bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Na ilha dos absolutos
Authors: Monte Kling Pedro
Published: July 2024

Partindo das contribuições do filósofo americano Stanley Cavell, um dos expoentes da film-philosophy, em especial de sua interpretação da epistemologia moderna, este artigo realiza uma leitura do longa-metragem de 1988 Iguana – A Fera do Mar, dirigido por Monte Hellman, interpretando seus diversos imaginários pela lente de uma crítica sobressalente ao sujeito moderno. Na primeira e introdutória seção, faz-se uma breve recapitulação das teses cavellianas acerca da teoria do conhecimento de tradição cartesiana, focadas na imagem do problema do ceticismo; na segunda, analisa-se o aspecto histórico da obra e a centralidade da ideia de alteridade no período da chegada dos europeus na América colonial; a terceira atenta para os protagonistas do filme e para suas diversas formas de perversões políticas e sexuais; na quarta e derradeira seção, o foco se volta para a relação entre Oberlus e Carmen no centro da história, encerrando a análise com apontamentos acerca das dinâmicas de gênero que atravessam Iguana e a modernidade como um todo.
Vals con Bashir:
Authors: De Freitas Resende Ana Cláudia
Published: July 2024

Este estudio tiene como objeto de análilis la película Vals con Bashir (Vals im Bashir, Israel / Francia / Alemania / EE.UU. / Finlandia / Suiza / Bélgica / Australia, 2008), del director Ari Folman. Es un documental autobiográfico, en formato de animación, que recuenta la historia de una guerra a través de la perspectiva de los oprimidos, presentando diferentes formas técnicas y narrativas audiovisuales, así como históricas, al relatar la Primera Guerra del Líbano (1982), ahora, según la perspectiva de los oprimidos, provocando la imaginación y nuevos puntos de vista de quienes lo experimentan. La creatividad reforzó el formato del documental animado, entonces incipiente, ampliando el espacio imaginativo como continuación de la obra.
El trabajo es el resultado de una serie de testimonios de ex combatientes de la Primera Guerra del Líbano, a través de una película fílmica, con una narrativa innovadora en el campo del Séptimo Arte. Vals con Bashir encuentra soluciones para los entrevistados que desean contribuir con sus declaraciones, sin aparecer en la película. Así, en carácter interdisciplinar, la metodología de la historia oral se aplicó al cine para reconstruir la historia de estos soldados, presentando una nueva versión de esta guerra. Para una comprensión más grande, este estudio también estableció una correlación con la identidad del narrador (Charaudeau), así como sobre la "narrativa de vida" como estrategia discursiva (Amossy, Arfuch, Machado, entre otros). Al final, fue posible reconstruir acontecimentos históricos y formatos cinematográficos, desencadenando una reflexión, tanto sobre las nuevas formas del documental, cambiando el punto de vista histórico sobre la Primera Guerra del Líbano, como sobre las consecuencias de la guerra en la vida de los sujetos biografiados.
A imaginação estilizada no cinema documentário de Werner Herzog
Authors: Frazão Jéssica
Published: July 2024

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar como o diretor alemão Werner Herzog utiliza a imaginação para compor sua mise-en-scène documentária, de forma a construir momentos de sublimidade em sua narrativa, denominados de Verdade Extática. Metodologicamente, aplica-se a análise fílmica da imagem e do som (cinematográfica) de Aumont e Marie (2004), utilizada nos documentários O Grande Êxtase do Entalhador Steiner (1974) e Gasherbrum – A montanha luminosa (1984). Em ambos os filmes, os protagonistas se engajam em esportes de aventura que destacam a importância do movimento físico, elemento significativo na narrativa herzoguiana. Desse debate, emergem formas imaginativas em Herzog com constante uso de ensaio, repetição e autorreflexão, características utilizadas para que seus personagens alcancem a Verdade Extática.
Entre ratos-humanos e humanos mascarados
Authors: Schrickte Liz
Published: July 2024

O artigo trará uma exposição do processo de criação do espetáculo Mordaz no intuito de disponibilizar uma visão da proposta estético-política do grupo teatral Pigmalião Escultura que Mexe e dos seus modos criativos para aguçar a imaginação e a reflexão de seu público. Caminhando pela descrição do querer (as intenções da dramaturgia) e do fazer (o transporte para a cena), o trabalho reconstrói o processo de criação da obra para entender suas motivações criativas e suas estratégias de construção de sentido que se catalisam com a leitura do espectador. Considerando que sua autora é integrante do grupo e atriz do espetáculo analisado, o artigo traz elementos de uma pesquisa participante, utilizando como instrumentos a observação e a análise documental, além das consultas bibliográficas.
Investigations of microbiota composition and neuroactive pathways in association with symptoms of stress and depression in a cohort of healthy women
Authors: Bashir Zahra , Hugerth Luisa W. , Krog Maria Christine , Prast-Nielsen Stefanie , Edfeldt Gabriella , Boulund Fredrik , Schacht Simon Rønnow , Tetens Inge , Engstrand Lars , Schuppe-Koistinen Ina , Fransson Emma , Nielsen Henriette Svarre
Published: July 2024

Background

Despite mounting evidence of gut-brain involvement in psychiatric conditions, functional data remain limited, and analyses of other microbial niches, such as the vaginal microbiota, are lacking in relation to mental health. This aim of this study was to investigate if the connections between the gut microbiome and mental health observed in populations with a clinical diagnosis of mental illness extend to healthy women experiencing stress and depressive symptoms. Additionally, this study examined the functional pathways of the gut microbiota according to the levels of psychological symptoms. Furthermore, the study aimed to explore potential correlations between the vaginal microbiome and mental health parameters in young women without psychiatric diagnoses.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 160 healthy Danish women (aged 18-40 years) filled out questionnaires with validated scales measuring symptoms of stress and depression and frequency of dietary intake. Fecal and vaginal microbiota samples were collected at the beginning of the menstrual cycle and vaginal samples were also collected at cycle day 8-12 and 18-22. Shotgun metagenomic profiling of the gut and vaginal microbiome was performed. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) was used for functional profiling and 56 Gut Brain Modules were analyzed in the fecal samples.

Results

The relative abundance in the gut of the genera Escherichia, Parabacteroides, and Shigella was higher in women with elevated depressive symptoms. Women with high perceived stress showed a tendency of increased abundance of Escherichia, Shigella, and Blautia. Amongst others, the potentially pathogenic genera, Escherichia and Shigella correlate with alterations in the neuroactive pathways such as the glutamatergic, GABAeric, dopaminergic, and Kynurenine pathways. Vaginosis symptoms were more prevalent in women reporting high levels of stress and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

The findings of this study support the concept of a microbiota-associated effect on the neuroactive pathways even in healthy young women. This suggest, that targeting the gut microbiome could be a promising approach for future psychiatric interventions.
Adorable interactions: investigating the influence of AI voice assistant cuteness on consumer usage intentions
Authors: Yu Xintao , Liu Xiaochen , Xu Zhen
Published: July 2024

In an era where user experience reigns supreme, an unexpected element is subtly influencing our interactions with technology— “Cuteness.” However, when discussing the design of digital products such as AIVAs, is cuteness merely a matter of appearance? This paper aims to unveil the complex psychological mechanisms and their impact on usage intention hidden behind the seemingly harmless allure of cuteness. Through an experimental study involving 284 participants and utilizing a moderated serial mediation model via PLS-SEM, this research reveals how aesthetic design differences influence usage intentions. The findings disclose three key insights: (1) A positive relationship between cuteness and usage intention is confirmed; (2) Social presence, performance expectancy and customer value act as serial mediations between cuteness and usage intention; (3) Perceived risk moderates the impact of cuteness on usage intentions by influencing social presence, performance expectancy, hedonic value and functional value. This contributes theoretical insights and practical guidance for the sustainable development and success of AIVAs.
Unveiling suspicious phishing attacks: enhancing detection with an optimal feature vectorization algorithm and supervised machine learning
Authors: Tamal Maruf A. , Islam Md K. , Bhuiyan Touhid , Sattar Abdus , Prince Nayem Uddin
Published: July 2024

Introduction

The dynamic and sophisticated nature of phishing attacks, coupled with the relatively weak anti-phishing tools, has made phishing detection a pressing challenge. In light of this, new gaps have emerged in phishing detection, including the challenges and pitfalls of existing phishing detection techniques. To bridge these gaps, this study aims to develop a more robust, effective, sophisticated, and reliable solution for phishing detection through the optimal feature vectorization algorithm (OFVA) and supervised machine learning (SML) classifiers.

Methods

Initially, the OFVA was utilized to extract the 41 optimal intra-URL features from a novel large dataset comprising 2,74,446 raw URLs (134,500 phishing and 139,946 legitimate URLs). Subsequently, data cleansing, curation, and dimensionality reduction were performed to remove outliers, handle missing values, and exclude less predictive features. To identify the optimal model, the study evaluated and compared 15 SML algorithms arising from different machine learning (ML) families, including Bayesian, nearest-neighbors, decision trees, neural networks, quadratic discriminant analysis, logistic regression, bagging, boosting, random forests, and ensembles. The evaluation was performed based on various metrics such as confusion matrix, accuracy, precision, recall, F-1 score, ROC curve, and precision-recall curve analysis. Furthermore, hyperparameter tuning (using Grid-search) and k-fold cross-validation were performed to optimize the detection accuracy.

Results and discussion

The findings indicate that random forests (RF) outperformed the other classifiers, achieving a greater accuracy rate of 97.52%, followed by 97.50% precision, and an AUC value of 97%. Finally, a more robust and lightweight anti-phishing model was introduced, which can serve as an effective tool for security experts, practitioners, and policymakers to combat phishing attacks.
Admission prioritization of heart failure patients with multiple comorbidities
Authors: Awasthy Rahul , Malhotra Meetu , Seavers Michael L. , Newman Mark
Published: July 2024

The primary objective of this study was to enhance the operational efficiency of the current healthcare system by proposing a quicker and more effective approach for healthcare providers to deliver services to individuals facing acute heart failure (HF) and concurrent medical conditions. The aim was to support healthcare staff in providing urgent services more efficiently by developing an automated decision-support Patient Prioritization (PP) Tool that utilizes a tailored machine learning (ML) model to prioritize HF patients with chronic heart conditions and concurrent comorbidities during Urgent Care Unit admission. The study applies key ML models to the PhysioNet dataset, encompassing hospital admissions and mortality records of heart failure patients at Zigong Fourth People's Hospital in Sichuan, China, between 2016 and 2019. In addition, the model outcomes for the PhysioNet dataset are compared with the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Maryland (MD) State Inpatient Data (SID) for 2014, a secondary dataset containing heart failure patients, to assess the generalizability of results across diverse healthcare settings and patient demographics. The ML models in this project demonstrate efficiencies surpassing 97.8% and specificities exceeding 95% in identifying HF patients at a higher risk and ranking them based on their mortality risk level. Utilizing this machine learning for the PP approach underscores risk assessment, supporting healthcare professionals in managing HF patients more effectively and allocating resources to those in immediate need, whether in hospital or telehealth settings.
Quality evaluation of surrounding rocks in a mine shaft based on the game gray target model
Authors: Guo Li-Ping , Gu Xin-Bao
Published: July 2024

Accurate evaluation of surrounding rock quality grade can help guarantee the safety of tunnel design and construction; hence, it has great significance in the construction of mine shafts. Accordingly, the uniaxial saturated compressive strength of the rock block Rc, rock quality index RQD, rock softening coefficient kR, integrity coefficient of the rock mass kv, depth H, unit weight of the rock mass γ, coefficient of quantification of the angle between the principal structural plane and shaft axis k2, and weight of the groundwater k1 are first selected as the indexes of assessment to introduce the game gray target model. Then, the gray target model of the surrounding rocks in a mine shaft project is established. The weight coefficient of each index is next calculated using the combination weighting method based on game theory, and the synthetic target center distance of each sample is determined using the gray target model. Finally, the quality level of the asphalt pavement is determined. The suggested model can be used to mine a small data sample to the maximum extent possible, thereby minimizing the information shortage caused by the small sample to a certain extent, to evaluate the final quality grade of the surrounding rocks quantitatively. Thus, the proposed approach provides a new scheme for the future quality assessments of surrounding rocks.
Stuffing the refugee education pipeline: the integration process and the exclusion of refugees from knowledge production in a Western destination country
Authors: Abamosa Juhar Yasin
Published: July 2024

The number of forcibly displaced people, including refugees, has been increasing exponentially over the last few decades. Refugees settled in Western destination countries face several challenges in successfully accessing and participating in higher education and in becoming knowledge producers. This is in sharp contrast to uncritical assumptions that refugees settled in these countries are better off in terms of pursing higher education. To shed more light on this issue, I aim to address the research question ‘How does the integration process in a Western destination country contribute to the exclusion of refugees from knowledge production?’ The article uses an education pipeline analogy and human agency theory as the theoretical framework. I conduct narrative interviews with six refugees who planned to pursue higher education but could not realize their plans in Norway. The findings indicate that the refugee education pipeline is broken and stuffed with various restrictive factors that weaken the refugees’ agency to make informed decisions. These factors included a long waiting time for settlement, withholding relevant information about higher education, demotivating and misplaced advice about higher education and language training programmes for non-academic purposes. The article ends with a conclusion and several implications.
Governance and duty in global refugee education: a Kantian perspective
Authors: Storen Inga C.
Published: July 2024

The broad adoption of the human-rights based approach to refugee education has not only accentuated the link between education provision and the realization of human rights; it has re-framed refugees as right-bearers. This conceptual shift from ‘refugee as victim’ to ‘refugee as right-bearer’ carries with it immense implications also for the way we think of the duty-bearers of refugee education. Once we re-conceptualize refugees as right-bearers, we acknowledge, too, the primacy of duty-bearers and ‘global moral obligations’. In this article, I first consider the history of global governance of refugee education, dating back to the ratification of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. In tracing the shifting role of stakeholders in refugee education, I note, in particular, how the burden of responsibility of education policy and provision has oscillated between local host communities and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Next, I look at how rights and responsibilities are conceptualized in forced displacement context, that is, in the absence of a nation-state—traditionally considered the primary duty-bearer of human rights. Finally, I turn to Kant’s duty-based ethics, and suggest a Kantian perspective can help expand our understanding of duties and duty-bearers in global refugee education.
Central lymph node ratio is an important recurrence prognostic factor for pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer
Authors: Qiu Caixin , Wu Shipeng , Li Jiehua
Published: July 2024

Background

The current risk stratification methods for Pediatric Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma (DTC) are deemed inadequate due to the high recurrence rates observed in this demographic. This study investigates alternative clinicopathological factors, specifically the Central Lymph Node Ratio (CLNR), for improved risk stratification in pediatric DTC.

Methods

A retrospective review of 100 pediatric DTC patients, aged 19 or younger, treated between December 2012 and January 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University was conducted. Clinicopathological variables were extracted, and univariate logistic regression identified factors correlated with recurrence. Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analysis and subsequent statistical tests were used to assess the significance of these factors.

Results

The CLNR, with a cutoff value of 77.78%, emerged as a significant predictor of recurrence. Patients with a CLNR above this threshold had a 5.467 times higher risk of recurrence. The high CLNR group showed a higher proportion of male patients, clinically lymph node positivity (cN1), and extrathyroidal extension (ETE) compared to the low-risk group (p<0.05).

Conclusion

CLNR is a valuable predictor for recurrence in pediatric DTC and aids in stratifying patients based on Recurrence-Free Survival (RFS). For patients with a high CLNR, aggressive iodine-131 therapy, stringent TSH suppression, and proactive postoperative surveillance are recommended to mitigate recurrence risk and facilitate timely detection of recurrent lesions.
Pathogenic relationship between phenotypes of ARPKD and novel compound heterozygous mutations of PKHD1
Authors: Zhang Xinrong , Wu Jiebin , Zhou Jianteng , Liang Jie , Han Yu , Qi Yunmeng , Zhu Tao , Yuan Dejian , Zhu Zuobin , Zhai Jingfang
Published: July 2024

Background

To investigate whether the novel mutation of PKHD1 could cause polycystic kidney disease by affecting splicing with a recessive inheritance pattern.

Methods

A nonconsanguineous Chinese couple with two recurrent pregnancies showed fetal enlarged echogenic polycystic kidney and oligoamnios were recruited. Pedigree WES, minigene splicing assay experiment and following bioinformatics analysis were performed to verify the effects, and inheritance pattern of diseasing-causing mutations.

Results

WES revealed that both fetuses were identified as carrying the same novel mutation c.3592_3628 + 45del, p.? and c.11207 T>C, p.(Ile3736Thr) in the PKHD1 gene (NM_138694.4), which inherited from the father and mother respectively. Both bioinformatic method prediction and minigene splicing assay experience results supported the mutation c.3592_3628 + 45del, p.? affects the splicing of the PKHD1 transcript, resulting in exon 31 skipping. Another missense mutation c.11207 T>C, p.(Ile3736Thr) has a low frequency in populations and is predicted to be deleterious by bioinformatic methods.

Conclusion

These findings provide a direct clinical and functional evidence that the truncating mutations of the PKHD1 gene could lead to more severe phenotypes, and cause ARPKD as a homozygous or compound heterozygous pattern. Our study broadens the variant spectrum of the PKHD1 gene and provides a basis for genetic counseling and diagnosis of ARPKD.
Common animals: sedentary pastoralism and the emergence of the commons as an institution
Authors: Kanne Katherine , Haughton Mark , Lash Ryan
Published: July 2024

Animal husbandry was of fundamental consequence in the planning and development of larger and more permanent communities. Pastoralism is often assumed to be highly mobile when considering social institutions and political formations, despite the diversity of husbandry practices that are either wholly, or largely, tethered to relatively sedentary social aggregations. Key tenets of more settled animal husbandry are intensive social relations between people, and between people, animals, and landscapes. This entails reciprocal, multispecies cooperative efforts to decide how to utilize pastoral resources, choose where to settle, and how to organize settlements with an eye for the animals. Yet, scholars have rarely considered how the logistics and social dynamics of pastoralism shaped the transition to sedentism and, particularly, the development of collective forms of governance in prehistory. In this paper, we re-center pastoralism in narratives of settling down, in order to recognize the critical ways that relations with animals shaped how humans learned to move and dwell in emergent grazing landscapes. We take an institutional approach to the concept of “the commons,” demonstrating the dynamics through 19th-century Irish rundale, then draw on case studies from Southern Scandinavia and the Carpathian Basin to consider the commons as a multispecies institution which resulted in variable sociopolitical formations of the European Bronze Age.
Advancing non-small cell lung cancer treatment: the power of combination immunotherapies
Authors: Wu Yuanlin , Yu Guangmao , Jin Ketao , Qian Jun
Published: July 2024

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains an unsolved challenge in oncology, signifying a substantial global health burden. While considerable progress has been made in recent years through the emergence of immunotherapy modalities, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), monotherapies often yield limited clinical outcomes. The rationale behind combining various immunotherapeutic or other anticancer agents, the mechanistic underpinnings, and the clinical evidence supporting their utilization is crucial in NSCLC therapy. Regarding the synergistic potential of combination immunotherapies, this study aims to provide insights to help the landscape of NSCLC treatment and improve clinical outcomes. In addition, this review article discusses the challenges and considerations of combination regimens, including toxicity management and patient selection.
Modulation of metabolic and immunoregulatory pathways in the gut transcriptome of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) after early nutritional programming during first feeding with plant-based diet
Authors: Tawfik Marwa Mamdouh , Betancor Mónica B. , McMillan Stuart , Norambuena Fernando , Tocher Douglas R. , Douglas Alex , Martin Samuel A. M.
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Plant-based nutritional programming is the concept of exposing fish at very early life stages to a plant-based diet for a short duration to improve physiological responses when exposed to a similar plant-rich diet at a later developmental stage. The mechanisms of action underlying nutritional programming have not been fully deciphered, and the responses may be controlled at multiple levels.

Methods

This 22-week study examines gut transcriptional changes after nutritional programming. Triplicate groups of Atlantic salmon were fed with a plant (V) vs. a marine-rich (M, control) diet for 2 weeks (stimulus phase) at the first exogenous feeding. Both stimulus fish groups (M and V fish) were then fed the M diet for 12 weeks (intermediate phase) and lastly fed the V diet (challenge phase) for 6 weeks, generating two dietary regimes (MMV and VMV) across phases. This study used a whole-transcriptome approach to analyse the effects of the V diet at the end of stimulus (short-term effects) and 22 weeks post-first feeding (long-term effects). After the stimulus, due to its developmental stage, the whole intestine was used, whereas, after the challenge, pyloric caeca and middle and distal intestines were examined.

Results and discussion

At the stimulus end, genes with increased expression in V fish enriched pathways including regulatory epigenetic responses and lipid metabolism, and genes involved in innate immune response were downregulated. In the middle intestine at the end of the challenge, expression levels of genes of lipid, carbohydrate, and energy metabolism were increased in V fish, while M fish revealed increased expression of genes associated with autoimmune and acute adaptive immune response. The distal intestine of V fish showed increased expression of genes associated with immune response and potential immune tolerance. Conversely, the distal intestine of M fish at challenge revealed upregulation of lipid and carbohydrate metabolic pathways, tissue degeneration, and apoptotic responses. The present study demonstrated nutritional programming-associated changes in the intestinal transcriptome, with altered expression of genes involved in both immune responses and different metabolic processes. While there were limited changes in growth between the groups, the results show that there were transcriptional differences, suggesting a programming response, although the mechanism of this response still requires to be fully elucidated.
A new transcriptome resource for Cellaria immersa (Phylum: Bryozoa) reveals candidate genes and proteins related to biomineralization
Authors: Achilleos Katerina , Smith Abigail M. , Kenny Nathan J. , Brown Chris M.
Published: July 2024

One of the most salient features of marine bryozoans is their well-calcified skeleton, and many species in this phylum are important reef-builders. To date, the molecular machinery responsible for skeletal formation in these key animals remains unknown. In this study we performed de novo transcriptome assembly from RNA from Cellaria immersa colonies collected in New Zealand, the first from the family Cellariidae. The assembly resulted in a set of 125,750 transcripts and was estimated to be 97.2% complete when compared to BUSCO core gene sets. A function was predicted for 61,442 (48.8%) of the translated proteins, using similarity searches against a range of databases using BLAST and InterProScan. Cellaria species form erect, heavily calcified arborescent colonies, which when abundant can create micro-forests or meadows on the ocean floor. RNA was extracted separately from younger distal and older proximal parts of the colonies, aiming to identify the key genes involved in biomineralization as the young zooids (at the distal growth margin) of the colony are more likely to be actively growing and calcifying compared to the old zooids of the proximal parts of the colony. Differential expression analysis was carried out to identify differential expression between the distal and proximal parts of the colonies. This showed that 506 (2.2%) of the transcripts were expressed more highly in the young zooids and 4,676 (20.4%) were expressed more highly in the old zooids. Over 50 protein families were identified as candidates involved in biomineralization in C. immersa based on the functional annotation, their expression pattern and literature. Transcripts encoding 24 such protein families were more highly expressed in the young zooids. This is the first such study on a heavily calcified species from the phylum Bryozoa, increasing the amount of ‘omics’ data available for C. immersa and the phylum. These data provide a resource for current and future studies of heavily calcified bryozoans, shedding a light on the biomineralization process in this phylum.
The anterior sylvian point as a reliable landmark for the anterior temporal lobectomy in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: technical note, case series, and cadaveric dissection
Authors: Fava Arianna , Lisi Serena Vittoria , Mauro Luigi , Morace Roberta , Ciavarro Marco , Gorgoglione Nicola , Petrella Giandomenico , Quarato Pier Paolo , Di Gennaro Giancarlo , di Russo Paolo , Esposito Vincenzo
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is one of the most prevalent forms of focal epilepsy in surgical series, particularly among adults. Over the decades, different surgical strategies have been developed to address drug-resistant epilepsy while safeguarding neurological and cognitive functions. Among these strategies, anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL), involving the removal of the temporal pole and mesial temporal structures, has emerged as a widely employed technique. Numerous modifications have been proposed to mitigate the risks associated with aphasia, cognitive issues, and visual field defects.

Methods

Our approach is elucidated through intraoperative and cadaveric dissections, complemented by neuroradiological and cadaveric measurements of key anatomical landmarks. A retrospective analysis of patients with drug-resistant MTLE who were treated using our ATL technique at IRCCS Neuromed (Pozzilli) is presented.

Results

A total of 385 patients were treated with our ATL subpial technique anatomically focused on the anterior Sylvian point (ASyP). The mean FU was 9.9 ± 5.4 years (range 1–24). In total, 84%of patients were free of seizures during the last follow-up, with no permanent neurological deficits. Transient defects were as follows: aphasia in 3% of patients, visual field defects in 2% of patients, hemiparesis in 2% of patients, and cognitive/memory impairments in 0.8% of patients. In cadaveric dissections, the ASyP was found at a mean distance from the temporal pole of 3.4 ± 0.2 cm (range 3–3.8) at the right side and 3.5 ± 0.2 cm (3.2–3.9) at the left side. In neuroimaging, the ASyP resulted anterior to the temporal horn tip in all cases at a mean distance of 3.2 ± 0.3 mm (range 2.7–3.6) at the right side and 3.5 ± 0.4 mm (range 2.8–3.8) at the left side.

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, this study first introduces the ASyP as a reliable and reproducible cortical landmark to perform the ATL to overcome the patients’ variabilities, the risk of Meyer’s loop injury, and the bias of intraoperative measurements. Our findings demonstrate that ASyP can be a safe cortical landmark that is useful in MTLE surgery because it is constantly present and is anterior to risky temporal regions such as temporal horn and language networks.
The different effects of molybdate on Hg(II) bio-methylation in aerobic and anaerobic bacteria
Authors: Wang Lanjing , Liu Hang , Wang Feng , Wang Yongmin , Xiang Yuping , Chen Yongyi , Wang Jiwu , Wang Dingyong , Shen Hong
Published: July 2024

In nature, methylmercury (MeHg) is primarily generated through microbial metabolism, and the ability of bacteria to methylate Hg(II) depends on both bacterial properties and environmental factors. It is widely known that, as a metabolic analog, molybdate can inhibit the sulfate reduction process and affect the growth and methylation of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). However, after it enters the cell, molybdate can be involved in various intracellular metabolic pathways as a molybdenum cofactor; whether fluctuations in its concentration affect the growth and methylation of aerobic mercury methylating strains remains unknown. To address this gap, aerobic γ-Proteobacteria strains Raoultella terrigena TGRB3 (B3) and Pseudomonas putida TGRB4 (B4), as well as an obligate anaerobic δ-Proteobacteria strain of the SRB Desulfomicrobium escambiense CGMCC 1.3481 (DE), were used as experimental strains. The growth and methylation ability of each strain were analyzed under conditions of 500 ng·L−1 Hg(II), 0 and 21% of oxygen, and 0, 0.25, 0.50, and 1 mM of MoO42−. In addition, in order to explore the metabolic specificity of aerobic strains, transcriptomic data of the facultative mercury-methylated strain B3 were further analyzed in an aerobic mercuric environment. The results indicated that: (a) molybdate significantly inhibited the growth of DE, while B3 and B4 exhibited normal growth. (b) Under anaerobic conditions, in DE, the MeHg content decreased significantly with increasing molybdate concentration, while in B3, MeHg production was unaffected. Furthermore, under aerobic conditions, the MeHg productions of B3 and B4 were not influenced by the molybdate concentration. (c) The transcriptomic analysis showed several genes that were annotated as members of the molybdenum oxidoreductase family of B3 and that exhibited significant differential expression. These findings suggest that the differential expression of molybdenum-binding proteins might be related to their involvement in energy metabolism pathways that utilize nitrate and dimethyl sulfoxide as electron acceptors. Aerobic bacteria, such as B3 and B4, might possess distinct Hg(II) biotransformation pathways from anaerobic SRB, rendering their growth and biomethylation abilities unaffected by molybdate.
Photodynamic inactivation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in whole blood using riboflavin photodynamic method
Authors: Zhu Liguo , Li Changqing , Wang Deqing
Published: July 2024

Treating bacteremia caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a global concern. Antibacterial photodynamic inactivation is a promising strategy to combat it. However, it’s challenging to achieve the inactivation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in whole blood because of its opacity and complexity. We investigated a riboflavin photodynamic method to effectively inactivate antibiotic-resistant bacteria in whole blood. Four strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria were isolated, identified, and cultured in this research: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), pan-drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (PDRAB), ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli (EPEC) and pan-drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (PDRKP). To simulate bacteremia, antibiotic-resistant bacteria was added into whole blood. Whole blood was treated using riboflavin photodynamic method with ultraviolet irradiation (308 nm and 365 nm). The ultraviolet irradiation dose was divided into 18 J/cm2, 36 J/cm2, and 54 J/cm2. Microbial count of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in whole blood was used for evaluating inactivation effectiveness. The roles of red blood cells, lymphocytes, coagulation factors, and platelets in whole blood were assessed. In results, inactivation effectiveness increased as the ultraviolet dose increased from 18 J/cm2 to 54 J/cm2. At the dose of 18 J/cm2, inactivation effectiveness of four antibiotic-resistant bacteria were more than 80%, while only 67% of MRSA. The antibacterial effect was enhanced by the combination of riboflavin photodynamic treatment and antibiotic. The red blood cell function was susceptible to ultraviolet dose. At the dose of 18 J/cm2, hemolysis rate was less than 0.8% and there was no change in levels of ATP and 2,3-DPG. At the same dose, the proliferation, cell killing, and cytokine secretion activities of lymphocytes decreased 20–70%; Factor V and Factor VIII activities decreased 50%; Fibrinogen and platelet function loss significantly but reparable. Consequently, we speculated that riboflavin photodynamic method with a ultraviolet dose of 18 J/cm2 was effective in inactivating four antibiotic-resistant bacteria in whole blood while whole blood function was preserved. We also provided a novel extracorporeal circulation phototherapy mode for treating bacteremia caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Skeletal muscle feature of different populations in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea): from an epigenetic point of view
Authors: Xie Shangwei , Jiang Lihua , Song Weihua , Zheng Jialang , Liu Yifan , Chen Shun , Yan Xiaojun
Published: July 2024

Fish skeletal muscle is composed of well-defined fiber types. In order to identify potential candidate genes affecting muscle growth and development under epigenetic regulation. Bisulfite sequencing was utilized to analyze and compare the muscle DNA methylation profiles of Larimichthys crocea inhabiting different environments. The results revealed that DNA methylation in L. crocea was predominantly CG methylation, with 2,396 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) identified through comparisons among different populations. The largest difference in methylation was observed between the ZhouShan and JinMen wild populations, suggesting that L. crocea may have undergone selection and domestication. Additionally, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of differentially methylated genes (DMGs) revealed 626 enriched GO functional categories, including various muscle-related genes such as myh10, myf5, myf6, ndufv1, klhl31, map3k4, syn2b, sostdc1a, bag4, and hsp90ab. However, significant enrichment in KEGG pathways was observed only in the JinMen and XiangShan populations of L. crocea. Therefore, this study provides a theoretical foundation for a better understanding of the epigenetic regulation of skeletal muscle growth and development in L. crocea under different environmental conditions.
Causal association between circulating inflammatory markers and sciatica development: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wu Yang , Lin Yi , Zhang Mengpei , He Ke , Tian Guihua
Published: July 2024

Background

This research explores the causal association between circulating inflammatory markers and the development of sciatica, a common and debilitating condition. While previous studies have indicated that inflammation may be a factor in sciatica, but a thorough genetic investigation to determine a cause-and-effect relationship has not yet been carried out. Gaining insight into these interactions may uncover novel treatment targets.

Methods

We utilized data from the OpenGWAS database, incorporating a large European cohort of 484,598 individuals, including 4,549 sciatica patients. Our study focused on 91 distinct circulating inflammatory markers. Genetic variations were employed as instrumental variables (IVs) for these markers. The analysis was conducted using inverse variance weighting (IVW) as the primary method, supplemented by weighted median-based estimation. Validation of the findings was conducted by sensitivity studies, utilizing the R software for statistical computations.

Results

The analysis revealed that 52 out of the 91 inflammatory markers studied showed a significant causal association with the risk of developing sciatica. Key markers like CCL2, monocyte chemotactic protein-4, and protein S100-A12 demonstrated a positive correlation. In addition, there was no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy in these results. Interestingly, a reverse Mendelian randomization analysis also indicated potential causative effects of sciatica on certain inflammatory markers, notably Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligands.

Discussion

The study provides robust evidence linking specific circulating inflammatory markers with the risk of sciatica, highlighting the role of inflammation in its pathogenesis. These findings could inform future research into targeted treatments and enhance our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying sciatica.
Association between glioma and neurodegenerative diseases risk: a two-sample bi-directional Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Liu Yang , Chen Youqi , Gao Ming , Luo Jia , Wang Yanan , Wang Yihan , Gao Yu , Yang Laiyu , Wang Jingning , Wang Ningxin
Published: July 2024

Background

Earlier observational studies have demonstrated a correlation between glioma and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), but the causality and direction of their associations remain unclear. The objective of this study was to ascertain the causal link between glioma and NDs using Mendelian randomization (MR) methodology.

Methods

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data were used in a two-sample bi-directional MR analysis. From the largest meta-analysis GWAS, encompassing 18,169 controls and 12,488 cases, summary statistics data on gliomas was extracted. Summarized statistics for NDs, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) were obtained from the GWAS of European ancestry. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was elected as the core MR approach with weighted median (WM) method and MR-Egger method as complementary methods. In addition, sensitivity analyses were performed. A Bonferroni correction was used to correct the results.

Results

Genetically predicted glioma had been related to decreased risk of AD. Specifically, for all glioma (IVW: OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.90–0.96, p = 4.88 × 10−6) and glioblastoma (GBM) (IVW: OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.91–0.95, p = 5.11 × 10−9). We also found that genetically predicted all glioma has a suggestive causative association with MS (IVW: OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.81–1.00, p = 0.045). There was no evidence of causal association between glioma and ALS or PD. According to the results of reverse MR analysis, no discernible causal connection of NDs was found on glioma. Sensitivity analyses validated the robustness of the above associations.

Conclusion

We report evidence in support of potential causal associations of different glioma subtypes with AD and MS. More studies are required to uncover the underlying mechanisms of these findings.
Biopsy samples from patients with irritable bowel syndrome, but not from those with mastocytosis or unspecific gastrointestinal complaints reveal unique nerve activation in all gut regions independent of mast cell density, histamine content or specific gastrointestinal symptoms
Authors: Vignali Sheila , Buhner Sabine , Greiter Wolfgang , Daniel Hannelore , Frieling Thomas , Schemann Michael , Annahazi Anita
Published: July 2024

Introduction

We previously showed enteric nerve activation after application of colonic mucosal biopsy supernatants from patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The question remains whether this is a region-specific or a generalized sensitization. We tested the nerve-activating properties of supernatants from large and small intestinal regions of IBS patients with diarrhea (IBS-D) in comparison to those from mastocytosis patients with diarrhea (MC-D) or non-IBS/non-MC patients with GI-complaints. MC-D patients were included to test samples from patients with an established, severe mast cell disorder, because mast cells are suggested to play a role in IBS.

Methods

Voltage-sensitive dye imaging was used to record the effects of mucosal biopsy supernatants from IBS-D, MC-D, and non-IBS/non-MC on guinea pig submucous neurons. Mast cell density and histamine concentrations were measured in all samples.

Results

The median neuroindex (spike frequency × % responding neurons in Hz × %) was significantly (all p < 0.001) increased for IBS-D (duodenum and colon, proximal and distal each, 49.3; 50.5; 63.7; 71.9, respectively) compared to non-IBS/non-MC (duodenum and colon, proximal and distal each, 8.7; 4.9; 6.9; 5.4, respectively) or MC-D supernatants (duodenum and colon, proximal and distal each, 9.4; 11.9; 0.0; 7.9, respectively). Nerve activation by MC-D and non-IBS/non-MC supernatants was comparable (p>0.05). Mast cell density or histamine concentrations were not different between IBS-D, MC-D, and non-IBS/non-MC samples.

Discussion

Nerve activation by biopsy supernatants is an IBS hallmark that occurs throughout the gut, unrelated to mast cell density or histamine concentration. At least as important is our finding that GI complaints per se were not associated with biopsy supernatant-induced nerve activation, which further stresses the relevance of altered nerve behavior in IBS.
Modification of eating habits and lifestyle during COVID-19 in university students from Mexico and Peru
Authors: Arispe-Alburqueque Claudia Milagros , Díaz del Olmo-Morey Fernando Luis , Arellano Sacramento César , Sánchez-Mendoza Benjamín Dario , López-González Martha Patricia , Yangali-Vicente Judith Soledad , Ipanaqué-Zapata Miguel , Alvarez-Risco Aldo , Del-Aguila-Arcentales Shyla , Yáñez Jaime A. , Alvarado-Santiago Tania Ivette , Morales-Martínez Marx Engels
Published: July 2024

Objective

It was to evaluate changes in lifestyle habits and health behavior among university students in Peru and Mexico during periods of confinement associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify possible relationships between these changes and sociodemographic variables, health status, and technology consumption.

Methods

It was a quantitative, observational, and cross-sectional study conducted among a population of 739 Mexican students and 305 Peruvian students, most of whom were women (n =778, 74.5%) and non-graduates (n =921, 88.2%). The questionnaire scale for changes in lifestyles during the quarantine period has been previously validated.

Results

The association between sociodemographic factors and dimensions of change in healthy lifestyles was evaluated, and it was shown that gender and country of residence were significant for all dimensions of healthy lifestyle (p  < 0.05), except for the level of education, which did not show significance about the change in the dimensions of media consumption (p = 0.875) and physical activity (p = 0.239). Within the dimensions mentioned, it can be stated that women are more likely than men to change their eating habits (adjusted prevalences (aPR) = 1.08, p  < 0.001), media consumption (aPR = 1.04, p  < 0.001), and physical activity (aPR = 1.02, p  < 0.001). Meanwhile, participants from Peru are more likely than participants from Mexico to change physical activity (aPR = 1.14, p  < 0.001) and media consumption (aPR = 1.22, p  < 0.001). Finally, graduate students were more likely than undergraduate students to change eating habits (aPR = 1.09, p  = 0.005) and unhealthy habits (aPR = 1.06, p  = 0.030).

Conclusion

It was concluded that there were lifestyle changes in Mexican and Peruvian university students in their eating habits, physical activity, internet consumption, and food delivery.
Obesity in childhood: associations with parental neglect, nutritional habits, and obesity awareness
Authors: Onay Tuba , Beyazıt Utku , Uçar Aslı , Bütün Ayhan Aynur
Published: July 2024

Background

The relationships underlying the dynamic between obesity and parental neglect in terms of nutritional habits and obesity awareness are unclear. Parental neglect remains a significant subject of concern that needs to be examined in the context of obesity.

Methods

The aim was to examine the relationships between childhood obesity, parental neglect, children’s eating habits and obesity. The study group consisted of 404 children and their parents from Ankara, Turkiye. As data collection tools, an Individual Information Form, Obesity Awareness Scale, the Parents Form of the Multidimensional Neglectful Behaviors Scale were administered. In addition, information on the children’s body mass indexes was obtained by anthropometric measurements and the findings were recorded on the questionnaires of each child.

Results

It was found that 98 (24.3%) of the children included in the study were overweight and 63 (15.6%) were obese. The results of the multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated that in the underweight and overweight group, the parents’ perception of their child’s weight predicted body mass index in children, and in the obese group, along with the parents’ perception of their child’s weight, the age and gender of the child, eating fast, obesity in the family and parental neglect were also predictors.

Conclusion

Practitioners such as nurses, dietitians and child developmentalists working in schools should consider weight problems in children as one of the indicators of parental neglect and should implement interventive efforts to enhance parental supervision of children at risk.