bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinico‐mycological validation of dermatophytosis severity score and its correlation with patient‐reported outcome measures
Authors: Bhat Ramesh M. , Madhumita Monisha , Jayaraman Jyothi , Antony Beena , Santosh Gayathri , Benny Jiby V. , Ancy Anjali 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundDermatophytosis impacts a significant portion of the global population. Recent shifts in the disease's presentation, severity and response to treatment, primarily due to emerging drug resistance, underscore the need for reliable assessment tools. The Dermatophytosis Severity Score (DSS) aims to standardise the evaluation of the disease's severity and monitor therapeutic responses.MethodsIn a cross‐sectional pilot study, 25 adults with clinically diagnosed dermatophytosis were evaluated using the DSS. The study also aimed to establish the correlation of DSS with different stages of treatment, dermatophyte species and patient‐reported outcomes. Participants were recruited from a dermatology outpatient clinic, and the DSS was applied at baseline, Weeks 4 and 8. The validity and reliability of the DSS were assessed using statistical measures, including Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient.ResultsThe study comprised of a near‐equal distribution of male (52%) and female (48%) patients, primarily within the age group of 20–39 years. A high recurrence rate of dermatophytosis (60%) was noted, and more than half of the patients (56%) had used topical steroids before presentation. The mean DSS significantly decreased from baseline to the final visit, mirroring the substantial reduction in the 5D itch scale and Dermatology Life Quality Index, with strong positive correlations observed between these measures.ConclusionThe DSS demonstrated high inter‐rater reliability and internal consistency, indicating its utility as a reliable clinical tool for assessing dermatophytosis severity. The strong correlation of DSS with itch intensity and quality of life validates its role in patient‐centered care. Continued use and further validation of the DSS are recommended to enhance dermatophytosis management and treatment outcomes.
Occupational Health Nursing models and theories: A critical analysis in the scope of the unitary‐transformative perspective
Authors: Bernardes Rafael A. , Caldeira Sílvia , Stolt Minna , Parola Vítor , Neves Hugo , Cruz Arménio 
Published: August 2024

AbstractOccupational Health Nursing (OHN) has followed a complex path to build and strengthen its theoretical basis. Starting with Public Health core principles, theories were shaped by the dualism of person worker and working environment, where sometimes the centre of the thought was given to the latter and other times to the former. The problem was not much on such conflict but on the definition of the correct OHN focus and whether genuine nursing knowledge was being applied. We are worried that other disciplines radically influenced the theoretical path taken by OHN theorists. To approach this problem, a unitary‐transformative perspective can help us describe and analyse this phenomenon and engage scholars to reflect upon the accurate epistemological focus of OHN. We aimed to deepen this reflection and uncover a new OHN theoretical focus.
Brute ignorance
Authors: Carter Sam 
Published: August 2024

AbstractWe know a lot about what the world is like. We know less, it seems, about what we know about what the world is like. According to a common thought, it is easier for us to come to know about the state of the world than to come to know about the state of our own knowledge. What explains this gap? An attractively simple hypothesis is that our ignorance about what we know is explained by our ignorance about the world. There are things we fail to know about what we know about the world because there are things we fail to know about the world. This hypothesis is often motivated by the idea that knowledge requires a margin‐for‐error. In this paper, I'll argue that this simple hypothesis is inadequate. Not all our ignorance of our knowledge can be explained by our ignorance about the world. In this sense, at least some of our ignorance about what we know is brute.
Nurses' values when caring for persons suffering from substance use disorder: A hermeneutical study
Authors: Thorkildsen Kari Marie , Rykkje Linda , Kaldestad Kari 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundPersons suffering from a substance use disorder (SUD) in need of help from low‐threshold centres have complex and severe conditions together with uncontrolled use of mainly illicit substances. Their sufferings are all‐encompassing and demand ethically aware nurses with competence to take care of somatic, existential and spiritual needs.AimTo explore and describe a new understanding of the ethical and ontological values upon which nurses base their work when caring for persons suffering from SUD.MethodologyThe study had a hermeneutical approach. A focus‐group interview was conducted with five nurses working at a low‐threshold centre in Norway. Data analysis was carried out through a hermeneutical reading based on Gadamer's hermeneutics.Ethical ConsiderationsThe study was approved by the Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research (SIKT). Oral and written consent was obtained from the participants.ResultsThe hermeneutical reading revealed three dimensions; A wish to be useful; Nurses' motive for caring for persons suffering from SUD is a wish to be useful and needed. Nurses are fighting a battle against injustice and stigmatisation. Neighbourly love, the core value; Neighbourly love serves as the basis for the nurses` work. Nurses feel humble towards their clients, they feel privileged to have the opportunity to help others through compassionate care. The value of being clients` advocate; Nurses are trying to ensure that clients receive the help they need. A large part of nurses` job is to monitor and take care of the clients` condition. This involves working close to death, trying to save lives.ConclusionNurses wish to care in accordance with their ethos of usefulness. Sacrifice stands out as the ultimate form of neighbourly love, empowering nurses with moral authority to act as advocates for their clients.
Geographies of slavery in the Les Malouines/Las Malvinas/Falklands Islands: The Maroon connection
Authors: Zavala Guillen Ana Laura 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis paper analyses slavery in the Les Malouines/Las Malvinas/Falklands Islands to advance the historical study of the geographies of race in Argentina with reference to marronage and critical place naming. These islands are an example of an assemblage of colonial military extractive powers. There still are disputes with Argentina since the armed conflict of 1982. However, Las Malvinas were a part of the Spanish Empire since the French colonial authorities sold this territory in 1766. Despite being seen as at the margins of this Empire, an infertile terrain with unbearable weather, and a place of punishment for those who defied colonial rule, it was of strategic value, expensive but worth maintaining to keep the British Empire removed from Buenos Aires and Montevideo. To reduce the islands' expenses, the plan was to relocate recaptured fugitives to this territory as a labour force. Archival records collected from the National General Archive of Uruguay, General Archive of the Indies, and National Historical Archive of Madrid show that Las Malvinas were not exempt from slavery. In 1770, Antonio and Miguel, ‘royal slaves’, were part of the islands' population among white Europeans and indigenous people held captive there. They were allowed to leave the islands to live and serve the King and they navigated through the ports of Montevideo and Buenos Aires, where their tracks end. This paper demonstrates how this insular space, meant for penance, was also a place where resistance linked with marronage broke an assemblage of colonial military powers. It also highlights that the historical geographies of slavery in Argentina are intrinsically assembled with the dispossession of indigenous and other disadvantaged groups proposing an Afro‐Marrón approach to their analysis with a potential extension to other racialised Latin American geographies.
Sensor-based Approach for Objective Balance Skill Assessment: A Review
Authors: Hanim Nuria , Su Eileen L.M. , Khor Yvonne Y.W. , Yeong Che Fai , Khor Kang Xiang , Abdullah Muhammad Najib , Labib Aamir Hamza , Holderbaum William 
Published: August 2024

This paper provides a review of sensor-based platforms utilized in the assessment of balance skills, offering insights into various types of sensors, outcome measures and efforts in clinical evaluations. Balance skill assessment is crucial in understanding and managing various neuromuscular disorders, injuries, and age-related declines in motor function. The review categorizes sensor-based platforms into a few main types such as wearable sensors, force plates, and accelerometers. The paper addresses the benefits and drawbacks of each type of sensor as well as the corresponding outcome measures for each sensor. Outcome measurements include sway velocity, center of pressure excursions, and temporal-spatial movement features. Sensor-based platforms have been shown in clinical tests to have the potential to detect small changes in balance that may not be detected using conventional assessment methods. The review provides evidence for the effectiveness of sensor-based assessments in a range of clinical populations, such as older people who are at risk of falls, those with musculoskeletal injuries, and neurological illnesses. Moreover, a comparison with traditional ways of evaluating balance clarifies the benefits of sensor-based platforms, such as higher sensitivity, objectivity, and the capacity to record dynamic aspects of balance. This paper offers practitioners, physicians and researchers some useful insights for evaluating and rehabilitating patients with balance-related impairments. Sensor-based measures for more individualized training feedbacks, promoting optimal outcomes in balance training and rehabilitation, are also presented.
EFFECT OF TIME ELAPSED BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE CONCRETE POURINGS AND LOCATION OF THE COLD JOINTS ON THE FLEXURAL CAPACITY OF RC BEAMS
Authors: Aziz Mahdi Maysaa , Abd Sultan Ali 
Published: August 2024

This research investigates the effect of the time interval between successive concrete pouring and the position of cold joints on properties and bending strength capacity in reinforced beams. Two horizontal cold joints were examined: another positioned in the zone of compressions (h=110 mm) and one situated in the beam's tension area ( h = 50mm). In both cold joint elevations, the time interval between two mert patches was varied as 1.5 hrs.,3 hr and 4 hrs. Furthermore, six nominally standardized RC beams were tested and analyzed with a reference beam devoid of cold joints. The obtained outcomes revealed the decrease of beams' ultimate flexural capacity with an increase in time elapsed between periods of pouring from 1.5 to 4.5 hours. The reduction in flexural strength was more evident when a cold joint went through the compression fibre of a beam. Additionally, the hardness and rigidity of the tested beams roughly inversely correlated with time intervals between consecutive pourings. More specifically, the percentage reduction in ultimate load, stiffness and toughness of cold joints for tension fibres at 1.5 hours was (4.36% ,9.7% and 9.3%) while that of compression fibre was (5.36%),(34.2%)and ( 34.5% ) % respectively when compared with control beam.
The sharp form of the Kolmogorov–Rogozin inequality and a conjecture of Leader–Radcliffe
Authors: Juškevičius Tomas 
Published: August 2024

AbstractLet be a random variable and define its concentration function by
For a sum of independent real‐valued random variables, the Kolmogorov–Rogozin inequality states that
In this paper, we give an optimal bound for in terms of , which settles a question posed by Leader and Radcliffe in 1994. Moreover, we show that the extremal distributions are mixtures of two uniform distributions each lying on an arithmetic progression.
A retrospective analysis of
P. falciparum
drug resistance markers detects an early (2016/17) high prevalence of the k13 C469Y mutation in asymptomatic infections in Northern Uganda
Authors: Ogwang Rodney , Osoti Victor , Wamae Kevin , Ndwiga Leonard , Muteru Kelvin , Ningwa Albert , Tuju James , Kinyanjui Sam , Osier Faith , Marsh Kevin , Bejon Philip , Idro Richard , Ochola-Oyier Lynette Isabella 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACT

The emergence of drug-resistant
Plasmodium falciparum
parasites in sub-Saharan Africa will substantially challenge malaria control. Here, we evaluated the frequency of common drug resistance markers among adolescents from Northern Uganda with asymptomatic infections. We used an established amplicon deep sequencing strategy to screen dried blood spot samples collected from 2016 to 2017 during a reported malaria epidemic within the districts of Kitgum and Pader in Northern Uganda. We screened single-nucleotide polymorphisms within: kelch13 (
Pfk13
), dihydropteroate synthase (
Pfdhps
), multidrug resistance-1 (
Pfmdr1
), dihydrofolate reductase (
Pfdhfr
), and apical membrane antigen (
Pfama1
) genes. Within the study population, the median age was 15 years (14.3–15.0, 95% CI), and 54.9% (78/142) were
Plasmodium
positive by 18S rRNA qPCR, which were subsequently targeted for sequencing analysis. We observed a high frequency of resistance markers particularly for sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), with no wild-type-only parasites observed for
Pfdhfr
(N51I, C59R, and S108N) and
Pfdhps
(A437G and K540E) mutations. Within
Pfmdr1,
mixed infections were common for NF/NY (98.5%). While for artemisinin resistance, in kelch13, there was a high frequency of C469Y (34%). Using the pattern for
Pfama1,
we found a high level of polygenomic infections with all individuals presenting with complexity of infection greater than 2 with a median of 6.9. The high frequency of the quintuple SP drug-resistant parasites and the C469Y artemisinin resistance-associated mutation in asymptomatic individuals suggests an earlier high prevalence than previously reported from symptomatic malaria surveillance studies (in 2016/2017). Our data demonstrate the urgency for routine genomic surveillance programs throughout Africa and the value of deep sequencing.
With age comes resilience: how mitochondrial modulation drives age-associated fluconazole tolerance in
Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Yoo Kyungyoon , Bhattacharya Somanon , Oliveira Natalia Kronbauer , Pereira de Sa Nivea , Matos Gabriel Soares , Del Poeta Maurizio , Fries Bettina C. 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACT

Cryptococcus neoformans
(
Cn
) is an opportunistic fungal microorganism that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis. During the infection, the microbial population is heterogeneously composed of cells with varying generational ages, with older cells accumulating during chronic infections. This is attributed to their enhanced resistance to phagocytic killing and tolerance of antifungals like fluconazole (FLC). In this study, we investigated the role of ergosterol synthesis, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, and mitochondrial metabolism in the regulation of age-dependent FLC tolerance. We find that old
Cn
cells increase the production of ergosterol and exhibit upregulation of ABC transporters. Old cells also show transcriptional and phenotypic characteristics consistent with increased metabolic activity, leading to increased ATP production. This is accompanied by increased production of reactive oxygen species, which results in mitochondrial fragmentation. This study demonstrates that the metabolic changes occurring in the mitochondria of old cells drive the increase in ergosterol synthesis and the upregulation of ABC transporters, leading to FLC tolerance.

IMPORTANCE

Infections caused by
Cryptococcus neoformans
cause more than 180,000 deaths annually. Estimated 1-year mortality for patients receiving care ranges from 20% in developed countries to 70% in developing countries, suggesting that current treatments are inadequate. Some fungal cells can persist and replicate despite the usage of current antifungal regimens, leading to death or treatment failure. Aging in fungi is associated with enhanced tolerance against antifungals and resistance to killing by host cells. This study shows that age-dependent increase in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species drive changes in the regulation of membrane transporters and ergosterol synthesis, ultimately leading to the heightened tolerance against fluconazole in old
C. neoformans
cells. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of this age-associated antifungal tolerance will enable more targeted antifungal therapies for cryptococcal infections.
Charmonium states in a coupled-channel model
Authors: Man Zi-Long , Shu Cheng-Rui , Liu Yan-Rui , Chen Hong 
Published: August 2024

AbstractWe systematically investigate the mass spectrum and two-body open-charm strong decays of charmonium states in a coupled-channel model where the $$^3P_0$$

3

P
0

quark-antiquark pair creation mechanism is employed. The results of masses, mass shifts, proportions of the $$c\bar{c}$$

c

c

¯

component, and open-charm decay widths are provided. The S-D wave mixing angles and di-electric decay widths for vector mesons are also presented. Based on our results, we find that the $$\psi (3770)$$

ψ
(
3770
)

, $$\psi (4040)$$

ψ
(
4040
)

, $$\psi (4160)$$

ψ
(
4160
)

, $$\psi (4360)$$

ψ
(
4360
)

, and $$\psi (4415)$$

ψ
(
4415
)

can be assigned as the $$1^3D_1$$

1
3

D
1

-, $$3^3S_1$$

3
3

S
1

-, $$2^3D_1$$

2
3

D
1

-, $$4^3S_1$$

4
3

S
1

-, and $$3^3D_1$$

3
3

D
1

-dominated charmonium states, respectively. The $$\psi _3(3842)$$

ψ
3

(
3842
)

is a good candidate of the $$\psi _3(1D)$$

ψ
3

(
1
D
)

charmonium state. The calculated mass and strong decay width of $$\chi _{c1}(2P)$$

χ

c
1

(
2
P
)

with significant continuum contribution ($$\sim $$
∼
57%) favor the charmonium interpretation for the mysterious $$\chi _{c1}(3872)$$

χ

c
1

(
3872
)

. When considering the large uncertainty in the observed decay width, the possibility to assign the $$\chi _{c0}(3860)$$

χ

c
0

(
3860
)

as the $$\chi _{c0}(2P)$$

χ

c
0

(
2
P
)

charmonium state cannot be ruled out. One may describe well the properties of $$\chi _{c2}(3930)$$

χ

c
2

(
3930
)

with the $$\chi _{c2}(2P)$$

χ

c
2

(
2
P
)

charmonium. The predictions on properties of other $$c\bar{c}$$

c

c

¯

states can be tested by future experiments.
From ambiguous sets to single-valued ambiguous complex numbers: Applications in Mandelbrot set generation and vector directions
Authors: Singh Pritpal 
Published: August 2024

The concept of an ambiguous set (AS) was initially introduced by Singh et al. [P. Singh, Y.-P. Huang and T.-T. Lee — A novel ambiguous set theory to represent uncertainty and its application to brain MR image segmentation, in Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. Systems, Man and Cybernetics (SMC), Bari, Italy, 2019, pp. 2460–2465]. Can we examine the possibility of expanding it to introduce ambiguous complex numbers? This study aims to answer this question by first introducing the concept of an AS and then providing a set of formulas that aid in determining the membership degrees of the set. Then, this study expands the idea of AS to a single-valued ambiguous number (SVAN). Based on SVAN, the concept of single-valued ambiguous complex number (SVACN) is illustrated. Following that, various theories and properties of SVACN are addressed in terms of their complex conjugate, polar, exponential forms, and roots. Furthermore, the study proposes an algorithm tailored to generating the Mandelbrot set using varying numbers of SVACNs. Additionally, this approach furnishes directional vectors for the SVACNs within a two-dimensional plane. The study also deliberates on the manifold advantages of this methodology, particularly emphasizing its capacity to provide directional guidance for SVACNs.
Comissão de Pesquisa e Inovação na Escola de Educação Física e Esporte da USP
Authors: Carbinatto Michele Viviene , Fernandes Tiago , Furtado Otávio Luis Piva da Cunha , Franchini Emerson 
Published: August 2024

A criação de um setor específico dedicado à pesquisa na atual Escola de Educação Física e Esporte da Universidade de São Paulo (EEFE-USP) data de 1981, conforme a Portaria nº 26/81, estabelecendo seu primeiro grupo de trabalho. Com base no levantamento de documentos oficiais da EEFE-USP - tais como atas, anais de eventos científicos, relatórios anuais de comissões e departamentais, além da análise de dados do Sistema Atena/USP, Biblioteca Virtual da Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) e diversas bases de dados, este artigo explora aspectos históricos, atividades regulares e desafios da Comissão de Pesquisa e Inovação (CPqI) da EEFE-USP. A análise, sistematização e avaliação dos programas de iniciação científica e pós-doutorado emergem como focos centrais da Comissão, assim como a organização de eventos que promovem o acesso, discussão e interação entre profissionais de diferentes áreas do conhecimento. A produção científica da EEFE-USP tem sido marcante na história do país, especialmente até meados da década de 2000, quando uma parte significativa da produção na área de Ciências do Esporte originava-se da USP. Adicionalmente, no período de 2013 a 2024, observa-se um notável aumento no número de bolsistas de produtividade da unidade. Internacionalmente, pesquisadores e egressos da graduação e pós-graduação da EEFE-USP estão entre os mais citados na lista de 2023 na área de Ciências do Esporte. O desenvolvimento tecnológico, incluindo novos sistemas de informação, redes sociais e inteligência artificial, representa desafios significativos para a condução da pesquisa e para o funcionamento da Comissão.
Epoxy resin reinforced with carbonized chicken feathers: An innovative composite material with sustainable potentials
Authors: Talabi Segun I , Oladipo Wonders , Odetoyinbo Iyanuoluwa , Phadatare Akash , Elyas Sana , Vaidya Uday , Hassen Ahmed A 
Published: August 2024

This article explores a novel method for enhancing the mechanical properties of epoxy resin composites by incorporating carbonized chicken feathers as a filler material. The fabrication process involves carbonizing chicken feathers at 600°C and incorporating 5-10 wt% of the fillers into an epoxy matrix. The composites showed enhanced mechanical properties and samples containing 10 wt% filler exhibit the best properties. The performance corresponds to 49% increase in tensile strength, 16% rise in Young’s modulus, 40% improvement in flexural modulus, and 57% in flexural strength. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy were employed to characterize the filler. This characterization provides valuable insights into the structure and chemical composition of the pulverized carbonized chicken feathers that contributed to the attained improvement in composites’ properties. Microstructural examination of the developed composite under scanning electron microscope also provides insights into matrix-filler interface and dispersion of the fillers within the composite matrix. The study not only highlights the unique combination of carbonized feathers’ inherent strength and compatibility with the epoxy matrix but also underscores the eco-friendly nature of utilizing agricultural waste. The findings suggest promising applications in industries demanding lightweight, high-strength materials, which can contribute to sustainable engineering solutions.