bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fields of moduli and the arithmetic of tame quotient singularities
Authors: Bresciani Giulio , Vistoli Angelo
Published: March 2024

Given a perfect field $k$ with algebraic closure $\overline {k}$ and a variety $X$ over $\overline {k}$, the field of moduli of $X$ is the subfield of $\overline {k}$ of elements fixed by field automorphisms $\gamma \in \operatorname {Gal}(\overline {k}/k)$ such that the Galois conjugate $X_{\gamma }$ is isomorphic to $X$. The field of moduli is contained in all subextensions $k\subset k'\subset \overline {k}$ such that $X$ descends to $k'$. In this paper, we extend the formalism and define the field of moduli when $k$ is not perfect. Furthermore, Dèbes and Emsalem identified a condition that ensures that a smooth curve is defined over its field of moduli, and prove that a smooth curve with a marked point is always defined over its field of moduli. Our main theorem is a generalization of these results that applies to higher-dimensional varieties, and to varieties with additional structures. In order to apply this, we study the problem of when a rational point of a variety with quotient singularities lifts to a resolution. As a consequence, we prove that a variety $X$ of dimension $d$ with a smooth marked point $p$ such that $\operatorname {Aut}(X,p)$ is finite, étale and of degree prime to $d!$ is defined over its field of moduli.
You can't study medicine part-time, can you?
Authors: Scarff Catherine Elizabeth , Cheshire Lisa , Woodward-Kron Robyn
Published: March 2024

Societal expectations about inclusivity have resulted in changes in several aspects of higher education, many of which are aimed at promoting a broader student population engaged in learning. The option for part-time study does not exist in relation to primary medical education, and we assert that this limits the ability to train a population of doctors who truly represent the populations they serve. In this article, we discuss drivers and barriers to flexible study patterns for medical students—continuing a conversation begun almost a decade ago—and provide four key factors for consideration in regard to less than full-time medical education.
"Group drum helps placement working": Unpacking the value of DRUMBEAT for interprofessional group learning during practice placement
Authors: Haddadan Giti , Hannan Ann Marie , Wright Nicola , Saurman Emily
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Interprofessional education enables allied health students to learn with, from and about each other, equipping them with the skills, values and knowledge to work collaboratively in teams and with service users. DRUMBEAT, a groupwork program, was applied as a creative tool and implemented to empower learners with knowledge and skills not consistently addressed in traditional allied health education. This paper will explore the value of using DRUMBEAT during practice placement through gaining the perspectives of allied health students and the intentions, perceptions and experiences of allied health academic facilitators.
Methods: This multiple-methods qualitative inquiry used student end-of-program feedback surveys (n = 73) and academic semi-structured interviews (n = 3). Data was thematically analysed.
Results: Implementing DRUMBEAT had value for students. Benefits included skill development, deeper self-reflection and self-awareness, a sense of safety, an opportunity for selfcare and shifting perspectives. DRUMBEAT also provided students with a fun escape from the stresses of placement; it became an opportunity for creative expression, fostering wellbeing and mindfulness. The academics valued DRUMBEAT for the neurobiological benefits of rhythm, its opportunity for experiential learning combined with social and emotional growth and the enjoyment of the program. Connecting and learning together allowed for holistic relationships with students and the provision of more individualised support.
Conclusions: DRUMBEAT has value for interprofessional group learning. Introducing a creative psycho-educational groupwork program such as DRUMBEAT supports students’ personal and professional growth and has the potential for enhancing learning and wellbeing. These are skills necessary for mindful collaboration and reflective practice, which are known to enhance quality experiences and outcomes for service users.
Islands, saurians and parasites
Authors: Roca Vicente
Published: March 2024

A review and discussion of the results obtained after more than 40 years of research on parasites of insular saurian reptiles in some areas of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic has been carried out. Twenty-seven species and subspecies belonging to seven different genera of lizards were analysed, revealing the existence of diverse helminth communities, related to different biotic and abiotic characteristics of the hosts and habitats. The biogeographical and evolutionary particularities of the endemic parasites found are detailed and commented, as well as the peculiarities of the helminth fauna of the hosts in relation to their type of feeding or their age and size. The capacity and opportunity of saurian hosts in the dispersal of parasite species and the importance of parasites as bioindicators are also analysed.
Is the Pyrenean newt (Calotriton asper) a thermoconformer? Cloacal and water temperature in two different thermal periods in a Pre-Pyrenean stream population
Authors: Montori Albert
Published: March 2024

In ectothermic animals, heat seems to be a determining factor because it influences many vital activities such as locomotion, the ability to escape, feeding, and reproduction, among others. In aquatic environments, physical characteristics of water prevent small ectotherms from thermoregulating and therefore it is expected that their body temperature remains similar to water temperature. Throughout its distribution and annual cycle, the Pyrenean newt (Calotriton asper) is exposed to a wide range of water temperatures that affect its biological and ecological traits like the standard metabolic rate, oxygen consumption, activity period and growth pattern. This study analyses the relationship between the cloacal and water temperatures in a Pre-Pyrenean population of C. asper in two periods with well differentiated water temperatures (July and September). The aims are to establish if there are differences between sexes in cloacal temperature, whether reproductive activity modifies cloacal temperature, and to analyse the degree of thermoconformity of the species. The results indicate that cloacal temperature depends on the water temperature, corroborating the idea that C. asper is mainly a thermoconformer, as it corresponds to an aquatic ectotherm. However, the cloacal temperature of newts was slightly higher than water temperature. In individuals in amplexus, cloacal temperature was significantly higher than in specimens that are not in this mating position, and in July, females showed much greater dispersion in cloacal temperature than males, which is probably related to spawning behaviour.
Analytical solutions for single and multiple scattering from rib-stiffened plates in water
Authors: Bakhtiary Yekta Hesam , Norris Andrew N.
Published: March 2024

The interaction of an acoustic plane wave with a pair of plates connected by periodically spaced stiffeners in water is considered. The rib-stiffened structure is called a “flex-layer” because its low frequency response is dominated by bending stiffness. The quasi-static behavior is equivalent to a homogeneous layer of compressible fluid, which we identify as air for the purposes of comparison. In this way, an air layer is acoustically the same as a pair of thin elastic plates connected by a periodic spacing of ribs. At discrete higher frequencies, the flex-layer exhibits perfect acoustic transmission, the cause of which is identified as fluid-loaded plate waves propagating back and forth between the ribs. Both the low and finite frequency behavior of the flex-layer are fully explained by closed-form solutions for reflection and transmission. The analytical model is extended to two flex-layers in series, introducing new low and high frequency phenomena that are explained in terms of simple lumped parameter models.
A Grassroots Initiative to Engage Classroom Teachers in Increasing Physical Activity
Authors: Orendorff Karie L. , Merica Christopher B. , Egan Cate A.
Published: March 2024

Purpose: Classroom-based physical activity (PA) provides students the opportunity to achieve PA recommendations. However, limited research has examined grassroots efforts for classroom-based PA. The purpose of this study was to share the story of a grassroots initiative to increase PA during school, titled the 150 Project. Methods: Narrative inquiry was used to draw on participants shared experiences to bring the story into existence. Individual interviews were conducted (n = 4, project developers; n = 9, elementary classroom teachers). Interview data were coded to reveal connections and relationships between the participants’ stories to form a narrative. Results: The narrative is told by explaining (a) challenge (achieve PA recommendations), (b) action steps (project design), (c) outcomes (student, teacher, and school), and (d) moral of the story (need valid data and increased advocacy for during-school PA). Discussion/Conclusion: The 150 Project successfully trained classroom teachers to increase PA and advocate for PE, but the project is unsustainable without additional support systems.
CRIF1 deficiency induces FOXP3
LOW
inflammatory non-suppressive regulatory T cells, thereby promoting antitumor immunity
Authors: Lee Sangsin , Song Seung Geun , Kim Gwanghun , Kim Sehui , Yoo Hyun Jung , Koh Jaemoon , Kim Ye-Ji , Tian Jingwen , Cho Eunji , Choi Youn Soo , Chang Sunghoe , Shin Hyun Mu , Jung Kyeong Cheon , Kim Ji Hoon , Kim Tae Min , Jeon Yoon Kyung , Kim Hye Young , Shong Minho , Kim Ji Hyung , Chung Doo Hyun
Published: March 2024

Recently identified human FOXP3
low
CD45RA
−
inflammatory non-suppressive (INS) cells produce proinflammatory cytokines, exhibit reduced suppressiveness, and promote antitumor immunity unlike conventional regulatory T cells (T
regs
). In spite of their implication in tumors, the mechanism for generation of FOXP3
low
CD45RA
−
INS cells in vivo is unclear. We showed that the FOXP3
low
CD45RA
−
cells in human tumors demonstrate attenuated expression of CRIF1, a vital mitochondrial regulator. Mice with CRIF1 deficiency in T
regs
bore Foxp3
low
INS-T
regs
with mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic reprograming. The enhanced glutaminolysis activated α-ketoglutarate–mTORC1 axis, which promoted proinflammatory cytokine expression by inducing EOMES and SATB1 expression. Moreover, chromatin openness of the regulatory regions of the
Ifng
and
Il4
genes was increased, which facilitated EOMES/SATB1 binding. The increased α-ketoglutarate–derived 2-hydroxyglutarate down-regulated Foxp3 expression by methylating the
Foxp3
gene regulatory regions. Furthermore, CRIF1 deficiency–induced Foxp3
low
INS-T
regs
suppressed tumor growth in an IFN-γ–dependent manner. Thus, CRIF1 deficiency–mediated mitochondrial dysfunction results in the induction of Foxp3
low
INS-T
regs
including FOXP3
low
CD45RA
−
cells that promote antitumor immunity.
Different components of cognitive-behavioral therapy affect specific cognitive mechanisms
Authors: Norbury Agnes , Hauser Tobias U. , Fleming Stephen M. , Dolan Raymond J. , Huys Quentin J. M.
Published: March 2024

Psychological therapies are among the most effective treatments for common mental health problems—however, we still know relatively little about how exactly they improve symptoms. Here, we demonstrate the power of combining theory with computational methods to parse effects of different components of cognitive-behavioral therapies onto underlying mechanisms. Specifically, we present data from a series of randomized-controlled experiments testing the effects of brief components of behavioral and cognitive therapies on different cognitive processes, using well-validated behavioral measures and associated computational models. A goal setting intervention, based on behavioral activation therapy activities, reliably and selectively reduced sensitivity to effort when deciding how to act to gain reward. By contrast, a cognitive restructuring intervention, based on cognitive therapy materials, reliably and selectively reduced the tendency to attribute negative everyday events to self-related causes. The effects of each intervention were specific to these respective measures. Our approach provides a basis for beginning to understand how different elements of common psychotherapy programs may work.
Changes in an enzyme ensemble during catalysis observed by high-resolution XFEL crystallography
Authors: Smith Nathan , Dasgupta Medhanjali , Wych David C. , Dolamore Cole , Sierra Raymond G. , Lisova Stella , Marchany-Rivera Darya , Cohen Aina E. , Boutet Sébastien , Hunter Mark S. , Kupitz Christopher , Poitevin Frédéric , Moss Frank R. , Mittan-Moreau David W. , Brewster Aaron S. , Sauter Nicholas K. , Young Iris D. , Wolff Alexander M. , Tiwari Virendra K. , Kumar Nivesh , Berkowitz David B. , Hadt Ryan G. , Thompson Michael C. , Follmer Alec H. , Wall Michael E. , Wilson Mark A.
Published: March 2024

Enzymes populate ensembles of structures necessary for catalysis that are difficult to experimentally characterize. We use time-resolved mix-and-inject serial crystallography at an x-ray free electron laser to observe catalysis in a designed mutant isocyanide hydratase (ICH) enzyme that enhances sampling of important minor conformations. The active site exists in a mixture of conformations, and formation of the thioimidate intermediate selects for catalytically competent substates. The influence of cysteine ionization on the ICH ensemble is validated by determining structures of the enzyme at multiple pH values. Large molecular dynamics simulations in crystallo and time-resolved electron density maps show that Asp
17
ionizes during catalysis and causes conformational changes that propagate across the dimer, permitting water to enter the active site for intermediate hydrolysis. ICH exhibits a tight coupling between ionization of active site residues and catalysis-activated protein motions, exemplifying a mechanism of electrostatic control of enzyme dynamics.
Bond-length dependence of attosecond ionization delays in O
2
arising from electron correlation to a shape resonance
Authors: Hammerland Daniel , Berglitsch Thomas , Zhang Pengju , Luu Tran Trung , Ueda Kiyoshi , Lucchese Robert R. , Wörner Hans Jakob
Published: March 2024

We experimentally and theoretically demonstrate that electron correlation can cause the bond-length sensitivity of a shape resonance to induce an unexpected vibrational state–dependent ionization delay in a nonresonant channel. This discovery was enabled by a high-resolution attosecond-interferometry experiment based on a 400-nm driving and dressing wavelength. The short-wavelength driver results in a 6.2–electron volt separation between harmonics, markedly reducing the spectral overlap in the measured interferogram. We demonstrate the promise of this method on O
2
, a system characterized by broad vibrational progressions and a dense photoelectron spectrum. We measure a 40-attosecond variation of the photoionization delays over the X
2
Π

g

vibrational progression. Multichannel calculations show that this variation originates from a strong bond-length dependence of the energetic position of a shape resonance in the

b
4

Σ
g
−

channel, which translates to the observed effects through electron correlation. The unprecedented energy resolution and delay accuracies demonstrate the promise of visible-light–driven molecular attosecond interferometry.
Attenuation of fibroblast activation and fibrosis by adropin in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Liang Minrui , Dickel Nicholas , Györfi Andrea-Hermina , SafakTümerdem Bilgesu , Li Yi-Nan , Rigau Aleix Rius , Liang Chunguang , Hong Xuezhi , Shen Lichong , Matei Alexandru-Emil , Trinh-Minh Thuong , Tran-Manh Cuong , Zhou Xiang , Zehender Ariella , Kreuter Alexander , Zou Hejian , Schett Georg , Kunz Meik , Distler Jörg H. W.
Published: March 2024

Fibrotic diseases impose a major socioeconomic challenge on modern societies and have limited treatment options. Adropin, a peptide hormone encoded by the energy homeostasis–associated (
ENHO
) gene, is implicated in metabolism and vascular homeostasis, but its role in the pathogenesis of fibrosis remains enigmatic. Here, we used machine learning approaches in combination with functional in vitro and in vivo experiments to characterize adropin as a potential regulator involved in fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). We demonstrated consistent down-regulation of adropin/
ENHO
in skin across multiple cohorts of patients with SSc. The prototypical profibrotic cytokine TGFβ reduced adropin/
ENHO
expression in a JNK-dependent manner. Restoration of adropin signaling by therapeutic application of bioactive adropin
34–76
peptides in turn inhibited TGFβ-induced fibroblast activation and fibrotic tissue remodeling in primary human dermal fibroblasts, three-dimensional full-thickness skin equivalents, mouse models of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host-disease (sclGvHD), and precision-cut human skin slices. Knockdown of
GPR19
, an adropin receptor, abrogated the antifibrotic effects of adropin in fibroblasts. RNA-seq demonstrated that the antifibrotic effects of adropin
34–76
were functionally linked to deactivation of GLI1-dependent profibrotic transcriptional networks, which was experimentally confirmed in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo using cultured human dermal fibroblasts, a sclGvHD mouse model, and precision-cut human skin slices. ChIP-seq confirmed adropin
34–76
-induced changes in TGFβ/GLI1 signaling. Our study characterizes the TGFβ-induced down-regulation of adropin/
ENHO
expression as a potential pathomechanism of SSc as a prototypical systemic fibrotic disease that unleashes uncontrolled activation of profibrotic GLI1 signaling.
The functional small RNA interactome reveals targets for the vancomycin-responsive sRNA RsaOI in vancomycin-tolerant
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Wu Winton , Pang Chi Nam Ignatius , Mediati Daniel G. , Tree Jai Justin
Published: March 2024

Small RNAs have been found to control a broad range of bacterial phenotypes including tolerance to antibiotics. Vancomycin tolerance in multidrug resistance
Staphylococcus aureus
is correlated with dysregulation of small RNAs although their contribution to antibiotic tolerance is poorly understood. RNA-RNA interactome profiling techniques are expanding our understanding of sRNA-mRNA interactions in bacteria; however, determining the function of these interactions for hundreds of sRNA-mRNA pairs is a major challenge. At steady-state, protein and mRNA abundances are often highly correlated and lower than expected protein abundance may indicate translational repression of an mRNA. To identify sRNA-mRNA interactions that regulate mRNA translation, we examined the correlation between gene transcript abundance, ribosome occupancy, and protein levels. We used the machine learning technique self-organizing maps (SOMs) to cluster genes with similar transcription and translation patterns and identified a cluster of mRNAs that appeared to be post-transcriptionally repressed. By integrating our clustering with sRNA-mRNA interactome data generated in vancomycin-tolerant
S. aureus
by RNase III-CLASH, we identified sRNAs that may be mediating translational repression. We have confirmed sRNA-dependant post-transcriptional repression of several mRNAs in this cluster. Two of these interactions are mediated by RsaOI, a sRNA that is highly upregulated by vancomycin. We demonstrate the regulation of HPr and the cell-wall autolysin Atl. These findings suggest that RsaOI coordinates carbon metabolism and cell wall turnover during vancomycin treatment.

IMPORTANCE

The emergence of multidrug-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) is a major public health concern. Current treatment is dependent on the efficacy of last-line antibiotics like vancomycin. The most common cause of vancomycin treatment failure is strains with intermediate resistance or tolerance that arise through the acqusition of a diverse repertoire of point mutations. These strains have been shown to altered small RNA (sRNA) expression in response to antibiotic treatment. Here, we have used a technique termed RNase III-CLASH to capture sRNA interactions with their target mRNAs. To understand the function of these interactions, we have looked at RNA and protein abundance for mRNAs targeted by sRNAs. Messenger RNA and protein levels are generally well correlated and we use deviations from this correlation to infer post-transcriptional regulation and the function of individual sRNA-mRNA interactions. Using this approach we identify mRNA targets of the vancomycin-induced sRNA, RsaOI, that are repressed at the translational level. We find that RsaOI represses the cell wall autolysis Atl and carbon transporter HPr suggestion a link between vancomycin treatment and suppression of cell wall turnover and carbon metabolism.
Diagnosis of fasciolosis antibodies in Brazilian cattle through ELISA employing both native and recombinant antigens
Authors: Drescher Guilherme , dos Santos Hellen Geremias , Pinto Mariane Marques da Guarda , Morello Luis Gustavo , Figueiredo Fabiano Borges
Published: March 2024

Bovine fasciolosis is a parasitic disease with a global reach. Coprological based on egg detection in fecal samples and liver inspection to evaluate the presence of the parasite is currently the gold standard for diagnosing chronic fasciolosis in cattle. However, these techniques are labor-intensive and ineffective during the acute phase of the disease. Serodiagnosis using native and recombinant antigens has become an interesting alternative in efforts to identify cattle fasciolosis. We evaluated cattle from abattoir (
n
= 139) and farms (
n
= 500) through liver inspection and coprological examination, respectively. Our laboratory team optimized and validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests based on somatic antigen, excretory/secretory proteins, and the recombinant antigen cathepsin L-1 to detect serum antibodies against fasciolosis in cattle. For animals from abattoir, 10 were positive for fasciolosis according to liver inspection. Both
Fh
ES and
Fh
rCL-1 presented an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.80, with a sensitivity of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.46–0.95) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.38–0.90) and specificity of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.73–0.87) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.80–0.92), respectively. For those cattle from farms, 28 were positive only for fasciolosis according to coprological examination. In this scenario,
Fh
ES gave the best performance, with an AUROC of 0.84, sensitivity of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.60–0.90), and specificity of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.82–0.89). In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of serodiagnosis for accurately screening cattle fasciolosis. The promising sensitivity and specificity values of
Fh
ES when compared to liver inspection or coprological examination enhance its importance for cattle fasciolosis diagnosis.

IMPORTANCE

The aim of this article was to identify antibodies against fasciolosis in cattle in Brazil. The methodology was reproduced in our laboratory and applied for the first time to the Brazilian cattle herd. The antigens tested can be used as a screening test and thus speed up the diagnosis of bovine fascioliasis.
Erratum to: Structure, Kinematics, and Prototyping of a Parallel Manipulator with a Remote Center of Rotation
Authors: Glazunov V. A. , Laryushkin P. A. , Shalyukhin K. A.
Published: March 2024

An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1052618824010151
Submucous leiomyoma: an uncommon cause of heavy menstrual bleeding in early adolescence
Authors: David Daniela Agostinho , Rodrigues Ângela Reis , Amaral João , Geraldes Fernanda
Published: March 2024

Uterine leiomyomas are rare in the paediatric population. This report describes a rare case of a submucous leiomyoma in an adolescent girl. The patient presented with a history of abnormal and painful period which was refractory to medical treatment. Sonographic findings revealed a uterine mass that protruded through the cervix until the upper third of the vagina. A hysteroscopic resection was performed, and a pathological examination confirmed a leiomyoma. 12 months after surgery, there were no signs of recurrence. Conservative sparing-fertility management, such as hysteroscopic resection, is the best option with a type 0 submucosal fibroid, especially in adolescents and young women.
Pain management effectiveness in advanced cancer: palliative care unit inpatient study
Authors: Sampaio Simone Garruth dos Santos Machado , Costa Maria Fernanda Fernandes Duarte , Bilobran Marcela Amitrano , Muniz Andrezza Helena Regadas , Chelles Patrícia Almeida , Souza Julia Werneck Paulino Soares , de Oliveira Livia Costa
Published: March 2024

Objectives

The aim of this study is to evaluate pain management adequacy based on the Pain Management Index (PMI), and its association with the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) in advanced cancer inpatients to a palliative care unit.

Methods

This is a quantitative study concerning advanced cancer inpatients in a specialised palliative care unit between June 2021 and February 2022. The BPI was applied, and analgesia was observed on the first (D1), third (D3) and seventh (D7) day of hospitalisation. Adequate analgesia was considered when PMI≥0.

Results

A total of 104 patients were evaluated on D1, 68 on D3 and 45 on D7, with a mean age of 53.6 years (SD±14.1), most of them female (65.4%), with the most frequent primary tumour site located in the gastrointestinal tract (22.1%). The observed analgesia was adequate (PMI≥0) in 52.9% of all patients on D1, 95.6% on D3 and 100% on D7 (p value=0.012). The number of patients with moderate to severe pain interference in general activities (p value 0.012), mood (p value 0.014), walking ability (p value 0.047), normal work (p value 0.038) and pleasure of living (p value 0.025) decreased during hospitalisation.

Conclusions

Pain is a prevalent and impacting symptom in patients undergoing palliative care. Thus, objective analgesic adequacy assessments in specialised services are required. These findings reinforce the importance of effective pain control and corroborate the importance of employing objective tools in evaluating medical services and improving quality of life of patients.
Ethical dilemmas for palliative care nurses: systematic review
Authors: Geng Shuwan , Zhang Lei , Zhang Quan , Wu Yijin
Published: March 2024

Background

Nurses play a unique and critical role in palliative care, and it is noteworthy that nurses often encounter ethical dilemmas in this field.

Objective

This review aims to conduct a summarised synthesis of the latest research on the ethical considerations nurses faced in palliative care.

Methods

We conducted a rigorous systematic review of relevant existing studies published in high-quality English peer-reviewed journals from January 2017 to July 2023. We identified a total of 4492 articles (1029 in Web of Science, 1570 in PubMed and 1893 in Science Direct). Out of these, only 13 studies met the inclusion criteria.

Results

Following the thematic analysis, the ethical considerations reported in these 13 studies were grouped into three main themes and four subthemes: ethical issues in communication (ethical issues in communication with patients, ethical issues in communication with families), ethical issues in decision-making (autonomy, dignity) and moral distress in palliative care.

Conclusion

This study elaborated on the ethical challenges faced by nurses in their communication with patients and families as well as decision-making and analysed the causes and effects of ethical distress, hoping to give a hand to ethical issues for nurses’ work in palliative care.
Light dark matter search using a diamond cryogenic detector
Authors:   CRESST Collaboration, Angloher G. , Banik S. , Benato G. , Bento A. , Bertolini A. , Breier R. , Bucci C. , Burkhart J. , Canonica L. , D’Addabbo A. , Lorenzo S. Di , Einfalt L. , Erb A. , Feilitzsch F. v. , Fichtinger S. , Fuchs D. , Garai A. , Ghete V. M. , Gorla P. , Guillaumon P. V. , Gupta S. , Hauff D. , Jes̆kovský M. , Jochum J. , Kaznacheeva M. , Kinast A. , Kluck H. , Kraus H. , Kuckuk S. , Langenkämper A. , Mancuso M. , Marini L. , Mauri B. , Meyer L. , Mokina V. , Olmi M. , Ortmann T. , Pagliarone C. , Pattavina L. , Petricca F. , Potzel W. , Povinec P. , Pröbst F. , Pucci F. , Reindl F. , Rothe J. , Schäffner K. , Schieck J. , Schönert S. , Schwertner C. , Stahlberg M. , Stodolsky L. , Strandhagen C. , Strauss R. , Usherov I. , Wagner F. , Willers M. , Zema V.
Published: March 2024

Diamond operated as a cryogenic calorimeter is an excellent target for direct detection of low-mass dark matter candidates. Following the realization of the first low-threshold cryogenic detector that uses diamond as absorber for astroparticle physics applications, we now present the resulting exclusion limits on the elastic spin-independent interaction cross-section of dark matter with diamond. We measured two 0.175 g CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) diamond samples, each instrumented with a Transition Edge Sensor made of Tungsten (W-TES). Thanks to the energy threshold of just 16.8 eV of one of the two detectors, we set exclusion limits on the elastic spin-independent interaction of dark matter particles with carbon nuclei down to dark matter masses as low as 0.122 GeV/c$$^2$$

2

. This work shows the scientific potential of cryogenic detectors made from diamond and lays the foundation for the use of this material as target for direct detection dark matter experiments.
Bifurcations for Homoclinic Networks in Two-Dimensional Polynomial Systems
Authors: Luo Albert C. J.
Published: March 2024

The bifurcation theory for homoclinic networks with singular and nonsingular equilibriums is a key to understand the global dynamics of nonlinear dynamical systems, which will help one determine the dynamical behaviors of physical and engineering nonlinear systems. In this paper, the appearing and switching bifurcations for homoclinic networks through equilibriums in planar polynomial dynamical systems are studied. The appearing and switching bifurcations are discussed for the homoclinic networks of nonsingular and singular sources, sinks, saddles with singular saddle-sources, saddle-sinks, and double-saddles in self-univariate polynomial systems. The first integral manifolds for nonsingular and singular equilibrium networks are determined. The illustrations of singular equilibriums to networks of nonsingular sources, sinks and saddles are given. The appearing and switching bifurcations are studied for homoclinic networks of singular and nonsingular saddles and centers with singular parabola-saddles and double-inflection saddles in crossing-univariate polynomial systems, and the first integral manifolds of such homoclinic networks are determined through polynomial functions. The illustrations of singular equilibriums to networks of nonsingular saddles and centers are given. This paper may help one understand higher-order bifurcation theory in nonlinear dynamical systems, which is completely different from the classic bifurcation theories.
FOOD INSECURITY AMONG LOW-INCOME OLDER PERSONS IN HONG KONG: THE ROLE OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND SOCIAL CAPITAL
Authors: LAW POK MAN , SEO BO KYONG
Published: March 2024

Food is one of the physiological needs that have an immediate impact on healthy aging. However, the persistent poverty problem in Hong Kong has increasingly made it difficult for low-income older persons to meet their basic needs. This paper examines to what extent poor older persons suffer from food insecurity and how their food insecurity is related to the different types of resources they have. Based on the data collected through a questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews, the study found that about 20% of low-income older persons experienced food insecurity, and male, older seniors, and those in a larger household with lower socio-economic status were particularly vulnerable. Among the resources that older people can utilize, public assistance and social services were found to be more conducive to food security than social capital. The implementation of a food voucher scheme and the facilitation of food distribution and social eating are suggested.
DEPRESSION AND SLEEP QUALITY IN PREDICTING THE SUBJECTIVE QUALITY OF LIFE OF WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER IN TAIWAN
Authors: HSIUNG PING-CHUAN , PAN AY-WOAN , CHUNG LYINN , LAI NIEN-HWA , WU YUH-YIN
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors of quality of life (QOL) of women with breast cancer in Taiwan. A cross-sectional study assessed the quality of life of 394 women with breast cancer. Path models were used to test the direct and indirect effects of depression, anxiety, sleep quality and demographic factors on the four QOL domains. Mean age of the participants was 53.53 ± 7.82 years. The results of the path analysis showed that depression was the key predictor with direct effects on all four QOL domains from -0.248 to -0.580. Sleep quality was found to have direct effects from -0.171 to -0.278 on three QOL domains. Anxiety predicted the physical QOL directly (-0.249). Anxiety also indirectly predicted the physical and psychological QOLs through sleep quality (-0.088 and -0.054), respectively. As for the demographic factors, age had a negative direct effect (-0.125) on the physical QOL domain and economic status directly predicted the environmental QOL domain (0.225). Education had slight indirect effects of 0.108 and 0.090, respectively, on the physical and psychological QOL domains. The empirically validated causal model suggested that a multidimensional approach may be needed to improve the QOL of women with breast cancer.
DFQF Market Access Schemes Offered by the QUAD Countries to Least Developed Countries’ Products and the Volatility of the Utilization Rate of these Schemes
Authors: Gnangnon Sèna Kimm
Published: March 2024

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have been keen in supporting the integration of the least developed countries (LDCs) into the global trading system. A major Decision adopted by WTO Trade Ministers in favor of LDCs was the one concerning the Duty-Free-Quota-Free (DFQF) market access for products originating in LDCs. This paper investigates whether the DFQF market access schemes offered by the Quadrilateral (i.e., Canada, the European Union, Japan and the United States) to LDCs have helped reduce the volatility of the utilization rates of these generous preferences. To perform the analysis, we compare LDCs’ performance in terms of the volatility of the utilization rate of the DFQF market access schemes with countries that would have been included in the LDC category but were not. These countries did not enjoy the benefits of the DFQF schemes, as their products received less generous preferential treatment than LDCs’ products. The comparison of the performance of LDCs with this set of countries was made over the period 2014-2019 versus the period 2004–2013. Results have revealed that the DFQF market access initiative has genuinely been instrumental in reducing the volatility of the utilization rate of these generous preferences schemes by LDCs. Moreover, countries with higher utilization rates of GSP programs experience a larger negative effect of the DFQF schemes on the volatility of the utilization of GSP programs than countries with lower utilization rates of these programs. The policy implications of the analysis are discussed.
Faculty, Student, and Community Partner Experiences in Computer and Information Science Service Learning
Authors: Robledo Yamamoto Fujiko , Barker Lecia , Voida Amy
Published: March 2024

Service learning, a high-impact pedagogy, involves integrating academic outcomes with service to the community. The success of service learning experiences depends on the development of mutually reciprocal relationships between students, instructors, and community partners, ensuring equitable benefits for all stakeholders. To explore how relationship-building and growth are supported in computer and information science (CIS) service learning, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 informants—each a faculty, student, or community partner who participated in one of five computer or information science service learning courses. Our analysis identified three factors that were most crucial in supporting the formation of relationships among stakeholders: infrastructuring the relationship, valuing technical and other expertise equitably, and integrating soft skills and technical skills. Based on these findings, we discuss how growth, an important outcome of relationship-building and equitable service learning experiences, can be supported and assessed in CIS service learning experiences.
Utilizing Advanced Technologies for eLearning in Clerkship
Authors: Jung Eulho , Samuel Anita
Published: March 2024

The clerkship phase in medical school is pivotal for clinical training. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption and implementation of educational technology in medical education became inevitable, leading most medical schools to shift toward distance learning. While technologies cannot entirely replace hands-on clinical teaching, faculty members have devised effective ways to utilize technology, such as virtual patients, virtual reality, first-person video streaming, simulators, gamification, and mobile apps. This article provides a summary of the technologies employed, the challenges associated with them, and the advantages and instructional outcomes resulting from their use.
Impaired muscle oxygenation despite normal pulmonary function in type 2 diabetes without complications
Authors: Jlali Islem , Touil Imen , Ibn Haj Amor Hassen , Bouzid Mohamed Amine , Hammouda Omar , Heyman Elsa , Fontaine Pierre , Chtourou Hamdi , Rabasa-Lhoret Rémi , Baquet Georges , Tagougui Sémah
Published: March 2024

Individuals with type 2 diabetes free from micro- and macrovascular complications have normal resting pulmonary function, but their V̇o2peak is impaired due to poor skeletal muscle oxygenation during exercise. Tailoring exercise regimes for this population should prioritize interventions aimed at enhancing muscle oxygenation and blood flow improvement.
Cardiorespiratory rhythm-contingent trace eyeblink conditioning in elderly adults
Authors: Santhana Gopalan Praghajieeth Raajhen , Xu Weiyong , Waselius Tomi , Wikgren Jan , Penttonen Markku , Nokia Miriam S.
Published: March 2024

We trained healthy elderly individuals in trace eyeblink conditioning, either at inspiration-systole or at expiration-diastole. Those who learned exhibited more conditioned responses when trained at expiration-diastole rather than inspiration-systole. However, there was no difference between the experimental groups in the proportion of individuals who learned or did not learn.
PICking out progressive PIC alterations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Deutsch Andrew J.
Published: March 2024

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that causes motoneuron death. Alterations to motoneuron excitability in ALS are suspected to contribute to motoneuron degeneration. Therefore, mechanisms underlying changes in motoneuron excitability are being thoroughly investigated. A recent publication from Trajano et al. (Trajano GS, Orssatto LB, McCombe PA, Rivlin W, Tang L, Henderson RD. J Physiol 601: 4723–4735, 2023) examined temporal changes to persistent inward currents (PICs) in ALS patients. They show that delta frequency (ΔF, an estimate of PICs) has opposite temporal trends in stronger and weaker muscles of ALS patients. This study is very important to aid in the understanding of disease mechanisms. This Neuro Forum article explores some important considerations for interpreting the results of this study, including treatment effects, potential sex differences, and a lack of comparison to healthy individuals.
Analysis of Sinus Variability in a Group of Cameroonian Athletes
Authors: Djientcheu Deugoue F. Y. , Azabji-Kenfack M. , Kameni Poumeni M. , Bilanda D. C. , Femoe Membe U. , Ngoungoure M. C. , Kamtchouing P. , Dzeufiet Djomeni P. D.
Published: March 2024

Background. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a useful method for assessing the heart’s ability to adapt to endogenous and exogenous loads. Data from African population on HRV are scarce and even more so in sports populations. This study aimed to compare cardiac autonomic modulation response in Cameroonian athletes and sedentary. Methodology. We conducted a prospective and analytical study in sports teams in the city of Yaoundé, Cameroon. The participants in our study were divided in three groups; people who practiced little or no sporting activity (sedentary as group 1) or who were regularly physically active as part of a sports team (footballers or handballers as second and third groups). They had to be aged 18 or over and have given their informed consent. Heart rate (HR) was continuously recorded at rest for ten minutes and then transferred to a computer equipped with Kubios HRV Standard software for analysis. Means ± mean standard errors were compared using the one-way ANOVA test, followed by Tukey’s post-test. The significance threshold was set at 0.05. Results. Of the 60 people selected to participate to our study, 75.0% were sportsmen (40.0% handball players and 35.0% footballers). The resting HR of sedentary people was higher (p<0.001) than that of footballers and handball players. The SDNN, RMSSD, and pNN50 of sedentary people (16.22 ± 1.04; 9.97 ± 0.46; and 0.16 ± 0.06) were lower than those of footballers (30.13 ± 2.93; 20.61 ± 2.46; and 2.99 ± 0.63, with p<0.001) and handball players (29.00 ± 1.86; 16.44 ± 1.16; and 2.15 ± 0.38, with p<0.001 and p<0.05 respectively). Absolute and relative very-low-frequency (VLF) power, absolute low and high-frequency (LF and HF) power, as well as total power (TP) were lower in sedentary people (3.66 ± 0.08 and 16.21 ± 0.64; 5.04 ± 0.15 and 2.50 ± 0.16 and 246.40 ± 18.04) compared to footballers (5.09 ± 0.24 and 26.87 ± 1.76; 5.85 ± 0.32 and 3.92 ± 0.22 and 836.10 ± 103.70, with p<0.001, p<0.01, and p<0.001) and handball players (4.86 ± 0.16 and 30.82 ± 2.67; 6.03 ± 0.19 and 3.46 ± 0.16 and 927.30 ± 94.12, with p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.01, and p<0.001). The LF/HF ratio was 12.1% and 20.1% lower in sedentary people (7.55 ± 0.58) compared with footballers (8.46 ± 0.50) and handball players (9.07 ± 0.60), respectively. Conclusion. Sportsmen showed greater parasympathetic and global modulation when compared to sedentary people.
Intestinal Colonization by Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium difficile, and Clostridium perfringens among Commensal Rattus norvegicus in the Urban Areas of Tehran, Iran
Authors: Azimi Taher , Nasrollahian Sina , Sabour Sahar , Mosadegh Mehrdad , Hadi Nahal , Azimi Leila , Fallah Fatemeh , Pourmand Mohammad Reza
Published: March 2024

Background. Rattus norvegicus (R. norvegicus) population plays a significant role in the spread of numerous diseases in urban environments. The present study is aimed at investigating the presence of Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), C. coli, Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), C. difficile toxigenic, and C. perfringens in R. norvegicus captured from urban areas of Tehran, Iran. Methods. From October 2021 to October 2022, 100 urban rats were trapped in 5 different districts of Tehran, Iran. The genomic DNA was extracted from fecal samples, and the presence of C. jejuni, C. coli, C. perfringens, and C. difficile species was evaluated using PCR assay. Moreover, PCR was used to assess the toxicity of C. difficile isolates. Results. Overall, 30% (n=30/100) of fecal samples were positive for zoonotic pathogens. Based on the PCR on hippuricase (hipO), glycine (gly), CIDIF, and phospholipase C (plc) genes, C. perfringens and C. difficile were isolated from 18.2% (n=14/77) and 5.2% (n=4/77) of male rats. The highest frequency of C. perfringens and C. jejuni was 25% (n=5/20) related to the south of Tehran. Toxigenic C. difficile was not detected in all regions. Conclusion. According to the findings, rats are the main reservoirs for diseases. Therefore, rodent control coupled with the implementation of surveillance systems should be prioritized for urban health.
18F-FDG PET-CT Scans in Oncology Patients Treated with Hyaluronic Acid Filler: Not Always a Pitfall
Authors: Proietti Ilaria , Battilotti Chiara , Svara Francesca , Tolino Ersilia , Bernardini Nicoletta , Skroza Nevena , Filippi Luca , Potenza Concetta
Published: March 2024

The use of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers in oncology patients undergoing PET-CT scans is a topic of debate due to potential interference with imaging accuracy. A 54-year-old female, postmelanoma metastasectomy in the parotid region with subsequent facial nerve palsy (FNP), received HA filler injections for facial symmetry and functional restoration. Follow-up PET-CT scans showed no interference or artifacts attributable to HA injection, allowing for accurate imaging results. This case suggests that HA fillers administered in oncology patients may not universally pose challenges or disrupt PET-CT imaging interpretation. Due to the possible false positives induced by fillers, the inclusion of aesthetic treatments in patients’ anamnesis is a crucial step to accurately interpret PET-CT images. Although maintaining high level of caution in interpreting PET-CT results after filler injection is essential, our case emphasizes the safety of this procedure in oncology patients undergoing follow-up PET-CT scans.
Inhibitory Activities of Thai Culinary Vegetables against Key Enzymes Relevant to Diabetes Mellitus and the Kinetics of Enzyme Inhibitions
Authors: Ratananikom Khakhanang , Nitisuk Panorjit , Wongpreedee Panida , Kubola Jittawan
Published: March 2024

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most challenging noncommunicable diseases, as it causes significant costs for medical treatment as well as high morbidity and mortality rates. Dietary plants with antidiabetic properties have been explored as an alternative to synthetic medicines to treat DM because of their safety and nutrition. Hence, the objective of the present study was to determine the inhibitory activities of twenty commonly consumed Thai culinary vegetables against α-glucosidase and α-amylase. All vegetables were extracted using deionized water, ethanol, and hexane at 150 rpm and 30°C for 24 hours. The enzyme inhibitory activities were performed using a colorimetric assay. Diverse results for α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities were found for all vegetable extracts. The most potent anti-α-glucosidase activity was obtained from the ethanolic extract of Leucaena leucocephala (Lamk.) de Wit with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 13.39 ± 0.14 μg/mL, followed by the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Polygonum odoratum Lour with IC50 of 25.60 ± 0.42 and 49.03 ± 0.72 μg/mL, respectively. All the samples exhibited mixed, noncompetitive, and uncompetitive inhibition. It can be concluded that the α-glucosidase and α-amylose inhibitory effects of the investigated extracts may be an indicator of antidiabetic potency, and these extracts might potentially be beneficial as functional components for postprandial hyperglycemia treatment.