on teaching-learning, frameworks and models of assessment; and challenges, which makes a case for the relevance of CBE for architectural education in India, which hasn’t been explored yet. Conclusion The broader expectations of ‘being competent’ can be addressed through a conscious adoption of strategies of relevant attributes of CBE which can encourage building attitudes and temperament for life-long learning
Effects of rosuvastatin on serum asymmetric dimethylarginine levels and incidence of long-term cardiovascular events in patients with hyperlipidaemia and H-type hypertension
Authors: Jiang Jinzhong , Miao Wei , Guo Hua , Tian Wenyan
Published: July 2024

Aims/Background Rosuvastatin is a common lipid-lowering statin on the market, but its impact on the incidence of long-term cardiovascular events is not well clarified. This study aimed to explore the effects of rosuvastatin on serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels and the incidence of long-term cardiovascular events in patients with hyperlipidaemia and H-type hypertension.

Methods This retrospective study included 158 patients with hyperlipidaemia and H-type hypertension who were treated in the Hebei Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine from August 2015 to August 2016. The patients were divided into an occurrence group and a non-occurrence group according to the occurrence of long-term cardiovascular events following the resuvostatin treatment. The changes in blood lipids, blood pressure, serum ADMA levels and vascular endothelial function indexes before and after treatment were compared, and the effect of ADMA on the occurrence of long-term cardiovascular events and its predictive efficacy were analysed using the Spearman correlation test and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve.

Results After treatment, the levels of serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, serum ADMA and blood pressure became significantly lower (p < 0.001), with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol exhibiting no significant difference. Twenty-two cases developed long-term cardiovascular events after the treatment, with an incidence of 13.92%. The occurrence group had significantly higher serum ADMA levels than the non-occurrence group (p < 0.001). The rosuvastatin treatment also lowered the levels of endothelin-1 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and increased the nitric oxide level (p < 0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum ADMA levels were positively correlated with the occurrence of long-term cardiovascular events (r=0.462, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, according to the ROC curve, serum ADMA had a good predictive efficacy for long-term cardiovascular events, with an area under the curve of 0.885 (95% confidence interval 0.808–0.963; p < 0.001).

Conclusion Rosuvastatin can reduce ADMA levels and exert vascular protective effects. The increase in serum ADMA levels is closely related to the occurrence of long-term cardiovascular events in patients with hyperlipidaemia and H-type hypertension, serving as a potential clinical predictor to guide disease prevention and treatment.
PREVISÕES DE SÉRIES DE TEMPERATURA NA MICRORREGIÃO DE PIRASSUNUNGA (SP)
Authors: Teixeira Bruno Eduardo , Antonio de Souza Luiz Gustavo , Tech Adriano Rogério Bruno
Published: July 2024

Observa-se um aumento cada vez maior das consequências do fenômeno chamado de mudanças climáticas, que se tem manifestado através de fatos que podem ser considerados fora da normalidade, como pode ser observado através de chuvas e ventos fortes, além de enchentes e quedas de árvores que causam grandes prejuízos as mais variadas cidades e regiões em diversos pontos do país e do mundo. A pesquisa atual tem por objetivo geral analisar o comportamento da temperatura na microrregião de Pirassununga no interior do estado de São Paulo com o intuito de responder se as mudanças são significativas ao ponto de considerar que há mudança provocada pelas alterações climáticas globais, para a realização desse estudo foi utilizado como base uma série temporal de 1988 a 2018, onde foi observado o comportamento da temperatura mínima, média e máxima. Em um primeiro momento foi possível observar um comportamento sazonal para as situações em análise da série temporal, mas para aprimorar a compreensão e aprofundar melhor o estudo da série optou-se por dividir o modo de estudo em três subgrupos distintos, a partir disso utilizou modelos estatísticos para a continuidade da pesquisa. Como método principal de estudo nesta pesquisa foi utilizado a estimação de modelos de séries temporais da classe ARIMA.  Conclui-se a partir dos resultados que há mudanças nas séries temporais significativas no componente médias-móveis, isto é, infere-se como movimento oriundo das mudanças climáticas.
Spontaneous Right Intrapetrous Internal Carotid Dissection in a Patient With Active COVID-19
Authors: Noble Oscar , Sprung Keri , Diaz Orlando , Coulter Stephanie , Hernandez-Vila Eduardo
Published: July 2024

Spontaneous cervical artery dissection, a nontraumatic tear in the wall of an internal carotid or vertebral artery, is a common cause of stroke, particularly in patients younger than 40 years of age; however, petrous internal carotid artery dissection is extremely rare. This case report describes a 50-year-old woman who had a spontaneous intrapetrous internal carotid dissection thought to be secondary to active SARS-CoV-2 infection; the dissection was treated successfully with a flow-diverter stent.
The Realism of Close (2022) and ‘the Unconscious Added Value’ of Sound in Movies: An Interview with Yanna Soentjens
Authors: Machado Beato Cátia Susana
Published: July 2024

Interview with Yanna Soentjens, sound engineer, about the sound environment she created for Close (2022), a drama film directed by Lukas Dhont. Soentjens reflects on various elements present in the film, as well as how they were thought of, captured, and mixed. By deepening the knowledge of her professional trajectory, the interview allows for a better understanding of her creative process and the importance of sound in cinema, not only as an inseparable element of the image but also as an instrument of connection between the film and the viewer.
A natureza no cinema queer brasileiro contemporâneo: Um lugar possível
Authors: Wandscheer João Paulo , De Souza Rossini Miriam
Published: July 2024

Este artigo propõe uma discussão acerca da natureza enquanto espaço de compreensão de práticas e de conflitos referentes à sexualidade dos protagonistas das obras de longa-metragem Vento seco (2020), dirigida por Daniel Nolasco, e A torre (2019), de Sérgio Borges. Partindo de aspectos estético-narrativos, analisamos a relação dos protagonistas com o meio natural, onde eles vivenciam a sua sexualidade, bem como a forma em que os filmes inventam um olhar sobre a natureza que aproxima cinema e política. Como resultado, compreendemos que a natureza consiste, nos filmes analisados, em um espaço de resistência ecossexual. Também percebemos que os personagens buscam o contato com a natureza para se afastarem de ambientes onde se sentem desajustados, devido ao preconceito, e para contornarem normas relacionadas tanto à sexualidade quanto à monogamia. Para além de se revelar um espaço que permite às duas obras distanciarem-se de um quadro antropocêntrico durante a construção de cenas e planos, a natureza também ajuda a articular as lutas da comunidade queer, assim como de outros grupos sociais minoritários, com demandas por ações contra a destruição do planeta e a crise climática.
Atração, Formalismo e História do Cinema: Uma conversa com Tom Gunning
Authors: Gonçalo Pablo , Ramos Monteiro Lúcia , Cruzeiro Victor
Published: July 2024

Nesta entrevista, Tom Gunning comenta sua trajetória cinéfila, sua formação acadêmica e os primeiros anos de pesquisa. Gunning também ressalta os diálogos com outros colegas da sua geração, como Noël Burch, David Bordwell, Thomas Elsaesser e Laura Mulvey. O conceito de cinema de atração, o papel da análise formalista nos estudos de cinema e a questão do racismo na obra de D.W. Griffith são alguns dos temas abordados.
Introduction to the Special Section: The Nature in the Machine
Authors: Bértolo José , Mouzinho Susana , Colbert Maile
Published: July 2024

This special section offers a map of the relationship between cinema and what we call ‘the natural world’, recognizing the human as a mediating element of this articulation, while responding and reacting to the tendency towards anthropocentrism that is found in both film production and the plurality of critical approaches canonized in the context of film studies. Our aim is to promote a discussion of this problem without any specific focus on a time period, geographical provenance or genre. The six essays gathered here explore the heterogeneity and rich configurations that the natural has obtained throughout the history of cinema, in fiction, documentary, and hybrid forms, both in works that fit explicitly into the field of ecocriticism and in those that contain an ecological subtext that connotes an ecocinematic perspective.
Plant diversity conservation issues and challenges: A review
Authors: Behera Snigdha , Bhadra Abanikanta
Published: July 2024

Significant conceptual changes have occurred over the past years in plant conservation, with major methodological advances incorporating modern techniques, technology, and disciplines. The global, national, and regional loss of biodiversity is a multifaceted issue affecting social, economic, organizational, political, scientific, and communicational scenarios. The identification of root causes is key to preventing biodiversity loss. India's diverse ecosystem supports various needs, including food, medicine, clothing, and shelter. Spatial biodiversity assessment is important for prioritizing and monitoring mechanisms and efforts in the context of land use, land cover change, unprecedented overexploitation, uncontrolled pollution, and alien species invasion. Odisha, an eastern Indian state, is rich in natural resources, with tropical moist, and dry deciduous forests covering remote areas of many districts, north-south-western hills, plateaus, and isolated pockets. Conservation efforts have expanded with protected areas, Red Lists, ex-situ facilities, wild plant accessions, and some developed species recovery programs. The conservation community is concerned about how to respond to the continuously depleting bioresources. Conservation prioritization focuses on protecting socioeconomically, medicinally, and environmentally significant species and living communities, regions of high species richness and endemism, and active functional ecosystems. The present review explores how to address sustainable biodiversity conservation practices and natural ecosystems aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals No. 13 and 15.
MOOCs
Authors: Marrone Mauricio , Mantai Lilia , Luzia Karina
Published: July 2024

This paper outlines a preliminary scoping exercise that surveyed how good practice principles around cultural inclusion are currently incorporated into online learning, and more specifically, into Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs. Combining good practices principles for learning and teaching across cultures and elements of Universal Instructional Design, this small-scale survey of courses provided on four MOOC platforms - Coursera, Udacity, Open2Study and edX - looks at determining what can be considered good culturally inclusive practice. The aim of the project is to establish minimum standards and examples of good practice that can form the benchmarks for all online units.
"Hearing the thoughts of others"
Authors: Khoo Elaine , Forbes Dianne , Johnson E. Marcia
Published: July 2024

This paper reports on a qualitative case study exploring the affordances of student-generated podcasts. Findings from online focus groups with students indicated that podcasting was useful for building technological skills and confidence, supporting multimodal ways of learning that value relational connections, student perspectives and collaborative reflection. Students valued technical support when podcasting for the first time. In terms of the conference theme, we imagine a future where teachers integrate digital literacies and pedagogies by experimenting with practice, involving students actively, and employing learning networks for sustainable support.
Academics adopting mobile devices
Authors: Handal Boris , MacNish Jean , Petocz Peter
Published: July 2024

This exploratory research characterised the degree of adoption of mobile learning (ML) devices among academic staff at an Australian university. It also sought to evaluate the impact of academics' perceptions about possibilities and constraints in the adoption of these technologies. A zone of free movement (ZFM) scale was developed and validated to quantify the magnitude and direction of those perceptions. Results showed that academic staff are characteristically at the third of the Russell's (1995) six developmental stages of technological adoption. Lack of time to integrate ML into courses, limited availability of mobile devices, little familiarity with the tools, as well as the perception that students cannot use them as a word- processor, act as inhibitors to the adoption of the technology. In turn, the perception that mobile tools enhance student-lecturer communication outside class was found to be a positive predictor of adoption.
Use of Anatomage tables in a large first year core unit
Authors: Fyfe Georgina , Fyfe Sue , Dye Danielle , Crabb Hannah
Published: July 2024

Anatomage tables were incorporated into a large core unit in health sciences at Curtin University to replace cadaver material. Students worked in groups of eight around the table, as one of several stations in weekly workshops facilitated by tutors. Tutors and students completed a survey asking about their use of technology and their experiences with the Anatomage tables. Tutors also contributed to focus groups (n=16), and student interaction around the table was recorded on camera. Student survey response was 18% (n= 326) and for tutors, 69% (n=22). Preliminary analysis suggests that most students found the Anatomage tables good for ideas of scale and relationships of organ structures, and liked being able to rotate the images, but were less impressed with graphics quality and the limitations to group interaction. Tutors felt well-prepared for using the tables but were frustrated by technical issues, and few thought the tables were a good investment.
Enhancing learning analytics by understanding the needs of teachers
Authors: Corrin Linda , Kennedy Gregor , Mulder Raoul
Published: July 2024

The field of learning analytics has great potential to inform and enhance teaching and learning practices in higher education. However, while many studies are being conducted to examine new learning analytics tools or ways that learning analytics can be used to address specific problems such as student retention, few studies have explored the fundamental needs of teaching staff in addressing educational problems or making improvements to their teaching. This paper presents the initial findings from research being conducted with staff associated with teaching and learning at the University of Melbourne to identify the needs and potential uses of learning analytics to improve educational outcomes. The role learning analytics will play in informing teaching practice in higher education is considered, as well as implications for future research in the field.
Integrating Learning Design, Interactivity, and Technology
Authors: Churchill Daniel , King Mark , Webster Beverley , Fox Bob
Published: July 2024

Student engagement has long been recognized as a serious challenge to learning and teaching in higher education. While increasing and innovative use of interactive digital technologies has been a hallmark of recent changes to higher education practice, the integration of traditional and innovative digital techniques in learning and teaching design and practice remains a crucial issue for university educators. There has been a tendency for new technologies to be added to existing curriculum design and learning and teaching practice in an ad hoc, isolated manner, rather than as part of an overarching learning design which incorporates both new technologies and traditional techniques and understanding of pedagogic principles and practice. Through the integration of the RASE (Resources/Activity/Support /Evaluation) pedagogic student-centred learning model, interactivity and applications of technology, this paper seeks to help teachers design more effective courses to enable students to acquire greater autonomy, and to cultivate dispositions to understand.
Learning Analytics in Higher Education
Authors: Atif Amara , Richards Deborah , Bilgin Ayse , Marrone Mauricio
Published: July 2024

Higher education institutions recently have been drawing on methods from learning analytics to make decisions about learners' academic progress, predictions about future performance and to recognise potential issues. As the use of learning analytics in higher education is a relatively new area of practice and research, the intent of this paper is to provide an overview of learning analytics including a summary of some exemplar tools. Finally we conclude the paper with a discussion on challenges and ethical issues.
Bilirubin measurements in neonates: uniform neonatal treatment can only be achieved by improved standardization
Authors: Hulzebos Christian V. , Camara Johanna E. , van Berkel Miranda , Delatour Vincent , Lo Stanley F. , Mailloux Agnès , Schmidt Marcel C. , Thomas Mercy , Mackay Lindsey G. , Greaves Ronda F.
Published: July 2024

Measurement of total bilirubin (TBil) concentration in serum is the gold standard approach for diagnosing neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. It is of utmost importance that the measured TBil concentration is sufficiently accurate to prevent under treatment, unnecessary escalation of care, or overtreatment. However, it is widely recognized that TBil measurements urgently require improvement in neonatal clinical chemistry. External quality assessment (EQA) programs for TBil assess for differences between laboratories and provide supporting evidence of significant differences between various methods, manufacturers and measurement platforms. At the same time, many countries have adopted or only slightly adapted the neonatal hyperbilirubinemia management guidelines from the USA or UK, often without addressing differences in the methodology of TBil measurements. In this report, we provide an overview of the components of bilirubin that are measured by laboratory platforms, the availability of current reference measurement procedures and reference materials, and the role of EQA surveys in this context. Furthermore, the current status of agreement in neonatal bilirubin against clinical decision thresholds is reviewed. We advocate for enhancements in accuracy and comparability of neonatal TBil measurements, propose a path forward to accomplish this, and reflect on the position of the International Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) Working Group Neonatal Bilirubin (WG-NB) in this matter.
Analysis of bioactive compounds present in Boerhavia elegans seeds by GC-MS
Authors: ALRaddadi Tahreer M. , Bahaffi Saleh O. , Alkhateeb Lateefa A. , Sadaka Mohammad W.
Published: July 2024

Boerhavia elegans L. (Nyctaginaceae) is a tropical plant widely distributed in the eastern part of Yemen, Oman, and many other countries. B. elegans is used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, anemia, and urinary tract disorders. The seeds, called Alhydawan, are used as food additives to prepare porridge, one of the most popular foods in Yemen. The present study aims to analyze the bioactive constituents of the methanolic extract of B. elegans seeds after fractionation on silica gel column chromatography. The methanolic extract was subjected to column chromatography and eluted with a hexane and hexane diethyl ether mixture of different compositions. The eluted fractions were tested with thin-layer chromatography. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of fractions indicated some compounds such as dodecane, 2,6,11-trimethyl, butylated hydroxytoluene, 2,6,10-trimethyltridecane, hexadecane,2,6,11,15-tetramethyl, nonadecane, 2-methyl, 7,9-di-tert-butyl-1-oxaspiro(4,5) deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione, n-hexadecenoic acid, octadecanoic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, 13-docosenamide, (Z)-, and phenol,2,4-bis(1,1-dimethyl ethyl) phosphite (3:1). Hence, B. elegans may have antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities due to the presence of secondary metabolites in the extract.
Homology modeling and molecular docking study of corticotrophin-releasing hormone: An approach to treat stress-related diseases
Authors: Ahmad Nasir , Khan Khalid , Khan Sher Wali , Ur Rashid Haroon , Irum  , Zahoor Muhammad , Umar Muhammad Naveed , Ullah Riaz , Ali Essam A.
Published: July 2024

Corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors (CRHRs), also termed corticotropin-releasing factor receptors, are linked to G-protein-coupled receptor class. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is medically significant in stress, immune response, gastrointestinal motility, and eating patterns. It serves as a releasing hormone and is encoded by the CRH gene. It has been established that there are two subtypes of CRHRs: CRH1-R and CRH2-R. These receptors, representing types 1 and 2, respectively, play a crucial role in regulating biological functions triggered by CRH. To treat stress-related gut abnormalities and stress-related disorders, regulation and optimization of CRH1-R and CRH2-R have turned into a novel idea. The three-dimensional (3D) structure of CRH is not completely recognized, and it is believed that the peptide key unit is helical and both the ultimate edges are relatively unsaturated. We can envisage its 3D structure from the amino acid order of a model protein by homology modeling procedures using Molecular Operating Environment and the Iterative Threading Assembly Refinement program. The assessment and authentication of the 3D structure were performed with RAMPAGE and ERRATE online servers. Utilizing the 3D structure of the target protein and predictions of its active site assists us in the development of new drug candidates aimed at treating disorders associated with stress. CRHR was docked with 19 CP376395 analogs acting as antagonists.
(De)Constructing the Disruption: Enacted Sensemaking and Sensegiving in Institutionally Plural Fields
Authors: Kumar Amal , Higgins Monica C.
Published: July 2024

If an event happens in the woods, and nobody responds to it, is it a disruption? In this paper, we address a gap in the organizational sociology literature about how events are constructed as “institutional disruptions” in institutionally plural fields. We integrate the disconnected literatures of sensemaking/sensegiving and institutional pluralism to argue that institutional disruptions in institutionally plural fields are not coterminous with exogenous events, but rather are the result of a process of fieldwide sensemaking and sensegiving mediated by intermediary organizations. We use the American higher education community’s response to the Trump administration’s 2017 ‘travel ban’ as a paradigmatic example that illuminates these dynamics with some clarity. In particular, we illuminate the relationships between conditions of institutional pluralism, extra-field events, the social construction of meaning within fields, the role of intermediary organizations, and the nature of organizational actions in response. Emerging from our theoretical exploration, we offer implications and avenues for future research for organizational sociologists. Collectively, our theorizing opens the door for scholars to re-examine previously taken-for-granted assumptions about disruptions and better theorize the earliest moments of institutional change.
Gender equality policy of the Olympic Movement in Chinese sport governing bodies: the case of elite volleyball
Authors: Huang Xingmeng Ava , Lau Patrick Wing Chung
Published: July 2024

Objectives

This research based on the theoretical framework of globalisation focuses on the development of gender equality policy in the Olympic Movement and the implementation of IOC’s gender equality policy in the context of Chinese elite volleyball.

Methods

In addition to documentary analysis, 17 semi-structured interviews were conducted with key insiders within Chinese elite volleyball system to provide a comprehensive understanding of the IOC’s gender equality policy implementation. The analysis involved perspectives of athletes’ participation, coaching positions, and leadership roles according to three main elements of the IOC’s gender equality policy.

Results

The findings demonstrated that the responses of Chinese elite volleyball to IOC’s gender equality policy are participative, conflictual, and passive in terms of the gender balance of athletes’ participation, coaches’ positions, and the representation of leadership roles respectively.

Conclusions

IOC recommended subordinated stakeholders including NOCs to implement gender equality policy. The attitude of Chinese elite volleyball governing body towards gender equality is generally positive. However, IOC’s gender equality policy is not consistently transferred at national level. Policy might be implemented with symbolic measure in China without monitoring system. Referees should be included in policy contents in addition to athletes, coaches and leaders. In addition, since IOC’s gender equality policy and statistics have been keeping updated, further results with respect to the case of volleyball should be demonstrated in future research.