bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diabetic foot ulcers: evaluating the role of the specialist advanced practice nurse in complex chronic wounds
Authors: Jiménez-García Juan F , Jiménez-Abad Juan F , López Laura Alonso , García-Fernández Francisco Pedro
Published: August 2024

Objectives:

To determine the profile of diabetes patients with neuropathic and neuro-ischaemic lesions who are referred to the advanced practice nurse (APN) in complex chronic wounds; to determine whether a training strategy aimed at primary care nurses and nursing homes that care for patients with diabetic foot disease influences the performance of professionals; and to assess the extent, follow-up and evaluation of diabetic foot disease in patients with neuropathic ulcers and neuro-ischaemic ulcers referred to the specialist APN before and after the training.

Methods:

The characteristics of patients referred to the APN over a period of 6.5 years were analysed, as well as the numbers of amputations and deaths pre- and post-training.

Results:

of the total of 103 patients, 78 were men; across both sexes the average age was 69 years. Fifty patients had neuropathic ulcers and 53 had neuro-ischaemic ulcers, with healing rates of 59%. There were 50 amputations and 37 deaths over the study period.

Conclusion:

Prevention of diabetic foot ulcers depends on having in place a fast, agile, practical clinical pathway between primary care and hospital, with the role of the APN, including the co-ordination of care between primary and secondary settings, being key.
Psoriasis: an overview
Authors: Perry Margaret
Published: August 2024

This article discusses psoriasis with a brief overview of the various types. It considers the symptoms, aetiology and treatment options and hopes to give nurses and non-medical prescribers more confidence in recognising and treating this disease.
Cosmopolitan Mobiles: Mobilizing Artists and Other Floating Things around the Matsu Islands
Authors: Chan Chris Cristóbal
Published: August 2024

Abstract: This essay examines the multiple relations of mobile, mediating entities that cross politically disputed waters to be transformed and rendered visible on the shores of the Matsu archipelago in the Taiwan Strait. Drawing on an ethnographic account of the Matsu Biennial in 2022, this essay seeks to unmoor our understandings of archipelagos and site-specific art from the sitedness of the island itself to the floating trajectories and mobilities that operate in between. Moreover, it explores the structures of contradiction that permit an artistic poiesis and coexistence of paradoxical realities via interlapping cases of disenchanted ghosts, planktonic suspensions, temporary sustainability, and so on and, ultimately, suggests that the facticity of "bricolage" might offer a path to embracing modes of mobile cosmopolitanisms considered archipelagically through embracing mobiles already cosmopolitan.
Gratings for enhanced sensitivity: advancing D-shaped optical fiber surface plasmon resonance sensors with Ag-Fe2O3 structures
Authors: Seliem Yomna , Abdellatif Sameh O.
Published: August 2024

This research delves into enhancing biosensing sensitivity by optimizing D-shaped optical fiber surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors employing Ag-Fe2O3 structures. By investigating the influence of different grating structures—rectangular, triangular, and elliptical—on sensor performance, a comprehensive analysis was conducted to ascertain the impact of these structural variations on sensitivity and detection precision. The study revealed that while the rectangular structure exhibited a sensitivity of 6.4 µm/RIU, the triangular structure outperformed with an impressive sensitivity of 7.2 µm/RIU. Moreover, the detection accuracy, quantified by the detection angle (DA), reached 15.7(µm)−1 for the triangular grating, surpassing the rectangular grating’s detection angle of 14.8(µm)−1. These results underscore the crucial role of structural design in enhancing sensor performance, with the triangular grating demonstrating superior sensitivity and detection precision in the context of plasmonic resonance. The extended detection range of refractive indices around 1.39 further expands the sensor’s applicability in diverse chemical and biomedical analyses. Notably, the sensor’s capability to detect various chemical solutions and diseases—including plasma, tuberculosis, white blood cells, and breast cancer cells—underscores its versatility and efficacy in dual-parameter detection. Through meticulous simulations and analysis, this study provides valuable insights into optimizing sensor sensitivity, detection accuracy, and application versatility, paving the way for advanced developments in biosensing technology with far-reaching implications for chemical and biomedical research.
Two-dimensional code marking and coloration mechanism on titanium alloy surfaces via laser gas nitriding
Authors: Li Xiashuang , Sun Kai , Li Guifeng , Zhou Bin , Tang Yibo
Published: August 2024

In this study, a nanosecond laser marking machine was employed to nitride the surface of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy in a nitrogen-rich environment. Consequently, a crack-free and uniform nitriding layer was successfully achieved. Furthermore, a 2D code with enhanced contrast was imprinted on the sample, and subsequently, a durability test was conducted to assess its performance. The impacts of laser power (ranging from 9 to 11 W), scanning speed (17 to 23 mm/s), and line spacing (20 to 40 µm) on the surface morphology, thickness, and color alteration of the nitride layer were systematically investigated through experimental analysis. Utilizing a spectrophotometer, scanning electron microscope, optical microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy instrument, and other advanced equipment, we further delved into the underlying mechanism of surface color change during laser gas nitriding of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Results indicate that an increase in laser power and a decrease in line spacing and scanning speed lead to the generation of higher energy densities on the material surface, intensifying ablation and causing the formation of more molten material. Consequently, this results in the development of more complex surface structures, thicker nitride layers, and lower reflectance. The surface microstructure of the nitride layer exhibits similarities and variations, and the thickness of the nitride layer differs, leading to distinct light absorption and reflection properties on its surface. Consequently, the nitride-layer surfaces prepared under varying laser parameters exhibit diverse contrasts.
High-resolution in vivo 4D-OCT fish-eye imaging using 3D-UNet with multi-level residue decoder
Authors: Zuo Ruizhi , Wei Shuwen , Wang Yaning , Irsch Kristina , Kang Jin U.
Published: August 2024

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows high-resolution volumetric imaging of biological tissues in vivo. However, 3D-image acquisition often suffers from motion artifacts due to slow frame rates and involuntary and physiological movements of living tissue. To solve these issues, we implement a real-time 4D-OCT system capable of reconstructing near-distortion-free volumetric images based on a deep learning-based reconstruction algorithm. The system initially collects undersampled volumetric images at a high speed and then upsamples the images in real-time by a convolutional neural network (CNN) that generates high-frequency features using a deep learning algorithm. We compare and analyze both dual-2D- and 3D-UNet-based networks for the OCT 3D high-resolution image reconstruction. We refine the network architecture by incorporating multi-level information to accelerate convergence and improve accuracy. The network is optimized by utilizing the 16-bit floating-point precision for network parameters to conserve GPU memory and enhance efficiency. The result shows that the refined and optimized 3D-network is capable of retrieving the tissue structure more precisely and enable real-time 4D-OCT imaging at a rate greater than 10 Hz with a root mean square error (RMSE) of ∼0.03.
The role of the inverse Cherenkov effect in the formation of ultrashort Raman solitons in silica microspheres
Authors: Alexey Osipov , Anashkina Elena , Yulin Alexey
Published: August 2024

We theoretically demonstrate a new regime of the formation of ultrashort optical solitons in spherical silica microresonators with whispering gallery modes.The solitons are driven by a coherent CW pump at the frequency in the range of normal dispersion, and the energy is transferred from this pump to the solitons via two channels: Raman amplification and the inverse Cherenkov effect. We discuss three different regimes of soliton propagation and we also show that these Raman solitons can be controlled by weak coherent CW signals.
Shannon Entropy Helps Optimize the Performance of a Frequency-Multiplexed Extreme Learning Machine
Authors: Zajnulina Marina
Published: August 2024

Knowing the dynamics of neuromorphic photonic schemes would allow their optimization for controlled data-processing capability at possibly minimized energy consumption levels. In nonlinear substrates such as optical fibers or semiconductors, these dynamics can widely vary depending on each optical input encoded with information to process and are in general difficult to estimate. Thus, other approaches are required to optimize the schemes. Using a frequency-multiplexed fiber-based Extreme Learning Machine as an example for a classification task, I use Shannon entropy for optical power and introduce Shannon entropy for optical phase and spectrum, all averaged only over a small subset of the dataset to process. I show that the maximum and upper moderate optical power and phase entropies relate to the best data-processing capability of the Machine and, thus, can be used to find optimal system parameters such as fiber length, input power, and group-velocity dispersion in a more time-efficient manner than running numerical simulations emulating the scheme. Shannon entropy of the spectrum provides the information for what parameter space broadest possible frequency combs can be expected and is interesting from the perspective of frequency comb and supercontinuum generation. The introduced entropies are general and can be easily applied to describe and optimize other neuromorphic-photonic or nonlinear-optics schemes.
Expanded roles of community health workers to sustain malaria services in the Asia-Pacific: A landscaping survey
Authors: Jongdeepaisal Monnaphat , Sirimatayanant Massaya , Khonputsa Panarasri , Hein Phone Si , Buback Laura , Beyeler Naomi , Chebbi Amita , Maude Richard J.
Published: August 2024

Malaria Community Health Workers (CHWs) in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) are an important component of malaria elimination efforts. As malaria declines with intensified efforts to eliminate by 2030, expanding their roles beyond malaria could help to sustain funding and provision of malaria services at the community level. Evidence of how programmes have implemented and managed CHWs performing both malaria and non-malaria roles across the Asia-Pacific region can provide insight into the viability of this strategy. A short survey was distributed to national malaria programmes and implementing organizations in the Asia-Pacific region in 2021–2022. The survey identified CHW programmes in the region, and collected information on malaria and non-malarial services provided by CHWs, characteristics of each identified programme, and the impact of COVID-19 on these programmes. 35 survey responses identified 28 programmes in 14 countries. The most frequently reported services provided by malaria CHWs were health promotion and education for malaria (13/14 countries) and other diseases (11/14); and COVID-19 related activities (10/14). Most programmes were financed wholly through donor funding (18/28 programmes), or donor plus government funding (6/28). Of 21 programmes which performed programme evaluation, only 2 evaluated their impacts on diseases beyond malaria. Declining donor funding, and COVID-19 related travel and activity restrictions were identified as implementation challenges. CHWs across the Asia Pacific provide a range of health services with malaria and are resilient under changing public health landscapes such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Further investigation into the impact of additional roles on malaria CHW performance and targeted health outcomes is needed to verify the benefits and feasibility of role expansion. As the GMS approaches elimination, and funding declines, verifying the cost effectiveness of malaria CHW programmes will be vital to persuade donors and countries to invest in malaria CHWs to sustain malaria services, and strengthen community-based health care.
Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus to the airway epithelium oxidative response assessed by a cell-free in vitro assay
Authors: Petithomme-Nanrocki Maïwenn , Nicolau-Guillaumet Nathan , Borie Nicolas , Haudrechy Arnaud , Renault Jean-Hugues , Moussalih Sophie , Muggeo Anaëlle , Guillard Thomas
Published: August 2024

The antibacterial oxidative response, which relies on the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hypothiocyanite (OSCN-), is a major line of defense protecting the human airway epithelium (HAE) from lesions when infected. The in vitro studies of the oxidative responses are performed mainly by one-shot H2O2 exposure that does not recapitulate the complex H2O2/LPO/SCN- system releasing the reactive oxygen species in airway secretions. A cell-free in vitro assay mimicking this system has been described but was not fully characterized. Here, we comprehensively characterized the hourly H2O2/OSCN- concentrations produced within this in vitro assay and assessed the resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus clinical strains to the HAE oxidative response. We found that H2O2/OSCN- were steadily produced from 7h and up to 25h, but OSCN- was detoxified in 15 minutes by bacteria upon exposure. Preliminary tests on PA14 showed survival rates at 1-hour post-exposure (hpe) to H2O2 of roughly 50% for 105 and 107 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL inocula, while 102 and 104 CFU/mL inocula were cleared after one hpe. Thirteen clinical strains were then exposed, highlighting that conversely to P. aeruginosa, S. aureus showed resistance to oxidative stress independently of its antibiotic resistance phenotype. Our results demonstrated how this in vitro assay can be helpful in assessing whether pathogens can resist the antibacterial oxidative HAE response. We anticipate these findings as a starting point for more sophisticated in vitro models that could serve as high-throughput screening for molecules targeting the bacterial antioxidant response.
Determination of hexachlorophene residue in fruits and vegetables by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Ma Yuan , Chen Yan , Wang Chaozheng , Li Dandan , Xuan Kaizhi , Lin Zhengfeng , Wang Jiahan , Su Zihao , Wu Yuexian
Published: August 2024

A modified QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) -LC-MS/MS method was developed for the determination of hexachlorophene in fruits and vegetables. Samples were extracted by acetonitrile and then salted with an acetate buffer system. Extractants neutral alumina (Al-N), strong cation exchange silica gel bonded adsorbent (SCX) and graphitized carbon black (GCB) were used for sample purification. The method demonstrates excellent accuracy and reproducibility. Under optimized conditions, the correlation coefficients of hexachlorophene were higher than 0.995 in the range of 0.5–20 ng/mL. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 2.0 μg/kg. The average recoveries, assessed at three spiked levels (2.0, 4.0, and 20.0μg/kg) across various matrices including cabbage, celery, tomato, eggplant, potato, radish, cowpea, chives, apple, peach, grape, citrus, bitter melon, banana and hami melon ranged from 72.0 to 100.5% with relative standard deviations from 3.2 to 9.8% (n = 6).
Helminth infection driven gastrointestinal hypermotility is independent of eosinophils and mediated by alterations in smooth muscle instead of enteric neurons
Authors: Wang Haozhe , Barry Kristian , Zaini Aidil , Coakley Gillian , Moyat Mati , Daunt Carmel P. , Wickramasinghe Lakshanie C. , Azzoni Rossana , Chatzis Roxanne , Yumnam Bibek , Camberis Mali , Le Gros Graham , Perdijk Olaf , Foong Jaime P. P. , Bornstein Joel C. , Marsland Benjamin J. , Harris Nicola L.
Published: August 2024

Intestinal helminth infection triggers a type 2 immune response that promotes a ‘weep-and sweep’ response characterised by increased mucus secretion and intestinal hypermotility, which function to dislodge the worm from its intestinal habitat. Recent studies have discovered that several other pathogens cause intestinal dysmotility through major alterations to the immune and enteric nervous systems (ENS), and their interactions, within the gastrointestinal tract. However, the involvement of these systems has not been investigated for helminth infections. Eosinophils represent a key cell type recruited by the type 2 immune response and alter intestinal motility under steady-state conditions. Our study aimed to investigate whether altered intestinal motility driven by the murine hookworm, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, infection involves eosinophils and how the ENS and smooth muscles of the gut are impacted. Eosinophil deficiency did not influence helminth-induced intestinal hypermotility and hypermotility did not involve gross structural or functional changes to the ENS. Hypermotility was instead associated with a dramatic increase in smooth muscle thickness and contractility, an observation that extended to another rodent nematode, Heligmosomoides polygyrus. In summary our data indicate that, in contrast to other pathogens, helminth-induced intestinal hypermotility is driven by largely by myogenic, rather than neurogenic, alterations with such changes occurring independently of eosinophils. (<300 words)
Structure defining of ultrapotent neutralizing nanobodies against MERS-CoV with novel epitopes on receptor binding domain
Authors: Ma Sen , Zhang Doudou , Wang Qiwei , Zhu Linjing , Wu Xilin , Ye Sheng , Wang Yaxin
Published: August 2024

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes severe and fatal acute respiratory disease in humans. High fatality rates and continued infectiousness remain a pressing concern for global health preparedness. Antibodies targeted at the receptor-binding domain (RBD) are major countermeasures against human viral infection. Here, we report four potent nanobodies against MERS-CoV, which are isolated from alpaca, and especially the potency of Nb14 is highest in the pseudotyped virus assay. Structural studies show that Nb14 framework regions (FRs) are mainly involved in interactions targeting a novel epitope, which is entirely distinct from all previously reported antibodies, and disrupt the protein-carbohydrate interaction between residue W535 of RBD and hDPP4 N229-linked carbohydrate moiety (hDPP4-N229-glycan). Different from Nb14, Nb9 targets the cryptic face of RBD, which is distinctive from the hDPP4 binding site and the Nb14 epitope, and it induces the β5-β6 loop to inflect towards a shallow groove of the RBD and dampens the accommodation of a short helix of hDPP4. The particularly striking epitopes endow the two Nbs administrate synergistically in the pseudotyped MERS-CoV assays. These results not only character unprecedented epitopes for antibody recognition but also provide promising agents for prophylaxis and therapy of MERS-CoV infection.
Validation of an Epigenetic Prognostic Assay to Accurately Risk-Stratify Patients With Barrett Esophagus
Authors: Laun Sarah E. , Kann Lisa , Braun Jerome , Gilbert Stacey , Lunz Daniel , Pierre Francia , Kalra Andrew , Ma Ke , Tsai Hua-Ling , Wang Hao , Jit Simran , Cheng Yulan , Ahmed Yousra , Wang Kenneth K. , Leggett Cadman L. , Cellini Ashley , Ioffe Olga B. , Zaidi Ali H. , Omstead Ashten N. , Jobe Blair , Korman Louis , Cornish Drew , Zellenrath Pauline , Spaander Manon , Kuipers Ernst , Perpetua Lorrie , Greenwald Bruce D. , Maddala Tara , Meltzer Stephen J.
Published: August 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is the second-most lethal cancer in the United States, with Barrett esophagus (BE) being the strongest risk factor. Assessing the future risk of neoplastic progression in patients with BE is difficult; however, high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and early EAC are treatable by endoscopic eradication therapy (EET), with survival rates of 90%. Thus, it would be beneficial to develop a molecular assay to identify high-risk patients, who merit more frequent endoscopic surveillance or EET, as well as low-risk patients, who can avoid EET and undergo less frequent surveillance.

METHODS:

Deidentified endoscopic biopsies were acquired from 240 patients with BE at 6 centers and confirmed as future progressors or nonprogressors. Tissues were analyzed by a set of methylation-specific biomarker assays. Test performance was assessed in an independent validation set using 4 stratification levels: low risks, low-moderate risks, high-moderate risks, and high risks.

RESULTS:

Relative to patients in the low-risk group, high-risk patients were 15.2 times more likely to progress within 5 years to HGD or EAC. For patients in the high-risk category, the average risk of progressing to HGD or EAC within 5 years was 21.5%, 4-fold the BE population prevalence within 5 years, whereas low-risk patients had a progression risk of only 1.85%.

DISCUSSION:

This clinical assay, Esopredict, stratifies future neoplastic progression risk to identify higher-risk patients with BE who can benefit from EET or more frequent surveillance and lower-risk patients who can benefit from reduced surveillance.
US National Estimates of Contemporary Mortality Rates in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis Undergoing Colectomy
Authors: Ahmed Newaz Shubidito , Krawchuk Satchel , Buhler Katherine A. , Solitano Virginia , Jairath Vipul , Shaheen Abdel Aziz , Seow Cynthia H. , Novak Kerri L. , Ingram Richard J.M. , Lu Cathy , Kotze Paulo G. , Kaplan Gilaad G. , Panaccione Remo , Ma Christopher
Published: August 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Despite a growing armamentarium of medical therapies for ulcerative colitis, colectomy remains an important therapeutic option. To better inform shared decision-making about surgery, we estimated the contemporary risk of mortality after colectomy.

METHODS:

Mortality rates were estimated using the National Inpatient Sample (2016–2020). Factors associated with postcolectomy death were evaluated in multivariable regression.

RESULTS:

Postcolectomy mortality occurred in 1.2% (95% CI: 0.8%, 1.9%) of hospitalizations. Comorbidity burden, emergent laparotomy, and delays to surgery >5 days after admission were associated with mortality.

DISCUSSION:

Colectomy may be associated with mortality; however, this risk is heterogeneous based on patient- and procedural-related factors.
Zumbido Digital. Explorando el bio arte con un ecosistema de abejas virtuales
Authors: García Borbón Eddie Jonathan
Published: August 2024

El proyecto Zumbido Digital: Explorando el bio arte con un ecosistema de abejas virtuales." combina el arte, la entomología y la tecnología para crear un ecosistema digital que simula el comportamiento de las abejas. Desarrollado en la plataforma nota.space y galardonado con el NOTANEAR AWARDS en el International Digitalkunst Festival de Stuttgart 2022, el proyecto de investigación – creación se basa en estudios entomológicos detallados de la morfología, locomoción y hábitat de las abejas. Utilizando algoritmos de caminata aleatoria y técnicas de programación orientada a objetos, se simularon los roles de abeja reina, obreras y zánganos. El prototipo de programación está orientado hacia una futura investigación sobre la simulación de ecosistemas digitales y sistemas autoorganizados, destacando la capacidad del bio arte para explorar la interactividad digital y las propiedades emergentes.
Influence of Textile Substrates on the Adhesion of PJM-Printed MED610 and Surface Morphology
Authors: Kozior Tomasz , Mpofu Nonsikelelo Sheron , Fiedler Johannes , Ehrmann Andrea
Published: August 2024

The idea of 3D printing on textile fabrics was first mentioned around 10 years ago and has been investigated in detail since. Originally aimed at opening new design possibilities, combining 3D printing with textile substrates has shifted towards a new method to prepare composites with defined mechanical and other physical properties. The main problem of fused deposition modelling (FDM; also referred to as material extrusion (MEX) according to ISO/ASTM 52900) is printing on textile fabrics, where the frequently insufficient adhesion between both materials has not been fully resolved. For this reason, a few attempts have been made to combine other additive manufacturing methods with textile fabrics. While the principle possibility of using stereolithography (SLA) on textile fabrics was demonstrated a few years ago, PolyJet modelling (PJM) has only recently proven to be applicable for direct printing on textile materials. Here, we present the first study of printing MED610 medical resin on different fabrics. We show that a higher textile fabric surface roughness generally increases the adhesion of the printed material, while a higher hydrophobicity is disadvantageous. We also tested the influence of textile substrates on the porosity of the MED610 surface, as this parameter can influence a material’s potential use in tissue engineering and other biomedical applications.
Influence of Platelet γ‐Glutamyltransferase on Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in the Presence of Holo-Transferrin
Authors: Sener Azize , Cevik O. , Yanikkaya‐Demirel G. , Apikoglu‐Rabus S. , Ozsavci D.
Published: August 2024

Several studies have documented that formation of oxidant mediators may induce apoptosis in nucleated and anucleated cells by modulating intracellular signalling pathways. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a very important role in the platelet function. γ‐Glutamyltransferase (GGT), a novel source of cellular production of oxidants in the presence of iron and reduced glutathione (GSH), is also found on platelets. The role of platelet-bound GGT in platelet apoptosis and oxidative stress is unknown. The aim of our study was to determine the effects of platelet GGT activity on oxidative stress and apoptotic eventsin vitrovia determination of lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein oxidation, GSH, catalase, caspase-3 activation and phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure in the presence of holo-transferrin (Tf). Stimulation of platelet GGT activity with GSH and glycylglycine (GlyGly) increased caspase-3 activation and PS exposure. A significant increase in lipid and protein oxidation and decrease in GSH and catalase levels was also observed in platelets with stimulation of GGT activity in the presence of Tf. Inhibition of GGT activity effectively reduced all the markers. These results suggest that generation of ROS by the GGT/GSH/Tf system can modify the platelets’ redox environment and induce apoptosis inin vitroconditions.
Examining Chinese EFL learners’ acceptance of mobile-assisted vocabulary learning applications and its influencing factors
Authors: Han Yining , Chen Chen
Published: August 2024

Significant advancements in mobile technology have offered tremendous potential for mobile-assisted vocabulary learning (MAVL). Given the relatively few studies on learners’ acceptance of MAVL, this study integrates the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with the Self-Determination Theory to assess participants’ acceptance and motivation levels regarding MAVL applications and to identify predictors of users’ intention to utilise these applications. Questionnaire data from 270 Chinese English as a foreign language university students revealed that the participants exhibited a strong intention to learn English vocabulary via mobile applications, and they reported high levels of motivation. Additionally, structural equation modelling analysis results indicated that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived competence accounted for 61 % of the variance in users’ behavioural intention to use MAVL applications, which demonstrated a stronger explanatory power than the original TAM. Perceived autonomy and perceived competence, however, failed to predict usage intention of MAVL. The proposed theoretical framework extends the original TAM and offers implications for application developers, suggesting the importance of designing user-friendly applications.
Convergence rate of the truncated Euler-Maruyama method for highly nonlinear neutral stochastic differential equations with time-dependent delay
Authors: Petrović Aleksandra M.
Published: August 2024

This article can be considered as a continuation of Petrović and Milošević [The truncated Euler-Maruyama method for highly nonlinear neutral stochastic differential equations with time-dependent delay, Filomat 35 (2021), no. 7, 2457–2484], where the authors established the

L

q

{L}^{q}

-convergence of the truncated Euler-Maruyama (EM) method for neutral stochastic differential equations with time-dependent delay under the Khasminskii-type condition. However, the convergence rate of the method has not been studied there, which is the main goal of this article. Also, there are some restrictions on the truncated coefficients of the considered equations, and these restrictions sometimes might force the step size to be so small that the application of the truncated EM method would be limited. Therefore, the convergence rate without these restrictions will be considered in this article. Moreover, one of the sufficient conditions for obtaining the main result of this article, which is related to Lipschitz constants for the neutral term and delay function, is weakened. In that way, some of the results of the cited article are generalized. The main result of this article is proved by employing two conditions related to the increments to the coefficients and the neutral term of the equations under consideration, among other conditions. The main theoretical result is illustrated by an example.
Generalized discrete Grüss and related results with applications
Authors: Butt Saad Ihsan , Pečarić Josip , Tipurić-Spužević Sanja
Published: August 2024

Grüss inequality is subject of interest for many authors due to its effectiveness in predicting bounds in several quadrature problems. In the present article, we give weighted treatment of the discrete Čebyšev and Grüss type inequalities pertaining two n-tuples of real numbers in which the bounding constants are mobilised with bounding sequences of real numbers. As an application estimations of discrete Ostrowski type inequalities are provided. Finally, by practicing obtained results along with Jensen’s difference, a wide range of estimations are formalised by considering Jensen-Grüss differences.
Oscillatory and asymptotic behavior of even-order nonlinear differential equations with mixed neutral terms
Authors: Grace Said R. , Li Tongxing , Chhatria Gokula Nanda
Published: August 2024

This paper deals with the oscillation and asymptotic behaviour of even order nonlinear differential equations with mixed nonlinear neutral terms. The findings are obtained via utilising an integral criterion as well as a comparison theorem with the oscillatory properties of a first order advanced and/or delay differential equation. We provide novel oscillation criteria that improve, extend, and simplify previously published ones. The results are illustrated by two examples.
On a solvable four-dimensional system of difference equations
Authors: Erdem İbrahim , Yazlik Yasin
Published: August 2024

In this paper we show that the following four-dimensional system of difference equations

x

n
+
1

=

y

n

α

z

n
−
1

β

,

y

n
+
1

=

z

n

γ

t

n
−
1

δ

,

z

n
+
1

=

t

n

ϵ

x

n
−
1

μ

,

t

n
+
1

=

x

n

ξ

y

n
−
1

ρ

,

n
∈

N

0

,

$$\begin{array}{}
\displaystyle
x_{n+1}=y_{n}^{\alpha}z_{n-1}^{\beta}, \quad y_{n+1}=z_{n}^{\gamma}t_{n-1}^{\delta}, \quad z_{n+1}=t_{n}^{\epsilon}x_{n-1}^{\mu}, \quad t_{n+1}=x_{n}^{\xi}y_{n-1}^{\rho},
\qquad n\in \mathbb{N}_{0},
\end{array}$$

where the parameters α, β, γ, δ, ϵ, μ, ξ, ρ ∈ ℤ and the initial values x
–i
, y
–i
, z
–i
, t
–i
, i ∈ {0, 1}, are real numbers, can be solved in closed forms, extending further some results in literature.
Equable parallelograms on the Eisenstein lattice
Authors: Aebi Christian , Cairns Grant
Published: August 2024

This paper studies equable parallelograms whose vertices lie on the Eisenstein lattice. Using Rosenberger’s Theorem on generalised Markov equations, we show that the set of these parallelograms forms naturally an infinite tree, all of whose vertices have degree 4, bar the root which has degree 3. This study naturally complements the authors’ previous study of equable parallelograms whose vertices lie on the integer lattice.
New results for the Marshall-Olkin family of distributions
Authors: Gómez-Déniz Emilio , Ghitany M. E. , Al-Mutairi D. K.
Published: August 2024

The Marshall-Olkin family of probability distributions has been the inspiration of numerous research publications in the field of probability distributions. In this paper, we present several new properties of this family. In particular, we focus on stochastic orders, stress-strength reliability, Lorenz and the Leimkhuler curves, compounding, and integrated tail distribution. Two applications related to Lorenz curves and ruin theory are finally presented.
Activating α7nAChR suppresses systemic inflammation by mitigating neuroinflammation of the medullary visceral zone in sepsis in a rat model
Authors: Peng Lin , Li Hongbing , Zhang Cheng , Jiang Weiwei
Published: August 2024

Our previous studies have shown that activating α7nAChRs suppresses systemic inflammation and immunity through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) in early sepsis. Now that the medullary visceral zone (MVZ) is the center of CAP and responsible for regulating systemic inflammation, what changes will occur in MVZ’s pathology and function in sepsis, especially when interfering with α7nAChRs? Does activation of MVZ’s α7nAChRs contribute to the inhibition of systemic inflammation? To clarify these issues, we explored the systemic inflammation and immunity state by detecting serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, HMGB1, sCD14, and CD4+CD25+Treg and TH17 lymphocytes percentage, meanwhile, we analyzed the apoptosis of cholinergic and catecholaminergic neurons and the expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) in MVZ in sepsis and the interfering effects on α7nAChRs. In this study, we found that in sepsis, serum TNF-α, IL-6, HMGB1, sCD14, CD4+CD25+Treg, and TH17 lymphocytes significantly increased and the ratio of Treg/TH17 significantly decreased, cholinergic and catecholaminergic neurons underwent apoptosis with low expressions of TH and CHAT in MVZ; activation of α7nAChRs not only significantly decreased the levels of septic serum TNF-α, IL-6, HMGB1, sCD14, and TH17 lymphocytes (P ＜ 0.05), but also significantly reduced cholinergic and catecholaminergic neurons’ apoptosis, and promoted expressions of TH/CHAT. Our study reveals that sepsis undermines MVZ through neuroinflammation which contributes to the uncontrolled systemic inflammation. Activating central α7nAChRs is not only helpful to restore MVZ’s structure and function but also beneficial to subside the inflammatory storm in sepsis. Even if MVZ is damaged in sepsis, cholinergic neurons in MVZ still regulate the systemic inflammation stably.
Caracterização acústica do fenômeno de monotongação dos ditongos [aj, ej, oj] no falar florianopolitano
Authors: Haupt Carine , Christine Seara Izabel
Published: August 2024

Neste artigo, analisamos acusticamente o fenômeno de monotongação dos ditongos [aj, ej, oj] em sílabas abertas e fechadas no falar de Florianópolis. Esses dados foram extraídos de quatro entrevistas de informantes florianopolitanos do sexo masculino. Essas entrevistas constituem o banco de dados do Projeto VARSUL (Variação Linguística na Região Sul do Brasil). Observamos que o fenômeno de variação não se dá de forma abrupta havendo uma gradiência nos casos investigados. A semivogal deixa vestígios de sua presença: na duração do segmento resultante da monotongação e na trajetória dos formantes. Nessas trajetórias, identificamos diferentes configurações: (i) o primeiro alvo (vogal de base) alongado ou (ii) a articulação de um segundo alvo (semivogal) que não se completa. Notamos ainda que, mesmo em ditongos, nem sempre é possível identificar dois alvos estáveis, fato que nos leva a considerar que a gradiência do fenômeno já se inicia nos segmentos que ainda percebemos como ditongos.
A variação na interlíngua: o caso das palavras funcionais do inglês
Authors: Silva Fragozo Carina , Regina Brescancini Cláudia
Published: August 2024

Este artigo, fundamentado na interface entre Sociolinguística Variacionista e Aquisição de LE, busca identificar, a partir de exame tanto perceptual quanto acústico, os contextos segmentais e prosódicos que condicionam a produção de vogal reduzida em palavras funcionais produzidas por 16  falantes brasileiras de inglês como LE. A amostra considerada, obtida através de instrumento composto de 60 frases, compõe-se das preposições  at, for, from, of e to. Tanto na verificação acústica quanto na perceptual, o condicionamento prosódico mostrou-se estatisticamente mais relevante para a  redução vocálica do que o condicionamento segmental. Palavras funcionais seguidas por sílabas com acento primário e por palavras com acento frasal forte foram os contextos mais favorecedores. A vogal fonológica /u/, que corresponde à preposição ‘to’,  mostrou-se como um contexto segmental relevante. A produção que mais favoreceu a percepção das vogais como reduzidas foi o apagamento, seguido do schwa e das vogais [ʊ ] e [E].
Aprendendo palavras através da leitura
Authors: Naiara Hirsch Katiele
Published: August 2024

SOUSA, Lucilene Bender de; GABRIEL, Rosângela. Aprendendo palavras através da leitura. Santa Cruz do Sul: EDUNISC, 2011.
Introdução do Ensino da Língua Inglesa em Fases Iniciais do Ensino Escolar: a experiência do Londrina Global
Authors: Gimenez Telma , Jane Corrente Tanaca Jozélia , Constantino Valêncio Peres Rafaeli , Vieira de Oliveira Anísia
Published: August 2024

O ensino de inglês para crianças no Brasil é uma iniciativa recente que tem demandado esforços de gestores públicos para promover mudanças curriculares, mesmo diante da ausência de políticas claras sobre como geri-las.  Neste artigo apresentamos alguns dos desafios do projeto “Londrina Global”, que promoveu a inserção dalíngua inglesa em escolas municipais. De acordo com o ciclo de planejamento de projetos (Tribble, 2012), abordaremos as etapas de formulação, implementação e avaliação do projeto pela equipe da Secretaria Municipal da Educação e discutiremos os seguintes aspectos: a) orientações curriculares; b) avaliaçãoda aprendizagem; c) materiais didáticos; d) formação de professores. Em virtudede sua característica de projeto, este ainda não alcançou a universalização da oferta, fato que acirra a heterogeneidade nas salas de aula. Faz-se necessário estabelecer essa universalização por meio da adoção do projeto como política pública.
Fotojornalismo como Texto Híbrido: Perturbação de Discursos Hegemônicos por meio de Temporalidades Alternativas
Authors: Santoyo Lopes Laís
Published: August 2024

O objeto de estudo da presente pesquisa é o fotojornalismo e sua montagem no jornalismo impresso, focando na dimensão sócio-cultural e semiótica de diferentes modelos narrativos, e cognitivos, possíveis ao utilizá-lo como legitimador de ordens político-econômicas. O objetivo é investigar se a montagem fotojornalística possibilita desencadear um processo cognitivo relacional no leitor que buscaria construir visibilidades alternativas a partir de uma visualidade dada, questionando a própria natureza fixa do conhecimento. Especificamente, busca-se apontar as diferentes temporalidades que convivem na notícia, sugerindo que o texto fotográfico híbrido pode criar brechas na narrativa binária moderna do constante progresso. Seu objeto empírico é uma reportagem sobre os 50 anos da Revolução Chinesa e o sucesso do modelo econômico capitalista do jornal brasileiro Folha de S. Paulo.
A Causalidade de porque em textos escolares: domínios de atuação, gêneros de produção
Authors: Soncin Geovana , Roberta Longhin Sanderléia
Published: August 2024

Neste artigo, tratamos da causalidade veiculada pelas construções com porque em textos escolares, com o propósito de equacionar a relevância de fatores de ordem cognitiva e de ordem discursiva para a investigação das motivações acerca da realização variável e da complexidade envolvidas nas construções causais. Partimos da constatação de que porque é passível de diferentes interpretações, a depender do contexto de uso, podendo sinalizar a causa de um evento real, a causa de uma crença e a causa de um ato de fala. Contemplamos teses de natureza ontogenética que sustentam que os significados cognitivamente mais complexos são mais tardios, mas defendemos que há outros fatores em jogo. Apresentamos evidências de que a emergência de diferentes relações causais com porque se configura também em função do funcionamento dos gêneros de discurso.
Corpos em campo: performance, visibilidade e impermeabilidade na apresentação do self de jogadores de futebol no Instagram
Authors: Rodrigues da Costa Rafael , Melo Costa Sayonara
Published: August 2024

A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo o estudo da apresentação de si em redes sociais da internet, considerando a administração da impressão condicionada por fatores como a exibição do corpo e as subjetividades advindas dessa exibição. Para tanto, convocam-se bases teóricas que permitem apreender as práticas de apresentação do self em redes sociais da internet (POLIVANOV, 2012; SÁ; POLIVANOV, 2012; GOFFMAN, [1975] 2011), articulando a elas a consideração da natureza ambivalente do corpo na cultura contemporânea (FERRAZ, 2013). Do ponto de vista metodológico, buscam-se os aportes da gramática visual de Kress e van Leeuwen (2006), com ênfase na noção de estrutura conceitual, que fornece um enquadre para o exame de categorias vinculadas à apresentação de si. Os resultados apontam para uma tendência ao fechamento ante a vulnerabilidade dos sujeitos analisados, expresso na análise por meio do apelo a símbolos patrióticos, esportivos e midiáticos.
Análise de discurso multimodal: o uso de topologias em infográfico digital do New York Times
Authors: Arthuso Paiva Francis
Published: August 2024

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar em que medida o produtor de um premiado infográfico digital do The New York Times errou na articulação das topologias a outros modos no discurso multimodal que pretendeu construir. Confrontamos a metodologia apresentada por Rojo (2013) com a proposta de análise do discurso multimodal a partir dos quatro estratos propostos discurso, design, produção e distribuição de Kress e van Leeuwen (2001), que foi nossa opção metodológica. A análise apontou para falhas no estrato da produção no momento de articular as topologias com a linha do tempo, modos selecionados no estrato do design. Essa falha foi influenciada por outros estratos, sobretudo, o do discurso de orientação ao conhecimento que esse infográfico realizava em um letramento multimidiático.
Práticas discursivas político-ideológicas no Facebook: um estudo de emergência genérica
Authors: De Lima-Neto Vicente , Cabral Nobre Kennedy
Published: August 2024

Com mais de um bilhão de pessoas cadastradas, é natural que variadas práticas discursivas ali sejam construídas, e o espaço seja um berço para novos gêneros. Este artigo tem como objetivo investigar como determinados textos que se materializam no Facebook e circulam no discurso político-ideológico estão caminhando para mais um caso de emergênia genérica em sites de redes sociais. Para atingir este objetivo, apoiados no conceito de gênero de Miller (2009 [1984]), analisamos um corpus de 25 postagens no Facebook à luz dos critérios que marcam o discurso político (CHARAUDEAU, 2006). Como resultados preliminares, apontamos que os textos de cunho político-ideológicos do Facebook apresentam alguns elementos que levam a um caso de emergência genérica, como a não nomeação do gênero, a recorrência de padrões formais e conteudísticos e o acabamento.
Level-Dependent Subcortical Electroencephalography Responses to Continuous Speech
Authors: Kulasingham Joshua P. , Innes-Brown Hamish , Enqvist Martin , Alickovic Emina
Published: August 2024

The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is a measure of subcortical activity in response to auditory stimuli. The wave V peak of the ABR depends on the stimulus intensity level, and has been widely used for clinical hearing assessment. Conventional methods estimate the ABR average electroencephalography (EEG) responses to short unnatural stimuli such as clicks. Recent work has moved toward more ecologically relevant continuous speech stimuli using linear deconvolution models called temporal response functions (TRFs). Investigating whether the TRF waveform changes with stimulus intensity is a crucial step toward the use of natural speech stimuli for hearing assessments involving subcortical responses. Here, we develop methods to estimate level-dependent subcortical TRFs using EEG data collected from 21 participants listening to continuous speech presented at 4 different intensity levels. We find that level-dependent changes can be detected in the wave V peak of the subcortical TRF for almost all participants, and are consistent with level-dependent changes in click-ABR wave V. We also investigate the most suitable peripheral auditory model to generate predictors for level-dependent subcortical TRFs and find that simple gammatone filterbanks perform the best. Additionally, around 6 min of data may be sufficient for detecting level-dependent effects and wave V peaks above the noise floor for speech segments with higher intensity. Finally, we show a proof-of-concept that level-dependent subcortical TRFs can be detected even for the inherent intensity fluctuations in natural continuous speech.
East Asian Authoritarian Developmentalism in the Digital Era
Authors: He Tian
Published: August 2024

This article examines the evolution of the authoritarian developmental state model in the digital era amid intensified global power dynamics, focusing empirically on China. It introduces the concept of the techno-developmental state to illustrate how this evolved state emphasizes digital technologies for both economic growth and social governance. I assert that this evolution is driven by the state’s enhanced capacity to foster high-tech industries amid heightened competition among major powers, alongside bolstered social governance through advanced digital tools. Emphasizing its crucial role in sustaining authoritarian developmentalism, the article analyzes the emergence of the Chinese techno-developmental state amid escalating US–China technological rivalry. It also scrutinizes the New Infrastructure initiative of the early 2020s as the state’s key initiative to drive its economic and governance agendas.