bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probiotic supplementation during antibiotic treatment is unjustified in maintaining the gut microbiome diversity: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Éliás Anna Júlia , Barna Viktória , Patoni Cristina , Demeter Dóra , Veres Dániel Sándor , Bunduc Stefania , Erőss Bálint , Hegyi Péter , Földvári-Nagy László , Lenti Katalin
Published: July 2023

Background

Probiotics are often used to prevent antibiotic-induced low-diversity dysbiosis, however their effect is not yet sufficiently summarized in this regard. We aimed to investigate the effects of concurrent probiotic supplementation on gut microbiome composition during antibiotic therapy.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials reporting the differences in gut microbiome diversity between patients on antibiotic therapy with and without concomitant probiotic supplementation. The systematic search was performed in three databases (MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL)) without filters on 15 October 2021. A random-effects model was used to estimate pooled mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). This review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021282983).

Results

Of 11,769 identified articles, 15 were eligible in the systematic review and 5 in the meta-analyses. Quantitative data synthesis for Shannon (MD = 0.23, 95% CI: [(−)0.06–0.51]), Chao1 (MD = 11.59 [(−)18.42–41.60]) and observed OTUs (operational taxonomic unit) (MD = 17.15 [(−)9.43–43.73]) diversity indices revealed no significant difference between probiotic supplemented and control groups. Lacking data prevented meta-analyzing other diversity indices; however, most of the included studies reported no difference in the other reported α- and ß-diversity indices between the groups. Changes in the taxonomic composition varied across the eligible studies but tended to be similar in both groups. However, they showed a potential tendency to restore baseline levels in both groups after 3–8 weeks.

This is the first meta-analysis and the most comprehensive review of the topic to date using high quality methods. The limited number of studies and low sample sizes are the main limitations of our study. Moreover, there was high variability across the studies regarding the indication of antibiotic therapy and the type, dose, and duration of antimicrobials and probiotics.

Conclusions

Our results showed that probiotic supplementation during antibiotic therapy was not found to be influential on gut microbiome diversity indices. Defining appropriate microbiome diversity indices, their standard ranges, and their clinical relevance would be crucial.
Gastrointestinal symptoms of long COVID-19 related to the ectopic colonization of specific bacteria that move between the upper and lower alimentary tract and alterations in serum metabolites
Authors: Zhang Deyu , Weng Siyuan , Xia Chuanchao , Ren Yuqing , Liu Zaoqu , Xu Yudi , Yang Xiaoli , Wu Ruhao , Peng Lisi , Sun Liqi , Zhu Jiaqi , Liang Xuesong , Jia Yin , Wang Huaizhou , Chen Qian , Liu Dongtian , Chen Yi , Guo Honglei , Han Xinwei , Jin Zhendong , Chen Cui , Yang Xia , Li Zhaoshen , Huang Haojie
Published: July 2023

Background

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, many COVID-19 variants have emerged, causing several waves of pandemics and many infections. Long COVID-19, or long-term sequelae after recovery from COVID-19, has aroused worldwide concern because it reduces patient quality of life after rehabilitation. We aimed to characterize the functional differential profile of the oral and gut microbiomes and serum metabolites in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms associated with long COVID-19.

Methods

We prospectively collected oral, fecal, and serum samples from 983 antibiotic-naïve patients with mild COVID-19 and performed a 3-month follow-up postdischarge. Forty-five fecal and saliva samples, and 25 paired serum samples were collected from patients with gastrointestinal symptoms of long COVID-19 at follow-up and from healthy controls, respectively. Eight fecal and saliva samples were collected without gastrointestinal symptoms of long COVID-19 at follow-up. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing of fecal samples and 2bRAD-M sequencing of saliva samples were performed on these paired samples. Two published COVID-19 gut microbiota cohorts were analyzed for comparison. Paired serum samples were analyzed using widely targeted metabolomics.

Results

Mild COVID-19 patients without gastrointestinal symptoms of long COVID-19 showed little difference in the gut and oral microbiota during hospitalization and at follow-up from healthy controls. The baseline and 3-month samples collected from patients with gastrointestinal symptoms associated with long COVID-19 showed significant differences, and ectopic colonization of the oral cavity by gut microbes including 27 common differentially abundant genera in the Proteobacteria phylum, was observed at the 3-month timepoint. Some of these bacteria, including Neisseria, Lautropia, and Agrobacterium, were highly related to differentially expressed serum metabolites with potential toxicity, such as 4-chlorophenylacetic acid, 5-sulfoxymethylfurfural, and estradiol valerate.

Conclusions

Our study characterized the changes in and correlations between the oral and gut microbiomes and serum metabolites in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms associated with long COVID-19. Additionally, our findings reveal that ectopically colonized bacteria from the gut to the oral cavity could exist in long COVID-19 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, with a strong correlation to some potential harmful metabolites in serum.
Attenuated Dengue virus PV001-DV induces oncolytic tumor cell death and potent immune responses
Authors: Goldufsky Josef W. , Daniels Preston , Williams Michael D. , Gupta Kajal , Lyday Bruce , Chen Tony , Singh Geeta , Kaufman Howard L. , Zloza Andrew , Marzo Amanda L.
Published: July 2023

Background

Viral therapies developed for cancer treatment have classically prioritized direct oncolytic effects over their immune activating properties. However, recent clinical insights have challenged this longstanding prioritization and have shifted the focus to more immune-based mechanisms. Through the potential utilization of novel, inherently immune-stimulating, oncotropic viruses there is a therapeutic opportunity to improve anti-tumor outcomes through virus-mediated immune activation. PV001-DV is an attenuated strain of Dengue virus (DEN-1 #45AZ5) with a favorable clinical safety profile that also maintains the potent immune stimulatory properties characterstic of Dengue virus infection.

Methods

In this study, we utilized in vitro tumor killing and immune multiplex assays to examine the anti-tumor effects of PV001-DV as a potential novel cancer immunotherapy.

Results

In vitro assays demonstrated that PV001-DV possesses the ability to directly kill human melanoma cells lines as well as patient melanoma tissue ex vivo. Importantly, further work demonstrated that, when patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were exposed to PV001-DV, a substantial induction in the production of apoptotic factors and immunostimulatory cytokines was detected. When tumor cells were cultured with the resulting soluble mediators from these PBMCs, rapid cell death of melanoma and breast cancer cell lines was observed. These soluble mediators also increased dengue virus binding ligands and immune checkpoint receptor, PD-L1 expression.

Conclusions

The direct in vitro tumor-killing and immune-mediated tumor cytotoxicity facilitated by PV001-DV contributes support of its upcoming clinical evaluation in patients with advanced melanoma who have failed prior therapy.
Quantitative proteomics of cerebrospinal fluid from African Americans and Caucasians reveals shared and divergent changes in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Modeste Erica S. , Ping Lingyan , Watson Caroline M. , Duong Duc M. , Dammer Eric B. , Johnson Erik C. B. , Roberts Blaine R. , Lah James J. , Levey Allan I. , Seyfried Nicholas T.
Published: July 2023

Background

Despite being twice as likely to get Alzheimer’s disease (AD), African Americans have been grossly underrepresented in AD research. While emerging evidence indicates that African Americans with AD have lower cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of Tau compared to Caucasians, other differences in AD CSF biomarkers have not been fully elucidated. Here, we performed unbiased proteomic profiling of CSF from African Americans and Caucasians with and without AD to identify both common and divergent AD CSF biomarkers.

Methods

Multiplex tandem mass tag-based mass spectrometry (TMT-MS) quantified 1,840 proteins from 105 control and 98 AD patients of which 100 identified as Caucasian while 103 identified as African American. We used differential protein expression and co-expression approaches to assess how changes in the CSF proteome are related to race and AD. Co-expression network analysis organized the CSF proteome into 14 modules associated with brain cell-types and biological pathways. A targeted mass spectrometry method, selected reaction monitoring (SRM), with heavy labeled internal standards was used to measure a panel of CSF module proteins across a subset of African Americans and Caucasians with or without AD. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed the performance of each protein biomarker in differentiating controls and AD by race.

Results

Consistent with previous findings, the increase of Tau levels in AD was greater in Caucasians than in African Americans by both immunoassay and TMT-MS measurements. CSF modules which included 14–3-3 proteins (YWHAZ and YWHAG) demonstrated equivalent disease-related elevations in both African Americans and Caucasians with AD, whereas other modules demonstrated more profound disease changes within race. Modules enriched with proteins involved with glycolysis and neuronal/cytoskeletal proteins, including Tau, were more increased in Caucasians than in African Americans with AD. In contrast, a module enriched with synaptic proteins including VGF, SCG2, and NPTX2 was significantly lower in African Americans than Caucasians with AD. Following SRM and ROC analysis, VGF, SCG2, and NPTX2 were significantly better at classifying African Americans than Caucasians with AD.

Conclusions

Our findings provide insight into additional protein biomarkers and pathways reflecting underlying brain pathology that are shared or differ by race.
Parent coaching via telerehabilitation for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Sia Isaac Kwee Mien , Kang Ying Qi , Lai Philina LiXuan , Mahesh Mythra , Chong Shang Chee
Published: July 2023

Background

Early parent-implemented intervention enhances parent-child interaction and improves language skills in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Parent coaching is often delivered as standard care for children with ASD, where parents are taught to apply strategies in their child’s play activities and daily routines to achieve the prior stated goals. However, the ability to conduct parent coaching in physical in-clinic sessions is limited by resource constraints such as clinic space and therapist manpower. Furthermore, parents may experience difficulties with the generalisation of intervention strategies taught in the clinic to their natural home environments. In this study, telerehabilitation is evaluated as an alternative platform to deliver parent coaching for parent-implemented interventions to children with ASD in their homes.

Methods

This parallel-group, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of parent coaching delivered through video conferencing (telerehabilitation) versus in-clinic (standard care) delivery. Children aged 15 to 48 months (n = 200) who meet the cut-off score for ASD on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 are eligible. Parent-child dyads are randomly assigned to receive parent coaching either through weekly telerehabilitation or standard care. The primary outcome is the child’s development as measured by the subscale and composite scores of a standardised developmental assessment. Primary analysis will determine if the lower boundary of the 95% confidence interval for the mean difference in pre-post change between groups exceeds −5 (the non-inferiority margin). Secondary outcomes are the child’s adaptive behaviour, parent-child interaction, parental stress, and family quality of life. Outcomes will be measured pre-intervention, midterm, and post-intervention. Secondary analysis will determine if there is any between-group difference for the pre-post change in scores at the 5% significance level using two-sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test.

Discussion

As a randomised controlled trial of a moderately large scale, this study will contribute to the limited existing literature on the effectiveness of parent coaching via telerehabilitation for early parent-implemented intervention for children with ASD. The results of this study will provide insights on whether telerehabilitation is comparable to conventional in-clinic parent coaching in enhancing parent-child interaction and improving language skills.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05792449. Registered (retrospectively) on 31 March 2023.
A Mendelian randomization study of serum uric acid with the risk of venous thromboembolism
Authors: Ji Lixian , Shu Peng
Published: July 2023

Background

Observational studies have linked hyperuricemia with venous thromboembolism (VTE). We aimed to investigate whether there are causal relationships between uric acid levels and VTE and its subtypes, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities and pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods

We utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to estimate the causal association in European individuals. We extracted two sets of polygenic instruments strongly associated (p < 5 × 10−8) with uric acid from the CKDGen consortium and UK biobank, respectively. Genetic associations with the risk of VTE, DVT, and PE were obtained from the FinnGen biobank. We used the inverse-variance weighted method as the preliminary estimate. Additionally, we employed MR-Egger, weighted median, and Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier method as complementary assessments. Sensitivity analyses were performed to test for pleiotropic bias.

Results

The genetically instrumented serum uric acid levels had no causal effects on VTE, DVT, and PE. Two sets of polygenic instruments used for exposure, along with three complementary MR methods, also yielded no significant association.

Conclusions

Our MR analysis provided no compelling evidence for a causal relationship of serum uric acid with the risk of VTE. This suggests that uric acid-lowering therapies in patients with hyperuricemia may not be effective in reducing the likelihood of developing VTE.
Knowledge of obstetric danger signs and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care services at Thai community hospital
Authors: Koovimon Pruk , Kaikaew Kasiphak , Mahoree Khanittha , Bumphenkiatikul Thanapob
Published: July 2023

Background: To decrease preventable maternal mortality, providing health education to all parties is mandatory. Good knowledge, including awareness of pregnant women regarding obstetric danger signs (ODS), leads to appropriate practices and services. The knowledge of ODS varies among countries and regions. Since the data in rural regions of Thailand remains unavailable, this study aimed to identify the prevalence of good ODS knowledge and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal services at a Thai community hospital.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional, analytical study in 415 singleton pregnant women who visited the antenatal clinic at Wang Saphung Hospital, Loei, Thailand. A well-trained research assistant interviewed all participants using the data record form containing twenty items on the demographic and obstetric data and sixteen items on ODS knowledge. An ODS score of at least 75% (12 points) was considered a good level of knowledge.

Results: A total of 275 participants (66.27%) had good knowledge of ODS. The most recognized ODS was vaginal bleeding whereas the least recognized ODS during pregnancy was convulsion; the least recognized ODS during labor and delivery was retained placenta. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the predictive factors of good OBS knowledge included a higher education level, maternal age of at least 20 years, and having medical personnel as a source of knowledge.

Conclusions: In a rural setting of Thailand, two-thirds of pregnant women had good ODS knowledge. Identifying those at risk for fair and poor ODS knowledge and prompt management for the vulnerable subgroups might help decrease maternal mortality.
Development and acceptability of a cereal bar with Atta sexdens ant flour
Authors: Lozada-Urbano Michelle , Bendezú Ccanto Jessica , Condori Chura Julissa , Rivera-Lozada Oriana , Yañez Jaime A.
Published: July 2023

In Peru, insect consumption, as a nutritional complement or as the main source in the diet, is limited to the regions of our the central jungle where Atta sexdens ants are consumed. An energy bar based on Andean grains with Atta sexdens ant flour was formulated. The ants were obtained from the department of San Martin, district of Rioja, province of Rioja. Four different formulations were prepared with different Atta sexdens ant flour concentrations: 13%, 17%, 20%, and 23%. Moisture, total fat, ash, proteins, fiber, carbohydrates, instrumental texture, and organoleptic analysis (taste, texture, and color) were performed. The developed cereal energy bar presented a 10 g protein content in 100 g of the final product. Acceptability was evaluated in adolescents and young adult populations. The developed cereal bars presented a high protein content, adequate organoleptic properties and high acceptability.
Wpływ wyborów dokonanych przez tłumacza tekstu filozoficznego na kierunek jego interpretacji. Kilka uwag do przekładu książki Panajotisa Kondylisa: Marks a grecka tradycja antyczna
Authors: Zieliński Lech , Głowacki Patryk
Published: July 2023

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest zwrócenie uwagi na znaczenie wyborów translatorskich na sposób interpretacji tekstu filozoficznego, czytanego w języku docelowym. Punktem wyjściowym refleksji jest dokonane tłumaczenie tekstu książki Panajotisa Kondylisa Marks a grecka tradycja antyczna. Autorzy artykułu skupiają się na wybranych pojęciach, aby na ich podstawie unaocznić specyfikę tłumaczenia tekstu filozoficznego. Rozważania szczegółowe poprzedzone są refleksją na temat specyfiki tego typu tekstów.
Distributionally Robust Chance-Constrained p-Hub Center Problem
Authors: Zhao Yue , Chen Zhi , Zhang Zhenzhen
Published: July 2023

The p-hub center problem is a fundamental model for the strategic design of hub location. It aims at constructing p fully interconnected hubs and links from nodes to hubs so that the longest path between any two nodes is minimized. Existing literature on the p-hub center problem under uncertainty often assumes a joint distribution of travel times, which is difficult (if not impossible) to elicit precisely. In this paper, we bridge the gap by investigating two distributionally robust chance-constrained models that cover, respectively, an existing stochastic one under independent normal distribution and one that is based on the sample average approximation approach as a special case. We derive deterministic reformulations as a mixed-integer program wherein a large number of constraints can be dynamically added via a constraint-generation approach to accelerate computation. Counterparts of our models in the emerging robust satisficing framework are also discussed. Extensive numerical experiments demonstrate the encouraging out-of-sample performance of our proposed models as well as the effectiveness of the constraint-generation approach.

History: Accepted by Pascal Van Hentenryck, Area Editor for Computational Modeling: Methods & Analysis.

Funding: This work is partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 72101187 and 72021002] and Early Career Scheme from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council General Research Fund [Grant 9043424] and NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme N_CityU105/21. Y. Zhao is supported by the Ministry of Education, Singapore, under its 2019 Academic Research Fund Tier 3 grant call [Grant MOE-2019-T3-1-010].

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2022.0113 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2022.0113 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .
Caffeine degradation by food microorganisms
Authors: PURWOKO TJAHJADI , SURANTO SURANTO , SETYANINGSIH RATNA , MARLIYANA SOERYA DEWI
Published: July 2023

Abstract. Purwoko T, Suranto, Setyaningsih R, Marliyana SD. 2023. Caffeine degradation by food microorganisms. Biodiversitas 24: 3495-3502. Commercial coffee beans are dominated by robusta and arabica coffee beans. Caffeine is one of the important components in coffee beans. Caffeine has antimicrobial effect. Caffeine content in robusta beans was higher than in arabica beans. Caffeine content in coffee beans was affected by the coffee species, the coffee cultivation's altitude and the postharvest processing method. Microbial fermentation activity could reduce the caffeine content of coffee beans. Lactobacillus casei, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Rhizopus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were able to reduce caffeine content of robusta beans. This study aimed to determine the degradation pathway of caffeine by food microorganisms, namely L. casei, L. mesenteroides, R. oryzae and S. cerevisiae. Caffeine content in NB-caffeine and PDB-caffeine media were reduced by L. casei, L. mesenteroides, R. oryzae and S. cerevisiae. Caffeine was transformed into dimethylxanthine and then into methylxanthine by L. casei, L. mesenteroides, R. oryzae and S. cerevisiae. They transformed more than 89% caffeine into paraxanthine, however, small amount of paraxanthine was transformed into methylxanthine. L. casei and L. mesenteroides transformed paraxanthine into 1-methylxanthine. However, R. oryzae and S. cerevisiae transformed into 7-methylxanthine. There were two patterns of degradation of caffeine into methylxanthine i.e., caffeine-paraxanthine-1-methylxanthine and caffeine-paraxanthine-7-methylxanthine. The first was shown by L. casei and L. mesenteroides, and the last by R. oryzae and S. cerevisiae.
DEVELOPMENT OF A MACHINE-LEARNING ALGORITHM FOR PREDICTING THE ARRIVAL TIME AND ASSESSING FACTORS INFLUENCING PATIENT ARRIVAL AT HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT – PRELIMINARY STUDY
Authors:   Łukasiewicz Research Network – Krakow Institute of Technology, Krakow, Poland, Karpiel Ilona , Zięba Olga ,   Łukasiewicz Research Network – Krakow Institute of Technology, Krakow, Poland
Published: July 2023

Abstract: Healthcare is one of the most important topics affecting society. Emergency Departments (ED) play an important role in the patient treatment cycle, providing immediate and primary health care as well as access to services offered by hospitals. From a hospital's perspective, it is crucial that emergency departments are well organized in each hospital sector. One of the most important yet overlooked problems in the medical industry is emergency department congestion. An attempt was made to estimate and predict, using predictive models and machine learning algorithm techniques, the impact of factors on the arrival time of patients at hospital emergency department and to verify the effectiveness of teaching the models, along with a comparison which one is the best in predicting the phenomena. Research materials were source data from the 2018 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) – Emergency Department. In this paper, a study was conducted to search for factors that could affect the frequent arrival of patients at emergency departments. A tool for predicting the expected arrival time, taking into account the current arduous conditions/factors in the ED, has the potential to improve situational awareness and contribute to mitigating problems related to congestion. It appears that the model can be used to enhance decision support systems by determining patient arrival times. The results obtained in the random forest regression algorithm are estimated at R2 of 86% and RMSE of 5.45. For research purposes, when attempting to analyze on a sample and reliable hospital department database, the random forest regressor method identified the most relevant factors such as initial vital signs. The results obtained allow for a broader view in the context of assessing the prevailing situation in the emergency department. In this case – examining the most relevant factors influencing patient arrival times. With the results of high effectiveness, an algorithm can be designed to assist emergency departments in proper monitoring of existing problems.
Deep learning network for fusing optical and infrared images in a complex imaging environment by using the modified U-Net
Authors: Xiang Bing-Quan , Pan Chao , Liu Jin
Published: July 2023

The fusion of optical and infrared images is a critical task in the field of image processing. However, it is challenging to achieve optimal results when fusing images from complex environments. In this paper, we propose a deep learning network model comprising an encoding network and a decoding network based on the modified U-Net network to fuse low-quality images from complex imaging environments. As both encoding and decoding networks use similar convolutional modules, they can share similar layer structures to improve the overall fusion performance. Furthermore, an attention mechanism module is integrated into the decoding network to identify and capture the crucial features of the fused images. It can assist the deep learning network to extract more relevant image features and thus get more accurate fusion. The proposed model has been compared with some existing methods to prove its performance in view of subjective and objective evaluations.
Ultra-clean ternary Au/Ag/AgCl nanoclusters favoring cryogenic temperature-boosted broadband SERS ultrasensitive detection
Authors: Xu Linlin , Chen Ming , Cui Qingqiang , Wang Chang , Zhang Mnegya , Zheng Linqi , Li Shuang , Zhang Hua , Liang Guangda
Published: July 2023

Exploring multifunctional surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates with high sensitivity, broadband response property and reliable practicability should be required for ultrasensitive molecular detection in complex environments, which is heavily dependent on the photo-induced charge transfer (PICT) efficiency realized on the desirable nano-architectures. Herein, we introduce ultra-clean ternary Au/Ag/AgCl nanoclusters (NCs) with broadband resonance crossing the visible light to near-infrared region created by one step laser irradiation of mixed metal ion solution. Interestingly, the surface defects and interaction among these unique cluster-like ternary nanostructures would be further enhanced by thermal annealing treatment at 300°C, providing higher broadband SERS activities than the reference ternary nanoparticles under 457, 532, 633, 785, and 1064 nm wavelengths excitation. More importantly, the further promoted SERS activities of the resultant Au/Ag/AgCl NCs with achievable ∼5-fold enhancement than the initial one can be conventionally realized by simplistically declining the temperature from normal 20°C to cryogenic condition at about -196°C, due to the lower temperature-suppressed non-radiative recombination of lattice thermal phonons and photogenerated electrons. The cryogenic temperature-boosted SERS of the resultant Au/Ag/AgCl NCs enables the limit of detection (LOD) of folic acid (FA) biomolecules to be achieved as low as 10−12 M, which is obviously better than that of 10−9 M at room temperature condition. Overall, the smart Au/Ag/AgCl NCs-based broadband SERS sensor provides a new avenue for ultrasensitive biomolecular monitoring at cryogenic condition.
Red Sm:KGd(WO4)2 laser at 649 nm
Authors: Baillard Amandine , Loiko Pavel , Rytz Daniel , Schwung Sebastian , Fromager Michaël , Braud Alain , Camy Patrice
Published: July 2023

We report on the first laser operation of a Sm3+-doped monoclinic KGd(WO4)2 double tungstate crystal in the red spectral range. Pumped by a frequency-doubled optically pumped semiconductor laser (2ω-OPSL) at 479.1 nm, the 0.8 at. % Sm:KGd(WO4)2 laser generated an output power up to 17.6 mW at 649.1 nm (the 4G5/2 → 6H9/2 transition) with a slope efficiency of 16.9%, a laser threshold down to 29 mW and a linear polarization. The laser exhibited a self-pulsing behavior, delivering µs-long pulses with a repetition rate of a few kHz. The polarized spectroscopic properties of Sm3+ ions were determined as well.
A New Two-dimensional Dual-permeability Model of Preferential Water Flow in the Vadose Zone
Authors:   Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Paraskevas Charalampos , Babajimopoulos Christos ,   Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Published: July 2023

LEAK2D (L2D) is a new, two-dimensional, dual-permeability model for the simulation of preferential water flow in the vadose zone, allowing for the continuous exchange of water between the matrix and the fracture domain. It is based on the two-dimensional Richards equation for the simulation of flow in the matrix domain and on the kinematic wave equation for the simulation of flow in the fracture domain. The Richards equation is solved by a combination of the Alternating Direction Implicit method and the Douglas-Jones predictor-corrector method. This combination leads to a very efficient, stable, and time-consuming method. A variable time step is used by which any instability of the numerical solution is avoided. The water transfer from the fracture to the matrix domain is estimated as a first-order approximation of the water diffusion equation. The model was used to satisfactorily simulate preferential flow under an extreme rainfall/irrigation event. The exchange of water between the two domains depends on parameters which have physical meaning; however, their exact values are difficult to be determined or measured. Based on the most common values of these parameters found in the literature, a sensitivity analysis was performed to define their effect on the output of the model.
“Face” in retrospective: The use of “thanks” and “to thank” In Old Saxon and Old High German
Authors: Concu Valentina
Published: July 2023

Despite being often criticized, the notion of face has recently begun to be applied in diachronic pragmatic investigations on directives, requests, apologies, and terms of address. The present study also uses the notion of face to investigate the use of Dank ‘thanks’, Dankbarkeit ‘thankfulness’, and danken ‘to thank’ in expressions of gratitude in Old Saxon and Old High German, laying the foundations to a better understanding of the speech act of thanking in the history of German. The data suggest that, although the manifestation of gratitude was common, the expressions containing Dank, Dankbarkeit, and danken could mostly be found when the addresser was in a lower social position than the addressee. The same situation was observed when these nouns and verbs were used with the meaning of “to reward” and “to praise.” These findings provide evidence to the claim that the effects of a speech act on the speaker’s or hearer’s face are mostly situational rather than being an intrinsic property. They also suggest that, in strictly hierarchical societies such as the Old Saxon and Old High German ones, addressers would threaten their own negative face only if they were in a lower social position than the addressees.
„Wedle ideału Klaudynek…”. Wizerunek dziewiętnastowiecznej Polki w piśmiennictwie historycznym Antoniny Machczyńskiej
Authors:   Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach, Michalska-Bracha Lidia
Published: July 2023

The subject of this article is concerned with the characteristics of the social activity of Antonina Machczyńska (1832[37]–1919), a Lviv social and educational activist, for women’s equal rights at the turn of the19th and 20th centuries. Machczyńska’s memoirs from 1860–1919, stored in the Warsaw and Lviv collections, as well as her journalistic and historical works were analyzed. Particular attention was focused on the analysis of the well-known historical sketch written by her for the Women’s Work Exhibition in Prague in 1912, entitled: “Polish Woman”, which she devoted entirely to discussing the history of Polish women from the earliest times to the present. Referring to the emancipatory aspirations of Polish women and her own life experiences, Machczyńska presented a specific image of 19th century women, focused on the motif of Klaudines – women active in the Klaudyna (née Działyńska) Potocka Society.
Colette Gaveau-Małcużyńska – portret pianistki
Authors:   Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina, Muzeum Fryderyka Chopina w Warszawie, Ceglarek Michał
Published: July 2023

The article is an attempt to sketch a portrait of the talented French pianist Colette Gaveau (1913–1987), winner of the first prize of the Paris Conservatory in 1932, participant in several international music competitions, including the 3rd Piano Competition Frederic Chopin in Warsaw in 1937 and the Eugène Ysaÿe, which took place in Brussels in 1938. A breakthrough event in the life of young Colette Gaveau was the marriage with the Polish pianist Witold Małcużyński (1914–1977) in October 1939. Due to the warfare of World War II, Gaveau-Małcużyńska left France with her husband, first to Portugal and then to Argentina. The Małcużyński family did not return to Europe until 1945. Colette Gaveau-Małcużyńska was a faithful and patient companion in the life and successes of one of the most outstanding Polish pianists of the second half of the 20th century.
(Nie)widoczna obecność starych kobiet w międzywojennej prasie dla Polek
Authors:   Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej w Lublinie, Maj Ewa
Published: July 2023

The issue of old women was not a priority topic in the press. It appeared indirectly, most often when describing other social issues. It accompanied the problems of social exclusion due to gender, age, financial condition, education, and professional status. Three separate images of old women emerged on the pages of the interwar press for Polish women. Firstly, there was the image of a matron, that is a dignified married woman, a mother, a tireless social activist who skilfully combined sacrificial work for the benefit of the family and the interests of the community. The figure of a matron was identified with noble features of a woman who demanded a lot from herself, becoming a moral role model for other women. In turn, in the image of the old lady, there was a tendency to show a younger, modernized version of the matron. The lady was ready to introduce innovative elements of family, social and professional life. She knew how to modernize the work of social associations. The third image contained the representation of poor, lonely, hopeless old age. It reflected the vision of an old woman who experienced material poverty, unemployment and homelessness.
Ponadgraniczne mosty redaktor Ewy Mielczarek w XX i XXI w.
Authors:   Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach, Chwastyk-Kowalczyk Jolanta
Published: July 2023

The professional activity of Ewa Mielczarek as a librarian, political scientist, senior curator, head of the Publishing Department at the Cyprian Norwid’s Provincial and Municipal Public Library in Zielona Góra, is impressive. Since 1999, her professional life has been associated with Zielona Góra, where she moved from Jelenia Góra. She is an editor, proofreader, hunter of gifted authors and their texts, a friend of poets, prose writers, essayists, reviewers, and artists. It is her, whom “Pro Libris” owes its neatness, tastefulness, and editorial beauty. In addition, she engages in journalism, promotes publications edited by the publishing house of the Zielona Góra Library, organizes literary competitions, meetings with authors, cooperates with scholars and supervises the editorial office of “Bibliotekarz Lubuski” (“Lubusz Librarian”), “Pasje Literackie” (“Literary Passions”) and “Zielonogórskie Studia Bibliotekoznawcze” (“Zielona Góra Library Studies”). Methods used: press content analysis, custom study, heuristic analysis and criticism of literature, interview.
Czy choroba jest kobietą? – o językowym obrazie wybranych dolegliwości (rozważania na podstawie tekstów polskiego folkloru)
Authors:   Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach, Marczewska Marzena
Published: July 2023

The author focuses on presenting the linguistic images of the disease established in Polish folk culture. She analyzes various linguistic data (from names to texts) that testify to traces of old beliefs regarding the perception of individual ailments as living beings, especially women. The article also discusses the primary causes of the disease anthropomorphization.
Effects of poly-aluminum chloride, starch, alum, and rosin on the rosin sizing, strength, and microscopic appearance of paper prepared from old corrugated container (OCC) pulp
Authors: Ekhtera Mohammad H. , Charani P. Rezayati , Ramezani O. , Azadfallah M.
Published: July 2023

The influence of rosin (0.1-0.3%), alum (0.4-0.6%), polyaluminum chloride (0.3-0.7%), and starch (0.5-1.5%) in the making of paper from old corrugated container (OCC) pulp on the freeness, breaking length, tear index, and burst index of pulp and paper sheets was studied. Using a full factorial design to identify the optimum operating conditions, equations relating the dependent variables to the operational variables of the chemical additives were derived that reproduced the former with errors lower than 5%. Using a high starch (1.5%), high PAC (0.7%), low alum (0.4%), and low rosin (0.1%) combination led to pulp that was sufficient to obtain paper with good strength properties (breaking length 5720m; burst index: 3.1 kPam2g-1; tear index: 6.2mNm2/g; Cobb test: 94; fold endurance: 1.52). SEM analysis showed increasing bonding between fibers together at this level of additives. The influence of starch on Cobb test values was not significant.
Fluid dynamic design of turbomachine elements
Authors:   Institute of Applied Physics of the NAS of Ukraine, Kalinkevych M.V.
Published: July 2023

Academician of the NAS of Ukraine A.V. RUSANOV, Doctor of Sciences, Professor, Director of the A. Pidhornyi Institute of Mechanical Engineering Problems of the NAS of Ukraine Professor M.G. KHMELNYUK, Doctor of Sciences, Head of the department of refrigeration machines, installations and air conditioning of the Odessa National Technological University; Professor S.I. SERBIN, Doctor of Sciences, Director of the Machinebuilding Institute of the National University of Shipbuilding named after Admiral Makarov
A National Voter Registration Campaign
Authors: Junior Jean A. , Ha Yoonhee P. , Ruxin Talia R. , Moore Zonía , Grade Madeline M. , Stewart Amanda M. , Murray Ashlee , Martin Alister
Published: July 2023

Research suggests that increased voting among adults is associated with improved child health. Despite the benefits of voting, the United States has low voter turnout compared with peer nations. Turnout is especially low among marginalized people in the United States. Voter registration is essential for increasing voter turnout, and registration efforts have been successfully carried out in clinical settings. Working with a nonprofit called Vot-ER, we advocated for nonpartisan voter registration efforts in pediatric settings nationwide preceding the November 2020 US elections. We describe lessons learned from these efforts. Using data obtained from Vot-ER, we also provide the first estimates of participation in a national voter registration campaign in pediatric settings. There was widespread engagement in voter registration efforts among pediatricians in 2020. Many lessons were learned from these efforts, including the benefits of advanced planning because registration deadlines can be up to 1 month in advance of Election Day. Obtaining buy-in from numerous stakeholders (e.g., health center leadership, public relations teams) supports widespread staff participation. Also important is to consider the tradeoffs between active voter registration (in which staff can broach the topic of voting with patients and families) and passive efforts (in which voting is discussed only if patients or families inquire about it). These and other lessons can inform future voter registration efforts in diverse pediatric settings across the country.
Göz Travmalarına Adli Tıp Bakış Açısı: Balıkesir İli Örneği
Authors: Can Hümeyra Yıldırım , Cengiz Meksel , Can Muhammet
Published: July 2023

Objective: General forensic examination and reporting after trauma due to forensic events is important. It is aimed to evaluate the general forensic examination reports prepared for forensic eye injuries due to trauma in our region, taking into account penal law.
Methods: In the study, the medical records of 8.651 cases who applied to the Forensic Medicine Department for the preparation of forensic reports in the 6-year period between January 2016 and February 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Eye injury was detected in 146 of the cases.
 Results: According to years, 8 (5.5%) cases were 2016, 17 (11.6%) 2017, 23 (15.8%) 2018, 24 (16.4%) 2019, 18 (12.3%) 2020, 48 (32.9%) of 2021 and 8 (5.5%) of them belonged to January and February of 2022. Thirty seven (25.3%) of 146 cases about whom a report was made were female and 109 (74.7%) were male. The male/female ratio (109/37) was found to be 2.94. Considering age groups of the cases; 87 (59.6%) cases, 25 female and 62 male, aged 20-49, 2 female and 13 male, total 15 (10.3%) cases aged 10-19, and aged 0-9 years. A total of 3 (2.1%) cases were detected, 1 female and 2 male. There was no significant relationship between age groups and gender.
Conclusion: In addition to general forensic examination reports, various difficulties are encountered in the evaluation of forensic eye injury cases. It was concluded that ophthalmologists and forensic medicine specialists should work together in forensic eye injuries, as in many branches, in the preparation of forensic reports.
SEGMENTATION OF FOOTBALL FANS BASED ON EVANGELISTIC BEHAVIOUR: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM CROATIA
Authors: Pepur Mario , Dedić Goran , Žura Bepo
Published: July 2023

Professional football is a big business in which understanding fans is a precondition for the long-term commercial success of clubs. The focus of this paper is on the segmentation of football fans based on their behaviour and on determining the differences among the identified segments. The research is cross- sectional, and the data was collected through an online survey of 370 fans, sampled using a non-probability, convenience sample. For segmentation purposes, the eFangelism scale – consisting of four basic forms of evangelistic behaviour: advertising, advocating, assimilating, and antagonizing, was used. Data were analysed using hierarchical and non-hierarchical cluster analysis, ANOVA, and posthoc Tukey test. The results of this study confirm the applicability of the concept of sports fan evangelism (eFangelism). Four clusters of football fans are identified based on evangelistic behaviours. This study provides concise profiles for each of the clusters and shows differences between the characteristics of their members. The findings from this study can be of use to sports marketers – namely, elements of marketing strategy can and should be adjusted for idiosyncrasies of various segments identified through the study.
VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF CONSUMER ATTITUDE TOWARDS ONLINE SHOPPING SCALE
Authors: Yaman Zührem , KÖKSAL Onur
Published: July 2023

With the rapid developments in information technologies in recent years, the Internet has more place in our daily lives, and as a result, the Internet, used as a means of communication at first, has resulted in changes in the shopping preferences of today’s consumers. Online shopping is one of the most drastic of these changes. It is believed that having more information about the reasons for consumer preferences on shopping online or avoiding online shopping and defining the processes related to online shopping conducted by businesses can contribute to the efficiency of online shopping. In the present study, an attitude scale toward online shopping is developed and this scale is tested for validity and reliability. There are various attitude scales toward online shopping in the related literature. The purpose of developing this scale is to define new attitudes of consumers toward online shopping that have adapted to changing conditions of the world and technology. With the opinions of 5 academics in the fields of marketing and business management, the number of items, which was 24 on the draft scale, was reduced to 20. For the pre-study, data were collected from 60 consumers and analyzed. A pilot study of the draft scale was conducted on 154 consumers. At the end of this study, a scale consisting of 2 dimensions and 14 items with high validity and reliability was developed. Obtained findings are presented in detail in the paper.
Structural and compositional techniques of infotainment in media texts of regional print media
Authors: Karpenko Irina I.
Published: July 2023

The novelty of the study is due to the need to systematize the techniques of infotainment used in the work of print media. The empirical research material for the work was the corpus of journalistic materials of the Belgorod regional youth magazine “OnOnas” for the period from 2013 to 2021. The relevance of the study lies in the need to theorize valuable empirical material and classify non-verbal methods of infotainment in relation to the practice of print media. The relevance and novelty of the study are also due to the insufficient study of the phenomenon of infotainment in relation to the practice of regional print media, since modern researchers still maintain a stable association of infotainment with television practices to the detriment of other types of media. The methods used in the course of the study include a system analysis with an emphasis on a constructive and structural-functional approach, and the typology method is also used. The conclusions are drawn that the use of non-verbal structural and compositional techniques of infotainment makes it possible to increase the visual appeal of journalistic material, include elements of entertainment for the purpose of informational unloading of the text, visualize statistical information or the semantic part of the text, captivate the audience with new forms of visualization and representation of journalistic information.