bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical and Genetic Aspects of Pompe Disease: A Review of Current Knowledge
Authors: Konopka Agata , Sitkiewicz Milena , Szczepaniak Zuzanna , Wdowiak Natalia , Adamska Kinga
Published: August 2024

Abstract:
Introduction: 
Pompe disease is classified as a metabolic myopathy and is a glycogen storage disorder inherited in an autosomal recessive manner due to a mutation in the gene encoding the enzyme α-glucosidase. There are two main forms: infantile and late-onset. The disease progresses chronically, with clinical presentation characterized by progressive muscle weakness and varying degrees of respiratory insufficiency. Although incurable, causative treatment is available in the form of enzyme replacement therapy with alglucosidase alfa, a human recombinant α-glucosidase. Early diagnosis, primarily based on enzyme activity assessment, is crucial as timely treatment can extend and improve patients' quality of life.
Purpose of the work: This study aims to review and characterize the clinical and genetic aspects of Pompe disease.
Materials and methods: A comprehensive analysis of research papers available on PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Embase and Scopus was undertaken using the searchterms encompassing the following keywords: Pompe disease / lysosomal storage disease / myopathy / acid alpha-1,4-glucosidase / glycogen / newborn screening / enzyme replacement therapy.    
Results: Pompe disease is a life-threatening rare condition where prompt diagnosis is essential due to the availability of causative treatment. It is included in newborn screening programs for inherited metabolic disorders in some countries. Unfortunately, in Poland, routine diagnostic screening does not cover this disease. Implementing screening could simplify diagnosis and reduce the need for extensive differential diagnostics. Diagnosing late-onset Pompe disease can be challenging due to its diverse progression and symptoms. Patients with Pompe disease, even those receiving enzyme replacement therapy, require multidisciplinary care involving cardiology, pulmonology, neurology, and physical therapy.
‘Are you sure you want to do this?’
Authors: Brownhill Simon
Published: August 2024

The percentage of men in the paid early years workforce in England stands at just two-to-three per cent, according to the DfE (2023a) . So it is safe to assume the number of men training for this is also small. Dr Simon Brownhill, senior lecturer at Bristol University, explores the motivations and challenges faced by one “brave” male EY trainee teacher, considering the implications of this knowledge base for practitioners and practice, particularly in relation to male recruitment in the sector.
Comparison of Three Genomic DNA Extraction Methods from Sugarcane for Detection of Sugarcane White Leaf Phytoplasma
Authors:   Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand, Chansri Supananya ,   Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology: (AG-BIO/MHESI), Bangkok 10900, Thailand, Burns Parichart ,   National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand, Nilsang Suriyaphong ,   Department of Production Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok 10140 Thailan, Kositratana Wichai ,   Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand,   Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology: (AG-BIO/MHESI), Bangkok 10900, Thailand,   Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom, 73140, Thailand, Watcharachaiyakup Jutatape ,   Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand,   Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology: (AG-BIO/MHESI), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Published: August 2024

The most suitable DNA extraction method was determined for the efficient detection of sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma (SCWL) in asymptomatic sugarcane. DNA was extracted from the sugarcane midrib samples using three different methods: CTAB, DNeasy® Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen) and DNAsecure Plant Kit (Tiangen). The extracted DNA was evaluated for quantity, quality and downstream application effectiveness. DNA quantity, quality and integrity were determined using A260/280 ratio, A260/230 ratio, gel electrophoresis and qPCR. The CTAB method provided highest yield of 5.65 µg/100 mg fresh tissue followed by DNeasy® Plant Mini Kit (4.53 µg/100 mg) and DNAsecure Plant Kit (1.89 µg/100 mg). A260/280 ratio indicated no significant difference among the three methods. The effectiveness of downstream application was investigated using qPCR amplification of the GADPH housekeeping gene of sugarcane and secY gene were designed in this study, specific to SCWL phytoplasma. The results showed mean Cq values of GADPH and secY were 28.08–30.47 and 33.62–34.69, respectively while CV values were 2.75 and 3.84, respectively with P values less than 0.001. These extraction methods demonstrated effectiveness, highlighting their potential utility in SCWL pathogen detection. The choice of extraction method depended on the primary purpose of the downstream application, user convenience, cost considerations, time efficiency, and accessibility to chemical reagents.
ninjaNIRS: an open hardware solution for wearable whole-head high-density functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: O’Brien W. Joseph , Carlton Laura , Muhvich Johnathan , Kura Sreekanth , Ortega-Martinez Antonio , Dubb Jay , Duwadi Sudan , Hazen Eric , Yücel Meryem A. , von Lühmann Alexander , Boas David A. , Zimmermann Bernhard B.
Published: August 2024

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology has been steadily advancing since the first measurements of human brain activity over 30 years ago. Initially, efforts were focused on increasing the channel count of fNIRS systems and then to moving from sparse to high density arrays of sources and detectors, enhancing spatial resolution through overlapping measurements. Over the last ten years, there have been rapid developments in wearable fNIRS systems that place the light sources and detectors on the head as opposed to the original approach of using fiber optics to deliver the light between the hardware and the head. The miniaturization of the electronics and increased computational power continues to permit impressive advances in wearable fNIRS systems. Here we detail our design for a wearable fNIRS system that covers the whole head of an adult human with a high-density array of 56 sources and up to 192 detectors. We provide characterization of the system showing that its performance is among the best in published systems. Additionally, we provide demonstrative images of brain activation during a ball squeezing task. We have released the hardware design to the public, with the hope that the community will build upon our foundational work and drive further advancements.
Double-formant PCF-SPR refractive index sensor with ultra-high double-peak-shift sensitivity and a wide detection range
Authors: Luo Xingdi , Lv Jingwei , Liu Wei , Mi Chao , Wang Jianxin , Yang Lin , Chu Paul K. , Liu Chao
Published: August 2024

A dual-resonance-peak photonic crystal fiber–surface plasmon resonance (PCF-SPR) refractive index (RI) sensor is designed for different wavelength ranges. The first resonance peak of the sensor is distributed in the wavelength range of 700–2350 nm, while the second peak is distributed in the range of 2350–5550 nm. In addition to detecting analytes using the full spectrum of constraint losses (CLs), it is also possible to use a single resonance peak to achieve the detection of analytes. By systematically optimizing the nanowire diameter, the diameter of the inner and outer layer air hole, the width of the groove, the polishing depth, and the distance from the outer layer air hole to the fiber core, the optimal structure of the sensor is finally determined. In this study, the sensor was studied by numerical analysis, and the characteristics of the sensor were evaluated by wavelength detection technology. The results show that within the RI range of 1.24–1.37, the sensor has a maximum wavelength sensitivity (WS) of 54700 nm/RIU for detecting the RI of analytes. Within the above refractive index range, the regression coefficient R2 of the dual-peak-resonance wavelength is 0.99993, ensuring the accuracy of the estimated resonance wavelength of the sensor. In addition, the sensor can also use dual-peak-shift sensitivity (DPSS) to detect the refractive index, which is a relatively new sensing technology. The maximum DPSS of the sensor is 95300 nm/RIU. Due to its high sensitivity and unique dual-peak characteristics, this sensor has wide application prospects in medical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, food safety, and other fields.
Dynamic perturbation mitigation via polarization difference neural network for high-fidelity ring core fiber image transmission
Authors: Wu Zheyu , Gao Ran , Zhu Jianping , Wang Fei , Chang Huan , Li Zhipei , Guo Dong , Zhu Lei , Zhang Qi , Huang Xin , Yan Jinghao , Jiang Lin , Xin Xiangjun
Published: August 2024

Ring core fibers (RCFs) offer unique advantages in fiber image transmission, as their weakly-coupled orbital angular momentum mode groups result in high resolution images. However, severe image distortion is still exhibited during fiber transmission when subjected to strong disturbances. Here, we present a novel approach with a differential neural network, namely the polarization speckle differential imaging (PSDI) method, to significantly enhance both the robustness and image resolution of RCF-based imaging systems. When the fibers are disturbed, the PSDI method establishes the perturbation mapping relationship between two polarization speckles and utilizes a differential method to eliminate the perturbation effect in the speckles. This approach mitigates environmental disturbances, resulting in an enhancement of the imaging system's robustness in dynamic environments. By addressing the limitations of conventional techniques, this research represents a significant advancement in the field of fiber imaging technology, with potential applications ranging from endoscopy to high-resolution imaging in complex and dynamic settings.
Image-to-image machine translation enables computational defogging in real-world images
Authors: Pollak Anton , Menon Rajesh
Published: August 2024

Computational defogging using machine learning presents significant potential; however, its progress is hindered by the scarcity of large-scale datasets comprising real-world paired images with sufficiently dense fog. To address this limitation, we developed a binocular imaging system and introduced Stereofog—an open-source dataset comprising 10,067 paired clear and foggy images, with a majority captured under dense fog conditions. Utilizing this dataset, we trained a pix2pix image-to-image (I2I) translation model and achieved a complex wavelet structural similarity index (CW-SSIM) exceeding 0.7 and a peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) above 17, specifically under dense fog conditions (characterized by a Laplacian variance, vL < 10). We note that Stereofog contains over 70% of dense-fog images. In contrast, models trained on synthetic data, or real-world images augmented with synthetic fog, exhibited suboptimal performance. Our comprehensive performance analysis highlights the model’s limitations, such as issues related to dataset diversity and hallucinations—challenges that are pervasive in machine-learning-based approaches. We also propose several strategies for future improvements. Our findings emphasize the promise of machine-learning techniques in computational defogging across diverse fog conditions. This work contributes to the field by offering a robust, open-source dataset that we anticipate will catalyze advancements in both algorithm development and data acquisition methodologies.
Quantum interference of concurrent nonlinear processes in a single silicon waveguide
Authors: Zhu Pingyu , Liu Jiacheng , Xia Gongyu , Zhao Chang , Du Yuxing , Luo Weihong , Wang Yan , Zheng Qilin , Yu Miaomiao , Zhang Kaikai , Xu Ping
Published: August 2024

Optical nonlinearity provides a key resource for quantum information processing and the interference of quanta lies at the heart of quantum physics as well. As an interesting combination, the nonlinear interference can extend the scalability and flexibility of quantum manipulations as well as what we believe to be novel applications. In this manuscript, we propose and experimentally demonstrate what we believe to be a new nonlinear interferometer on a silicon chip between a degenerate and a non-degenerate spontaneous four-wave mixing process in the same waveguide. We observed the interference in the pairs generation rate and obtained broadband interference visibility up to 96%. Furthermore, we also provide a feasible scheme for observing four-photon nonlinear interference in a single waveguide. This work provides a novel method for realizing and controlling optical nonlinear interference, and enriches the toolbox of quantum state preparation and quantum manipulation by nonlinear processes.
Experimental study on the dynamic mechanical response of a blue light-stimulated acrylate side chain liquid crystal elastomer
Authors: Li Zichuan , Wymenga Luutzen , Fan Jiajie , Zhang Guoqi
Published: August 2024

This study demonstrates a breakdown analysis of the dynamics of a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) including quality check, geometric measurement, thermal characterization, and comparison of heat- and light-induced contractions. A blue light-responsive acrylate side chain LCE with 1% azobenzene dye was characterized. From a classical viewpoint, photo-thermal contraction is considered a dominating effect, while direct photo-mechanical deformation can be neglected due to a low dye percentage. However, the findings of this research suggest that a low percentage of azobenzene dye does not necessarily lead to heat-dominating dynamics of LCE. This phenomenon has not yet been quantitatively studied before. The approach reported in this Letter can potentially be used to extract the data to improve the dynamics models of light-driven LCEs.
W-band photonic-aided mm-wave ISAC system enabled by a shared OFDM signal waveform and a two-stage carrier frequency recovery algorithm
Authors: Yan Hengxin , Li Xinying , Pan Xiaolong , Xie Tangyao , Fang Liye , Bi Jiahao , Geng Xuanqing , Xin Xiangjun
Published: August 2024

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems will play a potential role in the upcoming six-generation (6G) networks. The reason is that ISAC systems can effectively solve the spectrum resource shortage problem and decrease the cost of deploying hardware equipment for simultaneously realizing communication and sensing. In this Letter, we successfully realize a W-band photonic-aided millimeter-wave (mm-wave) ISAC system enabled by a shared orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing (OFDM) signal waveform and two-stage carrier frequency recovery (CFR) algorithm. The digital-signal-processing (DSP)-based two-stage CFR algorithm includes the first-stage fractional frequency offset (FFO) estimation and compensation as well as the second-stage integer frequency offset (IFO) estimation and compensation. We experimentally analyze and verify that, with the introduction of the two-stage CFR algorithm, the system robustness to carrier frequency offset can be significantly enhanced. We also experimentally demonstrate, based on the ISAC system and our receiver DSP, a net data rate of up to 47.54 Gbit/s with a total signal bandwidth of 16 GHz over a 5.2 m wireless link at 94.5 GHz. Moreover, the sensing results indicate that the ISAC system can realize the detection of one target 2 m away from the transmitter with a ranging resolution of 0.98 cm and a ranging error of 4 mm. The system is anticipated to facilitate diverse potential applications in future 6G networks.
Community-engaged artificial intelligence research: A scoping review
Authors: Loftus Tyler J. , Balch Jeremy A. , Abbott Kenneth L. , Hu Die , Ruppert Matthew M. , Shickel Benjamin , Ozrazgat-Baslanti Tezcan , Efron Philip A. , Tighe Patrick J. , Hogan William R. , Rashidi Parisa , Cardel Michelle I. , Upchurch Gilbert R. , Bihorac Azra
Published: August 2024

The degree to which artificial intelligence healthcare research is informed by data and stakeholders from community settings has not been previously described. As communities are the principal location of healthcare delivery, engaging them could represent an important opportunity to improve scientific quality. This scoping review systematically maps what is known and unknown about community-engaged artificial intelligence research and identifies opportunities to optimize the generalizability of these applications through involvement of community stakeholders and data throughout model development, validation, and implementation. Embase, PubMed, and MEDLINE databases were searched for articles describing artificial intelligence or machine learning healthcare applications with community involvement in model development, validation, or implementation. Model architecture and performance, the nature of community engagement, and barriers or facilitators to community engagement were reported according to PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Of approximately 10,880 articles describing artificial intelligence healthcare applications, 21 (0.2%) described community involvement. All articles derived data from community settings, most commonly by leveraging existing datasets and sources that included community subjects, and often bolstered by internet-based data acquisition and subject recruitment. Only one article described inclusion of community stakeholders in designing an application–a natural language processing model that detected cases of likely child abuse with 90% accuracy using harmonized electronic health record notes from both hospital and community practice settings. The primary barrier to including community-derived data was small sample sizes, which may have affected 11 of the 21 studies (53%), introducing substantial risk for overfitting that threatens generalizability. Community engagement in artificial intelligence healthcare application development, validation, or implementation is rare. As healthcare delivery occurs primarily in community settings, investigators should consider engaging community stakeholders in user-centered design, usability, and clinical implementation studies to optimize generalizability.
Seroprevalence and risk factors for Q fever and Rift Valley fever in pastoralists and their livestock in Afar, Ethiopia: A One Health approach
Authors: Oakley Regina Bina , Gemechu Gizachew , Gebregiorgis Ashenafi , Alemu Ayinalem , Zinsstag Jakob , Paris Daniel Henry , Tschopp Rea
Published: August 2024

Background

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, and Rift Valley fever virus are two under-researched zoonotic pathogens in Ethiopia. Potential outbreaks of these diseases, in light of the high dependency of nomadic pastoralists on their livestock, poses a risk to both human and animal health in addition to risking the pastoralists livelihoods. Our study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and associated risk factors for Q fever and Rift Valley fever in pastoral communities in the Afar region of north-eastern Ethiopia.

Methodology/Principal findings

This cross-sectional study screened pastoralists (n = 323) and their livestock (n = 1377) for IgG antibodies to Coxiella burnetii and Rift Valley fever virus. A seroprevalence for Q fever of 25.0% (95%CI 18.6–32.6) was found in pastoralists and 34.3% (95%CI 27.9–41.3) in livestock overall; with 51.9% in goats (95%CI 44.9–58.8), 39.9% in sheep (95%CI 24.6–51.2), 16.3% in camels (95%CI 10.4–24.6) and 8.8% in cattle (95%CI 5.0–15.0). For Rift Valley fever the seroprevalence in pastoralists was 6.1% (95%CI 3.3–11.0) and 3.9% (95%CI 2.6–5.7) in livestock overall; cattle had the highest seroprevalence (8.3%, 95%CI 3.3–19.2), followed by goats (2.7%; 95%CI 1.4–5.1), sheep (2.5%; 95%CI 1.0–5.9) and camels (1.8%; 95%CI 0.4–6.9). Human Q fever seropositivity was found to be associated with goat abortions (OR = 2.11, 95%CI 1.18–3.78, p = 0.011), while Rift Valley fever seropositivity in livestock was found to be associated with cattle abortions (OR = 2.52, 95%CI 1.05–6.08, p = 0.039).

Conclusions/Significance

This study provides evidence for a notable exposure to both Q fever and Rift Valley fever in pastoralists and livestock in Afar. The outbreak potential of these pathogens warrants ongoing integrated human and animal surveillance requiring close collaboration of the human and animal health sectors with community representatives following a One Health approach.
“A whole ball of all-togetherness”: The interwoven experiences of intimate partner violence, brain injury, and mental health
Authors: Toccalino Danielle , Haag Halina (Lin) , Nalder Emily , Chan Vincy , Moore Amy , Colantonio Angela , Wickens Christine M.
Published: August 2024

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health crisis, with physical violence leaving IPV survivors at high risk of brain injury (BI). Both BI and IPV have significant physical, psychological, cognitive, and social impacts, including a high risk of mental health concerns, yet there is limited exploration of IPV survivors’ experiences with BI and mental health. This study aimed to explore the BI- and mental health-related needs and experiences of IPV survivors from the perspectives of survivors and service providers with the objective of developing knowledge translation materials to raise awareness and support survivors and service providers in addressing these concerns.

Methods

This qualitative interpretive description study involved 19 semi-structured interviews and two focus group discussions (2–3 participants each) with 24 participants including IPV survivors experiencing BI and mental health concerns as well as IPV, mental health, and BI service providers between October 2020 and February 2021. Three screening questions were used to identify probable BI among survivors. Participants across groups were an average of 48.5±12.7 years old and were predominantly cisgender women (96%), of European origin (75%), with a university degree (71%). Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed.

Findings

Across interviews, participants spoke about IPV, BI, and mental health as being complex and interrelated experiences that have impacts across the survivor’s life and extend well beyond the abusive relationship. Because of the underrecognized nature of BI in IPV, finding and accessing care requires persistence that survivors spoke of as being like “a full-time job.” The benefit of making meaningful connections, particularly with other survivors, was highlighted.

Conclusions

Recognition of BI as a contributing factor shaping the lived experience of IPV survivors; acknowledgement that the impacts of IPV, BI, and mental health are far reaching and long lasting; and reducing barriers to finding and accessing appropriate care are critical to better supporting IPV survivors with BI and mental health concerns. Clinicians should consider BI and its lingering impacts among the IPV survivors with whom they work. Health and social policy that supports integration of care and the reduction of unnecessary barriers should be a priority.
Exploring the genetic diversity and population structure of aerial yams (Dioscorea bulbifera L.) DArT-seq and agronomic traits
Authors: Ekaette Eunice , Nwofia Emeka , Okocha Peter , Nnnabue Ikenna , Eluwa Kenneth , Obidiegwu Jude , Agre Paterne A.
Published: August 2024

Dioscorea bulbifera is an edible yam specie with aerial bulbils. Assessing the genetic diversity of D. bulbifera accession for cultivation and breeding purposes is essential for it genetic improvement, especially where the crop faces minimal attention. The aims of this study was to assess the genetic diversity of Dioscorea bulbifera accessions collected from Nigeria and accessions maintained at the genebank of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan. Accessions were profiled using quatitative and qualitative phenotypic traits and Diversity Array Technology SNP-markers. Multivariate analysis based phenotypic traits revealed high variability among the evaluated accessions and all phenotypic traits assessed were useful in discriminating the aerial yam accessions. Clustering analysis based phenotypic traits revealed the presence of two well defined clusters. Using DArT-Seq marker, the 94 accessions were classified into three genetic group through the admixture and the phylogeny analysis. The comparision of phenotypic and genotypic clustering revealed inconsistency membership across the two clustering methods. The study established a baseline for the selection of parental lines from the genetic groups for genetic improvement of the D. bulbifera.
Daily dynamics of ground-dwelling invertebrate communities during and following an extreme high-temperature event in summer 2022, China
Authors: Gao Meixiang , Sun Jiahuan , Zheng Ye , Lu Tingyu , Liu Jinwen
Published: August 2024

The recent increase in the frequency of extreme weather events and declining soil biodiversity in global agricultural ecosystems make it crucial to assess the daily dynamics of soil communities in fields. To elucidate the daily dynamics of ground-dwelling invertebrate communities, their communities were monitored temporally using infrared camera traps in field farmland during and following an extremely high-temperature (EHT) event in summer 2022 in Ningbo City, China. Nine taxa and 1,147 individuals of the ground-dwelling invertebrate community were photographed in the 176,256 images. There were no significant differences in the taxonomic richness and abundance of the total ground-dwelling invertebrate communities during and following the EHT event. The abundance of ants was significantly decreased following the EHT event, whereas the abundance of other taxa was not. Significantly daily dynamics and obvious differences between each day in taxonomic richness, abundance of ground-dwelling invertebrate community, and abundance of each taxon were not observed during and following the EHT event. The results of this study showed that the daily dynamics of richness and abundance of the ground-dwelling invertebrate community and the abundance of each taxon were not significant during and following the EHT event. Overall, this study provides a useful monitoring method to observe the daily dynamics of ground-dwelling invertebrates in field farmlands and suggests that the daily dynamics of soil fauna communities should be further studied when assessing the effects of climate change on soil biodiversity.
Prediction of daily new COVID-19 cases ‐ Difficulties and possible solutions
Authors: Liu Xiaoping , DeVries A. Courtney
Published: August 2024

Epidemiological compartmental models, such as SEIR (Susceptible, Exposed, Infectious, and Recovered) models, have been generally used in analyzing epidemiological data and forecasting the trajectory of transmission of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Experience shows that accurately forecasting the trajectory of COVID-19 transmission curve is a big challenge for researchers in the field of epidemiological modeling because multiple unquantified factors can affect the trajectory of COVID-19 transmission. In the past years, we used a new compartmental model, l-i SEIR model, to analyze the COVID-19 transmission trend in the United States. Unlike the conventional SEIR model and the delayed SEIR model that use or partially use the approximation of temporal homogeneity, the l-i SEIR model takes into account chronological order of infected individuals in both latent (l) period and infectious (i) period, and thus improves the accuracy in forecasting the trajectory of transmission of infectious diseases, especially during periods of rapid rise or fall in the number of infections. This paper describes (1) how to use the new SEIR model (a mechanistic model) combined with fitting methods to simulate or predict trajectory of COVID-19 transmission, (2) how social interventions and new variants of COVID-19 significantly change COVID-19 transmission trends by changing transmission rate coefficient βn, the fraction of susceptible people (Sn/N), and the reinfection rate, (3) why accurately forecasting COVID-19 transmission trends is difficult, (4) what are the strategies that we have used to improve the forecast outcome and (5) what are some successful examples that we have obtained.
Selecting the foremost big data tool to optimize YouTube data in dynamic Fermatean fuzzy knowledge
Authors: Alghazzawi Dilshad , Razaq Abdul , Alolaiyan Hanan , Noor Aqsa , Khalifa Hamiden Abd El-Wahed , Xin Qin
Published: August 2024

Big data pertains to extensive and intricate compilations of information that necessitate the implementation of proficient and cost-effective evaluation and analysis tools to derive insights and support decision making. The Fermatean fuzzy set theory possesses remarkable capability in capturing imprecision due to its capacity to accommodate complex and ambiguous problem descriptions. This paper presents the study of the concepts of dynamic ordered weighted aggregation operators in the context of Fermatean fuzzy environment. In numerous practical decision making scenarios, the term "dynamic" frequently denotes the capability of obtaining decision-relevant data at various time intervals. In this study, we introduce two novel aggregation operators: Fermatean fuzzy dynamic ordered weighted averaging and geometric operators. We investigate the attributes of these operators in detail, offering a comprehensive description of their salient features. We present a step-by-step mathematical algorithm for decision making scenarios in the context of proposed methodologies. In addition, we highlight the significance of these approaches by presenting the solution to the decision making problem and determining the most effective big data analytics platform for YouTube data analysis. Finally, we perform a thorough comparative analysis to assess the effectiveness of the suggested approaches in comparison to a variety of existing techniques.
The state of artificial intelligence in medical research: A survey of corresponding authors from top medical journals
Authors: Salvagno Michele , Cassai Alessandro De , Zorzi Stefano , Zaccarelli Mario , Pasetto Marco , Sterchele Elda Diletta , Chumachenko Dmytro , Gerli Alberto Giovanni , Azamfirei Razvan , Taccone Fabio Silvio
Published: August 2024

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a subset of artificial intelligence that enables machines to understand and respond to human language through Large Language Models (LLMs)‥ These models have diverse applications in fields such as medical research, scientific writing, and publishing, but concerns such as hallucination, ethical issues, bias, and cybersecurity need to be addressed. To understand the scientific community’s understanding and perspective on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research and authorship, a survey was designed for corresponding authors in top medical journals. An online survey was conducted from July 13th, 2023, to September 1st, 2023, using the SurveyMonkey web instrument, and the population of interest were corresponding authors who published in 2022 in the 15 highest-impact medical journals, as ranked by the Journal Citation Report. The survey link has been sent to all the identified corresponding authors by mail. A total of 266 authors answered, and 236 entered the final analysis. Most of the researchers (40.6%) reported having moderate familiarity with artificial intelligence, while a minority (4.4%) had no associated knowledge. Furthermore, the vast majority (79.0%) believe that artificial intelligence will play a major role in the future of research. Of note, no correlation between academic metrics and artificial intelligence knowledge or confidence was found. The results indicate that although researchers have varying degrees of familiarity with artificial intelligence, its use in scientific research is still in its early phases. Despite lacking formal AI training, many scholars publishing in high-impact journals have started integrating such technologies into their projects, including rephrasing, translation, and proofreading tasks. Efforts should focus on providing training for their effective use, establishing guidelines by journal editors, and creating software applications that bundle multiple integrated tools into a single platform.
Susceptibility status of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) to public health insecticides in Southern Afar Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Seid Mohammed , Aklilu Esayas , Animut Abebe
Published: August 2024

Mosquito-borne viral diseases such as dengue fever, chikungunya, and yellow fever have been documented in Ethiopia since the 1960s. However, the efficacy of public health insecticides against Aedes aegypti that transmits these viruses remains poorly understood in the country, particularly in the Afar Region. Thus, the aim of the study was to assess the susceptibility status of Ae. aegypti to deltamethrin, permethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, pirimiphos-methyl, bendiocarb, and propoxur insecticides. Larvae and pupae of Aedes species were collected from Awash Arba, Awash Sebat, and Werer towns of the Afar Region of Ethiopia during July-October 2022, brought to the Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, insectary and reared to adults. Non-blood-fed, 3–5 days-old females Ae. aegypti were exposed to pyrethroid, carbamate, and organophosphate insecticide impregnated papers in tube test following the standard guidelines. Knockdown rates were noted at 10 minutes interval until one hour. The mortality in mosquitoes was recorded 24 hours after 60 minutes of exposure. The mortality rates of Ae. aegypti exposed to propoxur were 87% in all the study towns. Similarly, 88% mortality in Ae. aegypti was recorded when tested with bendiocarb in Awash Sebat and Awash Arba towns. Suspected resistance of Ae. aegypti (95% mortality) to alpha-cypermethrin was observed in Awash Arba town. However, Ae. aegypti collected from all the three sites was observed to be susceptible to deltamethrin, permethrin, and pirimiphos-methyl. Ae. aegypti was resistant to 0.1% bendiocarb and 0.1% propoxur and possibly resistant to 0.05% alpha-cypermethrin. On the other hand, it was susceptible to 0.05% deltamethrin, 0.75% permethrin, and 0.25% pirimiphos-methyl. Thus, vector control products with deltamethrin, permethrin, and pirimiphos-methyl can be used in the control of adult Ae. aegypti in the Afar Region of Ethiopia. However, further studies should be carried out to evaluate the susceptibility status of Ae. aegypti to alpha-cypermethrin in the Awash Arba area.
HPV induced R-loop formation represses innate immune gene expression while activating DNA damage repair pathways
Authors: Templeton Conor W. , Laimins Laimonis A.
Published: August 2024

R-loops are trimeric nucleic acid structures that form when an RNA molecule hybridizes with its complementary DNA strand, displacing the opposite strand. These structures regulate transcription as well as replication, but aberrant R-loops can form, leading to DNA breaks and genomic instability if unresolved. R-loop levels are elevated in many cancers as well as cells that maintain high-risk human papillomaviruses. We investigated how the distribution as well as function of R-loops changed between normal keratinocytes and HPV positive cells derived from a precancerous lesion of the cervix (CIN I). The levels of R-loops associated with cellular genes were found to be up to 10-fold higher in HPV positive cells than in normal keratinocytes while increases at ALU1 elements increased by up to 500-fold. The presence of enhanced R-loops resulted in altered levels of gene transcription, with equal numbers increased as decreased. While no uniform global effects on transcription due to the enhanced levels of R-loops were detected, genes in several pathways were coordinately increased or decreased in expression only in the HPV positive cells. This included the downregulation of genes in the innate immune pathway, such as DDX58, IL-6, STAT1, IFN-β, and NLRP3. All differentially expressed innate immune genes dependent on R-loops were also associated with H3K36me3 modified histones. Genes that were upregulated by the presence of R-loops in HPV positive cells included those in the DNA damage repair such as ATM, ATRX, and members of the Fanconi Anemia pathway. These genes exhibited a linkage between R-loops and H3K36me3 as well as γH2AX histone marks only in HPV positive cells. These studies identify a potential link in HPV positive cells between DNA damage repair as well as innate immune regulatory pathways with R-loops and γH2AX/H3K36me3 histone marks that may contribute to regulating important functions for HPV pathogenesis.
Do not fight back, fight forward: An analysis of Ted Lasso’s approach to systemic race/ism in the English Premier League
Authors: Pande Rukmini
Published: August 2024

Ted Lasso (2020–23) has garnered much acclaim from both fans and critics, racking up an impressive 21 Emmy nominations for its final season. Commentators repeatedly highlighted that the show’s emphasis on kindness, compassion and empathy was a key aspect of its success. This article will investigate how this emphasis played out when tackling complex issues such as racism, xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment in the context of English football and its fandom. I argue that the show used special episodes and emphasized individual action with regard to systemic issues, employing post-racial narrative logics, appeals to multiculturalism, tokenism and strategic Whiteness, to deflect from organizational and societal accountability for entrenched discrimination. The same pattern is also seen in the narrative arcs of Sam Obisanya and Nate Shelley. Though the two have contrasting depictions – the latter turning villainous for a time while the former remains virtuous – I maintain that both reflect a larger disinterest in the interiority of characters of colour relative to their White counterparts. I will also examine how the show sidesteps systemic racism in English football fandom to portray fans as largely positive. Finally, through an analysis of Edwin Akufo, I argue that the show’s commentary on issues in world football also reinforces racist stereotypes.
‘What if Nora Ephron wrote a sports film?’: Ted Lasso and the intertextual frame of romantic comedy
Authors: Mittermeier Sabrina
Published: August 2024

Co-creator of Ted Lasso (2020–23), Jason Sudeikis has summarized the Apple TV+ series as ‘what if Nora Ephron wrote a sports film?’ in an interview, opening it up to a close reading of how the dramedy uses popular texts of romantic comedy such as Ephron’s films When Harry Met Sally (1989), Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and You’ve Got Mail (1998), the Garry Marshall film Pretty Woman (1990), as well as the HBO series Sex and the City (1998–2004). The article highlights how this intertextuality (following Linda Hutcheon) is used to interrogate issues of personal growth, mental health and community over the expected heteronormative outcome of the romcom, subverting tropes. It further situates puts it into conversation with what Maria San Filippo has called the ‘post-theatrical romcom’ (2021) and Ephron’s idea of the ‘Jewish tradition’ of romantic comedy.
Ted Lasso and Philosophy: No Question Is into Touch, Marybeth Baggett and David Baggett (eds) (2024)
Authors: Mendez Alex
Published: August 2024

Review of: Ted Lasso and Philosophy: No Question Is into Touch, Marybeth Baggett and David Baggett (eds) (2024)

Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 256 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-11989-195-6, e-book, USD 18.00

ISBN: 978-1-119-89193-2, p/bk, USD 21.95
Refugiados del desarrollo: la naturalización del sufrimiento de las poblaciones afectadas por las centrales hidroeléctricas
Authors: Giongo Carmem Regina , Mendes Jussara Maria Rosa , Werlang Rosangela
Published: August 2024

Este artículo trata de la cuestión de la construcción de las grandes hidroeléctricas en el país, en su relación con los daños socio-ambientales, pero también con los costes humanos derivados de este proceso. Su objetivo, por lo tanto, es cuestionar la construcción de estos proyectos que han llevado a poblaciones enteras a renunciar a sus formas de vida, su cultura y su técnica en nombre del desarrollo. Además, se busca reflexionar sobre el discurso favorable a la construcción de las hidroeléctricas en cuanto discurso portador de esperanza y que, en su génesis, intenta invisivilizar o naturalizar el sufrimiento de las poblaciones afectadas y que gana peso cuando se vincula a una compensación económica.
Game over: veinte años de financiación de campañas por empresas privadas en Brasil
Authors: Speck Bruno Wilhelm
Published: August 2024

Después de dos décadas con elecciones realizadas bajo la influencia de donaciones empresariales, Brasil ha cambiado el sistema de financiación de campañas, con resultados poco seguros para la futura disputa política. Varios actores participaron activamente en este proceso de reformulación que cristalizó en dos decisiones tomadas en el mismo mes de septiembre de 2015. El Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF), instancia competente para el control de la constitucionalidad de las leyes, decretó la inconstitucionalidad de las donaciones de empresas a partidos y candidatos en las campañas electorales. En el mismo mes entró en vigencia la ley 13.165/15 modificando la financiación electoral y realizando otras modificaciones en el sistema electoral. Todo eso apunta a que estamos en un momento de transición entre dos modelos de financiación. Las empresas, responsables de tres cuartos de los gastos de las campañas, no podrán aportar más recursos. Queda saber cuáles serán las fuentes del nuevo modelo. Este texto presenta un balance sobre el sistema de financiación de las campañas en las dos décadas pasadas, centrado en la fuerte participación de las empresas, recapitula el proceso de discusión y aprobación de la reforma en 2015 y evalúa el impacto de los puntos más importantes de la reforma sobre la disputa política en Brasil.
Persecución penal de la corrupción en el marco brasileño: desde las transformaciones del delito de cohecho hasta la nueva mirada sobre la corrupción empresarial
Authors: Saad-Diniz Eduardo , Rodríguez Víctor Gabriel
Published: August 2024

El artículo aborda la descripción y el análisis de cambios estructurales para control y prevención de la corrupción, desde los delitos tradicionales hasta la nueva perspectiva en el ámbito empresarial. Después de un examen de los tipos penales de cohecho con sus recientes alteraciones y semejanzas con el modelo español, analiza la novedosa “ley anticorrupción” (Ley n.º 12.846/2013), que introduce nuevos mecanismos de imputación de responsabilidad a la empresa en el ámbito administrativo y civil. A pesar de poder representar avances significativos en la estrategia nacional de prevención de la corrupción, la ley de corrupción empresarial sigue demostrando poca utilidad para el sistema de sanciones y graves problemas de emlaw enforcement.
Até o dia em que o cão morreu: adaptación del narrador-personaje del libro a la película
Authors: Tucunduva Da Silva Pamella
Published: August 2024

Este artículo visa el estudio de las estrategias de adaptación al cine de la novela Até o dia em que o cão morreu, de Daniel Galera, con el título de Cão sem dono, dirigida por Breto Brant y Renato Ciasca. El objeto de la investigación es la transposición del foco narrativo, respectivamente interno y externo, del libro a la película. En la adaptación fílmica, aspectos como la caracterización del tiempo y el espacio y el desencadenamiento de las acciones además de la trama original se adoptan en relación al narrador-personaje literario, en oposición a la perspectiva externa presente en la película.
Machado de Assis: biblioteca viva y actualizada de la cultura occidental
Authors: Maura Antonio
Published: August 2024

Netto Salomão, S. (2016). Machado de Assis e o cânone ocidental: itinerários de leitura. Rio de Janeiro: Editora da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. En este libro, Machado de Assis e o cânone ocidental, se estudian pormenorizadamente las obras y los autores que más influyeron en el más grande escritor brasileño del siglo XIX e imprescindible en la literatura universal. Cotejando texto a texto, su autora da cuenta de la estrecha relación de Machado con Dante, Montaigne, Shakespeare, Cervantes, Pascal, Diderot, Swift, Byron, Leopardi, Schopenhauer, entre otros, cuyas obras consolidaron sus novelas y cuentos, sobre todo los de su segunda época, como una auténtica “biblioteca viva”. La autora estudia también el concepto de ‘hipertexto’ y lo aplica a la obra machadiana. Es especialmente significativo el estudio de las influencias de Italia en su producción literaria, así como el análisis de la traducción del autor de las Memórias póstumas del Canto XXV, del Infierno, de Dante.
Cine & Historia: conflictos, convivencias y resistencias en las salas de proyección de Recife (Pernambuco, Brasil) en los años 1920
Authors: Costa Couceiro Sylvia
Published: August 2024

A partir de finales del siglo XIX, surgen nuevas formas de diversión en las ciudades. Creados para la población concentrada en los centros urbanos, las nuevas atracciones, como el cine, presuponían una forma de participación diferente, donde la postura del espectador adquiría importancia. En ese contexto, el orden y la disciplina en la ciudad se convirtieron en una prioridad para las elites, temerosas de perder sus antiguos privilegios ante los diferentes estilos de vida de esta población. Este artículo tiene por objeto analizar: la influencia del cine en la vida social de la ciudad de Recife (Pernambuco, Brasil), en los años 1920; el impacto y las transformaciones que provocó; el comportamiento de sus habitantes en las salas de cine y los métodos utilizados por las autoridades para controlar el nuevo entretenimiento.
Análisis de la literatura explicativa sobre el proceso contemporáneo de creación de los municipios en Brasil
Authors: Cigolini Adilar Antonio
Published: August 2024

En Brasil, durante la década de 90 del siglo XX y en el inicio del siglo actual, la creación de diversos municipios llamó la atención de la prensa y de la sociedad. La dimensión dio visibilidad al fenómeno y la creación de municipios fue incorporada en la agenda de investigaciones de muchos ámbitos científicos. El presente estudio hace el análisis de como el tema fue presentado y explicado por la literatura procedente de estas investigaciones. Se percibió que existen dos planeamientos: un grupo que propone entender las causas de la creación de municipio y otro, que pretende entender sus consecuencias. Aquí se presentan los criterios y las conclusiones de estos dos grupos y la diversidad de explicaciones sobre el mismo fenómeno, que es de carácter social y territorial. Este levantamiento constituyó una base para reflexión crítica sobre la perspectiva de los investigadores y, también, una manera de observar dónde están las fallas de abordaje sobre la división territorial brasileña y las posibilidades de avanzar en el análisis de este tema.