bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying the predictors of turnover intention based on nurse managers’ toxic leadership behaviors among nurses in Iran: a cross-sectional correlational study
Authors: Nonehkaran Elham Ahangari , Mozaffari Naser , Iranpour Sohrab , Soola Aghil Habibi
Published: November 2023

Background

Unfavorable leadership practices are a growing concern in the field of healthcare and nursing that have adverse consequences on nurses’ career outcomes. One of the undesirable leadership styles is the toxic leadership style. Considering the importance of nursing managers’ leadership style and its impact on nurses’ performance and the scarcity of studies in this field, the present study was conducted to determine toxic leadership behaviors in nursing managers and their relationship with the turnover intention among nurses.

Methods

A multicenter cross-sectional correlational study. This study involved 551 nurses from 5 educational-medical centers in Ardabil province, north-western Iran. Three self-report scales, including The demographic and occupational information form, the Toxic Leadership Behaviors of Nurse Managers Scale (ToxBH-NM), and the turnover intention questionnaire were adopted for assessment purposes in this study. Data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 22) software using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient test, t-test, ANOVA test, and multiple linear regression analysis.

Results

Overall, 551 nurses participated in this research. There was a significantly positive relationship between Turnover intention and Toxic leadership behavior Subscales (r = 0.475, p < 0.001). Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis showed Toxic leadership behavior Subscales (Intemperate behavior, Narcissistic behavior, Self-promoting behavior, and Humiliating behavior), Hospital, unit, Age, and Marital status predict Turnover intention when other variables are controlled.

Conclusion

A leader who directly and indirectly adopts toxic behavior toward their employees destructively affects both individuals and organizations. Nurses who work for a manager exhibiting toxic leadership behaviors demonstrated higher turnover intention.
Does the second opinion directive in Germany reach the patient? A parallel-convergent mixed-methods study
Authors: May Susann , Könsgen Nadja , Glatt Angelina , Bruch Dunja , Muehlensiepen Felix , Mählmann Sonja , von Peter Sebastian , Pieper Dawid , Neugebauer Edmund , Prediger Barbara
Published: November 2023

Background

A Second Opinion Directive (SOD) was introduced in Germany in December 2018 for elective surgeries such as hysterectomy, tonsillotomy, tonsillectomy, and shoulder arthroscopy. The aim of the SOD is to avoid surgeries which are not medically induced and to support patients in their decision-making process. A physician who indicates an SOD-relevant procedure must inform the patient about the SOD and its specifications. At this time, it is not clear whether physicians provide information about the SOD to patients and whether and how the SOD is implemented in daily practice. Furthermore, nothing is known about how patients react when they are told that they have the right to seek a second opinion according to the SOD.

Methods

To assess this, we undertook a parallel-convergent mixed-methods study with a qualitative and quantitative phase. Qualitative data were analysed by structured qualitative content analysis and survey data were analysed descriptively.

Results

26 interviews were conducted with patients for whom one of the above-mentioned surgeries was indicated. In parallel, a questionnaire survey with 102 patients was conducted. The results show that the SOD is not implemented in Germany for the selected indications because patients were not informed as intended. At the same time, when the right to obtain a second opinion was explained, it seemed to have a positive effect on the physician-patient relationship from patients` perspective.

Conclusions

It is possible that there is a lack of information for physicians, which in turn leads to an information deficit for patients. Better information for physicians might be part of the solution, but a negative attitude towards the SOD might also result in the low education rate. Therefore, in addition, potential patients or even the general population should be better informed about the possibility of obtaining a second opinion.
A randomized trial evaluating the association between related gene polymorphism and nausea and vomiting induced by cisplatin multi-day chemotherapy
Authors: Jin Yilan , Chen Feng , Zhao Juan , Jiang Ying , Jin Gaowa , Zhang Zewei , Li Quanfu
Published: November 2023

Purpose

We aim to investigate the correlation between gene polymorphisms and cisplatin chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), which was prevented by olanzapine or aprepitant triple antiemetic regimen.

Methods

Before chemotherapy, the blood samples of 89 malignant tumor patients who received multi-day chemotherapy with cisplatin were collected for sequencing and typing. As there were duplicate patients enrolled in different chemotherapy cycles, there were a total of 190 cases. The patients were divided into two groups randomly, who received the triple antiemetic regimen of olanzapine or aprepitant combined with 5-HT3RA and dexamethasone. The main evaluation indicators were the total protection (TP) rate in the acute phase (0–24 h), the delayed phase (25–120 h) and the overall phase (0-120 h).

Results

Univariate analysis was performed on genetic loci that reached H-W balance with TP. In the olanzapine group, increased TP in the acute phase was associated with HTR3A rs1176719 non-GG (P < 0.05) genotype etc. Increased TP in the delayed phase was associated with HTR3A rs1176719 non-GG (P < 0.05) genotype etc. In the aprepitant group, increased TP in the acute phase was associated with the MTHFR rs1801131 TT (P < 0.05) genotype etc. Increased TP in the delayed phase was associated with HTR3A rs1062613 CC (P < 0.05) genetype ect. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that HTR3B rs7943062GG (P < 0.05) genotype etc. were correlated with increased TP in the delayed phase. MTHFR rs1801131TT genotype was associated with increased TP in the acute phase (P < 0.05) and delayed phase (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study found that gene polymorphisms, including HTR3B (rs1062613, rs1176719, rs2276303), HTR3B (rs45460698, rs7943062), HTR3C (rs6766410), ERCC1 (rs3212986), ERCC4 (rs744154) and MTHFR(rs1801131), may be independent prognostic factors for CINV.
Ipsilateral synchronous papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity and urothelial carcinoma in a renal transplant recipient: a rare case report with molecular analysis and literature review
Authors: Li Daosheng , Liu Fenfen , Chen Yiqian , Li Ping , Liu Yuyu , Pang Yu
Published: November 2023

Background

Renal transplant recipients (RTRs) have a 3- to 5-fold higher risk of developing malignant tumors than the general population, with new malignant tumors after transplantation considered to be the leading cause of death in RTRs. In pathological practice, it is rare for neoplasms with different histology to be located in the same organ. We report the first case of a synchronous papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity (PRNRP) and urothelial carcinoma (UC) in the ipsilateral kidney in an RTR. Molecular detection was conducted by next-generation sequencing.

Case presentation

A 68-year-old female suffered from uremia 19 years ago and underwent renal transplantation (RT) after receiving dialysis for 6 months. Hematuria occurred one month ago and an enhanced CT showed that there were two abnormal density foci in the middle and lower parts of the autologous left kidney. A laparoscopic left nephrectomy and ureterectomy were performed. Gross examination revealed a mass (I) in the left renal parenchyma, 2*1.8*1.5 cm in size, that protruded from the renal capsule, and a cauliflower-like mass (II), 5*2.5*2 cm in size, adjacent to the mass (I). Microscopic findings revealed these lesions were PRNRP and UC, respectively. PCR analysis revealed a KRAS gene mutation (G12D in exon 2) in the PRNRP, while NGS analysis revealed FGFR3 (S249C in exon 7) and KDM6A (Q271Ter in exon 10 and A782Lfs in exon 17) mutations in the UC.

Conclusions

We report here for the first time an extraordinarily rare case of synchronous renal tumors of a PRNRP and UC in the ipsilateral kidney of an RTR. We identified simultaneous KRAS, FGFR3, and KDM6A mutations in two different renal masses in the ipsilateral kidney. Pathologic assessment with comparative molecular analysis of mutational profiles facilitates tumor studies after RT and may be of great value in clinical management strategies.
Chronic pregabalin treatment protects against spreading depolarization and alters hippocampal synaptic characteristics in a model of familial hemiplegic migraine-type 1
Authors: Cain Stuart M. , Alles Sascha R. A. , Gopaul Ray , Bernier Louis-Philippe , Yung Andrew C. , Bauman Andrew , Yang Yi , Baker Glen B. , Kozlowski Piotr , MacVicar Brian A. , Snutch Terrance P.
Published: November 2023

Familial hemiplegic migraine type-1 (FHM-1) is a form of migraine with aura caused by mutations in the P/Q-type (Cav2.1) voltage-gated calcium channel. Pregabalin, used clinically in the treatment of chronic pain and epilepsy, inhibits P/Q-type calcium channel activity and recent studies suggest that it may have potential for the treatment of migraine. Spreading Depolarization (SD) is a neurophysiological phenomenon that can occur during migraine with aura by propagating a wave of silenced neuronal function through cortex and sometimes subcortical brain structures. Here, utilizing an optogenetic stimulation technique optimized to allow for non-invasive initiation of cortical SD, we demonstrate that chronic pregabalin administration [12 mg/kg/day (s.c.)] in vivo increased the threshold for cortical spreading depolarization in transgenic mice harboring the clinically-relevant Cav2.1S218L mutation (S218L). In addition, chronic pregabalin treatment limited subcortical propagation of recurrent spreading depolarization events to the striatum and hippocampus in both wild-type and S218L mice. To examine contributing underlying mechanisms of action of chronic pregabalin, we performed whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology in CA1 neurons in ex vivo brain slices from mice treated with chronic pregabalin vs vehicle. In WT mice, chronic pregabalin produced a decrease in spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current (sEPSC) amplitude with no effect on frequency. In contrast, in S218L mice chronic pregabalin produced an increase in sEPSC amplitude and decreased frequency. These electrophysiological findings suggest that in FHM-1 mice chronic pregabalin acts through both pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms in CA1 hippocampal neurons to elicit FHM-1 genotype-specific inhibitory action. The results highlight the potential of chronic pregabalin to limit recurrent SD to subcortical brain structures during pathophysiological events in both the genetically-normal and FHM-1 brain. The work further provides insights into FHM-1 pathophysiology and the potential for chronic pregabalin treatment to prevent SD in migraineurs.
Rare variants in GPR3 in POI patients: a case series with review of literature
Authors: Ren Shuting , Zhang Feng , Shang Lingyue , Yang Xi , Pan Yuncheng , Zhang Xiaojin , Wu Yanhua
Published: November 2023

Background

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a highly heterogeneous disease, and up to 25% of the cases can be explained by genetic causes. G protein-coupled receptor 3 (GPR3) plays an important role in oocyte arrest, and Gpr3-deficient mice exhibited POI-like phenotypes.

Case presentation

We identified two heterozygous missense variants of GPR3: NM_005281: c.C973T (p.R325C) and c.G772A (p.A258T) in two sporadic Han Chinese POI cases through whole exome sequencing and genetic analysis. The two patients were diagnosed as POI in their late 20s, presenting elevated serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone and secondary amenorrhea. Both variants are very rare in the population databases of ExAC, gnomAD and PGG.Han. The affected amino acids are conserved across species and the mutated amino acids are predicted deleterious with bioinformatics prediction tools and the protein three-dimensional structure analysis.

Conclusions

It is the first report of rare GPR3 variants associated with POI women, providing an important piece of evidence for GPR3 as a candidate gene which should be screened in POI. This finding suggested the necessity of including GPR3 in etiology study and genetic counseling of POI patients.
Children and youth’s movement behaviours differed across phases and by geographic region throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in Nova Scotia, Canada: an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study
Authors: Campbell Julie E. , Stone Michelle R. , Mitra Raktim , Locke Maggie , MacDonald Cynthia , Preston Ashley , Feicht Rebecca A. , Rehman Laurene , Kirk Sara F. L. , Faulkner Guy , Tremblay Mark S. , Moore Sarah A.
Published: November 2023

Background

Like many places globally, the health and well-being of children and youth living in Canada were significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Restricted access to the outdoors, schools, and public green spaces impacted children’s physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour, and sleep. Restrictions changed throughout the pandemic, and children’s and youth’s movement behaviours may have been differentially affected based on time and place. This paper aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the movement behaviours of children and youth living in Nova Scotia (NS), Canada, over time and by geographic region using mixed methods.

Methods

This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Secondary data from three repeated cross-sectional surveys of parent-reported demographic, movement, and geographic data of 291 children and youth aged 5–17 years were analyzed. Spatial cluster analyses were applied to identify geographic concentrations of children and youth who were more or less likely to meet the moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) guideline during the pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 Nova Scotian parents to understand their perspectives on their child’s movement behaviours during the pandemic. Interviews were analyzed deductively based on quantitative results using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Our findings showed only 5.5% of children and youth were meeting all guidelines throughout the pandemic. Of the movement behaviours, screen time (ST) differed across the pandemic and by age and gender. Clusters of children and youth meeting the MVPA recommendation on fewer days were found in regions within NS’s three largest population centres (Truro, Sydney, and the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM)), and clusters of those meeting the MVPA recommendation on more days were also identified in the HRM. From semi-structured interviews, themes indicated: (1) escaping screens during early parts of the COVID-19 pandemic and when weather was colder was hard; (2) having access to spaces to be active near the home helped facilitate children’s movement; and (3) higher socioeconomic status enabled more opportunities for movement.

Conclusion

Overall, fewer public health restrictions led to more favourable movement behaviours and spatial and sociodemographic factors may have been at play. Decision-makers should consider these factors when identifying strategies to keep children active during future health crises.
Virtual Molecular and Precision Medicine Clinic to Improve Access to Clinical Trials for Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer: An Academic/Community Collaboration
Authors: Spring Laura M. , Mortensen Lindsey , Abraham Elizabeth , Keenan Jennifer , Medford Arielle , Ma Annie , Padden Sarah , Denault Elyssa , Ryan Lianne , Iafrate A. John , Lennerz Jochen , Hochberg Ephraim , Wander Seth A. , Moy Beverly , Isakoff Steven J. , Juric Dejan , Brennan Kimberly A. , Smith Deborah E. , Civiello Barbara , Mulvey Therese , Comander Amy , Ellisen Leif W. , Schwartz Joel H. , Bardia Aditya
Published: November 2023

PURPOSE

There is a demand for improved care delivery surrounding genomic testing and clinical trial enrollment among patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We sought to improve the current process via real-time informal consultation and prescreening assessment for patients with MBC treated by community and academic medical oncologists by implementing a virtual molecular and precision medicine (vMAP) clinic.

METHODS

The vMAP program used a virtual referral system directed to a multidisciplinary team with precision medicine expertise. Providers contacted vMAP regarding patients with MBC, and on receipt of referral, the vMAP team engaged in discussion to identify if further diagnostics were needed (including genomic testing) and to identify potential clinical trials or standard treatment options. Recommendations were then sent to the referring provider within 72 hours. Pre-/postsurveys were issued to network physicians to assess for barriers, clinical trial access, and vMAP referral experience. Program implementation was evaluated with the Squire 2.0 reporting guidelines for quality improvement in health care as a framework.

RESULTS

Eighty-one cases from 22 providers were referred to vMAP over a 26-month period. The average response time to the referring provider with a finalized recommendation was 1.90 ± 1.82 days. A total of 86.4% of cases had clinical trial options on vMAP prescreen, with 40.7% initiating formal screening assessments and 27 patients (33.3%) ultimately enrolling on trials. On resurvey, 92% of survey responses across community oncology referring providers said that they were very likely to use vMAP again.

CONCLUSION

In the initial 2-year period, vMAP demonstrated an efficient means to offer real-time interpretation of genomic testing and identification of clinical trials for patients with MBC, with effective clinical trial enrollment and high rates of referring provider satisfaction.
Where Does Wealth Come From? Measuring Lifetime Resources in Norway
Authors: Black Sandra E. , Devereux Paul J. , Landaud Fanny , Salvanes Kjell G.
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we use comprehensive administrative data on the population of Norway to create a measure of lifetime resources, which generates several stylized facts. First, lifetime resources are highly correlated with net wealth, but net wealth is more unequally distributed. Second, labor income is the most important component of lifetime resources, except among the top 1 percent where capital income and capital gains on financial assets become important. Lastly, lifetime resources are a better predictor of child human capital outcomes than net wealth, suggesting that, in some cases, inequality in lifetime resources may be more relevant than inequality in wealth.
The Evolution of Work from Home
Authors: Barrero José María , Bloom Nicholas , Davis Steven J.
Published: November 2023

Full days worked at home account for 28 percent of paid workdays among Americans 20–64 years old, as of mid-2023. That’s about four times the 2019 rate and ten times the rate in the mid-1990s. We first explain why the big shift to work from home has endured rather than reverting to prepandemic levels. We then consider how work-from-home rates vary by worker age, sex, education, parental status, industry and local population density, and why it is higher in the United States than other countries. We also discuss some implications for pay, productivity, and the pace of innovation. Over the next five years, US business executives anticipate modest increases in work-from-home rates at their own companies. Other factors that portend an enduring shift to work from home include the ongoing adaptation of managerial practices and further advances in technologies, products, and tools that support remote work.
How to be slow …: outdoors
Authors: Clark Alison
Published: November 2023

What is ‘slow pedagogy’ and what does it look like for children and practitioners when taken outdoors, asks Alison Clark
Sunitinib-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy in metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A case report
Authors: Hayakawa Takaoki , Funakoshi Shinsuke , Hamamoto Yasuo , Hirata Kenro , Kanai Takanori
Published: November 2023

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which is distinguished by increased glucose levels in the bloodstream, is a metabolic disease with a rapidly increasing incidence worldwide. Nevertheless, the etiology and characteristics of the mechanism of T2DM remain unclear. Recently, abundant evidence has indicated that the intestinal microbiota is crucially involved in the initiation and progression of T2DM. The gut microbiome, the largest microecosystem, engages in material and energy metabolism in the human body. In this review, we concentrated on the correlation between the gut flora and T2DM. Meanwhile, we summarized the pathogenesis involving the intestinal flora in T2DM, as well as therapeutic approaches aimed at modulating the gut microbiota for the management of T2DM. Through the analysis presented here, we draw attention to further exploration of these research directions.
Cows and Humans as Technology Users: Multispecies Agency and Gender in Automated Milking Systems in Finland
Authors: Kaarlenkaski Taija
Published: November 2023

abstract: Automatization has changed the interaction between cows and humans in subtle ways. Automated milking systems (AMS) have been used commercially since the early 1990s, first in the Netherlands, then in Western Europe and North America, before reaching Finland. By 2021, nearly 27 percent of Finnish dairy farms have adopted them. Based on fieldwork at AMS farms and Finnish trade journal items, this article argues that as technology users, both humans and cows are engaged in agential entanglements with milking robots. It highlights challenges that cows and farmers face in learning to use the milking robot, how it impacts their working and living rhythms, and how the technologized work with AMSs is gendered among dairy farmers.
Pump–probe-alternating photothermal interferometry for two-component gas sensing
Authors: Guo Linhao , Ho Hoi Lut , Jiang Shoulin , Bao Haihong , Gao Shoufei , Wang Yingying , Zhao Pengcheng , Jin Wei
Published: November 2023

We demonstrate a high-sensitivity acetylene/methane gas sensor based on hollow-core fiber photothermal interferometry (PTI) with a pump–probe-alternating technique. This technique utilizes two distributed-feedback lasers as pump and probe beams alternatively for two gas components to facilitate photothermal phase modulation and detection through time-division multiplexing. With a 2.5-cm-long hollow-core conjoint-tube fiber, noise-equivalent concentrations of 370 ppb and 130 ppb are demonstrated for methane and acetylene, respectively. Noise characteristics of the PTI system are analyzed and experimentally tested. The proposed technique eliminates the need for an additional laser in the traditional PTI setup, enabling the construction of a sensitive yet more cost-effective multi-gas component detection system.
High-brightness hybrid compressive light field display with improved image quality
Authors: Zhu Liming , Chen Qiyang , Chen Tao , Lv Guoqiang , Feng Qibin , Wang Zi
Published: November 2023

Previous LCD-based multiplicative compressive light field (CLF) display
has the trade-off between the brightness and the depth of field (DOF).
In this paper, we propose a hybrid CLF display using a reflective
polarizer and RGB mini-LED panel. By the polarization-multiplexing and
the reflector dam (RD) designed on the mini-LED panel, the proposed
system can preserve high brightness while enhancing the DOF. Then, a
decomposition algorithm is proposed to improve the image quality by
depth segmentation and limiting the motion parallax. Compared to the
conventional hybrid CLF display, the brightness of the proposed system
reaches 348 nits and the reconstruction quality achieves structural
similarity index measure (SSIM) improvement by 0.12. The experiments
also demonstrate that the proposed method could achieve a higher
brightness, larger depth of field, and higher image quality.
Switching of lasing direction in reconfigurable chiral photonic crystals: publisher’s note
Authors: Feng Ting-Mao , Wang Yi-Fan , Tseng Heng-Yi , Li Cheng-Chang , Jau Hung-Chang , Kuo Chie-Tong , Lin Tsung-Hsien , Wang Chun-Ta
Published: November 2023

This publisher’s note contains a correction to Opt. Mater. Express
13(6), 1555
(2023)10.1364/OME.491580.
Postnatal clubs: Implementation of a differentiated and integrated model of care for mothers living with HIV and their HIV-exposed uninfected babies in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Nelson Aurelie , Lebelo Keitu , Cassidy Tali , Duran Laura Trivino , Mantangana Nompumelelo , Mdani Leticia , Malabi Nikiwe , Solomon Suhair , Buchanan Kate , Hacking Damian , Bhardwaj Vinayak , de Azevedo Virginia , Patel-Abrahams Shariefa , Harley Beth , Hofmeyr Clare , Schmitz Kathrin , Myer Landon
Published: November 2023

Background

Despite the overall reduction in the HIV mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) rate in South Africa, poor adherence and retention in care during breastfeeding contribute to this period being a major driver of MTCT in South Africa. To improve this retention, postnatal clubs were created as an integrated, differentiated model of care providing psychosocial support and comprehensive care for the mother-infant pairs (MIP), including HIV and under-5-child services. We describe the implementation of these facility-based clubs and examine its health outcomes in a peri-urban primary health care setting in Cape Town, South Africa.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, conducted between June 2016 and December 2019, MIPs were recruited into postnatal clubs between 6 weeks and 6 months of age and followed-up until 18 months of age. Outcomes including maternal Viral Load (VL), and children’s HIV testing were compared to a historical control group. Children’s immunizations and maternal sexual and reproductive health outcomes are also described.

Results

During the implementation of the postnatal club study period, 484 MIP were recruited with 84% overall attendance, 95% overall viral load suppression, and 98% overall uptake of HIV infant testing. Compared to historical controls, the club infant rapid test uptake was 1.6 times higher (95% CI: 1.4–1.9) at 9 months and 2.0 times higher at 18 months (95% CI: 1.6–2.6). Through 12 months and between 12–18 months, maternal VL monitoring was higher in the club group compared to the historical control by 1.5 times (95% CI: 1.3–1.6) and 2.6 times (95% CI: 2.1–3.2), respectively, with similar maternal VL suppression. Of 105 infants attending the 12 months visit, 99% were fully vaccinated by one year.

Conclusion

MIP in the postnatal clubs showed better PMTCT outcomes than historical controls with high levels of retention in care. Other outcomes such as immunisation results suggest that integration of services, such as in the postnatal club, is feasible and beneficial for MIPs.
Characterization and expression analysis of SnRK2, PYL, and ABF/ AREB/ ABI5 gene families in sweet potato
Authors: Mathura Sarah R. , Sutton Fedora , Bowrin Valerie
Published: November 2023

Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling in plants is essential to several aspects of plant development, such as tolerance to environmental stresses and growth. ABA signaling is also important for storage organ formation in crops, such as sweet potato. However, the repertoire of I. batatas ABA signaling gene families has not yet been fully characterized, so that it is unclear which members of these families are necessary for tuberization. Therefore, genome-wide identification of the sweet potato ABF/ AREB/ ABI5, SnRK2, and PYL gene families was performed, along with phylogenetic, motif, cis-regulatory element (CRE), and expression analyses. Nine ABF, eight SnRK2, and eleven PYL gene family members were identified, and there was high sequence conservation among these proteins that were revealed by phylogenetic and motif analyses. The promoter sequences of these genes had multiple CREs that were involved in hormone responses and stress responses. In silico and qRT-PCR expression analyses revealed that these genes were expressed in various tissues and that IbABF3, IbABF4, IbDPBF3, IbDPBF4, IbPYL4, IbSnRK2.1, and IbSnRK2.2 were significantly expressed during storage root development. These results are an important reference that can be used for functional validation studies to better understand how ABA signaling elicits storage root formation at the molecular level.
A data mining technique for detecting malignant mesothelioma cancer using multiple regression analysis
Authors: Alali Abdulla Mousa Falah , Padmaja Dhyaram Lakshmi , Soni Mukesh , Khan Muhammad Attique , Khan Faheem , Ofori Isaac
Published: November 2023

Lung cancer is a substantial health issue globally, and it is one of the main causes of mortality. Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a common kind of lung cancer. The majority of patients with MM have no symptoms. In the diagnosis of any disease, etiology is crucial. MM risk factor detection procedures include positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, biopsies, X-rays, and blood tests, which are all necessary but costly and intrusive. Researchers primarily concentrated on the investigation of MM risk variables in the study. Mesothelioma symptoms were detected with the help of data from mesothelioma patients. The dataset, however, included both healthy and mesothelioma patients. Classification algorithms for MM illness diagnosis were carried out using computationally efficient data mining techniques. The support vector machine outperformed the multilayer perceptron ensembles (MLPE) neural network (NN) technique, yielding promising findings. With 99.87% classification accuracy achieved using 10-fold cross-validation over 5 runs, SVM is the best classification when contrasted to the MLPE NN, which achieves 99.56% classification accuracy. In addition, SPSS analysis is carried out for this study to collect pertinent and experimental data.
Modification effects of nanosilica on asphalt binders: A review
Authors: Dai Yiqing , Liang Wei , Ye Danwang , Xie Shengjia , Sang Yuan , Li Dong
Published: November 2023

Nanosilica (NS) may be obtained as a by-product in several industrial processes and is associated with high availability and affordability among other nanoadditives. NS has been used for asphalt modification, and improvement in high-temperature performance and several other physical properties has been reported. However, due to the wide varieties and intrinsic variability of asphalt materials, concerns have been raised about the reproducibility of some conclusions, and therefore, a review was conducted. According to the results, NS additives with a purity of over 99% were usually used for modification and the specific surface area was over 100 m2/g, leading to the superior absorption of asphalt and thus improvement in rutting resistance of the mixtures. Due to a lack of guidance for the blending procedures, inconsistency exists among studies in the shear speed, blending duration, and temperature, leading to possible excessive blending and unnecessary energy and time consumption. Rises in NS concentration would cause higher softening point and rotational viscosity, and therefore elevated temperatures for mixing and paving, but penetration would be reduced. According to rheological evaluations, with the rise of NS concentration, the rutting parameter would increase, indicating an improvement in the high-temperature performance, but the low-temperature performance may deteriorate.
Effect of polyvinyl alcohol fibers on mechanical properties of nano-SiO2-reinforced geopolymer composites under a complex environment
Authors: Zhang Peng , Wang Cong , Guo Zhenhui , Hong Jian , Wang Fei
Published: November 2023

Buildings in service are severely affected by the complex environment with multiple coupled factors such as high temperatures, humidity, and inorganic salt attack. In this work, the mechanical properties of nano-SiO2-reinforced geopolymer composites (NSGPC) incorporated with varying dosages of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers were investigated under a complex environment. A simulated environmental chamber was employed to simulate the complex environment with relative humidity, temperature, and NaCl solution concentration of 100%, 45°C, and 5%, respectively. Fly ash/metakaolin geopolymer composites (GPCs) were fabricated by utilizing 1.5% nano-SiO2 by weight and five various dosages of PVA fibers by volume (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8%). The compressive strength, tensile strength, elastic modulus, and impact resistance of NSGPC eroded in a simulated environmental chamber for 60 days were determined. Then, the impact of the PVA fiber dosage on the mechanical properties of NSGPC under complex coupled environments was analyzed. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to evaluate and analyze the microstructural behavior of NSGPC under complex environments. Results indicated that the compressive strength, tensile strength, elastic modulus, and impact resistance of NSGPC increased with increasing PVA fiber to 0.6% and then decreased with a continuous increase to 0.8% but remained higher than those of the reference specimen. NSGPC exhibited the best performance at a PVA fiber dosage of 0.6%, which increased by 13.3, 12.0, 17.2, and 522%, respectively. The outcomes of SEM analysis indicated that the usage of PVA fiber and NS remarkably improved the mechanical properties and microstructural behavior of GPC by making the inner structure of GPCs more robust and compact under a complex environment. The outcomes of this work can provide theoretical guidance for buildings serving under a complex environment.
The case of the missing entropy
Authors: Tolley H. Dennis , Woodfield Brian F. , Hansen Lee D.
Published: November 2023

The free expansion of an ideal gas into a vacuum is commonly used to illustrate a spontaneous process; however, what is often overlooked for this process is that there is no change in temperature (inherently isothermal), no exchange of heat into or out of the system (adiabatic), and no work done on or by the system. That is, for the expansion of an ideal gas into a vacuum, there are no changes in the energetic states of the particles in the system and, thus, no change in the energetic entropy, ΔS
E = 0. But, if ΔS
E = 0, then why is the process spontaneous? The answer is because the number of positional microstates increases. This paper describes the “missing entropy” originating from the distribution of particles in a system, as measured by ΔS
D. A positive ΔS
D is the only change associated with processes that are inherently isothermal, adiabatic, and include no external work. The entropy of the distribution of particles, S
D, was not included in Boltzmann’s distribution of energy in particles, S
E, which is used to explain the second law of thermodynamics. In Gibbs development of statistical thermodynamics, Gibbs included both particle distribution and energy distribution in his ensembles but only included energy distribution in deriving the macroscopic laws of thermodynamics. Consequently, thermodynamics cannot explain why spontaneous processes occur in inherently isothermal systems where heat and work are zero, (Q = W = 0) and ΔU = ΔS
E = 0. Examples of such processes include free expansion of an ideal gas, mixing of ideal gases, diffusion of an ideal solute, mixing of ideal solutes, osmosis with ideal solutions, and free discharge of a concentration battery with ideal solutions. This paper uses a combinatorial model of positional microstates to develop a statistical description of the entropy of the distribution of particles, S
D, and applies the model to calculate ΔS
D for these six examples of inherently isothermal processes in ideal systems. ΔS
D has implications for correctly understanding processes in systems that do no work on the surroundings, for understanding colligative properties, and for understanding biological evolution and other information-driven, inherently isothermal systems.
Axial compression behavior and stress–strain relationship of slurry-wrapping treatment recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tube short columns
Authors: Wang Jinhao , Li Zhudan , Jin Baohong
Published: November 2023

The utilization of recycled concrete can effectively solve the problems of large accumulations of construction waste and the constant consumption of natural aggregates. Slurry-wrapping modification and concrete-filled steel tubes (CFSTs) are effective approaches to enhance the utilization ratio of recycled concrete. The study involved 4 ordinary CFST columns and 16 slurry-wrapping recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tube (SRACFST) columns. The variable parameters included the slurry-wrapping recycled aggregate replacement ratio and the section form. The result shows that the ultimate strength of the specimens reached the minimum and maximum at 25 and 100% aggregate replacement ratio. The favorable strength performance of the SRACFST columns is attributed to the dominant positive effect of the slurry-wrapping treatment in reducing matrix porosity over the negative impact of the recycled aggregate’s complex interface transition zone. Due to the hoop factor, the residual bearing ratio peaks at a 25% substitution ratio. Four design standards were used to predict the ultimate strength, with GB50936 and EC4 yielding more accurate estimations, while AISC360-10 and AIJ provided conservative estimations. This study presents the equations of the stress–strain curve for the whole axial compression process, which can be directly applied in the theoretical and numerical analysis of RACFST columns.
Assembly and function of the amyloid‐like translational repressor Rim4 is coupled with nutrient conditions
Authors: Ottoz Diana SM , Tang Lauren C , Dyatel Annie E , Jovanovic Marko , Berchowitz Luke E
Published: November 2023

Amyloid‐like protein assemblies have been associated with toxic phenotypes because of their repetitive and stable structure. However, evidence that cells exploit these structures to control function and activity of some proteins in response to stimuli has questioned this paradigm. How amyloid‐like assembly can confer emergent functions and how cells couple assembly with environmental conditions remains unclear. Here, we study Rim4, an RNA‐binding protein that forms translation‐repressing assemblies during yeast meiosis. We demonstrate that in its assembled and repressive state, Rim4 binds RNA more efficiently than in its monomeric and idle state, revealing a causal connection between assembly and function. The Rim4‐binding site location within the transcript dictates whether the assemblies can repress translation, underscoring the importance of the architecture of this RNA‐protein structure for function. Rim4 assembly depends exclusively on its intrinsically disordered region and is prevented by the Ras/protein kinase A signaling pathway, which promotes growth and suppresses meiotic entry in yeast. Our results suggest a mechanism whereby cells couple a functional protein assembly with a stimulus to enforce a cell fate decision.
Software Architecture of Navigation Systems for Control Modules of Robotics
Authors:   Institute of Cybernetics named after V.M. Hlushkova National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Bilokon O.S.
Published: November 2023

The peculiarities of the software architecture of navigation systems of robotic control modules are considered. Particular attention is focused on the reproduced classifications of the characteristics of architectural solutions. The three-functional architecture of the Shakey robot, the architecture of R. Brooks (Subsumption), and Boltzmann's intellectual model were studied in detail. Three-level architectural system LAAS, multi-level architecture CLARAty, intelligent real-time control system CIRCA are also considered.
Hardware Decompressor Design
Authors:   National Technical University of Ukraine «Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute», Sergiyenko A.M. , Mozghovyi I.V. ,   National Technical University of Ukraine «Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute»
Published: November 2023

The common lossless compression algorithms were analyzed, and the LZW algorithm was selected for the hardware implementation. To express parallelism, this algorithm is represented as a cyclo-dynamic dataflow (CDDF). A hardware synthesis method for designing pipelined datapath is proposed, which optimizes CDDF considering the features of the FPGA primitives and maps it to hardware using VHDL language description. Using this method, an LZW de¬compressor is developed, which exhibits a high performance-to-hardware cost ratio. The de¬com¬¬¬pressor can be utilized in communication channels and other application-specific systems for data loading from memory, generating graphical stencils, and more.
Effect of the surface roughness of a power plant chamber on low-frequency self-oscillations of a cold working gas
Authors:   Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Nikolayev O.D. , Bashliy I.D. ,   Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Khoriak N.V. ,   Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Bondarenko S.H. ,   Oles Honchar Dnipro National University
Published: November 2023

Dynamic processes in the combustion chamber have a significant effect on the characteristics of the working processes of solid-propellant rocket engines (LPREs). Pressure jumps and a sharp increase in the local temperature of the combustion products in non-stationary engine operation modes can lead to overrating values of operating parameters and a failure of the LPRE combustion chamber structure. The dynamic processes in the LPRE combustion chamber develop in a complex interconnection of a large number of physical and chemical processes that occur in the gas-dynamic part of the working space of the engine chamber and often lead to self-oscillating modes of engine operation. This is evidenced by numerous data on LPRE fire tests. This paper presents the results of a numerical study of the effect of the LPRE chamber inner surface roughness on LPRE operating parameter low-frequency self-oscillations. The study was made using up-to-date computer simulation means and analysis. Low-frequency (up to 1,000 Hz) oscillations in an LPRE combustion chamber were studied for a power plant test chamber in cold operation with the use of two different approaches to numerical modeling of the dynamics of in-chamber processes: the development and study of a 3D model of the dynamic system of combustion chamber structure – combustion products using the finite element method and the development and study of an axisymmetric 2D model of engine chamber gas flow using the finite volume method. The study revealed a self-oscillatory flow regime caused by combustion product vorticity and acoustic feedback due to vortices colliding with the chamber components or the LPRE nozzle. It was shown that accounting for the wall roughness increased gas vorticity in the gas–solid dynamic interaction zone and the chamber gas oscillation amplitude (on the average, by a factor of 2.5 at a maximum wall roughness height of 56 ?m). The calculated gas flow pattern in the vorticity zones of the chamber and the low-frequency gas pressure oscillation parameters are in qualitative agreement with the experimental ones.
Improvement of xenon heating methods to prevent the liquid phase of the work-ing substance from entering the feed system
Authors:   Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, Yurkov B.V. , Asmolovskyi S.Yu. ,   Oles Honchar Dnipro National University
Published: November 2023

Among the various types of electric propulsion, the Hall thruster type is becoming the most common. This is due to the fact that the use of a Hall thruster makes it possible to obtain high values of the thruster characteristics with a simple design compared to other types of space propulsion systems. For Hall electric propulsion thrusters, the main working substance is xenon because of its fairly high atomic weight, low ionization energy, and unreactiveness, which makes it possible to obtain high thruster characteristics with ease of operation. The use of xenon as a working substance features a peculiarity involving its critical temperature (289.74 K), which gives rise to the liquid phase in the tank and, accordingly, pressure jumps, thus making it impossible to use the xenon feed system. To exclude the ingress of the liquid phase of xenon into the accumulator tank in electric propulsion systems, heaters are placed on the xenon tank to maintain its temperature within a given range. However, this approach has the following disadvantages: the low thermal conductivity of composite tanks impairs heater-to-xenon heat transfer; warming up the whole of the tank before starting the thruster increases the thruster start-up preparation time; the continuous maintenance of the tank temperature increases energy consumption by the propulsion system; and it is impractical to maintain the temperature of the whole of the xenon, while only a few grams of it are consumed for one thruster start-up. The problem that was solved in this work consists in changing the approach to heating the working substance that enters the feed system. The analysis of literary sources showed that this problem is relevant and offers ways to improve existing methods. To solve this problem, theoretical calculations were carried out and verified by experiment. As a result, a method was proposed to calculate the gasifier so that it may maintain the temperature of the working substance entering the accumulator tank within the range from 293 K to 298 K, thus eliminating the possible ingress of the liquid phase of xenon into the accumulator tank of the feed system. This study allows one to use the proposed structural element (gasifier) instead of tank heaters, which significantly reduces power consumption and maintains the stable operation of the working substance feed system. The conclusions drawn from the study may be useful to most developers of storage and feed systems for electric propulsion systems.
Contemporary social and political mega-crisis and the goals of economics
Authors: Kolodko Grzegorz W.
Published: November 2023

Contemporary economic thought does not deal suitably with the tasks it faces. Neither does it provide a satisfactory explanation of the socio-economic reality, nor does it propose effective methods of solving the mounting problems, especially at the macroeconomic level, in the national economy, and in the mega-economic level, in the world economy. The beyond-GDP reality requires a beyond-GDP economic theory on which a triple balanced – economically, socially and ecologically – beyond-GDP development strategy must be based. It is necessary to formulate anew the goal of economic activity, which cannot be a simple maximization of profit and a quantitative increase in production. The short-term interests of private capital should be subordinated to the long-term public interests, which is to be fostered by appropriate reinstitutionalization of the market economy. The economics has to be more oriented towards addressing the future challenges, and not mainly be inspired by conclusions drawn from observations of past events, which is often of little use in economic policy and development strategy. The new pragmatism is needed.