bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neighbourhood walkability is associated with risk of gestational diabetes: A cross‐sectional study in New York City
Authors: Rundle Andrew G. , Kinsey Eliza W. , Widen Elizabeth M. , Quinn James W. , Huynh Mary , Lovasi Gina S. , Neckerman Kathryn M. , Van Wye Gretchen
Published: January 2023

Background

Despite the links between neighbourhood walkability and physical activity, body size and risk of diabetes, there are few studies of neighbourhood walkability and risk of gestational diabetes (GD).

Objectives

Assess whether higher neighbourhood walkability is associated with lower risk of GD in New York City (NYC).

Methods

Cross‐sectional analyses of a neighbourhood walkability index (NWI) score and density of walkable destinations (DWD) and risk of GD in 109,863 births recorded in NYC in 2015. NWI and DWD were measured for the land area of 1 km radius circles around the geographic centroid of each Census block of residence. Mixed generalised linear models, with robust standard error estimation and random intercepts for NYC Community Districts, were used to estimate risk ratios for GD for increasing quartiles of each of the neighbourhood walkability measures after adjustment for the pregnant individual's age, race and ethnicity, parity, education, nativity, and marital status and the neighbourhood poverty rate.

Results

Overall, 7.5% of pregnant individuals experienced GD. Risk of GD decreased across increasing quartiles of NWI, with an adjusted risk ratio of 0.81 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.75, 0.87) comparing those living in areas in the 4th quartile of NWI to those in the first quartile. Similarly, for comparisons of the 4th to 1st quartile of DWD, the adjusted risk ratio for GD was 0.77 (95% CI 0.71, 0.84).

Conclusions

These analyses find support for the hypothesis that higher neighbourhood walkability is associated with a lower risk of GD. The analyses provide further health related support for urban design policies to increase walkability.
Explosion Differentiation Using Light Emissions—Nuclear Reactor, Steam, Water Hammer, Hydrogen, Piper Alpha, and Hydro-Volcanic Explosions
Authors: Leishear Robert A.
Published: January 2023

Light emissions during chemical reactions provide insights into various scenarios to better understand explosions and water hammers. For example, hydrogen burning and explosions emit blue light, organic carbon combustion and explosions emit combinations of blue and yellow light, water phase changes emit infrared and less visible white light, and white light explosions ignite when multiple chemical reactions are involved. Since experimental tests to observe infrared light during water hammers have not yet been performed, test data from water boiling tests and volcanoes are compared to larger water hammer and steam explosion incidents. Considering these facts and examining a series of photos and videos from the literature and Internet, determinations are proven with respect to water hammers, steam explosions, Piper Alpha water hammer explosions, and chemical explosions. Such evidence proves that steam explosions are important for water hammer accidents, but chemical explosions explain other explosions that have long been considered to be steam explosions. These other explosions include nuclear power plant explosions, hydro-volcanic explosions, and hydrogen explosions, where some of these explosions are, in fact, related to water hammers. This article is primarily a photographic essay to explain the differences between different types of explosions and water hammers, although combustion and explosion principles are expanded and explained to support this essay.
Influence of Interpolation Scheme on the Accuracy of Overset Method for Computing Rudder-Propeller Interaction
Authors: Lemaire Sébastien , Vaz Guilherme , van Rijswijk Menno Deij - , Turnock Stephen R.
Published: January 2023

The overset method and associated interpolation schemes are usually thoroughly verified only on synthetic or academic test cases for which conclusions might not directly translate to real engineering problems. In the present work, an overset grid method is used to simulate a rudder-propeller flow, for which a comprehensive verification and validation study is performed. Three overset-related interpolation schemes (first order inverse distance, second order nearest cell gradient and third order least squares) are tested to quantify and qualify numerical errors on integral quantities, mass imbalance, flow features and rudder pressure distributions. The performance overhead is also measured to help make accuracy versus performance balance decisions. Rigorous solution verification is performed to estimate time and space Discretization, iterative and statistical uncertainties. Validation of the propeller-rudder flow against experimental data is also done. The results show that, while the choice of interpolation scheme has minimal impact on time-averaged integral quantities (like propeller and rudder forces), they do influence the smoothness of the time signals, with the first order scheme resulting in large intensity high-frequency temporal oscillations. Lower order interpolation methods also produce more interpolation artifacts in fringe cells, which are then convected downstream. Mass imbalance is also affected by the interpolation scheme, with higher order schemes such as the third order least squares approach resulting in an order of magnitude lower flux errors. The limitations of first order schemes do not, however, result in significant lower computational overhead, with the second order nearest cell gradient being even cheaper than the inverse distance scheme in the tested implementation. Lastly, validation shows promising results with rudder forces within 10% of the experiments.
¿Qué quedará…? Algunas respuestas desde la autoetnografía y la ficción para jóvenes
Authors: Behar Ruth
Published: January 2023

Últimamente no dejo de pensar que estoy escribiendo para la próxima generación, para aquellos como mi nieta, que han llegado al mundo durante este momento de la pandemia, con toda su ansiedad e inseguridad. Me imagino que para ella la vulnerabilidad será una parte normal de una vida de la que ya no se sabe cómo definir su normalidad. Pensando en estos temas, trataré de dar algunas respuestas sobre los legados que estamos dejando y cómo la autoetnografía y la ficción para jóvenes proponen maneras de buscar la confluencia entre el pasado, el presente y el futuro. Entre lo que quedará, espero mostrar la importancia de los momentos de conexión que logramos en los encuentros antropológicos y en la creación artística, momentos que nos permiten sentir que compartimos una herencia humana que nos pertenece igualmente a todos y todas por el hecho de existir en el mundo.
Los fantasmas de Chicureo: Convivir con muertos en el barrio de Colina, Santiago de Chile
Authors: Panizo Laura Marina
Published: January 2023

Sucesivas experiencias de familiares de desaparecidos en la última dictadura militar en la Argentina me hicieron advertir, en el marco de mis investigaciones anteriores, sobre los muertos y su relación con los vivos. Experiencias de vecinos de la zona de Chicureo, en Santiago de Chile, en íntima relación con «fantasmas», volvió a plantearme interrogantes sobre las diferentes situaciones en las que los fallecidos intervienen en la vida cotidiana de los vivos. Las diferencias más evidentes entre los fantasmas en el caso de los desaparecidos y los fantasmas de Chicureo son que en el primer caso se trata de experiencias de personas adultas y que la relación entre vivos y muertos está fundada exclusivamente a partir de la muerte violenta de sus seres queridos. El caso de los vecinos de Chicureo que aquí expongo se trata niños que se comunican con muertos ajenos, es decir, pérdidas que son de otros. El objetivo de este ensayo es, junto con exponer mis primeras aproximaciones a la temática, encontrar espacios de diálogo con trabajos que desde las ciencias sociales traten sobre las creencias acerca de la vida y la muerte y permitan poner el centro de atención en la agencia de los muertos.
Semana Santa en Bercianos de Aliste. (Un) Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de Europa, de José Luis Alonso Ponga
Authors: Panero García María Pilar
Published: January 2023

Asistimos desde hace décadas en España a un hecho profundamente contradictorio con respecto al mundo rural y sus manifestaciones culturales. Por un lado, algunas voces lo desprecian, y sus tradiciones son vistas como una suerte de rarezas étnicas o supervivencias, que se muestran en la prensa y algunos medios digitales como un si de un gabinete de curiosidades se tratase. Mientras que, por otro, algunas lecturas esencialistas en una suerte de Romanticismo que se prolonga sin fin lo idealizan en base a tópicos de escaso recorrido si se someten al mínimo análisis. Algunos simplemente recrean mitos universales como la unión de Eros y Thanatos, pero otros como el del aislamiento son especialmente burdos, nada generosos y dolorosos para con lo rural, en opinión de quien firma esta reseña.
Putas, República y Revolución, de Marta Venceslao Pueyo, Mar Trallero y Genera
Authors: Motterle Livia
Published: January 2023

¿Cómo fueron consideradas las trabajadoras sexuales durante el periodo Republicano, la Revolución y la Guerra Civil española? ¿Cuál era la postura ideológica de la izquierda revolucionaria frente a estas mujeres? ¿Con qué finalidad la propaganda bélica, la legislación y el sistema sanitario las tomaron como blanco? Estas y otras cuestiones todavía poco exploradas en las investigaciones históricas y ampliamente ninguneadas en el ámbito de los movimientos sociales se entrelazan en Putas, República y Revolución. Con valentía, rigor y pertinencia, las autoras nos acompañan en el entramado de fichas policiales y médicas, archivos históricos y testimonios literarios para comprender los dispositivos sociales a través de los cuales venía fabricado el estigma puta en los años controvertidos de la Guerra Civil y de la posguerra.
In Science Journals
Authors: Vignieri Sacha , Nusinovich Yevgeniya , Suleymanov Yury , Funk Michael A. , Williams Ifor , Hodges Kip , Grocholski Brent , Szuromi Phil , Scanlon Seth Thomas , Smith H. Jesse , Hurtley Stella M. , Hines Pamela J. , VanHook Annalisa M. , Malo Courtney S.
Published: January 2023

Highlights from the
Science
family of journals
Structure-Based Stabilization of SOSIP Env Enhances Recombinant Ectodomain Durability and Yield
Authors: Wrapp Daniel , Mu Zekun , Thakur Bhishem , Janowska Katarzyna , Ajayi Oluwatobi , Barr Maggie , Parks Robert , Mansouri Katayoun , Edwards Robert J. , Hahn Beatrice H. , Acharya Priyamvada , Saunders Kevin O. , Haynes Barton F.
Published: January 2023

Recent estimates have placed the number of new human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections at approximately 1.5 million per year, emphasizing the ongoing and urgent need for an effective vaccine. The envelope (Env) glycoprotein is the main focus of HIV-1 vaccine development, but, due to its inherent metastability, many Env variants are difficult to recombinantly express in the relatively large quantities that are required for biochemical studies and animal trials.
Supplemental Material: Differentiation of an upper crustal magma reservoir via crystal-melt separation recorded in the San Gabriel pluton, central Chile
Authors: Payacán I. , al. et
Published: January 2023

Table S1: XRF whole-rock geochemistry. Table S2: LA-ICP-MS whole-rock trace elements data. Table S3: LA-ICP-MS results of trace element concentrations. Table S4: Individual spot measurements obtained via LA-ICP-MS on zircon crystals. Supplemental text with Table S5, Table S6, Figure S1, Figure S2, Figure S3, Figure S4, Figure S5, and Figure S6.
Chronic dysphagia as a presenting complaint for primary mediastinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Eslinger Logan , Ahmed Taimoor , Lodhi Samra Haroon , Ahmed Taha
Published: January 2023

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common lymphoid malignancy in adults. It manifests a variable presentation, depending on the tissue in which it arises. Rarely, it can present as dysphagia to solid and liquid foods in primary oesophageal lymphoma with or without B symptoms. We present a case of a 66-year-old man who presented with 3 months of progressive dysphagia with only a mild associated weight loss. This was later found to be caused by DLBCL of the mediastinum causing external compression of the patient’s distal oesophagus and gastric cardia. He was treated with one cycle of standard-of-care chemotherapy and subsequently discharged with outpatient follow-up. We emphasise the importance of ruling out life-threatening conditions such as lymphoma in patients who present with dysphagia, as well as the high variability in presentation of DLBCL.
Long covid outcomes at one year after mild SARS-CoV-2 infection: nationwide cohort study
Authors: Mizrahi Barak , Sudry Tamar , Flaks-Manov Natalie , Yehezkelli Yoav , Kalkstein Nir , Akiva Pinchas , Ekka-Zohar Anat , Ben David Shirley Shapiro , Lerner Uri , Bivas-Benita Maytal , Greenfeld Shira
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To determine the clinical sequelae of long covid for a year after infection in patients with mild disease and to evaluate its association with age, sex, SARS-CoV-2 variants, and vaccination status.

Design

Retrospective nationwide cohort study.

Setting

Electronic medical records from an Israeli nationwide healthcare organisation.

Population

1 913 234 Maccabi Healthcare Services members of all ages who did a polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2 between 1 March 2020 and 1 October 2021.

Main outcome measures

Risk of an evidence based list of 70 reported long covid outcomes in unvaccinated patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 matched to uninfected people, adjusted for age and sex and stratified by SARS-CoV-2 variants, and risk in patients with a breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with unvaccinated infected controls. Risks were compared using hazard ratios and risk differences per 10 000 patients measured during the early (30-180 days) and late (180-360 days) time periods after infection.

Results

Covid-19 infection was significantly associated with increased risks in early and late periods for anosmia and dysgeusia (hazard ratio 4.59 (95% confidence interval 3.63 to 5.80), risk difference 19.6 (95% confidence interval 16.9 to 22.4) in early period; 2.96 (2.29 to 3.82), 11.0 (8.5 to 13.6) in late period), cognitive impairment (1.85 (1.58 to 2.17), 12.8, (9.6 to 16.1); 1.69 (1.45 to 1.96), 13.3 (9.4 to 17.3)), dyspnoea (1.79 (1.68 to 1.90), 85.7 (76.9 to 94.5); 1.30 (1.22 to 1.38), 35.4 (26.3 to 44.6)), weakness (1.78 (1.69 to 1.88), 108.5, 98.4 to 118.6; 1.30 (1.22 to 1.37), 50.2 (39.4 to 61.1)), and palpitations (1.49 (1.35 to 1.64), 22.1 (16.8 to 27.4); 1.16 (1.05 to 1.27), 8.3 (2.4 to 14.1)) and with significant but lower excess risk for streptococcal tonsillitis and dizziness. Hair loss, chest pain, cough, myalgia, and respiratory disorders were significantly increased only during the early phase. Male and female patients showed minor differences, and children had fewer outcomes than adults during the early phase of covid-19, which mostly resolved in the late period. Findings remained consistent across SARS-CoV-2 variants. Vaccinated patients with a breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection had a lower risk for dyspnoea and similar risk for other outcomes compared with unvaccinated infected patients.

Conclusions

This nationwide study suggests that patients with mild covid-19 are at risk for a small number of health outcomes, most of which are resolved within a year from diagnosis.
Understanding resilience, self-reliance and increasing country voice: a clash of ideologies in global health
Authors: Shawar Yusra Ribhi , Neill Rachel , Kunnuji Michael , Manoj Malvikha , Shiffman Jeremy
Published: January 2023

Background

‘Resilience’, ‘self-reliance’ and ‘increasing country voice’ are widely used terms in global health. However, the terms are understood in diverse ways by various global health actors. We analyse how these terms are understood and why differences in understanding exist.

Methods

Drawing on scholarship concerning ideology, framing and power, we employ a case study of a USAID-sponsored suite of awards called MOMENTUM. Applying a meta-ethnographic approach, we triangulate data from peer-reviewed and grey literature, as well as 27 key informant interviews with actors at the forefront of shaping these discourses and those associated with MOMENTUM, working in development agencies, implementing organisations, low-income and middle-income country governments, and academia.

Results

The lack of common understanding of these three terms is in part a result of differences in two perspectives in global health—reformist and transformational—which are animated by fundamentally different ideologies. Reformists, reflecting neoliberal and liberal democratic ideologies, largely take a technocratic approach to understanding health problems and advance incremental solutions, working within existing global and local health systems to effect change. Transformationalists, reflecting threads of neo-Marxist ideology, see the problems as inherently political and seek to overhaul national and global systems and power relations. These ideologies shape differences in how actors define the problem, its solutions and attribute responsibility, resulting in nuanced differences among global health actors in their understanding of resilience, self-reliance and increasing country voice.

Conclusions

Differences in how these terms are employed and framed are not just linguistic; the language that is used is reflective of underlying ideological differences among global health actors, with implications for the way programmes are designed and implemented, the knowledge that is produced and engagement with stakeholders. Laying these distinct ideologies bare may be crucial for managing actor differences and advancing more productive discussions and actions towards achieving global health equity.
Evidence-informed framework for gender transformative continuing education interventions for midwives and midwifery associations
Authors: Bourret Kirsty , Mattison Cristina , Hebert Emmanuelle , Kabeya Ambrocckha , Simba Stephano , Crangle Moya , Darling Elizabeth , Robinson Jamie
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Continuing education for midwives is an important investment area to improve the quality of sexual and reproductive health services. Interventions must take into account and provide solutions for the systemic barriers and gender inequities faced by midwives. Our objective was to generate concepts and a theoretical framework of the range of factors and gender transformative considerations for the development of continuing education interventions for midwives.

Methods

A critical interpretive synthesis complemented by key informant interviews, focus groups, observations and document review was applied. Three electronic bibliographic databases (CINAHL, EMBASE and MEDLINE) were searched from July 2019 to September 2020 and were again updated in June 2021. A coding structure was created to guide the synthesis across the five sources of evidence.

Results

A total of 4519 records were retrieved through electronic searches and 103 documents were included in the critical interpretive synthesis. Additional evidence totalled 31 key informant interviews, 5 focus groups (Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania), 24 programme documents and field observations in the form of notes. The resulting theoretical framework outlines the key considerations including gender, the role of the midwifery association, political and health systems and external forces along with key enabling elements for the design, implementation and evaluation of gender transformative continuing education interventions.

Conclusion

Investments in gender transformative continuing education for midwives, led by midwifery associations, can lead to the improvement of midwifery across all United Nations’ target areas including governance, health workforce, health system arrangements and education.
Understanding the experiences and needs of LGBTIQA+ individuals when accessing abortion care and pregnancy options counselling: a scoping review
Authors: Bowler Sally , Vallury Kari , Sofija Ernesta
Published: January 2023

Background

Safe, accessible, and inclusive abortion care and pregnancy options counselling are essential components of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Research has documented LGBTIQA+ people are as likely, or more than likely, as the general population to experience an abortion in their lifetime yet face significant barriers to accessing abortion and related care, which undermines well-being.

Aims

The present study undertakes a scoping review of research on the needs and experiences of the LGBTIQA+ population (representing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse, intersex, queer, asexual, and questioning) when accessing abortion care, pregnancy options, and post-abortion counselling to support improved understanding of pregnant people’s preferences, needs, and experiences.

Methods

The reporting of this scoping review is guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension of Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Academic databases were searched using terms relating to gender identity and sexuality, abortion, pregnancy options, and post-abortion counselling to identify peer reviewed papers published in English. Seven publications were included in the review that described experiences of LGBTIQA+ people accessing abortion-related care.

Results

The included studies were predominantly conducted in the USA using quantitative and qualitative research designs. Thematic analysis highlighted participants’ experiences of discrimination and exclusion in healthcare settings, healthcare avoidance, unsafe abortion, non-disclosure to providers, and poor health outcomes for LGBTIQA+ people.

Conclusions

Gender-inclusive services and training for health providers is necessary to provide safe and accessible abortion care and overcome generations of mistrust held by the LGBTIQA+ community. Research into the needs of LGBTIQA+ people when accessing pregnancy options counselling is critically needed.
Treatment of pancreatic cancer with irreversible electroporation and intratumoral CD40 antibody stimulates systemic immune responses that inhibit liver metastasis in an orthotopic model
Authors: Shankara Narayanan Jayanth S , Hayashi Tomoko , Erdem Suna , McArdle Sara , Tiriac Herve , Ray Partha , Pu Minya , Mikulski Zbigniew , Miller Aaron , Messer Karen , Carson Dennis , Schoenberger Stephen , White Rebekah R
Published: January 2023

Background

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a poor prognosis, and most patients present with either locally advanced or distant metastatic disease. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a non-thermal method of ablation used clinically in locally advanced PC, but most patients eventually develop distant recurrence. We have previously shown that IRE alone is capable of generating protective, neoantigen-specific immunity. Here, we aim to generate meaningful therapeutic immune effects by combining IRE with local (intratumoral) delivery of a CD40 agonistic antibody (CD40Ab).

Methods

KPC46 organoids were generated from a tumor-bearing male KrasLSL-G12D-p53LSL-R172H-Pdx-1-Cre (KPC) mouse. Orthotopic tumors were established in the pancreatic tail of B6/129 F1J mice via laparotomy. Mice were randomized to treatment with either sham laparotomy, IRE alone, CD40Ab alone, or IRE followed immediately by CD40Ab injection. Metastatic disease and immune infiltration in the liver were analyzed 14 days postprocedure using flow cytometry and multiplex immunofluorescence imaging with spatial analysis. Candidate neoantigens were identified by mutanome profiling of tumor tissue for ex vivo functional analyses.

Results

The combination of IRE+CD40 Ab improved median survival to greater than 35 days, significantly longer than IRE (21 days) or CD40Ab (24 days) alone (p<0.01). CD40Ab decreased metastatic disease burden, with less disease in the combination group than in the sham group or IRE alone. Immunohistochemistry of liver metastases revealed a more than twofold higher infiltration of CD8+T cells in the IRE+CD40 Ab group than in any other group (p<0.01). Multiplex immunofluorescence imaging revealed a 4–6 fold increase in the density of CD80+CD11c+ activated dendritic cells (p<0.05), which were spatially distributed throughout the tumor unlike the sham group, where they were restricted to the periphery. In contrast, CD4+FoxP3+ T-regulatory cells (p<0.05) and Ly6G+myeloid derived cells (p<0.01) were reduced and restricted to the tumor periphery in the IRE+CD40 Ab group. T-cells from the IRE+CD40 Ab group recognized significantly more peptides representing candidate neoantigens than did T-cells from the IRE or untreated control groups.

Conclusions

IRE can induce local tumor regression and neoantigen-specific immune responses. Addition of CD40Ab to IRE improved dendritic cell activation and neoantigen recognition, while generating a strong systemic antitumor T-cell response that inhibited metastatic disease progression.
Phase Ib open-label, multicenter study of pixatimod, an activator of TLR9, in combination with nivolumab in subjects with microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer, metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and other solid tumors
Authors: Lemech Charlotte , Dredge Keith , Bampton Darryn , Hammond Edward , Clouston Andrew , Waterhouse Nigel J , Stanley Amanda C , Leveque-El Mouttie Lucie , Chojnowski Grace M , Haydon Andrew , Pavlakis Nick , Burge Matthew , Brown Michael P , Goldstein David
Published: January 2023

Background

Pixatimod is a unique activator of the Toll-like Receptor 9 pathway. This phase I trial evaluated safety, efficacy and pharmacodynamics of pixatimod and PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab in immunologically cold cancers.

Methods

3+3 dose escalation with microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer (MSS mCRC) and metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) expansion cohorts. Participants received pixatimod once weekly as a 1-hour intravenous infusion plus nivolumab every 2 weeks. Objectives included assessment of safety, antitumor activity, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetic profile.

Results

Fifty-eight participants started treatment. The maximum tolerated dose of pixatimod was 25 mg in combination with 240 mg nivolumab, which was used in the expansion phases of the study. Twenty-one grade 3–5 treatment-related adverse events were reported in 12 participants (21%); one participant receiving 50 mg pixatimod/nivolumab had a treatment-related grade 5 AE. The grade 3/4 rate in the MSS mCRC cohort (n=33) was 12%. There were no responders in the mPDAC cohort (n=18). In the MSS mCRC cohort, 25 participants were evaluable (initial postbaseline assessment scans >6 weeks); of these, three participants had confirmed partial responses (PR) and eight had stable disease (SD) for at least 9 weeks. Clinical benefit (PR+SD) was associated with lower Pan-Immune-Inflammation Value and plasma IL-6 but increased IP-10 and IP-10/IL-8 ratio. In an MSS mCRC participant with PR as best response, increased infiltration of T cells, dendritic cells, and to a lesser extent NK cells, were evident 5 weeks post-treatment.

Conclusions

Pixatimod is well tolerated at 25 mg in combination with nivolumab. The efficacy signal and pharmacodynamic changes in MSS mCRC warrants further investigation.

Trial registration number

NCT05061017.
FXNgene methylation determines carrier status in Friedreich ataxia
Authors: Lam Christina , Gilliam Kaitlyn M , Rodden Layne N , Schadt Kimberly A , Lynch David R , Bidichandani Sanjay
Published: January 2023

Background

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is typically caused by homozygosity for an expanded GAA triplet-repeat (GAA-TRE) in intron 1 of theFXNgene. Some patients are compound heterozygous for the GAA-TRE and anotherFXNpathogenic variant. Detection of the GAA-TRE in the heterozygous state, occasionally technically challenging, is essential for diagnosing compound heterozygotes and asymptomatic carriers.

Objective

We explored if the FRDA differentially methylated region (FRDA-DMR) in intron 1, which is hypermethylated inciswith the GAA-TRE, effectively detects heterozygous GAA-TRE.

Methods

FXNDNA methylation was assayed by targeted bisulfite deep sequencing using the Illumina platform.

Results

FRDA-DMR methylation effectively identified a cohort of known heterozygous carriers of the GAA-TRE. In an individual with clinical features of FRDA, commercial testing showed a paternally inherited pathogenicFXNinitiation codon variant but no GAA-TRE. Methylation in the FRDA-DMR effectively identified the proband, his mother and various maternal relatives as heterozygous carriers of the GAA-TRE, thus confirming the diagnosis of FRDA.

Conclusion

FXNDNA methylation reliably detects the GAA-TRE in the heterozygous state and offers a robust alternative strategy to diagnose FRDA due to compound heterozygosity and to identify asymptomatic heterozygous carriers of the GAA-TRE.
First passage time and mean exit time for switching Brownian motion
Authors: Tong Jinying , Wu Ruifang , Zhang Qianqian , Zhang Zhenzhong , Zhu Enwen
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we consider some properties of switching Brownian motion. Combining the analytic method and probabilistic method, some explicit expressions of density functions, the mean exit time and Laplace transform of exit time are given. This paper reveals how drift coefficients impact the first passage probabilities, scale functions and the mean exit time for switching Brownian motion.
The Effect of Alkali Treatment on the Cellulose Extracted from Rice Husk as Potential Resources of Biomass
Authors: Nasir Aryanny , Adrus Nadia , Bohari Siti Pauliena Mohd
Published: January 2023

Over the last few decades, the use of agro by-products as a biopolymer for various applications has attracted significant interest of researchers. Rice husk (RH) is one of the agro by-products produced abundantly worldwide and a great deal of studies in extracting and utilizing silica from RH have been reported but scarcely for its cellulose components. A specific study on the utilization of cellulose extracted from RH for the electrospinning process also remains unreported. Chemical pre-treatment seems to be the most crucial step which improves the elimination of the cementing components and exposing the cellulose for further applications. This study aimed to explore the potential of RH as a source of raw material to produce cellulose nanofiber. The cellulose was extracted by acid pre-treatment, alkaline treatment at varying sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations, followed by bleaching treatment with sodium hypochlorite for complete removal of the amorphous region. The resulting cellulose was characterized and the main properties (morphology and sizes) of the extracted cellulose were made using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The findings revealed the almost complete removal of the noncellulosic components for the subsequent production of electrospun cellulose nanofibers. Therefore, the output of the cellulose from this underutilized agro-waste has commercial application potential that can add value and be further utilized for the electrospinning process.
Effect of Molar Concentration and Solvent Type on Linear and NLO Properties of Aurintricarboxylic (ATA) Organic Dye for Image Sensor and Optical Limiter Applications
Authors: Fadhl Abodood Anwar Ahmed , Abdali Karar , Mousa Al-Ogaili Abdulazees O. , Al-Bermany Ehssan , Abass Khalid Haneen
Published: January 2023

Aurintricarboxylic (ATA) organic dye is a promising chemical compound candidate for several optical and electronic applications. However, this study aims to investigate the impact of molar concentrations and solvent type on the linear/nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of 5,5[Formula: see text]-[(3-carboxy-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylidene) methylene] bis (2-hydroxybenzoic acid) organic laser dyes. Three molar concentrations of organic dyes ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]) M were respectively dissolved in distilled water and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at room temperature. The samples were investigated using1H-NMR and UV/Visible spectrums. The bandgap ([Formula: see text]) of ([Formula: see text] M) ATA/water is 4.75[Formula: see text]eV, but Eg of ATA/DMSO was 2.93[Formula: see text]eV and 2.65[Formula: see text]eV. The measurements were performed by employing a diode-pumped solid-state laser operating at a 457 nm wavelength and 112[Formula: see text]mW of power. The [Formula: see text]-scan technique was applied to characterize open and close apertures, nonlinear refractive index ([Formula: see text]), and nonlinear absorption coefficient ([Formula: see text]). The obtained results predicted that both the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] coefficients decreased with the reduction of molar concentrations. Additionally, DMSO exhibited better linear/NLO properties than water. The results revealed promising laser dye samples for image sensor and optical limiter applications.
Preparation of TiO2 Nanotube Arrays with Controllable Morphology and their Superhydrophobic Modification for Photocatalytic Degradation of Water Pollution
Authors: Xiong Xudong , Deng Zhexian , Jiang Cairui , Xu Chao , Fan Zhao , Wang Yongqian
Published: January 2023

TiO2, as a photoactive semiconductor material, where like photocatalysis technology is a hot topic of research in recent years, shows great potential for application in the direction of environmental pollution treatment and solar-chemical energy conversion. In this paper, we prepared titanium dioxide nanotube arrays (TNAs) by a simple one-step anodic oxidation method in an ethylene glycol electrolyte containing ammonium fluoride under optimized conditions. The effects of anodic oxidation voltage, anodic oxidation time and annealing temperature on the growth of TNAs were systematically investigated. It was shown that the sample parameters of TNAs prepared by anodic oxidation were influenced by the anodic oxidation conditions, and the tube diameter and anodic oxidation voltage were positively correlated in a certain range. The TNAs with the best characterization performance were selected for photocatalytic degradation, and methylene blue (MB) was used to simulate the organic pollutants. The results show that TNAs have better photocatalytic activity compared with conventional TiO2. On the basis of this, stearic acid (SA) and TNAs were compounded and modified. The TNAs were made to obtain superhydrophobic properties. The photocatalytic degradation experiments were carried out on them. The results show that the superhydrophobic modification does not affect their photocatalytic activity, so it is possible to achieve photocatalytic degradation of water pollution under the premise of superhydrophobicity, which has greater application prospects in water pollution treatment.
Effect of Doping Sb2O3NPs on Morphological, Mechanical, and Dielectric Properties of PVA/PVP Blend Film for Electromechanical Applications
Authors: Abdali Karar , Rabee Bahaa H. , Al-Bermany Ehssan , Abdulridha Ali Razzaq , Abass Khalid Haneen , Kadim Ashraq Mohammed
Published: January 2023

In this work, antimony trioxide nanoparticles (Sb2O3NPs)-doped polyvinyl alcohol (PVA[Formula: see text]) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP[Formula: see text]) (i.e., PVAP@[Formula: see text]Sb2O3NPs, [Formula: see text], and 0.04) composite films were prepared using the casting method. Light optical microscopy (LOM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier infrared spectrums (FTIR) were used to investigate PVAP@[Formula: see text]Sb2O3NPs films. Sb2O3NPs were well dispersed within the matrix. FTIR showed a strong interaction between the matrix material and NPs. The density increased by up to 75% after adding 0.04[Formula: see text]wt.% of Sb2O3NPs. The mechanical ultrasound properties (MUS) were measured with different ultrasound frequencies in the ranges of (25, 30, 35, 40 and 45[Formula: see text]kHz). MUS coefficients such as ultrasonic velocity, absorption coefficient, and bulk modules were significantly improved after the impact of NPs by up to 20%, 115% and 230%, respectively. The reduction of electrical properties such as dielectric and loss constant was associated with an increase in frequency. The dielectric constant of PVAP@Sb2O3NPs was increased by about 80% after loading. AC electrical conductivity revealed an improvement with an increase in frequency and loading ratio. The results demonstrate a promising material for electromechanical, energy harvesting, and pressure sensor applications.
IDIoT: Multimodal Framework for Ubiquitous Identification and Assignment of Human-carried Wearable Devices
Authors: Bannis Adeola , Pan Shijia , Ruiz Carlos , Shen John , Noh Hae Young , Zhang Pei
Published: January 2023

IoT (Internet of Things) devices, such as network-enabled wearables, are carried by increasingly more people throughout daily life. Information from multiple devices can be aggregated to gain insights into a person’s behavior or status. For example, an elderly care facility could monitor patients for falls by combining fitness bracelet data with video of the entire class. For this aggregated data to be useful to each person, we need a multi-modality association of the devices’ physical ID (i.e., location, the user holding it, visual appearance) with a virtual ID (e.g., IP address/available services). Existing approaches for multi-modality association often require intentional interaction or direct line-of-sight to the device, which is infeasible for a large number of users or when the device is obscured by clothing.

We present
IDIoT
, a calibration-free passive sensing approach that fuses motion sensor information with camera footage of an area to estimate the body location of motion sensors carried by a user. We characterize results across three baselines to highlight how different fusing methodology results better than earlier IMU-vision fusion algorithms. From this characterization, we determine
IDIoT
is more robust to errors such as missing frames or miscalibration that frequently occur in IMU-vision matching systems.
Perspective—Supercapacitor-Powered Flexible Wearable Strain Sensors
Authors: Manjunatha C. , Shwetha K. P. , Athreya Y. , Kumar S. G. , Kamath M. K. Sudha
Published: January 2023

Currently and also in future, the flexible and wearable strain sensor would be in high demand due to its direct applications in biomedical health monitoring and other engineering applications. The challenge is to make the flexible and wearable sensor to function continuously with no additional wired powered supply system. In line with this, there has been considerable research works towards the integration of supercapacitor into flexible and wearable strain sensors, to make them self-powered and more efficient. This perspective provides more insights on design and fabrication of flexible and wearable strain sensor, working, components, and materials used, integration with supercapacitor, challenges and future scope.
Unsupervised Detection and Clustering of Malicious TLS Flows
Authors: Gomez Gibran , Kotzias Platon , Dell’Amico Matteo , Bilge Leyla , Caballero Juan
Published: January 2023

Malware abuses TLS to encrypt its malicious traffic, preventing examination by content signatures and deep packet inspection. Network detection of malicious TLS flows is important, but it is a challenging problem. Prior works have proposed supervised machine learning detectors using TLS features. However, by trying to represent all malicious traffic, supervised binary detectors produce models that are too loose, thus introducing errors. Furthermore, they do not distinguish flows generated by different malware. On the other hand, supervised multiclass detectors produce tighter models and can classify flows by the malware family but require family labels, which are not available for many samples. To address these limitations, this work proposes a novel unsupervised approach to detect and cluster malicious TLS flows. Our approach takes input network traces from sandboxes. It clusters similar TLS flows using 90 features that capture properties of the TLS client, TLS server, certificate, and encrypted payload and uses the clusters to build an unsupervised detector that can assign a malicious flow to the cluster it belongs to, or determine if it is benign. We evaluate our approach using 972K traces from a commercial sandbox and 35M TLS flows from a research network. Our clustering shows very high precision and recall with an F1 score of 0.993. We compare our unsupervised detector with two state-of-the-art approaches, showing that it outperforms both. The false detection rate of our detector is 0.032% measured over four months of traffic.
Anesthesia Management of a Liver Transplant Recipient with Remimazolam
Authors: Kawasaki Takashi , Oyoshi Takafumi , Hirata Naoyuki
Published: January 2023

Background. Intraoperative anesthetic requirements might be altered due to the modulated metabolic function in living donor liver transplant recipients. Remimazolam may provide appropriate anesthesia in patients with cirrhosis. However, the efficacy and safety of remimazolam in liver transplant recipients have not been reported. We present the successful anesthesia management of a liver transplant recipient using remimazolam. Case Presentation. A 54-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Child-Pugh C cirrhosis of unknown etiology was scheduled for living donor liver transplantation. Remimazolam was used for anesthesia management under electroencephalogram monitoring, including bispectral index (BIS) and patient state index (PSI) values. Despite the prolonged surgical time (1,037 min) and massive blood loss (22,500 mL), BIS and PSI values were maintained within acceptable ranges intraoperatively. There was no intraoperative awareness/recall or adverse events associated with remimazolam administered perioperatively. Conclusions. We safely managed general anesthesia for living donor liver transplantation with remimazolam using electroencephalogram monitoring.
Engineering CD20 CARs with a Twist
Authors: Scheller Lukas , Hudecek Michael
Published: January 2023

CD20 is highly expressed in several types of B-cell lymphoma and is an intuitive target for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. However, with conventional approaches, it has been challenging to provide CD20 CAR designs that confer efficacy in preclinical models and in clinical trials. In this issue, Chen and colleagues report several improved CD20 CARs, developed with minimal deviations from conventional design principles, that confer curative anti-lymphoma efficacy in preclinical models. These novel CD20 CARs enrich the pipeline for clinical development and provide an example of rational CAR design that is informed by insights into the structural biology of CAR domains.

See related article by Chen et al., p. 150 (3).
Sociedade do cansaço e o sujeito do desempenho
Authors: Rodrigues Ellen Cristina
Published: January 2023

O livro Sociedade do Cansaço de Byung-Chul Han é um ensaio filosófico que tem por objetivo problematizar as causas de enfermidades neuronais emergentes no século XXI, tais como depressão, síndrome de burnout, déficit de atenção e síndrome de hiperatividade, a partir do entendimento da relação do sujeito consigo mesmo, com o outro e com a sociedade do desempenho em que estão inseridos.
O consumo de jogos eletrônicos como um fenômeno social, cultural e histórico
Authors: Senra Karin Borges , Vieira Francisco Giovanni David
Published: January 2023

Ao longo do tempo, o consumo de jogos eletrônicos ganhou destaque mundial por sua capacidade de movimentação do mercado e da economia. No entanto, a literatura ainda apresenta contradições na compreensão desse fenômeno, uma vez que existem diferentes perspectivas sobre o conceito, o escopo e os benefícios dos jogos eletrônicos. Diante disso, consideramos que esse fenômeno deve ser compreendido como uma construção social, envolvendo indivíduos, relações e significados. Dessa maneira, o objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma revisão teórica envolvendo a história e a definição dos jogos eletrônicos, compreendendo este fenômeno de consumo como cultural, social e histórico.
A denúncia sobre violência doméstica contra a mulher em circulação pela publicidade
Authors: Dias Alex Sandro Benetti , Drigo Maria Ogécia
Published: January 2023

O artigo tem como tema a violência doméstica contra a mulher, com foco na denúncia, e objetiva identificar o potencial do tratamento dado à denúncia na composição de campanhas sociais sobre a violência contra a mulher. Para tanto, são apresentadas reflexões sobre a política da piedade e sobre a denúncia, conforme Boltanski, e sobre o papel da mulher na constituição da família no contexto social brasileiro. Em seguida, é tecida uma análise de uma peça publicitária, na perspectiva da semiótica peirceana. Os resultados são relevantes tanto para a produção em publicidade social, por agregar um novo olhar para a denúncia, quanto para o redimensionamento de políticas públicas relativas à violência doméstica.
Atenção primária e a privatização dos serviços de saúde
Authors: Santos Lenir
Published: January 2023

O presente artigo investigou a hipótese de privatização dos serviços de atenção primária da saúde, a partir da análise da natureza desses serviços no Sistema Único de Saúde e dos regimes de privatização/terceirização dos serviços de saúde, a exemplo, o da complementaridade e o das parcerias. Buscou-se compreender se a natureza pública é atributo especial desse serviço ou se ele está compreendido no âmbito da assistência à saúde, de prestação concorrencial (pública e privada), destituído de qualquer especificidade que interdite seu transpasse ao setor privado. Analisaram-se conceitos doutrinários e regramentos da atenção primária, o conceito de serviço público e as diversas formas de terceirização/privatização para examinar se os serviços de atenção primária têm gênese de serviço público exclusivo (que não permite terceirização lato sensu) ou se se trata de serviço público obrigatório, mas sem exclusividade, concorrendo, pois, com a iniciativa privada, e ficando abertos à possibilidade de ser objeto de complementaridade, parcerias e colaboração.
Networking in Tourism Business: A Strategy for Recovering from COVID-19 in Tanzania
Authors: Mlozi Shogo
Published: January 2023

This paper proposes a model that establishes a link between the motivation to join a network, the selection of a partner on the basis of communication and shared goals, a relationship orientation based on trust and reciprocity, and the ability of tourism businesses to recover from the impact of theCOVID-19 pandemic to improve business performance. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from 169 respondents. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. In order to get more insights into the studied constructs, age and size were used as moderators. Five hypotheses out of six are supported. The findings also show that the performance of tourism businesses, particularly that of small and young firms, was not significantly affected by the goals of firms. Similarly, with regard to small firms, trust did not significantly improve their performance in the recovery process. Interestingly, communication did not affect performance in the overall sample, but was affected by the moderators. The findings mean that investing in tourism businesses may require different networking strategies, depending on what business one invests in. Finally, the study could help policymakers and practitioners develop investment strategies to assist businesses in quickly recovering from the impact ofCOVID-19, thereby attracting more investors and tourists to the country.