bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Albumin–Chlorogenic Acid Nanoparticles on Apoptosis and PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway Inhibitory Activity in MDA-MB-435s Cells
Authors: Alzahrani Badr , Elderdery Abozer Y. , Alsrhani Abdullah , Alzerwi Nasser A. N. , Althobiti Maryam Musleh , Rayzah Musaed , Idrees Bandar , Elkhalifa Ahmed M. E. , Subbiah Suresh K. , Mok Pooi Ling
Published: April 2023

In this study, we synthesized, characterized, and explored the anti-microbial and anti-cancer effects of albumin–chlorogenic acid nanoparticles (NPs). Characterization studies with a UV-vis spectrophotometer, FTIR, PL spectrum, TEM, FESEM, XRD, and DLA analysis showed patterns confirming the physio–chemical nature of biogenic nanocomposites. Further, anti-microbial studies using bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio cholera, and fungal strain Candida albicans showed significant (p < 0.05) anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities. Next, we used MDA-MB-435s, a human cell line, to evaluate the anti-cancer effects of albumin–chlorogenic acid NPs. Cytotoxic studies revealed its IC50 concentration at 24 μg/mL after a 24 h treatment of MDA-MB-435s cells. We chose this IC50 dose to analyze albumin–chlorogenic acid NPs anti-cancer effects in vitro. MDA-MB-435s cells exposed to our NPs were studied via AO/EtBr staining, cell cycle analyses via PI staining, the status of whole genomic damage via comet assay, levels of apoptotic cells via annexin V/PI staining, ROS generation via DCFH-DA staining, an assay of antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, and antioxidant GSH, via ELISA analyses of apoptotic markers caspase-3, 8, 9, Bax, Bcl-2, CytC, and p53, PI3/AKT/mTOR pathway. Our results collectively showed albumin–chlorogenic acid NPs induced apoptosis via p53-dependent and PI3/AKT/mTOR inhibition in MDA-MB-435s cells. Our results denote albumin–chlorogenic acid NPs can be used as an effective candidate for anti-microbial and anti-cancer applications; however, further in vivo confirmatory studies are warranted.
Clustered Distributed Learning Exploiting Node Centrality and Residual Energy (CINE) in WSNs
Authors: Galluccio Laura , Mertens Joannes Sam , Morabito Giacomo
Published: April 2023

With the explosion of big data, the implementation of distributed machine learning mechanisms in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is becoming required for reducing the number of data traveling throughout the network and for identifying anomalies promptly and reliably. In WSNs, the above need has to be considered along with the limited energy and processing resources available at the nodes. In this paper, we tackle the resulting complex problem by designing a multi-criteria protocol CINE that stands for “Clustered distributed learnIng exploiting Node centrality and residual Energy” for distributed learning in WSNs. More specifically, considering the energy and processing capabilities of nodes, we design a scheme that assumes that nodes are partitioned in clusters and selects a central node in each cluster, called cluster head (CH), that executes the training of the machine learning (ML) model for all the other nodes in the cluster, called cluster members (CMs). In fact, CMs are responsible for executing the inference only. Since the CH role requires the consumption of more resources, the proposed scheme rotates the CH role among all nodes in the cluster. The protocol has been simulated and tested using real environmental data sets.
Comparative Evaluation of Booster Vaccine Efficacy by Intracoelomic Injection and Immersion with a Whole-Cell Killed Vaccine against Lactococcus petauri Infection in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: de Ruyter Tryssa , Littman Eric , Yazdi Zeinab , Adkison Mark , Camus Alvin , Yun Susan , Welch Timothy J. , Keleher William R. , Soto Esteban
Published: April 2023

Lactococcus petauri is an important emergent bacterial pathogen of salmonids in the USA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protection conferred to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) against L. petauri by formalin-killed vaccines in immersion and injectable forms, as well as the enhanced protection afforded by booster vaccination. In the first challenge, fish were immunized via intracoelomic injection (IC) or immersion (Imm) routes alone. Approximately 418 degree days (Temperature in degree Celsius × days post-immunization) (dd) Imm, or 622 dd IC post-vaccination, fish were challenged via IC with wild-type L. petauri. In the second experiment, initial Imm vaccination was followed by booster vaccination via Imm or IC routes 273 dd post-immunization along with appropriate PBS controls. The various vaccination protocol efficacies were evaluated by challenging fish with L. petauri by cohabitation with diseased fish 399 dd post-booster administration. A relative percent survival (RPS) of 89.5% and 28% was recorded in the IC and Imm single immunization treatments, respectively. In the second study, an RPS of 97.5%, 10.2%, 2.6% and −10.1% plus approximately 0%, 50%, 20%, and 30% bacterial persistence was recorded in the Imm immunized + IC boosted, Imm immunized + mock IC boosted, Imm immunized + Imm boosted, and Imm immunized + mock Imm boosted treatments, respectively. Only the Imm immunized + IC injection boosted treatments provided significant protection when compared to unvaccinated and challenged treatments (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although both Imm and IC vaccines appear safe for trout, the inactivated Imm vaccines seem to provide only mild and temporary protection against lactococcosis; whereas IC immunized trout develop a significantly stronger protective response in both challenges.
Photodynamic Activity of Acridine Orange in Keratinocytes under Blue Light Irradiation
Authors: Fornaciari Bárbara , Juvenal Marina S. , Martins Waleska K. , Junqueira Helena C. , Baptista Maurício S.
Published: April 2023

Acridine orange (AO) is a metachromatic fluorescent dye that stains various cellular compartments, specifically accumulating in acidic vacuoles (AVOs). AO is frequently used for cell and tissue staining (in vivo and in vitro), mainly because it marks different cellular compartments with different colors. However, AO also forms triplet excited states and its role as a photosensitizer is not yet completely understood. Human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) were incubated for either 10 or 60 min with various concentrations (nanomolar range) of AO that were significantly lower than those typically used in staining protocols (micromolar). After incubation, the cells were irradiated with a 490 nm LED. As expected, cell viability (measured by MTT, NRU and crystal violet staining) decreased with the increase in AO concentration. Interestingly, at the same AO concentration, altering the incubation time with HaCaT substantially decreased the 50% lethal dose (LD50) from 300 to 150 nM. The photoinduced cell death correlated primarily with lysosomal disfunction, and the correlation was stronger for the 60 min AO incubation results. Furthermore, the longer incubation time favored monomers of AO and a distribution of the dye to intracellular sites other than lysosomes. Studies with mimetic systems indicated that monomers, which have higher yields of fluorescence emission and singlet oxygen generation, are favored in acidic environments, consistent with the more intense emission from cells submitted to the longer AO incubation period. Our results indicate that AO is an efficient PDT photosensitizer, with a photodynamic efficiency that is enhanced in acidic environments when multiple intracellular locations are targeted. Consequently, when using AO as a probe for live cell tracking and tissue staining, care must be taken to avoid excessive exposure to light to avoid undesirable photosensitized oxidation reactions in the tissue or cell under investigation.
Strategies for Engineering Virus Resistance in Potato
Authors: Liu Jiecai , Yue Jianying , Wang Haijuan , Xie Lingtai , Zhao Yuanzheng , Zhao Mingmin , Zhou Hongyou
Published: April 2023

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important vegetable crop that plays a pivotal role in the world, especially given its potential to feed the world population and to act as the major staple food in many developing countries. Every year, significant crop loss is caused by viral diseases due to a lack of effective agrochemical treatments, since only transmission by insect vectors can be combated with the use of insecticides, and this has been an important factor hindering potato production. With the rapid development of molecular biology and plant genetic engineering technology, transgenic approaches and non-transgenic techniques (RNA interference and CRISPR-cas9) have been effectively employed to improve potato protection against devastating viruses. Moreover, the availability of viral sequences, potato genome sequences, and host immune mechanisms has remarkably facilitated potato genetic engineering. In this study, we summarize the progress of antiviral strategies applied in potato through engineering either virus-derived or plant-derived genes. These recent molecular insights into engineering approaches provide the necessary framework to develop viral resistance in potato in order to provide durable and broad-spectrum protection against important viral diseases of solanaceous crops.
Main Characteristics of Processed Grain Starch Products and Physicochemical Features of the Starches from Maize (Zea mays L.) with Different Genotypes
Authors: Khatefov Eduard B. , Goldstein Vladimir G. , Krivandin Alexey V. , Wasserman Lyubov A.
Published: April 2023

To understand the relationship between the genotype of maize plants and differences in their origin and the ploidy of the genome, which carry gene alleles programming the biosynthesis of various starch modifications, the thermodynamic and morphological features of starches from the grains of these plants have been studied. This study investigated the peculiarities of starch extracted from subspecies of maize (the dry matter mass (DM) fraction, starch content in grain DM, ash content in grain DM, and amylose content in starch) belonging to different genotypes within the framework of the program for the investigation of polymorphism of the world collection of plant genetic resources VIR. Among the starch genotypes of maize studied, four groups comprised the waxy (wx), conditionally high amylose (“ae”), sugar (su), and wild (WT) genotypes. Starches with an amylose content of over 30% conditionally belonged to the “ae” genotype. The starches of the su genotype had fewer starch granules than other investigated genotypes. An increase in amylose content in the investigated starches, accompanied by a decrease in their thermodynamic melting parameters, induced the accumulation of defective structures in the starches under study. The thermodynamic parameters evaluated for dissociation of the amylose–lipid complex were temperature (Taml) and enthalpy (Haml); for the su genotype, temperature and enthalpy values of dissociation of the amylose–lipid complex were higher than in the starches from the “ae” and WT genotypes. This study has shown that the amylose content in starch and the individual features of the maize genotype determine the thermodynamic melting parameters of the starches under study.
Adsorption Kinetics of Methyl Orange from Model Polluted Water onto N-Doped Activated Carbons Prepared from N-Containing Polymers
Authors: Al-Odayni Abdel-Basit , Alsubaie Faisal S. , Abdu Naaser A. Y. , Al-Kahtani Haifa Masfeer , Saeed Waseem Sharaf
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to assess the role of polymeric sources (polypyrrole, polyaniline, and their copolymer) of nitrogen (N)-doped activated carbons (indexed as PAnAC, PPyAC, and PnyAC, respectively) on their adsorption efficiency to remove methyl orange (MO) as a model cationic dye. The adsorbents were characterized using FTIR, SEM, TGA, elemental analysis, and surface area. The kinetic experiments were performed in batches at different MO concentrations (C0) and adsorbent dosages. The adsorption kinetic profiles of pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order (PSO), Elovich, intraparticle diffusion, and liquid film diffusion models were compared. The results showed a better fit to the PSO model, suggesting a chemisorption process. The adsorption capacity (qe, mg/g) was found to have increased as MO C0 increased, yet decreased as the adsorbent quantity increased. At the adsorption operating condition, including MO C0 (200 ppm) and adsorbent dose (40 mg), the calculated qe values were in the order of PAnAC (405 mg/g) > PPyAC (204 mg/g) > PnyAC (182 mg/g). This trend proved the carbon precursor’s importance in the final properties of the intended carbons; elemental analysis confirmed that the more nitrogen atoms are in the activated carbon, the greater the number of active sites in the adsorbent for accommodating adsorbates. The diffusion mechanism also assumed a rate-limiting step controlled by the film and intraparticle diffusion. Therefore, such an efficient performance may support the target route’s usefulness in converting nitrogenous-species waste into valuable materials.
High-Expansion Open-Cell Polylactide Foams Prepared by Microcellular Foaming Based on Stereocomplexation Mechanism with Outstanding Oil–Water Separation
Authors: Li Dongsheng , Zhang Shuai , Zhao Zezhong , Miao Zhenyun , Zhang Guangcheng , Shi Xuetao
Published: April 2023

Biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) foams with open-cell structures are good candidates for oil–water separation. However, the foaming of PLA with high-expansion and uniform cell morphology by the traditional supercritical carbon dioxide microcellular foaming method remains a big challenge due to its low melting strength. Herein, a green facile strategy for the fabrication of open-cell fully biodegradable PLA-based foams is proposed by introducing the unique stereocomplexation mechanism between PLLA and synthesized star-shaped PDLA for the first time. A series of star-shaped PDLA with eight arms (8-s-PDLA) was synthesized with different molecular weights and added into the PLLA as modifiers. PLLA/8-s-PDLA foams with open-cells structure and high expansion ratios were fabricated by microcellular foaming with green supercritical carbon dioxide. In detail, the influences of induced 8-s-PDLA on the crystallization behavior, rheological properties, cell morphology and consequential oil–water separation performance of PLA-based foam were investigated systemically. The addition of 8-s-PDLA induced the formation of SC-PLA, enhancing crystallization by acting as nucleation sites and improving the melting strength through acting as physical cross-linking points. The further microcellular foaming of PLLA/8-s-PDLA resulted in open-cell foams of high porosity and high expansion ratios. With an optimized foaming condition, the PLLA/8-s-PDLA-13K foam exhibited an average cell size of about 61.7 μm and expansion ratio of 24. Furthermore, due to the high porosity of the interconnected open cells, the high-absorption performance of the carbon tetrachloride was up to 37 g/g. This work provides a facile green fabrication strategy for the development of environmentally friendly PLA foams with stable open-cell structures and high expansion ratios for oil–water separation.
Multiple Responsive Hydrogel Films Based on Dynamic Phenylboronate Bond Linkages with Simple but Practical Linear Response Mode and Excellent Glucose/Fructose Response Speed
Authors: Xu Rong , Tian Jiafeng , Song Yusheng , Dong Shihui , Zhang Yongjun
Published: April 2023

Multiple responsive hydrogels are usually constructed by the addition of many different functional groups. Generally, these groups have different responsive behaviors which lead to interleaved and complex modes of the multi-response system. It is difficult to get a practical application. In this study, we show that multi-response hydrogels can also be constructed using dynamic bonds as crosslinks. The multiple responsive hydrogel films with thicknesses on the sub-micrometer or micrometer scale can be fabricated from P(DMAA-3-AAPBA), a copolymer of N,N-dimethylacrylamide, 3-(acrylamido)phenylboronic acid, and poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) though a simple layer-by-layer (LbL) technique. The driving force for the film build up is the in situ-formed phenylboronate ester bonds between the two polymers. The films exhibit Fabry–Perot fringes on their reflection spectra which can be used to calculate the equilibrium swelling degree (SDe) of the film so as to characterize its responsive behaviors. The results show that the films are responsive to temperature, glucose, and fructose with simple and practical linear response modes. More importantly, the speed of which the films respond to glucose or fructose is quite fast, with characteristic response times of 45 s and 7 s, respectively. These quick response films may have potential for real-time, continuous glucose or fructose monitoring. With the ability to bind with these biologically important molecules, one can expect that hydrogels may find more applications in biomedical areas in the future.
Preparation and Characterization of di- and Tricarboxylic Acids-Modified Arabinogalactan Plasticized Composite Films
Authors: Malyar Yuriy N. , Borovkova Valentina S. , Kazachenko Alexander S. , Fetisova Olga Yu. , Skripnikov Andrey M. , Sychev Valentin V. , Taran Oxana P.
Published: April 2023

To ensure the high quality of water, it is necessary to remove toxic pollutants. At present, purification of water is implemented using various sorbents. The efficient sorption materials are modified polysaccharides. In this study, we report on a new environmentally friendly method for modifying larch hemicellulose—arabinogalactan (AG)—with polybasic carboxylic acids (citric, succinic, oxalic, and adipic) to obtain composite materials. The synthesized AG derivatives have been explored by a complex of physicochemical methods, including gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and sorption capacity investigations. It is shown that the heat treatment results in the formation of additional inter- and intramolecular bonds between carboxylic acids and polysaccharide molecules. The formation of ester bonds has been confirmed by the appearance of absorption bands in the IR spectra in the range of 1750–1690 cm−1. It has been found, using the TGA study, that the most thermally stable (up to 190 °C) sample is arabinogalactan oxalate obtained under heat treatment. The SEM study of the synthesized AG films has shown that the modified samples have the homogeneous film surface ensured by cross-linking. It has been established, when studying the sorption properties of the AG derivatives, that AG succinate (82.52%) obtained by lyophilization has the highest sorption capacity, due to the developed mesoporous surface, which, in turn, makes the synthesized films promising eco-friendly materials for use as drug carriers, sorbents, and water treatment agents.
Three-Dimensionally Printed Expandable Structural Electronics Via Multi-Material Printing Room-Temperature-Vulcanizing (RTV) Silicone/Silver Flake Composite and RTV
Authors: Lee Ju-Yong , Oh Min-Ha , Park Joo-Hyeon , Kang Se-Hun , Kang Seung-Kyun
Published: April 2023

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has various applications in many fields, such as soft electronics, robotic systems, biomedical implants, and the recycling of thermoplastic composite materials. Three-dimensional printing, which was only previously available for prototyping, is currently evolving into a technology that can be utilized by integrating various materials into customized structures in a single step. Owing to the aforementioned advantages, multi-functional 3D objects or multi-material-designed 3D patterns can be fabricated. In this study, we designed and fabricated 3D-printed expandable structural electronics in a substrateless auxetic pattern that can be adapted to multi-dimensional deformation. The printability and electrical conductivity of a stretchable conductor (Ag-RTV composite) were optimized by incorporating a lubricant. The Ag-RTV and RTV were printed in the form of conducting voxels and frame voxels through multi-nozzle printing and were arranged in a negative Poisson’s ratio pattern with a missing rib structure, to realize an expandable passive component. In addition, the expandable structural electronics were embedded in a soft actuator via one-step printing, confirming the possibility of fabricating stable interconnections in expanding deformation via a missing rib pattern.
“Ich Werdend Spreche Ich Du”: Creative Dialogue in the Relational Anthropologies of Martin Luther and Martin Buber
Authors: Mathiasen Stopa Sasja Emilie
Published: April 2023

This article compares the relational anthropologies of Martin Luther and Martin Buber and suggests that both thinkers presuppose a notion of creative dialogue. This notion captures the understanding in the Hebrew Bible of the world as created and sustained through God’s utterance and, thus, of reality as spoken and human existence as reliant upon dialogue with God. It argues that this common grounding led Luther and Buber to suggest anthropologies that focus on relation rather than substance, on the role of language, and on creative dialogue as the kernel of sound interpersonal relationships, which articulate the human relationship with God. The perception of reality as constituted through dialogical relationships made them both question the prevailing philosophical ontology of their time: in Luther’s case, Aristotelean substance ontology, and in Buber’s case, Kantian subject–object dualism.
How Well Do Religious Exemptions Apply to Mandates for COVID-19 Vaccines?
Authors: Flescher Andrew
Published: April 2023

In the United States, religious exemptions to health-driven mandates enjoy, and should enjoy, protected status in medical ethics and healthcare law. Religious exemptions are defined as seriously professed exceptions to state or federal laws, which appeal to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, allowing workers to request an exception to a job requirement, including a health-protective mandate, if it “conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances”. In medical ethics, such religious exceptions are usually justified on the basis of the principle of autonomy, where personally held convictions, reflected in scripture or established religious norms, are safeguarded on the basis of the first amendment, thereby constituting an important area in which societal good must yield to individual liberty. Acknowledging the longstanding category of “religious exemptions”, and referencing some examples that adhere to its parameters in good faith (e.g., objections made by some institutions to HPV vaccines), I argue that, to date, no coherent basis for religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccines has been offered through appeal to the principle of autonomy, or, in a healthcare context, to “medical freedom”. Indeed, proponents of characterizing these exemptions as legitimate misconstrue autonomy and abuse the reputation of the religious traditions they invoke in defense of their endeavors to opt out. The upshot is not only an error in interpreting the principle of autonomy, whereby it is issued a “blank check”, but also a dishonesty in itself whereby a contested political position becomes deliberately disguised as a protected religious value. “Sincerely held beliefs”, I conclude, appear no longer to constitute the standard for religious accommodation in the era of COVID-19. Individual declaration, seemingly free of any reasonable constraint, does. This is a shift that has serious consequences for public health and, more broadly, the public good.
Chinese Thought and Transcendentalism: Ecology, Place and Conservative Radicalism
Authors: Crippen Matthew
Published: April 2023

My central claim is that resonances between Transcendentalist and Chinese philosophies are so strong that the former cannot be adequately appreciated without the latter. I give attention to the Analects, the Mengzi and the Tiantai Lotus Sutra, which Transcendentalists read. Because there was conceptual sharing across Chinese traditions, plus evidence suggesting Transcendentalists explored other texts, my analysis includes discussions of Daoism and Weishi, Huayan and Chan Buddhism. To name just some similarities between the targeted outlooks, Transcendentalists adopt something close to wu-wei or effortless action; though hostile to hierarchy, they echo the Confucian stress on rituals or habits; Thoreau’s individualistic libertarianism is moderated by a radical causal holism found in many Chinese philosophies; and variants of Chinese Buddhism get close to Transcendentalist metaphysics and epistemologies, which anticipate radical embodied cognitive science. A specific argument is that Transcendentalists followed some of their Chinese counterparts by conserving the past and converting it into radicalism. A meta-argument is that ideas were exchanged via trade from Europe through North Africa to Western Asia and India into the Far East, and contact with Indigenous Americans led to the same. This involved degrees of misrepresentation, but it nonetheless calls upon scholars to adopt more global approaches.
A Case of Sarcoid-Lymphoma Syndrome with Various Etiological Factors
Authors: Furuyama Kazuki , Tsukita Makiko , Shirato Yoichi , Sasaki Yusaku , Ashino Yugo , Hattori Toshio
Published: April 2023

A 75-year-old female with a history of stomach cancer and depression was referred to our hospital for left cervical lymphadenopathy. The biopsy of her left cervical lymph node revealed noncaseating granulomas with multinucleated giant cells. The positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) indicated general lymphadenopathy (left supraclavicular left axillary, hepatic lymph nodes), except for the hilar lymph node. Both histology by transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) and analysis of broncho alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were indicative of sarcoidosis. C-reactive protein (CRP) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were increased in the sera. An alternative cause of granulomatous disease was ruled out, and on follow-up, she was diagnosed with sarcoidosis. Two years later, she was hospitalized for fever, anorexia, lymph node tenderness, and erythema nodosum with significant increases in CRP and sIL-2R. After admission, the repetitive axillary lymph biopsy showed the same histological findings as before, but the G-band staining showed clonal abnormalities. Bone marrow biopsy revealed abnormal lymphocytes with petal-like nuclei. Finally, she was diagnosed with malignant lymphoma infiltrating the bone marrow. After CHOP-based chemotherapy, her laboratory data, lymphadenopathy, and clinical findings improved, and she was discharged from the hospital on the 90th day. Careful medical treatment, including genetic analysis of the lymph node, is necessary in patients with sarcoidosis if lymphadenopathy is predominant.
Exploring the Relationship between Early Leaving of Education and Training and Mental Health among Youth in Spain
Authors: Guerrero-Puerta Laura M. , Guerrero Miguel A.
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to explore the relationship between Early Leaving Education and Training and mental health perceived by young Spanish school leavers, as well as develop mid-range theories to better understand this relationship. The study uses a grounded theory approach; specifically, Charmaz’s constructivist approach and its informed version have guided the study. Through qualitative interviews with individuals who had left school prematurely, the results of this study showed a bidirectional relationship between ELET and mental health, where the detriment in the mental health of young people who leave school early should be understood as both a cause and an effect of the process of ELET. In addition, the findings suggest that certain socio-economic and educational factors, such as bullying, academic stress, self-responsibilization of failure, and labels such as “NEET” can contribute to a decrease in mental health. Overall, this study has provided new insights into the ELET-mental health relationship, contributing to the development of mid-range theories that can inform future research and interventions to minimize these problems.
Male Chauvinism and Complex Thinking: A Study of Mexican University Students
Authors: Carlos-Arroyo Martina , Vázquez-Parra José Carlos , Cruz-Sandoval Marco , Echaniz-Barrondo Arantza
Published: April 2023

This article presents the results of a study conducted on a sample of students at a techno-logical university in western Mexico, in which the aim was to identify a possible relationship between the presence of male chauvinistic behaviors and complex thinking. The argument that motivates this analysis focuses on the assumption that a person with high levels of complex thinking should have a more integrated vision of the capabilities of people beyond their gender, as well as a tendency to question, from a critical point of view, the possible stereotypes rooted in their environment. This article describes the study, its methodology, analyses, results, and the conclusion that high levels of complex thinking result in lower levels of male chauvinistic attitudes. Although it is recognized that this work is not exhaustive, its results are valuable for further educational, social, and gender studies research.
Spatial Variability of Topsoil Properties on a Semi-Arid Floodplain
Authors: Carroll-MacDonald Tiffany-Anne , Rayburg Scott , Neave Melissa
Published: April 2023

This study relates the spatial heterogeneity (or patterning) of geochemical elements in the topsoil of a semi-arid floodplain/hillslope system in north-eastern Australia to vegetation distribution and rates of flood inundation. A total of 540 topsoil samples were collected from six flood frequency zones, ranging from a frequently flooded area (RI = 1:1–2 yrs) to two zones that have not flooded in living memory (RI > 50 yrs). Within each zone, topsoil samples were collected from both vegetated and non-vegetated surfaces, and each sample was analysed for 26 parameters. A combination of multi- and univariate analyses reveals that vegetation is an important contributor to topsoil heterogeneity. In zones subject to relatively frequent flooding, the spatial distribution of parameters in the topsoil is greatly influenced by the movement of water, with vegetation acting as a sink rather than a source. However, as floods become increasingly rare, distinct resource-rich units become evident in the topsoil beneath the vegetation. These findings indicate that topsoils in semi-arid floodplains are altered when their natural flooding regimes are reduced, beginning to approximate hillslopes when flood frequencies exceed 1-in-7 to 10 years. This points to the need for frequent flood (overbank) releases that are able to cover the 1-in-20-year floodplain to maintain the character of the soils and support vegetation growth in these environments.
COVID-19 Pneumonia with Migratory Pattern in Agammaglobulinemic Patients: A Report of Two Cases and Review of Literature
Authors: Degli Antoni Melania , Crosato Verena , Pennati Francesca , Borghesi Andrea , Cristini Graziella , Allegri Roberto , Capone Susanna , Bergamasco Alberto , Soresina Annarosa , Badolato Raffaele , Maroldi Roberto , Quiros-Roldan Eugenia , Matteelli Alberto , Castelli Francesco , Focà Emanuele
Published: April 2023

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by marked reduction in serum immunoglobulins and early-onset infections. Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia in immunocompromised patients presents clinical and radiological peculiarities which have not yet been completely understood. Very few cases of agammaglobulinemic patients with COVID-19 have been reported since the beginning of the pandemic in February 2020. We report two cases of migrant COVID-19 pneumonia in XLA patients.
Microencapsulation of a Native Strain of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana and Bioinsecticide Activity against Pyrethroid-Resistant Triatoma infestans to Vector Control of Chagas Disease in the Argentine Gran Chaco Region
Authors: Baldiviezo Linda Vanesa , Nieva Lucía Beatriz , Pedrini Nicolás , Cardozo Rubén Marino
Published: April 2023

The blood-sucking bug Triatoma infestans is the main Chagas disease vector in the Southern Cone of Latin America. Populations resistant to pyrethroid insecticides have been detected in the early 2000s and then expanded to the endemic area of northern Salta province, Argentina. In this context, the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana has been shown to be pathogenic to pyrethroid-resistant T. infestans. In this study, both the bioinsecticidal activity and the residual effect of an alginate-based microencapsulation of a native strain of B. bassiana (Bb-C001) were tested under semi-field conditions against pyrethroid-resistant T. infestans nymphs. Fungal microencapsulated formulation caused higher nymph mortality than the unmicroencapsulated fungus and contributed to maintaining the conidial viability throughout the period evaluated under the tested conditions. These results suggest that alginate microencapsulation is an effective, simple, low-cost method that could be incorporated into the formulation of a bioinsecticide as a strategy to reduce the vector transmission of Chagas disease.
Battery Pack and Underbody: Integration in the Structure Design for Battery Electric Vehicles—Challenges and Solutions
Authors: Belingardi Giovanni , Scattina Alessandro
Published: April 2023

The evolution toward electric vehicle nowadays appears to be the main stream in the automotive and transportation industry. In this paper, our attention is focused on the architectural modifications that should be introduced into the car body to give a proper location to the battery pack. The required battery pack is a big, heavy, and expensive component to be located, managed, climatized, maintained, and protected. This paper develops some engineering analyses and shows sketches of some possible solutions that could be adopted. The possible consequences on the position of the vehicle center of gravity, which in turn could affect the vehicle drivability, lead to locate the battery housing below the passenger compartment floor. This solution is also one of the most interesting from the point of view of the battery pack protection in case of a lateral impact and for easy serviceability and maintenance. The integration of the battery pack’s housing structure and the vehicle floor leads to a sort of sandwich structure that could have beneficial effects on the body’s stiffness (both torsional and bending). This paper also proposes some considerations that are related to the impact protection of the battery pack, with particular reference to the side impacts against a fixed obstacle, such as a pole, which are demonstrated to be the most critical. By means of some FE simulation results, the relevance of the interplay among the different parts of the vehicle side structure and battery case structure is pointed out.
Development, Progression and Management of Contact Lenses and Eye Care—Editorial Letter
Authors: Erdinest Nir
Published: April 2023

The world of contact lenses comprises a considerable segment of the ophthalmology field [...]
Preiselastizität von Belletristik-Bestsellern
Authors: Suhling Fabienne
Published: April 2023

Angesichts derzeitiger, gezielter Preissteigerungen im deutschen Buchmarkt, befindet sich die Branche auf direktem Weg in eine Bestseller-Nachfragekonzentration. Publikumsverlage und Handel rechtfertigen höhere Preise durch externe Bedingungen und Kunden, welche ihrerseits finanziell eingeschränkter sind, orientieren sich zunehmend an Faktoren, die Unsicherheiten im Buchkaufentscheidungsprozess reduzieren. Imitative Verhaltensweisen in Form von eigenen oder konsensgeleiteten Referenzpunkten dienen dabei dem Zweck, mangelnde Qualitätsinformationen zu kompensieren. Zentrale Orientierungspunkte sind, gemäß den bisherigen Erkenntnissen der Bestsellerforschung, Autorenmarken und visuelle Stimuli, die eine Imitation z.B. über einen Bandwagon-Effekt auslösen. Solche Stimuli werden auch durch SPIEGEL-Bestseller-Coversiegel repräsentiert. Obwohl Preiselastizitäten einen Aufschluss über das Nachfrageverhalten liefern können, ist dieses Themenfeld für den deutschen Buchmarkt bisher noch wenig erforscht. Durch eine empirische Studie von 334 Top20-SPIEGEL-Print-Bestsellern der Hauptwarengruppe Belletristik, bietet diese Arbeit einen entsprechenden Beitrag auf dem Gebiet der Buch-Preiselastizitäten. Entgegen der weitverbreiteten Hypothese, dass sich die Marktnachfrage im deutschen Buchmarkt preiselastisch verhält, kann, anhand von statistischen Regressionsanalysen, keine nennenswerte Preissensibilität unter Bestseller-Buchkäufern beobachtet werden. Dies deutet auf eine anomale preisunelastische Marktnachfrage mit Preisspielräumen für Publikumsverlage hin. Zudem werden Indikatoren für psychologische Preisfärbungspotenziale von Autorenmarken und SPIEGEL-Bestseller-Coversiegeln aufgezeigt. Wenngleich diese Ergebnisse jegliche Bedenken zur Kundenakzeptanz von Preissteigerungen für die untersuchten Titel ausräumen, bleibt bei der Preisstrategieempfehlung für Publikumsverlage zu bedenken, dass über alle Printformate flächendeckend höhere Preise den Zugang zu Literatur faktisch reduzieren.
Galletas chocochip con aguacate como fuente de grasa
Authors: Bolaños José , Perez Byron , Ponce Diana , Cevallos-Ureña Ana , Vernaza Maria Gabriela
Published: April 2023

Producir alimentos tradicionales con menos grasa saturada y menor densidad calórica, pero manteniendo su calidad sensorial es de suma importancia para proveer a los consumidores con opciones más saludables. En este trabajo, se estudió el efecto de la sustitución de mantequilla por puré de aguacate, y la adición de lecitina como emulsificante en la producción de galletas chocochip de chocolate. Se realizó un diseño factorial 22 con repeticiones del punto central y se estudiaron la tasa de extensión (diámetro/altura) y la actividad acuosa como variables de respuesta. El modelo matemático y el resultado del ANOVA demuestran la influencia significativa de estos factores sobre las variables de respuesta, y se pudo concluir que la combinación de lecitina 1,5% y sustitución con aguacate 37,5% es la formulación que maximiza la tasa de expansión y minimiza la actividad acuosa, siendo estas propiedades tecnológicas importantes en la producción de galletas.
Os desafios para o cálculo do imposto de renda sobre operações com Bitcoin e a sua regulamentação no Brasil
Authors: Belém José de Figueiredo , De Alencar Luís Gustavo Ribeiro
Published: April 2023

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo dialogar a respeito da introdução dos novos métodos de pagamento via Bitcoin e outros criptoativos e quais os desafios que podem ser previstos para a tributação do Imposto de Renda no Brasil. A priori, é necessário compreender, de fato, o que é um ativo digital e, em seguida, analisar a sua natureza jurídica para compreender como pode ser possível a tributação de tais sem que haja a ocorrência de fraudes, tendo como base as análises dos pontos de vista teóricos de várias referências no ramo jurídico, contábil e administrativo. Além disso, é necessário entender o cenário mundial em relação à adoção do bitcoin enquanto forma de pagamento e a sua tributação. A posteriori, é importante salientar sob o ponto de vista do empresário, enquanto administrador de empresas, o papel que tais ativos desempenharão no mercado de trabalho e como já estão influenciando na vida de milhares de pessoas no cenário global, além de como se desenvolver profissionalmente para tornar essa entrada no mundo digital uma janela de oportunidades dentro das empresas.
Impacto da qualidade de vida em pacientes com perda de molar decíduo relacionada à performance mastigatória: um estudo transversal
Authors: Carneiro Sofia Vasconcelos , Fontes Natasha Muniz , Paulino Marcília Ribeiro Paulino , Moreira Kelly Maria Silva , Imparato José Carlos Pettorossi
Published: April 2023

Objetivo: Descrever a performance mastigatória em pacientes de 3 a 5 anos com perda de molares decíduos, mensurando seu impacto na qualidade de vida. Métodos: A amostra do estudo foi representada por 20 pacientes de 3 a 5 anos de idade, dividida em grupo controle (todos os dentes decíduos) e experimental (perda de molares decíduos). Para mensurar o impacto da cárie precoce na infância sobre a Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde Bucal (QVRSB) da criança foi aplicado o B-ECOHIS. Os testes mastigatórios foram realizados usando uma goma de mascar de duas cores que foi mascada por 20 ciclos mastigatórios. O nível de mistura das duas cores da goma mastigada foi avaliado visualmente por dois avaliadores independentes, com base em uma escala de 5 categorias. Em seguida, os espécimes foram achatados em uma lâmina de 1 mm de espessura, fotografados e salvos como imagem digital. Cada par de imagens foi submetida à uma análise colorimétrica usando um software ImageJ®. Resultados: Não houve associação estatisticamente significativa (p≥0,05) em relação aos hábitos alimentares, hábitos deletérios e de higiene bucal quando se comparou os grupos com e sem perda do 1º molar. Observaram-se maiores impactos na qualidade de vida relacionado à saúde bucal (QVRSB) no grupo de crianças com perda do primeiro molar, sendo estatísticamente significativa (p≤0,05) tanto na avaliação geral, quanto na avaliação por domínios. Conclusão: A performace mastigatória de crianças parece não ser influenciada pela perda precoce de molares decíduos, porém a qualidade de vida da criança e da família parecer ser afetada.
Osteíte Fibrose Cística
Authors: Jorge Eduardo de Schoucair Jambeiro  , Alex Guedes  , Enilton de Santana Ribeiro de Mattos  , Aparecida Aguiar Lima Guedes  , André Ney Menezes Freire  , Mateus Dantas Moraes Freire  , Marcos Dantas Moraes Freire  , Sofia Dantas Moraes Freire  , Maria Luiza Silva Case  , Pedro Péricles Ribeiro Baptista
Published: April 2023

A osteíte fibrosa cística (OFC) constitui manifestação tardia do hiperparatireoidismo (HP), caracterizada pela depleção progressiva da massa óssea e subsequente substituição por tecido fibroso. No passado, a incidência de lesões ósseas associadas à OFC era alta (80%), tendo diminuído para 15% na atualidade, situação atribuída ao monitoramento dos níveis de cálcio sérico que levam ao diagnóstico mais precoce em portadores assintomáticos de HP. Esta revisão busca atualizar o leitor a propósito da OFC no que diz respeito ao conceito, fisiopatologia, apresentação clínica, diagnóstico, diagnóstico diferencial, tratamento e prognóstico, além dos aspectos nutricionais e do metabolismo do cálcio, fósforo e vitamina D.
Avaliação Psicométrica da Prova de Título de Especialista em Cardiologia da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia
Authors: Marcus Vinicius Santos Andrade  , Letícia Azevedo Prata Andrade  , Gustavo Eugênio Martins Marinho  , José Maria Peixoto
Published: April 2023

Fundamento: A Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia, com o auxílio da Comissão Julgadora do Título de Especialista em Cardiologia, promove, anualmente, uma prova para obter o título de especialista. Em relação à elaboração de itens, até o presente estudo, não havia sido feita nenhuma avaliação psicométrica da prova do Título de Especialista em Cardiologia, tendo em vista a Teoria Clássica dos Testes e a Teoria de Resposta ao Item. Objetivos: Avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da prova do Título de Especialista em Cardiologia no ano de 2019, em relação aos parâmetros da Teoria Clássica dos Testes e da Teoria de Resposta ao Item. Métodos: Estudo observacional, com a análise psicométrica das 120 questões da prova realizada por 1120 (mil cento e vinte) candidatos para a obtenção do título de especialista em Cardiologia, no ano de 2019. Resultados: A análise pela Teoria Clássica dos Testes demonstrou que a prova apresenta boa distribuição dos itens em relação ao grau de dificuldade, com uma tendência para maior facilidade. Pela Teoria de Resposta ao Item, foi possível verificar que, das 118 questões avaliadas, apenas 49 (41,5%) possuem um fator satisfatório de discriminação. Conclusões: Os resultados deste estudo apresentam uma visão inédita da prova do Título de Especialista em Cardiologia e, para as entidades oficiais que organizam a prova, poderão desencadear uma série de discussões e propostas para as futuras construções de provas no âmbito da Cardiologia e das demais especialidades médicas.
Evolutionary Algorithms for Optimization of Drilling Variables for Reduced Thrust Force in Composite Material Drilling
Authors:   Department of Computer Science, Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University, Jaipur (R.J), India, Bhardwaj Shikha
Published: April 2023

This study aims to optimize drilling variables to reduce the thrust force required for drilling composite materials. The optimization process involves using evolutionary algorithms such as particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA) to determine the best combination of drilling parameters, including drill speed, feed rate, and point angle. The objective is to minimize the thrust force required for drilling while maintaining the desired quality of the drilled holes. ANOVA and regression analysis is implemented to discuss the impact of drilling variable on the thrust force. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach is effective in reducing thrust force and improving drilling efficiency. The optimized drilling parameters obtained can be used to enhance the performance of composite material drilling processes. Performance output of both algorithms for optimization of problem is discussed in detail.
MOLECULAR PREDICTION OF BREAST CANCER ON THE BASIS OF MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES IN ULTRASONOGRAPHY
Authors: Sonagara Reema , L. Chudasama S. , Pate Rutvik
Published: April 2023

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer affecting women worldwide. Early detection and
accurate prediction of breast cancer can improve treatment outcomes and survival rates.
Ultrasonography is a non-invasive imaging modality that can detect breast lesions and help guide biopsy procedures. Recently,
there has been increasing interest in using ultrasonographic features, such as lesion morphology, to predict the molecular
subtype of breast cancer. This approach has the potential to improve personalized treatment plans and reduce unnecessary
procedures. Several studies have investigated the correlation between ultrasonographic features and molecular subtypes of
breast cancer. Morphological features such as shape, margin, echo pattern, and calcications have been shown to be
associated with specic molecular subtypes. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and potential of predicting breast
cancer molecular subtypes based on morphological features observed in ultrasonography images. Further studies are needed
to validate these ndings and develop more accurate prediction models for breast cancer subtypes
MODALITIES OF TREATMENT OF PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL (GMCH) AND ITS SHORT TERM FOLLOW UP
Authors: Deka Bhanita , Das Panchanan , Khupneichong Haolai Navi
Published: April 2023

Pelvic organ prolapse is an increasingly common condition seen in women with advancing age. The
objective of this study is to observe the different modalities of treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and
evaluate its outcome. In this study, all patients with pelvic organ prolapse, attending Gynae OPD or admitted in GMCH were
included. In this study, 45(22.5%) patients were advised to use vaginal tamp Results: on, 9(4.5%) patients were advised Kegel's
exercise, 125(62.50%) patients were treated with VH + PFR, , 15 (7.5%) patients underwent vaginal hysterectomy (VH), 4(2%)
patients underwent VH + PFR + Sacrospinous xation and 2 (1%) patients were treated with Fothergills' surgery. The feedback
received revealed that 118(59%) were satised and responded well to the treatment, 26 (13%) patients were not satised and
from the remaining 56(28%) patients, no feedback had been received. It was observed that satisfaction was higher in patients
who had surgical intervention.