bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
МЕХАНІЗМИ ПОКРАЩЕННЯ ПАМ’ЯТІ ТА КОГНІТИВНИХ ФУНКЦІЙ ОСІБ ПОХИЛОГО ВІКУ ПІД ВПЛИВОМ ФІЗИЧНИХ ВПРАВ
Authors: Траверсе Г. М. , Горошко В. І. , Мизгіна Т. І.
Published: April 2023

Мета роботи було узагальнення сучасних даних досіджень щодо впливу фізичної активності на стан когнитивних функцій та пам’яті в похилому віці. Методи дослідження. У роботі використані методи структурно-логічного аналізу та бібліосемантичний метод дослідження. Бібліосемантичний метод застосовувався для з’ясування стану вивчення проблем деменції та впливу на когнітивні функції фізичних навантажень. Метод структурно-логічного аналізу дозволив виділити, логічно структуризувати та установити зв’язки між впровадженням єдиної медичної інформаційної системи та результатом роботи із пацієнтами з когнітивними віковими змінами під час помірних фізичних навантажень. Результати дослідження. Регулярна фізична активність покращує мозковий кровообіг, особливо в гіпокампі, фізичні вправи підвищують цілісність сірої речовини головного мозку та обсяг ділянок мозку. Важлива роль приділяється посиленню функції мітохондрій при скороченні скелетних м’язів. Регулярні фізичні вправи можуть запобігти пов’язаному зі старінням зниженню функції мітохондрій. При скороченні скелетні м’язи виділяють у кровотік білки, відомі як міокіни, які беруть участь у збереженні пластичності гіпокампу та довготривалої пам’яті. Значну роль відіграє інсуліноподібний фактор росту. Важливим механізмом впливу фізичних вправ на збереження пам’яті є також система біологічних ліпідів, яка суттєво модулює функції імунної, ендокринної та нервової систем. Висновок. Дослідження науковців показали, що часті помірні аеробні навантаження мають зв’язок з покращенням нейрокогнітивних функцій у людей похилого віку. Поліпшення мозкового кровообігу, нейротрофічні фактори, мітохондріальний біогенез та вивільнення численних сигнальних молекул, включаючи міокіни та адипокіни, у відповідь на регулярні фізичні вправи, можуть бути залучені до нейрозахисних механізмів фізичних вправ.
Structure of breeding bird assemblages in the city of Windhoek, Namibia
Authors: Kopij G
Published: April 2023

The line transect method was employed to count birds in four urbanized habitats in the city of Windhoek, Namibia. Most counts were conducted during July-October, in 2012-2014. Twelve transects with a total length of c. 86 km were located in places representing major urban habitats: residential areas (city centre, suburbs in lowland, suburbs in highland, and city periphery), sport fields, and a modern industry area. In total, 80 bird species (excluding Palearctic visitors) were recorded. For all species, we calculated linear population densities and dominance. Six species were classified as dominant: house sparrow, red-eyed bulbul, Southern masked weaver, laughing dove, wattled starling and white-backed mousebird. Their cumulative numerical abundance comprised 54.2 % of all the breeding species. The group of dominant species varied markedly among transects. Granivores were the most important feeding guild, comprising more than half of all birds in Windhoek. Frugivores (26 %) were more numerous than insectivores (19 %). Birds nesting in trees and/or in shrubs comprised two thirds of all birds. Surprisingly, few differences in the structure of feeding and nesting guilds were recorded among the four urban habitats. Windhoek avifauna is similar in dominance structure to avifauna in other southern African cities and towns, where sparrows, doves/pigeons, bulbuls and mousebirds dominate, and with granivores being the main feeding guild. Species richness declines and bird abundance increases along urban gradient (towards the city centre).
The Application of technical aspects of raising swamp buffalo in Pangean sub-district, Kuantan Singingi Regency
Authors: Yendraliza Yendraliza , Irawati Evi
Published: April 2023

Buffalo (Baballus buballis) is a large ruminant livestock that has long been known by the people of Indonesia. Pangean sub-district is a sub-district that has a fairly large population of buffalo, namely 876 heads. In general, farms in Pangean District have not implemented the technical aspects of maintenance and there are still many deficiencies that need to be addressed and repaired by breeders. This study aimed to determine the application of technical aspects of maintenance including parts of breeding, housing, feed, health and maintenance management in Pangean District, Kuantan Singingi Regency and the structure of the buffalo population. The method used in this study was a survey method with 151 farmers as respondents. The variables in the study were the profile of respondents, aspects of breeding, housing, feed, health, maintenance management, and population structure of buffaloes. The results of this study indicate that the characteristics of the respondents consisted of 79.47% male and 20.53% female, the age of the breeders ranged from 32-68 years, 35.76% graduated from high school, had livestock farming experience of 1-13 years, and the main occupation was as farmers 49.01%. Implementation of technical aspects of maintenance with the following percentages: nursery aspect 42.05%, housing aspect 58.68%, feed aspect 33.33%, health aspect 73.51%, and maintenance management aspect 62.03%. It can be concluded that overall the technical aspects of raising buffalo livestock in Pangean District, Kuantan Singingi Regency, with an unfavorable percentage of 53.92%. The population structure of buffalo in the Pangean District is dominated by female livestock.
The nutrional content of flamboyan leaves processed with different processing methods
Authors: Mulik Yelly Magdalena , Se'u Vivin Elmiyati , Tang Basry Yadi
Published: April 2023

Flamboyant (Delonix regia) is a plant that thrives all year round. This study aims to evaluate the nutritional content of flamboyant leaves processed with different processing methods. The study took in the Animal Feed Nutrition Laboratory of State Agricultural Polytechnic of Kupang from June to August 2022. The experimental design used was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 5 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments tested were F1: flamboyant was dried in the shade for 5 days, F2: flamboyant was soaked in water for 4 hours, F3: flamboyant was soaked in a solution of rubbing ash for 4 hours, F4: flamboyant was ammoniated for 3 weeks, F5: flamboyant was fermented for 3 weeks. The results showed that the treatment tested had a very significant effect (P<0.01) on the content of organic matter, crude protein and crude fiber but had no effect (P>0.05) on the content of dry matter and crude fat. It can be concluded that the water immersion can increase the organic matter content, ammonia treatment increases the crude protein content and reduces the crude fiber content of flamboyant leaves.
Le capital et le travail dans les chaînes mondiales de valeur. Stratégies de profit et conditions de travail dans l’industrie suisse des machines
Authors: Martinelli Aris
Published: April 2023

La difficulté d’approvisionnement en équipements médicaux de base et en denrées alimentaires dans plusieurs pays au début de la pandémie du COVID-19 a montré une fois de plus la forte intégration et interdépendance de nos économies où les chaînes mondiales de valeur (CMV) constituent une forme d’organisation industrielle dominante. Grâce à celles-ci, les firmes leaders, le plus souvent des multinationales des pays riches, organisent la production à travers la soumission des firmes et des travailleur·euse·s du monde entier en contrôlant les ressources stratégiques et le travail dans les CMV en obtenant ainsi la part du lion des profits. La littérature dominante et les organisations internationales affirment que la participation des entreprises aux CMV permet d’élever les compétences, la valeur ajoutée de la production et les profits et, de surcroît, d’améliorer la croissance économique et le bien-être des travailleur·euse·s. Une récente littérature critique a remis en cause cette vision en montrant comment les firmes leaders recherchent une main-d’oeuvre précaire et à faible coût. Cependant, ces différentes études se focalisent sur les secteurs à forte intensité de main-d’oeuvre dans le Sud et sur une seule composante des CMV : le capital ou le travail. Cet ouvrage vise à combler cette lacune en étudiant l’effet des CMV sur les firmes et les travailleur·euse·s dans l’industrie suisse des machines, des équipements électriques et des métaux (MEM). Sur la base d’une analyse documentaire et de soixante entretiens approfondis avec des dirigeants et des salariées de deux firmes leaders suisses et de trois soustraitants, ainsi que des syndicats et des associations patronales, l’auteur met en évidence une dynamique de double divergence par rapport aux effets étudiés dans la littérature : la participation aux CMV dominées par les firmes leaders implique une détérioration de la performance des firmes subordonnées, de l’emploi et du travail dans l’industrie MEM. L’auteur dévoile les mécanismes sous-jacents à cette dynamique et identifie des pistes pour les surmonter, ce qui permet d’envisager les CMV comme une organisation favorisante un développement économique au service du travail.
Dedication
Authors: Hoffman Shekinah
Published: April 2023

DedicatedtoDr. Matthew M. LeClaire(1989-2018)

“In 2018, Dr. Matthew LeClaire received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and began a position at Coppin State University. Matt was a rising star in the bullying and juvenile delinquency field. This work reflects his commitment to the art of symbolic interactionism and his subcultural curiosity.

Dr. LeClaire was elected to be incoming chair of the Society for the Study of Social Problems’ Crime and Juvenile Delinquency Division and bestowed a university-wide UNLV teaching award for his outstanding work that went well beyond the classroom. But most important of all, Matt was that once-in-a-lifetime kind of friend and peer mentor, of which I was honored to be one of.

I leave you with something Matt said to me once which embodies just who he was—as a mentor, scholar, and activist. ‘You can’t put a price on shaping young lives. Don’t let anyone’s lackluster acknowledgement make you think otherwise.’”

—Shekinah HoffmanOctober 30, 2020
Fantasy In Real Life: Making Meaning from Vicarious Experiences with a Tabletop RPG Internet Stream
Authors: Lasley Joe
Published: April 2023

This study investigated the experiences of people who claimed exposure to Critical Role, a web series featuring a group of voice actors playing a tabletop role-playing game (TRPG), impacted their lives in meaningful ways beyond entertain-ment. Building on previous research that documented players engaging in role-playing games, livestreaming, and role-playing game (RPG) fandom subculture, this study specifically explored the perspectives of individuals who reported a transformation-al impact of experiencing gaming vicariously through watching Critical Role. This paper reports a detailed narrative of one of the cases from qualitative interviews, which conveys major themes that illustrate the perspective of the individual watching. The paper compliments this detailed case description with a discussion of findings from seven in depth interviews to explore the experiences of the interviewee focused on in the context of the study sample. This study is primarily focused on the individ-ual watchers’ experience of gameplay and role-playing experiences, which they attribute to personal growth. The term paraso-cial gaming is introduced to characterize a part of vicarious experience associated with watching media figures playing games.
Origin Stories: The Phenomenological Relationship Between Players and their Characters
Authors: Blackstock Ryan
Published: April 2023

Using a phenomenological research model, this study explores the question “How is a consciously embodied persona experienced through live action role-play?” Narrative accounts of twelve research participants were obtained via face-to-face interviews. Four themes emerged: 1. Continuum of personalization; 2. Stream of embodiment; 3. Freedom; and 4. Character as teacher. Four of Moustakas’ universal structures are presented as phenomenological underpinnings of the experience: spatiality, causality, relationship to self, and relationship to others. Larp is a complex process, which offers the players opportunities to bend the rules of typical social engagement. Larp provides fun, excitement, social interaction, personal growth, and self-exploration. Some players described that risk was present as the boundaries between game and life were blurred, but the majority of participants found larp to be safe and personally enhancing.
The Reality Code: Interpreting Aggregate LARP Rules as Code that Runs on Humans
Authors: Steele S. Harlin/Hayley
Published: April 2023

Aggregate larp rules are a type of code that runs on humans. Code can be thought of as a linguistic form that is both declarative and imperative; it is both truth and command (Buswell 2009). In aggregate larp, elements of the game’s diegesis are rendered codic, or playable, allowing players a degree of autonomy from game staff. Through the methodologies of Critical Code Studies (Marino 2006)—the reading of code (code as text) and the annotation of code (code as manuscript)—the interpretation of larp rules as “code that runs on humans” takes form, allowing us to read game encounters as programs, players and staff as programmers, rulebooks as programming languages, and rule structures as platforms. In larp code, a DBMS-style relational model lends the code depth and specificity. Aggregate larp rules descend from tabletop RPGs, which emerged in tandem with the workplace proliferation of DBMS in the 1970s. With larp code and computer code, the social practice of standardization plays a role in shaping the code. With both types of code we also see the emergence of proprietary code. Social apparatuses (Althusser 1970) ensure that larp code maintains its integrity as truth-command. The repeated reinforcement of social apparatuses lead players to experience a process of rules reification, leading the larp code to eventually take on a type of psychological reality. This phenomenon may have a neurological origin. The study of larp code provides a framework to approach “real world” reified power structures such as “gender,” “race,” and “capital.”
Bleed-out on the Brain: The Neuroscience of Character-to-Player Spillover in Larp
Authors: Leonard Diana J. , Thurman Tessa
Published: April 2023

This paper investigates the psychology of bleed-out, in which in-character dynamics spill over into out-of-character thoughts and feelings (Montola, 2011). We pair emerging neuroscience theory and research with classic models of emotion and motivation to examine the causes and consequences of this important larp phenomenon. Regarding positive bleed, hormones associated with trust and love may promote social bonding between players through shared in-character experiences (Kosfeld et al. 2005). Negative interpersonal dynamics could also develop, however, during antagonistic character interaction via “neural alarm bells” -- increased activation in brain areas associated with social rejection (Eisenberger, Leiberman, and Williams 2003). Such neural activity could in turn set off defensive aggression or social withdrawal (Twenge et al. 2001), behaviors that could bleed over into out-of-game interactions. The impact of these and other neuropsychological reactions on players’ behavior may be determined by the degree to which the line between self and character becomes blurred during play. According to Lankoski and Järvelä (2012), however, such blurring is a baked-in feature of human embodied cognition. Therefore, we propose that compartmentalizing “in-character” reactions requires immense self-regulatory control – a limited resource which is known to be depleted through many activities common to larp, e.g., effortful decision making and self-presentation (Vohs, Baumeister, and Ciarocco 2005; Vohs et al. 2014). Connecting self-regulatory resource models with bleed in this way is especially important since negative bleed-out can be a source of conflict in player communities (Bowman 2013). As such, we offer proactive solutions for those players or designers who wish to tailor a particular larp experience in order to avoid bleed-out, building on pre-existing best practices: informed consent, safe-spaces, and debriefing (Burns 2014; Atwater 2016; Brown 2016; Bowman, Brown, Atwater, and Rowland 2017).
Documenting Larp as an Art of Experience
Authors: Cox Jason
Published: April 2023

Larp documentation and representation has proven difficult for a variety of reasons. I contend that one way to meet this challenge is to foreground player experiences over the narrative created by the designers. Player-created artifacts from larps utilize a range of senses to create a kind of assemblage of documentation that more closely approximates both the feel and the meaning of the experience, providing a more complete picture of what the larp was and what it felt like. They can represent the collaboration between the players, the context, and the system, through an amalgam of the “memories, stories, photographs and old props now serving as souvenirs from alternate realities” (Stenros, Montola, & Belarbi 2010). These artifacts become social objects (Engeström 2005, cited in Simon 2010) that describe experiences from multiple perspectives, with the intent of surrounding the experience (Sullivan 2010) to allow for an examination of relationships that are simultaneously immediate and distant. The realizations that emerge from this engagement evoke Art-educator Elliot Eisner’s (2002) dictum that “meaning is not limited to what words can express” (p.230).Some may argue that this approach constitutes the musealization of larp, but the movement towards the model described by Museum Director and scholar Nina Simon in The Participatory Museum (2010) would not only be a more accurate rendering of larp experiences, but also would encourage an audience to engage with the material “as cultural participants, not passive consumers.” Participants are encouraged to use the social objects as a locus point around which they can create, share, and connect to one another. In effect, the exhibit communicates experience by being an interactive-experience that considers physical, social, and personal contexts at play (Falk and Dierking 2016). These concepts are given form in The Magischola Museum (Cox 2017) website that I designed to house artifacts from Learn Larp LLC’s New World Magischola series.
DESARROLLO HUMANO, GLOBALIZACIÓN Y POLÍTICAS DE CONVERGENCIA
Authors: Andrade Rodríguez Bernabé , Gómez Walteros Jaime Alberto , Santacruz Villaseñor Ibrahim
Published: April 2023

El presente escrito contiene una reflexión crítica sobre la propuesta de de­sarrollo humano que adelanta las Naciones Unidas desde 1990, la cual se ha sustentado en una política económica convergente en abstracto, debido a que no especifica de qué manera estratificar y ponerla en práctica en sociedades altamente fragmentadas como la capitalista. Esta discusión se replanteó en el momento en que se consolidaba la nueva fase de acumu­lación globalizada, la cual por los resultados que arroja, muestra que antes que facilitar la convergencia ha intensificado la polarización social. Si bien hay dificultades para implementar una política de convergencia social, ello no quiere decir que sea un imposible su adelanto. Hay una serie de plan­teamientos efectuados por la Comisión Económica para América Latina (CEPAL), los cuales bien direccionados y consensuados pueden contribuir al desarrollo de dicha política.
EL ESTUDIO DE CASO COMO MÉTODO DE INVESTIGACIÓN Y SU CONTRIBUCIÓN AL CAMPO DE LA EMPRESA FAMILIAR
Authors: Saldaña Contreras Yolanda , Ruiz Díaz Fernando M. , Gaona Tamez Laura L. , Jacobo Martínez Daniela Guadalupe
Published: April 2023

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo presentar una revisión del estado del arte sobre el estudio de casos como método de investigación; así como analizar y exponer la contribución que éste tiene para la investigación en el cam­po de las empresas familiares. Para tal propósito, se efectuó una revisión del estado del arte sobre el estudio de casos con el fin de inventariar y sistematizar la producción del conocimiento. Dicha información se cla­sificó y sistematizó en siete categorías: antecedentes históricos, concepto, características, criterios para su elección, tipología de diseño, confiabilidad, validez, generalización y fases en la investigación de estudios de casos. Pos­teriormente, se expuso la contribución que éste método puede aportar al campo de estudio de las empresas familiares. Finalmente, se propone que todo investigador de empresas familiares puede incrementar el potencial de sus proyectos y resultados, si desarrolla la destreza para abordar la inves­tigación de empresas familiares sobre la base de la versatilidad y flexibilidad metodológica a través del uso de estudios de caso.
PERTINENCIA DE LOS PLANES DE ESTUDIO DE LAS IES PÚBLICAS EN EL AREA DE NEGOCIOS
Authors: Gutiérrez González Leonor , Zúñiga Cortez Juan Hermilo , González Guajardo Jesús Emilio
Published: April 2023

La investigación es de tipo descriptivo y pretende analizar el grado de acep­tación de los estudiantes de preparatoria y bachillerato tecnológico sobre la propuesta del plan de estudios denominado “inteligencia y desarrollo de negocios” en la Facultad de Contaduría y Administración. De un total de 7,063 alumnos se determina encuestar 927 casos como muestra repre­sentativa con un grado de confiabilidad del 95% y un margen de error máximo del 3%. Se establecen las siguientes variables: ética, sentido crí­tico, estructura y análisis de datos, investigación simulación de negocios, emprendimiento y tecnología de acuerdo con las variables se elaboraron los ítems del cuestionario que fue debidamente validado bajo la perspec­tiva de jueces. Las respuestas de totalmente de acuerdo y de acuerdo de las siguientes preguntas fueron las más significativas: la aplicación de las tecnologías de información el 94%; capacidad de crear, analizar y utilizar la información 89% ; habilidad en obtener información estratégica 90%; la administración de la empresa apoyada en las tecnologías de información 80%; utilización de ERP´s para la toma de decisiones 77%; desarrollo y utilización de software 91%; interés en apoyos virtuales para la toma de decisiones 97%; establecimiento de una cultura de innovación en la administración 98% . Se concluye que existe la necesidad de apoyar en el proceso de toma de decisiones para la planeación y control, mediante la aportación de la inteligencia de negocios.
INNOVACIÓN DEL VIDRIO SOPLADO EN MÉXICO
Authors: Hernández Torres Oscar , Espitia Moreno Irma Cristina
Published: April 2023

México siempre ha sido caracterizado por su variedad de artesanías alrede­dor del mundo, dentro de estos oficios artesanales se encuentran los artícu­los hechos de vidrio con técnicas de soplado. Sin embargo la actual situa­ción por la que atraviesa el país no es la más conveniente para el desarrollo de su industria, la cual trata de ubicarse dentro de los principales mercados internacionales. Los productores se encuentran en situaciones donde su entorno y economía no son las más favorables, por otro lado se les presenta una vía de desarrollo a través de la exportación de sus productos. Por ello la presente investigación aborda el tema de innovación para fortalecer el sec­tor y permitir a los productores generar las condiciones óptimas para hacer frente a un mercado internacional. En este sentido se planteó identificar las variables que determinan la innovación en el sector del vidrio soplado en México a partir de experiencias internacionales en Lauscha, Alemania, apegado al Método Científico. Se utilizaron instrumentos estadísticos para la recolección y análisis de datos. Los hallazgos encontrados demostraron que la variable producto es la más significativa en relación a las de proceso, organización y mercadotecnia
El principio de voluntariedad de las actas de mediación parciales en materia de tránsito
Authors: Rodríguez Mendoza Johana Jessenia , Jaramillo León Alexandra Anabel
Published: April 2023

Introducción: el presente artículo científico se basó en los casos existentes de siniestros de tránsito con los señores Agentes Fiscales que no permiten realizar las actas de mediación de manera parcial afectando al principio de voluntariedad. Objetivos: tuvo como objetivo principal el estudiar el principio de voluntariedad en los casos suscitados por accidentes de tránsito cuando se realizan actas de mediación. Metodología: se ejecutó con un método cualitativo basado en la experiencia con la técnica de la entrevista como instrumento se utilizó una guía de entrevista que se la realizó al Dr. Iván Montúfar Agente Fiscal del Cantón Riobamba. Resultados: se pudo destacar que las partes pueden realizar la conciliación siempre y cuando no atente a los principios legales y entes rectores de las leyes del ordenamiento jurídico ecuatoriano. Conclusiones: los señores Agentes Fiscales están en la obligación de aceptar la conciliación parcial para que no se vulnere el principio de voluntariedad. Área de estudio general: derecho procesal. Área de estudio específica: mediación.
Sodan kieli ja ’me’: Serhi Žadanin runoudesta
Authors: Bekhta Natalya
Published: April 2023

Artikkeli käsittelee me‑diskurssia kirjallisuuden lajirajat ylittävänä ilmiönä, laajempana kuin me‑kerronta proosakirjallisuudessa, sekä tutkii, miten Serhi Žadanin Antena-runokokoelmassa me rakentuu sodan ravisuttamassayhteiskunnassa. Žadanin uusien runojen infinitiivirakenteet ja kehenkään kohdistumattomat imperatiivit luovat syntaktisesti avoimen subjektiposition, joka on aluksi avoin kenelle tahansa. Vaikka me lopulta täyttää tämän avoimenposition, se välttää kollektiiviselle eetokselle tyypillisen vastakkainasettelun ”me vastaan muut” ja täten viitoittaa tietä toisenlaisen solidaarisuuden rakentumiselle.
Impact of Gestational Period and Weight on Individual, Task and Environmental Constraints on Balance in Pregnant Women
Authors: Fontaine Abigayle E , Przysucha Eryk P , Klarner Taryn
Published: April 2023

Pregnancy coincides with sensory, perceptual and motor changes that may affect a person’s ability to perform basic activities of daily living (ADLs). Previous research suggested that weight and gestational age (trimester) may affect the way women negotiate balance related tasks, but these issues require further analysis. This study utilized Newell’s Model of Constraints as a framework to shape a questionnaire investigating an individual’s ability to perform different task-related activities across various constraints. Additionally, this study examined whether variables such as pre-pregnancy weight (under vs. over 155 pounds) and trimester (before vs. after 26 weeks) had an impact on their ability to perform different tasks requiring balance. Twenty pregnant or postpartum women (M = 29.7 years; SD = 3.6) were recruited and asked to complete a 15 item online survey exploring their abilities to complete a variety of daily tasks involving balance. In addition, open-ended questions were posed to gain qualitative insights into their experiences. A series of independent sample t-tests showed predominantly no statistical difference between the levels of the variables manipulated. At the descriptive level the women indicated that they were relatively comfortable performing the different tasks. However, the qualitative responses suggested that although they were capable, it was clear that they expended a substantial amount of energy to avoid falling, resulting in fatigue and soreness, and they experienced overall mental anguish and feelings of being overwhelmed. Overall, it was surprising that weight and gestational age, which intuitively should have impact, did not have a more pronounced effect on the women’s confidence in performing ADLs, nevertheless, qualitative responses confirmed the challenging effects of pregnancy on balance control.
Physiological changes in tomato colonized by dark septate endophytic fungi
Authors: Vergara Carlos , Araujo Karla Emanuelle Campos , Zilli Jerri Édson
Published: April 2023

As is customary in mycorrhizae, the interaction between plant and dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi can result in physiological changes in the host plant, which are still poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological changes in tomato plants colonized by DSE fungi. Four DSE isolates previously identified through ITS phylogeny were inoculated on tomato seeds and compared to non-inoculated plants (control). Kinetic parameters (Vmax and Km) were calculated measuring the nitrate content in the nutrient solution. The contents of NO3--N, NH4+-N, amino-N, soluble sugars in the root, petiole, stem and leaf, and the contents of macronutrients in the shoot were determined. The plants inoculated with A101 and A105 exhibited (i) significant increases in the soluble sugar contents; (ii) increases in the contents of P, K, Mg and S; and (iii) increased dry biomass compared to control. The A103 inoculation was antagonistic when compared to the other treatments, leading to a higher influx of NO3--N in the plants, resulting in a higher amino-N and the lower soluble sugar content in the shoot. The physiological parameters of tomato varied depending on the inoculation, and the changes ranged from positive to negative depending on each isolate involved in the interaction.
Questions on Shear Behavior of Structural Concrete and Answers Provided by Mechanical Models. The Challenge of Performance-Based Shear Design
Authors: Marí Antonio
Published: April 2023

The shear behavior and strength of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures is difficult to predict due to the complex resistant mechanisms that are mobilized and the different types of failure that can occur. This has given rise to many of the simplified formulations previously developed for shear calculation being empirical in nature, which lack a clear theoretical basis and they do not provide qualitative information on structural behavior. Therefore, performance-based design becomes difficult using such types of formulations. In this paper, some questions about shear behavior and design are raised, apparently without an immediate answer from the performance point of view, and possible answers based on structural mechanics are provided. The physical phenomena that determine the shear behavior, the resistant mechanisms that are developed, the fundamental parameters that govern them, to what extent they influence and how they are contemplated in some simplified formulations are analyzed. The importance of mechanical models is raised and some examples of how these models can be naturally adapted to multiple project situations, evaluation and reinforcement of existing structures are shown.
Eficácia de abelhas na polinização de cultivares de morango no sul do Brasil
Authors: Scheid Leandro , Martarello Natália Sêneda , Holdefer Daniela Roberta , Gruchowski-Woitowicz Franciélli Cristiane
Published: April 2023

As abelhas são importantes agentes responsáveis pela polinização de inúmeras plantas de interesse econômico. Para avaliar a eficácia de abelhas da polinização na cultura do morangueiro (Fragaria x ananassa Dusch.) variedade San Andreas, analisamos três gêneros de abelhas (Apis sp., Plebeia spp. e Dialictus spp.) abundantes na referida cultura, verificando as variações no comportamento, tipo recurso coletado e tempo médio de visitação, identificando variações na frutificação e peso final de frutos. Para avaliar os efeitos da polinização para a cultura, flores foram expostas a diferentes tratamentos (autopolinização espontânea, polinização natural e uma visita dos três diferentes gêneros de abelhas). O estudo foi conduzido em uma estufa plástica, no método de cultivo elevado, contendo 2 mil plantas de Fragaria x ananassa (Duch.), na região rural do municí­pio de Cruz Machado, Sul do estado do Paraná (26º 03' 22" S 51º14'25" W). Apis sp. foi o gênero de abelha que apresentou a maior eficácia em relação às outras, refletindo a maior contagem de aquênios e peso de frutos, porém todos os tratamentos apresentaram diferença significativa quando comparadas a autopolinização espontânea e a polinização natural, o que demonstra a baixa capacidade da variedade San Andreas de realizar autopolinização e a necessidade da contribuição de diversas espécies de abelhas para uma polinização completa das flores.
MXene nanomaterials in biomedicine: A bibliometric perspective
Authors: Guo Runying , Hu Daorun , Liu Danrui , Jiang Qingkun , Qiu Jiaxuan
Published: April 2023

Purpose: MXene is two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials that comprise transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides. Their unique nanostructure attributes it a special role in medical applications. However, bibliometric studies have not been conducted in this field. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to conduct a bibliometric analysis to evaluate the global scientific output of MXene in biomedical research, explore the current situation of this field in the past years and predicte its research hotpots.

Methods: We utilized visual analysis softwares Citespace and Bibliometrix to analyze all relevant documents published in the period of 2011–2022. The bibliometric records were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection.

Results: A total of 1,489 publications were analyzed in this study. We observed that China is the country with the largest number of publications, with Sichuan University being the institution with the highest number of publications in this field. The most publications on MXene medicine research in the past year were found primarily in journals about Chemistry/Materials/Physics. Moreover, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces was found to be the most productive journal in this field. Co-cited references and keyword cluster analysis revealed that #antibacterial# and #photothermal therapy# are the research focus keyword and burst detection suggested that driven wearable electronics were newly-emergent research hot spots.

Conclusion: Our bibliometric analysis indicates that research on MXene medical application remains an active field of study. At present, the research focus is on the application of MXene in the field of antibacterial taking advantage of its photothermal properties. In the future, wearable electronics is the research direction of MXene medical application.
Single-cell profiling of peripheral blood and muscle cells reveals inflammatory features of juvenile dermatomyositis
Authors: Chen Xiangyuan , Lian Dongsheng , Zeng Huasong
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare yet serious childhood systemic autoimmune condition that primarily causes skin rashes and inflammatory myopathy of the proximal muscles. Although the associated immune response involves the innate and adaptive arms, a detailed analysis of the pertinent immune cells remains to be performed. This study aims to investigate the dynamic changes of cell type, cell composition and transcriptional profiles in peripheral blood and muscle tissues, and in order to clarify the involvement of immune cells in the pathogenesis of JDM and provide a theoretical reference for JDM.

Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing combined with bioinformatic analyses were used to investigate the dynamic changes in cell composition and transcriptional profiles.

Results: Analysis of 45,859 cells revealed nine and seven distinct cell subsets in the peripheral blood and muscle tissues respectively. IFITM2+ and CYP4F3+ monocytes were largely produced, and CD74+ smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and CCL19+ fibroblasts were identified as inflammatory-related cell subtypes in JDM patients, exhibiting patient-specific cell population heterogeneity.The dynamic gene expression patterns presented an enhanced type I interferon response in peripheral blood monocytes and T-cells, and SMCs and fibroblasts in muscle of untreated JDM patients. EGR1 and IRF7 may play central roles in the inflammation in both CD74+ SMCs and CCL19+ fibroblasts. Moreover, inflammatory-related monocytes could regulate T-cells, and the interaction between immune cells and SMCs or fibroblasts in muscle was enhanced under the inflammatory state.

Conclusions: Immune dysregulation is one of the key pathogenic factors of JDM, and type I interferon responses are significantly enhanced in peripheral blood Monos and T cells as well as SMCs and fibroblasts. EGR1 and IRF7 may play central roles in the inflammation and are considered as potential therapeutic targets for JDM.
Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Dan , Huang Xiangning , Rao Huayun , Yu Hua , Long Shanshan , Li Yulian , Zhang Jie
Published: April 2023

Objective

To analyze the mortality rate of patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia (KPB) and the impact of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing or carbapenem-resistance (CR) KP on the mortality rate among patients with bacteremia.

Methods

EMbase, Web of Science, PubMed, and The Cochrane Library were searched up to September 18th, 2022. Two reviewers independently extracted data and evaluated risk of bias of included studies by ROBINS-I tool. A meta-regression analysis was conducted using a mixed-effects model to explore possible sources of heterogeneity. A random-effects model was used for pooled analysis in case of significant heterogeneity (I2>50%). Otherwise, the fixed-effects model was performed.

Results

A total of 157 studies (37,915 enrolled patients) were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled death proportions of KPB were 17% (95% CI=0.14-0.20) at 7-day, 24% (95% CI=0.21-0.28) at 14-day, 29% (95% CI=0.26-0.31) at 30-day, 34% (95% CI=0.26-0.42) at 90-day, and 29% (95% CI=0.26-0.33) in hospital, respectively. Heterogeneity was found from the intensive care unit (ICU), hospital-acquired (HA), CRKP, and ESBL-KP in the meta-regression analysis. More than 50% of ICU, HA, CRKP, and ESBL-KP were associated with a significant higher 30-day mortality rates. The pooled mortality odds ratios (ORs) of CRKP vs. non-CRKP were 3.22 (95% CI 1.18-8.76) at 7-day, 5.66 (95% CI 4.31-7.42) at 14-day, 3.87 (95% CI 3.01-3.49) at 28- or 30-day, and 4.05 (95% CI 3.38-4.85) in hospital, respectively.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis indicated that patients with KPB in ICU, HA-KPB, CRKP, and ESBL-KP bacteremia were associated with a higher mortality rate. The high mortality rate caused by CRKP bacteremia has increased over time, challenging the public health.
Naturally acquired antibody response to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax among indigenous Orang Asli communities in Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Rahim Mohd Amirul Fitri A. , Munajat Mohd Bakhtiar , Dian Nor Diyana , Seri Rakna Mohd Ikhwan Mukmin , Wahid Wathiqah , Ghazali Nuraffini , Hassan Noor Wanie , Abdul Manap Siti Nor Azreen , Kasri Muhd Rafiq Mohd , Mohamed Ahmad Imran , Osman Emelia , Chuangchaiya Sriwipa , Lubis Inke Nadia D. , Divis Paul C. S. , Kaneko Akira , Tetteh Kevin K. A. , Idris Zulkarnain Md
Published: April 2023

Malaria remains a public health problem in many parts of the world. In Malaysia, the significant progress towards the national elimination programme and effective disease notification on malaria has resulted in zero indigenous human malaria cases since 2018. However, the country still needs to determine the extent of malaria exposure and transmission patterns, particularly in high-risk populations. In this study, a serological method was used to measure transmission levels of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax among indigenous Orang Asli communities in Kelantan, Peninsular Malaysia. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in three Orang Asli communities (i.e., Pos Bihai, Pos Gob, and Pos Kuala Betis) in Kelantan from June to July 2019. Antibody responses to malaria were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using two P. falciparum (PfAMA-1 and PfMSP-119) and two P. vivax (PvAMA-1 and PvMSP-119) antigens. Age-adjusted antibody responses were analysed using a reversible catalytic model to calculate seroconversion rates (SCRs). Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with malaria exposure. The overall malaria seroprevalence was 38.8% for PfAMA-1, 36.4% for PfMSP-119, 2.2% for PvAMA-1, and 9.3% for PvMSP-119. Between study areas, the proportion of seropositivity for any P. falciparum and P. vivax antigens was significantly highest in Pos Kuala Betis with 34.7% (p < 0.001) and 13.6% (p < 0.001), respectively. For all parasite antigens except for PvAMA-1, the proportion of seropositive individuals significantly increased with age (all p < 0.001). Based on the SCR, there was a higher level of P. falciparum transmission than P. vivax in the study area. Multivariate regression analyses showed that living in Pos Kuala Betis was associated with both P. falciparum (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.6, p < 0.001) and P. vivax (aOR 2.1, p < 0.001) seropositivities. Significant associations were also found between age and seropositivity to P. falciparum and P. vivax antigens. Analysis of community-based serological data helps describe the level of transmission, heterogeneity, and factors associated with malaria exposure among indigenous communities in Peninsular Malaysia. This approach could be an important adjunct tool for malaria monitoring and surveillance in low malaria transmission settings in the country.
Validation of a pictionary-based communication tool for assessing physiological needs and motivational states: the PAIN set
Authors: Proverbio Alice Mado , Pischedda Francesca
Published: April 2023

This Pictionary is suitable for communicating with individual unable to interact (locked-in syndrome, LIS) through the development of Brain Computer Interface (BCI) systems. It includes 60 validated, easy-to-understand illustrated plates depicting adults in various situations affecting their physiological or psychological state. The drawings are in color and represent persons of both sexes and various ethnicities. Twenty participants were interviewed to appropriately design the Pictionary. An additional group of 50 healthy adults (25 women and 25 men) aging 18–33 years was recruited to validate the pictogram corpus. Their schooling levels ranged from middle school to master's degrees. Participants were presented with five runs of randomly mixed pictograms illustrating 12 different motivational states, including primary and secondary needs, affective states, and somatosensory sensations (with five variants for each category). They had to precisely identify the motivational category illustrated (e.g., “Feeling pain” or “Being hungry”) while also providing information about its clarity and unambiguity on a Likert scale. Statistical analyses provided evidence of the strong communicative effectiveness of the illustrations (rated on average 2.7, on a 0 to 3 scale), with an accuracy of 98.4%. The PAIN set could be a valuable communication tool for individuals with LIS, as well as any clinical population lacking verbal communication skills. Its main purpose is to generate electrophysiological markers of internal mental states to be automatically classified by BCI systems.
Influence of coplanar double fissures on failure characteristics of sandstone and fracture mechanics analysis
Authors: Zhang Dechao , She Haicheng , Xiao Taoli
Published: April 2023

The influence of fissure angles and bridge lengths on rock mechanical properties and failure was analyzed using the uniaxial compression test and the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique. The research findings are as follows: 1) Peak stress and elastic modulus of the samples exhibited an obvious change trend with the change in fissure angle. The fissure angle has a more significant effect on a rock’s mechanical properties than the length of the rock bridge. 2) With an increase in the fissure angle, the number of surface cracks, main failure cracks and surface spalling decreased, whereas the area of the falling blocks significantly increased. However, with an increase in bridge length, the characteristics of crack propagation and spalling are essentially the same. During crack propagation, the connection of the rock bridge is related to its fissure angle and length. 3) At a low fissure angle, the failure mode of rock samples is dominated by tensile-failure cracks; with an increase in fissure angle, the tension-damage to shear-damage crack transformation will form a mixed tensile-shear damage mode; at the same time, with an increase in bridge length, the rock bridge becomes more difficult to connect, and the local crack expansion failure changes from tensile-shear cracks to tensile cracks. 4) Stress on the coplanar double-fissured rock sample was simplified and analyzed to explain the behavior of fractures on the sample. These research results have an important guiding value for engineering optimal designs.
Potential preventive markers in the intracerebral hemorrhage process are revealed by serum untargeted metabolomics in mice using hypertensive cerebral microbleeds
Authors: Wang Sai , Zou Xuelun , Wang Leiyun , Zhou Huifang , Wu Lianxu , Zhang Yupeng , Yao Tian-Xing , Chen Lei , Li Ye , Zeng Yi- , Zhang Le
Published: April 2023

Hypertensive cerebral microbleeds (HCMB) may be the early stage of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH), which is a serious threat to health due to its high mortality and disability rates. The early clinical symptoms of HCMB may not be significant. Moreover, it is difficult to achieve early diagnosis and intervention for targeted prevention of HICH. Although hypertension (HTN) is a predisposition for HCMB, it remains unclear whether there is any difference between hypertensive patients with or without HCMB. Therefore, we carried out liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to analyze early biomarkers for HCMB in mice with hypertension and to lay the foundation for early prevention of HICH in hypertensive patients. In total, 18 C57 male mice were randomly divided into the HCMB (n = 6), HTN (n = 6), and control groups (CON, n = 6). Hematoxylin-eosin and diaminobenzidine staining were used to assess the reliability of the model. The metabolite expression level and sample category stability were tested using the displacement test of orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Significant differences in metabolites were screened out using variable importance in the projection (VIP > 1), which were determined using the OPLS-DA model and the P-value of the t-test (P < 0.05) combined with the nonparametric rank-sum test. With an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.85 and a P-value of 0.05, the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to further screen the distinct metabolites of HCMB. Compared with the HTN and CON groups, the HCMB group had significantly higher blood pressure and lower average body weight (P < 0.05). Through untargeted LC-MS analysis, 93 distinct metabolites were identified in the HCMB (P < 0.05, VIP > 1) group. Among these potential biomarkers, six significantly decreased and eight significantly increased differential metabolites were found. Meanwhile, we found that the HCMB group had statistically distinct arginine and purine metabolism pathways (P < 0.05), and citrulline may be the most significant possible biomarker of HCMB (AUC > 0.85, P < 0.05). All of these potential biomarkers may serve as early biomarkers for HICH in hypertension.