bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental investigation and optimization of morphological characteristics in mechanically agitated aluminium 6061‐fly ash cenosphere composite
Authors: Anand A. , Tiwari S. K. , Prakash V.
Published: December 2023

The current work examines the results of an experimental study for the liquid casting of an aluminum‐6061‐5 weight % fly ash cenosphere composite by employing stir casting. The studies were conducted using the response surface methodology (central composite design L16 experiments) with three process factors (stirring temperature, stirring speed, and stirring time) at three different levels. An attempt has been made to determine the impact of process variables on the degree of sphericity and particle size. The optimal processing conditions for the best degree of sphericity (0.765) and particle size (93.227 μm) are identified as A−1, B+1, and C+1, corresponding to a stirring temperature of 670 °C, a stirring speed of 600 min−1, and 15 min stirring time. Based on the analysis of variance analysis, the degree of sphericity and particle size evolution is significantly influenced by stirring time followed by temperature and speed. Additionally, a mathematical model for the evaluation of the degree of sphericity and particle size in the primary‐aluminium phase has been developed and it shows good consensus with the experiments.
The role of mitochondrial dynamics in disease
Authors: Wang Yujuan , Dai Xinyan , Li Hui , Jiang Huiling , Zhou Junfu , Zhang Shiying , Guo Jiacheng , Shen Lidu , Yang Huantao , Lin Jie , Yan Hengxiu
Published: December 2023

Mitochondria are multifaceted and dynamic organelles regulating various important cellular processes from signal transduction to determining cell fate. As dynamic properties of mitochondria, fusion and fission accompanied with mitophagy, undergo constant changes in number and morphology to sustain mitochondrial homeostasis in response to cell context changes. Thus, the dysregulation of mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy is unsurprisingly related with various diseases, but the unclear underlying mechanism hinders their clinical application. In this review, we summarize the recent developments in the molecular mechanism of mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy, particularly the different roles of key components in mitochondrial dynamics in different context. We also summarize the roles of mitochondrial dynamics and target treatment in diseases related to the cardiovascular system, nervous system, respiratory system, and tumor cell metabolism demanding high‐energy. In these diseases, it is common that excessive mitochondrial fission is dominant and accompanied by impaired fusion and mitophagy. But there have been many conflicting findings about them recently, which are specifically highlighted in this view. We look forward that these findings will help broaden our understanding of the roles of the mitochondrial dynamics in diseases and will be beneficial to the discovery of novel selective therapeutic targets.
Implicit fractional differential equations: Existence of a solution revisited
Authors: Çelik Canan , Develi Faruk
Published: December 2023

This paper focuses on revisiting and improving the results regarding the existence of a solution to the implicit fractional differential equations (FDEs) given in the following form:

for all
with the initial condition
, where
is the Caputo fractional derivative (CFD). Mainly, we aim to weaken the necessary conditions often found in the literature for guaranteeing the existence of solution.
Cancer stem cells: Signaling pathways and therapeutic targeting
Authors: Talukdar Joyeeta , Srivastava Tryambak P. , Sahoo Om S. , Karmakar Abhibroto , Rai Avdhesh K. , Sarma Anupam , Gogoi Gayatri , Alqahtani Mohammed S. , Abbas Mohamed , Dhar Ruby , Karmakar Subhradip
Published: December 2023

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) constitute a minority cell population characterized by unbounded proliferative potential in both solid and hematological cancers. Despite sharing key stem cell attributes, CSCs possess unique traits, including the initiation and propagation of tumors and resistance to conventional therapies. The purpose of this review is to delve into the origins and fundamental characteristics of CSCs, emphasizing their role in tumor growth and metastasis. The focus extends to unraveling cellular signaling pathways driving oncogenic processes and understanding aberrant cellular crosstalk crucial for targeted cancer therapies. Beginning with an exploration of CSC properties and behavior, we progress to dissecting the cellular signaling network that fuels oncogenic pathways. The discussion spans the inception of CSCs, their survival strategies, and adaptation to new environments. We then transit to recent therapeutic advancements targeting CSCs, culminating in an exploration for precise therapeutic targeting. This review henceforth, underscores the vital significance of comprehending CSCs in cancer progression and treatment resistance. By unraveling the complex signaling pathways and survival mechanisms unique to CSCs, it paves the way for targeted therapeutic strategies that hold immense promise in enhancing cancer treatment efficacy while minimizing collateral damage.
The role of artificial intelligence in electrodiagnostic and neuromuscular medicine:Currentstate and future directions
Authors: Taha Mohamed A. , Morren John A.
Published: December 2023

The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) have ushered in a new era of technological breakthroughs in healthcare. These technologies are revolutionizing the way we utilize medical data, enabling improved disease classification, more precise diagnoses, better treatment selection, therapeutic monitoring, and highly accurate prognostication. Different ML and DL models have been used to distinguish between electromyography signals in normal individuals and those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and myopathy, with accuracy ranging from 67% to 99.5%. DL models have also been successfully applied in neuromuscular ultrasound, with the use of segmentation techniques achieving diagnostic accuracy of at least 90% for nerve entrapment disorders, and 87% for inflammatory myopathies. Other successful AI applications include prediction of treatment response, and prognostication including prediction of intensive care unit admissions for patients with myasthenia gravis. Despite these remarkable strides, significant knowledge, attitude, and practice gaps persist, including within the field of electrodiagnostic and neuromuscular medicine. In this narrative review, we highlight the fundamental principles of AI and draw parallels with the intricacies of human brain networks. Specifically, we explore the immense potential that AI holds for applications in electrodiagnostic studies, neuromuscular ultrasound, and other aspects of neuromuscular medicine. While there are exciting possibilities for the future, it is essential to acknowledge and understand the limitations of AI and take proactive steps to mitigate these challenges. This collective endeavor holds immense potential for the advancement of healthcare through the strategic and responsible integration of AI technologies.
Effects of posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) on lower urinary tract dysfunction: An umbrella review
Authors: Tahmasbi Fateme , Salehi‐Pourmehr Hanieh , Naseri Amirreza , Ghaderi Salar , Javadi‐Farid Fatemeh , Hajebrahimi Sakineh , Sedigh Omid , Soleimanzadeh Farzin
Published: December 2023

Background

Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) is a common, troublesome condition that often negatively affects patients' quality of life. Current literature has long been interested in how posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) can affect this condition.

Aim

To extensively and systematically explore how PTNS affects LUTD based on the most recent systematic reviews.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. All the systematic reviews, with or without meta‐analysis that assessed the effects of PTNS on LUTD were retrieved. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool, and analysis was conducted using the Comprehensive Meta‐Analysis version 3 tool.

Results

From a total of 3077 citations, 20 systematic reviews entered this study, and 13 of them included meta‐analysis. The population of studies varied vastly, for instance, some studies included only children or women while other focused on a specific pathology like multiple sclerosis‐induced neurogenic LUTD. The majority of included studies reported an overall improvement in LUTD following percutaneous PTNS, although admitting that these results were derived from moderate to low‐quality evidence.

Conclusion

The findings of this thorough umbrella review showed that the positive benefits of PTNS in treating LUTD are currently supported by low‐quality evidence, and it is crucial to interpret them with great care.
GABA and glutamate response to social processing: a functional MRS feasibility study
Authors: Pasanta Duanghathai , White David J. , He Jason L. , Ford Talitha C. , Puts Nicolaas A.
Published: December 2023

Several studies have suggested that atypical social processing in neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g. autism) is associated with differences in excitation and inhibition, through changes in the levels of glutamate and gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA). While associations between baseline metabolite levels and behaviours can be insightful, assessing the neurometabolic response of GABA and glutamate during social processing may explain altered neurochemical function in more depth. Thus far, there have been no attempts to determine whether changes in metabolite levels are detectable using functional MRS (fMRS) during social processing in a control population. We performed Mescher–Garwood point resolved spectroscopy edited fMRS to measure the dynamic response of GABA and glutamate in the superior temporal sulcus (STS) and visual cortex (V1) while viewing social stimuli, using a design that allows for analysis in both block and event‐related approaches. Sliding window analyses were used to investigate GABA and glutamate dynamics at higher temporal resolution. The changes of GABA and glutamate levels with social stimulus were largely non‐significant. A small decrease in GABA levels was observed during social stimulus presentation in V1, but no change was observed in STS. Conversely, non‐social stimulus elicited changes in both GABA and glutamate levels in both regions. Our findings suggest that the current experimental design primarily captures effects of visual stimulation, not social processing. Here, we discuss the feasibility of using fMRS analysis approaches to assess changes in metabolite response.
Improving anthropometric measurements in hospitalized children: A quality‐improvement project
Authors: Persaud Sabrina , Hron Bridget M. , Rudie Coral , Mantell Patricia , Kahlon Prerna S. , Ariagno Katelyn , Ozonoff Al , Trivedi Shrunjal , Yugar Carlos , Mehta Nilesh M. , Raymond Michelle , Duggan Christopher P. , Huh Susanna Y.
Published: December 2023

Background

The objective of this quality‐improvement project was to increase documentation rates of anthropometrics (measured weight, length/height, and body mass index [BMI], which are critical to identify patients at malnutrition (undernutrition) risk) from <50% to 80% within 24 hours of hospital admission for pediatric patients.

Methods

Multidisciplinary champion teams on surgical, cardiac, and intensive care (ICU) pilot units were established to identify and iteratively test interventions addressing barriers to documentation from May 2016 to June 2018. Percentage of patients with documented anthropometrics <24 h of admission was assessed monthly by statistical process control methodology. Percentage of patients at malnutrition (undernutrition) risk by anthropometrics was compared by χ2 for 4 months before and after intervention.

Results

Anthropometric documentation rates significantly increased (P < 0.001 for all): BMI, from 11% to 89% (surgical), 33% to 57% (cardiac), and 16% to 51% (ICU); measured weight, from 24% to 88% (surgical), 69% to 83% (cardiac), and 51% to 67% (ICU); and length/height, from 12% to 89% (surgical), 38% to 57% (cardiac), and 26% to 63% (ICU). Improvement hospital‐wide was observed (BMI, 42% to 70%, P < 0.001) with formal dissemination tactics. For pilot units, moderate/severe malnutrition (undernutrition) rates tripled (1.2% [24 of 2081] to 3.4% [81 of 2374], P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Documentation of anthropometrics on admission substantially improved after establishing multidisciplinary champion teams. Goal rate (80%) was achieved within 26 months for all anthropometrics in the surgical unit and for weight in the cardiac unit. Improved documentation rates led to significant increase in identification of patients at malnutrition (undernutrition) risk.
A glimpse into the body shape and limb proportions of enslaved Africans from Lagos, Portugal (15th–17th centuries)
Authors: Ferreira Maria Teresa , Coelho Catarina , Wasterlain Sofia N.
Published: December 2023

At the beginning of the Portuguese maritime expansion (15th century), ships loaded with various goods, including sub‐Saharan enslaved individuals, began to arrive in Portugal. In 2009, osteoarchaeological remains of these individuals were recovered for the first time in Valle da Gafaria, Lagos. Attending to their African origin and given that several studies have shown that the human body generally conforms to Bergmann's and Allen's rules, in this study, the physique of 63 adult individuals from the Valle da Gafaria site is tested against ecogeographical predictions. For that purpose, body shape (assessed by the femoral head diameter to femoral length index) and intralimb proportions (brachial and crural indices) were compared with those of 200 identified Portuguese skeletons. Results showed that the Lagos females' body shape and intralimb proportions differed significantly from those of the Portuguese, being more ‘tropically adapted’ (i.e., more ‘linear’ body shape with elongated distal limb segments). For the Lagos' males, the reduced sample size advises caution in the interpretation of the results. Although the specific origin of the Lagos individuals is not yet known, and different individuals may have come from relatively different regions of sub‐Saharan Africa, with specific climatic adaptations, the results generally agree with the ecogeographical expectations. This study not only allows for the first glimpse into the body shape and limb proportions of enslaved Africans arriving in Portugal but also confirms that morphometric analyses of the long bones may be a valuable complement to investigate the latitude origin of an osteoarchaeological assemblage.
A duality‐based approach for linear parabolic optimal control problems
Authors: Wang Hailing , Wu Di , Yu Changjun , Teo Kok Lay
Published: December 2023

This paper is concerned with the optimal control problem governed by linear parabolic equation with box constraints on control variables. We employ the Fenchel duality scheme to derive an unconstrained dual problem. Compared with the primal problem, the objective functional of the dual problem includes a projection onto the box constraints. We prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions to the dual problem and derive the first‐order optimality conditions. Furthermore, we investigate the saddle point property between the solutions of the primal problem and the solutions of the dual problem. To solve the dual problem, we design two implementable methods: the conjugate gradient method and the semi‐smooth Newton method. The solutions of the primal problem can be easily obtained through the solutions of the dual problem. We demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed methods by solving three example problems.
Comparison between whole‐body magnetic resonance imaging and whole‐body metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy in the evaluation of primary tumor and metastases in neuroblastoma
Authors: Rodrigues Monica Matos Correia , Lederman Henrique Manoel , Grossman Iona , Castiglioni Mario Luiz V. , Marchetti Renata , Grass Daphne Centola , Luisi Flavio Augusto Vercillo , Caran Eliana Maria Monteiro
Published: December 2023

Background

Whole‐body metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I‐MIBG) scintigraphy is the gold standard method to detect neuroblastoma; however, it depends on radioactive material and is expensive. In contrast, whole‐body magnetic resonance imaging (WB‐MRI) is affordable in developing countries and has been shown to be effective in the evaluation of solid tumors. This study aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of WB‐MRI with MIBG in the detection of primary tumors and neuroblastoma metastases.

Procedure

This retrospective study enrolled patients with neuroblastoma between 2013 and 2020. All patients underwent WB‐MRI and MIBG at intervals of up to 15 days. The results were marked in a table that discriminated anatomical regions for each patient. Two experts evaluated, independently and in anonymity, the WB‐MRI images, and two others evaluated MIBG. The results were compared in terms of sensitivity and specificity, for each patient, considering MIBG as the gold standard. This study was approved by the UNIFESP Ethics Committee.

Results

Thirty patients with neuroblastoma were enrolled in this study. The age ranged from 1 to 15 years, with a mean of 5.7 years. The interval between exams (WB‐MRI and MIBG) ranged from 1 to 13 days, with an average of 6.67 days. Compared to MIBG, WB‐MRI presented a sensitivity and specificity greater than or equal to 90% for the detection of primary neuroblastoma in bones and lymph nodes. When we consider the patient without individualizing the anatomical regions, WB‐MRI presented sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 73.33%.

Conclusion

In conclusion, WB‐MRI is a sensitive and specific method to detect neuroblastoma in bone and lymph nodes and highly sensible to primary tumor diagnosis, suggesting that this test is a viable alternative in places where MIBG is difficult to access. Studies with a larger number of cases are necessary for definitive conclusions.
Developing a photothermal anti/deicing fluor‐free composite coating with high wear resistance and liquid impalement resistance based on a new biobased benzoxazine resin and polydopamine‐coated aluminum nitride
Authors: Zhang Xiaojian , Yuan Li , Liang Guozheng , Gu Aijuan
Published: December 2023

Developing photothermal anti/deicing fluor‐free composite coatings with high wear resistance and liquid puncture resistance is an interesting challenge. Herein, a new biomass benzoxazine monomer (C‐d) was synthesized, which was then sprayed on a glass slide, followed by spraying hyperbranched polysiloxane (HSi), polydopamine‐coated micro AlN (P@mAlN), and polydopamine‐coated nano AlN (P@nAlN), successively, to develop a new type of photothermal anti/deicing four‐layer fluor‐free composite coatings with high wear resistance and liquid puncture resistance (C‐d/yHSi/0.4P@2bAlN, y is the mass ratio of HSi to C‐d). Three‐layer composite coatings (C‐d/0.4P@zbAlN, z is the mass ratio of P@mAlN to P@nAlN) and two‐layer composite coatings (C‐d/xP@mAlN, x is the mass ratio of P@mAlN to C‐d) were also prepared to study the influence of compositions on comprehensive properties of coatings. The results show that C‐d/0.4P@zbAlN has significantly longer icing delay time (IDT) than C‐d and C‐d/xP@mAlN coatings but still shows poor wear resistance and liquid puncture resistance. Interestingly, C‐d/yHSi/0.4P@2bAlN coatings have good superhydrophobicity; as y increases, both IDT and wear resistance increase significantly. When y = 0.5, the obtained C‐d/0.5HSi/0.4P@2bAlN coating has the best integrated performance, including high anti‐deicing property (IDT = 627 s), high wear resistance, and liquid puncture resistance as well as good photothermal deicing performance, the ice melts in 343 s under the irradiation with 808 nm infrared light, overcoming the bottleneck of poor wear resistance and liquid puncture resistance of photothermal anti/deicing coatings. Besides, C‐d/0.5HSi/0.4P@2bAlN coating can effectively prevent the adhesion of pollutants and remain superhydrophobicity after soaked in different solutions (pH = 1–10).

Highlights

A new biomass benzoxazine with good flexibility was synthesized.

Photo‐thermal anti/deicing coatings with micro/nanostructured surfaces are built.

The fluor‐free coatings have excellent wear resistance and chemical resistance.

The mechanism behind was elucidated.
Prenatal characterization of novel neurosonographic findings in a fetus with SOTOS syndrome
Authors: Bornstein Eran , Reiss Sarah , Malinger Gustavo
Published: December 2023

Sotos syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that occurs in less than 1 in 10,000 births. It is characterized by rapid growth during childhood (tall stature and unusually large head), typical facial dysmorphic features, neurodevelopmental delays of both mental and movement abilities, and learning disabilities. Prenatal diagnosis of Sotos syndrome is infrequent and sonographic findings are not well characterized as the condition is generally detected during childhood. We present a case in which routine third trimester ultrasound detected intracranial findings including ventriculomegaly, periventricular pseudocysts, and increased periventricular echogenicity. Although initially suspected to be the result of fetal infection with CMV, amniocentesis excluded fetal infection and microarray analysis detected a de novo 2.13 MB interstitial deletion of 5q35.2–35.3 involving several genes including the NSD1 gene, thus confirming the diagnosis of Sotos syndrome. This case provides novel characterization of the sonographic phenotype in a fetus with Sotos syndrome and discusses the differential diagnosis.
The effects of Garcinia cambogia (hydroxycitric acid) on lipid profile: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Amini Mohammad Reza , Rasaei Niloufar , Jalalzadeh Moharam , Akhgarjand Camellia , Hashemian Maryam , Jalali Parisa , Hekmatdoost Azita
Published: December 2023

Garcinia cambogia (GC) has antioxidant, anticancer, antihistamine, and antimicrobial properties. To determine the effect of GC on lipid profiles, a systematic review and meta‐analysis was carried out. Up to February 9, 2023, six electronic databases (Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were searched at any time without limitations. Trials examining the impact of GC on serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) in adults were included. The total effect was shown as a weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in a random‐effects meta‐analysis approach. This systematic review and meta‐analysis included 14 trials involving 623 subjects. Plasma levels of TC (WMD: −6.76 mg/dL; CI: −12.39 to −0.59, p‐value = 0.032), and TG (WMD: −24.21 mg/dL; CI: −37.84 to −10.58, p < 0.001) were significantly reduced after GC use, and plasma HDL‐C (WMD: 2.95 mg/dL; CI: 2.01 to 3.89, p < 0.001) levels increased. low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (WMD: −1.15 mg/dL; CI: −16.08 to 13.78, p‐value = 0.880) were not significantly affected. The effects of lowering TC and TG were more pronounced for periods longer than 8 weeks. Consuming GC has a positive impact on TC, TG, and HDL‐C concentrations. The limitations of this study include the short duration of analyzed interventions and significant heterogeneity. Nevertheless, it is imperative to conduct well‐structured, and high‐quality long‐term trials to comprehensively evaluate the clinical effectiveness of GC on lipid profile, and validate these findings.
Binary observation‐based FIR system identification under sequence denial of service attacks
Authors: Wei Jingliang , Jia Ruizhe , Song Yong , Jing Fengwei , Guo Jin
Published: December 2023

Due to the close interaction between computing, sensing, communication, and driving of the cyber‐physical system (CPS), which makes it highly vulnerable to cyber attacks, the security of CPS has attracted wide attention. In the article, we discuss the system identification problem of the finite impulse response system under sequence denial of service attacks. The identification algorithm of the unknown parameter is designed under binary observations, and its convergence performance is analyzed. The optimal attack strategy problem is modeled as a optimized problem with constraints based on the covariance matrix of estimation error, the solution method and implementation algorithm are given. From the perspective of the defender, an encryption‐type defense algorithm is designed, and then the optimal defense strategy is presented. The numerical simulation is used to verify the validity of the proposed method.
A Chronic Non-Healing Ulcer Plantar
Authors: Unterluggauer Luisa , Okamoto Ichiro
Published: December 2023

Acral melanoma is challenging in two ways: it is in some cases difficult to diagnose and, once metastases have occurred, the prognosis is poor as therapy is less effective compared to melanoma from other parts of the skin. Here we report a case, were the correct diagnosis was made after melanoma has spread already to distant sites. Instead of surgery, we decided to start with immunotherapy consisting of Ipilimumab and Nivolumab. A complete response could be achieved without surgery of any tumors, including the primary melanoma.
Rapid Manufacturing of Glass‐Based Digital Nucleic Acid Amplification Chips by Ultrafast Bessel Pulses
Authors: Zhang Jiawei , Obata Kotaro , Ozasa Kazunari , Uzawa Takanori , Ito Yoshihiro , Sugioka Koji
Published: December 2023

Advanced nucleic acid amplification techniques require separating test samples into numerous units (digitalization), which enables higher sensitivity and accuracy than traditional methods. Reagent partition tools are commercially available, but are usually complex and expensive, hindering mass adoption. Herein, the fabrication of a large‐scale micro‐through‐hole array on glass substrates for an advanced digital nucleic acid amplification technique (NAAT) is demonstrated. To meet the requirement of hole quantities (over tens of thousands) for valid nucleic acid statistics, ultrafast Bessel pulses with continuous translation of the glass substrate are applied. A single‐shot Bessel pulse can lead to a single hole, and 100 holes can be produced per second (scalable to thousands per second). Experiments using the fabricated chips show that the performance meets the NAAT requirements. This work provides a highly efficient and low‐cost scheme for reagent partitioning that promotes the wide accessibility of advanced digital NAATs as well as a variety of other applications.
Engineering of Multivalent Membrane‐Anchored DNA Frameworks for Precise Profiling of Variable Membrane Permeability During Reversible Electroporation
Authors: Liu Yixin , Fan Zihui , Xiang Xiao‐Wei , Tao Xiaonan , Xia Xinwei , Shi Qian , Lu Yanwei , Lu Jiayin , Gu Hongzhou , Liu Yan‐Jun , Liu Baohong
Published: December 2023

Electroporation techniques have emerged as attractive tools for intracellular delivery, rendering promising prospects towards clinical therapies. Transient disruption of membrane permeability is the critical process for efficient electroporation‐based cargo delivery. However, smart nanotools for precise characterization of transient membrane changes induced by strong electric pulses are extremely limited. Herein, multivalent membrane‐anchored fluorescent nanoprobes (MMFNPs) that take advantages of flexible functionalization and spatial arrangement of DNA frameworks are developed for in situ evaluation of electric field‐induced membrane permeability during reversible electroporation . Single‐molecule fluorescence imaging techniques are adopted to precisely  verify the excellent analytical performance of the engineered MMFNPs. Benefited from tight membrane anchoring and sensitive adenosine triphosphate (ATP) profiling, varying degrees of membrane disturbances are visually exhibited under different intensities of the microsecond pulse electric field (µsPEF). Significantly, the dynamic process of membrane repair during reversible electroporation is well demonstrated via ATP fluctuations monitored by the designed MMFNPs. Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed for accurate verification of electroporation‐driven dynamic cargo entry via membrane nanopores. This work provides an avenue for effectively capturing transient fluctuations of membrane permeability under external stimuli, offering valuable guidance for developing efficient and safe electroporation‐driven delivery strategies for clinical diagnosis and therapeutics.
Blood RNA‐sequencing analysis in acrylamide‐induced neurotoxicity and depressive symptoms in rats
Authors: Chen Yng‐Tay , Lin Tzu‐Jung , Hung Chia‐Yu
Published: December 2023

Acrylamide (ACR) is a by‐product of the Maillard reaction, which occurs when food reacts at high temperatures. Occupational exposure is a risk factor for chronic ACR toxicity. ACR may cause neurotoxicity and depressive symptoms with high concentration in the blood; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. We showed the rats developed neurotoxic symptoms after being fed with ACR for 28 days, such as reduced activity and hind limb muscle weakness. We investigated whether ACR exposure causes gene expression differences by blood RNA sequencing and analyzed the differential expression of depressive symptoms‐associated genes. The result indicated that IFN‐γ the key regulator of neurotoxicity and depressive symptoms was induced by ACR. ACR induced the ubiquitin‐mediated proteolysis pathway and JAK/STAT pathways gene expression. ACR upregulated the expression of IFN‐γ, inducing neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity. ACR also upregulated the expression of JAK2, STAT1, PI3K, AKT, IκBα, UBE2D4, NF‐κB, TNF‐α, and iNOS in rat brain tissues and Neuro‐2a cells. Thus, IFN‐γ induction by ACR may induce depressive symptoms, and the ubiquitin‐mediated proteolysis pathway and JAK/STAT pathways may involve in ACR neurotoxicity and depressive symptoms.
Energy management in the water sector: A policy statement review
Authors: Sowby Robert B. , Hopkins Easton G.
Published: December 2023

Water and wastewater utilities consume significant energy. While they are regulated on water quality and other environmental issues, energy management is largely optional. In between enforceable public policy and voluntary internal action, professional associations can influence their industries to act. In this perspective article, we discuss 10 policy statements from three professional associations in the water sector and discuss how they support energy management. While few of the statements directly address energy management, we conclude that they justify it in terms of ethics, sustainability, affordability, and asset management. Still, their disparate nature exposes a policy gap. We recommend that the associations develop definitive policy statements on the subject to clarify their positions and set expectations.

Practitioner Points

Water/wastewater utilities use energy but are not regulated for energy management.

In the absence of public policy, professional associations can influence action.

We discuss 10 policy statements from ASCE, AWWA, and WEF in the water industry.

The statements support energy management indirectly but leave a policy gap.

We recommend developing policy statements specifically on this topic.
Comparison of scoring systems for predicting clinical outcomes of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Prasitvarakul Kamales , Attanath Nawawich , Chang Arunchai
Published: December 2023

Background

This study aimed to determine the performance of the Oakland, Glasgow‐Blatchford, and AIMS65 scores in predicting the clinical outcomes of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB).

Methods

This prospective cohort study was conducted from July 2020 to July 2021. Patients admitted with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding were enrolled. The Oakland, Glasgow‐Blatchford, and AIMS65 scores were calculated. The primary outcome was validating the performance of the scores in predicting severe LGIB; secondary outcomes were comparing the performance of the scores in predicting the need for blood transfusion, hemostatic interventions, in‐hospital rebleeding, and mortality. Receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated for all outcomes. The associations between all three scores and the primary outcomes were calculated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

Patients with acute LGIB (n = 150) were enrolled (88 [58.7%] men and mean age: 63.6 ± 17.3 years). The rates of severe LGIB, need for blood transfusion, hemostatic intervention, in‐hospital rebleeding, and in‐hospital mortality were 54.7%, 79.3%, 10.7%, and 3.3%, respectively. The Oakland and Glasgow‐Blatchford scores had comparable performance in predicting severe LGIB, need for blood transfusion, and mortality, outperforming the AIMS65 score. All scores were suboptimal for predicting hemostatic interventions and rebleeding.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate the predictive performances of the Oakland score and the GBS are excellent and comparable for severe LGIB, the need for blood transfusion, and in‐hospital mortality in patients with acute LGIB. Thus, GBS could be considered as an alternative predictive score for stratification of the patients with acute LGIB.
Introduction
Authors: Heywood Emma
Published: December 2023

Radio plays an empowering role through the content it broadcasts, the manner in which it broadcasts (formats and platforms), and the choice of who is involved in the broadcasting, such as producers, editors, presenters, or guests. If women are portrayed in non-stereotypical ways and are included in the production and output of broadcasts, radio can influence how women perceive topics, how they perceive themselves and, importantly, how society perceives them. This chapter explains how radio plays this role and its various attributes and functions as one of the main and most trusted sources of information in West Africa. It also details perceptions and understandings of empowerment, providing context to environments in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, the three countries on which the book focuses. It introduces the various concepts used in the book, including enabling environments and enabling factors for radio’s contribution to promoting women’s empowerment.
Radio, Women, and Inheritance
Authors: Heywood Emma
Published: December 2023

The chapter examines how the issue of inheritance and the extent to which the allocation of that inheritance affects women, families, and communities, both rural and urban. It discusses how this is represented by a radio studio in Mali on one hand, and by its audiences on the other, and the extent to which, and how, the broadcasts raise awareness and promote women’s human rights and empowerment, not only among the women who are only too aware of the difficulties they face but also among men and extended family members who hold the power over the women. It further questions whether the broadcasts are in alignment with ‘imposed’ international development discourse while remaining culturally relevant and whether the radio broadcasts present women as individuals or within their societal web of relations.
Refocusing on—Crimes Against—Humanity
Authors: Kieser Hans-Lukas
Published: December 2023

This chapter contrasts the terms genocide and democratic social contract. It not only takes seriously the exterminatory rejection of human rights-based polities in the pursuit of social engineering by génocidaires, but also—in the vocabulary of Enlightenment—positively emphasizes the prime concern of a society based on “the common good” as democratically agreed on in a social contract. Related to its key argument, the chapter brings ancient and modern religion from the margins to center stage in genocide studies. By examining genocidal intent in the holy scriptures, it underlines (ethno)religious categorizations in genocides. It exposes the tension between such categories and the age-old faith in the sacredness of life in general and the dignity of human life in particular, on which human rights and democratic social contracts are based. Genocides may sign enduring “scapegoat-based” social pacts. As crimes against humanity, however, they are above all failures in concluding valid social contracts.
The Victims of “Safety”: The Destiny of Armenian Women and Girls Who Were Not Deported from Trabzon
Authors: Aleksanyan Anna
Published: December 2023

Given its proximity to the Russian border, the city of Trabzon was a strategic port for the Young Turk government against the backdrop of war with Russia. While there is an extensive body of literature about Trabzon during the Armenian Genocide, the experiences of Armenian women and girls who stayed in the city remain unexamined. This chapter draws on the Trabzon trials and survivor testimonies to explore their experiences.

While Trabzon Armenians received an official order of deportation, on June 26, 1915, the Vali Cemal Azmi made an “exemption” for Armenian women in later stages of pregnancy and for children “when the parents so desired.” Girls up to 15 years old and boys up to 10 years old remained and were placed in large houses throughout the city. After four years, all male children disappeared, and the girls who survived mostly did so in Turkish households to which they were given as gifts or sold to serve as a wives, servants, or sex slaves.

In 1919, the Turkish Courts-Martial brought the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide to trial in Constantinople. Cemal Azmi, Yenibahçeli Nail, who was the Committee on Union and Progress secretary for Trabzon, and five officials who worked with him stood before the court. The charges against them included organizing and implementing the massive annihilation of the Trabzon Armenians, the plunder of their property, the rape and murder of women and children, and the drowning of around 50 pregnant women in the Black sea. There were 20 sessions of the Trabzon trial, held between March 26 and May 20, 1919, during which witnesses and survivors testified. Among them were Misses Siranush Manukian, Philomene Nurian, Sofia Makhokhian, Aruseak Gylchian, Miss Arabian, and other women who witnessed mass drownings, were survivors of rape, forced marriages, and forced prostitution. The trial was extensively covered by both the Armenian and the Turkish press, whose representatives were present at the daily hearings. Close examination of these women's testimonies and other shreds of evidence of this trial shows how gendered the Armenian genocide was and how women were targeted for both their gender and national identity.
“Special Kind of Refugees”: Assisting Armenians in Erzincan, Bayburt, and Erzurum
Authors: Darbinyan Asya
Published: December 2023

Over 200,000 Armenians became displaced persons during the First World War as a result of the war on the Caucasus battlefront and the genocide in the Ottoman Empire. Drawing upon previously untapped material from Armenian, Georgian, and Russian archives and libraries, this chapter reflects on that mass population movement, examines the resulting humanitarian crisis, and analyzes Armenian refugee relief work. It shows that because of the complex structure of the empire, the nature of humanitarianism in imperial Russia was multilayered and heterogeneous. To control and coordinate the large population movements in the eastern occupied regions of the Ottoman Empire and in Transcaucasia, imperial Russian authorities needed to organize and facilitate proper registration of refugees: a challenging task in times of war, epidemics, and humanitarian crises. They also had to define who was and who wasn’t a refugee.

This chapter reflects on Russian military and civil authorities’ responses to the refugee movements in newly occupied areas of the Ottoman Empire—Erzincan, Bayburt, Erzurum— in summer 1916 and emphasizes the new directions and challenges of relief work. It shows how the relief committees and agencies adjusted to the changing dynamics on the warfront and in the occupied regions and shaped their relief strategies and methods according to the emerging needs of various categories of refugees. Hence, it contributes to key discussions in interdisciplinary research on refugees and to the emerging literature on relations between humanitarianism and imperialism. Finally, it offers a more nuanced understanding of Armenian-Russian relations in this period.
On the Verge of Death and Survival: Krikor Bogharian’s Diary
Authors: Kurt Ümit
Published: December 2023

In recent decades, much important work has been done on the Armenian deportation and genocide that draws on previously inaccessible Ottoman archival materials. However, in the process, there has been a corresponding tendency to downplay, either explicitly or through neglect, the value of largely untapped Armenian-language source materials, including personal memoirs and diaries. Until recently, few researchers in this area have possessed the language skills to hone in on both Armenian-language and Ottoman Turkish-language materials, and as a result, scholars who rely predominantly on one set of sources have tended to marginalize the other. A more well-rounded approach that is able to make use of sources in various languages can only benefit the field. This chapter builds on one such source, a diary, written by a young Krikor Bogharian (1897–1975), who takes us to early twentieth-century Aintab, modern-day Gaziantep, fifty-five kilometers to the west of the Euphrates and forty-five kilometers to the north of the modern Turkish-Syrian border.

The Armenian deportation is examined through the first-person account of an Armenian from the city of Aintab. This chapter, based on the diary entries Bogharian penned as he struggled through this disastrous time, sheds light on the deportation experiences of Aintab Armenians. While sharing the tales of extraordinary suffering faced by ordinary people who were exiled and annihilated, it narrates the stories of those who survived to tell their tale as they trekked through the desert under unimaginable conditions. The chapter presents detailed information about both the personal and the family life of Bogharian, in addition to the suffering endured by his fellow deportees. Drawing on a valuable non-state primary source, this chapter explores what being a survivor entailed in a genocidal moment.
Categories and Their Interstices: The Armenian Genocide Beyond Resistance and Accommodation
Authors: Mouradian Khatchig
Published: December 2023

During the Armenian Genocide, some deportees were afforded the opportunity to avoid subsequent waves of deportation and massacres by working for the Ottoman Turkish military (or civilian) authorities, who needed their skills and were willing to “pay” for it by sparing their lives. Having secured a job in the military’s hospitals and workshops thanks to their training, connections, and often bribes, these deportees often paid it forward, providing compatriots with food and medication, offering hideouts, facilitating their escape from concentration camps, and sometimes managing to procure jobs for them in the military. This chapter proposes referring to these actors as interstitials—those operating in the interstices of collaboration and resistance. The study of these actors offers insight into an underexplored phenomenon in Armenian genocide studies, long dominated by cookie-cutter categories. Serving the Ottoman war effort and assisting those whom the state targeted for annihilation, interstitials invite us to think about mass atrocity not only through less stringent categories—a recent trend in the scholarship—but outside of them. In this approach, we entertain the possibility that members of the targeted group can, at the same time, work to save their own skin and help other victims, collaborate with perpetrators and resist their genocidal policies.
Networks of Interlocking Leaders: Exploring the Links and Identifying the Elites in four European countries
Authors: Lee Jayeon , Platek Daniel , Scaramuzzino Roberto
Published: December 2023

This chapter aims at analysing the inter-organisational networks emerging from interlocking leaders among the most resourceful, national-level civil society organisations (CSOs) in four European countries. By comparing four different country contexts, we analyse differences in the characteristics of networks, find different mechanisms that seem to structure organisational links across the cases, and identify who the most powerful actors are based on the CSOs’ network positions. While we find small components of tightly connected organisations in the Italian and Polish cases, mainly around similar policy areas, these contexts are characterised by overall fragmentation. In Sweden and in the UK, on the other hand, we find that there are a handful of key CSOs that link the majority of the resourceful organisations, thus occupying powerful network positions.
Who Gets a Seat at the Table? Civil Society Incumbents and Challengers in the European Parliament’s Consultations
Authors: Landorff Laura
Published: December 2023

This chapter explores the participation of animal welfare civil society organisations (CSOs) in the European Parliament’s (EP’s) public hearings and in the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals to reveal who gets a seat at the table when EU parliamentarians consult civil society on animal welfare policies. Theorising the EP as a Strategic Action Field (SAF), animal welfare CSOs invited to official EP public hearings are conceptualised as incumbents, while animal welfare CSOs invited to unofficial Intergroups are perceived as challengers. Drawing on an original sample that covers 84 Intergroup meetings and 43 EP public hearings during the 8th and ongoing 9th EP, this chapter shows how animal welfare organisations challenge established civil society practices in the EP by using the Intergroup as a venue to facilitate cooperation, resource concentration, and access to political elites beyond official parliamentary structures.
Reproduction of Elites in Hong Kong through the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Authors: Lai Pui Chi
Published: December 2023

This chapter will show how the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), a sports, gambling, and charitable establishment, filled the institutional void in colonial Hong Kong, an embryonic civil society. It gives new insight into the potential of a civil society organisation to form an institutional base for the elite. The HKJC provided a platform for the elite to build and facilitate interrelated networks, revealing the integration and more specifically the reproduction of the elite in Hong Kong society. The elites played multiple roles as social and economic leaders-cum-politicians in the oversimplified state-society dichotomy, also bridging the gap between the ruling regime and society. However, in the run-up to the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, the elite formation and composition and political situation in Hong Kong society started to change, thus challenging the role of the HKJC in contemporary society.
Emergency Within the Orbit
Authors: Mourits Maarten P. , Gooris Peter J. J. , Bergsma J. Eelco
Published: December 2023

An orbital emergency is a situation in which visual functions can be lost in hours to days, because of injury to the optic nerve. The most common are traumatic optic neuropathy and retrobulbar hemorrhage.