bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Talazoparib in Patients With Solid Tumors With BRCA1/2 Mutation: Results From the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry Study
Authors: Srkalovic Gordan , Rothe Michael , Mangat Pam K. , Garrett-Mayer Elizabeth , Ahn Eugene R. , Brouse Gregory , Chan John , Mehmi Inderjit , Khalil Maya , Duvivier Herbert L. , Gaba Anu , Leuva Harshraj , Thota Ramya , Yost Kathleen J. , Grantham Gina N. , Gregory Abigail , Hinshaw Dominique C. , Halabi Susan , Schilsky Richard L.
Published: June 2024

PURPOSE

The Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry Study is a phase II basket trial evaluating the antitumor activity of commercially available targeted agents in patients with advanced cancer and genomic alterations known to be drug targets. Results of a cohort of patients with various solid tumors with germline or somatic BRCA1/2 mutations treated with talazoparib are reported.

METHODS

Eligible patients had advanced solid tumors, measurable disease (RECIST), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2, adequate organ function, and no standard treatment options. Patients with germline BRCA-mutated human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer were not eligible for this study. Primary end point was disease control (DC) determined by investigator assessment of objective response (OR) or stable disease (SD) of at least 16 weeks duration (SD16+). The results were evaluated on the basis of a one-sided exact binomial test with a null DC rate of 15% versus 35% (power = 0.82; α = .10). Secondary end points were OR, progression-free survival, overall survival, duration of response, duration of SD, and safety.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients (20 cancer types) with BRCA1/2 mutations were enrolled from December 2019 to September 2021 and collapsed into a single histology pooled cohort for analysis. All patients were evaluable for efficacy. One complete response, nine partial response, and six SD16+ were observed for DC and OR rates of 57% (one-sided 90% CI, 43 to 100) and 36% (95% CI, 19 to 56), respectively. The null hypothesis of a 15% DC rate was rejected ( P < .001). Patients with OR had the following tumor types: breast (2), nonmelanoma skin, mesothelioma, stomach, uterus, non–small cell lung cancer, ovary, hepatocellular carcinoma, and pancreas. Thirteen patients had at least one grade 3-5 adverse event (AE) or serious AE at least possibly related to talazoparib. All were consistent with the drug label except bilirubin increase and hyponatremia (both grade 3 AEs).

CONCLUSION

Talazoparib demonstrated antitumor activity in patients with advanced solid tumors and BRCA1/2 mutations, including cancer types for which poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors are not yet US Food and Drug Administration–approved.
Tropical Skins
Authors: Levin Ayala
Published: June 2024

This essay is concerned with how architecture was imagined to mediate tropical climate in the interest of forming productive postcolonial national subjects. It charts a transition in approach from late colonial to postcolonial modernist architecture as it was exemplified in the design of the University of Ife campus in Nigeria in the 1960s by an Israeli team led by Arieh Sharon in collaboration with the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Sharon's team formed an alternative to the postwar predominance of sun-shading devices, specifically as the British colonial architects Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew employed them in their design of the neighboring University College Ibadan campus. The essay considers the midcentury discourse on sun-shading devices in relation to the contemporaneous theory of “human capital” and demonstrates how this discourse drew from the eighteenth-century notion of architectural “character,” which links the productive capacities of different races with architectural representation.
Confinement promotes nematic alignment of spindle-shaped cells during Drosophila embryogenesis
Authors: Ray Tirthankar , Shi Damo , Harris Tony J. C.
Published: June 2024

Tissue morphogenesis is often controlled by actomyosin networks pulling on adherens junctions (AJs), but junctional myosin levels vary. At an extreme, the Drosophila embryo amnioserosa forms a horseshoe-shaped strip of aligned, spindle-shaped cells lacking junctional myosin. What are the bases of amnioserosal cell interactions and alignment? Compared with surrounding tissue, we find that amnioserosal AJ continuity has lesser dependence on α-catenin, the mediator of AJ-actomyosin association, and greater dependence on Bazooka/Par-3, a junction-associated scaffold protein. Microtubule bundles also run along amnioserosal AJs and support their long-range curvilinearity. Amnioserosal confinement is apparent from partial overlap of its spindle-shaped cells, its outward bulging from surrounding tissue and from compressive stress detected within the amnioserosa. Genetic manipulations that alter amnioserosal confinement by surrounding tissue also result in amnioserosal cells losing alignment and gaining topological defects characteristic of nematically ordered systems. With Bazooka depletion, confinement by surrounding tissue appears to be relatively normal and amnioserosal cells align despite their AJ fragmentation. Overall, the fully elongated amnioserosa appears to form through tissue-autonomous generation of spindle-shaped cells that nematically align in response to confinement by surrounding tissue.
Modeling the structure and DAP5-binding site of the FGF-9 5′-UTR RNA utilized in cap-independent translation
Authors: Whittaker Amanda , Goss Dixie J.
Published: June 2024

Cap-independent or eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E-independent, translation initiation in eukaryotes requires scaffolding protein eIF4G or its homolog, death-associated protein 5 (DAP5). eIF4G associates with the 40S ribosomal subunit, recruiting the ribosome to the RNA transcript. A subset of RNA transcripts, such as fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF-9), contain 5′ untranslated regions (5′ UTRs) that directly bind DAP5 or eIF4GI. For viral mRNA, eIF recruitment usually utilizes RNA structure, such as a pseudoknot or stem–loops, and the RNA-helicase eIF4A is required for DAP5- or 4G-mediated translation, suggesting these 5′ UTRs are structured. However, for cellular IRES-like translation, no consensus RNA structures or sequences have yet been identified for eIF binding. However, the DAP5-binding site within the FGF-9 5′ UTR is unknown. Moreover, DAP5 binds to other, dissimilar 5′ UTRs, some of which require an unpaired, accessible 5′ end to stimulate cap-independent translation. Using SHAPE-seq, we modeled the 186 nt FGF-9 5′-UTR RNA's complex secondary structure in vitro. Further, DAP5 footprinting, toeprinting, and UV cross-linking experiments identify DAP5–RNA interactions. Modeling of FGF-9 5′-UTR tertiary structure aligns DAP5-interacting nucleotides on one face of the predicted structure. We propose that RNA structure involving tertiary folding, rather than a conserved sequence or secondary structure, acts as a DAP5-binding site. DAP5 appears to contact nucleotides near the start codon. Our findings offer a new perspective in the hunt for cap-independent translational enhancers. Structural, rather than sequence-specific, eIF-binding sites may act as attractive chemotherapeutic targets or as dosage tools for mRNA-based therapies.
Έλεγχος στεγανότητας αναστομώσεων παχέος εντέρου με τη χρήση αιμοστατικών προϊόντων
Authors: Βολουδάκης Νικόλαος
Published: June 2024

Εισαγωγή: Η διαφυγή από την αναστόμωση παραμένει μία μείζων επιπλοκή των κολοορθικών επεμβάσεων. Η βέλτιστη τεχνική για την ελαχιστοποίηση της είναι υπό διερεύνηση. Στόχος αυτής της πειραματικής μελέτης ήταν να αξιολογήσει την επίδράση κοινώς χρησιμοποιούμενων αιμοστατικών προϊόντων στην ακεραιότητα αναστομόσεων παχέος εντέρου. Μέθοδοι: Αρουραίοι τύπου Wistar τυχαιοποιήθηκαν σε τέσσερις ομάδες. Στην ομάδα Α (ελέγχου) η αναστόμωση έγινε συμβατικά με το χέρι. Στην δεύτερη ομάδα (Β) η αναστόμωση ενισχύθηκε με σπόγγο ινωδογόνου-θρομβίνης, στην ομάδα Γ με κόλλα ινικής, ενώ στην ομάδα Δ με σπόγγο πολυεθυλινικής γλυκόλης. Την 7η μετεγχειρητική ημέρα, κατόπιν μέτρησης της πίεσης διάσπασης της αναστόμωσης, οι αρουραίοι θυσιάστηκαν. Επίσης αξιολογήθηκαν η ύπαρξη και ισχύς των συμφύσεων, η παρουσία εντερικής απόφραξης, ενώ το χειρουργικό παρασκεύασμα εξετάστηκε ιστολογικά όσον αφορά την επούλωση της αναστόμωσης. Αποτελέσματα: Από τους 19 αρουραίους, 17 επιβίωσαν ενώ 15 συμπεριλήφθκαν στην ανάλυση των δεδομένων. Η μελέτη με σπόγγο πολυεθυλινικής γλυκόλης διεκόπη λόγω σοβαρών επιπλοκών και πρώιμων θανάτων των αρουραίων. Η μέση πίεση διάσπασης εμφάνισε στατιστικά σημαντική διαφορά υπέρ της ομάδας Α, έναντι των ομάδων Β (p=0.026) και Γ (p=0.001). Αναλυτικά οι μετρήσεις ήταν για την ομάδα A: 221mmHg±19.41, για την ομάδα Β: 151mmHg±14.42 και για την ομάδα Γ: 112mmHg±13.57. Η ομάδα ελέγχου επίσης εμφάνισε λιγότερο ισχυρές συμφύσεις και καλύτερη επούλωση της αναστόμωσης ιστολογικά, χωρίς όμως στατιστικά σημαντική διαφορά. Συμπεράσματα: Η ενίσχυση των κολο-κολικών αναστομώσεων με επιπλέον αιμοστατικά υλικά οδήγησε σε μείωση της πίεσης διάσπασης, ενώ αρνητική φάνηκε η δράση τους και όσον αφορά την επούλωση της αναστόμωσης. Ωστόσο, αυτά τα δεδομένα πρέπεινα επιβεβαιωθούν σε μεγαλύτερες σειρές για εξαγωγή πιο ασφαλών συμπερασμάτων.
Psychometric properties of an instrument measuring monkeypox knowledge, perception, and beliefs of health threat in health science students in a middle-income country
Authors: Rivera-Lozada Oriana , Ipanaqué-Zapata Miguel , Rivera-Lozada Isabel Cristina , Castro-Alzate Elvis Siprian , Hernández-Romero Hebe , Gómez-Rivera Mariana , Bonilla-Asalde César Antonio
Published: June 2024

Objective This study aimed to establish the factor structure and reliability of the evaluation instrument measuring monkeypox (Mpox) knowledge, perception and beliefs of health threat in students of the health area in two universities of Peru during 2022. Methods The methodology used was psychometric in nature. The study variable on knowledge of monkeypox was based on the instrument made by Ricco et al., carried out with health professionals, adjusted to Peru and administered to 416 students. Results The results showed adequate goodness-of-fit indicators with RMSEA and SRMR coefficients lower than 0.08 and a TLI lower than 0.90 and adequate reliability values for knowledge of monkeypox (KR20=0.70 and α=0.73), with the perception of health threats being the one with the highest reliability (α=0.88 and Ω=0.89). Conclusions Having instruments that accurately reflect the knowledge, perception and beliefs of health students will make it possible to contribute significantly to the prevention, control and management of this disease and, at the same time, be prepared to address other challenges of public health in the future.
Effect of mindfulness training in adjunct to conventional physiotherapy on pain, function, and mindfulness attention awareness score in recreational long distance runners with patellofemoral pain syndrome: A randomized controlled trial protocol
Authors: Vikhe Chaitali S. , Ramteke Swapnil U.
Published: June 2024

Background The Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) poses a significant challenge in sports medicine due to its multifactorial etiology involving both physiological and psychological factors. Though widely used, conventional physiotherapy approaches often yield limited efficacy and high recurrence rates. Mindfulness-based interventions have emerged as promising adjuncts in managing various musculoskeletal conditions, offering potential benefits in pain management, coping strategies, and overall well-being. However, their efficacy in addressing PFPS remains underexplored, particularly in the context of recreational long-distance runners. This study investigates the effects of integrating mindfulness training as an adjunct to conventional physiotherapy on pain intensity, functional outcomes, and mindfulness awareness in recreational long-distance runners with PFPS. Methods Eligible individuals will be assigned randomly to either Group A (Mindfulness Training + Conventional Physiotherapy) or Group B (Conventional Physiotherapy). Outcome measures, such as the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and knee joint position sense using a goniometer will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Mindfulness training will encompass a variety of techniques integrated with conventional physiotherapy sessions. Result This study has the potential to offer an enhanced treatment strategy that considers both the physical and psychological aspects of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS), potentially improving outcomes and well-being for recreational long-distance runners. CTRI Registration Number: CTRI/2024/03/064876
Fostering Local Urban Centers in relation to district train stations as part of the transition from a post-industrial to a sustainable city: a case study of Katowice
Authors: Stangel Michał , Drobniak Adam
Published: June 2024

The research problem investigates the application of the concept of local urban centers (LUCs) in transforming post-industrial cities into sustainable cities. The subject of the study is Katowice, undergoing a transition towards modern services, while also grappling with an industrial legacy that results in an imbalance of development processes. The idea of LUCs, developed in relation to existing and new district train stations, based on the concept of the 15-minute city, was proposed by the authors within the Katowice development strategy and further tested within the Urban&Business Lab workshops. The research showed, that although in a model approach, service concentration points and public transport nodes should be closely linked, in the existing conditions of Katowice, they almost always deviate from the ideal model. Nevertheless, in each of the cases analyzed, elements of functions and spaces can be observed that have the potential which have the potential to foster LUCs.
Gospodarka jako zakładnik polityki. Analiza działań Służby Bezpieczeństwa wobec podmiotów gospodarczych z wykorzystaniem metod wspomaganych komputerowo
Authors: Wilczyński Zbigniew , Werner Wiktor
Published: June 2024

Artykuł dotyczy zagadnienia działań podejmowanych przez Służbę Bezpieczeństwa PRL (na przykładzie oddziału w Szczecinie) dla ochrony gospodarki. Problemem badawczym jest to, czy obraz działań SB zachowany w badanych źródłach archiwalnych ukazuje jakąś przemyślaną strategię ekonomiczną, czy działania te, nawet w sferze deklaracji, były nieprzemyślanymi i skazanymi na porażkę próbami dostosowania politycznej ideologii do realiów ekonomicznych. Pomocniczo dla weryfikacji postawionych w artykule hipotez i analizy informacji zawartej w źródłach archiwalnych zastosowano metodę badawczą wspomaganą komputerowo: drzewo klasyfikacyjne i regresyjne.
Socjotechnika w procesie przejmowania władzy w Polsce przez komunistów (1944–1948)
Authors: Siedziako Michał
Published: June 2024

Przejmując władzę w Polsce po II wojnie światowej, komuniści mogli liczyć na poparcie jedynie niewielkiej części polskiego społeczeństwa. W tej sytuacji nieodzowne było sięgnięcie do działań z zakresu inżynierii społecznej, które miały skłonić Polaków do poparcia nowych rządów i związanego z nimi ustroju. Były one prowadzone na różnych płaszczyznach – od działalności propagandowej. przez manipulacje. po fizyczne represje. Socjotechniczny wymiar miały wszystkie ważniejsze wydarzenia i kampanie zrealizowane przez komunistów w Polsce w latach 1944–1948: utworzenie Polskiego Komitetu Wyzwolenia Narodowego, obchody świąt państwowych, tzw. referendum ludowe ’46, wybory do Sejmu Ustawodawczego ’47 czy „zjednoczenie” ruchu robotniczego. Całościowe spojrzenie na wskazany okres skłania do konstatacji, że polskie społeczeństwo zostało wówczas poddane socjotechnice totalnej.
Polska odpowiedź na pandemię COVID-19 – implikacje dla systemu politycznego oraz praw i wolności obywatelskich
Authors: Ryszkiewicz Artur
Published: June 2024

Celem artykułu jest zarysowanie problematyki implikacji pandemii COVID-19 dla polskiego systemu politycznego. Autor przedstawił również wpływ pandemii na zakres praw i wolności obywatelskich, kluczowych dla funkcjonowania systemów demokratycznych. Próbowano odpowiedzieć na następujące pytania badawcze: czy działania podejmowane przez polskie władze publiczne, mające na celu przeciwdziałanie pandemii COVID-19, wpłynęły na kształt polskiego systemu politycznego oraz czy ingerowały w zakres przedmiotowy i podmiotowy praw i wolności obywatelskich? Wykazano, że pandemia w Polsce przyczyniła się do umocnienia egzekutywy kosztem innych władz oraz że była okazją do ograniczania praw i wolności obywatelskich przez władze publiczne. W artykule dokonano analizy rozwiązań legislacyjnych oraz przeglądu tekstów naukowych i źródeł internetowych.
Działalność wydawnicza Towarzystwa Miłośników Torunia
Authors: Zielińska Agnieszka
Published: June 2024

Artykuł przedstawia pełną działalność wydawniczą Towarzystwa Miłośników Torunia od początku jego istnienia w roku 1923 do roku 2022. Zostały w nim poruszone zagadnienia związane z wydawaniem czasopisma ciągłego „Rocznik Toruński”, serii wydawniczych, jak „Biblioteka ToMiTo”, ale także publikacji, z których szczególnie należy podkreślić wielotomowe wydawnictwo Toruński Słownik Biograficzny. ToMiTo jest też wydawcą różnego typu prac naukowych, jak i popularnonaukowych o tematyce toruńskiej, publikacji wspomnieniowych i okolicznościowych. Poprzez swoją działalność wydawniczą Towarzystwo upowszechnia i popularyzuje wiedzę na temat przeszłości Torunia.
Monitoring and Home Bias in Global Hiring: Evidence from an Online Labor Platform
Authors: Liang Chen , Hong Yili , Gu Bin
Published: June 2024

Online labor platforms increasingly use monitoring systems to manage remote workers. This study assesses whether and how these systems mitigate employer bias in hiring foreign versus domestic workers. Leveraging the exogenous introduction of a monitoring system for time-based projects on a leading online labor platform, we employ a difference-in-differences model to estimate the impact of monitoring systems on mitigating employers’ tendency to bias against hiring foreign workers (home bias). Results indicate a significant reduction in home bias, along with a 15% increase in the hiring of foreign workers following the introduction of the monitoring system. The mitigation effect is notably stronger in high-routine projects or when employers lack prior positive experiences with foreign workers, two scenarios characterized by low external uncertainty and high internal uncertainty, respectively. Moreover, employers no longer exhibit a stronger home bias in scenarios of lower moral hazard risk or coordination costs. These findings lend support to the effectiveness of monitoring systems in mitigating employers’ home bias through facilitating contractual control and coordination. Our study offers important implications for the design of online labor platforms and policymaking.
The Outsourcing of State Security: A Case Study of US Intervention in Laos, 1962–1975
Authors: Nugent-Stephens Gabrielle , Monaghan Rachel
Published: June 2024

The United States (US) involvement in covert action abroad has received significant scholarly attention, including the outsourcing of force to third parties, such as foreign death squads, private paramilitaries, and more recently private military and security companies. However, less attention has been paid to the routine and everyday mechanisms the US state uses to administer outsourced force, and the impacts this has both on the combatants and civilians. Through a historical examination of the covert conflict in Laos from 1962–1975, this article documents the routine administrative mechanisms the US state employed to prosecute an illegal war. This article’s principal contribution to the state crime literature is the documentation of the hidden harms this generated both for the combatants used and the civilians affected by the violence. This contribution is grounded in interviews conducted with ex-service people from the conflict period and archival research, including recently declassified materials.
Verbal classifiers from a crosslinguistic and cross-modal point of view
Authors: Gökgöz Kadir
Published: June 2024

Abstract: Whether spoken language verbal classifiers and sign language classifier handshapes are comparable enough to be treated similarly is a subject of debate in the literature. In this article, I first show that both spoken language verbal classifiers and sign language classifier handshapes cross-reference the internal argument in intransitive and transitive clauses. Despite differences in the modality of expression (visual-gestural vs. auditory-oral), verbal classifiers end up accomplishing this same kind of work in the grammar, which falls under absolutive alignment. From a morphosyntactic point of view, however, there is more to the story, as data from body-part classifiers reveal. I show that Turkish Sign Language (TİD) is similar to Manam, Diegueño, and Cherokee with regard to classifiers cross-referencing the external or internal argument’s body part. While some of this falls outside of absolutive alignment because cross-reference is to the external argument, I show that the syntactic distributions of clauses with body-part classifiers in both modalities can be accounted for with a few modifications to recent morphosyntactic proposals originally offered for sign languages. This supports the conclusion that verbal classifiers are comparable across modalities. Along the way, I refine Benedicto and Brentari’s (2004) account and propose that there are building blocks (selected fingers and hand-parts) in the morphophonology of TİD that combine to yield the range of classifiers that researchers hitherto have tended to describe with holistic labels. Namely, all classifier types in sign languages (whole entity, handling, and body part) employ selected fingers that cross-reference the internal argument in some way, similarly to how many spoken language verbal classifiers cross-reference internal arguments. Furthermore, handling and body-part classifiers make use of hand-parts that can cross-reference the body part of the external argument. Similarities between the spoken languages Manam, Diegueño, and Cherokee and the sign language TİD in cross-referencing the body part of an argument in syntax become clear, and the morphophonological patterns of hand-parts also reveal handling and body-part classifiers in sign languages to be more similar than previously thought.
Latin American Neoliberalism, a Transnational Class Project?
Authors: Galindo Domínguez José Antonio
Published: June 2024

Abstract: This article contributes to recent research efforts in understanding Latin America’s neoliberal experience. While the phenomenon’s origins have often been associated with North Atlantic experiences, this study aims to explore its emergence in the region’s historical, ideological, and political contexts. By focusing on the Inter-American Council for Trade and Production (Consejo Interamericano de Comercio y Producción), a trans-national private organization active during the second half of the 20th century, the text delves into the formation of a distinctly Latin American neoliberal ideology. The groundwork for this ideology was laid amid transcontinental discussions, negotiations, and consensus-building efforts. Contrary to diffusionist narratives, which emphasize the North’s influence on the South, this study underscores the autochthonous roots of Latin American neoliberalism. By tracing the evolution of neoliberalism within the continent’s own history, this article challenges predominant interpretations and underscores the role of endogenous political, economic, and intellectual dynamics in shaping the region’s ideological landscape.
High-efficiency three-port beam splitter under normal incidence
Authors: Li Xingxue , Xu Mengqing , Liao Jiajing , Yang Xiufan , Zhou Changhe , Jia Wei , Wang Jin , Xie Yongfang
Published: June 2024

A fused-silica three-port grating under TE-polarized normal incidence
is designed and manufactured with improved diffraction efficiency (DE)
and bandwidth. A physical explanation of the grating diffraction is
provided using the simplified mode method (SMM), and parameters of the
grating structure were optimized using rigorous coupled-wave analysis
(RCWA). For a given set of optimized parameters, a transmitted
three-port grating with an area of 170mm×170mm was fabricated by scanning beam
interference lithography (SBIL), and diffraction properties were
investigated. The average DEs for the +1, 0, and 1 orders of the 25 sampling
points are 29%, 30%, and 31% at a 632.8 nm incident wavelength.
Additionally, the measured DEs of the +1, 0, and 1 orders all exceed 25% at
the wavelength range from 613 to 653 nm.
Photoluminescence enhancement for blue-green emission in copper-alloyed lead-free cesium halide single crystals
Authors: Fan Ranran , Qiao Junpeng , Xu Jiaxin , Feng Sujuan , Liu Guangqiang
Published: June 2024

Recently, metal halides have received extensive attention because of the superior photophysical characteristics. Regardless of the superiority, the limited stability against heat and moisture and the toxicity problem of heavy lead metal are obstacles to the realization of wide range applications. In this case, it is necessary to develop eco-friendly alternatives, which could simultaneously maintain the excellent optoelectronic properties of lead materials. In this paper, the synthesis of lead-free one-dimensional Cs2AgBr3 and Cu(I)-alloyed Cs2AgBr3 single crystals (SCs) has been successfully realized. Experimental results demonstrated that the addition of applicable copper ions could greatly improve their luminescence intensity. A bright blue-green photoluminescence peaking at 510 nm was observed after incorporating Cu+ ions into Cs2AgBr3 SCs under UV irradiation. Theoretical calculation further proved that the incorporation of Cu+ could effectively modulate the materials’ electronic band structure; the electronic states limited to the CuBr4 tetrahedron presented a strong localized property, which was beneficial to increase the photoluminescence efficiency. In addition, the SCs displayed favorable structure stability proofing moisture and oxygen under ambient conditions, proving that this material has good prospects for the development of optoelectronic fields.
Highly stable fiber-based photonic delay line with large and tunable delay
Authors: Zhou Langfeng , Wei Wei , Li Zhuoran , Xie Weilin , Dong Yi
Published: June 2024

A stable photonic delay line with large and tunable delay is essential for large-distance simulation, beamforming, and diverse photonic signal processing applications. Here, we demonstrate a fiber-based tunable photonic delay line (TPDL) with a maximum delay of 905 µs. Its environmental-related delay jitter is compensated for by a homodyne phase-locked loop (PLL). Precise delay tuning is realized by changing the phase of the reference with a minimum tuning step of 0.5 ps without breaking its locking state. The demonstrated delay line shows exceptional stability, as indicated by an overlapping Allan deviation (ADEV) of 2.06 × 10−17 at the averaging time of 1000 s and the delay jitter below 20 fs. Its high stability, wide delay range, wideband characteristics, and precise tunability make the TPDL an ideal photonic delay line for the above-mentioned applications.
Investigation of super-resolution in microsphere-assisted microscopy with the Poynting vector of the dipole model
Authors: Zhang Zongyan , Yang Songlin , Sun Qihao , Lv Changgui , Zhang Jiayu
Published: June 2024

In this paper, the Fourier spectrum of an image in microsphere-assisted microscopy (MAM) and the wavenumber decomposition of the Poynting vector of the dipole model are compared for the first time to study the super-resolution performance within several wavelengths in MAM. Firstly, an experiment using microsphere-assisted microscopy is performed, and the fast Fourier transformation (FFT) spectra of the images along the distance are studied. Then the Poynting vector in the point dipole field is theoretically investigated based on the spectral decomposition of dyadic Green’s function. Our study finds that the result of decomposition of the Poynting vector corresponds with the propagation results of components with different transverse wavenumbers k
ρ
in an experiment. Even when k
ρ
reaches 1.7k0, the waves can still arrive outside one wavelength. Our work is the first effort (to our knowledge) to associate the Fourier spectrum and the decomposition of the Poynting vector together, and it may contribute to the quantitative exploration of super-resolution performance in MAM in the future.
The frequency and associated factors of typhoid carriage in patients undergoing cholecystectomy for gallbladder disease in Pakistan: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Qureshi Sonia , Maria Noshi , Chawla Tabish , Iqbal Junaid , Kazi Abdul Momin , Adnan Mehreen , Hotwani Aneeta , Rahman Najeeb , Sadiq Muhammed Wahhaab , Charles Richelle , Baker Stephen , Qamar Farah Naz
Published: June 2024

Background

Enteric fever is caused by Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi (S. Typhi) and Paratyphi A, B, and C. It continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In highly endemic areas, children are disproportionately affected, and antimicrobial resistance reduces therapeutic options. It is estimated that 2–5% of enteric fever patients develop chronic asymptomatic infection. These carriers may act as reservoirs of infection; therefore, the prospective identification and treatment of carriers are critical for long-term disease control. We aimed to find the frequency of Salmonella Typhi carriers in patients undergoing cholecystectomy. We also compared the detection limit of culturing versus qPCR in detecting S. Typhi, performed a geospatial analysis of the carriers identified using this study, and evaluated the accuracy of anti-Vi and anti-YncE in identifying chronic typhoid carriage.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study in two centers in Pakistan. Gallbladder specimens were subjected to quantitative PCR (qPCR) and serum samples were analyzed for IgG against YncE and Vi by ELISA. We also mapped the residential location of those with a positive qPCR result.

Findings

Out of 988 participants, 3.4% had qPCR-positive gallbladder samples (23 S. Typhi and 11 S. Paratyphi). Gallstones were more likely to be qPCR positive than bile and gallbladder tissue. Anti-Vi and YncE were significantly correlated (r = 0.78 p<0.0001) and elevated among carriers as compared to qPCR negative controls, except for anti-Vi response in Paratyphi A. But the discriminatory values of these antigens in identifying carriers from qPCR negative controls were low.

Conclusion

The high prevalence of typhoid carriers observed in this study suggests that further studies are required to gain information that will help in controlling future typhoid outbreaks in a superior manner than they are currently being managed.
Evaluation of transmission-blocking potential of PvPSOP25 using transgenic murine malaria parasite and clinical isolates
Authors: Zhang Biying , Feng Hao , Zhao Yan , Zhang Di , Yu Xinxin , Li Yusi , Zeng Ying , Thongpoon Sataporn , Roobsoong Wanlapa , Wu Yudi , Liu Fei , Sattabongkot Jetsumon , Min Hui , Cui Liwang , Cao Yaming
Published: June 2024

Background

Malaria transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs) aim to inhibit malaria parasite development in mosquitoes and prevent further transmission to the human host. The putative-secreted ookinete protein 25 (PSOP25), highly conserved in Plasmodium spp., is a promising TBV target. Here, we investigated PvPSOP25 from P. vivax as a TBV candidate using transgenic murine parasite P. berghei and clinical P. vivax isolates.

Methods and findings

A transgenic P. berghei line expressing PvPSOP25 (TrPvPSOP25Pb) was generated. Full-length PvPSOP25 was expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris and used to immunize mice to obtain anti-rPvPSOP25 sera. The transmission-blocking activity of the anti-rPvPSOP25 sera was evaluated through in vitro assays and mosquito-feeding experiments. The antisera generated by immunization with rPvPSOP25 specifically recognized the native PvPSOP25 antigen expressed in TrPvPSOP25Pb ookinetes. In vitro assays showed that the immune sera significantly inhibited exflagellation and ookinete formation of the TrPvPSOP25Pb parasite. Mosquitoes feeding on mice infected with the transgenic parasite and passively transferred with the anti-rPvPSOP25 sera showed a 70.7% reduction in oocyst density compared to the control group. In a direct membrane feeding assay conducted with five clinical P. vivax isolates, the mouse anti-rPvPSOP25 antibodies significantly reduced the oocyst density while showing a negligible influence on mosquito infection prevalence.

Conclusions

This study supported the feasibility of transgenic murine malaria parasites expressing P. vivax antigens as a useful tool for evaluating P. vivax TBV candidates. Meanwhile, the moderate transmission-reducing activity of the generated anti-rPvPSOP25 sera necessitates further research to optimize its efficacy.
Unveiling candidate genes for metabolic resistance to malathion in Aedes albopictus through RNA sequencing-based transcriptome profiling
Authors: Huang Xinyue , Kaufman Phillip E. , Athrey Giridhar N. , Fredregill Chris , Slotman Michel A.
Published: June 2024

Aedes albopictus, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito, is indigenous to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Ae. albopictus is expanding across the globe at alarming rates, raising concern over the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue, West Nile fever, yellow fever, and chikungunya fever. Since Ae. albopictus was reported in Houston (Harris County, Texas) in 1985, this species has rapidly expanded to at least 32 states across the United States. Public health efforts aimed at controlling Ae. albopictus, including surveillance and adulticide spraying operations, occur regularly in Harris County. Despite rotation of insecticides to mitigate the development of resistance, multiple mosquito species including Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti in Harris County show organophosphate and pyrethroid resistance. Aedes albopictus shows relatively low resistance levels as compared to Ae. aegypti, but kdr-mutation and the expression of detoxification genes have been reported in Ae. albopictus populations elsewhere. To identify potential candidate detoxification genes contributing to metabolic resistance, we used RNA sequencing of field-collected malathion-resistant and malathion-susceptible, and laboratory-maintained susceptible colonies of Ae. albopictus by comparing the relative expression of transcripts from three major detoxification superfamilies involved in malathion resistance due to metabolic detoxification. Between these groups, we identified 12 candidate malathion resistance genes and among these, most genes correlated with metabolic detoxification of malathion, including four P450 and one alpha esterase. Our results reveal the metabolic detoxification and potential cuticular-based resistance mechanisms associated with malathion resistance in Ae. albopictus in Harris County, Texas.
Randomized trial to compare acceptability of magnesium sulphate administration for preeclampsia and eclampsia: Springfusor pump versus standard of care
Authors: Ononge Sam , Nakimuli Annettee , Byamugisha Josaphat , Adroma Moses , Kiondo Paul , Easterling Thomas , Bracken Hillary
Published: June 2024

Introduction

In low-resource settings, magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) for preeclampsia is administered majorly through an injection into the gluteal muscles 4-hourly for 24 hours. The repeated injections are very painful and may lead to infection, abscess formation, and reduced compliance.

Objective

To determine the acceptability of Springfusor® pump for the administration of Magnesium Sulphate in preeclampsia and eclampsia.

Design

Randomized Open Label Clinical Trial.

Methods

The study was conducted at Kawempe National Referral Hospital. Eligible women had a systolic blood pressure of ≥140mmHg and or diastolic blood pressure >90mmHg, proteinuria ≥+1, and the physician’s decision to start on MgSO4. Four-hundred-ninety-six participants were randomized to a Springfusor® pump group (n = 248) or control (standard of care) (n = 248) administration of MgSO4. Intervention group had a loading dose (4gm of 50% MgSO4 intravenously over 20 minutes) and maintenance therapy (1gm of 50% MgSO4 intravenously per hour for 24 hours) administered using the Springfusor®. The standard of care (SOC) group received a loading dose of 4gm of 20% MgSO4 IV over 15–20 minutes, followed by 10gm of 50% MgSO4 intramuscular (5gm in each buttock) and a maintenance dose of 5gm of 50% MgSO4 was administered IM every 4 hours for 24 hours. Both arms received the rest of the care for preeclampsia/eclampsia as per the hospital guidelines. Acceptability of the method of administration was assessed using a Likert scale (1–5; 1 and 2: acceptable and 3–5: unacceptable). Pain at the site of MgSO4 administration was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale 1–7, (1 minimal pain and 7 worst pain). Comparisons were assessed with the Chi-square test, Mann Whitney-Wilcoxon test, and Students’ t-test.

Results

Intervention arm; was more acceptable than the standard of care arm, (95.3% vs70.3%; p<0.001), had a lower median pain score, (2(CI: 2–2), vs 4(CI: 4–5) p<0.001), and fewer side effects. Maternal mortality was comparable between groups (0.8% in the intervention arm vs 1.2% in the IM arm).

Trial registration

Trial No PACTR201712002887266 (https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/).
How big five personality traits influence information sharing on social media: A meta analysis
Authors: Lin Hao , Wang Chundong , Sun Yongjie
Published: June 2024

Research interest in information sharing behavior on social media has significantly increased over the past decade. However, empirical studies on the relationship between Big Five personality traits and information sharing behavior have yielded contradictory conclusions. We aimed to investigate how Big Five personality influences information sharing behavior on social media. This meta-analysis systematically reviewed high-quality studies indexed by web of science and CNKI from the past decade (n = 27, with 31969 samples) and performed a meta-analysis to examine the association between Big Five personality traits and information sharing behavior. The literature search was performed in September 2023. The meta-analysis results showed that extraversion (β = 0.05**) had a positive relationship with information sharing behavior on social media. Agreeableness (β = −0.06**), conscientiousness (β = −0.03**), and neuroticism (β = −0.03**) had negative relationships with information sharing behavior on social media. However, the relationship between openness and information sharing behavior was not clearly observed due to insufficient research. The meta-analysis results are made available to the scientific community to enhance research, comprehension, and utilization of social media.
Methylglyoxal detoxifying gene families in tomato: Genome-wide identification, evolution, functional prediction, and transcript profiling
Authors: Masum Abdullah Al , Arman Md Sakil , Ghosh Ajit
Published: June 2024

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a highly cytotoxic molecule produced in all biological systems, which could be converted into non-toxic D-lactate by an evolutionarily conserved glyoxalase pathway. Glutathione-dependent glyoxalase I (GLYI) and glyoxalase II (GLYII) are responsible for the detoxification of MG into D-lactate in sequential reactions, while DJ-1 domain containing glyoxalase III (GLYIII) catalyzes the same reaction in a single step without glutathione dependency. Afterwards, D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH) converts D-lactate into pyruvate, a metabolically usable intermediate. In the study, a comprehensive genome-wide investigation has been performed in one of the important vegetable plants, tomato to identify 13 putative GLYI, 4 GLYII, 3 GLYIII (DJ-1), and 4 D-LDH genes. Expression pattern analysis using microarray data confirmed their ubiquitous presence in different tissues and developmental stages. Moreover, stress treatment of tomato seedlings and subsequent qRT-PCR demonstrated upregulation of SlGLYI-2, SlGLYI-3, SlGLYI-6A, SlGLYII-1A, SlGLYII-3B, SlDJ-1A, SlDLDH-1 and SlDLDH-4 in response to different abiotic stresses, whereas SlGLYI-6B, SlGLYII-1B, SlGLYII-3A, SlDJ-1D and SlDLDH-2 were downregulated. Expression data also revealed SlGLYII-1B, SlGLYI-1A, SlGLYI-2, SlDJ-1D, and SlDLDH-4 were upregulated in response to various pathogenic infections, indicating the role of MG detoxifying enzymes in both plant defence and stress modulation. The functional characterization of each of these members could lay the foundation for the development of stress and disease-resistant plants promoting sustainable agriculture and production.
Face detection in contextual scenes
Authors: Prunty Jonathan , Jenkins Rob , Qarooni Rana , Bindemann Markus
Published: June 2024

Object and scene perception are intertwined. When objects are expected to appear within a particular scene, they are detected and categorised with greater speed and accuracy. This study examined whether such context effects also moderate the perception of social objects such as faces. Female and male faces were embedded in scenes with a stereotypical female or male context. Semantic congruency of these scene contexts influenced the categorisation of faces (Experiment 1). These effects were bi-directional, such that face sex also affected scene categorisation (Experiment 2), suggesting concurrent automatic processing of both levels. In contrast, the more elementary task of face detection was not affected by semantic scene congruency (Experiment 3), even when scenes were previewed prior to face presentation (Experiment 4). This pattern of results indicates that semantic scene context can affect categorisation of faces. However, the earlier perceptual stage of detection appears to be encapsulated from the cognitive processes that give rise to this contextual interference.
The effect of detoxification on acoustic features of Mandarin speech in male heroin users
Authors: Geng Puyang , Fan Ningxue , Li Zhijun , Ling Rong , Yang Kai , Mao Xiao , Guo Hong
Published: June 2024

This study aims to investigate the effect of detoxification on acoustic features of Mandarin speech. Speech recordings were collected from 66 male abstinent heroin users with different durations of drug detoxification, specifically early abstinent users with a detoxification duration of less than 2 years, sustained abstinent users with 2 years of detoxification, and long-term abstinent users with a detoxification duration of more than 2 years. The results of the acoustic analyses showed that early abstinent users exhibited lower loudness, relative energies of F1, F2, and F3, higher H1–A3, and fewer loudness peaks per second, as well as a longer average duration of unvoiced segments, compared to the sustained and long-term abstinent users. The findings suggest that detoxification may lead to a rehabilitation process in the speech production of abstinent heroin users (e.g., less vocal hoarseness). This study not only provides valuable insights into the effect of detoxification on speech production but also provides a theoretical basis for the speech rehabilitation and detoxification treatment of heroin users.
Effect of core strength training on the badminton player’s performance: A systematic review & meta-analysis
Authors: Ma Shuzhen , Soh Kim Geok , Japar Salimah Binti , Liu Chunqing , Luo Shengyao , Mai Yiqiang , Wang Xinzhi , Zhai Mengze
Published: June 2024

Background

Core strength training (CST) has been shown to improve performance in several sports disciplines. CST is recognized as one of the crucial elements that enhance athletic performance, particularly impacting badminton skills. Despite its popularity as a strength training method among badminton players, there is a lack of comprehensive studies examining the effectiveness of CST on the performance of these athletes.

Objective

This study aims to ascertain CST’s effects on badminton players’ performance.

Method

This study followed PRISMA principles and conducted comprehensive searches in well-known academic databases (SCOPUS, Pubmed, CNKI, Web of Science, Core Collection, and EBSCOhost) up to August 2023. The inclusive criteria were established using the PICOS framework. Following their inclusion based on PICOS criteria, the selected studies underwent literature review and meta-analysis. The methodological quality of the assessments was evaluated using Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tools bias risk tools and recommendations for a graded assessment, development, and evaluation.

Results

The analysis included participants aged 10–19 years from 13 studies of moderate quality, totaling 208 individuals. The CST intervention s lasted between 4 to 16 weeks, with a frequency of 1 to 4 sessions per week and each session lasting 20 to 120 minutes. Sample sizes across these studies ranged from 8 to 34 participants. According to the meta-analysis, CST significantly influenced badminton performance, particularly in areas of explosive power (ES = 0.03 P = 0.04), front-court skill (ES = 2.53, P = 0.003), and back-court skill (ES = 2.33, P = 0.002).

Conclusion

CST enhances badminton players’ fitness (strength, power, balance, and stability), in situ (front/back-court) skills, and movement position hitting. However, its effects on speed, endurance, agility, flexibility, and coordination are unclear, revealing a research gap. The precise benefits of CST, especially on flexibility and specific hitting skills (smashes, clears, drives, net shots, crosscourt, push, and lift shots), need more investigation. Additionally, research on CST’s impact on female athletes is significantly lacking.
The Powers: Consult the Fates: A Conversation with Emily Pelstring, Katherine Kline, and Jessica Mensch
Authors: McKnight Stéfy
Published: June 2024

The Powers is an artistic and scholarly performance collective between Emily Pelstring, Katherine Kline, and Jessica Mensch. Together they produce music, television series, video work, incantations, and performance pieces that disrupt white-patriarchal myths of the witch. As part of the Witch Institute, hosted at Queen’s University in August 2021, The Powers shared their anti-colonial and feminist oracle deck with participants remotely via Zoom. Throughout the performance, participants were invited to choose a card from The Powers’ “Consult the Fates” Oracle deck, to have their fates foretold. Inspired by famous critical race scholar bell hooks, each card cleverly asked participants to rethink, dismantle, and destroy the “white-supremacist-capitalist-imperialist-hetero-patriarchy.” Audience members familiar with The Powers oeuvre will undoubtedly have recognized several of the hand-drawn characters such as the Squid, Hairball, Blob, and Skelly, who have appeared in previous performances as part of The Powers’ multiverse.
Appendix: The Witch Institute Symposium Schedule
Authors: de Szegheo Lang Tamara , Pelstring Emily , Vena Dan
Published: June 2024

In August 2021, The Witch Institute came to life as a seven-day virtual symposium to address the figure of the witch in art and media. The complex discourses of this gathering are condensed in PUBLIC 69: The Witch. This appendix to the issue details the full schedule for the weeklong, hybrid (virtual/in-person) series of events.
Emma Talbot: The Age / L’Età
Authors: Frappier Valérie
Published: June 2024

British artist Emma Talbot’s exhibition The Age / L’Età features an imagined elderly woman as its protagonist, situated in a not-so-distant future as she undertakes a journey to grapple with complex questions in the face of the late stages of capitalism and a worsening climate crisis. The protagonist confronts the stereotype of the hag while she rummages through the roots of Western narratives of power underpinning the interconnected crises of the present. Through mixed media, she applies the tenets of permaculture as her framework for future worldbuilding.