bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Media Pembelajaran Interaktif Smart Finger Tenses Berbasis Website untuk Siswa Sekolah Menengah Pertama di Badung
Authors: Rosaline Nelly , Julianto I Nyoman Larry , Mudra I Wayan
Published: January 2024

Abstrak Pada era teknologi 4.0 saat ini, materi pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris masih kurang dipahami oleh siswa khususnya mengenai tenses yang dianggap rumit, dan proses penyampaiannya masih menggunakan media konvensional. Dari hal tersebut, dibutuhkan adanya inovasi metode dan media pembelajaran baru yang praktis dalam bentuk digital. Maka tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah merancang sebuah media pembelajaran interaktif menggunakan teknik smart finger tenses berbasis website dengan pendekatan gamifikasi. Metode pengumpulan data dilakukan di empat Sekolah Menengah Pertama (SMP) perintis melalui observasi, kuesioner, dan studi literatur. Pada penelitian sebelumnya, ditemukan teknik menghafal tenses dengan mudah menggunakan jari tangan yang disebut dengan smart finger, dengan menggunakan pendekatan teori dari Aristoteles. Kekurangan dari teknik ini adalah tidak memiliki media dan teknik ini masih dapat disederhanakan. Hasil dari penelitian ini berupa video animasi 2D menggunakan warna yang variative dan diimplementasikan teknik gamifikasi untuk memberikan kesan hiburan dan memotivasi pengguna agar tidak monoton dan membosankan. Teknik smart finger dipadukan dengan fitur permainan untuk memberikan cara yang praktis dan menyenangkan dalam meningkatkan pemahaman siswa terhadap tenses. Media ini juga dapat diakses secara fleksibel sehingga dapat mendukung proses pembelajaran di kelas maupun secara mandiri. Kata Kunci: gamifikasi, jari-jari pintar, media pembelajaran, situs web, tenses AbstractIn the current era of technology 4.0, English learning materials are still poorly understood by students, especially regarding tenses which are considered complicated, and the delivery process still uses conventional media. From this, there is a need for innovative methods and practical new learning media in digital form. So, the purpose of this research is to design an interactive learning media using website-based smart finger tenses technique with a gamification approach. The data collection method was conducted in four pioneering junior high schools (SMP), through observation, questionnaires, and literature studies. In the previous research, a technique to memorize tenses easily using fingers called smart finger was found, using the theoretical approach from Aristotle. The disadvantage of this technique is that it has no media and this technique can still be simplified. The result of this research is a 2D animated video, using varied colors, and implemented gamification techniques to give the impression of entertainment and motivate users so as not to be monotonous and boring. The smart finger technique is combined with game features to provide a practical and fun way to improve students' understanding of tenses. This media can also be accessed flexibly so that it can support the learning process in class or independently. Keywords: gamification, learning media, smart fingers, tenses, website
Gambaran IMT, VO2Max dan Kapasitas Fisik pada Mahasiswa Prodi Fisioterapi pasca Pembelajaran Online
Authors: Irianto Irianto , Sari Tirta , Sirenden Anastasya Fanny , Ainun Nur
Published: January 2024

Kualitas sistem organ tubuh meningkat melalui proses yang sistematis, ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kebugaran jasmani. WHO menyatakan dalam Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health, bahwa ada efek yang menguntungkan dan konsisten dari kapasitas fisik dalam mempertahankan berat badan. Dengan VO2Max yang baik maka seseorang mampu dengan maksimal menerima dan menjalankan program latihan sesuai dengan kapasitas fisik. Tujuan: penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran IMT, Vo2max, dan kapasitas fisik pada 56 mahasiswa baru prodi Fisioterapi angkatan 2022 Universitas Hasanuddin Pasca Pembelajaran Online. Metode: menggunakan metode penelitian analitik deskriptif dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Hasil penelitian: 56 mahasiswa dilakukan pengukuran terhadap nilai IMT, Vo2Max, serta kapasitas fisik (pull up, push up, sit up) didapatkan hasil berupa nilai sempurna untuk pull up (14,4%), push up (14,3%), sit up (16,1%) dengan kategori IMT normal. Sedangkan untuk kapasitas fisik sempurna untuk push up (7,1%), sit up (1,8%), pull up (7,1%) dengan kategori nilai Vo2Max bagus. Kesimpulan: secara umum indeks  massa tubuh, Vo2Max dan kapasitas fisik pada mahasiswa fisioterapi angkatan 2022, menunjukan bahwa responden yang memiliki indeks massa tubuh dengan hasil obesitas dan gemuk sulit untuk melakukan kegiatan kapasitas fisik. Data Vo2Max yang didapatkan dari latihan yang dilakukan hanya pus up yang memiliki hasil yang sempurna.
Analysis of Ömer Seyfettin's Stories about the Balkans in Terms of Narration Techniques
Authors: Aydın Nurullah
Published: January 2024

One of the founding figures of contemporary Turkish short story writing, Ömer Seyfettin, produced hundreds of literary works in his short life. Having spent part of his life in the Balkans, the author's stories such as "Beyaz Lale", "Bomba", and "Hürriyet Bayrakları" contain elements related to the Balkans. In this study, these stories of the author have been analyzed in terms of narrative techniques. Qualitative research methods, specifically document analysis, were utilized in the study. At the end of the review, it was determined that narrative, description, dialogue, and inner monologue techniques were intensively used in the mentioned stories, with one story preferring the inner monologue technique. These techniques were found to play a significant role in shaping the preparatory phase in the stories, summarizing events over time, creating an atmosphere, directing the development of events, and revealing the personality traits of the protagonists. Especially in realistically narrating the massacres that Muslim-Turks were subjected to during and after the Balkan Wars, these techniques were found to be effective. In light of these findings, it is believed that Ömer Seyfettin's narrative techniques can serve as an example for contemporary short story writers.
Bangladeshi Vehicle Identification via YOLO v8-Based License Plate Detection
Authors: Shakeel Noor-UL-Ain , Chowdhury Tanzia , Sarker Abdur Rahman , Rasel Ahmed Abdal Shafi , Fahim Sinhad Hossain
Published: January 2024

This paper presents a system for detecting Bangla license plates in images using YOLO V8, a state-of-the-art object detection framework. It aims to address the challenge of accurately recognizing intricate Bangla license plates. The literature review explores object detection techniques, the YOLO V8 model architecture, and prior studies on license plate detection. The methodology involves data collection, preprocessing, model training and fine-tuning, and license plate detection algorithms. Evaluation utilizes a dataset with basic annotations and metrics that demonstrate 98.4% mAP. The system is benchmarked against existing methods. Implementation difficulties such as data labeling and handling varying license plate formats are addressed. Privacy and fairness ethical considerations are examined. The paper summarizes the key findings, implications, and recommendations for future research.
Hubungan Gaya Kepemimpinan Transformasional Kepala Sekolah dan Budaya Organisasi Sekolah Dengan Kepuasan Kerja Guru SD di Kecamatan Cidahu
Authors: Nurhadidjah Ani , Ervin Reliavirli Rusti  , Rosita Tita , Hidayat Zainur
Published: January 2024

This study aims to determine the relationship between the principal's transformational leadership style, organizational culture, and job satisfaction of state elementary school teachers in Cidahu District, Sukabumi Regency. The research design used is descriptive research with a correlational approach. Subjects in this study (N = 163) were taken from the population and became a saturated sample. Data analysis used product moment correlation and multiple linear regression analysis with the help of SPSS v23 for Windows. The research results show that: (1) There is a positive and significant relationship between the transformational leadership style of school principals and teacher job satisfaction, with a correlation value of 0.694. (2) Based on a statistical study using the Pearson correlation test, there is a positive and significant relationship between school organizational culture and teacher job satisfaction with a correlation value of 0.620. (3) The results of multiple regression tests show that the relationship between the transformational leadership style variable of the school principal (X1) and school organizational culture (X2) simultaneously has an impact on teacher job satisfaction (Y), which is equal to 54%.
Pengaruh Metode CIRC Terhadap Kemampuan Membaca Pemahaman Berbasis Pendidikan Karakter Siswa Kelas V Sekolah Dasar
Authors: Bambang Sumarni
Published: January 2024

This study aims to find out whether there is an effect of the Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) method on the reading comprehension ability based on character education of elementary students in discourse text material. The research subjects consisted of two schools, namely SDN 44 Kota Ternate as the experimental class and SDN 45 Kota Ternate as the control class. Research subjects were determined based on the results of the average pretest and posttest scores. The research design used in this study was a quasi-experimental research design involving experimental and control groups, with a non-equivalent control group design. Students' character education-based reading comprehension ability was measured using a multiplechoice test. Measurement results data were analyzed using the t-test with the help of the SPSS 16.0 for Windows program. The results of this study indicated that the average percentage value increased so that learning using the Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) method on students' reading comprehension skills was higher 76, 33 compared to students who study with conventional learning. Research data analysis techniques were carried out by descriptive analysis and statistical analysis using a t-test with a significance of 0.050 for hypothesis testing. For this reason, based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the application of the Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) method can affect the ability to read comprehension based on character education in fifth grade elementary school students.
Ny avhandling: Om interna gränser för hemlösa EU-migranter och den norska välfärdsstaten.
Authors: Sundbäck Liselott
Published: January 2024

Turid Misjes doktorsavhandling Social work(ers) and homeless EU migrants: welfare bordering in Norway har en etnografisk forskningsansats och är en sammanläggningsavhandling bestående av tre publicerade artiklar och en sammanbindande kappa. Det centrala forskningsproblemet i Misjes avhandling är hur gränser dras internt i välfärdsstaten, vem som har rätt till social- och hälsovårdstjänster samt bidrag och vem som blir utanför. Vidare utforskar Misje hur denna interna gränsdragning skapar och omskapar migrationspolitiken som i sin tur formar den norska välfärdsstaten. I centrum för Misjes avhandling står såväl professionellas som brukares perspektiv och tack vare detta top-down- och bottom-up-perspektiv presenteras en nyanserad och holistisk bild av interna gränsdragningar. Eftersom min egen doktorsavhandling i socialpolitik även fokuserar på möten mellan migranter och praktiker i välfärdsstaten är det med stort intresse jag läst Misjes avhandling.
Hubungan Dukungan Sosial Dengan Self Acceptance Pada Pasien Gagal Ginjal Kronik Yang Menjalani Hemodialisa
Authors: Suandika Made Suandika , Hidayat Wiwit Arif , Siwi Adiratna Sekar
Published: January 2024

Terlepas dari status fisiknya, pasien CKD perlu merasakan self-acceptance terhadap dirinya sendiri. Pada penelitian ini, pasien CKD yang menjalani hemodialisis di RSU Dadi Keluarga Purwokerto akan diperiksa hubungan antara dukungan sosial dan penerimaan diri. Dengan pendekatan cross-sectional, non-probability Accidental Sampling sebagai strategi pengumpulan sampel, dan formula software G-power untuk pengambilan sampel, metode penelitian ini menggunakan analisis korelatif untuk mengumpulkan data dari 70 responden. Kuesioner Penerimaan Diri Tanpa Syarat (USAQ) dan Kuesioner Dukungan Sosial digunakan dalam penelitian ini. 43 responden (61,4%) berjenis kelamin laki-laki dan berusia antara 46 hingga 65 tahun merupakan karakteristik mayoritas. 13 hingga 24 bulan dihabiskan untuk hemodialisis. 18 responden (25,7%), yang pendidikan terakhirnya adalah SMA atau SMP, masing-masing 49 responden (70%) dan 35 responden (50%) mempunyai pekerjaan. Berdasarkan hasil variabel independen dan dependen, diperoleh dukungan sosial baik sebanyak 51 responden (72,9%) dan penerimaan diri sedang sebanyak 47 responden (67,1%). Dengan nilai p-value 0,000 (p-value 0,005) dan koefisien korelasi 0,619, temuan penelitian ini menunjukkan adanya hubungan substansial antara dukungan sosial dan penerimaan diri. Hubungan ini kuat. Hasilnya, pada seseorang yang pernah menjalani terapi hemodialisis, dukungan sosial sangat erat kaitannya dengan penerimaan diri.
Gambaran Ketepatan Orotracheal Tube dengan Chula Formula pada Anestesi Umum
Authors: Afifah Ishma Rayhana , Suandika Made , Susanto Amin
Published: January 2024

Kedalaman dan ketepatan orotracheal tube merupakan hal yang harus diperhatikan untuk menghindari malposisi endotracheal tube. Chula formula merupakan metode yang dilgunakan untuk memprediksi ketepatan orotracheal tube pada posisi yang tepat sebelum dilakukan intubasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui ketepatan orotracheal tube dengan chula formula pada anestesi umum. Metode penelitian ini adalah kuantitatif dengan pendekatan descriptive observational. Teknik sampling dengan total sampling dengan jumlah sampel sebanyak 35 pasien yang menjalani intubasi orotracheal tube di Rumah Sakit Emanuel. Data diambil dengan melakukan observasi ketepatan orotracheal tube menggunakan chula formula saat dilakukan intubasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukan ketepatan orotracheal tube dengan chula formula memiliki ketepatan 100%. Saran bagi penelitian selanjutnya mengukur tinggi badan secara langsung dan menerapkan chula formula pada suku lain.
Pengaruh Edukasi Gizi Melalui Akun Instagram Dalam Meningkatkan Pengetahuan Anemia
Authors: Syahidah Amirah , Devriany Ade , Akhiat Akhiat
Published: January 2024

Remaja putri termasuk kelompok yang beresiko mengalami anemia gizi besi. Remaja putri mengalami peningkatan kebutuhan zat gizi terutama zat gizi besi. Hal ini terjadi akibat dari siklus menstruasi yang mulai terjadi pada fase remaja putri. Selain itu, remaja putri mulai memperhatikan bentuk tubuh sehingga menjalani diet yang berlebihan. Salah satu faktor penyebab terjadinya perilaku tersebut adalah pengetahuan anemia yang rendah. Untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut dapat dilakukan edukasi pengetahuan anemia pada remaja putri. Salah satu metode yang dapat digunakan adalah melalui Instagram. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mengetahui pengaruh edukasi gizi melalui media sosial Instagram terhadap pengetahuan anemia remaja putri di Poltekkes Kemenkes Pangkalpinang. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan desain pra eksperimental dengan one group pretest-posttest design yang melibatkan 222 sampel di Poltekkes Kemenkes Pangkalpinang yang dipilih dengan teknik stratified random sampling. Uji statistik yang digunakan adalah uji Wicolxon. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan terjadi peningkatan rata-rata pengetahuan responden, dari skor 63,96 menjadi 72,64. Uji statistik menunjukkan terjadinya peningkatan pengetahuan (p-value 0,000). Tidak ada perbedaan signifikan tingkat pengetahuan anemia mahasiswi antar jurusan. Edukasi melalui akun Instagram berpengaruh terhadap pengetahuan anemia mahasiswi di Poltekkes Kemenkes Pangkalpinang. Peneliti selanjutnya dapat menjadikan remaja putri yang berada di masa awal (12-15 tahun) untuk menjadi subjek penelitian berikutnya.
Analisis Stres Kerja Pada Pekerja Bagian Produksi Springbed
Authors: Saputri Erianda , Dewi Lisneni , Hariani Yulia
Published: January 2024

The problem of work stress in an organization is an indication that needs to be observed since demands for efficiency in work begin to emerge. Leaders need to manage work stress effectively so that its negative impact on the company can be minimized. Work stress can cause individuals or employees to experience ongoing anxiety, increased emotional tension, disturbances in thought processes, and significant physical impacts. The aim of the research is to analyze work stress in production workersSpring bed at Company X. The type of research used is a quantitative approachcross sectional. The sample in this study consisted of 62 workers. Data analysis using testschi square. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between age (p-value 0.017), gender (p-value 0.017) and work time (p-value 0.04) with work stress. There is no relationship between work fatigue (p-value 0.66) with work stress. This is caused by two factors, namely work environment and organizational factors. Workers are expected to use rest time to stretch their muscles, ensure adequate nutritional and mineral water intake, and comply with guidelines for using personal protective equipment to maintain occupational safety and health.
Integrating Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Derived Vegetation and Texture Indices for the Estimation of Leaf Nitrogen Concentration in Drip-Irrigated Cotton under Reduced Nitrogen Treatment and Different Plant Densities
Authors: Li Minghua , Liu Yang , Lu Xi , Jiang Jiale , Ma Xuehua , Wen Ming , Ma Fuyu
Published: January 2024

The accurate assessment of nitrogen (N) status is important for N management and yield improvement. The N status in plants is affected by plant densities and N application rates, while the methods for assessing the N status in drip-irrigated cotton under reduced nitrogen treatment and different plant densities are lacking. Therefore, this study was conducted with four different N treatments (195.5, 299, 402.5, and 506 kg N ha−1) and three sowing densities (6.9 × 104, 13.8 × 104, and 24 × 104 plants ha−1) by using a low-cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system to acquire RGB imagery at a 10 m flight altitude at cotton main growth stages. We evaluated the performance of different ground resolutions (1.3, 2.6, 5.2, 10.4, 20.8, 41.6, 83.2, and 166.4 cm) for image textures, vegetation indices (VIs), and their combination for leaf N concentration (LNC) estimation using four regression methods (stepwise multiple linear regression, SMLR; support vector regression, SVR; extreme learning machine, ELM; random forest, RF). The results showed that combining VIs (ExGR, GRVI, GBRI, GRRI, MGRVI, RGBVI) and textures (VAR, HOM, CON, DIS) yielded higher estimation accuracy than using either alone. Specifically, the RF regression models had a higher accuracy and stability than SMLR and the other two machine learning algorithms. The best accuracy (R2 = 0.87, RMSE = 3.14 g kg−1, rRMSE = 7.00%) was obtained when RF was applied in combination with VIs and texture. Thus, the combination of VIs and textures from UAV images using RF could improve the estimation accuracy of drip-irrigated cotton LNC and may have a potential contribution in the rapid and non-destructive nutrition monitoring and diagnosis of other crops or other growth parameters.
Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia with Suppressed Epigenetic Regulator HOXB13 Shows a Lower Incidence of Prostate Cancer Development
Authors: Barashi Nimrod S. , Li Tiandao , Angappulige Duminduni H. , Zhang Bo , O’Gorman Harry , Nottingham Charles U. , Shetty Anup S. , Ippolito Joseph E. , Andriole Gerald L. , Mahajan Nupam P. , Kim Eric H. , Mahajan Kiran
Published: January 2024

Our objective was to identify variations in gene expression that could help elucidate the pathways for the development of prostate cancer (PCa) in men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). We included 98 men with BPH, a positive prostate MRI (Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System; PIRADS ≥ 4), and a negative biopsy from November 2014 to January 2018. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed on tissue cores from the MRI lesion and a geographically distant region (two regions per patient). All patients were followed for at least three years to identify who went on to develop PCa. We compared the gene expressions of those who did not develop PCa (“BPH-only”) vs. those who did (“BPH/PCa”). Then, we identified the subset of men with BPH who had the highest American Urological Association (AUA) symptom scores (“symptomatic BPH”) and compared their gene expression to the BPH/PCa group. At a median follow-up of 47.5 months, 15 men had developed PCa while 83 did not. We compared gene expressions of 14 men with symptomatic BPH (AUAss ≥ 18) vs. 15 with BPH/PCa. We found two clusters of genes, suggesting the two groups had distinctive molecular features. Differential analysis revealed genes that were upregulated in BPH-only and downregulated in BPH/PCa, and vice versa. Symptomatic BPH men had upregulation of T-cell activation markers (TCR, CD3, ZAP70, IL-2 and IFN-γ and chemokine receptors, CXCL9/10) expression. In contrast, men with BPH/PCa had upregulation of NKX3-1 and HOXB13 transcription factors associated with luminal epithelial progenitors but depleted of immune cells, suggesting a cell-autonomous role in immune evasion. Symptomatic BPH with immune-enriched landscapes may support anti-tumor immunity. RNA sequencing of benign prostate biopsy tissue showing upregulation of NKX3-1 and HOXB13 with the absence of T-cells might help in identifying men at higher risk of future PCa development, which may be useful in determining ongoing PCa screening.
New N-Adducts of Thiadiazole and Thiazoline with Levoglucosenone and Evaluation of Their Significant Cytotoxic (Anti-Cancer) Activity
Authors: Poplawski Tomasz , Galita Grzegorz , Sarnik Joanna , Macieja Anna , Bielski Roman , Mencer Donald E. , Witczak Zbigniew J.
Published: January 2024

The conjugate N-adducts of thio-1,3,4-diazole and 2-thiazoline with levoglucosenone were synthesized via a stereoselective, base-catalyzed conjugate N-Michael addition to levoglucosenone at C-4. Structural assignments were established using 1H and 13C NMR analysis, and X-ray single-crystal analysis for one of the compounds. The biological properties of the novel compounds were tested on a cell model. Cytotoxicity was analyzed via colorimetric assay. Two distinct types of cell death, apoptosis and necrosis, were analyzed by determining the phosphatidylserine levels from the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane, caspase activation, and lactate dehydrogenase release. We also evaluated DNA damage using an alkaline comet assay. The level of oxidative stress was measured with a modified comet assay and an H2DCFDA probe. The thio-1,3,4-diazole adduct (FCP23) and the 2-thiazoline adduct (FCP26) exhibit similar cytotoxicity values for cancer cells (ovarian (A2780), breast (MCF-7), cervix (HeLa), colon (LoVo), and brain (MO59J and MO59K)), but their mechanism of action is drastically different. While FCP23 induces oxidative stress, DNA damage, and necrosis, FCP26 induces apoptosis through caspase activation.
Construction of LncRNA-Related ceRNA Networks in Longissimus Dorsi Muscle of Jinfen White Pigs at Different Developmental Stages
Authors: Wang Shouyuan , Shi Mingyue , Zhang Yunting , Niu Jin , Li Wenxia , Yuan Jiale , Cai Chunbo , Yang Yang , Gao Pengfei , Guo Xiaohong , Li Bugao , Lu Chang , Cao Guoqing
Published: January 2024

The development of skeletal muscle in pigs might determine the quality of pork. In recent years, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to play an important role in skeletal muscle growth and development. In this study, we investigated the whole transcriptome of the longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) of Jinfen White pigs at three developmental stages (1, 90, and 180 days) and performed a comprehensive analysis of lncRNAs, mRNAs, and micro-RNAs (miRNAs), aiming to find the key regulators and interaction networks in Jinfen White pigs. A total of 2638 differentially expressed mRNAs (DE mRNAs) and 982 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE lncRNAs) were identified. Compared with JFW_1d, there were 497 up-regulated and 698 down-regulated DE mRNAs and 212 up-regulated and 286 down-regulated DE lncRNAs in JFW_90d, respectively. In JFW_180d, there were 613 up-regulated and 895 down-regulated DE mRNAs and 184 up-regulated and 131 down-regulated DE lncRNAs compared with JFW_1d. There were 615 up-regulated and 477 down-regulated DE mRNAs and 254 up-regulated and 355 down-regulated DE lncRNAs in JFW_180d compared with JFW_90d. Compared with mRNA, lncRNA has fewer exons, fewer ORFs, and a shorter length. We performed GO and KEGG pathway functional enrichment analysis for DE mRNAs and the potential target genes of DE lncRNAs. As a result, several pathways are involved in muscle growth and development, such as the PI3K-Akt, MAPK, hedgehog, and hippo signaling pathways. These are among the pathways through which mRNA and lncRNAs function. As part of this study, bioinformatic screening was used to identify miRNAs and DE lncRNAs that could act as ceRNAs. Finally, we constructed an lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA regulation network containing 26 mRNAs, 7 miRNAs, and 17 lncRNAs; qRT-PCR was used to verify the key genes in these networks. Among these, XLOC_022984/miR-127/ENAH and XLOC_016847/miR-486/NRF1 may function as key ceRNA networks. In this study, we obtained transcriptomic profiles from the LDM of Jinfen White pigs at three developmental stages and screened out lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks that may provide crucial information for the further exploration of the molecular mechanisms during skeletal muscle development.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analyses of the FAR1/FHY3 Gene Family Provide Insight into Inflorescence Development in Maize
Authors: Tang Huaijun , Jing De , Liu Cheng , Xie Xiaoqing , Zhang Lei , Chen Xunji , Li Changyu
Published: January 2024

As transcription factors derived from transposase, FAR-RED IMPAIRED RESPONSE1 (FAR1) and its homolog FHY3 play crucial roles in the regulation of light signaling and various stress responses by coordinating the expression of downstream target genes. Despite the extensive investigation of the FAR1/FHY3 family in Arabidopsis thaliana and other species, a comprehensive examination of these genes in maize has not been conducted thus far. In this study, we employed a genomic mining approach to identify 16 ZmFAR1 genes in the maize inbred line B73, which were further classified into five subgroups based on their phylogenetic relationships. The present study characterized the predicted polypeptide sequences, molecular weights, isoelectric points, chromosomal distribution, gene structure, conserved motifs, subcellular localizations, phylogenetic relationships, and cis-regulatory elements of all members belonging to the ZmFAR1 family. Furthermore, the tissue-specific expression of the 16 ZmFAR1 genes was analyzed using RNA-seq, and their expression patterns under far-red light conditions were validated in the ear and tassel through qRT-qPCR. The observed highly temporal and spatial expression patterns of these ZmFAR1 genes were likely associated with their specific functional capabilities under different light conditions. Further analysis revealed that six ZmFAR1 genes (ZmFAR1-1, ZmFAR1-10, ZmFAR1-11, ZmFAR1-12, ZmFAR1-14, and ZmFAR1-15) exhibited a response to simulated shading treatment and actively contributed to the development of maize ears. Through the integration of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analyses and population genetics, we identified the presence of potential causal variations in ZmFAR1-14 and ZmFAR1-9, which play a crucial role in regulating the kernel row number and kernel volume weight, respectively. In summary, this study represents the initial identification and characterization of ZmFAR1 family members in maize, uncovering the functional variation in candidate regulatory genes associated with the improvement of significant agronomic traits during modern maize breeding.
Relationship between Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw and CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Breast Cancer
Authors: Senín Loreto Domínguez , Pancorbo David Morales , Garcés María Yeray Rodríguez , Santos-Rubio María Dolores , Calero Juan Bayo
Published: January 2024

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the use of CDK4/6 inhibitors as a risk factor for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) in a cohort of patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with denosumab. Methods: This was a multicentre, retrospective, observational study. All patients with breast cancer treated with denosumab (January 2011–December 2022) were included. The relationship between CDK4/6 inhibitors and MRONJ was analysed. Results: A total of 243 patients were included, ninety-five (44.2%) of whom used a CDK4/6 inhibitor. There were 21 patients with MRONJ. In patients treated with denosumab without CDK4/6 inhibitors, the incidence of MRONJ and mean time to the occurrence of MRONJ were 6.6% (8/120) and 16.8 months (SD 7.8), respectively; in patients treated with denosumab and CDK4/6 inhibitor, these values were 13.7% (13/95) and 15.4 months (SD 8.7), respectively. The difference in the incidence was not significant (p = 0.085). Among the 19 patients who used abemaciclib, the probability of MRONJ occurrence was significantly higher compared to patients not using CDK4/6 inhibitors (p = 0.0178). Conclusions: These results suggest that the incidence of MRONJ in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with denosumab is higher, and the onset of MRONJ occurs earlier in the presence of CDK4/6 inhibitors. The differences were statistically significant in the patients who used abemaciclib. Given that the use of this combination is very common in routine clinical practice, it would be advisable to carry out larger prospective studies to clarify the risk of this association.
A Note on Stronger Forms of Sensitivity for Non-Autonomous Dynamical Systems on Uniform Spaces
Authors: Jiao Lixin , Wang Heyong , Wang Lidong , Wang Nan
Published: January 2024

This paper introduces the notion of multi-sensitivity with respect to a vector within the context of non-autonomous dynamical systems on uniform spaces and provides insightful results regarding N-sensitivity and strongly multi-sensitivity, along with their behaviors under various conditions. The main results established are as follows: (1) For a k-periodic nonautonomous dynamical system on a Hausdorff uniform space (S,U), the system (S,fk∘⋯∘f1) exhibits N-sensitivity (or strongly multi-sensitivity) if and only if the system (S,f1,∞) displays N-sensitivity (or strongly multi-sensitivity). (2) Consider a finitely generated family of surjective maps on uniform space (S,U). If the system (S,f1,∞) is N-sensitive, then the system (S,fk,∞) is also N-sensitive. When the family f1,∞ is feebly open, the converse statement holds true as well. (3) Within a finitely generated family on uniform space (S,U), N-sensitivity (and strongly multi-sensitivity) persists under iteration. (4) We present a sufficient condition under which an nonautonomous dynamical system on infinite Hausdorff uniform space demonstrates N-sensitivity.
Multiscale Entropy-Based Feature Extraction for the Detection of Instability Inception in Axial Compressors
Authors: Fu Yihan , Zhao Zheng , Lin Peng
Published: January 2024

The detection of instability inception is favorable to avoid compressor instability. In this paper, a multiscale entropy-based feature extraction is developed for the detection of the instability inception in axial compressors. Nonlinear and statistical features of the short-time instability inception are extracted by generally combining multiscale entropy and statistical features. First, nonlinear features are extracted by refined composite multiscale entropy to avoid the inaccurate estimation or undefined entropy of multiscale entropy for short time series. Second, the time-domain-based statistical features are chosen to capture more information on instability inception, and the dominant statistical features are determined by random forests implemented with the mean decrease accuracy algorithm at each time scale. The obtained refined composite dominant statistical features are regarded as weighting factors and integrated with the refined composite multiscale entropy to generate a combined feature. Finally, numerical simulation results on two synthetic noise datasets and a compressor instability model dataset are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness, efficiency, and robustness of the combined features under different conditions.
Bacteriocins and Bacteriophages as Dual Biological Players for Food Safety Applications
Authors: Barache Nacim , Belguesmia Yanath , Martinez Beatriz , Seal Bruce S. , Drider Djamel
Published: January 2024

The development of new techniques for the control of pathogenic microorganisms during food production and for the prevention of spoilage are needed to reduce or replace chemical preservatives. This is due to the trend that consumers are increasingly questioning the use of chemical preservatives because of the many health concerns. Because of this issue, bacteriocins and bacteriophages are increasingly viewed as safe natural preservatives with a long history of various applications during food production and preservation. This minireview considers applications of these two antimicrobials, highlights their mode of action, lists their advantages and, when necessary, their limitations. It also reports recent advances in the use of bacteriophages and bacteriocins either alone or in combination in different food matrices. The incentives and effectiveness offered by these antimicrobials in the field of biopreservation are considered for future applications during food production and preservation.
Proximal Policy Optimization for Efficient D2D-Assisted Computation Offloading and Resource Allocation in Multi-Access Edge Computing
Authors: Zhang Chen , Wu Celimuge , Lin Min , Lin Yangfei , Liu William
Published: January 2024

In the advanced 5G and beyond networks, multi-access edge computing (MEC) is increasingly recognized as a promising technology, offering the dual advantages of reducing energy utilization in cloud data centers while catering to the demands for reliability and real-time responsiveness in end devices. However, the inherent complexity and variability of MEC networks pose significant challenges in computational offloading decisions. To tackle this problem, we propose a proximal policy optimization (PPO)-based Device-to-Device (D2D)-assisted computation offloading and resource allocation scheme. We construct a realistic MEC network environment and develop a Markov decision process (MDP) model that minimizes time loss and energy consumption. The integration of a D2D communication-based offloading framework allows for collaborative task offloading between end devices and MEC servers, enhancing both resource utilization and computational efficiency. The MDP model is solved using the PPO algorithm in deep reinforcement learning to derive an optimal policy for offloading and resource allocation. Extensive comparative analysis with three benchmarked approaches has confirmed our scheme’s superior performance in latency, energy consumption, and algorithmic convergence, demonstrating its potential to improve MEC network operations in the context of emerging 5G and beyond technologies.
Comparative Evaluation of STEAP1 Targeting Chimeric Antigen Receptors with Different Costimulatory Domains and Spacers
Authors: Jin Yixin , Dunn Claire , Persiconi Irene , Sike Adam , Skorstad Gjertrud , Beck Carole , Kyte Jon Amund
Published: January 2024

We have developed a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) against the six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate-1 (STEAP1), which is expressed in prostate cancer, Ewing sarcoma, and other malignancies. In the present study, we investigated the effect of substituting costimulatory domains and spacers in this STEAP1 CAR. We cloned four CAR constructs with either CD28 or 4-1BB costimulatory domains, combined with a CD8a-spacer (sp) or a mutated IgG-spacer. The CAR T-cells were evaluated in short- and long-term in vitro T-cell assays, measuring cytokine production, tumor cell killing, and CAR T-cell expansion and phenotype. A xenograft mouse model of prostate cancer was used for in vivo comparison. All four CAR constructs conferred CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with STEAP1-specific functionality. A CD8sp_41BBz construct and an IgGsp_CD28z construct were selected for a more extensive comparison. The IgGsp_CD28z CAR gave stronger cytokine responses and killing in overnight caspase assays. However, the 41BB-containing CAR mediated more killing (IncuCyte) over one week. Upon six repeated stimulations, the CD8sp_41BBz CAR T cells showed superior expansion and lower expression of exhaustion markers (PD1, LAG3, TIGIT, TIM3, and CD25). In vivo, both the CAR T variants had comparable anti-tumor activity, but persisting CAR T-cells in tumors were only detected for the 41BBz variant. In conclusion, the CD8sp_41BBz STEAP1 CAR T cells had superior expansion and survival in vitro and in vivo, compared to the IgGsp_CD28z counterpart, and a less exhausted phenotype upon repeated antigen exposure. Such persistence may be important for clinical efficacy.
Replication Protein A, the Main Eukaryotic Single-Stranded DNA Binding Protein, a Focal Point in Cellular DNA Metabolism
Authors: Nasheuer Heinz Peter , Meaney Anna Marie , Hulshoff Timothy , Thiele Ines , Onwubiko Nichodemus O.
Published: January 2024

Replication protein A (RPA) is a heterotrimeric protein complex and the main single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding protein in eukaryotes. RPA has key functions in most of the DNA-associated metabolic pathways and DNA damage signalling. Its high affinity for ssDNA helps to stabilise ssDNA structures and protect the DNA sequence from nuclease attacks. RPA consists of multiple DNA-binding domains which are oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding (OB)-folds that are responsible for DNA binding and interactions with proteins. These RPA–ssDNA and RPA–protein interactions are crucial for DNA replication, DNA repair, DNA damage signalling, and the conservation of the genetic information of cells. Proteins such as ATR use RPA to locate to regions of DNA damage for DNA damage signalling. The recruitment of nucleases and DNA exchange factors to sites of double-strand breaks are also an important RPA function to ensure effective DNA recombination to correct these DNA lesions. Due to its high affinity to ssDNA, RPA’s removal from ssDNA is of central importance to allow these metabolic pathways to proceed, and processes to exchange RPA against downstream factors are established in all eukaryotes. These faceted and multi-layered functions of RPA as well as its role in a variety of human diseases will be discussed.
Biodegradation of Typical Plastics: From Microbial Diversity to Metabolic Mechanisms
Authors: Lv Shiwei , Li Yufei , Zhao Sufang , Shao Zongze
Published: January 2024

Plastic production has increased dramatically, leading to accumulated plastic waste in the ocean. Marine plastics can be broken down into microplastics (<5 mm) by sunlight, machinery, and pressure. The accumulation of microplastics in organisms and the release of plastic additives can adversely affect the health of marine organisms. Biodegradation is one way to address plastic pollution in an environmentally friendly manner. Marine microorganisms can be more adapted to fluctuating environmental conditions such as salinity, temperature, pH, and pressure compared with terrestrial microorganisms, providing new opportunities to address plastic pollution. Pseudomonadota (Proteobacteria), Bacteroidota (Bacteroidetes), Bacillota (Firmicutes), and Cyanobacteria were frequently found on plastic biofilms and may degrade plastics. Currently, diverse plastic-degrading bacteria are being isolated from marine environments such as offshore and deep oceanic waters, especially Pseudomonas spp. Bacillus spp. Alcanivoras spp. and Actinomycetes. Some marine fungi and algae have also been revealed as plastic degraders. In this review, we focused on the advances in plastic biodegradation by marine microorganisms and their enzymes (esterase, cutinase, laccase, etc.) involved in the process of biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP) and highlighted the need to study plastic biodegradation in the deep sea.
Structural Characterization and Physicochemical Properties of Functionally Porous Proton-Exchange Membrane Based on PVDF-SPA Graft Copolymers
Authors: Ponomar Maria , Ruleva Valentina , Sarapulova Veronika , Pismenskaya Natalia , Nikonenko Victor , Maryasevskaya Alina , Anokhin Denis , Ivanov Dimitri , Sharma Jeet , Kulshrestha Vaibhav , Améduri Bruno
Published: January 2024

Fluorinated proton-exchange membranes (PEMs) based on graft copolymers of dehydrofluorinated polyvinylidene fluoride (D-PVDF), 3-sulfopropyl acrylate (SPA), and 1H, 1H, 2H-perfluoro-1-hexene (PFH) were prepared via free radical copolymerization and characterized for fuel cell application. The membrane morphology and physical properties were studied via small-(SAXS) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), SEM, and DSC. It was found that the crystallinity degree is 17% for PEM-RCF (co-polymer with SPA) and 16% for PEM-RCF-2 (copolymer with SPA and PFH). The designed membranes possess crystallite grains of 5–6 nm in diameter. SEM images reveal a structure with open pores on the surface of diameters from 20 to 140 nm. Their transport and electrochemical characterization shows that the lowest membrane area resistance (0.9 Ωcm2) is comparable to perfluorosulfonic acid PEMs (such as Nafion®) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) based CJMC cation-exchange membranes (ChemJoy Polymer Materials, China). Key transport and physicochemical properties of new and commercial membranes were compared. The PEM-RCF permeability to NaCl diffusion is rather high, which is due to a relatively low concentration of fixed sulfonate groups. Voltammetry confers that the electrochemical behavior of new PEM correlates to that of commercial cation-exchange membranes, while the ionic conductivity reveals an impact of the extended pores, as in track-etched membranes.
Development of a Novel Biomarker for the Progression of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Yeo Hye Ju , Ha Mihyang , Shin Dong Hoon , Lee Hye Rin , Kim Yun Hak , Cho Woo Hyun
Published: January 2024

The progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is diverse and unpredictable. We identified and validated a new biomarker for IPF progression. To identify a candidate gene to predict progression, we assessed differentially expressed genes in patients with advanced IPF compared with early IPF and controls in three lung sample cohorts. Candidate gene expression was confirmed using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting of lung tissue samples from an independent IPF clinical cohort. Biomarker potential was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of serum samples from the retrospective validation cohort. We verified that the final candidate gene reflected the progression of IPF in a prospective validation cohort. In the RNA-seq comparative analysis of lung tissues, CD276, COL7A1, CTSB, GLI2, PIK3R2, PRAF2, IGF2BP3, and NUPR1 were up-regulated, and ADAMTS8 was down-regulated in the samples of advanced IPF. Only CTSB showed significant differences in expression based on Western blotting (n = 12; p < 0.001) and immunohistochemistry between the three groups of the independent IPF cohort. In the retrospective validation cohort (n = 78), serum CTSB levels were higher in the progressive group (n = 25) than in the control (n = 29, mean 7.37 ng/mL vs. 2.70 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and nonprogressive groups (n = 24, mean 7.37 ng/mL vs. 2.56 ng/mL, p < 0.001). In the prospective validation cohort (n = 129), serum CTSB levels were higher in the progressive group than in the nonprogressive group (mean 8.30 ng/mL vs. 3.00 ng/mL, p < 0.001). After adjusting for baseline FVC, we found that CTSB was independently associated with IPF progression (adjusted OR = 2.61, p < 0.001). Serum CTSB levels significantly predicted IPF progression (AUC = 0.944, p < 0.001). Serum CTSB level significantly distinguished the progression of IPF from the non-progression of IPF or healthy control.
The Effect of Cross-Sex Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Metabolism and Hormonal Status in Adult Rats
Authors: Feješ Andrej , Belvončíková Paulína , Porcel Sanchis Dafne , Borbélyová Veronika , Celec Peter , Džunková Mária , Gardlík Roman
Published: January 2024

Increasing evidence of sexual dimorphism in the pathophysiology of metabolic complications caused by sex steroids is under investigation. The gut microbiota represents a complex microbial ecosystem involved in energy metabolism, immune response, nutrition acquisition, and the health of host organisms. Gender-specific differences in composition are present between females and males. The purpose of this study was to use cross-sex fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for the detection of sex-dependent metabolic, hormonal, and gut microbiota changes in female and male recipients. Healthy non-obese female and male Wistar rats were divided into donor, same-sex, and cross-sex recipient groups. After a 30-day period of FMT administration, biochemical markers (glucose and lipid metabolism) and sex hormones were measured, and the gut microbiota was analyzed. The cross-sex male recipients displayed a significantly lower testosterone concentration compared to the males that received same-sex FMT. Sex-dependent changes caused by cross-sex FMT were detected, while several bacterial taxa correlated with plasma testosterone levels. This study represents the first to study the effect of cross-sex changes in the gut microbiome concerning metabolic and hormonal changes/status in adult non-obese Wistar rats. Herein, we present cross-sex FMT as a potential tool to modify sex-specific pathologies.
Reliable Dimerization Energies for Modeling of Supramolecular Junctions
Authors: Czernek Jiří , Brus Jiří
Published: January 2024

Accurate estimates of intermolecular interaction energy, ΔE, are crucial for modeling the properties of organic electronic materials and many other systems. For a diverse set of 50 dimers comprising up to 50 atoms (Set50-50, with 7 of its members being models of single-stacking junctions), benchmark ΔE data were compiled. They were obtained by the focal-point strategy, which involves computations using the canonical variant of the coupled cluster theory with singles, doubles, and perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] performed while applying a large basis set, along with extrapolations of the respective energy components to the complete basis set (CBS) limit. The resulting ΔE data were used to gauge the performance for the Set50-50 of several density-functional theory (DFT)-based approaches, and of one of the localized variants of the CCSD(T) method. This evaluation revealed that (1) the proposed “silver standard” approach, which employs the localized CCSD(T) method and CBS extrapolations, can be expected to provide accuracy better than two kJ/mol for absolute values of ΔE, and (2) from among the DFT techniques, computationally by far the cheapest approach (termed “ωB97X-3c/vDZP” by its authors) performed remarkably well. These findings are directly applicable in cost-effective yet reliable searches of the potential energy surfaces of noncovalent complexes.