bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of inventive biphenyl and azabiphenyl derivatives as potential insecticidal agents against the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis
Authors: Ghaith Eslam A. , Ali Hajar A. , Ismail Mohamed A. , Fouda Abd El-Aziz S. , Abd El Salam M.
Published: October 2023

The emergence of pest resistance of Spodoptera littoralis (order; Lepidoptera, family; Noctuidae) towards the large scale of different classes of insecticides necessitates the development of some new poly-functionalized biphenyl and azabiphenyl with highly anticipated insecticidal bioresponse. Four new biphenyl carboxamidines 4a–d and four aza-analogue picolinamidine derivatives 8a–d were designed and prepared via the treatment of their corresponding carbonitriles with lithium-bis trimethylsilylamide [LiN(TMS)2], followed by hydrolysis with hydrogen chloride. Furthermore, these compounds were elucidated by spectral data, and their toxicity and insecticidal activity were screened against Spodoptera littoralis. Whereby, toxicological and biochemical aspects of the inventively synthesized biphenyl and azabiphenyl derivatives against the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis were inspected. As regards the indomitable LC50 and LC90 values, biphenyl and aza-analogues 8d, 8a, 4b, and 8b, revealed the furthermost forceful toxic effects with LC50 values of 113.860, 146.265, 216.624, and 289.879 ppm, respectively. Whereby, their LC90 values are 1235.108, 1679.044, 2656.296, and 3381.256 ppm, respectively, and toxicity index being 22.31%, 17.36%, 11.72%, and 8.76%, respectively, comparing with the already recommended, methomyl insecticide, lannate 90% SP (LC50, 25.396 and LC90, 57.860 and toxicity index, 100%). Additionally, electrochemical parameters via DFT studies were carried out for demonstrating and elucidation of structure–activity relationship (SAR) according to highly motived compounds, descriptors, and the in vivo insecticidal activities.

Graphical Abstract
The complex impact of cancer-related missense mutations on the stability and on the biophysical and biochemical properties of MAPK1 and MAPK3 somatic variants
Authors: Petrosino Maria , Novak Leonore , Pasquo Alessandra , Turina Paola , Capriotti Emidio , Minicozzi Velia , Consalvi Valerio , Chiaraluce Roberta
Published: October 2023

Mitogen-activated protein kinases 1 and 3 (MAPK1 and MAPK3), also called extracellular regulated kinases (ERK2 and ERK1), are serine/threonine kinase activated downstream by the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signal transduction cascade that regulates a variety of cellular processes. A dysregulation of MAPK cascade is frequently associated to missense mutations on its protein components and may be related to many pathologies, including cancer. In this study we selected from COSMIC database a set of MAPK1 and MAPK3 somatic variants found in cancer tissues carrying missense mutations distributed all over the MAPK1 and MAPK3 sequences. The proteins were expressed as pure recombinant proteins, and their biochemical and biophysical properties have been studied in comparison with the wild type. The missense mutations lead to changes in the tertiary arrangements of all the variants. The thermodynamic stability of the wild type and variants has been investigated in the non-phosphorylated and in the phosphorylated form. Significant differences in the thermal stabilities of most of the variants have been observed, as well as changes in the catalytic efficiencies. The energetics of the catalytic reaction is affected for all the variants for both the MAPK proteins. The stability changes and the variation in the enzyme catalysis observed for most of MAPK1/3 variants suggest that a local change in a residue, distant from the catalytic site, may have long-distance effects that reflect globally on enzyme stability and functions.
A synthesis of recent tools and perspectives in migratory connectivity studies
Authors: Gregory Killian A. , Francesiaz Charlotte , Jiguet Frédéric , Besnard Aurélien
Published: October 2023

Migration movements connect breeding and non-breeding bird populations over the year. Such links, referred to as migratory connectivity, have important implications for migratory population dynamics as they dictate the consequences of localised events for the whole population network. This calls for concerted efforts to understand migration processes for large-scale conservation. Over the last 20 years, the toolbox to investigate connectivity patterns has expanded and studies now consider migratory connectivity over a broader range of species and contexts. Here, we summarise recent developments in analysing migratory connectivity, focusing on strategies and challenges to pooling various types of data to both optimise and broaden the scope of connectivity studies. We find that the different approaches used to investigate migratory connectivity still have complementary strengths and weaknesses, whether in terms of cost, spatial and temporal resolution, or challenges in obtaining large sample sizes or connectivity estimates. Certain recent developments offer particularly promising prospects: robust quantitative models for banding data, improved precision of geolocators and accessibility of telemetry tracking systems, and increasingly precise probabilistic assignments based on genomic markers or large-scale isoscapes. In parallel, studies have proposed various ways to combine the information of different datasets, from simply comparing the connectivity patterns they draw to formally integrating their analyses. Such data combinations have proven to be more accurate in estimating connectivity patterns, particularly for integrated approaches that offer promising flexibility. Given the diversity of available tools, future studies would benefit from a rigorous comparative evaluation of the different methodologies to guide data collection to complete migration atlases: where and when should data be collected during the migratory cycle to best describe connectivity patterns? Which data are most favourable to combine, and under what conditions? Are there methods for combining data that are better than others? Can combination methods be improved by adjusting the contribution of the various data in the models? How can we fully integrate connectivity with demographic and environmental data? Data integration shows strong potential to deepen our understanding of migratory connectivity as a dynamic ecological process, especially if the gaps can be bridged between connectivity, population and environmental models.
Association of migration and family planning use among women in Malawi: Evidence from 2019/2020 Malawi Multiple Indicators Survey
Authors: Moyo Reuben Christopher , Nkhoma Dumisani
Published: October 2023

Background

Family planning (FP) is known to bring multiple benefits to people both individually and collectively. Individually, FP has been associated with reduction in risk of unintended pregnancy which also correlates with low child mortality rates. Child mortality rates in women with child spacing of less than two years are 45% higher compared to their counterparts with child spacing of more than two years. Several factors that predict FP utilisation among women of childbearing age have been identified but there is limited literature on how migration impacts FP utilisation in Malawi. Our current study aimed at assessing the association between migration and modern contraceptive use among women of childbearing age in Malawi.

Methods

Data for this study came from a nationally representative 2019/20 Malawi multiple cluster indicator survey (MICS). At total of 24,543 women aged 15 to 49 participated in the survey. Contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) analyses were conducted separately on all women of childbearing age and married women. The data was analysed using the complex survey data approach by applying sampling weights to correct unequal representation of participants at cluster, district, and regional level. We used binary logistic regression to assess association between migration status and modern contraceptive use among all women of childbearing age and married women separately. We included age, age at first sex, age at marriage, region of residence, education, residence wealth index and presence of disability as confounders in our final multivariable models.

Results

The overall CPRs for married women and for all women of childbearing age were 64.7% and 40.5% respectively. The CPRs for all women of childbearing age were 40.5% for non-migrants and 33.0% for migrant women. For married women, CPRs were 51.5% for migrant women and 65.5% for non-migrant women. The fully adjusted odds ratios for the association between migration status and modern contraceptive use were 0.62 (0.49–0.78) for married women and 0.65 (0.52–0.80) for all women of childbearing age.

Conclusions

We conclude from our findings that migrant women were significantly less likely to utilize modern contraceptive methods for both married women and all women of childbearing age. Deliberate efforts are required to ensure that migrant women of childbearing age have equal access to sexual and reproductive health services which includes family planning.
Application of E-coach chronic disease management model in rehabilitation management of patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans
Authors: Yuan You-Yuan , Cao Wen-Dong , Zhang Xiao-Hong , Du Rong-Xin , Wang Xue-Qi , Li Jing , Chen Juan , Yang Jun-Zi , Chen Jia-Qi
Published: October 2023

Objective

To explore the effect of a health (E)-coach chronic disease management model on the rehabilitation behaviour management of patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO).

Methods

The E-coach chronic disease management model was constructed based on a literature review and expert interviews. The effect of the E-coach model on patients with ASO during hospitalisation was analysed by comparing the compliance rates of blood glucose control, blood pressure control, drug compliance, ankle-brachial index, 6-min walking test (6MWT) and pain-free walking distance (PFWD) scores between the E-coach and control groups.

Results

In total, 212 patients with ASO were included in this study. After the intervention, the blood pressure compliance rate (44.8% vs. 65.7%) and blood glucose compliance rate (48.6% vs. 66.8%) were higher in the E-coach group than in the control group (p < 0.05). After intervention, compared with the control group, the patients in the E-coach group had better drug compliance (6.8 ± 1.9 vs. 7.9 ± 1.0), and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The scores for the 6MWT (329.19 ± 5.58 vs. 353.00 ± 9.76; 412.65 ± 12.59 vs. 499.16 ± 18.43) and PFWD (219.15 ± 11.96 vs. 225.36 ± 16.13; 331.62 ± 51.36 vs. 369.42 ± 75.71) tests were significantly higher in the E-coach group than in the control group at 1 and 6 months after intervention (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The E-coach chronic disease management model can effectively improve the control rates of blood glucose and blood pressure and the behaviour management of patients with ASO and is thus worthy of clinical reference.
A hybrid B-spline collocation technique for the Caputo time fractional nonlinear Burgers’ equation
Authors: Tamsir Mohammad , Nigam Deependra , Dhiman Neeraj , Chauhan Anand
Published: October 2023

Background

This study proposes an efficient and stable technique based on new hybrid B-spline (HB-spline) functions for the numerical treatment of the Caputo time fractional nonlinear Burgers’ (TFNB) equation. The time derivative is discretized using the definition of the Caputo derivative, whereas HB-spline functions are used to discretize the spatial derivatives. The Rubin–Graves technique is used to linearize the nonlinear terms.

Results

The performance and efficacy of the established method are tested using three examples. The graphical results represent the smoothness between numerical and exact solutions. The absolute errors are very low as $$1{0}^{-4}$$

1

0

-
4

and $$1{0}^{-5}$$

1

0

-
5

. The convergence rate shows that the proposed method is second-order accurate in space.

Conclusions

The proposed method provides better results than the methods available in the literature. The method yields highly accurate results and can handle large-scale problems, which is the novelty of the present work.
Heads-Up Micronavigation Reliability of Preoperative Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Maps for the Motor Function: Comparison With Direct Cortical Stimulation
Authors: Muscas Giovanni , Bardazzi Tommaso , Pedone Agnese , Campagnaro Luca , Bonaudo Camilla , Fainardi Enrico , Baldanzi Fabrizio , Troiano Simone , Carrai Riccardo , Grippo Antonello , Della Puppa Alessandro
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

We aimed to assess the reliability of preoperative navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) maps for motor function as visualized intraoperatively with augmented reality heads-up display and to assess its accuracy via direct point-by-point comparison with the gold-standard direct cortical stimulation (DCS).

METHODS:

From January 2022 to January 2023, candidates for surgical removal of lesions involving the motor pathways underwent preoperative nTMS assessment to obtain cortical maps of motor function. Intraoperatively and before tumor removal, nTMS maps were superimposed on the cortical surface, and DCS was performed on positive points with increasing current intensity until obtaining a positive response at 16 mA. The outcome of each stimulation was recorded to obtain discrimination metrics.

RESULTS:

Twelve patients were enrolled (5 females [42%] vs 7 males [58%], mean age 62.9 ± 12.8 years), for a total of 304 investigated points. Agreement between nTMS and DCS was moderate (κ = 0.43, P < .005), with 0.66 (0.53-0.78) sensitivity, 0.87 (0.82-0.90) specificity, 0.50 (0.39-0.62) positive predictive values, 0.93 (0.89-0.95) negative predictive value, and 0.83 (0.79-0.87) accuracy. A loss of accuracy was observed with higher DCS current intensities.

CONCLUSION:

We performed a point-by-point validation of preoperative nTMS maps for motor function using augmented reality visualization. The high negative predictive value and low positive predictive values highlight nTMS reliability to visualize safe cortical zones but not to identify critical functional areas, confirming previous findings of nTMS maps for the language function and suggesting the need for combined use of nTMS maps and DCS for optimal maximal safe resection.
Pax3 lineage-specific deletion of Gpr161 is associated with spinal neural tube and craniofacial malformations during embryonic development
Authors: Kim Sung-Eun , Chothani Pooja J. , Shaik Rehana , Pollard Westley , Finnell Richard H.
Published: October 2023

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling is the morphogen signaling that regulates embryonic craniofacial and neural tube development. G protein-coupled receptor 161 (Gpr161) is a negative regulator of Shh signaling, and its inactivation in mice results in embryo lethality associated with craniofacial defects and neural tube defects. However, the structural defects of later embryonic stages and cell lineages underlying abnormalities have not been well characterized due to the limited lifespan of Gpr161 null mice. We found that embryos with Pax3 lineage-specific deletion of Gpr161 presented with tectal hypertrophy (anterior dorsal neuroepithelium), cranial vault and facial bone hypoplasia (cranial neural crest), vertebral abnormalities (somite) and the closed form of spina bifida (posterior dorsal neuroepithelium). In particular, the closed form of spina bifida was partly due to reduced Pax3 and Cdx4 gene expression in the posterior dorsal neural tubes of Gpr161 mutant embryos with decreased Wnt signaling, whereas Shh signaling was increased. We describe a previously unreported role for Gpr161 in the development of posterior neural tubes and confirm its role in cranial neural crest- and somite-derived skeletogenesis and midbrain morphogenesis in mice.
Evaluating the Impact of Online Market Integration—Evidence from the EU Portable PC Market
Authors: Duch-Brown Néstor , Grzybowski Lukasz , Romahn André , Verboven Frank
Published: October 2023

We develop a framework to evaluate the impact of market integration, accounting for spillovers between multiple distribution channels. We adapt the standard random coefficients logit demand model to allow for substitution between channels and consumer arbitrage across countries. We apply our framework to the European portable PC market, where geoblocking practices that restrict online cross-border trade have recently been banned. Consumers in high income countries gain most from price convergence, while consumers in other countries may be worse off. The total consumer and welfare gains from online market integration are more modest and mainly due to increased product choice rather than reduced price discrimination. (JEL F13, F14, L13, L63, L81)
Cochlear duct length in Pakistani cochlear implant recipients gender, age and side association: A Radiological Measure
Authors: Sarwar Zahra , Ahmed Jawwad , Saqulain Ghulam , Khan Muhammad Iqbal Javed
Published: October 2023

Objectives: To analyze the gender, age and side association of cochlear duct length in Pakistani-Asian cochlear implant recipient population based on computed tomography imaging study.

Methods: Current study retrospectively studied charts of cases who underwent cochlear implantation at the Department of Otolaryngology & Auditory Implant Centre, Capital Hospital Islamabad, over a period of two years from 1st May 2017 to 30th April 2019. These included 200 cases of both genders and of any age. In addition to basic demographic data, computed tomography findings of the temporal bone were utilized to measure the cochlear duct length. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 23.

Results: Study revealed a mean Cochlear duct length of 29.935±2.173mm (range: 25.12 to 37.60) with significant (p<0.001) association with gender with longer cochlear duct in males compared to females on right (30.50±2.384 vs. 29.36±1.887) and on left side (30.50±2.236 vs.29.32±1.935). However, no significant difference was noted for side with slightly longer cochlear duct on the right side compared to left (29.95±2.224 vs.29.92±2.171). Also, no significant association with age was noted with p=0.578 & p=0.824 for right and left side respectively.

Conclusion: Pakistani population is characterized by a short mean CDL of 29.935±2.173 mm with significant association (p<0.001) with gender with longer cochlear duct length in males; and side with larger CDL on right side. However, no significant association with age was noted.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.7426

How to cite this: Sarwar Z, Ahmed J, Saqulain G, Khan MIJ. Cochlear duct length in Pakistani cochlear implant recipients gender, age and side association: A Radiological Measure. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(1):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.7426

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Causes and outcome of pregnancy related acute kidney injury
Authors: Liaqat Nazia , Noor Mohammad Khan
Published: October 2023

Objective: To determine frequencies of causes and renal outcomes of pregnancy related acute kidney injury.

Method: This descriptive case series study was conducted in Nephrology unit of a tertiary care hospital of Peshawar, from 1st August 2021 to 31st July 2022.A total of 100 patients with acute kidney injury secondary to obstetric conditions were enrolled via non-probability consecutive sampling technique. While patients with pre-existing renal disease, those with renal stones, or having bilateral small kidneys on ultrasound were excluded from the study. Patients were followed till 12 weeks postpartum period. Underlying obstetrical causes and outcome at 12 weeks postnatal period were determined.

Results: The mean age of sample of 100 cases was 29.29 ± 6.45. Mean serum creatinine at presentation was 6.5± 3.13. Majority of patient, 89% were multigravidas. Seventy eight percent patients required hemodialysis. Primary postpartum hemorrhage remained the commonest underlying cause of pregnancy related acute kidney injury in this study. The frequency of persistent renal failure in Pr-AKI (pregnancy related acute kidney injury) in this study was 14%. In about 66% of cases complete recovery occurred. All the underlying obstetrical causes, when adjusted for age, gravidity, place and mode of delivery, had no association with persistent renal failure.

Conclusion: Primary postpartum hemorrhage is the predominant cause of pregnancy related acute kidney injury. By the end of 12 weeks postpartum, two third patients recover completely from pregnancy related acute renal injury.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.7444

How to cite this: Khan NM, Liaqat N. Causes and outcome of pregnancy related acute kidney injury. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(1):---------.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.7444

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Devonian–Carboniferous extension and Eurekan inversion along an inherited WNW–ESE-striking fault system in Billefjorden, Svalbard
Authors: Koehl Jean-Baptiste P. , Allaart Lis , Noormets Riko
Published: October 2023

Background The Billefjorden area in central Spitsbergen hosts thick Lower–lowermost Upper Devonian, late–post-Caledonian collapse deposits presumably deformed during the Late Devonian Svalbardian Orogeny. These rocks are juxtaposed against Proterozoic basement rocks along the Billefjorden Fault Zone and are overlain by uppermost Devonian–early Permian deposits of the Billefjorden Trough, a N–S-trending Carboniferous rift basin bounded by the Billefjorden Fault Zone. Methods We interpreted seismic reflection (also depth-converted), bathymetric, and exploration well data. Results The data show abundant Early Devonian, WNW–ESE-striking (oblique-slip) normal faults segmenting the Billefjorden Trough, and a gradual decrease in tectonic activity from the Early Devonian (collapse phase) to early Permian (post-rift phase). Early Devonian–Middle Pennsylvanian WNW–ESE-striking faults were mildly reactivated and overprinted and accommodated strain partitioning and decoupling in the early Cenozoic. This resulted in intense deformation of Lower Devonian sedimentary rocks and in the formation of bedding-parallel décollements, e.g., between the Lower Devonian Wood Bay and the uppermost Pennsylvanian–lowermost Permian Wordiekammen formations. This suggests that intense deformation within Devonian rocks in Dickson Land can be explained by Eurekan deformation alone. Eurekan deformation also resulted in the formation of WNW–ESE- and N–S- to NNE–SSW-trending, kilometer-wide, open folds such as the Petuniabukta Syncline, and in inversion and/or overprinting of Early Devonian to Early Pennsylvanian normal faults by sinistral-reverse Eurekan thrusts. WNW–ESE-striking faults merge at depth with similarly trending and dipping ductile shear zone fabrics in Proterozoic basement rocks, which likely formed during the Timanian Orogeny. Conclusions A NNE-dipping shear zone, which is part of a large system of Timanian thrusts in the Barents Sea, controlled the formation of WNW–ESE-striking Devonian–Mississippian normal faults and syn-tectonic sedimentary rocks in Billefjorden. Eurekan strain partitioning and decoupling suggest that the Svalbardian Orogeny did not occur in Svalbard.
Menumbuhkan Minat Baca Anak melalui Rumah Baca di Pulau Sapudi, Kabupaten Sumenep
Authors: Dinanti Lucia Ari , Wildani Zakiatul , Wulandari Sri Pingit , Retnaningsih Sri Mumpuni , Wibowo Wahyu , Ratih Iis Dewi , Prastuti Mike , Sundari Eva
Published: October 2023

Indeks minat baca di Jawa Timur menduduki peringkat ke 26 dari 34 provinsi di Indonesia. Berdasarkan hasil survei di Desa Gayam, Kecamatan Gayam, Pulau Sapudi, Kabupaten Sumenep, hanya 17% anak yang mempunyai hobi membacasementara 58% lebih sering meluangkan waktu dengan gadget. Untuk meningkatkan minat baca anak di Desa Gayam perlu dilakukan upaya dari pihak eksternal, yaitu mengadakan Rumah Baca sebagai sarana untuk membangkitkan minat baca anak. Untuk keperluan ini tim Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (Abmas) dari Lab Rekayasa Kualitas dan Produktivitas Departemen Statistika Bisnis Fakultas Vokasi ITS (DSB FV ITS) membangun Rumah Baca Izzatul Islam, yang berisi sekitar 451 buku meliputi 14 jenis buku dengan 31% dari total buku berasal dari donasi dan 69% merupakan buku baru. Diberi nama Izzatul Islam karena rumah baca berada di rumah Hafidz Izzatul Islam di Desa Gayam. Pembukaan rumah baca dilaksanakan pada tanggal 17 September 2022 dihadiri oleh 40 anak-anak TK dan PAUD beserta orang tua dan 30 anak SD. Kegiatan pada saat pembukaan adalah lomba mewarnai bagi anak TK dan PAUD dan lomba membaca bagi anak SD. Setelah pembukaan rumah baca, jumlah rata-rata pengunjung Rumah Baca Izzatul Islam adalah 16 orang denganjangkauan 10 sampai 20 orang dan terjadi peningkatan jumlah pengunjung rumah baca dari 15 orang menjadi 17 orang
Pelatihan Guru di SMPN 2 Balongbendo Sidoarjo melalui Pendampingan Menulis Artikel Ilmiah Hasil Penelitian Tindakan Kelas Menggunakan Media Pendukung Google Scholar dan Mendeley (GSM)
Authors: Sa’diyah Ilmatus , Hamid Abdul , Saidan Gading Adian Kun , Zahirah Jafni Fara , Ramadhani Nabila Eka
Published: October 2023

Kemampuan menulis ilmiah guru masih rendah, dipicu oleh keadaan para guru yang belum memiliki wawasan cukup tentang teknik menulis ilmiah, terutama dalam menyusun artikel ilmiah hasil penelitian tindakan kelas (PTK). Beberapa guru diketahui belum mengetahui detail tentang teknis pelaksanaan PTK dan penulisan artikel ilmiah hasil PTK yang sudah dilakukan. Dengan PTK, guru bisa melakukan evaluasi terhadap pembelajaran yang sudah dilaksanakan dan bisa mengedukasi guru yang lain dengan kreativitas mengajarnya di kelas. Hal ini dialami oleh bapak dan ibu guru di SMPN 2 Balongbendo. Guru belum mengetahui teknik yang tepat untuk melaksanakan PTK dan memublikasikannya ke dalam artikel ilmiah. Guru pun belum mengenal fitur media pendukung yang bisa digunakan untuk memudahkan guru dalam melaksanakan PTK dan menulis artikel ilmiah. Oleh karena itu tim pengabdian melakukan kegiatan berupa peningkatan profesionalisme guru melalui pendampingan menulis artikel ilmiah hasil penelitian Tindakan kelas dengan media Google Scholar dan Mendeley (GSM). Pada kegiatan ini guru akan didampingi dalam menulis artikel ilmiah hasil PTK hingga bisa submit pada jurnal ilmiah. Hasil pengabdian kepada masyarakat melalui kuesioner dari google form yang telah diisi para guru menunjukkan sebanyak 33,3% menjawab sangat sesuai dan 66,7% menjawab sesuai terkait materi yang telah disampaikan. Sedangkan sebanyak 66,7% menjawab sesuai dan 33,3% menjawab sangat sesuai terkait kesesuaian aplikasi Mendeley dan Google Scholar dalam meningkatkan kemampuan menulis para guru.
BowALS: understanding changing bowel habits in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Marsden Rachael , Clarke Jan , Howard Robin , Sidle Katie , Turner Martin , Talbot Kevin , Thompson Alexander
Published: October 2023

Background:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease (MND), causes progressive weakness and ultimately death as a result of loss of motor nerves. Changes in bowel habit are common in people with ALS. This has been attributed to immobility, dehydration and dietary changes.

Objective:

To provide understanding of the prevalence of altered bowel habit in people with ALS, how this differs by stage of disease and how it impacts daily life.

Methods:

In a prospective cohort study (BowALS) in two UK ALS centres, 58 participants recorded their current and usual bowel habit using an online questionnaire which included the revised ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R), Bristol stool chart, the EuroQol 5 questionnaire (EQ-5D) questionnaire and measured forced vital capacity. The same questionnaire was completed three times 6 months apart.

Results:

A total of 33 patients (57%) reported change in bowel habit in response to the first questionnaire and 43 patients (74%) reported change in bowel habit at some point during follow up. Change in bowel habit was more common at the first visit in patients with more advanced disease, as measured by lower ALSFRS-R (ALSFRS-R<34, 14/18 patients; ALSFRS-R >40, 6/18 patients; odds ratio 6.58, P=0.018). Change in bowel habit was also associated with lower self-reported health score on EQ-5D (median 60 vs 75, P=0.035). There was no correlation between ALSFRS-R and Bristol stool chart score, and no association between self-reported depression and change in bowel habit.

Recommendations:

Healthcare professionals should think proactively about preventing constipation in people with ALS, being aware that the prevalence of altered bowel habit increases with the level of disability.
Air-Pinch PWM Valve to Regulate Flow Rate of Hollow-Cone Nozzles for Variable-Rate Sprayers
Authors: Campos Javier , Zhu Heping , Jeon Hongyoung , Salcedo Ramón , Ozkan Erdal , Roman Carla , Gil Emilio
Published: October 2023

Highlights

Air-pinch PWM valve was investigated as an alternative to electric PWM valves to manipulate hollow-cone nozzles.

Air-pinch and electric PWM valves performed comparable accuracy in flow rate modulations.

Droplet sizes from hollow-cone nozzles with both PWM valves were comparable across DUCs ranging from 20% to 100%.

Air-pinch PWM valve had great potential of use due to its capacity to isolate the internal parts of the valve from chemicals.

Abstract. Electric pulse width modulation (PWM) solenoid valves are commonly used to regulate nozzle flow rates to achieve precision variable-rate spray applications. However, some pesticide formulations, such as wettable powders and adhesive additives, can potentially cause a malfunction such that the valve cannot completely shut off during flow rate modulation if spray lines are not cleaned thoroughly after spray applications. An air-pinch PWM valve was evaluated as a potential alternative to conventional PWM valves to modulate the flow rates of hollow-cone nozzles used on air-assisted orchard sprayers. With the air-pinch valve, spray mixtures only passed through a flexible tube to avoid chemicals directly contacting the moving components inside the valve chamber. The flow rate modulation was performed by pinching and releasing the tube back and forth with air-pilot PWM actions. Evaluations included the flow rate modulation capability along with droplet size distributions from three disc-core hollow-cone nozzles coupled with the PWM pinch valve and compared with a conventional electric PWM valve. Both air-pinch and electric PWM valves performed comparably in the flow rate modulation accuracy and droplet size distribution for hollow-cone nozzles operated at 414 and 827 kPa pressures across the duty cycles (DUCs) ranging from 10% to 100%, except for the air-pinch valve that could not activate at 10% DUC. The flow rates of nozzles modulated with both PWM valves at all DUCs were 5.3% greater on average than the target flow rates, while the flow rates were similar at 90% and 100% DUCs. Droplet size classifications based on ASABE Standard S-572.3 were generally consistent across DUCs ranging from 20% to 100% for the same nozzle and pressure with the air-pinch PWM valve and from 10% to 100% with the conventional electric PWM valve. The consistency of droplet sizes across DUCs and accuracy of flow rate modulations demonstrated the potential advantage of using the air-pinch PWM solenoid valve as an alternative for precision variable-rate sprayers to accurately apply different chemicals. Keywords: Droplet size, Flow rate control, Pesticide, Pinch valve, Precision farming, Pulse width modulation.
Sunshine, Cucumbers, Mothers, The Dawn, Speed, Bacon, Pears, Walnuts, Mice, Beached Whales, Paper Tigers, Arabic Texts, Romance Words, and the Bottom of the Ninth Inning: Revisiting the Kharja Debate of the 1980s
Authors: Pearce S. J.
Published: October 2023

Abstract: The present article reviews the series of studies on the muwashshaḥāt and the kharajāt (strophic poems and their final couplets) that appeared, in conversation with each other, in La corónica during the 1980s. This series of articles was foundational in the study of these poems in the English-speaking world, representing a hashing out of the role of bi- and multilingualism in Andalusi literature. Vituperative as they were path-breaking, the articles represent an important turning point in the historiography of medieval Spain.
Response to "Using Literary Texts in a History of Sexuality"
Authors: Dangler Jean
Published: October 2023

Abstract: Inspired by the critical cluster and volume, Queer Iberia , Jean Dangler discusses how the scholarship of Louise Vasvàri, Daniel Eisenberg, and Leora Lev illustrates the implied political, cultural, and linguistic significance of Al-Andalus for Spanish Studies and more broadly for the history of sexuality. Dangler concludes that Al-Andalus and Christian Iberia were often diverse and accommodating places, even as late as the fifteenth century.
The Hispanic Seminary of Medieval Studies: Old and New Projects
Authors: Gago Jover Francisco
Published: October 2023

Abstract: The article offers a brief overview of the projects developed by the Hispanic Seminary of Medieval Studies since the publication of Kasten's article in 1978, where he briefly explains the decision to abandon the compilation of the paper-based Tentative-2, in favor of a computer based lexical database, and the origins of the Dictionary of the Old Spanish project. The article pays particular attention to two projects related to the paleographical transcriptions produced by HSMS's collaborators: the Digital Library of Old Spanish Texts, which provides interactive access to a the paleographic transcriptions, as well as to a series of indexes (alphabetical, frequency, reverse alphabetical), and concordances in KWIC format; and the Old Spanish Textual Archive, a lemmatized and morphologically tagged linguistic corpus of about 35,000,000 words of medieval texts written in Spanish, Asturian, Leonese, Navarro-Aragonese, and Aragonese.
Jottings from a Monastic Kitchen
Authors: Armistead Samuel G. , Dean Ruth J.
Published: October 2023

Abstract: This article explores a description of the foodstuffs and daily eating habits of a monastery as recorded in MS Codex 1081 (currently housed at the University of Pennsylvania). The authors provide a translation of the marginal note and examine the choice of terms, concluding it is from the eastern third of the Iberian Peninsula, written in Castilian, but with interference of Aragonese dialect. This note offers a delightful vignette, illuminating the daily routine of fifteenth-century Aragonese religious life: frugal, but not unappetizing fare, generous hospitality to the weary traveler, pleasant evening strolls, and finally a hearty nightcap of fruit and full-bodied wine, as recommended by a generous housekeeper.
Fifty Years of Spanish Historical Linguistics in La Corónica
Authors: Dworkin Steven N.
Published: October 2023

Abstract: This article surveys studies on problems of Spanish historical linguistics published in La corónica over the last fifty years. In addition to a concise description of each piece, it refers the reader, as appropriate, to critical reactions or to further work on the problem under study. The survey concludes with some thoughts on the future of Spanish historical linguistics.
Contrasting Ways of Knowing: Overlapping Epistemologies in the Thought and Lives of Ernst Bloch and Rudolf Steiner
Authors: Holland Henry
Published: October 2023

abstract: First Theodor Adorno in 1965, and then a second wave of scholars in the 1980s, noted that the philosopher Ernst Bloch (1885–1977) engaged substantially with theosophy, particularly when young. This included Bloch's critique of the new religious movement anthroposophy, which some see as an offshoot of theosophy, and of anthroposophy's founder, Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925). I address the lack of English publications on the content of this engagement, and integrate other current questions about Steiner, including the centrality of racism to his whole philosophy. Comparing Bloch's epistemology with Steiner's ultimately reveals much that is irreconcilable, alongside significant points of convergence.
Against Kerygma: Blumenberg's Critique of Rudolf Bultmann's Theology
Authors: Hohendahl Peter Uwe
Published: October 2023

abstract: In St. Matthew Passion (1988) Hans Blumenberg singles out the theologian Rudolf Bultmann for harsh criticism. The polemic focusses on his reading of the passion narrative in the Gospel of Matthew. After presenting Bultmann's theological position, the present essay examines the evolution of Blumenberg's critique of Bultmann's theology. While the early criticism focuses on theological issues, in The Legitimacy of the Modern Age (1966) Blumenberg stresses the philosophical-historical aspect, while Work on Myth (1979) foregrounds the question of myth. In St. Matthew Passion theological problems move to the center again, turning Bultmann into the prime example of harmful theology.
Tatsṛṣṭvā Tadevānuprāviśat : Toward an Advaita Vedantic Approach to Cosmopsychism
Authors: Hejjaji Vinay , Sadasivan Anand , PR Padmakumar
Published: October 2023

Abstract: This essay draws attention to some of the ideas and discussions in the classical Advaita Vedantic literature that have a direct bearing on contemporary debates concerning the existence of consciousness in the empirical world. Section 1 makes the case for pursuing a non-eliminativist reading of Advaita Vedanta by clarifying its position on the existence of the empirical world. The idea here is to lay the background for approaching Advaita Vedanta from a cosmopsychist perspective. Section 2 shows, first, how the position of Advaita Vedanta that macro-level consciousnesses are reflections of the universal consciousness (Brahman) in the intellects ( buddhi ) of empirical selves sets it apart from the prevailing cosmopsychist theories. It then goes on to discuss how this idea of reflection can at once offer an elegant solution to the decombination/derivation problem, suggest a promising way to bridge "the explanatory gap" and explain the phenomena of mental causation.
Is Mīmāṃsā Epistemology Externalist?
Authors: Patel Sarju
Published: October 2023

Abstract: This essay argues that whereas Mīmāṃsaka commentator Uṃvekabhaṭṭa puts forth an externalist interpretation of svataḥ prāmāṇya, the later interpretation thereof due to Pārthasārathimiśra is distinctly internalist in flavor. Specifically, it is argued that Pārthasārathimiśra's position can most aptly be construed as a form of phenomenal conservatism à la Michael Huemer, and thus that it is consistent with a form of internalism called Appearance Internalism.
The Case of the Upright Man in the Analects
Authors: Sun Weimin
Published: October 2023

Abstract: In the Analects (13.18) we find a case that a son reported his sheep-stealing father to the authorities, and Confucius and the Duke of She disagreed whether the son was upright or not. This case reflects a conflict of strong and deep intuitions, and it continues to ignite heated debates. This essay first tries to clarify the nature of this conflict and Confucius' position, as it has many different interpretations. Next, a variety of arguments in support of Confucius' position are examined and articulated and classified into five different types. Of the five arguments, two of them are especially noteworthy: the argument from Goodness and the argument from Social Utility. Both arguments can find strong support in Confucian tradition, and many historical arguments are still relevant and insightful today. These arguments also demonstrate the value of Confucian ethics in contemporary society.
Why Observing Li Is Not the Instrument to Attain Ren : On the Relation Between Ren and Li in the Analects
Authors: Zhang Jian
Published: October 2023

Abstract: Many scholars generally believe that Confucius thinks the observance of li to be instrumental in attaining ren . In this essay, it is argued that observing li is not the instrument for attaining ren in the Analects . If we endorse the instrumentalist's interpretation of li for attaining ren , four contradictions would be followed in the Analects . Besides, there is no clear and solid textual evidence for the instrumentalist's interpretation of li . By reinterpreting passage 12.1, where Confucius said "ke ji fu li wei ren" 克己復禮為仁, it is argued that scholars are wrong to refer to it as a support for the instrumentalist's interpretation. In the Analects , Confucius presents a self-cultivation way to attain ren without relying on the observance of li .
Environmental Violence and Natural Symbolism in Chava Rosenfarb's The Tree of Life : An Ecocritical Approach to Holocaust Memory
Authors: Santerre Ariane
Published: October 2023

Abstract: Future prize-winning writer Chava Rosenfarb was seventeen years old when she was incarcerated in the Łódź ghetto. In 1972, she published The Tree of Life [Der boym fun lebn] (1972), a fictional chronicle of that experience of the Holocaust. In this three-volume epic novel, Rosenfarb narrates and interlaces the fates of ten Jewish families from pre-war Poland in 1939 to the liquidation of the ghetto in 1944. The "Tree of Life" is revealed to be the name given by the "ghettoniks" to an iconic cherry tree that stands in the shared backyard of a group of apartment complexes inhabited by many of the protagonists in the ghetto. Far from being an anecdotal presence, the cherry tree becomes the center of Rosenfarb's reflections on the impacts of the environment on one's physical and mental health. In this article, The Tree of Life is analyzed from an ecocritical perspective to examine the interconnections between genocidal intent and environmental precariousness. The first part considers the perpetration angle of the Łódź ghetto establishment as a Nazi tool of ecological violence through its excessive economic program of forced labour and its structural health determinants leading to epidemics. We will then investigate the characters' attempts to reconnect to nature through tangible acts of agency (the development of small gardens to grow one's own food) and symbolism (the cherry tree evoking the freedom of the outside world). The purpose of this article is to explore the links between genocide and ecocide within the framework of literary memory, while appreciating the relevance of Chava Rosenfarb's representations of the Holocaust to our era of renewed ecological awareness.
Long-range frequency-domain optical delay line based on a spinning tilted mirror for low-cost ocular biometry
Authors: Urizar María Pilar , Gambra Enrique , de Castro Alberto , de la Peña Álvaro , Pascual Daniel , Cetinkaya Onur , Marcos Susana , Curatolo Andrea
Published: October 2023

Optical biometers are routinely used to measure intraocular distances in ophthalmic applications such as cataract surgery planning or myopia monitoring. However, due to their high cost and reduced transportability, access to them for screening and surgical planning is still limited in low-resource and remote settings. To increase patients’ access to optical biometry we propose a novel low-cost frequency-domain optical delay line (FD-ODL) based on an inexpensive stepper motor spinning a tilted mirror, for integration into a time-domain (TD)-biometer, amenable to a compact footprint. In the proposed FD-ODL, the axial scan range and the A-scan rate are decoupled from one another, as the former only depends on the spinning mirror tilt angle, while the A-scan rate only depends on the motor shaft rotational speed. We characterized the scanning performance and specifications for two spinning mirror tilt angles, and compared them to those of the standard, more expensive FD-ODL implementation, employing a galvanometric scanner for group delay generation. A prototype of the low-cost FD-ODL with a 1.5 deg tilt angle, resulting in an axial scan range of 6.61 mm and an A-scan rate of 10 Hz was experimentally implemented and integrated in a dual sample beam optical low-coherence reflectometry (OLCR) setup with a detour unit to replicate the measurement window around the anterior segment and the retina. The intraocular distances of a model eye were measured with the proposed low-cost biometer and found to be in good agreement with those acquired by a custom swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) system and two commercial biometers, validating our novel design.
Evaluating differences in optical properties of indolent and aggressive murine breast tumors using quantitative diffuse reflectance spectroscopy
Authors: Rodriguez Troncoso Joel , Marium Mim Umme , Ivers Jesse D. , Paidi Santosh K. , Harper Mason G. , Nguyen Khue G. , Ravindranathan Sruthi , Rebello Lisa , Lee David E. , Zaharoff David A. , Barman Ishan , Rajaram Narasimhan
Published: October 2023

We used diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to quantify tissue absorption and scattering-based parameters in similarly sized tumors derived from a panel of four isogenic murine breast cancer cell lines (4T1, 4T07, 168FARN, 67NR) that are each capable of accomplishing different steps of the invasion-metastasis cascade. We found lower tissue scattering, increased hemoglobin concentration, and lower vascular oxygenation in indolent 67NR tumors incapable of metastasis compared with aggressive 4T1 tumors capable of metastasis. Supervised learning statistical approaches were able to accurately differentiate between tumor groups and classify tumors according to their ability to accomplish each step of the invasion-metastasis cascade. We investigated whether the inhibition of metastasis-promoting genes in the highly metastatic 4T1 tumors resulted in measurable optical changes that made these tumors similar to the indolent 67NR tumors. These results demonstrate the potential of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to noninvasively evaluate tumor biology and discriminate between indolent and aggressive tumors.
Enhancement of graphene absorption: a numerical formula to design a suitable Fabry-Perot cavity in a terahertz spectral window
Authors: Mahesh Pulimi , Panigrahy Damodar , Nayak Chittaranjan , Goyal Amit Kumar , Massoud Yehia
Published: October 2023

In this article, we investigate the absorption characteristics of a graphene-embedded FP cavity in a terahertz spectral window. The optical attributes were determined by a 4 × 4 transfer matrix procedure. The findings demonstrate that perfect absorption is completely reliant on the structural characteristics of the FP cavity throughout a broad range of terahertz frequencies. From the obtained dataset, numerical formulae are generated for structural parameters (N
FD
, N
BD
) using a linear regression machine learning algorithm to achieve higher than 90% absorption. The artificial neural network trained using our dataset provided a coefficient of determination (R2)=1, opening up new pathways to design perfect terahertz absorbers. Furthermore, we explored the influence of magnetic biasing on absorption traits, and our findings show that fine absorption improvement is conceivable. The formulated numerical relations have greater importance in the design of perfect terahertz absorbers.