bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential regulation of the interferon response in systemic lupus erythematosus distinguishes patients of Asian ancestry
Authors: Rector Ian , Owen Katherine A , Bachali Prathyusha , Hubbard Erika , Yazdany Jinoos , Dall'era Maria , Grammer Amrie C , Lipsky Peter E
Published: September 2023

Objectives

Type I interferon (IFN) plays a role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but insufficient attention has been directed to the differences in IFN responses between ancestral populations. Here, we explored the expression of the interferon gene signatures (IGSs) in SLE patients of European ancestry (EA) and Asian ancestry (AsA).

Methods

We used gene set variation analysis with multiple IGS encompassing the response to both type 1 and type 2 IFN in isolated CD14+ monocytes, CD19+B cells, CD4+T cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells from patients with SLE stratified by self-identified ancestry. The expression of genes upstream of the IGS and influenced by lupus-associated risk alleles was also examined. Lastly, we employed machine learning (ML) models to assess the most important features classifying patients by disease activity.

Results

AsA patients with SLE exhibited greater enrichment in the IFN core and IFNA2 IGS compared with EA patients in all cell types examined and, in the presence and absence of autoantibodies. Overall, AsA patients with SLE demonstrated higher expression of genes upstream of the IGS than EA counterparts. ML with feature importance analysis indicated that IGS expression in NK cells, anti-dsDNA, complement levels and AsA status contributed to disease activity.

Conclusions

AsA patients with SLE exhibited higher IGS than EA patients in all cell types regardless of autoantibody status, with enhanced expression of genetically associated genes upstream of the IGS potentially contributing. AsA, along with the IGS in NK cells, anti-dsDNA and complement, independently influenced SLE disease activity.
Virtual reality reduces anxiety and pain in acute hospital palliative care: service evaluation
Authors: Burridge Nancy , Sillence Alison , Teape Lynda , Clark Ben , Bruce Emma , Armoogum Julie , Leloch Daniella , Spathis Anna , Etkind Simon
Published: September 2023

Objectives

Virtual reality (VR) might improve symptom management, but there is limited evidence regarding VR in palliative care. We evaluated the feasibility of VR and impact on anxiety and pain for patients in a hospital palliative care consultation service.

Methods

Patients referred to a hospital specialist palliative care team, with anxiety or pain, were offered a VR intervention (a short audiovisual experience). Participants rated anxiety and pain on a 0–10 Likert severity scale pre intervention/post intervention and completed an evaluation form. Change in symptom scores was analysed by parametric statistics.

Results

28 participants used VR a total of 42 times with no adverse events. Mean pain score reduced by 29% from 4.10 (SD=2.71) pre intervention to 2.93 (SD=2.45) post intervention (t(27)=5.150, p<0.001). Mean anxiety scores reduced by 40% from 4.43 (SD=2.56) to 2.65 (SD=2.24) (t(27)=5.058, p<0.001). Patients rated the experience on average 4.75/5 and all would recommend use to a friend. VR was described as absorbing and relaxing.

Conclusion

VR may improve anxiety and pain and was acceptable in this setting. Large-scale evaluation will generate important data on feasibility and implementation.
Trigger based on fuzzy logic for the detection of neutrino-induced extensive air showers in water-Cherenkov detectors
Authors: Szadkowski Zbigniew , Pytel Krzysztof
Published: September 2023

A fuzzy logic trigger is an alternative approach to triggering a discrete cosine transform or a trigger based on artificial neural networks developed for the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The aim of the article is to report on the development of estimators that would allow one distinguishing the signal profiles from the Auger photomultipliers of the water-Cherenkov detectors originating from the neutrino-induced atmospheric showers with a high background of the proton showers. Fuzzy Logic Toolbox provides MATLAB functions, apps, and a Simulink block for analyzing, designing, and simulating systems based on fuzzy logic. The next step is to implement trace recognition algorithms in the FPGA structure to generate a real-time trigger with reasonable use of FPGA resources and with sufficient time margin for 120 MHz sampling. The fuzzy logic trigger will support existing triggers in the Auger surface detector but is optimized to identify neutrino-generated showers. The next step in our research is the simulation of electromagnetic and hadronic cascades in the atmosphere, the propagation of Cherenkov light in the water detector, and the digitalization of the signals in the ADC if the preliminary results obtained from the artificially generated profiles are satisfactory.
Presentation of entropy due to heat transfer irreversibility of MHD Williamson fluid over an inclined channel
Authors: Panda Subhajit , Pradhan Geetanjali , Nayak D. , Pattnaik P. K. , Mishra S. R.
Published: September 2023

The non-Newtonian characteristic of the fluid flow phenomena has several applications in industries and the production of engineering gadgets. Based upon the role, the present work deals with the flow of Williamson nanofluid past two inclined parallel sheets. Further, the influence of radiating heat due to thermal radiation, Ohmic heating because of the magnetization, and inclined angle on Williamson fluid are presented, which are vital for the heat transfer enhancement. The proposed study became novel due to the scrutiny of entropy for the irreversibility processes within the system that is obtained due to heat transfer. The designed model with dimensional form is developed by converting to dimensionless forms with the help of similarity transformations. The finalized transformed equations are handled analytically using the Homotopy perturbation method (HPM). Heat irreversibility is calculated by inserting the observed values into entropy generation and Bejan number. The suggested method of solution for the momentum profile is verified by comparing it to a previously published numerical result in some limited circumstances, and great agreement is found. The result reveals that the entropy generation is enhanced near the upper wall of the channel for the magnetized particle but thermal radiation attenuates it, however, the fluid temperature boosts up for the enhanced coupling constraint i.e. for the existence of Eckert number.
Equivalent Lateral Forces for Design of Multistory Sliding Base Structures
Authors: Hu Hong-Song , Xu Li-Wen , Gao Yi-Chao , Guo Zi-Xiong
Published: September 2023

The sliding base (SB) technique is an efficient and economical approach to mitigating seismic damage of low-rise buildings in rural areas. Based on the previous work on single-story SB structures, this study investigates the earthquake forces acting on multistory SB structures. Response history analyses of SB structures subjected to three-component earthquake excitations were performed. The computed results indicate that the increase in the number of stories tends to reduce the mean value of the peak base shear but has little influence on the coefficient of variation of the peak base shear. The peak story shears of a multistory SB structure subjected to an earthquake ground motion are reached at different time instants for different stories. The distributions of the equivalent lateral forces for SB structures with different story numbers follow the same trend, and the equivalent lateral forces tend to concentrate at the upper floors as the normalized peak ground acceleration and mass ratio increase. Simplified equations for computing the distribution of equivalent lateral forces were developed for design purposes.
LOSS OF HAEMAGGLUTINATION ACTIVITY OF AN INFECTIOUS BRONCHITIS VIRUS AFTER ATTENUATION
Authors: Liu Yu-Ting , Wang Ching-Ho
Published: September 2023

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) has been reported to acquire haemagglutination (HA) activity after treatment with neuraminidase, which depends on the IBV S1 protein. The purpose of this study was to test the IBV HA activity and its relationship to the S1 sequences. A wild strain of IBV, 2575/98 possessed HA activity after neuraminidase treatment. On the contrary, its attenuated strain through 75 chicken embryo passages did not. The nucleotide sequence differences in S1 genes before and after attenuation were C166A and G280T, resulting in amino acid changes of P56T and A94S. The S1 and S genes of the wild strain were cloned and expressed in a baculovirus (B) expression system. To test the relationship between HA activity and the S sequence changes after attenuation, the two nucleotide residues were mutated. The HA activity of those recombinant baculoviruses (rBs) was tested. The results showed that rB containing S gene from wild strain possesses the HA activity, that containing S gene with C166A mutation shows partial HA but that containing G280T mutation shows no any HA activity. Thus, a Taiwan IBV strain 2575/98 loses its HA activity after attenuation and this loss might be related to amino acid changes of P56T and A94S in the IBV S protein.
Modification of pre-oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers as chelating sorbents for removal of Copper(II) ions
Authors: Wang Xuefei , Wang Weixia , Jiang Rongrong , Guan Jianmin , Zhi Jianhai , Zhang Yonggang
Published: September 2023

Pre-oxidized polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers were chemically modified by sulfuric acid. In the process, conjugated imine sequences were retained and amide groups were transformed from unreacted nitrile groups. The adsorption experiments of Cu(II) ions by modified PAN fibers indicated that the adsorption capacities were significantly improved by increasing initial concentrations of metal ions, reaction time and temperature. The adsorption equilibriums followed Langmuir isotherm with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99. Kinetics analysis demonstrated that the adsorption of copper ions on the modified fiber was fitted well with pseudo-second-order kinetics equation. Indicated by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results, channels for metal ions diffusing from the surface to the inner of the fiber were generated by the strong etching of sulfuric acid. The active sites of conjugated imine sequences and amides in the whole modified fiber can thus be easily accessed by the metal ions.
Can Knowledge, Responsibility and Environmentalism Explain Preference Heterogeneity? A Latent-Class Probit Model Analysis for Plastic Pollution Abatement
Authors: Tyllianakis Emmanouil
Published: September 2023

This study explores the impact of prior experiences, environmental concern and awareness levels on pro-environmental behavior in the context of mitigation of plastic pollution. Using survey and geo-location data after a tsunami and a monsoon season, this survey employs a latent class analysis through a Generalized Structural Equation Model (GSEM) to identify similarities between groups’ willingness to pay (WTP) to mitigate macroplastic pollution in riverbeds and beaches in Indonesia. Results show that more environmentally-conscious respondents were also more sensitive to the issue of pollution while having observed more plastic pollution also increases support for pollution mitigation. Proximity to polluted waterways also increased WTP, especially to urban participants. Overall, accounting for prior experiences, environmental concern and awareness levels does lead to statistical differences between classes, with those scoring higher in these categories being also more willing to monetarily contribute to mitigate that issue. The use of such an integrated latent class model (LCM) can help with disentangling drivers of preferences, especially in the context of determining levels of support for pollution abatement in a developing country.
A Diffusion Model for POI Recommendation
Authors: Qin Yifang , Wu Hongjun , Ju Wei , Luo Xiao , Zhang Ming
Published: September 2023

Next Point-of-Interest (POI) recommendation is a critical task in location-based services that aim to provide personalized suggestions for the user’s next destination. Previous works on POI recommendation have laid focus on modeling the user’s spatial preference. However, existing works that leverage spatial information are only based on the aggregation of users’ previous visited positions, which discourages the model from recommending POIs in novel areas. This trait of position-based methods will harm the model’s performance in many situations. Additionally, incorporating sequential information into the user’s spatial preference remains a challenge. In this article, we propose
Diff-POI
: a
Diffu
sion-based model that samples the user’s spatial preference for the next
POI
recommendation. Inspired by the wide application of diffusion algorithm in sampling from distributions, Diff-POI encodes the user’s visiting sequence and spatial character with two tailor-designed graph encoding modules, followed by a diffusion-based sampling strategy to explore the user’s spatial visiting trends. We leverage the diffusion process and its reverse form to sample from the posterior distribution and optimized the corresponding score function. We design a joint training and inference framework to optimize and evaluate the proposed Diff-POI. Extensive experiments on four real-world POI recommendation datasets demonstrate the superiority of our Diff-POI over state-of-the-art baseline methods. Further ablation and parameter studies on Diff-POI reveal the functionality and effectiveness of the proposed diffusion-based sampling strategy for addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Developmental Neuroimaging of Cognitive Flexibility: Update and Future Directions
Authors: Kupis Lauren B. , Uddin Lucina Q.
Published: September 2023

Cognitive flexibility, or the ability to mentally switch between tasks according to changing environmental demands, supports optimal life outcomes, making it an important executive function to study across development. Here we review the literature examining the development of cognitive flexibility, with an emphasis on studies using task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The neuroimaging literature suggests that key brain regions important for cognitive flexibility include the inferior frontal junction and regions within the midcingulo-insular network, including the insular and dorsal anterior cingulate cortices. We further discuss challenges surrounding studying cognitive flexibility during neurodevelopment, including inconsistent terminology, the diversity of fMRI task paradigms, difficulties with isolating cognitive flexibility from other executive functions, and accounting for developmental changes in cognitive strategy. Future directions include assessing how developmental changes in brain network dynamics enable cognitive flexibility and examining potential modulators of cognitive flexibility including physical activity and bilingualism.
Growing Up, Learning Race: An Integration of Research on Cognitive Mechanisms and Socialization in Context
Authors: Hughes Diane , Cox Blair , Das Sohini
Published: September 2023

In the United States, race is a critical factor in determining how children experience and navigate their social worlds. Developmental scientists have examined the complexities and nuances of how children develop an understanding of what race means for them and others as well as their attitudes toward people of other racial groups. We provide an overview of the literature on two approaches to understanding children's racial learning—sociocognitive approaches, which focus on various aspects of children's understanding of, beliefs about, and attitudes toward race and racial groups, and socialization perspectives, which examine the messages that socialization agents transmit to children about race. Throughout, we highlight the ways in which the persistence of structural and interpersonal racism in the United States forms the background context for children's racial learning.
Emerald Ash Borer Management and Research: Decades of Damage and Still Expanding
Authors: Sun Jianghua , Koski Tuuli-Marjaana , Wickham Jacob D. , Baranchikov Yuri N. , Bushley Kathryn E.
Published: September 2023

Since the discovery of the ash tree ( Fraxinus spp.) killer emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis) in the United States in 2002 and Moscow, Russia in 2003, substantial detection and management efforts have been applied to contain and monitor its spread and mitigate impacts. Despite these efforts, the pest continues to spread within North America. It has spread to European Russia and Ukraine and is causing sporadic outbreaks in its native range in China. The dynamics of EAB's range expansion events appear to be linked to the lack of resistant ash trees in invaded ranges, facilitated by the abundance of native or planted North American susceptible ash species. We review recently gained knowledge of the range expansion of EAB; its ecological, economic, and social impacts; and past management efforts with their successes and limitations. We also highlight advances in biological control, mechanisms of ash resistance, and new detection and management approaches under development, with the aim of guiding more effective management.
Orexin Receptor Antagonism: Normalizing Sleep Architecture in Old Age and Disease
Authors: Kron Jarrah O.-Z.J. , Keenan Ryan J. , Hoyer Daniel , Jacobson Laura H.
Published: September 2023

Sleep is essential for human well-being, yet the quality and quantity of sleep reduce as age advances. Older persons (>65 years old) are more at risk of disorders accompanied and/or exacerbated by poor sleep. Furthermore, evidence supports a bidirectional relationship between disrupted sleep and Alzheimer's disease (AD) or related dementias. Orexin/hypocretin neuropeptides stabilize wakefulness, and several orexin receptor antagonists (ORAs) are approved for the treatment of insomnia in adults. Dysregulation of the orexin system occurs in aging and AD, positioning ORAs as advantageous for these populations. Indeed, several clinical studies indicate that ORAs are efficacious hypnotics in older persons and dementia patients and, as in adults, are generally well tolerated. ORAs are likely to be more effective when administered early in sleep/wake dysregulation to reestablish good sleep/wake-related behaviors and reduce the accumulation of dementia-associated proteinopathic substrates. Improving sleep in aging and dementia represents a tremendous opportunity to benefit patients, caregivers, and health systems.
Translational In Vivo Assays in Behavioral Biology
Authors: Withey Sarah L. , Pizzagalli Diego A. , Bergman Jack
Published: September 2023

The failure of preclinical research to advance successful candidate medications in psychiatry has created a paradigmatic crisis in psychiatry. The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative was designed to remedy this situation with a neuroscience-based approach that employs multimodal and cross-species in vivo methodology to increase the probability of translational findings and, consequently, drug discovery. The present review underscores the feasibility of this methodological approach by briefly reviewing, first, the use of multidimensional and cross-species methodologies in traditional behavioral pharmacology and, subsequently, the utility of this approach in contemporary neuroimaging and electrophysiology research—with a focus on the value of functionally homologous studies in nonhuman and human subjects. The final section provides a brief review of the RDoC, with a focus on the potential strengths and weaknesses of its domain-based underpinnings. Optimistically, this mechanistic and multidimensional approach in neuropsychiatric research will lead to novel therapeutics for the management of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Effect of Sn/Ca Mass Ratio on the Second Phase, Corrosion Behavior and Discharge Performance of Mg–xSn–1Ca Mg–Air Battery Anodes
Authors: Le Taihe , Mao Pingli , Hu Wenyi , Le Qichi
Published: September 2023

Mg–Sn–Ca alloys are promising candidates for Mg–air battery anodes. In this study, the influence of Sn/Ca mass ratio on the formation of the second phase, corrosion behavior and discharge performance of Mg-xSn-1Ca (x = 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 4.0 wt%) alloys, has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrochemical characterizations. The results reveal that the CaMgSn phase forms in four Mg–xSn–1Ca alloys, the Mg2Ca phase precipitates in low Sn/Ca mass ratio alloys (Mg-0.5Sn-1Ca and Mg–1Sn–1Ca), and the Mg2Sn phase precipitates in the Mg-4Sn-1Ca alloy. Low Sn/Ca mass ratio alloys present better corrosion resistance than high Sn/Ca mass ratio alloys (Mg-2.5Sn-1Ca and Mg-4Sn-1Ca). The improvement in the corrosion resistance of the Mg2Ca phase is more than that of the Mg2Sn and CaMgSn phases. The highest average discharge voltage, anodic efficiency, power density, specific capacity, and specific energy of 1.188 V, 58.3%, 23.78 mW cm−2, 1225.5 mA h g−1, and 1389.8 mW h g−1, respectively, are found for the Mg-0.5Sn-1Ca alloy at an Sn/Ca mass ratio of 0.34, at a current density of 20 mA cm−2. This is attributed to better corrosion resistance and good electrochemical activity of the alloy. For the TX01 alloy, the current of discharge failure is calculated to be 93.6 mA.
Short-term repeated human biopsy sampling contributes to changes in muscle morphology and higher outcome variability
Authors: Long Douglas E. , Mantuano Alessandra J. , Confides Amy L. , Miller Benjamin F. , Kern Philip A. , Butterfield Timothy A. , Dupont-Versteegden Esther E.
Published: September 2023

Indices of damage can be found in repeated biopsy samples of nonintervened control legs. Variables, directly and not directly related to muscle damage or regeneration, were compromised in second biopsy. There is a need to determine potential damage within muscle tissue when repeated muscle sampling is part of the study design. Muscle biopsy sampling may be a source of increased heterogeneity in human muscle data.
Brief ambient cooling preserves autophagy in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from older adults during 9 h of heat exposure
Authors: McCormick James J. , Meade Robert D. , King Kelli E. , Notley Sean R. , Akerman Ashley P. , Sigal Ronald J. , Kenny Glen P.
Published: September 2023

Heat waves can lead to dangerous elevations in body temperature, increasing the risk of life-threatening health conditions. Visiting a cooling center or other air-conditioned location is commonly recommended to protect heat-vulnerable older persons, although the effects on the cellular stress response remain unknown. We found that 2 h of ambient cooling midway through a 9 h simulated heat wave preserves autophagy, a vital cellular survival mechanism, and mitigates accompanying pathways of cellular stress in older adults.
Healthcare Workers’ SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Four Hospital Outbreaks during Delta Variant Prevalence in Sydney, Australia
Authors: Hutchinson Danielle , Kunasekaran Mohana , Stone Haley , Chen Xin , Quigley Ashley , Moa Aye , MacIntyre C. Raina
Published: September 2023

Background. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections due to occupational exposure. The use of airborne personal protective equipment (PPE) significantly reduces this risk. In June 2021, an epidemic of the Delta variant began in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Concurrent PPE guidelines, set by the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC), restricted the use of respirators. Objective. To understand the relationship of PPE guidelines with workplace-acquired HCW SARS-CoV-2 infections in different clinical settings and to examine the relationship between rates of community transmission and workplace-acquired HCW infections during the Delta outbreak in NSW. Methods. Total SARS-CoV-2 HCW infections between 13 June and 30 October 2021 (first four months of the Delta wave) were estimated from the government COVID-19 surveillance reports and compared with the surveillance reports of community transmission. In the absence of a detailed reporting of HCW infections, open-source data including news articles, media releases, and epidemiological surveillance reports were also collected. Data were extracted on HCW cases of SARS-CoV-2 from four hospitals, including the number of HCW cases (per NSW Health definition), clinical setting, PPE guidelines, and evidence of increasing local transmission. Results. SARS-CoV-2 infections in HCW identified as workplace-acquired infections (n = 177) and those without a known transmission source (n = 532) increased during the period of increasing community transmission (n = 75,014) in NSW. Four hospital COVID-19 clusters affecting 20 HCWs were identified between June and October 2021. HCW clusters occurred in general wards where staff were recommended to wear surgical masks. No workplace-acquired HCW infections were reported in these hospitals from critical care wards, where respirators were recommended during the same outbreak weeks. Conclusions. Differences in PPE policy across different wards may leave healthcare staff at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. During periods of high community transmission, respirators should be provided to protect hospital staff. Formal reporting of HCW infections should occur.
The Relevance of Open Data Principles for the Web of Data
Authors: Herrera-Cubides Jhon Francined , Gaona-García Paulo Alonso , Montenegro-Marin Carlos Enrique , Sánchez-Alonso Salvador
Published: September 2023

Open data has been improving both publishing platforms and the consumers-oriented process over the years, providing better openness policies and transparency. Although organizations have tried to open their data, the enrichment of their resources through the Web of Data has been decreasing. Linked data has been suffering from notable difficulties in different stages of its life cycle, becoming over the years less attractive to users. According to that, we decided to explore how the lack of some opening requirements affects the decline of the Web of Data. This paper presents the Web of Data radiography, analyzing the governmental domain as a case study. The results indicate that it is necessary to strengthen the data opening process to improve resource enrichment on the Web and have better datasets. These improvements describe that open data must be public, accessible (in machine-readable formats), described (use of robust, granular metadata), reusable (made available under an open license), complete (published in primary forms), and timely (preserve the value of the data). The implementation of these characteristics would enhance the availability and reuse of datasets. Besides, organizations must understand that opening and enriching their data require a completely new approach, and they have to pay special attention and control to this project, generally by putting money, the commitment by management at all levels, and lots of time. On the contrary, given the magnitude of availability and reuse problems identified in the opening and enrichment data process, it is believed that the Web of Data model would inevitably lose the interest it aroused at the beginning if not addressed immediately by data quality, openness, and enrichment issues. Besides, its use would be restricted to a few particular niches or would even disappear altogether.
Novel Thiosemicarbazone Derivatives from Furan-2-Carbaldehyde: Synthesis, Characterization, Crystal Structures, and Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant, and Antitumor Activities
Authors: Hernández Wilfredo , Carrasco Fernando , Vaisberg Abraham , Spodine Evgenia , Icker Maik , Krautscheid Harald , Beyer Lothar , Tamariz-Angeles Carmen , Olivera-Gonzales Percy
Published: September 2023

Ten new thiosemicarbazone derivatives, furan-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (1), 3-methyl-furan-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (2), 5-hydroxymethyl-furan-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (3), 5-trifluoromethyl-furan-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (4), 5-nitro-furan-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (5), 5-phenyl-furan-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (6), 5-(2-fluorophenyl)-furan-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (7), 5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-furan-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (8), 5-(1-naphthyl)-furan-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (9), and 5-(1H-Pyrazol-5-yl)-furan-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (10) were synthesized by condensing thiosemicarbazide with the respective furan-2-carbaldehyde in methanol. The prepared compounds were characterized by spectroscopic studies (FT-IR and NMR) and electrospray mass spectrometry. The molecular structures of 2, 6, 7, and 8 have also been determined by X-ray crystallography. Compounds 2, 6, and 7 crystallize in the E conformation about the N1-C6, N1-C11, and N1-C11 bonds, respectively, while 8 adopts the Z conformation about the N1-C12 bond with the presence of an intramolecular N2-H…O2 hydrogen bond. All prepared thiosemicarbazone derivatives were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial, antifungal, and antitumor activities against Staphylococcus aureus strains, Candida albicans/Candida tropicalis fungi, and seven human tumor cell lines (HuTu80, H460, DU145, M-14, HT-29, MCF-7, and LNCaP), respectively. The antioxidant activity was also studied by the DPPH assay. Compound 5 exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC700699 (MIC = 1 μg/mL) compared to the nitrofurantoin and gentamicin reference drugs (MIC = 1–25 and 10->100 μg/mL, respectively). Compound 4 was ten times less active than amphotericin B (MIC = 5 μg/mL) against Candida albicans (ATCC90028 and ATCC10231), while 1 exhibited a moderate effect of scavenging of DPPH radical (IC50 = 40.9 μg/mL) in comparison to ascorbic acid reference compound (IC50 = 22.0 μg/mL). Among all the studied thiosemicarbazones, 5 showed a higher cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 13.36–27.73 μΜ) in relation to the other tested compounds (IC50 = 34.84—>372.34 μΜ) against all tested cell lines, except the LNCaP cell line, exhibiting its highest antiproliferative activity (IC50 = 13.36 μΜ) on the HuTu80 cell line. Besides, 8 and 9 exhibited high antitumor activity (IC50 = 13.31 and 7.69 μΜ, respectively) against the LNCaP cells.
FIGURE 2 from A Phase I Study of the Pan-Notch Inhibitor CB-103 for Patients with Advanced Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma and Other Tumors
Authors: Hanna Glenn J. , Stathis Anastasios , Lopez-Miranda Elena , Racca Fabricio , Quon Doris , Leyvraz Serge , Hess Dagmar , Keam Bhumsuk , Rodon Jordi , Ahn Myung-Ju , Kim Hye Ryun , Schneeweiss Andreas , Ribera Josep-Maria , DeAngelo Daniel , Perez Garcia Jose Manuel , Cortes Javier , Schönborn-Kellenberger Oliver , Weber Dirk , Pisa Pavel , Bauer Michael , Beni Laura , Bobadilla Maria , Lehal Raj , Vigolo Michele , Vogl Florian D. , Garralda Elena
Published: September 2023

PFS (A) and OS (B) among the ACC subgroup (n = 40). Kaplan–Meier method; number of events (%), and median and 95% CIs shown.
Comparison between Two Different Handgrip Systems and Protocols on Force Reduction in Handgrip Assessment
Authors: De Dobbeleer Liza , Beckwée David , Arnold Pauline , Baudry Stéphane , Beyer Ingo , Demarteau Jeroen , Lieten Siddhartha , Punie Ynes , Bautmans Ivan
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Fatigue resistance (FR) can be assessed as the time during which grip strength (GS) drops to 50% of its maximum during a sustained maximal voluntary contraction. For the first time, we compared force-time characteristics during FR test between two different handgrip systems and investigated age- and clinical-related differences in order to verify if a briefer test protocol (i.e., until 75%) could be sufficiently informative. Methods: A cohort of young healthy controls (Y, <30 y, 24 ± 3 y, 54% women), middle-aged (MA, 30–65 y, 47 ± 11 y, 54% women), and older (OLD, >65 y, 77 ± 7 y, 50% women) community-dwelling persons, and hospitalized geriatric patients (HOSP, 84 ± 5 y, 50% women) performed the FR test. For this purpose, an adapted vigorimeter (original rubber bulb of the Martin Vigorimeter connected to a Unik 5000 pressure gauge) here defined as “pneumatic handgrip system” (Pneu) and Dynamometer G200 system (original Jamar Dynamometer handle with an in-build strength gauge) here defined as “hydraulic handgrip system” (Hydr) were used. Force-time curves were analysed from 100% to 75% and from 75% to 50% of the initial maximal GS during the FR test. The area under the curve (GW) was calculated by integrating the actual GS at each time interval (i.e., 1/5,000 s) and corrected for body weight (GW/body weight). Results: For both systems, we found fair associations between FR100–50 and FR100–75 (Pneu mean difference = 50.1 s [95% CI: 47.9–52.4], r2 = 0.48; Hydr mean difference = 28.4 s [95% CI: 27.0–29.7], r2 = 0.52, all p < 0.001) and also moderate associations between GW(100–50)/body weight and GW(100–75)/body weight (Pneu mean difference = 32.1 kPa*s/kg [95% CI: 30.6–33.6], r2 = 0.72; Hydr mean difference = 8.1 kg*s/kg [95% CI: 7.7–8.6], r2 = 0.68, all p < 0.001). Between MA and OLD, we found a significant age-related difference in the GW results in the first 25% strength decay for Pneu (10.2 ± 0.6 kPa*s/kg against 7.1 ± 1.2 kPa*s/kg, respectively). Conclusion: The brief test protocol is valid. Differences within the first 25% strength decay in GW between OLD and HOSP were identified when using Pneu but not when using Hydr. Therefore, a brief FR test protocol using a continuous registration of the strength decay seems to be sufficiently informative in a clinical setting to appraise muscle fatigability, however, only when using a Pneu system.
Seminário interno Acervos na USP: desafios na gestão e na preservação
Authors: Silva Cibele Monteiro da , Urzua Flávia Andréa Machado , Hergert Ina , Arruda Isabela Ribeiro de , Saft Juliana Bechara , Azevedo Miriam Della Posta de
Published: September 2023

Este relato apresenta a primeira ação do Grupo de Trabalho Acervos USP e Conservação, criado em novembro de 2022 pela direção do Centro de Preservação Cultural da USP (CPC-USP) e pela direção da Biblioteca Brasiliana Guita e José Mindlin (BBM-USP) agregando duas redes de profissionais de  acervo já atuantes na Universidade de São Paulo, que são a Rede de Conservação Preventiva de Acervos e a Rede USP de Profissionais de Museus e Acervos. A ação relatada aqui é o seminário interno Acervos na USP: desafios na gestão e preservação, realizado nos dias 18 e 19 de abril de 2023, nas dependências da Biblioteca Brasiliana Guita e José Mindlin, campus Butantã, o qual reuniu profissionais das mais variadas unidades dos campi da Universidade que atuam diretamente com acervos, com o objetivo de compreender as condições atuais, entender as dificuldades e os pontos positivos e propor ações para a melhoria das condições de preservação e difusão do patrimônio cultural universitário.
Product placement no cinema Blockbuster: Um estudo sobre Capitão América: Guerra Civil (2016)
Authors: Prates Maria Clara Vieira , Santos Gustavo Souza
Published: September 2023

O product placement é uma técnica utilizada para a promoção de marcas, produtos e serviços como uma estratégia alternativa à saturação midiática tradicional e à baixa adesão de público aos modelos convencionais de reclames. Desse modo, como parte de narrativas de filmes, seriados, novelas e outros, as inserções dessa tática se integram aos enredos, construindo discursos simbióticos de conteúdo promocional e de entretenimento. Este estudo analisou o desenvolvimento da técnica de product placement no filme Capitão América: Guerra Civil (2016), considerando especificidades do mercado blockbuster e novas circularidades para a produção publicitária.
Noveleiros de Plantão: uma análise dos comentários sobre Novo Mundo e Nos Tempos do Imperador do grupo TV Postagem
Authors: Santos Júlia Teixeira dos , Silva Regina Lúcia Gomes Souza e
Published: September 2023

Este artigo propõe-se a analisar os comentários acerca das novelas Novo Mundo (2017) e Nos Tempos do Imperador (2021) através do grupo do Facebook TV Postagem. Para isto, fez-se necessário utilizar os métodos de Observação Participante e Netnografia. Os principais resultados obtidos demonstram que, para os comentadores, a telenovela Nos Tempos do Imperador apresentou dois grandes problemas: a má construção de personagens e um roteiro fraco cuja trama parecia ser inverossímil, ao contrário de sua antecessora Novo Mundo.
Entre o cinema experimental e a videoarte: desdobramentos do audiovisual
Authors: Coelho Carmem Martins , Jordan Susana Madeira Dobal
Published: September 2023

Este trabalho consiste em uma análise das formas de arte ligadas à imagem em movimento no atual cenário. O estudo tem como objetivo analisar o processo de convergência entre o cinema experimental e a videoarte, de modo a entender as movimentações estéticas e políticas que culminaram nessa conjuntura. Para isso, foi realizada revisão bibliográfica de autores influentes no tema e análise teórico-crítica de artistas que produzem dentro dessa perspectiva, tais como André Parente e Luc Courchesne. A partir dos resultados da pesquisa, foi possível concluir que a divisão entre cinema experimental e videoarte se mostra anacrônica, uma vez que a arte é cada vez mais multimidiática e que os artistas voltam sua atenção para as problemáticas de uma sociedade computadorizada.
A filósofa, a História e a escrita biográfica: um diálogo com Hannah Arendt
Authors: Martinho Francisco Carlos Palomanes
Published: September 2023

En 1957, Hannah Arendt publicó la obra Rahel Varnhagen, la vida de una judía alemana en la época del romanticismo. El libro, casi en su totalidad, fue escrito a principios de la década de 1930 y sólo el prólogo data de su publicación. A partir de este trabajo, este artículo buscará analizar la contribución de Hannah Arendt al relato biográfico, la tensión entre Historia y memoria y la relación entre Historia y política.
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Coronary Perivascular Adipose Tissue From End-Stage Heart Failure Patients Identifies
SPP1
+
Macrophage Subpopulation as a Target for Alleviating Fibrosis
Authors: Fu Mengxia , Shu Songren , Peng Zhiming , Liu Xiaorui , Chen Xiao , Zeng Zhiwei , Yang Yicheng , Cui Hao , Zhao Ruojin , Wang Xiaohu , Du Leilei , Wu Min , Feng Wei , Song Jiangping
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND:

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is vital for vascular homeostasis, and PVAT dysfunction is associated with increased atherosclerotic plaque burden. But the mechanisms underlining coronary PVAT dysfunction in coronary atherosclerosis remain elusive.

METHODS:

We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of the stromal vascular fraction of coronary PVAT from 3 groups of heart transplant recipients with end-stage heart failure, including 3 patients with nonobstructive coronary atherosclerosis, 3 patients with obstructive coronary artery atherosclerosis, and 4 nonatherosclerosis control subjects. Bioinformatics was used to annotate the cellular populations, depict the cellular developmental trajectories and interactions, and explore the differences among 3 groups of coronary PVAT at the cellular and molecular levels. Pathological staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and in vitro studies were performed to validate the key findings.

RESULTS:

Ten cell types were identified among 67 936 cells from human coronary PVAT. Several cellular subpopulations, including
SPP1
+
(secreted phosphoprotein 1) macrophages and profibrotic fibroadipogenic progenitor cells, were accumulated in PVAT surrounding atherosclerotic coronary arteries compared with nonatherosclerosis coronary arteries. The fibrosis percentage was increased in PVAT surrounding atherosclerotic coronary arteries, and it was positively associated with the grade of coronary artery stenosis. Cellular interaction analysis suggested OPN (osteopontin) secreted by
SPP1
+
macrophages interacted with CD44 (cluster of differentiation 44)/integrin on fibroadipogenic progenitor cells. Strikingly, correlation analyses uncovered that higher level of SPP1 in PVAT correlates with a more severe fibrosis degree and a higher coronary stenosis grade. In vitro studies showed that conditioned medium from atherosclerotic coronary PVAT promoted the migration and proliferation of fibroadipogenic progenitor cells, while such effect was prevented by blocking CD44 or integrin.

CONCLUSIONS:

SPP1
+
macrophages accumulated in the PVAT surrounding atherosclerotic coronary arteries, and they promoted the migration and proliferation of fibroadipogenic progenitor cells via OPN-CD44/integrin interaction and thus aggravated the fibrosis of coronary PVAT, which was positively correlated to the coronary stenosis burden. Therefore,
SPP1
+
macrophages in coronary PVAT may participate in the progression of coronary atherosclerosis.
Endovascular Treatment in Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Stroke: A Brief Practice Update From the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology
Authors: Asif Kaiz S. , Novakovic Robin , Nguyen Thanh N. , Mansour Ossama , deHavenon Adam , Masoud Hesham E. , Castonguay Alicia C. , Kenmuir Cynthia , Ashouri Yazan , Janardhan Vallabh , Liebeskind David S. , Hassan Ameer E. , Malik Amer M. , Zaidat Osama O. ,   for the SVIN GAPS Committee
Published: September 2023

Background

The Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology Guidelines and Practice Standards committee established the “Brief Practice Update” format to provide up‐to‐date recommendations on focused relevant clinical questions. In this Brief Practice Update, we review current evidence and provide recommendations for endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with acute large‐vessel occlusion of the basilar artery.

Methods

The Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology Guidelines and Practice Standards committee conducted a systematic review, including the recent randomized clinical trials of EVT for acute ischemic stroke attributable to basilar artery occlusion, and summarized relevant data to provide recommendations for clinical practice. The Guidelines and Practice Standards quality committee reviewed the findings to ensure adherence to the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology internal evidence evaluation guidelines before review by the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology board members for societal endorsement.

Results

Evidence favors EVT for basilar artery occlusion in comparison to medical management alone in patients with moderate to severe stroke. We formulated the level of evidence and the class of recommendation in the context of 5 clinical questions.

Conclusions

In this brief practice statement, we share general recommendations on EVT for acute ischemic stroke attributable to large‐vessel occlusion of the basilar artery. Recent randomized controlled trials, Basilar Artery Occlusion Chinese Endovascular (BAOCHE) trial and Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar‐Artery Occlusion (ATTENTION), and a meta‐analysis of all randomized controlled trials support EVT in patients with moderate to severe basilar artery occlusion stroke symptoms.
How NGOs May Promote a Shared Society in Conflict-Affected Areas
Authors: Binhas Adi , Jayusi Wurud , Hajisoteriou Christina
Published: September 2023

This article comparatively examines the results of a qualitative study of how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) may promote a shared society in the conflict-affected areas of Israel and Cyprus. The authors have chosen to set their research in these two contexts, where the complex relationships between the majority and the minority communities have led to persistent conflicts that seem rather ‘intractable’ and ‘frozen’. Three thematic categories emerge from this analysis: (a) empowering citizens to enact intercultural initiatives; (b) enhancing youth’s agency; and (c) collaborating with the state and other actors. The authors discuss their findings under the framework of interculturalism and intercultural change. Their argument is that for peacebuilding to flourish in both countries, civil society organizations (CSOs) should cultivate sympathetic imagination by enabling people from the communities in conflict to firstly imagine and then pursue alternatives to the current status quo.
Diplomacy and Afterlife of Biafra in Nigeria
Authors: Ola Temitope P.
Published: September 2023

In the aftermath of the Nigerian civil war of 1967–1970, south-east Nigeria moved from scheming for global recognition of Biafra to agitating for a plebiscite that would determine whether the Igbos wish to remain a part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They have received varied degrees of international support in that regard. Using group theory to explain the diverse sectarian grievances within Nigeria, this paper locates the roles of international recognition and extra-Nigerian supports in the prodding and sustenance of the tempos of the agitations for a separate sovereign state of the Igbos out of Nigeria. The paper submits that with the covert and overt supports the separatists received from a cross-section of the global community they achieved the weakening of the ex-British colony, test the strengths and expose the inadequacies of Africa’s most populous country in remaining true to the sanctity of its inherited boundaries. The paper concludes that given the impacts of the struggles on the affected area, the south-east geopolitical zone of Nigeria needs to be made into a land of peace.
Africa-China Relations: A Case of Foreign Direct Investment and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Mining Sector
Authors: Mathebula Ndzalama C. , Sekgololo Mancha J.
Published: September 2023

Since independence, Foreign Direct Investment has been central to African Development and economic expansion. Herein, this paper traces the role and impact of the FDI in the mining sector of DRC. The analysis is based on the institutional FDI fitness theory coined by Saskia Wilhelm in 1998, which suggests that states with good governance, strong state institutions, and stable political capacity attract the most FDI in emerging economies. However, China’s mining investment in the DRC has refuted Wilhelm’s theory. As such, this research will analyze the role and impact of FDI in the mining sector of the DRC, with a focus on China’s mining investment and its impact on the country’s economic development. The institutional FDI fitness theory will serve as the conceptual framework for the research. Data collection will involve a thorough literature review and analysis of secondary data sources, such as academic journals, reports, and government documents. Furthermore, the mining profile, type of investment, and investment achievements will be assessed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. The data will be analyzed using content and thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes that emerge from the data. Overall, a qualitative case study approach will be appropriate for this research as it will allow for an in-depth analysis of the role and impact of FDI in the mining sector of the DRC. It will also provide insights into the complexities of the relationship between FDI, governance, and economic Development in Africa. One significant finding has conceded that government fitness does not necessarily attract investment. Instead, a weak state capacity and domestic policy create easy access to investment that does not align with the host country’s development. This finding has affirmed the argument that African countries should engage in trade rather than aid since aid has kept African economies in a circle of dependency.