bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Root Walker: an automated pipeline for large scale quantification of early root growth responses at high spatial and temporal resolution
Authors: Platre Matthieu Pierre , Mehta Preyanka , Halvorson Zachary , Zhang Ling , Brent Lukas , Gleason F. Matias , Faizi Kian , Goulding Callum , Busch Wolfgang
Published: October 2023

Plants are sessile organisms that constantly adapt to their changing environment. The root is exposed to numerous environmental signals ranging from nutrients and water to microbial molecular patterns. These signals can trigger distinct responses including the rapid increase or decrease of root growth. Consequently, using root growth as a readout for signal perception can help decipher which external cues are perceived by roots, and how these signals are integrated. To date, studies measuring root growth responses using large numbers of roots have been limited by a lack of high‐throughput image acquisition, poor scalability of analytical methods, or low spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we developed the Root Walker pipeline, which uses automated microscopes to acquire time‐series images of many roots exposed to controlled treatments with high spatiotemporal resolution, in conjunction with fast and automated image analysis software. We demonstrate the power of Root Walker by quantifying root growth rate responses at different time and throughput scales upon treatment with natural auxin and two mitogen‐associated protein kinase cascade inhibitors. We find a concentration‐dependent root growth response to auxin and reveal the specificity of one MAPK inhibitor. We further demonstrate the ability of Root Walker to conduct genetic screens by performing a genome‐wide association study on 260 accessions in under 2 weeks, revealing known and unknown root growth regulators. Root Walker promises to be a useful toolkit for the plant science community, allowing large‐scale screening of root growth dynamics for a variety of purposes, including genetic screens for root sensing and root growth response mechanisms.
Dermoscopic findings and comparison of usefulness of longitudinal versus transversal sections in the histological diagnosis of alopecia X
Authors: Zanna Giordana , Abramo Francesca , Contiero Barbara , Zini Eric , Albanese Francesco , Borio Elena , Godizzi Francesco , Necci Fabiano , Luciani Luca , Roccabianca Paola
Published: October 2023

Background

A combination of dermoscopic and histological findings may provide useful information for the diagnosis of hair follicle diseases. However, there are no studies on dermoscopic–histopathological correlations in dogs affected by alopecia X, and comparison of longitudinal versus transversal sectioning of skin biopsy specimens in the assessment of this hair loss disorder has not been thoroughly investigated.

Hypothesis/Objectives

The aim of this study was to correlate dermoscopic and histological features using both longitudinal and transversal sectioning of skin biopsy samples to gain additional information for the diagnosis of alopecia X.

Animals

Nineteen Pomeranian dogs affected by alopecia X and five healthy Pomeranians as controls.

Materials and Methods

Dermoscopic–histological correlation was performed within the diseased group, whereas histological comparisons against controls. The demographic and clinical characteristics also were related to the histological findings.

Results

The dermoscopic findings revealed scattered, thinned, short hairs mixed with amorphous keratoseborrhoeic‐like material (follicular plugging), perifollicular and intrafollicular scaling, and hyperpigmentation varying from pinpoint black spots to a diffuse texture. Dermoscopic findings correlated with histological findings for selected qualitative and quantitative findings. The usefulness of transversal sections was demonstrated in accurately determining the hair follicular density and counts, growth arrest phases and in identifying mineralisation of hair follicle basement membrane when compared to the longitudinal. Conversely, no correlations between histological findings and demographic and clinical characteristics were detected.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

These data provide evidence of the usefulness of dermoscopic evaluation as an accessory diagnostic tool and of transversal sections of skin biopsies as complementary to the diagnosis of alopecia X.
Prevalence of red blood cell alloantibodies among blood donors in the French Military Blood Institute: A 10‐year retrospective study
Authors: Pons Sandrine , Poirrier Laurence , Fleuriot Estelle , Martinaud Christophe
Published: October 2023

Background and Objectives

Screening for red blood cell alloantibodies (RBC‐Ab) is a critical step in ensuring blood transfusion safety performed by blood donation screening laboratories. We aim to evaluate the prevalence of the RBC‐Ab among healthy blood donors.

Materials and Methods

Antibody screening of serum of all voluntary blood donors was performed as a routine immune‐haematological procedure by a solid‐phase method on a fully automated immunohaematology analyser. Positive sera were further investigated to identify the specificity of RBC‐Ab by a commercially available red cell panel.

Results

Between January 2012 and December 2021, a total of 212,218 donations were screened for the presence of RBC‐Ab, 74% from male donors (n = 157,898) and 26% from female donors (n = 54,320). Mean age at donation time was 32 ± 12 years. A total of 1007 donations were screened positive (0.47%), and 131 were confirmed positive for alloantibodies in their serum, yielding a prevalence of 0.06% (95% confidence interval: 0.05–0.07). Most frequent alloantibodies identified were of RH blood group system (64%), followed by anti‐MNS (19%), anti‐Kidd and Lewis (6% each) and anti‐KEL (4%). The results showed a statistically higher prevalence of alloantibodies in women than men. Our results showed a lower prevalence as compared to the available data, which might be related to our study population.

Conclusion

The prevalence of positive antibody screening in healthy donors in this study was found to be 0.47%, while the prevalence of alloantibodies was 0.06%. The most common alloantibodies were anti‐RH1 (25%) and anti‐RH3 (24%).
Isolation, selection, and identification of phytopathogenic fungi with bioherbicide potential for the control of field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.)
Authors: Sotelo‐Cerón Néstor Daniel , Maldonado‐Mendoza Ignacio Eduardo , Leyva‐Madrigal Karla Yeriana , Martínez‐Álvarez Juan Carlos
Published: October 2023

Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.) has been described as one of the most noxious weeds in agricultural soils worldwide. Furthermore, its control by conventional herbicides can promote the emergence of resistant biotypes as well as negatively affect human health and the environment. An ecological alternative for weed management is the use of phytopathogenic fungi. In this study, 68 fungal strains were isolated from C. arvensis leaves exhibiting symptoms of fungal disease. Seven isolates were confirmed as pathogenic to C. arvensis in a detached leaf assay. Filtered cell‐free cultures (FCFC) of these seven isolates were then evaluated. FCFC of TV1 and ET4 showed the best results, inhibiting seedling dry weight by up to 48% in vivo and shoot dry weight up to 35% in growth chamber assays. Phytopathogenic evaluation of both isolates showed disease severity >67%, and an ability to inhibit root dry weight by up to 80%. Inhibitory effects were not observed on chickpea, bean, sorghum, maize, or tomato plants, suggesting pathogenic specificity of TV1 and ET4 to field bindweed. Molecular identification revealed a high similarity of TV1 (100% identity) with Macrophomina phaseolina, and a high similarity of ET4 with Alternaria alternata (99.8% identity). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of M. phaseolina showing pathogenicity against field bindweed worldwide, and the first report for A. alternata in Mexico. The results reveal that these fungi and/or their FCFC have the potential to be used as bioherbicidal agents against C. arvensis.
Generating numbers of rings graded by amenable and supramenable groups
Authors: Lorensen Karl , Öinert Johan
Published: October 2023

A ring has unbounded generating number (UGN) if, for every positive integer , there is no ‐module epimorphism . For a ring graded by a group such that the base ring has UGN, we identify several sets of conditions under which must also have UGN. The most important of these are: (1) is amenable, and there is a positive integer such that, for every , as ‐modules for some ; (2) is supramenable, and there is a positive integer such that, for every , as ‐modules for some . The pair of conditions (1) leads to three different ring‐theoretic characterizations of the property of amenability for groups. We also consider rings that do not have UGN; for such a ring , the smallest positive integer such that there is an ‐module epimorphism is called the generating number of , denoted . If has UGN, then we define . We describe several classes of examples of a ring graded by an amenable group such that .
Supplemental Material: High-resolution chronostratigraphy of late Mesozoic sequences in northern North China: Implications for the linkages among intracontinental orogeny, volcanism, Jehol Biota, and Pacific plate subduction
Authors: Ma Qiang , al. et
Published: October 2023

 Supplemental analytical methods, information of sections, figures, and data. 
Thermal analysis and performance investigations of shell and tube heat exchanger using numerical simulations
Authors: Habibullah  , Atif Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Arslan , Awwad Fuad A. , Ismail Emad A. A.
Published: October 2023

The steam condenser is a crucial component in power plants, playing a vital role in influencing the overall performance of steam power plants. This paper delves into a detailed assessment of the thermal aspects and evaluation of steam surface condensers. To conduct this rigorous evaluation, we meticulously crafted a three-dimensional (3D) model of a multi-tube single-pass counter-flow heat exchanger using ANSYS Design-Modeller. Within this model, a multiphase mixture model was harnessed to replicate the condensation process that takes place within the condenser. After the model’s development, a series of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were expertly executed utilizing ANSYS Fluent Workbench. The simulations encompassed diverse cooling water flow rates and steam inlet velocities. Notably, two sets of CFD simulations were carried out: the initial set featured a velocity inlet in the condenser, while the second set involved CFD simulations with a pressure steam inlet. The findings derived from these simulations unveiled a noteworthy correlation between the condensation rate within the shell and both the rate of circulating water flow and the operational pressure of the condenser. Additionally, it was discerned that the condensation rate could be further influenced by the specific geometry of the condenser. In sum, this study concludes that optimizing the geometrical configuration and baffle arrangements holds promise for increasing the condensation rate and overall performance of steam condensers employed within steam power plants.
Drop model of integer and fractional quantum Hall effects
Authors: Vasilchenko Alexander A.
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we present a drop model for integer and fractional quantum Hall effects (FQHE). We show that the two-dimensional electron gas breaks up into regions with filling factors [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in the disk geometry, and the formation of drops with a finite number of electrons is possible. Sequences of filling fractions are constructed on the basis of experimental data. For all sequences, there are initial FQHE states, which correspond to a drop with five electrons. The remaining FQHE states are composite states of a drop with five electrons and one or more pairs of electrons.
Impact of Arrhenius energy and irregular heat absorption on generalized second grade fluid MHD flow over nonlinear elongating surface with thermal radiation and Cattaneo–Christov heat flux theory
Authors: Gangadhar Kotha , Sujana Sree T. , Thumma Thirupathi
Published: October 2023

In this paper, the free convection flow phenomenon on magnetized second-grade nanofluid over a nonlinear elongating surface has been modeled under the assumptions of generalized Fick’s and Cattaneo–Christov heat flux relations. The non-uniform heat source and sink and thermal radiation effects are used in the energy equation with the Buongiorno nanofluid model. The effect on activation energy and chemical processes is also examined, making the current numerical scrutinization innovative. The current mathematical model begins with partial derivative equations (PDEs), which are then transformed into ordinary derivative equations (ODEs) using similarity transformations. The outcomes are obtained using a combination of the finite-difference scheme with the collocation method, approximated up to desirable accuracy, and the effects of various parameters on the modified second-grade nanofluid are discussed using tables and graphs. The temperature distribution for the thermal boundary layer is raised with nonlinear thermal radiation and Brownian motion parameters. The present thorough analysis identified several technical and industrial applications, including Biomedical applications in cancer treatment, electrical wire manufacturing, oil friction control in pipelines, manufacturing processes, and aerodynamic expulsion utilizations.
Data Augmentation based Cross-Lingual Multi-Speaker TTS using DL with Sentiment Analysis
Authors: B. Lalitha , V Madhurima , Ch Nandakrishna , Jampani Satish Babu , J. N. Chandra Sekhar , P. Venkat Reddy
Published: October 2023

Text to
S
peech (TTS) algorithms have made tremendous strides in recent years in terms of their ability to generate speech in a single language that sounds as natural as possible. However, because to a lack of available training data, the synthesis of speech from the same person in various languages continues to be difficult. It might be challenging to locate people who are proficient in numerous languages at a level equivalent to native speakers. Voice conversion is one method that may be used to create a polyglot corpus, which can then be used to solve this problem. This entails making use of a voice representation model that has been trained on 53 different languages through the application of hybrid deep learning in order to capture speaker-invariant qualities. In this study, we present a novel approach for the conversion of voices across different languages by employing Generated Adversarial Networks (GANs) to train a multilingual TTS system. The concept of individual likeness loss in order to address the special difficulty of maintaining one's individual speaking identity during the training process can be offered. This work is focused to provide the impression that voice data coming from a variety of languages and speakers was produced by the same individual, and one way to do so is by using this word. In order to determine the extent to which our model is useful, two experiments that compared it against benchmarks that made use of varying degrees of parameter sharing between languages are carried out. The purpose of these experiments was to evaluate the accuracy of pronunciation as well as the caliber of the synthetic voice during transitions between different languages.
Cross-Country Variation in (Binary) Gender Differences in Secondary School Students’ CS Attitudes: Re-Validating and Generalizing a CS Attitudes Scale
Authors: Rachmatullah Arif , Vandenberg Jessica , Shin Sein , Wiebe Eric
Published: October 2023

The current study compared American, Korean, and Indonesian middle and high school students’ CS attitudes. Concurrently, this study also examined whether the items in the CS attitudes scale exhibit country and gender measurement biases. We gathered data on CS attitudes from middle and high school students in the US, Korea, and Indonesia. The participating students took the same (translated) previously validated CS attitudes scale. We ran a unidimensional IRT, differential item functioning (DIF), a two-way ANOVA, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Despite the valid instrument, we found it inappropriate as is for international comparison studies because students from different countries interpreted some items differently. We then compared gender-based differences in CS attitudes across countries. The results revealed no significant differences between males and females in the Indonesian middle school data, whereas male students had significantly higher CS attitudes than female students in both American and Korean student data. Furthermore, we found the same pattern in gender differences in Korean and Indonesian high school students’ CS attitudes scores as in the middle school study. These findings underscore the importance of a country’s sociocultural context in influencing gap and diversity in secondary school students’ CS attitudes.
Critical Geoarchaeology: From Depositional Processes to the Sociopolitics of Earthen Life
Authors: Bauer Andrew M.
Published: October 2023

In the last several decades, geoarchaeological research and practice have moved well beyond their foundational concerns for site formation processes and the stratigraphic integrity of artifact associations, developing significant orientations toward archaeological and social theory. This review focuses on four overlapping research emphases that have explicitly extended the reach of geoarchaeological research within the broader social sciences and humanities, including ( a) interpretive, symbolic, and social approaches in geoarchaeological research; ( b) articulations with recent developments in posthumanist and new materialist scholarship; ( c) the application of geoarchaeological investigations to historical ecology and political ecology research programs; and ( d), building on the latter, critical engagements with ongoing transdisciplinary scholarship on the Anthropocene. Taken together, these different orientations offer new possibilities for geoarchaeological research to inform anthropological concerns for social and environmental production and the ways that archaeological and geological fields of practice and discourse contribute to shaping social, political, and environmental conditions today.
Human Bodies in Extreme Environments
Authors: Ocobock Cara
Published: October 2023

Human habitation and adaptation to extreme environments have a deep history in anthropological research. Anthropologists’ understanding of these ecological pressures and how humans respond to them has grown substantially over the last 100+ years. This review covers long-standing knowledge on adaptation to classic extreme conditions of heat, cold, and high altitude, while also updating the areas in which recent research has broadened our understanding of human adaptation, acclimatization, and resilience. Unfortunately, the intersecting stresses of structural inequality and climate change have made these extremes more extreme, with drastic negative impacts on health and well-being. Future research will need to explore how extreme environments, structural inequality, and climate change are embodied as well as mitigated so that humans are better prepared to face a rapidly changing world.
Publics, Polls, Protest: Public Representation as Sociopolitical Practice
Authors: Bishara Amahl A.
Published: October 2023

This article seeks to illuminate connections across studies of publics, media, formal political processes, and protests. An examination of representation as sociopolitical practice allows us to consider the practices that occur around the edges of what has been considered the public sphere and to interrogate the work of its boundaries, which reify national publics, separate civil society from formal political work, and separate representational work from collective action. Thinking about environments for expression and practices of representation invites a consideration of the multiple interrelated geographies of expressive spaces—ranging from publics that legitimize a state to those corresponding to or creating communities, political movements, immigrant groups, or diasporic networks. A focus on representational practices trains attention on the body, place, and social relations and encourages attention to the multiplicity of ways in which violence shapes environments for expression, as well as how social and political actors respond to violence.
Fast Backprojection Filtration Algorithm in Circular Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
Authors: Wang Xianchao , Zhang Yong , Hong Xingyong , Wang Honghai
Published: October 2023

In order to meet the heavy backprojection calculation of the backprojection filtration (BPF) algorithm in circular cone-beam computed tomography (CT), a fast backprojection method is developed, which uses the integral operator of the fixed scanning angle integral interval. The proposed method combines with Hilbert filtration and the filter of the Blackman window, and then, the fast BPF (F-BPF) algorithm is obtained. The experimental results of simulation data and real data demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is fast enough for high-quality reconstructed images only with half-circle projection data.
The Use of Bone Density Scan in Monitoring Treatment Response in Patients Diagnosed with Osteoporosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ibrahim Mohammed O. , Kolleri Ahmad , Ginawi Amel
Published: October 2023

Osteoporosis is characterized as a metabolic bone disease defined by low bone mineral density (BMD) and bone tissue degeneration, particularly a reduction in the number of trabeculae and a drop in cortical bone thickness, and a rise in porosity, which is mainly due to an imbalance between bone resorption and formation. As a result, it increases bone fragility, and the susceptibility to fracture increases, especially among the elderly. The objective is to assess the effectiveness of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan in monitoring the response to osteoporosis treatment and compare the scan’s response to different osteoporosis treatments. This retrospective cohort study included 51 adults selected from 300 patients diagnosed with osteoporosis based on World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria of a

T

-score of -2.5. Data were acquired from the electronic medical records between 2016 and 2019 from a private hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study included sociodemographic characteristics, biomedical parameters, comorbidities, history of fracture, medications, laboratory, and DXA scan results. Ninety-four percent of the patients were females; the mean (±SD) age was

58.1
±
11.5

years. Most patients were expatriates (84.3%), of which Asian ethnicity was 66.7%. The mean (±SD) duration of osteoporosis was

2.82
±
1.8

years. Eleven (21.6%) patients had a history of fragility fracture. Ninety-six percent of the patients had vitamin D deficiency. One-third (29.4%) of the patients had hyperparathyroidism. Alendronate/cholecalciferol, received by nine patients (17.6%), showed a significant improvement (

p
=
0.018

) in the BMD of the femoral neck among the study group. In conclusion, the DXA scan as a monitoring tool has shown a significant improvement in the BMD of the femoral neck among patients taking alendronate/cholecalciferol treatment compared to other medications.
Examining Built Environment Effects on Metro Ridership at Station-to-Station Level considering Circle Heterogeneity: A Case Study from Xi’an, China
Authors: Zhang Siyi , Li Ziwei , Liu Zixuan
Published: October 2023

Transit-oriented development is described as a geographic unit with multicircle structures. Most studies have analysed the impact of the built environment within station catchment areas on metro passenger flows from a macro perspective and have lacked analysis of the circle heterogeneity. Few relevant studies have independently investigated the impact of the built environment on the passenger flow in each circle and indeed neglected the systematic interaction between inner circles and circles in the TOD area. In this study, the 800 m buffer from the station was equally divided into four circles. Based on the gravity model, the representative built environment features around the metro stations on both sides were extracted using the block attention module (BAM). Subsequently, Shapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) was used to explore the influence of different built environment variables on passenger flow at each circle between the origin and destination stations. The results indicate the following: (1) the station-to-station passenger flow is significantly affected by the availability of transfers and the distance between the origin and destination stations; (2) the impact of different built environments on ridership significantly varies within different circles; and (3) the built environment has a similar impact on average daily passenger flow on both sides. Therefore, this study proposes strategies to optimize the metro passenger flow by developing different land use in different circles and updating the urban spatial structure.
The Role of Muscle Strength in the Sit-to-Stand Task in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Baizabal-Carvallo José Fidel , Alonso-Juarez Marlene , Fekete Robert
Published: October 2023

Background. Rising from a chair or the sit-to-stand (STS) task is frequently impaired in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). These patients commonly attribute such difficulties to weakness in the lower extremities. However, the role of muscle strength in the STS transfer task has not been fully elucidated. Objective. We aim at determining the role of muscle strength in the STS task. Methods. We studied 90 consecutive patients with PD and 52 sex- and age-matched controls. Lower limb strength was determined in both legs by clinical examination using the Medical Research Council Scale, dynamometric (leg flexion) and weighting machine (leg pressure) measures. Patients were interrogated regarding the presence of subjective lower limb weakness or allied sensations. Results. There were 20 patients (22.2%) with abnormal STS task (item 3.9 of the MDS-UPDRS-III ≥2 points). These patients had higher modified Hoehn and Yahr stage

P
 
<
 
0.001

and higher total motor scores of the MDS-UPDRS

P
 
<
 
0.001

, compared with 70 PD patients with normal STS task. Patients with abnormal STS task endorsed lower limb weakness more frequently and had lower muscle strength in the proximal lower extremities, compared to PD patients with normal STS task and normal controls. The presence of perceived lower limb weakness increased the risk of an abnormal STS task, OR: 11.93 (95% C.I. 1.51–94.32), whereas a hip extension strength ≤9 kg/pressure also increased the risk of abnormal STS task, OR: 4.45 (95% C.I. 1.49–13.23). In the multivariate regression analysis, bradykinesia and decreased hip strength were related to abnormal STS task. Conclusions. Patients with PD and abnormal STS task complain more commonly of lower limb weakness and have decreased proximal lower limb strength compared to patients with PD and normal STS task, likely contributing to abnormalities in performing the STS task.
Association between Red Blood Cell Distribution Width and Short-Term Mortality in Patients with Paralytic Intestinal Obstruction: Retrospective Data Analysis Based on the MIMIC-III Database
Authors: Zhao Xuelian , Wan Xinhuan , Gu Chao , Gao Shanyu , Yin Jiahui , Wang Lizhu , Quan Longfang
Published: October 2023

Objective. Elevated red cell distribution (RDW) has been reported to be associated with mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis and cholecystitis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). However, evidence for the relationship between RDW and paralytic intestinal obstruction is lacking. Therefore, the article aims to investigate the relationship between RDW and 28-day mortality of the patients with paralytic intestinal obstruction. Patients and Methods. This is a single-center retrospective study. Based on a particular screening criterion, 773 patients with paralytic intestinal obstruction were selected from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database. Indicators of the first 24 h into the ICU were used to analyze the relationship between RDW and 28-day death from paralytic intestinal obstruction by Kaplan−Meier (K-M) analysis, logistic regression analysis, and stratification analysis. Results. The curve fitting exhibited a nonlinear relationship. The K-M curve showed that groups with higher RDW values had lower survival rates. The logistic regression analysis revealed that RDW increased with 28-day mortality in patients with paralytic intestinal obstruction in the fully adjusted model. In the fully adjusted model, OR value and 95% CI from the second to the third quantiles compared to the first quartile (reference group) were 1.89 (1.04, 3.44) and 3.29 (1.82, 5.93), respectively. The results of stratified analysis of each layer had the same trend as those of regression analysis, and the interaction results were not significant. Conclusion. Elevated RDW was associated with increased 28-day mortality from paralytic intestinal obstruction in the ICU. This study can help to further explore the relationship between RDW and death in patients with paralytic intestinal obstruction.
Effect of Capping Agent on Structure, Composition, and Optical Properties of Low-Cost Chemically Deposited Zinc Oxide Thin Films and Their Antibacterial Activities
Authors: Thanikaikarasan S. , Amutha C. , Natarajan B. , Dhanasekaran D. , Rajkumar S.
Published: October 2023

In the present report, pure zinc oxide and albumen-capped zinc oxide thin films were deposited on a glass substrate by a simple chemical method. The growth rate of the deposited film increases by means of number of dipping linearly. The films deposited were subjected to XRD, SEM, EDX, and UV-visible spectroscopy to analyze the crystal structure, morphology, composition, and optical properties. Structural feature reported that the deposited films were found to be a wurtzite structure. The degree of crystallinity depends on film thickness with deposition time per cycles. The parameters related to film structure, such as stress, strain, dislocation density, lattice constant, and bond length, were determined. The values of the fundamental absorption edge were at 3.28 and 3.06 eV for the deposited films of pure zinc oxide and albumen-capped zinc oxide, respectively. Photoluminescence measurements indicated that the peaks of emission were found to be 375 and 340 nm for zinc oxide and albumen-capped zinc oxide. The effects of an antibacterial activity against different positive and negative bacteria sources were determined.
Assessing ideal teacher’s personality: Students’ perspective and expectations
Authors: Hidayah Nur , Afdal Afdal , Budiman Nandang , Hanafi Husni , Yunita Mila
Published: October 2023

The ideal teacher can reflect on self-development to form a personality that fits the needs of students. Teachers who have achieved a perfect personality figure have a greater chance of success in transferring knowledge and in the student education process. The need for an ideal teacher figure can be a reference for prospective teachers to develop themselves from the beginning of their education. Based on these needs, this study identified the ideal teacher figure based on the student’s perspective. This research design used a survey research design in the quantitative method. The research subjects consisted of 240 students spread across the East Java, Indonesia. The data collection instrument used the student version of the teacher’s personality test. Analysis of the research data was carried out in a statistical-descriptive. The results showed that the four strongest personalities most expected of students were caring, humble, responsible, and patience. Teachers’ ideal personalities help them provide services that align with students’ self-development needs. Suggestions for further research are identifying ideal teacher personalities based on other points of view, including senior teachers, student teacher candidates, and society in general.
Donde la casualidad no tiene lugar: mitos y estereótipos sobre la vejez y el envejecimiento
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades
Published: October 2023

El propósito del libro Donde la Casualidad No Tiene Lugar: mitos y estereotipos acerca de la vejezy del envejecimiento (en portugués Onde o Acaso Não tem Vez: mitos e estereótipos sobre a velhice e o envelhecimento) es compartir de maneira artística y provocadora las cinco categorías de análisis que resultan de una revisión de literatura científica acerca del tema. Cada categoría compone uno de los siguientes capitulos: Degeneración; Moralidad; Sexualidad; Roles de Edad; y Productividad. Las fuentes de búsqueda de literatura fueron los periódicos científicos brasileños especialistas en el tema del envejecimiento, abarcando las publicaciones disponibles desde sus respectivas fechas de inicio hasta el año de 2021. Además de divulgar el tema cientificamente y más alla de los distintos públicos a quienes interesan o que actúan en el campo de la vejez y del envejecimiento, esta obra, bajo también la condición de libro didáctio, todavia se destina a promover la enseñanza superior en Gerontología y áreas relacionadas. Por fin, el libro invitanos a pensar como nuestras posturas y opciones, desde las más simples hasta más complejas, pueden no ser solamente resultado de una simples causalidad.
Orthostatic Blood Pressure Change, Dizziness, and Risk of Dementia in the ARIC Study
Authors: Ma Yuan , Zhang Yiwen , Coresh Josef , Viswanathan Anand , Sullivan Kevin J. , Walker Keenan A. , Liu Chelsea , Lipsitz Lewis A. , Selvin Elizabeth , Sharrett A. Richey , Gottesman Rebecca F. , Blacker Deborah , Hofman Albert , Windham B. Gwen , Juraschek Stephen P.
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND:

Abnormal orthostatic blood pressure (BP) regulation may result in cerebral hypoperfusion and brain ischemia and contribute to dementia. It may also manifest as early symptoms of the neurodegenerative process associated with dementia. The relationship between the magnitude and timing of orthostatic BP responses and dementia risk is not fully understood.

METHODS:

We conducted a prospective cohort analysis of the associations of orthostatic BP changes and self-reported orthostatic dizziness with the risk of dementia in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (ARIC). We calculated changes in BP from the supine to the standing position at 5 measurements taken within 2 minutes after standing during the baseline visit (1987–1989). The primary outcome was adjudicated dementia ascertained through 2019.

RESULTS:

Among 11 644 participants (mean [SD] age, 54.5 [5.7] years; 54.1% women; 25.9% Black), 2303 dementia cases were identified during a median follow-up of 25.9 years. Large decreases in systolic BP from the supine to standing position measured at the first 2 measurements ≈30 and 50 seconds after standing, but not afterward, were associated with orthostatic dizziness and a higher risk of dementia. Comparing a decrease in systolic BP of ≤−20 or >−20 to −10 mm Hg to stable systolic BP (>−10 to 10 mm Hg) at the first measurement, the adjusted hazard ratios were 1.22 (95% CI, 1.01–1.47) and 1.10 (95% CI, 0.97–1.25), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Abnormal orthostatic BP regulation, especially abrupt drops in BP within the first minute, might be early risk markers for the development of dementia. Transient early orthostatic hypotension warrants more attention in clinical settings.
Short- and long-term effects of emotion up- and down-regulation
Authors: Diers Kersten , Gärtner Anne , Schönfeld Sabine , Dörfel Denise , Walter Henrik , Brocke Burkhard , Strobel Alexander
Published: October 2023

It is an open question in cognitive emotion regulation research how emotion regulation unfolds over time, and whether the brain regions involved in down-regulation are also recruited during up-regulation of emotions. As a replication and extension of our preceding study, we conducted an fMRI study in young healthy adults on the neural basis of up- and down-regulation of negative and neutral pictures during the immediate stimulation phase as well as after short- and long-term delays (N=47 for immediate and short-term delays, a subset of N=30 for long-term delays). For this, we employed three experimental conditions—down-regulation (distance), maintenance (permit), and up-regulation (intensify)—for negative and neutral pictures, and investigated the neural responses during the stimulation and post-stimulation phase as well as during re-exposure after 10 min and after 1 week. We observed the following main results: first, we found greater activation in emotion-generating regions such as the amygdala in the permit vs. distance and the intensify vs. distance comparisons, but not in the intensify vs. permit comparison. Second, we observed greater activation in emotion-regulating regions such as the right inferior parietal and right superior / middle frontal cortex in the distance vs. permit and the distance vs. intensify contrasts, but not the permit vs. intensify contrast. Third, we found that the activation difference between distance and intensify within the amygdala reversed after the regulation period. Fourth, previous emotion regulation did not influence the activation during re-exposure, neither after 10 min nor after 1 week. Taken together, the results provide a partial replication of persistent effects observed in our preceding study, indicate different neural systems for up- and down-regulation, and demonstrate that a broader perspective on emotion regulation can be achieved by simultaneously considering different goals, directions, and strategies of emotion regulation in a single experiment.
Systematics and integrative taxonomic revision of the tribe Scopulini Duponchel, 1845 in Iran (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Sterrhinae)
Authors: WANKE DOMINIC , HAUSMANN AXEL , LEE KYUNG MIN , MURILLO-RAMOS LEIDYS , SIHVONEN PASI , RAJAEI HOSSEIN
Published: October 2023

The Iranian taxa of the tribe Scopulini are taxonomically revised. The systematic positions of the genera Cinglis Guenée, 1858, Glossotrophia Prout, 1913, Pseudocinglis Hausmann, 1994 and Scopuloides Hausmann, 1994, with uncertain validity and/or position within the tribe Scopulini Duponchel, 1845 (Lepidoptera: Sterrhinae), are further elucidated by use of one mitochondrial and up to nine protein-coding nuclear gene regions. Available type specimens of the described species and more than 2,600 additional specimens were morphologically investigated. In addition, over 400 genitalia preparations were made and examined together with distribution data and DNA barcodes. As a result of the multi-gene analysis, the genera Cinglis stat. rev. and Scopuloides stat. rev. are re-validated at the genus level. The genus Pseudocinglis syn. nov. is regarded as a junior synonym of the genus Cinglis stat. rev. and Glossotrophia syn. nov. is regarded as a junior synonym of the genus Scopula. Cinglis eurata (Prout, 1913) comb. nov. and Cinglis benigna (Brandt, 1941) comb. nov. are combined with the genus Cinglis. Additionally, Cinglis benigna amseli (Wiltshire, 1967) syn. nov. is regarded as a synonym of C. benigna. Scopula adulteraria (Erschov, 1874) stat. nov. is raised from subspecies to species rank; Scopula iranaria Bytinski-Salz & Brandt, 1937 syn. nov. is synonymized with S. flaccidaria (Zeller, 1852); S. transcaspica taftanica Brandt, 1941 syn. nov. is synonymized with S. transcaspica Prout, 1935; S. diffinaria asiatica (Brandt, 1938) syn. nov. is synonymized with S. diffinaria (Prout, 1913) and Glossotrophia bullata Vojnits, 1986 syn. nov. is synonymized with Scopula sacraria ariana (Ebert, 1965). The female genitalia of Scopula lactarioides Brandt, 1941 are described and illustrated for the first time. In total, the presence of 33 species of Scopulini in Iran is confirmed. Wing patterns, male and female genitalia and diagnostic characters of most Iranian Scopulini species are depicted and their distribution ranges are mapped.
Commentary to Brain-wide continuous functional ultrasound imaging for real-time monitoring of hemodynamics during ischemic stroke
Authors: Nowak Thaddeus S , Farr Tracy D
Published: October 2023

Functional ultrasound (FUS) has emerged as a novel imaging method to reliably assess relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and infer perfusion, with good spatiotemporal resolution. Brunner and colleagues provide what appears to be its first application to characterize peri-infarct spreading depolarizations (SDs) in experimental stroke through recording of transient hyperemic events. They also report incomplete overlap between acute perfusion deficits and subsequent infarct distribution, specifically noting a rostral expansion to involve penumbral territory from which propagating depolarizations had preferentially originated. This observation would not be straightforward using other methodologies. Other strengths and limitations of the study are considered.
Inhibition of EphA4 reduces vasogenic edema after experimental stroke in mice by protecting the blood-brain barrier integrity
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Zhao Jing , Sha Wei-Meng , Zhang Xin-Pei , Mai Jing-Yuan , Bartlett Perry F , Hou Sheng-Tao
Published: October 2023

Cerebral vasogenic edema, a severe complication of ischemic stroke, aggravates neurological deficits. However, therapeutics to reduce cerebral edema still represent a significant unmet medical need. Brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), vital for maintaining the blood-brain barrier (BBB), represent the first defense barrier for vasogenic edema. Here, we analyzed the proteomic profiles of the cultured mouse BMECs during oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R). Besides the extensively altered cytoskeletal proteins, ephrin type-A receptor 4 (EphA4) expressions and its activated phosphorylated form p-EphA4 were significantly increased. Blocking EphA4 using EphA4-Fc, a specific and well-tolerated inhibitor shown in our ongoing human phase I trial, effectively reduced OGD/R-induced BMECs contraction and tight junction damage. EphA4-Fc did not protect OGD/R-induced neuronal and astrocytic death. However, administration of EphA4-Fc, before or after the onset of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), reduced brain edema by about 50%, leading to improved neurological function recovery. The BBB permeability test also confirmed that cerebral BBB integrity was well maintained in tMCAO brains treated with EphA4-Fc. Therefore, EphA4 was critical in signaling BMECs-mediated BBB breakdown and vasogenic edema during cerebral ischemia. EphA4-Fc is promising for the treatment of clinical post-stroke edema.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene rs671 G>A polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of digestive tract cancer
Authors: Yang Yang , Liang Qun , Chen Yijin , Cao Yu , Zhuo Qingqing , Liu Boying , Wang Shengbing
Published: October 2023

Objective

Acetaldehyde can accumulate in cells and form acetaldehyde-DNA adducts that result in digestive tract cancer development. Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) enzymatic activity is involved in this process. Here, we aimed to analyze the relationship between an ALDH2 gene polymorphism and the digestive tract cancer risk in the Hakka population in China.

Methods

This was a retrospective study, with the ALDH2 rs671 genotype and medical record information collected from all subjects. The relationships between these factors, including various blood cell parameters, and digestive tract cancer susceptibility were analyzed.

Results

Overall, 307 cancer patients and 317 controls were included. The cancer patients had significantly higher percentages with a history of smoking and drinking alcohol, as well as an increased platelet to lymphocyte ratio and lower lymphocyte to monocyte ratio, compared with the controls. The ALDH2 rs671 genotype and allele distributions were significantly different between the cancer patients and controls. Logistic regression analysis showed that the ALDH2 G/A genotype (G/A vs. G/G) and A/A genotype (A/A vs. G/G) in the co-dominant mode were risk factors for digestive tract cancer susceptibility.

Conclusions

ALDH2 rs671 G/A or A/A genotype carriers may have an increased risk of developing digestive tract cancers among the Hakka people.
Long-term Skeletal Stability of Mandibular Surgery with Bilateral Sagittal Split Ramus Osteotomy—Advancement Versus Setback: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Jain Dhruv , Datana Sanjeev , Chopra Sukhbir Singh
Published: October 2023

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the long-term skeletal stability of mandibular advancement and mandibular setback achieved with bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) procedure in adult patients with a minimum follow-up of at least 1 year.

Methods

A literature search was systematically performed according to PRISMA guidelines from four databases without limitation till 15 June 2021. Available literature was assessed for long-term skeletal stability as horizontal/vertical changes at cephalometric point B following conventional mandibular surgery (BSSRO) with rigid internal fixation. The quality of selected articles was assessed using Newcastle–Ottawa scale and the meta-analysis was carried out with Q statistic method, I-squared statistics, and fixed-effect model to estimate the pooled mean and Begg–Mazumdar bias indicator.

Results

A total of five studies (three pertaining to mandibular advancement and two setback groups) were included for comparative evaluation of relapse. The mean horizontal relapse was 7.85% pertaining to mandibular advancement (4.2–7.06 mm) as compared to 27% pertaining to mandibular setback (7.18–10.26 mm). The meta-analysis of four included studies (two in each group) revealed significant differences in long-term skeletal stability of mandibular advancement and setback (pooled proportion = 20.10; 95% confidence interval = 2.48–39.57).

Conclusion

Mandibular setback can be expected to relapse by 21.7–32.3% (mean 27%) as compared to mandibular advancement accounting for a relapse of 2.1–15.4% (mean 7.85%) in adult patients. Hence, mandibular advancement is a relatively stable procedure in the long term. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021261466