bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microbiological Studies of Mountain Forest Brown and Mountain Forest Greyish-Brown Soils
Authors: Rzayeva A.
Published: April 2023

Each type of soil differs in the nature and chemistry of the plant residues entering the soil and the conditions of its transformation, therefore, the analysis of the microbiological characteristics of soils allows us to reveal some features of their participation in soil formation. Taking this into account, this article presents the results of a comparative analysis of microbiological characteristics of mountain-forest brown and mountain-forest brown soils of Lankaran region, Republic of Azerbaijan. Analysis of the obtained results revealed characteristic differences in the composition of bacilli and micromycetes in the studied samples of mountain-forest brown and mountain-forest brown soils. Three types of bacilli (Bacillus idosus, B. megaterium, B. cereus) and three types of micromycetes (Trichoderma, Penicillium, Aspergillus) were found in mountain-forest brown soils. And four types of bacilli (B. idosus, B. cereus, B. mycoides, B. megaterium) and also four types of micromycetes (Penicillium, Trichoderma, Mucorales, Mucor ramannianus) are noted in mountain-forest brown soils. The presence of the same strains of bacilli in both soils proves their greater adaptation to specific soil and ecological conditions.
Analysis of the Pharmaceutical Market of Drugs Used in the Pharmacotherapy of Bronchial Asthma in the Kyrgyz Republic
Authors: Barbieva E. , Ismailov I. , Sabirova T.
Published: April 2023

The article presents the results of the analysis of the pharmaceutical market of drugs used in the pharmacotherapy of bronchial asthma in the Kyrgyz Republic. The materials of the study were the pharmaceutical market of medicines used for the treatment of bronchial asthma in the Kyrgyz Republic, the data of the regulatory authority in the field of circulation of medicines and pharmaceutical organizations. Research results. It was established that in the Kyrgyz Republic the analyzed group of drugs included in the clinical protocol for the treatment of bronchial asthma is represented by 56 trade names. In the nomenclature of drugs for the treatment of bronchial asthma, the leading place belongs to single drugs — 87.5%, the share of combined drugs, respectively, is 12.5%. Of the total number of anti-asthma drugs in the pharmaceutical market, lecotriene receptor antagonists rank first with a share of 46.29%, β2-agonists — 37%, combined glucocorticosteroids — 17.83%, inhaled glucocorticosteroids — 29.62% and glucocorticosteroids for systemic use — 24%, methylxanines — 9.25%, anticholinergics — 7.4%. Conclusion. Drugs for the treatment of bronchial asthma, present on the pharmaceutical market of the Kyrgyz Republic, in general, comply with the recommendations of the experts of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) (Global Initiative for Asthma). All medicines on the pharmaceutical market of the Kyrgyz Republic are represented exclusively by foreign manufacturers, among which Turkey is the leader.
Changes in Biochemical Indicators of the Blood of Patients With Fatal COVID-19
Authors: Zhumabaeva T. , Tursunbaeva A. , Kadyrbaeva A.
Published: April 2023

The study of the COVID-19 course is relevant due to the fact that this disease causes changes in biochemical indicators of blood in the human body. To analyze the age category of patients with COVID-19, distribution of patients by districts and regions in the Southern region, as well as associated disease factors in patients with COVID-19 with a fatal outcome. Research purpose: analysis of the age category of patients with COVID-19, distribution of patients by districts and regions of the Southern region, as well as concomitant disease factors in patients with fatal COVID-19. Research materials and methods: a descriptive study based on the analysis of electronic medical records of patients containing complete information about the course of the disease and data from standard laboratory and instrumental methods of examination in a hospital setting. Most of the patients with COVID-19 and pneumonia were admitted in Osh city or 65%, Karasuu district 14%, Uzgen district 7%, 4% Kara-Kulja district and 2% each Alai, Chon-Alai, Aravan districts and 2% each Batken and Jala-Abad regions. Conclusion: an increase in the absolute number of neutrophils (N), a decrease in the absolute number of lymphocytes (L) and, as a result, an increase in the N/L ratio index were markers of a more severe course of the disease.
Penerapan Diet 3J Untuk Mengatasi Ketidakstabilan Kadar Glukosa Darah Pada Pasien DM Tipe 2
Authors: Sahwa Alifia Diani , Supriyanti Endang
Published: April 2023

Diabetes Melitus tipe 2 ialah gangguan metabolisme dari sistem endokrin yang ditandai melalui ketidakseimbangan kadar glukosa darah. Penyakit ini bisa dicegah melalui cara mengubah gaya hidup serta kebiasaan mengonsumsi makanan menjadi sehat dan bergizi seimbang seperti dengan diet 3J (jumlah, jenis, dan jadwal). Diet 3J merupakan diet dengan tepat jadwal, tepat jenis, dan tepat jumlah. Manfaat dari diet 3J adalah untuk mengatur kadar glukosa darah, mencegah obesitas serta mengurangi terjadinya berbagai macam penyakit komplikasi yang disebabkan pola makan yang tidak sehat. Tujuan studi kasus ini yaitu untuk mengidentifikasi penerapan diet guna mengatasi ketidakstabilan kadar glukosa darah terhadap pasien DM Tipe 2. Jenis penelitin ini ialah deskriptif  melalui metode studi kasus dalam bentuk one group pretest-posttest. Subyek studi kasus ini ialah dua pasien dengan riwayat diabetes melitus tipe 2 dengan kadar Gula darah 2 jam sesudah makan > 200 mg/dL,serta belum pernah mendapatkan konseling gizi diet 3J. Hasil studi kasus ini didapatkan bahwa diet 3J mampu menurunkan kadar gula darah terhadap pasien DM tipe 2. Sehingga diharapkan pasien DM tipe 2 dapat menerapkan diet 3J di kehidupan sehari-hari.
Voltaire, Derrida et les ruses de la raison
Authors: Penteado Bruno
Published: April 2023

Voltaire’s writings advance an emblematic understanding of reason in the French Enlightenment, envisaged as a divine gift that makes it possible for humans to put anything into question – except reason itself. Through a reading of various philosophical and literary texts by Voltaire, this article problematizes the sovereignty of Voltairean reason – the totalitarian reason that is at once immune to the very critique it founds and, as such, injurious towards the Other, who is seen as necessarily lacking the capacity to think. Bringing Derrida to bear on Voltaire, the article builds on the former’s view of reason as divisible and antinomic – that is, a reason constituted according to an aporia that admits both a teleological and conditional reason and a circular and unconditional one. As such, reason must then allow itself to be reasoned. The conclusion thus argues for a reconceptualization of reason that welcomes a critique of both sovereign judgement and teleological thinking.
Ecological innovations аs a factor of sustainable socio-economic rural development
Authors: Bendasiuk O. , Zinovchuk N. , Sakharnatska L.
Published: April 2023

The article is devoted to the study of the role and significance of innovations for the formation of a strategy of sustainable rural development, in the regulation of the process of greening based on the improvement of the mechanism of the introduction of ecological innovations, which will contribute to increasing the economic efficiency of the agricultural sector as a key factor of positive changes in the socio-economic development of the village. The priority of ecological innovations in the development of rural areas and agricultural production is shown. The main models of managing the development of rural areas are considered, as well as certain areas of implementation of eco-innovations and their impact on the development of rural areas are proposed. The possibility of introducing a new management system on the basis of greening and synergism of state programs of agrarian development and innovation policy is considered. The ways and mechanisms of improvement of ecologically innovative activity are described and the methods of its implementation are proposed. It has been studied that the improvement of the management system of eco-innovative development of rural areas involves changes occurring in the field of planning, employment of the population of the territories, promotion of products, interaction between the authorities, business and the population, and knowledge management. Innovations in the field of rural development management will provide specific rural areas with long-term competitive advantages and stimulate their development under the conditions of combining and taking into account both scientific and technological and administrative and management innovative solutions.
Biogeochemical specificity in the Forest-Steppe zone of the country
Authors: Shumyhai I. , Yermishev O. , Маnіshеvskа N.
Published: April 2023

Living organisms need all chemical elements in trace amounts, but exceeding their regulatory concentrations can have a toxic effect. The toxicity of heavy metals is due to their ability to accumulate in living organisms, to be included in the metabolic cycle and to form highly toxic organometallic compounds. Therefore, the article analyzes the distribution of chemical elements, in particular heavy metals, in the soil and plants of the Forest-Steppe zone. It should be remembered that the influence of deficiency and excess of zinc and copper can cause endemic disorders in plant organisms. Winter wheat plants affected by fusarium root rot viruses and powdery mildew were found in research farms. The distribution and development of diseases in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine was studied. Diagnostic signs of diseases and features of their causative agents are also clarified.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH OF ALIEN FLORA IN THE WORLD AND IN UKRAINE
Authors: Kyselov Yu. , Polishchuk V.
Published: April 2023

The currency of evolution of researching alien flora from the beginning of its systematic studies to our time is analyzed. It is stressed on some regularities of its development. Six stages of research development of the marked fraction of the flora and phytoinvasions are separated. It is marked that on the first stage which lasted from the beginning of the XX-th century to the end of the World War I, theoretical fundamentals of studying alien flora are created with the same-time providing a couple of regional researches. The most famous researchers of this period whose works made an influence to further development of the alien flora research are M. Rikli and A. Thellung. On the second stage (between two world wars) relatively not numerous studies mostly on the macroregional level are realized. The works by M. I. Kotov dedicated to the alien flora of Ukraine played an outstanding role on this stage of researches. The third stage (the second half of 1940-th – 50-th years) was characterized by growing of quantity of the studies and deeping their theoretical fundamentals. The works by W. Kreh that had a theoretical and methodological context were the most significant on this stage. The fourth stage (60-th years) was signed by creating developed classifications of invasive species. The most perfect throw them was a classification created by J. Kornaś that didn’t lose its significance to today. The main contents of the fifth stage (70–90-th years) was appearance of numerous publications of the results of the studies on the meso- and microregional levels. An outstanding place throw them occupies the studies of Ukrainian scholar V. V. Protopopova that fully characterized the alien flora of the bigger part of the territory of Ukraine and perfected the classification of invasive species by J. Kornaś. On the sixth, current, stage, from the one side, regional studies of phytoinvasions are actively lasting; from the other side, the theoretical base of studying alien flora is optimizing. Especially, the conclusive works of Ukrainian researchers S. L. Mosyakin and M. V. Shevera and foreign scientists P. Pyšek, M. Davis, C. Thompson, J. Falk-Petersen, T. Bohn, O. Sandlund and others dedicated to issues of terminology of invasive floristics have an important significance. Lists of the alien species complicated by S. L. Mosyakin and M. M. Fedoronchuk and also G. Kasperek have an important scientific significance. As a perspective direction of next research may be studying phytoinvasions on the level of regions of Ukraine and also enforcing emphasis on the study of geographical aspects of alien flora distribution
Biomechanical evaluation of different strain judging criteria on the prediction precision of cortical bone fracture simulation under compression
Authors: Fan Ruoxun , Liu Jie , Jia Zhengbin
Published: April 2023

Introduction: The principal strain or equivalent strain is mainly used in current numerical studies to determine the mechanical state of the element in the cortical bone finite element model and then perform fracture simulation. However, it is unclear which strain is more suitable for judging the element mechanical state under different loading conditions due to the lack of a general strain judging criterion for simulating the cortical bone fracture.

Methods: This study aims to explore a suitable strain judging criterion to perform compressive fracture simulation on the rat femoral cortical bone based on continuum damage mechanics. The mechanical state of the element in the cortical bone finite element model was primarily assessed using the principal strain and equivalent strain separately to carry out fracture simulation. The prediction accuracy was then evaluated by comparing the simulated findings with different strain judging criteria to the corresponding experimental data.

Results: The results showed that the fracture parameters predicted using the principal strain were closer to the experimental values than those predicted using the equivalent strain.

Discussion: Therefore, the fracture simulation under compression was more accurate when the principal strain was applied to control the damage and failure state in the element. This finding has the potential to improve prediction accuracy in the cortical bone fracture simulation.
Bioprinting and biomaterials for dental alveolar tissue regeneration
Authors: Ostrovidov Serge , Ramalingam Murugan , Bae Hojae , Orive Gorka , Fujie Toshinori , Shi Xuetao , Kaji Hirokazu
Published: April 2023

Three dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a powerful tool, that was recently applied to tissue engineering. This technique allows the precise deposition of cells encapsulated in supportive bioinks to fabricate complex scaffolds, which are used to repair targeted tissues. Here, we review the recent developments in the application of 3D bioprinting to dental tissue engineering. These tissues, including teeth, periodontal ligament, alveolar bones, and dental pulp, present cell types and mechanical properties with great heterogeneity, which is challenging to reproduce in vitro. After highlighting the different bioprinting methods used in regenerative dentistry, we reviewed the great variety of bioink formulations and their effects on cells, which have been established to support the development of these tissues. We discussed the different advances achieved in the fabrication of each dental tissue to provide an overview of the current state of the methods. We conclude with the remaining challenges and future needs.
A vicious cycle: employment challenges associated with diabetes foot ulcers in an economically marginalized Southwest US sample
Authors: Palmer Kelly N. B. , Crocker Rebecca M. , Marrero David G. , Tan Tze-Woei
Published: April 2023

Aim

To describe patients’ reported employment challenges associated with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).

Methods

Fifteen patients from under-resourced communities in Southern Arizona, with a history of DFUs and/or amputations, were recruited from a tertiary referral center from June 2020 to February 2021. Participants consented to an audio-recorded semi-structured phone interview. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed using the Dedoose data analysis platform.

Results

Participants shared a common theme around the cyclic challenges of DFU prevention/management and employment. Those employed in manual labor-intensive jobs or jobs requiring them to be on their feet for long durations of time believed working conditions contributed to the development of their DFUs. Patients reported work incapacity due to declines in mobility and the need to offload for DFU management. Many expressed frustration and emotional distress related to these challenges noting that DFUs resulted in lower remuneration as medical expenses increased. Consequently, loss of income and/or medical insurance often hindered participants’ ability to manage DFUs and subsequent complications.

Conclusion

These data illuminate the vicious cycle of DFU and employment challenges that must be addressed through patient-centered prevention strategies. Healthcare providers should consider a person’s contextual factors such as employment type to tailor treatment approaches. Employers should establish inclusive policies that support patients with DFUs returning to work through flexible working hours and adapted work tasks as needed. Policymakers can also mitigate employment challenges by implementing social programs that provide resources for employees who are unable to return to work in their former capacity.
Autophagy in graves’ ophthalmopathy
Authors: Chen Yu-Qing , Gao Lian-Di , Liu Yi-Lin , Shen Ya , Diao Jia-Le , Yang Wei-Hua , Wei Rui-Li
Published: April 2023

Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects the eyes. It can significantly alter the quality of life in patients because of its distinctive pathological appearance and the effect on vision. To date, the exact pathological mechanism of GO has not been explicitly discovered. However, several studies have associated autophagy with this disease. Autophagy is a catabolic process that helps maintain homeostasis in all organisms by protecting the cells and tissues from various endogenous and exogenous stress factors. Based on our results, patients affected with GO have comparatively elevated levels of autophagy, which critically affects the pathological mechanism of the GO. In this review, we have summarized the autophagy mechanism in the pathogenesis of GO.
Sporogenesis in Physcomitrium patens: Intergenerational collaboration and the development of the spore wall and aperture
Authors: Renzaglia Karen S. , Ashton Neil W. , Suh Dae-Yeon
Published: April 2023

Although the evolution of spores was critical to the diversification of plants on land, sporogenesis is incompletely characterized for model plants such as Physcomitrium patens. In this study, the complete process of P. patens sporogenesis is detailed from capsule expansion to mature spore formation, with emphasis on the construction of the complex spore wall and proximal aperture. Both diploid (sporophytic) and haploid (spores) cells contribute to the development and maturation of spores. During capsule expansion, the diploid cells of the capsule, including spore mother cells (SMCs), inner capsule wall layer (spore sac), and columella, contribute a locular fibrillar matrix that contains the machinery and nutrients for spore ontogeny. Nascent spores are enclosed in a second matrix that is surrounded by a thin SMC wall and suspended in the locular material. As they expand and separate, a band of exine is produced external to a thin foundation layer of tripartite lamellae. Dense globules assemble evenly throughout the locule, and these are incorporated progressively onto the spore surface to form the perine external to the exine. On the distal spore surface, the intine forms internally, while the spiny perine ornamentation is assembled. The exine is at least partially extrasporal in origin, while the perine is derived exclusively from outside the spore. Across the proximal surface of the polar spores, an aperture begins formation at the onset of spore development and consists of an expanded intine, an annulus, and a central pad with radiating fibers. This complex aperture is elastic and enables the proximal spore surface to cycle between being compressed (concave) and expanded (rounded). In addition to providing a site for water intake and germination, the elastic aperture is likely involved in desiccation tolerance. Based on the current phylogenies, the ancestral plant spore contained an aperture, exine, intine, and perine. The reductive evolution of liverwort and hornwort spores entailed the loss of perine in both groups and the aperture in liverworts. This research serves as the foundation for comparisons with other plant groups and for future studies of the developmental genetics and evolution of spores across plants.
Computational pharmacology and computational chemistry of 4-hydroxyisoleucine: Physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and DFT-based approaches
Authors: Ahmad Imad , Kuznetsov Aleksey E. , Pirzada Abdul Saboor , Alsharif Khalaf F. , Daglia Maria , Khan Haroon
Published: April 2023

Computational pharmacology and chemistry of drug-like properties along with pharmacokinetic studies have made it more amenable to decide or predict a potential drug candidate. 4-Hydroxyisoleucine is a pharmacologically active natural product with prominent antidiabetic properties. In this study, ADMETLab 2.0 was used to determine its important drug-related properties. 4-Hydroxyisoleucine is compliant with important drug-like physicochemical properties and pharma giants’ drug-ability rules like Lipinski’s, Pfizer, and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) rules. Pharmacokinetically, it has been predicted to have satisfactory cell permeability. Blood–brain barrier permeation may add central nervous system (CNS) effects, while a very slight probability of being CYP2C9 substrate exists. None of the well-known toxicities were predicted in silico, being congruent with wet lab results, except for a “very slight risk” for respiratory toxicity predicted. The molecule is non ecotoxic as analyzed with common indicators such as bioconcentration and LC50 for fathead minnow and daphnia magna. The toxicity parameters identified 4-hydroxyisoleucine as non-toxic to androgen receptors, PPAR-γ, mitochondrial membrane receptor, heat shock element, and p53. However, out of seven parameters, not even a single toxicophore was found. The density functional theory (DFT) study provided support to the findings obtained from drug-like property predictions. Hence, it is a very logical approach to proceed further with a detailed pharmacokinetics and drug development process for 4-hydroxyisoleucine.
Characteristic stacked structures and luminescent properties of dinuclear lanthanide complexes with pyrene units
Authors: Nakai Takuma , Shima Kaori , Shoji Sunao , Fushimi Koji , Hasegawa Yasuchika , Kitagawa Yuichi
Published: April 2023

A novel design strategy of stacked organic fluorophores using dinuclear lanthanide (Ln(III)) complexes is demonstrated for the formation of excimer. The dinuclear Ln(III) complexes are composed of two Ln(III) (Eu(III) or Gd(III)) ions, six hexafluoroacetylacetonate (hfa), and two pyrene-based phosphine oxide ligands. Single-crystal analysis revealed a rigid pyrene-stacked structure via CH-F (pyrene/hfa) intramolecular interactions. The rigid aggregation structures of the two-typed organic ligands around Ln(III) resulted in high thermal stability (decomposition temperature: 340°C). The aggregated ligands exhibited excimer-type green emission from the stacked pyrene-center. The change in the Ln(III) ion promotes effective shifts of excimer emissions (Gd(III):500 nm, Eu(III):490 nm). The organic aggregation system using red-luminescent Eu(III) also provides temperature-sensitive ratiometric emission composed of π-π* and 4f-4f transitions by energy migration between aggregated ligands and Eu(III).
Phytates as a natural source for health promotion: A critical evaluation of clinical trials
Authors: Pires Sónia M. G. , Reis Rita Silva , Cardoso Susana M. , Pezzani Raffaele , Paredes-Osses Esteban , Seilkhan Ainur , Ydyrys Alibek , Martorell Miquel , Sönmez Gürer Eda , Setzer William N. , Abdull Razis Ahmad Faizal , Modu Babagana , Calina Daniela , Sharifi-Rad Javad
Published: April 2023

Phytates are a type of organophosphorus compound produced in terrestrial ecosystems by plants. In plant feeds, phytic acid and its salt form, phytate, account for 60%–80% of total phosphorus. Because phytate is a polyanionic molecule, it can chelate positively charged cations such as calcium, iron, and zinc. Due to its prevalence in vegetal tissues and the fact that people consume plants, phytate was first considered a potential health benefit. This updated review aims to summarize the current data on the results of clinical trials of phytates on human health, highlighting both beneficial and undesirable effects. To obtain these updated data, published papers in electronic databases such as PubMed/MedLine, TRIP database, Wiley, Google Scholar, Baidu, and Scopus were searched. Study results have shown that phytate can have beneficial health effects such as antioxidant, anticancer potential and reduction of pathological calcifications in blood vessels and organs; but also, negative effects by reducing the absorption of minerals important for maintaining the homeostasis of the human body. According to these recent results derived from recent clinical studies, phytates may be a potential natural source for health benefits. To improve clinical efficacy and human health benefits, further dose-response studies are needed to determine effective therapeutic doses and potential interactions with conventional drugs.
A review of signal pathway induced by virulent protein CagA of Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Wang Haiqiang , Zhao Mei , Shi Fan , Zheng Shudan , Xiong Li , Zheng Lihong
Published: April 2023

Gastric cancer (GC), a common and high-mortality disease, still occupies an important position in current cancer research, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection as its important risk factor has been a hot and challenging research area. Among the numerous pathogenic factors of H. pylori, the virulence protein CagA has been widely studied as the only bacterial-derived oncoprotein. It was found that CagA entering into gastric epithelial cells (GECs) can induce the dysregulation of multiple cellular pathways such as MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, Hippo signaling pathway through phosphorylation and non-phosphorylation. These disordered pathways cause pathological changes in morphology, adhesion, polarity, proliferation, movement, and other processes of GECs, which eventually promotes the occurrence of GC. With the deepening of H. pylori-related research, the research on CagA-induced abnormal signaling pathway has been updated and deepened to some extent, so the key signaling pathways activated by CagA are used as the main stem to sort out the pathogenesis of CagA in this paper, aiming to provide new strategies for the H. pylori infection and treatment of GC in the future.
A synthesis of priorities, patterns, and gaps in large carnivore corridor research
Authors: Bhatt Tek Raj , Castley J. Guy , Baral Hem Sagar , Chauvenet Alienor
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Conservation research plays an integral role in the effort to conserve biodiversity globally. However, research gaps can limit conservation research’s potential contribution to addressing global biodiversity problems such as habitat fragmentation. While a synthesis of the research literature does not attain effective conservation action by itself, it can inform future research and corridor conservation planning and practices.

Methods

We used a systematic search of peer-reviewed research articles in Scopus, Web of Science, and grey literature in the Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group library published before December 2020. Our review assessed research on the identification and use of corridors, a primary instrument used to address the threats of habitat fragmentation, for large carnivores to identify patterns, priorities, and gaps in the literature. We focused on large carnivores because they are frequently used for connectivity planning owing to their higher sensitivity to habitat fragmentation and their importance as conservation flagship species.

Results and discussion

We found that peer-reviewed studies primarily focused on single-species corridors with a strong preference toward apex predators, whereas grey literature focused on multi-species corridors. More than 80% of studies included one of the following five species, the mountain lion (n=46 studies), American black bear (n=31 studies), jaguar (n=25 studies), tiger (n=25 studies), and brown bear (n=18 studies). Although research on the identification of corridors was relatively more common in the past, we found an increasing trend in the publication of studies assessing the use of corridors by large carnivores in recent years. The published research is predominantly from North America (47%) and Asia (30%), with comparatively fewer studies from Africa (4%), despite having several large carnivore species. While climate change and human-wildlife conflict are considered major concerns for large carnivore conservation, these were seldomly considered in corridor research. Corridor research collaborations exist between academia, government, and non-government institutions, but the involvement of the private sector is lacking.

Conclusions

Our review shows that there is scope for future corridor research to (i) focus on areas where geographical gaps exist, (ii) target multi-species corridors, (iii) include climate change and human-wildlife conflict scenarios, and iv) increase collaboration with the private sector to better inform connectivity solutions.
Impact of three intense winter cyclones on the sea ice cover in the Barents Sea: A case study with a coupled regional climate model
Authors: Aue Lars , Röntgen Leonie , Dorn Wolfgang , Uotila Petteri , Vihma Timo , Spreen Gunnar , Rinke Annette
Published: April 2023

We utilize a nudged simulation with the coupled regional atmosphere-ocean-sea ice model HIRHAM–NAOSIM over the Arctic to conduct an in-depth analysis of the impact of a sequence of three intense cyclones on the sea ice cover in the Barents and Kara Seas in February 2020. To clarify the underlying mechanisms we decompose changes in sea ice concentration (SIC) and thickness (SIT) into their dynamic and thermodynamic contributions and analyze them in concert with simulated changes in the wind forcing and the surface energy budget. Our findings reveal that changes in SIT during and after the cyclone passages are mostly driven by dynamic processes such as increased ice drift and deformation. With respect to SIC, the relative importance of dynamics and thermodynamics depends on the considered time scale and on the general conditions of the cyclone passages. If cyclones follow on each other in rapid succession, dynamic mechanisms dominate the SIC response for time scales of more than 2 weeks and thermodynamic effects via advection of warm-moist/cold-dry air masses on the cyclone’s front/back side only play a secondary role. However, if sufficiently long time elapses until the arrival of the next storm, thermodynamic SIC increase due to refreezing under the influence of cold and dry air at the backside of the cyclone becomes the dominating mechanism during the days following the cyclone passage.
3D anisotropic full-waveform inversion for complex salt provinces
Authors: Li Junxiao , Rusmanugroho Herurisa , Kalita Mahesh , Xin Kefeng , Dzulkefli Farah Syazana
Published: April 2023

Seismic imaging and inversion become extremely challenging when dealing with salt structures. Conventional state-of-the-art full-waveform inversion (FWI) fails to recover those features in areas where salt is present. A widely used solution in industry, however, involves substantial human interpretation. In this study, a regularized isotropic full-waveform inversion that penalizes the velocity drops in depth is introduced to recover the top parts of salt bodies. Then, an automatic salt flooding is applied to reconstruct deeper parts of the salt. Finally, in order to improve the accuracy of the inverted model, which is strongly affected by anisotropy, an anisotropic FWI is used to update the velocity model. We tested the approach on both synthetic and field datasets. Our FWI results revealed satisfying salt recovery as well as detailed velocity features in areas close to salt bodies.
Dropout stories of Andalusian university students
Authors: Gijón José , Gijón Meriem K. , García Pablo , Lizarte Emilio J.
Published: April 2023

The abandonment of university studies is a problem that affects the balance and correct organization of university systems throughout the world and that has undesirable personal consequences in advanced societies. Dropping out of school has a multidimensional explanation. Among the causes, associated with each other, that originate it, the following factors stand out: psychological, social, economic, psycho-pedagogical, institutional, and didactic. Studying how all these dimensions act and relate to each other in specific cases of people who drop out of Higher Education, helps us to better understand the phenomenon and to develop prevention measures in university institutions. This text presents the results of biographical-narrative research carried out among the student population in a situation of abandonment of the universities of Andalusia that has allowed us to recover 22 stories of abandonment carried out by as many ex-students who were enrolled in any of the nine universities. Andalusians publish in any of the different university degree studies. The biographical texts have been subjected to narrative analysis to achieve personal exemplifications and characterize paradigmatic cases of relationship between the dimensions of the problem, using concept mapping to present the outcomes.
Mapping intellectual structure and research hotspots in the field of fibroblast-associated DFUs: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Zhu Yushu , Lu Jianyu , Wang Siqiao , Xu Dayuan , Wu Minjuan , Xian Shuyuan , Zhang Wei , Tong Xirui , Liu Yifan , Huang Jie , Jiang Luofeng , Guo Xinya , Xie Sujie , Gu Minyi , Jin Shuxin , Ma Yicheng , Huang Runzhi , Xiao Shichu , Ji Shizhao
Published: April 2023

Background

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are one of the most popular and severe complications of diabetes. The persistent non-healing of DFUs may eventually contribute to severe complications such as amputation, which presents patients with significant physical and psychological challenges. Fibroblasts are critical cells in wound healing and perform essential roles in all phases of wound healing. In diabetic foot patients, the disruption of fibroblast function exacerbates the non-healing of the wound. This study aimed to summarize the hotspots and evaluate the global research trends on fibroblast-related DFUs through bibliometric analysis.

Methods

Scientific publications on the study of fibroblast-related DFUs from January 1, 2000 to April 27, 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Biblioshiny software was primarily performed for the visual analysis of the literature, CiteSpace software and VOSviewer software were used to validate the results.

Results

A total of 479 articles on fibroblast-related DFUs were retrieved. The most published countries, institutions, journals, and authors in this field were the USA, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Wound Repair and Regeneration, and Seung-Kyu Han. In addition, keyword co-occurrence networks, historical direct citation networks, thematic map, and the trend topics map summarize the research hotspots and trends in this field.

Conclusion

Current studies indicated that research on fibroblast-related DFUs is attracting increasing concern and have clinical implications. The cellular and molecular mechanisms of the DFU pathophysiological process, the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets associated with DFUs angiogenesis, and the measures to promote DFUs wound healing are three worthy research hotspots in this field.
Revisiting the gonadotropic regulation of mammalian spermatogenesis: evolving lessons during the past decade
Authors: Bhattacharya Indrashis , Dey Souvik , Banerjee Arnab
Published: April 2023

Spermatogenesis is a multi-step process of male germ cell (Gc) division and differentiation which occurs in the seminiferous tubules of the testes under the regulation of gonadotropins – Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinising hormone (LH). It is a highly coordinated event regulated by the surrounding somatic testicular cells such as the Sertoli cells (Sc), Leydig cells (Lc), and Peritubular myoid cells (PTc). FSH targets Sc and supports the expansion and differentiation of pre-meiotic Gc, whereas, LH operatesviaLc to produce Testosterone (T), the testicular androgen. T acts on all somatic cells e.g.- Lc, PTc and Sc, and promotes the blood-testis barrier (BTB) formation, completion of Gc meiosis, and spermiation. Studies with hypophysectomised or chemically ablated animal models and hypogonadal (hpg) mice supplemented with gonadotropins to genetically manipulated mouse models have revealed the selective and synergistic role(s) of hormones in regulating male fertility. We here have briefly summarized the present concept of hormonal control of spermatogenesis in rodents and primates. We also have highlighted some of the key critical questions yet to be answered in the field of male reproductive health which might have potential implications for infertility and contraceptive research in the future.
Immunomodulatory role of vitamin D and selenium supplementation in newly diagnosed Graves’ disease patients during methimazole treatment
Authors: Gallo Daniela , Bruno Antonino , Gallazzi Matteo , Cattaneo Simona Antonia Maria , Veronesi Giovanni , Genoni Angelo , Tanda Maria Laura , Bartalena Luigi , Passi Alberto , Piantanida Eliana , Mortara Lorenzo
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Methimazole (MMI) represents the conventional therapeutic agent for Graves’ disease (GD) hyperthyroidism, but MMI efficacy is limited since it marginally affects the underlying autoimmune process. In a previous study, we randomly assigned 42 newly diagnosed GD patients with insufficient vitamin D (VitD) and selenium (Se) levels to treatment with MMI alone (standard) or combined with selenomethionine and cholecalciferol (intervention) and observed a prompter resolution of hyperthyroidism in the intervention group.

Methods

In the present study, we aimed to explore changes in peripheral T regulatory (Treg) and circulating natural killer (NK) cell frequency, circulating NK cell subset distribution and function, during treatment.

Results

At baseline, circulating total CD3-CD56+NK cells and CD56bright NK cells were significantly higher in GD patients than in healthy controls (HC) (15.7 ± 9.6% vs 9.9 ± 5.6%, p=0.001; 12.2 ± 10.3% vs 7.3 ± 4.1%, p=0.02, respectively); no differences emerged in Treg cell frequency. Frequencies of total NK cells and CD56bright NK cells expressing the activation marker CD69 were significantly higher in GD patients than in HC, while total NK cells and CD56dim NK cells expressing CD161 (inhibitory receptor) were significantly lower. When co-cultured with the K562 target cell, NK cells from GD patients had a significantly lower degranulation ability compared to HC (p<0.001). Following 6 months of treatment, NK cells decreased in both the intervention and MMI-alone groups, but significantly more in the intervention group (total NK: -10.3%, CI 95% -15.8; -4.8% vs -3.6%, CI 95% -9; 1.8%, p=0.09 and CD56bright NK cells: -6.5%, CI 95% -10.1; -3 vs -0.9%, CI 95% -4.4; 2%, p=0.03). Compared to baseline, CD69+ NK cells significantly decreased, while degranulation ability slightly improved, although no differences emerged between the two treatment groups. Compared to baseline, Treg cell frequency increased exclusively in the intervention group (+1.1%, CI 95% 0.4; 1.7%).

Discussion

This pilot study suggested that VitD and Se supplementation, in GD patients receiving MMI treatment, modulates Treg and NK cell frequency, favoring a more pronounced reduction of NK cells and the increase of Treg cells, compared to MMI alone. Even if further studies are needed, it is possible to speculate that this immunomodulatory action might have facilitated the prompter and better control of hyperthyroidism in the supplemented group observed in the previous study.
Novel mutations of TEX11 are associated with non-obstructive azoospermia
Authors: Song Jian , Sha Yanwei , Liu Xiaojun , Zeng Xuhui , Zhao Xiuling
Published: April 2023

Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) affects 10% of infertile men worldwide, and genetic studies revealed that there are plenty of monogenic mutations that responsible for a part of idiopathic NOA cases. Testis-expressed gene 11 (TEX11) is an X-linked meiosis-specific gene, many pathogenic variants in TEX11 have been detected in NOA patients, and the deficiency of this gene can cause abnormal meiotic recombination and chromosomal synapsis. However, many NOA-affected cases caused by TEX11 mutation remain largely unknown. This study reported three novel TEX11 mutations (exon 5, c.313C>T: p.R105*), (exon 7, c.427A>C: p.K143Q) and (exon 29, c.2575G>A: p.G859R). Mutations were screened using whole-exome sequencing (WES) and further verified by amplifying and sequencing the specific exon. Histological analysis of testicular biopsy specimens revealed a thicker basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules and poorly developed spermatocytes, and no post-meiotic round spermatids or mature spermatozoa were observed in the seminiferous tubules of patients with TEX11 mutation.

Conclusion

This study presents three novel variants of TEX11 as potential infertility alleles that have not been previously reported. It expanded the variant spectrum of patients with NOA, which also emphasizes the necessity of this gene screening for the clinical auxiliary diagnosis of patients with azoospermia.
Impact of follicular size categories on oocyte quality at trigger day in young and advanced-age patients undergoing GnRH-ant therapy
Authors: Yang Jingwei , Gao Jing , Wang Yuting , Liu Hongya , Lian Xuemei
Published: April 2023

Aim

To study the effect of follicle sizes of different proportions on oocyte and embryo quality in young and advanced-age patients, and provide evidence for personalized protocol adjustment.

Methods

This was a retrospective real-world data study including a total of 11,462 patients who had started their first in vitro fertilization cycle with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-ant) protocol during 2018–2021. We classified patients into groups according to the size of the dominant proportion of follicles on the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) trigger day: Large, Medium, Small, and Equal (containing equivalent proportions of all three size categories). The Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test by different Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC) was used to compare factors such as the metaphase II (MII) oocyte rate, normal fertilization rate, and two pronuclei (2PN) cleavage rate between groups. General linear model (GLM) analysis was performed for inter-group comparison of the oocyte and embryo quality.

Results

In patients aged < 35 years and with AMH ≥ 1.2μg/L, the MII oocyte percentages in the Large and Medium groups were significantly higher than in the Small group (P < 0.001). The germinal vesicle (GV) oocyte and unavailable oocyte percentages in the Large and Medium groups were lower than in the Small group (P < 0.001). Among patients aged ≥ 35 years with AFC < 5 and AMH ≥ 1.2μg/L, the GV oocyte percentage in the Large group was significantly lower than in the Medium group (2.54% vs. 4.46%, P < 0.001). In patients < 35 years, the GLM demonstrated that the Large and Medium groups had positively impacted on the development of MII oocyte and live birth rate(LBR) of first embryo transfer(ET)(β>0, all P value < 0.05);and had less likely to develop into unavailable oocyte, degenerated oocyte, GV oocyte and MI oocyte rates relative to the Small group(β<0, all P value < 0.05). And among patients ≥ 35 years, the Medium group had positively impacted on the development of MII oocyte and 2PN rates relative to the Small group(β>0, all P value < 0.05); and had less likely to develop into MI oocytes relative to the Small group(β<0, all P value < 0.05). The GLM indicated that AMH, along with Gn total dose, start dose, and Gn days, had significant impact on oocyte and embryo quality. For young patients, age was not a significant influencing factor, but for advanced-age patients, age influenced the outcomes.

Conclusion

Our analysis suggests that for young patients (< 35 years), triggering when there is a high proportion of large or medium follicles results in better quality oocytes, while for older patients (≥ 35 years), it is better to trigger when the proportion of medium follicles is no less than that of small follicles. Further research is required to confirm these findings.
Multi-agent-based control strategy for centerless energy management in microgrid clusters
Authors: Shi Shuang , Wang Yanping , Jin Jiyu
Published: April 2023

Interconnecting microgrids with similar geographical environment and related characteristics electrically and communicatively, this constitutes a microgrid cluster, which is a higher-level distributed power structure and an effective way to improve the utilization rate of distributed energy and local absorption level. However, the stable operation of microgrid clusters is determined by the cluster structure and its control strategy, which is also the focus and difficulty of current research. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a ring-based multi-agent microgrid cluster energy management strategy, which realizes the centerless coordinated autonomous operation of microgrid clusters with high stability. In addition, based on the multi-agent control strategy, this paper designs a variety of control strategies that can be switched autonomously for different control objectives of the microgrid cluster to realize smooth grid connection and off-grid of the microgrid cluster. Finally, based on Matlab platform simulation, the experimental results show that the control structure and energy management strategy proposed in this paper can realize the centerless coordination and autonomy of the microgrid cluster on the basis of stable operation, minimize the energy interaction between the cluster and the distribution network, and greatly improve the utilization rate and local absorption level of distributed energy.
Wind power prediction based on WT-BiGRU-attention-TCN model
Authors: Chi Dianwei , Yang Chaozhi
Published: April 2023

Accurate wind power prediction is crucial for the safe and stable operation of the power grid. However, wind power generation has large random volatility and intermittency, which increases the difficulty of prediction. In order to construct an effective prediction model based on wind power generation power and achieve stable grid dispatch after wind power is connected to the grid, a wind power generation prediction model based on WT-BiGRU-Attention-TCN is proposed. First, wavelet transform (WT) is used to reduce noises of the sample data. Then, the temporal attention mechanism is incorporated into the bi-directional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU) model to highlight the impact of key time steps on the prediction results while fully extracting the temporal features of the context. Finally, the model performance is enhanced by further extracting more high-level temporal features through a temporal convolutional neural network (TCN). The results show that our proposed model outperforms other baseline models, achieving a root mean square error of 0.066 MW, a mean absolute percentage error of 18.876%, and the coefficient of determination (R2) reaches 0.976. It indicates that the noise-reduction WT technique can significantly improve the model performance, and also shows that using the temporal attention mechanism and TCN can further improve the prediction accuracy.