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Finite Hybrid- and Semi-Markov Chains
Full text linkThe ergodic behaviour of finite Markov chains having also instantaneous transition are considered. Some estimates are obtained which complement our previous work [29]. Also, an optimal switching control model for semi-Markov chains is analysed, without any particular assumptions on the recurrent classes
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Fairy-Tale Injustice: Overcoming Everyday Aggression
No full textThe 1957 and 1997 adaptations of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella make the problems of relational aggression and postracial macroaggression known to vast audiences by highlighting the pain of social inequity. Theatrical elements of staging and set design, along with televisual camera work, show audiences how aggression happens in everyday social exchanges. Recognizing aggressive superiority in the “Cinderella” tale type, and specifically in Rodgers and Hammerstein adaptations, invites thinking with the tale to consider how the televised musical portrays nonviolent aggressive acts as unjust and how they offer redress
Interview with Stephania Dugazon, Author of Caramelle
No full textThis interview serves as an introduction to the Haitian fairy tale Caramelle, by Stephania Dugazon. Dugazon created the tale to educate children about child domestic labor, raising awareness in Haiti and around the world about the fate of children who are often marginalized because of their social status as a restavek, or exploited child worker
Pretty in Patriarchal Pink: Barbie’s Genitals and the Grimm Fairy-Tale Horrors of Abject Motherhood
No full textGreta Gerwig’s Barbie (2023) purports to be a feminist film by the director’s admission. Yet underneath the phantasmagoria of pink plastic and profemale pronouncements, Barbie reinscribes patriarchal ideologies with its reactionary insistence that women’s lives derive meaningfulness largely through motherhood, even as this motherhood emerges as abject—a central contradiction of patriarchal oppression also emergent in literary fairy tales. Using Kristeva’s Powers of Horror as descriptive model, the following shows how the movie reproduces fairy-tale paradigms of abject motherhood and consequently reinforces the patriarchal ideologies identified as disempowering to women to undermine the raison d’être of the Barbie doll’s existence
Outcomes of Scleral Buckle Repair in the Modern Management of Non-Complex Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment
No full textTitle: Outcomes of Primary Scleral Buckle Repair in the Modern Management of Non-
Complex Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment
Purpose: To report surgical outcomes in eyes with non-complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment managed with primary scleral buckle (SB) at a single academic institution over a 10-year period, with a secondary focus to determine if outcomes varied based on macula detachment status, presence of posterior vitreous detachment, and location of retinal detachment and retinal breaks.
Methods: Retrospective, consecutive, interventional case series of SB performed in the management of non-complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment by a single group of vitreoretinal surgeons between 2014-2023. Anatomic success was subcategorized into single surgery anatomic success (SSAS) and final anatomic success (FAS), defined as achieving retinal attachment after a single operation (SSAS) and requiring ≥ 1 operation to achieve retinal attachment (FAS).
Results: Six-hundred and seven eyes were included. The median length of follow up in months was 31, (range, 3-115). For the total cohort we report a SSAS of 90.8% and FAS of 96.7%. The majority (65.7%) of cases were macula-on. While there was no significant difference in SSAS (92.2%, macula-on vs 88.0%, macula-off; p=0.117), FAS was significantly greater in eyes with macular attachment status at time of surgery (98.0%, macula-on vs 94.2%, macula off; p=0.026). Secondary analysis for the presence of PVD showed no significant difference in SSAS (90.6%, PVD vs 91.0%, no PVD; p=0.978) or FAS (98.0%, PVD vs 95.5%, no PVD; p=0.135). The location of retinal detachment also did not determine a significant difference in SSAS (91%, inferior vs 90.7%, superior vs 90.4%, equal clock hours of detachment above and below the horizontal meridian; p=0.985) or FAS (97.5%, inferior vs 97.1%, superior vs 92.8%, equal clock hours of detachment above and below the horizontal meridian; p=0.094). Furthermore, there was no significant difference based on the presence of inferior retinal breaks in SSAS (89.7%, inferior retinal breaks vs 91.7%, no identified inferior retinal breaks; p=0.469) or FAS (96.1%, inferior retinal breaks vs 97.2%, no identified inferior retinal breaks; p=0.571).
Conclusion: Primary SB yields excellent outcomes and remains a successful surgical option for varying anatomic configurations of non-complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
Leveraging Large-Language Models As Collaborative Reasoning Partners To Enhance Scientific Workflow
No full textThe rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) has transformed artificial intelligence, offering advanced capabilities in text generation, natural language understanding, and multi-modal interactions. However, their use as standalone tools or as perceived repositories of static knowledge has limited their potential in real-world applications, especially in critical domains like healthcare and scientific research, where transparency, explainability, and accountability are paramount. This research addresses these limitations by conceptualizing LLMs as reasoning engines within a hybrid framework that integrates retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and case-based reasoning (CBR) within a note-taking application.
The study introduces a novel system, LmRaC, designed to enhance the reliability, explainability, and collaborative utility of LLMs. LmRaC is embedded within the Obsidian note-taking application, offering a dynamic environment where users can interact with LLM-powered tools to generate traceable and goal-oriented solutions. By combining authoritative RAG-based information retrieval with a collaborative CBR framework, the system ensures that answers are grounded in verified data while fostering iterative problem-solving processes. This design mitigates hallucinations, improves reasoning accuracy, and supports the seamless integration of new quantitative data into evolving experimental contexts.
Across its three development phases, LmRaC showcases innovations that redefine the integration of LLMs into scientific workflows. In the command-line phase, a two-pass RAG approach incorporates a usefulness metric to filter retrieved information, reducing hallucinations and enhancing precision. The web application phase introduce a fully interactive user interface to domain knowledge and experimental data and enhanced reasoning to enabling comprehensive, data-aware answers. Finally, the collaborative note-taking phase embeds case-based reasoning (CBR) into a unified platform, leveraging graph databases and vector embeddings for efficient knowledge management while promoting human-AI collaboration through iterative workflows. Together, these advancements create a dynamic, transparent, and adaptive system that amplifies human reasoning and facilitates collaborative scientific discovery.
The system’s interdisciplinary design integrates human workflow principles with LLM-enhanced tools to enhance interaction and adaptability, providing a powerful tool for addressing complex, evolving problems in scientific research. By positioning LLMs as collaborative partners rather than autonomous oracles, this work lays the foundation for a new paradigm in AI-human collaboration, emphasizing transparency, ethical accountability, and dynamic knowledge integration. These contributions set the stage for more responsible and impactful applications of AI across critical domains, advancing human knowledge and decision-making
Modulation Of Global Proteome And Phosphoproteome By Trans-Resveratrol And Hesperetin Coformulation In Diabetic Wound
No full textDiabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting over 38 million individuals in the United States and hundreds of millions globally. Among its complications, impaired wound healing remains a major clinical challenge, driven by persistent inflammation, oxidative stress, and a delayed transition to the proliferative phase of repair. These disruptions result in chronic, non-healing wounds with elevated risk of infection and tissue degeneration, placing a significant burden on healthcare systems. Despite progress in wound care technologies, current therapies often fail to correct the underlying molecular dysfunctions, underscoring the need for targeted interventions that restore normal healing trajectories.This study explores the proteomic and phosphoproteomic landscapes of wound tissues from diabetic db/db mice and human endothelial cells treated with a small-molecule coformulation of trans-resveratrol (tRES) and hesperetin (HESP)—compounds previously shown to accelerate tissue repair. By profiling protein and phosphoprotein expression changes in response to treatment, we aim to uncover mechanistic insights and identify candidate pathways for therapeutic intervention. Proteomic analysis revealed substantial differences in protein expression between diabetic and healthy conditions, with tRES+HESP treatment restoring the abundance of seven proteins in mouse wound tissue and six proteins in human endothelial cells. Phosphoproteomic profiling identified five phosphoproteins in mouse tissue and six in human cells whose phosphorylation states were similarly normalized. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that these proteins are involved in key biological processes including cytoskeletal organization, immune regulation, RNA metabolism, mitochondrial function, lipid processing, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Furthermore, the treatment modulated critical signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT, NFκB-mediated inflammation, and TGF-β signaling, all of which are essential for resolving inflammation and promoting tissue regeneration. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that tRES+HESP exerts broad molecular effects on wound healing pathways, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for restoring regenerative capacity in diabetic wounds. Future studies will be required to validate these molecular targets and assess their translational potential in clinical settings
Envisioning 4d Futures: Enhancing Design Repositories Through Meta-Ontology Information Modeling And Physical-Mathematical Expression Trees
No full text4D printing, an emerging innovation in additive manufacturing, builds upon 3D printing by introducing time as an additional dimension. This advancement enables printed structures to transform their shapes, properties, or functionalities in response to external stimuli, such as heat, light, or humidity. Unlike 3D printing, which produces static objects, 4D printing combines smart materials, advanced design methodologies, and process optimization to create dynamic, adaptive products. Applications range from healthcare, where self-adjusting implants and stents can revolutionize patient care, to aerospace, enabling deployable, lightweight structures with minimal mechanical complexity.
Despite its potential, 4D printing faces significant challenges that hinder its development and broader adoption. One major issue is the absence of a unified and reusable definition for 4D printing knowledge, resulting in fragmented frameworks and inconsistent terminology across disciplines. Another challenge lies in the lack of computational representations to model the transformation behaviors of 4D-printed objects, particularly the dynamic changes they undergo in response to stimuli. Without these models, it is difficult to simulate, optimize, or standardize the design processes for 4D printing. Additionally, the diversity of applications and the distributed nature of research complicate efforts to centralize and integrate knowledge resources into a cohesive repository.
This dissertation addresses these challenges through a threefold approach. First, it defines the characteristics of a unified and reusable knowledge model for 4D printing to streamline interdisciplinary communication. Second, it develops computational methods to represent transformation behaviors from static 3D to dynamic 4D systems, enabling simulation and optimization. Third, it proposes strategies for centralizing and integrating diverse knowledge resources, facilitating collaboration and innovation. By leveraging semantic modeling techniques, including knowledge graph development, this study bridges gaps across disciplines and offers a robust framework for understanding and advancing 4D printing.
The contributions of this research are multifaceted. Academically, it provides a systematic approach to 4D printing knowledge modeling, advancing the state of the art. For industry, it enhances the ability to design efficient, functional 4D-printed products. Societally, it fosters innovation in critical areas such as adaptable medical devices and sustainable materials. By addressing these foundational challenges, this dissertation lays the groundwork for the widespread adoption and transformative potential of 4D printing technology
The Endogenous Regulation And Exogenous Manipulation Of Mitochondrial Activity: Cytochrome C And Cytochrome C Oxidase
No full textMitochondria are regulated in order to efficiently couple energy production to energy demand. These processes, such as phosphorylations and acetylations on various electron transport chain (ETC) components, can become dysfunctional in the context of certain pathological conditions, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury. Ischemia-reperfusion injury occurs when blood flow is restored to an ischemic tissue, where blood flow was previously blocked. Under basal conditions, inhibitory phosphorylations on cytochrome c (Cytc) and complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase, COX) control mitochondrial activity and work to maintain an optimal, intermediate mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). During ischemia, these inhibitory phosphorylations are lost, priming the mitochondria for hyperactivity upon reperfusion, which drives reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and, eventually, apoptosis. On the other hand, acetylations of Cytc are typically not present under basal conditions and instead are found in specific disease processes, such as prostate cancer or after ischemia. Specific wavelengths of infrared light (IRL) are known to either stimulate or inhibit mitochondrial activity. Inhibitory IRL would be useful in the context of ischemia-reperfusion injury, where hyperactive mitochondria cause tissue damage. By inhibiting these hyperactive mitochondria, the production of ROS can be prevented until normal mitochondrial homeostasis is restored. In order for IRL to be useful clinically, it must be known how much light is able to penetrate through the head into deep brain structures, which are most vulnerable to ischemia-reperfusion injury during stroke. First, this thesis covers what is known about the endogenous regulation of mitochondrial activity regarding phosphorylations and acetylations of Cytc. Second, a specific acetylation of Cytc, on lysine 7 (K7), is characterized. Third, the dysregulation of Cytc during stroke and how this can be treated by using specific wavelengths of IRL to inhibit COX is presented. Lastly, the penetration of IRL through the human head is studied in a human cadaver model