bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EVALUATION OF LOGGER PRO INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTED APPLICATIONS IN THE SCOPE OF STEM
Authors: Kumaş Ahmet
Published: November 2021

Although advanced technological tools and equipment are used effectively in daily life, the inability of all students to access high-tech experiment applications in high schools negatively affects disadvantaged student groups in the further education process. The main purpose of the research evaluates students in four different categories about 10th-grade illuminance subjects by using Logger Pro technology within the scope of STEM. The study was carried out with 84 students at the school where the researcher taught in the fall semester of the 2019-2020 academic year. Within the scope of action research, qualitative and quantitative methods were used together. Quantitative findings were evaluated with SPSS and qualitative findings were evaluated with content analysis. Based on the research findings, it is revealed that the use of experimental content supported by innovative technology within the scope of science in high schools make a significant contribution in three categories within the scope of hopes and goals for STEM. Making applications supported by Logger Pro with technological content in schools improves the responsibilities of students in homework, contributes to their successful graduation from high schools and enables them to get into the departments they want in the university. These practices cause students to enjoy the professions they will choose in the future and help them reach their favorite professions by working harder.
Keywords: experimental content, innovative technology, physics teaching, STEM
THE RELATION OF PATERNALISTIC LEADERSHIP WITH GLASS CEILING SYNDROME
Authors: Mert Pinar
Published: November 2021

Women expose to barriers in their work-life that are not stated clearly. Although these invisible barriers occur in many sectors, they are common in the education sector. So, this study aimed to reveal the relation between the paternalistic leadership displayed by principals in traditional collectivist cultures and the glass ceiling syndrome experienced by female teachers. For this reason, the correlation survey model was used in the research. Female teachers living in Istanbul were selected with the appropriate sampling method due to the Covid 19 outbreak. “The Paternal Leadership Behaviors Scale of School Principals” and “Glass Ceiling Syndrome Scale for Female Teachers” were applied to 358 female teachers. Applied t-test, correlation, ANOVA, and regression analysis. As a result of statistical analysis, it saw that the benevolent, moral, authoritarian, and exploitative leadership behaviors perceived by teachers significantly predicted the perceptions of glass ceiling syndrome. Although benevolent, moral, authoritarian, exploitative paternalistic leadership behaviors mainly indicated teachers' perception of the glass ceiling, they were even low. Especially authoritarian and exploitative paternalistic leadership behaviors explained 5% of the total variance in teachers' perception of the glass ceiling syndrome.
Keywords: glass ceiling syndrome, paternalistic leadership, female teachers, correlation survey model
Unambiguous State Discrimination Attack on the B92 Protocol of Quantum Key Distribution with Single Photons
Authors: Horoshko D. B. , Kilin S. Ya.
Published: November 2021

We consider an unambiguous state discrimination attack on the B92 protocol of quantum key distribution, realized on the basis of polarization encoding of photons produced by a single-photon source. We calculate the secure key rate and the maximal tolerable loss for various overlaps between two signal states employed in this protocol. We make also a comparison with a physically impossible attack of perfect quantum cloning, and show that the unambiguous state discrimination is much more dangerous for the B92 protocol, than this attack, demonstrating thus, that the security of quantum key distribution is not always based on the no-cloning theorem.
One-Dimensional Nonlinear Parametric Instability of Inhomogeneous Plasma: Time Domain Problem
Authors: Gerasimenko N. V. , Trukhachev F. M. , Gusakov E. Z. , Simonchik L. V. , Tomov A. V.
Published: November 2021

A numerical one-dimensional model of convective parametric instability of inhomogeneous plasma is developed. By using this model, a numerical solution describing spatial and temporal characteristics of interacting waves is obtained. The results obtained are in a good agreement with known analytical models and substantially generalize them. In particular, an important advantage of the proposed model is the possibility of varying initial conditions, analyzing behavior of the system in the presence of incident wave fluctuations that is important for the future study of the absolute instability mode. The model is also provides possibility to simulate absolute parametric instability with a wide range of controllable parameters, as well as to study interacting wave transients.
Leach Glover, ‘Dancing Master to the Royal Family’ Part One: The Professional Dancer in Context
Authors: Goff Moira
Published: November 2021

Leach Glover (1697–1763) danced in London's theatres from 1717 until 1741 and was a leading dancer for nearly twenty years. In 1738, he was appointed as a dancing master to Britain's royal family, a post he retained following his retirement from the stage. This article looks at Glover's family and professional background and places his theatrical career within the wider context of dancing on the London stage. It looks in detail at his first and last seasons working for John Rich, manager of the Lincoln's Inn Fields and then Covent Garden theatres. It examines not only Glover's repertoire but also his changing status in the dance company that existed within the theatrical company. As part of this investigation, it discusses some of Glover's contemporaries alongside its appraisal of his own work and looks at the challenges as well as the opportunities he experienced within the commercial environment of the London stage.
Haunted by the Other: Levinas, Derrida and the Persecutory Phantom
Authors: Burke Michael
Published: November 2021

In this article, I explore what I call the persecutory trope – which underscores the alterity of the phantom and its relentless haunting and spectral oppression of the protagonists – in recent American ghost films, connecting it to the ethical thought of the continental philosophers, Emmanuel Levinas and Jacques Derrida. Films like The Ring (Gore Verbinski, 2002), The Grudge (Takashi Shimizu, 2004), It Follows (Robert Mitchell, 2014), and Sinister (Scott Derrickson, 2012) depict terrifying spectral antagonists whose relentless persecution of the protagonists often defies comprehension and narrative closure. I suggest that these films comprise a specific supernatural subgenre due to the particular way in which their specters haunt the victims. The relentlessness of the spectral assailant, and the foreclosure of actions by which the specter is either expelled from or reintegrated into symbolic understanding of its victim, can be construed in terms of the ethical relationship between the other and the self in the work of Levinas and Derrida. Their focus on the moral agent's responsibility to an other, an obligation that the agent does not undertake voluntarily, entails the spectralization of ethical responsibility insofar as it does not rest on solid, evidential grounds. This article shows how the spectralization of the ethical resonates in recent American ghost films through the disruptive effects of the specter's haunting and responsive mourning enacted by protagonists.
Indigenous Students’ Geographies on the Academic Fortress Campus: Palestinian Students’ Spatial Experiences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Authors: Sa'di-Ibraheem Yara
Published: November 2021

This article addresses an under-studied phenomenon in the lived experience of Palestinian students in Israeli universities as seen from a spatial perspective. Specifically, it analyses the everyday spatial experiences of Palestinian students on the Mount Scopus Campus of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Situated in a contested space amid Palestinian villages, the campus's architecture and prominent location are intended to project power and symbolic domination over the surrounding Arab environment. The study analyses the narratives of fifteen Palestinian students from this campus, underscoring the dialectical relations between their feelings of alienation and estrangement, on the one hand, and practices of resistance and subversion on campus, on the other. Moreover, the analysis reveals how, through their daily spatial behaviours, Palestinian students challenge the settler-colonial landscape-production that the Israeli authorities attempt to impose.
Conan Doyle: Man of Letters, Man About Town
Authors: Kerr Douglas
Published: November 2021

This essay attempts to deduce Conan Doyle’s map of London from the writings of his long career and particularly his autobiography Memories and Adventures (1924). Here we can find a portrait of the layers of late-Victorian London: the historic centre of government, business, and the great institutions of national culture, the old working-class areas that surround it, and the new suburbs sprawling in every direction. In magazine and publishing offices, in West End theatres, in gentlemen’s clubs including the Authors’ Club, and in public and private dining rooms, Conan Doyle participated in the largely masculine business of literature as a highly clubbable man of letters who was also an energetic man about town. He journeyed into and across the city, coming in from the suburbs or up from the country. These journeys were repeated on a global scale as he travelled to foreign health resorts, battlefields in Africa and Europe, or on overseas lecture tours, always returning to the imperial and cultural capital, the centre of gravity of his life and work.
FARMER TİPİ İYON ODASI DEDEKTÖR YANITININ DOZİMETRİK DEĞİŞKENLERE BAĞLI İNCELENMESİ
Authors: KAYA PEPELE Eda , ÜNAL İbrahim , DÜZ Mehtap
Published: November 2021

Genellikle iyon odaları; içi hava eşdeğeri gaz ile dolu, dış duvarın iç yüzeyi iletkenliği sağlamak amacıyla karbon veya grafitle kaplı ve merkezi iki elektrottan oluşmaktadır. Eksternal radyoterapide hedefe istenilen dozun verilebilmesi için iyon odası kullanılarak doz ölçümü yapılmalıdır. Radyoterapide kullanılan ışınların doz ölçümünde, çeşitli dozimetri protokolleri tarafından Farmer tipi silindirik iyon odası tavsiye edilmektedir. İyon odalarının duyarlı hacmi 0,01 cc ile 0,6 cc arasında değişmektedir. Bu çalışmada 0,6 cc aktif hacme sahip iyon odasının duvar materyali 0,43 mm kalınlığa sahip grafit duvar elektrotu ve alüminyum merkez elektrotu ile imal edilmiş. Sun Nuclear marka SNC 600c silindirik iyon odası kullanılmıştır. Clinac IX marka lineer hızlandırıcı cihazında 6 ve 15 MV foton ışınlarında iyon odasının çeşitli dozimetrik parametrelere bağlı yanıtı incelenmiştir. Sonuç olarak SNC 600c marka iyon odasının her iki foton enerjisinde de doza bağlı yanıtının doğrusal olduğu görülmüştür. İyon odasının voltaja bağlı değişimde, üreticinin tavsiye ettiği 300 Volt ve üzerindeki değerlerde her iki foton enerjisi için %1’in altında bir fark görülmüştür. Her iki foton enerjisi için iyon odasının yanıtı doz hızından ve enerjiden bağımsızdır. Böylece SNC 600c Farmer tipi silindirik iyon odasının yüksek enerjili fotonlar ile yapılan radyasyon ölçümünde kullanılan dedektörlerin sahip olması gereken özellikleri taşıdığından, mutlak doz ölçümünde kullanılabileceği doğrulanmıştır.
PENERAPAN PENDEKATAN SAINTIFIK DALAM MENINGKATKAN KEMAMPUAN SISWA MENULIS TEKS IKLAN KELAS VIII.2 MTS NEGERI 1 KONAWE
Authors: Zulhiad Ihsan , Hanafi Hilaluddin , Badara Aris
Published: November 2021

Abstrak: Penelitian ini bertujuan (1) Untuk mengetahui bagaimana Penerapan Pendekatan Saintifik dalam Pembelajaran Menulis Teks Iklan Pada Siswa  Kelas VIII.2 MTs Negeri 1 Konawe; (2) Untuk mengetahui hasil Penerapan Pendekatan Saintifik dalam Pembelajaran Menulis Teks Iklan Pada Siswa  Kelas VIII.2 MTs Negeri 1 Konawe. Penelitian ini menggunakan jenis penelitian kualitatif. Hasil penelitian dapat disimpulkan (1) Penerapan pendekatan saintifik dalam pembelajaran menulis teks iklan dilakukan dengan menggunakan langkah-langkah yang ada dalam pendekatan saintifik.; (2) Penerapan langkah-langkah saintifik dalam pembelajaran menulis teks iklan yang dilakukan pendidik menghasilkan karya yang baik. Tulisan yang dihasilkan setiap individu berbeda, karena pada dasarnya kemampuan berpikir setiap peserta didik juga berbeda. Kerja kelompok yang dilaksanakan peserta didik menghasilkan tulisan berupa teks iklan yang kompleks, sehingga keberagaman yang ada menjadi satu kesatuan yang utuh dan bervariasi. Kata Kunci: Pembelajaran Bahasa Indonesia; Saintifik; Teks Iklan
Kerentanan Species Ikan Retain pada Perikanan Tuna dari Alat Tangkap Handline
Authors: Yonvitner Yonvitner , Boer Mennofatria , Kurnia Rahmat , Tamanyira Masykur
Published: November 2021

Kelompok ikan retain dari perikanan tuna juga termasuk kelompok komersial utama yang juga banyak dimanfaatkan. Penurunan hook rate tuna juga turut mempengaruhi perikanan tuna termasuk hasil tangkapan samping lainnya.  Untuk itu penelitian kerentanan kelompok retain ini juga perlu dilakukan untuk mengetahui potensi berkelanjutannya. Penelitian dilakukan pada bulan Juli 2013 di Sendangbiru Malang, Bitung, Wakatobi, dan Kendari. Data yang dikumpulkan dan kemudian dianalisis adalah produkitivitas dan susceptabilitas menurut kriteria MSC (Marine Steward Council). Indek kerentanan dievaluasi dari indek jarak (Index Jaccard). Hasil tangkapan ikan retain dari perikanan tuna adalah ikan cakalang (Katsuwonus pelamis), ikan lemadang (Coryphaena hippurus), dan baby tuna (Thunnus albacores).  Nilai produktivitas berkisar 1.43-2,14 tergolong sedang sampai tinggi dan susceptibilitas 1,13-1,48. Tingkat kerentanan ikan retain berkisar 86,3-96,2 yang tergolong rentan rendah (low risk) dan potensial berkelanjutan.
Covid-19 Pandemic and Its Effects on Dentistry: A Retrospective Study
Authors: ERDİNÇ Gülbahar , YILMAZ ÇIRAKOĞLU Neslihan
Published: November 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare patient admissions, treatment needs, and treatments in our hospital before and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: The patients who presented to Karabük Oral Dental Health Training and Research Hospital between March 2019 and March 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. The data obtained were used to compare the 1-year course after the Covid-19 pandemic and the 1-year course before the Covid-19 pandemic. In this 2-year period, the number of hospital registrations, distribution of patients by gender, age data, type, and the number of procedures performed were obtained from the software system used in the hospital. Results: The average number of patients in 1 year before the pandemic is approximately 3.5 times in the next 1 year. When the number of patients applying was evaluated in terms of gender, it is seen that the number of male patients decreased more than women during the pandemic period. It has been observed that there is a dramatic decrease in the pandemic period in all treatments. Conclusion: With the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a serious decrease in the number of patients. However, with the ongoing treatment needs and normalization processes of the patients, necessary precautions were taken and the treatment of the patients continued.
Upaya Pencegahan Luka Tekan pada Keluarga dengan Anggota Keluarga Mengalami Immobilisasi
Authors: Suharto Dewi Nurviana , Manggasa Dafrosia Darmi
Published: November 2021

Luka tekan merupakan masalah yang sangat serius terutama bagi pasien yang mengalami immobilisasi. Adanya luka tekan mengganggu proses pemulihan pasien, dan menjadi penanda buruk prognosis secara keseluruhan. Upaya pencegahan terjadinya luka tekan dilakukan sedini mungkin sejak pasien teridentifikasi berisiko mengalami luka tekan. Perawatan kulit, yaitu menjaga hidrasi kulit (tidak terlalu lembab atau kering). Salah satu intervensi dalam menjaga integritas kulit adalah dengan cara melindungi kulit dari paparan kelembaban yang berlebihan dengan memberikan topical untuk mengurangi risiko kerusakan tekanan seperti minyak Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO). Tujuan kegiatan pegabdian kepada masyarakat yaitu meningkatkan pengetahuan dan keterampilan keluarga dalam melakukan perawatan secara mandiri untuk mencegah terjadinya luka tekan pada anggota keluarga dengan immobilisasi. Metode pengabdian masyarakat dengan memberikan edukasi tentang upaya pencegahan luka tekan, demonstrasi pengkajian dan perawatan kulit menggunakan VCO. Hasil pengabdian menunjukkan bahwa setelah dari 30 peserta pengabdian terdapat 20 orang dengan pengetahuan baik tentang upaya pencegahan luka tekan. Pengetahuan tentang Upaya pencegahan luka tekan dapat memandirikan keluarga dalam melakukan perawatan pada anggota keluarga dengan immobilisasi.
Synthesis of pH-Sensitive and Self-Fluorescent Polymeric Micelles Derived From Rosin and Vegetable Oils via ATRP
Authors: Yu Juan , Xu Chaoqun , Lu Chuanwei , Liu Qian , Wang Jifu , Chu Fuxiang
Published: November 2021

Preparation and application of sustainable polymers derived from renewable resources are of great significance. The aim of this study is to synthesize a kind of sustainable polymeric micelles from rosin and vegetable oils via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and to investigate the doxorubicin delivery properties of these micelles. Dehydroabietic acid–based poly lauryl methacrylate (DA-PLMA) with narrow PDI of 1.13 was prepared in a well-controlled process using rosin as an ATRP initiator. Thereafter, carboxylic groups were introduced to form poly methacrylic acid (PMAA) moieties in DA-PLMA polymer via acid hydrolysis. The resulted DA-PLMA-PMAA could self-assemble in water to form pH-dependent polymeric micelles with a diameter of ∼65 nm and PDI as low as 0.105. Owing to the existence of rosin, DA-PLMA-PMAA micelles also showed self-fluorescence properties. In addition, Dox-loaded micelles were prepared in aqueous solution with the drug-loading capacity as high as 16.0% and showed sustained-release characteristics. These results demonstrate great promise for designing polymeric micellar from rosin and vegetable oils.
Dynamic Knee Joint Line Orientation Is Not Predictive of Tibio-Femoral Load Distribution During Walking
Authors: Trepczynski Adam , Moewis Philippe , Damm Philipp , Schütz Pascal , Dymke Jörn , Hommel Hagen , Taylor William R. , Duda Georg N.
Published: November 2021

Some approaches in total knee arthroplasty aim for an oblique joint line to achieve an even medio-lateral load distribution across the condyles during the stance phase of gait. While there is much focus on the angulation of the joint line in static frontal radiographs, precise knowledge of the associated dynamic joint line orientation and the internal joint loading is limited. The aim of this study was to analyze how static alignment in frontal radiographs relates to dynamic alignment and load distribution, based on direct measurements of the internal joint loading and kinematics. A unique and novel combination of telemetrically measured in vivo knee joint loading and simultaneous internal joint kinematics derived from mobile fluoroscopy (“CAMS-Knee dataset”) was employed to access the dynamic alignment and internal joint loading in 6 TKA patients during level walking. Static alignment was measured in standard frontal postoperative radiographs while external adduction moments were computed based on ground reaction forces. Both static and dynamic parameters were analyzed to identify correlations using linear and non-linear regression. At peak loading during gait, the joint line was tilted laterally by 4°–7° compared to the static joint line in most patients. This dynamic joint line tilt did not show a strong correlation with the medial force (R2: 0.17) or with the mediolateral force distribution (pseudo R2: 0.19). However, the external adduction moment showed a strong correlation with the medial force (R2: 0.85) and with the mediolateral force distribution (pseudo R2: 0.78). Alignment measured in static radiographs has only limited predictive power for dynamic kinematics and loading, and even the dynamic orientation of the joint line is not an important factor for the medio-lateral knee load distribution. Preventive and rehabilitative measures should focus on the external knee adduction moment based on the vertical and horizontal components of the ground reaction forces.
Systematic Review of Back-Support Exoskeletons and Soft Robotic Suits
Authors: Ali Athar , Fontanari Vigilio , Schmoelz Werner , Agrawal Sunil K.
Published: November 2021

Lower back pain and musculoskeletal injuries are serious concerns for workers subjected to physical workload and manual material handling tasks. Spine assistive exoskeletons are being developed to support the spine and distribute the spine load. This article presents a detailed up-to-date review on the back support exoskeletons by discussing their type (Active/Passive), structure (Rigid/Soft), power transmission methods, weight, maximum assistive force, battery technologies, tasks (lifting, bending, stooping work), kinematic compatibility and other important features. This article also assesses the back support exoskeletons in terms of their ability to reduce the physical load on the spine. By reviewing functional and structural characteristics, the goal is to increase communication and realization among ergonomics practitioners, developers, customers, and factory workers. The search resulted in reviewing 34 exoskeletons of which 16 were passive and 18 were active. In conclusion, back support exoskeletons have immense potential to significantly reduce the factors regarding work-related musculoskeletal injuries. However, various technical challenges and a lack of established safety standards limit the wide adaptation of exoskeletons in industry.
PRDM16 Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Migration via Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition by Directly Targeting Pyruvate Carboxylase in Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Liu Wan-Lin , Guan Qing , Wen Duo , Ma Ben , Xu Wei-Bo , Hu Jia-Qian , Wei Wen-Jun , Li Duan-Shu , Wang Yu , Xiang Jun , Liao Tian , Ji Qing-Hai
Published: November 2021

PRDM16 (known as MEL1), a member of the PR domain zinc finger family, has been implicated in multiple biological processes, including cancers. It is not clear yet whether PRDM16 is involved in tumor progress of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We identified the PRDM16 expression level in PTC tissues by qRT-PCR and analyzed its relationship with clinical characteristics in both Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) and TCGA cohorts. We tested the function of PRDM16 in PTC cells both in vivo and in vitro. We found a direct downstream target of PRDM16, pyruvate carboxylase (PC), by RNA-sequencing, rescue experiments, luciferase assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. PRDM16 was downregulated in papillary thyroid cancer tissues and was significantly related with lymph node metastases and extrathyroidal extension in both FUSCC and TCGA cohorts. Overexpression of PRDM16 could attenuate proliferation and migration of PTC cells via inhibiting the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process. PC was upregulated in papillary thyroid cancer tissues. Knockdown of PC could inhibit proliferation and migration in TPC-1 and K1 cells. The repression effect on cell proliferation and migration from PRDM16 was PC dependent. PRDM16 could directly bind to the PC promoter and inhibit its expression at the transcription level. Moreover, the mRNA expression level of PRDM16 and PC was negatively related in human PTC tissues. In conclusion, PRDM16 exhibited an antitumor effect and EMT inhibition function in PTC by directly binding with the PC promoter. PRDM16 may be a novel therapeutic target in papillary thyroid cancer.
APE2 Is a General Regulator of the ATR-Chk1 DNA Damage Response Pathway to Maintain Genome Integrity in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Hossain Md Akram , Lin Yunfeng , Driscoll Garrett , Li Jia , McMahon Anne , Matos Joshua , Zhao Haichao , Tsuchimoto Daisuke , Nakabeppu Yusaku , Zhao Jianjun , Yan Shan
Published: November 2021

The maintenance of genome integrity and fidelity is vital for the proper function and survival of all organisms. Recent studies have revealed that APE2 is required to activate an ATR-Chk1 DNA damage response (DDR) pathway in response to oxidative stress and a defined DNA single-strand break (SSB) in Xenopus laevis egg extracts. However, it remains unclear whether APE2 is a general regulator of the DDR pathway in mammalian cells. Here, we provide evidence using human pancreatic cancer cells that APE2 is essential for ATR DDR pathway activation in response to different stressful conditions including oxidative stress, DNA replication stress, and DNA double-strand breaks. Fluorescence microscopy analysis shows that APE2-knockdown (KD) leads to enhanced γH2AX foci and increased micronuclei formation. In addition, we identified a small molecule compound Celastrol as an APE2 inhibitor that specifically compromises the binding of APE2 but not RPA to ssDNA and 3′-5′ exonuclease activity of APE2 but not APE1. The impairment of ATR-Chk1 DDR pathway by Celastrol in Xenopus egg extracts and human pancreatic cancer cells highlights the physiological significance of Celastrol in the regulation of APE2 functionalities in genome integrity. Notably, cell viability assays demonstrate that APE2-KD or Celastrol sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs. Overall, we propose APE2 as a general regulator for the DDR pathway in genome integrity maintenance.
Fast Broad-Spectrum Staining and Photodynamic Inhibition of Pathogenic Microorganisms by a Water-Soluble Aggregation-Induced Emission Photosensitizer
Authors: Zhou Qi , Lyu Xiaoming , Cao Bing , Liu Xueping , Liu Jing , Zhao Jiarui , Lu Siyu , Zhan Meixiao , Hu Xianglong
Published: November 2021

Pathogenic microorganisms pose great challenges to public health, which is constantly urgent to develop extra strategies for the fast staining and efficient treatments. In addition, once bacteria form stubborn biofilm, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) within biofilm can act as protective barriers to prevent external damage and inward diffusion of traditional antibiotics, which makes it frequently develop drug-resistant ones and even hard to treat. Therefore, it is imperative to develop more efficient methods for the imaging/detection and efficient inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms. Here, a water-soluble aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active photosensitizer TPA-PyOH was employed for fast imaging and photodynamic treatment of several typical pathogens, such as S. aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, L. monocytogenes, C. albicans, and E. coli. TPA-PyOH was non-fluorescent in water, upon incubation with pathogen, positively charged TPA-PyOH rapidly adhered to pathogenic membrane, thus the molecular motion of TPA-PyOH was restricted to exhibit AIE-active fluorescence for turn-on imaging with minimal background. Upon further white light irradiation, efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) was in-situ generated to damage the membrane and inhibit the pathogen eventually. Furthermore, S. aureus biofilm could be suppressed in vitro. Thus, water-soluble TPA-PyOH was a potent AIE-active photosensitizer for fast fluorescent imaging with minimal background and photodynamic inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms.
Smartphones and Educational Apps Use Among Medical Students of a Smart University Campus
Authors: Singh K. , Sarkar S. , Gaur U. , Gupta S. , Adams O. P. , Sa B. , Majumder M. A. A.
Published: November 2021

Background: Smartphones and medical education apps are popular with and are widely used by medical students to facilitate peer interactions, communication and collaboration in addition to their “learn anywhere” advantage. Smartphone use by medical students has not been studied in the English-speaking Caribbean. Study objectives were to assess in preclinical students attending the University of the West Indies in Barbados, smartphone ownership, usage and attitudes toward use in medical education.

Methods: First and second year preclinical medical students completed a self-administered paper-based questionnaire during the 2018–2019 academic year. Survey questions included sections on smartphone ownership, medical apps used, phone usage for education related tasks, and the perception on the usefulness of smartphones in medical education.

Results: Of 112 participants (response rate 67.4%), 43% considered using the smartphone for medical education when acquiring it but 92% were currently using it for this purpose, with 80.3% (p < 0.01) specifically using it for learning anatomy. The majority of the students felt that the use of smartphones would improve their educational experiences (89.1%) (p < 0.01), be beneficial to medical faculty for teaching (84.8%) (p < 0.01), and could be more effectively used in medical education (50.9%) (p < 0.01). For information resources students used Medscape (67.9%) and Mayo Clinic (57.1%) and the most frequently used search engine was Google (95.5%). Most students (67.9%) used medical apps and 79.5% would buy more useful apps provided they were affordable. The popular apps were: ‘Teach me Anatomy’ (11.9%), ‘UpToDate’ (10.3%) and ‘Medscape’ (8.8%). Most students (66.1%) felt a Smart Campus should ensure e-learning platforms were compatible with smartphones and university policies regarding smartphone usage for academic purposes were needed.

Conclusion: Findings show that smartphones and related medical education apps are widely used by medical students and improve their educational experiences. Universities should develop a policy regarding smartphone usage for academic purposes.
Outpatient Management of Patients With Angina With No Obstructive Coronary Arteries: How to Come to a Proper Diagnosis and Therapy
Authors: Meeder Joan G. , Hartzema-Meijer Mariëlle J. , Jansen Tijn P. J. , Konst Regina E. , Damman Peter , Elias-Smale Suzette E.
Published: November 2021

Two-thirds of women and one-third of men who undergo a clinically indicated coronary angiography for stable angina, have no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary vascular dysfunction is a highly prevalent underlying cause of angina in these so called “Angina with No Obstructive Coronary Arteries (ANOCA)” patients, foremost in middle aged women. Coronary vascular dysfunction encompasses various endotypes, namely epicardial and microvascular coronary spasms, impaired vasodilatation, and increased microvascular resistance. ANOCA patients, especially those with underlying coronary vascular dysfunction, have an adverse cardiovascular prognosis, poor physical functioning, and a reduced quality of life. Since standard ischemia detection tests and coronary angiograms are not designed to diagnose coronary vascular dysfunction, this ischemic heart disease is often overlooked and hence undertreated. But adequate diagnosis is vital, so that treatment can be started to reduce symptoms, reduce healthcare costs and improve quality of life and cardiovascular prognosis. The purpose of this review is to give a contemporary overview of ANOCA with focus on coronary vascular dysfunction. We will provide a possible work-up of patients suspected of coronary vascular dysfunction in the outpatient clinical setting, based on the latest scientific insights and international consensus documents. We will discuss the value of ischemia detection testing, and non-invasive and invasive methods to diagnose coronary vascular dysfunction. Furthermore, we will go into pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic options including anti-anginal regimens and lifestyle interventions.
Vascular Endothelial Glycocalyx Plays a Role in the Obesity Paradox According to Intravital Observation
Authors: Mitsuda Shingo , Uzawa Kohji , Sawa Marie , Ando Tadao , Yoshikawa Takahiro , Miyao Hideki , Yorozu Tomoko , Ushiyama Akira
Published: November 2021

According to the “obesity paradox,” for severe conditions, individuals with obesity may be associated with a higher survival rate than those who are lean. However, the physiological basis underlying the mechanism of the obesity paradox remains unknown. We hypothesize that the glycocalyx in obese mice is thicker and more resistant to inflammatory stress than that in non-obese mice. In this study, we employed intravital microscopy to elucidate the differences in the vascular endothelial glycocalyx among three groups of mice fed diets with different fat concentrations. Male C57BL/6N mice were divided into three diet groups: low-fat (fat: 10% kcal), medium-fat (fat: 45% kcal), and high-fat (fat: 60% kcal) diet groups. Mice were fed the respective diet from 3 weeks of age, and a chronic cranial window was installed at 8 weeks of age. At 9 weeks of age, fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled wheat germ agglutinin was injected to identify the glycocalyx layer, and brain pial microcirculation was observed within the cranial windows. We randomly selected arterioles of diameter 15–45 μm and captured images. The mean index of the endothelial glycocalyx was calculated using image analysis and defined as the glycocalyx index. The glycocalyx indexes of the high-fat and medium-fat diet groups were significantly higher than those of the low-fat diet group (p < 0.05). There was a stronger positive correlation between vessel diameter and glycocalyx indexes in the high-fat and medium-fat diet groups than in the low-fat diet group. The glycocalyx indexes of the non-sepsis model in the obese groups were higher than those in the control group for all vessel diameters, and the positive correlation was also stronger. These findings indicate that the index of the original glycocalyx may play an important role in the obesity paradox.
Dietary-Induced Elevations of Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins Promote Atherosclerosis in the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Syrian Golden Hamster
Authors: Lin Xiao , Ma Ping , Yang Chun , Wang Jinjie , He Kunxiang , Chen Gonglie , Huang Wei , Fan Jianglin , Xian Xunde , Wang Yuhui , Liu George
Published: November 2021

Elevated triglycerides are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, it is very important to understand the metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) and their atherogenic role in animal models. Using low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLR−/−) Syrian golden hamsters, this study showed that unlike LDLR−/− mice, when LDLR−/− hamsters were fed a high cholesterol high-fat diet (HFD), they had very high plasma levels of triglycerides and cholesterol. We found that LDLR−/− hamsters exhibited increased serum TRLs and the ApoB100 and 48 in these particles after being fed with HFD. Treatment with ezetimibe for 2 weeks decreased these large particles but not the LDL. In addition, ezetimibe simultaneously reduced ApoB48 and ApoE in plasma and TRLs. The expression of LRP1 did not change in the liver. These findings suggested that the significantly reduced large particles were mainly chylomicron remnants, and further, the remnants were mainly cleared by the LDL receptor in hamsters. After 40 days on an HFD, LDLR−/− hamsters had accelerated aortic atherosclerosis, accompanied by severe fatty liver, and ezetimibe treatment reduced the consequences of hyperlipidemia. Compared with the serum from LDLR−/− hamsters, that from ezetimibe-treated LDLR−/− hamsters decreased the expression of vascular adhesion factors in vascular endothelial cells and lipid uptake by macrophages. Our results suggested that in the LDLR−/− hamster model, intestinally-derived lipoprotein remnants are highly atherogenic and the inflammatory response of the endothelium and foam cells from macrophages triggered atherosclerosis. The LDL receptor might be very important for chylomicrons remnant clearance in the Syrian golden hamster, and this may not be compensated by another pathway. We suggest that the LDLR−/− hamster is a good model for the study of TRLs-related diseases as it mimics more complex hyperlipidemia.
Data Assimilation by Stochastic Ensemble Kalman Filtering to Enhance Turbulent Cardiovascular Flow Data From Under-Resolved Observations
Authors: De Marinis Dario , Obrist Dominik
Published: November 2021

We propose a data assimilation methodology that can be used to enhance the spatial and temporal resolution of voxel-based data as it may be obtained from biomedical imaging modalities. It can be used to improve the assessment of turbulent blood flow in large vessels by combining observed data with a computational fluid dynamics solver. The methodology is based on a Stochastic Ensemble Kalman Filter (SEnKF) approach and geared toward pulsatile and turbulent flow configurations. We describe the observed flow fields by a mean value and its covariance. These flow fields are combined with forecasts obtained from a direct numerical simulation of the flow field. The method is validated against canonical pulsatile and turbulent flows. Finally, it is applied to a clinically relevant configuration, namely the flow downstream of a bioprosthetic valve in an aorta phantom. It is demonstrated how the 4D flow field obtained from experimental observations can be enhanced by the data assimilation algorithm. Results show that the presented method is promising for future use with in vivo data from 4D Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging (4D Flow MRI). 4D Flow MRI returns spatially and temporally averaged flow fields that are limited by the spatial and the temporal resolution of the tool. These averaged flow fields and the associated uncertainty might be used as observation data in the context of the proposed methodology.
The Correlation Between Collagen Types and Ultrasound Feature Score in Evaluating the Vulnerability of Carotid Artery Plaque
Authors: Han Ruijun , Yan Yanhong , Ding Yafang , Huang Yabo , Zhou Peng , Hui Pinjing
Published: November 2021

Objectives: To investigate whether ultrasound score has clinical value in identifying carotid artery-vulnerable plaque and the impacts of collagen distribution on the stability of plaque.

Materials and Methods: Standard carotid artery ultrasound examinations were performed in 51 patients with carotid artery plaques before carotid endarterectomy. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Sirius red–picric acid staining of plaque sections were performed to analyze the pathological features and collagen distribution. All plaques were classified into vulnerable and stable groups by pathological features. Ultrasound scores, cap thickness, and the ratios of different collagen types were recorded and analyzed between two groups and different parts of plaques.

Results: Ultrasound scores of the vulnerable group were higher than those of the stable group (4.35 ± 1.23 vs. 2.09 ± 1.04, P = 0.001). AUC was 0.894 (best cutoff point three) in differentiating vulnerable and stable plaques. Compared with the stable group, the fibrous caps of the vulnerable group were thinner (P = 0.012); the area ratios of collagen type I to all collagen in the vulnerable group were lower (P = 0.033); however, the area ratios of collagen type IV to all collagen were higher (P = 0.026). Compared with downstream shoulders, the ultrasound scores of upstream shoulders of plaque were higher (P = 0.001), the fibrous caps of upstream shoulders were thinner (P = 0.001), and the area ratios of collagen type I to all collagen were lower (P = 0.022).

Conclusion: Ultrasound score could have a clinical value in identifying vulnerable carotid artery plaque, and the collagen distribution could impact the stability of plaques, especially collagen type I and type IV. The results also prompted that the upstream shoulders were more vulnerable than the downstream shoulders.
Modulation of Ground Deformation and Earthquakes by Rainfall at Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei (Italy)
Authors: Petrosino Simona , Ricco Ciro , Aquino Ida
Published: November 2021

Volcanoes are complex systems whose dynamics is the result of the interplay between endogenous and exogenous processes. External forcing on volcanic activity by seasonal hydrological variations can influence the evolution of a volcanic system; yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, we analyse ground tilt, seismicity rates and rainfall amount recorded over 6 years (2015–2021) at Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei, two volcanic areas located in the south of Italy. The results indicate that at both volcanoes the ground deformation reflects the seasonality of the hydrological cycles, whereas seismicity shows a seasonal pattern only at Campi Flegrei. A correlation analysis on shorter time scales (days) indicates that at Vesuvius rain and ground tilt are poorly correlated, whereas rain and earthquakes are almost uncorrelated. Instead, at Campi Flegrei precipitations can affect not only ground deformation but also earthquake rate, through the combined action of water loading and diffusion processes in a fractured medium, likely fostered by the interaction with the shallow hydrothermal fluids. Our observations indicate a different behavior between the two volcanic systems: at Vesuvius, rain-induced hydrological variations poorly affect the normal background activity. On the contrary, such variations play a role in modulating the dynamics of those metastable volcanoes with significant hydrothermal system experiencing unrest, like Campi Flegrei.
Gypsum Precipitating From Volcanic Effluent as an Archive of Volcanic Activity
Authors: van Hinsberg Vincent J. , Berlo Kim , Pinti Daniele L. , Ghaleb Bassam
Published: November 2021

Records of volcanic activity are a key resource in volcano monitoring and hazard mitigation. The time period for which such records are available and the level of detail vary widely among volcanic centers and there is, therefore, a need for supplementary sources of this information. Here, we use growth-zoned gypsum as a mineral archive of the activity of Kawah Ijen volcano in East-Java, Indonesia. Gypsum precipitates where water seeps from the crater lake and hydrothermal system, and it has formed a 100 m long cascading plateau. A 19 cm plateau cross-section was analysed for minor and trace elements using laser-ablation ICP-MS. Absolute ages were assigned to this transect based on 210Pb dating. This 210Pb age model was corrected for variations in the 210Pb0 resulting from fluctuations in the volcanic radon flux by using 84Kr/36Ar and 132Xe/36Ar. The age model indicates that the transect covers a period from 1919 ± 12 to 2008 ± 0.2. Gypsum-fluid partition coefficients (D) permit the gypsum compositions to be converted to the concentrations in the fluid from which each growth zone grew. The D-values also show the compatibility of the elements in the gypsum structure, and identify the LREE, Sr, Pb, Tl, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, Sb, Th, and Mo as least susceptible to contamination from rock fragment and mineral inclusions, and therefore as most reliable elements of the gypsum record. Compositional variability in the timeseries correlates with known element behavior in the Kawah Ijen system and shows three element groups: the LREE, Sr, and Pb that represent rock-leaching; Cu, Zn, and Cd, which have previously been linked to immiscible sulfide destabilization in a deep-seated basalt; and Sb, Tl, and As which point to a contribution from the shallow system and evolved magma. Moreover, the gypsum record shows that episodes of unrest and quiescence have a distinct compositional signature in Kawah Ijen seepage fluids, and can be distinguished. Thus, we show that gypsum is a sensitive recorder of volcanic activity and can provide detailed information on the state of the magmatic-hydrothermal system in the past.
A Hollow Argument: Understory Vegetation and Disturbance Determine Abundance of Hollow-Dependent Mammals in an Australian Tropical Savanna
Authors: Penton Cara E. , Davies Hugh F. , Radford Ian J. , Woolley Leigh-Ann , Rangers Tiwi Land , Murphy Brett P.
Published: November 2021

Native mammals are suffering widespread and ongoing population declines across northern Australia. These declines are likely driven by multiple, interacting factors including altered fire regimes, predation by feral cats, and grazing by feral herbivores. In addition, the loss of tree hollows due to frequent, intense fires may also be contributing to the decline of hollow-dependent mammals. We currently have little understanding of how the availability of tree hollows influences populations of hollow-dependent mammals in northern Australian savannas. Here, we test the hypothesis that the abundance of hollow-dependent mammals is higher in areas with a greater availability of tree hollows. We used camera-trap data from 82 sites across the savannas of Melville Island, the largest island in monsoonal northern Australia. Royle–Nichols abundance-induced heterogeneity models were used to investigate the biophysical correlates of the abundance of three threatened mammals: northern brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula arnhemensis), black-footed tree-rat (Mesembriomys gouldii), and brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus). Our analyses included two variables that reflect the availability of tree hollows: the density of tree hollows, estimated from the ground, and the density of large eucalypt trees (EucalyptusandCorymbiaspp.). We found no evidence that the abundance of the three hollow-dependent mammals is positively associated with the availability of tree hollows on Melville Island. Despite their reliance on hollow-bearing trees for denning, the abundance of these mammals appears to be more strongly associated with other factors, such as the characteristics of the understory (i.e., shrub density), which affords protection from predators (including feral cats) and access to food resources. Future conservation management should aim to maintain a dense, diverse understory by managing fire and feral herbivores to facilitate the persistence of hollow-dependent mammals across northern Australia.
Immune Classification and Immune Landscape Analysis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Hu Shaojun , Qu Xiusheng , Jiao Yu , Hu Jiahui , Wang Bo
Published: November 2021

Background: To classify triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) immunotyping using the public database, analyze the differences between subtypes in terms of clinical characteristics and explore the role and clinical significance of immune subtypes in TNBC immunotherapy.

Methods: We downloaded TNBC data from the cBioPortal and GEO databases. The immune genes were grouped to obtain immune gene modules and annotate their biological functions. Log-rank tests and Cox regression were used to evaluate the prognosis of immune subtypes (IS). Drug sensitivity analysis was also performed for the differences among immune subtypes in immunotherapy and chemotherapy. In addition, dimension reduction analysis based on graph learning was utilized to reveal the internal structure of the immune system and visualize the distribution of patients.

Results: Significant differences in prognosis were observed between subtypes (IS1, IS2, and IS3), with the best in IS3 and the worst in IS1. The sensitivity of IS3 to immunotherapy and chemotherapy was better than the other two subtypes. In addition, Immune landscape analysis found the intra-class heterogeneity of immune subtypes and further classified IS3 subtypes (IS3A and IS3B). Immune-related genes were divided into seven functional modules (The turquoise module has the worst prognosis). Five hub genes (RASSF5, CD8A, ICOS, IRF8, and CD247) were screened out as the final characteristic genes related to poor prognosis by low expression.

Conclusions: The immune subtypes of TNBC were significantly different in prognosis, gene mutation, immune infiltration, drug sensitivity, and heterogeneity. We validated the independent role of immune subtypes in tumor progression and immunotherapy for TNBC. This study provides a new perspective for personalized immunotherapy and the prognosis evaluation of TNBC patients in the future.