bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Public speech as a tool for nation-building: An analysis of Thabo Mbeki’s speeches
Authors: Chaka Mpho , Adanlawo Eyitayo Francis 
Published: December 2023

This study investigated the discursive strategies used in major speeches in South Africa with distinct socio-political systems, which put nation-building in a central place, making the nation both the context and an analytical unit for the study of nation-building. The research question that needed to be answered was: to what extent does a presidential speech, as a tool, reflect South Africa’s nation-building objectives? This study specifically examined various discursive techniques used in the political language of former President Thabo Mbeki. Two speeches by former President Thabo Mbeki were collected from the GCIS website. A general textual description of the speeches is made in terms of lexis and syntax to uncover the underlying ideology in the speeches. Thematic content analysis was adopted. The analysis was predominantly qualitative, supported by some statistical data, on the assumption that a purely qualitative analysis would not necessarily yield reliable results. The occurrence of linguistic features was presented; each text was transcribed and marked for relevant linguistic features. The critical discourse analysis revealed that, on a macro-level, the text of the speeches can be viewed as a manifestation of larger socio-political processes within the country. The texts illustrate a type of political speech positioned in a society in transition, as there are references to building a cohesive society, policy implementation, new programs of government, job creation, and poverty alleviation. The speeches did serve as a nation-building tool, as they conveyed the steps undertaken by the South African government to strive towards an inclusive and all-encompassing approach in an effort to achieve nation-building.
Exports and economic growth: relationships and threshold analysis for the Southern Africa customs union
Authors: Chiwira Oscar , Muchingami Lovemore , Jambani Lawrence 
Published: December 2023

This study examines the short-run and long-run relationships between exports and economic growth in the Sothern Africa Customs Union (SACU), as well as the corresponding threshold level. The study used panel data covering the period 1980 to 2021 and employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds to test for co-integration relationships, and the Generalized Least Squares (GLS) to determine the respective threshold level. Exports positively support economic growth both in the short-run and in the long-run in SACU. There is long-run bidirectional causality between exports and economic growth. The minimum threshold for exports is 59%. That is, exports only start contributing significantly to economic growth when they are above 59% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). SACU should put in place economic policies and regulations that are skewed towards the improvement of the competitiveness of its local products on the global market and also strategically consider export-oriented industrialization strategies. Efforts should also be channeled towards the implementation of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements and harnessing the synergic benefits through the adoption of deliberate value chain mechanisms and initiatives.
Effectiveness of Orthotic Treatment on Clinical Outcomes of the Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Under Different Wearing Compliance Levels
Authors: Liu Shan , Ho Lok Yi , Hassan Beygi Babak , Wong Man Sang 
Published: December 2023

Background:
Wearing spinal orthosis for 16 to 23 hours a day during the teenage years could be challenging and stressful for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The investigation of clinical outcomes under various orthosis-wearing compliances can provide helpful insight into orthotic treatment dosage. This systematic review aims to investigate actual orthosis-wearing compliance and evaluate the effectiveness of orthotic treatment in controlling scoliotic curvature and preventing surgery for patients with AIS under various levels of orthosis-wearing compliance.

Methods:
A literature search of 7 electronic databases, namely PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL Complete, Web of Science, and Embase, was conducted on May 19, 2023. Participant characteristics, orthotic treatment protocols, compliance information, outcome measures, and key findings were extracted. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scales were used to evaluate the quality of included cohort and case-control studies.

Results:
This study systematically reviewed 17 of 1,799 identified studies, including 1,981 subjects. The actual compliance was inconsistent and ranged from 7.0 to 18.8 hours daily. The proportion of compliant subjects in each study varied from 16.0% to 78.6% due to the heterogeneity of calculation period, measurement methods, and orthosis prescription time. Thirteen studies were investigated to determine the effectiveness of orthotic treatment in controlling curve deformity under different compliance groups, and 2 studies compared the compliance under different treatment outcomes. The rate of curve progression, defined as surpassing the measurement error threshold of 5° or 6° after orthotic treatment, varied from 1.8% to 91.7% across the studies. Ten studies defined the treatment failure, surgery, or surgery indication as Cobb angle progressing to a certain degree (e.g., 40°, 45°, or 50°) and reported failure/surgery/surgery indication rates ranging from 0.0% to 91.7% among different compliance level groups.

Conclusion:
This review found that the actual compliance with orthotic treatment was generally lower than the prescribed wearing time and exhibited wide variation among different studies. The electronic compliance monitors show promise in regular orthotic treatment practice. More importantly, the group with higher and consistent compliance has significantly less curve progression and lower surgery or failure rate than the group with lower and inconsistent compliance. Further studies are proposed to investigate the minimal orthosis-wearing compliance in patients with AIS treated with different types of orthoses.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, Systematic Review. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Carbon and Oxygen Stable Isotopes in Isochemical Contact Metamorphism (Case Study of the Kochumdek Aureole, East Siberia)
Authors: Sokol E.V. , Deviatiiarova A.S. , Pyryaev A.N. , Bul’bak T.A. , Tomilenko A.A. , Seretkin Yu.V. , Pekov I.V. , Nekipelova A.V. , Khvorov P.V. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
––Carbon and oxygen isotope compositions have been determined in (CO3)-groups of Ca carbonate–silicate minerals (spurrite, tilleyite, and scapolite) and calcite from samples of the Kochumdek contact aureole (East Siberia). The observed small δ13C and δ18O difference between the Kochumdek marbles and their protoliths (Δδ13C ≤ 1.5‰ and Δδ18O ≤ 2.0‰) is consistent with moderate high-temperature metamorphic decarbonation of the protolith (0.1–0.2) and with almost absent metasomatic alteration in the aureole. Significant 18O depletion was inferred only for vein scapolite (δ18O from +17.0 to +17.3‰ V-SMOW) and calcite from recrystallized limestone layers (δ18O from +18.9 to +20.6‰), which is evidence for limited infiltration of magmatic aqueous fluids from the cooling sill into the host sediments. The C and O isotope compositions of (CO3)-bearing spurrite and tilleyite show lower 18O depletion and insignificant 13C depletion relative to calcite, especially in highest-temperature merwinite marble (Δδ18OSpu–Cal = +3.3‰; Δδ13CSpu–Cal = –0.8‰). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) provided constraints on the relative percentages of H2O and CO2 in the fluid at highest-temperature spurrite-merwinite metamorphism. The fluid phase entrapped in calcite from merwinite marble is rich in CO2(XCO2=0.4−0.6).
Research on Bubble Migration in Pipe Under Gas-Liquid Countercurrent Flow
Authors: Yin Bangtang , Ding Tianbao , Zhang Wei , Wang Zhiyuan , Sun Baojiang , Gao Yonghai , Zhang Jianbo 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Body text 1 paragraph. Deep/ultra-deep gas reservoirs generally have the characteristics of deep well depth, high temperature and high pressure (maximum temperature &gt; 200 °C, maximum pressure &gt; 190 MPa), multiple fractures, narrow safety density window (the narrowest window &lt; 0.01 g·cm-3), and many layers. During drilling, it is easy to encounter abnormal high pressure formation, and the probability of overflow is high[1]. The conventional circulation killing method circulates the gas in the wellbore out of the wellbore through positive circulation killing or reverse circulation killing. The positive circulation killing fluid is pumped into the annulus by the drill pipe, and the gas in the wellbore is discharged with the killing fluid through the bottom hole, annulus and wellhead. The flow in the annulus is gas-liquid upward flow in the same direction. The reverse circulation killing well is pumped into the drill pipe by the annulus, and the gas in the wellbore is discharged through the bottom hole-drill pipe-wellhead circulation with the killing fluid[2]. Due to the complexity of the formation pressure system in deep wells, the conventional cyclic well killing operation is often used to over-pressure and over-leak, and the leakage and inrush are alternating, which even leads to the risk of blowout out of control and single well scrapping. The conventional cyclic well killing method is not applicable. The pressure-back well killing method can directly pressure the overflow gas containing hydrogen sulfide back to the formation, which is a common well killing method for dealing with the drilling overflow of such gas reservoirs. In the process of killing, the killing fluid flows downward from the wellhead annulus pump, and the invading gas in the wellbore moves upward due to buoyancy. The killing fluid and the invading gas in the wellbore flow in the opposite direction, forming a gas-liquid reverse two-phase flow in the wellbore.
For the problem of bubble migration in gas-liquid two-phase flow, different scholars have carried out many studies in various aspects. Liu[3] carried out visual experiments on the movement behavior of single bubbles in distilled water, tap water and glycerol solution, and studied the rising process and velocity change of bubbles in static liquid phase. Based on experiments and numerical simulations, Xu[4] studied the rising trajectory of a single bubble in viscoelastic fluid and the interaction between two bubbles. Wang et al.[5] studied the fusion process of two coaxial bubbles, and found that the bubbles were easy to break when the surface tension was small, and the bubbles did not fuse when the surface tension was large. Azzopardi et al.[6] experimentally studied the rising law of large bubbles in high viscosity liquid, and established the corresponding velocity model.
Effectiveness and brain mechanism of 40 Hz multitarget transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on motor learning in stroke patients: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lai Ming-Hui , Yu Xiao-Ming , Lu Yan , Wang Hong-Lin , Fu Wang , Zhou Huan-Xia , Li Yuan-Li , Shan Chun-Lei , Wang Feng , Wang Cong 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background:40 Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has proven to be an effective treatment for improving cognition, a crucial factor in motor learning. However, current studies are predominantly focused on the motor cortex, and the potential brain mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects are still unclear. Given the interconnected nature of motor learning within the brain network, we have proposed a novel approach known as multitarget tACS. This study aims to ascertain whether multitarget tACS is more effective than single-target stimulation in stroke patients and to further explore the potential underlying brain mechanisms by using techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Methods: This study employs a double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized controlled trial design with a 2-week intervention period. Both participants and outcome assessors will remain unaware of treatment allocation throughout the study. Thirty-nine stroke patients will be recruited and randomized into three distinct groups, including the sham tACS group (SS group), the single-target tACS group (ST group), and the multitarget tACS group (MT group), at a 1:1:1 ratio. The primary outcomes are series reaction time tests (SRTTs) combined with electroencephalograms (EEGs). The secondary outcomes include motor evoked potential (MEP), central motor conduction time (CMCT), short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), box and block test (BBT) and blood sample RNA sequencing. The tACS interventions for all three groups will be administered over a 2-week period, with outcome assessments conducted at baseline (T0) and 1 day (T1), 7 days (T2), and 14 days (T3) of the intervention phase.
Discussion: The study’s findings will determine the potential of 40 Hz tACS to improve motor learning in stroke patients. Additionally, it will compare the effectiveness of multitarget and single-target approaches, shedding light on their respective improvement effects. Through the utilization of techniques such as TMS and MRI, the study aims to uncover the underlying brain mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic impact. Furthermore, the intervention has the potential to facilitate motor learning efficiency, thereby contributing to the advancement of future stroke rehabilitation treatment.
Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2300073465. Registered on July 11, 2023.
Circular RNA circE7 Encoded by Human Papillomavirus Facilitates Immune Evasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma through Epigenetically Downregulating Galectin-9
Authors: Xiong Wei , Ge Junshang , Guo Jiayue , Meng Yi , Chen Pan , Wang Jie , Shi Lei , Wang Dan , Qu Hongke , Wu Pan , Fan Chunmei , Zhang Shanshan , Liao Qianjin , Zhou Ming , Xiang Bo , Wang Fuyan , Gong Zhaojian , Zeng Zhaoyang 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Immune evasion represents a crucial milestone in the progression of cancer and serves as the theoretical foundation for tumor immunotherapy. Currently, immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 have shown promising therapeutic efficacy in clinical settings for various tumors. However, a significant proportion of tumor patients fail to benefit from this class of immune checkpoint inhibitors, implying potential involvement of other immune checkpoint molecules in tumor immune escape. In this study, we unveiled a negative association between Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-encoded circular RNA circE7 and the presence of infiltrating CD8+ T cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that circE7 suppressed the function and activity of T cells by downregulating the transcription of LGALS9, which encodes the galectin-9 protein. The unexpected molecular mechanism involved the binding of circE7 to acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), enhancing its dephosphorylation, and thereby activation of ACC1, which resulted in a reduction in the acetylation level of H3K27 in the promoter region of LGALS9 gene and subsequent downregulation of galectin-9 expression. Notably, galectin-9 interacts with immune checkpoint molecules TIM-3 and PD-1 present on T cell surface, triggering T cells to secrete cytotoxic cytokines and hindering T cell apoptosis. In essence, HPV-mediated downregulation of galectin-9 expression through circE7 impairs T cell function and activity, ultimately promoting immune evasion in HNSCC. Importantly, we confirmed that a combination of monoclonal antibodies simultaneously targeting TIM-3 and PD-1 significantly improved the immunotherapeutic efficacy in HNSCC both in vitro and in animal models. Our study unveils a novel mechanism through which HPV promotes immune evasion in HNSCC via circE7-mediated epigenetic modification, offering a new therapeutic strategy for enhanced HNSCC immunotherapy.
NPR1, NPR3 and NPR4 Cooperate to Inhibit the Production of Psm ES4326/avrRpt2-Induced Autophagosome via EDS1
Authors: Meng Yixuan , Li Bingcong , Zhou Yue , Zhang Baihong , Chen Wenli 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Our previous study found that Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola (Psm) ES4326/avrRpt2 may induce autophagy via EDS1, which was inhibited by NPR1 (nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related gene 1). In this study, we investigated the roles of EDS1 (enhanced disease susceptibility 1), NPR1, NPR3, NPR4 and their potential cooperation in regulating autophagy induced by Psm ES4326/avrRpt2in Arabidopsis. We confirmed the crucial role of EDS1 and its influence on ATGs (autophagy-related genes) and NBR1 (neighbor of BRCA1 gene 1) under normal and Psm ES4326/avrRpt2 infection. Furthermore, we looked into autophagic flux induced by Psm ES4326/avrRpt2 in GFP-ATG8a/Col (Columbia) and GFP-ATG8a/nprs mutants. The number of autophagosomes in GFP-ATG8a/npr34(npr3npr4) was significantly lower than in GFP-ATG8a/Col, while was significantly higher in GFP-ATG8a/npr134 (npr1npr3npr4) under both normal and Psm ES4326/avrRpt2 treatment. Upon the same treatment, the expression level of NBR1 exhibited a decrease in GFP-ATG8a/npr34but an increase in GFP-ATG8a/npr134 compared with GFP-ATG8a/Col. We further found that the expression of EDS1 and RPS4 in npr134mutant was significantly higher than in Col. The above results suggested that Psm ES4326/avrRpt2 may activate RPS4 to induce the generation of autophagosome through EDS1, and NPR1, NPR4, NPR3 together inhibited the formation of autophagosome.
Optimized Dimensioning and Economic Assessment of Decentralized Hybrid Small Wind and PV Power Systems for Residential Buildings
Authors: Brennenstuhl Marcus , Otto Robert , Schembera Björn , Eicker Ursula 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

In Germany, renewable energy sources play a crucial role in electricity generation, with wind and photovoltaic (PV) leading the way. In 2022, large wind turbines contributed 24.1% of the electricity generated, while PV accounted for 10.6%. Contrary, small wind power holds a marginal share of less than 0.01%. This is unfortunate as the decentralized nature of small wind power at low-voltage grid level offers benefits like reducing the need for grid expansion or infrastructure upgrades. Although small wind power currently suits locations with favorable wind potential, changing factors such as rising electricity prices, falling battery storage costs, and growing electrification in heating and transport could create new opportunities. Within this work a residential energy supply system consisting of small wind turbine, PV, heat pump, battery storage, and electric vehicle was dimensioned for different sites in Germany and Canada based on detailed simulation models and genetic algorithms. This was carried out for various economic framework conditions. Results indicate that with electricity purchase costs above 0.42 €/kWh, combined with a 25% reduction in small wind turbine and battery storage investment expenses, economic viability could be significantly enhanced. This might expand the applicability of small wind power to diverse sites.
Wood-based Transparent Luminescent Materials
Authors: Xie Sheng , Wang Shuodong , He Jinzhi , Yin Chunguang , Liu Haohao , Guo Jing , Zhang Yang , Yao Wenhuan , Zeng Zebin 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Luminescent wood materials are an emerging class of biomass hybrid host materials, owing to the hierarchical porous structure and functionalization versatility. The fluorescence properties are largely dependent on exogenous fluorophores, which are, however, often plagued by notorious aggregation effects. In this work, an efficient strategy for the preparation of luminescent transparent wood materials is developed by incorporating tetraphenylethylene-derived aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active fluorophores during a delignification-backfill transparency process. These wood hybrids showed unexpected luminescence enhancement that significantly increased the fluorescence quantum yield of the fluorophores up to 99%, much higher than that of the fluorophores in other states such as crystalline solids or doped in a polymer substrate. Mechanistic investigations reveal that in-situ polymerization of pre-polymerized methyl methacrylate in delignified microporous wood frames produces high molecular weight ordered PMMA polymers, resulting in a rigid molecular environment that improves the luminescence efficiency of TPE-based fluorophores at the interfaces of PMMA polymer and cell walls. By confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), this excellent fluorescence staining capability was furthermore utilized to visualize the intrinsic porous network of wood in three dimensions over a large volume with sub-micron resolution, thus providing an alternative approach to the study of structure-function relationships in such wood hybrids.
A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing - A Case Report and Literature Review of PAH Emergence at Complete Remission of SLE-PIG
Authors: Liang yufeng , Li Qiu , qiaozhen Liao , Huang Binsan , yongping chen 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
We present an interesting case where severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) developed in a 30-year-old male systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient after achieving complete remission of class V lupus nephritis (LN) complicated with overlooked podocytic infolding glomerulopathy (PIG). Despite rapid renal response to conventional therapy, emergent PAH failed to improve with SLE immunosuppression, suggesting the predominance of pulmonary vascular remodeling over immunological activity in PAH persistence. Notably, glucocorticoid resulted in avascular necrosis without PAH remission. However, belimumab combined with pulmonary vasculature-targeting agents effectively lowered pulmonary pressure. This case highlights that PAH requires ongoing surveillance even after apparent LN/SLE resolution, and directly rectifying vascular changes, rather than immunosuppression alone, is key to optimal PAH control. It also provides clues to potent treatment strategies for this refractory SLE complication. The association between PIG and PAH warrants further research.
Nutritional Intake, Environmental Factors, and Their Impact on Myopia Prevalence in Korean Children Aged 5 to 12 Years
Authors: Kim Jeong-Mee , Choi Yean Jung 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Myopia is a complex condition influenced by numerous factors, including genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices. Although evidence indicates that certain dietary factors may influence the development of myopia, this relationship is still not completely understood and is a topic of ongoing research. This study analyzed the relationship between dietary habits, environmental factors, and the prevalence of myopia in a sample of 24,345 Korean children aged 5–12 years. The risk of myopia increased with age, especially notable between ages 11 and 12, and was higher in children with both parents having myopia. Dietary factors played a crucial role; children with myopia had significantly lower intake of fat, omega-3 fatty acids, and retinol but higher intake of other nutrients compared to emmetropic and hyperopic counterparts. High consumption of carbohydrates, protein, phosphorus, iron, potassium, and sodium was associated with increased myopia risk. High sodium intake was particularly associated with a 2.05-fold increased myopia risk. These findings underscore the complex interplay between diet, environment, and genetic factors in the development of myopia, suggesting the need for holistic approaches in managing children's health and vision.