bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Voting Under the Federal Constitution
Authors: Crum Travis
Published: August 2023

This chapter examines how the federal Constitution protects the right to vote and how the United States became a full-fledged democracy over the course of two centuries and several constitutional amendments. As originally written, the Constitution entrusted states with authority to set voting qualifications for both state and federal elections. While democratic for its time, the Founding-era electorate was largely limited to property-owning white men. In response to social movements and wartime pressures, Congress passed and the states ratified the Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-Sixth Amendments, which barred discrimination in voting on account of race, sex, inability to pay a poll tax, and age, respectively. In the 1960s, the Supreme Court expanded the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause to cover non-race-based voting qualifications, even though that clause was originally understood to exclude the right to vote. Given the ascendance of originalism and disrespect for stare decisis on the current Supreme Court, many of these Warren Court decisions are at serious risk of reconsideration. This chapter concludes by identifying alternative paths for protecting the right to vote under the federal Constitution beyond the original public understanding of the Equal Protection Clause.
The Significance of Location of Self-Injury
Authors: Gardner Kathryn Jane , Clements Caroline , Bickley Harriet , Rayner Gillian , Taylor Peter James
Published: August 2023

This chapter examines whether location of injury may have meaning for people with lived experience of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), and what research to date reveals about possible meanings, implications, and correlates of the location of self-injury on the body. It begins by reviewing the prevalence of different self-injury locations and the role of culture, followed by functional, cognitive, and psychodynamic perspectives. Studies suggest a preference for self-injury on the arms and legs, followed by the torso. Yet, within these largely Caucasian samples there is variation in reported percentages for common locations across studies and sample types. Moreover, there is a knowledge gap on NSSI in non-Western and minority groups. The chapter then considers research and clinical implications that stem directly from an improved understanding of the relevance of location of the injury.
The Hospitality of Wonder and Its Relation to Care and Compassion in Music Education
Authors: Boyce-Tillman June
Published: August 2023

Drawing on the ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Socrates, and contemporary philosophers such as Heidegger, this chapter examines the relationship between “wonder” and care and compassion. It sees wonder as a normal part of children’s development and considers how this may be kept alive as children learn the vernacular of particular musical cultures. This chapter interrogates the place of wonder in what it is to be human especially in the area of caring, compassion, and openness to Otherness, including trust, empathy, diversity, inclusion, equity, community, hospitality, and authentic connection. It critiques the pursuit of limited ways of knowing in current educational practice, examining the desire to control the uncertainty of wonder and recommends wonder as an antidote to violence and fundamentalisms in its hospitality to difference and the opening up of care and compassion. It sees the significant role that musicking can play in this by practical illustrations.
Long-Term Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder with Medications
Authors: Wolfgang Aaron S. , Weimer Melissa B. , Na Peter J. , Fiellin David A. , Muvvala Srinivas B.
Published: August 2023

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic, relapsing, and remitting medical disease. This principle guides the most widely accepted and evidence-based paradigm of OUD treatment, which is the long-term treatment of OUD with medications. Ongoing treatment has been shown to have clinical outcomes that include improved retention in addiction treatment, increased OUD remission, reduced opioid overdose, and reduced all-cause mortality along with numerous positive patient-centered, medical, psychiatric, and psychosocial outcomes. These outcomes are observed with methadone, buprenorphine, and extended-release naltrexone and remain for as long as the medication is continued, with an increased risk for negative outcomes when these medications are discontinued. Similar to other chronic medical diseases, OUD is best treated according to a chronic disease paradigm.
Understanding place identity in urban scale Smart Heritage using a cross-case analysis method
Authors: Geng Shiran , Chau Hing-Wah , Jamei Elmira , Vrcelj Zora
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Smart Heritage is a recently established discourse that entwines smartness and the heritage discipline. Studies have shown that place identity is at the core of value-based frameworks of built heritage. This study aims to unveil the role of identity in existing Smart Heritage frameworks, which is currently a gap in existing research.

Design/methodology/approach

To better understand place identity in the Smart Heritage context and facilitate future framework establishments, this study uses a cross-case analysis method to scrutinise common trends in the identity development of seven current best practices.

Findings

The results show that current best practices involve smart technologies in sustaining or rebuilding heritage identities, mostly mapped on the local scale. Catered solutions are essential in this context due to historic cities’ variegated pursuits of identity. Most current Smart Heritage projects are at the transitioning stage from digital to smart, as the autonomous ability of smart innovations is yet to be fully realised on the city or the global scale. Researchers are encouraged to draw essence from existing heritage frameworks considering the built heritage’s place identity, which is at the core of culturally sustainable Smart Heritage transitions.

Originality/value

This study concludes with five recommendations for addressing heritage identity in Smart Heritage frameworks, targeting future research avenues. Also, this study furthers the discussion on the linkage of Smart Heritage, place identity and marketing strategy, contributing to the city branding and tourism management field. Future research should extend the case-study selection beyond Europe, which is a recognised limitation of this study.
Who considers becoming a world language teacher? Comparing students who would with those who won't
Authors: Davis William S. , Liu Bo , Kim Josephine
Published: August 2023

Given the ongoing shortage of world language teachers in the United States, growing attention has developed toward recruiting new teachers at the secondary and postsecondary levels. This mixed methods study examined why some university noneducation students involved in language study at a large public institution indicated they would consider becoming a teacher (N = 116) while others would not (N = 129). Analyses indicated that those who would consider the profession were significantly more motivated for language study and had perceived experiencing significantly more instances of communicative and authentic pedagogy, as well as feelings of autonomy, community, and capability in their current language course than their counterparts who would not consider the profession. While passion for languages, teaching, and social contribution were factors that drew students to the profession, those who would not consider world language teaching were primarily dissuaded by a lack of passion for languages and teaching and perceptions of their own inadequate language proficiency.
Death by fire
Authors: Price Michael
Published: August 2023

Wildfires, intensified by climate change and perhaps human activity, may have doomed Southern California’s big mammals 13,000 years ago
Alleviation of adipose–hepatic glycolipid dysregulation by acetate in experimental PCOS model is associated with NF-κB/NLRP3 repression
Authors: Olaniyi Kehinde S. , Areloegbe Stephanie E.
Published: August 2023

This study hypothesized that acetate breaks the vicious cycle driving adipose–hepatic metabolic dysregulation in a rat model of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), possibly by suppression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB)/NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Female Wistar rats (8-week-old) were randomly allocated into four groups of n =6/group, which received vehicle, sodium acetate (200 mg), letrozole (1 mg/kg), and letrozole plus sodium acetate, respectively. The animals were treated by oral gavage, once daily for a period of 21 days. The PCOS animals were insulin-resistant, hyperandrogenic, and hypoestrogenic with decreased sex-hormone binding globulin. In addition, the hepatic tissue had increased lipid profile and decreased glycogen synthesis, while the adipose tissue showed decreased lipid profile with elevated glycogen synthesis. Besides, the results also showed increased malondialdehyde, γ-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and inflammatory mediators with corresponding decrease in antioxidant defense in the hepatic and adipose tissues. Immunohistochemical evaluation also demonstrated severe expression with Bcl2-associated X protein/NLRP3 antibodies. Nonetheless, concomitant acetate supplementation attenuated these derangements. The present data collectively suggest that acetate ameliorates adipose–hepatic glycolipid dysregulation in experimental PCOS model by attenuating androgen excess and NF-κB/NLRP3 immunoreactivity.
Canola variety, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur fertilization affect yield, quality, and fatty acid profile
Authors: Crittenden Stephen , Clayton George , Boyce Marley , Deng Xinmin , Grant Cynthia
Published: August 2023

Canola yield and quality are important for food, feed, and industrial end-uses. There may be trade-offs between the agronomic and quality aspects of canola production depending on varietal traits and management. The objective of this work was to assess the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) fertilization on agronomic and quality properties of canola varieties with distinct oleic acid contents. Nitrogen fertilization rates were 0, 25, 50, or 100 kg·ha−1, P rates were 0 or 30 kg·ha−1, and S rates were 0 or 20 kg·ha−1. Canola was grown in 2003, 2004, and 2005 at Brandon, a private farm close to Brandon, and at Lacombe, Canada. Canola yields averaged 2.36 t·ha−1 for conventional, 2.53 t·ha−1 for low, and 2.2 t·ha−1 for the high oleic acid varieties at maximum fertilization of N, P, and S. The high oleic acid variety averaged 75% oleic acid content, whereas the low variety averaged 65%, and the conventional variety 62%. Total saturated fatty acids were greatest with the conventional oleic acid variety, and tended to increase with N, decrease with S, and were not influenced by P. The high oleic acid variety yielded slightly less than the other two varieties but tended to have lower glucosinolate and saturated fatty acid contents. This work could have implications for human nutrition or other end-uses. Current canola varieties and fertility management should be studied to produce canola with quality tailored for the end use.
High-resolution definition and correlation of the Asbian–Brigantian boundary in northern England and the Scottish borders, using foraminiferal diversity and richness
Authors: Cózar Pedro , Coronado Ismael , Somerville Ian D. , Hounslow Mark W.
Published: August 2023

Foraminiferal diversity and taxa richness from beds transitional between the Asbian and Brigantian substages (Middle Mississippian) show patterns of secular change which allow detailed inter-regional correlations to be established. Foraminifera from the Askrigg Block, Stainmore Trough, Alston Block, South Cumbria Shelf and Solway Basin show similar secular changes (foraminiferal trends, FTs), allowing correlation to be made with the basal Brigantian Stratotype at Janny Wood. Despite the absence of consistent microfossil first occurrence markers for the recognition of the base of the Brigantian, this horizon can be confidently recognized by means of foraminiferal trends. The FTs allow the precise location of the base of the correlated Brigantian in sections where this boundary was questioned or controversial in previous studies, as well as to amend the position of the foraminiferal zones and subzones during the late Asbian and basal Brigantian. This type of analysis when used in combination with foraminiferal zonations, emergent surfaces and lithological cyclicity, together, provide a robust means for high-resolution correlation. This methodology, provides the least uncertainty in sections that have been most densely sampled, whereas for less intensely sampled sections there is more correlation uncertainty.
VibHead: An Authentication Scheme for Smart Headsets through Vibration
Authors: Li Feng , Zhao Jiayi , Yang Huan , Yu Dongxiao , Zhou Yuanfeng , Shen Yiran
Published: August 2023

Recent years have witnessed the fast penetration of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) systems into our daily life, the security and privacy issues of the VR/AR applications have been attracting considerable attention. Most VR/AR systems adopt head-mounted devices (i.e., smart headsets) to interact with users and the devices usually store the users’ private data. Hence, authentication schemes are desired for the head-mounted devices. Traditional knowledge-based authentication schemes for general personal devices have been proved vulnerable to shoulder-surfing attacks, especially considering the headsets may block the sight of the users. Although the robustness of the knowledge-based authentication can be improved by designing complicated secret codes in virtual space, this approach induces a compromise of usability. Another choice is to leverage the users’ biometrics; however, it either relies on highly advanced equipments which may not always be available in commercial headsets or introduce heavy cognitive load to users.

In this paper, we propose a vibration-based authentication scheme, VibHead, for smart headsets. Since the propagation of vibration signals through human heads presents unique patterns for different individuals, VibHead employs a CNN-based model to classify registered legitimate users based the features extracted from the vibration signals. We also design a two-step authentication scheme where the above user classifiers are utilized to distinguish the legitimate user from illegitimate ones. We implement VibHead on a Microsoft HoloLens equipped with a linear motor and an IMU sensor which are commonly used in off-the-shelf personal smart devices. According to the results of our extensive experiments, with short vibration signals (≤
1s
), VibHead has an outstanding authentication accuracy; both FAR and FRR are around 5%.
A Ternary Metal Oxide-Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite as High Capacity and Durable Anode for Li-Ion Batteries
Authors: T. K. M. Prashantha Kumar , Tripathy Debashis , Aiyer Hemantkumar , Sampath S.
Published: August 2023

A ternary metal oxide, bismuth stannate and its carbon composite are prepared by a solution synthesis approach. The as-prepared materials are checked for phase purity by X-ray diffraction and characterized by various characterization techniques. The composite electrode performs better compared to pristine material when investigated as anodes for Li-ion batteries (LIBs). The use of an electrolyte additive leads to improved performance. High capacity of 960 mAh g−1 is obtained at 100 mA g−1 for LIBs. At a high-rate of 1000 mA g−1, 1250 stable cycles are observed with very good capacity retention, and the capacity is ∼475 mAh g−1 at the end of the cycling. As investigated by different techniques, both conversion and alloying reactions are responsible for such high performance. The carbon network improves the conductivity and stabilize the intermediates formed during cycling. Further, the full cell studies with the composite anode and LiFePO4 cathode show good performance.
Assessment of Nicotine Degradation in Cigarette Smoke under Different Storage Conditions (Light and Duration)
Authors: An Young-Ji , Kim Yong-Hyun
Published: August 2023

Nicotine, the primary component of cigarette smoke, is not only addictive but also indirectly contributes to lung diseases by increasing heart rate and blood pressure upon inhalation. Therefore, managing nicotine content in cigarette smoke necessitates accurate quantitative analysis. Nicotine from cigarette smoke is collected using a Cambridge filter, subjected to solvent extraction, and analyzed using instrumental techniques. However, since nicotine is susceptible to light-induced oxidation, losses may occur during pretreatment, reducing result reliability. This study assesses nicotine loss under various lighting conditions and storage durations. Nicotine collected in Cambridge filters is exposed to dark, visible radiation, and UV radiation (254 nm) for different time intervals (0–48 h), and the nicotine content is analyzed and compared. In dark conditions, a 1.6% decline in nicotine concentration occurs after 48 h. With visible radiation, a 9% reduction is observed, while under UV exposure, the concentration decreases by 16.9%. The UV radiation-associated decrease in nicotine concentration is −0.335% h−1, exhibiting strong linearity (

R

2

=
0.9465

). Consequently, significant nicotine loss in Cambridge filter-collected samples is influenced by storage duration and lighting conditions. This study’s findings can enhance the accuracy of nicotine quantification in cigarette smoke, thereby improving the understanding of nicotine’s harmful effects in cigarette smoke.
Associação entre prática de atividade física com a saúde mental e a percepção da qualidade de vida em profissionais de enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto e região durante a pandemia da covid-19
Authors: Marcucci Leonardo Rodrigues , Azevedo Milton José de , Costa Gabriel Peinado , Andrella João Luiz , Lizzi Elisangela Aparecida da Silva , Trapé Átila Alexandre
Published: August 2023

Introdução: Na linha de frente da pandemia da COVID-19 encontram-se os profissionais de saúde que realizam um intenso trabalho, incluindo os profissionais de enfermagem, que representam uma grande parcela entre os profissionais de saúde que atuam nas instituições de saúde e hospitalares. As altas pressões no ambiente de trabalho com elevadas cargas e jornadas aumentaram as demandas, devido à responsabilidade de suas atribuições. Este contexto pode trazer repercussões negativas para a prática da atividade física, saúde mental e percepção de qualidade de vida destes profissionais. Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre a prática de atividade física, saúde mental e a percepção da qualidade de vida em profissionais de enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, SP durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado com profissionais de enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto e região em 2021, por meio de formulário online na ferramenta Google Forms. Foram realizadas perguntas relacionadas aos dados sociodemográficos, atividade profissional, questionários para medir nível de atividade física e comportamento sedentário (IPAQ – versão curta), percepção da qualidade de vida (SF – 12v2) e saúde mental (DASS-21). Sobre a análise estatística, utilizou-se o teste Qui-quadrado para verificar a associação de duas variáveis categóricas entre si; teste t de Student para comparar duas médias e a ANOVA para comparar três médias provenientes de amostras não pareadas. O nível de significância foi de 5%. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 125 profissionais de enfermagem, sendo auxiliares, técnicos, enfermeiros(as) e enfermeiros(as) coordenadores(as). Desses, 79,2% foram mulheres e 56% atuavam no setor privado, 34,4% estavam acima do peso e 29,6% com obesidade. Os profissionais que praticavam exercício físico ou esporte apresentaram menor risco de depressão (57,9% entre os que não praticavam, 47,9% entre os que praticavam um tipo e 18,2% entre os que praticavam dois ou mais tipos de exercício ou esporte, p = 0,04). Profissionais com moderado ou alto nível de atividade física e que praticavam exercícios físicos ou esportes, apresentaram melhor pontuação em diversos domínios e nos componentes físico e mental da qualidade de vida, quando comparados aos com baixo nível de atividade física e que não praticavam exercícios físicos ou esportes, respectivamente. Conclusão: Profissionais de enfermagem que relataram praticar mais exercícios físicos ou esporte apresentaram menor risco relacionado à saúde mental, e os que relataram nível moderado ou alto de atividade física apresentaram melhor percepção de qualidade de vida.
Meta-Analysis of Single-Cell RNA-Seq Data Reveals the Mechanism of Formation and Heterogeneity of Tertiary Lymphoid Organ in Vascular Disease
Authors: Sun Xuejing , Lu Yao , Wu Junru , Wen Qing , Li Zhengxin , Tang Yan , Shi Yunmin , He Tian , Liu Lun , Huang Wei , Weng Chunyan , Wu Qing , Xiao Qingzhong , Yuan Hong , Xu Qingbo , Cai Jingjing
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND:

Tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs) are ectopic lymphoid organs developed in nonlymphoid tissues with chronic inflammation, but little is known about their existence in different types of vascular diseases and the mechanism that mediated their development.

METHODS:

To take advantage of single-cell RNA sequencing techniques, we integrated 28 single-cell RNA sequencing data sets containing 5 vascular disease models (atherosclerosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, intimal hyperplasia, isograft, and allograft) to explore TLOs existence and environment supporting its growth systematically. We also searched Medline, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception to January 2022 for published histological images of vascular remodeling for histological evidence to support TLO genesis.

RESULTS:

Accumulation and infiltration of innate and adaptive immune cells have been observed in various remodeling vessels. Interestingly, the proportion of such immune cells incrementally increases from atherosclerosis to intimal hyperplasia, abdominal aortic aneurysm, isograft, and allograft. Importantly, we uncovered that TLO structure cells, such as follicular helper T cells and germinal center B cells, present in all remodeled vessels. Among myeloid cells and lymphocytes, inflammatory macrophages, and T helper 17 cells are the major lymphoid tissue inducer cells which were found to be positively associated with the numbers of TLO structural cells in remodeled vessels. Vascular stromal cells also actively participate in vascular TLO genesis by communicating with myeloid cells and lymphocytes via CCLs (C-C motif chemokine ligands), CXCL (C-X-C motif ligand), lymphotoxin, BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) chemotactic, FGF-2 (fibroblast growth factor-2), and IGF (insulin growth factor) proliferation mechanisms, particularly for lymphoid tissue inducer cell aggregation. Additionally, the interaction between stromal cells and immune cells modulates extracellular matrix remodeling. Among TLO structure cells, follicular helper T, and germinal center B cells have strong interactions via TCR (T-cell receptor), CD40 (cluster of differentiation 40), and CXCL signaling, to promote the development and maturation of the germinal center in TLO. Consistently, by reviewing the histological images from the literature, TLO genesis was found in those vascular remodeling models.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our analysis showed the existence of TLOs across 5 models of vascular diseases. The mechanisms that support TLOs formation in different models are heterogeneous. This study could be a valuable resource for understanding and discovering new therapeutic targets for various forms of vascular disease.
Pannexin 1 Modulates Angiogenic Activities of Human Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells Through IGF-1 Mechanism and Is a Marker of Senescence
Authors: Tien Ting-Yi , Wu Yih-Jer , Su Cheng-Huang , Hsieh Chin-Ling , Wang Bo-Jeng , Lee Yi-Nan , Su Yeu , Yeh Hung-I
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND:

We examined the role of Panxs (pannexins) in human endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) senescence.

METHODS:

Young and replication-induced senescent endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) derived from human circulating EPCs were used to examine cellular activities and senescence-associated indicators after transfection of short interference RNA specific to Panx1 or lentivirus-mediated Panx1 overexpression. Hind limb ischemia mice were used as in vivo angiogenesis model. Protein and phospho-kinase arrays were used to determine underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS:

Panx1 was the predominant Panx isoform in human ECFCs and upregulated in both replication-induced senescent ECFCs and circulating EPCs from aged mice and humans. Cellular activities of the young ECFCs were enhanced by Panx1 downregulation but attenuated by its upregulation. In addition, reduction of Panx1 in the senescent ECFCs could rejuvenate cellular activities with reduced senescence-associated indicators, including senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, p16
INK4a
(cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A), p21 (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1), acetyl-p53 (tumor protein P53), and phospho-histone H2A.X (histone family member X). In mouse ischemic hind limbs injected senescent ECFCs, blood perfusion ratio, salvaged limb outcome, and capillary density were all improved by Panx1 knockdown. IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) was significantly increased in the supernatant from senescent ECFCs after Panx1 knockdown. The enhanced activities and paracrine effects of Panx1 knockdown senescent ECFCs were completely inhibited by anti–IGF-1 antibodies. FAK (focal adhesion kinase), ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase), and STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) were activated in senescent ECFCs with Panx1 knockdown, in which the intracellular calcium level was reduced, and the activation was inhibited by supplemented calcium. The increased IGF-1 in Panx1-knockdown ECFCs was abrogated, respectively, by inhibitors of FAK (PF562271), ERK (U0126), and STAT3 (NSC74859) and supplemented calcium.

CONCLUSIONS:

Panx1 expression is upregulated in human ECFCs/EPCs with replication-induced senescence and during aging. Angiogenic potential of senescent ECFCs is improved by Panx1 reduction through increased IGF-1 production via activation of the FAK-ERK axis following calcium influx reduction. Our findings provide new strategies to evaluate EPC activities and rejuvenate senescent EPCs for therapeutic angiogenesis.
Biodiversity hotspot in the Sangha Trinational Protected Area revealed through Orthoptera Tettigoniidae
Authors: MASSA BRUNO
Published: August 2023

This paper deals with the study of the Orthoptera Tettigoniidae found in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (Republic of Congo) and the comparison of the results with those previously found in the neighbouring Dzanga-Ndoki National Park (Central African Republic). The study of specimens allowed for the description of a new tribe Myllocentrini, a new genus Pseudoeurycorypha (type species: P. civilettorum n. sp. from Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and Côte d’Ivoire), and six new species Plangiopsis nouabalensis, Leiodontocercus vicentae, Phlaurocentrum dentatum, Poreuomena derozierae, Tetraconcha maculosa and Tetraconcha laszloi from Republic of Congo. In addition, Phlaurocentrum morettanum n. sp. is described from Côte d’Ivoire, while Phlaurocentrum morettoi Massa, 2013 from Central African Republic is synonymized with P. lobatum Ragge, 1962 from Democratic Republic of Congo. Furthermore, morphological evidence allows for the inclusion of three genera, Bongeia Sjöstedt, 1902, Itokiia Sjöstedt, 1902, and Tapiena Bolívar, 1906 (presently Afrotapiena n. gen.; species type: Tapiena minor Bolívar, 1906 from Ghana), in the tribe Plangiopsidini Cadeña-Castaneda, 2015 which currently contains Plangiopsis Karsch, 1889 and Plangiola Bolívar, 1906. Moreover, new morphological data on the group of Arantia rectifolia Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878, including Arantia tanzanica Hemp & Massa, 2017 and Arantia marginata Massa, 2021, has enabled these two species to be transferred from the subgenus Euarantia Heller, 2014 to Arantia Stål, 1874. The male of Anthracopsis gigliotosi Karny, 1907 is described, and other species of Tettigoniidae are reported for the first time from Republic of Congo. Most of the endemic species or genera are highly vulnerable to extinction due to their small distributional ranges. The results highlight the importance of the Congo River Basin as a biodiversity hotspot and underline the need to find appropriate, additional and urgent conservation measures for this area of tropical forest.
Combined Estimation of Vehicle Dynamic State and Inertial Parameter for Electric Vehicles Based on Dual Central Difference Kalman Filter Method
Authors: Jin Xianjian , Yang Junpeng , Xu Liwei , Wei Chongfeng , Wang Zhaoran , Yin Guodong
Published: August 2023

Distributed drive electric vehicles (DDEVs) possess great advantages in the viewpoint of fuel consumption, environment protection and traffic mobility. Whereas the effects of inertial parameter variation in DDEV control system become much more pronounced due to the drastic reduction of vehicle weights and body size, and inertial parameter has seldom been tackled and systematically estimated. This paper presents a dual central difference Kalman filter (DCDKF) where two Kalman filters run in parallel to simultaneously estimate vehicle different dynamic states and inertial parameters, such as vehicle sideslip angle, vehicle mass, vehicle yaw moment of inertia, the distance from the front axle to centre of gravity. The proposed estimation method only integrates and utilizes real-time measurements of hub torque information and other in-vehicle sensors from standard DDEVs. The four-wheel nonlinear vehicle dynamics estimation model considering payload variations, Pacejka tire model, wheel and motor dynamics model is developed, the observability of the DCDKF observer is analysed and derived via Lie derivative and differential geometry theory. To address system nonlinearities in vehicle dynamics estimation, the DCDKF and dual extended Kalman filter (DEKF) are also investigated and compared. Simulation with various maneuvers are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method using Matlab/Simulink-Carsim®. The results show that the proposed DCDKF method can effectively estimate vehicle dynamic states and inertial parameters despite the existence of payload variations and variable driving conditions. This research provides a boot-strapping procedure which can performs optimal estimation to estimate simultaneously vehicle system state and inertial parameter with high accuracy and real-time ability.
Integration of anatomy and physiology into nursing practice as perceived by undergraduate students and registered nurses: a scoping review
Authors: Horiuchi-Hirose Miwa , Fukuoka Tomoko , Saeki Yuka
Published: August 2023

Objective

The current study aimed to determine perceptions of registered and student nurses regarding the integration of anatomy and physiology into nursing practice.

Methods

This scoping review was conducted following the checklist provided in the Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for scoping reviews. Articles published in PubMed, ERIC, and CINAL from January 1, 2002 to September 30, 2022 were included.

Results

A literature review of 20 articles that matched the indicative criteria revealed that both undergraduate student and registered nurses recognized knowledge of anatomy and physiology as important to nursing practice. Student nurses recognized that such knowledge is related to understanding patient pathophysiology, patient observation, treatment selection, and patient safety and forms the basis for nursing practice. Registered nurses who were confident in their knowledge of anatomy and physiology also reported that they were able to explain the rationale for their nursing practice. They also reported that this knowledge is necessary for communication with multiple professions, which promotes patient/family trust in nurses and is the basis for building trusting relationships with patients and their families.

Conclusions

Although undergraduate student and registered nurses recognized the importance of learning anatomy and physiology, the integration of anatomy and physiology into nursing practice was not the same for all student and registered nurses. This suggests the need to investigate the overall perceptions of nurses regarding the integration of anatomy and physiology into nursing practice and for faculty to discuss how to facilitate critical thinking among students.
GIP receptor agonism improves dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis independently of body weight loss in preclinical mouse model for cardio-metabolic disease
Authors: Sachs Stephan , Götz Anna , Finan Brian , Feuchtinger Annette , DiMarchi Richard D. , Döring Yvonne , Weber Christian , Tschöp Matthias H. , Müller Timo D. , Hofmann Susanna M.
Published: August 2023

Background

Agonism at the receptor for the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIPR) is a key component of the novel unimolecular GIPR:GLP-1R co-agonists, which are among the most promising drugs in clinical development for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The therapeutic effect of chronic GIPR agonism to treat dyslipidemia and thus to reduce the cardiovascular disease risk independently of body weight loss has not been explored yet.

Methods

After 8 weeks on western diet, LDL receptor knockout (LDLR-/-) male mice were treated with daily subcutaneous injections of long-acting acylated GIP analog (acyl-GIP; 10nmol/kg body weight) for 28 days. Body weight, food intake, whole-body composition were monitored throughout the study. Fasting blood glucose and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (ipGTT) were determined on day 21 of the study. Circulating lipid levels, lipoprotein profiles and atherosclerotic lesion size was assessed at the end of the study. Acyl-GIP effects on fat depots were determined by histology and transcriptomics.

Results

Herein we found that treatment with acyl-GIP reduced dyslipidemia and atherogenesis in male LDLR-/- mice. Acyl-GIP administration resulted in smaller adipocytes within the inguinal fat depot and RNAseq analysis of the latter revealed that acyl-GIP may improve dyslipidemia by directly modulating lipid metabolism in this fat depot.

Conclusions

This study identified an unanticipated efficacy of chronic GIPR agonism to improve dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease independently of body weight loss, indicating that treatment with acyl-GIP may be a novel approach to alleviate cardiometabolic disease.
The impact of patient navigation on glycemic control, adherence to self-care and knowledge about diabetes: an intervention study
Authors: Foppa Luciana , Nemetz Betina , de Matos Rosimeri , Schneiders Josiane , Telo Gabriela Heiden , Schaan Beatriz D.
Published: August 2023

Background

Patient navigation helps with better adherence to treatment, as well as better knowledge about diabetes and greater interest in performing, monitoring, and seeking health care. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of patient navigation on glycemic control, disease knowledge, adherence to self-care in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Methods

This is an intervention study using a single group pre-test post-test design, carried out in a tertiary public teaching hospital in Southern Brazil. Participants over 18 years of age and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes were included. In total, three teleconsultations and one face-to-face consultation were carried out, with three-month intervals, until completing one year of follow-up. The nurse navigator conducted diabetes education based on the guidelines of the Brazilian Diabetes Society and the Nursing Interventions Classification. The differences between glycated hemoglobin, adherence to self-care, and knowledge about initial and final diabetes were estimated to verify the effect of patient navigation by nurses, according to the tool applied in the first and last consultations. Interaction analyses between variables were also performed. Student’s t-test, Generalized Estimating Equations, Wilcoxon test, and McNemar test were used.

Results

The final sample consisted of 152 participants, of which 85 (55.9%) were women, with a mean age of 45 ± 12 years, and diabetes duration of 23.6 ± 11.1 years. Nurse navigators conducted 812 teleconsultations and 158 face-to-face consultations. After the intervention, glycemic control improved in 37 (24.3%) participants (p < 0.001), and knowledge about diabetes also improved in 37 (24.3%) participants (p < 0.001). Adherence to self-care increased in 82 (53.9%) patients (p < 0.001). The analysis of the interaction between glycemic control and the results from the questionnaire of knowledge about diabetes showed an interaction effect (p = 0.005). However, we observed no interaction effect between glycemic control and the results from the questionnaire on adherence to self-care (p = 0.706).

Conclusions

Our results showed improvement in glycemic control, adherence to self-care, and knowledge of diabetes in the study participants. In addition, they suggest that patient navigation performed by nurses is promising and feasible in improving care for patients with type 1 diabetes.
Clinical Neurobiology of Sleep and Wakefulness
Authors: Castillo Pablo R.
Published: August 2023

Objective

This article focuses on novel neuronal mechanisms of sleep and wakefulness and relates basic science developments with potential translational implications in circadian neurobiology, pharmacology, behavioral factors, and the recently integrated potential pathways of sleep-related motor inhibition.

Latest Developments

During the past decade, remarkable advances in the molecular biology of sleep and wakefulness have taken place, opening a promising path for the understanding of clinical sleep disorders. Newly gained insights include the role of astrocytes in sleep brain homeostasis through the glymphatic system, the promotion of memory consolidation during states of reduced cholinergic activity during slow wave sleep, and the differential functions of melatonin receptors involving regulation of both circadian rhythm and sleep initiation. Ongoing investigations exploring sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions are beginning to unlock pathophysiologic aspects of neurologic, psychiatric, and medical disorders.

Essential Points

An understanding of sleep and circadian neurobiology provides coherent and biologically credible approaches to treatments, including the identification of potential targets for neuromodulation.
Intestinal dysbiosis in heart failure - modulation of dysbiosis as a potential therapeutic target
Authors: Osiak Joanna , Wołowiec Łukasz , Żukow Xawery , Fydrych Dagmara , Jasniak Albert , Gawłowska Kinga , Staniewska Agata , Grześk Grzegorz
Published: August 2023

The last decade has provided extensive information on the human gut microbiota. The microorganisms populating the gastrointestinal tract play important roles in maintaining the body's homeostasis. It turns out that the intestinal microbiota can affect many diseases from various branches of medicine. The importance of the function of the microflora can also affect cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including heart failure (HF). The microflora influences among other things, nutrient digestion, vitamin production or the production of bioactive metabolites including trimethylamine/trimethylamine N-oxide, short-chain fatty acids and bile acids. Therefore, changes in the composition of the intestinal microflora, defined as dysbiosis, have become one of the key pathogenic factors in many diseases. There is emerging evidence of a strong correlation between gut microflora and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. In patients with cardiovascular disease and corresponding risk factors, the composition and proportions of the intestinal microflora differed significantly from healthy subjects.
Differences in microbial composition and marked fluctuations in the levels of biomarkers such as TMAO, zonulin, LPS, SCFAs may become helpful in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. For this reason, the intestinal microflora and its metabolic pathways have recently become the subject of numerous studies. A very important issue is the fact that it is possible to regulate the intestinal microflora through diet, the use of prebiotics, probiotics or influence through a much larger intervention - for example, fecal mass transplantation. These possibilities have become new strategies in the treatment of HF. The main purpose of this review is to summarize recent studies that illustrate the complex interactions between the microbiome and the occurrence of HF.
Conclusions. The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem of microorganisms that live in the human gut. The gut microbiota plays an important role in maintaining the body's health, including the cardiovascular system. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the gut microbiota, has been linked to the development of heart failure. Gut microbiota metabolites, such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and bile acids, can have harmful effects on the heart. Diet, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) are all potential interventions for improving gut microbiota and reducing the risk of heart failure. More research is needed to fully understand the role of gut microbiota in heart failure and to develop effective treatment strategies.
Miotani wichrem wojny. Chińscy uchodźcy w czasie wojny z Japonią 1937–1945
Authors: Polit Jakub
Published: August 2023

TOSSED ABOUT BY THE WINDS OF WAR. CHINESE REFUGEES DURING THE WAR WITH JAPAN 1937–1945
The Sino-Japanese War drove tens of millions of Chinese people from their homes. Only occasionally did they receive any help. Some had never returned home. A majority of the refugees were men. Many of them (sometimes even a half half of them) were related to the sphere of culture and education. This was surprising since the average Chinese was illiterate. The Republic of China’s government attempted to evacuate universities and secondary schools. It also did not have the means to arm all the men of military age.
Noncontact longitudinal shear wave imaging for the evaluation of heterogeneous porcine brain biomechanical properties using optical coherence elastography
Authors: Zhu Yirui , Shi Jiulin , Alvarez-Arenas Tomas E. Gomez , Li Chenxi , Wang Haohao , Zhang Dong , He Xingdao , Wu Xiao
Published: August 2023

High-resolution quantification of heterogeneous brain biomechanical properties has long been an important topic. Longitudinal shear waves (LSWs) can be used to assess the longitudinal Young's modulus, but contact excitation methods have been used in most previous studies. We propose an air-coupled ultrasound transducer-based optical coherence elastography (AcUT-OCE) technique for noncontact excitation and detection of LSWs in samples and assessment of the nonuniformity of the brain's biomechanical properties. The air-coupled ultrasonic transducer (AcUT) for noncontact excitation of LSWs in the sample has a center frequency of 250 kHz. Phase-resolved Doppler optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to image and reconstruct the propagation behavior of LSWs and surface ultrasound waves at high resolution. An agar phantom model was used to verify the feasibility of the experimental protocol, and experiments with ex vivo porcine brain samples were used to assess the nonuniformity of the brain biomechanical properties. LSWs with velocities of 0.83 ± 0.11 m/s were successfully excited in the agar phantom model. The perivascular elastography results in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of the ex vivo porcine brains showed that the Young's modulus was significantly higher in the longitudinal and transverse directions on the left side of the cerebral vessels than on the right side and that the Young's modulus of the PFC decreased with increasing depth. The AcUT-OCE technique, as a new scheme for LSW applications in in vivo elastography, can be used for noncontact excitation of LSWs in brain tissue and high-resolution detection of heterogeneous brain biomechanical properties.
Measurement of red blood cell deformability during morphological changes using rotating-glass-plate-based scanning optical tweezers
Authors: Liu Rui , Shao Meng , Ke Zeyu , Li Changxu , Lu Fengya , Zhong Min-Cheng , Mao Yuxin , Wei Xunbin , Zhong Zhensheng , Zhou Jinhua
Published: August 2023

It is important to measure the deformability of red blood cells (RBCs) before transfusion, which is a key factor in the gas transport ability of RBCs and changes during storage of RBCs in vitro. Moreover, the morphology of RBCs also changes during storage. It is proposed that the change in morphology is related to the change in deformability. However, the efficiency of typical methods that use particles as handles is low, especially in the deformability measurement of echinocyte and spherocytes. Therefore, the deformability of RBCs with different morphologies is hard to be measured and compared in the same experiment. In this study, we developed a cost-effective and efficient rotating-glass-plate-based scanning optical tweezers device for the measurement of deformability of RBCs. The performance of this device was evaluated, and the deformability of three types of RBCs was measured using this device. Our results clearly show that the change of erythrocyte morphology from discocyte to echinocyte and spherocyte during storage in vitro is accompanied by a decrease in deformability.
Unraveling the rectifying role of transportation improvement on resource misallocation among manufacturing firms in China–Facts and mechanism
Authors: Zhang Zhaohua , Zhang Zhao , Wang Xin , Robinson Derrick
Published: August 2023

China’s High-speed railway (HSR) network had experienced rapid expansion during 2009 to 2013, and how the HSR expansion affects China’s economy has been considerable concerned by both policymakers and researchers. Using firm-level data, this study accessed the effects of HSR on productivity distribution and resource misallocation among manufacturing firms. Incorporating difference in difference idea into a multilevel model, the results suggest significant misallocation rectifying effect of HSR at firm level. This effect is stronger for capital-intensive firms. City-specific analysis indicates that the effects of HSR on firm-level resource misallocation varies with city size, and firms grouped in small cities gain more misallocation rectification than those grouped in big and medium cities. Market potential, which is an important way through which the HSR affects efficient allocation of production resources, is found boost the marginal effect of HSR by reducing labor market segmentation and increasing agglomeration.