bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Practices Towards an Effective Response to Climate and Energy Challenges in The Al-Muthanna University Campus
Authors: Kbah Ahmed A. Rashid , Alsallal Muna , Al-Mur'Ib Hadel Saad Razoki , Al-Rubay Ali Saad
Published: November 2023

Regarding the UN reports, Climate change adaptation and mitigation stands for the most difficult challenge for the current and subsequent years in the world, in addition to the particular case of Iraqi cities, especially with the dry, hot climate and Power generation problems. Al-Muthanna University, during the last five years, focused on using the essential tools depending on NBS for saving energy (using daylight, rainwater, and natural materials) and also using innovative solutions (led light,  sensors, solar panels, remote sensing) for reducing energy consumption in the Campus, Greenhouse gas emission the University reduce it by reducing the energy consumption itself, encouraging staff to use Liquid Gas Fuel Automotive, increase the green area, cycling. Therefore, the approximate use of energy-efficient applicants (particularly LED lamps and laptops) is around 75%.  It is also good to mention that there is a total area of smart buildings of 82150 m2 across all campuses of Al-Muthanna University. In addition, the total Carbon footprint in 2021 equals 90.83 metric tons.
Strategic Incorporation of Experiential Learning in Sustainability Through the Project “Path to A Sustainable Country”
Authors: Dulce Claudia , Díaz Andrea
Published: November 2023

Path to a Sustainable Country (in Spanish “Ruta País Sostenible”) is an institutional commitment that seeks to reinforce the importance of natural resources in the university community and promote learning based on experience. We make field trips around the country that connect nature and communities. The areas selected are the National Natural Parks (NNP) and the protected areas of Colombia (12% of the country's territory). This project has the intention to be closer to the territory´s realities. At the same time, we have an experiential analysis to develop academic projects that promote the conservation of ecosystem services, and the improvement of the quality of life of the surrounding communities.  Since 2022, we have made three field trips to the NNP: Chingaza (paramo), Bahía Málaga (mangrove), Desierto de la Tatacoa (tropical dry forest), El Zoque (andean forest), El Cocuy (Glacier). On those trips, we have had 150 participants among students, professors, staff, and alumni. We tested the most appropriate and effective sustainable learning process. The result indicated that 50% of people memorize the concepts when they directly observe nature and communities. Meanwhile, the second most successful tool was applied research (20%), followed by classes (16%), and finally, laboratory practices (14%).
Walk & Bike Society in KMUTT THAILAND
Authors: Chaisawadi Suchada , Kaewthong Kittinut , Kanthamanon Prasert
Published: November 2023

KMUTT committed to be Green and sustainable university for SDGs 2030 since 2018 and committed to be a part of society that is a major force in promotion and implementation on walk and bike society within the university and expand to communities surrounded. To support walk & bike society in campus, walk & bike master plan has been designed with bike lane, pedestrian cover way, bicycle share services, bicycle repair center and “Zombike” activities which all students and staff make their own bicycle for free by using bicycle accessories from old bicycle in campus. KMUTT Walk & Bike Society policy has been launched since 2018 with bike riding activities which help to support sustainable transportation goal comply to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities and SDG13: Climate Action. The results from 5 years implementation (2018-2022) showed 75% of students and staff walking daily which can make 20,250,000 Km per 5 years in our campus. Bike activities showed daily use and 228 bicycle riding activities in total of 2,008,995 Km distance, initiated by 650 Green heart‘s students and 48,720 people from students, staff and communities participated on these activities. The results showed these walking and riding activities help to reduce carbon emission 3,188 tCO2 and reduce Diesel usage 1.59 million L. KMUTT walk & bike society help to initiate KMUTT sustainable leadership, make Green Heart ‘s students and change agents for helping communities and society expand the sustainable mobility to make healthy and low carbon society, and sustainability for all
TÜRKİYE'S SOFT POWER IN THE BALKANS & KOSOVO CASE
Authors: KETENCİ Ayşegül
Published: November 2023

States have important effects on each other, factors such as history, language, culture, belief, geography, and common history are the main components that provide this effect. During the Ottoman period, a large Turkish population lived in the Balkans, the Balkans was very important for the Ottomans geopolitically. The young Turkish Republic embarked on reforms within the country after the War of Independence, failed to maintain sufficient connections and soft power in the Balkans during the Second World War and the Cold War, but the situation changed after the Cold War. With the disappearance of the Soviet threat and Türkiye's desire to pursue a more active foreign policy, the Balkans once again became very important. The Balkans has a dense Turkish population, is Türkiye's open door to Europe, and is closely linked to Türkiye by common historical and cultural ties.

In the study, Türkiye 's efforts to increase its soft power in the Balkans after the Cold War was examined. While examining the study, the example of Kosovo, one of the most fragile countries in the Balkans, will be detailed. In the study, it is aimed to evaluate the results of these efforts by considering the policies implemented by Türkiye to be effective in the Balkans after the end of the Cold War, the activities of TIKA and Yunus Emre Institute, and Türkiye's soft power in Kosovo / efforts to increase this power.The policies implemented by Türkiye have made significant contributions to the stability of Kosovo, especially the Balkans, and to the development of mutual education, culture and social ties. This situation has had important consequences for Kosovo's integration with the Western alliances, and it is an indication that Türkiye uses its soft power policies as an effective tool in the Balkans.
Petrogenesis of the Sukadana Basalt based on petrology and whole rock geochemistry, Lampung, Indonesia: Geodynamic significances
Authors: Siringoringo Luhut Pardamean , Sapiie Benyamin , Rudyawan Alfend , Sucipta I Gusti Bagus Eddy
Published: November 2023

The petrogenesis of Sukadana Basalt remains an enigma till present. Major and trace element data are analyzed from Sukadana Basalt lava, located at East Lampung, Sumatra, to study the processes involved in the petrogenesis of the erupted magmas and the origin of mantle source compositions. The Sukadana Basalt display SiO2 (48.1–52.5 wt%), MgO (5.3–9.3 wt%), TiO2 (1.3–2.6 wt%), P2O5 (0.2–0.6 wt%), and Fe2O3T (8.9–11.3 wt%) contents. The Sukadana Basalt enriched in light rare earth elements with weak negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.8–1) and show Ocean Island Basalt (OIB)-like characteristics. There are two different petrogenesis groups, namely group A and group B. Group A samples show enrichment of Hf, Pb, K, and Sr and depletion of Nb. Group B samples show enrichment of K, Sr, and depletion of Pb. These differences are closely related to the mechanism of slab roll-back and normal fault activity. This study shows that Sukadana Basalt has Nb = 7.4–29.8 ppm, Nb/U = 18–060.3, and Nb/La = 0.8–1.6. These characteristics were similar to those found in typical Nb-enriched basalts. Geochemical analyses suggest that the Sukadana Basalt have experienced minimal crustal contamination and Olivine plagioclase, clinopyroxene, and magnetite fractional crystallization. The chemical features, together with high incompatible-element ratios, are consistent with low degrees of partial melting of a dominantly a partial melting of garnet–peridotite mantle source. The trace-element patterns suggest a mantle source influenced by an enriched component. The occurrence of OIB-like basalt suggests significant upwelling of the asthenosphere in response to slab roll-back. These processes occured in the above of a Paleo Indo-Australia subducting N–S beneath the southern part of Sumatra.
The language of men and women in Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: Discovery
Authors: Behrens Tanja
Published: November 2023

This article investigates the language of men and women in Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: Discovery through corpus analysis. To that end, the transcripts of 13 episodes of The Original Series and five episodes of Discovery were analyzed. More specifically, this paper focuses on clause types, particularly interrogatives and imperatives, as well as interruptions and certain recurring phrases. Results indicate that the language of men and women is indicative of more gender equality in Discovery than in The Original Series.
Orientation resolved measurements of accelerations with sensor particles in bioreactors
Authors: Buntkiel Lukas , Ma Yifan , Reinecke Sebastian Felix , Hampel Uwe
Published: November 2023

The measurement of the spatially distributed flow field in large industrial vessels, e.g. biogas fermenters, is not possible with commercially available measurement equipment. Therefore the concept of flow following sensor particles has been developed. They act as data loggers within the vessel. The sensor particles are equipped with a pressure sensor and an inertial measurement unit to measure their motion. The measurements are taken in the coordinate frame of the sensor particle and need to be transformed into the vessel’s coordinate frame to analyze the flow field. This is done by an error-state Kalman filter which estimates the orientation of the sensor particle with respect to the vessel based on the direction of the gravitational acceleration and the local magnetic field. Since no other aiding sensors are available or usable within an industrial vessel, particular emphasis was given to the inertial sensors’ stochastic modelling and the accelerometer’s calibration. Based on the orientation estimation, the measured acceleration is transformed into the vessel frame. We performed two experiments in a 1.4 m3 lab reactor to qualify this approach. The results show, that the transformed acceleration is in good qualitative agreement with the known flow field inside the lab reactor.
Improvement of the post-analytical phase by means of an algorithm based autoverification
Authors: Yilmaz Niyazi Samet , Sen Bayram , Arslan Burak , Deveci Bulut Tuba Saadet , Narli Belkis , Afandiyeva Nigar , Koca Gulce , Yilmaz Canan , Gulbahar Ozlem
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Autoverification (AV) is releasing laboratory results using predefined rules. AV standardizes the verification of laboratory results, improves turnaround time (TAT), detects errors in the total test process, and enables effective use of laboratory staff. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the outcomes of implementing the AV in a tertiary hospital.

Methods

The study was performed in Gazi University Health Research and Application Hospital, Core Biochemistry Laboratory, between August 2017 and October 2019. Step by step, AV algorithms were designed and implemented via middleware for 29 clinical biochemistry tests. A comprehensive validation was performed before the AV system was run. Initially, AV system was tested with datasets and simulated patients (dry testing). Next, samples that may violate AV rules were tested anonymously with no-named trial barcodes (wet testing). Finally, validation of the system was performed with real patients, while the AV was running in the background but not active (i.e., while the manual verification was still going on). After all these steps were successful, the system was started.

Results

In the daytime, AV rates were ≥75 % for 23 of 29 tests. In night-shift, AV rates were ≥70 % for 16 of 25 tests. Report-based performance was found 26 % for daytime. TAT in the daytime decreased after AV implementation.

Conclusions

Although this is the first time we have implemented the AV, a significant percentage of the tests have been verified. However, approaches that will increase the percentage of report-based verification will enhance the efficiency of autoverification.
Practical Guidance to Optimize Postmatch Recovery in Elite Male and Female Soccer: A Review
Authors: Querido Sérgio M. , Radaelli Régis , Brito João , Vaz João R. , Freitas Sandro R.
Published: November 2023

Several recovery methods have been proposed to optimize postmatch recovery in elite soccer. However, practical guidance for the implementation of recovery methods that somehow confer benefits on the recovery process immediately postmatch (MD), 1 day postmatch (MD + 1), and 2 days postmatch (MD + 2) is lacking. This article aimed to review the existing literature and provide a practical guide for sports scientists, coaches, clinicians, and players concerning implementing the most-used recovery methods after male and female soccer matches. For this purpose, we first presented a general 5-level recovery model that divides the recovery methods according to their relevance in recovery, based on their effectiveness in recovery, frequency of use, and reported detrimental effects. In addition, practical recommendations were provided for implementing each recovery method following two days post-match according to the recovery of various parameters (i.e., physical, physiologic, and perceptual) and physiologic and psychosocial assumptions. It was concluded that the application of recovery methods should be prioritized, periodized, and individualized over the recovery period postmatch. In addition, some recovery methods with limited effectiveness in postmatch recovery should be recommended based on physiologic assumptions and potential psychosocial benefits.
Research on Ultrasonic Guided Wave Technology for the Rail Fatigue Cracks Based on PCA-adaboost.M2 Algorithm
Authors: Zeng Wei , Liu Yuzhu , Yu Shangzhi , Qi Shikai , Wu He , Liu Li
Published: November 2023

As a key equipment in high-speed railway operation, rails inevitably produce various fatigue cracks during long-term service, which are major safety hazards in the railway transportation. In order to achieve intelligent detection of the rail fatigue cracks, the PCA-adaboost.M2 algorithm based on ultrasonic guided waves is proposed for the classification and identification of rail fatigue cracks. First, a rail fatigue crack detection system based on an ultrasonic guided wave was established to obtain ultrasonic guided wave signals at different depths of the rail fatigue cracks. Then, five time–frequency domain features of the ultrasonic guided wave (the maximum, the mean, the variance, the center of gravity frequency, and the frequency variance) were extracted, and the five main components of the ultrasonic guided wave were extracted by the principal component analysis (PCA) method and are used for classification and recognition of the adaboost and the adaboost.M2 algorithm, separately. The experimental results show that the ultrasonic guided wave based on the PCA-adaboost.M2 algorithm proposed has good performance in quantitative detection of the rail fatigue crack depth. The ultrasonic guided wave based on the PCA-adaboost.M2 algorithm proposed in this paper provides a method for detecting the rail fatigue crack depth.
Dissociable Contributions of Basolateral Amygdala and Ventrolateral Orbitofrontal Cortex to Flexible Learning Under Uncertainty
Authors: Aguirre C. G. , Woo J. H. , Romero-Sosa J. L. , Rivera Z. M. , Tejada A. N. , Munier J. J. , Perez J. , Goldfarb M. , Das K. , Gomez M. , Ye T. , Pannu J. , Evans K. , O’Neill P. R. , Spigelman I. , Soltani A. , Izquierdo A.
Published: November 2023

Reversal learning measures the ability to form flexible associations between choice outcomes with stimuli and actions that precede them. This type of learning is thought to rely on several cortical and subcortical areas, including the highly interconnected orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA), and is often impaired in various neuropsychiatric and substance use disorders. However, the unique contributions of these regions to stimulus- and action-based reversal learning have not been systematically compared using a chemogenetic approach particularly before and after the first reversal that introduces new uncertainty. Here, we examined the roles of ventrolateral OFC (vlOFC) and BLA during reversal learning. Male and female rats were prepared with inhibitory designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs targeting projection neurons in these regions and tested on a series of deterministic and probabilistic reversals during which they learned about stimulus identity or side (left or right) associated with different reward probabilities. Using a counterbalanced within-subject design, we inhibited these regions prior to reversal sessions. We assessed initial and pre-/post-reversal changes in performance to measure learning and adjustments to reversals, respectively. We found that inhibition of the ventrolateral orbitofrontal cortex (vlOFC), but not BLA, eliminated adjustments to stimulus-based reversals. Inhibition of BLA, but not vlOFC, selectively impaired action-based probabilistic reversal learning, leaving deterministic reversal learning intact. vlOFC exhibited a sex-dependent role in early adjustment to action-based reversals, but not in overall learning. These results reveal dissociable roles for BLA and vlOFC in flexible learning and highlight a more crucial role for BLA in learning meaningful changes in the reward environment.
The Effects of Free Breathing on Cerebral Venous Flow: A Real-Time Phase Contrast MRI Study in Healthy Adults
Authors: Liu Pan , Monnier Heimiri , Owashi Kimi , Constans Jean-Marc , Capel Cyrille , Balédent Olivier
Published: November 2023

Quantifying the effects of free breathing on cerebral venous flow is crucial for understanding cerebral circulation mechanisms and clinical applications. Unlike conventional cine phase-contrast MRI sequences (CINE-PC), real-time phase-contrast MRI sequences (RT-PC) can provide a continuous beat-to-beat flow signal that makes it possible to quantify the effect of breathing on cerebral venous flow. In this study, we examined 28 healthy human participants, comprising of 14 males and 14 females. Blood flows in the right/left internal jugular veins in the extracranial plane and the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and straight sinus in the intercranial plane were quantified using CINE-PC and RT-PC. The first objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of RT-PC in quantifying cerebral venous flow, relative to CINE-PC. The second, and main objective, was to quantify the effect of free breathing on cerebral venous flow, using a time-domain multiparameter analysis method. Our results showed that RT-PC can accurately quantify cerebral venous flow with a 2 × 2 mm2spatial resolution and 75 ms/image time resolution. The mean flow rate, amplitude, stroke volume, and cardiac period of cerebral veins were significantly higher from the mid-end phase of expiration to the mid-end phase of inspiration. Breathing affected the mean flow rates in the jugular veins more than those in the SSS and straight sinus. Furthermore, the effects of free breathing on the flow rate of the left and right jugular veins were not synchronous. These new findings provide a useful reference for better understanding the mechanisms of cerebral circulation.
Category Learning Selectively Enhances Representations of Boundary-Adjacent Exemplars in Early Visual Cortex
Authors: O’Bryan Sean R. , Jung Shinyoung , Mohan Anto J. , Scolari Miranda
Published: November 2023

Category learning and visual perception are fundamentally interactive processes, such that successful categorization often depends on the ability to make fine visual discriminations between stimuli that vary on continuously valued dimensions. Research suggests that category learning can improve perceptual discrimination along the stimulus dimensions that predict category membership and that these perceptual enhancements are a byproduct of functional plasticity in the visual system. However, the precise mechanisms underlying learning-dependent sensory modulation in categorization are not well understood. We hypothesized that category learning leads to a representational sharpening of underlying sensory populations tuned to values at or near the category boundary. Furthermore, such sharpening should occur largely during active learning of new categories. These hypotheses were tested using fMRI and a theoretically constrained model of vision to quantify changes in the shape of orientation representations while human adult subjects learned to categorize physically identical stimuli based on either an orientation rule (N = 12) or an orthogonal spatial frequency rule (N = 13). Consistent with our predictions, modeling results revealed relatively enhanced reconstructed representations of stimulus orientation in visual cortex (V1–V3) only for orientation rule learners. Moreover, these reconstructed representations varied as a function of distance from the category boundary, such that representations for challenging stimuli near the boundary were significantly sharper than those for stimuli at the category centers. These results support an efficient model of plasticity wherein only the sensory populations tuned to the most behaviorally relevant regions of feature space are enhanced during category learning.
Brainstem Neural Circuits Triggering Vertical Saccades and Fixation
Authors: Takahashi M. , Sugiuchi Y. , Shinoda Y.
Published: November 2023

Neurons in the nucleus raphe interpositus have tonic activity that suppresses saccadic burst neurons (BNs) during eye fixations, and that is inhibited before and during saccades in all directions (omnipause neurons, OPNs). We have previously demonstrated via intracellular recording and anatomical staining in anesthetized cats of both sexes that OPNs are inhibited by BNs in the medullary reticular formation (horizontal inhibitory BNs, IBNs). These horizontal IBNs receive monosynaptic input from the caudal horizontal saccade area of the superior colliculus (SC), and then produce monosynaptic inhibition in OPNs, providing a mechanism to trigger saccades. However, it is well known that the neural circuits driving horizontal components of saccades are independent from the circuits driving vertical components. Thus, our previous results are unable to explain how purely vertical saccades are triggered. Here, we again apply intracellular recording to show that a disynaptic vertical IBN circuit exists, analogous to the horizontal circuit. Specifically, we show that stimulation of the SC rostral vertical saccade area produces disynaptic inhibition in OPNs, which is not abolished by midline section between the horizontal IBNs. This excludes the possibility that horizontal IBNs could be responsible for the OPN inhibition during vertical saccades. We then show that vertical IBNs in the interstitial nucleus of Cajal, which receive monosynaptic input from rostral SC, are responsible for the disynaptic inhibition of OPNs. These results indicate that a similarly functioning SCIBNOPN circuit exists for both the horizontal and vertical oculomotor pathways. These two IBN-mediated circuits are capable of triggering saccades in any direction.

Significance Statement
Saccades shift gaze to objects of interest, moving their image to the central retina, where it is maintained for detailed examination (fixation). During fixation, high gain saccade burst neurons (BNs) are tonically inhibited by omnipause neurons (OPNs). Our previous study showed that medullary horizontal inhibitory BNs (IBNs) activated from the caudal superior colliculus (SC) inhibit tonically active OPNs in order to initiate horizontal saccades. The present study addresses the source of OPN inhibition for vertical saccades. We find that OPNs monosynaptically inhibit vertical IBNs in the interstitial nucleus of Cajal during fixation. Those same vertical IBNs are activated by the rostral SC, and inhibit OPN activity to initiate vertical saccades.
A Techno-Docility Approach to the Repression and Surveillance of Uyghurs
Authors: Topal Reyhan
Published: November 2023

A significant body of research examines the Chinese government’s mass atrocities against Uyghurs and various forms of state repression in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. However, scholars do not clearly address the interplay of traditional and technological repertoires of repression in the region. This article presents a focused, well-documented treatment of how traditional and technological repression interact in the Chinese government’s policies toward Uyghurs. Using a novel techno-docility approach, it shows that the government adopts a complex, pervasive, and all-encompassing form of repression to create obedient citizens and a unitary society. The article also highlights the increasingly dangerous and intricate nature of repression, which crosscuts multiple disciplines and hence is best addressed through interdisciplinary efforts.
The Chinese Threat and Changes of Identity in Taiwan
Authors: Wang T.Y. , Huang Chi
Published: November 2023

The importance of identity in understanding contemporary politics has been well articulated in the social sciences literature. Employing the theory of threat, this study examines the effects on Taiwanese citizens’ identity of Beijing’s repressive measures in Hong Kong and its military intimidation of Taipei. Using three waves of panel data collected in Taiwan between 2018 and 2020, we find that respondents shifted significantly toward identifying as Taiwanese and away from identifying as Chinese. Rather than encouraging identification with China, Beijing’s repressive actions in Hong Kong and military threats toward Taiwan have only strengthened the island citizens’ identity as Taiwanese. Previous scholarship has often assumed that identity is mainly a domestic issue, but we find that events beyond and across national borders can affect the dynamics of identity change.
For graduate students to become leaders in sustainability, we must transcend disciplinary boundaries
Authors: McSorley Meaghan , Arkhurst Bettina K. , Hall Marjorie , Zha Yilun , Spyrou Ioanna Maria , Duchesneau Katherine , Ringania Udita , Chang Michael
Published: November 2023

In the face of the climate crisis, is the academy preparing graduate students to engage in the interdisciplinary work needed to create a sustainable future? In 2021, the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) at the Georgia Institute of Technology convened a group of 7 doctoral students from 7 different disciplines: history, economics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, biology, city planning, and architecture. The intent of this program was for students to work on self-directed interdisciplinary projects around sustainability. This article describes our experiences as doctoral students in the interdisciplinary BBISS program. As a result of our participation, we have come to see our research through new disciplinary lenses, which enables us to better understand the impacts of our work from a broader systems perspective. Here, we discuss the challenges of interdisciplinarity in academia and highlight the value we see in strengthening interdisciplinarity in graduate education and research. We believe graduate students can become more effective, collaborative problem-solvers, and be better prepared to lead future sustainability projects when given opportunities to integrate interdisciplinary work into their existing program demands. Graduate education should encourage future scholars to broaden their horizons beyond the boundaries of their disciplines, provide opportunities for students to enhance their capabilities as collaborators and team members, and enable students to meaningfully engage with others in traditionally dissimilar fields to better tackle the increasingly complex sustainability problems we face. Our own experiences in the open-ended, interdisciplinary, multisemester BBISS program are evidence of the value of such programs, and we offer some additional suggestions for how individual programs, schools, colleges, and universities might modify doctoral program requirements to better support interdisciplinary work in graduate education.
Excessive apoptosis of Rip1‐deficient T cells leads to premature aging
Authors: Wang Lingxia , Zhang Xixi , Zhang Haiwei , Lu Kaili , Li Ming , Li Xiaoming , Ou Yangjing , Zhao Xiaoming , Wu Xiaoxia , Wu Xuanhui , Liu Jianling , Xing Mingyan , Liu Han , Zhang Yue , Tan Yongchang , Li Fang , Deng Xiaoxue , Deng Jiangshan , Zhang Xiaojie , Li Jinbao , Zhao Yuwu , Ding Qiurong , Wang Haikun , Wang Xiuzhe , Luo Yan , Zhou Ben , Zhang Haibing
Published: November 2023

In mammals, the most remarkable T cell variations with aging are the shrinking of the naïve T cell pool and the enlargement of the memory T cell pool, which are partially caused by thymic involution. However, the mechanism underlying the relationship between T‐cell changes and aging remains unclear. In this study, we find that T‐cell‐specific Rip1 KO mice show similar age‐related T cell changes and exhibit signs of accelerated aging‐like phenotypes, including inflammation, multiple age‐related diseases, and a shorter lifespan. Mechanistically, Rip1‐deficient T cells undergo excessive apoptosis and promote chronic inflammation. Consistent with this, blocking apoptosis by co‐deletion of Fadd in Rip1‐deficient T cells significantly rescues lymphopenia, the imbalance between naïve and memory T cells, and aging‐like phenotypes, and prolongs life span in T‐cell‐specific Rip1 KO mice. These results suggest that the reduction and hyperactivation of T cells can have a significant impact on organismal health and lifespan, underscoring the importance of maintaining T cell homeostasis for healthy aging and prevention or treatment of age‐related diseases.
Pseudohypoparathyroidism: complex disease variants with unfortunate names
Authors: Jüppner Harald
Published: November 2023

Several human disorders are caused by genetic or epigenetic changes involving the GNAS locus on chromosome 20q13.3 that encodes the alpha-subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsα) and several splice variants thereof. Thus, pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia (PHP1A) is caused by heterozygous inactivating mutations involving the maternal GNAS exons 1–13 resulting in characteristic abnormalities referred to as Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) that are associated with resistance to several agonist ligands, particularly to parathyroid hormone (PTH), thereby leading to hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. GNAS mutations involving the paternal Gsα exons also cause most of these AHO features, but without evidence for hormonal resistance, hence the term pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP). Autosomal dominant pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (PHP1B) due to maternal GNAS or STX16 mutations (deletions, duplications, insertions, and inversions) is associated with epigenetic changes at one or several differentially methylated regions (DMRs) within GNAS. Unlike the inactivating Gsα mutations that cause PHP1A and PPHP, hormonal resistance is caused in all PHP1B variants by impaired Gsα expression due to loss of methylation at GNAS exon A/B, which can be associated in some familial cases with epigenetic changes at the other maternal GNAS DMRs. The genetic defect(s) responsible for sporadic PHP1B, the most frequent variant of this disorder, remain(s) unknown for the majority of patients. However, characteristic epigenetic GNAS changes can be readily detected that include a gain of methylation at the neuroendocrine secretory protein (NESP) DMR. Multiple genetic or epigenetic GNAS abnormalities can thus impair Gsα function or expression, consequently leading to inadequate cAMP-dependent signaling events downstream of various Gsα-coupled receptors.
Parent Perspectives on the Child Experience of Pediatric Home Ventilation via Tracheostomy
Authors: Vo Holly Hoa , Mercer Amanda H. , Jabre Nicholas A. , Henderson Carrie M. , Boss Renee D. , Wilfond Benjamin S.
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Parents facing the decision of whether to initiate pediatric mechanical ventilation via tracheostomy (“home ventilation”) report wanting information about what to expect for life at home for their child. The study objective is to explore parent descriptions of the child experience of home ventilation to increase awareness for clinicians in the inpatient setting caring for these children.

METHODS

Semistructured interviews were conducted using purposive sampling of parents with children who initiated home ventilation within the previous 5 years from 3 geographically diverse academic medical centers.

RESULTS

We interviewed 21 families from 3 geographic regions in the United States. About 75% of children had respiratory failure in the first year of life, 80% had medical complexity, and half had severe neurologic impairment. Five domains emerged regarding parent perceptions of their child’s experience of home ventilation: (1) health and well-being; (2) development; (3) adaptation; (4) mobility and travel; and (5) relationships. Within each domain, several themes were identified. For each theme, there was a positive and negative subtheme to illustrate how the child’s experience was modified by home ventilation. Parent descriptions were generally positive, however, in all domains and to varying degrees, parents expressed negative aspects of home ventilation.

CONCLUSIONS

By providing information about the realistic experiences of children using home ventilation, clinicians can support families in the inpatient setting as they face this complex decision. Balanced information about home ventilation is critical to enhancing clinician counseling so that families may benefit from the perspectives of experienced parents.
Cardiovascular Follow-up of Patients Treated for MIS-C
Authors: Zimmerman Dayna , Shwayder Mark , Souza Andrew , Su Jennifer A. , Votava-Smith Jodie , Wagner-Lees Sharon , Kaneta Kelli , Cheng Andrew , Szmuszkovicz Jacqueline
Published: November 2023

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence of residual cardiovascular pathology by cardiac MRI (CMR), ambulatory rhythm monitoring, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in patients ∼6 months after multisystem inflammatory disease in children (MIS-C).

METHODS

Patients seen for MIS-C follow-up were referred for CMR, ambulatory rhythm monitoring, and CPET ∼6 months after illness. Patients were included if they had ≥1 follow-up study performed by the time of data collection. MIS-C was diagnosed on the basis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Myocardial injury during acute illness was defined as serum Troponin-I level >0.05 ng/mL or diminished left ventricular systolic function on echocardiogram.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine of 153 patients seen for MIS-C follow-up had ≥1 follow-up cardiac study between October 2020–June 2022. Thirty-seven (54%) had evidence of myocardial injury during acute illness. Of these, 12 of 26 (46%) had ≥1 abnormality on CMR, 4 of 33 (12%) had abnormal ambulatory rhythm monitor results, and 18 of 22 (82%) had reduced functional capacity on CPET. Of the 37 patients without apparent myocardial injury, 11 of 21 (52%) had ≥1 abnormality on CMR, 1 of 24 (4%) had an abnormal ambulatory rhythm monitor result, and 11 of 15 (73%) had reduced functional capacity on CPET. The prevalence of abnormal findings was not statistically significantly different between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of abnormal findings on follow-up cardiac studies and lack of significant difference between patients with and without apparent myocardial injury during hospitalization suggests that all patients treated for MIS-C warrant cardiology follow-up.
Teachers’ perspectives on inclusive language teaching in higher education
Authors: Piccinin Sabrina , Dal Maso Serena
Published: November 2023

Principles of inclusive education have recently started to enter the agenda of universities, which have been dedicating a growing attention to the students’ needs and to the creation of inclusive learning environments. This study provides an outline of the current state of inclusion in university language courses in Italy, as viewed from the perspectives of language teachers. To this aim, we developed and administered an online questionnaire investigating teachers’ perceptions on the most common language learning difficulties displayed by students with SEN and on what might work best to support their learning process. Moreover, we explored the effects of socio-demographic and background-related variables (age, gender, previous teaching experience and preparation to teach students with SEN) in determining teachers’ practices, self-efficacy beliefs and disposition towards inclusive education. Results show that gender and specific training on inclusive education influence teaching choices. Self efficacy and attitudes towards inclusion are found to be positively related to each other but are not affected by socio-demographic and background-related variables.
Unregistered words in everyday language and a proposal for their optimal lexicographic microstructure
Authors: Huang Yinxia , Nam Kilim
Published: November 2023

This article looks into lexicographic adaptation to media change. Instant messengers in Korea function as the most popular communication medium. According to the latest survey by Gallup Korea, instant messengers are used by 92% of the population overall. It means that the instant messenger corpus provides an ideal resource for accessing the language of the masses from a corpus linguistic point of view. In this contribution, we analyze an instant messenger corpus of 1.4 million words, and look into the prevalent unregistered words in the corpus to propose a microstructural model for them. Section 2 introduces the normalized parallel corpus of Messenger used in this study, and discusses the extraction methodology for unregistered words. We discuss the operational definition of unregistered words for dictionary inclusion and their extraction process. Section 3 examines the prevalence of unregistered words in the defined Messenger corpus and categorizes them based on the characteristics of messenger language. These characteristics encompass deviations from the pre-existing writing system, deviations from linguistic norms, deviations from socio-ethical criteria, incidental omissions, and non-verbal expressions. Section 4 proposes an optimal lexicographical structure incorporating unregistered words and their characteristics identified in the previous sections. Additionally, we discuss the extension and modification of microstructures in existing dictionaries, which could be made to effectively represent this new medium’s language.
Reflexionando sobre corrupción y deshonestidad académica: una intervención cuasi-experimental
Authors: Contreras-Pacheco Orlando , Mosquera-Navarro Rodolfo , Martínez-Ardila Hugo-Ernesto
Published: November 2023

El estudio explora cómo la reflexión pedagógica sobre ética influye en comportamientos deshonestos en la academia. Se realiza un cuasi-experimento con 109 estudiantes de ingeniería industrial en Colombia, enfocándose en la corrupción en Latinoamérica. Los resultados muestran un efecto inicial positivo en el reconocimiento y disminución del plagio académico, que disminuye con el tiempo. El estudio respalda la Teoría del Comportamiento Planificado al encontrar que una deliberación profunda puede determinar conductas. Además, incorpora la aceptación de culpa como parte de la reflexión necesaria. Esto responde a la necesidad de enseñar ética de manera contextualizada y mediante mecanismos pedagógicos inductivos.
DETECTION OF CLASS IgG ANTIBODIES SPECIFIC TO SOME FLAVIVIRUSES IN THE POPULATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUINEA
Authors: Krivosheina Ekaterina I. , Kartashov Michael Yu. , Ushkalenko Nikita D. , Svirin Kirill A. , Nourdine Ibrahim , Boumbaly Sanaba , Ternovoy Vladimir A.
Published: November 2023

Abstract.
Introduction. Genus Flavivirus (family Flaviviridae) viruses profoundly contribute to the spread of arbovirus infections. In the territory of the Republic of Guinea, the circulation of flaviviruses such as yellow fever virus (YFV), West Nile virus (WNV) and dengue fever virus (DENV) has been confirmed.
The aim of the study was to determine the level of IgG antibodies specific to YFV, DENV and WNV in the indigenous population in various landscape and geographical zones of the Republic of Guinea.
Materials and methods. For the study, a panel of 1559 human blood sera were compiled, which were collected in all landscape and geographical zones. The detection of IgG antibodies against DENV and WNV was carried out by commercial test systems, YFV by an experimental ELISA test system based on an analog of the third domain of protein E.
Results. While testing 1559 blood serum samples, 28.48% (95% CI: 26.3-30.7) of cases were found to have IgG antibodies against YFV, DENV in 11,8%, (95% CI: 10,3-13,5) and WNV in 27% (95% CI: 24,8-29,3). simultaneously, antibodies against the three viruses (YFV, DENV and WNV) were detected in 30 cases, YFV and DENV in 14, YFV and WNV in 44, DENV and WNV in 56 cases.
Conclusions. The detection of antibodies to WNV and DENV confirms the continued circulation of these pathogens in the territory of the Republic of Guinea, which poses a risk to the health of the indigenous population. The level of IgG class antibodies against YFV is insufficient for formation of yellow fever herd immunity, because. according to the WHO, it should reach at least 80% of the total indigenous population.
Interaction of b-cell receptors and antigens with different spatial arrangement
Authors: Talayev Vladimir Yu. , Svetlova Maria V. , Zaichenko Irina Ye. , Babaykina Olga N. , Voronina Elena V. , Chistyakov Sergey I.
Published: November 2023

B-cell receptors can interact with antigen epitopes on various objects: macromolecules, microorganisms or on the surface of other cells, e.g., follicular dendritic cells. Accordingly, B cells, on the one hand, have the ability to evaluate the location of pathogen surface epitopes, and, on the other hand, they must adapt their receptor apparatus to different epitope locations and antigen-bearing surface properties. Indeed, B-cell receptors and antibodies better bind objects with regular and dense epitope arrangement characteristic of many pathogens. As a result, such epitope arrangement can be recognized as a pathogen-associated geometric pattern, but the conditions for such recognition depend on the isotype of membrane immunoglobulin and the degree of B cell maturity. Young B cells express membrane IgM, which is involved in B cell development and the selection of their repertoire. Receptors with IgM do not impose strict requirements on epitope location and can activate B cells even upon binding a monovalent antigen. Receptors with membrane IgD are expressed later and predominate on naive B cells before entering the immune response. These receptors are optimized for two-point antigen binding and strictly require this type of interaction to induce an activation signal. Before contact with antigen, B-cell receptors are grouped in discrete membrane zones — nanoclusters, due to close interactions with the actin cytoskeleton. Contact with the antigen leads to the detachment of receptors from the cytoskeleton, rise in their mobility and the combining nanoclusters into microclusters — large clusters enriched with signaling molecules. The most dynamic changes are observed upon contact with an antigen fixed on the membrane of adjacent cell. In this case, free actin moves to the periphery of the intercellular contact zone, where it forms the cytoskeleton of the processes carrying receptor clusters. The processes spread across the surface of the partner cell and then contract, moving the antigen-binding microclusters to the center of the contact zone. Finally, the microclusters combine into a central cluster of the immune synapse, the intensity of the activation signal drops, and the cell prepares for endocytosis of antigens grouped at the local site. Thus, the structure of B-cell receptors can contribute to the response of the B-lymphocyte to antigens with a characteristic spatial location, while the dynamic interaction between B-cell receptor apparatus and the cytoskeleton allows optimizing the binding of antigens presented on various carriers. Knowledge on spatial aspects of antigen recognition may be useful for the construction of vaccines based on virus-like particles or antigens on other artificial carriers.
IImmunological parameters in patients with chronic opisthorchiasis bearing gene mutations associated with osteoporosis-predisposition
Authors: Kurlaeva Lyubov V. , Stepanova Tatyana F. , Stepanova Ksenia B. , Kosyreva Anastasia N. , Bakshtanovskaya Irina V. , Kalgina Galina A. , Grigorieva Svetlana Andreevna
Published: November 2023

To identify the features of the immune system functioning in patients with chronic opisthorchiasis bearing mutations in loci associated with predisposition to developing osteoporosis, comprehensive studies of cellular and humoral arms were carried out. The state of the phagocytic system was assessed by assessing absorption, metabolic activity and reactive oxygen species formation to restore nitrosine tetrazolium (spontaneous and stimulated NBT test). The phenotype of lymphocytes was determined by flow cytometry. The humoral immune arm was evaluated by the number of immunoglobulin classes M, G, A and E. Differences in the functional state of various arms of the immune system were revealed. In patients with chronic opisthorchiasis in the presence of rs1544410 polymorphism of the gene encoding the intracellular vitamin D receptor, the relative number of T-helper cells is significantly lower than in the group with the normal allele. In the presence of rs1800012 polymorphism of the gene encoding the α1-chain of type I collagen, the absolute lymphocyte count is significantly higher, spontaneous and stimulated NBT test were lower, the number of DN-T lymphocytes is significantly lower (both in relative and absolute values). In the presence of the rs3736228 mutation of the gene encoding the transmembrane low-density lipoprotein receptor, the level of myeloperoxidase and the neutrophil stimulation index are lower, the absorption activity of neutrophils is higher. The presence of the rs2234693 mutation for estrogen receptor gene leads to significantly increased level of stimulated NBT test and IgG concentration. Thus, patients with chronic opisthorchiasis bearing mutations in the COL1 A1, LRP5, ESR1(rs2234693) genes, have altered both nonspecific innate reactions and parameters of the adaptive immune arm; mutation of the VDR gene solely affects adaptive immunity. Analysis of the results suggests that the presence of mutations associated with the development of osteoporosis has a modulating effect on the immune response in chronic opisthorchiasis invasion. The identification of polymorphic genes associated with metabolic disorders of bone tissue and the study of the immunological profile in patients with chronic opisthorchiasis invasion will allow to implement an individual approach in the treatment of such patients.