bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Fine Motor and Visual Motor Skills in Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome
Authors: Cusack Stacy V. , Gavazzi Francesco , de Barcelos Isabella Peixoto , Modesti Nicholson B. , Woidill Sarah , Formanowski Brielle , DeMauro Sara B. , Lorch Scott , Vincent Ariel , Jawad Abbas F. , Estilow Timothy , Glanzman Allan M. , Vanderver Adeline , Adang Laura A.
Published: March 2024

Aicardi-Goutières syndrome is a genetic inflammatory disorder resulting in dispersed neurologic dysfunction. Despite a recognition of overall motor impairment, fine and visual motor skills are undercharacterized. We hypothesize that there is a spectrum of fine and visual motor skills in the Aicardi-Goutières syndrome population as captured by a standard outcome measure, the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS-2), which will be proportional to overall disease severity.

In a cohort of 74 subjects, the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales–2 grasping and visual-motor integration subtests were administered concurrently with the Aicardi-Goutières syndrome Severity Scale (severe [range 0-3], moderate [range 4-8], and attenuated [range 9-11]). The cohort was also compared by genotype and performance as defined by raw scores. The distribution of Peabody Developmental Motor Scales–2 scores within a genotype was assessed by interquartile ranges (IQRs).

Peabody Developmental Motor Scales–2 grasping and visual-motor integration performance was the least variable in the TREX1-cohort (IQR: 10.00-12.00) versus the SAMHD1 and IFIH1 cohorts (IQR: 51.00-132.00 and 48.50-134.00, respectively). Neurologic severity highly correlated with both fine and visual motor skills (Spearman correlation: r = 0.87, 0.91, respectively). A floor effect (lowest 10% of possible scores) was observed within the severe cohort (n = 32/35), whereas a ceiling effect (top 10%) was observed in the attenuated cohort (n = 13/17).

This study characterized the spectrum of fine and visual motor function in the Aicardi-Goutières syndrome population, which correlated with overall neurologic dysfunction. The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales–2 grasping and visual-motor integration showed promise as potential assessment tools in moderate and attenuated Aicardi-Goutières syndrome cohorts. A better understanding of fine and visual motor function in this population will benefit clinical care and clinical trial design.
Unusual and complicated peritonitis: Your questions answered
Authors: Zheng Sijia , Bargman Joanne M
Published: March 2024

Effective treatment of infections is a growing challenge owing to antimicrobial resistance. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients experience more frequent hospitalisations than the general population and have greater exposure to antibiotics, making them particularly vulnerable to this threat. Over the last decade, we have noted a surge in cases of complicated peritoneal dialysis–associated peritonitis (PD peritonitis) caused by antimicrobial-resistant organisms, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), AmpC beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and fungi. Practitioners must be alert to these organisms, seek early recognition of these resistance patterns and make timely adjustments in order to avoid delay in treatment that may increase risk of PD catheter removal and technique failure. We present a case of successful treatment of ESBL peritonitis, highlight its challenges, while providing guidance on management of other unusual and complicated PD peritonitis.
An adaptive fluid-solid coupling time step control algorithm for unsteady conjugate heat transfer
Authors: Cai Feixue , Zhang Long , Zhou Hua , Yao Min , Ren Zhuyin
Published: March 2024

Unsteady simulation with conjugate heat transfer has to tackle the stiffness issue that originates from the wide disparate time scales between fluid and solid heat transfer. In the loosely coupled framework, challenges remain in determining the optimal coupling time step between the fluid and solid solvers, in terms of efficiency and accuracy. This study formulates a correlation for the coupling error, together with the Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control method, to propose an adaptive fluid-solid coupling time step algorithm, which dynamically adjusts the coupling time step such that the computational efficiency can be improved without sacrificing accuracy. The proposed algorithm has been tested in a 1D conjugate heat transfer application with typical operating conditions of a real engine, and the performance of different controllers (I, PI, PID) has been analyzed and compared. Results show that with the closed-loop control, all controllers can ensure the error control below the user specified tolerance at the cost of reducing efficiency. Meanwhile, with the open-loop control which is of more interest to practical applications, controllers suffer from instability issues when a conventional algorithm based on integration error is employed. The proposed coupling-error-based algorithm successfully tackles the instability issues. Compared with the baseline algorithm of the constant coupling time step, the proposed algorithm can reduce approximately 40%–90% computational cost for the 1D cases considered.
Optimization of biodiesel production parameters for hybrid oil using RSM and ANN technique and its effect on engine performance, combustion, and emission characteristics
Authors: Tiwari Chandrabhushan , Verma Tikendra Nath , Dwivedi Gaurav
Published: March 2024

The increased need for renewable energy sources and growing concerns about environmental pollution has driven the need for alternative fuels (particularly biodiesel) in the transportation industry. The most used technique for producing biodiesel is transesterification, which involves the oil reacting with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. This study looks at the usage of artificial neural network (ANN) and response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize biodiesel synthesis factors for a hybrid oil feedstock (30% cottonseed and 70% spirulina microalgae oil). The parameters that were optimized were the methanol/oil ratio, reaction time, and catalyst concentration. Cottonseed oil was combined with spirulina microalgae oil to minimize its higher free fatty acid content to less than 1% and prevent soap formation during the transesterification process. The optimal biodiesel production was 94.37%, with 106.4 minutes of reaction time, 1.612% catalyst loading, and a methanol/oil ratio of 20:1. The optimized findings, when confirmed with experiments, gave a biodiesel yield of 91.03% with an error of 3.6%. To provide vital insights into the potential environmental benefits of using this alternative fuel, the study further investigates how the optimized biodiesel blend influences engine performance and emission characteristics. Testing was done at 1500 RPM and 17.5 CR for maximum loading conditions, diesel, HBD20, and HBD fuel produced 0.2746, 0.2805, and 0.288 kg/kWh of specific fuel consumption (SFC), respectively. The CO2 emissions of HBD and HBD20 were 2.49% and 8.30% lower, respectively, than pure diesel. NOx emissions increased by 14% and 18.3%. The highest cylinder pressure was 66.87 at 363 °C.
Wire plus arc additive manufacturing of stainless steel wall for predicting parametric influences on strength: Experimentation and finite-element analysis approach
Authors: Thirugnanasambandam Arunkumar , Subramaniyan Mohan Kumar , Gobiraman Anand , Elumalai Vijayaragavan
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this study is to provide functional insight into the tensile behavior of wire plus arc additively manufactured (WAAM) stainless steel 304 plate simulated using finite-element analysis (FEA) and the Johnson-cook (J-C) model of ductile damage. The plate is manufactured using WAAM and ideal process parameters chosen after multiple attempts. The strength of additively produced specimen (543.6 ± 3 MPa) is significantly higher than that of wrought alloys sample (518.2 ± 6 MPa). The tensile test was successfully simulated using FEA, and the results were anticipated with an error percentage of less than one. The considerable increase in strength is attributed to microstructure variations such as dendritic development and phase changes (presence of residual δ-ferrite) driven by complicated heat cycle. The presence of residual δ-ferrite is also clear through the evaluation of ferrite number as it varied from bottom to top in the range of 5.0–4.8. Hence, this study provides knowledge to the engineering society such that it finds potential application in various sectors.
Novel integrated guidance and control design for a three-stage satellite carrier using model-free adaptive control
Authors: Yaseri Mohammadreza , Novinzadeh Alireza Basohbat
Published: March 2024

A model-free adaptive control is proposed for suboptimal guidance correction and control of a prototypical three-stage satellite carrier. For this sake, we consider a nominal guidance for the model of the system and design the adaptive control for a single-input multi-output system exposed to wind disturbance and measurement noise in the rates of inputs and outputs. Then, subsequent to the guidance correction, a differentiation model of the system is estimated and the control policy is realized under some profitable performance constraints to set the satellite in a desirable circular orbit. The simulation results readily reveal the efficiency of the proposed method and its robustness to uncertainties in the system.
Homocysteine modifies the association of coronary stenosis and HIV infection in an inner city African American population
Authors: Leucker Thorsten M , Harb Tarek , Gerstenblith Gary , Celentano David D , Ziogos Efthymios , Treisman Glenn , Mandler Raul N , Khalsa Jag , Charurat Man , Lai Shenghan , Lai Hong
Published: March 2024

Background and aims

People with HIV (PWH) whose disease is controlled on anti-retroviral regimens remain at an increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). Traditional cardiovascular risk factors do not fully explain the residual risk in PWH suggesting contributions from nontraditional factors. Homocysteine (Hcy) may be one of these as prior work in adults without HIV demonstrate that Hcy may impair endothelial function by decreasing the availability of nitric oxide, promoting the development of atherosclerosis. In addition, plasma Hcy levels are higher in PWH than in individuals living without HIV. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Hcy levels influence the association between HIV and coronary stenosis in an inner city African American population.

Methods

African Americans from the Heart Study in Baltimore, with and without HIV, recruited from inner-city Baltimore between June 2004 and February 2015, were included in this analysis. Participants underwent coronary CT angiography to evaluate the presence of coronary stenosis, defined as luminal stenosis >10%. Hcy was measured from stored serum samples.

Results

In this analysis, the median [IQR] age of the 664 participants was 56 [50–66] years; 68.1% were living with HIV and 43.1% were women. Elevated Hcy (>15 µmol/L) was more prevalent in those with coronary stenosis (23.3%, 95% CI: 18.4%–28.2%) than in those without coronary stenosis (13.1%, 95% CI: 9.7%–16.5%) ( p = 0.0007), and HIV was associated with coronary stenosis in those participants with an elevated Hcy (Prevalence Ratio: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.04-3.64, p = 0.0038) and not in those with a Hcy ≤15 µmol/L (Prevalence Ratio: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.83-1.25, p = 0.87).

Conclusions

Our data suggest an association between elevated Hcy levels (>15 µmol/L) and the prevalence of coronary stenosis in PWH from this inner city African American population.
Designing and analyzing the efficiency of seat’s three vibration isolator modes in improving the driver’s comfort
Authors: Wang Xiangjie , Nguyen Vanliem , Zhang Li , Zhang Junya
Published: March 2024

This study proposes three vibration isolator modes of the seat designed by horizontal-parallel isolator (HPI), vertical-parallel isolator (VPI), and negative-stiffness isolator (NSI) for improving the vehicle seat’s comfort. The influence of the dynamic parameters of three vibration isolator models is then analyzed based on their three dynamic models. Their dynamic parameters have been then optimised for comparing the isolation performance of HPI, VPI, and NSI based on root-mean-square (RMS) accelerations in the vertical, pitch, and roll directions of the driver’s seat. Research shows that driver comfort has been insignificantly affected by dimensions whereas driver comfort has been greatly affected by dynamic parameters of three vibration isolator modes. Based on the optimized parameters of HPI, VPI, and NSI, the vertical comfort of the driver with the NSI has been improved better than that of both the HPI and VPI, conversely, the pitch comfort and roll comfort of the driver with the VPI has been improved better than that of both the HPI and NSI. In order to improve the comfort of the driver in three directions, the VPI should be combined with the NSI to design the seat isolator of vehicles.
Iterative learning control for non-normal and biased measured targets
Authors: He Zhiying , Chen Ziran
Published: March 2024

In the original iterative learning control (ILC) algorithm, it is commonly assumed that the target signal remains constant throughout iterations. However, this assumption may not be satisfied in practical industrial applications. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel ILC approach for non-normal and biased measured targets, in which the target is not predetermined by a fixed curve or formula but generated from the generation system. The iterative learning control problem is first formulated, followed by algorithm implementation through mechanism analysis, process determination, and assessments for feasibility and convergence. The proposed algorithm is simulated subsequently. Results demonstrate that application of this algorithm can effectively minimize expected error between non-normal and biased measured targets and output. After a sufficient number of iterations, the tracking error will originate solely from the trajectory itself.
Fulfilling Domestic Water Demand in Semiarid Regions of North Karnataka: Challenges and Way Forward
Authors: Ahmed Aariz , Chatterjee Juhi , Nannewar Rakesh Gomaji , Srikanth R.
Published: March 2024

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes Goal 6 (SDG 6): ‘Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’. SDG target 6.1 aims to achieve by 2030 ‘universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all’. The Government of India has also launched the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to provide potable tap water to every rural household by 2024. In this context, this article explains the findings of a study to assess the domestic water demand and the availability of water in seven villages in the Ballari and Raichur districts in North Karnataka. This study indicates that groundwater is predominantly used for domestic purposes in these districts due to the lack of adequate and reliable surface water. Only 14% of households in the study area receive adequate water as per the JJM norms and this water stress is projected to worsen due to the increasing supply–demand mismatch in the future. The authors recommend the implementation of the revised configuration of the Krishna (Almatti)–Pennar river interlinking project by 2030 since this alignment is optimised to reduce project-related deforestation, people displacement, project duration and costs. This is critical for the sustainable development of North Karnataka.
Subgingival Plaque as a Potential Reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Patients Recovered from COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Ashokkumar Lekha , Ravindran Deepak Moses , S. K. Balaji
Published: March 2024

Background

Subgingival plaque biofilm is a potential harboring site for bacteria and viruses, serving as a source of entry into the bloodstream. The presence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 RNA (SARS-CoV-2 RNA) in subgingival plaque could be a possible source for cross infection due to aerosol contamination during dental procedures.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the subgingival plaque biofilm of patients who recovered from COVID-19 infection.

Materials and Methods

Ten subjects visiting the Outpatient clinic with a previous history of COVID-19 infection were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Subgingival plaque sample was collected from all four quadrants using a sterile curette. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were taken from all the subjects. Reverse transcriptase real-time qualitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA using BAG SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR kit targeting E gene, RdRp gene, and internal control.

Results

Ten participants (seven females and three males) with a previous history of COVID-19 infection were included in the study. Six participants previously presented with mild COVID-19 infection (uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection, mild fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, malaise, headache, without evidence of breathlessness or hypoxia), and four participants previously presented with moderate COVID-19 infection (dyspnea and or hypoxia, fever, cough, SpO2 90%–94% on room air, respiratory rate more or equal to 24 per minute) according to clinical management protocol for COVID-19, Government of India. The nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and subgingival plaque samples tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

Conclusion

The absence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the subgingival plaque sample of patients recovered from COVID-19 infection suggests that dental plaque could not be a potential reservoir of the virus. However, clinicians should take at most precautions while treating the patients recovered from COVID-19 infection and should anticipate a change in subgingival environment leading to alteration in periodontal disease progression.
Limitations of coordinative Europeanisation in the Just Transition Mechanism in Romania
Authors: Volintiru Clara , Nicola Sanda
Published: March 2024

The EU currently promotes a radical transition towards a green, digital and more inclusive economy, which for its realization relies on the European Investor State’s financial architecture. As the transition generates losers, not only winners, instruments like the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) are designed to provide a compensatory function. However, our research shows that it might miss its mark of ‘leaving no one behind’. JTM is a fascinating extension of European Investor State as it seeks to service the losers through investments rather than compensations. Firstly, JTM mirrors the vision of the InvestEU program and doubles down on industrial transformation and strategic investments that rely substantially on private sector involvement. Secondly, as a process, the JTM requires local stakeholder coordination and national institutional capacity – both of which can pose additional challenges to newer member states without enhancing local capabilities. Thirdly, based on the process design, much like other EU programs, JTM has a level of complexity that leaves beneficiaries highly reliant on technical assistance. As such, investment gaps in the newer member states might be extended, and not compressed by the current compensatory financial tools of the EU. Using an in-depth case study method, we develop a multi-dimensional evaluation of the Just Transition process in the most affected region of the Jiu Valley in Romania. Through an original local stakeholder mapping, we find that while the local and national authorities have the highest influence in determining the Just Transition process in Romania, they are also very much distrusted by other local actors. Our findings reveal that it is not just the often-cited weakness in institutional capacity, but also that of poor stakeholder consensus that impede the strategic planning and implementation of new EU investment tools at the level of targeted beneficiaries.
The Effects of Project-Based Learning on Student Behavior and Teacher Burnout in an Emotional/Behavioral Support Classroom
Authors: Taylor Jonte’ C. , Allen L. Meghan , Van Jared , Moohr Michele
Published: March 2024

Teaching is one of the most stressful occupations in the United States. This is especially true for teachers who are responsible for meeting the complex needs of students with disabilities, particularly those with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). In fact, EBD teachers have a higher risk of experiencing burnout than their special education and general education colleagues. This burnout leads EBD teachers to leave the specialization of EBD, leave the field of special education, or leave the teaching profession as a whole. One way to mitigate this exodus of EBD teachers is to provide a broader pedagogical opportunity. Project-based learning (PBL) is a pedagogical methodology that is not often used by EBD teachers. The current study examines the use of PBL teaching to support students behaviorally and its impact on EBD teacher stress and job satisfaction. PBL was shown to improve student classroom and personal behaviors as well as increase job satisfaction for EBD teachers.
Development and Validation of a Machine Learning Prognostic Model of m5C Related immune Genes in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Cao Xiong , Ji Yuxing , Li Jiajia , Liu Zhikang , Chen Chang
Published: March 2024

Background

The aim of this retrospective research was to develop an immune-related genes significantly associated with m5C methylation methylation (m5C-IRGs)-related signature associated with lung adenocarainoma (LUAD).

Methods

We introduced transcriptome data to screen out m5C-IRGs in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-LUAD dataset. Subsequently, the m5C-IRGs associated with survival were certificated by Kaplan Meier (K-M) analysis. The univariate Cox, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and xgboost.surv tool were adopted to build a LUAD prognostic signature. We further conducted gene functional enrichment, immune microenvironment and immunotherapy analysis between 2 risk subgroups. Finally, we verified m5C-IRGs-related prognostic gene expression in transcription level.

Results

A total of 76 m5C-IRGs were identified in TCGA-LUAD dataset. Furthermore, 27 m5C-IRGs associated with survival were retained. Then, a m5C-IRGs prognostic signature was build based on the 3 prognostic genes (HLA-DMB, PPIA, and GPI). Independent prognostic analysis suggested that stage and RiskScore could be used as independent prognostic factors. We found that 4104 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the 2 risk subgroups were mainly concerned in immune receptor pathways. We found certain distinction in LUAD immune microenvironment between the 2 risk subgroups. Then, immunotherapy analysis and chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity results indicated that the m5C-IRGs-related gene signature might be applied as a therapy predictor. Finally, we found significant higher expression of PPIA and GPI in LUAD group compared to the normal group.

Conclusions

The prognostic signature comprised of HLA-DMB, PPIA, and GPI based on m5C-IRGs was established, which might provide theoretical basis and reference value for the research of LUAD.

Public Datasets Analyzed in the Study

TCGA-LUAD dataset was collected from the TCGA ( https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/ ) database, GSE31210 (validation set) was retrieved from GEO ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/ ) database.
Identifying the Best Candidate for Primary Tumor Resection in Patients With Advanced Osteosarcoma
Authors: Li Zhengjiang , Yang Xingyao , Xing Shuxing
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Not all patients with stage III and IV osteosarcoma who undergo surgery to remove the primary tumor will benefit from surgery; therefore, we developed a nomogram model to test the hypothesis that only a subset of patients will benefit from surgery.

Methods

412 patients were screened from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Subsequently, 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was used to screen and balance confounders. We first made the hypothesis that patients who underwent the procedure would benefit more. A multivariate Cox model was used to explore the independent influencing factors of CSS in two groups (benefit group and non-benefit group) and constructed nomograms with predicted prognosis. Finally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to verify the performance of the nomogram.

Results

Of these patients, approximately 110 did not undergo primary tumour resection. After passing PSM, they were divided into a surgical group and a non-surgical group. Age, primary site and chemotherapy as calculated independent factors were used to construct a nomogra. The predicted nomogram showed good consistency in terms of the ROC curve and the calibration curve, and the DCA curve showed a certain clinical utility. Finally, dividing the surgical patients into surgical beneficiaries and surgical non-beneficiaries, a Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the nomogram can identify patients with osteosarcoma who can benefit from surgery.

Conclusion

A practical predictive model was established to determine whether patients with stage III or IV osteosarcoma would benefit from surgery.
Design and real-time implementation of a robust backstepping non-singular integral terminal sliding mode attitude control for a quadrotor aircraft
Authors: Hassani Hamid , Mansouri Anass , Ahaitouf Ali
Published: March 2024

This paper concerns the problem of robust attitude control of a quadrotor aircraft subjected to modeling inaccuracies and wind disturbances. First, the model dynamics and state space representation of the quadrotor system are designed by considering the impact of disturbances and uncertainties. Then, a novel robust backstepping non-singular integral terminal sliding mode control (BNITSMC) is synthesized for the quadrotor attitude with the aim of enhancing the tracking accuracy. To strengthen the system’s robustness and guarantee the reachability of the sliding surface while reducing chattering, the supertwisting algorithm (ST) is used. Closed-loop stability and state convergence are guaranteed via the Lyapunov theory. Some experimental flight tests have been executed to validate the workability of the developed flight control. The obtained results prove that the recommended technique can provide improved performance in terms of stabilization and tracking precision.
Trust v Want: Tracking Changes in Young People’s Desire to Study Journalism Against Their Trust in News
Authors: Greenwood Sue
Published: March 2024

Studies into why young people choose to study journalism have often been informed by a belief in journalism’s inherent worthiness within civil society. However, as surveys show decreasing trust in journalism and increasing avoidance of news in many countries, this article asks whether young people are being put off studying journalism in part because of rising public cynicism around its societal worth. The research compares data sets across multiple countries to explore whether there is a statistical relationship between attitudes among 18- to 20-year-olds toward trust in news and interest in learning to produce it.
Defensive Development Against Disinvestment: Early Black Gentrification in the History of Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Authors: Rucks-Ahidiana Zawadi , Bradley Jakiyah , Jin Tony Y.
Published: March 2024

Studies of early gentrification have largely focused on cases of White gentrifiers in predominately White and Latinx low-income neighborhoods, which has overlooked the role of the Black middle-class and the presence of Black gentrifiers in early gentrification. In this article, we document the role of the Black middle-class in early gentrification in 1970s Fort Greene, Brooklyn, demonstrating their role in a “defensive development” strategy to protect the neighborhood from state-led demolition-style urban renewal. The Fort Greene Landmarks Preservation Committee, a Black, middle-class led coalition of multi-racial, middle-class residents pursued historic designation to preserve the multi-racial and predominately Black, mixed-income neighborhood from further demolition from urban renewal and disinvestment from redlining. Our findings confirm that early Black gentrification, like tract contemporary Black gentrification can both provide temporary protections for the Black community and lead to further gentrification.
A real-world multicentre evaluation of atezolizumab plus platinum-etoposide chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer in Italy
Authors: Musicco Felice , Fulgenzio Chiara , Malfa Antonia La , Jannitti Nicoletta , Vitiello Antonietta , Carpano Silvia , Fusco Francesca , Cappuzzo Federico , Terrenato Irene , Sperduti Isabella , Polidori Piera , Tarantino Domenico , Cerbo Lidia Di , Pani Marcello , Isgrò Valentina , Lasala Ruggero
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The aim of this study was to analyze real-life data from a cohort of adult patients receiving atezolizumab in combination with carboplatin and etoposide for first-line treatment of ES-SCLC, in order to assess relative dose intensity (RDI), time-to-treatment discontinuation (TTD), time-to-treatment failure (TTF), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) of treatments as well as the correlation between these outcomes.

Methods

An observational retrospective study was conducted. All patients treated with atezolizumab combined with carboplatin and etoposide for first-line treatment of ES-SCLC were included. Median TTD, TTF, PFS and OS were calculated in our cohort of patient by the Kaplan Meier method.

Results

The curves obtained with the Kaplan Meier method of TTF and TTD are substantially similar, indicating a good concordance of the information extracted by the two different data sources. This tendency was confirmed also when the TTD versus PFS curves were compared. The median OS registered was 11.8 months. Patients with no liver metastases showed a longer median time of OS than patients with liver metastases. The mean value of RDI for the entire cohort was 87.4%.

Conclusions

Our study showed that TTD, calculated from the administration data is a useful proxy of TTF as registered in the clinical chart. TTD is a real-world outcome that can be used to demonstrate the efficacy of drugs used for administered therapies. It can be used as an end point for RWE studies, where the evaluation is less structured and standardized.
Meningoencephalitis in a novel mutation in MNGIE (mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy) ending a familial diagnostic odyssey: A case series report
Authors: Redha Noor , Al-Sahlawi Zahra , Hasan Hasan , Ghareeb Sara , Humaidan Hani
Published: March 2024

MNGIE (Mitochondrial Neurogastrointestinal Encephalomyopathy) is an ultra-rare autosomal recessive disorder that leads to mutations in the nuclear genes encoding thymidine phosphorylase. Symptoms include gastrointestinal dysmotility, cachexia, ptosis, external ophthalmoplegia, sensorimotor neuropathy and asymptomatic leukoencephalopathy. We describe the first case of MNGIE with meningoencephalitis that ultimately led to a familial diagnosis ending a diagnostic odyssey. We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records and sent whole exome sequencing for the index case and his family members. We report the variant c.877T>C p.(Cys293Arg) found in TYMP gene in all affected siblings showed typical clinical manifestations related to MNGIE. To the best of our knowledge, this is not described in the literature nor in the population databases dbSNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Database) and gnomAD (Genome Aggregation Database). Additionally, it is located in a highly conserved residue and the bioinformatic analysis suggests it is most probably deleterious. Moreover, we estimated 550 number of cases of MNGIE (including 5 cases in this study) after performing an extensive search in the literature across 3 databases from 1983-2023. In addition, we identified 44 patients with MNGIE-like phenotype in genes other than TYMP. MNGIE-like phenotype affects POLG1, RRM2B, LIG3, RRM1, MTTV1, and MT-RNR1 genes.
Impact of grease physical properties on the friction torque and service life of wheel bearings
Authors: Jain Ayush , Soni Shubham , Vashishtha Nitesh , Shekhawat Deepika
Published: March 2024

Wheel bearings play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and reliable rotation of wheels in automotive applications. Grease is commonly used as a lubricant in wheel bearings. The physical properties of grease, such as viscosity, base oil type, and thickener composition, significantly influence the overall performance and longevity of wheel bearings. This study investigates the impact of grease's physical properties on wheel bearing friction torque and service life. To evaluate the effects of different grease formulations, a series of experiments were conducted using a four-ball tester, rheometer, and a custom-built test rig to measure bearing frictional torque and service life. Multiple greases with varying viscosity grades, base oil types (mineral oil, synthetic oil), and thickener compositions (lithium, diurea, and polyurea) were tested under controlled operating conditions. Friction torque measurements were obtained using a high-accuracy torque sensor, while service life was determined by monitoring the bearing life in actual endurance testing. The results indicated that grease physical properties directly affected wheel bearing friction torque and service life. Low to Medium-viscosity greases generally exhibited 35–40% lower friction torque due to enhanced lubrication film formation and reduced metal-to-metal contact however, excessively high viscosity resulted in 50–60% higher frictional torque and thereby increased energy consumption. Different base oil types showed varying friction reduction and service life level, with mineral oil in some cases showed lower frictional torque around 30–40% particularly at high temperature but with significant reduction in the service life. Furthermore, the thickener composition significantly influenced grease performance. Based on these findings, selecting the appropriate grease with optimal physical properties is crucial for minimizing friction torque and extending the service life of wheel bearings.
Hauteasand spirituality among indigenous Timorese: A photovoice study
Authors: Abatan Maria Delsi , Aipipidely Diana , Liem Andrian , Kiling Indra Yohanes
Published: March 2024

The Hauteas is a branched wooden structure considered sacred by indigenous Timorese. This qualitative study aimed to discover how indigenous Timorese people perceive hauteas and spirituality. Its purpose is to preserve cultural beliefs and to gain a better understanding of indigenous views of spirituality. The study used a slightly modified photovoice method to capture the experience and knowledge of participants. Ten participants are involved, including cultural elders, village leaders, and young people. The results of a thematic analysis show that hauteas is regarded as a cultural symbol with transcendental, environmental, and social functions. These functions and their implications for indigenous Timorese are discussed further in this article.
Innovation and rural context: An exploratory case study of a small rural enterprise from the Czech Republic
Authors: Steinerowska-Streb Izabella , Peterková Jindra , Steiner Artur
Published: March 2024

This study identifies i) factors that encourage small rural enterprises to innovate and ii) obstacles to introducing innovation. Using a case study of a rural business in the Czech Republic, the paper reveals that although rural businesses may experience innovation barriers, such as inadequate human resources and volatile market conditions, they can innovate, respond quickly and effectively to emerging market circumstances and turn threats into opportunities for growth. Importantly, many of the challenges and opportunities for innovation interplay with each other, with some obstacles becoming a foundation of creative and innovative solutions that help to develop a sustainable, modern and efficient enterprise. We highlight that the innovation of rural enterprises can be an outcome of pull and push factors that influence both product innovation and business innovation processes. Pull factors represent incentives and opportunities to stimulate rural innovation. Push factors, on the other hand, necessitate change and create pressures that must be addressed to ensure business longevity. The paper also shows that successful innovation is not free from agency, with the strategic vision and innovation outlook of business owners being a significant driver of innovation practices. Finally, our study shows that the innovation of rural enterprises depends on local, regional, national and international connections, and goes beyond rural areas, with a ‘think local and act global’ approach helping to harness opportunities in wider markets.
Towards carbon-free mobility: The feasibility of hydrogen and ammonia as zero carbon fuels in spark ignition light-duty vehicles
Authors: Nguyen Ducduy , Turner James WG
Published: March 2024

Global warming is a major environmental issue caused by the release of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Light-duty vehicles (LDVs) including passenger cars and light-duty trucks, are a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The transportation sector is responsible for approximately 23% of global CO2 emissions, with LDVs accounting for a substantial portion of these emissions. This paper aims to investigate the feasibility of zero-carbon fuels with focus on hydrogen and ammonia in spark ignition internal combustion engines for light-duty vehicles. With the increasing demand for sustainable and carbon-free mobility, alternative fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia are gaining attention as potential solutions. The properties and characteristics of these fuels and their potential for utilising them as a fuel in internal combustion engines are also reviewed. Current challenges and opportunities associated with the use of these fuels, including production, storage, and distribution, will be discussed. While there are still technical and infrastructural challenges that need to be addressed, hydrogen and ammonia have the potential to provide clean and efficient energy sources for light-duty vehicles. The development of these fuels, along with advancements in internal combustion engine technology, can help pave the way towards a carbon-free future for mobility.
Research on Scavenging Flow Dynamics of Marine Two-Stroke Engines With a CFD-Derived Quasi-Dimensional Model
Authors: Han Xiao , Liu Dai , Liu Long , Fu Shiyi
Published: March 2024

The complex in-cylinder gas state and flow significantly affect fuel-air mixture, combustion efficiency and emissions. However, the scavenging CFD model of large bore marine engines in digital twin system requires substantial computational resources. Therefore, a fast-run phenomenological model of the scavenging process is built in this study. The model simulates the thermal states and flow dynamics of inlet and exhaust gas based on the energy and momentum conservation principles, considering the ideal in-cylinder swirl velocity profile with effects of air mass loss, wall friction, and swirl shear. The model’s accuracy is confirmed by comparing it with CFD simulations on different engines, showing an average relative error less than 3.5%. It also analyzes the impacts of intake pressure. The model provides accurate boundary conditions for subsequent fuel spray, combustion, and emission simulations and can be combined with these models in the future, thereby applied to engine design, diagnostics, and control.
Stanley Cavell, John Rawls and moral perfectionism in liberal democracy
Authors: Lefebvre Alexandre
Published: March 2024

John Rawls was what we might call a “frenemy” to Stanley Cavell. Time and again, Cavell states his admiration for Rawls's political philosophy but criticizes it for two reasons. First, he believes that Rawls too hastily dismisses a perfectionist tradition that is essential for a flourishing liberal democracy. Second, he attacks certain aspects of Rawls's theory of justice as moralistic and legalistic. The first half of this article examines Cavell's critique of Rawls and argues that the two authors are more closely aligned than suspected. It begins by reconstructing Cavell's critique of Rawls, and using archival materials from Harvard University, presents for the first time Rawls's interpretation of this critique. The second half of the article highlights perfectionist themes in Rawls's A Theory of Justice. The contribution of this article is to reevaluate the relationship between two of the most important moral philosophers of the twentieth century and also to provide a more expansive theory of liberalism that incorporates the psychological depth, moral subtlety and political hopefulness of moral perfectionism.
Effect of calendering on the performance of 100% recycled polyester weft-knitted fabrics
Authors: Ruiz-Calleja Tamara , Jiménez-Suárez Alberto , Sainz-de-Robles Federico , Cristóbal-Ruiz Paula
Published: March 2024

Government policies focus on the textile sector to follow a tendency towards sustainability and circular economy, thus, raising the use of recycled textiles which require further performance improvement to be completely competitive with other textile products while using secondary treatments that are also environmentally friendly. In this study, a 100% recycled polyester weft-knitted fabric, currently used by commercial brands in the apparel and sport textile industry, is calendered and its properties are examined before and after such treatment. This research investigates variations in the physical (appearance and thickness), mechanical (tensile strength and elastic recovery), and physiological (water vapour resistance, spray test, and wettability) characteristics of the samples. The calendering treatment reduces water vapour resistance up to 23%, which is particularly interesting for garments used in sports. Additionally, the contact angle is increased by the calendering process which translates in poorer wettability. Novel findings of this work include that, whereas in the original fabric sweat marks are visible, sweat stains do not appear on the calendered fabric and moisture management improves, while mechanical properties do not undergo significant changes. These results have not been previosly found in the literature, giving a particular interest to a conventional process in this type of recycled fiber that can contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the textile industry and enhance the performance of treated fabrics. All these aspects make the treatment particularly interesting to improve the technical performance of the textile material while using an economic treatment with low effect on the environment.
“It’s Opened My Eyes to a Whole New World”: Positive Behaviour Support Training for Staff and Family Members Supporting Residents With Dementia in Aged Care Settings
Authors: Fisher Alinka C. , Reschke Katrina , Shah Nijashree , Cheung Sau , O’Connor Claire , Piguet Olivier
Published: March 2024

Objectives

This study examined the acceptability and usefulness of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) training in enhancing the capabilities of support staff and family members providing behaviour support to residents with dementia in residential aged care (RAC).

Methods

A mixed-methods pilot study was conducted across 3 RAC organisations, involving pre- and post-training questionnaire assessments for clinical leaders (n = 8), support staff (n = 37) and family members (n = 18).

Results

Findings indicated increased confidence among support staff and family members in providing behaviour support, with 96% indicating it would support their practices across settings. Key training benefits included identifying and addressing underlying causes of challenging behaviours. A majority (89%) expressed the need for further behaviour support training.

Conclusion

Recommendations focus on developing systems to enable effective and collaborative behaviour support practices. Further research is needed to examine application of PBS principles and planning for residents living with dementia.
Perceived Foolishness: How Does the Saltybet Community Construct AI vs AI Spectatorship?
Authors: Summerley Rory , McDonald Brian
Published: March 2024

The spectatorship of games has become a topic of growing interest with the parallel rise of esports and livestreaming platforms. Taking Saltybet.com as its primary case study, this paper examines cases where zero-player games played by artificial intelligence-controlled characters are the focus of spectatorship. A discourse analysis identifies trends and themes in the recorded chat transcripts of 15 livestreamed tournaments from Saltybet.com where players bet fake money on the outcome of fighting game matches between AI opponents. Several themes are identified that guide discussion on how spectators discuss AI players as well as their own and the community's behaviour. These insights may be applicable to understanding the broad appeal of the entertainment people derive from AI generally whether they were meant to entertain or not. The discussion explores how the absence of human players and the scale of Saltybet's niche audience contribute to a unique, but foolish space.
Reconstructing Practical Knowledge in Initial Training. A Qualitative Study
Authors: Mayorga-Fernández María José , Sepúlveda-Ruiz María Pilar , García-Vila Elena
Published: March 2024

Practical knowledge, acquired subconsciously, requires analysis and reflection for reconstruction, fostering its evolution into practical thinking. This study explored the practical knowledge of 104 first-year students in the early childhood education programme at the University of Malaga, aiming to scrutinise how it evolves through the lens of practical thinking following their participation in Lesson Study (LS) training. Using qualitative research methods, the data collection involved reflexive drawing, narratives, and discussion groups. The findings revealed that students’ practical knowledge predominantly revolved around teaching as cultural transmission, highlighting master classes and teacher-centric teaching-learning processes, with an adult-centric view of childhood and an underestimation of student capacities. Following the LS experience, significant reconfiguration occurred. Students developed a newfound appreciation for mentorship, recognising discrepancies between conceptualisations and implementations, and acknowledging the pivotal role of children. The study highlights the efficacy of reflexive drawing and discussion as tools for uncovering subconscious thoughts and facilitating reconstruction. To facilitate this evolution, training programs and participatory strategies are imperative for transforming practical knowledge.